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Catch on the Ave opened just a few weeks ago, but this Alexandria seafood restaurant is already doing brisk business. The seasonal menu is influenced by the flavors of Southeast Asia, which means it features dishes like shrimp and vegetable dumplings, and sticky teriyaki pork ribs alongside American favorites like po’boy sandwiches, hot catfish, and beer batter cod filets. 

Yelp reviewers note that the menu is small — only a single page — but that it is well-curated to showcase only the most carefully crafted dishes. You can order traditional entrees, or a series of small plates to share with the whole table. The dining room’s ambiance is equal parts nautical (think driftwood and fish-themed wall art) and ultra-modern (think bright red sculptural bar stools and a long sleek bar). This place is also proving to be a popular brunch destination, thanks to dishes like sweet potato buckwheat pancake with cream cheese frosting and bang bang shrimp benedict topped with sriracha hollandaise sauce.