This was my first time at this restaurant, but my friends have been multiple times and love the Crab Dip. When we got there was no available seating in the inside so no problem even though it was cool we decided to sit outside. First of all if you’re going to be open before it’s warm/hot at least have heaters for the people outside. Our waitress whom I can’t recall her name was the worst and had the worst attitude. She came to our table and just stood there looking at us not saying anything which is odd. My husband asked me what I wanted and I said for her to say something that’s when she decided to say something. Also, because we were outside there were gnats flying on the table so my friend and her husband asked for a cup with a lid and that’s when we got the eye rolling. Needless to say we decided to leave and eat at Blackwall Hitch. We have the best service and the food was delicious. My first and my last time coming here. Very disappointed not to mention we came 2hrs to get there.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 1
Patrick Glass
I recently had the opportunity to visit Volas, a waterfront establishment known for its picturesque dockside setting. The atmosphere was undeniably charming, with a pleasant ambiance that set the stage for a potentially memorable dining experience.Upon being seated, I was promptly greeted by the attentive staff, who provided solid service throughout my visit. However, the culinary journey that followed was a mixed bag of highs and lows.To begin, I opted for a margarita to accompany my appetizers. Unfortunately, the cocktail fell short of expectations, with a watery consistency that failed to deliver the bold flavors one would expect from a well-crafted margarita.Moving on to the appetizers, I sampled the crab dip, peel-and-eat shrimp, and calamari. The crab dip, while promising in concept, arrived at the table cold and lacked the depth of flavor that would have elevated it to a standout dish. The peel-and-eat shrimp, on the other hand, were a highlight of the evening. Fresh and succulent, they were a delight to savor. However, the seasoning was a bit heavy-handed, somewhat overpowering the natural sweetness of the shrimp.The calamari, though decent, suffered from an imbalance in its composition. The dish was dominated by an abundance of peppers, relegating the squid to a supporting role rather than the star it should have been. A more generous portion of tender, well-prepared calamari would have greatly improved this offering.In conclusion, Volas offers a stunning waterfront setting and attentive service, but the overall dining experience leaves room for improvement. The appetizers, while showing potential, were hindered by inconsistencies in temperature, seasoning, and balance. With some refinements to the menu and a more judicious approach to cocktail crafting, Volas could elevate its culinary offerings to match the allure of its location.Based on my experience, I award Volas a rating of three out of five stars. While the atmosphere and service were commendable, the food and beverages fell short of the high standards one would expect from a top-tier dining establishment.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Doné Prunty
When you come DEFINITELY go visit Sam she goes by “Sam I am” she has incredible customer service and a wonderful personality
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Thomas Biondi
Nothing like having overpriced food and drinks with paper towel rolls at your table for napkins and a yip-yip dog dressed in a tu-tu outfit celebrating its bday as it yelps through your entire meal.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 2
Lorrie H.
So here I am at the bar. 3-4 bartenders literally right in front of me preparing and serving drinks. Ten minutes in I flag down a manager who cleans off the counter in front of me and gives me water. Seven more minutes have passed and I haven't even gotten a hello from a single bartender. Did I mention I'm also right next to where the servers pick up their drinks? One of my friends highly recommended Vola and told me that I would really like it....I guess that's a negative. I pack my patience when folks are busy but I lose it when I go twenty + minutes ignored. The one star is because I have to. Needless to say I won't be recommending this place due to bad service because I haven't tasted the food.... Guess they don't want me to. And to think I'm a good tipper...that's why I left. This was a sign of things to come. Maybe don't go when they are busy. Thumbs down!!
Robert B.
Yesterday evening my friends and I visited Vola's Dockside Grill. We sat at smaller bar facing Union Street. Our bartender, Orlando, was among the best I ever experienced. He was attentive, made excellent food and drink recommendations, and made sure we were take care of every step of the way. The food was delicious. We had crab hush puppies, calamari, wings, fries, and a burger. Everything arrived soon after ordering and was cooked to perfection. In particular I enjoyed the wings because they were grilled and had the flavor that only fire can bring. I highly recommend Vola's for the service, food, and the views of King street and the Potomac river.
Carolyn Vreeland
The restaurant is advertised as an outdoor restaurant. When we arrived for our reservation, the host said reservations are automatically for inside seating. Very misleading and not at all stated when reservations are made. They said if we wanted outdoor seating there would be a wait, which is unfortunate for those who expect they’re reserving an outdoor table.Overall, restaurant was good. We got crab dip with jalapeño bread, chowder, and shrimp pasta. There was a live band playing nearby as we ate and we could see how bustling this area of Alexandria is.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Chesapeake Crab Dip, Chowder
Lesly R.
I had a great time in vola's, Sam has amazing personality, and she recommended the Honey bourbon glazed salmon which was incredible!
Russell R.
Dani and Orlando are amazing bartenders!! Love their vibe and I love their service is great!! They make amazing food and drinks!!
D M.
Food was good and flavorful. Crab hush puppies...no thank you...mushy. First server kept forgetting us and took a long time to take our order. Second one was very attentive. Fried shrimp was very tasty. I'd go again.
Get the fish and chips to share with your fellow diner. I wasn't as wild about the crab cakes.
Chanel C.
WENDY that's the review. She was our server super nice super sweet. It was our first time and she was so nice. The crab dip is a must get and the mussels chef kiss. It was a little salty but it's so worth it. And the ambiance is like your regular bar by the water. Great vibe great service. Highly recommend.
Claire H.
I've tried so hard to like this place but it is really just okay. A friend and I were sat outside and not attended to for twenty minutes, then went into the bar where we were served immediately. We each got two strawberry daiquiris (these are actually very good here) and split an order of calamari and old bay fries. The food was good, but nothing to write home about. We got the check and it was about $80 which felt a little pricey for what we had gotten. I think I may have given up on Vola's. It's very well-located but in the end, kind of a tourist trap, especially when there is so much food seafood in the area.
Andy M.
Food and service were outstanding. I would have liked a window seat but not bad for. A walk in can't complain
Hattie W.
Had lunch here and it was really good! Peel and eat shrimp were delish. Sam I am is the GOAT
This was my first time at this restaurant, but my friends have been multiple times and love the Crab Dip. When we got there was no available seating in the inside so no problem even though it was cool we decided to sit outside. First of all if you’re going to be open before it’s warm/hot at least have heaters for the people outside. Our waitress whom I can’t recall her name was the worst and had the worst attitude. She came to our table and just stood there looking at us not saying anything which is odd. My husband asked me what I wanted and I said for her to say something that’s when she decided to say something. Also, because we were outside there were gnats flying on the table so my friend and her husband asked for a cup with a lid and that’s when we got the eye rolling. Needless to say we decided to leave and eat at Blackwall Hitch. We have the best service and the food was delicious. My first and my last time coming here. Very disappointed not to mention we came 2hrs to get there.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 1
I recently had the opportunity to visit Volas, a waterfront establishment known for its picturesque dockside setting. The atmosphere was undeniably charming, with a pleasant ambiance that set the stage for a potentially memorable dining experience.Upon being seated, I was promptly greeted by the attentive staff, who provided solid service throughout my visit. However, the culinary journey that followed was a mixed bag of highs and lows.To begin, I opted for a margarita to accompany my appetizers. Unfortunately, the cocktail fell short of expectations, with a watery consistency that failed to deliver the bold flavors one would expect from a well-crafted margarita.Moving on to the appetizers, I sampled the crab dip, peel-and-eat shrimp, and calamari. The crab dip, while promising in concept, arrived at the table cold and lacked the depth of flavor that would have elevated it to a standout dish. The peel-and-eat shrimp, on the other hand, were a highlight of the evening. Fresh and succulent, they were a delight to savor. However, the seasoning was a bit heavy-handed, somewhat overpowering the natural sweetness of the shrimp.The calamari, though decent, suffered from an imbalance in its composition. The dish was dominated by an abundance of peppers, relegating the squid to a supporting role rather than the star it should have been. A more generous portion of tender, well-prepared calamari would have greatly improved this offering.In conclusion, Volas offers a stunning waterfront setting and attentive service, but the overall dining experience leaves room for improvement. The appetizers, while showing potential, were hindered by inconsistencies in temperature, seasoning, and balance. With some refinements to the menu and a more judicious approach to cocktail crafting, Volas could elevate its culinary offerings to match the allure of its location.Based on my experience, I award Volas a rating of three out of five stars. While the atmosphere and service were commendable, the food and beverages fell short of the high standards one would expect from a top-tier dining establishment.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
When you come DEFINITELY go visit Sam she goes by “Sam I am” she has incredible customer service and a wonderful personality
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nothing like having overpriced food and drinks with paper towel rolls at your table for napkins and a yip-yip dog dressed in a tu-tu outfit celebrating its bday as it yelps through your entire meal.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 2
So here I am at the bar. 3-4 bartenders literally right in front of me preparing and serving drinks. Ten minutes in I flag down a manager who cleans off the counter in front of me and gives me water. Seven more minutes have passed and I haven't even gotten a hello from a single bartender. Did I mention I'm also right next to where the servers pick up their drinks? One of my friends highly recommended Vola and told me that I would really like it....I guess that's a negative. I pack my patience when folks are busy but I lose it when I go twenty + minutes ignored. The one star is because I have to. Needless to say I won't be recommending this place due to bad service because I haven't tasted the food.... Guess they don't want me to. And to think I'm a good tipper...that's why I left. This was a sign of things to come. Maybe don't go when they are busy. Thumbs down!!
Yesterday evening my friends and I visited Vola's Dockside Grill. We sat at smaller bar facing Union Street. Our bartender, Orlando, was among the best I ever experienced. He was attentive, made excellent food and drink recommendations, and made sure we were take care of every step of the way. The food was delicious. We had crab hush puppies, calamari, wings, fries, and a burger. Everything arrived soon after ordering and was cooked to perfection. In particular I enjoyed the wings because they were grilled and had the flavor that only fire can bring. I highly recommend Vola's for the service, food, and the views of King street and the Potomac river.
The restaurant is advertised as an outdoor restaurant. When we arrived for our reservation, the host said reservations are automatically for inside seating. Very misleading and not at all stated when reservations are made. They said if we wanted outdoor seating there would be a wait, which is unfortunate for those who expect they’re reserving an outdoor table.Overall, restaurant was good. We got crab dip with jalapeño bread, chowder, and shrimp pasta. There was a live band playing nearby as we ate and we could see how bustling this area of Alexandria is.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Chesapeake Crab Dip, Chowder
I had a great time in vola's, Sam has amazing personality, and she recommended the Honey bourbon glazed salmon which was incredible!
Dani and Orlando are amazing bartenders!! Love their vibe and I love their service is great!! They make amazing food and drinks!!
Food was good and flavorful. Crab hush puppies...no thank you...mushy. First server kept forgetting us and took a long time to take our order. Second one was very attentive. Fried shrimp was very tasty. I'd go again.
Restaurantji Recommends
Get the fish and chips to share with your fellow diner. I wasn't as wild about the crab cakes.
WENDY that's the review. She was our server super nice super sweet. It was our first time and she was so nice. The crab dip is a must get and the mussels chef kiss. It was a little salty but it's so worth it. And the ambiance is like your regular bar by the water. Great vibe great service. Highly recommend.
I've tried so hard to like this place but it is really just okay. A friend and I were sat outside and not attended to for twenty minutes, then went into the bar where we were served immediately. We each got two strawberry daiquiris (these are actually very good here) and split an order of calamari and old bay fries. The food was good, but nothing to write home about. We got the check and it was about $80 which felt a little pricey for what we had gotten. I think I may have given up on Vola's. It's very well-located but in the end, kind of a tourist trap, especially when there is so much food seafood in the area.
Food and service were outstanding. I would have liked a window seat but not bad for. A walk in can't complain
Had lunch here and it was really good! Peel and eat shrimp were delish. Sam I am is the GOAT