This was such a great dining experience! The food was delicious, the staff was wonderful, and we truly enjoyed everything from start to finish. My drink was excellent, and the restaurant had a warm, inviting atmosphere. I especially loved the booth seating--it was incredibly comfortable and created a cozy, intimate setting that was perfect for our group. The stuffed Maine lobster was absolutely excellent and definitely a standout! Everything we had was delicious. This is definitely a restaurant to add to your list, especially for a special occasion. We loved our experience and would absolutely come back! read more

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We visited Bookbinder's to celebrate my fiancé's birthday and our 5th-year anniversary. Upon entering the restaurant, we were warmly greeted and escorted to our table, which had a beautiful view of the courtyard. As we made our way to the table, we did notice a strong smell of marijuana in the restaurant, which was a little unexpected. Our server came over promptly, took our drink orders, and we ordered a couple of appetizers. Both appetizers were very good. The wedge salad was actually a true wedge rather than just sliced lettuce, which I appreciated. The she-crab soup had an awesome flavor and was one of the highlights of the meal. For our entrees, I ordered the ancho-crusted ribeye, which was cooked perfectly to medium. Unfortunately, my fiancé's ribeye came out well-done instead of how it was requested to be medium well. Both steaks could have used a little more seasoning, as adding salt really helped enhance the flavor. The chimichurri sauce was very flavorful on top. The lobster mac and cheese was cheesy and had a good amount of lobster throughout. The loaded mashed potatoes were also very good. For dessert, we ordered the chocolate layered cake. It was moist and had good flavor, although it tasted as if it had been refrigerated for quite some time. Overall, we enjoyed celebrating such a special occasion at Bookbinder's. Despite a few things that could have been better, we had a good experience and would return again. read more

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My wife and I had a wonderful evening at Bookbinders. We were met by Melanie Taxin, the owner's daughter, with a nice welcome and later with her taking a photo of us. My wife had a wonderful crab cake entree, and I had the Cowboy Ribeye, which was great. The service by the wait staff was excellent. By the way, the carrot cake was made in-house and delicious. To my surprise, the owner, John Taxin, showed up (as he was off) and had a nice chat. What a wonderful evening and a must-visit place in Richmond. Jim H read more

The escargot was delicious! I loved the sauce with it and it was very flavorful. The steak was extremely tender and the scampi sauce was amazing. They were out of the 40 year old port for the flight so replaced it with the 2017 late bottled vintage, so that was disappointing. The interior is classic steakhouse, but the outdoor seating was lovely. The bartenders were friendly. Overall, I would definitely come again! read more

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Great food,Great atmosphere, available parking Great service Bookbinders family brings it home!! read more

Old Original Bookbinders - Me and my beautiful wife enjoying my 54th birthday - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Everything was absolutely delicious! The steaks were cooked perfectly, seasoned well, and full of flavor. The sides were just as good, especially the mac and cheese. Great food, beautiful presentation, and an amazing dining experience. Definitely one of the best steakhouses I've been to--highly recommend read more

Old Original Bookbinders - Steak , Mac n Cheese, asparagus - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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I came to Bookbinders for a work event and had a great time! The service was really impeccable, and we seated in a side room for the event. We were treated to a three course meal, with a really generous selection of options. I personally opted for the ribeye steak, which is massive, so deliciously seasoned, and cooked perfectly, medium rare. I definitely was not able to finish this, and took some home to eat the next day. The sides of the mashed potatoes and green beans that came with it were also delicious, and the side salad that we started with it added some freshness to the menu. I do feel as though the sides were a little plain for a fancy steakhouse, but still good. I was so full at the end of this, that I took the chocolate cake to go home, but really enjoyed it even as leftovers. The service was impeccable, with plenty of wine to go around, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself here. Bear in mind that this place has a business casual dress code, and I definitely think it's a place worth dressing up for. Parking can be a bit of a pain, as it seems like there's only street parking, but I was luckily able to snag a spot out front. read more

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A very nice ambiance in downtown Richmond. I just moved back to Richmond from Florida after being away for over a decade. The new restaurant scene is booming here but Bookbinders is a classic. I went in and sat at the bar. The hostess was very nice and greeted me on my way in. The bar was pretty packed for 5:10pm on a Tuesday but I found a seat. I was informed that it was happy hour. I ordered a vodka/cran which was on the happy hour. I also ordered a wedge salad and a crab cocktail (both not on happy hour). Everything was very good. The bartenders were friendly and observant. My only complaint is that, on my way out, a woman standing at the front (maybe a manager but definitely not the hostess who greeted me) didn't say bye. She just let me walk out. In a restaurant of that caliber, one would expect seamless service from start to finish. A simple "have a good day" would have made this a perfect experience. read more

This is a classic "fancy" spot in Richmond by the water. They have options for private dining which we did. The food was pretty good but the selections were limited. I had asked if it was possible to have salmon vs stuffed salmon and they couldn't accommodate which I thought was odd. Nevertheless the service here is great, they are very attentive to you. read more

Old Original Bookbinders - Broiled Stuffed Salmon - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Every time I come to this restaurant it's always a great experience. I was celebrating a birthday and of course they put my partner's name on the menu. I absolutely love this gesture which makes for a more personal experience! I started with a peach and bourbon drink and it was well balanced and flavorful. I also tried the escargot and loved the presentation. For the entree, I got the steak and crab with lobster macaroni and cheese and loaded mashed potatoes. The steak was cooked to the correct temperature and the Crabcake was filled with lump crab which I definitely appreciate. The macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes were nice and creamy. The waiter was very attentive and made our needs were met. I couldn't not have asked for a better experience and I would definitely recommend this restaurant! read more

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Absolutely fantastic. Went in on a Monday night at 6pm with a friend. Given the hour, the place was mostly empty. So very quiet. Even after it filled in (we were there for 3+ hours), it still had great acoustics. Easy to carry on a conversation. We got a few things before the mains - shrimp cocktail (4 to a serving), prosciutto wrapped mozzarella (amazing), chopped wedge (very good just needed a little more blue cheese dressing). For the mains, we both got the ancho rubbed cowboy ribeye and I got the broiled blue cheese add on (yes, love blue cheese). The steak was AMAZING!! Cooked perfectly and incredibly flavorful. I strongly recommend the fromage topping!! For sides, we got portabella mushrooms and the Brussels sprouts. The mushrooms were fantastic. The sprouts were not very good. Tasted boiled and no flavor. All in all... highly recommend this place. Keep in mind, it's pricey. Our bill was $400 and all I had was water. My friend had 3 old fashioneds. read more

My mother and I came to Bookbinders for Christmas dinner, and it was a great experience especially since she hadn't been before. Everything went smoothly the staff was welcoming, attentive, and made us feel taken care of without being overbearing. Given it was the holiday, the menu was a bit limited, but the food was still excellent. They're definitely on the pricier side with or without their limited menu with a great selection of poultry and seafood options, but for good reason everything was good and the overall experience made it worth it. The ambiance was really chill and relaxing, which made the night even better. On top of that, the seasonal drinks were amazing and added a fun, festive touch to the dinner. Overall, it was a memorable Christmas dinner, and I'm already looking forward to coming back to try more of what's on their menu. For those looking for a spot to celebrate a special occasion or when you're in the mood for a quality meal and great atmosphere this is one spot I would recommend. read more

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Absolutely phenomenal food & customer service that was out of this world! Celebrated our elopement ceremony dinner here. When making the reservation, we noted that. We were pleasantly surprised when we received a phone call confirming our reservation & a staff member congratulating us! They said they had a complimentary keepsake for us, which turned out to be a personal menu saying "Just Married". We were absolutely thrilled, what a cute detail! & complimentary glasses of champagne! The food was phenomenal. The bread was crispy and warm. We ordered the prosciutto mozzarella, and wow was it good. The ancho-rubbed cowboy cut ribeye was perfect. The best thing we got was the LOADED MASHED POTATOES! Best thing ever. We also got an entree-enhancement of fried shrimp which was amazing. My dessert was the mixed berry bread pudding, which was a perfect way to end the meal, especially with a scoop of my favorite ice cream brand Gelati Celesti. My husband got the crème brûlée, which he said was delicious. I highly recommend this spot for a fancy date night. Prices can be a bit high for even small portions, but everything was a 5/5 for us and filled us up. Upscale atmosphere with a cozy warmth. We loved it here! read more

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It's a "special occasion" kind of place because most people don't make going out for $150/pp dinner a weekly routine. The restaurant makes efforts to create the experience. I have no idea about Chesapeake style cuisine but I could sum up the experience to be traditional American, with the Chesapeake Bay seafood specialty. Lots of heavy cream, hiding the greens on offer. We started with half dozen of half shell oyster. Very fresh, plumb and fairly priced. Then we tried the New England chowder. It was a bit salty, very creamy, and they didn't skim on the clams! For main I had the petite filet with Oscar Style which is grilled asparagus with crabmeat in thick hollandaise sauce. My dining partner had the jumbo crab linguini. I ordered my steak rare which by Bookbinder standard warm in the center. The meat is very tender and the cut has few tendons. A bit more like medium rare in my opinion but still very tasty. The enhancement was poured over the filet and very creamy. I should've asked for it to be on the side had I know it would overpower the steak. For dessert we had the crème brûlée and the raspberry sorbet. They are quite standard but well done. Overall they try to give a good service. But our waiter keeps mixing up our orders. He double checked our entree order after the soup and something else still showed up at our table. My dinner wine came way too late and I didn't get a steak knife until asked. He swapped our deserts and asked how we were doing way too many times which makes me think he's trying to close the tap. I think it's still a good restaurant but when the ticket price is so high and they didn't hire the service staff up to par, it really impacts the value. read more

Old Original Bookbinders - 1/2 Dozen Oysters on the 1/2 Shell - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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The food was excellent. We had soup, appetizers, and dessert too. The waiter Chris was very attentive. The restaurant is charming in style. Very clean and inviting. Has a parking lot. We would definitely recommend and worth the money. read more

Old Original Bookbinders - Gluten free dessert - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

We loved the cuisine. We had been happy patrons of the Philadelphia original Bookbinders years ago, and we were happy to learn that a beloved restaurant we thought to be defunct was no longer. Bookbinder's was pretty empty at 5pm on a spring evening; I had expected and feel it deserves more of a following / crowd. Perhaps it builds later. While both of us thoroughly enjoyed what we ate (the halibut special and pork chop), we did find the portions and the prices both bigger than necessary and the menu options more limited than expected. Healthier faire, and options constituting better value, are a suggested improvement. Service was prompt and courteous; Ian served us with rock-solid aplomb. He is a professional and it showed. All of that said, including that we would return if in Richmond again, I feel that the business would be better positioned for the fickle post-pandemic market with a greater number of smaller entrees constituting healthier and more economical choices too. read more

Great spot for a fancy dinner, client meeting or the like. Been several times. Good quality food. Portions are maybe too huge. I went with the ancho rubbed ribeye with chimmicurry and the flavor was great we had a big party multiple stakes multiple seafood dishes. Every steak was cooked as ordered. Seemingly rare in a big party, but Bookbinders nailed it. Tried several sides, loaded, baked potato was the one for me. My only complaint is that I was too full for their extensive dessert menu maybe next time I'll order dessert first! Service again was mediocre. But I tend to be there with a big parties. They try to pull it off with one person every time and it just doesn't work well. read more

The food was delicious. The crab cakes didn't have a lot of filler, which was nice. The risotto a little bland, but the lamb chops delicious. Our waiter didn't explain the menu items. We heard another waiter explain items to another table and thought, after we had ordered, "oh, wish we had known that!" All that being said, we will probably be going back and making this our "special occasion" spot. The restaurant was quiet and we could have a nice conversation. read more

Excellent steak and lobster. Great drinks, appetizers, salad and sides. Desserts weren't quite as good as they looked, but still pretty decent. read more

Came for a work dinner and as always it was delicious. Have dined several times since my last review. Steak is always on point as are the fresh sides. The owner is kind and if he's there he will come by to check in on how your visit is going. Wonderful place! Always a pleasure. read more

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Wonderful experience!! This was our second time here and we certainly plan on returning again; a real treat We were celebrating a birthday and our server Chris could not have been any nicer. Starting off, he helped us pick the right wines, the right salads and then, excellent suggestions for the main course My wife had the scallops and I had the swordfish. Both excellent meals!! After dessert, Chris recommended we check out the Koi Pond It was an amazing dinner!! read more

I went to dinner with some out of town work friends who were in Richmond. They picked this place based on the menu and good reviews. I've lived in Richmond for almost three years and had never been to Bookbinders, so I was excited to try it. We had a 6:30pm reservation and the lot across the street was pretty full by the time I arrived, but thankfully was able to get a spot. We started off with the seared Cajun tuna and crabcakes appetizers. The tuna was delicious and melted in your mouth. The crabcakes were tiny and just ok, so I wouldn't go out of my way to order those again. I ordered the Japanese Hokkaido Pan Seared Scallops, which came with asparagus risotto. This was by far the tastiest scallops I have ever had, and growing up in New England, I've had my fair share of scallops. They were so flavorful and melted in your mouth. We ordered a side of the Lobster Mac and Cheese, which was so cheesy and chock full of lobster. So good! For desert (which I got to go because I was so full), I got a piece of their key lime pie, which came with an oreo cookie crust, and was really tart and tasty. The manager stopped by our table several times to check on us and our waitress was also really attentive. This is definitely a place for special occasions and I'd recommend skipping a few meals as their portions are nicely sized. I can see why this restaurant has been around so long. read more

Great food, service and environment. The only negative is parking fills up quick but there's plenty of parking on the street.

This one's been on the list for awhile and last night me and Nowuh bear finally tackled it. Let me start off by saying .... you are going to spend so much money here. They have a lot of poultry and seafood dishes that are decent mid range prices (30-70), but once you enter steak territory things get evil (my dish was $97 alone). HOWEVER. it was VERY good. the BEST filet ive ever had. it was so soft. every dish that came out tasted so so good, the servers were fantastic, and the ambience was so romantic and rustic ... i felt like i was in one of those "christmas in new york" ambience youtube videos. 9/10. only -1 point bc of my wallet's pain read more

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Went here for our last supper during our return to Richmond getaway. We got the cowboy ribeye, the mac n cheese and the shrimp scampi. The food was amazing! For drinks, we had an old fashioned and a lavender martini - both were delicious. I wish I'd had room for dessert, but we had to pass. I loved the lobster tank when you enter (90's baby!) and how spacious the booths were. The music was nice, not too loud and the restaurant was so clean. Even the restrooms were spotless, and I hate public restrooms with a passion. The booths were sticky, and there was no dust anywhere. If I chose two things to not like, it'd be that the scampi had only 3 shrimp for $20 and that I indicated that it was our anniversary during the reservation and it was not acknowledged- though I heard other guests be acknowledged by their servers. We also wanted to sit on the porch, but our server told us it hasn't been open consistently due to the high pollen count. read more

Old Original Bookbinders - lavender lemon drop martini - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I recently visited Bookbinder's for appetizers and drinks with my husband and a close friend, and I left genuinely impressed by the experience. Tucked away on a quiet street, Old Original Bookbinder's welcomes guests with a charming entrance illuminated by warm fairy lights. The historic building exudes a timeless elegance that feels a little like "old money." From the moment we were greeted by the host to our interactions with the waitstaff throughout the evening, the service was exceptional. I have to give a special shoutout to our server, Matthew, who was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and offered thoughtful recommendations that enhanced our experience. The outdoor space was a lovely surprise. There's a beautiful koi pond that we enjoyed on the warm evening we visited, adding to the restaurant's unique atmosphere. While I didn't personally try it, the seared Cajun tuna appetizer received rave reviews from our table. I enjoyed the clams and oysters on the half shell, both of which tasted exceptionally fresh, and the Indigo Sour was absolutely delicious. I would highly recommend Bookbinder's for a date night, celebration, or any special occasion. It truly feels like a place designed to make an evening memorable. Parking can be a bit challenging, and you'll want to be prepared for fine-dining prices, but for us, the overall experience was well worth it. I'll definitely be returning. read more

I have not dined at this restaurant in 22 years and it did not disappoint! Joe was our server, and he provided excellent service and recommendations for our anniversary dinner. They offered us complimentary champagne for the occasion! We started with the Oyster Rockefeller and it was phenomenal. The oysters had just the right amount of cheese and spinach to complement the appetizer. We shared the 8-ounce filet and lobster entree with a loaded baked potato. The filet was cooked to the perfect temperature of medium. The lobster tail was well seasoned and served with drawn butter. I must say that was the best baked potato I've ever tasted. The potato was soft and tender and the topping was a perfect addition for flavoring. read more

Our single dinner here turned out to be one of the best meals we experienced on our cross-country trip. After being deposited in a plush booth Diane and I began with a very good Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail that featured shrimps that were not really jumbo in size. Moreover, the original platter had to be replaced because the shrimps were embedded in Cocktail Sauce even though a request had been made by us not to serve the dish this way because of Diane's aversion to this particular type of sauce. The replacement dish was prepared properly as requested. Next we were served a Bowl of fine New England Clam Chowder and an excellent Caesar Salad with tasty requested Brown Anchovies, along with delicious crusty Ciabatta Bread and Butter. For our mains Diane and I shared 3-1/2 pounds of fine live Lobsters. It was just the right amount of food, artistically presented like a crouching animal on a plate. A side of Johnnie's Potatoes added great-tasting balls of fried potato. And this memorable meal was further enhanced by a sweet and unusual New York Chocolate Blackout Layer Pudding Cake ala Mode, a real treat. Service by Joe H. was exemplary. Brick walls, white tablecloths, and black booths resulted in an elegant and upscale steakhouse ambiance. And I felt honored that restaurant owner John Taxin stopped by to present us with a unique Bookbinder's challenge coin in recognition of Diane's military service, and joined us in our booth to chat for a few minutes and pose for a photo at my request. It was a leisurely and very enjoyable meal. I only wish this restaurant was situated much closer to where we live, so we could visit it often. read more

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Really good experience at Old Original Bookbinder's. The place has a nice classic feel and the service was solid from start to finish. Everyone was attentive without being overbearing. The food came out fresh and well prepared. The seafood tasted clean and the steak was cooked just right. Nothing felt rushed and everything had good flavor and presentation. Overall it's a great spot in Richmond if you want a nice dinner whether it's a date night or just a solid meal out. I'd definitely go back. Thanks Neighbor read more

Amazing service! The scalloped risotto was delicious! All in all, great first time experience

We came here for my mother's birthday. As we walked up we saw the owner outside tending to the flowers out front and was very nice. We were sat promptly for our reservation. Our server was very patient and informative, he even gave my son some fish food for the coy pond they have out back. We started off with appetizers: raw oysters, clam chowder soup, and arugula salad; my mom loved her seafood picks and my salad was very good. For our dinners I ordered the cowboy ribeye. I was disappointed with the flavor and the meat itself. I feel it lacked flavor and the cut of meat wasn't the best for a $66 price tag. My son and mom had the salmon which was good. My husband had the crab linguine; that was ok it wasn't the best he has had and not the worst. Overall my mom would go back for the oysters and soup but I wouldn't go back for the ribeye. read more

this seems to be a classic spot for Richmond. However, I have mixed feelings about it. -the good was that obviously, it's a beautiful venue. The staff are really nice. Service is excellent. The steak that I got which was an 18 ounce ribeye was terrific. Drinks were really good. -there are a few things that I thought could've been better. Number one parking is miserable. Maybe that's part of the thing and flair of coming to bookbinders and shockhoe bottom. Regarding the food, they seem to love to put sauces and things on the steaks to level it up. I personally am not a fan of that. Good steak can be had pure with minimal additions. Mine was terrific, but they put chimichurri sauce on it, honestly it didn't really need it. I did feel that the side specifically the brussels sprouts and the truffle fries were a little too salty. Overall, it is pretty pricey. I would say that this is definitely a good spot to try for a corporate night out or a business meeting. But from a foodies perspective, not as enthusiastic. read more

We Tried Bookbinders for the first time, Anniversary treat. Yea us! Place is beautiful and easily located in Richmond. Service was epic, Thank You David. Prices were a bit high but expected in this area. This is why I gave 4 stars. Wedge salad was $ 25 (?) Started with a few glasses of wine and I had an Ol Fashion and we tried the shrimp cocktail. Both were great. My wife had the wedge salad w/crab, she didn't care for the Louis dressing, but the balsamic was amazing. I had the scallops with asparagus risotto. This dish was fantastic and it had 5 nice size scallops, perfectly cooked. Risotto was good. Definitely be back for the NY strip! Thank You for the amazing service David! read more

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My husband made reservations here for our wedding anniversary. We were seated inside and we got a customized menu that said "Happy Anniversary" which was special. Our waitress Petra was wonderful - kind and attentive. We got a complimentary champagne toast which was yummy. For drinks, I did the huckleberry fin and my husband did the Bouchard Pinot Noir - both delicious. The sourdough bread was great paired with olive oil & butter. We both got the petite filet cooked medium rare which was amazing, smooth as can be. We shared the Johnnie potatoes which were delicious. For dessert, we shared the chocolate chip brownie which was rich and topped with vanilla ice cream. All in all so yummy! Highly recommend for a special occasion. read more

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Bland food and only cost $600. Salmon dry and flavorless. Steak, well another place that doesn't know how to cook meat. Shrimp and crab cakes bland. Yes bland describes this place best. Service was good. read more

Best food and service our family has had in a very long time! 9 1/2 out of 10! A gift package from our Son, the outstanding one he is. Thanks! read more

Wonderful spot with excellent steaks and interesting cocktails! Don't miss the goat cheese mushrooms either. One of the best appetizers in Richmond. read more

One of my favorite restaurants in the RVA. The lobster is delicious and so are the steaks. I like that it's set in an old tobacco warehouse and kept its charm. We had a large group but the servers were on top of everything including pouring more wine. This is a place I take guests from out of town to impress! read more

Amazing dinner at Bookbinders this evening. We've been coming to Bookbinders for years and now that we live in Charlotte - we bring my in-laws every time we visit. Matthew gave outstanding service - the Kona Coffee filet, twice baked potatoes, the broccolini were all outstanding. The brownie ala mode was the cherry on top of it all. Already, can't wait to come back. Such a great spot. Thank you read more

Celebrated my birthday here and it was a great time! The food was good, but I wasn't amazed (I think I had set my expectations too high). The highlight of my meal was definitely the crème brûlée! The ambiance was upscale and the service staff were friendly and attentive. I would like to come back to give them another try. read more

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