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.

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.

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 won't soon forget.

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.

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 it's a NO/Never again fro. Me.

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.

WOW! Where does one begin? Well, if you don't 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.

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 😭😭

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 didn't 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.

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!

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

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 I've encountered in a Richmond restaurant. Keep in mind that it's a small storefront, so it's dark and loud inside. They probably wouldn't handle a huge group very well. The street parking can be a little tricky, and it's in the Jackson Ward permit zone, so watch those parking signs.

This was one of the best dining experiences I have had in a good while. My wife and I came in for a New Year's 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.

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 one's lover.

Alright, let's 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. That's a good thing, it means they aren't 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 wasn't for me, but it wasn't 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!

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.

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