I found six great Richmond restaurants in the heart of downtown. From fancy to casual, here are some suggestions for your next visit to the capital city.
Capitol Waffle Shop
Located on Main Street a block from the Virginia State Capitol building sits a quaint little waffle shop, the perfect place to start your day.
Capitol Waffle Shop serves up waffles, both savory and sweet, all day, everyday. The menu is very unique offering dishes like the Sriracha Mac and Cheese Queso Waffle to Hot Honey Waffled Biscuits, there is a waffle for everyone.
My favorite is the Half Moon Size House Chicken and Waffles. Breaded chicken strips sprinkled with Cap'n Crunch cereal crumbles dusted with powdered sugar. Served alongside maple syrup, it's a delicious twist to chicken and waffles.
They also have mimosas and really good coffee. And if you are not a fan of waffles, Capitol Waffle Shop also offers a selection of breakfast tacos and egg bowls.
The Urban Farmhouse Market & Cafe
Another great spot for a delicious breakfast or lunch is The Urban Farmhouse Market & Cafe in the Shockhoe Slip neighborhood. Breakfast dishes like Irish Oatmeal to Veggie Sausage Sandwiches, the coffee is flowing and the atmosphere is cozy.
I stopped in during the interim between breakfast and lunch. I selected the Farmhouse Pimento Grilled Cheese with Crispy Bacon. It doesn't get more Southern with pimento anything. Absolutely amazing.
Spend a little extra time browsing the market for gourmet food items and gifts like coffee mugs and t-shirts.
Sam Miller's Oyster Bar and Seafood Restaurant
Here is another quaint little spot on East Cary Street in the Shockhoe Slip neighborhood. This is my go to spot for oysters, crab fondue, and blackened shrimp.
On a recent visit, I sat at a table outside on the sidewalk and enjoyed a cup of Sam Miller's Famous Crab Soup and the Rockfish appetizer.
Richmond is known for crab soup and many restaurants in the area offer some type of crab soup on the menu. Sam Miller's is exceptional.
But the real star here is the local Virginia rockfish in a white wine butter sauce. Probably one of the best fish dishes I have ever enjoyed.
I also love their Caesar salad with shrimp. I often judge a restaurant by its Caesar salad. Sam Miller's version is perfectly tossed in just the right amount of dressing with garlic and anchovy.
The Tobacco Company Restaurant
The Tobacco Company Restaurant has been a Richmond staple since 1973. Built in an old tobacco factory, the decor is worth the visit alone.
Reservations are highly recommended but I took a chance and found a spot in the first floor bar for dinner.
I started with the She-Crab soup. It is so amazing, just as good as the one at Sam Miller's across the street.
My entree was the Prime Rib Steak with Creamed Spinach and Fingerling Potatoes. I thought the dish was perfect, especially with the creamed spinach as opposed to the standard steamed broccoli.
Lillie Pearl New American Restaurant
Lillie Pearl is another Richmond institution, popular for innovative dishes and an ever changing menu.
I did not have a full meal here, instead opting to sit at the bar and enjoy and appetizer for a cocktail. I ordered the Lillie Pearl Daiquiri - a blend of Bacardi 8-year rum, house-made grenadine, and lime juice.
My appetizer was the pimento cheese balls and boy were they delicious. Another very Southern dish as perfected by the chefs at Lille Pearl.
City Dogs
And finally, for a casual quick meal, check out City Dogs. I am a sucker for an authentic Chicago style hot dog and City Dogs did not disappoint.
Mustard, onions, relish, tomatoes, peppers and a dill pickle atop an all beef hot dog. Yum.
I also ordered the Tennessee Slaw Dog but I opted to swap out the beef hot dog for a soy version. The soy dog was topped with mustard, onions, and coleslaw. The Tennessee Slaw dog is also topped with chili but I opted to leave the chili off.
City Dogs also offers burgers and cheesesteaks along with fresh cut French fries, potato salad, and onion rings.
This is just a small tasting of restaurants in downtown Richmond. Another suggestion is trying the white sauce at a Mexican restaurant. It is traditionally served with chips and salsa. Every restaurant makes their own white sauce so no two recipes are the same. Usually it's a mix of mayonnaise, milk, and seasoning like garlic, cumin, and oregano.
Enjoy Richmond and tell me in the comments what your favorite restaurant in Richmond is.