I have been there for dinner and brunch and both were amazing experiences. It can feel crowded if you are not at a booth. The cocktails are good! read more

I had majesty as my Bartendar she was the best! Her energy and impeccable service made my stay so memorable I'm coming back for the great food and even better staff! read more

We came to Ada's on the River with a group for brunch, and I really enjoyed it! I had the eggs Benedict, which was delicious. A lovely way to spend time together over brunch. Highly recommend! The server was attentive and we had multiple staff making sure our table was always covered! Highly recommend read more

Great experience. Went there for lunch on an early fall day. Sat outside. Prices: Reasonable for a sit down meal served riverside. Service: Good. Server knew his menu. Not too fast, not too slow. Wasn't hurried but showed up right about when he should. Food: Main highlight of the meal, as one would hope. Had grilled octopus for appetizer, that that was great. Grilled just right, and the sauce had just the right amount of kick. Salmon main was cooked equally well (medium). Brussel sprouts side were some of the better ones i have, cooked well through and just crispy enough on the outside. View was the second highlight... perfect early autumn day. Highly recommend for business lunch or lunch with your significant other. read more

My wife and I had the pleasure of dining at Ada's on the River in Alexandria on the evening of October 20th, and what a great experience it was! We enjoyed a beautiful evening on the patio, which was the perfect setting for a relaxing dinner. We started with a couple of excellent cocktails and the coal-roasted chorizo oysters. What a fantastic way to kick off the meal! For dinner, I went with the coal-fired pork chop, which was absolutely delicious. Perfectly brined, incredibly flavorful, and cooked just right. My wife ordered the burger, and it was outstanding. Sometimes a great burger is all you need, and Ada's certainly knows how to make one! From the cocktails and appetizers to our entrées, everything was excellent. Great food, a wonderful atmosphere, and an enjoyable evening together. If you find yourself in Old Town Alexandria, I highly recommend giving Ada's on the River a try. It's definitely worth a visit, and we'll gladly return the next time we're in town! read more

This has become one of my go to places in the Alexandria area. I made a reservation with no issues. We were seated immediately. There is inside and outside seating. The outside seating would be wonderful on a beautiful day. The inside can be loud especially if there is alot of people there. The food was amazing. We did not find a dish we did not like. My favorite was the prawns and the roasted carrots. Neither of those dishes lacked any flavor. All the dishes were presented beautifully. The blue and white plates were stunning. I finished my meal with the chocolate souffle! That did not disappoint and I will defintly get that again. I loved that there were mocktail options on the menu. I do not drink, but do enjoy a nice mocktail for sure. I feel like there is definitely a market for now more and more. Our waiter was phenomenal. He was very attentive and did not move super fast. We were able to enjoy out meal in a timely fashion. read more

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This place has a beautiful view right on the river! Unfortunately, it was rainy and cold while I was in town, so I didn't get to enjoy the view as much as I would have liked. When I walked in, the hostess informed me that I had to sit at the bar to receive the happy hour deals. Luckily, I was able to find a spot at the bar. The food and drinks did not disappoint! I really enjoyed the lobster roll and crab wontons. The lobster roll was a little small, but the flavor was good. The espresso martini was PERFECT! I also tried another cocktail, but I can't remember the name. It was okay, just a little too sweet for my liking. Overall, the vibes, food, and drinks were a 10/10! Customer service was an 8/10. I would definitely consider coming back when I'm in town again, hopefully on a day when the weather is better so I can enjoy the river views! read more

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Food: 8.8/10 Environment: 9/10 Service: 8.3/10 9.5/10 -- 30-Day Dry-Aged Fillet, 6 oz It was perfectly aged, with a rich, almost gelatinous mouthfeel characteristic of well-aged beef. The roasting and seasoning were impeccable. I absolutely loved this dish. 9/10 -- Black Brioche Mini Loaf Fluffy and satisfying, with a subtle sweetness. It paired perfectly with the accompanying orange butter, which added a lovely fruity note. 8/10 -- Coal-Grilled Vegetables The vegetables were incredibly velvety and flavorful, topped with cheese. I ate every last bite. Every dish was excellent. Dinner came to $88 per person after tax and tip. Considering the waterfront view and the quality of the food, I thought it was fairly priced. The service was good--nothing spectacular, but perfectly fine. read more

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Visited Ada's yesterday for social hour and had a great time! We tried the martini flights, steak skewers, mini hot lobster roll, raclette fries, and French dip sliders. The martini flight is a great way to try different options if you're torn between different flavors. My friend enjoyed the lemon drop and elderflower citrus martinis. For savory drink lovers, the tomato'tini was very tasty. For food, would definitely recommend the steak skewers (we got two orders). Everything else was ok. Would certainly come back since the social hour deals were great, the bartenders were quick and friendly, and in general it was a great vibe for Friday after work. If possible I would recommend getting to Ada's close to 3 for a spot at the bar. When my friend arrived at 3:30, she snagged the last two seats. read more

Ada's on the River - MINI HOT LOBSTER ROLL, FRENCH DIP -SLIDER-, RACLETTE FRIES, PERUVIAN STYLE STEAK SKEWER - Seafood Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Have had many great meals here in the past, today was not one of them. :( Went for the best burger in Alexandria, and had everything but that. Our services were GREAT! But the back of the house was not staffed up properly. Food was slow, and my wife had to send her burger back three times (each time they just worked on the original one vs give it her a new burger). Fries were ice cold, and also needed to be returned. A disappointing date (lunch) with my wife for sure. Our server was very apologetic, but the outcome of a disappointing meal was nonetheless. Also, on a personal note... How can you have a burger and house-made fries on the menu, but no mustard (of any kind) on hand? And If you have ice tea, sugar in the raw is also standard. Again, not here. read more

What a beautiful view of the river, with joggers running along the river walk and the vast blue water in the background. Restaurant takes online reservations, and the service is attentive, accommodating and courteous. Food was delicious! I ordered a crab salad with crackers, really big lumps of crab meat. For entree, I had the stuffed trout which has crispy skin and juicy inside. A side of Brussels sprouts accompanied my meal. It was perfect. Overall, this would have been a 5-star experience, except I was seated at the end patio table and spent much of the meal swatting away fruit flies and regular flies. Unfortunately, that took away from what was otherwise an excellent dining experience. read more

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Took my wife here today for brunch, and I'm so glad we finally made it! I've heard so many great things about this place, so I was excited to experience it for myself. Our server, Ambar, was wonderful! She even let us sample their mocktail of the day, which was really good. I ended up ordering the Yuzu Jalapeño Mule Mocktail--DELICIOUS! My wife and I shared the ricotta and lemon pancakes, Cobb salad, and a side of eggs. Everything was a solid 9/10, but those pancakes?! 100/10! They were so moist, fluffy, and packed with flavor--and did I mention they were HUGE?! I originally thought I was going to order the smoked swordfish, but my eyes and my tummy clearly had different plans because I was completely stuffed afterward! The pancakes, eggs, and salad were more than enough for us to share. The space is absolutely beautiful, clean, and I loved the decor. I also really appreciate learning about the Ada and the STEM scholarship they provide to girls in Alexandria each year. I love when a business gives back to the community! I'm already planning my next visit for dinner--and I mean SOONER rather than later! read more

Ada's on the River - LEMON & RICOTTA PANCAKES V - Seafood Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Whenever we have friends or family in town, this is our go-to for unique, delicious eats (especially for seafood lovers), excellent service, and great views of the Potomac. Most times, we sit outside, but even the inside is great with modern decor, a view of the kitchen, and decent noise control. Ada's is also a great spot for date night. No matter what, you MUST order the black brioche with the orange butter. It is a crowd pleaser and you'll be talking about it for days after. Consider bringing a light jacket for that cool breeze coming off the water. read more

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Ada's is an amazing spot on the water. Recommendation is to sit outside if the weather permits. Service was amazing! Drinks were delicious. And the location is great for people watching! I would definitely go back on a Monday when they honor their martini flight for happy hour (don't go on a federal holiday--they don't offer it...). read more

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Made last-minute reservations to celebrate a friend's recent accomplishment. Immediately greeted upon entrance. Ada's is open kitchen concept with tons of windows to see the shoreline outside. They also offer outside seating. Our waiter was nice but was MIA when we needed him. We split a Cobb salad and black brioche loaf and we both ordered the seared tuna. Everything was beautifully presented and tasty. Highlights were the black brioche loaf with orange butter and the seared tuna....so good. Planning my next brunch visit. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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Restaurant is super nice. A bit loud. The service was great. Food is kind of pricey but the food itself was worth it. The food ingredients are very intentional and the well cooked. Great place to bring family once in a while or date night. The surrounding area outside the restaurant is also super beautiful. I can see myself coming back for a special occasion. read more

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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! read more

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A Promising First Impression That Fell Short at the Table Upon walking in, the restaurant immediately makes a pleasant first impression. The ambiance is inviting, and there was a subtle, nostalgic touch with soft '80s music playing throughout the space something I genuinely enjoyed. The restaurant smelled fantastic... although, in fairness, that may have been me! The host was polite, and my waiter, Sid, was courteous as well. Unfortunately, the attention to detail began to slip almost immediately. The table I was seated at was visibly dirty and appeared as though it had not been properly wiped down before a fresh setting of plates was placed on it. To their credit, when I pointed it out, the table was cleaned with a wet wipe. I ordered a Plain burger with very specific: no cheese, no sauce of any kind, no mayonnaise, and no condiments just raw onion, tomato, lettuce and bacon. I also ordered an espresso martini. Sid did not write the order down, which I initially took as a sign of confidence and experience. Unfortunately, that confidence did not translate into accuracy. Burger #1 arrived, and despite my very specific request for raw onions, I was given sautéed onions on the side. There was also no tomato, and the burger arrived with a sauce I had explicitly said I did not want. I sent it back. What happened next was particularly disappointing. Instead of simply remaking the burger, Sid asked whether the kitchen could just scrape the sauce off. Absolutely not. When a diner specifically requests no sauce, scraping it off is not really the solution especially when the entire reason for the request is to avoid tasting it. I asked that the burger be remade completely because I did not want any trace of the sauce left behind. To make matters worse, the fries accompanying the first burger were lukewarm. Then came Burger #2 and somehow, this one arrived with cheese. Cheese. The one ingredient I had specifically said I did not want. At that point, the issue was no longer about a simple kitchen mistake. It was about the dining experience and whether the order was actually being heard. Having to send a meal back multiple times because the most basic modifications weren't followed is incredibly frustrating, particularly in a restaurant positioning itself as a higher-end dining establishment. Ryan ultimately took my final order correctly with pen and paper might I add which was Great, and the chef personally brought out the replacement burger#3. That final burger was prepared according to my specifications, which I appreciated. But by then, the experience had already taken a hit. And that's the frustrating part: if I'm going to pay a premium for a high-end burger in a high-end setting, I expect the burger to come out correctly the first time. The luxury isn't just the atmosphere or the price point; it's supposed to be the attention to detail. After all of that, I couldn't help but think: I could have gone to Five Guys, spent about $20, and saved myself all of this trouble. when the execution of such a straightforward order becomes this complicated, the experience doesn't quite live up to the setting or the price. read more

Ada's on the River - Go to Five Guys! Save you some money - Seafood Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I had the scallops dish with corn, I enjoyed it thoroughly. The location by the Potomac river is a nice touch for ambiance.

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. read more

Ada's on the River - LOBSTER MAC & CHEESE, BRUSSELS SPROUTS, CRAB STUFFED CAROLINA TROUT - Seafood Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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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. read more

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Great lunch date with my wife. Adas is great, but man the French Dip was incredible. Wife had a hangar steak salad that was also nuts. read more

Ada's on the River - Insanely good French Dip. Bread was perfect. - Seafood Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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! read more

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Our first visit. A great location and view. The service was great. Shout out to Roberto. A great personality and classy gentleman. The music was too loud, but they accommodated us to a reasonable level. Also, we suffered blasts of freezing cold air. Bring a sweater ! The food was outstanding! Highly recommend the cheese plate appetizer. We enjoyed salmon, filet & swordfish. Very nice. The potato hashbrown side was the best ! Deserts were great too. 4/5 due to volume and A/C and OT parking issues. read more

I had a lovely time at Ada's. I went on a Sunday afternoon for brunch. There weren't any reservations available so I chose to sit at the bar. I was greeted by a nice young gentleman. I can't remember his name but he and his partner Wynn gave impeccable customer service. I started out with an Orange Wave to drink while I waited for my sister. She was about 30 mins late. I wasn't rushed and I didn't feel uncomfortable waiting for her to arrive. I chose the lobster omelette. It came with potatoes and a mixed salad. The potatoes were crispy and the lobster was nice and buttery. The atmosphere was lively. The food was good and the prices were reasonable. It was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon and you never know what local celebrity you may see. 10/10 read more

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. read more

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Love everything about Ada's. Staff is attentive. Food is amazing. Always fresh. One of the best steaks and burgers you can have. Cocktails are great. Can be pricey but it's worth it. read more

Ada's on the River - Cheeseburger - Seafood Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I came here fully expecting to write a review calling it overpriced and overrated, but I was impressed against my will. Every dish was thoughtfully and creatively prepared, and tasted great. Despite the high menu prices, the portions were generous + massive. Black brioche loaf: it was just bread, but came out warm and delicious. The orange butter tasted distinctly orange-y and added a nice citrus tang Cobb salad: massive portion (in a good way), and every ingredient stood out and contributed to the overall dish. The croutons were especially crunchy and tasty, while the salad itself was not overly drowned in dressing Crab stuffed Carolina trout: cooked to perfection with a crispy skin that didn't get gross and soggy while sitting in the lemon butter sauce Coal roasted mushrooms: mushrooms atop a bed of various yummy crunchy things, each of which added flavors and textural contrast Hash brown pave: basically a giant crispy cake of scalloped potatoes. A little heavy on the aioli but I really liked this side nonetheless Creamed spinach: the only miss, in my estimation. Too cheesy and creamy, without a strong spinach to back it up. Just not my thing, but others may like it All in all, an excellent meal for a special occasion. I would not hesitate to point people toward Ada's while in Old Town read more

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. read more

Ada's on the River - WOOD-GRILLED FISH - Seafood Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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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 read more

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Ada's on the River is the perfect spot in Old Town to enjoy a beautiful, sunny day. Sitting outside on the patio with views of the water makes for a relaxing meal. The service was fast and helpful. We went for seafood dishes and tried the giant crab cake and the tuna tartare. The crab cake had big chunks of delicious crab. Both were fresh, flavorful, and had a nice presentation. With its waterfront views, welcoming service, and strong seafood options, Ada's is a great place to unwind and enjoy a meal outdoors. I highly recommend visiting when the weather is nice. read more

Ada's on the River - Tuna Tartar - Seafood Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Exceptional Food + Service + Ambiance We stopped into Ada's on the River for happy hour, and it was the perfect way to start the evening. The happy hour menu gave us the chance to sample a little bit of everything, from the crab rangoons and mini lobster rolls to a seasonal Old Fashioned, a Vesper, and an espresso martini. The lobster rolls were the standout of happy hour, while the cocktails were well-crafted and made for a great pairing. Once happy hour ended, we stayed for dinner, and boyyyyyyy, we're glad we did. The lobster mac and cheese was rich and indulgent (like most ppl have mentioned), the stuffed fish was flavorful, and the hanger steak with the gem salad was cooked beautifully. To finish, we ordered the apple beignets, which were warm, light, and the perfect sweet ending to the meal. From start to finish, Ada's delivered a memorable dining experience with excellent food, attentive service, and a beautiful waterfront atmosphere. It's the kind of place that's just as great for happy hour as it is for a full dinner. Definitely worth a return visit, will order the scallops on the next visit. read more

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 read more

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I highly recommend this location. It has one of my favorite espresso martinis in old town. Seafood is my favorite and this place delivers on that on every course. The servers (once you get assigned one) are knowledgeable and check in frequently. This location is perfect for any occasion, whether it's a get together with the family, a girls night, or a double date. The giant crab cake was also to die for, and that is saying something because I'm a Marylander. read more

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Ada's on the River just became one of my favorite spots in Old Town! The service was fantastic. I called the day of to change my reservation from 5 to 8, and the hostess accommodated me easily! Our waitress was attentive and had a great personality. The vibes inside are great. It is low-lit and elegant. I would recommend dressing up a bit for dinner. We ate inside, but they have a lovely outdoor seating area right by the water. The best dish of the night was by far the smoked swordfish with brussel sprouts. Fish was flakey had had a great wood fire sear. My boyfriend got seared scallops and said they were fantastic! He really enjoyed the flavor of the corn soubise the scallops were served with. Parking is a bit rough. The side streets in Old Town are always crowded. There are garages available, but they are about $20. The restaurant does not have valet. read more

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Great service. Good spot. Friendly, cool atmosphere inside, food is good and different. Drinks are OK.

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. read more

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We are here after a long day of travel. The service is top tier! Our server was so awesome! Gave great recommendations from the pasta, to the scallops it was all fresh and delicious. Sit outside if you can for the great ambiance. Drinks were also a plus! read more

Ada's on the River - Charcuterie plate - Seafood Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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