What's Cpt. John's like?

Karen B. wrote:
>
> Richard B. wrote:
> >
> > I have recieved a guide to the DC area and blazoned on two pages is an ad
> > for Captain John's restaraunt in Alexandria.  It lists items from it's
> > buffet, and includes steamed blue crab and lobster.  From the ad it looks
> > wonderful.
> >
> > Is it as good as it looks or is it a kind of 'tourist trap'?
> >
> > I love seafood and am looking forward to visiting the DC area.  If you
> > don't recommend this restaraunt, do you have any other suggestions?
> >
> > Thanks for all your help.
> >
> > Richard
>
> Richard,
>
> The Chart House in Alexandria has a great reputation.  Last time I was
> there I got prime rib, but everyone seemed to love the seafood.  Don't
> know about Captain John's but the name might say it all . . .
>
> Karen

Captain John's on Route 1 in Alexandria is overpriced.  The food is plentiful, but the last time I was there -- a couple of times around when it first opened -- it was not all that well-prepared, nor did I find the overall food quality to be very high.  It was all merely adequate.  And for the price -- I think it's now over $30 a person -- it should be considerably better than adequate.

There is a Captain Someone or Other (Jack?) with a couple of locations in Norfolk (I believe? or Newport News?) and Williamsburg where the buffet is also expensive; there, however, it was very much worth the price, because the food was of highest quality and extremely well-prepared.

> > Richard B. wrote:
> > >
> > > I have recieved a guide to the DC area and blazoned on two pages is an ad
> > > for Captain John's restaraunt in Alexandria.  It lists items from it's
> > > buffet, and includes steamed blue crab and lobster.  From the ad it looks
> > > wonderful.
> > >
> > > Is it as good as it looks or is it a kind of 'tourist trap'?
> > >
> > > I love seafood and am looking forward to visiting the DC area.  If you
> > > don't recommend this restaraunt, do you have any other suggestions?

We've lived here for 21 years, and the only place I've ever gone for seafood is Chrisfield's in Silver Spring.  I stay far away from "all you can eat" places because the food is never better than a medium quality. Chrisfield's is a dump (well, let's say never been renovated) in Silver Spring and the prices are high - but you will NEVER have better crab imperial anywhere else.  ALL their food is great, which is why it's always one of the 100 Best Restaurants year after year.  I *highly* recommend it.

We found Captain John's to be decidedly mediocre.

r. bernstein wrote in article
...
> > > Richard B. wrote:
> > > >
> > > > I have recieved a guide to the DC area and blazoned on two pages is
an ad
> > > > for Captain John's restaraunt in Alexandria.  It lists items from
it's
> > > > buffet, and includes steamed blue crab and lobster.  From the ad it
looks
> > > > wonderful.