BRING YOUR WALLETS AND STRETCHY PANTS! We went as a corporate outing group of 5. The front door is a little tight cause as a popular spot there's a bunch of foot traffic. The lady at the front door was a bit staticky but she got us sat fairly quickly so we could deal with that. Vibes are all wooden, but not creaky. Could be a cool date spot, it was very casual so we were able to be a bit boisterous. Good place to chat and blend in. Service was great and friendly and attentive. The waitress we had always made sure our cups were full and we had napkins and what we needed. We didn't get any alcohol, I got an Arnold Palmer, the wife got a midtown. They were both pretty good, I don't know what the difference was but they slapped. Free refills on sweet tea was dope too! The food came out pretty fast for the portions and quality. The wings are a must get, get the large and if you don't finish air fry them back home (reheat is good) (I would get sauce on the side, we did buffalo). We got like a desert style cornbread with syrup and powdered sugar, not normally my jams but totally delicious (my coworker ordered, I am not into sweets; still 10/10). I had 2 buffalo shrimp and they were also good, I didn't get a flick but that's a safe pick. The mains are pricey (typical soul food prices) but fire!!! Portions were good but the quality of goods and meat are awesome. I eat at a lot of places, the quality was really high here so I think the price tag was fair. My wife got the catfish, I got the stuffed salmon. For our sides we got the greens, cabbage, and the Mac & cheese. I had a couple of things I personally like that I feel would have enhanced the meal but the overall outlook is that this is the place to go. The greens were salty as heck and didn't have like a turkey neck or smoked anything in it, could be a regional preference but that was missing for me. The cabbage was also cooked really well and didn't require much but had no sparkle. Great texture but the flavor wasn't there, I'm also Caribbean so maybe what I like is different, the crunch with a kick would have gone far and maybe some salt from the greens in there. The Mac and cheese was good, I like a creamier one but this will suffice tbh. Overall I'm going to give them a 8.9/10. I could have gotten the wrong things or went on an off day but they certainly delivered and the service was GREAT. I would deff revisit, it's got a lot of charm and personality. The staff were amicable and the bathrooms were clean. I would recommend this spot if you're visiting Richmond! read more

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Late to the party but here I BE! This little establishment with its wood floors, high booths and impressive black art seems crowded and tight BUT...once you get IN? You absolutely get why. Getting in is the trick. There is no waiting area. The bar is small and fully stocked. It took my family about 45 minutes to be seated. The dining room, wood and walls covered in beautiful paintings of black artwork filled with families celebrating and enjoying huge plates of southern cuisine. Our server, LENA was very helpful and friendly. She made sure we knew what was what. She was Awesome. Okay now this FOOD! So much food and everything hot and fresh. You'll be tempted to order an appetizer. I observed the portions and decided I couldn't eat all that... in a week. Definitely getting the fried oysters next time though. The "Fish Boat" comes with 2, 3 or 4 pieces of whiting. It's fried and the onion and pepper "sauce" is a mustardy, vinegar concoction that compliments the fish perfectly. You have your choice of two sides. Typical southern specialties. Collard greens (no pork added) were delicious, with a little kick; Candied Yams and a BRICK OF CORNBREAD. Light, soft sweet cornbread... my goodness. I don't think I can do this food the proper justice it deserves in this review. The chicken strips; the Alfredo were just as good. Even their version of an Arnold Palmer, (The Uptown) was done right. It's worth the drive and definitely worth the calories. If you love southern food, seafood with an ample serving of back in the day hospitality, (it's on the PLATE) stop by and come hungry. My family said it tasted like Thanksgiving. Family cooking seasoned with love. That's exactly right. Oh! GET THE CAKE... for later read more

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This is a small restaurant packed with authentic seafood dishes. Each meal tastes like it's made with love and the portion sizes are huge! It's easily two meals worth of food per plate. The staff are friendly. The food is fantastic. The desserts are great too. I tried a bean pie for the first time and let me tell you.. Baby! I don't ever need sweet potato pie again because this bean pie was out of this world. The energy of the people and staff is through the roof and this is what Richmond and Va. is known for ...good seafood! Come check them out for yourself! This will be my go-to restaurant whenever I'm in Richmond!!!! read more

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Our server, Tawanna B. is CLEARLY overwhelmed. Our beverages came well after our food, which came after at least a 1.5 hour wait. I met my family here after a breakfast meeting so I was not hungry. My husband ordered the wing appetizer and since I had not been here before, he gave me one to try and a piece of his cornbread. I asked Tawanna for a small plate. After about 5 minutes, I asked her again for a small plate. She replied in a snappy way with a lot of attitude, "It's 3.99 for plate sharing ma'am!" Needless to say, you can keep the plate for 1 wingette and a fork full of cornbread. At the end of our visit, we received separate checks which was ok but why not put the parties who are together on their one check. My husband paid cash since there is a slight discount for cash. When I went to the restroom, Tawanna came to him and said he had not paid. He told her he paid cash. she replied, " Are you sure?" Overall, for a restaurant that was not busy, the wait for our food was extremely too long and the service leaves a lot to be desired. As for the food, I only tasted the 1 wing and cornbread (on a napkin, SMH). In my opinion the cornbread was rubbery. The wing was a bit salty for my taste. I ordered a peach bread pudding to go. I have not tasted it yet. On a positive note, the non-refillable sparkling lemonade was delicious. FYI... They charge a transaction fee, I guess if you use a card, and gratuity was also included, not earned. (It may have been included since we had a table of eight.) We drove out of our way to come here at the recommendation of a family member. I will not be recommending and probably not returning. But they must be doing something right with many years in the business. read more

I made my order while driving from the south. I ordered two dinners: 1) fish, Mac, and cornbread; and 2) crab cakes, collards, cabbage, and toasted garlic bread. Also, they gave me a container of onions. The crab cakes were scorched and garlic bread was not toasted. While the person who took my order was polite and helpful, the person who packed my order was not. This young women chastised me for selecting a slice of cake that was on the counter closer to me than her. It was packaged, so I selected a chocolate slice. She said to me, with attitude, you are not suppose to touch the cakes. I replied, I selected a slice. She repeated herself. Unnoticed, was a sign under the cakes not to touch them. If they do not want customers to crab a container of slice cakes, they need to come up with a better way of displaying them where it's more obvious that staff needed to hand them to customers. When, I made my order I was told that my receipt would be in the bag. It was not. With the slice of cake, my bill was $70+. This was too expensive. Plus, they charged me extra for tin container. I was traveling another hour to Woodbridge and wanted the food secured. Croaker's Spot, was not very hospitable. read more

Croaker's Spot - 1st dinner - Soul Food Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Croaker's Spot is still a go-to for Southern soul food with real history behind it. My lady had the fried chicken with collard greens and cheese grits -- crispy, well-seasoned, and done right. I ordered the fried shrimp and had them buffaloed -- do that. The crisp texture with the added heat works perfectly. My sides were the yams and mac and cheese, and both were standouts -- tender, flavorful yams and creamy, well-balanced mac. The cornbread is borderline dessert, but still grab a slice of cake to-go. Service was solid. Just be prepared for tight street parking. read more

This review is difficult but necessary. First of all my family love this restaurant. The food,service, and atmosphere is Usually Perfect, but Sunday was different. Our server, Angelina, was NOT friendly or efficient in her job. She didn't tell us her name, and it would've been professional or at least nice for her to apologize for the almost 2hrs wait to get our food. Another server refilled our drinks,I guess noticing our glasses were near empty and appeared that we didn't have a server. Not to mention the restaurant was FREEZING. We all had on jackets that didn't help. All of this crushed our Amazing Croaker Spot experience that we're use to. The Food WAS hot, flavorful as always,but the chef needs to use a precise cutter for that delicious cornbread, All pieces should be the same. (instead of adult and child size pieces) All regular customers can't wait to see that delicious dessert tray at the end of your meal. That's another part of the Croaker Spot's experience, Every Regular Guests highlight ! Awaiting for that large round tray of desserts being offered by your server. Sunday was the FIRST time that we didn't get offered. Even though I waited a very long time in that COLD restaurant and POOR service, I did my usual, tipped her well. Again, this is my first unpleasant experience here. read more

Croaker's Spot - 2pc fried fish boat ( there's always an extra piece) - Soul Food Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Still a tasty place originally located in Downtown Richmond/Jackson Ward with Eggleston's famous fish boats, Croaker Spot is a great place for southern soul food classics. My mom got the blackened chicken with cabbage and cheese grits. Both plates came with a big piece of fluffy cornbread. Food and service are solid. Only thing missing was the buttery toast from the old paper "boats". Parking can be difficult (street parking only) and it gets busy at times. read more

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The service was great. The restaurant itself ambience was nice. I loved the pictures on the wall. The oyster appetizer what's good. We had to send the muscle appetizer back because it was so oily and greasy, You just could not eat it.. everyone enjoyed their platters. The fish was well seasoned and the macaroni and cheese was very good. The cornbread was the largest portion I've ever seen. I thought it would be sweet, but it wasn't the big back of me. Wanted it to be sweet.. If I was ever in town again, I would return for the fried fish. read more

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Ate here for the first time this week and will definitely return. The staff here are incredibly friendly, efficient, and welcoming. The food is authentic, and there's a wide array of options. Great ambiance: it felt like a local family diner, good vibes all around. read more

Croaker's Spot - Soul Food Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

The greeter patiently explained some of the most popular dishes on the menu. The food was good. read more

My 1st time here. The staff greeted us friendly. Our waitress was very nice. The environment was casual. We ordered the Ultimate feast. The fish was seasoned well also the scallops. The shrimp were salty . The cornbread was delightful. Now the collard greens and cabbage were very flavored. I just didn't like all the stems in the collard greens. Didn't care for the macaroni and cheese. It was like they cooked it and it was just a bunch of cheese. The cheesy grits were ok. The half and half was sooo good. I drank it to fast! I would come back again because the food was tasty! read more

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Hull St Location will always feel like "Home" when you drop in. The customer service & atmosphere are always top notch, you are guaranteed to make friends with the employees or run into someone you know. food is always cooked to perfection, fav dish's would include the smothered chicken, fried wings , and Cornbread. they have multiple variations of there sweet tea & lemonades to choose from. Would recommend a reservation because it does get pretty busy especially during the weekend! read more

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Love this spot! Been here several times and always enjoyed myself. Good nightlife scene!

I placed an order over the phone and was left on hold for 15 minutes- that honestly should have been my first warning sign. I was told the order would be ready in 20 minutes but it ended up taking over an hour. The entire experience was extremely frustrating. The staff came across as unprofessional, disorganized, and lacking basic customer service etiquette. There was no sense of urgency, communication, or accountability. Overall, this was a very disappointing experience, and I wouldn't recommend this place if you value your time or expect even a minimal level of professionalism. read more

Passing through once again & had to stop in for lunch! You know, Croaker's really should come to New Jersey! We have the perfect spot, we need good places like this in our town! read more

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This place was very nice portions was more than filling. I went on a Sunday night just before closing and I expected black folks closing hospitality but I got 5 star service the young lady who took my order was well knowledgeable about the menu as well as the facility I will definitely have to come back and do a sit down meal thanks again croaker spot you knocked it out the park read more

I was excited to try this spot because it's been a while that I had soul food. We were seated 7m before brunch was over being that there was a 40m wait. We quickly ordered. I asked for the fish and grits. The amount of food is very plentiful. I think I took less than 10 bites and I was already full lol. Before the food arrived, the manager of the day came to apologize for how long the food was taking because they were short on cooks. I thought that was really great of her to do so. Haven't had a manager ever do that. The catfish was cooked to perfection. Seasoned just right. I wasn't quite a fan of the cheese grits. It was grainy. The mimosas were good. Our server gave the most excellent service I had ever had. It's a pretty loud environment. Staff were friendly. Whenever I make it back to Richmond, I'll definitely drop in. read more

Croaker's Spot - Fish and Grits (Brunch) - Soul Food Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Excellent soul food. Great service and relaxed atmosphere. Portions were plentiful and price reasonable. Nice place to people watch ... just be careful crossing the street. read more

While visiting my family in Richmond, I was told this place had great Catfish, people my mouth had an epiphany. OMG, my taste Buds and eyes lit up. The presentation and food was beautiful. I had the cornbread, cabbage, Catfish potatoes and lemonade . People please go and get a plate to go for family.. I had leftovers. Oh, the young hostess gave me a brief history, that this restaurant has been in business for 24 years and is black owned. That was a hugh plus and extra stars for them. Thank you for the beautiful service and friendly family atmosphere. I will be back on my next visit prayerfully. Rosa Davis read more

Croaker's Spot - Catfish, cabbage, yams and lemonade - Soul Food Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Moistest, most flavorful, succulent catfish ever with scrumptious sides to boot! Cooks know, if you don't want to make it yourself but want it just right.,,at its best...the place to go is Croaker's Spot! read more

Croaker's Spot - Fried Catfish dinner with sides - Soul Food Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

My family & I used to make drives to Richmond for Croaker's Spot every Sunday, especially when they first opened. I love the overall ambiance of this restaurant and the art. I cannot deny how absolutely delicious the food is here. I highly recommend the twin crab cake dinner. The crab cakes are soft & lump but I do wish that they were bigger, the baked mac & cheese is so rich sometimes they give it to you in a block, and the collard greens are seasoned so well (which is hard to come by). The cornbread is is so moist and sweet, I could eat it every day. There are long waiting times at times, sometimes so long that you could run some nearby errands, come back, & you still have a little bit of a wait. The service is friendly but slow at times as well, I've once waited on my meal for over 30 minutes. I've called before to ask if there was a long wait for a party of 5 & was told there was no wait, came in not even 10 minutes after the call & had to wait over 40 minutes for a table. The parking at this location is bad, and it may take you a while to find a good spot within walking distance. I'd rate the food 5/5 & the service 3/5. I do hope that they do work towards improving that, as it could be something that deters newcomers away, it can make or break the experience in my opinion. I loved coming to this location specifically, I've gone to Petersburg & old Norfolk location, and the Richmond location is still my favorite, the food and service are better here. Though I no longer dine in & choose to take my food to go, I do still recommend this place if you're looking for some good southern soul food. read more

Croaker's Spot - Twin Crab Cake Dinner - Soul Food Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

The staff were excellent! Very friendly and attentive. However, the food was disappointing. The famous fish boat was so full of tiny bones, I couldn't enjoy it; having one get caught in my throat. The crab cakes were dry and the crab meat tasted of low quality. The crab stuffed salmon had so much butter & garlic, that's all I could taste. It overpowered the dish completely and, again, the crabmeat tasted low quality. The sides were delicious (cabbage, candied yams, grits & their famous cornbread). This place has such a welcoming vibe that makes you feel like family but, unfortunately, the food fell short. read more

Croaker's Spot - Crab Stuffed Salmon w/candied Side Yams - Soul Food Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

We showed up with a party of six right when they opened on Sunday. All of us tried the flight of mimosas, which were very sweet. My partner got the Shrimp and Grits and I got the Fish and grits. It is a lot of food and I felt like it could easily have been split between us. I was underwhelmed with the food. I wish the menu had biscuits and gravy. We would have talked longer but our server asked us to leave behind cause they needed the table, this timing isn't advertised anywhere. There was also no one waiting. They charge an auto tip for the table or 15%. Which was low for most auto tips. I hate being auto tipped. Also, I know the whole table would have tipped more. read more

Croaker's Spot - Brunch Menu Aug 2024 - Soul Food Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

The food was amazing and very good customer service I can't wait to go again , and you get plenty of food for your money . I love it sooooo delicious . read more

Server was great,, food was good, nice size portions,atmosphere was ok.i did experience a few unsanitary issues but over all I enjoyed my meal! read more

Loved this place. Great sense of community here. The cooks know what they're doing and I think they're long standing tried-and-true. I had the fish po' boy, and I'm craving another one right now. read more

I had the best service this year right at Croaker Spot. I came with my mom for a girls night out and we had such a great time. Our server, Josh, was so pleasant and answered all of our questions. I asked for a few recommended dishes and he did not disappoint. Our food was amazing. We ordered the seafood platter and could not eat all of it in one sitting. The scallops and shrimp were so delicious.The fish was fried to perfection. The Mac n cheese was worth the up charge. The greens were tasty. We enjoyed the cornbread. We wanted dessert but were too full to even think about it. This is definitely a southern restaurant with amazing cooks. Oh, the uptown, the half tea and lemonade was amazing!!! We will be back!! read more

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This was out 1st time here and OMG was the food amazing!! The service was great, our waitress, YaYa, was attentive and friendly read more

Croaker's Spot - The catfish dinner. - Soul Food Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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I drove all the way from Mass to come test out what I was told is some of the best soul food around. It started off pretty dicey with waitress attitude accommodating a large party and having to wait for a couple of people to party but once the food came out it was like her whole souls shifted and was great! The food itself was amazing. The manager sent over an extra cornbread app due to us waiting which was nice. The cornbread itself is something to write home about except the app was over powered by the cherry juice it was much better on the meals without it. The fish and chickens were well seasoned. The sides were huge and delicious (specifically the Mac and cheese and sweet potatoes). The fish had bones which caught me off guard but didn't affect the flavor and the portions. At first I was not happy reading the prices on the menu but then the portions came out and made much better sense. I walked away impressed and happy and with left overs which is always a good sign!! read more

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Back In town for a few days. The 3pc fish boat never disapoints. The food was good!! I will always stop here when im in town. read more

Croaker's Spot - 3PC Fish Boat - Soul Food Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Croaker Spot - Richmond (4/5) As a DMV girl, I didn't know much about Richmond, but I have to say, I was pleasantly impressed by Croaker Spot! From the moment we walked in, the ambience just made you feel like old town , the customer service was on point - shoutout to all the ladies working - you made our experience amazing! My iced tea glass was never empty, and that sweet tea... now that was some next-level, grandma-approved goodness. I'm still thinking about it. Now, let's talk about the food. First of all, pay the extra for the catfish - you won't be disappointed. I had the combo with fried shrimp and fried fish.Normally, I'm not a fan of fried shrimp, but these were amazing. The my fried fish was okay, definitely get the onions and peppers. My friend ordered the Catfish , and that was the winner in my book. The cabbage was solid, the cornbread was buttery perfection, and the grits were so-so (but honestly, I've had better). The potatoes were pretty good too. If you're ever in Richmond, this spot is definitely worth the drive! I'll be back next time I'm in town. read more

Croaker's Spot - Soul Food Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Great atmosphere- was immediately greeted upon arrival. The food / server did take a while but the food was worth it in my opinion. I had 4 other people with me and we all got different food. The food was FRESH, FLAVORFUL, and FULFILLING. Only cons were the drinks ( sweet teas & lemonades ) The sweet teas weren't sweet and very bitter and the lemonades were very tart and there were a lot of flies buzzing around which i get - but it became overwhelming when our food came and we were constantly swatting them away Overall would go again and most likely order it to go :) read more

Croaker's Spot - Bourbon St Pasta - Soul Food Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I'm disappointed. I really craved some good mac today and the mac I received was below subpar. It doesn't taste at all like the Mac i've had from croakers before. For me to pay $31.86 for two SIDES mac's and two SIDES greens , i would have hope it tasted at least edible and not like oil and a unmelted block of cheese . read more

Croaker's Spot - Large Side Mac Large - Soul Food Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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One of my favorite soul food spots, hands down. The food always hits. I highly recommend the Oysters Rockefeller-- rich, flavorful, and seasoned just right. My go-to is the blackened chicken with mac and cheese and cabbage. Every bite feels like home. It's a tight space inside, definitely has that hole-in-the-wall vibe, but it's worth the visit. Service can be hit or miss depending on the day, but it's never terrible. If you're looking for solid soul food with real flavor, Croaker's Spot delivers every time. read more

The best dining experience I've had in Richmond so far. All of the staff were super friendly, the server looked like he was the only one on the floor and was doing a great job. He gave me a great recommendation as well. The food was perfect and we really appreciated the large portion sizes too. Halfway through our meal the manager came up to our table, thanked us for coming in and asked us if we were enjoying our food, it was really sweet. Overall super good vibe in there. We definitely wanna come back and try some of the drinks too! read more

Croaker's Spot - Soul Food Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Croaker spot is a staple in the restaurant community and very delicious! However, the To Go / Pick up side of the restaurant is super busy and there is not enough space for staff and patrons, let alone the orders that need to be bagged. Plus the wait time is a bit long. I say this as a customer and food delivery personnel. It would be great for them to expand if possible, by placing the To Go service in a bigger separate space. read more

My daughter had an event at VCU and we decided to meet for dinner. The wait was over 45 minutes, but the food was well worth it.

I have been to A LOT of soul food restaurants in my life and this by far is thee best. I had the fried shrimp and fish platter The shrimp and fish were season to perfection. The collard greens and yams were delicious. It's enough for 2 hungry people . If ever in the area or even passing through this will definitely be a stop worth making. Of and I had desert to go. Pineapple and coconut cake. Yummy. read more

Croaker's Spot - Fried fish and shrimp platter. - Soul Food Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Customer service is not good at all. We were told we couldn't sit in the upstairs area unless we made a reservation that would be $150-$200 per hour. I guess they really don't know the fee because we got 2 different quotes. And I was there 4 months prior and the group I was with didn't pay a few to be to be upstairs. I also have an issue with being told that once we ordered our food that 2 of our guest who were running. A few minutes behind wouldn't be able to order once we had placed our orders. That doesn't make sense it's a restaurant shouldn't you be able to order as much as you want? The food was much better on my first visit than it was Saturday. read more