I dig it the most. It's a mix of local diner with that trendy feel you want when taking photos of your breakfast to show your friends you're living a better life than they are. Eggs, biscuits, cooked meat from various animals -- all the classics. The menu is fun, ranging from pigs in a blanket to a very typical omelet. It's the kind of place you want to take your girlfriend after her first sleepover. It's not hidden and it's not a secret. If you live in Richmond, you know Dot's. IF you dont know Dot's, you dont live here, you must be a guest. The walls are packed with quirky art, and the crowd ranges from longtime regulars who look like they've had the same barstool since 1995 to first-timers who can't believe they've been sleeping on this place. It's cozy without being cramped -- loud enough to feel alive but you can still have a real conversation. The food is the real story. The menu is creative American comfort -- the kind of cooking that sounds simple until it arrives and you realize someone in that kitchen actually cares. Brunch is especially strong. The biscuits are not to be missed. Neither is whatever the daily special happens to be, because they clearly put thought into it. read more

Enjoyed a friend's Birthday dinner at Dot Back Inn. We arrived a 4PM just before the dinner rush and got a booth quickly however the booth seats have no padding and are extremely uncomfortable. Next time we'll choose a table with padded chairs! We've eaten at Dots before so I decided to switch things up from my usual and have the Chicken MacArthur for $19.00 (Sautéed Chicken, Artichokes, Onions, Garlic, Tomatoes, Feta and a White Wine Sauce over Spaghetti). While it was good the spaghetti was undercooked and lacked artichokes!! Have to say in was unremarkable! Don't get me wrong we love Dots so we'll definitely be back!! read more

See all

Had dinner here with a few friends before heading out to some live music. This place is an old and established location with indoor and outdoor parking. It is kind of a dive diner. Food was good and service was ok. I think we all had burgers and they were pretty good. Street parking only read more

Dots Back Inn - Diners Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Delicious food and great service! Had a cajun burger, the special- fried oysters poboy, hibiscus mocktale mule, and their famous limeade. The drinks were refreshing and food was amazing! Will definitely be back. read more

They had the best cheddar cheese burger I have had in years. I even ate the whole thing . The burger was large and cooked to a perfect medium It was so tender and tasty. I selected their home style fries which were also delicious. A dill pickle came with it and the whole order was so satisfying. The service was very friendly. I called it in. It was ready soon after I arrived into their cool bar area. I'd like to go there for a meal next time to experience their neighborhood charm ambiance. I was very impressed read more

The home fries are just as good as the down home service. This is my absolute favorite chill spot. Even when I don't want food, I can chill on the front patio or at the bar. The burgers are better than the burgers on Marshall and 27th. LOL (and that place is walking distance for me, I have to drive to Dot's) read more

See all

Great place for a dinner with family. Prices are great and wide selection on the menu. We came the week of Thanksgiving and it was packed so service was understandably slow as it would be anywhere this time of year. We really enjoyed our meal here. Highly recommend. read more

Dots Back Inn - Turkey Reuben - Diners Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

See all

It's a Richmond institution for a reason. Love this place all the time. The Sailor is lovely, and so are the fried.

What's not to love? I went to Dot's way back in the day and had to make a stop there right away when I moved back to RVA. Our food was great, service was attentive and prompt, prices are reasonable and the vibe is still super cool, even after all these years! Thanks for still being here Dot's! read more

Dots Back Inn - Love the vibe! - Diners Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I had a beyond burger and it was fine. The fries were average. My child had grilled cheese and fries nothing spectacular. The place is small and cluttered. It's cute but over packed. The waitress was nice and there was not a long wait for a Saturday afternoon. I would not come back though. Ever! There is no diversity. At all read more

See all

That is always a great place to eat if you want down home cooking in good sandwiches and a nice atmosphere. People are very friendly and the service is top-notch eat here as much as possible. read more

Been twice now, have sat both inside and outside and each time with a group (5 outside and 7 inside). Inside is definitely more sensory overload noise wise and harder to have conversation. Though the outside space when full might be similar, the night we were there we were the only table. Servers were fantastic both times (once was the owner!) and menu is huge and lots of variety. Had a burger which was excellent the first time and today biscuits and gravy which was good, the biscuit was phenomenal on its own! It's got so much character and love the location and vibe so will def be back. Plus have friends who are regulars so clearly it's a great place!! read more

Stopped here as it's a DDD! Food was ok. Dessert was better. I was puzzled by the receipt as it had a meals tax. Ive never heard of that, made the bill almost ten percent higher. Service was not the greatest either, I went the last half of my meal without a drink refill. read more

See all

This place wasn't at all what we expected. We went because of seeing it on tv with Guy Fieri. I'll start with the one positive: The staff was extremely nice and attentive. That was the only thing we liked. Both mine and my husband's eggs were cold. The breakfast potatoes were cold. The corned beef hash wasn't at all like I have had anywhere else. It was more like two little burgers that tasted like meatloaf with green pepper. We really wanted to like this place but unfortunately all we liked were the people. read more

See all

I am so sad that this place was very..... not good. The service was decent, but the food was not. We got the chili cheese fries as an appetizer, and I know chili is generally prepared with a bit of cinnamon, but it was all I could taste and it was not good. My friend had a dish that was prepared with bourbon, and it tasted awful and like chemicals as the cook didn't let it simmer off. We informed the server, and she said the cook was new and probably didn't know what he was doing with that dish. She took it back and my friend ordered a different menu item; the new item was okay, but it didn't come with all of the ingredients the dish listed on the menu. Maybe we hit this place on an off day, but I am in no hurry to eat here again. read more

Finally made it to Dot's Back Inn! Food's good, with a nice varies menu. The service was good, but boy o boy, is it loud! Parking can be tricky along MacArthur read more

See all

Came in during brunch time and was seated right away. The service here is kind and attentive. Very hospitable and welcoming. 10/10 on the servers. The food was just ok. We got the pancakes - they weren't entirely cooked through resulting in this battery taste, side of bacon that came in pieces, side of fries and Huevos Rancheros with their chili. We both left with upset stomachs the only thing we shared was the Huevos Rancheros. The fries were killer though, and reminded me of Arby's curly fries. Would probably come here again but would the other items on the menu - I would advise people against the chili. read more

I have been coming here for years and have seen how they've continued to grow. The patio is my favorite spot of this restaurant! It has a cover option so when the weather is bad, you don't have to worry about getting wet. There is also heating and air in it so you're always comfortable. Sitting on the patio is a good bit quieter than inside if you don't like noise. The staff are always super friendly and quick to help you. I've never had to ask how much longer for the food or flag someone down for help. The food is delicious! Their daily specials have let me try some amazing things (if you see the brussel sprouts appetizer with sweet chili sauce, you must try it! I don't even like Brussels) and if there's nothing I want from there, they have a huge selection on their menu. My go to is the chicken pesto pasta and the chili cheese fries. If you need a dessert, the muffin with ice cream is so so good! They have a decent selection of drinks as well. This is a little hidden gem and a must try for RVA! read more

Great service. Lots of food. Plenty of shrimp on the potatoes. Husband got the sailor sandwich as it was a recommendation from server. He enjoyed it. read more

Dots Back Inn - Shrimp broccoli loaded baked potatoes - Diners Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Started off with "Stuck on You" cocktail, ordered grilled ham and cheese with spicy potato salad....fire!!! So good. Husband ordered one eye burger and said you gotta taste these fries, all of it so good! Cool neighborhood vibe, friendly service! Will definitely be back!! read more

This one falls under the category of "how could I have gone THIS LONG without writing a review of this place?" Dot's Back Inn is a dining mainstay in the Bellevue area. The food is always good -- have never had anything I was disappointed by. Over the years I have had burgers, fish, fancy salads, great sandwiches, and awesome specials. As time goes on I will come back and update my write up to talk about other meals, but today I need to hit on a special one. RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE SOFT SHELL CRABS! AT LUNCH! This seasonal delicacy is only available for a few weeks or so each year. And a lot of restaurants go and ruin things by putting their own touch on these babies -- thai softshells, tex mex softshells, whatever. Such approaches completely ignore the beauty of simplicity -- buttermilk soaked, breaded, fried. Stick it on a sandwich, a benedict, or a fork. Dot's understands -- and boy are these things great. Delicately seasoned, good tartar sauce if you like, nice bread that doesn't fall apart under it. And generous tots or wedges... see the pics. Also on the table today was cajun red beans and rice with andouille. Also very good, but the spice level was too low to call it cajun. Still delish. Good service, lousy street parking (it's a busy area) and a real neighborhood vibe. Happy hour golden bevs are $2 for 10 oz draft, $3 domestics, $4 mixed. read more

See all

I am a whole food eater, so Dots is not to my taste. Everything tastes canned or processed. The presentation is nice, but it doesn't taste fresh or alive. The people I was with seemed to enjoy it though, so if you are a mainstream diet kind of person, I think you will like it well enough. read more

Heard many things about this place, finally tried and wow, it did not disappoint, friendly fast service, LARGE quantity of food, excellent and tasty. Cozy restaurant with outdoor seating. We will definitely go back. read more

My wife and I stopped in on a road trip because we saw it on Triple D. My wife got a cheese burger with fries and I got the meat loaf special with collards and mash potatoes. Overall the food was great. The only complaint we had was that her burger bun was kinda soggy so she ended up not finishing it. We loved the old school atmosphere and vibes. Will definitely stop by again when we are passing through. read more

Dots Back Inn - Cheese burger and fries - Diners Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

See all

While street parking is limited, it wasn't a problem getting parked. This place was packed and we got the last table, seated by friendly staff. The atmosphere is casual but comfortable. It has a neighborhood favorite feel to it. I had the grilled andouille with spicy red potato salad (not too spicy but very good) while my wife had a Hot Julie. She loved it. If I'm in Richmond again I will definitely go back. read more

See all

I've been exploring the local area during my summer vacation and was in search of a great grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup. Well, I found it - Dot's Back Inn! I ordered the Adult Grilled Cheese sandwich and soup of the day - tomato basil. With the sandwich, you get your choice white or rye bread - I chose rye. You also get your choice of cheese - American, cheddar, Swiss, provolone - I chose Swiss. The combo of rye and melted Swiss was heavenly, complimented by the savory tomato basil soup. As far as other aspects of the restaurant go, there are a few things worth mentioning. The place is super small - crammed, noisy indoor seating (I'm surprised it passes a fire inspection with the very limited aisle room) and a bit more seating on the enclosed porch. The service is super slow and maybe not top notch. My server brought me a cup of soup with my sandwich when I asked for the bowl. When i inquired about my bowl of soup she said she would just bring me another cup of soup. It never came nor did a bowl of it. She never refilled my glass of Diet Coke - the hostess came over and asked if I needed a refill when I was finished eating and wanted the check. I let her know I needed the bill and I would love a drink refill. She flagged down my server who brought my check a few minutes later. The decor is nothing fancy and is pretty old. The bathroom is barely big enough to close the door and sit on the toilet seat or wash your hands at the sink. Despite these shortcomings, the place was packed. I think the draw here is the food and the laid back atmosphere. If you're looking for ambience and optimal service, you may want to keep looking. read more

See all

Been trying to come here for a couple years. We took our son to Arc Park in the morning for some outdoor fun and came here for lunch. This is my kind of spot. Local, great interior and staff. Enjoyed a BLT with chips. I'd like to come back in the evening and sit at the bar for some drinks. read more

Dots Back Inn - Blt Sandwich - Diners Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

So it's July 2020 and we're now in phase 3 of the coronavirus pandemic. I'm in a Facebook group entitled RVA Dine & Drink that's exploded since Covid began. Dots has posted their menu there a few times and I've been intrigued. The other night, I was at a loss for what to eat, plugged their name into my GPS, and made the 7-minute drive over to Bellevue. Dots has an old-timey, no-nonsense feel inside with a large patio outside. Friendly servers; semi open kitchen; looks like it's been there for ages. Probably has been. I ordered a cheesesteak and upgraded my side to fries, added mayo for dipping. Oh, my gosh. I had to make a point to tell the server how incredible that sandwich was. As a former Philly area transplant, it's been so dang hard to find a good cheesesteak here. That one blew it out of the park. And those fries (wedges)! Wow. Totally impressed. For dessert I also had a blueberry muffin ice cream sandwich, which was just as amazing as it sounds. Dinner was super affordable too. I'll 1,000% be back. read more

I sadly didn't take any pictures, but you'll be able to see those on other reviews. Sorry about that. I went here on a Wednesday at around 7 with my mother. She's got a rollator which is one of those fancy walkers with wheels. I got an andouille sandwich with their spicy potatoes salad. The sandwich was much more than food than I expected. I was quite full afterword. It was two sausages cheese melted on a toasted bun with onions. Excellent meal that I was hesitant to try. The potato salad was great. Better than my mom's but not quite as good as Garnett's. My mom got a hamburger with only onions it's her typical fare with the red skin potatoes. I tried her potatoes and they were good. Her hamburger was pretty boring but she liked it. I think they could have made the beef patties bigger for the price but we had a good meal. Staff was very friendly and accommodating. The meals came out in a reasonable time. The place is very cute and unique. It's a smaller establishment with a covered patio. The place is handicap accessible but would be difficult with a wheel chair. My mom did fine with her rollator. No steps or anything to get over. The bathrooms are tiny but I think that's due to the age of the establishment. If I'm in the area would definitely return. Great food, staff, and atmosphere. read more

Aaahhh! It kills me to give this restaurant two starts because there is a lot to like. So here's the deal: Dots is an old school diner that has maintained the elements of its 1940s heritage. Ambiance is nostalgic and fun with the same look and feel it had decades ago. They have added a few strategically placed TVs for sports fans looking to catch a game but not enough to change the feel or make it into a sport bar. Indoor seating consists of tables, booths and bar seating, able to accommodate smaller sized parties. They also have covered outdoor seating, tent enclosed in winter months. Service was friendly and there were plenty of staff who seemed to share overall wait coverage as we had different people wait, serve and refill. This ensured we never lacked for drinks or anything else we needed. Unfortunately the let down here and the reason for the low stars was for the food. We ordered fries with chili and cheese which was good. Chili here has cinnamon in it which I thought added nicely to the flavor. For entree I ordered a Ruben sandwich. I m sad to report that it is the worst Ruben I've ever had. The bread was fried and I think the oil that the restaurant uses had started turning because it had a distinct and unpleasant fish flavor. The corned beef on my sandwich was also grilled and was overcooked to the point I could not bite through the meat. I had a really hard time cutting it with utensils and gave up on it - the sandwich was not edible. I ate the coleslaw side, which was good, and left the sandwich whole. My wife ordered a chicken sandwich and her bun was also fried and it had the same fishy taste issue, which led us to believe the cause was likely the grill oil. She ate the chicken and left the bun. When the waitress brought our check she noticed I did not eat any of the Ruben. She did not address it or even ask if I wanted a to-go box which I thought was odd. Hoping for a different food experience I will give Dots another try at some point (maybe stick to a burger) as I really like the uniqueness of this restaurant and the service was good. Note: Dots is located in a small group of restaurants with only street parking available. It can make for a parking challenge and a bit of a walk. read more

Great food and very friendly service. Highly recommend for casual dining. Reliable neighborhood lunch place. read more

I live near Dot's and i have been going there regularly for over 30 years .. love the atmosphere, good service, and the food is still good too .. i really like it, but i do not like it as much now that the prices have recently DOUBLED !! read more

Love this entire little block. It's like a mini carytown in this quiet Northside neighborhood. I've been here for a work lunch and loved it so I brought my Mom to brunch. We were sat out the patio almost immediately and the service was great! Food was fantastic and we both enjoyed the recommended spicy bloody Mary's. Will be back again for drinks now that the weather is warming up. You'll love the patio and outdoor spaces. read more

Dots Back Inn - Big breakfast with a side of Bloody Mary! - Diners Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Staff is very friendly and personable foods good! But the service and the smiles make it worth the stop

Dots is almost always my go-to these days. It's not fancy, but the food is amazing, the service is friendly, and it's usually fairly easy to get a table. Sitting on the porch in mild weather is especially pleasant. Their specials are always the best! read more

We enjoyed this place the first time we went but none of us (4) liked it today. Dots' has great service and is definitely geared towards servers, as it's named after a lady who waitresses there for many years. But the food just wasn't very good today. They are known for their burgers. Two of our family members ordered burgers and neither one particularly liked them. They said they lacked flavor and my husband wasn't a fan of the jarred jalapenMy daughter ordered the club sandwich and only ate one of the segments. She said it was blah. I ordered the Greek salad with the anchovies and found it, especially the dressing, underwhelming. The dressing was more sweet than vinegary, which was odd for a Greek dressing. With all of the great food choices in Richmond, I'm not sure we'll be back. read more

My partner and I have been wanting to try Dots Back Inn for a while. It is a small restaurant with almost always a wait during rush hour. Luckily we were able to find seats at the bar. The overall vibe and aesthetic is very cute and fun. In terms of the food, some items were better than others. We ordered the onion rings as an appetizer and we were pretty disappointed; they were bland and seemed frozen. I got the Italian sub and overall it was really good. Pro tip - I suggest getting the Italian dressing on the side because it made the sub super messy and soggy. My partner ordered the steak and cheese. He was really happy with how much meat was included but disappointed that they used American (or maybe cheddar) cheese instead of provolone like the menu listed. We both got a side of fries which my partner loved. I thought they were good but wish they would have been described as "home fries" because they ended up being potatoes, not French fries. We shared a piece of the cheddar and jalopeno corn bread which I thought was delicious, maybe the best part of the meal. My partner liked it but was disappointed that they heat it up in a microwave. We each ended with a slice of the Elvis pie which I thought was delicious. All in all, the experience was decent, I'd give it a 6.5/10. We won't be rushing back but would like to return at some point to try other menu items. Oh and I love that they offer some non alcoholic beer options! read more

See all

The quintessential greasy spoon diner in MacArthur Ave. Gets busy for Sunday brunch but the food is great. I usually go for the eggs Benedict but last time I got the fish sandwich and it was awesome. Staff is super friendly and quick. read more

Good service and great food. The staff is highly engaged and have a nice welcoming attitude.

Eating indoors with friends and a big cockroash was climbing up the wall where my friend was sitting. It was fast and went into the wall. I was always told that when you see 1 cockroash there are many more. The food, coleslaw, potato salad and tuna salad tasted like it was sitting outside too long! Told waitress about cockroash. She didn't state I am so sorry or I will tell manager. She said nothing. Gave us a look like oh well! I won't be eating there after seeing the cockroach! read more