BastilleMy 'go to' restaurant.What's not luv at this little restaurant that is located in North Old Town. The staff is welcoming. The menu is inventive. The food is always delicious. A reservation is highly recommended. A half-dozen seats at the bar are available on a first come, first serve basis and it is a great place to catch a peak of what's cooking in the kitchen, get the inside track on a new wine and enjoy your meal.5/20/2013 12:00:00 AMFavorite PlaceWe love this place!! Lovely patio, wonderful food and drinks and the staff is great.5/20/2013 12:00:00 AMFine restaurantBastille continues to be a fine place to go. The food is good and the prix fixe is a bargain. The staff are knowledgeable and pleasant.5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had lunch prior to attendingWe had lunch prior to attending a theater production at Metro Stage. The pre fix lunch menu was wonderful and the service was great. We have already planned a return trip. What a charming restaurant and we feel lucky to have found it!!5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMBeen there many times overBeen there many times over the years. Only keeps getting better. Limited menu but upscale with a French flair. Like to see a greater variety of wines by the glass.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMWarm atmosphere, delicious foodI had a lovely lunch with my mom at Bastille. The staff was attentive and friendly. The food was excellent, well-seasoned and portioned. I would highly recommend the risotto and the chocolate pot de crème. I look forward to dining there again. My mom throughly enjoyed the hanger steak and pomme frites (I helped finish a few of them as well!).5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways charming and consistentlyAlways charming and consistently superb! Bastille is our #1 favorite of all of our favorite restaurants!5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMFood Coma AlertThis was a two-hour parade of food and wine pairings for the 5-course Gourmand dinner. The staff were silent but always present to meet your needs. The server was very knowledgeable of all the offerings and the wines. We asked to take a break between courses to slow down and enjoy everything more, which they were happy to accommodate. When we were done, we were so sated that I was struggling to stay awake on the drive home.
This place is a gem, particularly if you go during the week when the crowd is less. The restaurant appears to have taken out some tables to lower the noise and increase the service level......GREAT DECISION!5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMVery satisfyingI remember there being a bit more choices on the menu in the past, but what we had - shrimp beignets and duck confit - was wonderful.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMWe discovered Bastille quiteWe discovered Bastille quite by accident a while back (it's off the beaten path), and keep coming back. It's become a favorite spot for dining.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMAnother Wonderful Meal!I go here often and I am never disappointed! I usually order a fixed meal with he wine pairing - it hasn't disappointed yet. Defentely recommend this restaurant!5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food. Good paceExcellent food. Good pace of service. Personable waiter. Good wine list. Overall, a pleasant experience.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMSecond time in 2 weeks atSecond time in 2 weeks at Bastille. The first time the moules were boring. This time I had seared scallops with asparagus risotto. It was absolutely delicious!4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMIt is wonderful and trulyIt is wonderful and truly a hidden gem! We were blown away. Didn't expect it to be as charming and delicious as it was. Highly recommend particularly for people who want to get out of the city but dont want to deal with hectic downtown Old Town. Its just out of the way enough. Adorable and awesome.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMVery pleasant experience.Very pleasant experience. We had made reservations for a late dinner after attending the Metro State Theater next door and staff made us feel very welcome even though it was a late dinner. Food and service was exceptional with many choice the menu.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMA GemWe have lived in the area for a year but it took us that long to visit the Bastille. Our first thought was that we wasted a year's worth of visits as the restaurant is amazing. The service, drinks and most importantly the food was outstanding. Look forward to coming back4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMBastille has become our favoriteBastille has become our favorite go-to French restaurant which we discovered when visiting the adjacent Asian furniture and decoration shop. Many menu items are wonderful adaptions of french standards providing a happy surprise when the server sets down the plate. Risottos are consistently excellent. Restaurant takes pride in local sourcing meats and produce. Hanger steak/frites will rival any bistro in Paris. Our server Daniel was an attentive host always being nearby but not overbearing or intruding. We find the restaurant so convenient being right off the GW Parkway at Bashford Lane and with free street and private lot parking--it's also next to Mt.Vernon bikepath.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMWith Marc Slater as the sommelier/mWith Marc Slater as the sommelier/maitre'd and a owner/chef at the helm, a true find in Alexandria. I look forward to returning to sample more of the menu.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was a delightful lunchThis was a delightful lunch experience. I met a friend and a colleague whom I have not seen for a while. We both had the lunch menu which is a bargain for a three course meal of very high quality. I had the beet salad that was delightful, the scallops and risotto as an entree and the lime creme caramel, both were delicious. I highly recommend this restaurant hidden in Old Town Alexandria.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMA real gem in the north endA real gem in the north end of Alexandria. Food was exceptional. Very pleasant dining experience.4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMBastille provided a pleasant,Bastille provided a pleasant, quiet retreat and a fine bistrot meal. The basic menu is straightforward, but you don't expect imagination and creativity in a $30 three course prix fixe meal. You get top-notch ingredients well-prepared in simple dishes. The $20 wine pairings were unimaiginative and rendered the meal a bit pricey. Next time I would just buy a bottle to pair with the main course. Bastille is among the quitest restaurants I know, for which I give thanks.4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic lunch with my Mom!Fantastic lunch with my Mom! I loved the "beignets" with rock shrimp and an excellent aioli sauce (watch the garlic!). Perfectly cooked scallops on dish with risotto. Great Saturday pri fixe lunch for $29. Excellent and very attentive and friendly service. Love this place!4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMConsistently excellent!Love the tasting menu and wine pairings. It keeps me coming back again and again.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMTable for two was very small;Table for two was very small; no table cloth at lunch; placemat would have been nice; server excellent; food was VERY good especially the fresh fish and scallops; a bit loud; window treatments were a bit outdated4/10/2013 12:00:00 AMHappy Birthday to me!Great birthday meal...beet salad, pork choucroute: braised cheek, crispy belly & slice of roasted over a bed of sauté cabbage; husband had duck breast over rhubarb. Had dessert at home (my "traditional" white choc mousse cake from the Watergate Bakery) but otherwise would have had something at Bastille. Food presentation was beautiful. Though a gorgeous April evening, we ate inside (about 6 tables were filled outside when we left). Service was very good; waiter brought us side plates to split the salad ourselves so we wouldn't be charged xtra if the kitchen split it for us. This was a repeat visit and I would definitely go back again. Serving sizes were just right for us...not over the top with over the top prices to match4/8/2013 12:00:00 AMBest dining experience weBest dining experience we have had in years. Outstanding sommelier has put together a phenomenal wine list.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a great meal and wonderfulWe had a great meal and wonderful service. A gem of a restaurant.4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMBastille was amazing for lunch.Bastille was amazing for lunch. The food was excellent, but the service was the true highlight. We went for lunch with three small infants, and all of the servers were so kind and helpful. Our experience was fantastic. We will definitely go back. Thanks Bastille!3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMBastille takes it up a notchWe have become regulars at what we think is the best food and value in Old Town. Others may get more press but this restaurant consistently delivers a great product. Bastille has recently upgraded a very good wine list to excellent with a sommelier who has an exceptional pedigree. The service is always first rate, the bistro fair is just what you would expect but rarely receive in Paris, and there are even better great wines at very fair prices.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMAlexandria Dining GemBastille is a wonderful dining spot. This is my third visit and the service is always excellent and the food is wonderful - very high quality and excellent preparation. My husband found the mussels superb and the steak special was absolutely delicious. The hibiscus creme brulee was delightful. I only wish we lived closer and could visit more often!3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMSo nice to be treated as aSo nice to be treated as a "regular customer" even though we live out of town and rarely get to the Washington D.C area. Extremely accomodating.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious food and great service.Delicious food and great service. Our waiter Billy was discreetly attentive and very helpful with wine and food suggestions. Two of us ordered the three-course prix fixe lunch, a good value, while our friend preferred to order a la carte. The mussels were plump and tender and the white wine broth was perfectly seasoned. Our friend's salmon special was also delicious. Appetizer and entree portions were generous, although the restaurant discourages sharing if ordering prix fixe. The noise level was very high after the restaurant filled up, so it's not the place for a quiet chat unless you arrive early. Parking was no problem, a plus in Old Town.3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMI can be terse or rhapsodize.I can be terse or rhapsodize. Time is short, so I'll take the former route. My significant other avoids French restaurants -- too much butter, too many calories. She also quickly tires of once-favored dining spots. Bastille is the exception in both cases. Why? Because, she says, few restaurants prepare seafood so well. As for me, I don't eat seafood, but I too sing Bastille's praises. Why? Well, I'd tell you but I promised to be brief.3/26/2013 12:00:00 AMDelightful 5-Course Wine DinnerThe wines were expertly paired with the fabulous food in this five-course Bordeaux Right Bank dinner. Presentation of plates and their service was superb. Big flavors, innovative preparation and variety made this a memorable meal.3/25/2013 12:00:00 AMIt was great!! The waiterIt was great!! The waiter was very nice and attentive! The food was also great. Everything was done with such great care!! I went for brunch, but will definitely go back for dinner!3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMTrue hidden gem in Alexandria.True hidden gem in Alexandria. Great ambience, French bistro style menu. Outstanding value, including on the well chosen wine list.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMHadn't been here in a while,Hadn't been here in a while, so decided to go for a little celebration. We had theater tickets right after and they were great in getting us our food in a very timely manner. Great food as always!3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMBastille was wonderful yetBastille was wonderful yet again. It has a beautiful seasonal menu, great atmosphere, drink and wine list, making it an overall special experience every time we eat here.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMNice portions. Well conceivedNice portions. Well conceived bistro classics and more. Comfortable atmosphere. Bastille is very accommodating in every respect.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food and wine. ServiceGreat food and wine. Service was excellent. We had an enjoyable evening.3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMWe were looking for a localWe were looking for a local Alexandria restaurant to have dinner before a show at Metro Stage. Bastille was a gem. It is a charming, quaint place, tucked away on the outskirts of Old Towne Alexandria. The service, food, wine and dessert were spot on. Looking forward to sharing this find with friends.3/14/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways excellent. Even betterAlways excellent. Even better during Restaurant Week when already reasonable prices are reduced further. We never get tired of their moules and onglet, each served with frites.1/19/2013 12:00:00 AMMust go!One word: lovely. Came for Restaurant Week and found a new favorite restaurant that I will go to again and again. Everything was delicious. The wine pairings were superb and beautifully presented with the bottle that we could observe, discuss and learn from. Our waitress, Naomi (New-amy) was splendid. I was extremely impressed and can't wait to go again!1/18/2013 12:00:00 AMGlad I Tried Bastille AgainBastille is in my neighborhood, but it's been off our "go to" list of eateries since my husband broke a tooth on a very tough piece of meat here (Thanksgiving 2011). Getting together with my girlfriends at Bastille was a test to see if the place had improved (aside from the mediocre food back in 2011, there were noise issues and the waitstaff less than excellent). What a difference! Glad I went back - all three of us had a good time and enjoyed delicious scallops and trout, cooked to perfection. Nice waitress, good service. I'm giving it four stars out of five.1/10/2013 12:00:00 AMDon't judge a book by its cover.If you were looking for a nice french restaurant and were basing your decision on curb appeal, you might drive right by. Don't. Inside this rather industrial setting, next to the railroad tracks, is a wonderful, peaceful, tastefully appointed restaurant, staffed with very helpful, engaging and competent personnel. The price fixed 3-course lunch was a very good deal and the food was excellent. Just a year or two ago, I would never have considered a burger at a french restaurant, but having just been to Paris a few months back and seeing their rising popularity there, as well as enjoying one at db Bistro Moderne in NYC a few months back, I gave Bastille's a try. FANTASTIC!! My wife had the steak frite and it, too, was excellent.12/29/2012 12:00:00 AM