The Columbia Firehousegreat place for dinner and drinks..Friends of mine flew to DC from LA, and wanted to get together for some dinner / drinks. Made reservations that day (pretty popular place so the earliest time was 8:30PM), and got their a little early. Spent some time in the bar, and were seated on time. Immediated service provided, and we ordered all the courses, with accompanying drinks - love their classic drink menu. Muscles for appetizer with saffron and curry were fresh and plump. The pork shank was off the bone tender and nicely seasoned. Apple and pear crisp was good, accented nicely with the scoop of vanilla whiskey ice cream. They had a nice French Sauterne for sipping after all the courses. Service was really good througout - not pushy, but always on time. Very nice time :)6/15/2013 12:00:00 AMVery NiceWe had friends visiting from out of town, and Columbia Firehouse was the perfect place to bring them! Nice variety of food, great service, great atmosphere. Everyone loved what they ordered, and was jealous of what the others got.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMTook my parents who were visitingTook my parents who were visiting from out of town. They were impressed by the food. Dad loves mussells and they had 3 kinds on the menu, plus a meat and cheese selection that was delicious. Mom did get a shrimp cocktail and they were definitely overdone and rubbery. The main courses were excellent and i got the scallops with cous cous "risotto". Very great dish. One thing this restaraunt does well is take classic dishes and change them up a little. Dad got a bison ragu and my friend got a pork shank. Food was great overall, drinks were good, they had reasonable wines, and good service. Definitely a go to place in alexandria.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMperfect for casual dinnerI had the scallops over couscous, and it was really an excellent meal. Nice and attentive wait staff, pleasant setting, area in the "alleyway" (though still indoors) much quieter than the noisier main area ... my preference being quiet enough to talk with the person you brought! I'd go back ... very well done.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat place for dinnerThe ambiance is excellent, food was incredible, and service was top notch. Will definitely go again!6/4/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent!!!!!! The food isExcellent!!!!!! The food is great, service is great and if you don't know what wine to order just ask. Their Sommelier is extremely knowledgeable.6/3/2013 12:00:00 AMEnjoyed a romantic dinner for 2My husband and I chose this restaurant to celebrate our first anniversary. It was perfect. The ambiance was lovely - quiet, personal, and a beautiful setting. It looked the outdoor area was also lovely but we chose to sit inside. The food and drinks were outstanding. They do classic cocktails quite well. We started with a 2x2 (of meats and cheeses) and everything was divine. The wedge salad was also great - crisp and refreshing. My husband's bison stroganoff really took the cake and left us wanting more. It tasted like the egg noodles were fresh - hard to find! I chose the Prime Rib and it was juicy, tender, and flavorful. We finished with the chocolate and blood orange dessert - sorbet melted over the pot de creme was fantastic!6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMHoly Prime Rib Batmanfantastic job on a 10 oz cut of prime rib. The beef was done perfectly, the potatoes were excellent, the sides and deserts phenomenal. We truly enjoyed the cheese plate, bottle of wine, several cocktails and a great evening.
4.5 out of 5 monkeys agree!5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMBest steak in Old TownLucky enough to land there on a Friday or Saturday night? The prime rib is an unbelievable must!!5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMOld Town Hot SpotWe met friends for brunch and had a great time! Delicious croque monsieur, cooked-as-ordered hangar steak, tasty hot apple crisp with cold ice cream on top. This converted historic building also boasts spacious private dining and a well stocked bar. A great place for catching up with firends, meeting for adrink or hosting a bridal or baby shower.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat "Business Dinner" - 5/22Met another guy for drinks and dinner to talk some business an socialize a bit... Cool place for drinks. Had a couple of excellent craft beers before and during the meal. Started with 4 meat/4 cheese sampler, followed by Bison Stroganoff and Grilled Hanger Steak. All food was excellent, service was spot-on - too full for dessert. Overall, a very satisfying and enjoyable experience - will definitely go back again.5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMNice place to go in Old TownThis is one of my favorite places to go - love the ambience, the dedication to bringing back old-time cocktails, and the food is superb! Nice bar, nice seating areas.5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMFirst time visitingI visited this restaurant for the first time with a few friends for Saturday brunch. I picked it because of the great reviews and I was not disappointed! The ambiance is charming, the servers make great suggestions (my friend loved her asparagus soup and caramel tea), and the food is delicious. This day they had a wedding and two baby showers, and the restaurant did not appear to be swamped, crowded. Our food was served quickly and the mimosas were great. I highly recommend it.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMColumbia FirehouseGreat food, interesting choices, friendly atmosphere. Enjoyed eating in the Atrium area. Very attentive waiter.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMThe FirehouseExcellent food and great menu choices. We would go back again.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat placeMy wife and I went here for our anniversary, this old firehouse has a high ceiling with candles. The beer and wine selection is great, need to have my craft beers. Food was really good, we both had the hanger steaks. The price is also low which makes this good for anyone. Highest meal was $28.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGood Food & Drink, Great TimesGreat place to relax with some good food and drink with friends and family. Try the pimento cheese spread!!!5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMInterior designOld fire station ,very skillfully remodeled! Food taste and presentation delightful! Diverse wine list. Prompt service for weekend night.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways a Great ChoiceTook the in-laws here on a Monday night for dinner. Great dinner was had by all. I tried the chicken and dumplings which I thought would just be average... these were spectacular! Tried a taste of everyone's meal and it was all very tasty. Suggest eating in the open atrium area on the left of the restaurant - it's like eating outside but without the rain, wind, or birds!5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMTry the Chili--It's Worth ItThe chili is amazing. Enjoyed the other food as well, but the chili could not have been better. Highly, highly recommend it.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat find in Old Town AlexandriaWent here to watch the Kentucky Derby. Bartender was very nice and drinks were wonderful. Stayed to have dinner afterwards and had an equally enjoyable experience. Restaurant is really attractive and food was great. We will be back.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMAtmosphere was great. ServiceAtmosphere was great. Service was on time and well done. Menu is nice and nice beer selection. Some of the entree portions were on the small side like the scallops and salmon.4/28/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was great, we hadThe food was great, we had lunch outside on their patio and it was a beautiful day. Good service and good food, reasonably priced for lunch. Would definitely return.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Crispy Reuben RollsWe ate dinner in the atrium area which was a very pleasant setting. I enjoy seeing unusual things on the menu and tried the Crispy Reuben Rolls as an appetizer - very tasty! Our entrees were good with special complements for the Bison Stroganoff and the amazing Buttermilk Biscuit with the very tender and crispy Fried Chicken. Only one of us was a big fan of kale which accompanied the entrees but that did not detract from our enjoyment of the meal.4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMConsistently a favoriteI have been there for brunch, lunch and dinner. The good has been consistently good and the restaurant has great light during the day and nice ambiance in the evenings. The burgers are excellent and they will add chicken, shrimp or flank steak to any of the salads. The desserts are excellent.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMWe were running late for ourWe were running late for our 6pm reservation for 4 people. I called the restaurant and they happily changed my reservation to one hour later. When we arrived we were seated, the restaurant was quite busy. Most of the patrons were happily talking and eating. It seems like a very friendly upbeat place for all age groups. We were 2 college students, an adult and a senior. We all enjoyed our meals, we had burgers, chili, polenta, fries and drinks. Every dish was served the way ordered, food was fresh and well prepared. Would definitely go back and have something different. A great place for lunch or dinner in Alexandria off of King Street. Host, hostess. and waitress were all professional, polite, great service.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMWe sat outside which is whyWe sat outside which is why the noise level is marked lower. Quite noisy when we walked through restaurant to leave.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMOur first visit while visitingOur first visit while visiting the area and we enjoyed the atmosphere and the food. Service was friendly and attentive. We would recommend to anyone interested in a good experience in food and ambiance.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMFirst time there. Had a greatFirst time there. Had a great experience. Will definitely be back.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMThis gem is wonderful! WeThis gem is wonderful! We went for nostalgic reasons...loved he idea of an 1890s firehouse being renivated into a restaurant! The ambience was amazing with just enough reminders of its former state. The food was incredible and our server was very professional and attentive. It was quiet and we had a lovely corner table to celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday lunch!!4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had dinner at the ColumbiaWe had dinner at the Columbia Firehouse on Easter Sunday. It was the second time in the past year we dined there.
Last year we enjoyed great service and food and we had a similar experience this year. Our server, Branden, was very friendly and efficient and the manager was attentive to diners soliciting comments as he mingled with all tables. The food was terrific and the location in Old Town is excellent and on-street parking was abundant.
We highly recommend the Columbia Firehouse.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMIt's all about the mussels!It's all about the mussels! They were awesome, served with enough warm crusty bread to sop up the delicious broth (I had the white wine-based). My date had scallops over an Israeli couscous that were cooked perfectly. We'll be back!3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMDon't miss their musselsWe had a wonderful brunch! They have 3 intriguing preparations of mussels. My husband thoroughly enjoyed the large and meaty Prince Edward Island mussels in green curry, coconut milk and fresh cilantro – served with crusty bread for dipping. My “local oyster po’ boy” made with crispy dragon creek oysters was also delicious. We’ll return!3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMLimited menu but service wasLimited menu but service was the best I've had anywhere in Alexandria. The decor is neat, from the dark wood to souring ceilings. Comfort food with a twist. Everything was fresh and came out promptly. We weren't crazy about the chili but the salads were good (no house salad? Weird.). Loved the chicken and sweet atones dumplings. Overall a good dinng experience and a fun place for a group.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had dinner reservationsWe had dinner reservations on a busy Saturday night and were seated promptly by a friendly staff. The layout of the restaurant is very unique with several levels that make each section feel a little more private. The meal was good and the price point totally reasonable. Would definitely return again .3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMColumbian Firehouse neverColumbian Firehouse never disappoints, amazing food, service and atmosphere. I'd recommend it for any and everybody!!!3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect birthday dinnerWe went for the first time for my boyfriend's birthday. He wanted prime rib. The food was very good. The prime rib was cooked perfectly to our specifications. The potatoes a gratin were delicious. All in all a very nice meal. Only complaint was we had to ask for the freshly ground pepper. This should be brought to the table as a matter of course. The apple fritters they gave us with a birthday candle were amazing. We are looking forward to going back.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMThis restaurant is one ofThis restaurant is one of the many places you need to visit in Old Town Alexandria. I went there on a first date, and the atmosphere complemented the occasion perfectly. As an appetizer, I did not try one of the famous meat and cheese samplers, although I did order a bowl of mussels, which were very good. For the main course, I highly recommend the scallops with cous cous. If the weather weren't so cold that evening, I would have definitely ended the evening with a walk by the water since it was only a couple blocks down the street. I would definitely eat here again!3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMSeveral levels make this restaurantSeveral levels make this restaurant great for a date or a drink. There is a nice patio available when the weather is nice. There are many nooks. The lighting and ambiance is excellent.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMMake this a 'must go to' placeThis place has it ALL! I would highly reccommend to everyone who lives in or comes to DC. The service was perfectly timed and non-intrusive. The food was outstanding. Am taking my family back next month.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMVery atmospherical; great serviceWe are so glad that we found this restaurant. Our waitress Sarah was very friedly and very professional. The food was great and the setting very atmosperical. We warmly recommend thislace and will certainly be back.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMI was very pleasantly surprisedI was very pleasantly surprised with the Columbia FIrehouse. The food was delicious and the atmosphere varied from an energenic hot spot on the ground floor to a more quiet fine dining ambiance upstairs. I would highly recommend The COlumbia Firehouse to any of my friends.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat place for a nice nightGreat place for a nice night out, good food, and relaxing atmosphere.3/1/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat spot in Old TownThis was our first time at CF, but we'd been to their sister restaurants plenty of times. I love the main dining room setup and the food was great, perfect for a night out with friends. The staff was really accommodating when half our party arrived late - even though it was Saturday and Restaurant Week, they still saved our table!2/9/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful place in Old TownOur evening started off a little rocky with some pushy fellow diners shoving to the front and getting seated before us. Then their late arriving diner forced his way in and was seated before us as well. From there forward everything went very well. The manager stopped by the table, when they were out of our selected wine and upgraded us to a very nice and pricier bottle for the same cost. The cauliflower soup and pear salad were excellent starts. The the noodles with winter vegetables and bison stroganoff were excellent mains. The chocolate and blood orange could have used a little more orange, but otherwise was a fine way to finish off an excellent meal.1/21/2013 12:00:00 AM