With its Basque-inspired pintxos, a clever cocktail program and a Spanish-leaning natural and biodynamic wine list, at Restaurant Adarra, you might think you were sitting in a little Basque village instead of Richmond’s Jackson Ward neighborhood. Using the framework of true Basque cuisine with local Virginia ingredients, the menu is packed with small plates with big flavor like cured meats, marinated boquerones, roasted octopus, smoked mussels, shrimp al ajillo and lamb gnocchi.

While Richmond has many restaurants that celebrate international cuisines with a Southern twist, Adarra’s cozy dining room in Jackson Ward can truly make guests feel as if they are transported to Spain. Named after a mountain south of San Sebastian in the country’s Basque region, husband-and-wife team Randall and Lyne Doetzer delight Adarra’s diners with Pintxos Gildas (pickled peppers skewered with anchovies and green olives), Jamón Pata Negra (42-month aged Iberian ham), and Navajas al Natural (razor clams served in an irresistible smoked butter). The wine program focuses on natural and organic vineyards and the front-of-house team is always eager to share their favorite bottles with curious patrons.

Places like India K'Raja with the Region's largest selection of Indian beers; Lemaire, named the country’s 7th best hotel restaurant; and Restaurant Adarra, one of Esquire’s Best New Restaurants in America. Sub Rosa Bakery, Mekong, Mama J’s Kitchen, L’Opossum, Peter Chang, Metzger Bar and Butchery, The Roosevelt, and Brenner Pass – they’re all James Beard Award nominated restaurants serving up one-of-a-kind experiences. In this flavored-packed region, the choices range from awesome food truck fare to white tablecloth chop houses.

While you will find several larger dishes on the menu at Restaurant Adarra, the beauty in this Spanish-inspired restaurant lies in its small plates – wonderfully composed dishes of tinned seafood, preserved meats, and briny olives and peppers. That’s not to say you shouldn’t consider ordering a larger entree (and if you see gnocchi on the menu, do yourself a favor and order it), but don’t miss the chance to order some expertly prepared tinned fish dishes. Especially if you’re thinking to yourself right now, “ Canned seafood?

Seasonal, Basque-inspired food and a staggering collection of organic, biodynamic wines work in lockstep at Adarra, as do husband-and-wife owners Randall and Lyne Doetzer. It’s not a proper trip to this warm, mood-setting restaurant without pintxos gildas (pickled peppers stuffed with anchovies and olives) paired with amontillado sherry and a plate of the delightfully messy gambas al ajillo (head-on garlic shrimp). Be sure to order from the sweeping collection of Spanish conservas, particularly the sardines in butter.

If you’re in the arts district around dinnertime, you’ll find Restaurant Adarra (618 N. First St.) in the Jackson Ward neighborhood. Helmed by husband-and-wife sommeliers, it’s just right for sharing a bottle while sampling jamón Ibérico and unfussy small plates. Then head down Broad Street for something sweet at the innovative Charm School (311 W. Broad St.), with Instagram-ready ice-cream cones topped with flaming marshmallow fluff.

This Basque-inspired restaurant celebrates the unique flavors of the northern Spanish region with shareable plates such as chorizo Iberico picante, gnocchi with stuffed shrimp and white beans, octopus stew, and gildas (skewers of anchovy, pickled guindilla pepper, and a single olive). Husband and wife owners Randall and Lyne Doetzer are both sommeliers, and the extensive wine list features a number of natural and biodynamic wines.

Price range for entrees: $19 to $24Recommended dish: Gnocchi. Restaurant Adarra combines seasonal ingredients with a Basque twist. If you're stuck on what tapas to share among the table at this Jackson Ward establishment, pretty much anything marinated in olive oil or a tomato sauce is a great place to start.

Why Visit: All the seasonal ingredients with a Basque twist are combined at Restaurant Adarra. This restaurant is a Jackson Ward establishment. Guests compliment the seasonal menu items, but one well-known dish is the gnocchi with the braised rabbit.

The first thing anyone can do when setting foot in the new Restaurant Adarra space in Oregon Hill, formerly occupied by Mamma Zu, is gawk. Don’t get me wrong, Adarra 1.0 in Jackson Ward was a stunner. But Adarra 2.0 is positively jaw-dropping.

In the early evening, if the weather is anything short of unbearable, the first thing to greet you when entering Adarra will likely be an empty restaurant — a hall of vacant chairs preserved in amber light.

618 N 1st St, Richmond, VA 23219Phone: 804-477-3456 Visit Website. A post shared by Restaurant Adarra (@restaurantadarra). Restaurant Adarra is situated in the Gilpin community.

- Rating: 4.2/5 (108 reviews)- Price level: $$$- Address: 618 North 1st St. Richmond, Virginia - Categories: Modern European- Read more on Yelp