We came to the boiling crab on a brisk Wednesday night after two failed attempts trying to eat at…read moreother establishments. The service was prompt and polite, and the food was quickly in front of us. We gorge ourselves, with juices dripping down to our elbows as the man in front of us belches and the baby behind us cries. For one little moment everything felt right in my miserable life. Check out the boiling crab!

After leaving the Whole Foods across the street, I stopped in around 1:30 p.m. today to order just…read morea side of their sauce, something I've been able to do at several similar restaurants. When I walked in, I noticed there were no customers which probably should have been a sign. Since I only wanted sauce, I didn't think much of it. I asked if I could order a container of their sauce and the waitress initially told me there was a $10 minimum order. I've never encountered that at a restaurant, but okay. After I washed my hands and came back out, the same waitress changed the explanation and said it wasn't actually a minimum order but they simply wouldn't sell sauce by itself. I had to drive 14 minutes in the opposite direction to Boil Bay, where I was able to buy two containers of sauce for less money. Overall, this was a frustrating and unnecessary waste of time.

We were driving back to North Carolina from DC when we found ourselves hungry and in Richmond- a…read morequick search on Yelp brought us to Manchu! This is a no-frills, hole-in-the-wall spot serving New Orleans-style fried wings, po' boys, and other comfort food. We got a bunch of stuff: - Crowd Pleaser (with fried fish, wings, Cajun fries, egg fried rice): The fish & wings were crispy perfection & still super juicy. We had them with the two most popular sauces- Mambo and sriracha aoili, both were delicious. The fries & fried rice were classic- the person working recommended eating the rice with a sweet sauce I don't remember the name of and gave it to us without any additional cost, which was so nice. - Shrimp Po' Boy: Again, fried & seasoned to perfection! - Chicken Banh Mi: This is a great option if you're wanting to avoid fried foods! Loved the refreshing veggies (cucumber, carrot, jalapeño) & creamy aioli. I do think it was missing pâté though. - Gumbo: Super comforting. Ambiance isn't really applicable since Manchu is take out only (there are some seats for waiting). Service was great, very friendly & fast. There is a free parking lot right next to the restaurant. 10/10 would recommend!

The wings were crispy and a little spicy. The garlic sauce tasted a little fishy... I'm not eating…read morethat anymore but the version of mambo sauce that they have was very good. The beignets tasted like they were straight out of New Orleans... 100000/10!!! They were amazing!!! And the customer service was soooooo good!!! Super friendly!!! We will go back to try other things

Yes! Yes! Yes! Mama J's has ruined me for anything else right now. I was eating and humming and…read morelegs were dancing throughout my meal. SO, SO GOOD! Okay so, I love fish, but if I run up on a bone, I am done. This catfish was crispy, flaky, boneless and downright delicious. The collards, Mac & cheese and sweet potato.....excellent. My husband had to personally thank the cookI I will travel to eat at Mama J's.

7 out of 5 stars. Yes, I said 7…read more So I went to Mama J's after scoping it out on Yelp, and let me tell you something: Richmond, we may have a problem. I have found the food. I initially walked into the market next door, which is actually great because there aren't a lot of grocery stores nearby. Then I headed over to Mama J's on a Monday afternoon. The place was teeming with associates doing all kinds of things, which I actually loved. I was seated quickly and started looking around. It was comfortable and familiar, even though it was my first time there. Then my server greeted me, called me "baby," and suddenly I felt like I had walked into my auntie's house. Okay. We were off to a good start. I ordered an Arnold Palmer and some catfish nuggets. Now, I knew I was in the right place when my server brought me TWO glasses of the most perfectly made Arnold Palmer. Two. Glasses. Start the happy dance. While I waited for my food, I looked around at the old photographs and magazine covers featuring Mama J's. It all made sense. The restaurant felt familiar because it felt like somebody's dining room. A place that has history. A place where people have been eating, talking, laughing and coming back for years. Then my catfish nuggets arrived. HOT. Golden. Crispy. When I tell you I did a happy dance... I ate those catfish nuggets with a knife and fork, humming to myself and saying, "This is the best catfish I have eaten in my life." And mind you, I eat out at least twice a week. So I ordered the crab cake sandwich with a side of macaroni and cheese. We were not particularly focused on vegetables because my server could not promise me the collards and cabbage weren't cooked with chicken broth. It's fine. I didn't really want my vegetables anyway. Then my plate arrived. HOT. I ate that macaroni and cheese and literally had to rock, hum and say to myself, "Woo. This food is good." The crab cake sandwich and fries were so good that I immediately knew some of them were coming home with me for lunch tomorrow. Because I may love food, but I also believe in planning ahead. Now let's talk about this crab cake. First, the brioche bun was EXACTLY the right bread. I am not a sliced-white-bread kind of woman. I need a brioche bun sturdy enough for the remoulade to hold onto. And then there was the crab cake. Enunciate that K. Fresh crabmeat. Maryland could NEVER. I know, I know. Maryland swears they have the best crab cakes. No ma'am. No sir. The best crab cake is sitting on Clay Street, about a mile from the James River, in Jackson Ward, the Harlem of the South. And the fries? HOT. You know that perfect fry: crispy on the outside, soft in the center? Yeah. Those. At this point, I was full and getting sleepy at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. But apparently that wasn't enough because I ordered some potato salad to go so I could top off tomorrow's lunch. Because priorities. I left Mama J's full as a tick. Came home. And promptly took a several-hour nap. That is how good this meal was. Mama J's, you have officially set the bar. 7 out of 5 stars. I am going back. And, quite frankly, they are going to get sick of seeing me. Richmond, if you haven't been to Mama J's, what are you waiting for?

So being a born from New Orleans I'm more accustomed to our shrimp and grits . I got the shrimp and…read moregrits from La Bete food truck and the shrimp are fried , they taste fresh , the grits are thick which is ok but the kicker for me was the WEIRD gravy on top. It had stringy crab crab pieces I'm guessing and no taste. Left my stomach feeling weird. It was $24 dollars which would be a fair price if it tasted good. Loose that weird gravy and maybe add some more cheese and butter to the grits. Only reason it got a two because the shrimp are fried perfect .

Someone shared this gem on social media and we couldn't wait to try it. The chef gave us a sample…read moreof the buttery and perfectly seasoned crabmeat which made my mouth water with anticipation of my buttery blue crabmeat sandwich. It was filled with so much meat it was falling off the bun. If he hadn't provided a fork I'd of ate the droppings with my hands. Looking forward to visiting the restaurant when it opens. Wishing him success. #TastesByTate #TateApproved

We had a great meal here! The Garden Sampler Board was a fun twist on a traditional charcuterie…read moreboard, and we really enjoyed getting to try a variety of everything. Our entrees were equally as tasty. I ordered the salmon and it was done well! My only personal preference would be to swap the green beans for the collards next time--the green beans just weren't cooked quite the way I prefer. That said, everything else was really enjoyable. Overall, a great meal at an equally great price. We were pleasantly surprised to walk out for under $65 without ordering drinks. Definitely felt like a great value, and we'd happily come back!

Food was good service was horrible…read more We went in and they told us that it would be 15 minutes for a table, fine, I indicated we wanted inside , since the heat index was 105. There is a huge empty booth right in the front across from the hostess stand, no one was sitting there, we asked if we could sit there for just a moment to cool off in the AC- we were rudely told no we had to wait outside. The next family in line included 2 elderly women and a baby all dressed gorgeous, they also were told they had to wait outside in 105 weather. After about 20 minutes of waiting, (I was just going to tell them to forget it) they said our table was ready. Well, instead of inside with AC as we requested we were seated in a gazebo porch area that they claimed had AC. By this time we were so desperate for cool, we didn't argue that we had requested INSIDE not whatever this room was. It ended up being like sitting in a tuna can. So uncomfortable, my husband and bro in law just went and sat in the car with the AC blasting. Waitress was sporadic to put it nicely. Meanwhile, back inside the booth across from the hostess stand was still empty. Food was fine. But I don't think this place will be around much longer.

Today my wife wanted to get some fish and I was already down with the plan. We went to our spot…read moreSugar's and we were the first in line and had a short wait no more than 20 minutes since they started serving people. I ordered the just fish that comes with ten (10) pieces. Yes count them 1, 2,3,...10. Just like the Count on Sesame Street. Everyone is locked on right. I paid the money and the guy at the counter charged me for how many? Ten (10) fish pieces. After my short wait, my order was ready. The guy at the window showed me the fish looking golden brown and delicious. Hot piping hot. I said they looked good and ready for liftoff. Got to the car and my wife and I were happy at the time. After several hours and other stops we made it home. We live in Baltimore Md. A short 4 hour ride away. When my wife had unpacked the food and she asked me did I eat any fish? I said No? If I had she would have killed me before the plate got cold. She said that then they (Sugar's) did not give us piece number 10. The Boss was not happy and neither was I. Now I don't mind paying for delicious food and will do again. What I do mind is paying for fish that does not appear on my plate. I felt RIPPED OFF! If someone in the back of the house can't count to ten (10) and your employing someone who doesn't know how to count to 10, I am wondering what else is going on in the back of the house. Advise 1) Moving forward I will ask them to count them before accepting the finished product 2) Don't buy the Onion Rings. My wife does not care for them and she is an Onion ring person. Let's do this again but I'm bring the Count with me and the number 10 JUST TO MAKE SURE WERE CLEAR!

I saw this place on tik tok and told myself I would stop by and visit the next time I was in…read moreRichmond. My son had a basketball tournament, and this was the perfect time to stop by. I pulled into the parking lot and this place has a unique setup. All the tables are outside similar to checkers. The place looks like it belongs in a dessert or South of the Boarder based on the color which is odd as well. They take your orders at the walk-up window. When I originally arrived, I didn't see much business but while I waited for my food the cars were pouring in left and right. My hopes for the food increased. There is a menu on the outside that is somewhat difficult to read and navigate. A ton of options with some whopping prices. I ended up ordering the 1 Snack and Fries. I wanted something good but also light as I had another place in Richmond I wanted to try. $14.99 seemed good until I saw this bogus, Local meals tax on top of the state sales tax. This caught me off guard. I ended up waiting in my car for about 20 minutes and later heard my name called over the microphone. The gentleman showed me the food, and it was 3 large pieces of fish. The fish was delicious. The fish was Cooked well, and I could taste the flavor. Way more than I expected. Tartar sauce elevated the flavor. The fires were piping hot and good as well. I wish I had some ketchup, but they were still good. I loved that they were salted but if I had high blood pressure I should have stayed away. You can see the salt on the fries. They were good to me. Overall if I were in Richmond again, I'd definitely stop. The food was good. I would definitely try more options. The customer service was good. The cashier and food distributor were on their A game. Outside could use some love and care but it is what it is.

I didn't know this place existed until now! Walked in on a Sunday evening. There were plenty of…read moreseats open. Got seated right away. The ambianc is very casual. Part of the place is a convenience store selling candies, some pastries, detergents, wines, etc. Got the Minnow Bag #2 which included 1/2 lb of snow crab and 1/2 lb of shellfish of your choice: shrimp, clam, crawfish or mussels. I got shrimp. Served in a bag with a shell opener, the food was freshly cooked. It was delicious and very flavorful! It comes with potatoes, corn, and sausage. There were bibs and plastic gloves available. Service was quick. Food was great! Will defintely be back!

This was a cute seafood boil spot and I will be back soon. For $20 I got a minnow bag which…read moreincluded a snow crab cluster, 1/2 lb headless shrimp, corn, potatoes and I asked for an egg to be added. The mild sauce was amazing and the owner who makes the food was very nice and accommodating. The menu was pretty straight forward and the wings looked very good so I will be trying those on my next visit!

Celebrated Juneteenth by eating at Shrimp's and the food just doesn't miss! Small neighborhood…read morevibes, with r&b music playing in the restaurant. I first had Shrimps at a catered event so I already knew what to expect. I ordered the wingettes meal and it was just what I expected - excellent! The wings so so crispy, the Mac n cheese was so good and the yams are exceptional. The yams, the yams, incredible. The part of the experience that wasn't the best was the customer service. Everyone was kind which helped, but my husband and I asked for tartar sauce for his fish four times and never got it. From what I learned, it's homemade and like a staple for the fish, so that was very disappointing. While most of our needs were met, it didn't feel like it was a priority, so I would say maybe they need just a few more staffers on the team. Next time we might order takeout there instead. But, overall the food is incredible and that alone would make me order again.

Small (20 seat) neighborhood spot with a soul food menu: fish, crab cakes Turkey chops, collard…read moregreens, yams, po boys... Eat in and people watch out the big window, or takeout. Or sit at the bar and have a drink as you listen to the 90s R&B. Food is good. Service is standard.

L'Opossum is still in a league of its own. The Beef Swellington is ridiculously good and somehow…read moremanages to be consistently perfect every single time. I bring every out-of-town guest here because I know it will never disappoint. The seasonal menus and specials are always creative and never a letdown. Service 10/10. Ambiance 10/10 no matter when you are dining. More and more restaurants in Richmond are trying to meet the standard L'Opossum has set, but no one has come close. LYSM L'Opposum

I reserved a table for two at L'Opossum for a Tuesday at 5 PM. My child became sick, so I tried…read morecalling the night before to cancel my reservation. I couldn't reach anyone, so I left a voicemail, sent an email, and sent a social media message. After several more calls the next day, I finally reached someone, explained the situation, and was told my reservation was cancelled and I was "all set." The following day, I found a $50 cancellation charge on my credit card. I understand the posted policy is subject to a $25-per-person charge for cancellations less than one day in advance. In my 40 years, including 7 years working in the restaurant industry, I've made plenty of reservations secured with a credit card and have never had an experience like this after speaking directly with a restaurant to cancel. It was extremely misleading to tell me I was "all set" without the restaurant mentioning during that conversation that the $50 fee would still apply. Had I known, I would have tried to find two other people to use the reservation. I raised this with the manager, who gave me no grace given the circumstances. She repeatedly referred to the cancellation policy and told me their staff aren't trained to remind customers about the fee when cancelling a reservation. This was a 5 PM reservation on a Tuesday, right when the restaurant opens... not a weekend, holiday, or peak dinner hour. I made repeated attempts to give notice, and I expected cancelling to be easy and straightforward. Instead, I feel cheated by how the conversation and charge were handled. Future customers should be WARNED that being told your reservation is cancelled and you're "all set" stills means a cancellation fee is coming. BEWARE before making a reservation. I'm asking L'Opossum to refund the full $50 given these circumstances. If they do, I'll gladly update this review to reflect how the issue was resolved. Until then, I won't be dining at L'Opossum or recommending it.

Lillie Pearl was pretty good, but not good enough for me to rush back. I think they may have been…read morehaving an off night. Their famous short rib egg rolls were a bit burned on the outside so a bit dry on the inside. They did have a very good sauce served with them that pretty well covered the flaws. We also got the sweet potato corn bread. It was tasty, but fell apart just a little too easily. I had to eat it with a fork. The risotto that came with my duck leaned a little too far to the mushy side. The duck itself was really good. My niece had the salmon, and she had no complaints. She said she had the leftover last night as a sandwich and that it was delicious. Service was excellent. No notes.

I went here with a large group of girls for lunch on a weekend. They had plenty of seating and we…read morewere sat upstairs. The restaurant was clean and nicely decorated. We had the option of getting brunch or the regular lunch menu. I ordered the OG chicken sandwich and it was amazing. The chicken was full of flavor and juicy and I liked the sauce that came on it. The only complaint I had was the service. The server wasn't bad but he also wasn't good. It almost felt like he did not want to come to our table. He forgot to put in the order for one item that my table asked for. We had to flag him down to ask for refills or things like the check.