One bite and I'm instantly transported to South Street in Philly. Stanley's is serving up easily one of the best cheesesteaks in Richmond. The Stanley's Cheesesteak is the real deal -- shaved ribeye, Cooper Sharp white, onions, and pickled hot & sweet peppers all working together exactly how a proper cheesesteak should. Rich, messy, and packed with flavor. And here's the surprise: one of the best Caesar salads in RVA. Didn't expect it, but it absolutely delivers. Come for the cheesesteak. Don't sleep on the Caesar. Thank me later. read more

Went to Stanley's for a casual lunch. The setting is nice, located in a corner storefront in the Fan district with nice views of the neighborhood. The servers were also tending the bar which was getting decent traffic even at lunchtime. My dining partner says there is a pool table in a back room, and that could be fun to fold into a longer visit. The piped in music was light jazz. The menu is oriented around philly cheesesteaks and variations. I ordered the chicken philly, which was large enough to make two lunches (I brought half home.) The flavor was decent, with seasoned or marinated chicken chunks and veggies & cheese on a sturdy roll. It came with a decent serving of chips. We were served a juice glass of room temp water on arrival and no drink order was taken. Negatives were related to pacing. It took a lot of time for the food to come out. We were pushed to eat even half of our sandwiches within the hour my dining partner had for lunch. The server did not check back after dropping the plates, which could have been an issue if we needed more water. And getting the check was a challenge that took way too long considering how small the place is. This is a decent place to grab a sandwich or a drink if you have the time or live in the neighborhood. read more

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The best Philly I've had outside of Philly. Went for lunch but the atmosphere is great, staff were friendly and engaging. I can't wait to come back. read more

When I first entered the restaurant it had a great vibe. The restaurant's sound system was playing 90's R& B which is always an excellent choice. The staff was super chill preparing cocktails and waiting on patrons. I opted to order my food to go and chose the cheesesteak, modifying my sandwich to only cheese since they were currently out of tomatoes. The bread was toasty with sesame seeds, and the steak was well-seasoned with gooey provolone cheese. The sandwich length is between 8 and 12 inches depending on the bread length. read more

Stanley's - Cheesesteak - Sandwiches Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

This is absolutely the place to go for a Philly cheesesteak in Richmond. I was pleasantly surprised by the selection of cocktails and beers on the menu, and all the cocktails that we were delicious. I shared a Caesar salad with some friends, which was delicious and hit the spot. The sandwiches are definitely on the larger side and I was able to get two meals out of them. The Philly cheese steak is phenomenal: the steak was sliced thin and very tender and savory. I tried the roast pork as well, but didn't enjoy it as much, as I found the broccolini/chard to be a little bit too bitter for my personal taste. We subbed chips for fried, which were crispy and delicious. Service here is on the slower side and can be hard to flag a server down. read more

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9/17/25 6:45pm Dropped some uber passengers here the other day and they RAVED about Stanley's. After looking it up I see 4 3/4 . So here I am. This can be family friendly or a spot to eat with friends. I ordered a Stanley's steak and cheese and added mushrooms and mayo. I also replaced my fries with a wedge salad for a $6 up charge. The sub was $16. Not sure how much the mushrooms are but I'll tell you when I get the bill! I forgot lol Steak and cheese is VERY flavorful. Steak is really steak. Definitely worth checking out. Wedge salad- good. It's a fresh tasty wedge salad. I'd return here to eat. read more

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I cannot believe I haven't reviewed this place yet... I'm too busy enjoying my meal I guess! I love love love this place, and my husband and I crave it probably once a week. I get the cheesesteak over a bowl of fries (gluten allergy problems...) and it is so decadent and delicious. The cocktails are so good too and always refreshing to wash the savory meal down with. All Hail Stanley's! read more

Stanley's - Sandwiches Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

As far as service goes, I'd give it a 5 out of 5! Our waiter was very nice and attentive. As far as food, this place just didn't do it for me. I ordered the Caesar salad, Fries, and the Stanley's Cheesesteaks. The Caesar Salad was decent and I like the fries, but the cheesesteak was a big miss for me. The cheesesteak was very salty so it was super difficult to enjoy. The pickled hot and sweet peppers seemed like they were just hot peppers. Needless to say, I was very disappointed. I loved the diner feel and the decor inside, but not sure if I'd come back for a cheesesteak. I can get a better cheesesteak from somewhere else. read more

Stanley's - Caesar Salad - Sandwiches Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

We came in during peak hours and waited about an hour to get a table - yes I was hangry and too invested at that point to eat my first Stanley's sandwich in person. I'm happy to share it was absolutely worth the wait. 10/10 Philly cheese steak sandwich - thinly sliced steak grilled just right, smothered in melted provolone, with caramelized onions, peppers, and that perfect, sesame hoagie roll that holds everything together. It was delicious, but I'll be honest--it had a bit too much peppers for me. Next time, I'll definitely ask for it without the peppers so I can drink less soda and eat more of the meat and cheese! I definitely plan to come back and time my visit better! read more

Stanley's - Sandwiches Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Excellent Philly staples like the cheesesteak and roasted pork. I needed some sustenance and Stanley's provided. Didn't expect to have some good Philly delicacies in Richmond and this was a pleasant surprise. read more

Stanley's - Sandwiches Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I love Stanley's as a sandwich spot and neighborhood bar. I think I am a Philly cheesesteak connoisseur, and I have to say this is one of the best I've had. The decor is the perfect mix of vintage Philadelphia sports gear and cozy vibes. Their sandwiches can be served with a side of chips, fries, or my favorite, the Caesar salad. The salad comes with full anchovies and perfectly thin shaved parmesan. The chicken Philly itself is ooey-gooey with cheese and bits of heat from the peppers. It comes on a pillowy soft sesame seed roll. This is a great place for a beer or a family night out. The gender-neutral bathrooms are clean and easy to access. Next time, I will have to try one of their cold sandwiches or their pork and provolone sandwich. read more

Bartender took away my $12 cocktail when I wasn't looking and I was barely halfway done with it. No, I was not drunk; I was sitting quietly at the bar by myself. Not cool. Management - please address your bartenders' etiquette. read more

I was super excited to finally try Stanley's for their highly rated cheesesteak. I've seen endless things that say they have the best cheesesteak in RVA, so I think I went in with really high expectations. The vibes at this place are amazing. Thankfully my friend and I came early enough for happy hour and to get seated. By the time we were leaving, there was a big line. This place has a cozy neighborhood vibe with seating on one side and a pool table on another. I can't remember the happy hour offerings exactly, but I do know the sandwiches had a discount which was great. We were in and out of there pretty quickly, which made sense for the huge group of people waiting. We both ordered the cheesesteak with some chips. It was such a huge and generous serving that I was able to take the second half home for leftovers. I just ordered the sandwich and my bill came out to about $19 total. The sandwich itself was fine. It was nice and hot! I'd be curious to try their other sandwiches. This review is only about the cheesesteak. I think my expectations were too high for it. read more

I'm a Philly native and Stanley's doesn't scratch my itch for a cheesesteak. I prefer mine without the seeded roll and the pickled hot & sweet cherry peppers. The seeds scratch the top of my mouth and the peppers distract from the heart of the cheesesteak. It's still a pretty good option for the Richmond area though. The fries were lackluster and the service was pretty slow. The water cups were small and constantly needed to be refilled. Seating is limited so prepare for a wait. They do have a bar. The Philly decor was comforting to see. The vibe was cozy so it makes a nice date night spot. read more

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3.5/5. I thought the fillings for both steak and chicken philly's were overly salty tasting. I didn't really taste any other flavors of seasoning other than salt. The cheese whiz mixed with the philly made the filling thicker when sitting for a moment. I didn't enjoy the bread, it was too hard. The service was great and friendly. Food came out correct and presentation is nice. I enjoyed my lunch time with my family, but I wasn't a fan of the philly's. read more

The GOAT ‼ Stanleys is probably the only place i've driven 2+ hours to eat at, and will gladly do it multiple times again. the bread is fresh from philadelphia daily and they ACTUALLY load up the cheesesteak with cheese, and it always comes out really hot. the servers there are really nice but the food does take quite some time. i like how they have the place designed, and they have a lot of eagles-related things, like jerseys and such. best cheesesteak in the rich ! ! ! read more

Stanley's - Stanley's Cheesesteak - Sandwiches Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Stanley's "holier than thou" attitude has lost my business. Are the sandwiches good? Yes. Is there any guarantee that your favorite sandwich will be there when you show up? No, and that's where they lost me. They have made an intentional (prideful, even - they go as far as to brag about it) decision not to have a phone number. That's fine, so long as they communicate in some fashion. Thing is, they don't respond to Instagram comments, they don't even respond to Instagram DMs. Go look for yourself - you'll see comment after comment where folks are asking if XYZ is still being served. I am tried of driving over here just to find out something isn't available. I'll gladly take my business elsewhere as this is simply not worth it. Tasty food & terrible customer service = unpredictability. (A note: this is nothing against the in-person employees. They are nothing but kind and attentive, and have apologized to me the countless times I've been in this predicament) read more

Amazing ambiance. Always some super interesting folks in there and the service is usually great. Amazing deals on drink and food. I also haven't had a bad thing on the menu. Every time I think I've had my fix of Stanley's, I immediately want to go back. Quintessential Richmond spot with quintessential Richmond people. read more

Everybody working there was incredibly nice, but I don't know what happened with my cheesesteak because I think the chef slipped when he added the pepper (not the hot peppers, the black pepper) because it was almost inedible. I shared it with two family members, to see if I was overly sensitive and they both couldn't eat it either. I've had dozens of Philly cheesesteaks, including both Pat's and Geno's and this was a huge disappointment. read more

This was my first time at Stanley's and it will definitely not be my last! The atmosphere is nostalgic and this location used to be the Robin Inn (iykyk). I was craving an Italian like sub and decide to try out Stanley's with my family. My husband ordered the cheesesteak and my mother did as well and it was absolutely delicious!! Granted, this is my first time ever having one so I may be biased, but the bread was perfect, the meat was very flavorful, and it came out hot and toasty. I can't remember the name of the Italian sandwich that they have, but it was exactly what I've been searching for I had mine without provolone and it was wonderful. The unexpected star of the show was the Caesar salad...it was HUGE, perfectly dressed, delicious anchovies, and the toasted breadcrumbs were such a nice touch! Would highly recommend!! read more

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Our first visit. Rather sparse, no silverware, no salt, pepper etc. on table. Cheese steak was very good but the fries were stone cold, not even warm. Will probably try again. read more

Good food! The 1/2 wedge was not small and it was delicious! Don't go here if you are looking for fast food because you will definitely wait even after being seated. Would prefer the buns to not have seeds, but would definitely go back! read more

Food was just okay, especially for the price. I got the cheesesteak which was dry and didn't have a great amount of meat. My husband got their take on an Italian which was better. Salads were the star of the show. Took quite awhile to receive the food but the server was very friendly. Fun ambiance. Not great for kids. read more

The best steak and cheese I have ever had. It was meaty, cheesy and hot! Idk how the temperature stayed so warm the whole time. I cannot say enough good things about how cheesy and good this sandwich was! You really do get the bang for your buck here. The sandwich comes with chips. I noticed a lot of people upgraded to the fries. Next time. I took half the sandwich home and ate it for breakfast the next day. I was surprised they honored happy hour over the weekend (4-6pm). I got a negroni with their house made blend. It was more than I expected taste wise. Service was great! Fast and friendly. You can't ask for more! read more

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The best cheesesteak in Richmond with HUGE portions! We also got a miller high life pony pack for $15 and they were so cute, I've never seen them at a restaurant before! Service was quick and friendly! read more

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Stanley's was MUCH needed in Richmond. As a South Jersey transplant who *loves* hoagies, it was refreshing to not have to modify my hoagie order to death here. I forgot to say I wanted my South Philly Special not cooked like so many places around here confusingly do, but alas, it was not -- phew. Plus no weird ingredients like Italian dressing on them. So far, I've had the South Philly Special twice. It was great both times. The first time they forgot the provolone, which slightly bummed me out, but it still managed to be fantastic without it (that is not something this cheese lover would usually say). The bread really elevates the sandwich. Gotta love a good seeded roll. Their cheesesteak and roast pork are also top tier options. I've heard good things about the chicken cutlet and caesar salad too (the cutlet was HUGE). The space is no frills, very small, with a cute bar and some old school tables. Service was good on both visits. Prices are reasonable ($16ish per hoagie) given the quality. read more

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Ambiance is dive barish but don't let that fool you, the Stanley's cheesesteak is the best cheesesteak in Richmond, hands down. The sandwich is enough for two meals and the cheese to meat proportions are spot on! Service was good however my one complaint is that server chose to not bring the beer that I ordered - I guess I am supposed to follow up on that, ha. Either way, I will definitely back for another sub! read more

(3.5) For starters, the subs are very good. This far I've sampled three types. You can't go wrong with the Cheesesteaks. The bread is legit! No fries for lunch, only dinner. They also didn't have any diet soda options. Only unsweetened tea and water. It was odd to me that the water cups were so small. It creates a need for frequent refills. If you do order any other beverages you do not get free refills. I did not see that noted anywhere nor were we informed by our server. $4 for a bottled coke and $3/each for Ginger-ale. I had the Roast Pork which comes with "gravy". It was good, but the gravy was lacking flavor for me. No worries I'll try something different next time. Everyone else was very pleased with their selections. The decor was fine. They do have a pool table in the upper area. Service was adequate. Hustling on water refills. The subs are higher quality and the price reflects that. Expect a $20 per person lunch experience. Hopefully, next time they'll have Diet Coke. We'll be back. Check them out for yourself! read more

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Stanely's was just ok, nothing like the overly hyped reviews.. the steak & cheese presented well, and the fries were cooked to perfection but both were salty as sea water....hide the salt!!! The service was good, our waitress was nice read more

Stanley's is a welcome addition the the RVA sandwich scene. I have never had a better Philly Cheesesteak. That sandwich is something else. The bread, shipped in from Maryland I'm told, is chewy and simply better than anything you're going to get in the south. They chop up peppers to add into the filling which give it a kick and the meat itself is superb. The service is friendly and the drink options are good too. They have a uniquely Richmond vibe without the grunginess. read more

Stanley's - Philly Cheesesteak - Sandwiches Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Wanted to like it but at the end of the meal just meh. Happy hour with $2 off a sub and rail drinks is a good start but sadly good did not continue. The subs although good in size lacked flavor. The hot and sweet peppers were visible but were no where to be found with the flavor. The sesame seed roll is unique for a sub but just came out hard and lacked a chewiness one looks for in a cheese steak. Fries hard and unseasoned. over all it's just an ok meal, not bad but does not stand out enough to suggest someone to make the stop. Will say the waitstaff was attentive and nice, no issues there. I have had some bad meals and this is not a bad meal it does not stand out. I would say a 3.5 / 5 read more

Great staff, great service, and always a great meal. Worth the wait every time. I recommend the chicken phill.

I love Stanley's! Such a solid sandwich and the quality is consistent every time. I can't speak to most of the menu because I always order a south Philly special - it's too good to deviate! There is some great art and pictures on the wall to look at and the servers are all friendly. read more

Stanley's - Philly Special - Sandwiches Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Overpriced for a very over cooked, over peppered cheesesteak. $51 for 2 small sandwiches, small lays chip bags and cans of sod for takeout & the wait was 25+ minutes. Staff was not friendly. read more

Food was amazing and server was very attentive. Very laid back vibes so definitely a nice place to have a few beers. read more

Stanley's - the ted danson & potato salad - Sandwiches Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Saw a video on tiktok about them and wanted to try them so bad....oh how my experience was beyond DISAPPOINTING. First off, the bartender was rude. She didn't greet me or even ask me what i wanted but when 2 men sat down after me and right beside me , she greeted them IMMEDIATELY, offered them a drink and everything. She then decided to slide me a half full cup of water to me and still didn't even greet or ask me for anything. no idea why i was being treated like this. mind you, the only reason why i sat at the bar was because HER AND THE SERVER saw me at the front door waiting to be seated and they said nothing to me I appreciate the server for finally coming over and taking my order at the bar bc the bartender wouldn't speak to me but i wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. yeah, and the cheesesteak wasn't even good. read more

Stanley's has the best roast pork sandwich and I didn't even get to eat it fresh, we ordered takeout and drove 30 minutes back home. I think I liked it a lot better than Johns Roast Pork and DiNic's in Philly, or maybe I am saying that because it helped fill a very large void that I missed from my hometown. Regardless, the broccoli rabe was so flavorful and the slices of roast pork was so wonderfully seasoned. My first bite was without the gravy, delicious. My second bite with the gravy (which was packed separately), delicious. I saved half and placed it in the fridge, hour later I was craving it and took a bite of it cold - still delicious. I've also had their cheesesteak, reminiscent of Angelo's in Philly. I'd do light peppers next time. The bread is spot on. Everyone talks about the amoroso rolls, I love the soft and airy rolls too... BUT these seeded rolls just add another dimension to an already delicious sandwich (depending where you get it of course). I'm a Philadelphian that believes cooper sharp or sharp provolone belongs on a cheesesteak, not wiz. We get wiz on fries back home when you order from a corner store or papi store, that's when it's acceptable. Anyway, Stanley's executes it right. It is expensive to most, but the quality can't be beat. Service was prompt and I love the decor of the place. We sat at the bar during our wait for takeout, next time we plan to dine in. read more

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Drove an hour and a half for a birthday meal. Originally from Philadelphia and wanted a taste of home. Everything was great. Service is great. Portions are a bit small compared to Philly but the food was very good. read more

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I heard good things, and know their specialty is Philly Cheesesteaks, but after learning they usually have a vegetarian menu item, I was excited to try it out! I went in for takeout and saw a Tempura Fried Squash special on the menu. To my surprise, it was far from what the description alluded to imo.. it had SO many twigs of dill. I like dill, but this is overbearing. I actually expected yellow squash, it looked to be zucchini, but no big deal I like both. But it was barely tempura fried looking, and hardly cooked. I initially thought it was cucumber.. the olive tapenade was good, I'll give it that. And I liked the crispness of the bread roll. But that's all that was enjoyable on this, the dill and cook of the squash really ruined it. Note: this business doesn't have a phone. It's also difficult to find their most current full menu posted. A week later, my friends wanted to go there, and I was down to because they posted a grilled cheese special on IG, but to our surprise, their kitchen had switched to limited menu by our late arrival (not indicated on the website/couldn't call so we showed up) and they said all they could make us were a few meat ones, and that same unpleasant squash one.. I asked if they could make even a simple grilled cheese (answer was no), and took the moment to share my experience with the squash one and was basically met with a "I don't care, I don't work in the kitchen" by the staff member. We decided to leave. So I did try to speak to them, I guess I'll just share the experience here. I hope maybe they'll consider a new and better made veggie option. Honestly, just doing a Veggie Cheesesteak version with mushrooms, spices, cheese, peppers & onions may make more sense to stick with, rather than trying to be fancy. Since cheesesteak is their specialty, I bet it would be decent and simple, but good. read more

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Love this place. Kind of an old school Philly bar feel. Of course Great Philly Cheesesteak, but be careful....its spicy. It's loaded with delicious steak (or you can get chicken, but I haven't had the chicken). The Tomato Pie is Very good...be advised it's served cold. Great friendly service and prices are pretty reasonable. If you're looking for a great lunch this should be one of your go to places. read more

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