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    Bar Buoy

    4.0 (22 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

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    Salisbury steak and loaded deviled egg potato salad.
    Mary Beth B.

    We went to Bar Buoy back in September when it first opened and -seriously- every single bite was fantastic. You can tell when a kitchen just knows what it is doing and this place came out of the gate swinging. We started with the ham biscuits, the hush guppies, and the shrimp toast. The shrimp toast was out of this world, truly the star of the starters, crispy, savory, everything you want with and so unique. I now think of it often The hush guppies were so yum and the ham biscuits were salty and sweet and we loved the biscuit part! We also shared an order of fries that were just plain addictive. For entrées, I had the beer battered cod with two sides, the loaded deviled egg potato salad and the cucumber salad. I am telling you - if you loved deviled eggs as much as I do- get that potato salad. It is rich and creamy and a little nostalgic in the best way. The cod was perfectly fried, light, crisp, just right. The cucumber salad was cool and bright and exactly what you want with fried fish. My husband ordered the Salisbury steak with onion rings and it was one of the best plates of comfort food Ive tasted in a long time. My step son had the half chicken which was juicy and full of flavor. Every entrée at the table was excellent but the true standouts for us were the shrimp toast, the Salisbury steak, and that loaded deviled egg potato salad. Bar Buoy is adorable decor. Different than Brenner and it has a nostalgic atmosphere, thoughtful food, and dishes that really surprise you in the best way. We will absolutely be back. Oh and the staff and service - 10 out of 10!!

    Kathleen D.

    It's still early days for Bar Buoy, but I'm impressed so far. The transformation from the refined and classy Brenner Pass to a chill seafood spot is pretty remarkable. The decor is fun and Instagram-friendly. The patio is lovely on a mild evening. Service was prompt and pleasant from the get-go. We didn't have a reservation the night of their first Sunday service (yesterday) but that was no problem. I ordered the Big Fish sandwich and subbed in grouper instead of the cod. I'm glad I did, as it was really tasty. The fries were good too! For my drink, I ordered the telltale spritz, which was light and refreshing, while also potent. I want to try the draft crush on my next visit - that sounded lovely too. Prices were a touch high but unsurprising given the quality. I'll definitely return to try more of their menu.

    Menu
    Janet L.

    I am so very sad Brenner Pass is gone, and I honestly hate writing this. It used to be one of the top three restaurants in RVA, but what has replaced it feels like a completely different (and much weaker) version. I'm also bummed I never wrote about Brenner Pass when I had the chance--I have plenty of photos, and even tonight both a waiter and waitress recognized us from how often we went. The space has the same building and a more low-key vibe, which is fine. Prices are similar to Brenner Pass but way too expensive for what you actually get. Unfortunately, the seafood pales compared to most seafood spots in the city, and overall the experience was really disappointing--especially since my husband and I were lucky enough to have a rare date night with both kids at a sleepover. Drinks were just okay. I had the Abuelita's Night Cap and the King William Negroni (and we usually *loved* the cocktails at Brenner Pass). My husband switched to an Elmer T. Lee neat, which was solid. Food-wise, things went downhill. We started with the Shrimp Toast--not what we expected. It was over-fried, with odd textures. The shrimp filling itself was tasty, but it would've been better as a fritter. My husband was immediately discouraged looking at the menu; nothing stood out. Sadly, it really felt like the menu was struggling. I ordered the crab cakes--supposedly "world famous"--but they were far from it. For $34, I expected lump crab cakes, not the stringy hot mess that arrived. It came with a "biscuit," which was actually a mini biscuit about four times the size of an oyster cracker. Tasty, sure, but misleading. The potato salad on the side was good, but very mayo-heavy (which I like, but not for everyone). I didn't even finish my crab cakes. My husband ended up with mussels (12 for $18--apparently the last order of the night). The broth was bland, almost like bath water. He also had the crab bisque, which was flavorful but the smallest portion I've ever seen for $14. Between the tiny soup and mussels, he left hungry. Overall, this was just sad. Brenner Pass was one of our absolute favorites, and this was a 360 in the worst way. If you go expecting an equivalent seafood-focused version of Brenner Pass, it's not even close. Honestly, I'd love to know what the staff thinks of this menu, because for loyal fans like us, the loss is huge. I think what they need to consider is take all the awesome pasta and seafood from Brenner Pass and revamp this menu, as that was what we were thinking would happen... very disappointed. We also love Metzger Bar and Butchery though.

    Marci F.

    I'm a big fan of Britney especially Metzger and we were really looking forward to trying the new restaurant. I have to say I was a little underwhelmed. Nothing was bad but nothing blew my mind away. I think they're still trying to work on the menu. I gave them a B and my partner gave them a B+.

    Ruby salts with a mignonette martini
    Stephanie B.

    Been a couple of times now to enjoy some apps and cocktails. So far have enjoyed the ham biscuits, half a dozen raw oysters and the hush guppies. Fave cocktail was the mignonette martini, Yumm. The bar service is attentive and the vibe is relaxed. Will absolutely be back to try other menu items!

    Harrison C.

    Barber is the perfect new restaurant for Richmond! The food is delicious. The interior is so cute and the drinks are delicious. I got their spin on a dirty martini, which was delicious, we got succotash dip as a starter, and it was delicious. I had the oyster Poboy, which was the best in Richmond! The service was friendly, I will definitely be going back.

    Shrimp toast
    Stephanie A.

    My husband took me to Bar Buoy this past Friday for my birthday and we had a lovely time! All of the food was excellent, my favorite being the ahi tuna nachos and crab bisque. The one thing I forgot to take a picture of is their mignonette martini, which is hands down one of the best dirty martinis in the city. Absolutely amazing I also loved the mussels, could've used a little more seasoning for my taste. Also loved the shrimp toast, however, I do wish the shrimp toast had come with a sauce or something to go with it, as it was heavy and very rich. Really only reasons why I'm taking off a star but other than that, wonderful experience and we're looking forward to going again soon :)

    Shrimp toast!! A must try!
    Shantel B.

    Can't recommend enough!! I love the ambiance and wide-open feel. The whole section with the seafood wall is so cool. All the food we tried was excellent, but by far and wide the SHRIMP TOAST is out of this world good and the best thing on the menu!

    Fried oyster appetizer. Tasted pretty good!

    Overall, the experience was just okay. Nothing stellar, but nothing bad. Entree portions and cocktails are small compared to restaurants with similar offerings and price point. Ambiance was kind of awkward as I was sat close to the bar during happy hour so people were hovering/standing close to our table since bar seats were full as happy hour is only at the bar which is a disappointment. Deviled egg potato salad and collard greens needed a lot more flavor, they fell very bland. I will give the seasoned saltines some love, those were wonderful. But we only received about 7 with the crab dip so had to ask for more.

    Oysters yeocomico

    Drinks were on point (kinsale 75, espresso martiki, and eternal sunshine) and the fried oysters with slaw were amazing. After that our food started to disappoint. Long wait for the rest of our food on a slower night (1/2 tables were full). Oysters with crumbs were extremely dry (too many breadcrumbs on top), lobster mac and cheese (special) had huge chunks of lobster which were as great but the mac n cheese was watery and just seemed like buttery noodles. The tuna skewers had some great pieces but most were overcooked. We did enjoy the chocolate chess pie at the end of the night. Overall we were disappoint but I'd go back for a happy hour just for the drinks and maybe try 1 or 2 things since the price did not seem worth it.

    cod plate
    Erica H.

    our crew LOVED the thoughtful staff, the shrimp toast (magical!), the alabama crab salad (bright and pickle-y), the cod platter, steamed shrimp (tasty peppers and onions), creative drinks, and believe it or not, ambrosia! it's not your 6th grade home ec class ambrosia, but a fascinating textural cloud of yums. the new space is a lively vibe!

    Shrimp toast

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    9 months ago

    The restaurant is very nice inside. We sat at the bar but I couldn't stay long. I will definitely be back to try some of the menu items!!!

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    Lillian

    Lillian

    4.6
    (47 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    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.

    Photos
    Seafood Tower
    Seafood Tower
    Lillian
    Miller high life with Aperol

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    Miller high life with Aperol
    Grandstaff & Stein

    Grandstaff & Stein

    4.0
    (346 reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    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.

    Photos
    Atmosphere and large table
    Atmosphere and large table
    Baked Brie
    Baked Brie
    Hidden bookshelf door

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    Hidden bookshelf door

    Bar Buoy - seafood - Updated July 2026

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