Details

Evening Star Cafe

2000 Mount Vernon Ave.
Alexandria, VA 22301

703-549-5051

Neighborhood: Alexandria, Del Ray, Alexandria

Cuisines: Modern, Breakfast, American

Opening Hours:
Open for lunch Tuesday through Friday 11:30 to 2:30. Open for dinner Monday through Thursday 5:30 to 10, Friday and Saturday 5:30 to 11, and Sunday 5 to 9:30. Open for brunch Saturday and Sunday 10 to 3.

Wheelchair Accessible: Yes

Nearby Metro Stops: Braddock Road

Price Range: Moderate

Dress: Informal

Noise Level: Chatty

Reservations: Not Needed

Website: http://www.eveningstarcafe.net

Best Dishes:
Duck springrolls; Quail stuffed with goat cheese and shitakes; chicken-and-andouille-sausage gumbo; chicken-and-apple sausage with cheddar mashed potatoes; steamed mussels with ginger and lemongrass; rosemary-braised lamb shank; roast garlic-marinated duc

Price Details:
Lunch appetizers, $3.75 to $7; entrees, $6.50 to $14. Dinner appetizers, $4 to $12; entrees, $15 to $25. Sunday brunch entrees, $6 to $11. Lounge menu, $5 to $9.

Special Features: Wheelchair Accessible, Kid Friendly

Evening Star Cafe

A funky, wine-savvy neighborhood hangout.

From January 2004 100 Very Best Restaurants

This Del Ray restaurant hasn't invested in decor. You wouldn't be surprised if the restaurant showed up in a 1950s movie as a working-class diner. There are two dining areas, the rear one likely to house regulars having a brew or a glass of wine. Upstairs is a wine bar/lounge. The list has many entries priced well under $30, and the restaurant allows diners to bring in wines from the Daily Planet wine store next door for a reasonable corkage fee of $8.

Good starters are grilled quail stuffed with goat cheese and shiitake mushrooms; chicken-and-andouille-sausage gumbo; chicken-and-apple sausage on cheddar-scallion mashed potatoes with a shallot demi-glace; and steamed mussels with fresh ginger-and-lemongrass broth. Recent main-course additions worth savoring are rosemary-braised lamb shank; roast garlic-marinated duck breast with mashed sweet potatoes; sautéed salmon on a Roquefort risotto cake; sautéed beef tenderloin with cheddar-scallion mashed potatoes; and Cajun-style crabcakes studded with chili peppers. Home-style desserts like pine-nut tart and pumpkin cheesecake make for a fine finale.