I've lived in Richmond for a while, and I can't believe I was sleeping on Amuse for brunch! I visited this past Sunday and the entire experience was 10/10 from start to finish. The Atmosphere: The ambiance is lovely; it feels very elevated but still relaxed. The views of the sculpture garden through the floor-to-ceiling windows are lovely. The Food & Drinks: We started with their themed cocktail menu inspired by the Giants exhibit, which was a really nice touch. As for the food, everything we tried was delicious: * Jumbo Lump Crab Roll: This was the absolute star of the meal! So fresh and flavorful. * Crab cakes were very good. * Truffle Eggs & Frittata: Both were savory and perfectly prepared. * Steak and Eggs: Very high quality and cooked exactly how I liked it. * The Fries: Surprisingly great--super crispy! * Sock-It-To-Me cake was the perfect sweet ending and the espresso was the best accompaniment. I need to know the coffee brand because it was that good! The Service: Great service really makes a meal, and our server was wonderful. They were attentive and made the morning feel special. The bartender was a gem too! Total Experience: It's the perfect spot for a Sunday visit. Go check it out y'all! read more

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I came here for brunch on Sunday after walking around the museum and was seated immediately with no reservation around 1PM. All of the food here we had was fantastic! They gave us free lavender poppyseed bread to start and then we ordered the truffle fries to share which had the perfect crisp to them. My mom ordered the frittata and I ordered the black truffle eggs which came on Foccacia that had truffle oil brush on. Everything was delicious and melted in your mouth! read more

Amuse Restaurant - Truffle fries, lavender poppyseed bread, strawberry fennel - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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As previously mentioned, Amuse is one of my favorite local restaurants to dine at. I recently ate there in celebration of my husband's birthday & once again, the food, the service & the ambiance were all top level. My husband & I enjoyed everything from the appetizer to dessert & each dish was absolutely full of flavor & stunning in presentation. I never tire of eating at Amuse. read more

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If you haven't been to Amuse before, it's located on the third floor of the VMFA and overlooks the sculpture garden. It's a bit more of a business casual dress-up restaurant in the afternoon. I came here for lunch as a group of six. I had only been once before years before for my birthday and hadn't been back since. It was nice returning to eat indoors. The big windows still make you feel like you're on the museum's "rooftop." The hostess was extremely sweet and our waiter was very attentive. He gave us time to peruse the menu. My fiancé and I ended up sharing the fried oysters and duck ragu oro pasta pappardelle. We ordered fries and the gigantes bean hummus for the table too. The food is good here, but most of us were left wishing for a little more variation in flavor in our dishes. I really loved the focaccia and butter that came out before our food, it was delicious. The fried oysters were pretty nice too. I did love the pasta in our duck ragu dish. The fries were also awesome. I don't remember exactly what my friends got, but one got a chicken sandwich and another ordered a mushroom dish. We had a good time here as a group. read more

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Amazing food & drinks before the Frida Kahlo exhibit! Such a lovely lunch with family as we enjoyed/devoured their NY strip steak with tajin fries, Farmer's & little gem lettuce salads, and the crispy thyme eggplant Everything tasted so fresh and delicious, and i absolutely cannot forget to mention the amazing service! We washed everything down their michelada and avocado margaritas. Beautiful bar and nice seating ;) will be returning ASAP read more

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A beautiful restaurant overlooking the lawn at the VMFA. The service was wonderful and we thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience. For starters, we enjoyed the Fried Oysters (so good!) and Mussels (just ok-- wouldn't order again). For lunch I had the fish and I thought the accoutrements were a little strange but the fish was very good. I just ate around the rest of it. The complimentary bread and butter is to die for and the fries were very good too! Oh, and the Espresso Martini? DIVINE All in all, it was a nice lunch and pleasant experience. I would definitely return and plan to! Thanks, Amuse! read more

Amuse Restaurant - Espresso Martini AKA the love of my life - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Make sure to get a reservation if you come. Gets busy! I walked in for an early lunch at 11:30 and they were able to accommodate me in 15minutes. When I checked in, people after were told they had to wait another hour since all seats were taken. You can probably ask to sit at the bar if that happens if you don't mind not facing the beautiful wall of windows. Service was warm and attentive. Food was the most elevated meal I had while visiting Richmond. Also note that museum is free entry (how amazing!) Beet salad was just perfection and rockfish was nicely prepared. A don't missing you are visiting RVA! read more

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An amazing experience. We took advantage of the beautiful weather yesterday and tried this restaurant for brunch. I am grateful for the suggestion to eat here. Although I am usually the one who asks to eat outside, it was nit my suggestion this time and I am grateful that it worked out to our liking. Although warm and bright due to being directly in the sun, we were able to enjoy the fresh air and the views. I am remiss to say I do not recall the name of our food concierge during our time there, but he was very attentive and knowledgeable. The recommendations were great. We ordered drinks: Chrysanthemum, Sauvignon Boanc, and the water of the day (cucumber citrus) that, by suggestion; was spiked with vodka. Each drink was refreshing and a great selection to enjoy outside. Our food orders: We started with fried oysters (they were cooked softer than I prefer, yet still delicious. The breading was light, but paired well and gave slight crunch and texture) They brought us complimentary pecan crumble and it was sooooooooo good. I would not otherwise eat pecans. This is the only way that I will. We took what we could not funush there, home. Since our youngest person has a nut-allergy, they brought a tiny dish of crackers which I thought was very thoughtful for them to be included. Crab Benedict with scrambled eggs: this portion was very much appreciated and filling. The crab cake was seasoned well. I liked the greens, but did not enjoy them in combination with the other components of the dish. The eggs were scrambled to my liking and paired well with the crab cake and sauce. The English muffin was charred more than I would have liked, but it was able to be cut and eaten without issue. The potatoes were good. Buttermilk Waffle: the waffle was soft. I like a slight crisp, especially in the edges. There are four waffles served with seasonal fruit (for us, it was blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries), whipped cream, compote, and a crumble. It was very appreciative that this dish is nut-free as an option for someone with a food allergy would be able to enjoy it. Steak and eggs: He shared that the steak (cooked medium well) was okay and so were the eggs (which were scrambled). We will definitely go back. This would be a splurge type of place. read more

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So you're at the fancy cafe at the museum. With a wall of glass you are there for the outside view, while the inside is fresh modern. We went for lunch on a Monday, so the menu we had seen Friday had changed. Best to check before you go and ensure you will see something you'd try. Short menu and dishes are creative interpretations. "Bread basket" was a tease of two bites, but very tasty, guess I should have asked for more. We had the schnitzel (large!) and the mushroom steak. Both tasty and unique. Service attentive but not intrusive, team coverage friendly. Never got a spoon for my coffee oddly? read more

We came here for a birthday and were pleasantly surprised to see the menus printed with a "Happy Birthday!" across the top. The birthday girl was very excited to also have a chocolate disk on her dessert also wishing her a happy birthday. Our server was very attentive, friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. To start, I tried the snapdragon sparkling cocktail, which was very good. It had a good balance of sweet with a hint of spice. We enjoyed the curry fried oysters and the poached shrimp with heirloom tomatoes and fried capers as appetizers. The poached shrimp and heirloom tomatoes dish was a standout among all of the dishes we ordered. For our entrees, we got the flat iron steak, swordfish, and lamb flatbread. The swordfish was an odd dish due to it being surprisingly sweet and tasted like apple pie. Out of the entrees, we'd recommend the flat iron steak. The dessert course saw the lime leaf ice cream, the turon sundae, and the cheese plate. We were confused by the sundae and would pick the cheese plate in the future. Overall, it's an experience I would highly recommend, especially if you have something to celebrate. read more

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Food and service were top shelf Polite staff, reservation right on time, great seating to enjoy. Jew. read more

We were a party of five, sat in a round table, quick service, all the food was delicious, we highly recommend.

Went with large (9) group post a high school graduation. Everyone was please with what they ordered. Service was excellent

The best of the best! The VMFA is a five star experience, and their signature restaurant matches their exceptional standards in every manner. You can tell how much they truly care about every single detail- it is the creme de la creme. The menu is constantly evolving based on season, local ingredients, current exhibits, etc. Therefore, you receive a unique experience upon every visit. It is always at the top of my family's list, whether it's a special occasion or simply wanting to meet up for lunch on a weekday. If you have not been, add this to your list! read more

Fantastic food. Best fried oysters I have ever eaten. Whimsical and varied cocktails and mocktails. And great service. Plus the museum-- what are you waiting for! read more

Amuse Restaurant - Seasonal menu - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

We absolutely love going to Amuse after seeing an exhibit at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond. The chef creates an innovative menu that is often tied to the museum's special exhibit. A go-to favorite for us is the fried oysters. This time they came with chow-chow. Delicious!! For mains, we got the crab cake with a succotash comprising zucchini, corn, and cherry tomatoes on top of buttermilk dressing. You can decline the dressing for a dairy-free meal. There's lots of crab in this little crab cake, and the meal is a filling lunch. Top marks!! We also ordered the chicken sandwich made of thigh meat, chow-chow, coleslaw, and sauce. It came with a side of salad on the plate. The concept is good and the flavors meld nicely, but there's so much moisture that the brioche bun disintegrated on the bottom, making it challenging to hold. For drinks, we enjoyed the house made soda, which was pear and ginger. We also ordered a cranberry mimosa. Both were excellent! We'll be back! read more

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Outstanding experience! Food was excellent. Our Server (Nabeeha) was enthusiastic and wonderful. Thank you we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

My boyfriend and I ate at this restaurant inside of the VMFA for brunch. It was such a lovely experience. The waitstaff were incredibly kind. We had a reservation but we were late because of traffic-- so we called them and they were very understanding and still gave us our table. We went for brunch and the food was fabulous. I got a French toast with sweetened pears and cream. It was some of the best French toast because the bread was thick and crispy and the pears were so sweet. I'd love to come back here again! It's such a nice experience being able to eat and then go wander around the art museum afterward. read more

Amuse Restaurant - French toast - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

We hosted a surprise birthday for my mom this past weekend and I truly cannot thank the Amuse staff enough for going above and beyond! The entire process from planning to celebrating was seamless. The level of care and attention to detail are unmatched-- they even brought out gluten free crackers during bread service and created a vegan sorbet for *one* guest. Beyond the service and delicious food, the space is just so cool. If you're looking for an amazing venue to host your next event, look no further. read more

A beautiful setting with large windows to see outside. They also have an outdoor patio for warmer temperatures. There were no reservation times available online so I called. The staff was very kind and accommodating and provided us a great option that worked for our group. As our group of six arrived we received a very warm welcome and were seated right away. Unfortunately I didn't take any photos but we all enjoyed our meals and the setting. Two people ordered rockfish and claim it is the best they have ever had. Two of us ordered the buttermilk fried chicken. It was good but slightly overcooked which was disappointing. I enjoyed the cocktail names as they were tied to the current exhibit about guitars - very clever. We were too full for dessert but several of them sounded delicious. A wonderful evening! read more

My husband and I are always looking for a great deck or outdoor dining spot and Amuse was high on our list for a warm winter's day. We made a reservation for 1 pm in a Sunday and headed down early to check out the exhibits. Once we got to the restaurant, we were offered a seat inside or outside, so we picked a table on their balcony. Our server quickly greeted us and took our drink order. The first bottle of sparkling they didn't have so we settled on local sparkling rose, which is probably better. For appetizers we got the smoked fish dip and fried oysters. Before our appetizers arrived our server brought a slice of cinnamon coffee cake. I saved it for a cup of coffee I'd have after we finished our meal. The appetizers were the stars of the meal. Loved the smoked fish dip. It was rich but I just kept eating. The oysters were perfectly crispy without being greasy and were tasty. Yum! For entrees I ordered the pork with a polenta cake. It was clear the pork wasn't cooked on the same day. It had that leftovers in the fridge taste. My husband got the smoked salmon and eggs and enjoyed it. This is definitely a great place for lunch or brunch, especially when the weather is good. And the service is top notch. read more

An hour of free jazz followed by an excellent dinner overlooking the museum grounds. What could be a better way to spend a Wednesday evening? Amuse restaurant didn't disappoint. Their cocktail menu is varied and creative and the waitress was very helpful in selecting just the right drinks. The appetizers are the stars of the menu. We tried fried artichokes, grilled squid, a farmers salad, and fried oysters. All wonderful. The small tender artichokes we served with a piquant tonnato sauce that made my husband want to lick his plate. The fried oysters were tender and piping hot. The entree menu offered something for everyone, and is loaded with fresh vegetables. All entrees were wonderful. Our only complaint is that the ribeye steak was served barely warm; perhaps rested a bit too much. We got a serving of hot, crispy fries for the table and devoured them! Desserts were interesting - the sweet pea ice cream being everyone's favorite. Go to Amuse! read more

This is an outstanding restaurant located within the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. We had lunch here while visiting this magnificent museum. I started with the Curry Fried Oysters. I was curious because I hadn't had such a dish before, and it was delicious, perfectly cooked. My wife started with the Sweet Potato & Crab Bisque and loved it. For our main course we shared the Shaved Country Ham Salad and it, too, was excellent. I can't really say enough about how wonderful this place is, and I hope to return sometime soon. The location provided a panoramic view of some of the museum grounds and the service (by Meredith) was spot on. Location: 5 stars Food: 5 stars Service: 5 stars Ambiance/Décor: 5 stars Value: 5 stars read more

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Really good food and an amazing view. Every dish was delicious I won't call them amazing but they were all awesome. My only complaint was my dish- the chicken and couscous- had too much liquid and the couscous was a little soggy. But still good. Service was acceptable but not great, I think it might have been our server though. It wasn't very busy at the off time we went. We had to ask for water, had to ask to order entrees. Anyway our server was very nice it just wasn't perfect so that is why I give 4/5. The view was amazing though! I love that setting and I like recommend eating here to anyone. read more

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Our party arrived a a bit ahead of our reservation so we killed time by browsing the art gallery steps away from the restaurant. Service was excellent, friendly and attentive. All food ordered ranged from pretty good to very delicious on "my" scale. Everything from the cheese board and heirloom tomato salad to muscles and crab cakes were ordered. Plating was was well executed. Always a solid performance in this establishment! read more

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Crispy Pork Cheeks | 'Oro PASTA Co.' Porcini Bucatini | Bok Choy | Turnips | Mushrooms | Pickled peppers | Black Bean Garlic Sauce read more

Amuse Restaurant - Apple Galette | Vanilla Ice Cream | Spiced Pecans |Blood Orange Reduction - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

This,was my second visit all the way from New York City. Love this restaurant inside Virginia Museum of Fine Arts which is admission free. The tables are set far apart, nice decor, beautiful outside view, good service, excellent food with very reasonable price. For lunch, most of the dishes are $20 and under. Steak Frites and mussels are delicious. Curry oysters appetizer are always our favorite. My only complaints are that Vichyssoise was creamy and wished a stronger potato flavor and while the fries were cooked perfectly but with too much salt. Will definitely stop by again if we are in town. read more

We had lunch the the Amuse Restaurant when we visited the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) in Richmond, Virginia. What a great experience. The food was delicious. The atmosphere is beautiful. The staff were very friendly and professional. We didn't have a reservation but they were still able to seat us for lunch. I had the fish sandwich with salad and the other half had the steak & frites. We also both had a choice from the beer menu. The food was prepared just perfectly. Presentation was also just perfect. If I lived local to this museum and restaurant I would go back again and again. Our visit to Amuse was part of our visit to the VMFA. There is garage parking (paid). There are numerous clean bathrooms in the museum to use. While you are enjoying your food you can look out to see the sculpture garden and museum grounds. Great experience. read more

Amuse Restaurant - Amuse Restaurant in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond Virginia. - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

We went here to celebrate my birthday. My fiance made a note in the reservation that it was my birthday and they called him to arrange special add ons. They had a bottle of champagne at the table for us and had a custom note at the top of our menus. The service was great and the food was amazing. We had a really wonderful time and it was the perfect end to a day at the museum. read more

Small, carefully curated menu, and a nice wine list. Everything is somewhat overpriced, but you're paying for nice views looking out over the grounds of the art museum, and the food is exquisitely prepared. read more

The food was unique and overall, very good. Particularly nice were the Ahi tuna, fried oysters (NOT the slaw, which was inedible), crab cakes and tiramisu. Despite the operational issues, to be discussed, the wait staff was outstanding (Kat is an asset to your restaurant). Setting up the reservation was a challenge. From being put on hold, transferred around, dropped, and having to call back repeatedly... only to be told there were no openings was frustrating. After making alternative plans a manager called back to say they definitely had availability, sooooo ...? We arrived on time and were shown to a table with an elbow to elbow fit that partially blocked the server's station and kitchen access. Immediately next to and across from our table were a single couple seated at a table for six and a threesome seated at another very large table. With one chair extended we 100% blocked the servers' path exiting the kitchen. We were so close to the kitchen door that we heard every shout and cheer (good for them) as they performed their cooking duties. The irony was that there was plenty of room in the dining area to NOT jam a table there. It was a very physically uncomfortable experience. I chalk this part up to going to a restaurant on a holiday, but also to the very obvious lack of an experienced restaurant/function manager. I do recommend visiting this restaurant. The food is very good, the menu is interesting, the view is beautiful and bright (with the potential to sit outside), and the service is professional. read more

We were in town for a long christmas weekend, and had lunch here the day afterwards. Our waitress was friendly and very helpful - told her about my dietary 'issues' and she helped me figure out what I wanted. I waited way too long to add this review and totally cannot remember what I ate (apologies for that), but all three of us at the table were pleased with our choices. It's got a great view and a good selection on the menu (including booze). Not planning on visiting the museum? That's okay, they'll still let you eat here! :) read more

Consistently awesome, creative and flavorful. The duck was perfect as well as the Bloody Mary. Always a pleasure to dine here even if not going to the museum. read more

Amuse Restaurant - Quiche - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Have been here for a few times for lunch and brunch and it never disappoints. I loved the quiche last time I was there. The eggs were nice and fluffy and the crust was just right. The service is prompt and friendly. This place is truly a hidden gem in Richmond. read more

Amuse Restaurant - Quiche - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

service was great! the food wasn't even adequate and I've eaten there many, many times. I've never written a yelp review before, but I felt like I needed to after lunch today. we both ordered rockfish and they would not change the sides because the chef said it would "ruin the integrity of the meal". What fine restaurant does not make accommodations to satisfy the customer? It makes me think they pre-plate all the foods and then reheat. We both decided to order the crabcake appetizer. It was so drenched with lemon that you could not taste the crab meat. My daughter pulled out pieces of crab shell. The small two slices of bread were stale- perhaps sitting out too long and pre-plated to be served. read more

Ineed to remember to come here more! Excellent service, great food, nice view, it's always great! This visit I got the soup special, tomato/cheese. For my "entree" I went with my standard, the cheese plate. My friend got the beef sandwich. We both truly enjoyed every moment of our lunch. read more

Location, location, location! This restaurant is great! I'm so glad we went here while at the museum. They have strict guidelines to follow for covid, at-least that was back in September. We were seated promptly at the start of opening. We sat at a large round table for our party of 5. It was nice to have a good amount of space for once and not cramped. Our food came out nice and hot. It did take a little longer than we expected for our food to come out, but it was worth the wait. I devoured my cheese plate! The bread in the beginning was scrumptious along with that butter... oh that butter. In all it was great and we would return. read more

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The food is pretty good, me and a friend went and got the brunch menu but I would've liked if it had more breakfast options rather than only lunch. The steak and eggs looked good and I got the chicken sandwich and it was alright. read more

Amuse Restaurant - Chicken sandwich with fries - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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A regular but, I did not Dine at Amuse this evening, I walked out after having a most insulting experience. After the Kahlo exhibit i checked in with the Hostess, it was a bit to early for Dinner Service so I said I'd be back around 5-5:15. When i returned she said they were not quite ready for me could I come back in 10-15 minutes (not even offering a seat at the Bar) When I returned, I was led to an unprepared table (no Glassware, Utensils, Napkin, Plant etc) next to the Kitchen Door. In a virtually Empty Restaurant... I go early because you can always get a seat and the Chef and staff are not rushed. Now any experienced Diner knows seats near the kitchen or restrooms are considered Dismissive or last resort...especially dismissive when normally there is none at that location, and also unprepared. I mentioned that this not a good choice and said i was usually seated back there (I pointed to my regular table) and was ignored. I bluntly said to her, "You did not even pick up on what I just said"..as she walked away. I then said, loud enough for the nearby waitstaff to hear..I think I'll come back another time. And rolled myself out. The Waitstaff has always been excellent but on my last few visits the reception has been a bit chilly checking in .. and friggin cold tonight from this young hostess. Tomorrow Morning a letter goes out to Guest Services and the GM of Amuse. Could this be discrimination against an elderly solo Diner in a Wheelchair? read more

After visiting the Fine Arts & Flowers show at VMFA, I decided to get a beverage. I went to Amuse Restaurant and was told it was happy hour. I asked the bartender for a refreshing drink and she recommended a pomegranate and cinnamon. It was delicious! I ordered fried oysters from the menu. My order came quickly. The oysters were lightly fried and were served with a carrot and kale salad and a thin slice of cold cornbread. The food was tasty. Service was good. I'm glad I was able to get in. Have gone before, didn't have a reservation and was told I couldn't be seated. Maybe the happy hour made the difference. I'll return to Amuse. read more