Elaine's

Fantastic place all round. We went for a Thanksgiving meal and they allow normal menu which is great. Very nice service at the entry and great table service. We asked to be seated in the library, it's cozy. My wife is vegan and she loved the Koshari. Beautiful dish that is a unique option for vegetarians. I had the ground beef Moussaka, also a unique option and it was very nice. We of course did the Hummus and baked pita which was delicious and I tried a pistacio martini. I'd do something else next time for the drink but it was nice to try something interesting. We also did the Pistacio Baklava cheesecake and the poached pear, both were great. The pear was cool, you can just cut it with a fork and no core. Everything has a little flare,not just the standard Mediterranean flavor. Could be the Egyptian influence. Street parking and there is a pay to park garage nearby I think. Definitely worth trying and we'll be back.

We dined at Elaine’s and had a fabulous experience. Hostess/Server/Owner were very pleasant and professional, and all made us feel like valued customers! Food and service was fantastic! Hummus, Brussels, Cauliflower, and Blackened Cod… all were delicious! Highly recommend!

Eat here today! Unique and well executed dishes. Simple ingredients combined for great tastes. The owner was on-site and personally reviewed the menu with us. We will certainly be taking family here for a great dinner meal.

Modern Mediterranean. The atmosphere of Elaine's is pleasant, though possibly a bit too loud, and may benefit from some sound dampening and softer corners. London's Olive Oil Martini is a well balanced and intensely flavored with olive oil and rosemary gin. Made with an award winning house blend. The marinated beets are lackluster in its presentation, and lackluster in flavor. Falafel are conceptually a good dish, but is lacking in sauce and presentation. The Steak shish is perfectly marinated, nicely tender, excellent char broil. Potatoes are well seasoned, the pepper onion salad is perfectly prepared. The dipping sauce is nicely seasoned and peppered to compliment the steak and heighten the flavor. The baklava cheesecake has a rose petal topping, along with the Carmel pistachio flavor and is the most interesting part of this dessert. The baklava crust is not enough to hold a cheesecake together, thus relying solely on eggs, starch and an extended bake time to hold the cake. In total, not worth getting again. I do look forward to trying other dishes from this chef, and look forward to experiencing more Egyptian Mediterranean flavors.

I came here during restaurant week and Elaine's did not disappoint! The olive oil martini was smooth, the moussaka was amazing, and the pistachio baklava cheesecake tasted as good as it looks. The host and server were both as delightful as my entire meal and experience here. I will be back!

We loved our time at this restaurant. Not only was it visually stunning but the food was incredible. Every bite was flavorful and fresh. We ordered the baba ghanoush and the crispy brussels for starters and both were excellent. For entrees we ordered the cauliflower steak and moussaka and those were also top notch. I will be dreaming about this meal. The owner was so kind and welcoming and our waiter Michael was so very thoughtful and attentive. We loved chatting with him during our time there!

If you are around the area or coming from far, I’m still going to recommend you make a some time to visit Elaine’s and try their excellent food. A restaurants based on flavors straight from Egypt tied directly to the owner family. My experience was excellent from the sever to the food to the hospitality. Everyone was welcoming friendly and went above and beyond for us during our experience. We were celebrating a birthday when we visited and to quote the birthday girl on her 29th birthday “I love it here”. Our server Moona (sorry if I misspelled it) did a great job taking care of us and our party 5 +1 toddler and was very accommodating. The owner bout greeted us coming in and leave with a smile. We enjoyed our time and will be back! Also the building is beautiful!

The food was incredible!! I had the Koshari bowl, hummus and the pistachio baklava cheesecake. I'm going to go on a limb and say the Koshari bowl is the best thing I've ever tasted. It is so flavorful. I can't do it justice trying to describe it. The pistachio baklava cheesecake was made to perfection. The hummus was good as well. I would definitely rate a 10/10! I stumbled upon this gem in trying to find restaurants in the area that are seed oil free and I came across Elaine's. I'm so happy I did! Highly recommend!

We had a large group of ladies for lunch at this was perfect! They sat us upstairs, so we privacy. The books and wine displays are beautiful. I want to go back for an author feature night. The food was amazing! Everyone enjoyed it. I am gluten-free and had so many choices, right off the menu. I didn't have to make any special requests. I had the lamb with rice and honey harissa sauce. Others had the falafel and some of the chicken dishes. The bait hummus was different and delicious. The owner explained how it's his wife's family recipes and all of the weight staff were super nice. Great for big groups and people with dietary restrictions.

My first time trying Branzino fish and I must say it was absolutely amazing. The texture was flaky and tender. It was seasoned to perfection. The dish came with seasoned veggies (cauliflower, onions, peppers, olives, etc.). I finished everything on the plate so that should speak volumes to how delicious it was. The service was also great. We were greeted by amazing staff upon entering. The owner came by to let us know the dishes came from his Wife's Mediterranean background. The restaurant was very clean and the decor fitted the theme of the dining experience. I'm hoping to visit this location again soon.

A Hidden Gem in Alexandria - Elaine's Is Truly Exceptional! WOW....Elaine's in Alexandria, VA is an absolute treasure -- easily my favorite restaurant in the area and one of my all time favorites anywhere! From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere is stunning -- warm, elegant, and inviting, with the kind of charm that makes you want to linger over every bite. The meal began with their incredible hummus, made from an old family recipe that you can taste in every silky, flavorful spoonful. It's perfectly balanced -- creamy, rich, and served with the freshest pita. You can tell immediately that everything here is crafted beautifully. The service was just as memorable as the food. The owner personally came by to explain each dish with genuine enthusiasm, sharing the inspiration and stories behind the menu. The entire staff was so friendly and attentive, creating a dining experience that felt both personal and refined. Each entrée and appetizer was perfectly presented -- and each bite was even better than it looked. The flavors were bold and clearly made from top-quality ingredients and careful attention to detail. I don't drink but they have won awards for their martinis and they do offer mocktails as well. Elaine's isn't just a place to eat; it's a place to experience. Between the outstanding food, heartfelt hospitality, and the stunning atmosphere, it's truly a standout restaurant that I can't wait to visit again. If you haven't been yet, go -- and don't miss that hummus!

Went back to celebrate my husband's birthday. We tried the delicious Pistachio martini and the Dubai chocolate martini. Both are very tasty . The baked hummus , falafel and salty feta cheese were all delicious. For entree we had the salmon in white wine with egyptian rice and the chicken shish with vermicelli rice and red peppers. The salmon was good, the chicken was bland. The pistachio cheesecake was amazing! Enough for two people to share. Muna was very attentive and gave us suggestions on the menu. The restaurant itself is not loud, but people at the bar can be heard having a good time . The chairs have a short back, so after 2 hours they become uncomfortable. Good food and Muna was excellent. Will definitely return!

Came here with some friends who were visiting from out of town. Was very impressed with the service and the food. The restaurant gave fancy vibes and could easily be a good spot for date night. My favorite was the hummus it was so creamy and smooth and the pita was hot off the stove! Only complaint is that extra pita cost more. It didn't come with many pieces so if you're sharing the dish it can be a bit annoying.

Came here for lunch yesterday. I was greeted by the owner, who took his time to explain their dishes and the inspirations for each one. The interior is elegant and sophisticated yet comfortable. Tequila Mockingbird - absolutely delicious. A nice balance of sweet and sour. Mon Miro cocktail - Boozy and tasty. May not need another one after this, it does the job. Branzino - Amazing. The tartness of the olives is balanced perfectly w/ the smooth creaminess of the cauliflower puree. The fish isn't overseasoned - the natural flavors are allowed to shine. The crispiness of the skin really adds to this dish. My first visit was a hit, definitely plan on returning.

The owner himself treats you like family. There are servers that are tremendously friendly, but the owner humbly engages with you in the same manner . He takes pride in his establishment and makes you feel like a special guest. The food is fresh.

Beautiful place and next to Momo's sushi. I walked by several times with escalating interest. Finally tried it with high expectations, and was a little disappointed. Almost felt like meeting your childhood hero. lol. The drinks are great, but the bar is slow so took half an hour to receive our drinks. The food was okay, but not amazing. Thankfully, I was with two amazing, hilarious, and beautiful ladies and despite slow service we had a great time and shared many laughs.

Finally tried Elaine's as it's been on my list for a while. It's super cute inside and we were warmly greeted when we arrived. Service was inconsistent at times throughout the night- I think they had an event upstairs which may have played a role in that. I enjoyed the pistachio martini but would have like it more as a dessert vs to start out the meal as it was kinda sweet. I am curious to try the lunch here as it also sounds really good. Falafel was great. I enjoyed the hummus, pita, and the feta apps. Also really liked the chicken Shish dinner!

Returning a year later to review! Overall, I would go here for a drink. Espresso martinis were good. This restaurant is simply over-priced . The quality just doesn't align with the prices. It's ok food (didn't care for the hummus, chicken and falafel were mediocre, halloumi was a bright spot). Service was still slow and non-existent really We sat in the bar area at a table - seemed like a lot for the bartender to manage the tables as well (as he was making drinks for the dining area as well). Also, they serve it as it's made which is a bit weird when one person gets 4 plates of food (small plates) and then the other person gets their entree 10 minutes later. Cute ambiance. Cozy and dark in the bar area and bright and light in the dining areas.

Really nice dinner with friends. Food was great. Service was quick and non-intrusive. Would recommend for a quiet, intimate meal.

I frequent Old Town a lot because of the many dining options. This place is a hidden gem, away from the usual busy areas. I met a friend for an early dinner and when we entered we were greeted by two hostesses. The smiles we received were very welcoming. We were seated immediately. The inside was cozy and charming but there was enough space between tables to allow for private conversations. We were then greeted by the Owner who welcomed us and told us a little bit about the restaurant...what a nice touch!! Our server appeared soon after with a smile and since it was our first time there we asked a few questions about some of the menu items. We both ordered the Shakespeare's Spritz which was refreshing and the fried cauliflower appetizer which was lightly fried and served atop a delicious roasted pepper sauce. For entrees we tried the Alexandrian shrimp and the pan seared scallops. Both dishes were very flavorful. I absolutely enjoyed dinner and look forward to visiting again real soon.

We recently held a small family wedding at Elaine's and couldn't have had a better experience. The owners were wonderful - responsive and easy to work with as we did the menu and room planning. The restaurant decor is lovely & the upstairs rooms were perfect for our event. The food was delicious- from the many appetizers to all the entrees. (I'll crave the blackened cod in the weeks ahead.). Both the food and the cocktails/mocktails were a big hit with the guests. Importantly, the service was fantastic! Friendly, efficient and responsive so no one was lacking for anything. Thank you Elaine's for making an important day such a joy for all!

We came here to celebrate a friends birthday! I'll give a full review of each of the items and courses. We got drinks both cocktails and mocktails. The pistachio mocktail is very good and unique, definitely recommend it. The old fashioned and mango daiquiri were also good. From the mezze, we got baked artichoke, Brussels, and calamari. The latter two were very good, the artichoke was just okay. It came out later and also was cold but it said baked so not sure what was going on? The entrees were all disappointing and overpriced. We got the eggplant moussaka, omelette and fava bean dip. The portions were small and the flavors unimpressive. The restaurant itself is nice and clean inside with an intentionally curated and decorated space so they definitely put effort into it. The service was really slow and felt we were forgotten. Overall I wouldn't come back, but if you're here already then get drinks and mezze.

This evening was my first time dining at Elaine's and in just one visit, it instantly became one of my favorite restaurants in Alexandria (or the DMV for that matter). From the friendly welcome by the proprietor (Jeff) at the door, to the last bite of the baklava cheesecake, the experience at Elaine's was wonderful. Anyplace with a London olive oil martini would generally peak my interest, but this place delivers on the promise of interesting drinks, excellent food, a very charming ambiance and great service. Give Elaine's a try. It won't disappoint.

After a cold day of holiday shopping, I was looking for somewhere warm and comforting; other reviews led me to Elaine's and I enjoyed it. They had one of my favorites (Moussaka--good, probably overpriced) and a quiet place for me to sit by myself and enjoy my book. I had been hoping for a special holiday drink menu (I saw one on-line), but wasn't offered anything and didn't ask (bartender that served me was fine, but I felt I was bothering him). I'd give it another try, but won't rush over there again.

My boyfriend and I have been expanding our palettes and trying new restaurants along the journey. So, what better time than Restaurant Week to check some spots off of our foodie list, right? Perfect opportunity to try out Elaine's, esp since we LOVE mediterranean food! We made reservations and were promptly seated on the bar side of the restaurant right in front of the window. The other side was a more bright dining room while the bar area gave a very svelte vibe. We were cordially greeted and off to a good start. The menu was briefly explained to us by the host, and then we were given time to review and make a decision on what to indulge in. Luckily, it was happy hour, and only one other table was occupied in our area, which you would think meant faster service since the waiter/bar tender only had two tables. Wrong. But let me start with the drinks and food experience before I head to the service. We decided to partake in HH and grab some Egyptian meatballs to hold us over. I'm not sure what kind of meat this was, but they were good. We were thinking of lamb, but I'm not sure. Would I order again, maybe. We both tried the martinis. I ordered the Scriblerus Club Pistachio Martini, and my date ordered London's Olive Oil Martini. We both took one sip of our drinks, and we're like "WOAH"! They were good and STRONG! So, we were one and done there, which worked out because we were only asked if we wanted another drink one time. For RW, we ordered the Mediterranean Salads, Crispy Cauliflower, Grilled Shrimp, Grilled Salmon, and Braised Lamb Shank. The cauliflower was nothing to write home about, but the salads were super delish! The shrimp was good but a tad overcooked. My salmon was cooked perfectly, and the lamb Shank was falling off of the bone. Pretty darn good. Our fave was probably the salads, though. For dessert, we ordered the Baklava and Phyllo-wrapped brownie. The Baklava was very dry. Not a fan. The brownie wasn't bad but not as moist as I thought it would be. Nothing to even grab pictures for, honestly. Now, on to the service. This is where we were MOST disappointed and frustrated with the experience. For the most part, empty dishes piled up on our small table and sat there. I noticed this was the same for the other couple in the bar area, as well. I'm not sure why because the bartender/waiter for the area wasn't very busy. Also, he wasn't very cordial/inviting to us, either. About 20 minutes into our dinner, a group of four came and sat at the bar. This is where our waiter was nothing but smiles and laughs while his tables went neglected like we were the live version of "Lady and the Tramp" 2024. You would think after the other table decided to leave that service would get a bit better since one less table to ignore, but NOPE! At one point, we stopped a person in passing for assistance. Our waiter approached us maybe 3 times our entire 1.5 hour $150 dinner later. The host even came to check on us after noticing that we were basically playing the waiting game for service. We even had to wait nearly 15 min after finishing entrees to even order our dessert. He walked off so fast that we didn't get to tell him to pack it to go. By this time, we felt beyond disregarded and were ready to go. I, at first, thought, okay, it's HH, and they are sitting at the bar and getting prime service. Maybe that's where he feels best, but that is no excuse to ignore other patrons in your area. That experience alone was enough for us to say that we don't see ourselves returning, which is unfortunate because there were several other items that I wanted to try on the menu someday.

Could this be my best Alexandria restaurant week meal ever? I've had a lot of great meals during different restaurant weeks, but this could be it. I visited mostly because I have fond memories of the previous tenant, Bilbo Baggins. Motivating myself to visit new places is a tough call for me, but I needed to see what's there now. I soon saw Elaine's is very posh but warm. Everything is now different of course, but it made me miss Bilbo less knowing the location is in good hands. I came on a snowy day with limited patrons so my servers were very attentive. I even met the owner; a very charming lady born in the city of Alexandria Egypt who joked she went from one Alexandria to another. The dishes are what she referred to as 'real family-style Egyptian', not touristy-Egyptian (although if your average Egyptian ate like this then I'd be jealous). She also told us the place was named after her grandmother, and the 'library' upstairs was inspired by her author husband. The 4-course meals were a mix of New American and Egyptian. But my favorite by far was the braised lamb shoulder. Soft, succulent, yet a tiny bit crispy. It fell apart with my fork as soon as I dived in. This was washed down with a beer and a cocktail, made in front of me as I sat at the bar. Yep - 5 stars.

I had a very good experience dining at Elaine's. The food was great, the ambiance was lovely, and the service was good. I just have one small suggestion: the door to the kitchen could use a re-painting. Other than that, the restaurant is lovely.

We've been eyeing this place for some time and finally tried it. Solid 3.5 place. 1. Reservation: necessary 2. Food: mediocre 3 stars The platter was okay, 2 items were good and rest were not so good. Mussels were decent but lots of them hadn't opened Entrée items were also okay, nothing special 3. Drinks: 4 stars They could improve their cocktail making skills. it was not bad at all but the price range, it was. 4. Service: very polite and nice. All in all, it was a decent place, but nothing stood out whether it be drinks or food.

Had high hopes for this place but was pretty underwhelmed. When we were first sat, we waited at least 15 minutes before a server came over and simply filled up our water glasses, and the restaurant was half full... The food was very average, especially for the higher prices they were charging. The pita did not taste fresh, the seared halloumi was okay, and the mussels were decent but not great. The wine was reasonable but the cocktails were priced at $16 per drink like it was a specialty cocktail bar in DC. The general manager did come over to apologize and was very attentive throughout the rest of the meal, but otherwise it was a pretty below average experience from what we were expecting.

Located outside the tourist zone of Old Town Alexandria serving Egyptian and Mediterranean-inspired food. We had the fried calamari for appetizers. It had a nice breading but flavored quite nicely. I wish the flavors were present for our main entrees. We had the chicken shawerma, lamb kofta, and grilled sandwiches. They were not bad meals, just less seasoned. Service was good and the host/owner was welcoming.

We stopped by Elaine's today for HH before a dinner reservation. The plan was to cool off with a glass of wine and relax. However, after a walk my dad wanted a small bite, so we ordered the fried chicken shawarma and crispy cauliflower. I honestly can't express how bad the food was. I only had one piece of each, and even that was a struggle - both dishes were drowning in grease. I tried peeling the oily coating off the cauliflower just to get to the actual vegetable. The so-called chicken shawarma? There was barely any chicken. It was mostly deep-fried batter - just greasy, empty bites. What made it worse was that none of the bartenders gave us a heads-up. At the very least, a place like this should be honest about what they're serving. Not long after we left, I got intense stomach cramps while walking to our dinner reservation. It got so bad I had to cancel what was supposed to be a celebratory dinner for my dad. The place itself looks nice, and it might be fine if you're just going for wine or cocktails. But the food? It's honestly on par with the cheapest fast food, only way more expensive. I wouldn't recommend eating here. If you care at all about quality or how your stomach feels later, skip the food entirely!

First time here. Mom & I went during restaurant week. If we could give 10 stars we would. Owner Cynthia spent time at our table detailing the scratch kitchen & how everything is made that way. Genuinely proud! Outstanding service. Window view. Mom took home 1/2 of her incredible lamb dish Let me say...the phyllo wrapped brownie is so decadent as is the baklava. Look forward to working way through this amazing menu.

Such a nice spot out of the main King street drag. The interior is elegant, inviting, and intimate - certainly a change from when Bilbo Baggins' was in the location! The food is both delicious and beautifully plated. The menu has great variety too. The cocktail menu was unique and intriguing - I wanted to try almost everything on it! We had a lovely evening. The only potential downside was that service was a little slow, but that could have been more due to the server having more tables than comfortable on an unusually busy weeknight. And seeing how crowded it was on a weeknight was definitely a good sign! Will definitely return for more cocktails and some of the local author events that the owners host here.

Elaine's recently opened and seemed a bit out of sorts. The service was slow and our server didn't know the beverage menu (yet). She ordered the wrong drinks from the bar. When a restaurant first opens, there are inevitably kinks that need to get ironed out. Cynthia, the owner, introduced herself and said hello. She stopped by our table and reassuringly explained the menu. It was a pleasure to speak to with her about her creations. I wish her only the best with a challenging business. Opening a new restaurant isn't easy, and of course, some ideas will work and others won't. The mezza platter: I enjoyed the falafel. The sesame seeds were a nice touch. The hummus wasn't the same as I'm used to. Maybe it's different in Egypt. I'm used to a more robust chickpea flavor and less garlic undertones. The ful medames (slow cooked fava beans) were my favorite of the pick 6 option. It was flavorful and paired nicely with my wine. It reminded me of flavorful beans from the Caribbean. The pickled veggies were also good. The salty feta with tomato was the least desirable for us. It was dry and didn't make any difference if we had it or left it. We ordered and chicken shish tawook tzatziki. It arrived at the same time as the mezza. We ordered it as the meal and the mezza as the appetizer. The chicken was cooked well, the veggies on the kabob were ok. They weren't seasoned with anything memorable. It was an ok dish and one that will get better with time. Overall, the idea of the restaurant is beautiful. The space and ambiance is charming and inclusive for a romantic evening or a group event upstairs. It's a lovely space. Elaine's is a new restaurant-- it seems items on the menu need refinement. Also, employee collaboration and workflow needs improvement. I look forward to our next visit after Elaine's is open a bit longer. Wishing Cynthia and her team all the best.

Located in Old Town Alexandria, Elaine's offers a cozy ambiance and introduces you to middle eastern cuisine with a flair of European influences. First things first, the thing always on my mind...parking! There is a little across the street that is a $10 flat rate- a convenient option. If you don't mind parallel parking and some walking, there are some 2 hour street parking zones--but this was hard to find on a friday evening. There are some 3 hour free parking zones a bit further away, that were still available. Re: Food. I think the appetizers hit the ball out of the park. We ordered the halloumi goulash (per owner's recs), calamari, and hummus. All delicious! My friends got the koshari and I got the scallops (may not have been the best scallops I've had but the fava bean puree was the highlight and really brought the dish together). I heard the koshari was good- I had a bite, and it was good but I was glad I ordered something else. The popular dishes seem to be the halloumi goulash, steak, koshari, and branzino. My pistachio martini was interesting and different; next time, I'd like to try their espresso martini. My friends got the baklava and the phyllo- wrapped brownie, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Service was good, our waiter was mostly attentive and would frequently check in. We did; however, flag people down for refills of water and drinks. I was a bit disappointed when we weren't notified that there would be an extra cost for additional pita bread. One of our members asked for a little more pita bread to finish off the hummus...which after looking at the receipt that I texted to myself, I noticed we were charged an extra cost. I'm not complaining of the cost, but I feel like we should've been told this. I think it was a nice touch that the owner and the chef were making rounds and checking in with the tables. The chef was very kind/ personable; he knew exactly what we had ordered (despite plates being cleared) and notified us that they have brunch on the weekends and have seasonal menus. The owner had checked in and offered suggestions at the beginning of our dinner, and told us that she names the restaurant after her grandmother. This is probably just my subjective feeling, but I felt like she was just speaking to my tablemates with body turned toward them (it had me wondering if it was because I was the only non-caucasian member of the trio). I had also made the reservation and asked for a nice table, away from the hustle and bustle as some coworkers and I were celebrating International Women's Day. Our table was okay, but it was right in line to the door and kind of got cold. The upstairs appeared to have a nicer ambiance with a "library" type of feel. TLDR; cozy ambiance, good service, appetizers were great.

Incredible service and even better brunch, the pistachio crepe is a must have. They also have book events upstairs.

On balance, Elaine's is a very average dining experience with nice but seemingly inattentive service, average food, and little to no ambience. My wife and I were excited to find an Egyptian/Mediterranean restaurant in the neighborhood. We ordered several mezzes with drinks. Elaine's is just off of busier King Street, and is much quieter, in case you want to have conversation without yelling or straining. Our server was attentive at first but as the night wore on, it became harder and harder to find her. A second glass of wine order was brought at the conclusion of my final mezze (instead of 25 minutes earlier when I ordered it.) Mussels were lukewarm: transferred to a plate they weren't cooked in for nice presentation but poor heat transfer. The decor of the restaurant portion was odd, almost barren. The furniture too: I felt like I was eating in a hotel lobby rather than a restaurant, let alone an Egyptian restaurant. Our table - a window table - was also on a slant, leaning into the window as if we were falling. Just odd. When I compare Elaine's to other Mediterranean experiences in the DMV, it does not come close to the flavor, ambiance, or service you'd find at Ala, Agora, or the new Lebanese restaurant in Georgetown. However, if you're looking for a place to have a quiet conversation, with decent mezze, it might be right for you.

We went on a Saturday (around 8 pm) and were seated right away. We ordered drinks, which came out right away. Unfortunately, our food took about an hour to come out, and when it did, we asked for it to go since we had to be somewhere. I ordered the fried cauliflower but had to return it; $15 for five pieces, plus no utensils, not worth it. My friend ordered chicken and it was barely cooked. Not worth revisiting.

We just had dinner at Elaine's. It was a wonderful experience. We were seated by the owner who explained the specials and some favorites on the menu. The meal was outstanding. I had the blackened Cod which was amazing. The best cod I have had. My wife and I loved our meal from mezza to entree to dessert. My wife even enjoyed her mocktail. The ambience was very casual and comfortable. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and the evening at Elaine's

If you are around the area or coming from far, I'm still going to recommend you make a some time to visit Elaine's and try their excellent food. A restaurants based on flavors straight from Egypt tied directly to the owner family. My experience was excellent from the sever to the food to the hospitality. Everyone was welcoming friendly and went above and beyond for us during our experience. We were celebrating a birthday when we visited and to quote the birthday girl on her 29th birthday "I love it here". Our server Moona (sorry if I misspelled it) did a great job taking care of us and our party 5 +1 toddler and was very accommodating. The owner bout greeted us coming in and leave with a smile. We enjoyed our time and will be back! Also the building is beautiful!

Very cute restaurant in an old mansion. Exactly what you're looking for when you go to quaint Alexandria. The owner also was the hostess and told her about the restaurant named after her grandmother.

Absolutely OUTSTANDING!!!! The staff, the genuine kindness and hospitality, the bar tenders helping me to find a wine I like!!! The herbs and flavors in the food were ECSTATIC!!!! THANK YOU!!! We will be coming back with family and friends!

Absolutely the loveliest place! The owner is delightful, and she has made every detail of the restaurant so beautiful and intentional. You cannot beat the delicious appetizers, and I think the hummus was the best hummus I've ever had. The owner took time to show me the different rooms in the restaurant, telling me about each one. She truly has curated such a special place in honor of her grandmother Elaine! I am a huge fan of Elaine's and hope to be back!

I went to a great book lunch Byron Davis's "Get to the Point". Jeff did an excellent job on the interview and the calamari was amazing. The fact that this restaurant supports and promotes local authors makes me like it extra.

Got take out and really confused .. is this supposed to be the Moussaka????!! lol I really don't understand how they can justify $18 for this it doesn't even taste good! The hummus wasn't great either. I hate writing this negative review I hope this is in an off day for them but my food is inedible couldn't enjoy or finish half of it and way too overpriced for the quality!

Excellent Mediterranean food, friendly staff, and terrific bar. Also, Elaine's has become a literary hub, sponsoring book launches, author interviews, and other events. A great addition to Alexandria's restaurant scene.

I came to Elaine's for a Noir at the Bar event. I was hungry and thirsty. And Elaine's satisfied both of those and gave me a great treat by hosting Noir at the Bar. The service was top notched and the food and drink divine.

We noticed there was plenty of open reservations so we just walked in. Upon arrival the hostess were not hospitable and cold but not rude. Wasn't expecting much. Luckily our waiter was energetic and full of advice to help us with our choice. A fantastic cocktail selection (on the high side $17) and nice selection of wines. The food was delicious as we enjoyed pickled radish, salad, soup, head on shrimp and an amazing cod. All ingredients were fresh. The 70's music was not a match for the restaurant. Overall, our server locked in the four stars.

Wonderful experience! Food and service were amazing! Lamb shish is more like a kofta but was the best I have had. This is definitely a must go to place. #twotastethetown

Great place for people that have money to waste on food that poor people eat. The lentils....the waiter said the lentils were a traditional Egyptian street food. Then why am I paying so much for street food? I'm vegan (at least at the time I was if you want to think like that) and they didn't have many options. I hope Cynthia/Jeffery (owners) knows there was a better restaurant that used to be there, it was called Bilbo Baggins. The atmosphere was incredible. The food...not so much. Cynthia/Jeffery? It's not you, it's the food, the service too....okay it's you.

I thought I didn't like mint, because it seems like it's always overdone and takes over the taste of a dish. I had the scallops at Elaine's and now I have to apologize to mint. This dish had several herbs and they whispered! (Foodies will know what I mean by that.) It was perfection. The decor is calming and appropriate for fine dining. We've eaten there 5 or 6 times and now it's a go to.

Cute spot for great food! Nice and quite and spacious enough for a small lunch/dinner for 5. While I was expecting more portion I was pleased with the two appetizers I got and the entree. The staff was very kind and welcoming overall.

I'm a fan. We were greeted immediately and warmly, before we were taken upstairs to a lovely space that could accommodate large groups like the 13 of us. We got to meet the owner who was also as welcoming as the staff. Now to the food. We ordered the mezze platter. You pick six, so we got to try almost all of the mezze on the menu except 2. I know we passed on the hummus but can't remember the other. All 6 items were delicious, as was the accompanying pita. I ordered the squash and eggplant moussaka and it was absolutely delicious. I would definitely get this again. The baklava was the only let down for me. It wasn't crisp, which I was expecting, and I guess I'm just used to more honey or sweetness. I can't wait to go back and try more items.

Came here on a sunday evening. This is a nice spot on queen st cross st is lee. It is in a brownstone/townhouse so it has a homey charm to it. If you are tall watch out ceilings are low I liked my cocktail. Enjoy an onion in my martini They give you a good amount of pita bread so we were pretty full even though we mostly just got a bunch of apps and mezze. My favorite was the ful medame with poached egg. I also liked the halloumi. Staff were all very nice and attentive.

We were really excited to check out Elaine's, which is a new Egyptian eatery that also fuses in Greek, Italian, and French flavors, that opened up in OT Alexandria in the old Bilbo Baggins building. Note that they are closed every Tuesdays & Wednesdays. The staff we spoke to were extremely friendly and welcoming, and they finally had confirmed the grand opening date! Their menu is pretty extensive, including appetizers, salads, soups, mezza, grilled items, entrees, sandwiches, a drink list, as well as brunch options. I liked that you could order a la carte on the mezza section, or choose 6 for a set price for $35. We started off with: +the Hummus - chickpeas puree and tahini dressed with lemon juice, garlic, and EVOO +Pickled Vegetables - Egyptian-picked veggies with a house spice blend+Baba Ganoush - roasted eggplant puree and tahini dressed with lemon juice, garlic, and EVOO +Falafel - Egyptian fava beans falafel with fresh herbs +Beef Pie Bites - spiced minced beef in a tomato sauce, baked in a puff pastry +Spinach and Leeks Pie Bites - sauteed spinach, leeks, and fresh dill, baked in a puff pastry For the entrees, we tried the: +Steak Shisk Kebob - marinated grilled steak skewers, served with tahini sauce, an onion salad, and pita bread +Chicken Shish Tawook Tzatziki - Lebanese-influenced marinated grilled chicken breast with spices, served with tzatziki sauce and pita bread +Koshari - layered lentils, rice, and toasted vermicelli, topped with chickpeas, garlic tomato sauce, and fried onions Unfortunately, we felt that the portions, missing ingredients, and the taste of the food did not justify the higher price points, even though of its location on OT. Also, there seemed to have been a lack of staff members, and the service seemed less than knowledgeable; there weren't recommendations or suggestions made, nor were they able to share further information of the food. I was curious about their Alexandrian Grilled Whole Branzino and the Alexandrian Head-On Shrimp, but not sure if I'd make my way to return. The restaurant is very chic and modern, and seems great for date nights and get-togethers. They also offer spaces for private events as well as host library events/meetings for book club meetings and author reading series (aka, Prose on the Potomac). +bland, underseasoned items +missing ingredients +staff has lack of training

We heard the news of Elaine's opening and were excited to give it a try. Because of a hectic schedule we weren't able to dine in, but do a carryout. Being a brand new restaurant, diners can expect a few rough bumps so it's understandable when you first visit that they may not be a finely tuned operation. The short end of this review is that we'll have to wait a few months to truly give it a fair review. The pros include a lovely renovated space in the older house that used to be home to Bilbo Baggins; an interesting menu that nods to Mediterranean but wants to reflect upscale, and; a plentiful waitstaff (if not totally prepared for prime time) who are bright, pleasant and eager to make the dining experience terrific. For the carryout, the cons included, undercooked Falafel, a Hummus that seemed to have forgotten that garlic is a core ingredient and a vegetable soup that seemed to be sporting cinnamon. Again, all of these prep issues can be fixed with some minor adjustments in the kitchen and hopefully will be. As a carryout order everything came perfectly packed and delivered to us in the lovely bar area (Again, Great Job with the renovations). Unfortunately because everything was tied up, we got all the way home only to discover we had no Pita bread that was to accompany the Hummus, Baba Ganoush and the Falafel (Not sure we've ever eaten those w/o Pita so it was more of a cracker spread for us which may have also influenced our review). We called the restaurant and the manager (Jeffrey) who was extremely apologetic and he offered us an appetizer or dessert on our next visit in. That's good protocol so cheers for the accommodation along with his assurance that he would be reporting that issue to the kitchen. As you will hopefully know that we really want Elaine's to be the hit that we know it can be, so we'll be back in a few weeks to see if they can right-size the ship and head towards the waters of excellence. Stay tuned.

A wonderful meal in a wonderful place. The food at Elaine's is exquisite, magical with Mediterranean and Egyptian flavors, filling and fun. Salty Feta, an appetizer with soft feta, herbs and cherry tomatoes, and a huge plate of Chicken Schwarma were perfect. And a deep beer list with my favorite, Fair Winds Howling Gale IPA.