Great food and great service Very friendly family style…read morerestaurant Small but always enough space

I have been craving Greek food for awhile and decided to try Stella's. I've been told this is one…read moreof the best restaurants in Richmond and so I had high expectations. To be honest my overall experience was sort of just meh and forgettable so I'm not sure I'd be back. To be clear though I did not dine in I placed an order for takeout. The first 3 times I called the phone didn't go through and then the fourth time someone was pretty rude on the other end of the phone. They close at 10 and I ordered takeout around 8 and she very pointedly told me they don't usually take takeout orders past 5pm but since they were slow she would make an exception. Since it doesn't say this on the anywhere on their website I felt like the overall attitude and tone she was giving me was rude and pretentious. She acted like I should've known their takeout policy and the fact she was making an exception for me I should be so grateful. Lol. It's just food. Anyway. I showed up to pickup and the interior seemed really nice. The plates I saw go by looked well appointed. The gentleman who handed me my food was pretty polite. There were a few servers that walked by that sort of seemed to give me a stink eye or glare at me for standing next to the host stand which is tiny and right next to their entrance. Overall I just felt like I was sort of imposing by picking up my order. The general vibe I got in person confirmed how I felt on the phone - the staff take themselves way too seriously and they are pretentious about pretty average food. I ordered the pastitsio and the moussaka. I ate all of the pastitsio and it was okay. I felt like the layering was really well done as was the meat sauce. However the bechamel on top was a bit too sweet for my taste and the nutmeg was slightly overpowering in this dish which made it feel a bit too sweet for my palette. Pastitsio is one of my favorites so this was sort of a bummer. The moussaka frankly was not good. I didn't find any potato in it (maybe Stella's version doesn't have it) but the eggplant was borderline raw tasting. I'm not sure what eggplant variety they use but it was more similar to a green bell pepper than a roasted eggplant. It was EXTREMELY tough and chewy and overall just a total pain to eat. I tried to cut into the layers and would pull out an entire giant slice of green eggplant because I couldn't cut through it. Yuck. It also suffered from the same slightly too sweet thing going on with the bechamel that the other dish did. I did not like this one at all which is sad bc I love moussaka. 2/5 Overall I'm not sure I'd be back. The service was pretentious and a bit uncomfortable I didn't feel very welcomed buying food from here and the food itself was below my expectations. The ambiance and value are both fine (both entrees together were $50 which to me is not bad at all) but I may look elsewhere for Greek in RVA before returning here.

This place punches well above its weight class. There were a couple things that really impressed me…read moretonight. The food first of all was incredible. Some very tender octopus, the fries are perfect for dipping more on that later. And the meatballs were great, but that Caesar salad salad is truly amazing with all of the seasonings and their homemade Caesar dressing. The fact that they make all of their sauces in house, I give a nod to the chef for that because they have some incredible sauces. One of the things that really impressed me was the fact that I ordered the fries and the waitress asked if I wanted the sampler sauces. I was thinking that that was going to be an additional charge, but I was wrong. The sampler was included with the fries and that came with about five or so of their homemade sauces. The Caribbean bean chili was my favorite, but I also enjoyed their ranch and lemon aïoli as well. They were really all great. I just want to give a shout out to pinkies for not nickel and diming the consumer when so many other restaurants and chains do that. I will be back off of that level of Customer Service service alone. I was also very impressed with the portion sizes. When you hear Tapas that typically means high price, low quantity of food. But here I feel like you actually get what you pay for. I was very impressed. A place with amazing food and a good bang for your buck is five stars any day from me. Thank you for an amazing dinner.

Really good Mediterranean food! The food exceeded our expectations. The service was just okay. Here…read moreare some of the pros and cons! The restaurant has ample seating both indoors and outdoors. We dined here twice in one weekend because of convenience and the food being good enough to repeat! We did not have reservations either time, and we were seated right away. There was space for our stroller. The inside of the restaurant is like a big garage, and it's quite loud (but our baby likes the loud noise). Outside, they have big umbrellas to provide some shade. Highlights from the menu include the grilled octopus, caesar salad, meatballs, and desserts (both cheesecake and olive oil cake). The meatballs were so tender and saucy. The octopus was cooked well, and the seasoning was great. The only dish we didn't love was the scallops. The scallops were overwhelmed by the accompanying chorizo in the dish. The server we had the first night was not friendly or warm. It seemed like she did not care to be there. But there were no mistakes or major issues. We enjoyed Pinky's, and it was a good choice for brunch on a busy weekend and for dinner without a reservation. I'd recommend checking it out.

My bf and I came to Natalie's on a Sunday for dinner within the last 30min before closing. Since…read morevisiting in 2020 they have now moved to Forest Hill and have new management. We were starving and knew what we wanted. They were very accepting and welcoming and sat us down. Since we were the only ones on a quiet Sunday, it was almost like a private dinner! Very romantic. The owner shared w us some details of the move and how their current spot used to be a bank, so awesome! We started w the grape leaves, babagounush and tabouleh which were SO fresh and delicious! The tabouleh was zestier w more lemon, which is how I like it and the rice in the grape leaves matched perfectly. The baba was PERFECT bc we could taste the smoked eggplant and savored every biteThen we split a shawarma dish which came w rice and pickled onions; SOOOO goood! Everything was cooked to perfection and super fresh! So grateful for the owner and our server and being welcomed even on a slower night, I'll be back!

Today a friend and visited Natalie's for the first time. We were very pleased either our…read moreexperience. The food was excellent and service was very attentive. The decor was attractive. We started by sharing a hot Mezze platter that included falafel, beef kibbeh, cheese rolls, brussel sprouts, and house-made pickles. For the our main course I had the beef shawarma wrap and my friend had the chicken shawarma wrap. Both were delicious as were the Za'atar fries. The wraps are large enough that we were each able to bring home a half of our wraps and fries. We learned on our visit that Natalie's has a new owner. We had selected Natalie's because they "believe in building and strengthening communities by creating spaces where people of all abilities can thrive and grow in the workplace." I hope the new owner will continue this mission.

10/10 would return!! Another solid choice in the adorable Bellevue neighborhood. The decor is…read moreperfect in reflecting the clean modern Mediterranean esthetic but still honors the old world. The Bellevue Sour and Aviation were our cocktail choices. Both were tasty and well executed. I had the branzino with the summer squash casserole, a summer special side. It was sooo good!! Hubby had the swordfish and shrimp. He got the green beans as a side. Each fish dish was prepared perfectly, and served hot. DH didn't like the green beans bc he's not a fan of stewed veg, but I found them tasty. Nephew had meatballs and linguine. He proclaimed it " delicious ". Our server Sarah made it a very enjoyable evening, and it was nice that the manager came by to see how we liked everything. Another great place to add to our "avoid chain restaurants " repertoire.

Back again after about 9 years and I was taken aback by the similarities between their branding and…read moreStella's. I thought they must be related. I mean it's down to the font, the bags, the decor, the menu items. Turns out they're not associated, which honestly put me off knowing how long Stella's has been around. I asked around and apparently others have noticed the same. The food was just okay. The sautéed calamari was rubbery and bland. The salmon was good but also a little bland and slightly undercooked. It was hard not to compare the menu items to the Stella's versions which are heavy hitters. Overall I'd say it's convenient since I live nearby, but I'm in no rush to go back.

The front desk young lady didn't know anything! Unfortunately. We booked another room but she…read moreexplained to us something we never understood. The seat she gave us was very tight, and I was hit by the kitchen door twice before ordering! Fortunately! Later, we asked one manager, he came and helped us to move to the room where we booked. Our dinner went good. I loved my Baked Rigatoni! The vodka sauce was great. Fish dish was a bit soggy not crispy. Lemon Pasta was pretty lemonade and fresh. Pasta with seafood was so-so. All the drinks went good. Home made bread was really yummy. Inside decoration was pretty good. Our server was nice and friendly. Unfortunately their bathroom was a bit wet and slippery. I will say it is a good place for family friends gathering.

Uliveto has been one of my favourite restaurants since it opened in 2022. I've brought friends…read morevisiting from overseas, celebrated personal milestones there, and have always appreciated the consistency of both the food and the service. Unfortunately, our most recent visit left us extremely disappointed. Yesterday, my family and I went to Uliveto to celebrate my mom's birthday. When we arrived, I told the host that we had a reservation. We were shown to a table, but I immediately explained that our reservation was specifically for Susannah's Room. The host responded, "I don't think so. There's no open table there." Confused, I checked my phone and pulled up the reservation. It clearly stated that our reservation was for five people in Susannah's Room. Despite showing the reservation, we tried speaking with the host and other staff members but we felt largely brushed off and as though no one wanted to address the issue. Eventually, we were able to speak with the owner Gersi. At first, I didn't feel that there was much effort to resolve the situation. He asked whether I preferred Susannah's Room, and I explained that I did because it is quieter and more intimate, and that I've specifically reserved that room whenever it has been available. He responded that, to them it was simply another dining room. We were seated directly next to the kitchen door in a very tight space. My mom was repeatedly being bumped by the door and by staff walking through the area. We were later told that we had been placed there because the host didn't think all five of us could fit at a table in Susannah's Room. After about 15 minutes, we were eventually moved into Susannah's Room. What made the situation even more frustrating was seeing a family of seven with a baby seated at one table, along with other open tables in the room. Later, another larger party of seven or eight was accommodated by simply putting two tables together. The food itself was delicious, and our server, David was wonderful. But good food and great service from one person couldn't completely make up for how the situation was handled. What bothered me most was not simply being seated at the wrong table. It was feeling dismissed when I had a reservation that clearly specified where we were supposed to be seated, and then seeing other larger parties accommodated in the very room we had been told we couldn't fit into. I also couldn't help but notice that our family was the only table (Susannah's Room) at where everyone was Asian/Hispanic, which made the experience feel particularly uncomfortable and left me wondering whether there was something more to how we were being treated. I recognise that I can't know anyone's intentions, but that was unfortunately how the experience made me feel. Uliveto has been a place I've genuinely enjoyed and recommended for years, which is why this experience was especially disappointing. We came to celebrate my mom's birthday and left with a very different impression of a restaurant that had previously been a favourite of mine. As much as I've loved Uliveto over the years, I think this may sadly be our last visit. 1 star for the kitchen staff and 1 star to our server David.

First and foremost, the food was incredible. All proteins seasoned very well and came out hot, with…read morehuge portions. Service was excellent as well, very welcoming staff. Brought us some warm bread and olive oil for free while we were waiting. Thanks for the great meal, will definitely be returning!

Had my eye on this spot for a while, but hadn't pulled the trigger until recently…read more Holy smokes. I visited for a late lunch, so it wasn't busy, but I could tell the few other patrons were regulars- always reassuring. Service was beyond friendly- guy who helped me (took my order and prepared it) was genuinely excited to share his craft and serve a new customer. And said craft didn't disappoint. Got a spicy chicken shawarma wrap and it was outstanding. Fresh, hot, and clearly made with care and passion. It's an unassuming spot at the end of a strip mall, but will certainly be part of my regular rotation moving forward. If the rest of the menu is half as good as the spicy chicken, I'll still be thrilled.

I tried their 2 bowls, chicken shawarma bowl. The number of items are higher as compared to some…read moreother famous places similar to this. I tried their pita on side too. Pita was stale not warmed up, it will be good if they warm it a little bit as I have seen that happening in other places too. For the cold items you can add they have too many things which taste good as well, from the ones I remember I added were couscous, fried eggplant, humus, lentil, chickpeas and some other items on the base of rice , chicken and falafel combos .

I like their bowls. They have various protein options and many toppings too. I like their…read morecaramelised eggplant. The portion quantities are huge .

WOW! As soon as I walked in and caught a glance of my soon to be waitress, I knew it would be a…read morenight to remember. Her lucious hair combined with her sweet scent was irresistible. She graciously recommended the seasonal sangria (which she made herself) and it was to die for. The conversation (along with the wine ) flowed oh so naturally into the night. 10/10! See you soon Ella.

We decided to try Greek on Cary and had an fantastic dinner. I ordered flaming Saganaki burger and…read morespouse had the shrimp souvalki plate and friend had the gyro, simply said "delicious!". The wait staff was friendly and helpful if you are on the fence about orders. You can dine inside or on the patio and the bathrooms have classic black and white subway tile. You can top off your stay with a few Greek desserts. A must try if you are in Cary town.

I had this place like 8 years ago and I could not remember the name of it because we went in a whim…read morelooking for find while are a conference! But! I found it again! Fabulous! Delish authentic options to eat for sure but the people The people who work there so kind just like the last time I was there. In a world of people that seem to be getting nastier and nastier, THIS place is a gem! Service and Food!

Quaint bakery with a hot food bar, deli, dessert rack and small market. It was clean and organized…read more First time there, so of course I needed help and they were very willing to help. I think you can get a combo meal with two sides on most of their entree items. I got a spinach and feta and chicken fatayers, which is like a giant bread pocket with filling inside. I enjoyed it, very flavorful. I think if I wanted it again, I need to be in the mood and have the craving for it. Their hummus was tasty, but not as thick as I like my hummus to be. It's good, just the texture got me. Their tabbouleh was amazing. Also bought a pistachio baklava which was incredible. Never had that flavor and this will be the biggest reason I return to their bakery. Very fulfilling lunch. Thank you for the experience!

We ordered a few different plates all amazing and very flavorful. Our favorites were the Mahshi…read moreKromb, Mulukhiyah with Chicken, and Hawawshi. The Kanafa for dessert was absolutely delicious. Our server Courtney's customer service was great! She made sure to check on us and everything came out in a timely manner. Will definitely be returning!

Tonight my book club returned to Memi's for our meet-up! We had 9 people in our party and they were…read moreable to accommodate us all at a large table in their back room. Our server Hannah was awesome and got us all set up with martinis, as Tuesdays are their $5 'Tiny Tuesdays special! All of the food came out flavorful and yummy! I tried the $10 shawarma soft tacos from their Happy Hour menu and added a side of rice, which came out in a fun pyramid shape. Food, drinks & service were all great and their back room was quiet enough that we could still hear each other! Definitely will be back!