if you are going to read any of these dumb yelp review in full, this is the one. i once read an article describing the talent of the head chef's ability here to "cram so much bold flavor into a tiny dish". in general, i usually dread small plate restaurants expecting to pay a large bill and leave hungry. this was the exception. these were the most unique, creative, high end, flavorful, dishes i have ever had. seriously. the absolute best BITES of my ENTIRE life. i swear to god dormant tastebuds and flavors i didn't even know existed were provided here. the chef here draws spanish inspiration into each dish, and i was in there feeling like the food critic from ratatouille the way familiar flavors blended in effortlessly with extravagant flairs. and don't get me started on the presentation !!! everything was gorgeous. this restaurant was named #3 out of 100 in the city, and i honestly think it should be #1. i may be biased since my boyfriend works at a sister restaurant owned by the same guy, but this is definitely the favorite sibling for me. unreal how fresh, flavorful, and carefully crafted everything was. so so so so good. if you come to richmond, make this the top priority to visit. that being said, if you can't handle intense, innovative flavors, this isn't the place for you. also, go during happy hour read more

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Hats off to the staff at Lillian who continue to be wonderful, but now that they have scrapped their dollar oyster lunch specials, the food has absolutely nothing to offer. Like too many restaurants in the Scott's Addition area, this is seafood cooked without finesse and then absolutely brutalized with absurd amounts of palate fatiguing, brash, loud flavors. Every item on the menu endeavors to conceal mediocrity in the quality and handling of the ingredients with explosive, overwhelming additives meant to shock you into submission. Things like black garlic and chili oil, raw garlic, sesame seed oil, and punishing heat are inescapable on the menu, which really says to me loud and clear "we do not understand the appeal of seafood, and might have a fundamental misunderstanding about good food in general." I don't exaggerate when I say these dishes would be improved (setting aside things like inability to properly cook octopus) by scaling back the flavors to 5-10% the loudness level they are currently at, to let the ingredients speak, and to make the dining experience less of a punishing marathon with no relief. I have had much subtler and more skillfully balanced dishes at Indian and Thai restaurants, cuisines known for strong flavor profiles. I'm through listening to these Richmond restaurants trying to excuse simply bad food by claiming "that's the nature of the cuisine." In this case, Lillian claims that dishes characterized by these cacophonous competing flavors is "South American." No it isn't - the person conceptualizing the dishes is just a bad chef who doesn't know what he's doing, and at the prices Lillian charges, that's inexcusable. Drowning every dish in flavors that overwhelm the palate is not a way to respect your ingredients or your diner, and only communicates youth and insecurity. Anyone who's eaten widely and knows their ingredients will rightly feel assaulted and insulted by this overpriced, unskilled fare. To anyone who decides to go anyway: Good luck with the digestive distress, and with the taste that will still be left over in your mouth the next morning, no matter how much you brush your teeth. read more

Lillian - Absolutely miserable dish. Poorly cooked, chewy octopus that tasted old, drowned in copious amounts of black garlic and chili oil. - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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I've been to Lillian a couple of times recently, and they've been pretty good experiences. I will say I loathe seats without backs to them as someone with back problems. I think it's a cop out rather than an aesthetic choice to have zero seat backs in the entire space. I do appreciate that their stools are a little on the larger side, but this is not a space meant for lingering. Their cocktails are pretty tasty and strong. I've also had their fish dip and a loaf of their sourdough bread. My friend and I had a weird experience where they brought me the bread and then didn't bring anything else for so long that we asked what was happening. I had gotten the bread for my fish dip in addition to the chips. My friend ordered a sandwich and was hangry. Turns out they thought my bread was the starter? It was strange, but they sorted it quickly. I will say they charred the bread too, and the fish dip was just OK. I'd maybe stick to drinks here, personally -- but I am not an oyster eater so take that with a grain of salt. read more

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Lillian is absolutely delicious. I had the best shrimp I have ever eaten here, served on the seafood tower my sister and I shared. Every bite was better than the last. They offer a variety of sauces and flavors that really elevate the seafood and make the experience feel unique and interactive. It was such a fun meal to share, comparing each bite and talking through all the different flavors. The service was excellent. Our waitress was knowledgeable about everything we ordered and made great recommendations. The atmosphere is just as impressive. The decor is simple but thoughtfully elevated, and sitting at the bar area feels like you have stepped out of Richmond and into somewhere like New York City. I also love following Lillian on social media to keep up with their latest specials. I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves seafood. read more

Lillian - Seafood Tower - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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I came here with a colleague on Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM for dinner. I had a reservation and when I arrived, they asked if I wanted to sit inside or outside I chose outside because the weather was amazing and the outdoor chairs were the only ones that had a back to them. We had a great server. It was unfortunate We had an obnoxious table next to us that was loud. We ordered the bread with butter, the crab dip, softshell crab, the tostadas, Tres Leche cake, and a banana pudding sundae. Everything was delicious and I would recommend everything. They even comped our dessert because there was a big party that was going to sit outside and they asked us to move inside. This was by far my favorite restaurant from the handful of places, I tried when I came to visit. read more

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I have been meaning to make it to Lillian's $1 oyster happy hour ever since I learned about it, but with my work schedule, I find it challenging to make it before 5:30. luckily, I was finally able to swing one day. I initially wanted to just order a half dozen to see if I liked the oysters, but saw many of the people around me getting a dozen to themselves, and I have zero regrets about doing the same. The oysters they had when I went were from the Rappahannock region in the northern neck of Virginia, and these oysters were so fresh, meaty, with a relatively mild salinity. The oysters come with various different dressings, but my favorite was definitely the maple mignonette. I got the tuna and tomato tostada in addition to the oysters, which was delicious. The tuna was very generous, though I do feel like the ratio of toppings to tostada was a bit overwhelming, and I almost would've preferred it on numerous smaller chips or as nachos. I do feel, though that the pricing for the entrées can be on the higher end, with a tostada coming in at $25 for a small portion. However, paired with the oysters, it still feels worthwhile. The staff were attentive and knowledgeable, and helps guide my food and drink selection. I love the diversity of the cocktail menu, and look forward to coming back to try more of the menu! read more

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One liner: upscale modern seafood restaurant/bar with focus on oysters --------------------------------- Food: first time I came here with a group, split the Lillian platter (shrimp, oysters, hamachi ceviche), it was good especially the shrimp, and I say that as a non-shrimp person, oysters were also good but tasted a bit too salty. The Janet's sourdough bread was very nice! My friend got the scallops and my other friend got the mortadella sandwich, which looked so good (need to try this next time!), serving sizes are a bit small fyi Oysters: second time I came here just for happy hour oysters and the oysters this time were amazing--apparently they were "top shelf" oysters, so delicious! Better than the first oysters, these had more meat, and full, less overpowering salt flavor. 10/10 recommend Recommendations: happy hour top shelf oysters, cocktail shrimp, Janet's sourdough bread Affordability: more on the expensive side, recommend the happy hour Ambiance: clean, minimalist, modern aesthetic we sat outside since the group tables were mostly outdoors, indoor seating was primary bar seating/for two people Service: no issues, servers were kind and thorough Good for: cute dates, small bites, oysters read more

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I came here for my birthday and truly enjoyed this spot. There is very limited seating so you need to be quick about it. If you're thinking about going, go ahead and make a reservation as soon as you possibly can because if not, there is no walk-in Boo. I ended up at a table where you needed to stand. It wasn't the worst, but I would've preferred to sit. Still enjoyed my meal still thinking about the tuna tartar dish I had that had me using bread from a different dish to soft up all of the amazing goodness. If you are in the Richmond area, this is a must try a parking was fairly decent. I was able to park around the corner, although it is in the middle of our neighborhood so just kind of keep that in mind. read more

As a huge oyster fan, Lillian has been on my restaurWANT to try list for a while now. Last week my mom and I made it just in time for happy hour. We were seated immediately. Do know the seating options are mostly high tops and bar. It's an elevated casual fancy experience. For happy hour I got the 50/50 martini ($8) and we did a half a dozen of their happy hour oyster. Do know they only allow you to order 1/2 dozen or a dozen so although they have $1 oysters, it's more like $6 for six or you can mix and match with others on the regular menu. I definitely want to come back to try their other oysters, but I loved the ones they had for happy hour. We decided to also share some plates. We got the hamachi ceviche, salmon poke, and sourdough. Everything was absolutely divine. It was a true party in my mouth. The unique flavors all complimented each other so well. The melon and sauce in the ceviche worked so well together. The warm bread was life changing haha. And the salmon poke had a lot of fun surprises inside. The staff is so friendly and I love how different servers brought our food for each specific dish. I can't wait to come back to try some more oysters. read more

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I went to Lillian for my birthday in December. As soon as we arrived we were cheerfully greeted and taken to our seats. We tried the oyster shooters, cocktail shrimp, caviar sliders, warm olives, sourdough, and smoked blue fish. The oyster shooters were not my favorite but it was fun to try something new. Everything else was absolutely incredible. The caviar sliders were definitely the star of the show, perfectly balanced with crème fraîche and potato chips added a nice crunch. I will certainly be back for the sliders! The staff also provided my husband and I with delicious champagne to celebrate the occasion. Overall a lovely experience with elevated plates and a welcoming ambiance. read more

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Lillian has been on my list of restaurants in Richmond to try for a while, and I finally made it there, and it was worth the wait! The food was delicious. The atmosphere was intimate yet cool, and the staff was very attentive. It's a great spot for a nicer dinner with friends or a date! It's very intimate so you would only want a grouping of around three or less. I can't recommend this more. read more

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This was my first time dining at Lillian's and I have to admit I was highly impressed with the quality of the service, food & the ambiance. I went to Lillian's this weekend as a continuing celebration of my birthday. I have had my eye on Lillian's for about two years & I am so glad I finally got to dine there. I found it to be very conveniently located as my group was going to the restaurant from Movieland theater, making our post movie journey a few minutes away. As we went on a Sunday, parking was not an issue. However, I am sure during more busy times, parking could be an issue for some. Once we entered the restaurant, we were pleasantly greeted and seated in a very quiet & comfy side of the restaurant in a booth! Our server was very courteous & attentive. He was also very well versed concerning the menu & made several great food choice suggestions. One of the stand out points for me at this restaurant was that they offered Happy Hour specials on weekends as well as week days. My group found several items available with Happy Hour pricing that we all enjoyed immensely. Every dish we tried was absolutely delicious. Every item was fresh & flavorful. Lillian's is definitely a restaurant everyone in my group were positive they would dine there again. My only minus of this experience[even though I gave them a 5 star rating-they deserved it] was the lack of a complimentary birthday dessert. For me, that was the only improvement I needed. Overall, I had a very positive experience & I look forward to returning to try even more menu options at this locally owned establishment. read more

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Arguably, one of the best happy hours in Scott's Addition. The space is very small, but I find that super intimate and not just for the romantics. I'm more of a fried oyster girly... but, the freshness, the oyster bar where you get to watch them shuck and prepare your oysters, and the house made sauces make these oysters a whole experience I'm down for again and again. Top it all off with the house churned & fermented butter they make for their sourdough...whew!! I highly recommend being adventurous and ordering literally anything off the menu. The Mediterranean (and East-Asian) inspirations shine through in dishes like trout, lobster, and swordfish! I'll be back soon read more

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$1 oysters made this place accessible for someone on a bit tighter of a budget - it was enjoyable with a wonderful patio, perfect for people watching in Scott's Addition while getting a high-end meal. The triad of sauces that come with the oysters were all really fun - made it into a bit of a "create-your-own-adventure" vibe with each one. Served in a very attractive manner too (see photos). Attentive service as well. Wish it was a bit more affordable beyond the Happy Hour deals because the location is wonderfully prime. read more

Lillian - $1 oysters - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Go!!! The atmosphere, and food is awesome! One of the best gems in Richmond. You will definitely get the quality and experience you are paying for. read more

Okay this is my go to place for oysters, you do have to make it to happy hour cause it can get expensive! But it's so good! Oysters, amazing! Roasted beets.. BEST BEETS EVER! I get their bread with the beets and it just makes me so happy! Lastly for dessert get the sour dough ice cream! Staff is amazing, vibes are immaculate. 100% would recommend read more

Lillian - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

This review is a hard one.. My guy and I popped in late afternoon soon after they opened (to the public) on Jan 20th. We primarily went in just to check the place out, get a drink and an app but decided on a drink only and ended up going elsewhere for food. We personally weren't fans for these reasons: There is only bar seating so it's set up for 1 to 3 people. You could dine with more than 3 of course but would be harder to chat when seated in a row. They do have one dining table but I have no idea how you get that. Maybe first come first serve? The kitchen is the full length of the bar so you are seated at arms reach from all the work going on to prepare food. Not a big deal but distracting for someone like me They have no red wine. No red wine!! Seriously! Was very surprised about that. The menu is hard to understand. Well, not hard to understand but hard to envision what to expect. Namely referring to the "plates" option. Once the restaurant gets more reviews it won't matter bc I'm sure there will be photos to accompany menu items. Also, menu items are a higher cost for even non-seafood items. There isn't anything wrong with the place. We just weren't fans of the seating or the drink and dinner menu. The staff were friendly, both the hostess and server. Was surprised the server didn't "take us through the menu" considering they had just opened. It would've been a nice touch. Overall imo the vibes felt a little out of place for the neighborhood. read more

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Vibes are great here at Lillian! Snagged a Friday night drinks reservation with a girlfriend & we both appreciated the chic space, friendly service, and tasty sips. Will definitely return! read more

Lillian - The Regina George + Tommy's Margarita - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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This is hands down my favorite restaurant in Richmond for endless reasons! I hit the jackpot when Lillian opened on the ground floor of my apartment building. You can make reservations via Resy or simply walk in! They are very accommodating! There are multiple seats along the counter so you can watch the magic happen but they also have a few tables if you're with a group! The food is absolutely fresh and delicious. I have not tried a single thing on the menu that wasn't good! My favorite thing about the restaurant is the service. It's absolutely impeccable. Everyone is very knowledgeable about the food, cocktails and the wine and they are clearly very passionate about what they do! The ambience is also perfect for a date night if you're looking for a romantic spot. Highly highly highly recommend! read more

Lillian - Lillian Martini - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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I love everything about this place. The food is lovely. The drinks are perfect and the atmosphere is so different from most places in RVA. Our server was just the right amount of attentiveness. read more

Such a good place for happy hour if you like oysters. It's very much a bar - there's not a lot of table seating other than high tops along the windows. Don't let that keep you away! There's a long bar that's perfect for an intimate evening. The servers were attentive and helpful as we were deciding what to get. I went specifically for the happy hour ($7 and $1? Oysters) and the added bonus of oyster week. We ended up indulging in the caviar sliders. They were magical. I will for sure be back! read more

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Lillian reminds me of the cocktail bars I loved in Chicago. They are always switching up their menu, but keep some seafood staples like their tinned fish and the seafood towers. It can get a little pricey, but they have great happy hour deals including $1 oysters! This is one of my favorite places for a light bite and drinks in Richmond. read more

Lillian - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

All I'm going to say is that you must try it. Food, service, and ambiance are all spot on!

10/10! Yes, it's a little pricey but the quality and experience is worth it (imo!). cocktails were well balanced, amazing quality oysters. Our bartender/server was great too and gave nice recommendations. Will return soon :) read more

Lillian - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Delicious. Absolutely stunningly scrumptious food. Everything was so fresh. So glad Richmond has a restaurant like this! With a rotating menu, I'm going to be a regular. read more

Lillian - Pear tart- absolutely delicious! - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Our server was very nice. But the staff that clear plates/cups kind of rush you along! Literally took the last oyster off the tray and she cleared it before I could use the accompaniments. Oddly restrictive? For a half dozen oysters you are only allowed to pick 2 kinds and they are steep in price compared to other places in RVA. The mignonette could be better honestly. Clean, modern ambiance and the stools are a good height! read more

Lillian - Sauv Blanc and a dozen happy hour oysters - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Best happy hour in Scott's Addition! Oysters and rose, can't fail. Friendly staff. Small venue but great vibe. read more

Lillian - Oysters and rose - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Went to Lilians for happy hour with some friends...definitely the time to visit. While the majority of the restaurant is standing or bar seating, our group was lucky enough to get the only booth in the place. The decor and atmosphere was modern and the wall to wall windows lent itself to a very light and airy space. Service was very attentive as well. The Lilian martini with oyster vermouth was a very pleasant surprise and probably the best drink we had there. The other drinks were creative and interesting but the martini really shone. During happy hour the Sauvignon Blanc and the Sea Salt Lime beer were also pretty decent for the price. As far as food goes, we got 3 dozen oysters and they were shucked exceptionally well and you could tell that they were fresh and of high quality. The mignonette was decent, although I think they could've done a little more to elevate that aspect of the dish. The hamachi crudo was beautifully plated, with interesting flavors like mustard oil and a nice salinity from the roe scattered across the plate. The hamachi is flown in from Japan and you could also taste the freshness from it. The beef tartare with maitake mushrooms was very good as well. While the beef was tender and savory with soy notes, the addition of the maitake mushrooms really elevated this dish. To finish our meal off, the burrata with asparagus and grapefruit was a nice balance of creamy, tangy, and salty. For a new restaurant in Richmond with a sister restaurant in Lost Letter, Lilian executes well for what it is. Lots of interesting items on the menu to come back and try including investigating the tinned seafood options in the future. read more

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The food was amazing. Incredible flavors. You're able to see everything prepared. Probably not a great set up for large parties, but great for intimate meals. Service was fantastic, they knew all the flavor notes and had great recommendations. Happy hour is from 4-5:30. They have a selected $1 per oyster variant and have some beer/wine specials. Would go again read more

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**A strong 4.25. A cool shellfish centric spot. The space had a good vibe, dug the music and lighting. Our service was fantastic, attentive. There was a good team effort, everyone had a role but helped each other. I found the food to be really good. My wife and I enjoyed the "Petite Tower" to start. The shrimp, tuna tartare and oysters were our favorites. We ended up ordering a half dozen more oysters of a different variety and found these oysters to be as good as any I'd had. Brine levels and flavor profiles of all sorts. We rounded out the night with scallop crudo and anchovy toast. Yum. Everything was well plated and presented. I'd like to see the menu items expand a bit. Yes, I know the place is in its infancy. I'd like that to include a few more tasteful craft beer options. I liked the allocated bottle selection, hope that grows as well. On the pricey side across the board. Overall a really solid night spent here with my wife. We will be back. read more

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It will be interesting to see if this place survives. It has a very limited and specific menu. The seating is also odd in that it is one continuous bar making it difficult for parties more than 2. I thought maybe the chefs would engage you from the other side of the bar, but they mostly just frowned and stood around. There were good deals for happy hour but like I said a limited menu. Only three beers and one of them was Miller?! I heard multiple ladies around me try to order red wine only to be told they don't have any. That seems like an odd thing to exclude as this definitely comes across as a happy hour/ wine bar. We ordered raw oysters first. The oysters were nice but the minuet wasn't good. They also served it with a hot sauce and something green with absolutely no flavor. I was disappointed. Regular cocktail sauce would have been an improvement. The beef tartar toast was absolutely fantastic. Enough for two or three to share. That gave us confidence to order the tuna dish that the waitress recommended. Unfortunately it was terrible. I think if the tuna had been raw or slightly seared it could have been a good dish but it was poached into a tough grey matter that was nearly inedible. If the menu rotates I would be interested in coming back to see what else they come up with, but if it stays the same, I think once is enough. read more

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My wife and I just eat at Lillian Oyster Hall. It was a first time. Wow!!! It was delicious. We had a doze oyster (I did, she doesn't like them), the shrimp cocktail, the Salmon Poke, the Pintxos, and the Anchovy Toast. I'm not sure which was better, all I know is the I need to go back to try the rest. The vibe at the place was relaxing, maybe because it was 2pm. Customer service was great, the staff was very friendly and did a great job explaining the happy hour specials and answering questions about the menu. read more

A new favorite!! warm, cozy but chic lighting, and a unique intimate bar layout Ordered a dozen oysters, the warm olives and the bread and butter along with a bottle of Riesling and it was all soo delicious, some of the best oysters I've had in Richmond and I think I've gone everywhere else that serves them!! Service was also amazing! Sat almost immediately in a cozy corner table, food came quickly and we were checked on often but not too often This is the perfect date night spot! It's sexy and sophisticated and the low bar makes for an intimate but casual place to get a drink and a snack!! can't wait to come back and try more of the menu read more

Lillian - house made bread with butter - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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The creativity and detail is there for every item that comes off the line and I'm surprised more foodies haven't stumbled upon Lillian yet! We came during the happy hour special they were running this past summer and are planning to come back. The oysters are shucked immaculately and their sauces are elevated. We also tried their version of chips and dip which is a tuna salad topped with salmon roe. That was so fun and tasty. The service is quick and professional. Of note, when we went they only had bar seating and standing tables available, so if you're looking to sit at a table (which I believe they only have 1), you should call ahead and ask. We'll be back in the future! read more

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Get there for Happy Hour when oysters are $1.00! Inviting comfortably spaced bar area to enjoy your raw bar and wine selections at, lots of natural light, great vibe! The oyster variety was fantastic, I preferred the ones from Lynnhaven, VA. Nice wine selection. The wine was well paired but a bit pricey by the glass. read more

Lillian - Hamachi Crudo - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Food was fantastic, the oysters were some of the cleanest I've ever had. Staff is incredibly knowledgeable and welcoming. Would highly recommend a visit. read more

This is my new fave in RVA. Stumbled across this after walking back from Buskey Cider. They opened about a month ago now and it's such a vibe. Limited seating but still very nice! read more

Lillian - Espresso martini - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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immaculate. went for happy hour for oysters but ended up getting the sourdough with anchovies and also the tuna toastada. the tostada is easily one of the best dishes i've had in the city. must try spot! read more

Super delicious and cool new spot. Loved the variety of oysters available, including several sweet & briny west coast ones. I really dig the vibe, including the counter seating. Added to the aesthetic of what makes this place unique in RVA. Enjoyed every playful dish we had and will definitely be back again soon! read more

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The atmosphere, location, staff, and bar service were fantastic, and we're excited to see this place continue to improve. It was great and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys a top-notch dining experience. read more

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