By the Gastronomes

We all have our favorite restaurants in Alexandria and particularly in Old Town. Whether it is a creature of habit syndrome or afraid to venture outside our comfort zone, we tend to take the path of least resistance. This month, however, we decided to leave the comfort zone behind and take a trip to the Mediterranean via Elaine’s Restaurant at 208 Queen Street. For those of you who have been in town for as long as I have, Elaine’s is located where the former Bilbo Baggins served us for 38 years.

The new owners, Jeff and Cynthia Higgins, gutted the place and did a build out of understated elegance. The décor is very tasteful with clean lines and muted tones in the dining room while the bar side is very warm with jewel and charcoal tones. The dining room sits along a wall of windows that looks out on Queen Street with the bar adjacent to it on the left as you enter the front door. Upstairs there is a dining area with private party accommodations as well as a reading room stacked with books where they hold monthly meetings for writing groups and associations.

As I mentioned in the beginning, I am a creature of habit, and dining at Elaine’s was a new and a learning experience for me. Jeff greeted us at the door and thus began our introduction to Elaine’s. Jeff’s wife Cynthia spent her childhood in Cairo Egypt and at the ripe old age of 12 promised her grandmother, Elaine, that she would open a restaurant some day and name it after her. She kept her promise and brought a bit of Alexandria, Egypt to Alexandria, Virginia.

When we did the R&D for this column, Restaurant Week (RW) was in full swing so we opted to enjoy a late lunch with the regular menu as opposed to dining in the rush of RW and a fixed price menu at dinner. There were several others who had the same idea we did.

For starters we ordered the Sofra Platter consisting of Beet-Tahini Salad, Baba Ghanoush, Fava Bean Ful Stew, Marinated Olives, Tabbouleh and Pickled Vegetables. As I mentioned earlier, all of this was new to me but after sampling all six, I found that the different flavors melded nicely and everything went well with the slightly dry Chateau Ksara Blanc De Blanc from Lebanon that Jeff recommended. Other offerings on the list of consist of eleven offerings featuring Sanaa’s Fattoush Salad, Crispy Brussels, Fried Cauliflower, Fresh Pan-Seared Sardines and Beef Pie Bites.

The entree I chose was Moussaka – seasoned beef, zucchini, squash, and bechamel sauce with whipped potatoes piping hot served in its own cooking dish. Going back to my comfort zone, this was reminiscent of the Irish Shepherd’s Pie but with a very different flavor that I really liked. The Pita Bread that was offered with both the Sofra Platter and the Moussaka was EXCELLENT. I fell in love with this grilled bread – it made me feel so Mediterranean.

My dining partner picked the Chicken Shawarma sandwich and it didn’t disappoint. She says the chicken was exceptional – moist and seasoned just right. In addition to the chicken, fresh tomato, onions and Tzatziki were wrapped in the aforementioned pita bread. It is pretty good sized so she took half of it home and had it the next day for lunch.

The menu changes on a regular basis in order to keep you coming back but on the menu when we were there were other entrees that included Koshari and a Mediterranean Entrée salad that can be topped with your choice of a Grilled Steak Shish Kebob, Chicken Shawarma or Grilled Branzino. On the sandwich side of the lunch menu are Falafel, Grilled Steak Kabob, Lamb and Beef Kofta and the aforementioned Chicken Shawarma. If you are a crispy French fry fan, the zataar spiced fries will fit the bill when accompanying your sandwich.

We were pleasantly surprised to have Executive Chef Sameer Hunter drop by our table with a special treat of baby carrots prepared just for us. We didn’t write down exactly what they entailed but they were very good!

For dessert we mixed it up a bit. Instead of the Baklava or the Basbousa aka Egyptian Semolina Cake, we opted for two of their special martinis. As I am known to appreciate a good gin martini, I decided on the London Gin Olive Oil Martini. This is an olive oil and herb (rosemary and thyme) infused cocktail where they infuse the gin 92 hours before clarifying it. It was interesting. Jeff tells me it is one of the most popular signature cocktails on their menu…I think I might have to go back for another just to refresh my memory. The Hemingway Espresso Martini was my partners choice and it was, obviously, more of a dessert than mine. I’m going to order one of my own when I go back to revisit the London Gin concoction.

With February upon us and Valentine’s Day right around the corner, Elaine’s is a perfect spot for a nice romantic dinner. In fact, any time would be a great time to check out one of Alexandria’s newest and most unique dining experiences. If you are looking for a nice comfortable place for a drink, Elaine’s hosts Happy Hour at the Bar Wednesday through Sunday from 4 – 7 pm. They also serve Brunch on both Saturday and Sunday from 11 am – 4 pm.

Leave the crowds back on King Street and make a stop at Elaine’s. Street parking is available and there are two parking garages nearby.

Elaine’s Restaurant

208 Queen Street

Old Town Alexandria

elaines-restaurant.com