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!

We had lunch here on Easter and absolutely loved both the food and the atmosphere. From the moment we walked in, we were warmly greeted by the owner and made to feel right at home in this super cozy restaurant. Every appetizer, dish, and dessert we tried was outstanding—even though we’re picky eaters! The pie bites were especially memorable. For our main courses, we had Alexandria’s shrimp and the lamb shank—both were equally delicious and beautifully prepared. We couldn’t resist trying all three available desserts, and they were all fantastic. But the Baklava cheesecake? It exceeded all expectations. We’re already looking forward to returning to what is now our favorite restaurant in Alexandria!

From the moment we met Jeff and Cynthia, we knew Elaine’s was the perfect place for our wedding reception. Planning a wedding can be incredibly stressful, but Jeff, Cynthia and their team made the entire process seamless and enjoyable. They were genuinely kind, incredibly accommodating, and went above and beyond to meet every single one of our needs. We had a very specific vision for our reception, and they listened attentively, offering helpful suggestions and working with us to create a truly personalized experience. They were so easy to communicate with, always responsive to our questions and concerns, and their warm, welcoming demeanor immediately put us at ease. It felt like we were working with friends, not just a venue. And let's talk about the food! The chef at Elaine’s is incredible. Our guests raved about every dish, from the Halloumi Goulash (my absolute favorite appetizer) to the Braised Lamb Shoulder. The quality and presentation were exceptional! The food truly elevated our reception and left a lasting impression on everyone. The atmosphere at Elaine’s was also perfect for our celebration. The moment my husband and I stepped into the restaurant, I was captivated. The atmosphere was precisely what I envisioned – a classic and classy elegance that resonated with me instantly. Even the Frank Sinatra playing in the background perfectly matched the vibe I wanted! The beautifully and uniquely decorated rooms created a romantic and intimate setting that our guests, and we, absolutely adored. The staff was attentive and professional, ensuring that everything ran smoothly throughout the evening. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect wedding reception. Elaine’s exceeded all of our expectations. The kindness and dedication of the owners, the exceptional food, and the beautiful ambiance made our special day truly unforgettable. If you're looking for an intimate wedding reception venue that combines outstanding service with delicious food and a warm, inviting atmosphere, look no further than Elaine’s. We wholeheartedly recommend them!

Had lunch and absolutely loved the food. A glass of Riesling with Crispy Brussels was a good start. I adored the marinated Branzino, light and super tasty. The Poached pears was yummy too. Would to return for their brunch. Love, Olan

Elaine's is a cozy upscale restaurant in the heart of Old town Alexandria that just serves average Mediterranean fusion food. Sure the food looks great, but its the taste that equally matters when you are paying top dollar. The hosts were lovely and food comes out quick, but its not a place where I would want to go again. If you love taste in your food, you have better options in Old town. The only things i recommend on the menu are the fried cauliflower, brussel sprouts and the fried Calamari. I hope you see what I mean with these recommendations; you can get the same stuff at better places.

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.

The service was superb. The food is quite good (had the shrimp and some appetizers), although my friend found the chicken to be dry. I recommend the signature olive oil martini if you like martinis. The atmosphere is cozy, there are several different dining areas and they each have their own vibe.

I tried this place during Restaurant week because it shares my name. The food was delicious! Service is IMPECCABLE. Thank you Nicholas and Jeffery. It felt a little incomplete like each plate could do with a sauce or a whip cream on the side of the dessert. The grilled shrimp was PHENOMENAL I wish I could have ordered that as my entree! The beet salad definitely had beets I do wish it had more goat cheese. Grilled salmon was yummy but multiple people at my table ordered it and the sizes varied greatly. The potato’s underneath had the most flavor. The baklava was good baklava. However, the phyllo wrapped brownie was very rich and not very sweet.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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!

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.

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

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!

I have lunch on a regular basis with my sister and we like to try different places around Alexandria and we decided to try Elain's. We arrived just before noon and the place was empty. Not a good sign. The place is very nice. We were seated at a very nice table near the window. The owner came over to greet us and tell us about the menu. I thought we were in for a treat. We ordered the Brussel Sprout appetizer to share. The Brussel Sprouts were under cooked and had no flavor at all. I ordered the Lamb Shish. It was described on the menu as a Grilled Lamb Skewer. I received a very over cooked ground lamb sausage looking thing that looked like something that rhymes with curd, with some tasteless white sauce for dipping. It came with over cooked rice and a Sumac Onion type of salad. It was $34.00. Totally over priced for what I received. The server, who was excellent, asked how everything was. I told her that I didn't care for my food at all. I ate some of it because I was so hungry but the more I tried to enjoy my lunch I realized that it was a lost cause. The sever returned and said that she asked the owner if she could take my food off the check and he told her no! So I paid the check....leaving a 20% tip for the server. She was great. It's not her fault the food sucks. Hopefully she'll get a job at a better restaurant. She deserves better. Lunch with tip was $100.00. I left there feeling really bad. I wouldn't recommend Elain's to anyone and I will definitely never eat there again.....EVER!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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'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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

My wife Janice and I had our 31st wedding anniversary meal at this restaurant on Wednesday, October 30th, 2024. We had visited this space years ago when it was Bilbo Baggins but it was our first visit to Elaine's. It won't be our last visit. Our server Alicia was lovely. She was friendly and attentive and we enjoyed the Hibiscus Refresher cocktails she recommended. Our crispy calamari and grilled steak Shish were delicious. Janice and I loved the piped-in music featuring Frank Sinatra. I do have two constructive criticisms. One, at a certain point Alicia disappeared. The dirty dishes were piled on our table. We were planning to order coffee and dessert but when Alicia finally reappeared we just asked for the check and went elsewhere for dessert. Two, they need to do a better job of climate control. It was a nice day when we visited but the AC was set at an arctic level. Food: 5/5 | Service: 3/5 | Atmosphere: 5/5

The food was very bland and the service was bad and the owner just ran around trying to save face but it was a bad experience

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.

I was super excited about going to Elaine's for Valentine's Day--did a bunch of research a few weeks ago about good restaurants in the area and Elaine's sounded so good...from the ambiance of the restaurant to the Egyptian menu to the great reviews to the delicious sounding dishes. We went on an off hour so that was probably the issue...but we called in advance and made a reservation for 3pm. They said 3:30pm was booked, so we hurried over to the restaurant. When we arrived late around 3:20 and expected the restaurant to be full, we were shocked to see it was completely empty except for 1 couple. So we waited at the hostess table...and waited, and waited. We only had a small window of time to eat as we had to pick up the kids when school let out in about 1.5 hours. We kept waiting and finally a kind man who had been eyeing us from the bar came up to us, apologized, and sat us down at a table with our menus and poured our water. I think he said he is the bartender or tends to the bar area. But then we waited...and waited...and waited for waitstaff to take our orders. With our coats on, because the restaurant was freezing cold. No one came to our table to wait on us and we took this all as a bad sign as we needed to get in and get out for our meal. So, we sadly left as I looked longingly at the menu. I am hoping that this all happened because it was an off hours time, and that if I come again during regular meal hours, it would be a very different and better experience.

What an incredible find in Alexandria! The food was fantastic, the staff was charming and knowledgeable, and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. We went for our anniversary on a whim, and were pleasantly surprised. Can't wait to come back!

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.

The food is great! Love the brussel sprouts and the brunch menu items. The staff is great and the chef came out to personally check on us. I'll definitely be back!

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

I had a hard time with this one. The vibe was off almost the second we walked in the door. You know that feeling you get when you walk into a room where people just finished arguing about something? That's what it felt like. A lot of tension in the air. The food... most of the food was good. Not out of this world, but good. The portions, however, are extremely stingy. The mezeh was good, but if you want more than a thimbleful of pita, that's extra. For dinner, I ordered the scallops which... well, they were very pretty, but it was 5 scallops on a whisper of purée and a lot of garnish. It was not an entree portion of food. At all. The scallops themselves were cooked well, but very sandy. Sandy? Really? It just left quite a bit to be desired for a $37 entree. Our server was very nice and attentive, but the owner was off-putting and cheap. He gave us a free dessert (rice pudding - very bland and underwhelming) but said nothing about the unpleasant entree. Thanks I guess. Skip it. You'll find a much better atmosphere, value and palette elsewhere.

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.

Excellent food and service! We were so excited to try Egyptian food for the first time and asked for guidance from our very knowledgeable waitstaff! Many of the food and cocktail recipes are family recipes and they were ALL incredible! In an attempt to try as many things as possible we ordered multiple dishes and our party of 5 split all of them so that we could each have a taste. I wish I had grabbed more pictures but after the first round arrived I couldn't stop eating! This restaurant is family friendly. We went early (530) on a Sunday and a few parties had kids younger than ours. The dining space/restaurant do not appear to be accessible for those who have difficulty with stairs or tight spaces. For those with hearing difficulties the acoustics would be difficult once the restaurant becomes more crowded. We did not see the upstairs space so perhaps that would be easier? I rarely give 5 stars but in this case our entire party agrees that this was a dining experience we can't wait to repeat!

Calm, pretty restaurant - perfect for a special occasion. Menu of traditional Egyptian and Mediterranean specialties, often with a twist or new ingredient. Upstairs literary salon available for events and groups. Paid and street parking nearby. Friendly, excellent service.

I am incredibly disappointed with this restaurant. I was so excited to go here for Valentine's Day and my husband's birthday and made a reservation weeks in advance. This morning I got a call from someone claiming to work at the restaurant and asking for my credit card number to hold the reservation. This is entirely plausible, but in the current climate, I was worried about giving my credit card number over the phone, especially from a number that is not connected to the restaurant. I told the woman that I would be happy to put my credit card number through OpenTable if possible, and she said that I could. This afternoon I received a voicemail stating that I could provide my credit card number and confirm the reservation or it could be canceled. I tried to call the restaurant back and immediately was sent to voicemail. The voicemail says the mailbox is full. I just checked my email and the reservation was canceled.

I would give 10 stars if I could!! Nicholas was our server and he was phenomenal. Very knowledgeable about everything on the menu and very attentive. It was my dad's birthday and he's a reader so they sat us in the library. Our meals were incredible, we had the humus and calamari for appetizers and the grilled steak shish and roasted chicken for our entrees. The owner came by multiple times to check on us too. I can't wait to go back!

Attended a lovely author event last night in the upstairs library joined by many mystery and romance fans, and also by people who love great food. Love the author events at Elaine's. Like to stop by for a lovely meal and to see the owners who are great people as well. Had the marinated branzino (my favorite) with a Hemingway espresso martini. What's not to love. I can also recommend the crispy Brussels, the crispy calamari and the salmon potato salad. The signature cocktails are delicious. The pistachio martini and the Higgins Aviation are divine. Great wine list as well.