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Vola's Dockside Grill, Alexandria, VA

Vola's Dockside Grill

4.5
4.5
2554 Reviews
$30 and under
Seafood
Top Tags:
With one of the most coveted locations on the Alexandria riverfront, Vola's Dockside Grill and Hi-Tide Lounge feature the best outdoor dining location in town. The menu at Vola's Dockside Grill features fresh seafood, tacos and American cuisine favorites, alongside cocktails, beer and wine in a relaxed and casual family-friendly atmosphere. Hi-Tide Lounge is connected to Vola's by a hallway. In just a few steps, feel transported to the swingin' 60s and sip on classic cocktails served with midcentury-modern vibe. We offer an all day menu for weekday lunch or dinner enjoyment, weeknight Happy Hour with bar and oyster specials, plus brunch every Saturday and Sunday.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 50 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Seafood
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu 11:00 am–11:00 pm Fri 11:00 am–12:00 am Sat 10:00 am–12:00 am Sun 10:00 am–11:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (703) 935-8890
  • Website
    https://www.volasdockside.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Javier Rodriguez
  • Private party facilities
    Located on the waterfront in Old Town, Vola’s is a relaxed, fun seafood restaurant with a raw bar and a large outdoor riverside patio. Tucked in to a prominent corner at the base of King St, the Hi-Tide Lounge is a retro-cool hideaway bar that beckons with classic cocktails and fun frozen drinks.
  • Private party contact
    Emily Klassen: (571) 723-3369
  • Location
    101 N Union St, Alexandria, VA 22314
  • Neighborhood
    Old Town Alexandria
  • Cross street
    King Street
  • Parking details
    There are several public hourly parking garages within two blocks of the restaurant, and hourly street parking is also available on adjacent streets.
  • Public transit
    The free Old Town Trolley stops in front of the Hi-Tide Lounge at the corner of King and Union Streets, just steps from our entrance. It carries passengers from that point to the King Street Metro station.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 2,554 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.3Ambience
  • 4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Virginia - DC Suburbs

    Seafood

2,554 Reviews

  1. OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Popular spot. Crowded but got our table on time. Server very friendly, prompt. Food was good, order correct. Nice casual environment.

    Is this helpful?

  2. GinnyMcK

    Charleston

    14 reviews

    4.0

    14 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Great tasty food in a casual setting. Wait staff were cheerful.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Oysterlover

    Washington DC

    23 reviews

    5.0

    23 reviews

    Dined on December 2, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Excellent food… oysters, lobster roll, scallops, rock fish and shrimp po boy were all very good! The service was thorough even though it was a busy Saturday night with the Christmas walk and boat parade. Definitely a fun place to eat on the waterfront although I would say it is very loud when busy.

    Is this helpful?

  4. MKD1

    Baltimore

    36 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    36 reviews

    Dined on December 2, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    The food was very good and fresh. Our food came fairly promptly given how busy they were. Our server was great with recommendations and did his best during the very, very busy night. He stayed on top of things given the crowd but was clearly overrun by the crowd after the boat regatta. I would like to return when it is not so busy so I can really enjoy my meal.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Nicholas

    Atlantic City

    34 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    34 reviews

    Dined on December 2, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Good food, great view of the Potomac all around enjoyable place

    Is this helpful?

  6. OpenTable Diner

    Coastal Georgia

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on December 2, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was delicious and the service was wonderful!

    Is this helpful?

  7. OpenTable Diner

    Orlando

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 28, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We were there on a non busy night, the service was excellent, we enjoyed crab cakes, the corn/bacon side dish and Chesapeake chowder. All were excellent!

    Is this helpful?

  8. OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 25, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always great but was exceptional on this visit. Our Richmond cousins are planning a bike trip but will only commit if Vola’s is a stop along the route!

    Is this helpful?

  9. OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 24, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Enjoyed a family lunch here on Friday. Great window seat to enjoy the view of the water and activity. Freddy stopped by to greet us and make us feel welcome. Everyone enjoyed their lunch, especially the Old Bay fries! Look forward to our next visit soon.

    Is this helpful?

  10. KarlieB

    Hawaii

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 23, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We both got the Thanksgiving Special Turkey dinner and it was excellent. The food was hot, the service was friendly.

    Is this helpful?

  11. Susan

    Washington DC

    11 reviews

    3.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on November 23, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    We normally love Vola's but the Thanksgiving meal experience wasn't the best. It started off well but food and service went downhill after the appetizer. This won't stop us from going back for a regular meal but we will probably stay away for any holidays.

    Vola's Dockside GrillResponded 6 days ago

    Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us your feedback, Susan. We apologize we were unable to create a five-star experience. We have shared your feedback with the management team and hope you will give us another opportunity to impress you.

    Is this helpful?

  12. BCBown

    New York Area

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 21, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great appetizers, entrees, and oyster selection. Derrick provided great service to our family!

    Is this helpful?

  13. OpenTable Diner

    St. Louis

    13 reviews

    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on November 19, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful service and the food was amazing!! I am going to dream about the Crab Dip. Will definitely return.

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  14. Skip

    Washington DC

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on November 16, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Excellent food and service in a superb location with nearby public parking and all the sights and sounds of Old Town Alexandria minutes away. Mid priced—-drinks, appetizer and main course for four—-$250.00. Everyone enjoyed their meal.

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  15. OpenTable Diner

    Columbus

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 14, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a wonderful lunch of oysters, shrimp, soup, and grits. Staff were super friendly & helpful with the menu. Food was delicious and you can not beat the view:-)

    Is this helpful?

  16. DavidH

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 12, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    This restaurant offered fast and friendly service, including providing instructions to my wife on how to consume fresh oysters which was her first time. The food tasted very good, we will return here in a future visit.

    Is this helpful?

  17. Himeji

    Chicago

    17 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    17 reviews

    Dined on November 12, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Dalton was the server and was awesome. He was friendly and made appropriate recommendations with being pushy. He was attentive without disrupting our meal. The food was delicious. We ordered non-alcoholic cocktails and were almost perfect. They were tasty but a bit on the sweet side. I don’t usually like sweet drinks. Mussels with pancetta came with amazing garlic bread. The monkey bread was so fluffy, soft inside and crunch outside. Lastly the crab cake Benedict’s were great! Everything was so delicious. I would definitely return and I already recommended this place to other friends in the area!

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  18. BrunchBunch

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 12, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Brunch was fantastic in every way. Food and service exceeded expectations and the view is beautiful.

    Is this helpful?

  19. Darla

    New York Area

    16 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on November 11, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Order a few app's, crab dip, and cheddar jalapeno's hush puppy's both were plentiful and delicious, for entree's salad with blackened chicken and rockfish...

    Is this helpful?

  20. seebee

    Washington DC

    29 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    29 reviews

    Dined on November 11, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Vola's has a great location on the dock in the heart of Old Town Alexandria. Food and service are very good. Nice menu selection for Saturday brunch and reasonable pricing. We enjoyed our visit.

    Is this helpful?

  21. OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    14 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on November 10, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    From the time I walked into the establishment it was a win win ! The customer service was excellent and the food was delicious and hidden gem. I found by googling and glad I did I will be back !

    Is this helpful?

  22. Nimmie

    Washington DC

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 6, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    We had a lovely family dinner at Vola's last evening. We loved the Calamari and the Cobb salad I ordered was very tasty and the portion size was good for the price paid. Service was well-timed and friendly, beverages were affordable. The waitress was very accommodating as my daughter has nut allergies, and nervous to eat out. We will definitely return to Vola's at a future time.

    Is this helpful?

  23. NextLevel

    Washington DC

    25 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    25 reviews

    Dined on November 5, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Enjoyed my time at Vola’s. Got lucky and the great weather allowed us to sit outside. For appetizers we tried the crab hush puppies and the crab dip. The crab hush puppies were unbelievable…crispy outside and crabby inside. The crab dip was filled with crab meat. Honestly we were stuffed after this but we still tried the shrimp and grits and the dockside scramble. The food was good but we couldn’t eat much. Needless to say we got a to-go container. Will definitely be visiting again.

    Is this helpful?

  24. CSGR

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 5, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was delicious. Fish n chips was an excellent choice! Had a great time.

    Is this helpful?

  25. KarenH

    Washington DC

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 3, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Shrimp and grits were delish, our server was friendly and attentive. The noise level was too loud, though, as we were meeting an out of town friend and wanted to chat. Will definitely come back though.

    Is this helpful?

  26. JackC

    Washington DC

    4 reviews

    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 1, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 1
    Casual spot with good seafood and service. But we didn’t like the loud music and diner-like ambience.

    Vola's Dockside GrillResponded on November 21, 2023

    Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us your feedback, Jack. We apologize we were unable to create a five-star experience. We have shared your feedback with the management team and hope you will give us another opportunity to impress you.

    Is this helpful?

  27. Alex

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 31, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Pretty good first date spot, price isn't bad given the location. Food definitely felt very average, but the scenery and liveliness were welcome. Vegetarians be warned- there is only one entree for you (poorly seasoned impossible burger.)

    Vola's Dockside GrillResponded on November 21, 2023

    Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us your feedback, Alex. We apologize we were unable to create a five-star experience. We have shared your feedback with the management team and hope you will give us another opportunity to impress you.

    Is this helpful?

  28. RonaldW

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 29, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was pretty good. Our service was great! I would eat here again.

    Is this helpful?

  29. OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    4 reviews

    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on October 28, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Restaurant was loud and the food is little overpriced for what it is. You are paying for being on the river in Old Town.

    Vola's Dockside GrillResponded on November 21, 2023

    Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us your feedback. We apologize we were unable to create a five-star experience. We have shared your feedback with the management team and hope you will give us another opportunity to impress you.

    Is this helpful?

  30. ChristineS

    Washington DC

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 28, 2023

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    I made a reservation for my mothers bday and I made reservations well in advance noting we were celebrating a special occasion and that we would love to be seated by water view. It was just my mother and I and they sat us next to the bathroom…. It wasn’t until I complained that they gave us a table for 2 by the water which was more than available to begin with

    Is this helpful?

  31. BrazellM

    Washington DC

    9 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on October 28, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    The waiter was good, just a little slow is getting stuff to us such cream/milk for the coffee. By the time the cream came the coffee was cold. But the food was great and delicious.

    Is this helpful?

  32. Many12

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 28, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Nice atmosphere and good tatse and value for food. Nice view of the waterfront and friendly staff.

    Is this helpful?

  33. ArthurS

    Washington DC

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on October 26, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Great dinner - My wife had the crab cakes and I had the shrimp tacos with the spicy cole slaw. A little noisy on the deck and a little cramped, but a nice evening nonetheless. Good value!

    Is this helpful?

  34. EdgarR

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on October 26, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    they brought us the appetizers and the main dishes at the same time, everything got cold. The food wasn't too good. The waiters were really nice

    Vola's Dockside GrillResponded on November 21, 2023

    Thank you for your honest feedback. We take great pride in the quality of all our dishes and are sorry to hear that we fell short during your recent dine. We have shared this feedback directly with our culinary team and do hope you’ll give us another opportunity to impress you.

    Is this helpful?

  35. OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 22, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Was able to find a reservations and got to the restaurant right on time. The staff greeted us at the door and took us right to our table. The views were spectacular and so was the food. Will definitely dine here again. Maybe on the outside if the weather permits.

    Is this helpful?

  36. DeborahT

    Richmond

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 22, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Great service especially the dessert serenade for my daughter. I was very disappointed about the brunch drink menu. There was a “limit” on “refills” …. Refills implies to me no additional cost, but we were charged for each “refill”. Recommend more clarity on the menu.

    Is this helpful?

  37. Graham

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 21, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Really good vibe and good seafood. Packed but service was very attentive.

    Is this helpful?

  38. MarneN

    Orange County

    10 reviews

    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on October 21, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had drinks and salads at a nice table on the water. Fun watching the planes. Caroline, our server, was great!

    Is this helpful?

  39. Gideon

    Orlando

    8 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on October 21, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We thoroughly enjoyed brunch. My husband had the crab cake Benedict and I had a crab cake sandwich. Both were delicious. We also had the hush puppies and would highly recommend them. Wait staff was pleasant and attentive. We were by the window and had a great view. Would recommend you try it when visiting Old Town Alexandria

    Is this helpful?

  40. Andy

    Tampa

    10 reviews

    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on October 15, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Our poached eggs came out overcooked, but were replaced quickly without question. Really enjoyed the Crabcake benedict.

    Is this helpful?

Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily

  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

You can order delivery directly from Vola's Dockside Grill using the Order Online button. Vola's Dockside Grill also offers delivery in partnership with Uber Eats. Vola's Dockside Grill also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (703) 935-8890.

Vola's Dockside Grill is rated 4.5 stars by 2554 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 50 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Vola's Dockside Grill

101 N Union St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Additional information

  • Cross street
    King Street
  • Neighborhood
    Old Town Alexandria
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu 11:00 am–11:00 pm Fri 11:00 am–12:00 am Sat 10:00 am–12:00 am Sun 10:00 am–11:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Seafood
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    There are several public hourly parking garages within two blocks of the restaurant, and hourly street parking is also available on adjacent streets.
  • Public transit
    The free Old Town Trolley stops in front of the Hi-Tide Lounge at the corner of King and Union Streets, just steps from our entrance. It carries passengers from that point to the King Street Metro station.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Javier Rodriguez
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    https://www.volasdockside.com/
  • Phone number
    (703) 935-8890
  • Private party facilities
    Located on the waterfront in Old Town, Vola’s is a relaxed, fun seafood restaurant with a raw bar and a large outdoor riverside patio. Tucked in to a prominent corner at the base of King St, the Hi-Tide Lounge is a retro-cool hideaway bar that beckons with classic cocktails and fun frozen drinks.
  • Private party contact
    Emily Klassen: (571) 723-3369
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