Ada’s on the River will open in the middle of January at condo complex Robinson Landing in Old Town Alexandria. As we reported before, chef Randall J. Matthews will lead the kitchen at the new restaurant from Alexandria Restaurant Partners. Ada’s will open for dinner only in its first week before including lunch and weekend brunch towards the end of January.
What will you be eating when it opens? As Matthews told us, the wood burning grill will touch everything from seafood and steaks to vegetables. The coal-fired foods will have their own menu that includes a 13-ounce grain-fed veal tomahawk steak, live Maine lobster and butterflied dorade. “There will be a heavy focus on reinventing vegetables,” Matthews told us. “Focusing on the simplicity of pairing the vegetable with the flame.” Those will encompass charred Brussels sprouts, ember-cooked broccolini, slow-cooked cabbage and whole oyster mushrooms.
Starters span from light lamb carpaccio or charred gem lettuce with shaved Brussels sprouts and apple to heartier options like coal-roasted chicken thighs. There will be plenty of vegetarian choices, such as fried cauliflower, coal-fired mushroom “lasagna” and stuffed delicata squash. But those who prefer meat can sup on moules frites, roasted scallops and a house-ground dry-aged burger. Custom-aged steaks include a 10-ounce tri-tip aged for 45 days, going up in size and expense to a 24-ounce Porterhouse that’s aged for 90 days. Sauces include Bordelaise, fermented garlic, chimichurri, Bearnaise, Foyot and brandy-peppercorn.
Besides an extensive wine and beer list, cocktails will be themed to help tell the story of Ada Lovelace, the 19th century mathematician for whom the restaurant is named. The Lord Byron (Lovelace’s father) will be crafted from Maker’s Mark, Angostura bitters, cherry syrup, coffee and an orange twist. Crack the Code will contain Don Q rum, mint, lime, pineapple, powdered matcha and soda. Also in keeping with the Lovelace theme, Ada’s will direct its philanthropic efforts toward Rosie Riveters, which teaches young girls skills in STEM, as well as The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria.
Ada’s isn’t the last restaurant that ARP will unveil at Robinson Landing in 2021. The group is currently refurbishing a pair of shipping containers that will open in the spring as Barca Pier & Wine Bar. /// 3 Pioneer Mill Way, Alexandria
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