Where Are the Best Restaurants in Richmond Virginia?

1. Mama J's Kitchen in Richmond VA

Located in Richmond's historic Jackson Ward, Mama J's Kitchen is known for its authentic soul food. The restaurant offers a wide variety of favorites, such as fried chicken, fried catfish, collard greens, candied yams, and homemade mac and cheese. It's also open for takeout and delivery. The staff is friendly, and the atmosphere is inviting.  Mama J's is an early pioneer in helping to revitalize the Jackson Ward neighborhood. The restaurant celebrates the family tradition of Sunday dinner. The restaurant offers a full bar and is a good choice for a large party. Its menu includes fried chicken, fried catfish, and pork chops. There are also mainstays like fried shrimp, crab cakes, and coconut cakes. The prices are affordable and the atmosphere is friendly.

2. Restaurant Adarra in Richmond VA

Located in the Jackson Ward, Restaurant Adarra in Richmond, Virginia is a cozy, intimate restaurant serving vibrant small plates of Basque-influenced food. You'll find a mix of French and Spanish techniques on its menu, which offers a wide range of small plates. You'll also find vibrantly seasoned seafood, a slow-cooked lamb dish, and panna cotta. The restaurant is also known for its cozy brick walls. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and they offer suggestions and recommendations. They're also careful about minimizing exposure, so diners are encouraged to wear masks at all times. They also allow you to request a cocktail creation, which the mixologist will then craft.

3. Longoven in Richmond VA

In Richmond's Scott's Addition neighborhood, Longoven is a fine dining restaurant with an enviable selection of wines, beers, and cocktails. The restaurant offers a small menu of 15 small plates. Longoven isn't just a new restaurant. It's a food-centric concept that has been in the works for nearly two decades. Previously, the restaurant was a tiny wood-fired bakery called Sub Rosa. The owners wanted to give the food a more direct touch and let the restaurant take shape naturally from the ingredients they could obtain. The menu has its share of exciting dishes.

4. L'Opossum in Richmond VA

Located in Richmond, Virginia, L'Opossum Sur La Colline de l'Oregon is the newest restaurant by James Beard, semi-finalist Chef David Shannon. The restaurant is located in the Oregon Hill neighborhood of Richmond. The restaurant is decorated in an eclectic, art-filled space. The menu is layered and has a playful, quirky bent.  The menu also features several French dishes, including butter-poached lobster mac and cheese, venison carpaccio, and truffled mornay cream. The restaurant also serves craft cocktails. The renowned chef uses unusual ingredients and creates artful presentations.

5. Grisette in Richmond VA

Grisette isn't just a restaurant, and it's also a brewery. The name is a bit of a mouthful, but the resulting brew is crisp and drinkable. The restaurant also offers to-go grub. If you're feeling particularly peckish, you might want to try their signature steak frites. Grisette also has an aptly sized wine list if you're in the mood for a vino. It's also a good spot to catch a show. The restaurant is a great place to celebrate a special occasion. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and the food isn't overpriced. Grisette's drink specials aren't half bad either. The restaurant also has a reasonably priced wine list that's easy on the wallet. The place also has a surprisingly large beer list.

6. Saison in Richmond VA

Located in the Richmond metroplex, Saison is a jack of all trades. It's a brewery but also an eatery with a menu that rotates with the seasons. The menu boasts a couple of dishes to die for. In addition to its craft beer line up, the restaurant also serves up slow-farmed meats and heirloom grains. It also has a large cocktail menu. It's not hard to see why this brewery has won multiple awards over the years. The best part of the experience is the friendly service. A knowledgeable server will gladly explain the menu to you. They are also well-trained to elicit recommendations on what's on the menu. There are three locations in Richmond, but the flagship resides at 23 W. Marshall St., which is conveniently located across the street from Richmond's main shopping thoroughfare.

7. Alewife in Richmond VA

Located in the historic Church Hill neighborhood of Richmond, Virginia, Alewife is the perfect spot to enjoy a casual meal. Known for its simple, unfussy dishes, customers are drawn to this eatery for its affordable and inclusive community. Alewife's seafood menu features a variety of fresh local seafood. For instance, Szechuan peppercorn-dusted oysters feel right at home with carrot-miso butter. Whole roasted fish are also on the menu. There are fruits of the sea on the menu, as well as cocktails to complement the seafood. For the beverage program, Katy Best has designed a cocktail line that complements the seafood menu.

8. Lemaire in Richmond VA

In Richmond, Virginia, Lemaire is a New American restaurant whose menu combines traditional Southern dishes with modern twists. The menu includes several local and seasonal ingredients, and the restaurant features a large selection of wines by the glass and bottle. The menu also includes an impressive cocktail list, featuring classic and modern twists on traditional drinks. Lemaire is also home to a wine tasting room with over 200 wines by the glass, the bottle and the half-bottle. The wine list is not limited to the classics, as there is also a robust selection of bottles under $30.