Great local diner with authentic charm and a modern menu. We ate here twice during our stay. Nice outside dining. Great good. Friendly service. Be sure to try the chocolate milkshake. read more

Very good food and even better staff! Highly recommended after our late in the day visit. read more

We went here as we rented a River house and a friend recommended this spot to us. Everyone loved the food. I ordered the seafood platter with sautéed crab cakes, sautéed shrimp and fried flounder. It came with fries and Cole slaw as sides. It was hands down one of the best crab cakes I have ever had. The shrimp was plump and juicy and my wife and five year old son also enjoyed them very much. The breading on the flounder was very light and I really enjoyed it with their tartar sauce. Growing up my family never fried flounder but based on this experience that was a mistake. The fries were good with ketchup. My wife ordered the seafood platter with sautéed scallops, a sautéed crab cake and fried flounder and sweet potato fries. She thought the scallops tasted good but thinks she can cook scallops better. She said the scallops left what felt like a film on her tongue. She thought the crab cake was amazing as well. She also really enjoyed the flounder. My five year old son got the kids cheeseburger and fries and ate all of the cheeseburger. He said it was very good. My nine year old daughter ordered the kids deep dish pepperoni pizza and said it was very good. Both kids enjoyed the strawberry lemonade. My wife's parents were also with us. They got the seafood platter and got all three meats as fried flounder. There was quite a bit leftover. They also got the chicken tenders and fries. We really wanted the asparagus as sides but they didn't have any. Unfortunately they didn't really have much fresh veggies as sides. We replaced fries and slaw with green beans which was on the salty side and another bean dish which was good. There was no Coke Zero or Diet Dr. Pepper but they had Diet Coke which I do not care for so I stuck with water. This restaurant was in downtown Mathews and had a very nice small town vibe. Because we had to order for six and we changed our mind on a dish right after ordering, the server got a little frustrated probably cause it was really busy but after that, the service was great. We went back a second time to order sautéed crab cakes, sautéed shrimp and fried flounder for everyone. We even ordered a seafood platter with three fried flounder for my brother-in-law since he enjoyed our leftover fried flounder so much. My father-in-law got one to go as well. Needless to say we will be back!!! read more

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Went to Richardson's last night with my husband and son. We Arrived at 7 pm. We were the only ones in line but not a single server paid any attention to us. We saw that the tables were full at first and then two freed up but no server made eye contact or spoke to us. After more than 10 minutes of waiting without any acknowledgement, I approached one of the servers and asked about seating , she didn't respond and looked at a male server to respond. He said they were full which wasn't the case and walked past me to go outside. I've been there multiple times, live locally and I've never experienced such rudeness and been so blatantly ignored. What self respecting restaurant does this? We walked out and went to Southwind where we were immediately seated by pleasant and attentive waitstaff. This experience has now turned me off from ever walking into their establishment or recommending them to others. read more

This is a great place for a variety of food. Service is great!!! The atmosphere is casual, and the decor is fashioned after a '50s diner. Will definitely be back. read more

Richardson's Cafe - Inside - Cafes Near Me - Mathews, Virginia

Many years ago this was a county pharmacy and soda shoppe, per my understanding. Now, for many years they serve some of the best ice cream along with a daily menu of great sandwiches, meals and specials. The last time I ate there, we ordered an appetizer of Fried Green Tomatoes...best I've ever put in my mouth! Dining is casual, indoor, outdoor, or pickup. read more

Richardson's is by far the best restaurant in town. I come here regularly and I'm always impressed with service, quality, and cleanliness. The time it takes for my food to be prepared is not long at all. Food always looks great and tastes amazing! The service here is excellent, outstanding, and knowledgeable about their menu. Thank you for being a staple in the town. read more

Just terrible. Went for carry out and waited for at least 20 minutes before even being acknowledged. They were extremely busy though. But the bad part was the food which was mostly inedible. My daughter got the portobello panini which had a pesto on it so bitter it ruined the sandwich. My husband had fried shrimp and clams which were tasteless, very clearly not fresh, and also clearly fried in very old oil. I had crab cakes which were under seasoned and undercooked. Following this highly disappointing dinner, I emailed the restaurant but never heard back. read more

We was here from West Virginia on vacation. So glad we tried here because it was amazing and the service was great! Highly recommend it!

T___T I really was excited to try out Richardon's Cafe, as it's a pharmacy-turned-into-burger/diner joint. The checkered floors and the cute counters where you can sit and watch some old-school TV shows seems to be a cute idea! They offer burgers, prime rib platters, and milkshakes & ice cream. The place seemed to be packed with couples and families, and my husband and I stopped by to grab a dessert to go. We were told to just go up to the counter and that someone would be with us shortly; however, no one acknowledged that we were there (no one was up at the counter besides us), and the server who told us to go up there said that she would be right with us, but never came back. I knew that the place was semi-busy, but it was pretty apparent that we weren't even on a list to receive any type of service whatsoever, and the several servers that walked by did not even try to offer any as well! We couldn't even wave any of them down as they did not even look in our direction, nor cared to! I was saddened, as I saw some of the ice cream flavors they had (like Pumpkin Pecan, Kookie Dough, etc.), and I really wanted to try out their shakes. However, the lack of (or, no service) was, I thought, pretty rude. We just walked out after 15-20 min. +no service :( read more

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Food is absolutely delicious!! Our waiter was great. The portion sizes are plenty! I can't wait to go back and try other things off the menu! read more

Seafood is On point! Really good food and fast service. We ate there twice during the week and everything was great. Only negatives are it's very noisy and a little cramped. I think they serve the best clam strips I've had in VA, fresh and salty. Fries are cut a little thin for my taste. read more

ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE! I've never tasted food like this in my life! I ordered mashed potatoes and they were so fresh, so homemade that I actually asked the manager where he they got the potatoes they cook with. The sodas, the pies, the main courses, everything was heavenly. The atmosphere is breathtaking. As a filmophile, I adored the classic Hollywood decor. The art of the walls was exquisite, the period and historic touches added a sense of continuity that was soothing and well, fun! This restaurant has an instant charm factor. Thought and care went into every little detail. The food was no different. Everything was homemade and delicious. I ended up going back there two more times during my three day stay in Mathews, and I cannot wait to go back there. When you begin basing your vacations around a restaurant, you know it's good. I highly recommend this for authentic food lovers. *Authentic* is the word. read more

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I ordered the crab cake sandwich for lunch and my son got the grilled cheese. The wait was rather long...two other twosomes who came in after us received their food before us - even our waitress said she wasn't sure what the problem was. The crab cake was pretty good, though it was cooked a little too much on the outside (looked burnt) for my liking. The tartar sauce was yummy. My side was the homemade chips; they were overcooked. My son's side was fries and they were ok. He was most pleased with the ice cream cone for dessert. The menu is varied enough and has some great sounding items on it that I'll try again when I'm back in Mathews. Plus, it's a neat little restaurant. read more

Richardson's Cafe - Cool little place, very comfortable. - Cafes Near Me - Mathews, Virginia

This place is so adorable and definitely reminds me of a classic diner. I got the lobster bisque and it was delicious. Came here at 5:00 and it fills quickly. Definitely coming back soon! read more

We had a lovely dinner at Richardsons tonight. 2 Easter dinner platters with ham, stuffing, green beans, mashed potatoes, and cranberry relish. Very good - reminded us all of good home cooking. My daughter had a burger w/ grilled peppers and onions.juicy and flavorful. I had a huge Greek salad that was fresh and very flavorful. A wonderful end to our day of exploring the area ! read more

Arguably the best seafood platter on the Middle Peninsula or the Northern Neck. Flounder, large crab cake, oysters, clam strips, and shrimp fried to perfection. Go here for locally sourced seafood at its best. read more

Great location is about all I can offer for this review. I was not charged the correct price was not a good experience at all.

Great food and great service. We ate outside and I felt very safe eating here during the corona apocalypse! The servers had gloves and masks and followed protocol to make us feel safe. A couple of my kids had cheeseburgers. They were large for a kids burger and they were good. The chicken tenders were also very good. I had the grilled chicken melt and it had the bistro sauce on it! Delicious! I also had onion ring! They were amazing! We are here on a little isolated vacation and this place was a hit! read more

White Russian sandwich so good I couldn't wait to take the picture. Service also great with adorable atmosphere read more

Richardson's Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Mathews, Virginia

Quintessential Mathews! Home away from home this place will not disappoint. The wait staff is the best in town. Just go you won't be disappointed. read more

Very good food in a small quaint town of Mathews VA. Service was efficient and friendly. We had meatloaf blue plate and White Russian sandwich. The pumpkin island cake n PB ice cream spot on. Good portions. Will I return ? Definitely. Oh the Chardonnay wasn't bad either read more

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I'm from Texas, and every year when I vacation here with my family I look forward to having a crab cake sandwich here. flakey, flavorful, juicy, filling are all words I would describe thier crab cake sandwich. I fact I would use those words to decscrive most of the menu too. It is truly a gem and one of my favorite eateries in the world. I recommend this place to anyone vacationing in Mathews/Gloucester area or just living here. Just go! Just do it! eat here! read more

Most delicious diner experience I've had! Great southern fare options - hushpuppies, fried green tomatoes (which I ordered, they were great). My mushroom sandwich was great, and I loved the beet salad for my side! Such a diverse menu with healthy options; I look forward to returning to Matthews and to Richardson's! read more

I'm from the area so I was looking for new places to eat, I walked into richardson's and waited 7 minutes for a table. I ordered the deluxe seafood platter, it was very pricey but worth it in my opinion, the flounder was juicy and tasted great, the clam strips were the best part not greasy and was very good, same for the oysters and shrimp, and topped off with perfect fries and a soda. Overall richardson's is a little pricey but the food and service is amazing, Highly recommended. read more

Fun and delicious. You can't do much better than that. Set in an old drug store with the soda counter still intact, the retro decor is fun. Service is excellent. Even when busy the wait staff is efficient and helpful. The food is awesome. We have sampled so many things on the menu and specials board and never been disappointed. Excellent steamed shrimp. I love their chicken salad sandwich for lunch. Their soups, quiche and wraps are also excellent. Portions are good. Milkshakes are awesome. Every dessert I have ever tried there has been amazing. One of our favorite places! read more

Great food and even better service! We had the specials... chicken pot pie with mashed potatoes and prime rib sub smothered in onions with a side of potato salad. Best chicken pot pie I've ever had! read more

They charged me twice on my credit card and when I tried to call their phone is constantly busy. Will not be visiting again

Tremendous food! Homemade Hush puppies,burgers cooked exactly as you order and all dressings are homemade! Milkshakes are incredible! They use a local creamery for those. If I lived in Matthews,VA. I would eat there everyday!!! read more

Always fantastic! I'm always shocked at how good and consistent the food is. We go here quite often and are always very pleased. The service is fantastic. Their specials are on point and change frequently. And their bread putting is to die for! The crab and asparagus quiche is also a standard favorite of mine. read more

Just tried a piece of homemade Lemon Smith Island cake, baked by a local lady named Ethel. Moist, dense but with a good crumb, and a sweet lemony tang. Ethel bakes all the desserts sold here. Oh Ethel, how I long for your recipes and to hang out in your kitchen. read more

Richardson's Cafe - Ethel's homemade Lemon Smith Island cake. - Cafes Near Me - Mathews, Virginia

This place is a FIND!!! I'm not big on fried seafood but this place made me a BELIEVER! Fried ocean scallops were prepared perfectly! The sautéed shrimp were excellent. And the oysters? Oh my! Service was great even on a Friday night when they were slammed! Oh...and the fried green tomatoes? Gotta have em!!! Well DONE!!! read more

Richardson's is consistently good-to-great food. I've never left there wishing that I'd eaten somewhere else. Their Friday night specials are awesome! Especially the deserts. The staff are very attentive and nice. read more

This place is consistently good. I have yet to have something (ok an entree) i did not like. The hog sandwich is worth a try! BUT it is huge so you might want to share it. The only thing that was a little strange was the hush puppies. They were like chalk inside..BUT Don't let that deter you..you have to try this place! read more

Richardson's Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Mathews, Virginia

Not a pretentious place.... simply a really comfortable "home" for locals and welcome for visitors. The food is always nicely done with daily specials that are generally quite good. Save room for the Smith Island Cake desert. The flavor changes daily but is always perfect. Service is good. It doesn't matter if you are a regular or local, you will feel welcomed here. The only thing I really don't like is the green beans. They seem like icky canned beans. I don't understand why these beans aren't good when contrasted with everything else. The onion rings are the BEST IN THE WORLD! read more

Richardson's has absolutely delicious food served in an old former pharmacy. Very casual atmosphere, reasonable prices, about 10 dinner specials on the board and serves beer and wine. Two of our party of five grew up in Mathews/Gwynn's Island and knew many of the patrons and it was fun for them to catch up with long lost friends. My husband and I ordered filet Oscar and it was soooo good. wrapped in bacon and served a LOT of crabmeat and grilled asparagus. Lots of sides to choose from too--you got to select two in addition to the asparagus that the dish came with. Washed it all down with a bottle of pinot grigiot (several, actually)! Too full for dessert but they had a huge list of Hershey's ice creams available and even brought a little "palate cleansing" spoon of ice cream and made us guess the flavor (delish-banana pudding!). If you are ever out this way, stop in. Such nice people there and the food was absolutely delicious (I think I said that already....) GO! read more

Very cute restaurant with a quaint vibe and decent food prices. Honestly I would give this place 3.5 stars if I could but am rounding up to 4. Hubby and I came to Mathews just because we had never been and thought why not? After exploring a bit we decided to stop at this restaurant because of the positive reviews (and because Fair Winds had a 20 min wait for their patio tables). I ordered the Fried Clam Strips with Coleslaw and Shoestring Fries. Hubby ordered the Blackened Tuna Salad and Amaretto Shake. The shake was very good and presented beautifully - 4 stars. Hubby reported that his salad was solid if not earth shattering and gave it 3 stars. My FCS on the other hand was a salty and over breaded mess with stringy clams. It was so awful that I barely ate any of it even though I was HUNGRY. Even hubster who loves salty foods declared it barely edible - 2 stars. The service was good BUT the place was obviously understaffed and our very sweet waitress had to run around quite a bit - which meant we had to wait for refills and other requests but that didn't bother us so much. Overall we would definitely come here again but maybe avoid the clam strips. read more

Very nice , like taking a step back in time. Food was very good . Looks like a place the locals go. Items on the menu I haven't seen in a long time. You are bound to find something that you will really like! read more

Great food, great hospitality. A wonderful family owned little gem. Don't miss the crab puppys. WOW!! This place is right out of the best of what yesteryear in America had to offer. If you find yourself out that way, do not miss this!! read more

Great food, great service, great ambiance, picturesque location. Friendly and affordable.