Ada’s on the River has secured a coveted spot on Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema’s final list of the best restaurants in and around the District, the only Alexandria establishment to earn the distinction among 40 dining destinations featured in the annual guide published Tuesday.
The waterfront restaurant in Robinson Landing received particularly high praise from Sietsema, who called it “the exception to the rule about good views canceling good cooking in tourist zones.”
“Here we are in Old Town Alexandria, eating interesting food delivered by servers whose cheer you want to clone,” Sietsema wrote in his review accompanying the list.
Named for 19th-century mathematician Ada Lovelace, the restaurant features wood-fired American cuisine with views of the Potomac River, according to the Post. Sietsema highlighted the kitchen’s mastery of live-fire cooking, specifically recommending the swordfish in mustard cream sauce with charred Brussels sprouts and the multi-layered potato pavé.
While the restaurant was conceived as a steakhouse when it opened in 2021, culinary director Brandon Whitestone told Sietsema it has since evolved into a seafood destination. Still, the No. 1 seller remains the hamburger — served on an onion brioche roll with ground dry-aged chuck, Taleggio cheese, thick-cut bacon, barbecue sauce, and smoked onion.
Sietsema also praised the restaurant’s generous portions and commitment to “unreasonable hospitality,” the service philosophy promoted by Will Guidara, former co-owner of New York’s Eleven Madison Park.
The inclusion carries added significance this year, as Sietsema announced he is departing the Post after 25 years of restaurant criticism. In his farewell guide, he called 2025 “yet another banner year for creativity and staying power” despite ongoing industry challenges.
Located at 3 Pioneer Mill Way, Ada’s seats 260 guests across its indoor dining room and outdoor patio, with a live-fire hearth at the center of its open kitchen, according to the restaurant’s website.
Ada’s joined a geographically diverse list spanning D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Navy Yard’s Albi, a Levantine restaurant, was named Sietsema’s Restaurant of the Year. Other Northern Virginia inclusions featured establishments in Falls Church, Fairfax, Arlington, and McLean.
The restaurant offers lunch and dinner daily, plus brunch on weekends. Main courses range from $22 to $75, according to the Post review.
The complete list is available at washingtonpost.com/food.
