In all the years I've lived in Richmond I had never eaten here but I am so glad I took a friend's date night recommendation and tried it out! The portions are quite large so in the future I would pick one pasta dish or one entree to share. The rolls were hot, soft and buttery. We had the portobello, tomato and mozzarella appetizer drizzled in balsamic - so good! I had the chicken piccata for dinner which was bursting with flavor. The Yukon gold potatoes with cheddar was an excellent side dish. My husband had the spicy lamb and for dessert we shared a piece of peanut butter pie - I don't care how full you are this is a must try!! read more

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Bacchus is consistently excellent with a wide range of creative fishes to tempt your palate. I've found it's preferable to make a reservation as they are usually quite busy. read more

CAVEAT: I haven't been here for years because of my experience then. Here's my review of that experience - I feel it's a fair review even now simply because I REALLY wanted it to be a new fav but can't bring myself to go back. If I could add a dining date (Summer 2009), I would. If it changes hands, I would love to try it again. I live nearby and so I was looking forward to making Bacchus a new neighborhood favorite when I visited for the first time with a girlfriend several years ago - it has a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere. We ordered a couple of glasses of wine and sauteed spinach, calamari and tuna to share. The spinach was delicious but the calamari was rubbery. The waitress could tell and asked, so we explained and she removed it. We both took a bite of tuna at the same time and both stopped - it was bad. The waitress again asked and we apologized that we couldn't eat it. I was surprised at the quality of the food, but soon became appalled and embarrassed at the service - from the owner. He became apoplectic. In an outburst he came to our table and loudly and angrily demanded to know "what the problem was." Long story short, he refused to charge us and we insisted on paying, leaving immediately. I've read other reviews that a couple owned it at that time and there were many complaints about him; I've heard she was great so if it's just her now, someone please let me know. :) read more

I am so surprised by negative reviews on this place. I have gone to this place for years, often as a old standby. There food is really good - I cant even imagine the number of plates of different types I have had, here are a few: Skate wing, Lamb chops, Sausage with white beans, various pasta dishes, rib eyes, endive with cherries (yum), Broccoltti (however you spell it), blood sausage, many fresh fish specials, and on and on. I know that many people love Mama Zu and Edo, but I think this place in many ways is just as good most times. I mean Mama Zu is ridiculous, but this place is a close second for me. I do wish they had more beer, as I always want a good selection of beer. Maybe over time they will ad some special craft brews - so I will take one star away for that. I also had a weird run in with a waiter/bar tender one time there as he was hitting on my date. I was like "you do know I am paying for this and tipping you right?" - its was kinda funny actually. But getting back to the food .. its always been high quality I have thought. And I have traveled all over the world and ate at some of the top restaurants so I know a good bit about foodie stuff. I mean, all the sides are so good you can practically eat just them if your a vegetarian. I say check it out, try any specials and my god you have to get the broccolini and endive! read more

Consistently good food. Been here on different evenings. For take out and eat in. A.ways enjoy the food. And usually have enough for leftovers. Although those disappear rather quickly. The spinach cream side dish with almonds. Seriously. Heavenly. Portobello mushroom appetizers. Way enough to share. Or have a main meal. We really like the Kobe beef meatballs over pasta, I can taste the beef. The service is always friendly, even when they are super busy. So. Here is the only bizarre thing. I swear. Swear. That I had profiteroles there on a Sunday last year. My dinner partner attests to my experience. The restaurant says they have never served them. Lol!!! Please consider adding them to the menu. Someone made them on a Sunday in July in 2014 and they were delicious!!!! read more

Three times not a charm. Looking forward to a delicious meal. First brought wrong salad, then wrong entree, then was charged for 2 bottles of wine when ordered just 1. Is it possible a wait staff could get that much wrong? Well it happened. To say disappointed is an understatement. I believe the owner cashed us out, no apology either. WTH has happened to Bachuus... read more

The bartender was great and made specialty drinks for us based on preference my first visit. The second time around was for a dinner and the waitress claimed that no edits could be made on the pastas even things like removals or additions. (Confused how hard it would be to remove cheese or add mushrooms to a dish) Small space but has a staircase to a seating area up some stairs. Kitchen is within view and noise level is decent. read more

My husband and I finally made it here tonight for the first time.. we started with a shrimp and scallop scampi with the red sauce and that was very good.. also had a side dish of the broccolini with the walnuts that was very good as well I believe edo squids has a little better flavor .. more garlicky.. my husband ordered the New York strip which they had in place of the ribeye and it was perfectly cooked and seasoned and we also had the Gorgonzola & peas with penne which is quite tasty as well but again I believe edo has a better stronger flavor on that particular dish.. very large portions two places a little small so you must make a reservation service is excellent read more

The quality of food is solid. Great bread. Outstanding mixed drinks and beer selection. They have killer scallops and fish options. For a cheaper options, pasta done right. Pasta is hard to stick out, but the sauces, flavors and choices make this a standout. Bacchus does well. read more

In a word, amazing. I've lived in Richmond for a few years but have been missing out. Our server, Tara was awesome. She knew the menu and the wine list and was eager to help and give suggestions. As great as she was however, the food blew everything away. My mother (think Marsha Brady at 15) refered to the chicken marsalla as "orgasmic" the ribeye was cooked and seasoned perfectly, the seared sea scallops and procussiuto were better than it already sounds...wow, I cannot even begin to explain how perfect the food, the experience in general and everything was perfect. Jon, the chef and Devante the sous chef definitely know what they are doing! I downloaded yelp to post this and I cannot recommend Bacchus highly enough. In addition the restaurant is a Richmond staple. It's been around FOREVER and hopefully always will! Jon, Tara, Devante and Bacchus as a whole, my family and I thank you! Keep it up and we'll definitely be back! read more

I really WANT to like Bacchus. I have friends who LOVE Bacchus. There's something about the interior that is cozy and appeals to me. However, there's something about the food that never quite makes the level Bacchusl likes to project. This has been the only consistency in the many times I've tried their food. Saturday found us embroiled in hard labor, working on stripping our dining room walls amongst other domestic projects. As a "reward" we wanted to go out for a nice meal and kick back. Thus, we found ourselves at Bacchus. I ordered the gorgonzola, polenta, marinara app. Hubs ordered the shrimp scampi app. Mine was tasteless and bland. Even the sauce, which I could clearly tell was homemade. My gorgonzola had one vein in it that I could tell and that was the only bite that packed any punch. Hubs had no complaints about his shrimp. For my main course, I ordered spaghetti carbonara which, while flavorful, had cream in it. Thus, the thick, clingy sauce I desired was not delivered. Btw- isn't it a cardinal sin or something to add cream to carbonara? ;) I really enjoyed the sauvignon blanc by the glass that my server rec'd. Hubs veal was tasty, the portion generous. The veg. left something to be desired. The plating looked like something fresh off the line at a Morrison's. The beans/carrots overcooked and they might as well have taken an ice cream scoop to serve up the potatos just like my lunch lady in high school for all the thought that went into arranging the food artfully. The reason I'm complaining about this so much (b/c I know you're raising your eyebrows at me and making that swirling finger around the ear "she's crazy" motion right about now) is that the veal was $24. Really? $24 for the "morrison's plate?" $12 for my carbonara is about right and for that I will not complain. I think Bacchus needs to settle in and accept itself for what it is-- a neighborhood joint where folks go for comfort food. They keep trying to act like they are fine dining, mainly by jacking prices. I say, give it up! There are a ton of fine dining options. People want something they can depend on day to day, not just for 'special occasions.' Just my .02 garnered from observing and eating at the place over the years. I've decided if I want authentic Italian in Richmond that won't piss me off, I need to stick to Edo's or Mamma Zu's. My recommendation is that you stop here for dessert and a cocktail after eating somewhere else. B/c I will tell you they make a mean chocolate peanut butter pie! read more

The only place to go out to eat in Richmond. Yes, I will confess I am friends with the owner, but only because I used to LIVE at Bacchus back when I lived in RVA. Bacchus was the place to take myself out to dinner, sit at the bar and order a cocktail or a glass of wine, the hanger steak, or maybe the polenta with gorgonzola. I was living on an undergrads budget, but I always made sure I set enough aside to treat myself to dinner at Bacchus. I would take my family and other out-of-towners there when they would visit (it was around the corner from my apartment). Even my picky NYC friends loved it! It was my favorite place for birthday dinners, I even held my graduation dinner there. read more

I am confused to see bad reviews of Bacchus. I've been here at least 2 dozen times, the last time being when I visited in November. I'll be back in Richmond in a couple of weeks and definitely plan to do dinner at Bacchus one night! Service - I have never had bad service here. There have been a couple of times when I've ordered a drink and it was forgotten or I had to wait a few minutes for water.....that's true of anywhere you visit regularly. The staff is generally very friendly and helpful. I've also NEVER had to wait for a table here. I've had to sit at the bar once or twice, but it seems like there is always a place to eat even on a busy Saturday night! Atmosphere - I love the laid back, cozy atmosphere and the dim lighting. I also like that the kitchen is right there. To the person that said they came out smelling like food....maybe you just need some better deodorant? I've been there dozens of times and never come out smelly! Prices - SO cheap! The pasta dishes especially! The food!!! - I looooove the food here! My best friend (also a foodie) and I usually go there and order a bunch of apps and sides and split everything. Last visit (4 months ago and I still remember!) we got the mussels (white wine, not marinara), polenta, the goat cheese salad, sardines, and the gorgonzola and pea penne. The sardines were a bit much (but they were sardines so that's kind of expected). Everything else was AH-MAZING! The polenta....I could seriously eat a bucket of it. OMG - so good! It's annoying to read bad reviews from people who visited the restaurant one time and are pissed because their shirt smelled or the restaurant was out of something. OF COURSE the first words out of the waitresses mouth are what they are out of. Would you prefer she wait until you've ordered and got your heart set on something you can't have? read more

Make sure to make a reservation!! Even if seated, given menus, and told the specials they will refuse your order if all of the parties with reservations have not placed theirs. (Also it's important to note there were multiple empty tables) We waited for a table at the bar for nearly an hour which was fine as we weren't in any hurry. When we got a table we were excited to try a number of things on the menu and attempted to order the fried oysters. This is when the hammer fell... We were told that we were not allowed to order as others who made reservations had yet to order. At this point we thought there was a miscommunication as we couldn't imagine being seated, given a menu, but not be able to order (If visions of the times you're taken to examination room at the doctor's office only to wait longer are dancing in your head you're in the right ballpark). When we spoke with the manager she confirmed the policy, I took a look at the cooks who were standing around, surveyed the nearby empty tables as the placed had cleared out some, and asked for the bill. I'm sure the food must be somewhat satisfying given the number of people there when we first showed up, but you must be ready to navigate the Byzantine system in order to actually be allowed to order. read more

This past week we have moved to a beautiful home on Monument Avenue and have driven by this restaurant several times. We were very excited to try it, though are so involved with settling in that we ordered take-out. Definitely hit-or-miss. The fried oyster preparation took awhile to get used to though we did enjoy them as we did the Caesar. The sauteed spinach was good though lacking in much flavor. The pasta was fine though a little short on sauce. But the seared 'rare' tuna was completely unacceptable. It arrived the color of liver. We would have certainly sent it back had we been dining in-house, though wasn't worth a trip back to return it.......... We will eventually try this establishment again, but would only dine in. We'd never trust their take-away again. read more

Easily one of my favorite pasta spots in Richmond. Ordered online and food was done pretty quickly. They never miss !

Great food wonderful staff, awesome venue. The staff was helpful to get us a certain table. Will come back again when in Richmond

My boyfriend and I came here a few weeks ago for a pre-Christmas date, and we were not disappointed. We pass this place all the time, and we've heard really good things, so we decided to give it a whirl. We called that morning to make a reservation for that evening, and they were able to do it no problem. When we got there, we did have to wait a while until we could actually sit down. It's a cute little place, and they had a few tables of people chatting after they paid their bills so there was nowhere for us to sit yet. No problem, we just bellied up to the bar to wait. The staff was also super apologetic about it. Eventually we sat down and I ordered the scallops and salmon, while my boyfriend got the shrimp scampi. He was a little hesitant to order it (Italian upbringing, he's picky about pasta), but he was really glad he got it. And my dish was incredible. Also worth mentioning is the wine list, which is extensive. We ordered the cheapest stuff we could find, naturally, but it was really good! I've already started recommending it to friends, definitely try it out. read more

A cozy and inviting space. You can't go wrong with anything you order here, but my personal favorite is their date night happy hour- any 2 pastas and a bottle of House wine for $35, from 5-6:30 during the workweek. The bolognese and Gorgonzola w peas are our top pics every time! read more

Charming, cozy, great vibe, so much potential. I hope our experience was a fluke... The service was slow, the creamed spinach looked like soup and the kale salad was so salty. (To be fair, we had some great dishes too, amazing wine, and the portions are gigantic.) We'll give it another try because we like to support local entrepreneurs but I hope the server won't be as flip/ casual next time and that some of the dishes improve. read more

My girlfriend and I came to Richmond for the weekend from Raleigh and heard great things about this restaurant however we were disappointed. When we walked into Bacchus it was very intimate, dimly lit and welcoming with most tables occupied. We started with mussels and clams for an appetizer and moved to salmon and scallops for dinner. The appetizer was phenomenal so we expected so much more for the main entrees but we were very disappointed. The scallops and salmon were extremely salty and the shrimp which accompanied my salmon were over cooked and lacking flavor. Nancy our waitress was very attentive and willing to help us as much as possible but sadly after tasting our entrees it was time to leave. We both work in the food and beverage industry so we do not take this review I'm leaving lightly. It could have just been a bad night at Bacchus but I wouldn't return. read more

This place is a great tapas restaurant. It's menu changes so that their is something new to try every time we come. The prices are fair and everything is made in house. It's a nice ambience that's great for a date night. read more

Terrible- just terrible. First, the on-line menu is different from what you will find at the restaurant. When you arrive, make sure you wear old clothes because you might as well be sitting in the kitchen in the midst of all that is cooking. Point being your clothes will stink when you leave. The services was slow and some of the first words out of the servers mouth were that the restaurant had run out of certains apps and main courses. Our server was sullen, hurried and no help about anything on the menu. I ordered a main course and was told 10 minutes later that they had run out and the second time I ordered they were out of that main dish. The place is loud, not even nicely appointed and I am surprised it is still in business. Testimony to the mediocre restaurant scene in Richmond. read more

Bacchus is outstanding! The food is robust and incredibly layered. My friends and I all tried different dishes on the menu--linguine with the shrimp&scallops, penne with the kobe beef meatballs, portobello mushroom,kale salad and chicken masala....all outstanding. The only reason why Im giving this place 4 stars is for the service. We went on a Friday night and they were slammed, so the food took about an hour to arrive. When we spoke with the manager she mentioned that orders placed at the bar would be prioritized after the patrons with reservations. Despite the delay, we still enjoyed the food especially the mint oreo pie!! read more

Oh No.....Sadly, this place has gone down hill. The portions are smaller, the food less inspiring and the waitress are more...Applebees. I use to go to this place all the time to get a unique Richmond dinner. I probably won't go back. Should have gone to Davis & Main. Not sure what happened. read more

One of our favorite spots in Richmond, a true gem. We go at least 2-3 times a month since we can walk there from our house. Love the food, love the staff. A great part of Richmond's restaurant scene. read more

My hubby and I went to Bacchus on a rare "date night.". I was surprised at how small the space is, but we were seated right away. Everything on the menu looked delicious. We settled on scallops (for him) and veal (for me). Everything was delicious! read more

Bacchus is one of the restaurants we dine w/ friends. The earliest we could get a table for 4 was 8PM which is fine w/ me. I enjoy dining late. We split the antipasto ( I recommend it, highly ) Entree: I had the spaghetti w/ meat sauce and Kathie had the spaghetti w/ olives. A lot of the spaghetti went home as the plates are large. We also had the Caesar salad...that was a a very big meal. Even after 9:30 most of the tables were still seated. Busy place, but quick courteous service. read more

We arrived on a Sunday night in June. The staff seemed kind of flustered, because of a nice turn out on Sunday. The interior is pretty cool, and the kitchen is located "in" the dining room. I was kind of disappointed for the lack of a decent menu (mainly pasta, salads, and appetizers), but I quickly got over that because they offer 1/2 off wine for about 2 hours. We ordered two salads, an appetizer, and one pasta dish. First, the bread arrived, which definitely gets five stars because I could tell it was baked in-house and served with real butter. About 15-20 minutes later, our salads arrived. I ordered a julienned apple and endive salad with gorgonzola cheese and a slightly sweet dressing. This was a GREAT salad. My fellow diner ordered a Sesame salad, which was just okay. It seemed very bitter. Our entrees arrived shortly after we were done with our salads (good timing is key to a good meal). I ordered Spaghetti and Meatballs, and my fellow diner ordered Fried Oysters. The Spaghetti part was excellent, with rich, tasty marinara sauce with a hint of red wine. The only bad part was the meatballs were very crunchy and almost burnt on the outside, and were very spongy on the inside. Still I finished almost the whole portion. The oysters were EXCELLENT. I want to give this place 4 or 5 stars, but I cannot. 1. The menu was very limited (maybe because it was a Sunday night?) 2. The restaurant has a dark, higher-class feel to it, and the staff should dress more appropriately for a more fine-dining, intimate experience, instead of wearing sneakers and soccer jerseys. I can deal with the tattoos, but at least wear a black shirt and some slacks with dressier shoes. 3. The meatballs could have been better. Alas, I will probably give Bacchus another chance, because maybe they were having an off night. Hopefully I can give 4 or 5 stars next time. read more

Baccchus has great food . Love their chicken piccata ! Intimate and cozy dining with a semi exhibition style kitchen, you walk into the sounds and smells of Mediterranean and Italian . Great place . One of my favs read more

If I was just rating the food, I would have given 5 stars and then some. The location is also fantastic - 5 stars! But the service left soooooooo much to be desired. (Disclaimer: I have served in several classy restaurants, so I know a thing or two about service.) We were seated and then we just sat. No one greeted us. No one offered to take a drink order (other than water) while we waited for our server. We finally had to grab another server to put in a drink order and she was nice enough to put in our food order. Still, no one introduced themselves as our server. We had 3 different people bring food and water to our table throughout the meal. The food was fantastic and timely, but, c'mon people, who are you and who was actually supposed to be taking care of this section?? We'll probably go back since the food and location were so fantastic, but I definitely recommend that the waitstaff read the article "Richmond servers, please get your act together" in the Times-Dispatch... read more

Food seemed ok- ordered white bean salad with added chicken...but had very bad reaction afterwards... Sorry Bacchus. Maybe I can return, one day to redeem... read more

Had a great dinner here while visiting during World Cycling Championships. Rack of lamb was outstanding. Finished off with side of polenta. Wife had chicken piccata which she liked very much. Small seating areas so call ahead on weekends. read more

Bacchus continues to be my favorite Richmond restaurant and has been since I first went there years ago. Nestled in the center of the fan it has that warm fan neighborhood restaurant feel. The menu is extensive and everything they prepare is excellent. The servings are generous, the prices reasonable and the staff friendly. There is also an option to sit at the bar and eat which is nice. I would recommend that if you want a great meal and walk out truly feeling you got your money's worth, BACCHUS is the place. read more

The extensive menu, large portions, delicious food, and reasonable fare make this a go-to dinner spot in Richmond. I've tried a number of dishes at Bacchus and have never been disappointed--my favorites being the mussels and clams with linguine in white sauce and the duck with mushrooms and red wine sauce. By far our favorite place to go for dinner in Richmond. read more

My friends and I went here for resturant week and the food wasnt that good at all the garlic flavor over powered everything. And the waitress didnt know what beers they had and never asked me if I wanted another beer. I would go back and try there food on a regular menu. But I wont be in a hurry to go back. read more

Bacchus did not rock us. Huge portions of pricey, uninspired Ameri-cuisine. My steak was well cooked but my wife thought her meal tasted like airport food. The booths, while appealing, were very narrow (and I'm thin). I wanted this place to be good -- I still do, but Bacchus Schmaccus. read more

It's a hidden gem in the fan area of RIchmond. The staff is always nice and professional. Their gorgonzola pasta with peas is SO good. Creamed spinach and escargot is amazing as well. Helpings are huge! read more

My experience with this restaurant was mixed. The food was very good but the staff were just downright hostile. I can get abuse on the street, I don't need to pay for it. I never went back. Don't need to. read more

Great cozy place. The pasta serving sizes are huge so be sure to take it home. The desert was great as well.