Hank's Oyster Bar, Old Town — Restaurant in Alexandria

Took my dad here for Father's day and I was less than pleased with the service at this location. As a matter of fact, unfortunately, we will never come back.

We couldn't get reservations at the Wharf location, so we opted to try this one instead. We hadn't been to the Alexandria location since it moved from King Street. First issue, the hostess was extremely rude and unfriendly. At check-in, she gave us an option of seating on the rooftop or inside and said that we could check out the rooftop before we made our decision. Unfortunately, it was too hot to sit outside, so we opted for inside dining. The hostess took us to a table that almost seemed to jut into the walkway, so before we got seated, we politely asked for a different table. Without any kind of response, the hostess snatched the menus off the table and just walked to another table. Since she didn't say anything in response to our question, we didn't know what was going on, so we didn't know to follow her. She kind of just walked off. Once we realized she was walking to another to seat us at, we then followed. She put the menus down on the table and just walked off again. Again, not saying a word. So I don't know about you, but this rubbed us the wrong way. As a hostess, you are the first representative of the restaurant. Her attitude was so cold and uninviting. Not a great way to make our patronage feel welcome and wanted. Second issue - I absolutely took the hostess interaction up with the manager. The response that was given from the manager was "everyone has bad days." and a kind of shrug. Are you being serious right now? While, I agree that everyone has bad days, professionalism should remind you to not take your "bad day" out on other people, especially not the customers. If the hostess is in a bad mood, have her take a break for a bit from hosting until she can pull it together. I have worked in the restaurant industry, her demeanor wasn't cool and it put a damper on a dining experience that hadn't even started. Luckily, our waiter was a bit better. He wasn't friendly either; he was curt, but not rude and he at least provided prompt service. In short, the entire experience let us know to not come back to this location. I get that it was Father's Day and it was a tad busy but not overwhelmingly so (we have been to the DC location on Father's day before and that place is hectic; the pace here would have been a welcome reprieve to the DC restaurant's normal pace), but I expect politeness, especially when we are polite to you. Maybe they were just having an off day, but it kind of temporarily ruined our celebratory vibes. It sucks because Hank's is actually my dad's FAVORITE place to eat, but the uninviting atmosphere from this location made us only get a couple appetizers and drinks before we headed to another restaurant completely to continue our Father's Day celebration.

The pros - the food and drinks we ordered were actually superb. Kudos to the chefs and cooks in the kitchen.

The cons - The front facing staff needs to be retrained in hospitality. Unfriendly...

It's something about this location every time I go. The coleslaw they make mandatory is the worst, no substitutions. If I am dropping $150+ every time I go I should be able to get what I like. Had the lobster roll twice now, was not made consistently. Nothing ever WOW me here except for the oysters. Most spots in Old Town leave you wanting more. Not this spot. The oysters are the best thing they have going for them.

*Despite my previous negative experiences, I recently decided to give this place another chance, and I'm glad I did. During my last visit, I had the opportunity to speak with the new manager, Claire, about my past experiences. I expressed my concerns, and to my surprise, Claire took the time to sit down, listen, and sincerely apologize for the issues I had encountered.

One of the things that I appreciate most about any establishment is their ability to take accountability and show a willingness to improve. Claire's responsiveness and dedication to making things right encouraged me to revisit the restaurant. Since the reopening, I have noticed a significant improvement in the overall service.

While my previous visits left me unimpressed, I have found solace in sticking to their oysters and appetizers, which are consistently enjoyable. It's great to see that the restaurant has made positive changes under Claire's management. The atmosphere now feels much better, and the service has noticeably improved.

Although I still have reservations about exploring their full menu, I am happier with my recent experiences at the restaurant. Claire's presence and efforts have made a real difference in my perception of the place. I appreciate her attentiveness and commitment to creating a better dining environment.

Moving forward, I am more inclined to give this restaurant another chance, thanks to Claire's ability to address concerns and make positive changes. I am pleased to see that they are taking steps in the right direction and I look forward to enjoying their oysters and appetizers...

Hank's Oyster Bar is a wonderful restaurant and an asset to the Old Town neighborhood!

Where to start? How about the food? Throughout the week, they have "Oyster Hour" in the early evening where they feature a selection of four different (usually Virginia) oysters on the half shell for half price ($1.25). This is a fantastic price and allows you to taste a variety of local oysters. In addition to Virginia oysters, Hank's Oyster Bar features a rotating selection of New England and Pacific Northwest oysters. The wait staff, who are unfailingly polite and attentive, go out of their way to explain to you how the different oysters are organized on your plate so that you know which variety you are eating. For my husband and I, the best part of eating oysters is enjoying and appreciating the unique flavor of different varieties of oysters. As such, we really appreciate the effort Hank's Oyster Bar puts into making sure we enjoy this experience.

Even though Hank's Oyster Bar is, well, an oyster bar, their other offerings do not disappoint. The lobster roll is renown in the local area, and with good reason! The lobster is amazingly sweet and delicate. And I don't know WHAT they do to the hotdog buns they serve it on, but they are AMAZING. Seriously, give them a try. They're magical.

As alluded to above, the wait staff are among the best in Old Town. They are polite, prompt, and very informed on the menu items. I've had the chance to interact with the Old Town location's manager (Claude) on several occasions. Claude is a hands-on manager and I know without a doubt that she cares about making sure each diner has a positive experience at her restaurant.

In sum, Hank's Oyster Bar is a fantastic restaurant and a great asset to the neighborhood. It's definitely worth a walk or a drive to try it out...