Opening: The Waterfront Market in Old Town

By:  Jennifer Duff
Capital Cooking Contributor

Georgetown has a waterfront scene that DC'ers flock to in the spring and summer time for al fresco dining. Maryland created its own waterfront environment complete with numerous dining options, great shopping, hospitality for tourists, and art down at the National Harbor (which may include gambling in the future). Alexandria will soon be joining the scene based on its Waterfront Small Area Plan designed to revitalize Alexandria's waterfront. One of the first visible steps in this direction is the opening of The Waterfront Market.

From the creators of Bittersweet Café comes a sister market and café that features casual dining, small bites to enjoy along the water, and take-away items geared toward picnickers, boaters, and local residents grabbing a carry home dinner.  The focus is on simple and fresh fare with a vision to build a sustainable waterfront community.  Owner, Jody Manor highlights that there are exciting things to come down at the Alexandria waterfront and these new developments will make Alexandria a unique place to live and work. 

If the offerings at Waterfront Market are any indication of what's to come, the Old Town community is in for a treat. Café menu items will include ham biscuits with Virginia apple chutney, mahi ceviche with lime and jalapeno, pimento cheese sandwiches, tuna tartare on endive (shown above) and mini Maryland crab cakes. The market will also have beer and wine selections, sourced from another local Alexandria favorite, Port City Brewing. 

Alexandria's waterfront area is clearly looking to make some waves this spring and summer and Waterfront Market is the first of many great improvements to enjoy.