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    ACACIA midtown

    3.4 (77 reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 1:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM

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    ACACIA MIDTOWN ATMOSPHERE

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    Trendy
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    Upscale
    Dogs allowed

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    Baked oysters
    Sean G.

    We had made reservations for the two of us for dinner. When we arrived, the hostess stated we would have to wait, as there weren't any tables available (unless we wanted to sit at the bar, which we didn't). Fortunately, the wait was only about 10 minutes. We were seated at a table near the front windows. No much of a view, but the other seating was a cramped looking line of tables with one chair and the other seat a booth-like padded seat and back. We were greeted by our waiter who was very nice. He told us about the evening specials (mushroom ravioli with scallops - which she ordered). I opted for the Market fish (rockfish) over mushroom and shrimp risotto. We decided on the baked oysters for an appetizer to share. We ordered our beverages as well. A few minutes rolled by. Beverages came out, and shortly thereafter the oysters arrived. The oysters appeared almost as an afterthought of preparation, loosely placed on a grey plate with a wedge of lime. They had an odd appearance with a sandy-like substance on top that might have supposed to have been bread crumbs (gremolata), but appeared to disintegrate with the garlic and red chili butter. They had a fairly pleasant taste, but hindered by the presentation. The lime was left unused. After a while, our main courses arrived (brought by a manager?). Her ravioli was evenly spread over the plate with a nice arrangement of halved carrots, seared scallops, and sauce. The taste was quite good overall. My fish was flakey and well prepared, but seated atop a mound of underdone risotto that was certainly lacking any kind of mushroom flavor. I think I was able to count 2 small pieces of shrimp as well. Not very impressive. We opted against any dessert and asked for the check. I handed my debit card to the waiter and he returned with the check and thanked us for dining. I was prepared to write in the tip when I noticed there was a "Service Fee" of 18% that pre-calculated. I was a bit confused as this wasn't something I was expecting. I typically tip 20% or more on average. I signed the check and we left. Later, I saw on their website that there is an acknowledgement of the 18% fee for each party, regardless of the number of people. They cite this as being able to have their staff make a "living wage." I agree wholeheartedly that people should make a living wage, but being forced to pay seems a bit much, especially when this wasn't mentioned at time of payment. That might have made things a bit clearer.

    Andrea A.

    Went for Richmond Restaurant Week with friends. It was easy to make reservations online through RESY. The restaurant is gorgeous giving a very fresh clean aesthetic. I would suggest dressing up a little to match the vibe. Our table wasn't quite ready when we got there so we grabbed drinks at the bar. My favorite drink has both gin and whiskey. I was a little nervous considering the combination but it was delicious. The food was good as well. I got the seared tuna with cucumber and chili paste. The cucumber was the perfect accompaniment to the tuna. I had the veal dish which was ok. The panna cotta was tart and the passionfruit pearls gave it the perfect amount of sweetness. This is a great place for a date night. I would go back and try the crabcake which I hear is delicious!

    Panna cotta
    Ariel S.

    I went here with my co worker for restaurant week. The restaurant is very nice and in a great spot with plenty of parking available. I was a little apprehensive of coming here because I hear that the staff aren't too friendly. Luckily the waitress was extremely nice but it did feel like other staff members were a little tense. Other than that, the crab cake was so amazing! Plenty of crab in it as well. I had the panna cotta for dessert and it was good but I tried my friend's chocolate mousse and I fell in love! If you love a rich chocolate I would suggest getting that if you have room for dessert. It is a little more of a fancier vibe so I would suggest getting a little dressy nothing too crazy.

    Chocolate ganache type dessert
    Jasmine M.

    Went for RRW with husband. All dishes were delicious. Salad was dressed enough and the crunch of pear mixed with the not too funkyness of the cheese was good. The roasted pepper was very tasty, even with the goat cheese sauce around it. It was #goated to say the least lol. The lil baguettes were perfectly toasted and dippable. Loved the entrees. The fish was sooo good and flavorful, not fishy at all. Had a nice crispy edge, perfectly cooked in center. The risotto was cooked well and the peas worked in it. The grilled chicken and Mac was good too! My husband said the portions were small, but I'm used to that at this point. Anyway, the chocolate ganache dessert was yummy. All the elements made the bite perfect. Would go back to try more fish!

    Inside
    Lena M.

    My friends and I visited this beautiful restaurant for Richmond Restaurant Week 2023 last night. They created a $35.23 three course menu for this event. I'm so happy we visited because we got to sample some of the best that Acacia has to offer. We got a reservation for 8:30pm. It was packed! Service was as quick as it could be during a busy night. The people who work here are incredibly nice and professional. Our waitress was extra sweet. Here is what we tried: Tuna Ceviche: My partner and I both chose this as our first course. We adored how simple and delicious this dish was. The dried onions on top were extra yummy. The tuna was fresh and the avocado complimented it well. It's not as limey as I'm used to in ceviches, but still very yummy. I'd recommend this dish. Fried Shrimp: Our friend ordered this and he liked the shrimp and mayo, but was left wishing there was more of a kick in the coleslaw. Scallops: My partner ordered this and was obsessed with it. He said it was cooked to perfection and loved the flavors. Crabcakes: I ordered this and thought my second course was the best of the three we got. The mashed potatoes were a little too salty for my taste, but still yummy and the kale was a great side too. I appreciated the big pieces of crab in these crab cakes. Lobster roll: This fell a bit flat for my friend. The lobster itself was great, but beyond that it didn't have as much flavor as he had hoped. Dark Chocolate Ganache Tart: My friend and I both ordered this as our dessert and loved it. I adored the rich dark chocolate flavor. My friend didn't lick his plate, but they way he scraped it with his spoon was pretty much the same thing. Key Lime Panna Cotta: My boyfriend adored this and I loved the bite I got too. Sherry Spritz: I paid extra to add a cocktail to my meal. It had a nice flavor kick that my friend really liked. I enjoyed sipping it throughout my meal. They included an 18% tip which I found to be nice for the waitstaff. I paid about $60 for my drink and RRW courses. I appreciated the gender neutral bathroom here. The interior design is beautiful. They also have cute things for sale out front. There was a lot of free and easy parking out front too. We had a good time trying this restaurant.

    a view of a dining room with large windows
    Kathleen D.

    They are still in their pre-opening phase with special pop-ups each week, but I am already impressed and super happy to have them in Libbie Mill! The ambiance is great with minimalistic coastal/nautical vibes. The design work was top tier with a stunning blue under the bar and huge windows that allow for stunning views at sunset. They have a coat room to the right of the host stand also, which is a very nice touch. I attended for their two-course $45pp event last week. It was exciting to score a res since they sell out so quickly. We were part of the 6 pm seating and were brought to the half booth at the edge of the row. The tables were really close together, so it ended up being a community table essentially with the two tables of friendly patrons next to us. I had the truffle ceasar salad to start, which arrived with a heaping portion of prosciutto on it. The salad was quite tasty and rather filling. I ended up having to box half my entree, the mahi sandwich. The mahi was cooked well and the fries with it were nice and crispy. I did try a bite of the famed crab cake even though I'm not a big crab person, and I will say I enjoyed it! I also had the chocolate ganache (decadent!) and their bubbly and rose wines. I liked the rose more. Our server was fantastic too. She refilled our waters before I could even think to, and the pace of the meal was perfect. I'm sure I'll be back soon, and I'm happy to see they're off to a great start in the neighborhood!

    Red pepper soup. Baguette
    Bridget C.

    We arrived at 6:15 on a Friday, only one other guest-that should have been a clue. The waitress was outstanding, she was pleasant and attentive. Good thing since there is an automatic 18% tip. I sure hope the staff get the tip. The red pepper soup and the baguette are delicious. That's the end of the good part. Be aware happy hour discounts are only in the bar area...silly right? Wine list is disappointing, have YOU ever heard of a wine called Midtown, talk about hubris! The food was ok but the whole experience deteriorated into a ruined evening when some frazzled woman plopped down at our table and said I wanted to speak her. Um noooo She got annoyed with me for not wanting to speak to her...??? But I get ahead of myself. The music is much too loud, the few other guests who arrived shouted to be heard, it's crazy. The crab cake dinner for $36.00 is ok, I guess you can't expect good seafood at a strip mall restaurant. The potato wedges were tasty, all four of them, however kale should remain a garnish, not a side dish and loading it with salt doesn't help matters, nothing makes kale easy to eat. Try spinach or a real vegetable as a side Eileen. We ordered dessert, dad ordered cheesecake with cherries for $14 There were two. Cherries that is, 2 cherries. This ain't Juniors cheesecake for sure, theirs is cheaper too. I ordered the seasonal dessert, passion fruit tart. What I received was an orange dream whip pie that was over cooked turning the ingredients bitter and unpalatable. So back to the fizzy haired lady plunking down at our table... When I confirmed with the lovely waitress that I had indeed ordered a tart and this pumpkin pie wanna be was the result, she told the "Chef" (apologies to my culinary friends that Eileen titles herself as such) who turns out to be the owner. The same person who serves meals with her fingers stuck in the bowl. Good thing it's only half a bowl of soup or she would have burned her fingers. Once I understood that this unhappy person was the owner Eileen, I told her the soup and bread were great but that I had not been served a tart but a pie. She shrugged her shoulders and said "oh well we're not for everyone. She walked away , returned and Slapped the check into the table(I'm not exaggerating) I was chatting with the diner next to me, Eileen leaned in and offered to move the guest away from to me!! He declined, when she walked away he laughed at her audacity and we continued chatting. In summary if you want a delicious $8 baguette this is the place to go. It's like a high end Panera. If you want crab cakes, Krogers had some in the freezer section from Maryland that won't include hair from a miserable cranky venture capitalist who is too self-centered to to wear her hair pulled back when serving food.

    Hanger stake
    Sati A.

    What a great restaurant to celebrate good times (and a birthday)! Every time we dine here, the experience has been pleasant. The menu is not overwhelming. The food is fresh and delicious, the plates are a feast for the eyes too!! Service was great. Our server was knowledgeable and very attentive, without being interrupting. The restaurant had great ambience. The lighting was just right and noise levels were average- everyone chatting and having a good time. It is a pricey restaurant, but it is worth the experience. Treat yourself!

    Key lime pie
    Pat H.

    It is still a fabulous restaurant. Our server was very good. Had a great smile. I got the lobster roll. It had lots of good pieces of lobster. Yes I had leftovers. I also got the Caesar salad which was out of this world with truffle oil. Spouse got the hanger steak. He too had left overs. Had to leave room for dessert. We got the key lime dessert. It was great as well As we were leaving we noticed they had refrigerated food to purchase. So we got some crackers and cheese for snacks at home.

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    1 year ago

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    6 months ago

    Went during restaurant week. Excellent selections on the 3 course menu. Everything we had was excellent. Service was attentive.

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    3 years ago

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    8 months ago

    A step above most area restaurants (IMO). Brought my visiting family, enjoyed the experience entirely.

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    1 year ago

    Wonderful food and beautiful setting! Our server was the best and we can't wait to go back.

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    Sugar's Crab Shack - Fresh fried oyster

    Sugar's Crab Shack

    4.3(223 reviews)
    3.4 miVirginia Union
    $$

    Always the place for great fried fish. They have other options but for me the fish is it…read more My wife loves the onion rings and hush puppies. Good customer service Style as a take away but outside seating is available

    I saw this place on tik tok and told myself I would stop by and visit the next time I was in…read moreRichmond. My son had a basketball tournament, and this was the perfect time to stop by. I pulled into the parking lot and this place has a unique setup. All the tables are outside similar to checkers. The place looks like it belongs in a dessert or South of the Boarder based on the color which is odd as well. They take your orders at the walk-up window. When I originally arrived, I didn't see much business but while I waited for my food the cars were pouring in left and right. My hopes for the food increased. There is a menu on the outside that is somewhat difficult to read and navigate. A ton of options with some whopping prices. I ended up ordering the 1 Snack and Fries. I wanted something good but also light as I had another place in Richmond I wanted to try. $14.99 seemed good until I saw this bogus, Local meals tax on top of the state sales tax. This caught me off guard. I ended up waiting in my car for about 20 minutes and later heard my name called over the microphone. The gentleman showed me the food, and it was 3 large pieces of fish. The fish was delicious. The fish was Cooked well, and I could taste the flavor. Way more than I expected. Tartar sauce elevated the flavor. The fires were piping hot and good as well. I wish I had some ketchup, but they were still good. I loved that they were salted but if I had high blood pressure I should have stayed away. You can see the salt on the fries. They were good to me. Overall if I were in Richmond again, I'd definitely stop. The food was good. I would definitely try more options. The customer service was good. The cashier and food distributor were on their A game. Outside could use some love and care but it is what it is.

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    Sugar's Crab Shack - Where to order

    Where to order

    Sugar's Crab Shack
    Sugar's Crab Shack - Ordering window

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    Ordering window

    Hobnob - Rockfish BLT with side beet/mandarin/pecan/goat cheese salad

    Hobnob

    4.3(411 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    Hobnob has become a regular pick for our book club meetings because the food and vibes are…read moreconsistently wonderful! This past Thursday evening, the gals and I shared a bottle of Pinot Grigio and the shrimp fried green tomatoes. For my entree, I opted for the mushroom tortellini which was phenomenal. The pesto cream sauce was velvety and delicious! Our server was attentive and fun! Definitely a great place to enjoy the patio if the weather is nice!

    We decided to come to Hobnob for brunch and had been here before, so we were excited since my…read morebrother was visiting from abroad and was craving southern food. The staff was kind enough to seat us earlier than our original reservation, which was a really nice touch and much appreciated. I was also happy to see a decent number of gluten-free options. While the main dishes are a bit limited, most of the sides are gluten-free. Now for the food, the crispy chicken sandwich was the highlight of the meal. The Smashburger was also delicious. I ordered the rockfish without the bun, while my dad had it with the bun, and both were great. The beet salad was fresh and flavorful, and the fries were solid. The mac & cheese, unfortunately, was not good at all. On the plus side, the hot cider was delicious. Desserts were a bit of a mixed thoughts. The bread pudding was definitely the best one we tried and really enjoyable. However, the chocolate peanut butter pie was a big disappointment. It was extremely hard and cold (not pie texture), the peanut butter wasn't creamy at all, and it honestly tasted more like a protein bar loaded with sugar. The crust also tasted like it had been sitting in the fridge for a while--disappointing. Overall, we still enjoyed our visit and many of the dishes were great, but the dessert experience could definitely be improved.

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    Hobnob
    Hobnob - Carrot cake

    Carrot cake

    Hobnob

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    Shagbark - OMG oysters

    Shagbark

    4.3(505 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$$

    Five Stars EVERY visit for over 9 years (see my previous reviews)…read moreChef & Owner Walter Bundy's seasonal menu is artfully currated with the freshest ingredients And I'd be remiss if I did not mention the personal attention GM/Wine Director Rodney R brings to the experience. My rating rationale +1 Service +1 Food~Taste/flavor/quality +1 Presentation +1 Atmosphere/vibe +1 Value

    My fiance and I brought our moms here for an early Mother's Day celebration and had a wonderful…read moretime. I made a reservation in advance. We were seated in the Lounge area near the entrance and it was pretty nice. My MIL loved the cow painting that was hanging. There is a lot of animal art where we were seated. The service is great here. We were checked in on a lot, but not in an overbearing way. This is located in Libbie Mill, so there is a lot of free street parking and parking lot spaces. They had women and men's restrooms. This is a sister restaurant to Julep's in downtown. I have been wanting to try this spot for a long time now and am happy we finally did. They are very creative with their dishes here and I think sometimes it makes a big bang and other times it falls a little flat. My MIL and I both got the springria. She got the red and I got the white. The red was the better of the two. We started with a caesar salad and the lamb empanadas for the table. The salad was fine, it had too much going on for me. We all loved the lamb empanadas (our waitress even said they were her favorite). We all loved the butter and bread choices that we started the meal with. I really liked the cornbread. For mains, my fiance and I shared the sirloin special. My MIL got the soft shell crab. My mom got the branzino. I love that they split the sirloin for us, it was so kind and perfectly portioned for us. It was a tasty special. The branzino was a great cut of fish, however, the sauce combinations made it a bit confusing, so we weren't the biggest fan of the flavor. My MIL adored her soft shell crab. We all had a wonderful time here!

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    Shagbark - Inside

    Inside

    Shagbark - Charcuterie platter

    Charcuterie platter

    Shagbark - Shagnog

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    Shagnog

    Beaucoup - Mussels a la cape cod

    Beaucoup

    4.7(54 reviews)
    2.9 miThe Fan

    SO good, favorite spot of our Richmond trip!…read more My brother and I were looking for late night oysters. Sadly when we came in Wednesday night at 9 PM, we were told they were only serving drinks at that time. I emailed the restaurant and was informed that on most nights, they indeed close the kitchen and only serve drinks after 9 PM, but that on weekends they'll keep the kitchen open longer. I'm so glad we came back on our last day of the trip. It was a Thursday night at 7:45 PM and pretty full. Thankfully, there were some seats at the bar which we preferred anyways since you got to watch the oysters get shucked right in front of you. We ordered the bread service, and though it said house cultured butter OR whipped beef tallow, our kind server made sure to ask if we wanted one or both (the answer was both, of course!). We also got 4 Virginia oysters (appreciate not being forced to order in increments of 6 or 12), chargrilled oysters, and "dessert tonight" which ended up being the most perfect chocolate cake (I think it was describe as something else, but my memory fails me) with a white chocolate ganache-like topping and pistachios *swoon*. I tried the wine of the day which was an orange wine that it was a nice not-too-sweet, not too dry wine. I'd recommend it with a pasta or fish. Our server (didn't catch his name but he had a nice brown sweater and a beanie, receipt says Taylor so maybe that's his name?) was so nice! Great vibes all around from the interior to the bathroom to the service. Would definitely come back.

    A little coup of joy in Richmond. Happy hour oysters were…read moreoutstanding--briny, fresh, and perfectly chilled. The bread and butter were magnificent (dangerously so), and the mushroom soup was deep, velvety, and soul-warming. The veal was top-notch--tender, elegant, and clearly in the hands of a confident kitchen. And the French martini? Just right. Balanced, cold, and quietly glamorous--the kind of drink that makes you linger a little longer and plot your return.

    Photos
    Beaucoup
    Beaucoup - Kale Caesar

    Kale Caesar

    Beaucoup - Non-Alcohol- Mistraminer - lychee, pineapple, grapefruit, lemon passionfruit, ginger, orange blossom rosewater, sage

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    Non-Alcohol- Mistraminer - lychee, pineapple, grapefruit, lemon passionfruit, ginger, orange blossom rosewater, sage

    Lillian - Lobstahh

    Lillian

    4.5(46 reviews)
    2.2 miScott's Addition

    Lillian is absolutely delicious. I had the best shrimp I have ever eaten here, served on the…read moreseafood tower my sister and I shared. Every bite was better than the last. They offer a variety of sauces and flavors that really elevate the seafood and make the experience feel unique and interactive. It was such a fun meal to share, comparing each bite and talking through all the different flavors. The service was excellent. Our waitress was knowledgeable about everything we ordered and made great recommendations. The atmosphere is just as impressive. The decor is simple but thoughtfully elevated, and sitting at the bar area feels like you have stepped out of Richmond and into somewhere like New York City. I also love following Lillian on social media to keep up with their latest specials. I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves seafood.

    Hats off to the staff at Lillian who continue to be wonderful, but now that they have scrapped…read moretheir dollar oyster lunch specials, the food has absolutely nothing to offer. Like too many restaurants in the Scott's Addition area, this is seafood cooked without finesse and then absolutely brutalized with absurd amounts of palate fatiguing, brash, loud flavors. Every item on the menu endeavors to conceal mediocrity in the quality and handling of the ingredients with explosive, overwhelming additives meant to shock you into submission. Things like black garlic and chili oil, raw garlic, sesame seed oil, and punishing heat are inescapable on the menu, which really says to me loud and clear "we do not understand the appeal of seafood, and might have a fundamental misunderstanding about good food in general." I don't exaggerate when I say these dishes would be improved (setting aside things like inability to properly cook octopus) by scaling back the flavors to 5-10% the loudness level they are currently at, to let the ingredients speak, and to make the dining experience less of a punishing marathon with no relief. I have had much subtler and more skillfully balanced dishes at Indian and Thai restaurants, cuisines known for strong flavor profiles. I'm through listening to these Richmond restaurants trying to excuse simply bad food by claiming "that's the nature of the cuisine." In this case, Lillian claims that dishes characterized by these cacophonous competing flavors is "South American." No it isn't - the person conceptualizing the dishes is just a bad chef who doesn't know what he's doing, and at the prices Lillian charges, that's inexcusable. Drowning every dish in flavors that overwhelm the palate is not a way to respect your ingredients or your diner, and only communicates youth and insecurity. Anyone who's eaten widely and knows their ingredients will rightly feel assaulted and insulted by this overpriced, unskilled fare. To anyone who decides to go anyway: Good luck with the digestive distress, and with the taste that will still be left over in your mouth the next morning, no matter how much you brush your teeth.

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    Lillian - Seafood Tower

    Seafood Tower

    Lillian
    Lillian - Miller high life with Aperol

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    Miller high life with Aperol

    Slack Tide Fish

    Slack Tide Fish

    4.5(33 reviews)
    2.1 miScott's Addition
    $$$

    I absolutely love Slack Tide Fish Co. I mainly come here for the oysters and the charming patio. My…read morebest friend and I love their $1 oyster happy hour, but do know it is only from 4-5pm. The birthday girl oysters are my favorite and a part of the special. They also always have really delicious wine to pick from. While I prefer my oysters with just lemon, their signature hot sauce is very good! I usually just come for the oysters and the vibes. The people who work here are super sweet! They're very helpful with any questions or recommendations you may have. The happy hour also has fries for a great price. I love their thin fries. On a recent visit, I decided to try their special of the night which was a fried boiled egg with salmon. This was beyond delicious. I'm on a huge boiled egg kick, so trying this sorta Scottish egg dish was amazing. We were told the chef making it was known for it at their previous restaurant. I'd love to try even more on the menu, but know this is an amazing place for oysters.

    Best oyster happy hour I've had in a while! They're a cool $1 each! Limit to 12 per person and 24…read moreper table. For the grown up palates try the Billingsgate martini which is $8 on happy hour. Not on happy hour but we tried the delicious roasted oysters so please order them. They are delicious! Fresh oysters, deliciously fun oyster shooters, and a really cool patio setup. The service was top-notch. If you're in Scott's Addition, this is a must-visit.

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    Slack Tide Fish - Interior

    Interior

    Slack Tide Fish
    Slack Tide Fish

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    Stella's - Spaghetti

    Stella's

    4.5(1.2k reviews)
    1.8 miMalvern Gardens, Near West End
    $$

    I can see why everyone raves about Stella's. The ambiance was mesmerizing starting from the outside…read morewith the classic cars parked out front. If they aren't part of the decor, it was a treat nonetheless. We stepped inside from the rain with a parking spot very near the door. I snapped a pic on the way in to capture it's essence. We risked another walk-in with no reservations, and we snagged two prime end seats on the communal table. There were two open seats at the bar as well; might come in handy some other rainy Thursday night. The server, Murphy M., judging by the receipt, who helped my partner and I with our order, was a gracious host and incredibly well-practiced. It was a master class in serving, made effortless by him. He could not have been more accommodating, as we saw him appear inevitably at the exact right moments. Our server offered us bread and oil before the appetizer. The bread here is made fresh daily. It was so soft, I could not tell the difference from store bought. The food was exquisitely well prepared, the chefs and kitchen staff are immensely skilled. The appetizer was presented to us within a relatively short amount of time. We had time for a short discussion before the it arrived. The Tiropita was described as "four pieces of heaven." Accurate. The phyllo was thin and crisp, and the feta was creamy and delicious. I was careful not to bite too hard and ruin my pants. I had the Kotopoulo, which is a feta-brined oven-baked chicken with lemon and herbs served with lemon potatoes. The dish was cooked to perfection. The cooked potatoes were exactly as I like them, soft yet held their shape. It was an excellent meal, if a bit unwieldy (it's like half a rotisserie chicken, basically). My partner had the Hilopites, an egg noodle dish with giant beans, pine nuts, kalamata olives, cherry tomatoes, and feta, in a creamy, savory sauce that I couldn't begin to describe with mere words. The meals were both stunning, made unclear by my disastrous photography. All that being said, I did not really enjoy my meal as I was expecting. Maybe it's me, maybe it's today, or maybe the flavors simply weren't what I am accustomed to with the dozens of Greek restaurants from my past. I'm uncertain, and that's okay sometimes. Either way, it was a fantastic experience, and I will dine here again.

    Service terrible, so rude and overbearing... food was over priced but fine, but atomsphere was…read moregreat. I won't come back again unless Im dragged in.

    Photos
    Stella's - Interior

    Interior

    Stella's - Shrimp pasta special

    Shrimp pasta special

    Stella's - Best old fashioned ever

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    Best old fashioned ever

    Bar Buoy

    Bar Buoy

    3.9(21 reviews)
    2.0 miScott's Addition

    Ok, Bar Buoy!…read more Boyfriend and I came in for happy hour. Brenner Pass was a regular favorite of ours and we were excited to try out this seafood focused remix! It was a 10/10 experience from food to vibes to service. As oyster connoisseurs, we definitely weren't going to say no to a dozen with the $1/each happy hour deal. They were fantastic! A delicious saltiness and the mignonette was top tier. We paired those with the ahi tuna nachos as well as the shrimp toast. They were both also exceptional and decently portioned. It was a perfect amount of food for the two of us. I tried the HH special orange crush which was fruity and definitely crushable. Those apps plus my drink and we closed out right around $65, with tip. We were not at all mad at the price & given the quality of the experience, it felt like a good deal! Our server and everyone in the area was very friendly and attentive. A winner for date night!

    Extremely slow... unacceptably slow... when the food finally arrived it was decent, but not worth…read morethe wait. My wife and I came here on a Friday night with a reservation, got seated right away and ordered shortly after. Our drinks came, and then we waited, and waited, and waited for the appetizer. When it finally arrived after about half an hour, the waitress apologized and said they had a big group that had caused the delay so she was comping us the appetizer. I appreciated that, and expected things to go more smoothly after that... But then we waited, and waited, and waited some more. The waitress kept walking past us without even looking in our direction, and when we finally got her attention to ask if our food was coming, she said it would be out in two or three minutes. By the time it finally arrived, about ten minutes later, we'd been sitting at our table for more than 90 minutes. The manager brought it to our table and explained that they had a group of 30 people in a separate room, and there had been some last minute changes to that group's menu that had caused delays. Ok, I understand how that could happen, but the dining room and patio weren't even full, so it's not like the whole restaurant was slammed, and if you know that a group of 30 is coming on a Friday night, you staff accordingly, right? And if the manager brings the food out and offers an apology, you might expect him to also offer a round of drinks or something, right? Nope. We got the one comped app, but other than that, just a halfhearted apology for the fact that we waited an hour and a half for our meal. As for the quality of the food, the oyster po-boy was pretty good, but on the small side, and the sides were decent but nothing to write home about. If it were the best seafood in Richmond, maybe I'd go back, but I've had better elsewhere without the wait, so I don't plan to go back anytime soon.

    Photos
    Bar Buoy
    Bar Buoy
    Bar Buoy

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    ACACIA midtown - seafood - Updated May 2026

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