We went to Alewife during restaurant week. I sometimes think restaurants just phone it in for that week, but Alewife was all in. The service was a little too leisurely for my temperament, and the tab did arrive at the table on one piece of paper when we had clearly requested that there be a separate tab for each couple, but those would be my only complaints. We all had cocktails, one from their specialty list and three that were standard issue. All were delicious and had an appropriate alcohol content for cocktails. The restaurant week menu provided a good variety of choices. Everything we had was really delicious. Portions were generous, so I could not eat more than about half of each course and not get overly full, but I assume they are sized for all but the hungriest diner. The venue's sound level was pretty high. I could have left my hearing aids at home so I wouldn't hear as much of the background noise. Noisy restaurants are pretty standard, I guess. We will definitely be returning to Alewife. It will probably take the place of Grisette in the rotation, which has been dropped because of institution of a fee for reservations canceled less than 24 hours in advance. (I don't think it should be treated as a privilege to dine somewhere when you have so many equivalent choices, but I guess they want to decrease the number of people who try to make them their dining choice. Objective accomplished.) The Hemingway quote at the bottom of the tab was a little weird. Not a Hemingway fan, but I guess it was an interesting thing to do. If you have read other reviews of mine, you may be aware that basically non-alcoholic cocktails that should have alcohol in them are reason enough for me to never return to a restaurant. read more

My wife and I were looking for seafood and found Alewife. Reservations weren't hard to come by for 5PM on a Friday. Small little place on the corner, we actually missed at first. Street parking only but wasn't hard to find. We came in being one of the first parties in. Our server explained the menu in full and all the specials in full. To drink we had the Bebot and the Monkey Business to start, both were really good. The thing we knew we needed to have to eat was the Siren's Song special which was a lazy Susan full of different dishes. The Siren's Song consisted of oysters, fried clam strips, smoked fish dip, seared tuna, pineapple fried rice, and a fried fish collar (sorry don't remember the fish, maybe Skate) with a Szechuan dry rub on it. This seriously was an amazing display. Every single dish just took it up a notch. They were also super nice to accommodate making it pescatarian because the Siren's Song usually has meat elements. The fried collar really blew me away. So meaty, fried perfectly, and the dry rub was so flavorful but not too salty or hot. Despite finishing the whole Siren's Song, we also got the Cascatelli without guanciale which was also delicious. We finished off with their caramel custard which wasn't too sweet and had a great mix of textures and flavors. Also tried one of their NA drinks and a glass of their special chilled Grenache Noir which was surprisingly good (not a big red wine fan). Overall, we absolutely loved it here. Each dish was amazing, drinks were also good, service was on point, and it was just a beautiful dinner. We will definitely be coming back. read more

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What a stunning airy and bright restaurant in Church Hill in Richmond. It's immaculately decorated, and the staff is super friendly. Whenever I see something written on the board that says: ask about... I will always ask. In this case the chalkboard said: Ask about the Siren Song. Mermaids are my all time favorite thing so we asked. Essentially it's a chef's appetizer pairing of several dishes made from the left over pieces of the fish, it changes daily and it's not always available. There were three of us, and we weren't sure how many items to get, and thank goodness the waitress was like Woah, you're ordering too many things. We started our meal with some espresso martinis (we were exhausted and needed a little pick me up) and they have a nice walnut bitter and I liked it a lot. I have a hard time with the espresso martini currently, it can be too sweet. We ordered for three: Siren Song, raw & chilled oysters, local green salad, the crispy softshell crab and a fish special. I liked a lot of the items on the siren song and what a great way to be sustainable and provide delicious food. I found their crispy clam strips to be a little too salty, but otherwise enjoyed the sauce and spices. Their oysters were interesting, I've never been served raw oysters already dressed and I did really like the michelada and garlic chive oil, but I do wish I would've dressed them myself. The salad was my favorite, the crispy ham, asparagus and boiled egg was what I needed. Overall the meal was good but nothing super special and the cocktails were a bit smaller than what I expected at the price point. However, it's a great spot and it's close to some of the other bars in the area that we wanted to check out. I think you should always get the siren song here! It's a cool and niche thing and delicious. read more

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Solid 4 stars. Reservations highly recommended. They do have a few seats available at the bar, but I prefer to sit at a table in the back corner to view everything going on. Food is excellent, and craft cocktails are fantastic. Both the dinner and bar menus frequently change. read more

Alewife - Apartment in the City...kinda like a Manhattan...kinda like a Negroni. Really fabulous - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Decided to give alewife a try while my mother was in town and I have some mixed reviews on the experience. Started out with drinks and they were ok. My mother tried to order a drink and they said that it wasn't available so she had to order something else, she tried to order her entrée which they said it was unavailable as well which left us a little disappointed off the rip. However, when the food actually came out, it was actually good. It was seasoned a little bit salty for my mother's taste however, in my opinion, everything was seasoned well. My steak was cooked just like I liked it and personally I was happy with the way the entrées turned out. Not sure how frequently I would return, but overall, some marks were hit and some weren't. read more

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Alewife is consistently amazing; everything from food to service, to the atmosphere. Went out on a double date last night with friends and all of our meals were incredible. Everything came out hot, perfectly seasoned, flavorful. My favorite part of our meal was the braised cabbage, which typically would be the last thing I would ever order. It was THAT good. This is the type of restaurant where you could order anything on the menu and you would love it! 10/10, go check them out :) read more

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Alewife is the perfect place for a slightly elevated evening out! The food is delicious and the atmosphere is laid-back but clean and slightly elevated. It's a nice quiet spot for a really good meal. We got the clams as a starter then I got an oyster Poboy. Everything was absolutely amazing. read more

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Beautiful presentation, mid food, not sure what all the hype is from these reviews. I had high expectations from the raving reviews, and while the dishware and presentation was exquisite (some of the bowls are $50 a plate online!), the food was disappointing. First, when we walked in around 5 PM to a basically empty restaurant on a weekday, we were told that the tables were all reserved and we had to sit at a specific area at the bar. Even if the tables were reserved, most of them were not filled until more than halfway through our meal so that was a little strange why we were placed at the bar. Then the food, the fish was a minuscule piece, they definitely could have used with larger portions. The brown butter cabbage underneath tasted just burnt. The pork katsu was so dry!! We didn't finish it and ended up throwing away the leftovers because of how utterly unappetizing it was. The oysters on the half shell were nothing really special. The basque cheesecake was just alright. The only items that were better were the fried clams and fried oyster sandwich, but certainly not at the level that I think deserved the glowing raving reviews. Overall was disappointed in the food and our experience when being seated, and won't recommend or return. read more

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Food and service were amazing during brunch. We shared a few small plates and really enjoyed everything. We were even greeted with a complimentary nonalcoholic drink for our friend's birthday. The restaurant has plenty of seating and is the perfect backdrop for a special meal. We started with the beet salad and smoked fish dip. Both were fresh and flavorful. I especially loved the fish dip, which we heard will never come off the menu. The grilled focaccia and pickled vegetables were a nice touch. The beet salad has a tangy but perfect vinaigrette. I got the fish which came with an amazing sweet potato puree. The puree was nothing short of perfect! The dish also had roasted carrots and the skin on the fish was oh so crispy. I'm excited to go back for dinner soon! read more

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Popped in while on a work trip. I sat at the bar with my book, and had a lovely time. The menu switches often, maybe weekly (?), so I couldn't tell you completely what I ate or drank (LOL) but it was pretty enjoyable. The drink was definitely a heavy sipper, and it was great for sitting and reading - no real time line. One was enough! The duck was yummy, there were creamed parsnips or something along that line that I didn't love, but were alright. I'd say I really liked but would try something else next time. I LOVED the Virginia oyster and would get 10 of those next time!!! I didn't need dessert, though I got one. It was good, tasted like a toasted strudel. Again, enjoyed but would pick something else next time (or skip dessert, which is on brand for me). The bar was pretty and the restaurant felt cozy. Pro tip: order the siren song to get a sampler of like 12 menu items. The girls next to me ordered and shared one, it looked good! Too much for one person for sure. read more

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Spectacular night at Alewife. There is a reason it's always ranked one of the best in Richmond. It's in an adorable part of Church Hill and worth going early or staying late to walk the neighborhood. We were asked if it was a special occasion and it was our Anniversary and they gave me sparkling wine and my husband a sparkling non alcoholic drink on the house They knew he wasn't drinking from our order. Such a nice touch. We started with the fish dip, clam strips and rock shrimp appetizers. They were all amazing. The star was the clam strips. They were lightly fried and had a middle eastern flavor (cumin and I think a bit of cinnamon) with scallion greens cilantro and dried chiles. Outstanding. The rock shrimp was like a ceviche with pickled peppers, tiny pepper dews and a wonderful sauce. It was light, bright, acidic and the shrimp was cooked perfectly. The fish dip comes with the best grilled bread on the planet. Seriously. And lots of pickled veggies to stack on the bread with the fish dip for the best bite. We could have stopped with just those things but we ordered entrees because we are chronic over orderers. So glad we did. My husband got the Cobia and I got the Spanish mackerel. Both were delicious. Mine came with an amazing cucumber salad that I'm seriously going to email them and ask for the recipe. It complimented the fish perfectly and I have a garden full of cucumbers. There were pickled scapes and watermelon radish. The fish was cooked to perfection and mackerel is like dark meat, so it's rich and flavorful. My husband's cobia came with butter beans, corn and shishitos that was kind of succotash like. It was wonderful. The service is impressive and they don't hover but know when you need some more of that amazing bread! Alewife decor and atmosphere vibe with Church Hill and while it's busy it's not too loud or overwhelming. The spot is adorable. Go to Alewife. It's outstanding! read more

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My husband, teenage son, and I took a quick trip to Richmond this weekend. I had trouble making dinner reservations, so I left it up to the last minute. After watching the sun set from Libby Hill Park, I looked at Yelp to see what might be nearby and found Alewife. We walked in at 7:00 on a Saturday, and they didn't have any tables, but welcomed us so warmly to sit at the bar. The service could not have been lovelier. I didn't really look at the menu ahead of time, but I was very grateful that they had a smash burger on for my son. My husband had the pork belly special and I had the Arctic char. Both very good. The most delicious thing the three of us split was the green goddess gem lettuce salad with breadcrumbs. Unforgettable, Gorgeous atmosphere in a picturesque neighborhood setting. read more

Always great food and service! Brunch menu for this week. Amazing smoked fish dip. Would get every time they have it on the menu! read more

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What a great way to start the weekend. Fish forward and so tasty and unique. The restaurant itself is on the smaller side with only about 15 tables; a casual vibe with light wood floors and open floor plan which does make it a bit loud but the food is so worth the effort. I say effort because if you want to go on the weekend you need to plan ahead. They are usually pretty booked up if you try to find a table mid week. I made reservations 10 days ahead. We got started with two cocktails- poppies in bloom and Libby Hill. Both were exactly as described (a Manhattan for warmer days and tart bittersweet with fizz) and a nice way to start an elegant meal. For appetizers we got the tuna ceviche and the smoked fish dip. Both were delicious. The ceviche was perfectly prepared and had a nice kick on the chicarrones that added some serious heat the more you ate. The smoked fish dip with the pickled vegetables was probably one of the best appetizers I've ever eaten and the grilled bread that came with it was hot, crunchy and perfect. Amazingly we had room for the two entrees of the walleye and the swordfish. Every time you took a bite of one you said to yourself "oh this is the best one" and then you would take a bite of the other one and be like" oh...no...this is the best one". Obviously they were both amazing and yet totally different. Order the swordfish if you are looking for a little spice and morrocan feel. Order the walleye if you are looking for delicate and French. Only wish this place was a little bigger so they could bring joy to even more customers lol. The service was impeccable, friendly and perfectly paced. Impressive even more so for a busy Friday night. How do they do it! We will definitely be back! read more

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The name of this restaurant seems so familiar but I have only been to Richmond 1 time before, and don't recognize the interior. My visit was during restaurant week, so I don't know if that's a good thing or bad thing, but during that time of year it is a limited menu. It doesn't really force you to order dessert though since you can sub for a 2nd savory dish. I chose the mussels, skate wing, and flan. PEI mussels - a little spicy and comes with a Texas toast slice, sliced diagonal. Maybe a half portion since it's restaurant week, but I really liked them since I enjoy anything spicy. Grilled skate wing - I don't eat this a lot living in Texas, but I really enjoyed it since it had a nice seasoning on it that is pretty good. The apple slices were the best part of the accompaniment. Just not a lot of meat in this dish, if you're hungry it would not be a good choice. Banana flan - I asked for a scoop of ice cream to go with my Flan and they brought out the ice cream which is sometimes homemade. This one was just a sea salt vanilla but pretty dang good. The flan was even better with a strong banana taste. The tricky part is the miso caramel syrup and making sure it doesn't drip everywhere. Overall, a really good experience here during my short stay in Richmond. I even enjoyed the iced tea here since it's slightly bitter but slightly fruity. Beware though, there are no free refills, so that was a bit of a surprise to me. read more

Alewife - Banana flan - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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We enjoy a quick bite here usually after church on Sundays. We love the Smoked Fish Dip and Arctic char, when it's available. But we've also had and enjoyed the skate wing and the strawberry Nutella stuffed French toast. Today, we tried something different and I tried to do a food critic overview with one of the chefs. Hubby had the soft-shelled crab which was delicious. I went with the fried clams: lightly battered and seasoned to perfection, with a hint of heat at the end! Always enjoy our meals here! Not excessive, but certainly enough to enjoy, every time! It has a cool eclectic vibe, a courteous and attentive staff and when the neighbors are in, it has a "Cheers" atmosphere. read more

Alewife - Fried clams - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Love Alewife every time I go. The food is locally sourced, prepped fresh, and consistently good. I love that the chef brings in his Mediterranean roots with the occasional Asian influence. Always try a fish or potato dish. Chef. Does. Not. Miss. The greens are typically cooked with a southern flare and any sauce you get is perfectly braised to accompany your dish. The menu rotates often, so there's no true recommendation. But trust your wait staff, especially for events like restaurant week... They typically try the foods before you. read more

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I have mixed feelings about my evening at Alewife. Service is really important to me and pretty key to my overall experience. It was ok. I would have loved more guidance in navigating options. Our server knew it was our first time but really failed to help us out. We had to ask about the siren song (what it is and how that works) and I expected more being newbies. The cocktails were ok. We didn't want to fill up on apps and decided we just wanted to try an oyster each - not my favorite. That was ok and why we only had one each. We ordered the pork belly special and the Arctic char. Both were lovely but not filling enough on their own. I would have loved to have been advised to grab a starter for a more substantial meal. Being as I was still hungry, I did opt for dessert which was also very nice. Though most of the food was great- the service brought down my overall experience. I'd be willing to go back and try again because the food was good. read more

This was my first time coming to alewife and I was very impressed! The hanger steak was excellent I would definitely get it again and the fish dip was great. We also had the beet salad I didn't get a picture of it but that was really good as well! I will for sure be back :) read more

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Family visiting and we managed to double-up on our anniversary dinner. We were brought a delightful fish dip to start that really popped w fresh. We ordered a bottle of champagne and the our entrees: I had the short rib special while my wife had the branzino and my in-laws had the mullet and king salmon. All were excellent, and I'd like to try the skate wing next time. Dessert was some kind of French apple streudel we all sgared. Service was excellent--Jeff was knowledgeable and a gentleman who helped us through the menu, drinks, and the whole experience. We finished w some amaro digestifs. Atmosphere / vibe / ambiance were really nice...goid music in the background, busy, and still a neighborhoid kind of feel you always hope for...5 stars. read more

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Alewife was great! I came here with two friends while visiting Richmond and I loved our meal here! We started off with a round of espresso martinis which was much needed after a day of sight seeing. To start we got a half dozen oysters which came pre-dressed! They were great. We also ordered the siren song, which is always rotating based on what they have available that day and WOW!! Highly, highly recommend you roll the dice and get this. Not only did it come with a few of the dishes we had been considering ordering anyway, but the fish that was on ours was SO good. The fish tails in particular were incredible. I'm still thinking about them. Everyone on the plate was fantastic. We also split a soft shell crab, which I didn't love as it was pretty small and the sauce on it wasn't my (personal) favorite. The fish with the gochujang bbq sauce though was outstanding. I need that sauce recipe. I would absolutely return to Alewife! Shout out our waitress as well who was super friendly and helpful (and tbh incredibly pretty ) read more

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Walked to Alewife which is on the other side of town from where we were staying. We selected this spot because of the fish options on the menu. We were definitely not disappointed. I really liked that the menu constantly changes to show what is fresh. And when you walk in there is a chalkboard that shows the special dishes of the day and where the veggies were from (which farms). I am very much into farm fresh veggies, so I loved seeing this! Tonight's special were soft shell crabs! Hubby and I shared the market salad and I ordered the special and he ordered the skate fish. Our market salad was incredible! It had a large variety of salads plus herbs on whipped goat cheese. And my main i noted that the recipe said Tempura batter, so I asked for very light fried batter. And the chef was able to accommodate. My soft shell crab had a very light batter, which was definitely different from other dishes as I saw the tables next to me also got this and it was drenched in batter. So I am SO glad mine was not! And it was on top of a red curry sauce. Yum! Hubby loved his skate fish and the salad was amazing. I love fiddle heads, just wish I can cook them too. I kept eating the salad his dish came in. Overall excellent food and service! read more

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So good! Went for the first time. Got Oysters 8/10 because slightly pricey per oyster, the Sugar Toads (10/10), Spanish mackerel (10/10), and skate wing (7/10). We like skate but it ended up being difficult to eat and pretty bony. The food came fast and our server was very polite and informative. The vibe was giving romantic cafe. I was surprised to see people in sweatshirts thinking it would be kind of fancy. read more

I was excited to try Alewife with some family this winter holiday season. What was excellent? The burrata appetizer is to die for. We were seated promptly and Jewel was an excellent waitress. The restaurant features an open kitchen but we experienced none of the standard issues (smokiness, food smells in clothing) so we were impressed by that. The price point was reasonable (in fact, it felt lower than what I'd assumed based on the online sample menu). What was good? The arctic char was very good. The puppy drum gumbo was good, although the roux could be darker. The trout was a little fishy to 2/3 diners. It should be noted that the online sample menu felt a little bit bigger than the menu we saw last night. All in all we had a wonderful time and would recommend. read more

Alewife - Puppy drum gumbo - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Came for the Siren Song and missed out. However, our meal was wonderful and the kitchen sent out extra dishes to make up for it. Espresso martini was not to our taste (really bitter, definitely not a dessert style drink) but otherwise our meal was wonderful. Will be back when doors open to have the siren song! read more

A little disappointed with the food but service was great. The reservation noted it was my birthday and our server immediately offered some prosecco for my father and I which was very nice, I will say it was maybe 2 sips of bubbles in an absurdly large glass but the gesture was definitely appreciated. We order the clam strips as an app which were very bready and not too much meat but well-seasoned nonetheless. We also ordered two drinks, one of which was delicious but the other was perhaps a bit too spirit forward and had a bitter medicinal taste. Drinks also took a very long time, taking almost 30 minutes to arrive. By the time they came, the appetizers was half eaten. The entrees were fine: 1) the daily special pompano fish which was good and 2) the pork chop which was very large but somewhat dry. The food didn't really stand out but if I were not visiting I would try it again with perhaps a didn't menu. Once again our server was very friendly and attentive. read more

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Delicious and adorable! This hole in the wall is a super cute spot in Church Hill. We made a reservation early, but could sit at the bar easily. The menu changes frequently, but what we had was delicious! I'd highly recommend the Confit Sunchokes! If you like smoked fish, you'd like the smoked fish dip. The house made pickles are an awesome addition of acid. Entrees were perfect too! Fresh and cooked perfectly. The sauces and sides were very well balanced. You can't go wrong with any of the options! read more

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I come to RVA for work somewhat regularly and I've been meaning to try Alewife. I finally got to this trip and it lived up to the hype! I sat at the bar and asked my server for recs, and based on those I ordered crispy sugar toads (a type of puffer fish) that was one of the specials as an appetizer and swordfish with farro as my main. The folks sitting next to me at the bar ordered oysters, and they looked so good that I ordered 3 for my "dessert." Everything was flavorful and delicious. Service was friendly and prompt. I hope to return when I'm back in the area! read more

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Alewife had a causal, but upscale vibe and featured delicious, unique cocktails. My favorite drink of the night was "Bulls on Parade" and my favorite starter was the fish dip. The entrees didn't blow me away, but we're still good and were enough food to fill us. The servers were very attentive and knowledgeable of the menu as well. I would definitely come back to Alewife again! read more

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If you guys don't' know by know- this my favorite place to eat after a long day of work!! Added a few more pictures. read more

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This was my second visit to Alewife. After visiting almost a year back and having a poor experience with food which was too salty for everyone who dined, I decided to give them another shot while family visited. Second time was the charm here - everything was prepared well and simply delicious. We started out with Fried Oyster Mushrooms, a Beet and Green Salad, and Beef Tartare. Everything was prepared well without any single flavor overpowering your other senses. I particularly liked the combination of potato chips and raw beef. The cost of appetizers ranged from $12 - $15. For my entree I had the Branzino (just north of $30) which was similarly seasoned and cooked well. My only critique is that I wish the skin was crispy as it slid around while cutting the fish. The interior of the restaurant is cute and the staff were friendly throughout the evening. After this visit, I'll certainly be back for a third visit some time in the future. read more

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Came here on Saturday for restaurant week for the first time. The food was amazing our waitress Jules was so wonderful and attentive! But what really stood out to me the most was the hostess Olivia! She was so amazing ! Really outstanding customer service and went above and beyond and accommodating with my group! The restaurant was great but the team was absolutely A1! We will definitely be coming back! read more

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I just want to take a moment and thank Alewife for their donation to the American Heart Association RVA Heart Ball 2024. The silent auction raised $56,184 which is the largest amount raised ever. It's so great when businesses are willing to donate to a great cause. Definitely one of my fave restaurants to go to for seafood and it's on our rotation! Everything is amazing. Thank you read more

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There are times in my life that I've said to myself "why on earth have I not been to this restaurant before" and my first visit to Alewife last night was definitely one of them. I had heard such amazing things about this place, but with their dinner hours and no lunch options (...and having kids lol) it wasn't until yesterday that I FINALLY had the joyous pleasure of dining here. Okay, so the food. Everything was heavenly. I waited dish after dish to be disappointed or to feel like something was "just ok" but it never happened. Every flavor on the plates was perfectly executed, there was such a breadth to the dishes available AND their wine list was so unique and truly complemented the food. So here's what we got: - Beet salad: The beets were so sweet and earthy and the blue cheese they used for the salad wasn't overpowering and instead the perfect complement. Divine. - Heirloom tomato salad: I'm here for tomato season and these were exquisite. I loved the little crunchy breads they put into it also. Gave it a nice texture variation. - Scallops: I'm iffy on scallops usually, but these were executed to perfection and they laid atop a perfectly charred eggplant that was also egg-ceptional. Yes, I went there. - Skate: This one was recommended by our server and it was such a surprise. Super intense, bold flavor in a great way. Had chorizo and shrimp and a bed of delightful potato mash. - Corn pudding: I love a good dessert to finish up a meal and my goodness what a freaking treat. The berries + corn + creaminess of the whole thing. YAAAAS. I feel like if I lived closer to here, I'd alternate between eating at Alewife and Grisette every single day because what gems to have in the neighborhood. read more

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My siblings made my birthday dinner reservation at Alewife this year, and we all had such a great time!There were a few things that stood out from our experience. Things we loved: 1. Although not explicitly stated, most of the menu is gluten free. The waiter was very responsive and willing to answer questions related to dietary restrictions, which we appreciated. 2. Some of our favorite dishes: -The fried oyster mushrooms are to die for (see image). Completely gluten free! -The lamb chops are so tender and juicy--we absolutely loved! 3. The restaurant was very cozy and welcoming. The staff was very attentive (asked whose birthday it was) and even offered to take pictures. Things that could improve: 1. The grilled branzino was very good, although we found that the red peas and rice were flavorless, so maybe not the best combination. 2. The beet salad wasn't impressive. The sliced apples paired nicely with the chicory, but excessive large chucks of mimollete (cheese) overpowered the other flavors. 3. The sparking vinho verde was a strange combination (it had a bitter after taste). We regretted not going for a different white wine. Overall, the restaurant offered a very intimate experience with my family and I would return to try other items on the menu! read more

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4-year anniversary dinner that didn't freaking miss. This place is worth all of the love it gets from anyone who knows the restaurant scene in Richmond. You walk in, and it's nothing terribly impressive or stunning - just gives off the vibe of a local hangout spot - but MAN did the food/drink just blow me away. First off, we were greeted with a private table, served ceremonial champagne, and even though we were sat by the door on a cold night, the server/host brought over a personal space heater for us which was SO KIND. The drinks were fancy pants good - we got "The Tugboat Captain" and "Got a Day Job" - and I am still talking about those damn Crab Claws. HOW UNIQUE ARE THOSE UGH. Nowhere else have I ever had something like that before - and it was actually fairly priced...?!?! Of course the rest of our meal made up for that, considering we splurged on the Skate Wing and Arctic Char, as well as a Pistachio Olive Oil cake for desert... but all-in-all, it was so wonderfully worth it. Every bite of fish was an explosion of flavors in a way that made me eat slower than I've ever eaten before because I wanted to savor every dang bite. I wish I could relive my experience here 100x over - efficient service, delicious food, and just an overall feel-good atmosphere. Proud to have eaten here and would show this place off to anyone and everyone who visits our new home. read more

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This is such a fun, cute place with a unique, inspiring menu. Street parking is free but can be tricky to find during peak hours. I would highly recommend reservations. The restaurant is on the smaller side and it gets busy during peak times but they can accommodate groups. Their menu rotates but they have a sample menu on their website. It's seafood-focused but they asked us about food allergies when taking our order. Despite the business, the host and waitress were friendly and welcoming. We had only two nights in Richmond and we had experienced an extremely disappointing dinner the evening before in regards to customer service so the hospitality we received at Alewife was extra appreciated. For appetizers, we ordered the fish dip (on regular menu) and grilled spot (on specials menu). The fish dip was so flavorful in addition to visually stunning. If you're coming with a group, I would say that their appetizers are meant for 1 - 2 people to share. My husband is pretty new to eating seafood, especially whole fish, and neither of us had heard of spot before. It's a small fish with delicate white flesh. We both enjoyed the grilled spot. The ingredients were simple but worked well together--reminded me of a more refined version of fish sticks and tartar sauce (in a good way). For entrees, my husband ordered the scallops and I ordered the arctic char. Both were cooked perfectly, tasted great, and the presentation was beautiful. The entrees are slightly smaller than what we're used to but that worked out for us since we also had appetizers. I overheard another diner remarking to the waiter that they loved how many unique ingredients there were on the menu, some of which they had never tried before. I feel like the menu had a great balance of being fun and unique without being too out there. As a picky eater, I feel cautious about trying new ingredients but the menu didn't feel intimidating. And of course, everything ended up tasting delicious. We had just come to Richmond from a trip to New York City where we dined at our first Michelin star restaurant, which was also seafood focused. I honestly think we enjoyed our meal at Alewife more than that restaurant! The flavors were on point, not to mention the friendly service. For dessert, we got a s'mores pavlova. I'm not a big s'mores person but it was delicious! I loved the depth of flavor (the chocolate mousse tasted like it had hints of coffee) and textures (crunchiness of the pavlova crust and the graham cracker). I hadn't had pavlova or even merengue before but it was surprisingly delicate and not overwhelmingly sweet. Side note: there are two general neutral restrooms towards the back of the restaurant. The one I used had cute crustacean wallpaper (: I would definitely recommend this place, especially for a special occasion or hosting out of town guests! read more

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this place has been on my radar for a long time. it really didnt disappoint. make sure to grab a reservation way in advance because this place is really popular and cant guarantee you can walk in . the menus is very innovated, it changes from time to time. but there are some items are always on the menu. the fish dip , beef tartare and oysters are all phenomenal. i had the whole fish for main , its very fresh. the duck dish is a little lack of flavor itself but i think their steak is the star of the meal, cooked perfectly and juicy. the desserts on the other hand is a little weak, i had the cheesecake , it doesnt look like cheese cake it doesnt taste like cheesecake, not sure what exactly what they are trying to go for. Our server is very friendly, the food came out pretty fast, not a lot of wait time between dishes. only the drinks take a little time. read more

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We have always loved Alewife and continue to come back, not only for the food but for the people as well. We started with some VA oysters which were so delicious and the sauce was sweet, spicy and tangy. We got tomato salad which had really fresh perfectly ripe fruit as well. The crispy crab claws were unlike something I've had before and you dip in this mayo that all together was soooo good. I got the arctic char and usually I'm picky on fish especially with a skin but I ate everything on this plate, can't recommend it more. My husband got the whole crispy fish (not sure what fish it was) but he ate it all up and the fried rice under was unique and so great. Desserts were good as well. The ambiance is always cozy and chic. read more

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The atmosphere was nice and it was well decorated. Plenty of room, so you didn't feel like you were sitting on top of each other. The service was good, not great. Our waiter could have been a little more attentive, but the rest of the staff filled in, so drinks were kept full and anything we needed was available. Saw the Skate on the menu and decided to give it a try. Had never had it, but I'd caught plenty of them growing up. I'd always heard the wings were tasty, but we always considered it a "trash fish". We always considered catfish a trash fish too, and I love catfish. It has a distinct flavor, but not one that I cared for. Also, the wings are full of long thin bones, making it a little challenging to get to the meat. The bones are basically on one side of the wing, but the piece was served bone-side up. Once I flipped it over, it was much easier to get the meat. The texture is not like a regular fish filet. The meat comes off in long thin soft pieces. It's kind of a unique texture. I really didn't care for it and wouldn't eat it again. Since I was just trying something new, I place the fault of the dish on me. Not the restaurant. The real problem was the bed of rice that came with the skate. It was "Carolina Gold" rice, with tomatoes, bacon and okra. I love all four of those ingredients individually, so I figured it would be good together. Wrong. The rice was unbelievably bland. It tasted like there was literally no seasoning on it. You could taste the tomatoes, but that was it. There was barely any bacon in it. Just a few small pieces that literally looked like they were bacon bits, not real bacon. Combined there was maybe a 1/4 piece of bacon in the rice, and that's being generous. Obviously okra really has no flavor naturally, and the okra mixed in with the rice had been panned seared, so you maybe got a little char taste with the rice, but that was all. Tomatoes and char. I had my dinner partner try it too and she couldn't believe how bland it was either. It tastes like there was literally no seasoning added. When our server came to take the plates, she asked how everything was and I said mine was disappointing. She kind of shrugged it off and gave me an OK. We also had the crispy crab claws, which included about 10 claws and came in a bowl with aioli dipping sauce. They were good and had an Old Bay type of season in on them. Not sure I'd go back, but was glad we tried it out. read more