Ada’s on the River Named Virginia’s Restaurant of the Year
ALEXANDRIA, VA—Old Town’s Ada’s on the River has picked up one of Virginia hospitality’s major statewide honors: the waterfront restaurant was named Restaurant of the Year at the 2026 Ordinary Awards.
The Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association announced the 2026 winners following its Sept. 15 awards ceremony at the Hilton Richmond Hotel & Spa Short Pump. The annual awards recognize standouts across Virginia’s restaurant, lodging and travel industries.
Ada’s opened at Robinson Landing in January 2021, giving Alexandria diners a Potomac River view and a menu built around a custom wood-burning hearth. The restaurant, at 3 Pioneer Mill Way, is named for 19th-century mathematician Ada Lovelace, often credited as one of the world’s first computer programmers.
The Zebra was there when Ada’s first opened. Our 2021 opening story highlighted the restaurant’s waterfront setting, wood-fired steaks and seafood, and portraits of notable women lining the dining room.
Today, Ada’s on the River remains part of Alexandria Restaurant Partners and continues to center its menu on live-fire cooking, steaks, seafood and seasonal dishes.
The Ordinary Awards ceremony is organized by the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association. According to the association’s 2026 event listing, this year’s program included 26 awards honoring individuals and businesses across Virginia’s hospitality sector.
For Alexandria, the Restaurant of the Year honor puts a familiar Old Town waterfront dining room in the statewide spotlight—five years after Ada’s first welcomed guests along the Potomac.
