Hank & Mitzi's
Hank & Mitzi's, an Italian restaurant in Alexandria's Old Town North neighborhood has closed, according to an announcement on their Facebook page.
"Opening a restaurant in the middle of a global pandemic was not without challenges and even with dedicated staff and loyal customers we find ourselves needing to pause, regroup, and determine the best way to move forward in this space.
Effective immediately, we are closing Hank & Mitzi’s for the foreseeable future.
We thank you for your understanding: [it’s] been a true pleasure serving you and the North Old Town community."
Hank & Mitzi’s Italian Kitchen opened last year on Thursday, Aug. 13.
The restaurant, from chef and restaurateur Jamie Leeds, was the long-awaited replacement for Hank’s Pasta Bar, that closed in 2019 for renovations.
Hank & Mitzi’s was named for Leeds’ parents. She credits them as her inspiration for becoming a chef.
“Hank & Mitzi’s is a come-as-you-are neighborhood spot celebrating the joy that is regional Italian cuisine,” Leeds said at the time. “From an array of sharable plates, hand-crafted pastas and oven-fresh pizzas, we bring every aspect of the seasonal Italian kitchen to our guests.”
Menu items included new individual pizzas and some Leeds’ family recipes — Hank’s Meatballs and Mitzi’s Chicken Cacciatore. In addition, expect to see a few Hank’s Pasta Bar favorites, including Jamie’s signature linguine with clam sauce and mafalde with fennel sausage, broccoli rabe and cream sauce.
Executive Chef Chris Edwards, most recently of Hank’s Oyster Bar on the Wharf, headed the kitchen at Hank & Mitzi’s. He brought more than 20 years of culinary experience with stints at the Salamander Resort and Spa in Middleburg, as well as at Patowmack Farm restaurant in Lovettsville, Virginia.
“My ultimate goal is to serve delicious food that people remember and return for, whether it is for a casual evening out or a family celebration,” Edwards said at the time of the opening.
