Photo courtesy of Blackwall Hitch
Check out the menu at Blackwall Hitch, located on the waterfront in Old Town Alexandria.
From the moment they step inside Blackwall Hitch Alexandria, diners are greeted with a smile.
As Chef Daniel Hlusak explains, this commitment to hospitality is ingrained in the restaurant’s culture. From using the best cutlery to seeking out local producers and purveyors to ensure top-level quality, Blackwall Hitch goes above and beyond to provide exceptional service.
“Every aspect of the dining experience is meticulously thought out,” Hlusak explains. "When we look at a dish, we're not looking at what we can do that's cool. We’re thinking about what our guests deserve.”
Photo courtesy of Blackwall Hitch
Chef Daniel Hlusak helms Blackwall Hitch, located on the waterfront in Old Town Alexandria.
Chef Hlusak is the Culinary Director for Titan Hospitality, the restaurant group that includes Blackwall Hitch, Smashing Grapes, and the Barn & Lodge.
Having started at the original Blackwall Hitch location, he has a deep understanding of the restaurant’s history and its clientele. But it’s his own origins that made him the ideal chef to lead the restaurant in the first place.
A Chef’s Journey from Nonna’s House to Blackwall Hitch
Chef Hlusak’s culinary education began at an early age. Before any formal training, he would work with his grandmother in his Italian American household.
"I've been making pasta and stirring sauce since I was knee high to a grasshopper," he reminisces. Often labeled as the family troublemaker, he spent his Sundays standing on a milk crate and stirring sauce with his Nonna.
From Sunday afternoon “punishments,” Chef Hlusak soon started working in restaurants at the age of 13 as a busser and dishwasher, and he hasn’t looked back since.
"I liked the pajamas. I liked knives. I liked the fire," he says with a laugh.
After continuing to work in various restaurants throughout college, he grew his career at Galileo with Roberto Donna where he stayed for many years. Hlusak’s next chapter kicked off during the pandemic when he came in contact with James King, the founder of Titan Hospitality, and began to develop the menu at Blackwall Hitch Alexandria.
Come Enjoy Casual Elegance On the Waterfront
While the atmosphere — what Chef Hlusak calls casual elegant – may be what draws people in, it’s the menu that keeps them coming back, one that celebrates local producers and coastal delicacies alike.
Blackwall Hitch Alexandria has become the well-deserved center of the Alexandria Waterfront’s emerging culinary scene, and with its enviable location, relaxed atmosphere, and Chef Hlusak’s ever-evolving menu, it’s well worth a visit.
