Food was great, service very good and ambiance good. Again, the food was excellent. It was just…read morewhat I wanted in fresh seafood.

We stopped into The Hard Shell before a late imaging appointment at VCU, and it had been years…read moresince our last visit. It was a good reminder of why this place has stayed around. The atmosphere is still charming. The Slip location has that classic Richmond feel, warm and inviting without trying too hard. Parking was easy, which never hurts. Service was excellent, even with a large private party in progress. The staff handled it effortlessly and everything felt well paced. We started with the crab cocktail, which was outstanding. It is one of those dishes that justifies ordering out instead of making it at home. My only hesitation is Old Bay, which I know is a personal preference and not a fault of the dish. Even so, it was very well done. The calamari and truffle fries followed. Both were strong. The calamari leaned slightly salty on its own, but the sweet sauce brought it into balance. For entrees, my husband had the rockfish over greens, and I ordered the crispy rockfish with Brussels and polenta. Mine was excellent. Crisp, flavorful, and thoughtfully composed. I could not finish it, but that had more to do with our enthusiasm for appetizers than anything else. After all these years, Hard Shell remains a reliable, polished choice in Richmond. Consistency like that is not easy to maintain, and it shows

They had lobster roll. Which I ordered and it was wonderful. It was on a hotdog roll. Delicious…read more Spouse had fried shrimp very large. We shared truffle fries. Every bite was delicious. Service is excellent. Ambiance is pleasant. Overall this place is excellent. Easy to get in with the wheelchair. I will definitely be back. Our server was Lily very efficient.

Owhere do I start..... First visit, I was in the mood for…read moresome seafood and this place sounded great. I arrived and two persons were at the front door pretending to be hostesses... No greetings and a look in their face like what do we do now. One proceeded me to a table with no verbiage or a welcome face r that matter. Looked like they were trying to pull off a Five Star and was modern looking throughout including the dinner wear, which was great.... I asked about the oyster's Rockefeller and was told by the waitress they were well received so I proceeded to order Oyster Rockefeller, crab legs and she crab soup just to round things out. The oysters were nothing more than a ball of cheese, way too much cheese, never even tasted a hint of oyster. stay away The crab legs were decent, one pound consisted of three clusters of decent size. The she crab soup was tasteless and I would go as far to say almost tasted like cardboard. I had asked the waitress to bring me a Togo container when I ordered but it was so bad I tasted it twice and let the bowl sit. The waitress didn't inquire about the meal in any sense of the word, so all in all a two star experience. Owner must be using it for a tax write off....sad actually because better management could really turn the place around.....and Mechanicsville could use a good seafood restaurant!! Check my pics out, just wish I had taken a pic of the cheese balls.....Enjoy!!

I don't know if was the fact that it's been so long since I've consumed anything or if I was eager…read moreto try some new spot of if it was just the drink but this tasted so so so so so so good. I meant to write this immediately but I was on the move so much that I forgot and now I forget which flavor I had added but it was so good. It wasn't too sweet. I could actually taste the coffee. I wanted to go back the next day but I was only in the area for 2 days and I wanted to try as many different places as possible so... Next time. The only reason I didn't give it 5 is because I'm not a fan of oysters and my intention of going was to get breakfast so that was on me. I didn't do any research on the spot and the information given [to me] was sketchy so I didn't know. It was recommended by someone that we go there. I later found out that the recommendation was to go there for coffee specifically. They didn't say anything bad about the food but they were specific about "go here for some really good coffee". They were 100% on point!

My boyfriend and I checked out Birdie's for RVA Restaurant Week. We chose this particular…read morerestaurant because of the menu they put out. My boyfriend ordered the shrimp ceviche for starters, which was excellent. I got the whipped feta with crostinis. The feta was great, the bread they served it with was so hard it could break a tooth. Also, a couple of the pieces were burnt. Our pasta dishes came out next. I got the one with shrimp. The pasta was very gummy and undercooked. His pasta was better. We finished with one of each of the desserts. The lemon lavender tiramisu was excellent, the fancy looking brown sugar butter cake had zero flavor. The ambiance was lovely, the wine was good. Our waitress was great, although it was weird a 20% tip was automatically added to a part of two.

Firehouse-themed spot with real character--exposed brick, vintage fire patches, wooden booths, even…read morea D&D night. Our server was friendly and attentive, and the food came out fast once we ordered. The Blueberry Jam Burger (June burger of the month) was excellent: juicy patty, goat cheese, house-made blueberry jam, arugula, and pickled onions on a brioche bun. Sweet potato tots were crispy and the jumbo mozzarella sticks came out hot with marinara. The chocolate sundae was a solid finish. Good food, good atmosphere, great service. Will be back.

Let me start with the outstanding service. Our waiter was both attentive and entertaining. Also…read morevery knowledgeable on the menu. Plenty of indoor seating and a limited amount of outdoor seating in their courtyard space. Cocktails were decent and it appeared they had a decent beer selection. The burgers were tasty and the fries and sweet potato tots were delicious. I know the reviews don't look great but if you want a burger and some fries this is a great place to stop

I've been five times over the past few years, so I'm fairly surprised I've yet to review The Grill…read more They have typical bar food, and everything's pretty tasty. I especially like their steak and cheese. Their cocktails are good as well. It's reasonably priced and the dining area away from the bar to the left is my preferred place to sit. Service has been friendly. Great location at Libbie/Patterson too.

This place presents very standard sports bar / dive bar vibes. The lunch/dinner menu is pretty…read moreexpansive and has a wide variety of options, and they have gluten free bread for all of the sandwich choices (a must for me!) The food was hot and fresh when it came out, but the flavor was lacking for me. It was certainly nothing to write home about, and I didn't finish the sandwich because the turkey was just so dry and bland after a few bites. The drinks are very fairly priced, and the specialty cocktails are nice and creative. If I visit this spot again, it will definitely be for cheap drinks and maybe an appetizer rather than a sit-down meal.

I dig it the most. It's a mix of local diner with that trendy feel you want when taking photos of…read moreyour breakfast to show your friends you're living a better life than they are. Eggs, biscuits, cooked meat from various animals -- all the classics. The menu is fun, ranging from pigs in a blanket to a very typical omelet. It's the kind of place you want to take your girlfriend after her first sleepover. It's not hidden and it's not a secret. If you live in Richmond, you know Dot's. IF you dont know Dot's, you dont live here, you must be a guest. The walls are packed with quirky art, and the crowd ranges from longtime regulars who look like they've had the same barstool since 1995 to first-timers who can't believe they've been sleeping on this place. It's cozy without being cramped -- loud enough to feel alive but you can still have a real conversation. The food is the real story. The menu is creative American comfort -- the kind of cooking that sounds simple until it arrives and you realize someone in that kitchen actually cares. Brunch is especially strong. The biscuits are not to be missed. Neither is whatever the daily special happens to be, because they clearly put thought into it.

Enjoyed a friend's Birthday dinner at Dot Back Inn. We arrived a 4PM just before the dinner rush…read moreand got a booth quickly however the booth seats have no padding and are extremely uncomfortable. Next time we'll choose a table with padded chairs! We've eaten at Dots before so I decided to switch things up from my usual and have the Chicken MacArthur for $19.00 (Sautéed Chicken, Artichokes, Onions, Garlic, Tomatoes, Feta and a White Wine Sauce over Spaghetti). While it was good the spaghetti was undercooked and lacked artichokes!! Have to say in was unremarkable! Don't get me wrong we love Dots so we'll definitely be back!!

Valentine's Day price fixed menu was amazing! We loved every single course! Our meal was so good I…read morekinda forgot i didn't love where we were sitting ( bar top by the door) Cream of celery root and potato soup Ginger garlic shrimp and green curry grits Dijon crusted salmon Beef short ribs Apple pie pot de crème Almond and chocolate tart

Decided to visit for the first time on a Saturday evening and it was such a pleasant experience. To…read morestart, we opted for the Salmon Tartare, so good and the flavors all melded so well together. If you like tartare, you'll love this, it does have a little kick. I was torn between the soft shell crab entree and the rock fish but opted for the rockfish. The fish was cooked perfectly and the lobster cream was a nice addition to the dish. Overall, worth the price for the quality, customer service and atmosphere!

food is so good. had the sailor sando w/ side of peppers. do not sleep on them shishito peppersread more

We went to this place for the first time tonight and OMG‼…read more RUN....do not walk to the New York Deli!!! It's right next to the Byrd Theater so it was perfect for dinner after a movie. Our server was Braxton, a delightful young lady. She was witty and a diligent server and all the things...and she did not steer us wrong when it came to the food. My husband and I both had a taste for ordering an Italian sub and Braxton said we would not be sorry if we ordered it, and we were not. I was literally moaning with almost every bite. I am a potato salad connoisseur. I will not eat it unless it is freshly made. I don't do any of the grocery store type of potato salads. (Gross!) I asked Braxton about it and she said that in general, she doesn't even like potato salad, but at this restaurant, she absolutely loves it and highly recommends it. Knowing it is freshly made on site, plus her recommendation, I decided to try it. Oh my word! This potato salad is straight from the portals of heaven. Sooooooo good. This might not seem like a big deal, but it's a very big deal to me. I like freshly brewed tea. Nothing bottled. Nothing out of a soda machine. (Disgusting!) I asked Braxton if the tea was actually brewed there and she said yes. Tea is not the same everywhere. Sometimes it's so weak, you don't even realize it's tea. Not here! It was perfect. This makes a huge difference to me as when my beverage is perfect, I enjoy my meal a lot more. The entire meal was top notch. The service was absolutely excellent. We loved having Braxton and would ask for her again. A DJ was setting up as we were eating. We learned that they have karaoke and trivia nights earlier in the week as well as dance nights on the weekends. My husband and I mentioned that we would definitely come back and bring friends. I loved my experience here and it could not have been made any better by anything.