GeranioThe old country in the old townGood italian food in Old Town Alexandria, in the heart of King Street. Chef Troy Clayton delivers a great menu. We started with the Potato and Leek Soup with White Truffle Oil and the Lobster Bisque with Tarragon and Sambuca Cream, which were delicious. For the main course I had Lobster Risotto with Maine Lobster and Lobster Oil while my wife had the Prosciutto Wrapped Tuna with Herbed Mushroom Risotto, Wilted Arugula and White Truffle Oil. Our friends brought their two year old and their kids menu passed the test with flying colors. Service was good and friendly, definitely we recommend it.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful ExperienceThe waiter was pleasantly nice. Well aware of the special of the day. The seafood fettuccine with cream sauce was delicious and the portion was worth the cost. The ambience was elegant and quite. Love this place. Will definitely visit again.6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMA pleasant eveningNice atmosphere; very good service and good food. An overall enjoyable experience.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMDinner with DadI was in D.C. for the summer and when my dad visited he was looking for Italian. Alexandria was a nice short escape from D.C. and Geranio had good to offer. The ambiance was quiet - it was a weekday. The servers were very attentive - I was exceptionally pleased with the service. The food was also good and my overall experience was above average. It's a good place to celebrate a special occasion (they surprised the couple near us with a dessert for the woman's birthday) or to just have a nice meal out.6/5/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent dinnerThe wilted spinach salad was delicious -- I was sorry to finish it. The grilled salmon was also excellent, cooked perfectly. The portions were also sensible -- I did not feel like I was being forced to eat a SuperMeal. A very nice experience.6/4/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat for a birthday dinnerWe went there for my Granny's 81st birthday and couldn't have been happier! Since my grandparents were with us, we had to dine early (right at 5:30 when the restaurant opened). As the only people in the place, the staff was very attentive without being overbearing. Everyone was completely satisfied with their food selection.6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMA treasure in Old Town AlexandriaWe relied on the recommendations from other Open Table reviewers and we were not disappointed. Our caesar salad was very special - we split it and the kitchen split it for us. I loved the slightly lemon tang to the caesar dressing. My husband ordered the osso bucco. It came with a cheese risotto and garlic ladened broccolini. It was all 5 star except the osso bucco was fairly fatty but still tender and tasty. My cappelinni with lump crab, asparagus and lemon with olive oil was the perfect summer pasta. You will not be disappointed at Geranio. Just ignore the menu outside as many of the dishes listed outside, are not on the menu inside - like confit of duck. Otherwise, a spectacular restaurant in Old Town Alexandria.5/27/2013 12:00:00 AMFirst visit. WOuld go again.First visit. WOuld go again. Good spot in a locale with a lot of options.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMAuthentic Italian menu. DeservesAuthentic Italian menu. Deserves its high ranking among the King Street establishments. We thought that reservations would not be required on Monday - a slow night in many restaurants -but it was a good thing we made them because the place was full. We had fried calamari (fine - nothing specia) and mussels (great) for appetizer. I had the Osso Bucco for a main and it was very good. Nice portion size - very moderate. Tiramisu for dessert was one of the best I've had. Our initial seating was near the kitchen and in the way of the waiters. The host noticed and moved us to a better location, which was greatly appreciated. I'd certainly return on another trip to Alexandria if in the mode for Italian.5/20/2013 12:00:00 AMLoved the food, service tooLoved the food, service too and v attractive setting, ambience. Will return but not on weekend....big groups and noisy then.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Italian Dining ExperienceMy wife and I needed to get away for a date night and this was the perfect spot. We have lived in the area for nearly four years, but never stopped in at Geranio. After our experience there we are sorry to have missed it all this time. Their lobster risotto was amazing - the most tender lobster meat I've had.
It seems that they put reservations upstairs, away from the loud crowd, so be sure to book with OpenTable.
Also our waiter, Hector, did the most amazing job delivering drinks and each of the three courses at perfect intervals throughout the meal.
Thank you!5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Value PropositionWhen you spend time and money you want to receive something in return, for both. The investments of both to try Geranio's delivered great value. Prices were reasonable in return for the quality of food, service and atmosphere. The time spent in the restaurant produced a relaxed dining environment that in-turn created a great evening of discussions.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful!An amazing Mother's Day dinner. While the waiter was not as smooth as he tried to be, everything else was sublime. The famous lobster risotto was well worth the rave reviews- and not as expensive as it may deserve to be! Our family had the risotto, a special of risotto with shrimp, the "gigantic free-form" crab ravioli, and the cappelli (?) with crab and asparagus. We basically licked our plates clean!
Would definitely recommend for anyone who likes seafood, Italian food, or just plain great food.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful Italian HospitalityHaving dined at this restaurant since its opening, we are always pleased to return to Geranio for dependable food and wine offerings. We had to make a last-minute reservation for a party of eight on a Sunday evening, and thanks to Open Table, this was easily done! The staff had our table ready as soon as we arrived. Given that we were hosting clergy from out of town, we had some special needs, each of which the staff dispatched with ease! Their advice on the wine selections was first rate, the entrees were very good and promptly served, and the wine carefully monitored so that everyone enjoyed the evening. Thank you, Clayton and Staff for a "home away from home" in your comfortable Italian restaurant!5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMA very nice dinner excperience.This was our first visit and it was a pleasant surprise. We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner and found the staff to be very friendly and helpful in choosing our meal. We plan to return, whether for lunch or dinner. Thank you for a memorable experience.4/29/2013 12:00:00 AMI was looking for an ItalianI was looking for an Italian restaurant in Old Town for lunch with a friend. I saw the reviews for Geranio and thought we'd give it a try. So glad we decided to go! Geranio is a lovely, quaint place. Very quiet at lunchtime. We sat near the fireplace which was welcome on a cold, windy day. We started with a basket of warm bread. My friend had the potato leek soup & caesar salad with salmon - she loved both. I had a caesar salad and wild mushroom risotto. The rave reviews for their risotto are warranted. Probably the best risotto I've had in a restaurant - just perfect! I wasn't even aware of Geranio - it's been there for years, but will definitely return! Can't wait to try their pasta dishes. This is my new go-to place for Italian food!4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is the restaurant weThis is the restaurant we book as soon as we book our flight to DC. All the dishes are special. And the service is the best.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMWe requested a window seatWe requested a window seat and although arrived a bit late, they had it waiting for us. Great service and wine. Always reliably consistent quality and service!4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful mealFood was very good, as was the service and the atmosphere. Looking forward to going again4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMTrusted name in Old Town everTrusted name in Old Town ever since I can remember, and I've lived in Alexandria for more than 50 years. Food is excellent, service was good. A bit noisy on a Saturday night, but overall a delightful meal.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMFour of us had dinner, I tastedFour of us had dinner, I tasted each meal and they were all spectacular! I will definitely be going back for more!4/11/2013 12:00:00 AMEasy choiceConsistent food and service. Many choices in Old Town, but this one is always easy to return to.4/11/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat dinnerWe tried Geranio based on other reviews that I read online. I am happy to say we also had a very pleasant dinner there. We were celebrating a birthday in the group and I mentioned it when I made the reservation online with OpenTable. They reserved a nice table for us by the front window which looked out on King Street. After dinner they brought the birthday girl a complimentary dessert with a candle in it. The food was excellent and the service outstanding. We would definitely return again.4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMI have enjoyed Geranio forI have enjoyed Geranio for years, the food is always consistent and delicious. They are also very good at making substitutions so that you fully enjoy your meal.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMWe always enjoy our meals.We always enjoy our meals. The food is excellent and there is always something tried and true as well as something new and different.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMGeranio's has amazing foodGeranio's has amazing food and the wait staff is wonderful. Their specials are always worth trying but you can't go wrong with their standing menu. We've never been dissappointed! Great place to dine.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMItalian Hot Spot- Center of Old TowWow-- Amazing Italian Restaurant in the middle of Old Town. It was a surprise.
Best tip: You can do half orders of the pasta dishes!! Try two!
App: Pancetta Wrapped Mozzarella in Marinara--yummy bites of heaven
Main: Penne with Ahi Tuna, Capers and Tomato Sauce-- light, delicious and fresh
Linguini with Chili Cream Sauce and Shrimp--- Decadent with a capital D.
The Risottos are phenomenal-- We tried the one with Lobster and with Scallops- but great.
Dessert: Dark Chocolate Mousse with Raspberries- divine. (split with 4 people-so rich)
Creme Brulee-- standard. simple.
Great Restaraurant- Great Service.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMWe celebrated a birthday onWe celebrated a birthday on Saturday night. The entire experience was flawless. Wait staff was particularly attentive. We'll be back.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMexactly what I wanted forexactly what I wanted for a quiet lunch with excellent food3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a party of ten, includingWe had a party of ten, including two visitors from Scotland. It was essentially a reunion of people who had worked very closely together in 1999-2000 at the Scottish Court in the Netherlands (long story). The table was ready, and in a location where we could hear each other talk. There were plenty of servers, the food was well prepared and came in a timely fashion, and at the same time. The service continued to be attentive, but not intrusive. The bill was quite reasonable considering what everybody had. This was a special occasion with folks who hadn't seen each other in over ten years. With a group this large on a Saturday night it could have been problematic, and it was just great! Everybody had a wonderful time. We will go back!3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMGood Food and Great AtmospehereI really enjoyed Geranio's. The food was excellent--but beware of the steamed broccoli; it's quite peppery and bitter (the waiter warned me of the bitterness upfront). The Atlantic Salmon was exceptionally good as well as the wilted spinach. The atmosphere was very pleasing. The rustic look of the brick and plaster gave the feel of Italy while the music was pleasant and soothing and the crowd was sizeable, but the noise level was comfortable. Conversation was easy and enjoyable. Most of the night, the staff attended to us in bulk; 3 different waiters accommodated us steadily; almost to an annoyance. They were courteous and attentive and that added to the enjoyment of the night. I will return and I recommend you give it a try t3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMVisited Alexandria and wantedVisited Alexandria and wanted a good Italian food restaurant - we found it. Great place for a small group (as we were) to meet, eat and talk. Great ambiance, wonderful good, good service and fairly reasonably priced
We will be going back and will suggest it to friends visiting Alexandria3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMA wonderful experience!Went with a group of coworkers. Had a fantastic dinner (try the risotto!) and wonderful attentive service. Definitely on my list of favorite DC area Italian places to dine...3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMA Great Choice in Old TownGeranio is one of our favorite restaurants. It is a moderately priced gem in an area that has much higher priced competition. We often bring guests here who live in the Washington Metro area and have never heard of Geranio. All of them are surprised at just how good it is for the money. High recommendations!2/28/2013 12:00:00 AMConsistently GoodThe food is consistently good and the service is great.2/24/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious Italian Food in Old TownThis was our first visit to this charming restaurant and we enjoyed it very much! Of special note is the outstanding and friendly service you receive - it made our dinner such a pleasure! They have an excellent wine list and they have a great list of dinner specials (I tried and loved the filet with sauteed spinach) - their bread is wonderful - crisp top and soft inside! - our friends loved the pork filet - appetizer of calamari and also grilled shrimp with garlic was great! The only weak point was dessert - we ordered the tiramisu and really did not like it. It was not very sweet, had a touch of chocolate, and lacked enough creamy filling that we like. We will look forward to going again!2/2/2013 12:00:00 AMFood = Awesome // Service = MehThe food was great but the service was a bit lackluster. Having to call to your waiter to ask to place your order after sitting with menus closed for 10 minutes was a bit annoying but there was great conversations to be had. Having the waiter return 10 minutes later to ask us what we would like to order and having to be reminded that we already ordered was a bit nerve racking. Nerves be gone as the meal came out. The food is great. At the end of the meal I was texting my friends telling them that they, too, had to go to Geranio. (Just be prepared for forgetful or non-attentive waiters.)1/24/2013 12:00:00 AM