Great neighborhood diner! It's a little divey but I think that's part of its charm. The portions here are HUGE so come hungry or at least with friends who can help you finish your meal. I usually sit at the bar and enjoy conversations with the staff at the counter. It's definitely a spot where the locals go and the staff knows them by name. It can get a little tight when it's full so be mindful if you have a large party. read more

So I've been here several times over the last few years and I loved it but the last time I went for a weekday breakfast this last week it was pretty terrible. The service was spotty although our server did make a fresh pot of coffee for us(which was so weak it tasted like hot water) but it seemed like we waited forever for our orders to be taken and for food to get to the table and it wasn't even really busy. I ordered the Colorado omelet which a Western omelet with salsa apparently. Not really anything to write home about. My potatoes had a good flavor to them but were kinda rubbery and clearly had been sitting out a long time. Like hours and then reheated. And my biscuit was soggy and pretty bland. Still, I love the atmosphere so I might be willing to give it another try for lunch or dinner. read more

I obsessively love Dot's. It's a diner with some solid offerings for amazing prices. You can't beat their burgers for value. Great late night craving options, including tater tots. Finally went for breakfast a few months ago and that was also a great deal. read more

Wasn't impressed... Burger was average & the rice pudding was not worth the $5 for less than a 1/2 cup. A lil overpriced read more

Food is decent. Setting isn't wonderful. Came here on lunch once, came back to the office smelling a bit greasy. But food was worth it. Got a chicken sandwich and would definitely go back. Definitely a place to add to your list to try! read more

Came here for the first time the other morning for breakfast. The coffee was great and so was the food! I had a hash with eggs, apples, and a biscuit. The apples were yummy and weirdly tasted like vanilla ice cream or something? Nonetheless- very tasty. Will definitely return to check out the cheap happy hour and dinner options! read more

One of my favorite places to dine in RVA. They have a great menu with a variety of salads, sandwiches and entrees and a full bar with a great selection of beer. I love their daily specials like today's Blackened Salmon Po'Boy. read more

Yeah, Dots is really good. It's a hidden gem, if you will, tucked away in a quaint neighborhood in Richmond's historic North Side. Fresh diner food, that's what you can expect, as well as a pretty extensive menu. Their breakfast food is fantastic and the burgers are mean. I seem to recall once enjoying a pretty darn good nacho platter, too. I've never experienced anything less than friendly and prompt service. read more

I ate at Dot's and I was slightly disappointed. The staff is great and wonderful- service is good. But the food is not up to snuff. Its very decent food- but not great. With all the hoopla about it, you'd think it would be better. I don't know, -maybe I didnt pick their specialty. I ordered from the brunch menu because it was Sunday after church and I was in the mood for chocolate chip pancakes. Well they were not bad, but not great. Kind of bland tasting, and not nearly enough chocolate chips. This is not a true Richmonder type place. ITs good for people who are used to Northern style diners. Bruce Springsteen would feel at home here... It felt more like something you'd find in Trenton, New Jersey or Upstate New York, than Richmond. They didn't even have sweet tea. For a better brunch/diner place, I suggest Millie's. They got it all there. read more

Beware! This restaurant will serve you their leftovers! Like many others, I tried Dots after seeing it featured on Diners, Drive ins & Dives a couple of years back. We loved going there. The place was definitely a dive, but the food was good and it really did seem like a hidden gem. However, as of the last 6 months, every time we have gone there it was a disappointing experience. The food has been repeatedly cold, stale, tasted like it had been microwaved, or was just completely underwhelming in some way. My once favorite dishes are now just gross. We kept going back because we would chalk it up to a 'bad day' in the kitchen. It happens, right? No big deal. However, now it's like everyday is a bad day in the kitchen! We were there for Saturday brunch. We ordered omelettes with home fried potatoes. When the food came, the eggs were not hot and the cheddar cheese was hardened on the inside as if it was left to sit for a while. The home fries were worse. They served us stale, leftover potatoes from a previous day (and that is not the first time they've served us their leftovers!). The potatoes were spongy, room temperature, and tasted like they were made days earlier, but oddly, the onions were super cold, like they were pulled from the refrigerator and mixed in. When we complained about it the waitress had us scrape the potatoes from our plates and took them away. She came back 3 minutes later with what we thought were fresh home fries. NOPE! She simply took them to the kitchen and the kitchen threw them in the microwave to serve back to us. Seriously, they served us nuked restaurant leftovers because they couldn't be bothered to make fresh food. After taking a bite of blazing hot stale potatoes we knew exactly what they had done. We asked her about it and she claimed "I don't know what the kitchen did because I walked away." BS. Every server knows the habits of the kitchen they work with. Since this was not the first time they served us hot garbage it was clear that serving leftover food from the previous day's services is their habit. If I wanted to eat leftovers, then I can do that at home. What kind of disgusting restaurant thinks it's okay to charge people for their scraps! Again, this was not a one time thing, this time was just the proverbial straw that made us decide that we are never going back again. This restaurant has been putting more effort into riding the coattails of their ancient Food Network appearance than they are in maintaining any food quality standard. read more

Solid food every time I go here which makes me wonder why I don't go here more often? I guess, it's a little far from my house, but that's really no excuse. I've never actually had a bad meal at Dot's and I've been coming here on and off for - wow- 18 years?! Has it been that long? Yet, I still remember the first time I ordered here at 18 years old while sitting at the bar with my brother - a plate of nachos. They were good nachos too. I, actually, remember that. How many meals in your life do you suppose you remember? I'll say that though - it likely wasn't the nachos that caused this place to adhered to memory, but the atmosphere. It's cool. Dot's is a cool place to eat and that was my very first impression almost 20 years ago. It's just got that vibe - local, laid back, authentic Richmond. I'd recommend going there at least once. read more

I go to Dot's when I want a burger. The "One Eyed" which is topped with a fried egg and add jalapenos is my favorite. They have a diverse menu, so it's a nice place to go when you can't decide what you feel like eating because there is so much to choose from - there's something for everyone. They do not have a gluten free menu, but I get my burger without the bun and just order around my gluten allergy and have never had a problem. They serve Redbridge beer in a bottle (the gluten free beer by anheuser busch) which is heaven with a burger after a day of working in the yard, etc. They get really busy at lunch and right after work, but the servers are friendly and do a good job...they're just always hustling. Only downside for me is that you leave smelling like a diner. I keep coming back because it's totally worth it! read more

Great food, Great prices Guy can sure pick them. I got their signature dish corn cakes and black beans for an appetizer (yummy) my girl had the dish they fed Guy, chicken strips with artichokes and feta cheese tossed with pasta, garlic and white wine (yummiest) I had another Guy dish the Sailor sandwich, a variation of the Pastrai on Rye with additional sliced Knockwurst (YUM!) also try their fries, cut thin so they are like homemade potato chips almost. Try the spicy red potato salad too! A spicy smoky and sweet variation of the classic! Service is okay, they are nice but kinda flaky however the food comes quick!!! This place is dirt cheap! but the quality puts some places that are twice as much to shame! Now I know why Guy had it on his show! read more

A Richmond bucket list restaurant for sure! Great brunch spot but be prepared to smell like fried food when you leave! Staff is great, food is awesome, and the atmosphere is spot on! read more

Dot's is a great find for consistently solid food and a fun watering hole atmosphere. After first having the Ultimate burger (bacon, jalapenos, mushrooms, cheese, onions), my husband dreamt about it for weeks. They have infinite combinations and choices for said burgers, including an GREAT housemade black bean burger. Sandwiches like the club, reuben & Italian sub are dependably good. I light up like a 5th grader when I hear they have good ole' fashion tots on menu. They always have a lot of choices for specials - entrees, sides & apps. And they have lots of booths; who doesn't love a booth? Just be warned that you may be pretty cozy if you end up in the tables between the booths and the bar. Th sweet waitresses know how to serve up a good, stiff drink with a nice side of honey and darlin'. read more

This is a great place to take a pregnant woman. I have been here for dinner and drinks several times but this was my first visit for brunch. They have sausage wrapped pancakes which filled me up for the entire day. Their chipped beef on toast with gravy reminded my wife of being back in NY. read more

Are you looking for a neighborhood restaurant with a real small town vibe? Do you want the waitress to know your name, your drink and keep it coming? Then go to Dots. Plenty of veggie options, but it's not light fare. Go hungry and ready to throw back some cheap drinks. Good for a crowd of people too. My brother raves about the fired oysters...only on special when in season. read more

My sister and I ventured off to this little cozy restaurant nestled in a a quaint neighborhood off of Laburnum for Sunday brunch. Our aunt and uncle had previously recommended this place as they are in the know of where to eat and drink and why. They wait was about 20 minutes to be sat but baby, was it worth it. The poinsettia was absolutely amazing. I had the special red pepper omelette with feta and spinach. OMG! I don't know what they put in their eggs but bless it. The food was out of this world!! The pancake was nice and thick and finished with crispy edges. My only gripe was the potatoes, though delicious and fresh cut were cold. That did not stop them from disappearing from my plate though. The service was also fast and friendly. Dots is small so this is not a spot for corporate gatherings but, If you're gathering with your sibling or favorite cousin for much needed rejuvenation from an epic night that was too real, Dots Back is where you want to be. Now with a vegetarian friendly filled stomach and heart and mind in agreement, I give this spot a strong 4 stars. Enjoy! read more

Dots Back Inn - Diners Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I was spending a warm, March day at the botanical gardens and wanted lunch. The Tea House at the gardens was closed, so I turned to Yelp to figure out what might be close by. I was lucky to discover that Dots is only about 2 miles away. This is some really great diner/bar food. The burgers taste like they came right off your own grill. The servers were quick and friendly. Dots is not fancy, but it is delicious! read more

This place was recommended by my husband's coworker so we thought we would give it a try. It was great!!! The weather was perfect so we did outside seating. The waitress was very attentive and friendly. The food was delicious! We had hamburgers and they were cooked to perfection. I'm definitely going back!!! read more

Amazing burgers, awesome little neighborhood joint! Highly recommend the Merialthornburger, Ragin Cajun Burger, the onion rings, and the blueberry muffin ice cream sandwich (with a double scoop of ice cream)! The portions are generous, prices reasonable. Great place for real food, done well. Don't forget the fried cheesecake! read more

Had the chicken burrito,with red beans and rice. The chicken was bland, not much flavor to the burrito. Red beans were on the dry side. Also, the drinks had almost no carbonation and were too sweet. read more

I suspect that there've been changes in some of the wait staff, as I was treated extraordinarily well even when I bloody well asked for them to put the home fries inside my omelet. read more

The service was complete shit. I had done some research on this place before visiting my friend in Richmond. I demanded that we go here for brunch on Sunday. When we got there tables were full and when one cleared up no one said anything to us until we asked to sit outside at the empty table. The waitress took 10 minutes to get our drink orders and another 5 minutes to get our water. We asked her what was in the western omelet and she said she was going to ask for us. She went and took other people's orders, cleaned tables, got other tables checks and condiments and then went and asked what was in the western omelet. I was furious it took her 15 minutes to ask the cook what was in the omelet when she should've known in the first place. By the time she got back we were over the western omelet and brunch. I wanted to leave but my friend insisted that we stay. I had to ask another waitress for my coffee and she brought us 2 cups (we were charged for 2 cups). I got the Richmond breakfast with eggs over medium, bacon, and wheat toast. My eggs were busted, there was so much grease from my bacon all over my plate, and I didn't get wheat bread, and no butter. We didn't get any refills on our coffee or water. Our waitress was chatting it up with her friends on multiple occasion and very tentative to certain tables (her friends especially). We wanted to get out of there and when Our checks finally came we couldn't get out fast enough. Needless to say my first and last experience was terrible. I can say I will not be returning ever again. The food was decent but the service was God awful. Our waitress was rude and very unprofessional to us when we were polite to her the entire time. She not only ruined my brunch but my entire day. That might sound dramatic but coming from a family owned restaurant, I know the right and wrong way of serving people. read more

Delicious! Small and poplar, therefore can be crowded, but the staff is SUPER on top of it and manages to seat and serve everyone very quickly without making you feel rushed. The menu is full of delicious choices and the environment is just right. This is a Richmond staple and a must visit when you're in the city, whether you're a local (as I was) or visiting (like I intend to now that I've moved). Check it out and order whatever sounds appealing - it will be awesome no matter what. read more

Came here while visiting Richmond for a concert. We scoped out a "tripple d" joint. Glad we came. Burgers were on point. Big - but we wanted to finish them bc they were so good. Laid back feel - felt like everyone knew each other. Awesome. read more

This place was decent. We liked the Chicken MacAurthur and the Pesto Pie appetizer. I would avoid the black bean burger, as it is a bit plain. read more

Greasy spoon with excellent food. Small dining area but I had no problem getting a table for four at lunch time. The servers we friendly and down to earth. My hidden treasure in Richmond. read more

The first time I went there everything was good but the second time the waitress was rude and they nickled and dimed me over everything. My sandwich was suppose to come with lettuce so when I asked for lettuce she charged me 75 cent... things that were suppose to come with the meal which were expressed through their menu. were looked as a luxury and I ended up paying. read more

I had the hot wings, a steak and cheese and the blueberry muffin ice cream sandwich special. Hubby had a one-eyed cheeseburger (fried egg.) The blueberry muffin ice cream sandwich was UNBELIEVABLE. Everything else was good too. I would go back if I was in that area again. read more

This is a great spot with a lot of history. Clearly the neighborhood loves it, which means passersby should come and enjoy it, too. I was only there for drinks, but look forward to coming back for food. Their beer list was better than average, but it's the atmosphere that gets them to four stars. read more

Guy Fieri was right on target about this place. The food and atmosphere was perfect. My wife and I stopped in on our way back to NC and she pointed it out to me from the show. I've never been to a "dive" before, but I was curious about the hype. Dot's is a really friendly eating joint, the waitress was timely, but un-rushed. The menu is huge and I was really impressed with the selections. The test for me however was the Bacon Cheeseburger. Many places try but never get it just right. Dot's definitely succeeded. Nice big burger, not dry, cooked just right. Fries were excellent (wanted seconds, but wanted dessert more)... Speaking of which the Apple Pie was on point. Next time I'm in Richmond, VA, I'm going back to Dot's (and I'm bring friends, lol). Fondly, Jim McCoy read more

I'm new to Richmond and I have to say, this place is awesome. It's a DINER, so just make sure your expectations are set at that when you arrive and everything else will be fine. I love places like this, and Dots didn't fail me. The burger is the best I've had in Richmond so far. The service is very good (all the girls are very nice), good options for beer, and it's a fairly safe place to take your kids - as long as your kids aren't super loud as Dots is a small place. The first 2 weeks I lived in Richmond I went here twice, and both times I left very happy. There really isn't much else to say about this joint other than the fact that it's solid food, good service, good bar options, which is typically enough to get me to like a place. If you like burgers, this is your place. read more

We have been to Dot's several times. First, be aware that it's mostly street parking. The food is downright delicious. I've ordered breakfast and lunch from here and have never been disappointed. The service when we have gone has been a little slow, hence the four stars, but the food is good enough to keep us coming back (as are the reasonable prices). read more

This place has a new patio!! The energy is great, the service is awesome, we had to wait a few minutes to be seated. so we just enjoyed the bar.. the pork chops were delicious, and i love their stewed tomato side!! This place is kinda like an old diner. I love that kind of stuff so to me. this place was great.. We went there for dinner, and there was music playing and the tv's were on so we can see the sports. they have the best desert! a warm blueberry muffin with ice cream inside!! I was in a total desert coma! Just a really cool place. read more

Based upon one visit, or I should say the first visit after 10 or 12 years ago. I really enjoyed my return to Dot's. It's pretty much your typical neighborhood bar/restaurant with decent food and good happy hour specials, also Mon.- Th. can beer specials. Service was attentive and friendly. I had the Antony burger with bacon, jalapeños, pineapple & the usual LTM. With a side of hand cut (not frozen) fries, Dot's hit the spot! read more

Love this place. Saw it on Triple D and made a detour during a road trip to Rockingham and this place is part of my road trip to see dad ever since. Sailor sandwich is excellent. Chili is very meaty and the burgers are Spot-On. Headed to see dad this weekend and cant wait to stop with my son at our favorite hideaway spot in all of Virginia. Its a 5 minute diversion off 95 and hidden off a couple of side streets but put it in your GPS and you will be happy that you did. read more

Carribean fried chicken and waffles was the bees knees.

Food was phenomenal!!!! Service and staff were so friendly!!!! Very affordable and great selection. Get the 'Chicken MacArthur'!!!

We chose this diner because we wanted to go somewhere that Diners, Drive Ins and Dives visited while we were on vacation. We were seated right away. The food was very good. I had the Chicken Bleu Hawiian Sandwich and fries. My husband had the black bean corn cakes. The portion was very large. When we were ready for our check, it took a while to get someones attention. Our waitress was a busy bee, floating from one task to another. It took another staff to recognize that we were ready for our check, otherwise it was a very good experience. read more