Lenore
The food was exceptionally delectable. I have received numerous laudatory comments about your tasteful dishes.
Nancy
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
I can always count on you to deliver good food on time. I anticipate using Bittersweet many times in the future.
Latricia
Alexandria Research Institute
About us
Bittersweet Catering & Cafe
Alexandria's Hospitality & Retail Business of the Year
DC's BEST TAKEOUT & HOME OF THE GIANT CUPCAKE
Jody Manor, Owner
Established March 1983
823 King Street, Alexandria VA 22314
703.549.2708 fax 703.549.3150
Bittersweet is Old Town's favorite cafe, full service caterer and in-house bakery. Since 1983 its mission is to offer freshly prepared, innovative cuisine and the friendliest, professional service.
History
- 1983: Bittersweet starts out as a tiny retail gourmet to-go shop at 103 North Alfred Street just off King Street.
- 1986: Jody Manor, native Alexandrian, begins his career with the company as a cook.
- 1987: Bittersweet's expert executive baker, Angel Brizuela, comes on board as a dishwasher and soon begins his journey as an expert baker.
- 1998: The Bittersweet Cafe opens to overwhelming response
- 1999: Website and online catering ordering system launched
- 2001: The cafe space is doubled by expanding into the other half of the building's first floor. The hot buffet and salad bar are added.
- 2007: Bittersweet acquires an additional building immediately adjacent to the existing cafe. The catering kitchen is moved into this renovated carriage house, along with logistics and sales office.
- 2007: Bittersweet ramps up the lunchtime convenience (and adds to its online catering order capacity) by launching online CAFE ordering.
- 2010: Bittersweet obtains the Virginia Going Green Certification.
Bittersweet Cafe
Bittersweet Cafe is a lively gathering place in the heart of Old Town Alexandria. The cafe offers a wide variety of homemade soups, freshly prepared salads, innovative sandwiches, a hot buffet, and many signature favorites like our Big Drink. It is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Bittersweet Cafe is located at 823 King Street.
Bittersweet Catering
Bittersweet is a full-service catering company with a comprehensive web-based ordering system, a professional and friendly logistics and delivery team, and a fleet of new refrigerated delivery trucks. We are available to serve your personal or corporate catering needs, even for those last minute emergencies! Place your order online and an Account Executive will follow up with you, or we can arrange a meeting to begin your event planning process. Whether for a sit-down dinner for ten in your home, a drop off lunch for 50 in your office or a cocktail reception for 500, Bittersweet is the way to go!
Bittersweet Bakery
Angel Brizuela is Bittersweet's executive bakery chef, and has established Bittersweet as one of the finest bakeries in the area. His freshly baked desserts are prepared daily using the highest quality ingredients, including real butter and vanilla. The bakery offers layer cakes with custom inscriptions, specialty desserts, giant cupcakes, freshly baked cookies, bar desserts, pies, breads and rolls; and gift tins chock full of delectable confections. Angel can be seen working in the window on North Alfred Street every day, and he loves to wave hello to his young future bakers! Come by and see him in action!
Innovation
With so many longtime and regular customers we know we have to keep coming up with new tricks. You can expect us to continually be developing great new food ideas.
Our BOSS System is a proprietary and web-integrated internal production system which maintains detailed records of past orders for your convenience. Your order is guaranteed to be accurate and you will receive immediate email confirmations of all orders. This allows us to accommodate many last minute changes due to the efficiency of our production and customer account systems.
Community Partners
We're proud to support many community organizations. Join with us as Bittersweet Community Partner!
- Alexandria Red Cross – supported for over 20 years; owner is an ARC Board Member since 2000. Good Neighbor Award recipient.
- Avon Breast Cancer Walk
- The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria
- Bittersweet Bakery
- Crohn's & Colitis Foundation
- American Horticultural Society
- Fund for Alexandria's Child
- Alexandria Symphony
- Alexandria Education Partnership
- Good Shepherd Housing & Family Services
- Burgundy Farm School
- Alexandria Seaport Foundation
- Alexandria Fire Department
- Volunteers of America
- Compute C.O.R.E.
- A Space of Her Own
- Alexandria Convention and Vistors Association
- Alexandria Volunteer Bureau
- Alexandria Office on Women
- Alexandria Gang Task Force
- Gadsby's Tavern
- Animal Welfare League of Alexandria
- The Leukemia And Lymphoma Society
- The Little Theater of Alexandria