Looking for a great place to eat after a day of exploring King Street or walking the waterfront? Try these four Alexandria restaurants, chosen by our critics as some of the 50 Best Restaurants in Northern Virginia.
By Olga Boikess, Dawn Klavon, Alyssa Langer, Alice Levitt, and Renee Sklarew
Price Key: Entrées = $ 15 and under | $$ 16–25 | $$$ 26–40 | $$$$ 41 and over | * = prix fixe only
Ada’s on the River
Alexandria | Modern American | $$$
Did you hear that? It’s a 75-day dry-aged New York strip calling. Or maybe it’s the 60-day bone-in rib-eye. Either way, the bite will be juicy, with just a hint of beefy funk.
Sides might include coal-roasted asparagus drenched in white-chocolate Béarnaise, roasted sweet potatoes flavored with goat cheese and Urfa chile, or multilayered hash brown pavé with smoked paprika aioli.
All this is to say that Ada’s is a steakhouse with imagination. But it’s possible that not everyone in every group wants steak. And for those occasions, the restaurant does many other things very, very well.
Smoked swordfish melts with each bite in a pool of smoky mustard cream sauce, accompanied by crispy pomegranate-flavored Brussels sprouts. Coal-roasted grapes and jalapeños add élan to a hefty bone-in pork chop. Vegetarians will be thrilled, too, with smoke-infused pasta dishes.
There are times for steak, but they are fewer and further between than the need for a flavor-forward repast that goes beyond the basics. As long as innovative preparations of crowd-pleasing meals appeal to your party, Ada’s on the River is the answer.
See This: Potomac River views compete with the high flames of the grill in the open kitchen
Eat This: Wood-fired chicken thighs, smoked swordfish, Almond Joy cake
Service: On one visit we were forgotten, but usually the professional staff will bend over backward to please.
When to Dine Here: It’s steak night, but not everyone in your party wants beef.
Kismet Modern Indian
Alexandria | Modern Indian | $$$
“If I am making lamb, I have to grind all the spices right before making it,” chef Ajay Kumar told us last year. “If you compare with other restaurants, you can see the difference.”
There are plenty of innovations on the menu — think paneer stuffed with seasoned ricotta, served in a spicy tomato sauce — but the best way to taste what Kumar is talking about is to partake of his classics. Chicken tikka masala burns with a pleasant heat and soothes with sweet acidity, all in the same meaty bite. Get it with pillowy garlic naan.
Most diners start their meal here with tandoori cauliflower. The white veggie is dyed red with spices. The soft center is jacketed with blistered edges created by the heat of the clay oven.
Expect a palate cleanser in the form of a frozen lozenge of cranberry and rosewater. It’s a preview of the subtle desserts, like raspberry-and-coconut rice pudding and cardamom-scented warm carrot halwa. Yes, even the sweets benefit from the addition of freshly ground spices. And Kumar’s expertise with the Indian-grown ingredients is evident in every bite.
See This: The stark white dining room is modern, indeed. Sit at the bar to see colorful dishes flow out of the busy kitchen.
Eat This: Tandoori cauliflower, chicken tikka masala, garlic naan
Service: Simply solid
When to Dine Here: You and your friends value well-applied spice and want to share a collection of plates.
The Study
Alexandria | Mesoamerican Fusion | $$$
Costa Rican–born chef Tomas Chavarria first arrived on this list last year with a menu that was a paean to his homeland. This year, he has refined those dishes, but included something new — Korean touches that blend Mesoamerican traditions with those of East Asia. With that, he has created another experience you’ll struggle to find anywhere else.
Chavarria’s take on Korean short rib lettuce wraps are filled with apple kimchi and house pickled radishes to lighten up the substantial cubes of beef. Spicy gochujang enhances that dish, as well as the crispy octopus chicharron, which sits in a Day-Glo-pink beet purée.
But some of Chavarria’s best new menu items continue to update his own cultural flavors. Achiote jus is the medium with which he enhances a smoked magret duck breast in one dish. His coconut rice pudding is an al dente stunner, populated with warm, chewy cookie crumbles; berries; and edible flowers.
The casual elegance of Alexandria’s historic Morrison House won’t prepare you for the one-of-a-kind innovations you’re about to taste.
See This: Flashes of light blue and gold on the walls and jazz on the stereo conjure another time — a stark contrast to what’s on plates.
Eat This: Kalbi ssam, Duck & Achiote, arroz con leche
Service: Kind, but with a tendency to disappear for a stretch or two
When to Dine Here: Upscale dining is on the menu, and you want to try something you’ve never had.
Virginia’s Darling
Alexandria | American | $$
Meet Virginia’s Darling, a cozy woman-owned bistro that serves small plates and women-made wines. The space presents an enchanting flower-covered ceiling and comfortable spots for indoor or outdoor seating, as well as a welcoming green-tiled bar.
Enter through the connecting Mae’s Market & Café, which itself is a destination for its pastries and sandwiches. Once seated, consider the interesting menu, chock-full of shareables and an admirable number of wines by the glass, moderately priced cocktails, and beers.
Grilled housemade bread and fancy butter might sound pedestrian, but those wise enough to order it are blessed with a massive, toasty slice with a dollop of sweet butter. Fried salt-and-vinegar pistachios present a savory crunch to enjoy with a cocktail.
Order as a group, and your party can share in the culinary freshness displayed here. The English muffin–enclosed Frenchie burger proves to be a charbroiled treasure. The crunchy fries on its plate won’t last long, so don’t be shy about grabbing your share. Sole meunière intrigues with a gentle lemon-caper butter drizzled on the sautéed fish. Choose a buddy and share the admirably seasoned 14-ounce strip steak, a carnivore’s delight.
Simple desserts include the banana pudding ice cream sandwich from Mae’s Market. Virginia’s Darling leaves guests thoroughly satisfied, charmed, and eagerly planning their next visit. Score one for the girls.
See This: A whimsical, flower-covered ceiling delights diners.
Eat This: Cheese & charcuterie, New York strip for two, Frenchie burger
Service: Accommodating and kind
When to Dine Here: Grab a glass of wine and share some plates with a friend.
Feature image of Kismet Modern Indian by Michael Butcher
This story originally ran in our November issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
