Photo courtesy of Alexandria Restaurant Partners
Rendering of interior, Ada's on the River, design by HapstakDemetriou+
Alexandria Restaurant Partners announced Monday that its first project of the new year, Ada’s on the River, will open mid-January 2021 at 3 Pioneer Mill Way at Robinson Landing.
ARP, which owns and operates Mia’s Italian Kitchen, Vola’s Dockside Grill & Hi-Tide Lounge, Theismann’s Restaurant, Palette 22, The Majestic, Riverside Taco Company and BARCA Wine Bar (opening spring of 2021 at Robinson Landing), as well as Mia’s Italian Kitchen will reveal its latest restaurant concept that is built around a custom wood-burning oven while drawing inspiration from the ingenuity of Ada Lovelace, a 19th-century mathematician.
On the opening menu, guests will find starters ($9-$18) like Lamb Carpaccio, Grilled Octopus or Coal-Roasted Chicken Thighs and Salads ($10-$17) such as Charred Gem Lettuce, Shaved Brussels & Apple and “The Wedge” with the option to add proteins like Coal-fired Tri-tip or Arctic Char. Decadent entrées ($19-$28) such as Moules Frites, Roasted Scallops and the House-Ground Prime Dry-Aged Burger are also featured, while the vegetable-forward mains include Fried Cauliflower, Coal-fired Mushroom “Lasagna” and Stuffed Delicata Squash.
A custom-aged prime beef section on the menu will be served a la carte ($26-$75) with garlic maître butter ranging from a 10 oz 45-day Trip-Tip to a 24oz 90-day Double-Aged Porterhouse. Bordelaise, Fermented Garlic, Chimichurri, Béarnaise, Foyot, and Brandy-Peppercorn Sauces come on the side for an additional $3 each or a trio for $8.
A menu dedicated to dishes from the wood-burning oven ($29-$49) include coal-fired meats and seafood such as 13-ounce grain-fed Veal Tomahawk, Live Maine Lobster and Butterflied Dorad, as well as coal-fired cegetables ($7 each) such as Charred Brussel Sprouts, Ember-Cooked Broccolini Slow-Cooked Cabbage, Whole Oyster and Mushrooms.
In addition to an extensive wine and beer list, Ada’s will serve up a carefully curated cocktail menu with a selection of house-crafted beverages ($10-13) such as 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. Additional brunch cocktails will include three takes on the classic Bloody Mary and the Poetry in Motion made with New Amsterdam Vodka, grapefruit juice, lemon juice and agave.
The restaurant’s interior was designed by acclaimed firm Hapstak-Demetrios and original art will feature Ada, her father, the poet Lord Byron, and various contemporaries, including Jane Austen, Mary Shelley, and Emily and Charlotte Bronte. The most breath-taking visual within the 267-seat (162 inside/105 patio) restaurant is beyond the 15-foot floor-to-ceiling windows that provide unobstructed views of the Potomac River. Ada’s will lend itself perfectly to events with a private dining room and the option of a full restaurant buy-out.
Ada’s will work closely to support its surrounding community and has identified two local organizations, Rosie Riveters and the Alexandria Scholarship Fund, to whom it will direct the majority of its philanthropic efforts in 2021. Rosie Riveters provides a fun space for girls ages 4-14 to imagine, create, and play while developing their skills in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was founded in 1986 to raise funds to support college advising and scholarships for students with financial need in the Alexandria City Public Schools.
After being in development for almost three years, the ARP team is excited to see how both Alexandria area residents and visitors respond to the Ada’s experience. “The waterfront is prime and ready for new dining experiences, especially one that lends itself to outdoor dining. 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,” says ARP partner Dave Nicholas.
Currently being constructed using two refurbished shipping containers, Alexandria Restaurant Partners will also be opening BARCA Pier & Wine Bar at Robinson Landing in the spring of 2021.
For more information about Ada’s On The River, visit AdasOnTheRiver.com and follow @AdasOnTheRiver. For information about BARCA Pier & Wine Bar visit https://www.barcaalx.com.
