If you live near Washington, D.C. and have already explored all the Smithsonian museums, and you're looking to venture a bit farther, this place is worth the trip. It’s not huge, but it offers a thoughtfully curated collection — and best of all, it’s open year-round and completely free. The surrounding scenery is also beautiful, making it a perfect getaway for those who want a peaceful break from the everyday hustle. The current Frida Kahlo exhibition didn’t quite meet my expectations, as it features more writing than artwork, but it’s still worth a visit. This is a museum where you can enjoy the playfulness of surrealism and discover the hidden modernity within ancient art.

There are a lot of great works of art! More Egyptian items than I have seen other places. That was very neat to see. The Faberge eggs were very interesting. I really enjoyed the section with the black walls and the lighting on the paintings. That really made them pop! We also enjoyed the giant paintings!

Wedding Venue: We had an amazing experience planning and hosting our wedding at the VMFA!!! Beth was awesome to work with through the planning process, and wedding weekend. She was kind, helpful, professional, responsive, and we had full confidence in her executing our event! She helped provide all the critical info up front, answered all our questions through the process, provided guidance, vendor suggestions (DJ was amazing), helped coordinate details for some of the other vendors, and overall was a calming presence that put us at ease. The wedding logistics were executed flawlessly, and it was such a nice feeling to be able to have full confidence in Beth and the staff, and truly be able to enjoy the day/evening. The venue itself (Amuse & Claiborne) was perfect, and our guests were raving about it - they enjoyed the different rooms to talk and dance, and enjoyed the patios. The food was incredible (especially the mac and cheese!), we loved having so many options as a part of the station dinner, and guests really liked having the food out all evening. The bar never had a line, everything was efficient, and guest enjoyed the selection. Most importantly, we and our guests noticed and appreciated how every staff member we interacted with was so nice, helpful, and were just a positive addition to our evening. Lastly, we loved all the different outdoor options for pictures, including a private first look in the front of the building. The grounds are so beautiful! Thank you to Beth and the entire VMFA staff for everything they did to make our wedding weekend perfect, smooth, and SO much fun - we are so grateful! We could not have picked a more perfect wedding venue! Note: Photo credit Michael & Laura Photography

I visited the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and absolutely loved it! The Frida Kahlo exhibition was incredible, so inspiring and beautifully curated. The museum itself is spacious and elegant, with a great atmosphere for art lovers. I really enjoyed spending time there, and I’d love to go back to explore more of their collections!

Beautifully curated art spanning every era — from contemporary pieces to works thousands of years old. One of the most impressive art museums I’ve ever experienced, with such depth and volume that you’ll find yourself returning again and again.

This museum is both active and peaceful between the inside and the outside. It's a go-to for me. This is fantastic place with an incredible collection, whether you're into art or you're just checking it out for the first time.

My son and I went today. It was an incredible experience in no small part because of the wonderful people who work there. I am bad at jotting names down to remember them for reviews but.. the lady on the first floor from Texas was kind and directed us to some amazing art. The gentileman on the second floor with the nice mustache was helpful. And Mary in the cafe showed us compassion and gentilness in a very embarassing moment. Thank you VMFA y'all rock and your space is amazing. All the love from your new Texas friends we're already plotting our next visit!

This beautiful cemetery offers ample parking, with additional street parking available nearby. Enter through the cemetery gates, go down the hill, and the parking lot is to the right. The best view of the park can be found near Monroe’s mausoleum. The cherry blossoms here are stunning. The park is quiet, peaceful, and perfect for walking.

Peaceful walk… Hollywood Cemetery is a nice spot to walk. The cemetery is big and hilly, offering great views of the James River, downtown Richmond, and a calm environment for exploring its historic grounds. There are different sections to admire the monuments and gravestones, and enjoy the scenic beauty of the surrounding landscape.

Beautiful cemetery that has many historical figures and interesting items to see. It was peaceful and quiet. You can easily drive through and follow the blue line on the road as a self guided tour. There are parking areas on the drive or just pull off to road side if you see something interesting. The overview of the river Beautiful.

Absolutely breathtaking. Very peaceful to walk through and spend time admiring centuries of craftsmanship, masonry, and ancestry. Sits overlooking the James River rapids with beautiful trees across the property and the city skyline in the periphery. Lucked out and had 3 whitetail deer stroll alongside me plus a tattered Monarch land on the mausoleum of President Monroe. A beautifully preserved venue that is both humbling and unexpectedly inspiring. I’d consider this a must-see in the Richmond area! There is a lot to explore if you want to walk. Quite a few graded hills so wear comfortable clothes and bring water, a light snack.

This place is rich in history and beauty. An active cemetery and resting place of Soldiers, two presidents, and many loved ones with a few well knowns sprinkled throughout. Overlooks the James River,

Beautiful historic cemetery! The rolling terrain and narrow roadways presented a bit of a challenge, but it's worth it. The views of downtown Richmond and the James River are amazing. And we were able to pay respects to three presidents: Tyler, Monroe, and Davis. In a bit of historical irony, Jefferson Davis's statue faces the Grant family plot!

My husband does Way mlMarking which is an activity which is kind of tied into geocaching. It's locating interesting places. Cemeteries have lots of interesting historical places to waymark. So I've seen a lot of cemeteries. This is one of the top three cemeteries I've ever been to. It is absolutely beautiful. There are so many old trees and interesting structures and memorials. I love the fact there's no plastic flowers or decorations. We met the gentleman who gives the chores and spent time sharing the history of the cemetery with my husband and it really made the visit all that more interesting. We'll be going back soon and next time we plan on taking the tour. It's well worth the visit, even if you're not sure you're into cemeteries. It's just a beautiful place.

The gardens are beautiful. I was very impressed by the size of the gardens as well as how well everything was labeled. There were also interesting art pieces displayed throughout. While I do not have children, there were lots of play areas and even a little water sections that would be perfect for children. Be prepared to walk a lot as there is a lot gardens to see. My only complaint would be that the butterfly conservatory was completely closed but it was the same price. I feel like that is a bug part of the experience so if it is not opened, they should adjust the admission price.

This is a “must do” when you’re in the area! We decided to visit this botanical garden while in town for the day! We did come at the end of the growing season (October) but it was still beautiful and we hope to come back in the spring or summer to see this garden in its glory! It is truly a relaxing place and when the renovations are finished next year it’ll be perfect!

What a gem! Had the lovely opportunity to visit the gardens and discover they were hosting a concert the next day — so fun! Incredible section for children and families. Pond is a great spot for taking some Time to see what’s swimming around. Quite a bit of construction at the moment, which didn’t interfere with the enjoyment of the gardens.

We had our Elopement Ceremony at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden on 5/5/25, and it was truly amazing! The entire setting was like a dream. The gardens were bursting with vibrant flowers in full bloom, creating the most beautiful and romantic backdrop for our vows. Everywhere we turned, there were gorgeous spots perfect for photos, which made capturing our special day so easy and memorable. The staff at Lewis Ginter were incredibly helpful, kind, and professional from start to finish. They answered all our questions promptly, helped us plan the details of our ceremony, and made sure everything went smoothly on the big day. We felt so well taken care of, and it allowed us to fully relax and enjoy the moment. I absolutely loved having our wedding here and can’t recommend this venue enough to anyone looking for a stunning, peaceful, and unforgettable place to say “I do.” Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden made our elopement everything we dreamed it would be!

August 2025 Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is beautifully maintained, with a nice variety of flowers, plants, and walking paths. It’s a relaxing place to spend an hour or two, and there are plenty of benches and shaded spots to just sit and take in the scenery. The themed gardens and water features add a nice touch, and everything feels thoughtfully designed. KID FRIENDLY! The Children’s Garden is a hit — with a splash area, play spaces, and sand box. It’s a great stop if you’re in the Richmond area and want to enjoy some fresh air and nature.

The botanical garden in Richmond is a must-visit! It’s incredibly spacious—you can easily spend several hours exploring. There’s a beautiful variety of plants, including lots of dragonflies fluttering around and a stunning collection of roses. The grounds are peaceful and well-maintained, making it a perfect place to relax and enjoy nature. They also have a large café and a great gift shop with plenty of unique items. If you're visiting Richmond, this is definitely one of the top attractions to check out!

Took my mom here for her birthday as part of a Richmond trip. It rained for the first few minutes of our trip but once the rain stopped, the grounds were so pretty. I particularly enjoyed some of the shaded walking paths with streams and huge bonsai!

The best science museum we’ve went to so far! Many interactive activities, musical, art, educational, physical exercise, mind opening and many more. Specific activities geared towards younger kids and others towards teens. As a parent I enjoyed myself a lot, too. Clean, friendly staff and well organized. Paid extra for the dome movie/show and the dinosaur exhibit. Both worth the extra money. Be sure to look at the daily schedule so you can get the best out of your visit. You can easily spend 3 hours there and even more if you have very curious children. Buy tickets in advance so you get discounts if you are adding exhibits or the dome. Highly recommend!

My husband and I recently got married at the museum. It was only the second venue we looked at, but we were so confident about it we booked it on the spot! He was excited by the SR-71 and the trains out back, and I loved the beautiful architecture. The Special Events Team, especially Shannon, sealed the deal for us. They were very responsive and professional and they entertained our bold ideas. Guests were able to enjoy the interactive Speed exhibit during cocktail hour, we were able to have portraits taken all over the venue, a robot drew our initials and an outline of the SR-71, and we were able to customize the space by removing the center pendulum and adding additional lighting. Our special day was truly one of a kind! During the wedding, Shannon made sure everything ran smoothly. I saw her assisting the lighting crew, the caterers, and the planners, as well as her staff. I could not recommend this team and venue enough!

The Science Museum of Virginia was such an amazing experience for our whole family. Right now, they have the dinosaur exhibit, and my kids were in awe. My son couldn’t stop staring at the dinosaurs, and my daughter loved reading about the different species. The rest of the museum is just as exciting there are interactive exhibits on speed, light, and so many hands-on activities that kept the kids entertained for hours. The LightPlace for kids 5 and under was perfect, and they had a blast climbing and exploring there. I thought the Forge was such a cool idea where you can actually bring your own supplies and use their equipment. Between the insect and reptile exhibits, live bees, and other science displays, there was so much to see and do. We actually left for lunch and came back later in the day because there was just that much to explore. It’s definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.

Loved this museum. This is the first science museum we've been to where everyone enjoyed themselves. There's things for all ages, we especially the music activity in the Boost exhibit and the ultimate dinosaurs. It wasnt overly crowded and the prices are very reasonable. Only wish the snack bar had more offerings but that was by no means a show stopper. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Loved it! we will go back!

It’s a great place to visit but some stuff needs to be worked on like labs doesn’t look like lab, it’s literally a part of zoo. And forge department need some deep changes. This is very great building and I think it should be used to its full potential.

Amazing place to visit. We attended the Halloween event 2025. Highly recommend! The Halloween laser show may be a bit overwhelming due to load noise and bright lights.

I took one of my grandsons and we were there for hours! The Lego exhibit is great and he had a blast building a tower of his own. We missed the Dinosaur movie in the Dome so we saw the one about Space and it was great too! The actual Dinosaur exhibit was amazing, and he liked the screens that allowed you to see how they imagine they looked when alive. We had just made it to the Boost exhibit when it was closing time. Give yourself plenty of time so you can do and see everything.

Spent a little family quality time here this weekend and was very impressed. The service was outstanding, the recommendations were spot on. The food was great! Not shown were the tasty drinks too! Definitely on our list to revisit to finish trying the menu. Another great foodie location!

Everything about this experience was amazing. Our server was knowledgeable and kind, the drinks were tasty, and the food was amazing. We got the brisket stuffed peppers, cornbread, catfish, and boudin. I will 10000% be back and I will be bringing all my out of RVA friends. There's a reason this restaurant is talked about!

It’s hard to know where to start. My son wanted to come here for his 24th b-day but I was not thrilled by the dishes I saw on the online menu. Starting with the cocktails, we knew this was not the old Roosevelt (which I loved but was last here 4 years ago). The drinks were creative and amazing. The five of us ordered 5-6 starters and they were all delish and then we had 5 entrees and shared two desserts. The creative way chef interpreted Southern fare such as fried catfish blew all of our minds. My son and his gf work in the industry and they couldn’t stop oohing and ahhing. Kat was a fabulous server. What a tremendous evening … the only complaint is that it was HOT inside so dress lightly.

Dinner was wonderful! Our server was so warm and the kitchen gave me a notated menu showing what was safe with my food allergy. Everything we ate was so good we forgot to take pictures after the appetizer 😄. Perfect place to celebrate a special occasion or to eat food you don't cook at home. The Fig Sazerac was wonderful too. We will be back! One small note, it can be a bit chilly near the windows, so bring a shawl or cardigan in colder weather. But don't let it stop you from going!

Worth the title of best restaurant in Richmond. This meal did NOT disappoint. I can’t eat gluten and was told the Chef has celiac and that’s why so many items on the menu cater to that. Amazing service by Drew!!. I wish I lived closer and I would eat here weekly! Get the squash appetizer 🥰

Came for a quick improvised dinner, sat in the bar and had a GREAT time. Good drinks, solid food, super service. Will definitely come back. UPDATE: went for the third time and will definitely go a fourth.

The Roosevelt is a Church Hill staple. Food is always seasonal and fresh, the cocktails are delicious (they make their own soda in house), and the staff is welcoming and knowledgeable. The chef even sent out an order of fried green tomatoes which were tasty.

I mean, it's L'Opossum, yeah? Perfect on many levels. Tonight, the salad was especially on point. Sounds weird, but the combo of flavors was kinda electrifying. Tuna, pork croquettes, and the swellington rounded out a great experience. Thank you.

Just an incredible, eclectic yet divine dining experience. You can tell every member of the staff are committed to the restaurant but more importantly to you….but in a relaxing way. 25th anniversary dinner and will likely be heck before our 26th.

One cannot judge this book by its cover. The cover is an unassuming cubic grey and white building on the corner of China St and S Pine St in the Oregon Hill neighborhood of Richmond VA. Once you step inside, however. The atmosphere is a feast for the eyes. An eclectic collection of unique art work almost mesmerizes the observer. We had reservations that were made weeks in advance and were seated promptly by our welcoming hostess. Our server was warm and friendly and well versed in the menu items. She was attentive and yet not hovering. For starters my wife decided on the potato,- leek soup which she thoroughly enjoyed. I got a taste of the soup and marveled in the different flavors that came alive with just one spoonful. I opted out of appetizing to preserve my appetite for the filet mignon. This entree was perfectly cooked to my requested temperature (medium). It was incredibly tender and delicious rivaling a wagyu steak I experienced at Nobu in LA. My wife raved about her lobster and pasta dish. Both dishes were beautifully presented (see photos). What a great gastronomic experience. We will definitely be back!

what a beautiful and well-curated experience! my partner works in fine dining though we often don’t get the chance to go out to eat due to conflicting work schedules, and we wanted to go somewhere extra special for our anniversary. we had been looking forward to this for months, and it blew away our expectations. the staff were very attentive but not overbearing, knowledgeable on the menu, and all congratulated us on our anniversary. you could tell every piece of food on the plate was placed with intention, you could see every ingredient when the dish was brought out, and the flavors all really shone through. I could go on and on about how lovely all the little details were, but you just need to experience it for yourself!! (pictured: tempura battered squash blossom stuffed with buttermilk ricotta, “swank bank” lobster mac & cheese, quail stuffed with pork cheek, jock snifter, & peach cobbler with buttermilk bourbon ice cream)

I had such a great experience at L’ Opossum. The decor is fun and eclectic, the music creates a unique upbeat atmosphere, the service was great, and the food was outstanding! It’s my new favorite restaurant in Richmond, Va. This restaurant is worth spending your time and money. Make sure you have a reservation, it’s very popular.

This restaurant delivered in every way. From the moment you walk in you’re transported to anywhere France. I love low lit restaurants and the lighting complimented the decor perfectly. We had reservations and were seated immediately. Our server knew the menu inside and out and ended up talking one of his recommendations on one of the specials. The entire staff was amazing and very accommodating on a special birthday dinner. 🎂 One of the pictures shows the table which was a Warhol print fitting for this museum of a restaurant. There are so many interesting pieces on every wall and they’re definitely conversation starters. The plate choices were just as exquisite as the wall art and complimented each dish. Every dish was absolutely delicious and worthy of savoring. The filet 🥩mignon was so tender we had to ask the manager where they get the beef from. It literally melted in our mouths and I had a piece that was both medium and medium rare and they were both tender. 🤤 I will definitely return for another transformative and authentic French experience.

My husband and I tried this place for the first time this summer and we were pleasantly surprised by our experience. The service was elevated with non -invasive servers and food came out at a good pace. We shared the Cesar salad and each had the filet and highly recommend both dishes. The steak was perfectly grilled to medium rare and the flavors from all the other ingredients complemented each other. The best Cesar salad and filet I’ve had in Richmond and looking forward to our next visit. Bonus points for serving warm bread and soft butter.

Amazing, melt in your mouth BBQ that you order by the pound. Love the freshness of the beets as a side (seriously, what spice is that?! --it really elevates and brings out the flavor of the beets) and the collard greens to offset the heaviness of the meat. The front staff is very friendly. Long lines but it's so worth it!! I also love the back patio with an outdoor seating area. The passion for BBQ, authenticity, and care that the owner shows is evident by how often she is on site and interacting with her guests. This place is a must-visit when in Richmond!

Having heard many great things about ZZQ, my colleagues and I decided to visit during lunchtime while we were in the area. Despite it being moderately busy around 1 PM, we only waited about 15 minutes in line, and all the proteins were still available. ZZQ offers an impressive selection of smoked proteins, including turkey, brisket, ribs, and two types of sausage, along with a wide variety of sides. The proteins are sold by the pound, allowing customers to sample everything. I opted for a large assortment of all proteins and numerous sides, and I was thoroughly impressed with everything I tried! The brisket was served in equal slices of flat and point, providing a perfect balance of lean and juicy meat. The sausages were cooked to perfection, the turkey was lean, moist, and flavorful, and the ribs were outstanding. The sides were equally delightful. The jalapeño mac & cheese was tasty, though not as spicy as I had hoped. The charro beans were incredible, but the real surprise was the cucumber and tomato salad with a little kick and featuring watermelon – it was absolutely delicious! The service was friendly and excellent, and the venue offers plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. I will definitely return!

I no longer live in RVA, but was in town and had to get to ZZQ. I brought my mom for the first time and she LOVED it. Especially to finally get the full experience. Walking in at 5pm was risky, but they still had brisket and sausage so we felt like we were lucky. The brisket is so good and competes with all my favorite places from Austin and greater Plano area (i used to do a lot of work down in Plano). The collards were on point!!! The thing that stood out today was how friendly everyone was to us. There weren't many people there, but I noticed it and hope they see this feedback as it was a great experience for us, but especially her. It was nice taking her out to the smokers so I could explain how they work and the history of these specific design. She sees me cook on a kamado so these stick burners were new for her to understand. Keep up the great service and I hope she visits more frequently when I'm not here.

My wife and I decided to visit after seeing you all on DDD. We had a pound of brisket, a half pound of pork ribs, a Texas hot guts sausage link, greens and macncheese. The greens were tender but a bit sweet for my taste. Being from Texas and raised on excellent BBQ, this place represents Texas in a way that had me reminiscing childhood memories of my uncle's home made links. The brisket was moist, tender and flavorful with a great bark. The ribs had the perfect tenderness. This means "pull off" the bone. Not fall off. The macncheese was ok but, being a cook, I can be a bit snobbish🤣. The service was on point. I appreciate the portion controls and the portion integrity as they weigh your order in front of you. The service was also top notch. I would have liked softer bread but that's miniscule. Lastly, the smoke was perfect. I say this because, with the exception of my home smoked meat, this is the best flavored meat I've ever had in my 59 years that didn't have me burping up smoke for hours afterwards. Living about 50 miles away, my wife and I are making plans to dine here at least once a month.

Waited over an hour to get in, and was absolutely starving. We ordered Brisket and Bacon Ribs for our meat selections. Then we ordered jalapeno Mac and cheese, Garlic mashed potatoes, Collard greens, and the beans with cornbread on the side. The Brisket was good but not as good as I expected, but the bacon ribs were out of this world.. The Jalapeno Mac and cheese was nothing special and the garlic mashed potatoes were pretty much the same. The pinto beans were really good but nothing compared to the Collard greens. The Collard greens were uniquely delicious and I couldn't stop eating them. The cornbread was basic but served it's purpose. The Stars of the show were the Bacon Ribs and the collard greens, but after paying an arm and a leg and waiting for a hour to get food, I'd rather pass on going back.

Best damn Bar-B-Que I’ve ever had. We traveled from Florida and found this place from some friends. It was so good I had packed some in my check in luggage to bring back with me on the plane.We got home and it was still damn good. 👍🏾

The brisket sandwich is probably the best sandwich I’ve had in my life. Frijoles are very good too Highly recommended I would advise to go early, there is always a line but totally worth the wait!

The yams were good, the cabbage might have been better if I had dined in and not had them to go (there was no flavor 🤔),it seemed like it was just steamed cabbage in, and the water wasn't seasoned. At this point, I could be wrong, and if so, GREAT is there only one distributor of fish? The fish I ordered here tasted exactly like the ones I get from the neighborhood chicken and fish spots?! Will I try Mama J's again, possibly in a sit down/dine in occasion. It could have been an off day.

We were in town for the Run Richmond 16.19 and Mama J's was highly recommended. We arrived Friday night close to 6:30pm and we were able to get a table. The hostess and our waitress were so friendly and attentive. They kept checking on us, excellent customer service. The food was amazing...I eat a lot of soul food and they rank in my Top 3. The fried trout was the best ooutside of my mom. Hot, fresh, and perfectly seasoned. The sides we tried all hit...mac'n cheese, collard greens, and yams. The portions are good and we took leftovers home. We should have tried dessert, but we were stuffed. We had a race the next day, so we only tried lemonade and ice tea...both like your auntie made them...delicious. I only wish they had a Hampton Roads location. But we will be back.

Went here on 10/6/25 to pick up to go order. I was really wanting some soul food. I ordered the fried pork chop sandwich with no bread, collard greens, and macaroni & cheese. My Wife had the catfish nuggets, collard greens, and yams. My pork chop was so thick, juicy, and tender. It was well seasoned. At first look at the macaroni, I was a little skeptical, but after tasting it, it was delicious also. Collard greens was good, was not sure of the seasoning used, but was a little sweet to my Wife. I liked them, they were good, but I've had better. Corn muffin that was substituted for the bread on my sandwich was good also. The GPS took me to the new location, and I had to walk about a half a block to where they were. I'm glad to see them expanding, as the original location is very small. I would highly recommend them, and wish them continued success. I will definitely be back when I'm in the area photographing bald eagles.

When I say this is the best catfish I have ever had, I mean it. I have lived on the east and west coast and nothing beats this spot! Then those collar greens?! Have you thinking it’s Thanksgiving in July hahaha, 10/10 experienced. The staff and customers are so down to earth that you can talk to them for hours! I swear I make new friends every time I walk through those doors. If you are thinking about it, do it! Pork chops, catfish and the chicken cannot be beat honey!

The vibe was on point! Excellent Playlist and great energy. The staff is super friendly with beautiful smiles. Food was delicious with flavor. We enjoyed the catfish, which were large filets cooked to perfection. The crab cakes were seasoned without too much filler. String beans were salted, the mashed potatoes were extra buttered, the candied yams were bomb. The only thing I didn't like was the mac n cheese. They were overcooked and soggy. Overall we really enjoyed our dinner and will be back. Thank you so much and look forward to having supper with you again.

Believe it or not, this place was recommended by ChatGPT! This was the first time I’ve tried to ask AI for a restaurant recommendation and I was not disappointed at all! This place is kid friendly, has some amazing food and excellent service! My family and I stoped here on our road trip from Philly to Raleigh. We came at 2pm on Saturday and the place was packed! We were seated within 30 minutes just like the hostess promised. Our server Nique was AWESOME! Very friendly and made excellent recommendations. The fried Catfish and Fried Chicken were amazing. Juicy inside, crispy and flavorful outside crust. Seasoned perfectly! The sides on the other hand were not that great. Mashed potatoes tasted like they were mixed in with the powdered fake mashers. Candied yams had a strange after taste, French Fries were frozen, and the Mac and Cheese was ok, just relied on the cheese too much for flavor. Overall, this was an excellent experience, I would certainly come back for the service, food, and ambiance! Also, the sue chef is an Eagles fan, so that’s a bonus right there! Go Birds!

We left another place in Short Pump because they didn't welcome us and left us with no service in a nearly empty restaurant. Arrived at Mama Js and the smile and greeting at the hostess stand made us forget all about T******s....20 minute wait was worth it. Food was good, fast. Mac and Cheese was made in heaven. They were out of the desserts we wanted🙁, That's okay, we didn't need them anyway. The noise level was way over the top, but that's on the customers, not the restaurant. I kept wanting to say "Use your INSIDE voice!" Maybe next time we'll go at the 'old people's hour' 😄

A wood-fired kitchen, understated elegance, innovation, and a level of excellence in the kitchen that you wouldn't expect to find outside of New York or Portland. Adarra has a small, well-curated menu of Spanish / Virginia cuisine supported by a whole-animal station and lots of local sourcing. We loved bespoke art on all of the paneled walls (refreshingly, there are no bottles on the wall behind the bar). There were no weak spots on the menu that we sampled, but we especially loved the lamb belly, the sausage and the Basque cheesecake. Note that the portions are substantial -- this is not a tapas / pinxtos restaurant.

Really cool atmosphere. Great waitstaff, food was good but small portions. Need five entrees for two people so it gets a little pricey.

This was hands down a best meal experience. We were celebrating our anniversary, but this could be an “anytime you want to have a truly delicious meal” type of moment. Special occasion not necessary. The food is locally sourced and of high quality. We had scallops, served in an half shell on a bed of course salt. The salad, with wilted greens and some magical dressing. Prawns, order them. Question nothing. Pork chop with shrooms, greens, and cauliflower. It was one of the specials, and if they have it, order it. The Basque cheesecake and basil ice cream were perfect. While Basil ice cream may sound odd, it was smooth and creamy and paired with toasted hazelnuts. Delicious. Everything we had was like tasting real food again for the first time. Your tastebuds will perk up and ask, “what have you done? This isn’t mediocre or basic food. This is like a reawakening of what food should be!” The care and thought put into the food by Randall, was matched with the care and thought in the dining room and staff. Lyne suggested the perfect bubbles to complement the dinner. And she made everyone feel welcome and like you were eating at their home. If you’re in Richmond, make time for a reservation. You won’t regret it but if you miss it, you will. Thank you Randall and Lyne for an exceptional dinner and creating an experience we will be talking about!

You know how it feels when everything comes together to create the perfect experience? That’s Adarra. We had a glorious evening in their warm and inviting space. Great vibe, made even better by the on point service. Thank you, Lillie and Lyne! Interesting and international selection of wines, curated by Lyne. Our group tried almost every dish on the menu - and remarkably zero disappointments. You absolutely can’t miss the pintxo appetizer - delightfully spicy pickled taste treats on a skewer, with a side shot of Sherry. Amazing. The whole trout was cooked to perfection, which is not the norm for most places. They will debone at the table for you, but of course we did it ourselves for our (and Lillie’s) entertainment. The giant prawns were outstanding, also prepared flawlessly. Get the Basque cheesecake for dessert - subtle flavor, great consistency. Adarra is among the best restaurants in richmond - exceptional atmosphere, service and food. We will definitely be back!

Adarra is one of my favorite spots in all of RVA!!! Whenever someone visits, it's the go-to place to impress. The staff are not only kind but incredibly knowledgeable, the food is tasty and extremely fresh, and the ambience is ridiculously cool. I came here after seeing all of these review bombs (get a life). It feels like my duty to protect the ratings of one of the best restaurants I've been to! There's no doubt in my mind that Adarra truly deserves 5 stars across the board. I hope Google removes all the bot reviews 🙏

🤯🤯🤯 A couple we had met at L’Opossum a while back told me that I seem to be a real Foodie!! & Highly recommended Adarra. My wife & I are going on 34 years together & our DINKS! Double Incomes No Kids 😊 & We live to travel & dining experiences. After eating here a few times, ADARRA is now in my Top 3 Restaurants of all time in no particular order. Everything Every time we’ve been here has been Absolutely Perfection to the Highest Degree!! The Lamb 🐑 loin tonight was the best I’ve ever had and we spent 2 weeks in Iceland 🇮🇸 in 2023 & I ate me a whole lot 😳 The Crab 🦀 Stew we had tonight was mind Blowing 🤯. The Chef 🧑‍🍳 Owner hand picks Maryland Blue Crab under a Black or Blue light to insure 0 shells!! CMON 😊 I could write a book about this place but will just say. Exceptional Decor, Extremely Clean Top to Bottom, Impeccable Service, Over the Top mixed Drinks & a Chef who in my opinion is on his way to a Michelin Star ⭐️ My wife & I look forward to many more dining experiences here 😋

Hands down the best restaurant in Richmond. Every detail is intentional and gorgeous- from the luxurious marble bar to the paintings custom made for the space hanging on the walls. The wine service is stellar and the menu changes often- depending on the locally sourced ingredients, so you’re always surprised with new treats! This is where I take people I want to impress or just hunker down with and eat an impeccable meal. The open kitchen concept with everything being cooked over an open flame is also insanely hard to do- but they’ve mastered it. Go now!! Get the prawns and the cheesecake- you won’t be disappointed!