Haven't come back to Emerald in a long time and I'm so glad they've expanded their food menu!…read more It sicks to see the chicken skewers aren't on the menu, but the new items are good! I tried the Buffalo wings, shrimp tostada, crab empanada, and pork lumpia -- everything was delicious! For my drink, I ordered their frozen piña colada, of course!

Not sure what this place thinks they are but it's not a 2026 customer service award contestant…read more Open the door for an elderly couple to leave and was literally yelled at to close the door, like the hostess almost physically accosted me to close the door. Yes, it's hot outside but c'mon, will the entire clientale die within 30 seconds of heatstroke? Fine, no worries, let it pass, walk in just wanting to grab a quick drink at the bar, AGAIN, accosted by the hostess that DEMANDS that I go back to her command center to talk to her, whereupon she really happily informs me that I can't even stand at the bar to have a drink and she would reluctantly put me on the bar waiting list which would be a minimum of one and a half hours... to grab a drink at the bar. tldr; AVOID unless of course, you love being judged at a low rent tiki bar...

uch a cute little Hawaiian-inspired spot with a fun, laid-back vibe! The atmosphere made it feel…read morelike a mini getaway. I ordered the Hawaiian chicken bowl, and it was packed with flavor. The grilled chicken was juicy, the toppings were fresh, and the pickled onions added the perfect tangy bite. Every bite was delicious. We also tried the steak and fries, and the steak was cooked perfectly. It was a generous portion, tender, and topped with a flavorful chimichurri-style sauce. The fries were crispy and the perfect side. To top it all off, I had one of their frozen drinks, and it was so refreshing--the perfect pairing with the meal. If you're looking for a casual spot with great food, generous portions, and a fun tropical atmosphere, this place is definitely worth checking out. I'll definitely be back.

My party of 4 came in for dinner on a Tuesday evening, and we were a little bit disappointed with…read morethe service. The staff were polite, but we had to ask several times to get items we were missing or things we wanted extras of. They checked in on us a fair number of times, but they still forgot to return to give us what we had asked for. By the time we were ready to leave, we still haven't gotten our dressings or our condiments. I also had asked for my burger to be well done, but I got a burger with quite a bit of pink in it. I didn't want to ask for it to be placed back on the grill because I didn't really want to wait longer for my food. Although I wanted my burger to be well done and I didn't get it that way, it was still pretty good. The fries though, I think was the best part of it. The fries were perfectly seasoned and crunchy! I also ordered a coke. Just a heads up, they don't do free refills on the sodas, so each cup is $4. My party also ordered salmon l'orange and a romano salad with salmon. My friends really enjoyed their main dishes, but we did ask for extra dressing. The restaurant is decorated in a boho-style vibe, and it was cute. We found the lighting on the side dining area to be a little bit too dim once the sun went down, but I do think it would've been perfect for a date night vibe. Overall, we had an okay experience.

So Pink. Great fancy cocktails in Union Hill RVA! We had a great time in this quirky unpretentious…read morespace. Cocktails were a little pricey but we ain't cheap. I highly recommend the experience.

If you go to the Pink room, you have to ask Frankie to make you a gin martini - it will absolutely…read moreruin your life in the best possible way because there will NEVER be another martini in this world that tops Frankie's martini (period the end). Perfectly balanced, crisp, and unforgettable. The vibes are just as amazing as the drinks - cool energy all around. Be on the lookout for their dry brunch - a fun and unique immersive experience! Pink room is the kind of place you want to keep coming back to and show it off when you have friends or family visiting!

You better watch out if you're driving home from Fanboy! Boy oh boy do they make some tasty, but…read morestrong drinks! Service was great. I can see why people are wanting to come here so badly! This is a place where you'll want to take your out of town friends and say "see we have some really cool stuff in RVA too!"

TLDR; great date night vibe! Delicious cocktails and small plates but the entrees are incredibly…read moresmall and over priced. Food - we ordered the oysters, shrimp and crab rangoon to start. Everything was delicious although the shrimp would benefit from a dipping sauce. For the entree we ordered the agnolotti and the portion was SO SMALL especially for the price. We'll definitely come back as the vibe sets this place apart but next time we'll stick to the appetizers.

A must stop in the downtown Richmond area!…read more It's truly a speakeasy with the door posing as a bookshelf. To get in, you must know the password or tell the host a joke that makes him laugh. We were escorted in and quickly noticed that this was more than a speakeasy-it was a full restaurant. We stopped in for drinks, but it was nice to have tapas. I got the popcorn with the Tequilla lime butter, which was the perfect balance of salt. I had a mezcal drink which was perfect! I'm such a fan of mezcal and am excited when I see it on the menu. Our waitress was a delight-super attentive and also a bartender so she was able to answer all of our drink questions. It was very spacious with outdoor seating. Definitely a 10/10 experience. I would definitely go again!

The parking is a sh*t show around here. We walked here, so I can't fault them for that…read more Upon entering, we were greeted by an enthusiastic young man dedicated to his role. He asked for the password and we, unprepared, had to tell him a joke or an interesting fact. Luckily, my partner had one on hand. The atmosphere was lovely, very reminiscent of a 1920s speakeasy, or at least what you'd imagine it to be like. Our server came by within a few minutes of us being seated. She lacked enthusiasm, unlike the host, unfortunately. Her service turned out to be lackluster as well. We ordered the chicken pot pie and the filet mignon with asparagus. For drinks, the Grape Gatsby and Maine root beer. The food, like our server, lacked appeal. The saving grace was the host and the atmosphere. The view was lovely and the intimacy of the setting was a welcome experience. For dessert we ordered the bread pudding, and it was tasty, though nothing special. The burned odor that we smelled prior to its arrival turned out to be the bread. I can recommend Grandstaff and Stein as an experience, but you should not expect much in the way of culinary delights or exemplary service. We probably won't be back, but if you've never been, it's worth trying at least once.

We had a wonderful time at Brazen!…read more Our meals were delicious and we felt that they really cared about the quality of the food. Despite a small blunder in timing of our starter coming out, the taste made up for the wait, and the staff was incredibly friendly towards us; even offering a complimentary appetizer to make up for the extended wait time. The prices were very reasonable for how elevated everything felt, which made it an even better experience. The atmosphere was one of our favorite parts. It was open, welcoming, and thoughtfully designed without trying too hard. It felt like the kind of place you could come for a casual dinner or a special night out. We'll absolutely be back!

Walked in on a Saturday evening. We were lucky since a couple did not show for their reservation…read more The restaurant was decent sized and had a very cozy atmosphere. Our server Kim was nice and very personable. Slow-braised short ribs with risotto was good. Meat was very tender. The duck breast came with crispy ginger polenta, blackberry gelee, brown butter squash, fig, almond puree. These flavors were just like a well-orchestrated symphony! Panna cotta was fine but we were not a fan of the baklava. Their baklava was lemony/fruity which tasted weird. Overall, great ambience, service with good food.

I had an incredible time at Amar Lounge with my girlfriends this past weekend. My favorite DJ, DJ…read moreMaiya, was doing an arab afro latin indo house set that I did not want to miss. Her set started at 10pm. We were probably there from 10:30pm-1am. The bouncer was incredibly sweet and checked our IDs at the door. We walked up a flight of stairs to get to the lounge. From my understanding, this lounge is open on Fridays and Saturdays only so far. Tickets for the show we were going for were $7. We didn't pay at the door, they put the $7 ticket on our drink tab. It was pretty packed, but the three of us were able to find a seat. It took a while to order drinks, but it feels like they're still figuring the best system out. My friend and I ordered the hibiscus spritz which was incredible. It was such a huge and delicious serving. I highly recommend ordering this. Our other friend got a regular old fashioned that she enjoyed. Do know with the music, it gets a bit loud so you end up screaming at each other. It was really good music so it was totally fine. At some points people made the tiny elevated section where the DJ was a dance floor. While this isn't a dance spot, there is a tiny space to dance. There is lots of seating available here, so even though it was crowded, it was never shoulder to shoulder packed (unless you tried to dance). The decor is unique with exposed brick and hieroglyphics matching the Egyptian restaurant below. I'm excited to return to try more delicious cocktails from their menu and see other DJs.

From the owner: Richmond’s premier cocktail lounge, where elegance meets artistry. Located inside Memi’s, Amar…read moreoffers a curated selection of handcrafted cocktails, fine spirits, and an intimate ambiance perfect for unwinding or celebrating. With a sophisticated yet inviting atmosphere, our lounge blends classic charm with modern mixology, delivering an unforgettable experience in the heart of RVA. Join us for an evening of exceptional drinks, warm hospitality, and timeless vibes.

Food, service, and ambience was good. The seating sucked for my group of 7. Drove all the easy from…read moreNorthern VA to meet friends and we were unable to be seated at one table together. I will not likely try this place agsin.

I finally got to the new location of Lillie Pearl. The location is great. Right at the triangle…read morewhere the Maggie L Walker stature stands on Broad St. It's open and airy with two levels of seating a a nice bar. We were there late Saturday night(8:30pm). The server, Briana, was one of the best I've had in a very long time. Personable, great smile, friendly, and knew her stuff. We ordered the brussel sprouts- they were great with a nice heat from the sauce. We had the crispy skin salmon, which came with a nice fresh salad, The skin was amazingly crispy and the flesh was flavorful. I asked Briana to surprise me with something good and boy did she deliver. It was their porkchop served over some super tasty mashed potatoes. Note that this is not how they are usually served, it was Briana's favorite way to eat this dish so she made the decision for me. The porkchop was very very good. Nice grill marks, onions, and a very nice cream-based sauce. This was so so good. They are doing great food at this new location and I will be back again.