i love the dim lighting and the family style entrees…read more the brocc rabe garlic + oo w ricotta + parm add shrimp was absolutely life changing i cannot wait to have it again we had an amazing waiter he was spot on w everything so grateful to have been shown this restaurant

I know this is a Richmond institution bc it's been around forever. It's good but I feel like it…read morecould be even better. Very old school with no online reservations which is not super convenient but hey I can get behind it if they are going for an exclusive vibe. Very much an old style Italian restaurant but feels like they have really packed the tables in here - like sardines- so yeah it feels a little tight for my tastes. Service was friendly and helpful. (Making the reservation over the phone was not overly warm and fuzzy but hey I get it you probably are tired of having to take reservations over the phone all day lol). We got a popular app- the squid,white bean and arugula which was bright and flavorful so lived up to the hype but a little disappointing in that there was not a lot of squid so $18 for beans and arugula seemed a bit much. Also got the seafood bisque which was pretty tasty. For entrees we got the halibut, the monk fish fra diavolo and the spaghetti with crab meat. The spaghetti with crab meat was shockingly good. It better be for $40 but I don't always like crab bc it can be overly fishy in a not good way but this entree was very good. We also liked the halibut- nice piece of fish perfectly cooked. The MonkFish had a nice flavor, but the bones in it was a little bit overwhelming, and kinda made eating a lot of work. Seemed pricey to me since only one of us had a glass of wine and no other drinks, but I guess $50 a person sans cocktails and dessert is the new norm?!

Went for a birthday was greatly disappointed. We were given a timeline to be finished 10 minutes…read moreafter we sat down! We had gone for a wine, appetizers, dinner, dessert. The was not good. I could've gotten better service without a timeline at half the at Joe's Inn.

I visited bacchus for the first time recently. We arrived shortly after they opened and didn't have…read morea reservation, but we were seated immediately, with the understanding that we'd be done in 1.5 hours, which was no problem, since service didn't take long. They brought us rolls, which were delicious, and butter while we waited for our food. We started with an appetizer of stuffed mushroom with roasted peppers and mozzarella, which was delicious. I ordered the chicken piccata and my bf got penne carbonara, which he really liked. My chicken piccata was flavorful and the chicken was cooked well so it wasn't dry. The only drawback was that there was a lot of onion in the dish that overpowered the capers, which is what I'm looking for in a piccata. The restaurant is small, so I would make a reservation before going again, but the ambiance was nice and the staff were friendly. I would go again, I would just order something else to try.

Portions are huge!!!!! Great salad & bread w/herbs dipping evoo. Great staff & atmosphere.read more

We stumbled across Mama Cucina and I'm so glad we decided to stop in. We were seated immediately,…read moreand the service was outstanding from start to finish. Our waitress was attentive, friendly, and even packed our leftovers for us, which was such a nice touch. The atmosphere was warm, welcoming, and had that cozy neighborhood Italian restaurant feel. We started with the Caprese bread, which was delicious. For our entrées, we had the pesto pasta and the cheese manicotti with half tomato sauce and half walnut cheese sauce. Everything was excellent, and the portions were absolutely massive. They start you off with fresh bread and olive oil, followed by a salad with an amazing balsamic vinaigrette, so by the time the entrées arrive you're already full. The chicken breasts were huge, and we ended up taking home about 80% of our meals. The prices are incredibly reasonable for the amount of food you get. It's rare that I give a restaurant a perfect score, but this place earned it. Five out of five. We'll definitely be back.

Was lucky enough to be seated almost immediately without a reservation on Friday night…read more Although if you prefer a more quiet vibe then aim for after 8pm. Great service and incredible food. Squash blossoms packed incredible cheesy goodness 12/10 house pasta and the flavor really speaks for itself. The price is reasonable given the high quality of the ingredients and food. You can truly taste that it's made in house. Don't skip the tiramisu. The cherry one was simply to die for.

One of my favorite Italian spots! The fresh pasta is outstanding and clearly made with care…read more The service is consistently attentive and welcoming which makes every visit enjoyable. While located in RVA, Gersi has a true New York City feel that is energetic and bustling. Seating is on the tighter side, and it can get quite loud, so it's not the place for a quiet conversation. But if you're looking for authentic Italian food in a vibrant setting, it's well worth the visit. What we tried this visit: *Handmade Tagllatalle Bolgenses *Handmade Pappardelle Pasta with Chicken Milanese *Proscuito with fresh parm and pears My rating rationale +1 Service +1 Food~Taste/flavor/quality +1 Presentation +.5 Atmosphere/vibe +1 Value

Unexpected enjoyment... I decided to give myself a day off from cooking for myself and try a…read morerestaurant that I was told was pretty authentic. I arrived with an open mind and was greeted with politeness and escorted to my table. My waiter was very knowledgeable and personable. I did the 3 course meal. Salad, pasta and entree. Salad was very fresh and you could taste it. The pasta course was gnocchi...fresh pasta with fresh tomato sauce. The entree was fettuccini with duck, super rich and filling. I finished my meal with a tiramisu and coffee. I think it was a perfect ending of a great meal. I would definitely recommend

Had a great experience at La Grotta. I ordered the quail and they let me know up front it would…read moretake a little longer, which I appreciated. While I was waiting, the owner actually brought out a complimentary plate of pasta with three ravioli and some fettuccine--both were unreal. The ricotta ravioli (not pictured) is honestly some of the best I've ever had. The quail was definitely worth the wait too--really well cooked and super flavorful. I'm in town from Texas for work and this is 100% a spot I'll be coming back to every time I'm in Richmond.

I'd heard amazing things about Lost Letter for a while and I was so happy we got to visit recently…read more We went for a special occasion and it felt like the right vibes we were looking for. The menu is small but feels very curated. We started with the bread, fried olives, and squash escabeche. Even something as simple as the bread was so tasty. We each kept a piece to eat with our entrees. The flavors in the fried olives and squash dishes were awesome. For dinner, I got the gnudi and my husband got the cavatelli. We were both so happy with our choices. We made sure to have room for dessert and the caprese cake and gelato were incredible - not too heavy but super delicious. We were also impressed with the service - they were all very friendly, cleaned our tables and refreshed our silverware between courses, and refolded our napkins if we got up to go to the bathroom. It's definitely not a place we could come all the time but is wonderful for a special experience.

I can't believe it's been almost a year since our last visit. This time we got a spot on the patio…read moreand loved it. The weather was a balmy 72° at 6:30 PM and slightly overcast which made the patio the perfect place. A very serene setting for a sophisticated meal. I highly recommend the patio, but you need to plan way in advance. Even on a Wednesday night. And definitely get there early because parking is a bear. I don't mind the walk, but anybody with mobility challenges, might find it tough to get there on time unless they can get dropped off. For cocktails our friends got a very swanky bottle of white wine by Cinque Terre. My husband and I got mixed drinks : the Italian stallion and the ciao fantasy. Very different experiences, but both very good. The Italian stallion was complex yet refreshing and the ciao fantasy was complex and smooth. For appetizers, we got the beef tartare and the Borlatti farro verde. Again, both very different but equally delicious. The tartar obviously more a protein forward appetizer that had a smooth richness brought out by the egg and the well chopped beef. The extra sourdough was a nice touch. The Borlatti was the perfect starter for a spring evening and I actually enjoyed it more than my entrée. It has a lightness to it, but also richly satisfying, especially with the sourdough. For the entrées, we went back to our favorites from last time which was the cavatappi and the rockfish. I enjoyed the cavatappi more but I was trying to get more protein and less simple carbs so I stuck with the rock fish. This time the fish was not a great piece and had very little edible protein because of the bloodline running down the center of it, so for $38 it felt a bit stingy because I needed more of the fish than the slightly over spiced rice and sausage. Did not feel like a good choice for the evening. I did not finish and went back to my appetizer to satisfy any hunger pains left. Definitely disappointed that there was no specials for the evening and a lot of the menu seems pretty similar to the last time we were there. Also seems like fewer choices at least for the small plates. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful and again really enjoyed the atmosphere. However. Everything seems overpriced these days but even though prices haven't shifted that much at LL on this occasion, $172 after tax but before tip seemed a bit much for Richmond. Feels like everything is a few dollars over what the price point should be especially if it's not done to perfection. We will probably go back but not for a long while bc of price but also because of menu options. There are several restaurants in Church Hill that bring more bang for your buck.

LOVE THIS STORE! I'm not sure if she's the owner but the woman working was so friendly and helpful…read more They have so many fresh pasta options including gluten free. There is also a small distillery within the store with a bar to sit and enjoy drinks. A few patio tables outside as well. And the best part is they allow dogs inside! This will be a regular stop of ours for fresh pasta, sauces, and more.

Purchased some of their goods at the RVA Big Market. We were slow to roll into the market so lots…read moreof items were sold out - a good sign! Their smoked salmon & summer ravioli were dynamite when we cooked at home.

We arrived on a Thursday around 8, and the parking situation was dire (as always around Cary St.)…read morewith on-street parking. At least Dinamo's is on a corner, so there are a few parking options. We managed to get a close spot, thankfully. The restaurant was bustling and buzzing with life when we stepped in. There was no hostess stand, so we hovered around the entrance awkwardly, wondering where we should be, waiting for the fast-thinking servers and bartenders to find us a spot. This is likely due to the limited seating space, and it works until your party is larger--definitely call ahead if that's the case. We were seated at a two-top in the crevice between the bar and the kitchen. The aromas of the smoke-filled room captivate us, our imaginations conjuring different dishes. We quickly received our waters, place settings, and menus, as the servers dutifully helped each other where they could. I decided on the brocoletti (noodles that look like onions) with beans, sausage, and polenta. My partner ordered the plain white pizza. We received some complimentary bread as we waited for the meal. We used the olive oil, salt, and pepper at the table to give it a little pizzazz. My dish arrived scaldingly hot, so be careful with the polenta especially. The beans and sausage were perfectly seasoned, with the brocoletti noodles taking on the flavors of the dish's other ingredients. The white pizza was punchy, the parmesan being the star of the show. The crust was soft and chewy with a bit of crisp. We boxed up half of our meals, leftovers to enjoy again later, and we opted to try the chocolate tort with the cherries and cream. The cherries should not be optional here, IMO. They take the dessert from beautiful and delicate to decadent. The chocolate tort was delicate; the cherry glaze and depitted cherries pushed my taste buds to their limit. It is a simply wonderful concoction; hence the reason for forgetting to take its photo (remnant plate and spoons pictured). Our experience at Dinamo's was fabulous from beginning to end. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a curated American/Italian menu (with some seafood specials mixed in) lovingly cultivated by the chefs. I look forward to revisiting Dinamo's in the future to explore its other specialized menu items.

A hole in the wall hidden gem for authentic Italian food and excellent value (portion and quality…read moreto price ratio) --------------------------------- Food: some of the best food I've had in Richmond, and ever! We ordered a beet and fennel salad - and now, that is a salad. The beets were fresh (I've had canned beets in salads before but this was fresh), and the fennel was crunch, mild, and texturely satisfying in contrast with the soft beets, the dressing was well coated but not drenching the salad. Could have eaten the salad all day but then the entrees came: Squid ink fettuccine with calamari and shrimp -- it was so fresh I could not eat it for a few minutes, massive entree, fettuccine tasted like it was made in house, so flavorful and rich Sausage with polenta -- my first time trying polenta in solid form, tastes a bit like if rice and corn combined, crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, sausage was good too Also the complimentary bread was excellent, crunchy exterior soft interior, especially dipped in the pasta sauce Recommendations: making a reservation (you have to call), we made the mistake of assuming it being a cold rainy Sunday, we could do a walk in at the bar, but ended up walking in the rain for about an hour - well worth the wait Affordability: ~$25-30/entree Ambiance: it's pretty small and easy to bump into people on accident, but very cozy ambiance with deep red color theme Service: great, no issues! Good for: date night, celebration, when you just want good food