Waterfront Alexandria Restaurant Aims To Open In Mid-January

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Ada’s on the River, the first restaurant concept at the Robinson Landing development in Alexandria, is slated to open in mid-January.

The concept is one of two planned by Alexandria Restaurant Partners for the waterfront development. The other concept, BARCA Pier & Wine Bar, is being constructed and could open in spring 2021.

Ada's on the River has been in development for three years by Alexandria Restaurant Partners. The kitchen will be led by Maryland native Chef Randall J. Matthews, and diners can expect dishes like wood-fired prime steaks, fresh seafood and vegetarian dishes. The restaurant is centered around a wood-burning oven as a gathering place for friends and family.

The opening week will feature dinner, while lunch and weekend brunch will be added toward the end of January. The opening menu will feature starters priced between $9 and 18 such as Lamb Carpaccio, Grilled Octopus or Coal-Roasted Chicken Thighs.

Salads between $10 and $17 will include Charred Gem Lettuce, Shaved Brussels & Apple and "The Wedge" with the option to add proteins like Coal-fired Tri-tip or Arctic Char. Entrées priced between $19 and $28 include Moules Frites, Roasted Scallops and the House-Ground Prime Dry-Aged Burger, and there are vegetable-forward main courses like Fried Cauliflower, Coal-fired Mushroom “Lasagna” and Stuffed Delicata Squash.

A Custom-Aged Prime Beef section will be a la carte between $26 and $75, served with garlic maître butter ranging from a 10 oz 45-day Trip-Tip to a 24oz 90-day Double-Aged Porterhouse. Diners can get sides of Bordelaise, Fermented Garlic, Chimichurri, Béarnaise, Foyot, and Brandy-Peppercorn Sauces for $3 each or a trio for $8.

The wood-burning oven is put to work with dishes like Coal-Fired Meats & Seafood such as 13 oz. Grain-Fed Veal Tomahawk, Live Maine Lobster and Butterflied Dorad, as well as Coal-Fired Vegetables like Charred Brussel Sprouts, Ember-Cooked Broccolini Slow-Cooked Cabbage, Whole Oyster and Mushrooms.

A menu dedicated to dishes from the wood-burning oven ($29-$49) include Coal-Fired Meats & Seafood such as 13 oz. Grain-Fed Veal Tomahawk, Live Maine Lobster and Butterflied Dorad, as well as Coal-Fired Vegetables ($7 each) such as Charred Brussel Sprouts, Ember-Cooked Broccolini Slow-Cooked Cabbage, Whole Oyster and Mushrooms.

Ada's will have an extensive wine and beer list as well as a curated cocktail menu and house-crafted drinks. A few examples are the Lord Byron made with Maker’s Mark, Angostura, cherry syrup, coffee and an orange twist; The Tower of London with New Amsterdam Gin, lime juice and rosemary syrup; and Crack the Code containing Don Q rum, mint, lime, pineapple, powdered matcha and soda. Once bruch is added, there will be takes on the classic Bloody Mary and the Poetry in Motion made with New Amsterdam Vodka, grapefruit juice, lemon juice and agave.

The restaurant is named after Ada Lovelace, a 19th-century mathematician who contributed to the development of the world's first mechanical computer. The interior will feature original art of Ada, her father, the poet Lord Byron, and other key figures like Jane Austen, Mary Shelley, and Emily and Charlotte Bronte. The interior has 162 seats with floor-to-ceiling windows providing views of the Potomac River. The patio has 105 seats.

"The waterfront is prime and ready for new dining experiences, especially one that lends itself to outdoor dining," said Alexandria Restaurant Partners' Ada’s Dave Nicholas in a statement. "Ada's 105-seat patio will be a great attraction in the area and the water views from inside are the perfect complement the extensive coal-fired menu during the winter months."

Ada's will also support two community organizations in 2021: Rosie Riveters and the Alexandria Scholarship Fund. Rosie Riveters provides a space for girls aged 4 to 14 to imagine, create, and play while developing science, technology, engineering, and math skills. The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria is a nonprofit raising funds to support college advising and scholarships for students with financial need in Alexandria City Public Schools.

Alexandria Restaurant Partners also runs Vola's Dockside Grill and Hi-Tide Lounge, Riverside Taco Company, Mia's Italian Kitchen, The Majestic, and Joe Theismann's Restaurant in Old Town Alexandria as well as Mia’s Italian Kitchen and Café Tu Tu Tango in Orlando, Florida.

For more information about Ada's, visit www.adasontheriver.com. For updates on BARCA Pier & Wine Bar, visit www.barcaalx.com.