I’m a lucky lady – for many reasons, obviously, but mostly because Scott is the kind of guy who is determined to sweep you off your feet and never put you down. Which includes whisking me off for a date on a random Thursday night. This week was cold and snowy, and I definitely felt a bit of cabin fever set in. It is Restaurant Week in Alexandria, and Scott found it the perfect opportunity to check out another local place and add it to our list. After narrowing down our options from the list of  50 participating restaurants,  Overwood won.

Let me start by saying I am a sucker (just like Scott) for atmosphere and aesthetic pleasures, and so my initial impressions of the ambiance are crucial. Overwood is nestled on N. Lee street down by the water in Old Town, so if I had not been freezing my nubs off I would have coerced Scott in a walk down on the pier.  Instead, he offered an arm as I navigated the icy sidewalks in my stilettos. Good man.

Immediately upon entering, I was warmed simply by the tones and the brick interior, and the lighting offered a cozy, pleasing quality. There are several booths, which help to make the place a little more informal and inviting, though we were led toward the back to a table. Fortunately, Scott was seated directly in front of their wine cabinet, and so I had to compete with that for the first fifteen minutes of his attention.

Due to the Restaurant Week deal, we were limited on which entrees were available, though we had a chance to peruse the rest of the regular menu. I am still acquiring a taste for seafood, and you can find it on this menu in abundance. I was teetering on the verge of adventure, and almost ended up with blackened catfish. Our server was fanstastic, and was honest with me that perhaps that was not the next fish to experience if I was still learning to love salmon. I ordered the Chicken Parmesan, and was not at all sorry. Scott had Steak and Frites, and was overall very pleased with his selection. I did however see the steak salad walk by, and I am convinced that it will be the meal of choice on our next venture here.

So yes, there will be a next venture. And partly because of the amazing Elvis Pie I had for dessert. Scott ordered the hot brownie sundae, of which I also partook, but I am not usually one to order dessert. Last night, the combination of peanut butter and banana on an oreo crust had me at hello. Please, please – order this if you go. You will not be sorry.

We were awhile (by choice) wining and dining and talking without concern for the time.  The place filled up very quickly, and the bar invited many people to linger as well. We talked about heading to Overwood with friends for happy hour, as the atmosphere and bar area lend itself to great conversation and a good time.

On a chilly night, getting dressed up to head to Overwood was exactly what we needed to warm our spirits. If you haven’t been, we highly recommend it both for quality of food and atmosphere. And though we didn’t get a chance to scope out the Restaurant Week menus, we can recommend a few restaurants on the list – read our reviews on Warehouse Bar and Grill,  Virtue Food and Grain, and Murphy’s Irish Pub.

Enjoy!

-Al
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