The Tasting Room

Brabo Tasting Room is connected to the Kimpton Lorien Hotel and Spa, Alexandria, Virginia. After a long day of flying, always a good opportunity to check out the hotel restaurant and bar. I was certainly not disappointed and have plenty of leftovers too. You can sit outside in the hotel courtyard or dine inside, in a casual and comfortable setting. Prices are decent, but you can also go during happy hour and try out several of the small plates. I tried the three-course meal for 29 bucks and was not disappointed. My meal started with French onion soup, followed by a lardon tart...a.k.a. BLT pizza and ended with a cinnamon bread pudding. Each course was solid, the tart was huge and I could have had that alone for the meal. I think my only disappointment was the crust for the tart, not as crisp as I hoped for a thin crust, but still good. Dessert was phenomenal. The menu also listed a number of craft cocktails, but I went with the house red wine for the happy hour special. Service was great, Aysia provided me outstanding service. Definitely a place I'd try again.

Very chic location. Excellent french onion soup. It had to by far be the best french onion soup I ever had. The flatbreads were fantastic. The waiter was funny and kind and very attentive. Definitely a great spot for brunch.

The dishes are wonderfully executed. The arugula salad was a great blend of sweetness, acidity, and freshness. The salmon was cooked to perfection. Really enjoyed my experience at the restaurant.

We stopped in on a Sunday afternoon and Alex was our bartender. She was exceptionally gracious and pleasant despite the fact the kitchen ovens were down and we had a very limited menu. She gave us outstanding service and we will return because of her hospitality.

Outstanding food - baked cod, with a side of heirloom tomatoes. Beautifully cooked and interesting flavours. Tasted as good as it looked. Ate at the bar - fantastic service from the barman. I was staying at the hotel for a week and always assumed this place would be no good - wish I hadn’t spent all week trudging up and down King St having mediocre food each evening. Should have come here on the first night!

Great place to try a cocktail, a hearty French onion soup and flatbread. The duck sausage flavorful. Service attentive and drinks well mixed. This is not the restaurant .... it’s the tasting room off to the side.

Limited breakfast menu but the sampler was a pleasant surprise. The waffle had a hint of sweetness and but the applesauce was unpleasantly tart. The poached egg was delicious and the potato cake was not ok only delicious but had a terrific crust to it. The yogurt parfait was refreshing and light fruit tasted fresh. The service was professional and attentive.

Great atmosphere, fun place to eat. Great brunch. Food was delicious. Coffee was good. Service was excellent. Worth your stop.

This is a cute and comfy spot. The staff are warm and welcoming the silverware and cutlery is clean and our bartender was showing off. She made the best drinks. One of which was the peach king. I ordered the Brie crostini and my sister got the mussels, I am not a mussel fan but these smelled amazing and the broth was nothing but the truth . The fire alarm went off while we were here and we ended up finishing our meals and drinks outside . And I didn't mind at all. However let me give fair warning this beautiful tasting spot is a little $$$.

So we wanted to try Brabo but they were not open so we were directed to try the tasting room. Very friendly service and the place is quite cozy. This was supposed to be Happy hour so we had a Mai Tai Peach Sunrise and a Miller lite beer we ordered mussels and the Brie and fig crostini our meal was interrupted by a fire alarm! We were asked to sit outside where we decided to eat outside. My mom and sister said that the crostini was super hard the mussels were very good however, the happy hour was 95 dollars!

I honestly can't believe I've lived in the area for so long without ever having stopped by here! But better late than never - so glad to have finally tried it. A friend and I came here for a long overdue catchup and it was the perfect setting: warm, cozy, full but not loud. I loved the booth seating and the dimly-lit vibes, with the fire from the oven in our peripheral vision. We split a bottle of wine and shared two flatbreads, the mushroom one and the margherita. Both flatbreads were excellent. The mushroom flatbread arrived piping hot and was especially delicious; I'm looking forward to going back for that alone (okay and for the vibes)!

It really does match its name. Very small room with limited menu. 1. Food - 4 stars Pizza was okay salmon rilette - not good, I didn't like the taste of it potato dish was amazing Chocolate dessert was delicious but it was so much mousse with nothing to go with it, it could use some waffle or nuts or something in the end. 2. Service: 3 stars, not good. didn't bring what we ordered and when we inquired, said she could bring it after dessert. Who gets an appetizer dish after dessert? 3. Very small place that has barely 5 tables and it closes super early.

This is a very small cozy restaurant. Food - Good. their mushroom flatbread tastes and smells delicious. Chocolate dessert was very yum. Service - good Parking - can probably be found in the streets nearby Overall, this place is good.

Atmosphere - it was a cozy restaurant with a nice pizza oven. Staff - the staff were efficient. I was a little confused by the layout of the restaurant honestly. The salad itself was amazing. The dressing was great. The staff have no problem making the food gluten free if they can.

A friend took me to lunch here, and it's perfect for a cozy meal. I was very impressed by our server who came to check on us regularly. She made recommendations from the menu, and every single one was a hit. She even helped us with wine pairings! The French onion soup is to die for and the ambience is perfect For a quiet old town experience!

We used to come here for a special night out. Inexpensive mussels (3 optional recipes), a glass or two of wine- a nice reasonable night out. Then it closed- the pandemic. It finally reopened and we went back for our anniversary. A charcuterie and a modest bowl of undercooked mussels. We did get two overpriced cocktails- (skip the 'hot tottie.') But the bill made use blink twice. A dinner with two entrees would have been cheaper many other places. I guess we should have known better when we walked in and were the only people there. We left 90 minutes later- oniy two others joined. People are just staying away. A shame- it used to be a happening place.

This restaurant is permanently closed. Check out the modern and upgraded new restaurant and cocktail bar that is now at this location -- AKB, a hotel bar. Simply delightful.

Sad to leave this review. Before the pandemic this restaurant served amazing mussels and a 5 onion soup that was to die for, along with a few other delcicius brick oven tarts. Unfortunately when it reopened they changed the menu and all of this is gone, leaving but a fairly tame, underwhelming menu. There is basic charcuterie and cheese and flatbread pizza (that isn't all that good, tbh). Prior to the pandemic, this tiny restaurant would jammed with happy diners. Today, it was empty and lonely. My lunch: nothing inspiring me to ever return again. Aparently, other former customers have also reached the same conclusion. Whoever decided to change the menu and dumb it down with boring items while losing their signatuee mussels and onion soup made a terrible decision. I recommend you walk down the street to The Majestic or the many other dining options where an effort is still being put in to the food. What a disappointment The Tasting Room has become. Such a shame.

Saw online that Tasting Room had a Happy Hour 3-6pm, M-F. Stopped in on Friday around 4:30, asked for HH menu and told "no more Happy Hour. So go if you want to try, but they don't have Happy Hour anymore!

I've got to say if you're looking for a place to hold an event, then look no further: Brabo Tasting Room offers a varied menu with a reasonable price structure. I attended an event here not too long ago and was immediately impressed with their professionalism and delicious menu. I really enjoyed the delectable pizza selections. The crust of each slice was crispy and delicious. Loaded with fresh toppings, Brabo's pizza was only surpassed by their world-class bowl of mussels, a buttery and flavorful concoction that rivals anything mussel offered in Old Town. Brabo Tasting Room is the perfect venue for any event, and given the opportunity, I'd definitely do it again.

Service: Kate was both our bartender and server and she was lovely. Attentive, knowledgeable about the menu and very friendly. Food: Lamb sausage was creatively tasting and presented, french onion soup was soothing and just as its supposed to be, shrimp pest flatbread was light and fresh, and the mussels were super tasty. We were pretty full when we got to dessert but decided to share the bread pudding and it was such a good decision. Food was good portion sizes, flavorful and well presented. Atmosphere: I love the vibe of the Tasting Room, it is casual but still in a classy way. Everything was clean, decor was fresh, and you could sit at the bar or sit at a smaller table or booth. Nice contrast from the Brabo next door. And the happy hour is a bonus!

The Tasting Room is such a fun, unexpected stop in a charming brick building attached to a larger boutique hotel. The cocktails are unbelievable and the servers and bartenders are very knowledgeable and helpful in choosing new drinks and dishes every time we go! Highly recommend stopping by for a memorable evening.

I will come back here any time, even if I'm making a trek to get to Old Town. I recognize there is a Brabo restaurant next door, but this tasting room was wonderful and unassuming. With only a few seats and bar stools around, it felt intimate without being romantic, and a great place for drinks with friends. We ordered a few appetizers, a half-order of mussels and cocktails, and you really had to roll me out of there. I was so satisfied, I was telling my South Florida friends about this place. Let's start with the service - while they weren't hovering, they were available when we were ready to start ordering. I wish I took a picture of the menu in early November, because I'm blanking on the items now, but there was an utterly delicious meatball appetizer that disappeared between three of us, it was amazing. There was a lamb dish, I might pass on that next time. We also ordered a goat cheese, which came on a platter with a jam, some toast points, and candied walnuts maybe? Then the mussels - I think we had one with chorizo, and we joked about just taking the sauce they were steamed in to go. I kid you not, I am salivating just thinking about that sauce now. The waitstaff even brought out more bread so we could just...soak pieces in the sauce after we ate all the mussels. Carb day, honestly. Next time I come, I'm just ordering another platter of mussels and bread. I'll be that crazy girl, alone, piles of shells. Thanks so much, Brabo staff, for making my short trip to DC so delicious.

Brabo Tasting Room is located right in front of the Lorien Hotel & Spa. Seating inside is on the small side with a few tables, some table top seating and some bar seating. There is also dog friendly outdoor seating right behind the restaurant. And just to let you know, the Lorien is dog friendly where your pup can stay for free. My husband and I came on a Saturday around 5 pm, just in time for their happy hour (Every day 3:30- 6:30 pm). Please note that happy hour seating is only confined to the bar, communal table (table top seating) and outside. After looking over the menu, we ended up ordering: Sangria, $7 (Happy Hour)- I love sangria and was a little disappointed that this was NOT a sangria. Sangria should be sweeter, allowing the fruit to be able to macerate and really leave its sweet mother nature's natural sugar into the wine. I would describe this drink as a rose wine with small pieces of fruit. Rose wine is on the sweet side so I did like this (I like rose wines in general) but this is definitely not a sangria. My husband and I both ordered a glass and thought the size was good. Classic Mussels, $14 prior to tax (Happy Hour Price)- Delicious white wine sauce. Initially when this was brought out, bread was not served along side it. Later on a server brought us one. It was nice to help soak up that sauce. It was also nice that we were given a refill on bread (a server asked if we would like more bread and we were not charged extra). The mussels itself were perfectly cooked. Great portion for 2. 3 Course Tasting, $29 prior to tax. The following was picked: Panzanella- Nice salad, rather on the small side. Roasted Mushroom Tart- This was a pizza, which we were not expecting. I kind of was expecting a quiche since this was labeled as a tart. This was filling and had great amount of cheese and roasted mushrooms. Chocolate Panna Cota- Nice light dessert after having a nice large, heavy meal. Loved the silky chocolate. ------------------------- (Total= $63.27 after tax, prior to tip) Service was minimum. The food was good but overly priced for what it was. Although the course tasting menu is cheaper than to order those items individually, it is still kind of expensive for what it is. I don't know if I would come back here. The happy hour deals in general are not that great as the discount isn't that much and the items offered is so small in selection.

Had a really nice time at the tasting room last night. The Old Fashioned had a lot of ice, but was still very tasty. The chardonnay I had was very good. There were several great beers on the menu too. Bartender was good, could have been a bit more attentive later on, plus should serve the lady first, or both drinks together at the same time. Prioritization is the key! ;) We had the fennel & chorizo mussels, OMG it was so good, flavorful and a plenty for $21. You have to try it! The bread was fresh, the bartender brought us more bread to soak up the yummy broth. I loved how elegant & quiet the tasting room was on a Saturday night (but it was raining). The main restaurant was really loud when we stopped by around 8, but so glad we decided to hop over to the tasting room. My last reviewe was actually for the main dining room at Brabo in 2016. Highly recommend if you are in the area. It's close to the metro, always has plenty street parking and the food will wow you!

My visit to Brabo has been a long time coming. I moved to Alexandria in 2010 and had always intended on making it to the Brabo Tasting Room and just never made in until now. :( My most favorite is their French onion soup. I am a huge fan of shallots/green onions and Brabo's version came with a good amount on their soup. I also appreciated that I didn't have to break/crack through the bread topped soup, the bread/croutons was already sunken into the broth and cheese. I wasn't overwhelmed with a ton of caramelized onions and the broth was seasoned well. Loved it. I believe the potatoes came drizzled with a lemon aioli. The potatoes were really good. I ordered them knowing they weren't being paired with anything, I just had to order them because I love potatoes. The potatoes were not too oily, a little crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I also ordered a caesar salad. I've been on a caesar kick for quite some time, so I couldn't not order it. The dressing was nice and garlicky. It came with some cracked pepper on top, crumbled hard boiled eggs. My only complaint about this salad was that it was a bit salty. The flavors of the sausage tart were unexpected. I did not know the onions were going to be pickled. I had a tough time deciding whether I liked the other flavors mingling with the balsamic onions. I thought the onions were a bit overpowering. I didn't dislike the tart, but if I were to order this again, I would omit the onions. Now for dessert, my friend and I received the chocolate mousse, compliments of Brabo. It was a nice surprise and of course, very welcome. My friend and I were quite full, but we made sure to eat all the mousse. The mousse came atop blueberry compote. I liked how I could taste a bit of orange zest in the blueberry. So, I like having my chocolate mousse at room temperature, but we had to hit the road eventually. The chocolate mousse was a milky chocolate with a bit of dark, it was a great ending to our lunch.

This is a quaint little pub next to the Lorien Hotel & Spa. If you are facing the hotel, the tasting room is to your right and the hotel is to your left. They have a large pizza oven. The Woodfire Tarts (think flat bread) were great. The place is cozy and nice. We were watching some tv on the flat screen. The tasting room has mussels but if you to add fries, go to the Brabo restaurant.

Brabo is a cute little eatery in Old Town Alexandria. It is the small sister of Brabo Restaurant next door. I have been here twice and each time has been very good. They recently added a new "grazing table" option for guests. A small group can select this family style/communal table option where stationary platters are set atop a long table in the middle of the tasting room. The whole concept is a community table to encourage conversation over tasty food. This was such an interesting concept that I have never seen before. The food was pretty yummy too!

The food is great! Octopus plus lamb is so delicious. Flatbread and sandwiches are way bette than 90% of American restaurants. Nothing really fancy just great taste.

The food was great, we got the charcuterie and margarita pizza to share and both were delicious! The service was a little slow but everyone was still very nice and helpful

Our party of 8 had no issues with getting a weeknight seating. The food is amazing. Exactly what I expect from a classy place. The drinks were delicious too, and there was a great happy hour special. We'll definitely be back to try even more menu items. We split mussels and a pizza. Both were great. Crusty bread in the mussels' broth - divine.

Delicious mussels for the first time in this area. I have tried mussels at a few restaurants and hot disappointed. So this restaurant surprised me in a good way. The texture and sauce were both really good. Also their appetizer platter came with many delicious bites and bread. Salmon dip, hummus, beef tartar with good grain mustard, salami, etc... I ordered Sauvignon Blanc from NZ, which was good too. I went there around noon and left at the end of lunch time with one of my friends. Our waitress came quite often to clean up my table and asked us to take time. Hummm, it was clear that she wanted to get rid of us asap. That's why I give 4 stars. Taste: Great! Price: Pricier. Variety: Fresh seafood, delicious meat, vegetarian, etc... Atmosphere: Cool beachy casual. But many people were in suits because of the price and the old town office area, I reckon. Customer service: Both good and bad. Parking: Garage or street. Location: Hotel, bars, restaurants, cute shops,etc... in a walking distance.

Best bartending service, 10/10 Vanessa was lovely, Amazing cocktails! Will for sure be coming back.

You MUST go here. The service is top-notch and the Shrimp & Grits are out of this world. I could eat it everyday‼

Great place for a ladies, men's, or family breakfast. Staff was friendly and accommodating. Mimosas were perfect (not on the menu but ask and you shall receive). French toast moist and flavorful. Potato cakes were the best thing on our plates. I don't like poached egg, but with the sausage and potatoes cake...mmmmm heavenly! You're in for a treat when visiting here! GNO!

The best quiche I have ever had. Leak and gruyere cheese. What a gem of a spot. Feeling kind of guilty recommending a restaurant outside of my city, New Orleans, but this is yummy came with a salad with great dressing-not drenched in it. Did I mention that the onion soup was awesome?! And David Byrne's Once in a Lifetime on the sound system helps....

Friendly staff who are very attentive. Clean atmosphere with an interesting and simple decor of light grays and beige. Small but it works, great for a quick and small lunch. Pretty pricey but the food was unique and tasty. Ordered a side of meatballs that was surprisingly filling. Regular size meatballs that came with about 10 meatballs. Marinara sauce was good and topped with cheese and mixed with basil. $10 The 5 Onion soup was delicious. Consisted of 5 different onions and cheese. $10 Also ordered the bratwurst. The mixture of picketed cabbage, mustard, and salad were perfect. Each were had unique tastes and were not your average mustard or salad. Great combination.

We got here at just the right time-- right before 6 p on a Friday and got one of the last two booths. Service was pretty lackluster. Had to ask for extra napkins several times. My friend's lamb "tart" (read pizza) looked pathetically small and thin. She said she was enjoying it but I was damn glad I got the brisket sandwich. It was a great portion size that left me feeling pleasantly full not even wanting a side of fries. Main low rating is for the ambiance. It's a rather small space, however, it was still unreasonably loud and I felt like I had to shout at my friend who was sitting all of 1.5 ft away from me. Come to think of it, I can't even remember if there was any background music. That's how loud people were. You could have easily mistaken it for Super Bowl Sunday at a sports bar. Considering you're paying $20 for a sandwich, that's just not the kind atmosphere I want to be eating in.

Great spot for a date night! The place itself is fairly small so I don't recommended going in with a large group without a reservation. I went for a table for 2 on a Friday night and was seated right away! We ordered the Pita & Hummus and the Spanish Mussel Pot and both did not disappoint! I didn't expect to get full with just sharing 1 appetizer and 1 Mussel pot, but the serving size was perfect. The Hummus was so well made and the hint of paprika was the perfect addition. The pita had garlic and red pepper flakes so it was packed with flavor. Both of them together was a delicious bite. The Mussel Pot was the star. The mussels were cooked so well!! The pot comes with a bread basket, and when you dip that joint in the sauce- you'll be sold. I'd love to come back to try another Mussel Pot flavor. If you're looking to come here, note that there is only street parking!

Came here with two friends and we all really enjoyed our time here! The three of us all shared a small order of their selection of meats and cheeses, the mariniere mussels, and the roasted mushroom flatbread. All of us left very full as well! My personal favorite was the mussels; they were very fresh, well seasoned, and soaking up the juices at the end with our bread was the icing on top. We asked for another basket of bread just so we could get every last drop! The ambiance of this place is very relaxed and modern, albeit a bit small. Our server was very friendly and attentive and answered all questions we had on the food and wine! I definitely plan on returning and trying a different style of their mussels!

What a cute dainty small and cozy restaurant the bravo tasting room is. The moment I walked in I was greeted with many friendly hellos and greetings from the staff. I sat down and waited for my friend to arrive. The waitress instantly poured me water while she gave me time to wait for my plus one. The menu is so cozy and to the point. The food option start from wood fried tarts to the Robert signature mussels to sandwiches to meats and cheeses to salads to soups. The menu is so easy to read and it makes picking your dishes that much easier. The main dishes range from 16 to 20$. It is a very reasonable menu and it's pretty cheap regarding the restaurant area and the great atmosphere the restaurant embodies. You need to order their classic mussel! It's so delicious!! There is minimal fishy smell and the sauce is spot on. The sauce is perfect for dipping their soft French bread with! The classic mussel was definitely my favorite!

I've been here twice during lunch and had a good experience. The eatery is nice and quiet - a great setting for a casual business lunch. The European-inspired menu is relatively small, but the selections are quite tasty. Try the DLT (duck confit and pastrami on sour dough).

What I miss most about California: Trips up to Napa Valley for great food and wines. (After friends, of course.) Well, Brabo just made me feel at home. The Tasting Room's menu is relatively short but the quality and execution of each dish are outstanding. Case in point: My pictures received no less than twenty likes in the last 24 hours, and I didn't even use filters! Among the three of us, we shared the endive salad, the duck tart, and classic mussels. Each vegetable in the salad worked perfectly with each other to deliver tart, sweet, and freshness in each bite. While my friend thought the candied walnuts were a tad too crunchy, I thought they were five seconds away from being burnt while achieving a beautiful caramelization. The mussels were plump and plenty. While I would have preferred less butter in the broth, I thought the chef was going for a more subtle focus in the broth to highlight the fresh mussels. Plus, EVERY mussel had opened up. I don't remember the last time I ordered mussels where I didn't find at least one dead mussel in the pot. I really appreciated the freshness. The duck tart was interesting. I expected more of a braised duck on top of a quiche-like tart, but it's actually marinated duck on top of margherita pizza. Regardless, I enjoyed it. We finished the meal with a peppermint white chocolate mousse for dessert. While I never eat white chocolate because I lack the sufficient sweet-tooth for it, I thought the mousse was quite excellent. It was fluffy and well-contrasted with the chocolate sauce and peppermints as well as the dark chocolate cake. Finally, the service was impeccable. Aside from the personal staff, our waiter thought to separate our salads into individual plates without us asking, and checked back a few times without being overbearing. Brabo is another reason to fall in love with Alexandria. I highly recommend it!

So good. The damage: a cheese plate, an open-faced Reuben special, chorizo mussels, three glasses of wine, and three and a half baskets of bread. I know, emotional eating much? Our only disappointment was the lack of duck fat fries on the Tasting Room's menu. Moules sans frites is mildly saddening, even if we had more mussel broth options here. I appreciated the veritable bounty of warm, crusty'n'plush bread that kept arriving at our table without the runners looking too mind-boggled. What can I say, we had some tasty cheeses and mussels to work through. After breathing in the table-side unveiling, we dug into the mussels. Excellent and plentiful, swimming in a rich broth generously populated with marinating chorizo chunks. Their heavenly open-faced Reuben special of the day has ruined all other Reubens for me. The small side salad provided a bright and zesty contrast for our palates. With the sandwich ingredients all made in-house, I can find no fault with the luxuriously tender corned beef, flavorful sauerkraut, and not-too-creamy thousand island dressing piled aggressively onto cheesy, plush rye triangles. I could eat this every day and die happy while still young and pretty (though the latter may be negotiable after a daily diet of Reuben ambrosia). Unf, om nom nom nom. I restrained myself from making guppy faces out the window as the passersby peered in. Yes, that's how wonderful Nabil's wine recommendations were. Stupendous service, semi-casual feel, clean single-occupancy bathrooms, bright interior that gets dimmed for mood lighting after sundown. Overall this was an affordable and tasty Wiedmaier experience that I'm looking forward to repeating.

I had THE BEST cocktail here! Every night they feature a few special punches. The night we went they had only two left: a mango & ginger and a blueberry blackberry punch. The blueberry blackberry was off the hook!!! It tasted like liquid candy. I seriously have thought about this drink multiple times a day for a week now. It's the middle of summer and I was still reeled in with their description of the French onion soup. So glad I was too...it was phenomenal. With five different types of onions and tons of cheesy, melty goodness, you can't really go wrong. Awesomeness! Also had the flatbread proscuitto which was yummy. It was a perfect "light" meal for the evening and service was great too. We walked in around 8pm on a Wednesday and they were able to accommodate the two of us within 10 minutes. It is a little pricey here, but it is so worth it!

Although Brabo Tasting Room is a scaled down version of the Brabo restaurant next door, it manages to retain the high service standards and excellent cuise in a much more casual and fun atmosphere. Dotted with booths and a 8-person communal table in the center, it's small, but a great option for meeting friends over a glass of wine or a cocktail and bar snacks. We stopped in at the tasting room on a Friday night before having dinner at Brabo. We sat at the communal table and after seeing the mussels that the couple seat4ed next to us were eating, we had to try them. We were blown away by the mussels, which are served in a gigantic pot and steamed over a rich broth. The menu features three broth options, including a regular and thai curry version. We opted for the regular, which was superb and was ideal for dipping sourdough bread in. At $14 for a massive portion of mussels, we thought this was by far the best value on the menu. The wine list here is limited, but there are many great wines and reds availably by the glass. If you are planning to visit Brabo, I would highly recommend getting there early or being prepared to wait for a while to get a table as the venue is dining room is small and there are only 6-8 seats at the bar. Also keep in mind that being so small, the dining room is extremely loud, so don't plan on bringing grandma and grandpaps here!

Really sad to write this review- our first time back after they reopened. They've lost any sort of individuality that used to make the Tasting Room a great meal. The menu is now very boil-in-the-bag and food is just "fine". It's also incredibly expensive and I left hungry. We won't be back.

This is my go to Frits and Martini spot with my friends after a long week. They have a fully stacked bar and truly have the best wine and cocktails hence the name, tasting room. It is a perfect place for an intimate date or to unwind. They don't have any vegan options aside from the pear salad without the cheese but the french fries are worth splurging on with your calories.

Don't be deterred by the fancy decor of this place, they have a great happy hour and fantastic cheese boards that are pretty decently priced. On a Friday night there was no wait for a table which was great! The beer and house punch were only $5 during the happy hour and were great choices! I'm not sure if the punch is a daily thing or if it was just a special, but it was really tasty and pretty strong. The cheese board came with a ton of great warm bread, jams, honey, and nuts! The entrees are a little more fancy and they have things like octopus and not really happy hour food, but if you're into that, you should check this place out. There tasting room has a restaurant right next door as well, but Icant comment on that. At any rate, I would come back here for a HH if I'm in Alexandria again.

Hadn't been there in a couple years, it used to be one of our favorite places to dine so I was excited to go back. It was pretty underwhelming. The artichoke appetizer appeared to be quartered artichokes you buy in can which was then heated in dish with raisons and crumbles and parsley on it, not much favor at all. Pizza was very good. The French dip was really disappointing, not much meat at all on it and what meat was on there was full of fat and gristle which we set to the side and showed server. It was served with a handful of BBQ potato chips. We were still charged for it. Bummer.

Attended a Yelp event and was able to experience Brabo Tasting Room's revamped courtyard. What a great outdoor space to enjoy a cocktail -- quiet and comfortable, especially after a work day. I was under a mistaken impression -- I thought Tasting Room meant a multi course prix fixe meal. This is not that - The Tasting Room is built around their extensive wine program, accompanied by small plates. The charcuterie is phenomenal with fresh meats and artisanal cheeses. The moules (mussels) are prepared in a variety of ways. All good -- go for the one with chorizo. The shrimp pizzas are really tasty as is the mushroom -- all are small enough to share and enjoy several different options. Everything is so good, you'll want to share so you can experience more. Tasting Room is a great concept -- good food, fine wine, casual atmosphere and a cool old brick building. If you've got a group, consider the newly offered Instant Party "Grazing Table" for 6-10 people where you can sample a lot of what I mentioned above. No reservations taken, except for the table. Involved management and chef who pay attention to the details of running a busy restaurant.

What a gem in Alexandria. Brabo tasting room was exactly what we were looking for in the sea of crappy national harbor restaurants. I found this place on Yelp (of course) when a few friends wanted to escape the hotel and head across the river. We were not disappointed at all. We started with the soup of the day, which was this potato truffle soup. It was a cold night and exactly what we needed to warm up before we went into the excessive amount of cheese we ordered next. So obviously we did a bottle of Saldo zin and some cheese/charcuterie. They give you a wide selection of both meats and cheeses. We were very impressed. If that's not enough food for you, they have a range of delicious flatbreads and other appetizers. We ordered the flatbread with Taleggio cheese. It was pretty good but was missing something. Maybe a little balsamic drizzle or something to bring a little acid. The service was great, the food was pretty damn good and the atmosphere was perfect for a nice night out in Alexandria.

I always try to see if Misha is in the house! And yes he was, and yes it was perfect... again. Happy hour was fantastic. 1/2 price tasty things to try. PERFECT octopus. Cut with your fork tender! So good, we ordered 2! with the perfect saffron crema. Mussels with chorizo and a LOVELY Rose. Because their wines are fantastic, and Misha will get to know you and learn your taste. Everyone walking through the door is a VIP, because he makes it so! This is the perfect spot for a quick and satisfying bite. Small and quaint. I always have to stop by!

Had a wonderful lunch time tasting. You have an option of red, white, or sparking wines. They give you three glasses to taste, it was delicious. The bartender was knowledgeable and the atmosphere was pleasant. If in area it is a must that you stop in. They do offer a $20 brunch and a tasting option on Sun.

Nice decor. Bar had two seats open for happy hour. Had house red wine which was good. Husband had rum punch which he thought was tasty. We ordered 1/2 price app of breast of veal. It was dry. Salad was tasty. Needless to say we didn't continue for dinner. Check please. Sorry but not worth the stop.

It Friday Night and it's the first time my wife and I are going to dinner since I left for Afghanistan a year ago Dec 2017. We hit the jackpot here,a quaint little tasting room that cooks with a Brick oven right in plain sight. We started with a n awesome Charcuterie tray with 3 cuts of sausage and a house made Pâtë, 2 cheeses, and mustard & relishes. For our main course we split the house made Hunter's Sausage with puree of celery root... OMG, this was so Fing awesome!!!! We enjoyed a couple of glasses of a wonderful Pinot Gris. Oh, we are so looking forward to coming back and exploring their offerings further.

I am not sure the Belgian moniker is correct as someone who has lived in the Benelux, but maybe having mussels constitutes the minimum baseline here. I digress... We are here on business and got tired of the constant tourist traps sprinkled in the area. We wanted mussels and this place seemed like the best choice. We found the place lightly filled with patrons and quickly were seated. Service was okay, not amazing, but sufficient. We started with a charcuterie platter which was great. For our entrees we had the pork and mussels. The pork was a bit too dry, but it could have been an off night. The protein itself was a good selection. The French-style mussels were phenomenal. Sufficient bread was provided to soak up the wonderful white wine and Gruyère cheese sauce. The beer menu is the real display of this not being a Belgian restaurant as it included only one or two from the region. A tasty Trappist beer with the mussels would have been great. Overall for the experience it was great and a welcome departure from the usual of King Street.