The Early Word on Blackwall Hitch in Old Town Alexandria

The second location of Blackwall Hitch has opened on the waterfront in Old Town Alexandria, at 5 Cameron St. Officially open for one week, the reviews are pouring in — 28 so far on Yelp, with an overall rating of 2.5 (out of five stars).

Most people understand that new businesses — and restaurants especially — need time to get the kinks out. From the reviews, it appears the decor is getting rave reviews, the food is somewhere in the middle and the service is a work in progress.

With that in mind, here’s a look at what customers are saying already, just one week in:

Decor: “I love the leather couches, the view of the water, and the way they pulled off a classy/modern nautical theme,” says True D. ”Admittedly, this restaurant is absolutely gorgeous. They truly maximized the space and there are several clear views of the waterfront. The architecture is rad, for lack of a better term.” Gio V. says: If you remember the tired old food court in Old Town, you’ll be amazed at the transformation. Blackwall Hitch has the entire space including the patio and it’s gorgeous.

Food: “Calamari was a great appetizer to start with (could use a little more of the dipping sauce, but it was delicious!),” Laura G says. “The fish tacos were definitely a great go to menu item and were substantial in size with 3 tacos for an order plus a side that was able to be swapped out for a different side.” “Calamari and bacon wrapped chicken medallions were really good...” says Marc D.

Service: “When we first sat down, we waited for about 5 minutes until we had to flag someone down and have anyone to notice us and give us menus,” says Orle S. ”Over an hour and a half wait to sit outside and there are more than 8 empty tables,” says Lauren B.

PHOTO: CRISPY SOFT SHELL CRAB – Two Soft Shell Crabs dusted in Old Bay served with Parsley Tabbouleh and drizzled with Lemon Butter/photo courtesy of Blackwall Hitch

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