501 S Pine St, Richmond, VA 23220, United States
Comfortable restaurant providing homestyle seafood dishes & hearty soups, plus classic desserts.
Amazing atmosphere. The cocktail and wine list worked well with the menu. The fire/smoke used when cooking is thoughtfully incorporated into the menu.
Excellent food. The lady who recommended wine was excellent. Provided us very good option of reds (we had lamb for entree) over wide price range. The one we chose was perfect. Special on menu was roast lamb sourced locally. Was divine. Basque cheesecake is a must try.
Richmond's food scene has really been improving, and you can find hidden gems in the neighborhood that is out of the way. This is a great place if you enjoy seafood and tapas. a lot of anchovy dishes and variety of seafood. it's a bit of over priced but the quality of food is amazing. the service is top notch. the razor clam appetizer taste fresh, just the portion is a little small. my favorite is shrimp , great flavor and the shrimp taste really fresh. the otopus is very tender and mix well with the white beans in the bottom. crab risotto has great flavor just a little bit too salty. the lamb paella can avoid, it's overpowered by the amount of parsley.
I've had two amazing dinners at Adarra. My second time was a few weeks ago for my birthday. They accommodated three of us at the bar since we didn't have a reservation and provided excellent food recommendations. Danny took great care of us and was very attentive. Thanks for an incredible time! You will think about the food for weeks afterwards, you can't go wrong with ordering. We shared a piece of cheesecake there and took 3 to go. Yes, it's that good. Can't wait to go back and try more things.
I’ve been eating mussels since I was in a high-chair, and their evening special easily ranked among my top experiences. The bartender was passionate and attentive, helping me select the perfect wine and sharing stories of foraging for local ingredients for cocktails. The evening culminated perfectly with a slice of Basque cheesecake drizzled with olive oil. Although the shrimp, my original reason for visiting, had run out for the night, I now have the perfect excuse to return. Restaurant Adarra, I adore!
Adarra is a unique place in Richmond in my experience, combining Spanish tinned seafood with a selection of interesting, mostly seafood "dinner" selections. And a well curated wine selection that goes beyond Spain. My party of four had a good time, with the comment " We're coming back real soon" being heard. If you don't like seafood, you'd better pass. If you're looking for a unique dining experience, do consider it. It's downtown, so you do face the usual parking challenges. And they're a small restaurant so take reservations very seriously.
Outstanding food with lots of options. Very shareable plates and that's how you should enjoy it because that way you get to taste all the different flavors. The wine experts are very friendly and know how to cater to what you're looking for. Great cocktail menu too. Atmosphere was quiet, but not too formal. Perfect and casual. The prices were also fine.
A tailored, personal dining experience with some of the tastiest food in RVA. TLDR: If your looking for a unique experience while dining, coupled with a catered personal touch, then this is the place. Premiere menu items developed, explained, served, and paired with drinks by the owners Lyne and her husband. Your table will share the dishes and experience the flavors together. Fair warning: can get costly ($100 per) if you go for everything. Food: I normally go into depth here but I'm going to keep it simple. The chef has some truly amazing dishes here. Flavors are fully developed and expertly prepared. Egg yolk with mushroom, shrimp, iberico ham, and squid in ink were our favorite. Lyne will go into wonderful depth and detail about each dish, where it's sourced, and what to expect. That's part of the joy of eating here. Drinks: Hand selected wine choices by the owners (both certified sommeliers) pair wonderfully. The bar makes very, very good cocktails. Selections are high end. Atmosphere: A small, quaint, personal dining experience. I had the sense of being treated to a special dinner with friends, curated by the owners. Really enjoyed it.
Such a wonderful place! Beautiful inside and the owners are really terrific! I look forward to returning.
This has been a long time favorite as it never disappoints. Tin finned, amazing wine selected by owner/sommeliers and other amazing selections that make this a must stop
Went here for anniversary. Highly recommend. The ambience was fun and elegant, but far from stuffy. More modern if you will Turly enjoyed that aspect of it. The food: A+. We chose six items (smaller plates) based off our tastes and the waiters recos. They took care of the rest. The food was brought out in waves, with a full description of each course and how to best enjoy it. This was truly a fun experience for anyone that appreciates high quality food and recognizes the passion that chefs can have for their food!!! New placeholder for our number 1 restaurant in Richmond. Keep it up guys - Will be back next month
Very pretty
Excellent food and wine pairings, cant be beat. Keep going back!
This whole review could be dedicated to the atmosphere, but that would do a disservice to the rest of the experience. Top level service, comfortable but classy vibe, and wonderful food. Each dish was nuanced, layered with flavor and texture. The crab cakes were indeed all crab, and octopus was amazing. Basque Cheescake in desert Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Atmosphere: 5/5
Spectacular. Definitely a sometimes thing for us but well be back. If you get the chance to try the lamb roulade special, treat yourself.
Definitely planning to come back. The seafood was great!
Terrible place that had no one in there, and yet they cannot seat a party.
It never disappoints. The amazing flavor mixes and spices are perfect combinations. We had the beans with octopus - the octopus was as tender as the beans - how is that possible. Topped off with a wonderful glass of wine for a great date night!!
I love this restaurant so much. The food/drink, and service is always wonderful and leaves me feeling very satisfied! I have had several fabulous dinners here and I am always impressed by their creative menu. Wonderful service and experience everytime.
This place is truly exceptional. It is my favorite restaurant in Richmond right now. I highly recommend it.
Delicious food and great wine selection! Will be back :)
Five stars across the board!!! The staffs attention to detail with the food and the drinks did not go unnoticed. If anyone is looking for a great date night, this is the place to go. Cant wait to go back!
I would give it a 3.5, but will round up to 4. Some things were really quite excellent, other things not so good. Conservas: Had one of the clam dishes and one of the calamari. Clams were fantastic, squid was not for me. The squid was unusual -- it was in a spiced tomato sauce -- so dont want to say that it was bad, but Im a pretty adventurous eater and really couldnt stomach it. Mushroom Gnocchi: This was incredibly tasty. But as others have noted, it was about 90% mushrooms and 10% gnocchi. Pretty bizarre, in my opinion. But again, very good tasting. Cheese and crackers: I think it was $19 for cheese and crackers. The cheeses were nice, but the crackers were legit stale basic boxed crackers. Not even the nice Costco crackers. Would have though that for $19 they would have had either house-baked crackers or some other type of nice cracker. Overall, the service and ambience were very nice. The food is quite unusual I think, so this wont be for everyone. But Im happy that I went and think its worth checking out (except for the crackers).
My friend and I visited around 7:30pm on a Thursday. Earlier we called and were told that the place was booked and we could not reserve a table, but we were free to sit at the bar first on a come first served basis. For a restaurant in the middle of Jackson Ward, the place is quite pricey. The bartender was cordial, but was not overly friendly. He asked us if we wanted sparkling water. We did. Seeing that we were the only black people in the place and this was our hood you would think that he would have really spread it on thick so that we would tell our friends and spread the word. We explained that this was our first visit (duh) and he explained that the menu was meant to be shared. Basically, each item was just what it said, no side dishes, just the protein unless stated otherwise. He suggested the special of lamb stew, and we almost got it until we asked the price. Once we found out that it was $50, we declined. We ended up ordering a cheese plate and glass of wine each. We watched the bartender go to the kitchen and share HIS thoughts with the chef or someone who was doing the cooking. They both looked over and smiled at each other. (Hmmm...) The cheese plate arrived delivered and explained by someone else???? from the kitchen (Hmmm...) There were 3 types of cheese (very small portions), 2 small cups with even smaller amounts of honey and jam each, and roughly 8-10 crackers. Although the cheese portions were small, 4-5 crackers per person was not enough. I asked for additional crackers, but stopped the bartender as I saw that he was ringing us up for the additional water crackers (Hmmm...) He asked if we were okay about 5 minutes into our meal/snack, but ignored us the rest of the time after realizing that we were not ordering any further. Once we received the check of $69 (for bottled water:$10, a cheese plate:$19, a glass of white:$14, and a glass of red $18), we were over it. The place is beautiful and the ambiance is nice, bit its a NO/Never again fro. Me. Parking: On street.
Quite possibly one of the best and most unique dining experiences I ve had in Richmond. All of the dishes were thoughtfully and artfully prepared, with flavors that complemented each other perfectly (many dishes you won t see on menus anywhere else). The service was also impeccable and the wine was perfectly paired with the tapas. Highly recommend!
Amazing seafood!
One of the most unique dining experiences here in Richmond.
This was one of the best dining experiences I have had in a good while. My wife and I came in for a New Years Eve-Eve Dinner and were able to sit at the bar. Vinny, the bartender, was able to describe all of the options beautifully and gave wonderful recommendations. We had several different courses, including a few special dishes, and everything was delicious. The Rabbit Gnocchi is one of their signatures and it was one of the best dishes I have had. The Wine that Vinny paired with it helped to bring out all of the nuances in flavor and made for a perfect tasting experience.
Best restaurant in Richmond
Some of the best food I ve had in RVA, cozy atmosphere and phenomenal staff. I love Spanish canned seafoods, and the way the clams + chips and sardines + butter, toast, mustard were served at Adarra really elevated the experience. The mussels in a buttery herby saffron broth was splendid but the charred octopus over white beans and the rabbit gnocchi stopped my heart. The soft, creamy octopus with a crispy charred exterior was like falling in love all over again. You will want to order extra bread to wipe the bowl clean. The rabbit mushroom gnocchi was a simple dish expertly prepared. The mushrooms weren t rubbery, the gnocchi were light fluffy pillows, and the rabbit was tender and flavorful. Feeling fortunate to have such fabulous eatery in town. Can t wait to go back for more and explore more of their menu.
This is a literal slice of heaven. One of the most underrated places in Richmond, Va. My husband and I travel to DC frequently to eat at Michelin star rated restaurants, this place is better!! 65,000/10 this place is outstanding. The owners are humble and grateful. Everyone who loves food should dine here!
The best atmosphere, food, drinks. Absolutely amazing.
The food was good and the service was fine, but we felt our experience didn t really fit the higher price tag. They were out of jamón pata negra which we wished they d mentioned at the start so we could have planned the meal a little differently . There was a lamb special that we really enjoyed but were surprised that it had a $40+ tag when everything else on the menu was under $25 and averaged closer to the $20 mark. Based on the reviews online and from friends we may have hit them/our server on an off evening but with so many great Richmond restaurants I don t know if we d venture over again.
WOW! Where does one begin? Well, if you dont have the money to travel to the Basque country of Spain, go to Adarra for an authentic taste of this land in the western Pyrenees. My companion and I opened the restaurant. Line (sp), one of the owners, greeted us and sat us by the window. To start, I had the martini cocktail and Molly a Scotch old fashioned. The bartender has skills! Line then explained that the menu is mainly small plates. A few meat offerings, but this is seafood at its optimal. All their fish is sourced from Galicia in the northwest corner of Spain. The plates are really enough for two. We had the two sardine plates, one spicey, the other not. We also had cockles (Cockles and mussels, alive, alive oh). First time. Sweet little clam-like things in an amazing broth. All the dishes came in their own unique sauce. Next, delicious spices prawns, and the pièce de résistance, smoked mussels thinly sliced in the most delectable sauce. To go with this Line suggested a bottle of white from that area. Perfect pairing. It is a small, intimate, cozy beautiful space. Well worth the trip to Jackson Ward.
Delicious!! Try the roasted octopus and whatever wine they tell you to get!
Lovely restaurant, great service, enjoyed all the dishes immensely
Good atmosphere, poor food.
Updated: This is my second time. The first time was May 20, 2022 and I gave a 5 star and a rave review. I went back on April 28, 2023 and would not go back again. We were seated near the door and anyone coming in blew in the air onto our table. That plus the state police were harassing people on the street and we were treated to several rounds of flashing lights. We had three different servers. The first one was totally indifferent. The second was much better but so busy we didnt see him much. I went there to celebrate my brothers birthday (70) and wanted them to put a candle on a desert. We waited over 25 minutes for the desert. I would have gotten up and left if it wasnt for the fact that I wanted to recognize his birthday. Earlier we had an issue with the butter. My brother wanted butter for the bread and when he asked for it Lyne (the co-owner) shouted out, sure you can have it but it will cost an extra 4. I was mortified since I was paying for it and I didnt want my brother to worry about the costs. I quickly said yes. Then my brother realized that he could have sopped up the juice/gravy from the dishes instead of using butter. After we hung around waiting for ages for the desert, he finally went up to Lyne to chat about how he shouldnt have ordered the butter since he could have just sopped it up. Lyne told him he better sit down since his desert was finally ready, which she then brought over (no idea why our second waiter did not). We ordered ham, shrimp, gnocchi and lamb shank. The gnocchi was $24 which last year was rabbit and gnocchi and therefore I thought the price was fair. This time, mushrooms and gnocchi, really $24; way overpriced. The lamb shank was excellent because those guys can cook. The owners bought Mamma Zus building and are moving their restaurant there. Hopefully they can get back to where they were a year ago when I last visited and gave them rave reviews. To top it off the parking in the area is bad. I parked where everyone else parked and came back to a parking ticket for a tow away zone. Got to love RVA. _____________ Previous review Went to this place on May 20. Hands down the BEST restaurant in Richmond. Everything was flawless. Highly, highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a Michelin star experience (even tho it is not a Michelin restaurant). I just cant say enough about how great this place is. To me it beats LOpossum, Stellas, Alewife, Grisette, The Roosevelt, Lillie Pearl, Lemaire, Bookbinders Seafood, Maple & Pine etc, etc - in short all the top restaurants in RVA
A dining experience. Friendly service and very interesting menu of small plates to share.
Owners did an incredible job capturing the essence of Spanish/Portuguese dining. The flavors and dishes are fantastic. The owner s infectious love of wine elevated the experience. She absolutely nailed the pick. We can t wait to come back.
Stellar cuisine, lovely service, and relaxed but chic ambiance! Great spot to try something you think you might not like and then be very surprised. I appreciate their wine recommendations and think the Basque cheesecake is not to be missed. Thankful for this place!
Had a wonderful time. Stunning cocktails and immaculate food
What an exquisite culinary experience! Dined at Adarra with two girlfriends for our monthly get together. We were blown away by the exotic and exciting wines. No need to look at the wine list, let your server describe them. Chris so eloquently enchanted us with each bottle we were tempted to try them all. The food was delectable. Each dish was complete with its own unique sauce that required extra bread for soaking up every last drop. We loved the pulpo with white beans, all of the specials including the snails and chorizo, zucchini, gnocci, shrimp, olives and Dessert of sponge cake and basque cheesecake. Everything about a Adarra was remarkable in our book!
Went in for a cocktail, ended up staying 3 hours and ordering 5 plates talking to the owners and staff. Everyone was super down to earth, and the food was spectacular, I recommend the razor clams!! What a great place with awesome drinks, food, and service. Definitely will be back to Restaurant Adarra. Check it out RVA peeps.
Great place
Lovely little place for a date night or small group dinner! Adarra is a small plates restaurant, mostly tapas and conservas (tinned seafood) and a big focus on wine. We ordered for the table and the kitchen coursed it out. All of our orders were excellent, and as a mushroom lover I would especially highlight the gnocchi with ricotta and mushrooms and the lamb guiso. Ask your server to help you with a wine pairing (and with picking from the menu!) as they were the most knowledgeable servers Ive encountered in a Richmond restaurant. Keep in mind that its a small storefront, so its dark and loud inside. They probably wouldnt handle a huge group very well. The street parking can be a little tricky, and its in the Jackson Ward permit zone, so watch those parking signs. Dietary restrictions: The servers are very good about asking, and are very knowledgeable about what is in each dish.
My favorite restaurant in Richmond. I have to stop in every time Im in town. Delicious, welcoming, comfortable. Cant recommend highly enough.
I loved dining at Adarra thanks to its perfectly curated menu of small plates. But I nearly knocked a star off for the lack of ease in contacting the restaurant - emails kicked back as undeliverable, and then phone calls went unanswered until thirty minutes before we hoped to dine. When I finally got ahold of someone, they assured me there was seating available and to come on in - but when we arrived, the host was icy and didnt seem like she wanted to seat us at any of the open table or barstools (which were never filled). It was all a bit odd, but thankfully delicious Moral of the story - know that you want to eat here in advance and book a reservation, I guess.
It was a wonderful meal, with outstanding service and great food choice suggestions. Liked it so much, I made a return reservation.
Expertly prepared and delicious food, an extremely knowledgeable and professional bartender and welcoming; what else do you want? My wife and I had a great evening and new dishes.
Amazing. Full stop.
My husband and I experienced covert racism at this establishment. Did not feel welcomed, although we made a reservation at 6:45pm, which we arrived early, we were made to stand at the front entrance way past our reservation time. We were denied seating at the bar even though multiple spots were vacant TWICE. The woman who works there (possibly management) came over to us after we were denied seating twice and told my husband and I verbatim you guys can sit at the bar but you have to get up at like 7:15pm, I just dont want anyone to get PISSY with me or anything. Turned off by this weird interaction, my husband and I stated that we would rather stand. A few minutes later the same lady sat an older white couple in those same bar seats they denied us. We overheard later that the white couple was not apart of the bar seating reservation and nothing was done about it. Once we finally were allowed to sit at the bar, the bartender did not even offer us a menu. We left without eating. I rather spend my money at another establishment that treats us well and values our patronage. Trash service. Disgusting and low-brow. If you are Black, Asian or any other ethnicity than White, dont eat here, dont spend your money here.
Small plates. Some tastier than others. The gnocchi and lamb was the best. Great cozy atmosphere.
Overpriced with uninspired service. Weve been a handful of times and it just doesnt live up to the high prices. Cocktails are weak, conservas are OK but expensive for canned fish, and the mains are very overpriced. $38 gets you a *very* small (but delicious) bowl of about 6 small gnocchi, some mushrooms, and a few chunks of lamb. Another previous visit we paid almost $50 for a dish that was basically just a seafood broth risotto. Service is also slow, and the music is strange and off-putting. It sounded like the music from a documentary on ancient Egypt. On the plus side, the Basque cheesecake is good, so theres that. Also, youll want bread to fill up since portions are small, but beware, every little bowl of bread is $5 extra...
Amazing restaurant, every plate was like a work of art. Great service as well.
honestly, the best restaurant in town. really incredible, fun, impressive, thoughtful wine list. service is great. get whatever the specials are + the seasonal rice dish.
having left rva many years ago, i was pleased to see a basque restaurant with natty wines. clam herb soup was so delicious w great bread and chorizo. YUM.
Perfect. Exceptional. It lives up to the 5 star review.
Went there without a reservation: ordinarily would have tried to make one but it was a last minute decision to go out. I d recommend one. Sat at the bar for our date night. Amazing experience. Food was very unique in options and taste. Cocktails were some of the best I ve had in RVA. Bartender was professional and answered my numerous questions. I was especially surprised and intrigued by their curated liquor selection. I d especially recommend the razor clam dish on the appetizer menu. Very much an underrated restaurant in RVA. Street parking wasn t difficult to find. Danny, the bartender was great. Ambiance was lovely. Thank you!
Vegetarian options: There was very little on the menu for a vegetarian to commit to. Food
Oh please stop the nonsense with these glowing reviews. Much like Longoven, the owners and staff have hoodwinked Richmonders into being awed by this overpriced, overblown experience. The waitstaff is quite officious: The Chef will recommend, the Chef will decide.... Ive been to Spain only 8 times. Im no expert but do know a few things. The waiter corrected my pronunciation of Cordoba. I actually do know the correct pronunciation but do not use it in the US. Nor do I pronounce Modena such as native son Pavarotti would, for the simple reason that most Americans would not know what Im talking about. Oddly same *expert* waiter back pedaled when I asked specifics about the Chefs credentials, especially his Basque cooking experience. Giving some vague few words that he had lived in New Orleans and previously owned some, now defunct Italian eatery in Richmond. Hmmmmm We had a good wine, priced somewhat fairly. But food was not good, at all.... The co owner balked when we ordered only 4 food items to start. We didnt even finish that as it was unpalatable, completely... Possibly some tinned fish is good, we certainly tried much better options in Portugal, and also Spain.. This was anything but. In addition, meager cheese portions served with dry, tasteless crackers? No thanks. Paltry portion of charred octopus. Ugggh $200 spent and left having consumed mostly bread and wine... Though the atmosphere was quite nice. Last note: I wonder if same waiter when hearing of someones travels to Venice, Florence and Munich; corrects them with Venezia, Firenze and Munchen? Heh, heh, heh
Nestled in historic Jackson Ward, this restaurant exudes an elegant ambiance. From the impeccable service to the artfully presented dishes, each element contributes to an exquisite dining experience. The menu, a symphony of flavors, showcases a culinary mastery that transcends expectations. A haven for those seeking refined gastronomy, this establishment seamlessly marries opulence with a tasteful dining atmosphere.
Had a tremendous meal and service experience. First time there for most of us. Great variety of small plates were shared with our 6 person party. I highly recommend and would love to return next time I visit Richmond.
Adarra was a dreamy, romantic venue for a date night. The dark accents, sultry music, and low lighting made us feel transported out of Richmond and into a moody clubhouse or lounge. The dishes were very unique and adventurous (and mostly seafood), and we were wowed by most everything we ordered. The server gave us helpful guidance and described dishes in a way that lifted them off the page and helped us make choices. I adored the cheese plate which came with a delicious pumpkin purée and local honey, the lamb gnocchi with mushrooms which was earthy and balanced, and the coconut panna cotta which was light and floral and gently topped with a crunch of hazelnuts. The only downsides were that the bill really adds up, even for upscale dining, and it can get crowded in the closed quarters.
One of the most flavorful small plates oriented restaurants in Richmond.
Restaurant Adarra continues to knock it out of the park. This was about my fourth time here, this time for my wedding anniversary. I have consistently had one of the best meals in Richmond at this spot. They have one of the coolest food menus in town. It s a smaller plate, tapas-sharing style. The staff was knowledgeable and helpful with our selections. The chef/somm/owner recommended a phenomenal wine bottle in our price range to go with our meal. Then his wife/front of house/owner gifted us glass of cava to keep the celebration going. Great night. They are a smaller operation- if you have to wait a minute, be patient. It s worth it. Would also love to come back just for drinks/snacks and sit at the bar.
My husband and I ate here tonight while visiting Richmond. It was fabulous! The jamon, almonds, sardines were so good and the last dish (stuffed squid) was one of the best dishes I ve ever had. We highly recommend this place. The staff was so kind and the owner personally took care of us and told us the story of how the restaurant came to be. We loved it!
I m European , and have been in Spain several times, This was one of the worst restaurant experience ever. The crock led, mussels and sardine was straight out of the can and super SANDY! We couldn t even eat it. We almost walked out, but felt bad honestly , we should have paella (guiso) was horrible soup y , and just bunch of overcooked rice. Sorry- NEVER AGAIN ;(( See picture- paella (guido) = rice soup
A truly amazing experience.... Creative, beautiful, diverse dishes prepared beyond perfectly... A staff and service experience that was somehow both incredibly elegant and sincerely warm and engaging... The best gin and tonic ever... We have been lucky in life to eat at many amazing places, yet only a handful are really memorable. This is absolutely one of those! All we can say is THANK YOU to the chef and staff for a meal and experience we wont soon forget.
One of the best restaurants in Richmond.
I think this might just be the best restaurant in the city. Food perfect, wine list perfect, service perfect, decor and furnishings perfect.
We ve been to Adarra multiple times. Amazing food, drinks and service. Top 3 restaurant in RVA.
Beautiful space, great selection of wine and cocktails, and fresh, delicious, thoughtfully prepared food.
Probably Richmond s most wonderful restaurant. Cozy and welcoming, with exceptional food not found elsewhere and great service!
relaxed vibe with engaging but not obtrusive service team...menu seemed mezze style, which is up my alley, and everything was delicious. and if noise bothers you, its got good energy, but not to the point where you cant hear the person youre talking to
Parking: CAREFUL WHERE YOU CHOOSE TO PARK. TICKET AND TOWING ENFORCEMENT
Great Restaurant parking is limited and fills up quick only complaint
I live around the corner and tried this place for the first time after hearing so many friends talk about how incredible it was and it lived up to the hype! Everything was delicious and the staff was super friendly. We got the mussels and rabbit gnocchi and both were absolutely to die for. The flavors blended so well in the dishes and it was one of the best meals I ve had in a long time. 10/10
Great food and staff
super atmosphere, excellent service, all divine tapas, only the octopus a little tough but rich in flavor.
I dont know if I can put into words how great of an experience this was. Our waitress/one of the owners was so knowledgeable in selecting wine and food for us. We let her take the reigns and she ordered 5 small plates for us. Everything we had was amazing and bursting with flavor. We started with Pintxos Gildas, and a frize salad (on special that night). We then had the mussels, Tuna Conserva, and the octopus stew (my favorite). We ended with bay leaf and cardamom infused ice cream, which was also incredible. I cant recommend this place enough! Thank you Lyne!
The Basque region tapas were excellent and so was the service. We ordered a Basque region white wine, which paired well with our seafood selections. We had tuna belly, razor clams, squid in black ink, and shrimp, all delicious. Served with small toasted bread slices. Lovely, cozy ambience. Great place to romance ones lover.
Alright, lets start at the top. Five stars to me means the restaurant did it all right. Service, food, silverware, glassware. I have rated two places a five/five this year. I eat out three nights a week with work all over NC/VA. This place was great! Half the menu is specials and is of limited quantity. Thats a good thing, it means they arent just thawing you some chicken nuggets! I had three different seafood tapas - razor clams, octopus, and stuffed squid. My only complaint was they were too hot temperature wise and I had to smell them while waiting until I could eat them. Back of house/front of house coordination was great. I eat alone and often am rushed. They paced very well and nothing died on the pass. Front of house managed drinks and service expertly. After three magnificent dishes I tempted dessert. Unfortunately, the cheesecake wasnt for me, but it wasnt an err on the restaurant, just personal taste. I will return when next I pass through Richmond!
Beautiful space which is intimate with great lighting and tables spaced for a cozy, yet private feel. Every dish was prepared with care and nothing repeated itself - throughout our meal there were different flavors and textures and cooking methods. The cocktails were exceptional and the wine which was recommended was also stellar. The service was also exceptional - attentive and informative and allowed the meal to progress at a comfortable pace. I highly recommend enjoying a meal here, especially if you can do it was a group of 4 so that you can try more dishes. I had heard wonderful things about Adarra for quite sometime and it lived up to and exceeded all of my expectations!
Food and service were excellent. Room can get a little loud. Loved the variety of small and medium plates.
I personally love when great service, food, atmosphere, and cocktails meet and that is what your have at Adarra. The menu felt purposely limited and immaculately executed. I highly recommend
Adarra is a great restaurant. Having lived four years in Spain, I was looking for a great tapas place here in VA and was definitely not disappointed by the food nor the elixirs. The lamb specials were especially good. The only reason for four stars was the service. We stood for about 5 mins at the front of the restaurant before anyone greeted us and it took about 15 minutes once seated to get a waiter over to take our drinks. Otherwise though, wonderful experience.
Was a good place
Book a table, try all the Conservas you can, the excellent staff can help you pair them with reasonably priced wine and cheese, if you wish. This is THE PLACE.
The restaurant and food are beautiful however the female owner lacks any remote level of customer service. She has not been able to master controlling the weather and left us to eat outside in frigid temperatures even though the inside seating was empty. Her condescending demeanor and lack of caring was downright malicious as if she enjoyed the fact that we were cold and even laughed multiple times. The restaurant also refused to light 3 of the 4 heaters on the patio to conserve propane while we dined in 38 degree weather with no tent. Additionally we were offered zero seating or shelter while waiting for an Uber after quickly finishing a small plate. When asked about the empty restaurant she said it was out of her control .
I am Basque and this place is an insult to all Basques. The food is not Basque, there is no one in the restaurant who is or speaks Basque or knows about Basque cooking and even the name Adarra is not Basque. It has been a long time since I walkout of a restaurant, but we were a party of 6 and we all agreed the food was terrible, usually straight out of a can and the portions were small and expensive. We determined it would cost us at least $600 in appetizers and food to suppress our hunger and much more to satiate our appetite. This place maybe fine if you are out for drinks and just want a few appetizers and do not care that the food is not Basque. Is there anyone there with the courage to tell the truth that this place is terrible or maybe you just do not know what is bad.
Phenomenal meal and experience. Pinxtos Gilda, Jamon Iberico and Shrimp were particularly incredible.
Great food and service
One of the most authentic restaurant Ive been to in the United States. This was an Iberian fare experience beyond expectations! The owners are a dynamic duo that deliver the highest standard of food, wine and service. I cannot wait to return.
Had an amazing dinner here with a friend last weekend. Had a delicious cocktail (something with strawberry puree get it!), a great bottle of wine, and amazing food. The service and atmosphere were fabulous. Please ignore the negative reviews about service! It was quite busy when we were there and the service was still excellent. Can t wait to go back!
I would die for adarra
Just incredible. Service, drinks, food, it was all fantastic.
Delicious food presented beautifully. Cocktails are creative and oh so good! Great service and beautiful decor. I have been here twice already and can t wait to go back.
Some really good hits (dessert, gnocchi) but honestly not as full of a menu as I thought it would be
Five stars for the food -- this is some of the best food weve had in a while! If there is lamb belly for the special, go for it. Everything we ordered was exceptionally flavored. We ordered 2 pickled dishes, 4 plates and 1 conserva. With the exception of 1 dish, everything was large enough to share between 2 people and feel full at the end. The only thing we would change about our meal was the order that we chose the dishes -- interspersing the pickled dishes would have been better to cut through some of the richer flavors. Everything also seemed very reasonably priced given the quality of the meal. Four stars for the cocktails. It seems like more of a wine forward restaurant so that could be why. Two of my partners drinks ordered from the menu tasted too strongly of just one alcohol rather than a mix of flavors. However, he talked to the bartender and received two off-menu cocktails which were great.
We had a table of six. We were given helpful guidance by our fabulous server. He had to reign us in from ordering too much so we had just the right amount. The food was delicious. The mushroom dish was simple and perfect! Everything was fantastic. I meant rein us in. We are not royalty but they treated us that way.
Great food, awesome drinks, friendly staff, and a delightful owner! I can t believe it took me this long to get a meal here. Everything from the octopus to the squid to the squash was excellent. Book your reservation in advance, it s well worth it.
Amazing food, thoughtfully prepared!
Excellent meal and service. The duck stew was awesome. Fantastic wines by the glass
Ditto all of the above. Plus dont forget the basque hard cider on tap. Perfect accompaniment.
Basque-spanish tapas restaurant run by a wife and husband team. People who care about the food they are preparing and about the guests they are serving. Great bar too.
I think they only give you bread to prevent patrons from licking the plates. It is amazing food, charming staff, and a cozy atmosphere. Loved it.
The worst part of living in Richmond is having so many elite-tier restaurants to choose from. Adarra is absolutely in the upper-echelon of the Richmond restaurant world and the thoughtfulness, quality and service together (the delicious food is a given) will keep me coming back for a long time.
Delicious food, albeit small servings. Great atmosphere, and very friendly staff. Sit at the bar for a lovely show-- order their drink!
Phenomenal service by Jake and great flavors by the kitchen staff.
Amazing cocktails. Seriously great bartender (probably the best in Richmond). Great food. Cozy vibe. Favorite bar in RVA!
Excellent menu. The chef has a great grasp of his wine list and did a great job pairing up our order with a few great selections! Highly recommend!
We had an excellent dinner at Restaurant Adarra. The menu is made up of small plates that can be shared. This is great as it allows you to try multiple things from the menu. We had a group of four and got to sample a pretty good portion of the dishes. The flavors were amazing and everything was pretty good. The skate and rabbit really stood out in particular. While I was extremely pleased with the food, the cocktails were possibly even more impressive. The Little Italy was my favorite, by far, but I would highly recommend talking to the bartender about what kinds of things you like and then letting him come up with a concoction based upon those preferences. I tried a few different things and liked them all. the bartender was very knowledgeable and seemed to be able to get a good feel of what I would enjoy. The restaurant is very small, so reservations might be hard to come by, especially on short notice. This isnt usually an issue for us as we enjoy sitting at the bar. However, the night we were there, they were giving out the corner section of the bar as a reservation. This really cuts down on the number of bar seats available for walk-ups and was an unwelcome surprise. Definitely not a deal-breaker, but something to be aware of if you cant get a reservation and it looks like there might be space at the bar. Overall, we had a great time and would definitely return.
Amazing food with great service & atmosphere
We enjoyed food, drinks and atmosphere. One of the best places in Richmond. My friend said It was the best meal I have ever had in the city of Richmond. If you are a mushroom lover get the gnocchi with mushrooms, as it should be called mushrooms with gnocchi. I could taste the individual flavor of each species of mushroom. My cocktail was so good that it actually complemented the food. We had a great warm chicory salad. The broth was awesome, there was the nice touch of roasted almonds. Prosciutto very flavorful, bread so good, and this wonderful olive, anchovy pinchos with dry sherry should have never ended. The espresso was passable. The icecream really was close to out of this world. Finished with a cognac...well we have had better. Great wine selection. FOR RICHMOND ITS 5 STARS!!!
Great cocktails and tapas style food. But pricey but worth it for a special date night
Went with a friend who had been before. Blown. Away. I ll never share the skate again. The gnocchi was incredible and I don t even like gnocchi. Bravo
World traveler. One of the best places I ve ever shared a meal and drinks.
Super food, great decor and atmosphere. Staff and owners were friendly and great. One of the best in Richmond. Can t recommend enough! Will be back for sure.
I love tapas, love small plates, and love sharing good food. The food here is tasty, but kind of one note. Everything seems to have the same flavor/seasonings/vegetables. But overall tasty dishes. The portions are small compared to the price so dont come hungry unless youre willing to spend some $. There is no tea or soda, so we who dont drink alcohol have to buy expensive mocktails , or drink water. Hmmm...probably not going back but try it once and see!
Experience: Home-run both time we were there. Located in Jackson ward, close to the art infused neighborhoods along W Broad St, Restaurant Adarra feels like a house on the street that happens to serve food. It s presence highlighting the sense of community that you see in many places around Richmond (think Sub Rosa on Churchill). On the eye: Being Basque-inspired meant some of the menus are tapa-like in smaller bowls and plates that forms a picture of adventure, bringing delight for the diner. Colors are never dull nor added without purpose, most distinct would be the different peppers and beans. Taste: labeled as Modern European, it shakes off any potential New American branding in its carefully curated dishes crafting flavors that are unique to the region and yet carries with it an air of creativity. Many bringing out wonderful flavors without being stingy on the portion, allowing you to taste and fully enjoy each plate. Drinks: Cava is the champagne of the land and it s presence is indicative of their priority a drink menu focused on imports from Spain that draws a great authentic undertone for the meal. Service: The service were casual yet confident. On both visits we were impressed by the knowledge of the server with both the food and drink menus. It s hard to miss their pride in the restaurant and all that it provides. Definitely a gem in Richmond.
Excellent food, service and atmosphere.
Creative, authentic, comfortable, wonderful.
Celebrated a birthday dinner on a Saturday night. Our meal was excellent, more enjoyable while sharing. Service was slightly under expectations, and just shy of attentive. It took a good 10 minutes before a server approached us for drink orders and also rambled unintelligibly though the specials, my partner had to ask for a refill of a beverage twice, and it was noticeable that regular patrons received a ton of attention but the rest of us not so much. But generally, we had a good experience.
Reminds me of eating in Barcelona. Will definitely return!
Great food, great service, great ambiance. Definitely coming back here again and again.
I was here for the first time tonight everything was amazing cant wait to go back again
Such a great experience! From the wine and cocktails to the warm welcoming atmosphere this place is a new favorite! The food was unlike any I have had in Richmond before. The stuffed squid was out of this world. Highly recommend!
Good dining experience. Small cozy place with great food and service. Gnocchi was the star.
Booked on friends recommendation. We ended up eating at the bar and through enjoyed ourselves. The food and drinks were amazing and the staff were friendly, knowledgeable, and great!
Friendly staff. Great food. Cozy atmosphere. Eclectic wine list. Go for the Dealers Choice cocktails, you ll be pleasantly surprised!
Good addition to the RVA restaurant scene. Menu is somewhat limited so dont expect the typical choices. The cocktails were fabulous..you get to choose adjectives (smokey, earthy, etc.) for what you want and the very good bartender will make it. However, the price for using brand name liquor was $18 per cocktail...okay for NYC but not RVA. You may want to specify you want the $12 version.
Phenomenal new spot in Jackson ward. Every dish was delicious
Went to the dry run at Restaurant Adarra. Food was delicious, super savory and rustic. We had the fresh shaved Iberico, Octopus Stew, Basque Risotto with smoky Idiazabal sheep cheese, and Olive Oil Cake with Smoked Hickory Ice Cream. They have Dealers Choice cocktails where you provide your spirit and a couple of descriptors. I choose Bourbon, Citrus, and Floral. Carey choose Tequila, Spicy, and Fruity. Wine list
We had a great evening! Well informed staff very helpful with their unique wines. All the food was fire! See y all again soon!
There wine are the best, and their cocktails it gives me a headache.. by the way that was a fun night.
Not recommend, faimly members walked out ! Will try again maybe an off night !
If only they hadnt asked us to move our seats halfway through our meal. Just put a huge damper on dinner and we will not be returning. Food was good but way too many other places to eat.
Chef Doetzer never disappoints. You cant go wrong with anything on the menu. Make sure to ask for the perfect wine for pairing
Very interesting and delicious small plates, mostly foods I dont have or make at home often (when we went we had skate, octopus escargot and the gnocchi, I want to go back to try the rabbit leg). The wine selection is also unusual, but they do an excellent job selecting wines you will likely enjoy based on the meal and your own description of what you like in a wine. Its in the former rogue gentelman space, which Ill miss, but I have to say Adarra is a step up from the former, and should have some staying power. Cheers to Adarra....
Simply incredible! Our dearly departed chef from Nota Bene (and his absurdly charming, sommelier wife) has his own place, and the gloves are off. Some of the best food youll find in the RVA, regardless of cuisine. Food, drink, service, and music are all on point.
Great experience! Crafted cocktails, different (and very good) wine list, delicious food with great flavor combinations. Loved the whole meal, especially the dessert of polenta cake with pecan smoked ice cream...wow! Attentive service! Highly recommend!
Just wow! I didnt know what to expect when this place opened up in the old Rogue Gentleman spot but I was very pleasantly surprised. The bartender served us and he was very informative and friendly. The food was among the best Ive had in Richmond. Its unique not-quite small plates haha. They are meant to share but not quite as small as a tapas portion. We got the skate, the venison tartare, the rabbit and the chicories. That was likely one dish too many for two people but all were fantastic. We left stuffed. I cant wait to go back and try their other dishes.
I ve been here 2x now and it s about to be a 3rd. Let me put it this way - I cancelled reservations at Brenners Pass (also good and have been there multiple times) to come here for my significant other s birthday. The food is absolutely delightful and mouth pleasing. The ambiance and personnel? Just the icing on the cake. No personal ties to this place just truly enjoy everything they bring to the table. Pun intended.
Wonderfully intimate boite with amazing food and delightful service. The wine list is beyond compare. Photo is of seasonal softshells topped with shaved fennel. Wow!
The interior decor and styling here offer a very charming and welcoming space to enjoy and share great food with friends. The bartender staff as well as the owners are so friendly and welcoming. Dont miss the impressive cocktail and wine selections!
Rotating unique menu with fabulous small plates. Perfect date spot
Best restaurant in Richmond.
Great little place! The patio was great and so was the food!
A top 5 Richmond restaurant. Always delicious. Make sure to order the shrimp.
A great and unique dining experience in RVA, which is saying quite a bit. My wife and I ordered four small plates to share. Ebery single plate was delicious and adventurous. The selection of cheeses on the cheese plate was great too.
Amazing. Incredible cocktails, flavors, preparation and service. Love Tapas, so many great plates without feeling stuffed! Can t wait to go back.
Oh my goodness! My new favorite restaurant!
The locally sourced organic vegetable dishes are a not to be missed highlight.
World class restaurant!
Menu offers food you will not find just in any other restaurant. Appetizers are exquisite and splendid. Food, menu and service are excellent. The background music is the best in Richmond by far. I will definitely visit Adarra as many times as I visit Richmond.
One of the best meals Ive had in a while. Highly suggest.
Thoughtful and well-executed menu as well as great service and cocktails.