Looking to get to know the newest businesses to open in Old Town? From a sparkling wine bar to a bike shop, read on to see the newest hotspots to arrive in this part of Alexandria.
Augie's Mussel House & Patio
1106 King St.
Augie's Mussel House & Patio is a beer garden and Belgian spot offering mussels by the half pound, in preparations like garlic-herb butter, bacon and beer, or shallots, garlic, thyme and lemon. Visitors can combine with a side of frites and call it a meal, or opt for a main course instead, like the smoked salmon with cauliflower puree, haricot verts and lemon-dill.
There's lots of Belgian ale on offer, or course, but you'll also find plenty of American craft beer to enjoy on the large patio.
Yelp users are excited about Augie's Mussel House & Patio, which currently holds 4.5 stars out of 17 reviews on the site.
Yelper Stacey S., who reviewed Augie's Mussel House & Patio on August 8, wrote, "The garlic and bacon mussels were so good. The broth is delicious - buttery (but not too heavy) and garlicky with a touch of white wine and big chunks of bacon. Make sure you ask for more bread to sop up the delicious broth with."
Kristyn R. noted, "The patio is lovely, and we had been eagerly anticipating sitting in the wonderful garden. They did a great job with the plantings, and it's really cozy."
Augie's Mussel House & Patio is open from 11 a.m.–1 a.m. on Wednesday-Saturday and 10 a.m.–1 a.m. on Sunday. (It's closed on Monday and Tuesday.)
B. Doughnut
215 S. Union St.
With a handful of outlets around town—permanent and pop-up—Virginia-based company B. Doughnut is known primarily for two baked items: the Portuguese-by-way-of-Hawaii doughnut known as the malasada, and a doughnut take on the everything bagel.
These malasadas are filled with creams like lemon curd, berry jam and cookie butter, while the everything bagel doughnuts are infused with cream cheese flavored with like lox, bacon and chives. There are regular sweet doughnuts, too; vegans should look for the versions made without eggs.
Yelp users are excited about B. Doughnut, which currently holds 4.5 stars out of four reviews.
Yelper Melanie M., who reviewed B. Doughnut on August 8, wrote, "Can't say enough about these doughnuts! Delicious variety of flavors for all and for me, a dairy free/gluten free eater."
And Yelper Gemini A. wrote, "Tried an everything bagel with cream cheese and lox. It was really good. The bagel is smaller and fluffier than a traditional bagel, the cream cheese was whipped, and the lox was perched on top."
B. Doughnut is open from 8 a.m.–3 p.m. on Tuesday-Friday and 9 a.m.–3 p.m. on weekends. (It's closed on Monday.)
South Block
106 N. Lee St.
Next up, South Block is a spot for healthy snacks, light meals, coffee and tea.
This is also a regional mini-chain, where smoothies are perhaps the main draw. They include the PBJ (acai, bananas, blueberries, almond milk and peanut butter) and the Green Caveman (cashew milk, dates, kale and bananas). There are also açaí bowls, avocado toast and juice, plus coffee from D.C.'s Grace Street Coffee.
South Block currently holds four stars out of 23 reviews on Yelp, indicating good reviews.
Yelper Lori W., who reviewed South Block on July 7, wrote, "Very clean store, especially the bathrooms. Friendly staff. Excellent ingredients, and calorie count noted. Priced in line with what I would expect."
Ta'lor P. noted, "There are plenty of tables, so if you want to meet a group of friends there and do some group work, go for it. I wouldn't recommend this spot for solo studying/writing because the music on the intercom was a tad distracting for me while I worked on an article."
South Block is open from 7 a.m.–7 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m.–5 p.m. on weekends.
Conte's Bike Shop
1100 King St.
Also new to Old Town is Conte's Bike Shop. Another regional chain, Conte's sells bicycles and accessories from brands such as Cervelo, Giant, Cannondale, and GT Bicycles. It also provides services like bike repair, tune-ups and adjusting. Visitors can also find car racks, lighting and apparel, or join in weekly rides with fellow customers.
Yelp users are excited about Conte's Bike Shop, which currently holds five stars out of three reviews on the site.
Larry M. noted, "Great help from these guys. They know their stuff and are very friendly. The staff understands every day riders to newbies to racers."
Yelper Josh M. wrote, "When I wanted to start biking to work with an old bike that had been sitting in storage for years, I had no clue where to start. The staff at Conte's helped to tune up my bike with the basics in no time. Since then, I've gone there for any bike accessories, and they've always been knowledgable and courteous."
Conte's Bike Shop is open from 11 a.m.–8 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m.–5 p.m. on Sunday.
Brüt Champagne And Wine Bar
118 S. Royal St.
Finally, there's Brüt Champagne and Wine Bar, a bubbly business that offers customers a chance to explore the world of wine without committing to a whole bottle.
As you might imagine, examples of French sparkling wine abound, but there are also numerous labels from Spain, Italy and even Austria, and a variety of reds and whites on offer too.
Prepare for a tasting session with small plates, such as bacon-wrapped dates, boquerones (white anchovies) and green pea pesto crostini, or larger portions like penne pasta bolognese or gulf shrimp and roasted garlic.
Brüt Champagne and Wine Bar's current Yelp rating of 4.5 stars out of nine reviews indicates positive attention from users.
Yelper Tina L., who reviewed Brüt Champagne and Wine Bar on March 21, wrote, "The wine choices are exceptional, and Dustin and his staff are very knowledgeable. Every bottle we have ever ordered has been a winner. The food is amazing."
And Meredith V. noted, "We ordered a couple of plates, bacon wrapped dates and the raclette. Both perfectly fine, nothing spectacular. It's a pricey place, so you're going to spend some coin here for premium wine and champagne."
Brüt Champagne and Wine Bar is open from 5 p.m.–10 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, 5 p.m.–11 p.m. on Friday, 3 p.m.–11 p.m. on Saturday, and 1 p.m.–6 p.m. on Sunday. (It's closed on Monday and Tuesday.)
