The Wharf Fine Seafood

The Wharf Fine Seafood Restaurant in Old Town Alexandria houses stories that have stood the test of time. It’s a place where the past and present live in tandem. After all, the restaurant’s close proximity to the Potomac River, and historic waterfront port, showcases Alexandria’s long-standing reputation as a bustling seafood destination. That history is reflected in the building’s old age. The exact construction date for this brick building is elusive but it’s believed that the building that houses The Wharf was built in the late 1790s. 

Diners can sense that history as soon as they sit down at one of the white tablecloth-draped tables. The stone and brick interior is all original, and the building is supported by the more than 200-year-old columns and beams that are marked by historic placards. Traces of life in Alexandria during the Civil War-era are charred within the texture of the structure’s wooden beams. Newer additions like dark wood paneling and an inviting bar still feel classic, and the outside dining area is just as congenial, with an expanded patio overlooking the 100 block of King Street’s pedestrian promenade.

The menu at The Wharf continues to offer timeless dishes serving regulars devoted to popular entrees like all-lump crabcakes, She-crab soup and lobster rolls at lunch. The entire menu channels favorite seafood dishes, from lobster pasta and deviled eggs dressed up with crab to Oysters Rockefeller or shrimp po’boy rolls. Don’t forget to order a slice of made-in-house oatmeal pie.

The restaurant opened in 1971, and current owner Cyrus Coleman, a son of an immigrant, boasts a special connection to The Wharf. He and his wife, who helps run the business, had their first Valentine’s Dinner at the restaurant. Nearly 20 years later, they took over as owners and the restaurant has only grown since then. It has recently renovated and opened up a private event space on the third floor, overlooking the magic of King Street’s most iconic block.