The Early Word on Hummingbird

Eat Good Food Group’s work-in-progress Hummingbird is taking shape inside Hotel Indigo.

The airy waterfront restaurant from Restaurant Eve chef Cathal Armstrong includes an oyster bar and a rolling bar cart that floats between the shucking station, semi-private Nectar Room, and open air patio.

The kitchen is spinning out food throughout the day, including an Irish breakfast featuring bacon, sausage, and meat pudding, soft-shell crab sandwiches, bacon-cheddar burgers, grilled fish dishes (think: branzino, red snapper, and Arctic char), as well as comfort food benchmark, roasted chicken.

Chef Jorge Chicas is bolstering the oyster bar selections with chilled shrimp, ceviche, and escabeche, and communal clambakes are coming once the summer starts to cool off.

Read on to hear what the customers are saying, a few weeks into its soft opening:

The Plus One-Approved News: Yelper Tory P. calls it “coastal chic with a little historic old town charm. Hummingbird meets all the criteria for a romantic summer night dinner, girls night out, after work drinks, or family celebration. In fact, my fiancé and I decided to have our engagement party at Hummingbird based on all the above!” Yelper Kristin W. “had a great date night at Hummingbird! We started with happy hour drinks and some oysters at the bar, then moved outside for dinner. Service was great, and the food was delicious.” [Yelp]

The Inaudible News: Yelper Christine P. says “inside the restaurant it was LOUD (practically need to shout to be heard) and when I mentioned it to our server he laughed awkwardly (maybe he couldn't hear me?).” Yelper Ken A. agrees, saying it was “very loud and difficult to have a regular conversation. The stark concrete walls and ceiling create a cavern of noise and echoes.” [Yelp]

The Go With Grill Fish News: TripAdvisor user @Mackovita had the “grilled whole rockfish and it was one of the best grilled fish we’ve ever had—perfectly cooked with that smoky grill flavor ... The grilled arctic char with braised lentils was almost as amazing.” Facebooker Gaby Gabriel ha the “best grill snapper I’ve ever had in my life and am from the Miami and the Florida lower keys.” [TripAdvisor, Facebook]

The Outstanding Ambiance News: Yelper James R. calls it “a bright, modern restaurant, with a limited but delicious menu, and a happy beat. It's right on the Potomac with a great view. The wait staff is especially sharp. We loved their checked shirts and other clothing.” TripAdvisor’s @bridgemaster1 notes the “nice patio setting and excellent food that is made with fresh summer ingredients...a much needed semi water-front addition to Old Town Alexandria.” [Yelp, TripAdvisor]

The Slushed News: Facebooker Patrick Dempsey says “those cosmo slushies are so addicting!” Blogger Bitches Who Brunch said “post-brunch boozy slushies? Count us in!” Instagrammer @lisanovakoski says “we can't get enough of those frozen #cosmopolitan & #pinacolada #dranks” [Facebook, Bitches Who Brunch, Instagram]

The Must-Try Bites: Facebook user Michelle Adams “highly recommend the slushies, crab and corn Fritters and the steak. My friend had the oysters and octopus and loved both. And save room for dessert, the Hummingbird cake is worth it.” And Rebecca E. Thistlethwaite “had both the New England boil (lobster and clams) and the branzino, both were fabulous!” Instagrammer @eastcoastcontessas had the red snapper special, “plucked fresh from the Chesapeake and served table side the same day, hurry in and try it before it swims away!” [Facebook, Instagram]