The Warehouse Bar & Grill (Alexandria, VA)

THE MEAL
Drink: Domaine de Guerande, Muscadet de Savre et Maine (2007)
Soups: She Crab Soup, Red Seafood Chowder
Appetizer: Crawfish & Shrimp Beignets
Entree: Seafood Omelette

THOUGHTS
Before spending the day and evening in Old Town Alexandria, we had to nourish ourselves with sustenance, N'awlins style. What better way to start off a meal than a light, crisp Muscadet to enhance a seafood-centric meal?

Looking around the dining room and enjoying a glass of wine, The Warehouse captured New Orleans perfectly. White linen table cloths, with eccentric wall decor. Similar to the caricatures at The Palm, The Warehouse's walls are lined with playful portraits -- some 3-D, others painted, still others sketched. The atmosphere at The Warehouse matched its menu.

For lunch, I opted for a bowl of the She Crab Soup and Crawfish & Shrimp Beignets. In the interest of full disclosure, I selected The Warehouse because, while perusing various menus and reviews, I noticed the She Crab Soup on the menu. Having a soft spot in my heart for my mother's She Crab Soup and having heard that my mother was making "Crab Soup" earlier in the week (turns out, it was Crab and Corn Chowder), I have been longing for She Crab Soup. And, while very different than my mother's She Crab Soup, The Warehouse's version did not disappoint.

Unlike my mother's version (and most other versions), The Warehouse employed a delicate hand with the sherry in their She Crab Soup. Instead of a sherry-forward flavor, The Warehouse's version had a light peppery kick that reminded me of the cuisine of New Orleans. While it doesn't replace my mother's soup, I would certainly be willing to go back and have more of The Warehouse's She Crab Soup.

*My companion ordered a cup of the Red Seafood Chowder. It disappeared very quickly...without offering a single spoonful. While I was told that it was one of the best soups she had ever tasted, I can neither confirm nor deny this conclusion.

To supplement our soups, we ordered the Crawfish & Shrimp Beignets and the Seafood Omelette. The beignets were unique and delicious, albeit inconsistent. Specifically, one of the beignets was undercooked slightly, leaving a few bites tasting "flour-y." The flavors, however, were outstanding, as the lemon and garlic aioli enhanced the fresh seafood.

The last dish -- the Seafood Omelette -- disappointed. A daily special, the Seafood Omelette included small shrimps, crawfish, and lobster sauteed with cajun seasonings. While the seafood would have ordinarily been sauteed with butter and the omelette topped with a hollandaise, we custom-ordered the Seafood Omelette to accommodate my companion's dietary requirements. The seafood was fresh and flavorful, but without the fat of the butter and hollandaise (and potentially some cheese), the omelette lacked fat. The Warehouse served fries with the Seafood Omelette. Delicately crisped, a potato-forward flavor, and deft hand with the seasoning, the Warehouse's fries did not disappoint.

CONCLUSIONS
Food: 7.5/10
Service: 3/5
Errata: 4/5
Total: 14.5/20
$$