Obamas Dined at These Alexandria Restaurants: How Many Have You Visited?

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- As the country begins to say its goodbyes to the Obama administration, residents in the Washington metro area are looking back and waxing nostalgic over the eight-year history with President Obama and his family. The Obama family was known for getting out and about and trying restaurants around the metro DC area, including in Alexandria.

Here are the Alexandria restaurants (that we know of!) that the first family visited. How many have you tried?

1. Restaurant Eve: The Obamas visited the award-winning Restaurant Eve helmed by Executive Chef Cathal Armstrong. Located at 110 S. Pitt St., the first couple visited the eatery on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011 for their wedding anniversary (they were married Oct. 3, 1992 in Chicago). Eater reported: “And the chef was so excited when he got the call from Eve’s general manager that he forgot to turn off the stove when he left home.“

2. Dairy Godmother: President Obama took his daughters Sasha and Malia here June 20, 2009 for frozen custard on Father's Day "eve." The president enjoyed a cup of vanilla custard with hot fudge and toasted almonds, a pool reporter was told. Obama also grabbed some frozen puppy pops for first dog Bo. The shop is located at 2310 Mt. Vernon Ave. (Don't stop by Tuesday, they're closed; check out the Flavor Forecast: Pistachio, Egg Nog, Snow Angel, Gingerbread and Candy Cane are coming up!)

3. Del Ray Pizzeria: President Obama was out Christmas shopping Dec. 21, 2011, and made this a stop on his way back to the White House after shopping at Potomac Yard in Alexandria. Obama's food order included three large pizzas—one with pepperoni and sausage, one with onions and green peppers and one supreme. “I had no idea he was coming here,” Del Ray Pizzeria chef Eric Reid said. “I got a call from someone asking why he was being patted down to come in [the restaurant].”

4. FireFlies: Also in Del Ray, at 1501 Mt. Vernon Ave., this is a spot where President Obama stopped for a burger on June 10, 2014. He stopped in for lunch, sitting down for a hamburger with Education Secretary Arne Duncan, after he was invited by the restaurant to come try their burgers. Owner Marylisa Lichens told Eater DC that the president ordered the American burger, fries and a side salad.

5. Vermilion: President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama celebrated Valentine's Day in 2012 at Vermilion, located at 1120 King Street in Old Town Alexandria. The first lady reportedly ordered red wine and the president ordered a martini. The restaurant said: "Chef Chittum and the entire Vermilion staff were incredibly honored to host the President and First Lady for a Valentine's dinner."

6. Union Street Public House: President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, first lady Michelle Obama, first daughter Malia and a friend all dined here in June 2011. (Eater DC says that only the first lady, Malia and her friend dined here.) The restaurant, which recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, is located at 121 S. Union St., close to the waterfront. Parts of the building itself date back to 1790.

7. The Majestic: First Lady Michelle Obama, her mother Marian Shields Robinson, and daughters Malia and Sasha dined here July 30, 2009 to celebrate the first grandmother's 73rd birthday. At the time, the kitchen was helmed by Chef Shannon Overmiller. The restaurant is located at 911 King St. in Old Town.

PHOTO of President Obama in Del Ray in December 2011/Patch archive photo