Ok everyone. Please ignore the 1-star review posted by Bobbie T. My film crew was renting Thirsty's out to shoot a scene for our film and he and his lady friend barged into the building. There were cameras and microphones and lights everywhere so I have no idea how he thinks it could have been anything other than a film shoot. Mind you we blacked out all of the windows and the door with blankets (on the outside!) which is likely why they didnt see hours listed. But who in the world just walks into a building with blacked out windows like that? So. To summarize it wasnt Thirsty's staff that he claims were rude. It was myself and my crew because they ruined one of our shots. And yeah I didnt know if they were employees because we do not work here. Also just to set the record straight we weren't even actually rude to him. We said "hey we're closed" then he looked around confused wasting valuable and EXPENSIVE time, so we said "or do you work here?" which confused him even more and someone on my crew said "we're closed you cant be here" and they left. The actual staff here has been nothing but friendly and accomodating to us and their food is pretty darn good. P.S. if you're capable of posting a longwinded Yelp review within an hour then you should be capable of checking Yelp to see the opening times. read more

Cameron the owner is very nice . Nice to be able to hang out with friends. Very much a place for everyone.

This was my second visit to this little place. The previous visit was at night and they had a limited menu so I decided to return during full menu hours. To my jubilee it was happy hour and I was excited to drink and eat some yummy Cajun chicken pasta. Well their happy hour is nothing to write home about. It's 1 dollar off their cocktail menu.. disappointing. They do have $3 rails. The service is bleh. We weren't given much attention despite being 2 of the 3 people at the bar. I order the Cajun chicken pasta of course and 30 minutes later it arrives. Let me tell you... it did not come through drippin. I took one bite and was disgusted. There was no sauce whatsoever on this pasta. The chicken was hard and gross. I was hurt so hurt I didn't even order anything else. I sat there and drank my water while my partner in food ate his shrimp po boy which was mediocre. The fries are lit. To my surprise, while waiting for him to finish up they brought out a brand new pasta for me to try. The guy said he made it himself and I was so shocked. He gave it to me free of charge and I'm very appreciative of his effort. The second pasta was better still not for me. I ate some of it and he let me know they would be taking it off of the menu in three days which is probably for the best. I wanted to like this place but unfortunately they just don't cut it. read more

See all

The staff is great. Lots of locals on weekends. Wednesday drag show ok but you have to get there early as seating is limited. What could be nice as it's packed on Wednesday if they invested money into putting in a camera and this way you could play it on the tvs. read more

Kinda divey but lot of fun! Went on a karaoke night and the place was packed! Quick service despite the large crowd.

This bar is a pretty cool place, Cajun/New Orleans style here in RVA. I came here with a group on a Sunday around 1230pm, so we were the only people there. But the waiter greeted us with a smile and took good care of us! The interior is decked out with bourbon street para. I didn't get a drink but I ordered the beignets, which I were told were made in house with a yummy raspberry cream. They were really tasty, a little bit sweeter and not as fluffy as NOLA beignets but good in their own. My friends enjoyed their Nola style drinks as well. I have to come back to try some other dishes and drinks! read more

See all

I enjoyed my first time at Thirsty's so much I had to review. It was Saturday at 6pm and no waiting. The gumbo my neighbor raved about was fantastic. The bourbon grilled chicken po'boy and fries also good. The bread was perfectly crunchy and let the chicken speak for itself. Loved the beer selection. Everyone in my group found something they liked. HAPPY HOUR 3-8! Much more I want to try on this menu. Decor is Mardi Gras theme, nothing fancy. Good acoustics for music and conversation, something missing from many restaurants. I hope this place makes it. Y'all come! read more

Thirsty's RVA - Enjoying our first visit to Thirsty's. Loving the gumbo, homemade pickles, great beer selection and great service. - American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

My first visit and it had good vibe with lots of different people which I like. Nice pour drinks!!

I found Thisrtys when introduced by friend being new to RVA and looking for LGBTQ friendly locations. I live about 25 min away and have many straight and LGBTQ choices but choose to drive because of how friendly and awesome the staff is. Felipe made me feel particularly welcome and was quick to ensure I was taken care of as a new guest. He knows his clients by name is friendly and outgoing. He told me his goal is to always take care of his clients and be aware of new clients so they feel particularly welcome and come back. read more

Great food, love the cajan menu and one of best happy hours in Richmond. The wings are sooo goooodt read more

After being on the road for six hours, I popped in to meet some friends here. It was week night, so it was very chill. From what I was told, this is a local hangout. They even have drag shows. The bartender was friendly and makes a great Gin & Tonic. The other guest were also friendly, and didn't mind us as we were glued to the presidential debate. I didn't order any food, but I hope to go back when I visit again. I love New Orleans, so I appreciated the New Orleans theme that Thirsty's has. read more

I pass by this place everyday and never noticed it before. Searched yelp and it pops up so I decided to check it out. The evening I was there it was very quiet I was the only patron at the bar and there was also a group of four at a booth. The bartender provided great service and even turned the tv to the basketball game. Apparently that's a big no no because the owner doesn't want to attract "that type" of crowd, whatever that means. As for my meal I ordered mozzarella cheese sticks and a gator PO Boy. Cheese sticks were typical frozen and deep fried so nothing outstanding there. The gator po boy was loaded with a ample amount of fried gator so I was pleased with that. The only complaint about the sandwich was the bread was toasted a little too hard, so I ended up eating the gator meat by it's self. I plan on going back to try more items on the menu and to have more cold beer. They do offer happy hour with discounts on drinks and food. read more

They have the beyond meat burger and it is so good! The banana foster bread pudding is seriously to die for. The crawfish queso is also delicious. They have great mixed drinks and good prices on beer. Also love that they have board/card games. Love this new LGBTQ-welcoming spot! Missing one star because our orders have been messed up a couple times that we have gone. But everything always tastes delicious and they are quick and patient to change and accommodate any requests *Update* after coming here multiple times and something being amiss with my order I won't be coming back. Today my Beyond Beef burger was not that it all. It was a hopefully vegan patty but just made from peas and carrots. read more

Thirsty's RVA - Ordered a Beyond Beef burger and got this pea/carrot patty - American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I fully agree with reviewers who wish they were able to like Thirsty's, but simply could not. Pros are reasonably priced beers and being LGBTQ friendly. The list of cons is longer. The staff can be slow to react, the food is a lackadaisical interpretation of Cajun/Creole cuisine, the ambiance is generously described as dingy. Although one could certainly do worse in terms of Richmond restaurants, Thirsty's falls squarely in the category of "life's too short". read more

We found a Groupon to here and were excited to try the Cajun food. We came with the kids but this is more of a bar and not really a good atmosphere for kids. It appeared to be a gay bar but we don't know that it is always that way. There was a pride fest nearby on the same day we went. When we got there, we sat at a table ourselves and only got served when the owner's mom stepped up and helped us. We ordered soda and lemonade for the kids. The soda cups for the adults were the smallest I have ever seen and the lemonade tasted more like sweet and sour mix. We put in order for the food and then waited almost an hour for it even though the restaurant was not packed. The gator bites had too much batter and not enough meat and it was $11 for at most 8 pieces. Also, there was an up charge for this for Happy Hour. Who up charges for Happy Hour!!! The kids enjoyed the non-spicy Mac and cheese. I thought the crab cake platter was good. We didn't enjoy the Cajun pasta and the cost to add chicken and shrimp was too much for what you got. The shrimp were baby shrimp and you only got a little. The service was friendly but just slow. read more

Thirsty's RVA - Small soda drinks - American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Have been their a few times last night was the worst not much Cajun food on menu anymore order alligator bites take a long time to get very salty ordered a beer very slow service the has turn into a dump on the TV, s was political news don't go to a bar for that we won't be going back say something to owner he told us to get out , with the book keeper their doing the books I guess it won't be long till they close a slow death read more

Let me say that I wanted to LOVE this place. They had HH specials on a Sat! Our waiter Keyan was a doll, really sweet and professional but he was initially working alone and as the crowd grew the time to wait for food grew. My daughter ordered the wings ( HH was a dollar off), half hot and half honey BBQ. She is a chicken fanatic but she stated she wasn't knocked over by these wings. She stated the sauces were good but the chicken it self not so much. I ordered the Shrimp Po'boy which was a mistake. The shrimp were few and soggy as the batter was falling off the shrimp, a few pieces of lettuce and tomato and some sauce, the plus was the french baguette was really fresh and lightly toasted. It came with a small but cute fry basket of fries which were hot. I did noticed that the Po'boy presentation that other customers received appeared better but wasn't sure what protein they had. The crawfish dip was soupy but it was flavorful. The group I was with wanted to try the beignets and after a long wait we received some "hush puppy" appearing balls of dough that were over cooked and bland. They were not authentic beignets that I've had before. read more

We pass by here all the time and finally decided to give it a try one night. From what I understand, this is a new restaurant in the area! The decorations and details were so fun and it looked like the menus were very intricately made by hand. The waiter was super friendly and thanked us for coming in and invited us to stop back by. The options here are very different from other places I've been to (my boyfriend ordered ALLIGATOR) and they had vegetarian options for me! Super cute and whoever owns this place pays great attention to detail because the small touches were fun and very well done! read more

Thirsty's RVA - American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

This place is so much fun! The staff is so friendly! You can eat gator bites, play video games, drink, and watch a drag show all at once. What's not to love? read more

Great new bar in Forest Hill area. Great drinks. The house cocktails were amazing, full of flavor. The crawfish queso with baguettes was delicious. The Mac and cheese had a nice little kick too it. The beignets were topped with powdered sugar and a chocolate drizzle. So happy to have this restaurant on the south side! Can't wait to be regular. read more

See all

Full service bar with a nice beer selection and 8 taps. Happy hour 3-8pm with some good drink specials. Their menu is Cajun specific and the prices are reasonable. The Gatorbites and Jambalaya were very tasty and the wait time was minimal. Service could be more attentive to their patrons and not each other. The lighting and bar decor needs attention asap (spartan and oddly lit with a strong lack of warmth) and they need to better police the space as it is rather small; I stared at a broom, mop, empty boxes piled in a corner and the bathrooms seem to double as storage and please hire a professional window cleaner. The negatives I encountered are easy fixes but they do detract from what I hope will become a wonderful neighborhood spot. read more

I've been here 3 times. Their staff and drinks are on point! Excellent service from bar and waitstaff. I've eaten here twice. The pimiento cheese is good; the rest is really niche/ bar cajun. The decor had improved since my first visit and I love the mix of people -- it's very reflective of the neighborhood! read more

I've been coming here since this place first opened. I have to say, the new ownership and the staff are the best thing to happen to this place. Felipe remembers my name, is cordial, and the rest of the staff is always kind to me. If I'm having a hard day, I know I can come here for nice atmosphere. read more

The Hispanic bartender is horrible. Rude and disrespectful. Pretty sure he was drunk as he was drinking with guest

The crawfish queso was incredible, as was the seafood jambalaya! Our waiter was always there when needed but never overbearing. Welcome to the neighborhood, Thirtsy's! read more

Drive past this place often and then finally decided to check it out! Nice little Louisiana style place! Love the ambience! Sat down and it was happy hour as their drink menu is awesome! We got the Blue Alligator and Swamp Tea both were amazing! Ordered the Queso Crawfish! If you go that is a absolute must! I'm returning for that alone! Ordered the Tomatoe Mac w/ alligator! First time having gator and I must say I really really enjoyed it! I absolutely will be back because they have other items I want to try read more

Not too big but awesome scenery!!! The drink selection is off the chain!!!! The menu is great and a wide selection of New Orleans Style/inspired food. You won't be disappointed by the friendly atmosphere either. read more

Love this local, New Orleans flavored place. Pro-gay with wonderfully diverse crowd. Fun relaxed weekday attitude, with the best happy hour from 3-8 daily, including weekends!!! Lots of weekend parties and Thursday nights are a blast (Thirty's Thursdays). The food is usually great! Alligator bites are a must try, with savory Cajun spices and actual alligator. The Cajun Mac with the crawfish dip starter is an amazingly just spicy enough meal. Now there is also amazing drag bunch every fourth Sunday, but make a reservation. The beignets are absolutely melt in your mouth with a creamy berry whip cheese. Then the banana foster, French toast in the am, bread pudding for dessert is totally worth every calorie. Cajun fries are also always a hit. Great place for a few drinks and a bite after work, weekend parties are usually a blast without the suffocating crowds, also easy in this little bite of year long Mardi Gras just South of the James (SoRi not sorry) South Richmond is awesome, and even better with Thirsty's. read more

See all

Two visits in one day! EXCELLENT staff. I showed up in the morning for brunch to start my day. I had such a great experience that I came back at the end of the day to finish the experience. Great drink drinks, awesone food and friendly staff. Looking forward to hosting future event at Thirty's. read more

I honestly love this bar. The atmosphere is great, the bartenders are very friendly, and drinks are amazing. Great hole-in-the-wall Richmond watering hole with good eats. Fun n'awlins themed decor! read more

I really wanted to try this place and I had the chicken gumbo and it was very mediocre. And my boyfriend got one of the sandwiches and he said it wasn't very good either. If you're going there for the vibe or drinks it's fine but if you're going for food I recommend somewhere else. read more

My wife and I had lunch at Thristy's on a weekday afternoon. During our visit we were the only customers. We were welcomed by the friendly bartender who explained some of the menu selections in detail. We tried the crawfish Queso (with toasted baguettes), a cup of the seafood gumbo, and large order of their the seafood New Orleans Jambalaya. The Queso was on the bland side and the baguettes were not toasted. The gumbo was quite tasty and well-spiced and the jambalaya was above average but clearly not "fresh daily" as had been suggested. The andouille sausage in the jambalaya was exceptional. The establishment is on the "rough" side but they do have plans to enhance it. There's an outside deck (unused when we were they) and they pledged to be adding some special events and music nights in the future. It holds some promise for a casual local watering hole with a good selection of local craft beers on draught. Perhaps not a destination for lunch, but worthy of a visit for those who enjoy their Louisiana cuisine. read more

The wife and I were looking for something new so we gave it a try. We sat at the bar good local tap selection . I had the dry rub wings wife had the gumbo and the crawfish queso. We have added to our list of good places to eat. read more

Richard is THE BEST! We stumbled into Thirstys for a late lunch and found great food, drinks, cards against humanity, and music.

Wow. Walked in to grab a drink and the smell of the place was foul. I asked if they had a gas leak b/c it smelled like a mix of rotten eggs and urine to be honest. Bartender said no to the gas leak question. We couldn't stay b/c of the smell. Hope that was just a one off situation read more

Thirstys is a dive bar in the best sense of the term. I stopped in for a late lunch about 3 pm. Upon entering I saw two local officers eating. I knew I was in the right spot, the law knows where the good eats are. Rey greeted my friendly and servered me a quality craft beer. He suggested the gator burger, a new item menu next week. It was delicious! I tried a few of the craft cocktails after my meal and they were tremendous as well. I give Thirstys two thumbs up and can't wait to come back. read more

Best cajun food this side of the bayou!!! Everything is sooo tasty! Staff is excellent also!!

I have been to this bar 4 times and loved it and the food is awesome but tonight I noticed something crawling by the glasses and realized it was a roach so I informed the bar tender and when we looked again it was five roaches crawling by the glasses and alcohol so unfortunately I will not be dining here anymore. read more

Happy hour till 8 and the crawfish queso was great! Abita Purple haze on tap and we really enjoyed our Po Boys. Our waitress and the owner went out of their way to make sure we had a great dinner. Can't wait to go back! read more

Had a great time at Thirsty's on Tuesday with karaoke by Jason. The atmosphere was very friendly. Though the bartender was busy he was very nice. The fries were a bit too spicy and the burger a bit small and there was no Corona. Still the vibe with a mix of young, older, gay and straight and male and female, felt perfect to come back and hang out. read more