We offer private dining rooms in addition to our elegant main floor and offer pre-fixed banquet menus suitable for any event. After your meal, you can unwind in our spacious second story Basin St. Lounge, and be entertained by world class blues/jazz music - seven nights a week - or head downstairs to our Bayou Room, for live DJs and dancing.
Whether you're looking for a casual night out or something a little more intimate, 219 Restaurant has what you're looking for... seven days a week!
Menu
Nice enough owners and good cocktails, but on a winter's night they do not have control of their ventilation such that the upstairs cigar lounge smoke blows back into the restaurant. Blech. Also, the restaurant was nice, but they wouldn't turn off the TV over the bar, kind of distracted from the ambiance of the fireplaces. Lastly, we only realized they even had a specials menu when we asked to see what they had for dessert. Save this place for spring/summer outdoor on the patio lunches.
Made reservations for Valentines with friends. There was a special (set) menu and price that was not advertised for Valentines. My friends and I was very disappointed and was not able to order from the menu that was on the website.
The service was good, however the food was mediocre at best. I dine at 219 once a year and have always had good meals. Something has changed, either the ingredients or the chef. Lastly, even if the meal was on par, their Valentine’s Day price was exorbitant.” It’s safe to say I won’t be eating there any time soon.
Mi wanted to surprise my friend for Valentine’s Day with Jambalaya prior to theater in N Virginia so booked 219. I had liked the jambalaya in the past. But, instead it was a menu of $65/person 20% tip WITH coffee extra and NO jambalaya or usual menu. We should have cancelled immediately. I had the short ribs entree which were nice but he ordered the Thai curry which was served in a bowl to pour over the rice—it was room temperature having been prepared earlier and not heated well. The server said she would tell the chef which did nothing! The folded red napkins and red rose did not make up for “pre-made” cafeteria-like food. Terrible expensive cafeteria-level dinner!
Why would a restaurant with some nice dishes remove all of the typical entrees? The waitress responded that “everyone was called.” She could have asked if I was called instead. I WAS NO CALLED. I was emailed to verify I was coming.
This ruined them for me.
They only had a Valentine’s Day menu available when we went. That’s not a problem at all but on the events section of their website it was not mentioned. The food just wasn’t spectacular. I got the salmon curry dish and it was good but my husband got the veal and it looked over done and low quality. Service was great. The wine selection is horrible. I just wasn’t impressed overall and I was really looking forward to trying this place out.
My husband wanted to treat me to dinner for a special occasion "Date Night" since Valentine's Day can be quite chaotic. He selected "219" since it offered Private Dining, Live Music and the Bayou Room. We also were seated at the section by the window. The sights were also unbelievable too! If you want to do something a little special and upscale, this would be a great choice.
It's a very tight squeeze in the front dining area. The waitress asked my husband if he would move his chair in where there was clearly no more "in" to go. We actually had to rearrange our own table just to make room for people on the floor. Their gumbo and she-crab soup were fabulous! I enjoyed the shrimp and grits, but my husband did not enjoy the jambalaya. The tiramisu was alright. I thought it might be a little better because they made it in-house. The other annoying thing is that you have to pay Alexandria tax in addition to regular Virginia tax.
Our waitress was exceptional! A pure delight.
Charming, quiet dining room(s). Menu that focuses on low-country cuisine but has plenty of other choices. The steak au poivre was better than many French restaurants. Desserts (tiramisu and cheesecake) were outstanding. Server was friendly and attentive but not intrusive. Excellent selection of whiskies and wines by the glass and interesting beers on tap. Highly recommend.
Note to self, never try a new place during restaurant week. No restaurant brings more than their C game during that time.
For it to be restaurant week, it was a little short staff which lead to it taking 35 mins just to get drinks. However; it did improve.
Fabulous meal and service. Nice warm fireplaces going on a cold raw day. Perfect ambiance. Server (forgot name) was excellent. Food was excellent. Large portions too!
Beautiful on the inside. However, the service was wonderful from the host station to the time we left. We are coming back.
Went for restaurant week and will definitely return. Food and service were great! The smell of cigar smoke from upstairs was somewhat annoying however, that was no fault of 219. The wait staff was very attentive but not intrusive. The fireplace added to the ambiance and the warmth on the cold evening.
My experience was fantastic. Our waiter Phil was polite and fun! Definitely will be back
We had a great meal at 219 on New Years Eve. Our waiter was very attentive, the service was quick, the ambiance was spectacular. Overall, a great experience!
We made.same day reservations. Easy. Our waiter was great - cut the price of our prix fix menu because our ten year old was with us for a New Year's Eve dinner. We ate above the party room. So, the music affected the ambience. The food, and it's presentation was very good. One complaint was the smoking. Not the place to go if it will bother you.
Great food, service and hospitality... lovely, welcoming environment
Enjoyed meal. Service was great. Could not enjoy the Saturday night band due to cigar smoke, but will return on a week day, as recommended by the staff, when there are fewer smokers.
The service was inattentive considering it was not crowded...our bread consisted of 2 muffins..we asked for more...told it would be an up charge..REALLY! We are not cheap and go out frequently to high end restaurants....I was totally turned off even if the food was good..our friends said pretty much the same but we thought we would give them a chance...they BLEW IT BIG TIME
Loved everything about it. It’s so charming. The food was outstanding. There was a lot of flavor, a little spicy, in the best way. My boyfriend wasn’t as excited by the food (not a fan of collard greens). But I’m the one writing the review, and I’m going to convince him to go back.
This is a great one stop shop so to speak. Food, music, and a cigar bar for my boyfriend.
Amazing venue, rockstar local talent, eclectic, yet remarkably cozy environment, and spectacular service. Huge fan of this place! #basinstforthewin
Had a fabulous meal sitting right in front of the fireplace facing out looking on King Street. Food was spectacular and the waiter was awesome! It mad for a magical date night!!
very nice small spot, with good food, cozy atmosphere. if you go in the fall or winter, request a table next to the fireplace.
I have eaten at this restaurant several times over the last 30 + years and have always given a 5. However the service was delayed, the food was not hot, and I just wasn't satisfied. I was celebrating my birthday and was the first time for my guest. I told them prior to going how good it was but I don't think they will be going back. When I asked them how did they like the food? response was "ok". They didn't like how long it took to bring food. My friend had to go to the bar and get a slice lemon.
This is a beautiful restaurant in a beautiful quaint neighborhood. I loved the fact that this establishment has three gems in one. They have the New Orleans styled restaurant on the main floor, a cigar on the top floor and the bayou room on the ground level. I believe the bayou room is more of a dance area. During my trip I did not venture down there, but I could definitely hear music. The food was good. I had the she crab soup which was very good and I also had the crab cake dinner entree. The entree came with 2 crab cakes over corn and asparagus. I thought the crab cakes were good, but I would have liked to taste more of the crab than peppers and onions. Nonetheless, overall the food was good. I was on a date and we each got the same soup and split the entree. We then went up to the cigar where they had a live band. The do have a cigar lounge and bar. You can order a cigar from their cigar menu and smoke it right there. There is a $5 cover charge/per person for band upon ordering anything. This was a pretty cool spot! Very chill. If you’re not a cigar or cigarette smoker like me beware, you will leave smelling like a cigar ash tray. Overall I give this establishment a 4.5-4.7 out of 5.
Fried seafood platter, and crab cake dinner, were both outstanding. Service was really good and ensured we got finished in time for curtain up at the Wells Theater.
We brunched on the patio and enjoyed wonderful food with great service. Very pleasant experience!
Excellent. Can’t wait to go back. Shrimp n grits, fried chicken, crab cakes, there is no wrong answer.
Good dinner - awesome music upstairs
Visiting the upstairs lounge-bar? Ask Kevin to mix your drink, and share a story about Scotch collection. The outdoor setting is perfect if you want to enjoy fine dining and a comfortable place to sit with your favorite dog and favorite people, the occasional waft of cigars and tunes from the lounge upstairs. The muscles-in-butter-and-wine, paired with a Perfect Manhattan, and charcuterie platter on the side is an excellent start to a delightful evening in Old Town.
The food was amazing, but you can smell smoke coming from the downstairs club area if you are sitting outside. The service was really good.
Food was good but not great. Drinks were terribly overpriced for their quality. There is an oder from the cigar lounge that permeates the restaurant. Despite it being pretty dead on a Saturday night we had to track down our waiter to get our bill so we could get home to the baby sitter.
Service was extremely slow. The food was expensive and unremarkable. Facilities were nothing to write home about. Cheap tile flooring was chipped and not cemented down in some areas creating a tripping hazard.
Occasion: Restaurant Week 2019/Husbands 32nd Birthday Dinnner w/ friends.
Pros:
The waiters/service was very nice and professional. We had reservations, but half of our party came late and they made no fuss about it, prepared our table and let us sit at the bar until the rest of our party arrived. We had a very early dinner (5pm), so the restaurant was empty anyway, but it was the thought that counts. They also boxed my meal for me, which is a rarity these days!
Cons:
1) The food was just OKAY. I had the fried chicken with collards and rice. The chicken was nice and crispy, but it lacked seasoning on both the chicken itself and the breading. The greens, however, were tasty and the rice was okay.
2) I know the place has an antique vibe, but it also *smelled* old, which may be in part to it being part cigar lounge - I’m not sure. It smelled like old furniture. I’ve been to antique restaurants and, while you can preserve the antique feel of a restaurant, I feel you can also put in some modern touches as well for a good balance.
All in all, I probably wouldn’t come again simply for the lack of seasoning on the food, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to bash it to anyone else either.
The restaurant is small and inviting. The decor is reminiscent of historic New Orleans. Our servers were enthusiastic and friendly. My wife enjoyed one of her favorites, Shrimp and Grits. I enjoyed an excellent caesar salad and perfectly done rib-eye. We had a great table by the window that provided a view of the activity on King Street. All in all an excellent dining experience.
Food was ok. Cigar bar upstairs and live music is the reason I would go back.
A really great spot for a brunch date. It was quiet and the wait staff were attentive. The only issue was that the place held the odor of cigar smoke.
219 has a New Orleans vibe and an elegant flair to it. My husband and I had reservations on their outside patio but instead we were seated at a table next to the window, which was definitely one of the best tables in the house. Our waiter made sure we had everything we needed at all times and made us feel welcome and important. Our food was timed perfectly and we never found ourselves waiting for anything. I had the shrimp and grits and it was by far the best I've ever had -- thick, creamy grits, perfectly cooked shrimp, and sauce with great depth of flavor. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience from start to finish and are looking forward to our next date there.
