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    Ada's on the River

    4.4 (1.1k reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 11:00 pm

    Ada's on the River Photos

    Business Info

    ADA'S ON THE RIVER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate

    Recommended Reviews - Ada's on the River

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    Reviews With Photos

    LOBSTER MAC & CHEESE, BRUSSELS SPROUTS, CRAB STUFFED CAROLINA TROUT
    Janelle T.

    We had excellent service and the food exceeded our expectations in flavor. I will definitely return and highly recommend this restaurant for a tasty dinner.

    ROASTED SWEET POTATO V G
    Scott W.

    This is a MUST try! Definitely one of my favorite restaurants. While you have to pay a flat fee for parking, the garage is right under the restaurant, allowing for very easy access. Depending on where you sit, you can have a wonderful view of the river, but otherwise the inside has a wonderful ambiance. Perfect for a night out with someone special. The service is always first class, and a food and dining experience to match. My wife and I always have to get the black brioche bread. A new MUST is the charred corn succotash. I could have just eaten that and been in heaven. My wife had the pork chop (which I love), while I had the smoked ricotta gnocchi.

    Menus
    Krystal J.

    Shout out to Peter G! We were a party of 9 celebrating a 40th Birthday. The restaurant accommodated us in the back room and Peter took great care of us! There wasn't a side dish that I tasted that I didn't like! We all passed around the shareable sides. For my main dish I had the pork chop which was cooked to perfection I am definitely returning to try other dishes and get my own serving of the lobster mac and cheese. Parking isn't the easiest. But I will plan accordingly.

    Espresso Martini
    Michelle M.

    We had dinner at Ada's on the River on a weeknight to meet a vegetarian friend. Since Ada's has a nice vegetarian menu in addition to the meat menu, we snagged a reservation. It was a nice day so we seated outside, although it got a little too windy. For appetizers, we got Wood-Fried Chicken Thighs and Artisan Cheese Plate along with cocktails. Both dishes were delicious and nicely presented. For entrees, I had Crab Stuffed Carolina Trout which was impressive! We also shared coal-roasted mushrooms and coal-roasted vegetables. We were too stuffed to order dessert but our server gave us complimentary baklava. The service was excellent and the food was delicious! I would definitely love to return to try the steaks.

    STEAMED BLUE MUSSELS
    Brianna T.

    So yum!! We enjoyed the mussels and flavorful crab cake. The peanut butter and chocolate s'mores cake was very very rich and filling. Service was amazing and the restaurant itself is cute in a nice location!

    16 oz, MARINATED LAMB CHOPS* G
    Tava B.

    Was such a beautiful sunny Saturday and my hunnie and I decided to go down to old town and spend the evening just like we used to do when we first started dating. Originally we were going to Barca however they were crazy packed so we decided to just come here and I'm glad we did. We placed our name one the list to sit outside however we found a perfect spot at the bar. We love finding seats at the bar unfortunately there were no TV's but it was all good. More us time. My hunnie opted for an old Fashioned smoked with his fav Angel's Envy Rye and I tried the Balanced Algorithm. My drink was a bit toooo sweet!! Reminded me of a holiday drink lol but it was good. The "East Side" one of the bar tenders made was refreshing and delicious too! I really enjoyed this cocktail. It was giving Green Juice from Cabo with a shot of Hendricks lol For dinner my husband ordered the lamb chops. The lamb chops were fatty...not so much meat on them...however he said the flavor was good from what he was able to cut around. I ordered the mushrooms lasagna and it was just OK...very bland...& lacked flavor... The noodles were also a bit over cooked. I wasn't expecting crispy noodles. The sides were very good. We went with Brussels sprouts minus the bacon and the roasted sweet potatoes. Was a perfect date night. Perfect restaurant for date night, girls/guys nights out... Check them out! I'm glad we did. Happy Yelping!

    Jose P.

    I have been here a few times now and have nothing but great things to say. The location is awesome with great views. The service is excellent, and the food is great. If you are in Old Town, you have to put this on your list of places to try.

    Chris S.

    Amazing spot next to the river deep in Alexandria, great for lunch or date night. We went during the day but at night I'm sure it's beautiful. Had wonderful Virginia oysters to start and they were medium size. I had the swordfish sandwich, perfect, the bread was so fresh and so were the veggies with a generous portion of fish. We had multiple people helping us and it felt great, good attention to details

    Espresso Martini
    Klara C.

    Came back for Happy Hour which is only available at the bar or outside high tops. I came around 4:30 and didn't find any issues with seating at the bar but the restaurant did get fairly busy after that. The bartender was a little busy and so it took some time to get my order. We really enjoyed the Happy Hour bites Mini Lobster Roll - this was really good, decent amount of lobster and the buttered roll was delicious. French Dip Slider - flavor was amazing but a little difficult to eat. This fell apart pretty easily but overall, I really enjoyed it. Peruvian Steak Skewer - this was also very flavorful and cooked perfectly. My friend got the crab rangoon and she said that she also really enjoyed it. The only issue we had was we ordered last minute for Happy Hour for another French Dip and it was accidentally rung up under the individuals next to us. We asked after realizing it was put in 30 minutes ago and they offered either a comped drink or have the kitchen make another one even though it was only offered on the Happy Hour menu. I really enjoyed everything and would definitely come back again.

    WOOD-GRILLED FISH
    Edna O.

    We went for brunch and really enjoyed the experience overall. The mocktails were fantastic everyone at the table liked them. I had the Cobb salad, which was very good, and my sister ordered the crab cake, which was also tasty and well prepared. We also tried one of the fish specials (I can't remember the name), which was just okay compared to the other dishes. The service was fast and casual, which worked well for brunch. I also ordered the vanilla chai crème brûlée. The flavor was good and unique, but the texture was a bit different from what I usually expect from a crème brûlée, so it wasn't my favorite version of the dessert. Overall, it was a great brunch experience and I would definitely return, especially for the mocktails and main dishes.

    Outside
    Monica S.

    Happy Hour Review: Monday-Friday from 3-6pm, if you want to be outside they have limited hightop seating, first come first serve. I got a white cosmo for $9 and my friend got a Moscow mule for $17. The mini lobster roll was indeed mini, we asked them to cut it so we could share but didn't realize how mini it was at $8. You could finish it in 2 bites. Waitress was nice

    River view
    Brenda R.

    Food was delicious! We actually went in for lunch and wanted to try the chicken and we were bummed since it's a dinner option. We tried the angus burger and wedge salad! Both were delicious. Our burger was cooked perfectly medium rear and our wedge salad was bit only beautiful but delicious. The salad was not traditional and had a spicy chili on it. It was incredibly good. Did not disappoint. I would definitely come back again. I would come back for dinner and try the chicken. We sat out with the river view and it was a perfect day. Not too hot for a summer day. Our server was great other than forgetting our extra request for a pickle. He forgot, maybe he was busy.

    Joi W.

    Took my mom to Ada's for her birthday. What the experience! Our server was phenomenal and the environment was lovely, sitting along the river. The food never disappoints either!

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    Page 1 of 28

    Ask the Community - Ada's on the River

    Is there a happy hour?

    I don't believe so.

    Are they still serving the Foir Gras doughnut?

    I did not see it on the menu.

    What is the corking fee if any?

    There is currently no corking fee.

    Any kids menu?

    Yes, there are a few options for kids (e.g., hamburger, shrimp, etc). The kids menu is located on the paper the kids can color on.

    What is the corkage fee?

    ARP has no corkage fees

    When does Ada's open?

    Ada's on the River will open to the public on Thursday, January 14, 2021. We hope to see you there.

    View All 7 Questions

    Wonderful Asian - Crispy pork wontons

    Wonderful Asian

    3.9(16 reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$

    Food was okay. Could have used more time searing the chicken. Will order again probably.read more

    Wonderful Asian is a nice gem of a find, as they offer an extensive menu of Chinese, Japanese…read more(ramen, hibachi), and even seafood boils. We came here for an early lunch, and we ordered: +Crab Rangoon - triangular-shaped, generously filled with the cream cheese/crab mixture; could have been a bit more crispy, as it was slightly chewy; the sweet & sour dipping sauce was a great complement +Chow Fun - we opted for the beef as a protein; the noodles were extremely wide, which was great; you can kick it up with chili oil and soy sauce; beef were plentiful +Mongolian Beef - lots of onions and scallions, this had a good flavor; you can add more of a saltiness to it with soy sauce This is definitely a family-run and -operated eatery, as the youngest son was taking orders and manning the register; all orders were made-to-order, so what you will be receiving will be super fresh! The owners were very kind, friendly, and attentive! There were a couple of tables inside, so we chose to dine in. Everything tasted fresh, not at all salty, and prepared with care and love. I'd love to try out their lunch specials and other chef specialty entrees on the next visit. Plenty of parking in the shared strip plaza lot. +fresh Chinese eats +made-to-order items +friendly service +plenty of parking in the strip plaza lot

    Photos
    Wonderful Asian
    Wonderful Asian - Mongolian chicken

    Mongolian chicken

    Wonderful Asian

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    Whiskey & Oyster

    Whiskey & Oyster

    3.8(427 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    I'm not usually an oyster fan, but my associate highly recommended that I try the grilled oysters…read more I have to admit -- they did not disappoint. My associate also loved the tacos. He barely seemed to take a breath between bites. The star of the show, though... the fish and chips. Baby, YUM. They complemented each other perfectly -- the chips were fried to perfection, and so was the fish. The spiked hot chocolate was okay, but I'm weird about eating hot food and drinking a hot beverage at the same time. My Arnold Palmer was mid. The bread pudding was good, though I should have ordered the compote on the side. It slightly overpowered the dish. Sadly, I'm told this was one of their last days open. Cheers to the staff, and best of luck to them. I definitely would have come back for the fish and chips.

    Came here for happy hour with coworkers and had a great time. They take reservations…read more The happy hour menu had a variety of seafood. We tried the coconut shrimp (which were large and tasty), $2 oysters, fish and chips, calamari, mussels. Drinks were $2 off during happy hour, and the cosmo was delicious. We also ordered the lobster roll and the lobster grilled cheese, which unfortunately were just eh. The crab bisque was creamy and filling. Shoutout to our waitress, Shelly who was amazing, super friendly, helpful with recommendations, and very attentive. The inside of the restaurant is very clean, modern, and well kept. Parking is limited because of the area, but I was able to find street parking and pay for two hours. Overall, it's definitely worth checking out for happy hour, especially for the oysters, drinks, and great service.

    Photos
    Whiskey & Oyster
    Whiskey & Oyster - The Carlyle Tower

    The Carlyle Tower

    Whiskey & Oyster - Ummm...do you see that lobster??? Best part of the meal!

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    Ummm...do you see that lobster??? Best part of the meal!

    Crab Cab - Grilled Oysters

    Crab Cab

    4.1(421 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$

    Hello. I really enjoy seafood. I visit every place that I…read moremay enjoy. Restaurant not fry king. I'm from nyc visiting my sister in Virginia. Now, crab cab is tucked on the side off of Richmond hwy. A medium/small place. 8 chair bar. Tables perimeter. Hostess D is perfect. Personal & inviting. Here is wow part. Chef Christian prepares awesome: Stuffed oysters Seafood Spring rolls!!!! Crab Balls. Get prepared for WOW

    - Very clean restrooms w fun comic book art. - Food came in…read moreabout 20 minutes. It looked good. - Brussels had just hint of sweet, I actually wanted them to have a little more, but they were good and crunchy. - Shrimp was piping hot, I almost burned my mouth! Not overly seasoned (I didn't use the sauce) and maybe grilled a little too hard and a bit dry, I had to chew for a while. But I ate it with the crab cake and it was good. - Mac and cheese wasn't overly seasoned either but sufficient. Some might say it needs something, maybe salt, but I was ok. Pretty good cheese pull. - Crab cake was also pretty hot, and yummy. I did try it with the sauce, but it tasted mayonnaise based and I don't usually add sauces. I prefer the food to be seasoned on its own, so I just ate it with the shrimp. - There were a few people at the bar when I arrived and two people in the dining area who left by the time I sat down. You can see from others' pictures how small the inside is, so I found it odd that the server sat a couple that arrived about 15 minutes later right next to me (booth and chair seating). I get having sections, but that seemed a little close to me. The next couple that arrived was sat a couple of tables away, similar booth/chair seating. - Soft R&B from an artist I wasn't familiar with was playing. Then some reggae. It was loud but not obnoxiously so. I enjoyed the vibe. - I chuckled when about 3/4 through my meal then busboy brought a to go container. I shook my head that I didn't need it. This girl can eat! LOL. - Docked one star because the menu said to add shrimp to the Stacker was $4, but the check said $6. I'm not crying over $2 but it's more about accuracy. Also, they add an 18% service fee. Not sure why establishments do this; I would have left 20% on my own. - Overall I was happy with my visit and the food. Casual with elevated prices. Not the perfect meal, but good enough.

    Photos
    Crab Cab - The bar - Great bartender Jazz

    The bar - Great bartender Jazz

    Crab Cab - | CRAB + SHRIMP SPINACH DIP |

    | CRAB + SHRIMP SPINACH DIP |

    Crab Cab - Fried Catfish

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    Fried Catfish

    The Warehouse - SEAFOOD SAMPLER

    The Warehouse

    3.8(972 reviews)
    0.2 miOld Town Alexandria
    $$

    We came to The Warehouse for Restaurant Week. It had a nice old school feel. We arrived a bit past…read moreour reservation time but the host was accommodating. We were seated upstairs. The waiter and wait service was attentive and friendly. For my 3 courses, I got the She-Crab Soup, Braised Short Rib, and Creole Bread Pudding. Everything was tasty. The soup was the best - so creamy and satisfying - we all devoured them. I also got an Old Fashioned cocktail alongside it. I would recommend this restaurant and check out the regular menu next time.

    Went on a Saturday afternoon for a late lunch. Didn't make reservations and none were needed, it…read morewasn't overly busy. It's a nice looking restaurant though it has a bit of an old, historic feel to it. The restrooms are upstairs and very small. One stall in the ladies' room didn't have any purse hooks which was a tad annoying (they were broken). Ordered the crab cakes, which came with a heaping serving of french fries. Every entree also came with either champagne or strawberries and cream. The cream was thick and delicious. The crab cakes were dry, unfortunately. Maybe it's partly because there was no filler, which is a good thing, but I wished they were more moist. And the fries had a crispy batter, which are not my favorite. Lastly, I wished the meal came with a vegetable of some sort. And I didn't see any sides to order from, and no veggies for apps. The meal was a bit disappointing, especially for the price point (which is different on the menu than what's on their website). My party was seated by the window but the internet still didn't work well. Had to request the wifi password. I didn't realize I had been here once before, for Mother's Day. But after this meal, I don't think I need to return.

    Photos
    The Warehouse - Wall of fame

    Wall of fame

    The Warehouse - CHARBROILED OYSTERS

    CHARBROILED OYSTERS

    The Warehouse - Wedge salad

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    Wedge salad

    The Wharf - Seafood Combo

    The Wharf

    3.7(659 reviews)
    0.2 miOld Town Alexandria
    $$$

    Great location in the heart of all the fun Alexandria has to offer! Diverse menu enhanced by al…read morefresco eating. Having arrived in town for a late lunch but to early for dinner I decided on a wedge salad with blackened shrimp. Presentation was great and even better were the Crispy lardons and the blackened shrimp. Finally the service was consistent and friendly making us feel like wanted guests The Wharf is a great place to people watch , enjoy good food and catch some sun!

    Two of us visited the Wharf for dinner on a Saturday night. We were seated right away. We ordered…read moreoysters on the halfshell and shrimp cocktail as appetizers. The waiter asked if I wanted to add an additional shrimp to the order, which I agreed to. The shrimp cocktail was nothing short of a rip off, $20 for 4 medium sized shrimp that weren't properly cleaned and not fully chilled; absolutely ridiculous. The oysters were very nice, fresh and only a bit briny, would order those again. For dinner, we ordered the salmon and the sea bass. The fish were both cooked perfectly. Both the sauteed spinach served with the salmon and the black rice served with the sea bass were beyond salty -- actually inedible. Service throughout the meal was fine but we found ourselves abandonded at the end. The server for our table, and those around us was gone for a long period and even the tables around us noticed his absence. We skipped desert. The check, including 1 glass of wine, and 1 coke, came to $140. I'm sorry, this wasn't even close to worth that much money. Perhaps the Wharf was just having an off night, but my impression is that this is a tired restaurant, trading mostly on its excellent location, that has given up on the concept of repeat business.

    Photos
    The Wharf
    The Wharf - Stuffed Lobster, scallops, shrimps, potatoes and spinach

    Stuffed Lobster, scallops, shrimps, potatoes and spinach

    The Wharf - Crab cake with greens

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    Crab cake with greens

    Del Ray Cafe - Mussels!

    Del Ray Cafe

    4.1(938 reviews)
    1.8 miDel Ray
    $$

    As first time Alexandria vacationers, Del Ray was a pleasure to go to. We loved the cozy and home-y…read morevibe of the place and all the staff greeted us warmly. Our food was also great! Their menu had a full Breakfast - Brunch/Lunch - Dinner options. My family and I were all satisfied with our food orders. This was a great recommendation for first time Alexandria visitors like us.

    Service - 1 Star Noise/ambience - 1 Star…read moreFood - 2 Stars Price/Value - 1 Star Reservation process - 5 Stars After hearing good things about this spot, I finally decided to stop walking past it and actually check it out. My cousin was running errands in the area, so we made a reservation for a weekday afternoon. It was very easy to reserve online the day before. We were seated upstairs to the right in a very sunny room with skylights, wooden rafters, and a thin carpet. Unfortunately, the carpet isn't thick enough to muffle sound, so it was very noisy. Our server, Nadir, seemed distracted, using his phone in a corner of the dining room, and wasn't too attentive. Another female server helped him manage his tables and took my drink order. My cousin ordered the veggie quiche and I opted for the French dip. Nadir asked if I wanted cheese and I assumed it came with cheese, so I said sure. When he then listed four different cheeses, I chose Swiss. When it arrived, it was clearly not Swiss. When I pointed it out to Nadir, who was nowhere to be found until we were ready for our bill, he said, "At least it is all natural cheddar!" Hmm... Then I saw that it was $4 for cheese. Our lunch total was $60 (no alcohol). My cousin said she will not be returning due to the low quality of food and service. I'll likely give it another try, but my expectations will be much lower next time, and I'll probably just order takeout instead.

    Photos
    Del Ray Cafe - Quaint & Cozy

    Quaint & Cozy

    Del Ray Cafe - Hand-Cut French Fries

    Hand-Cut French Fries

    Del Ray Cafe

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    Ada's on the River - seafood - Updated September 2026

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