The Butcher’s Block, a Market by RW

When I first walked in there were a a handful of people there, but no one eating. They were chatting away, which at first was nice because it reflects a familiarity with your community. Then the chatting turned into an argument between the staff and I found that very unprofessional and distracting. Honestly, I would have walked out if it weren’t for my intent to try a sandwich.
The shop itself didn’t have a lot of seating, only three tables, which made sense as I realized it was just an extension of the boutique hotel next door. I ordered the Porchetta Roast sandwich as I wanted to stay away from the ham and turkey selections. I also got a side order of potato salad freshly prepared and a gourmet cherry soda. In total I spent $ 17.50 which isn’t bad for hotel food.
First, a run down of the sandwich
Porchetta Roast
Porchetta Spiced Pork Loin
Romesco
Grilled Spring Onions
Cheddar
Citrus Vinagrette
The first thing I noticed was the size. I felt it was very undersized compared to what I expected considering what I spent. Second, the pork was sliced thin which was also unexpected. When a menu says pork loin, I expect a hearty slice.
But I wanted to give it an honest try since I haven’t even tried it.
My first bite wasn’t good. The ciabatta bread was a little on the hard side. The romesco and citrus vinagrette were overpowering and I couldn’t find any cheddar. I took a minute to open it up an look around. I eventually found the cheddar clumped together in the very center.
But I wouldn’t let the first bite deter me. I continued on.
And as I ate through the heart of the sandwich, the ingredients starting coming together. The pork was excellent. Subtle and very appropriate to balance the romesco and vinagrette. The cheddar was a hard white cheddar, not a sharp which i would have first preferred but still worked well. I truly believe it would have helped if the bread were toasted. Overall I thought the sandwich was good just poorly assembled. Its a classic sandwich problem, the edge of the sandwich tastes nothing like the middle. The edges had too much sauce, no cheese and not enough meat. But once you got to the center, the ingredients worked quite well together in proportion.
Best part of the meal, the potato salad. It was fresh, had great bite and perfectly creamy.
I would say this place is worth checking out but you’d have to act fast. I realized during my meal what the staff was arguing about. Apparently the day before they had found out the The Butcher’s Block was closing down. They were mostly upset that the blogosphere had been told before they had.

Best sandwich I’ve ever had!
I had the turkey (#1) and it was perfect. I loved the bread, the sauce and that little kick of heat.

This place is a perfect idea! No only they have a great wine selection, they serve great food too!
We had decided to explore the Old Town area, hoping to get some food, sit outside and eat somewhere by the water. Thanks to the Unilocal reviews we found The Butcher’s Block. We ordered our sandwiches and were able to enjoy a nice glass of white wine while waiting for our order (of course it didn’t take that long for our sandwiches to be ready; we stuck around and finished our wine before heading out). The place is very quiet, with most people taking their orders to-​go. The two sandwiches that they had available that day were the roast beef and the Sweet & Salty. They were both great. The staff was nice too. I really liked the setting of the place, a very nice little market/​eatery, great for a quick bite.

OMG. I actually ordered a sandwich where zucchini was the main ingredient, and I liked it so much, I went back and ordered it a second time that week.
Thanks to Butcher’s Block, I am now realizing that I could definitely go vegetarian, I just could probably never give up cheese or bread. THAT would be hard!
I work in the area and usually eat here at lease once a week. Typically, I order the Turkey Brabo. It gets a lot of attention from my coworkers when I bring it back to the office and eat it in our kitchen. Everyone things it looks really pretty, and they say, «Where can I get that?» I also sometimes order their take on the Caprese, but I haven’t seen it on the menu the last few times I’ve visited, so I was «forced» to order the Da’Zucca. I typically don’t eat anything where a vegetable is the first ingredient listed. I was delightfully surprised at how much I enjoyed this sandwich, and will definitely add it to my rotation of sandwiches I like to order.
What I really love though is the staff. Twice I’ve been at the point where I wasn’t even sure I had enough money to pay for a sandwich here, but the staff was really nice about it, and didn’t make me feel worthless, even though I kind of am :). Once I needed nearly all my credit/​debit cards replaced, and was carrying around one credit card that I was sure was going to be maxed out soon (it only had about a $ 200 limit) and I walked in to the store and said ‚“Can you please ring up my order before you make the sandwich. I need to make sure I have enough to pay before you make it.” HA! A second time I left my debit card at home and only had this credit card with a $ 200 limit on it, and it was declined. FUDGE! I had $ 6 in cash in my purse, so I asked to pay partly in cash and then for them to swipe the card again. SUCCESS! I would be really annoyed at me if I were them, and maybe the staff is talking about me after I leave, but at least they remain friendly to my face! That’s good customer service :)

It’s not cheap (10 bucks a sandwich, and that’s before you add drinks, etc.)…but it’s in a Kimpton in Old Town, so that is to be expected. Sandwiches are substantial in size and made on fresh country-​style bread, and the meats are fresh. I got the turkey sandwich, which had a terrific onion chutney. The sauces (like the chutney) here add a nice touch, so definitely choose to get them on your sandwich. Also, be aware that there is usually only one bread option and a limited (but well-​chosen) list of sandwich options.
My sandwich was prepared quickly. Dining space is fairly limited, with a few tables and the counter, so I could see it being difficult to secure seating if it is really busy. There is a nice selection of gourmet gifts and wines and beers to browse while you wait for your sandwich.

Oh do you love sandwiches as much as I do??? Then you’ll love getting a sandwich from this place. My gf and I were looking for food to take with us to the National Harbor because of the amazing 65 degree weather in February. We decided to get a sandwich from this place and I’m happy that we did.
I ordered the roast beef sandwich. It was very tasty BUT without the carmelized onions this sandwich would’ve been doomed. The meat itself is very succulent, but it was very bland. The onions saved the day. The sweetness was the perfect combo with the roast beef.
My gf had the Grinder. OH. MY…TASTEBUDS! This sandwich was heaven inbetween two delicious pieces of bread. It had sweet & hot coppa, mortadella, fennel salami, sharp provolone, hot peppers, pickled red onion, shredded lettuce, vinaigrette on a sub roll. The sweet and spicy of the sandwich was a good pairing. The meat was so fresh and delicious! It made me want more of her’s…
Will def have to come back here to try the other sandwiches on the board!

I love the Sweet & Salty sandwich from here. This is probably one of the best sandwich that I’ve had in a while. The sweet & salty is made of prosciutto, Brie, fig jam, arugula, and balsamic, what’s not to like about this sandwich. It’s amazing, definitely recommending to anyone who wants a quick bite and good sandwich.

I live in Old Town. The sandwiches are excellent, the only place I don’t mind paying $ 10 for a sandwich. However, the last time I went in to get a sandwich they had a guy that I had not seen before making sandwiches, not the younger female that was usually there. Anyway this gentleman did not wear gloves I noticed. So I said OK, I hope his hands were clean and was going to probably eat it. Then he actually touched the trash can in the middle of making the sandwich, and then and played with the meat before putting it on my sandwich. Instead of making a scene, I paid for the sandwich and put it in the trash when I exited the building. I did not eat it. I will not be returning. The practices of food preparation is terrible. Its unfortunate because this is the best sandwich that I have ever had. I do not have time to worry about getting sick over a $ 10 sandwich.

Husband and I were recently on vacation in DC and we were heading over to Alexandria to visit the Pope-​Leighey House and needed some lunch. A friend recommended stopping in to the Butcher’s Block to get a picnic lunch. What a great idea!
We walked in and saw the picnic box sign on the counter and told the girl behind the counter that we wanted one. She looked around and then told us «well, you’re supposed to order those in advance. We need 24 hours notice.» There was literally no one else in the place. She then says «I think I can get that together for you.»
We chose our chips, drinks and one premade side (roasted garlic hummus) while she made our sandwiches. Then she put them all in the box. Done. 24 hours advance notice for that?
Anyway, I ordered the Sweet & Salty sandwich, which is prosciutto, brie cheese, fig jam, arugula and olive oil. Very tasty, though they completely skimped on the prosciutto. The bread is SO good. I think husband got the Ham sandwich and enjoyed it.
I believe the box was $ 35. Not bad. For an extra $ 10, you can get it with wine. I also picked up an affordable rose as a gift for our friends there. Had a glass that night and enjoyed it.
I’d definitely recommend getting the picnic box if you’re looking for that sort of thing. I don’t know if I’d return for a $ 9 sandwich, though. The shop had a great selection of wine for its size and lots of affordable options. There was also a section of gourmet food, but I didn’t get to look at that while I was there.

This review is just based on sandwiches.
I bought a roast beef sandwich from here for lunch on a Sunday. The sandwich was pretty good but nothing special. I did think that the roast beef was of excellent quality, but I thought the sandwich was a bit pricey and I wish it were bigger. The guy behind the counter was friendly. The inside has a small amount of seating. I believe there were 2 tables and a bar area with 4 stools.
If I happen to be in old town and I am looking for a quick bite I will stop in again. I would not make a special trip for just a sandwich though.

Strolling along King St. and looking for a quick yet tasty sandwich to eat? Go to Butcher’s Block! I had the roast beef sandwich and it was wonderful. The meat was so fresh. It came with caramelized onions, horseradish toppings which had nice, powerful flavors. Next on my list is the turkey sandwich. They also had a plates of samples of fruit and cheese. The staff was pretty helpful and answered all of my questions. The shop also has a nice selection of wines, cheeses, and meats. Check it out!

Front entrance is not wheelchair accessible with a step to get into the store. No signage for an alternative entrance. Not sure who marked this on Unilocal as being wheelchair accessible. Therefore my group could not get into the store.

Great beer options, but the reason to come to this Brabo spin-​off establishment is actually their sandwich menu. My personal favorite is their Martin’s roast beef sandwich, which has horseradish mayonnaise, arugula, Chimay cheese, and caramelized onions. The bread is fresh, crusty, and thick and the beef not the least bit dry like most versions I’ve had. I will return to try their other sandwiches, especially their carprese and their ham and cheese, which consists of fig jam and brie. Charcuterie plates are also offered here.

Though I didn’t observe much of a clever-​worn patina on the chopping block; I have no doubt that it is simply a matter of time before it begins to emerge.
The Butcher’s Block, an eclectic and unusual «grocery» store that anchors the Wiedmaier «food» compound in Old Town Alexandria is under relatively new management and is hoping to grow the customer base through offerings like made-​to-​order ravioli and bookings for parties looking to use the Old Towne venue to entertain its clientele, colleagues and family.
This grocer offers gourmet chocolates, a full sampling of artisanal Belgian brews, cheese that will be perfect for almost any pairing with one of the vintages from the ample supply offered at the grocer which, by the way, conveniently lines the walls. The wine selection was specifically selected by the sommelier, Matt Caroll at Brabo’s.
I am continually impressed — as previously mentioned — with Robert’s innovative and sincere appreciation of the sometimes iconic, and ironically nationalized, «shop local» campaign. The poultry, chicken, meat, vegetables — most of it found locally is in plentiful supply at this quaint grocer. For those who want to support our local economy, The Butcher’s Block is a great place to both shop and entertain. Find out more at:

This place is fantastic! I could not say enough great things about this place — if I lived in D.C., I might move in. Honest. Actually, I still might.
I was planning (remotely, mind you) a kicking off point location for my sister’s Bachelorette party. After searching through Unilocal — I found this wine bar that sounded interesting. I called them and described what I was looking for, and they actually directed me to this little gem. The folks at the Butchers Block (Dan and Mark specifically) could not have been more helpful. The were incredibly accommodating and set up an some charcuterie and chilled a few bottles of prosecco for us. I assumed they would just sit the bottles out with the food, but they actually served us — sporadically walking around and refilling the ladies glasses. It was so nice!
Onto the food — WOW. Everything from the bread, to the cheese selection, to the meats, to the nuts — could not have asked for anything better. The selections that they provided to us were just delicious. The meats came with this red onion marmalade which I could not stop eating, and yes, I asked them to write down the recipe for me. I have a new favorite food. If that wasn’t enough, my sister has a dairy allergy, and they provided us a goats milk cheese plate specifically for her. It was so thoughtful!
Even though it’s set up as a market (the lunch selections look AMAZING), they have plenty of space for small gatherings, date nights, ladies nights, catching up wine/​grub. I highly recommend it for all of the above, quick lunch during the work week, or a place to pick up some food/​meats and wine for a night at home!

I have a soft spot for markets like this. Yes, I deem this place a market (OK, market-​slash-​deli, but more of a specialty market). It’s the perfect sort of grab-​and-​go market that serves up some fantastic sandwiches.
I had stopped in for an early dinner/​late lunch and was craving a fat, tasty sandwich. I stood staring at the five-​item, super-​simple menu, until I finally decided on the roast beef. With just-​sliced, super thin slices of roast beef, arugula, onions, and a some mayo, the sandwich was exactly what I needed: tasty, hearty, and not too filling.
The super friendly sandwich-​maker made small talk with me as he assembled the fantastic grub. At nine bucks per sandwich, I would definitely be back to sample some more of that menu.

We had the roast beef and chicken salad sandwiches. The meats were good but the bread was kind of hard and hurt the roof of my mouth. They are also on the pricey side at $ 9 each. The people in the store were very nice. We didn’t have a chance to try out the other things they had in the store.

Rounding out Robert Wiedmaier’s Old Town trifecta is Butcher’s Block, located adjacent to BRABO Tasting Room… which is located adjacent to BRABO. Husband and I are *big* fans of the BRABO empire. Butcher’s Block is no exception.
First of all, it reminds me of a Parisian market with its cerulean, black and white subway tiles, and an array of beautiful wines marching up and down the walls and along Erector Set shelving. The joint is always clean and gleaming, ever a welcome sight anywhere I venture to purchase foodstuffs.
Second of all, BB’s selection of wines, beers, meats, cheeses, kitchen accessories, and various and sundry culinary accoutrements is thoughtfully edited. The all-​natural, locally-​raised meat case is a spectacular sight to behold — even for a recently lapsed vegetarian — with its ruby-​red, perfectly marbled cuts of beef, plump house-​made sausages, and festive patés made on-​site. Artful spurtles and stirring spoons are handmade by a woodturner out of Springfield. The artisinal cheese selection is limited but singular, with most coming from dairies in Virginia or Maryland. Fresh-​baked baguettes, handmade chocolates, and oil-​cured olives beckon from temptingly arranged displays. And the beer, glorious beer: local beer, Belgian beer, and Wiedmaier’s own Antigoon, brewed exclusively for his restaurants by Belgium’s Brouwerij De Musketiers.
All this plus picnic-​ready sandwiches and sides, as well as live cooking demos and tastings, make BB the perfect one-​stop shop in Old Town.

Coming from NYC, the Butcher’s Block reminded me of the overly hyped Dean & Deluca, except lo and behold, their stuff actually tastes AMAZING. There’s a certain charm at the Butcher’s Block, perhaps because those that are working there actually try to cater to your needs and are genuinely friendly and helpful vs. having botox smiles plastered to their faces.
Upon selecting wines, they offered a bottle of rose for a wine tasting and whalah… I’m shopping for cheeses and meats with a glass of wine in my hand, and that is just dandy. Although a bit pricey for some things ($ 2 for an ear of corn? Let’s head out to the roads and get a bushel for $ 3 shall we?), everything is fresh and the quality is superb.
If you’re staying at the Lorien Hotel and Spa like I did, order up a picnic basket from the Butcher’s Block and take it with you on a bike ride/picnic…they pack it with sandwiches galore and cheeses and wine… yum!

This little shop has potential, but needs a couple of changes to make it 4 stars. I had the roast beef sandwich and husband had the chicken sandwich.
Positives:
–high quality crusty bread
–buttery flavorful chimay cheese
–peppery arugula and sweet caramelized onion
–house made rare roast beef
Negatives:
–No place to sit in the store. You can get the sandwich to go and sit in the courtyard nearby if the weather is nice.
–The bottled drinks were way too small. You will need two to wash down the sandwich. Definitely reminded me of our trip to Germany where the drinks were itty bitty and I was thirsty most of the time.
–The texture of the roast beef needed some improvement. It was housemade, not the uniformly processed roast beef you see in supermarkets, understandably, some parts had some gristle, which should have been removed before piled onto the bread. There were a couple of bits that I had to chew for a couple of min before I gave up and spitted out. It completely ruined an otherwise perfect sandwich.