First time visiting this restaurant and it definitely wont be the last. Everything from the service when we first walked in to the food, drinks, and atmosphere was on point. They have indoor and outdoor (covered) seating. The restaurant has 3 levels. The main entrance level is where you have your meal. The lower level has a bar w a Dj and the upper level is their cigar room which has a bar and live music. You can make reservations for the restaurant but its walk-ins only at the other levels. We went to the cigar bar after we had dinner. The live band was great!! Atmosphere was lively. They have a good air system as well, the cigar lounge didnt appear or smell terribly smokey. Definitely recommend this spot to all! We will be going back!
This place is always a great time! I especially love the live music that is taking place nearly every night of the week. I rarely smoke cigars but its fun to try one here. FYI....be prepared for your coat to smell like smoke for weeks! The bartenders are friendly and very fast. The people are chill and everyone is there just to have a good time. Ive eaten in the restaurant downstairs and that is very good too. Its been a while so Ill have to go back so I can give an updated review on the food. Also, the dance club in the Bayou Room is a crazy time too. Ill do a different review for that place.
We used the patio and enjoyed the people watching along King Street. The food was excellent. The waitstaff was very helpful and attentive. The cheesecake was very good. It came with a fresh made sauce of crushed cranberry with a few other spices, which was an interesting alternative to a typical sweet strawberry sauce. Did not disappoint. Highly recommended.
Such a great vibe and atmosphere! If you appreciate great whiskey tastings, then this is the place for you! Rather than spend over $100 for a bottle of whiskey and not knowing if you will like it, consider coming here first for a tasting before you commit to a bottle! Highly recommend this for either a guys night out or romantic vibe with your significant other!
I chose to eat on the patio so I could enjoy views of the quaint King Street atmosphere. I live very near Louisiana with Cajun heritage and decided to try the gumbo and jambalaya. Much to my surprise they were both absolutely delicious. I will say the gumbo isn’t a traditional Louisiana gumbo with dark roux base. It had somewhat of a tomato base that I’d describe as more Creole (Caribbean influence) in nature. But again, it was delicious. My server, older gentleman- so wish I could remember his name) was the absolute best and personally made my margarita to absolute perfection.
My wife and I happened upon this place during a lull so we were one of the few customers there. We were able to tour around the restaurant and really appreciate the building.Tom, our server was fantastic. His suggestion of the she crab soup was spot on and I swear the shrimp and grits uses the same sauce. Ive had many versions of grits and many in Mississippi. These were the best grits Ive had in my life, period.Amazing restaurant and Id love to see it when its lively and the bands playing.
Cigar bar with live band 7 nights a week! Good food with efficient service. Be advised, People are SMOKING CIGARs!!! Do not go if you do not like it. I myself enjoy smoking cigars and thought it was fantastic!! The building was constructed in 19th century, so it does have a few rough edges. But I find that it adds to the charm! And talk about a smoke filled room lol!!
This place was amazing!!! We made a reservation but didn’t need it because we arrived early. Sheik greeted us and was the server and bartender. He was freaking amazing from recommending dishes to how attentive he was.I’m from out of town and I never order tap water but little did I know the tap water here is from Potomac River and it was amazing and I’m a water snub so definitely get the tap water when the give your the option. 🥰The at most was very elegant but comfy. You can tell the building has been there for years. Just a note there is a cigar bar upstairs but it DOES NOT take away from the ambiance of the restaurant. If you are sensitive to cigar smoke there is patio seating.We order appetizers crispy pork belly and Bavarian pretzels with beer cheese. OMG…the pork belly is to die for..if you are from the south these are aka pork skins orCracklins!! They were good with the sauce and without. Seasoned very well. So freaking good!! You will not be disappointed. The pretzel came out hot and it was crispy on the outside like a pretzel should be but was soft enough on the inside. The winner was the beer cheese!! That had to be made in house it was so freaking good.Dinner was fried chicken with greens and fries. Friend ordered blackened salmon with risotto & Brussel sprouts. Fried chicken came out piping hot and it was dark meat. So crispy and the batter was seasoned to perfection as well as the chicken. The greens were cooked with smoked ham hocks and spicy. There was no need to add any salt or pepper. The only thing I would change is the French fries…maybe add red beans to the menu. The blackened salmon was perfectly blackened. Extremely tasteful and the risotto was a great pairing with the Brussels sprouts (seasoned)Side Note…DRINKS WERE OUT OF THIS WORKS. We had the 219 Side Car and old fashionedThe bathroom is downstairs but don’t prejudge it’s very clean and modern 😁
Overall, their food was delicious...only being disappointed with the beer cheese served with their Bavarian pretzel because it seemed runny and tasted nothing of beer or cheese, but more like butter. Service was exceptional as the server seemed to anticipate every need and was quite affable. Definitely recommend and will be dining there again!
Love this spot. Great food. Great service. Cool atmosphere. They have live music and you can smoke upstairs.
This place was 3 different adventures and experiences all in one place. The good was amazing and really captured the southern cooking feel. The cigar bar upstairs was a something nice to do after that dinner, and the bartender was really good with not only cigar recommendations, but drinks that pair with it. And finally the downstairs whiskey bar/night club had a fun dj and great drinks. I totally intend to return with some friends for a double date.
Had a great dinner with friends. The restaurant was kind of loud, but the food was delicious Service was amazing. Great drinks are great definitely more on the $50 a person than $30 person.
This place was fantastic. The server was excellent, he immediately got us drinks. Food came fast and was really good. The flavors were amazing. The drinks were made on point. They also surprised me with a slice of cheese cake which was unexpected. Theres a club in the basement we did not visit or even notice. But the cigar lounge upstairs had a live band great bar tenders and offered cigars for purchase. Greta place for guys night out, or even a date. Will definitely come again
If youre into cigars, this is a great place to have an amazing and fun experience while also being able to order within a great selection of bourbon and whiskey menu. Their food is also good, although I havent tried anything more than their gumbo dish, which is why Im only giving them a four star review. I will come back again and try more often menu!
This restaurant is beautiful. The food was delicious, and the team was very friendly and professional. The live music tonight, featuring Mr. Michael Pryor and his bandmates, deserve 6 stars. It was a rare moment of pure joy, groove, and musicality.
I hesitate telling you about this place because I dont want It too overcrowded. This is quite possibly the best cigar bar in the DMV hands down. Im a cigar guy, been to them all over. Super cool bar, cool mix of people from all walks of life. Live bands, excellent food, excellent bar tenders. Shellys Back room is a close second, and I love Shellys. This is my happy place. The pork belly app is an app- unless you are deep into a Serie V torpedo and a couple of Four Roses Small Batch select neat, then its a glorious meal fit for a king. Come here to indulge and relax, you wont be disappointed. -Dan
Last minute plans brought us here. The restaurant is cute and appears to have several dining areas which included outdoor seating when the weather is nice. Parking is available on the street and a few garages in the area. Parking can be horrible during the evenings. Service was good but they have a cigar lounge upstairs and a band plays at times. It sounds like a good ole time up there. My issue is their ventilation system isn’t amazing. It’s decent because I wasn’t overwhelmed with the smell of cigarettes/cigars downstairs. I was seated in the dining area underneath that good ole time and it was like second hand and more so third hand smoke. My clothes smelled like it when I got home. The food was decent. I enjoyed my shrimp and grits. It had a smoky (no pun intended) and bbq taste. I really liked it. The salmon and risotto wasn’t the best. It lacked flavor. The fries were simple but hot and good.
This place was quite cozy and relaxing after the hustle and bustle of the work day. Three levels and live music 🎶. The aroma of cigars linger along the entry to the lower level cigar bar. This place has something for everyone. Now the food was delicious. We enjoyed gumbo ya ya and the savory shrimp 🍤 and grits and no meal is complete without wine 🍷. With Fat Tuesday around the corner if youre looking for some NOLA love in the ole town Alexandria area this is your spot.
Two nineteenCrawfish étouffée came out looking real good and it was hot…. My friend that joined me had the chicken fettuccine and he say it was great. Both plates came out hot and ready to eat….. the don’t have a designated Bartender the girl that was there didn’t know how to make a drink I asked but they quickly replaced her….. I met one of the owners (Patty) and she was really nice and helpful when it came down to putting in our order. The amount of rice wasn’t a lot for the étouffée, had to order more to finish the dish. When eatting this dish it should be a balanced about of rice with the dish. I can’t wait to come back to this place felt so at home.
We ordered a take out order at 219 Restaurant on 6/23/2024. The order was incorrect. I called the next day to inform management. I wasnt asking for a $70 refund (the cost of the meal) I simply wanted management to know, to ensure it doesnt happen again. Long story short, a young lady (the owners daughter) offered to give us a gift card for the amount of the meal.Less than 4 hours later, the owner called. She was RUDE, BELIGERENT, ANGRY and UNPROFESSIONAL! She told me I am BANNED from coming to her restaurant and never to come back again! I have NEVER in my life experienced anything like this in my entire life. I am beyond shock that an owner would personally call a customer -- and behave the way she did. Maam if you are reading this.. there are thousands of restaurants in the DMV area. I wont miss yours. Also, always remember you never know who is on the other end of that phone call.
Amazing cigar lounge that plays live music on weekends. They have in-house cigars to buy, and a great food menu as well. If you like to pair your smoke with whiskey, beer or another spirit they have you covered. They have multi floors and a separate area if you do not want to smoke in the area.Highly recommend.
Close enough to the action and far enough to not feel like your eating at a tourist spot. The food was spot on delicious! I had the jambalaya and my husband had the Creol shrimp. Both had lots of flavor and the portion sizes are just right. I loved the variety on the liquor menu. Service was above par and I really appreciated the attentiveness. We sat inside but you can sit outside on the patio or upstairs outside too if you want that vibe. Pretty cool that they have live music at 9 on the weekends and a full bar vibe downstairs if you want that after dinner. Check it out!
My favorite cigar bar in the 🇺🇸 you feel like you’re walking into a patrician’s establishment back in a time before the civil war. Wood panelled bar with an amazing bourbon selection, great beers on tap, and awesome wine selection. Staff is friendly and knows how to treat its customers. No happy hour specials but that’s pretty standard for a bar of that vintage. Cover charge of $5 applied to your bill after 9:30pm, which is totally understandable. The musicians that perform there are super talented and know how to please crowds. And, of course, you can smoke cigars indoors! What a throwback! You can even bring in your own (or buy from the bar. If you choose the latter option, go with the Winston Churchill’s). I love going here with friends and for any boys night! Ladies, don’t fret; the bar is usually 50/50 male/female come 9pm! Best bar in town!
Pretty good band played. Food was okay but not all that. They did not have the full menu, I simply wanted dessert but they didn’t have any on their special menu for the holiday.Snapper on a bread pudding = okay. If you like the combination of sweet and savory then this is your dish. I’m not a fan but the bartender recommended it....’while in Rome’ I suppose 🤷🏽♀️Actually like their sinks in the bathroom 😜
Nice people , but I found the food really not that great. The chicken on pasta - hmm chicken too well done and the pasta was not fresh . Overpriced for the quality
Great place to smoke eat and listen to live music. All the bands are awesome.
A few friends and I went to celebrate the marriage of our friend. The atmosphere was very inviting. Our server/bartender was amazing. I’m sorry I can’t remember her name. The food was great and so were the drinks.
Came here 30 mins before closing,the owner took us in anyways ,they Have Perfect heated outdoor seating, absolutely phenomenal service and food. The owner herself Made my dog his own chicken and rice and even brought him a ball to play with,def will come back
We dined at 219 on Christmas Eve after attending mass. Upon arrival, the hostess station was vacant, but she soon popped around the corner and showed us to our table, which was in front of the fireplace per the reservation. The ambiance is the best thing going for this place. The dining room is elegant; the fireplace is warm, and the large windows offer a splendid view of King Street. The bar is opposite the fireplace, though there was no bartender present. At first the room was very quiet, but toward the end of our meal, four dozen patrons were seated at the bar and the situation was rapidly changing.As for the meal... I had read on several reviews that they do a limited fixed-price menu (or a “prix fixe” for the French wannabes among us) on New Years Eve, but I did not expect it on Christmas Eve. Silly me. There was no mention of it on the restaurants website. And the only note on the confirmation email was that reservations are only accepted for the main dining room. Let me tell you how awesome it is to show up with a family of six and find that the only option is a $48 per person three course meal. Apparently the unwritten rule is that meals for kids 12 and under are half price. So now I only have to pay $24 each for a meal they wont eat. Here I am, in that awkward position of having made a reservation based on the current online menu, only to find that I’d basically RSVP’d to an exclusive event.We asked that, given the lack of notice on the website, if it would be possible for the kids to eat off the regular menu. Our server replied that it was probably doable, but of course for the same price. We had already ordered drinks and were about to cash out and roll the dice somewhere else when our server returned and informed us that the owner said the boys would be able to order cheeseburgers ($14 adult cheeseburgers, of course, not kids cheeseburgers as would have been available in just about any other restaurant in Old Town).I ordered the chestnut soup, prime rib, and cake. My wife ordered the kale salad, glazed ham and cake. We were both excited for some Cajun Creole food, but there was nothing Cajun on the Christmas menu. Three of our kids ordered burgers, but our ten year old is especially picky and was not particularly hungry. He was going to share some of his brothers fries and hold off until we got home to eat something he actually wanted. Our server understood and departed. Then she came back and said the owner wont allow him to not eat; he must order something. So we said a bowl of mac & cheese would be sufficient. That ended up being a $14 bowl of mac & cheese that he barely touched.They had some drink specials--Im not really sure what was special about them, certainly not the price. My wife had a bellini, which she enjoyed, then another. I had a Founders lager initially, then opted for the Kentucky Peach (kind of a Kentucky Mule) which was watered down. After that I stuck with water.The food arrived reasonably timely.1st course: The chestnut soup had the consistency of thick gravy. They were pretty skimpy on the thyme cream. I didnt care for it. My wife enjoyed her kale salad, which was clearly the better choice.2nd course: The prime rib was unimpressive. Ive had better on a Navy ship on that rare occasion when the supply officer would treat the wardroom with steak and lobster (and that was terrible). My prime rib was barely a half-inch thick. If not the worst prime rib Id ever had (though a contender), it was certainly the thinnest. The potatoes and asparagus were cold. The au jus consisted of splattering a tablespoon of drippings on the plate. See photo. Of course you expect a lot of fat with a prime rib, but there was only about 4 oz of edible meat in my cut. Id say it was about an $18 steak at best.My wife ordered the glazed ham, which was fine, but not worth a fraction of what we were paying. The kids burgers all came out medium rare to rare--not that we specified a level of doneness during our initial food negotiations, but who gives a 6 year old a bloody burger?
My boyfriend brought me here for the first time after we left the gym for Sunday football. He’s been here for years to smoke cigars. Rob the bartender asked for a card to be put on file and we proceeded to order. After not liking my drink, Rob remade my drink and it was no problem. After we sat down and ordered cigars , we ordered a steak meal and wings. The food came out and my steak was not medium well as it was well done and the wings were chewy. The bartender Rob came over to take the food and advised that the owner might not take it off the bill. The owner (Ava) came over and asked about the food and we told her everything. She walked off and said okay just to return 5minutes later to say the cook made my steak perfectly. My boyfriend said that if I didn’t like it, it shouldn’t be a conversation. Ava asked if I wanted another steak and I said if it isn’t done the way I like it then I don’t want another one and Ava said she doesn’t recommend it. Shortly after, Ava came back with bill and to say Pattie (another owner) said to put us out of the restaurant because we sent back $76 worth of food. Ava advised that the cook was upset My boyfriend began to speak to Ava and she was rude saying she is done and we need to leave. My boyfriend asked her to call the police and Ava said no. My boyfriend refused to sign his check with Ava and we left. So we were put out because we didn’t like our food and nothing else. We will not be returning as the service is terrible and the owners are rude.
I didnt have food but the drinks were good. Upstairs has a nice ambiance and they had live music which was a plus. Definitely not as smokey as you think it would be. Nice variety of cigarss. They have a downstairs portion which is more of a club vibe but you can also smoke cigars down there as well. All in all nice spot. Good experience
It was average. Food (shrimp balls and shrimp n grits) had really great flavor, but a lot of grease to go with it. Service and ambience left a lot to be desired, but wasnt awful by any means. I just prefer to get higher quality with the amount of my check.
Tried this place during Alexandria restaurant week... I had to take a bite! THE GUMBO THE GUMBO!!! After we were seated the people next to us said get it first and we did. The Best.... The salmon and Brussel sprout want that tasty neither was the jambalaya sorry to say. Went back the next day to get a to go order of the gumbo.... very disappointed... maybe it was leftovers... thats why I removed a star
A bar in the old sense of the word. Walking up the stairs to the cigar bar you can start to smell the smoke which starts to trigger memories of all bars that used to smell that way. Inside you find a dark space housing a wonderful selection of whiskeys with completely knowledgeable bartenders who know each ones characteristics. Had fun trying different ones suggested and understanding their differences. Favorite was the Laphroaig Quarter Cask. Excellent bar menu from the restaurant downstairs. Live music too.
Had really high expectations based on previous reviews. I was very disappointed. We had 7pm reservations. We were sat immediately, then no server even looked at us for 15 minutes. When I questioned a manager, she told me to deal with it. So unacceptable. The only reason they still got 3 stars is because of the quality of the food.
Being from Louisiana I am very picky on Cajun food. This place was absolutely amazing. The flavor was authentic Louisiana. This was my second time. So far everything I ate was very good. I had the Gumbo, Shrimp and Grits, crab soup, Wings and Jambalaya. Every bite was great. Drinks were good and the atmosphere was A plus. Can’t go wrong with this place
I’ve been here a number of times. Doesn’t disappoint. Good food, large Scotch collection in the upstairs cigar bar, AND live music!
My daughter picked Two Nineteen because her friend likes cozy restaurant. In deed the place is cozy. We had a wonderful dinner. Server Eva was great. We will definitely consider dining there again.
Food is ok, place is a bit dirty over all. Menu was just a printed piece of paper and looked like it has been wet several times and stained, how hard is it to just print a new menu. Food was good, got the Shrimp and grits. Shrimp was cooked well and nicely seasoned. broth was really good. Wine selection was ok but a bit pricey for the bottles they had available. Good drinks as well, nice selection of bourbons and fairly priced. Music is always on point. great place for a drink, maybe a cigar, with some good live music.
This is hands down one of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to. My girlfriend is from Louisiana and I was looking for somewhere to take her so that she could get an authentic taste of home, and according to her the food was just as good as what you’d get in an upscale New Orleans restaurant.Having never been to New Orleans myself I can only say that the shrimp and grits and the crawfish etouffee were two of the best dishes I have ever eaten, and both were incredibly reasonable prices. The menu had a wide selection of both American staples and Louisiana delicacies, as well as a wide array of cocktails and wines.Beyond the absolutely superb food, the atmosphere and service was incredible. We were seated in a romantic dining area with a beautiful classical lounge atmosphere, and our server was incredibly kind and accommodating. In a dinner full of highlights he made the evening.Every aspect of the restaurant was so perfect that it’s hard to pick a favorite, but there is absolutely no question that we’ll be visiting again.
We went for the new years course and it was amazing! Steak was cooked and seasoned wonderfully and were efficiently presented! I wish I had a picture of the meal!
Nice ambiance. However, the food and the service were not that great. Definitely Creole “inspired.” I got the fried chicken and it tasted like a frozen dinner. Also, my waitress, who did not even introduce herself, did not seem like she wanted to be bothered.
Their jambalaya was the best. We were a bit disappointed that they ran out of the bread pudding so well have to go back.
I was extremely disappointed with the customer service and entree’s presentation at 219. I was there to celebrate my fiancé bday. Our first waiter, was very pushy, and walked off twice before we could complete our drink orders. My fiancé thought, maybe he’s overwhelmed because it’s a busy Saturday evening, so we requested another waiter hoping they would be more attentive. Wrong! Our new waitress was not customer friendly at all. My fiancé placed his order, the waitress interrupted telling him to “speak up, I can’t hear you. It’s loud in here.” The waitress was correct; the dinning area is obnoxiously loud; however, her tone and delivery should have been more customer friendly. Also my fiancé requested that his entree be modified, similar to the guest sitting next to us. Our waitress informed him that his sides cannot be substituted. But when we pointed to the male sitting beside him, the waitress obliged. Lastly, our entrees did not look appealing nor did it look like other guests plates.Our plates lacked care and serving portions. I had six dime sized fried okra’s on my plate with a handful of rice, and a quarter piece of salmon for $30 additional $3 because I swapped the corn for rice, never heard of an additional cost for switching starches, maybe seafood and meats. I was excited about this place because they offer live jazz and blues, however, I was unaware that smoking was allowed in those areas. That should have been posted on the site. I wanted to love this restaurant but I did not have the best experience.
UPDATE: Returned after 4 years from the original incident during COVID noted below when owner Patty blamed me for the shutdown of her restaurant as she ignored health dept repeated requests to comply with COVID regulations. Patty continues with her delusion to blame me for the shutdown 4 years ago from my singular warranted complaint and continues to ban me from her restaurant based on a lie and her ruthless contempt when I was a repeat patron for the prior 15 years. Ive never experienced such contempt from anyone in hospitality industry or any other venue in the region. This owner completely lacks integrity and is not worthy of ownership for any venue. Other reviews continue to illustrate this owners rudenness and contempt. MANY OTHER PLACES WITH FAR MORE CLASS AND BETTER HOSPITALITY!******************Ive been a loyal patron of 219 Restaurant for over 15 years. In recent years the service and quality of food have declined on upper floor, but I continued my loyal patronage mainly because I support venues in the area that offer live music.Things took a nasty turn with the owner Patty when during peak of COVID last summer I found the upstairs crowded and the bar area shoulder to shoulder in defiance of local safety regulations while the other establishments were maintaining limited capacity as required. When I complained to Patty that conditions were becoming unsafe she yelled and cursed at me and banned me from her restaurant in humiliating and disrespectful fashion despite my loyal patronage. As such, I called the Alexandria Health Dept and as it turned out there were several complaints and violations in that period and the investigator pointed out how this ruins things for other businesses trying to comply when this causes COVID hot spots that forces the City to shut down all the restaurants. I later learned that the owner continued to ignore Alexandria Health Dept requests to comply and they had to temporarily shutter the restaurant as a result.This owner has shown no class or integrity viciously blaming a loyal patron for her own transgressions that reaped her own consequences with no respect and no gratitude for loyal patronage. I strongly recommend any other restaurant in Old Town and I will continue to support other more deserving local establishments that offer live music with a lot more class!
We were in town on vacation, and walked by the restaurant and fell in love with what I saw on the menu. While inside, the restaurant was incredible. The service was 5 star from start to finish, the ambiance and decor was wonderful, and the cuisine was phenomenal. It was by the best Cajun cuisine Ive had outside of Louisiana. Parts of the meal were even better. Run, dont walk, to come here!
Outstanding music, great atmosphere for business downstairs, decent selection on cigars upstairs. Drinks are 4 out of 5 and prices are very fair. Wish they has more cigars but overall great spot.
We LOVED this restaurant! My 2 friends and I were on a road trip cross country, and stopped over in Alexandria VA for the night. We were STARVING and so happy we found this restaurant! Our waiter was incredible - super friendly and helpful. The food was delicious and the patio seating was great. We hope to come back during our future travels!!
Went on Valentines day, they ran out of food, we waited over an hour for our wine. We asked for bottled water and they brought us tap water from the pitcher. They had to create some kind of salmon dish that had NO flavor at all and we had to ask for seasoning. The manager & server were really nice though.
Worst experience EVER while dining in Old Town. We were seated (8:45) and it took our server 30 minutes to bring water. By the time we ordered, they had run out of steak so they offered fried chicken and my wife ordered lobster. The chicken was fine but my wife’s came out without a lobster on it. The waiter tried to convince us it was but we had seen the two tables next to us and we also know what a lobster looks like. I called the manager and explained all of this and he hung the phone up on me. Please save your time and money on this classless establishment. They should be ashamed of themselves. If there was a way to give zero stars, that would be my selection. Customers deserve better than this.
Came for dinner and drinks on a Saturday night. Sat at the bar as we were early for our 7:30 reservation. Bartender was amazing and drinks were great. That was the end of our good experience here. Once we were seated, our night here started to rapidly decline. They were obviously understaffed for a busy Saturday night as we had three different people taking various parts of our order. Not that this would have been a problem if it was not the very slow service we were getting. Finally after waiting about an hour to finally order dinner, the bartender came over and finally took our dinner order. Food actually arrived fairly quickly and here is where our next disappointment happened. Food was not well prepared and seemed like it had been sitting under a heat lamp for quite a while. For the price range of this place I had a much greater expectation of both quality and service. Would probably stop by again but only for drinks and maybe an appetizer but not for dinner again. We really did want to love this place but they just missed the mark on so many levels.
Food was okay. I loved the atmosphere, room was beautiful.I wasnt pleased with the service, our waiter didnt give me the warm and friendly vibe I was expecting; we asked to substitute items on the menu and his favorite answer was no we cant do that, our party was very large so he was already guaranteed his tip.This place is not handicap friendly, the restrooms are located in the basement level of the restaurant, its two flights of stairs with no elevator.
This is a magical place with heart. I bring my family members and visiting friends when they come to town. The live music consistently impresses any company. I enjoy the intimate atmosphere and the traditional cigar bar experience. I enjoy how they keep it first come first serve, it helps to preserve the authenticity of the personal touch.I immensely enjoy the upstairs balcony, overlooking the band. Every time Ive come here the experience has been memorable for both myself and the company I am hosting.Highly recommend and locals or out-of-towners stop by for a drink/ stogie
I cant say enough about this place. Celebrating my moms birthday last night at 219 was such a delight , I never expected to have everything needed in one place. The Food was Delicious, the Band was outstanding ( Go Holly) the bathrooms were clean and smelled great, the service was great thanks to one special lady ( Patty) The Owner. My husband was in heaven knowing that after he ate he could go upstairs to smoke a cigar. What a great experience and we cant wait to go back..... Our New Spot.
The ambiance was pleasant but the food could’ve been better. My friend arrived before I did and ordered the she crab soup. Although it came out quickly it got cold just as fast. She didn’t finish it. The Brussels sprouts were tasty, but there was way too much sauce on them. For dinner I ordered the kale Caesar salad with salmon and she had the shrimp and grits. The salad needed a little more dressing but I ate it all. I asked for the salmon to be well done but it could’ve been seasoned better. The BBQ sauce on the shrimp and grits was heavy so she didn’t finish it. I don’t think we’ll be coming back here.
We ate outside on a Friday night which was very nice but strangely empty. Very sub par drinks, which is unfortunately how I judge a restaurant (not a great first impression). Our appetizers were honestly terrible but our entrees were fantastic. Overall wouldn’t recommend but our poor experience might’ve been a one off… I’m sure sitting at the bar sipping whiskey would’ve been fine and i bet the live music is fun.
Arrived at the restaurant and was seated with no wait (Had a reservation). Jimmy (the waiter) immediately greeted us at the table with our menu. He returned with water and took our order. The appetizer (She Crab Soup) came out within 6 minutes after ordering, followed by the entree (jambalaya), which came out about about 12 minutes after the appetizer. Food came out very fast, was very hot and delicious. Ambience of the restaurant was very serene (jazz and blues music playing). Great service. Great food. Great ambiance.
Over $60 for two room temperature Caesar salads, served un-chopped at the bar. We sent them back.Great building and friendly staff, but I doubt we will return.
Ive been here a few times now and all 3 or 4 sections of the place are dope. Nice vibe regardless of what youre looking for. Food is great in the restaurant, the drinks are great in the bar downstairs, and the cigar lounge is really nice.
Excellent. Ordered the chicken fetuccini (wow, best sauce Ive ever had and I dont say that lightly) and my son had the burger. The burger was put together so well and he was amazed at the taste. We also had drinks (Margarita and Hurricane). The Hurricane took me back to 1999 and thats a compliment of the highest order. We were seated in the front where they have tables outside (but covered by the entry/roof) and got to enjoy the great weather yesterday. We will be back and thank you for the GREAT experience.
Pretty great place! The live music was cool, and added a lot to the atmosphere! We went up to the cigar smoking room, and though I didnt smoke, everyone else said the cigars and drinks were good. I thought the water was dope. Overall, great establishment, and the food looked good.
Love this place! Have been coming here for years with both my mom and husband. Brought a group of friends here for Halloween weekend and had a blast. We even took pictures in our costumes with the owner. She is such a nice lady, very funny and so accommodating. The bartenders and servers are attentive and hospitable. The live music in the cigar bar really does complete the atmosphere of the place, which is already remarkable. If youre looking for a snack while enjoying the band, try the pork belly. While in Alexandria, you MUST visit the 219...you will not be disappointed. Just sit back, relax, sip on a whiskey or bourbon, and smoke a cigar. You will truly be transformed by the place.
A great time ruined. We absolutely enjoyed our time at the upstairs bar having a few drinks with friends and listening to a terrific band. But the experience was ruined a few days later when I checked my credit card statement and saw they charged my card 2X. One of the charges was for $213 that wasnt mine. I called the restaurant and then emailed them asking for a credit to be issued, no response to either of my attempts. Very poor service! I would love to update this review and say the credit was issues but until then I have to wonder how many other people this has happen to?
I ate dinner here on 11/16/19 and I must say it was way better than I expected. It was great customer service and the food was so tasty. I got the she crab soup and the jambalaya. It was delicious. After dinner I walked around king St. For a bit and around 8pm made my way to the cigar bar for live music. Great music great atmosphere.. if I am ever in the area again this will definitely be a repeat place to go.
Great date night on the upper level. Mussels were tasty and the shrimp & grits were delicious. The cigar selection were good and the service was awesome. I would definitely go back again. Would love to hear the live jazz at 9pm, which is a $5 cover.
Great restaurant love it for smoking cigars. Great time with friends! The only thing I didnt like is that there was the card fee that is added after you receive your check to review. It is basically added after they charge your card instead of giving you a true total. *passing the credit card fee to the costumer*. Other then that it is really awesome place to chill with friends or just go on a date.
Located in the Old Town section of Alexandria, Va, the restaurant and the town itself was especially quaint. The ambiance was very comfortable and the food and service was excellent! My wife had jambalaya or gumbo I believe and I had some excellent wings and mac and cheese followed by whiskey sours. We sat in the vestibule, I suppose, which is probably already part of the dining room. Loved the architecture and decor, too bad we were there during the pandemic but they were very accommodating. Would definitely go back!
The food was A M A Z I N G!! OMG!!! I had the shrimp and grits! The flavors were zesty, just like I prefer!! Great waitstaff as well!!
One of the only places left you can drink, have a cigar, seek live music!Restaurant in lower area: Food is decent but a bit overpriced for what you get.Watch out for hostess...she can be a mean one and gets rather stressed easy when theres a lot of people but she is the gate keeper.Cigar bar: Lots of seating and great selection of whiskeys. Arrive early for the live music (usually Thursday through Sunday). Good atmosphere for a small venue. No reservations allowed.
Food was amazing, drinks were on point, and Diva Eva was the best waitress!
Really great entrees, servers seemed overworked and tough to get a refill or order dessert because you see your server so infrequently. Full bar but no cocktail menu, have to wait to see if the bar will make what you request after your server asks the bartender. Not a cheap place and the entree was worth it but our dessert was inedible. Nice ambiance for a celebratory dinner or date.
Checked out this spot with a few friends. There was not much of a crowd when we arrived. Given that fact we didnt expect to have to wait or request service. We got our drinks shortly after being seated. But we did not get any service for our food order until 30 minutes after being seated after requesting to speak to a manager. The food lacked seasoning. We all had different entrees so it wasnt a hit or miss with the seasoning, it was just the food is not seasoned well. The most flavorful thing was the chicken wings appetizer. What a poor representation for creole cuisine...coming from someone who know authentic creole cuisine.
I’ve been coming to this bar for a few years and it is my favorite bar in all of the DMV. It’s a hidden gem. It’s unique in that the top floor is the cigar bar, the middle is the restaurant, and the basement is a funky bar that has more of a club feel. The bartenders are great, but Alex and Rob, in particular, are who kept me coming back... just really great guys. The cigar bar is the best ventilated in the area, and the decor and atmosphere have you feeling like you’re at your friend’s basement bar. The cigar bar has live blues music 7 nights a week - hard to find that anymore. There are lots of regulars but the place is very welcoming to new faces; everyone is friendly and it’s also a fun spot to meet people. The only thing I wish they did better is control the turnover of bartenders.. it’s nice to see a familiar face when you visit, someone who knows you and what you like, rather than meet someone new every month. Other than that, it’s a perfect spot for a girls’ night out, for bachelor parties (I promise they’ll be impressed). And if you’re looking for a quiet night, Monday and Tuesday are good. Fridays and Saturdays are super busy, and Thursday night is a good balance between the two.. more people but you can still find a seat. If you’re looking for a unique experience away from the DC area, this is it!
For starters, I honestly did enjoy going to this establishment. I had never had an issue with this place or service until last night.I went there to enjoy the cigar lounge upstairs, have some good food and a drink. However, the service and disrespect we received last night were horrific. I order the salmon meal, and upon arrival, my food was warm, almost cold. I initially informed the manager that this food was not hot, and about 10 minutes later, a waiter returns with the same plate as if theyd put it in the oven or microwave to heat it. I then ask our original waiter if he could asks the chef to remake the dish, as I didnt want you to pop a plate in a warmer and send it back out.He returns a few minutes later, stating the chef told him he wasnt remaking anything. Appalled by this statement, my husband goes and speaks with the manager. The manager tells my husband, If I cant make you all happy, then leave. REALLY!!!!!This is customer service!?!?As a customer, that is HORRIBLE customer service. First off, you dont serve anyone warm or cold fish unless its sushi. Secondly, you dont dismiss a customer in that manner.We wont be returning.
My husband took me here for our anniversary so we I wanted some Cajun food. I love the atmosphere of the restaurant. The staff were extremely nice and accommodating. The food was quite delicious, but it didnt taste like authentic Cajun food—at least the gumbo didnt. It was good gumbo, but had an overwhelming buttery flavor. I would still recommend going here though. It was relaxed, quiet, and enjoyable.
5/5 for the fried chicken alone—must get. Tasty seasoning and juiciest chicken. French fries and collared greens were perfect sides.Old fashioned was done beautifully. No cocktail menu needed- just order what you like.
I would love to give this place a great rating because I have eaten here on several occasions, dates, connecting with friends in town, and to celebrate friends moving. Ive been eating here for several years.Tonight was a completely different experience. The evening went well with a group of 4. My wife is pregnant and ordered something spicy therefore couldnt eat it, I asked the waiter for a different meal and not to worry about the spicy meal, just prepare it in a to go container. Ill pay for it, take it home, no problem. Well the replacement meal for my wife, salmon, orzo, and brussel sprouts came out and she didnt really enjoy it but i wasnt too worried, were having a good time and I didnt want to send it back. It wasnt until i asked to have this boxed that we had issues.I asked to have about 80-90% of the meal boxed to go. The waiter brought the meal, salmon, orzo and brussel sprouts stuffed into a small container layering the items on top of one another. At this point the food is no longer appetizing as everything has become mush. I was not satisfied and requested this singular item be removed from the check, $28. The waiter gets the owner, Patty, who comes out frustrated and tells us thats what she trains the staff to do with small portions. Again, 80-90% of this meal remains, this is not a small portion. She also provided a larger box which could have been used originally and tells us to box it ourselves. Patty proceeds to tell us that she will not remove this particular meal because there is nothing wrong with the food and tosses both containers on the table and walks away. Keep in mind the food literally looks like a raw diet bowl for a dog in this small container.My wife needed to use the bathroom and on the way tried to discuss the situation and how it was disrespectful to which Patty stated, she doesnt disrespect decent customers. Not sure how we became customers who werent decent.I could speculate that she made several assumptions of decency based on our skin color. My wife proceeds to the bathroom. Upon return Patty runs into my wife and tries to make it seem like my wife is at fault. Shes pregnant, why would she try to run into someone? Patty calls the police because were rejecting the bill, not true, I rejected part of it because I was dissatisfied. I had no issue paying the remainder.Police arrive to mediate, which is fine, we never attempted to leave the restaurant. In the end, the restaurant removes the spicy dish from our bill, the same cost as my original request. All of this is seen and heard by other patrons for no reason at all. I no longer recommend this establishment or any that Patty is associated with to anyone. Our server Sheik was amazing during the entire night from start to finish, someone please provide him with other opportunities to flourish elsewhere.
Cant speak for the downstairs restaurant. Upstairs bar is fantastic. Bartenders are amazing, live music is great. Small, intiment. Just be aware it is a smoking bar, smokeeaters do their jobs. Highly recommend you give it a chance.
This is a beautiful restaurant in a beautiful quaint neighborhood. I loved the fact that this establishment has three gems in one. They have the New Orleans styled restaurant on the main floor, a cigar on the top floor and the bayou room on the ground level. I believe the bayou room is more of a dance area. During my trip I did not venture down there, but I could definitely hear music. The food was good. I had the she crab soup which was very good and I also had the crab cake dinner entree. The entree came with 2 crab cakes over corn and asparagus. I thought the crab cakes were good, but I would have liked to taste more of the crab than peppers and onions. Nonetheless, overall the food was good. I was on a date and we each got the same soup and split the entree. We then went up to the cigar where they had a live band. The do have a cigar lounge and bar. You can order a cigar from their cigar menu and smoke it right there. There is a $5 cover charge/per person for band upon ordering anything. This was a pretty cool spot! Very chill. If you’re not a cigar or cigarette smoker like me beware, you will leave smelling like a cigar ash tray. Overall I give this establishment a 4.5 out of 5.
Beware of this restaurant! They charged my credit card for drinks at bar that were not ours! Always check your receipt before you leave….! The bartenders are very tricky!
Went this Old Town favorite for lunch and cigars. Had the best time. The place was deserted just prior to the lunch crowd. Sat upstairs in the lounge off the bar. Had a great meal and watched the big screen with a friend and had cigars later. Couldnt have asked for a better day. Service was excellent and the meal was delicious. Our thanks to the waiter and chef for making the day a memorable one. This place will be a go-to on my list.
Great evening out at a great restaurant! Food was delicious and fairly priced. Ambience and decor was welcoming and charming. After dinner we ventured upstairs to the cigar bar/lounge and enjoyed a live band and a stogie. If you enjoy food, cigars, spirits and live music, 219 Restaurant is a must visit!
Love the bar. But wish it would go back to no smoking in the bayou room after 9
This place is fantastic and caters to all types of individuals. If you are a smoker, dancer, singer, it doesnt matters! I love the design of the building and the lively feel to it that this place always has. I did not like the fact that one of the bartenders actually forgot my order once but apart from that everything else was great.
Lots of good food & entertainment in a moderate sized place. Ground level has a bar featuring music. Later in the evening a DJ is added. Mid level has a restaurant. Upper level squeezes in live blues/soul music...some tables allow a close up feel. Another nearby area includes a cigar bar. Additional stools available by opposite wall to see and hear all the action. Good vibes!
I enjoyed a wonderful dinner there. The staff was fantastic. My waiters name was Pleasure and he was very attentive and quite funny. The food was incredible and cooked perfectly. We spent 6 hours at our table in the restaurant and never felt at any time we were an inconvenience.For the restaurant part of this establishment I would Highly recommend it.As for the bar upstairs and down, be aware that the smoke level was very high and the music is quite loud.
If I could, I would give 0 stars!!!! I am never coming back to this place and would never recommend it to anyone. The food and the service was atrocious. Our waiter, Keith (at least thats what it sounded like he said through his mask) was the worst! He was rude to everyone in my party in how he spoke.We were told by the manager (the older gentleman) that even though there was no mixed drink menu that we can give the name to the waiter and we would be able to get it.We asked Keith if the waiter could make a Blue Ocean or a Blue Whale. He said that he would check. About 5 minutes later, he came back with a champaign flute with a blue drink and lemon. When we tasted it, it was NOT a Blue Whale or a Blue Ocean. It tasted like champaign with blue curacao. When we asked him to get a different drink because it was not good, he caught an attitude, talked to the lady (Im guessing shes second in command) and came back saying that we werent allowed to order mixed drinks, just whatever wine and whiskey they had.My family and I figured that maybe they decided to no longer serve mixed drinks. About 20 minutes later, we see a BUNCH of mixed drinks being brought to different tables. No one was able to explain why we were denied the service that others were given. Another waiter who was friendly picked up our plates and was kind to my party and I. We asked him about mixed drinks, he said of course they provide mixed drinks to their customers. When we explained to him what happened, he quickly remedied the problem. His 5 minutes of kindness outweighed the 3 hours of blatant rudeness from our waiter. I really wished that this gentleman, whose name I dont remember, was our waiter the ENTIRE timeOutside of the drink fiasco, the fried pork belly had an after taste that tasted like toilet water. (This opinion was shared by multiple people in my party). The Mac and cheese was lacking cheese, the best food in my personal opinion was the truffle fries. I had the Jambalaya that had mini crawfish that tasted like seawater. What made the night better was the party that was happening downstairs. Some of my family and I were able to shake off the frustration that Keith and the nasty food caused by dancing, which helped.Again, please, please, PLEASE do not waste your time on the over-priced food and terrible, subpar service! Save your time and money.
This place was awesome. We are originally from New Orleans and thats the type of food youll be served here. This is closest weve been to home since weve left. The etouffee was awesome. Three people at my table had it. Were used to bigger crawfish but this is Alexandria so what are you going to expect. Our table also had the chicken fettuccine, it was absolutely amazing. Chicken cooked perfect and the sauce was great. Our drink were all fantastic with no complaints. 10/10 would recommend this place, especially if youre used to the food from the bayou.
First time for me at 219 restaurant. Had dinner with a friend in the comfortable bar seating. The food was delicious and the service was excellent! Definitely going back for dinner and live music next time.
We originally wanted to go here for live music and food, but didnt realize that it was a smokey oasis upstairs. So we opted to sit downstairs in the dining area. The food, service, and ambiance were great! We were seated next to a lit fireplace, which was lovely. I ordered the Lamb Bolognese and it tasted fabulous.
I might be biased because my bestie owns it, bit this place is hip! Anything from elegant to rock music, from incredible selection of whisky to a cigar menu. Im in love with the feel and the food of this place. Doesnt matter when you go, you will always have a good time.
I love the historical structure of the building, inside and out. My son and I went on New Years night 2020, to check out the band. The inside looked like a place in the history books. It was beautiful. The band playing, was awesome. The smell of cigars was WOW. Great aroma. When I come back to visit my son. We will hit that place again.
Absolutely love, love, love this spot! The food is amazingly delicious! The atmosphere is warming and comfortable with the sweet aroma of cigar smoke intermingling with cigarette smoke. There is a balcony overlooking the stage (like the old days). Right down on the waterfront too!
The Jambalaya was very disappointing, the chicken was so overcooked that it was hard to chew, there were no distinct flavors, the entire dish just tasted like Cajun seasoning. Both of us that ate the Jambalaya felt sick afterwards, would not recommend.
The first red flag for this restaurant was calling and being able to get a table on Valentine’s Day evening. Once my boyfriend and I arrived for our late evening reservation, we were seated in a small dining room where tables were seated uncomfortably close together (to where the guests next to us could hear our dinner conversation). This restaurant does NOT follow COVID-19 guidelines and is part of the problem restaurants and businesses struggle to stay open and functioning. To my surprise upon being seated, they were only serving a special menu, created just for the holiday occasion. This menu consisted of 2 appetizers (only 1 option was available to us, might I add), 3 main course dishes and two desserts. The food was awful as it lacked flavor and was not universal for all guests to enjoy. As a limited menu, each dinner was $55 person (gratuity was additionally charged) and to put it simply, the price was nowhere near justifiable for the options, quality, taste and freshness of the dinner. My boyfriend and I were very unhappy with our overall experience, despite the wait staff being friendly but exceptionally slow. We love Old Town Alexandria but we’re very disappointed with this venue.
Very laid back. Great service. Amazing live music.
Set the scene - table of 4, arrive early to get a table to listen to the band play for the evening, ready for a great night of food and lots of drinks. Half hour after we sit, a bus boy tells us we can only have the table for an hour and a half more due to the waiting list. We then asked if we can be added to the waiting list, they said no due to it would not be fair to the other waiting customers. I looked outside, no other customers waiting and no one is on a waiting list. Our bartender/waitress was outstanding, however the owner and other staff members are not very welcoming. We left that establishment, walked 4 blocks and a blast at The Light Horse at 715 King Street where we saw other patrons who went through the same issues as we did.The owner of this establishment hurt her employees last night, we drink, have fun, and tip big for great service. Definitely will not be going back there due to the owners loyalty to non-existent customers.
Great ambiance!! They have a fantastic cigar lounge, a great jazz band, and the menu provides a variety of tasty options. They also have a bar in their lower level that Id like to visit the next time Im there. You should definitely give Two Nineteen a try when youre in the area.
Went here for a late lunch and between the food and the atmosphere, my experience was overall excellent. Im crazy about shrimp and grits and they have the best shrimp and grits Ive had to date.
Delicious burger and chocolate cake but holy cow did it cost a fortune!!!
Love this place. Been here 3 times. Ill be frequenting every time Im in old town. Music is spot on, they have a nice lounge area to relax, smoke cigars and talk. Wait staff is very knowledgeable and polite. One of the best whiskey/scotch selections in the area. Usually has small cover on weekend nights.
The food was phenomenal, the waiter was delightful and personally tailored a drink for my date based on what she has experience in. The restaurant atmosphere itself was very relaxing and very enjoyable. I see some mediocre reviews about this place so I wasnt entirely sure. I made the reservation and gave it a try. From my gushing of this place you can tell how well it went. Highly recommend. For the food, atmosphere, and experience.
Some of the best live blues in Alexandria. If they arent playing blues, they are sure to have a great band. This is a cigar bar, so the smoke is quite heavy. It does get busy on the weekends and finding a spot to sit or stand is sometimes a challenge. Full service bar with handcrafted cocktails. I highly recommend this place.
Nice classy restaurant with lovely jazz music. My party was late and the hosts and servers still accommodated us all very well through the night. The food was also amazing. The mac n cheese was amazing!!🤯 *chefs kiss*
First time there and I was surprising pleased. The service was excellent and the food was great. I found somewhere to go after leaving Arena stage for a snack. I will be back to check out their brunch.
The website needs to be updated from there Covid menu. People pick restaurants of the Google search depending on the food. They didnt have enough staff to severe a big party. Our reserve was for 8pm we was on time we didnt receive our menu until 9pm the was told the kitchen closes at 10pm. It was my birthday I felt very rushed. I will not be eating there again nor recommending this place
Amazing!! Food is to die for! The atmosphere is perfect! Inside and outside dining. Live music. Dim lighting Shekh was our server and he was on point! Hubby and I are ready to to visit New Orleans. Perfect birthday behavior! Team Virgo.
Visited this restaurant for date night and was pleased with the ambience and the service. The food was amazing. However, the one thing lacking was that the restaurant does not have a specific drink menu. Our waiter did assure us they can make anything we want to have, but sometimes you just want to look at a drink menu to get some ideas.
Very snarky at seating. Had to just leave even though we had a reservation.
This is a great place to have drinks, smoke a cigar, and listen to live music. The food is well prepared and the wings are great.The bartenders are knowledgeable about their whiskey and bourbon selection on top of being a group of friendly individuals.
The place was really impressive. We sat at a table for to right by the fireplace. The room was decorated like and old colonial home with a dark painted ceiling, decorative wall paper, custom window trip and crown molding, beautiful chandlers and gorgeous mahogany bar . The service was great, the food was delicious and the ambiance was amazing.
Always exceptional. Love the staff at the cigar bar upstairs and in the dining room. Chef outdid himself again in making my allergy friendly meal. My friends had chicken alfredo - phenomenally grilled chicken and Seafood Fra Diablo - just the right amount of spice and ample mussels. Our waitress was on point with drinks and the charm. Never a bad experience. We even hit the Bayou room for more drinks and some dancing.Everything you need under one roof.
Absolutely terrible. We came for after dinner drinks and dessert. The restaurant doesn’t have a drink menu and you basically have to ask the waiter for a drink and he negotiates with the bar tender if he knows how to make it. No one brought us our dessert until a hostess/owner? came around. We waited 30 minutes for the worst thing I ever ate in my life. A ice cream, white chocolate raspberry disaster with a burnt sesame crisp strangely a top it. Stay away!!!
Great location and look. Carolin was a lovely server and gave us honest advice. I wasnt crazy about all the food but the wines were great. The sampler is a good choice.
We had a great experience! The food was delicious and Helen provided an amazing service to us. She was so polite and knew the menu. We came for Sunday brunch and got complimentary mimosas with our entree ! Would definitely visit again!
Had dinner there on New Years Eve, which is also my husbands birthday. The service was terrible, dinner took over 3 hours, the food was cold and the cocktails were terrible. I have eaten at this restaurants many times over the past years, including many New Years Eves, and the experience had always been wonderful. I dont know why the experience was so awful this time - maybe there is new management but I will not be returning.
Not recommended. Of all the restaurants in Old Town, this has fallen to the bottom of the list. Pay attention to simple things, like cooking the rice, and serving food promptly. Such a disappointment, especially at the price point. How does a place like this survive? As opposed to another review, if the service, the food, is good, this must have been a total failure previously. Quite frankly, the food is mediocre, the service is terrible, and there was no bartender. blackened salmon was overcooked , collard greens were soar and has pork bones and the sauce look like a soapy dish .I will never go back . never recommend this place to anyone .
The restaurant leaves much to be desired from a food perspective. As a native New Orleanian, I was disappointed-- highly disappointed. The restaurant gets 1.5 stars. The bar gets a 4.5 point rating. Great selection of whiskey, rum and tequila. There is live music. Plus the bar is cigar friendly.
Visited the Bayou Room (Lower Level) after hours with a group of relatives and friends who were all people of color. As soon as we entered a few people in the party bought drinks and returned to the group and we kept dancing to the music which was actually good. After awhile I saw an older bartender who was a white woman speaking to her colleague and pointing at our group multiple times. She then came over to us and told the whole group that we had to buy something. She was notified by a member of our party that a few people in the group had already bought drinks. This wasnt enough for her.She clarified herself and said everyone in the group had to buy something or we had to all leave. This made us feel singled out and unwelcome as a group during a moment of celebration. We hadnt been notified by the bouncer that this was a requirement to stay in the bar until this bartender approached us. People had been coming and leaving the space all night and staying for varied amounts of time WITHOUT buying a single drink. We had not seen her do this to anyone else. This seemed like a result of racial profiling. I hope Two Nineteen Restaurant reconsiders its training of employees because this experience has left a bad taste in my mouth with this establishment. I cannot in good conscience recommend this bar to other people given our mistreatment.
The girls at the cigar bar we wonderful but sadly when went went down stairs and the bartender was rude and looked like he did not want to be there. We waited for about an hour for 4 drinks that were overpriced. He told us that that he took care of us. Our drinks tasted like coke with lemon. We just wanted a drink and dance a little before we go home unfortunately we will not be returning to this place.
The service was horrible and the food took entirely too long to come out. Once the food did come out it was burnt . I then proceeded to explain this to the manager to which she told me to order a different temperature. (I ordered my steak medium.) I then asked why she would say that and she told me that they had no complaints through out the night. I am now sitting waiting after the bill is paid for steak that actually taste as it should. I wont be coming back.
Went there for a girls’ night out. Great vibes, nice service. We ordered a bottle of red wine which was DELICIOUS. Great salads. Restrooms are downstairs, clean and bright.
The Chef perfected his craft with humble beginnings in the bottom gulf of South Carolina. He cooks with an authentic simplicity that conjures up memories of the finest recipes my grandmother once served in New Orleans. I was so impressed by his collection of Southern dishes to include the impressive presentation on my previous visits that I flew my mother out from Texas so that she could spend one week in VA enjoying multiple dishes that were created to perfection. I love the attentive staff, the restaurant with the smoky mirror alluring effects, and the ambiance. I will continue to return with multiple guest to share in the experience of a well satisfied palate time and again! Ooh did I mention the incredible list of beverages to choose from as well?....and how about the nite life on dual floors attached with live music (bands)and the enclosed cigar room was over the top. Who needs to travel to DC...219 is all u need for an evening of great dining, dancing, laughter, and the exceptional overall venue. This is the complete package spot! For a wedding, party, birthday, or other engagements you cant go wrong here. Come on and join me, ....Ill be there enjoying the Oysters Rockefellers and a brew.....see u soon! Seven days in a week which is yours?
Loved it! The Truffle fries were delicious and the Asiago Mac n Cheese was to die for! Very quaint and classy restaurant and Eva was very helpful and a fabulous waitress! The entire staff was interactive and made sure we were taken care of!
One of the best restaurant experiences I have encountered. The food was absolutely amazing, I have never tasted a steak that delicious. I have already recommended this restaurant to all my colleagues. If anybody wants to enjoy a good restaurant in the Alexandria area, Two Nineteen Restaurant is the place to go.
Excellent atmosphere, good food (we had stakes) and an opportunity to smoke a good cigar.
This place has a great atmosphere with some amazing food. Really loving the cigar lounge they have and the live music they play is freaking awesome. I do recommend giving this place a try when you have a chance too.
Nothing better than great French food, amazing service, superb music and spectacular atmosphere. Our server James was definitely on point. He spoke fluent French and also gave nice recommendations on events and things to do in the area.
Went here to celebrate a friends birthday and what a disappointment. Even when we asked to speak to the manager/owner he wouldnt come. We had 7 people they gave us one basket with not enough rolls for everyone, and then charged us for the second when we asked for more. Everyones food was subpar, and the service was terrible. There are plenty of nice places in old town to dine. Go anywhere else.
The bands that play here are amazing. These guys (and gals) and true musicians. Food is also great.. And, they have a great selection of scotch, even some Japanese whiskeys.
This place is very neat. Love the live music on Friday night. This band is like that. And I dont know his name but Santa can play the hell out of his guitar.
I was visiting the area and saw this place had decent reviews so I decided to try. I had shrimp and grits. My friend had a crab cake. We were both pleased with our food and the service. I would definitely return again if in the area.
As far as brunch spots go in busy Old Town, I have to say that this feels like a hidden gem. The vibe is polished and warm and the service spot on. My bloody mary was okay, but the french toast was basically my rum raisin soulmate Id been reunited with at long last. Definitely worth the foodventure going here!
Good food, great staff, amazing ambience! The live band was great too, just what I needed for a great night out with friends. Would recommend and I will be back!
The food and service on the main level were excellent. The cigar lounge, bar, and entertainment on the top level were great. Ventilation is also pretty good in the cigar area.
Im sure Mondays can be slow, but horribly confusing, empty, & bizarre was not what I expected. We walked in and there were NO HOSTs, so we walked downstairs to a bar area only to be told to go upstairs. We went back up and then up another flight to a waiter that was acting like he overdosed on a sedative. After he took our drink orders, we had to seek him out to come back to take our order for food. After the long wait we just decided to cash out and even thought for one minute that going back to the first floor might warrant service. Think again. It just didnt work out. What the heck was going on there that night. The only good thing was that the sedated waiter thought to get us umbrellas due to the down pour outdoors. Otherwise I wouldnt have given this place a star!
The food was good, i enjoyed the food. The service was decent. The waitress comments was offensive. We ordered shots of Hennessy XO, the waitress made a statement that you know XO is 40 something a shot are you okay with that? She also stated, oh you guys actually enjoy the finer things. Assuming that we cannot afford what we ask for is pretty offensive, I’m sure it was my either my skin color, age or my attire that prompted that question. I was turned off after that comment needless to say this will be my first and last time there.
My husband and I just went here. The bartender was ridiculously rude when my husband ordered our drinks. Oh, and they add a $5 cover charge to your check if its after nine oclock, even if you got there before nine. We feel cheated by this place. Just another wannabe new Orleans bar/restaurant that falls short. Its also a really smokey bar with smoke stained business cards covering every inch of space.
I dined here for Valentines Day. Warning that it was a set menu and they didnt offer their regular menu. I was disappointed to realize that part of the meal was purchased from another establishment and presented as though it was made by Two Nineteen. Towards the end of the meal I asked for the dessert to go. Once home I took out the dessert and saw it in the packaging of the place that actually made the dessert, a cupcake shop not far away. Its dishonest, misleading, and overall bad taste (pun intended) of Two Nineteen Restaurant to pass off a portion of whats being served as coming from their kitchen, when in fact it was premade packaged food from elsewhere. If I wanted premade packaged food I could have picked that up myself. Outside of this, the prix fixe menu meal was mediocre at best. Be forewarned about going on a holiday or when theres a set menu.
We enjoy the small dance club in the basement of this restaurant on Saturday night. Free entry 10 p.m. to 2 am. Small space and decent vibes. DJ played eighties and nineties music. Only a few creepy guys hanging out here.
I hate giving bad reviews, but this low rating is deserved. Waiting over an hour for our food when the restaurant wasnt even half full is only the beginning of a long list of issues that we experienced. The wait staff was rude, they never once let us know the status of our food, and they did not apologize for the delay. When we finally did receive our food, it was lukewarm and undesirable. The bottom line: our experience was abysmal. The only reason I am not giving this establishment 1 star is that the ambiance is very charming. I hope whatever issues this restaurant was experiencing during my visit get resolved soon. Unfortunately, even if the issues get resolved, I will not be recommending Two Nineteen to any friends or family.
Love this place!!! Has 3 levels - bar area downstairs, restaurant with great food 2nd level and bar area with a band on the 3rd level. Cigars welcome except on the 2nd level. Great atmosphere, staff and food!!!
Just got back from a disappointing meal of Shrimp Creole. The few times Ive made it at home - mine was better. it was basically shrimp in a slightly spicy thin red sauce with an added scoop of white rice. That restaurant would last about 10 seconds if it were transplanted to New Orleans. It had none of the flavor complexity its supposed to have. And the accompanying dinner rolls were Pepperidge Farm rolls from the grocery store. Oh well. It was edible.
Went for a Father’s Day brunch. First ones at the restaurant so the kitchen shouldn’t have been busy. The food took 30 minutes to arrive and it was as though the chef didn’t know their menu. My hellfire burger, which was meant to be blackened, with sriracha mayo and shallot rings was a plain, dry burger with cold fries. The poached eggs with the Benedicts were hard boiled, and the cheese grits consisted of a platter of grits with a few unmelted kraft singles placed on top. I felt sorry for the poor souls who were seated as we left; they had been waiting over 30 minutes and their food still hadn’t arrived. The excuse from the nice, apologetic server was that it was the new chef’s first day. This information didn’t really help me and my party though...
Are negative stars an option??? The worst place to eat in Old Town...pertaining to the dining area. The service was atrocious...took forever to get our food (hour plus), all our checks were wrong (phantom items appeared that werent ordered), gratuity was added twice on most checks and from the time I gave my card to pay, to the time it was given back after FINALLY successfully paying was 45 mins. A dumpster on one of the side streets would offer better food and service.
Hubby and I enjoyed a fabulous 5 course tasting menu created by Chef Ryan Ross. Every scrumptious detail was observed from the appetizer to the dessert. We enjoyed prawns, fresh salad, lobster risotto, fresh fish, caviar, and succulent braised (12 hrs) short ribs. Everything was so delicious. Our anniversary was so special because of 219 and Chef Ryan. They did everything to make our day special.
My friend and I went on Saturday November 28 at about 6:00pm for my birthday dinner. The person who seated us seemed charming enough, although overly familiar. We waited a long time - even though there were only 4 other people in the room to be waited on. The waiter brought me pinot noir - not pinot grigio, and completely forgot our appetizer. He did not apologize, or offer any compensation. He seemed, however, quite taken with himself - openly flirting, suggestive comments. The food - the scallops were good, the ettoufe a bit gelatinous. Altogether a very unsatisfying outing. I would never suggest this restaurant, which is really a shame as the location and furnishings are nice.
219 Bravely took on My beautiful Bride and I and 20 of our closest friends and family in the height of Restaurant Week in Alexandria, VA. The whole experience was perfect from beginning to end. I could not be more pleased with the staff, food, and the decor of the restaurant itself. Location is also perfect with two parking garages within walking distance. I give 219 my highest recommendation!
We came with a large group (28 persons) and it was a set dinner. Staff was excellent and the food was great.We then went upstairs to the bar. We had a great time with good service and live music.
Food was absolutely delicious, flavors out of this world. The service was on point, never low on water. The set up and decor of the restaurant was gorgeous. The fire place to the chandelier, it was a beautiful restaurant.
Food was delicious with different spices. Owner came out and was so nice. Waiter was very nice as well. Area is perfect. Nightlife is perfect.
Would have given it more because the food was great, however beware of credit card reading and selling in this place. Id use cash if I went again. Heard about it happening here, did not heed advise and it happened to me. It was easy to narrow down since I hadnt used my card in over a month, then only used it there on Friday and by Monday my bank was alerting me... Be careful, use cash only here!
Wonderful service! They were so attentive and made sure everything was perfect for us. My children enjoyed their meals and loved sitting outside with the heaters! Thank you all so much for a wonderful experience!
Music was amazing. But, Glass all over the floor and when I told the staff I slipped out of my sandal and alerted them to the glass and safety issue I was met with hostility and rudeness. He me never swept up the glass and gave me MAJOR attitude. Horrible experience with staff. Don’t care about their customers.
Excellent shrimp and grits! Best we have had outside of NOLA! And excellent service! Highly recommend!
I had a horrible experience here. After being seated the server refused to come out and serve us because she didnt feel like it. Then we a random persons dog on the street jumped on our table the manager told us to calm down. Made us pay for our food then threw it away. I will never come to this place again.
Awesome food my man got to enjoy some authentic taste in New Orleans style food and I had a really juicy burger
I thought the food was pretty good but left me wanting a little more for the price- but the ambiance was super nice so I guess thats part of the experience! Everything was flavorful and had a good spice!
The food was not Cajun at all it had no flavor. Over priced ! But the club downstairs made up for everything , Great DJ they played 90s music all night .
Great place with a great vibe. Really cool staff. Great music. Huge selection of Scotch and cigars. Ventilated well, too. I look forward to my next visit. Thanks!
If youre looking for a cigar lounge with great bartenders and drinks, this is your place!
Enjoyed a date night here - both the Crawfish Etouffee and Jambalaya were tasty. The outdoor patio was lovely as well
We chose to have Thanksgiving dinner here this year (as wed done in the past). The food was delectable; the ingredients couldnt have been fresher; and the service was great. I couldnt recommend this restaurant more highly!
The Bayou is the downstairs bar and dance spot in Old town, great party on Friday & Saturday nights with very good DJs playing top hits mixed with some old school vibes. Mixed crowds both nights. Also awesome fing bartenders...
I have been there many times , and it’s best location to hangout except the owner of the restaurant (she) is not polite and very disrespectful . She doesn’t have the manner to communicate the client . Client is the king as I know in such a business , but she lost the idea. I heard the same opinion from my friends who’s going there for more than 10 years, and they have the same comment . Bad customer service ever in my life !!!
The asiago cheese and bacon Mac and cheese is AMAZING!!!
219 Cigar Lounge is a wonderful experience if you enjoy good cigars live music and great service.
Great place to enjoy a cigar on King St. The food is great and rich so grab a bite while you enjoy the game. Theyve also got a great whiskey selection. This is a local favorite.
The entrance stairs are dark and dangerous. After falling down the stairs, we were rudely greeted by a lady who instead of seating us proceeded to yell at us for deciding to sit at a table after waiting for a bartender to show up for fifteen minutes. Will not be going back.
The live band Bill Pappas was amazing, I had the Gumbo Yaya which was delicious! It was an amazing experience!
- Address:219 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, United States
- Site:http://www.219restaurant.com/
- Phone:+1 703-549-1141
- Monday:4 PM–1 AM
- Tuesday:4 PM–1 AM
- Wednesday:4 PM–1 AM
- Thursday:4 PM–1 AM
- Friday:3 PM–2 AM
- Saturday:3 PM–2 AM
- Sunday:3 PM–1 AM
- Outdoor seating:Yes
- Takeaway:Yes
- Dine-in:Yes
- Delivery:No
- Fast service:Yes
- Fireplace:Yes
- Live music:Yes
- Dinner:Yes
- Solo dining:Yes
- Wheelchair-accessible seating:Yes
- Alcohol:Yes
- Beer:Yes
- Cocktails:Yes
- Coffee:Yes
- Comfort food:Yes
- Happy-hour food:Yes
- Late-night food:Yes
- Quick bite:Yes
- Small plates:Yes
- Spirits:Yes
- Wine:Yes
- Dinner:Yes
- Counter service:Yes
- Dessert:Yes
- Seating:Yes
- Bar on site:Yes
- Toilets:Yes
- Casual:Yes
- Cosy:Yes
- Historic:Yes
- Romantic:Yes
- Trendy:Yes
- Upmarket:Yes
- Groups:Yes
- Tourists:Yes
- Dinner reservations recommended:Yes
- Accepts reservations:Yes
- Credit cards:Yes
- Debit cards:Yes
- NFC mobile payments:Yes
- Credit cards:Yes
- High chairs:Yes
- Paid multi-storey car park:Yes
- Paid street parking:Yes
- Dogs allowed:Yes
- Dogs allowed outside:Yes
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