Whiskey & Oyster

Oyster bar restaurant · Eisenhower East

Whiskey & Oyster

Oyster bar restaurant · Eisenhower East

1

301 John Carlyle St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Photos

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Whiskey & Oyster by Whiskey & Oyster/official photo
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Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null
Whiskey & Oyster by null

Highlights

Unpretentious eatery with a patio serving seafood, sandwiches & pasta, plus a long whiskey list.  

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301 John Carlyle St, Alexandria, VA 22314 Get directions

whiskeyandoyster.com
@whiskeyandoyster

$$ · Menu

Information

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301 John Carlyle St, Alexandria, VA 22314 Get directions

+1 703 567 1533
whiskeyandoyster.com
@whiskeyandoyster

$$ · Menu

Features

dine in
wifi
payment credit card
reservations
outdoor seating

Last updated

Mar 4, 2025

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"Head to Alexandria’s Carlyle district to find seafood towers and, naturally, whiskey and oysters at this nautical newcomer. The Instagram-ready bar, splashed with mermaid decor, stars a repurposed dry cleaning conveyor rotating more than 120 varieties of whiskey around the 100-seat space. It’s safe to say prolific Alexandria restaurateur “Mango Mike” Anderson knows what he’s doing; he’s opened 20 restaurants, starting with Shooter McGee’s in 1979." - Tierney Plumb

New Alexandria Restaurants and Bars to Try - Eater DC
View Postcard for Whiskey & Oyster

Tiffany W

Google
I came here for Restaurant Week and didn't eat the special. Instead, I had the happy hour fish and chips and the Seafood Alexander. The happy hour fish and chips was very good and a ton of food for a good price. The pasta was also really good and I was happy that I tried both. I definitely had food to take home. My waitress, I cannot remember her name but she was a amazing. For her to be working multiple sections she did a great job at being attentive. For a drink I had the Black Manhattan and it was very good. Will definitely visit again, I can see why happy hour is busy. There is also outdoor seating. Cute area for date night.

michele c

Google
We decided to try this place for lunch. It was a beautiful day so we devided to sit outside. After ordering the seafood tower, the waiter noticed bugs were starting to circle. He moved us to another area that was bug free. I think his name was Michael, he was great. He gave great suggestions and was very attentive. The other staff members were great too. Overall the food was good. The seafood tower was good. The thai oysters, fried oysters and the shrimp were my favorites. Drinks and the Whiskey flight was great.

Tybee 497

Google
I was in Alexandria for corporate travel and decided to dine at Whiskey & Oyster. This was my first time visiting. I sat at the bar because I loved the seating layout and decor. It was the perfect decision. There was plenty of space or "arm room" to relax while ordering and then eating. The bar service was great! I ordered the panseared salmon, with coconut rice and black beans(the best side item I've had in a while. I would love to have a similar recipe) and sweet potato fries. It was very satisfying and exceeded my expectations.

L L

Google
Came here on a Saturday at 2pm with an hour left for brunch. Atmosphere is nice and the wait staff is attentive and informative. We started with the Oysters Rockefeller which was really good. The oysters are fresh so there is still the salt water(?) in there underneath the melted hollandaise, spinach and bacon. The calamari are good but the batter is greasy, which isn’t a problem until you eat a lot of them. Definitely still worth it. The classic lobster roll has a good amount of lobster on it. The sidewinder fries are thick and you get a good portion as well. The only disappointing thing was the burger. The bun was thick, the veggies fresh, but the patty was burnt and very small in comparison to everything else. We got the blueberry/lavender/sage(?) mimosa which comes with 2 fresh blueberries and the cranberry mimosa which has two fresh cranberries. The cranberry one was tart but delicious. The “Virginia is for lovers”’flight is STRONG. All and all would definitely come back here again. There is parking right in front of the restaurant but if you can’t get it there is garage parking around the corner

Kat Fred

Google
Lucked out in making reservations in the middle of happy hour! Happy hour runs Monday through Friday 3 to 6 with great specials. Food was delicious! Flaky, tasty fish & unique chips. Oysters & mussels were the perfect celebratory dinner. Our server provided lots of helpful information about the types of oysters. She asked if we were military and then proceeded to thank us for our service and applied a discount. The server’s support team (pooled tips) provided efficient, friendly service. Clearing the table promptly, delivering more bread & explaining which oysters were which on the platter. Also offering beer samples & quick refills. Comfortable seats, nicely spaced in a cool setting with festive decorations and a rolling ceiling rack of booze. Street parking was readily available when we arrived at 5 o’clock on a Friday. If you’re looking for a reasonably priced restaurant for a special occasion or for just dining out, Whiskey & Oyster is your place!

Patrick Min

Google
We visited this seafood restaurant in Alexandria a while ago and came across it while exploring the area. The restaurant had an ocean theme, with blue lights resembling the ocean and sea-themed objects on the walls and ceiling. We started with some fresh and tasty oysters on the half shell for the appetizer, followed by calamaries, lobster mac & cheese, and seasoned salmon, which were delicious. To finish our meal, we ordered a perfect slice of NY cheesecake. We are excited to return to try other items on the menu soon.

Manni Yayo

Google
I visited this past Sunday, 3/16. It was very quiet, even with the employees. They don’t really greet you. Me and another lady were waiting and an employee came by, said “Hi” and walked away. The young lady who I found out was the hostess, walked up and greeted me. I told her I wanted a booth, but none were clean so she had to buss my table herself. Which she said she wiped off but I had to ask for it to be wiped again, TWICE. This caused the other patron to have to wait a while longer to be seated. Once seated the hostess let me know Kendra would be serving me. While Kendra was very nice, service was extremely slow, they looked to only have one server taking care of, from what I could see, 5 tables inside and an unknown number of tables outside. I had been seated about 10 minutes before she came to our “section” and checked out the table across from me. Granted she acknowledged me and said she would be right with me, it was approximately another 18 minutes before a different young lady asked if I ordered yet, which I hadn’t, so I ordered with her. I will mention that at around the 14 minute mark, Kendra did come tell me she was so sorry and that she would be there shortly. Another thing I noticed was that upon my arrival the front door facing booth had not been cleaned, and remained unclean for 16 minutes after I had been seated. So, for almost 30 minutes. They also didn’t have many of the raw oysters listed on their menu. But they had other options not listed on the paper menu. I also wanted fries, but they warned me that they may not have those either (they didn’t). I initially ordered 2 Blue Point oysters, Grilled Oysters with Chimichurri, and Lemon Pepper Asparagus. My Blue Points were brought out first, by Kendra, who again apologized for the wait. So delicious that I had to double back for three more. The asparagus needed a bit more seasoning, I tasted no lemon or pepper. And the chimichurri on the oysters was underwhelming, but adding a bit of Tabasco sauce to both did them justice. I literally inhaled it. I did realize that after the fact, the bottom of the chimichurri oyster plate was covered in salt. So I probably could’ve used that to give it more flavor. And lastly for my drink, I ordered an Old Cuban. It was fantastic.

Colin Nelson

Google
This place was fantastic. The whiskey is over priced, but such is most places these days. The she crab soup was incredible. The lobster roll was very good. And the fried calamari was some of the best I’ve ever had. They seemed to be a bit understaffed but the wait wasn’t too bad. I will definitely be back!

Haley H.

Yelp
The wonderful bartender, Ed, offered to run to a grocery store to get gluten free soy sauce so I was able to the Ahi Tuna Bowl. He was so kind and considerate of my food allergies. He was attentive and made sure my guest and I were having fun!

Manni A.

Yelp
It hasn't been a full two weeks and I'm back. Despite the mediocre service I received on my last reviewed visit, I could not stop thinking about their Blue Point oysters. I visited on a Friday at 3pm and immediately as I walked in I was greeted by the hostess Layla (might've butchered that spelling but I'm sorry !). She sat me and took my order which came out in under 15 minutes. I had a dozen of the blue points. I also received a malt vinegar to top my oysters (but I wasn't a fan). The staff was very attentive this visit. I also tasted three different oysters - i had the Rouge rivers which weren't salty enough for me and LARGE, the Beaver Tails were too salty, and last the Arcadias which were delicious ! Both the Terra D'Oro Moscato and Ramos Pinto RP10 Porto wines were excellent !

Cee E.

Yelp
I was visiting Alexandria from out of town and we came here for dinner with friends. I really liked the menu which had a southern/ Cajun flare. It so happened to be lobster day coincidentally (who know), so they were running a special for buy one get one lobster roll 1/3 off. Given the proximity to Maryland, they also had a decent amount of crab on the menu, which I was happy about. For starters, we ordered calamari and Kung pao cauliflower. The cauliflower came with sweet chili sauce and was pretty good (but not at all healthy lol). The calamari was also one of the better things we ordered. The plate was enough for 4 people to share and came with a red sauce. For our mains, we ordered lobster rolls, the seafood Alexander pasta (with chicken instead) and I ordered the crab cakes which came with 2 sides. Overall, the consensus was that the apps were better than the mains. I ordered my crab cakes with asparagus and "sidewinder fries". I never had sidewinder fries before so that was new. They're like a cross between wedges and curly fries. The asparagus was tasty and nicely seasoned. I didn't really care for the mustard based sauce on the crab cakes but I appreciated that the crab cakes were nicely stuffed and the portion was good. It tasted fresh but something about the seasoning wasn't all there. The guys said the lobster roll was a bit small and the bread was just so so (bread can def make or break a lobster roll). The pasta was good but they apparently they charge a fee to substitute chicken (seems weird since chicken is cheaper but oh well). The service was attentive but a bit interesting. When we were first seated the hostess wanted to seat us in a back corner outside even though there was no one outside. We asked to be seated at a less isolated table. The waiter also seemed like he'd been smoking a bit lol. But no complaints on the speed of the service. Once we were seated and they took our orders, the food came very quickly. Overall, I probably would not return here even though the prices were very reasonable and service was fast. The food just wasn't all that.

Unique C.

Yelp
Sooo this review is long over due because I've been to this restaurant at least 5 times . Decided to do a review because I actually never had a entree there, only appetizers. This time we had crab dip, deviled eggs , land and sea as the entree. Everything was yummy! The steak and crab cake of the land and sea dish were cooked to perfection. Also-- the best deviled eggs in the area, the fried oysters are a nice touch! Our server, Chris was awesome and did a great job at recommending dishes and cocktails. The vibe is loud and busy, especially on the weekends!

James H.

Yelp
It was a Friday night and we have friends from Atlanta visiting for the weekend so we took them to Whiskey & Oyster to grab a bite. I must tell you this, right after we entered the door, Bella, the young woman that you had working at your restaurant welcomed us with such great enthusiasm. I am uncertain how you found her in the first place, but you need to do everything that you can to keep her. What a pure joy and treasure she was! Always pleasant and polite, always extremely friendly, tremendously helpful, and with a smile that outshone your decor. She even remembered me from 5 months ago when she served my oysters while I was having a drink at the bar! Know you have a real gem in that young woman. We will definitely come back!!

Sara M.

Yelp
Went here twice this week during our stay. Many hotels within walking distance. They were able to host our party of 12 and we all enjoyed our food. They had gluten free choices too!! I got the Cajun shrimp twice this week. I loved it!

Aaron S.

Yelp
Perhaps I tried to go here on the wrong day. The hostess had a rather indifferent disposition that I didn't particularly care for. Everyone has their off days but her attitude left a lot to be desired. Our actual waiter was nice though so that was good. My group specifically went there for the bourbon but also were interested in eating. After looking at the bourbon list, we got up and left. I get it that it's a business designed to be profitable, but their pricing is absurd. 60 for a pour of Blanton's, 80 for EH Taylor small batch, and 60 for Henry McKenna is highway robbery. We told our waiter we decided to go and he understood, and was cordial. The hostess walked by as we were getting up to leave, asked him why we were leaving, then continued with what I'll politely describe as enhanced indifference.

BreAna M.

Yelp
This place is in our neighborhood and we always see a lot of people dining, so we decided to give it a try. We sat outside since it was a nice day. We started with the fried oysters. They were good but I think the sauce that comes with them really make them taste great!! I ordered the catfish sandwich. I got it fried at the recommendation of our server, but I wish I'd gotten the blackened. It was just ok. Not a lot of flavor to me. My fiance had the hot honey chicken sandwich. He also said it was ok. Chicken was a bit dry and overall the sandwich was missing something. I may come back to try out other items on the menu.

Jada J.

Yelp
Really not impressed. We went on a Friday night at 8pm and it wasn't even crowded. The service was very slow. We even saw someone walk out angry. The oysters were really good except one of the plates had a thing on it where it looked like a tiny bug or something. Don't know what it was. The food tasted like the nasty left overs. The pasta was dry. The gumbo had hard rice in it. Don't recommend unless for oysters only.

Luke G.

Yelp
Top notch! Had Easter brunch here. Nothing disappointing at all. The Challah bread on the Monte Cristo was out of this world. Hip place, tons of whiskey options and great service. Best spot we had on our DC trip.

Nisha B.

Yelp
Stayed at the Embassy Suites, and this location was only about a block behind the hotel. Came on a Tuesday evening. CLEAN, sparkly and felt comfortable inside. I sat at the bar to order Happy Hour food ahead of my evening out I was given like 4 different paper menus. It was overwhelming LOL I got an order of oysters. They were good. I then had a carne asade taco. The meat was a little too tough for my braces so I had to cut up the meat. This taco is pretty small , so you'd prob be better off ordering 2 or 3 if you're hungry I got a cheeseburger to go. The fries were really hot And I had a HH cocktail, which was delicious. Called 7-7 or something Slight street parking. They also have outdoor dining availabe. A lot of TV's at the bar

Jerome M.

Yelp
Good ambiance, short walk from the Hilton Old Alexandria. Good service and although pricey, I thought the food was delicious. Had the lobster roll Connecticut style which was very delicious but just too small however the fries were uniquely good and plentiful. My markdown is solely on price to amount of food I'm getting and I thought the lobster roll could've been bigger. Let's just put it this way, I never come close to finishing my fries, but this time I devoured it with my roll and was still hungry. I still enjoyed the place and the food, so I'll be back again.

Orquidea R.

Yelp
I love everything about this place. The decor, the cozy bar area, the food taste, variety and presentations and the convenient location to my house and work. I really enjoy the roasted cauliflower every time I go and lately been adding some Mac and cheese to my favorites. They have great lunch specials and the oysters are some of the best around. The bar is very well sorted with all kinds and types of drinks for all pallets. Customer service is one of the best and Mason is very personable!

Laura C.

Yelp
Love this restaurant! So much I dined there two nights in a row. Both nights we received ample and friendly service. Water served right away and carafe left for refills. Check ins were nicely timed but not over the top. First visit was Monday in time for the $10 happy hour fish and chips. Fish was perfectly fried with the right amount of breading and so flavorful. Sidewinder fries also so yum. Coleslaw was just okay for me. Noticed that they have taco Tuesday, so yep right back the next night to indulge on tacos and cocktails. Pictured: Black Manhattan ($2 off HH until 7) yum yum lobster taco hold the door amazing and blackened shrimp taco hitting this meal out of the park. Followed with a house margarita that has special pricing for Taco Tuesday.

Kia E.

Yelp
Stopped in for Alexandria restaurant week. Out of 70 places I chose this spot?? Started off with the she crab soup - before I ordered I asked the bartender was it lump crab meat...he said yes..so I ordered a cup. Soooooo my idea of lump and his is obviously different. There was not 1 lump of crab...not even crab flavor. The soup also had masago on it??????? What for at Whiskey & Oyster bar???. Totally lost me on that move. What eva else I ordered was not with mentioning at ALL. The bartenders (afrian american & hispanic males) also had a dry attitudes. They were not conversational, not listening to the orders correctly. Overall I wont return and thats that.

Larry M.

Yelp
This is a place in my neighborhood, part of the Hometown Restaurant Group who have places in Carlyle and Del Ray. The food is pretty basic, beer menu pretty good, nice outside seating so I will give it a rating of 3. This may be petty but I was there tonight for the happy hour and it was $6 except for DIPAs as written on the menu. I got the Maine Lunch IPA and they charged the full price of $10. We pointed this out to the server who took it to the manager and it was reduced to $8. Hardly a big deal of course but it amazed me that they would tick off a customer for 2 bucks. So I am not returning on principle.

Fred G.

Yelp
Wow ! What can I say. I searched for a brunch place in Old Alexandria and what do you know a 5min walk from the hotel. I was pleasantly surprised when we walked in as you just felt from the inside ambiance and the character of staff this was going to be some good eats along with service and that is exactly what it was! We were greeted by the Manager Mason who welcomed us in as we were a little early. The website says 11am but they open up at 1130am. This was not a problem at all as the weather was on the warm side. We also were the first in and to be seated which also wasn't a problem as I felt like we had our own service. I ordered the Catoctin Whiskey Float which was robust and flavorful with the selections. Dined on Sweet Jesus oysters, coconut shrimp and some peel and eat shrimp. For our entrees had the shrimp and grits along with crab cakes. Absolutely delicious. Our server Mar was excellent and even shared a laugh when I Inquired as to the purplish tint of the grits. He informed me that they are specially ordered in from NC and called blue grits . Who knew ??? Not me as one can learn something new every day. I'll definitely be on the look out for them or hey, just come back here and dine. All in all, this was a great pick Yelp as it was a search and glad I did. Thanks also to the staff and the staff behind the scenes who made this one of the best dining experiences to close out the year ! 10 out of 10!

Fred B.

Yelp
I love this place but yesterday they were off a little. Group of 6. Excellent service from a slightly rowdy group. Had the hot butter lobster roll and subbed out the fries for their potato less clam chowder. Excellent tasting but the roll came out room temp. Still tasty. Still one my favorites in the neighborhood.

Monique H.

Yelp
Ambiance A+ Clean establishment A+ Food B Service B- First time going here.. beautiful place.. clean decor bright. Outdoor seating, oyster bar, regular bar just lovely. We were seated and it took our waiter 9mins to get our drink order. By this time we were ready to order because we were HANGRY.. lol... water with lots of lemons, crab and lobster soup, 2 dozen oysters, crab cake sandwich and a salad of some sort. The crab cake sandwich was plastered in whitish like sauce like a lot of it. The salad was nice crisp and the oyster were ok (a few big tasteless blobs).. kinda took away from the name for me. The soups tasted watered down like end of the night we aren't making more and the rice in my crab soup was half cooked half grainy like they ran out of good rice and took from the pot of half cooked rice. I didn't complain cause we were hungry and we ate it. Just not at the top of my return list. IMO Hank's Oyster Bar is better

Erma F.

Yelp
My date & I had a really cozy time at this little spot in Alexandria. The oysters were tasty. The waitress was accommodating, honest with her food selections & friendly. I ordered the seafood pasta, delicious! We both will be going back ...together !

Roy A.

Yelp
Stopped by W&O for brunch to try the W&O Sandy and I was blown away by how delicious it was. The sandwich is made on a brioche bun. The bourbon maple bacon and sausage gravy are the perfect finishing touches, and the whole thing is absolutely mouth-watering. I would highly recommend the W&O Sandy to anyone looking for a delicious and satisfying brunch option. Great music and plenty of tables with no wait.

Shawnte W.

Yelp
Had my birthday dinner at W&O and had a good experience! Navigating there was a bit of a hassle due to an event happening which had certain areas blocked off, our lyft driver had to put some work in to get as close to walking distance as we could. The interior is nice and the place wasn't crowded which I liked. Service was good and I enjoyed my cocktail and food. I liked their roasted oysters and the gumbo was absolutely delicious! I would be open to visiting again, maybe for happy hour and to try some other things on the menu.

E W.

Yelp
Great Sunday brunch. Service was friendly and quick. Good variety of food and drinks available.

Tonya D.

Yelp
Love the location. It's not in a very busy area at least when we went. I made a reservation just in case but It was not crowded when we arrived. We were seated at a booth quickly. The booth had high sides which gave a little more privacy. There were TVs strategically placed so watching Monday night football was perfect. The bar wasn't big but very cute. Adored how the liquor bottles are displayed above your head on what looks like a rotating shelf....great display. Enjoyed $1 oyster night. The oysters were fresh and sweet. I also tried the grilled oysters...reminded me of New Orleans. Our server checked in with us often. My friend had the salmon burger which must've been good because he ate it all. We also tried the pasta primavera but felt it needed a little more flavor.... prob works for most but we're spicy, hot sauce kinda ppl. Will definitely be back for the oyster special. Maybe the weather will be more accommodating and we can try the outdoor seating.

Alan G.

Yelp
Arrived shortly before closing on a weekday and they seated us right away. Our server was terrific and energetic despite the late hour. The restaurant decor was nautical as expected and the ambiance bright. We appreciated the pretty extensive and creative wine, cocktail and beer list, and we enjoyed one of the offered ciders, hazy IPA and their Best Old Fashioned--all were excellent. The grilled oysters with garlic butter or bourbon chipotle sauces were fresh and flavorful, and the shrimp cocktail were plump and accompanied by a good cocktail sauce. Among our entrees, the fried oyster po'boy was a highlight with lightly fried, tender oysters on a French roll dressed with shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes and an herb-laced creole remoulade sauce. The sidewinder fries were also outstanding. The crab cakes were also good alongside a standard but good Cole slaw. The warm lobster roll was a little lean on the amount of lobster given the price but included tender, well cooked lobster, and the upgraded cup of clam chowder was even better. So overall, a great experience and looking forward to trying more items on the menu when we get an opportunity!

Lumi N.

Yelp
Wife and I celebrated our anniversary here today and Bella and Maria attended to us this evening. There was also a gentleman with nose piercings and tattoos that took a picture of my wife and I. Forgive me for not getting your name but thank you again! Just wanted to reiterate how kind and attentive the staff are here. Always a pleasure to see them and them welcoming us. Thank you guys so much for making tonight special!

Xander Y.

Yelp
I went to Whiskey & Oyster for New Year's Eve for their special Chef's menu with plans to have a nice dinner and then get over to the Old Town waterfront for fireworks. My wife and I left the restaurant feeling more upset than we've ever felt as diners. So much so that we decided to skip the fireworks and head home for the countdown. As our plans changed, we stopped by Harris Teeter's for a bottle of rosé. Harris Teeter's sells packages of shrimp cocktail, so I ended up grabbing one as I was still hungry after the $200 meal at Whiskey & Oyster. As a seafood restaurant, Whiskey & Oyster was put to shame as my wife and I both agreed that the grocery store shrimp cocktail was the best thing we had eaten all night. For the chef/cooks/managers to allow that quality of food to leave the kitchen demonstrated a total lack of pride in their profession, a lack of caring of the diner's experience, and almost a contempt for the diners. First course: My wife ordered the charred octopus with chorizo. What she got was burnt rounds of chorizo with a couple gray tentacles of octopus so chewy she had to spit it out. My foie gras terrine was mostly fine as they're just slicing and serving the terrine -- not cooking it. Serving it with saltines instead of toast was a little sad though. Second course: we both ordered the she-crab soup. What we got was a cream of crab soup with 0 taste of sherry and trout roe instead of crab roe. As a cream of crab soup it was fine -- just in no way resembling she-crab soup. Third course: My wife ordered a grapefruit salad with 3 pieces of grapefruit. I ordered a sweet potato salad -- which was literally cooked sweet potato over greens. Thankfully, they included a large wedge of red onion still connected at the stem in my salad. The menu listed watermelon radish as an ingredient but the salad only came with red radish slices. Fourth course: My wife ordered the crab stuffed lobster tail. The lobster tail was so old/frozen/overcooked that it fell apart when trying to take it out of the shell. My gray overcooked pre-sliced duck breast (must have been a baby duck as there were only 5 slices) weirdly came with Thai chili sauce and pita pieces. Dessert: We received our dessert 10 minutes after our dining neighbors even though we finished our mains well before. My creme brulee literally came with 0 carmelized sugar on top and the custard was consistency of runny yogurt. Safe to say, I didn't even try a bite. Take a look at the picture and no one could blame me. My wife's mango parfait came served in a wide bowl and was nothing but unripe mango pieces mixed with what tasted like Cool Whip. Both dishes felt like the cooks had never eaten creme brulee or parfait in their lives before nor had looked at a recipe. Rather, it was like they had heard the dessert described to them once before in a story and they tried to recreate them off the cuff. Despite returning most of the food during the meal, the manager never came by to apologize. The waitress looked embarrassed and never came by to ask if we needed anything after the main course. After waiting over 20 minutes for dessert, I finally hailed down the waitress and asked to speak to the manager. I forgot his name but he is tall with a bushy beard. He was antagonistic and told me that he had told the waitress to tell us that if we're not happy with the meal we could should have asked for something else. The Wharf and Fish Market are minutes away. So is Hanks. There is 0 reason for you to even risk dining at Whiskey & Oyster.

Sharon H.

Yelp
The hush puppies are not cornmeal based so if you want the taste of a southern hush puppy don't order them. I thought it reminded me of a not so good beignet. Even my son who doesn't complain declined a 2nd one. I was told they are flour based. Next up were the oysters which where really good and I really liked the green sauce. My son had the salmon burger with lobster bisque soup and it actually had a nice size piece of lobster meat in it and the salmon burger was very good.

C24639 C.

Yelp
10.21.2023 Saturday Came DC visit my daughter and she Caving for Raw Bar Oysters. Call in place order. Mason who took my order and I let him choose my selection of Oysters while I'm on my way there. 30mins to closing and my drive need 25mins. Got there 10mins to closing and my order was well prepared all pack ready to pick up. A Big Shout Out to Mason. Super friendly and helpful. Thank you Mason.

Domonique S.

Yelp
I mean the name of the restaurant says it all. If you're a fan of whiskey and oysters (raw or cooked) and amazing service you have to stop by Whiskey & Oyster. The first thing that catches your eye upon entering the restaurant is the variety of whiskey/bourbon they have on a "conveyor belt" above the bar. This visit we opted to sit at the bar and indulge in a variety of appetizers, cocktails and mocktails. All apps were cooked well and tasty while the drinks were mixed to perfection. I do with the oysters had a little bit more garlic butter but that a personal preference. My favorite were the duck spring rolls. I could've ate 2-3 more orders of those lol. I will definitely be back to enjoy all W&O has to offer.

M M.

Yelp
This place is a Jserver OKE! I was seated at a dirty table, it took the server 10 minutes to clean the table off. The second DID NOT HAVE A CLUE of any of the menu items. She SUCKED at being a waitress! I will never go there again.

Rachel B.

Yelp
Came here for a quick happy hour. The potato fried were so amazing. They may have been the highlight of the night. We sat at the bar. Our bar tender crafted my old fashion well. He didn't seem to be the happiest but I know people have their days. We ordered three rounds of oysters. They were $1 and tasty. Lastly, the place was clean! I will be returning .

Jennifer N.

Yelp
I LOVE their restaurant week special! If you like oysters, you definitely have to go here for restaurant week. $45 for a dozen raw oyster, a bunch of fried oysters, a bunch of baked oysters, and hush puppies. Sooo good!

Steve S.

Yelp
Ambience very nice -4 Parking options poor-2 Service good-4 Food: 3 OK, nothing special. I had Bloody Mary (salty. Plain- no adders like olives, celery etc.) Steamed clams with garlic sauce (very salty some broken and not opened. Bread not crusty). Maine style lobster roll- picked lobster out of same bad bread. She OK with pear salad. First time here so would still give it another chance during weekday perhaps.

Janice L.

Yelp
One of my favorite places to get chargrilled oysters, so freaking good. I would have it once a week if I could afford it! Service and Ambience was great as well. Great way to celebrate your BIRTHDAY!

Cecilia R.

Yelp
Oysters were delicious! Ambiance is pleasant and we had a great time I recommend this place

Tony G.

Yelp
This place is the cutest little gem in Alexandria! I tried the restaurant on a Sunday evening around 5:00 p.m. You do have the option to book a reservation, but we just walked in on this day. The parking available is paid street parking and I was able to find a spot right in front of the restaurant (parking is free on Sundays). The inside of the restaurant was cozy with the cutest booths. Most importantly, the food was delicious! I ordered the lobster grilled cheese sandwich and just wow! I ate every morsel! They def did not skimp on the lobster. I also had a side salad and lobster bisque. Everything was just so tasty. My friend ordered the fried chicken sandwich (which was huge) and she was also satisfied with meal. Service was great! Our server was attentive and very helpful with answering all of our questions about the menu. I noticed they have a lot of specials on oysters and happy hour on different days. There is also a brunch on the weekend. I def plan to return!

Carol D.

Yelp
I was able to make a reservation for this place the same day as the very crowded and ridiculous Old Town Christmas market right outside for a large ground, so we were able to duck in here to escape the crowd. Food (4/5): It was a good extensive menu and they had plenty of lobster options on the menu, which for me is a plus! The food was solid: Lobster Grilled cheese with lobster bisque - The grilled cheese was really gooey and the lobster was great. The lobster bisque a huge disappointment - not really good at all. Monte Cristo with clam chowder: The monte Cristo was really great..it was a ham and cheese sandwich with powdered sugar and a side of raspberry jam. The clam chowder was fantastic - it has a ton of bacon in it and it was really, really good. Service (5/5): Our server was fantastic. Even though we had a large table, she was great at serving us in a timely fashion.

Kara B.

Yelp
This place was by far the best restaurant we ate while in DC for us who came from Hawaii. Definitely satisfied my cravings of wanting oyster! It was a cute place with outdoor seating available. Once I walked in, our group was seated at high counter tables near the bar. Perfect for us! We already knew we came for oysters, so that was a must for us to order. There were different types and sizes available which was a nice option for us. Oysters tasted fresh and it came with different toppings available. We also ordered shrimp which came with like 5 pieces. It was a good amount for us to still share. The calamari was really YUM, as it came out fresh, crispy, and perfectly seasoned. I got a lobster bisque cup, and honestly I had high hopes for it, however it wasn't thee best. The texture was smooth and runny, and the taste was plain. Nothing exciting about it. However, I did also order the lobster, which exceeded my expectations! That was sooo good especially with the meat already being somewhat plucked out for me. Service wasn't too bad. Our waitress was as enthusiastic as the waitress who brought out our drinks. She didn't smile much, and wasn't big on giving recommendations or having good conversations with us. Anyway, we had a great time nonetheless, and would definitely make it this a stop next time we're in DC.

JC R.

Yelp
Sat at the bar, Mimi the bartender who initially tended to us was pleasant and prepared a great Mango Coconut she recommended for me and I liked it. Then for our second drinks, it was completely different bartenders (2 of them) and both acted like we were a bother to them when we ordered our seconds and third drinks--what gives? The other drinks were a Sauvignon Blanc an Tenet Red Blend but when we asked for the third glass of the Tenet, unfriendly waiter told us they were out and offered a cab sav which was not good in comparison to the Tenet Red Blend. I mean usually Cab Sav is a fav but the one they have was awful and why did they ran out of the wine we started with and liked---odd' Food was okay, a lb if lobster boil served with very hard and inedible corn on the cob and very soft boiled potatoes was ok for $29... lobster was on the small side so its not worth it if you are famished you would need at least 3 orders($90)to satisfy your crave. Better off getting a tower at a high end restaurant, if you must! Even my friend commented at how the two waiters were unfriendly and acted as if we were bothering them... so, therefore, will not return and can not recommend this place; in fact, keep out!

Melissa G.

Yelp
I met Mason the general manager at the Whiskey Washback event the Friday before. He was great and told me about their upcoming $1 oyster day coming up so I decided to pop up. I arrived around 6:30 and expected to have a long wait. I lucked up and found a seat at the bar. It was definitely busy and popping in there when I arrived. By looking around, I saw everyone was taking advantage of the dollar oysters. I started with 1 dozen raw oysters but was excited about trying some of the other menu items. I also ended up ordering oysters rockerfeller, grilled oysters more raw oysters and lobster bisque. I washed it all down with a glass of white wine. The oysters were pretty good. Despite being busy the food came out quickly. The lobster bisque was less creamy and more tomato than I'm used. Never had a chance to say hello to Mason because he was hustling all around the restaurant and ended up leaving to go home before I left. Overall had a good experience and definitely plan to come back to try some of the other dinner items. I got full and never made it past the appetizers lol!

Jennise D.

Yelp
The service Was good but the food lacked flavor. It really could have benefited from some salt. This place does have a nice ambiance and decent happy hour specials so I would come back for Happy Hour but never again for dinner.

Janine A.

Yelp
Stars for warm & friendly service, beautiful atmosphere. The food was underwhelming at dinner, but I would return to try the brunch & happy hour. I was able to try several dishes, the best was their unique french fries, the clam chowder, & the mango coconut mocktail. Get those! The chopped salad was a disappointment in that I only ordered it BECAUSE it was allegedly a chopped salad. It was a pile of lettuce leaves in the middle & all the components were in piles around it. It was not only "unchopped", it wasn't assembled. That was frustrating. It was delicious (I added salt & pepper), but it was awkward to have to make my salad at the table while trying not to spill it all over the place. The misses- The bourbon maple shrimp & grits. Thankfully, I asked for the maple syrup on the side. It is incongruent to the dish. Next, it wasn't made well. No seasoning, the grits were stiff in clumps, not creamy, not cheesy. Disappointing. The crab cake- same. tasteless. The spinach- same, tasteless. No salt, pepper, lemon, garlic, anything?? Anyway, I expected more, but will give it another try as stated above.

Dennis C.

Yelp
I had high hopes for this place based on reviews, but left disappointed. I ordered the Duck Spring Rolls as an appetizer. Nice portion size and plated well. However these must be premade and fired, but they were lukewarm. What could've been great was only fair. I then tried the Nixon Point raw oysters from Canada. They were very small and had almost no taste. At $3.75 each, this was sad. Enjoyed a glass of Fairfax Chardonnay from CA, which was the best part of the meal.

Donna O.

Yelp
Our starter of friend calamari was good, hot, crispy and a good portion size for two. I had the shrimp and grits and all I can say is stay away. The shrimp were not properly cleaned but because of a table full of screaming children and I mean blood curdling screams coming from the table next to us I just ate the grits and the two shrimps that appeared clean. I don't blame the restaurant for the screaming kids but rather the 3 woman at the table who were paying more attention to their phones than the kids. However it would have been nice if at some point the hostess had asked them to keep the noise down. We chatted with other diners as we left and they too said their night was ruined by the screams. I've been to W & O before but it will be awhile before I return.

Eric W.

Yelp
This place has, as its name suggests, plenty of whiskey and oysters on the menu, though that isn't what I was quite craving. Food - The sacre bleu burger was absolutely delicious. It had truffle honey which is something I've never heard of before. Their mussel dish is amazing! Calamari : not so good Service - good Parking - easy if no one is parking in front, which is located in what is basically a traffic circle. Overall, this place is great.

Precious J.

Yelp
I've visited Whiskey & Oyster a couple times but this most recent time was on a Friday night to celebrate a friend's birthday. Our reservation was for 6pm, we were seated immediately and got lucky with a street parking spot right in front. The steamed mussels with spicy broth was delicious!! I could have eaten those as my meal. When we sat Bella (such a beautiful soul) told us that there was 3 minutes left for happy hour to ensure we took advantage of ordering any items we were interested in at a happy hour price. The crab cakes were all crab meat and tasty. The spicy Mac and cheese and spinach was okay. My friend enjoyed his rockfish but would have preferred if it was not a filet. The bread pudding (one of my favorite desserts) was soooo good. Bella realized it did not come out with a candle and insisted she brought out ice cream with a candle to sing "happy birthday". Bella sang solo which was a nice gesture. This visit was consistent with the first visit and the service was top notch.

Madeleine C.

Yelp
Rude. Poor customer service. Food is OK. Nice outside seating. Better places in old town.

LoriLynn R.

Yelp
This place did not disappoint. It has a very cool atmosphere and great staff. Our guy wasn't too friendly but got the job done. The ladies were full of character and charm.

Shari D.

Yelp
I have no doubt in my mind that I'll be back here! The drinks were so well made, sat at the bar for a more hands on experience and had the chance to chat with the general manager. The ambiance is pretty unique, they even kept the conveyor from the old dry cleaners, and that's where they house their top shelf liquor. They have rotating art in the bathrooms, which are also gender neutral! Whiskey & Oyster will definitely see me again plus the GM shared they offer tons of specials during the week.