Restaurant Spotlight of the Week:

RT's Restaurant

RT’s Restaurant

3804 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA • (703) 684-6010

Hours: Lunch: Mon - Sat: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.;

Dinner: Mon - Thurs: 5:00 - 10:30 p.m.; Fri-Sat 5:00 - 11:00 p.m.

Sunday: 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Next September, RT's Restaurant, in the Del Ray area of Alexandria, will celebrate its 20th anniversary. Well known and referred to as "Alexandria's renowned neighborhood restaurant," RT's is cozily tucked away among the many eclectic storefronts on Mt. Vernon Avenue and is right across from the popular live music venue, the Birchmere. In fact, many of whom frequent this small town spot come before and after performances to take advantage of its fine dining and full bar.

Unlike the many trendy and modern restaurants in the DC area, this establishment does not structurally exude panache. It appears dated from the outside and presents itself in the style of a dimly lit pub, contributing to its relaxed, yet surprisingly upscale character and welcoming atmosphere.

One might anticipate cheeseburgers and milkshakes, the type of place my parents would refer to as "that joint downtown," not fine dining and exotic seafood fare. Unexpectedly, RT's provides a taste of both- comfortable booth seating, a full bar, and an abundance of exotic seafood concoctions and selection of fine wines. The wooden plank walls boast elaborate pieces of three dimensional art, detailing Del Ray's other charming downtown establishments and creatively embody the uniqueness of the surrounding town.

Just as unpredictable as the presence of RT's Restaurant, is the cuisine that it serves, featuring, almost exclusively, New Orleans style seafood dishes that have become favorites of many culinary critics over the years. It has maintained its position as on of Washingtonian Magazine's "Top 100 Restaurants" list, and has been one of the highest rated seafood restaurants by the well-known Zagat Survey. In addition to the awards, over the past 19 years, RT's has also been the host for such luminaries as President Clinton, Vice President Gore, singer Mary Chapin Carpenter, numerous senators and congressmen, and actors Leslie Nielson and Woody Harrelson.

Amongst the diversity of entree several popular, delectable sounding dishes stand out, particularly the Creole and Cajun recipes. The menu is scattered with distinctive offerings, including plates like the Crawfish Etouffee, the Cajun Veal Oscar with crab meat, crawfish, spring onions, and a rich béarnaise sauce, and RT's originals Alligator Stew and She Crab Soup. In addition, all entrees include a salad with fresh greens, tomatoes, and mushrooms, and are served with a basket of bread and butter.

If, perchance, you visit RT's for their bountiful lunch menu instead, there are also a number of different sandwiches on the menu, including Catfish, Grilled Chicken, and Gulf Shrimp "Po Boys," all served with French fries, coleslaw, or garlic-parsley rice. What struck me most from the lunch menu was the dish entitled "Death" by Gumbo, RT's parody on the gluttonous dessert, "Death by Chocolate", in this case consisting of generous portions of shrimp, oysters, lump crab, crawfish, and andouille sausage.

And, if after all of this, you decide to settle in your booth for some key lime or pecan pie, or maybe some pumpkin ice cream or bananas-Foster cake, you are guaranteed not to leave RT's unsatisfied. The prices for entrees range from about $14 to $25 and reservations are recommended. Whether you stop in for lunch, dinner, or just a drink, the atmosphere is delightful and the cuisine is even more delicious. This unique restaurant is the pearl inside an oyster hiding inland between Old Town Alexandria and Washington, DC.