Virginia-Highland’s Alici Oyster Bar closes after nearly three years

Alici Oyster Bar, the seafood-forward Italian restaurant in Virginia-Highland that built a reputation on oyster specials and handmade pasta, closed after nearly three years, the restaurant announced on Instagram Jan. 13. The shutdown removes a neighborhood destination that blended coastal seafood with house-made pastas and a late-night speakeasy vibe.

Chef Pasquale “Pat” Pascarella, operator of the Porchetta Group, posted that the closure is a chapter ending but not the final word. “While this chapter is coming to a close, the story isn’t over. What comes next is already taking shape….” The space also housed Bar Pilar, a Hemingway-inspired speakeasy that is temporarily closed alongside the main dining room.

Alici joined the Porchetta Group portfolio that includes The White Bull and multiple Grana locations, and its loss represents both a change for regulars who came for oysters on special and for diners who sought fresh, handmade pasta in the neighborhood. For two and a half years the kitchen’s focus on seafood-forward Italian cooking provided a distinct option in Virginia-Highland, pairing shucked oysters and a rotating seafood program with pastas made in-house.

The immediate impact will be felt by staff, suppliers and the regulars who bookmarked Alici for special meals. Suppliers who provided shellfish and fresh pasta ingredients will need new accounts; employees will be looking for roles elsewhere in a competitive local market. For the pasta community, it means one less neighborhood spot serving hand-formed noodles and seasonal seafood pairings, and for oyster fans it narrows late-night shuck options in the area.

Practical next steps for patrons: follow the Porchetta Group Instagram and the former Alici accounts for updates about the location and any new concept that takes its place. Loyal customers who want to support local operators can look to other Porchetta Group venues such as The White Bull or Grana locations while plans are finalized.

This closure is part of broader change across the city’s restaurant landscape, but Pascarella’s statement points to renewal rather than finality. Expect the Virginia-Highland footprint to evolve, with the pasta community watching closely to see whether the next concept preserves the handmade pasta traditions that made Alici a neighborhood favorite.