Yes! Yes! Yes! Mama J's has ruined me for anything else right now. I was eating and humming and…read morelegs were dancing throughout my meal. SO, SO GOOD! Okay so, I love fish, but if I run up on a bone, I am done. This catfish was crispy, flaky, boneless and downright delicious. The collards, Mac & cheese and sweet potato.....excellent. My husband had to personally thank the cookI I will travel to eat at Mama J's.

7 out of 5 stars. Yes, I said 7…read more So I went to Mama J's after scoping it out on Yelp, and let me tell you something: Richmond, we may have a problem. I have found the food. I initially walked into the market next door, which is actually great because there aren't a lot of grocery stores nearby. Then I headed over to Mama J's on a Monday afternoon. The place was teeming with associates doing all kinds of things, which I actually loved. I was seated quickly and started looking around. It was comfortable and familiar, even though it was my first time there. Then my server greeted me, called me "baby," and suddenly I felt like I had walked into my auntie's house. Okay. We were off to a good start. I ordered an Arnold Palmer and some catfish nuggets. Now, I knew I was in the right place when my server brought me TWO glasses of the most perfectly made Arnold Palmer. Two. Glasses. Start the happy dance. While I waited for my food, I looked around at the old photographs and magazine covers featuring Mama J's. It all made sense. The restaurant felt familiar because it felt like somebody's dining room. A place that has history. A place where people have been eating, talking, laughing and coming back for years. Then my catfish nuggets arrived. HOT. Golden. Crispy. When I tell you I did a happy dance... I ate those catfish nuggets with a knife and fork, humming to myself and saying, "This is the best catfish I have eaten in my life." And mind you, I eat out at least twice a week. So I ordered the crab cake sandwich with a side of macaroni and cheese. We were not particularly focused on vegetables because my server could not promise me the collards and cabbage weren't cooked with chicken broth. It's fine. I didn't really want my vegetables anyway. Then my plate arrived. HOT. I ate that macaroni and cheese and literally had to rock, hum and say to myself, "Woo. This food is good." The crab cake sandwich and fries were so good that I immediately knew some of them were coming home with me for lunch tomorrow. Because I may love food, but I also believe in planning ahead. Now let's talk about this crab cake. First, the brioche bun was EXACTLY the right bread. I am not a sliced-white-bread kind of woman. I need a brioche bun sturdy enough for the remoulade to hold onto. And then there was the crab cake. Enunciate that K. Fresh crabmeat. Maryland could NEVER. I know, I know. Maryland swears they have the best crab cakes. No ma'am. No sir. The best crab cake is sitting on Clay Street, about a mile from the James River, in Jackson Ward, the Harlem of the South. And the fries? HOT. You know that perfect fry: crispy on the outside, soft in the center? Yeah. Those. At this point, I was full and getting sleepy at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. But apparently that wasn't enough because I ordered some potato salad to go so I could top off tomorrow's lunch. Because priorities. I left Mama J's full as a tick. Came home. And promptly took a several-hour nap. That is how good this meal was. Mama J's, you have officially set the bar. 7 out of 5 stars. I am going back. And, quite frankly, they are going to get sick of seeing me. Richmond, if you haven't been to Mama J's, what are you waiting for?

We had the pleasure of visiting Croaker's Spot while in town from Northern Virginia and stopped in…read morefor an early dinner. From the moment we arrived, we had an amazing experience. We were warmly greeted by a lovely hostess who ended up being our server, Jamila, I hope I spelled her name correctly. She was truly one of the best servers we have had in a long time: attentive, friendly, knowledgeable, and full of great suggestions. She checked on us often without being intrusive, and her customer service was exceptional. When I mentioned that I did not care for the mac and cheese, Jamila immediately offered recommendations for another side. To our surprise, the chef even came out personally to apologize and brought me a fresh serving of mac and cheese. The replacement was much better! That is what I call going above and beyond to make customers happy. The food was delicious. I ordered the catfish dinner with collard greens and candied yams. The catfish was moist, fried to perfection, and seasoned just right. The collard greens were flavorful and well seasoned, while the candied yams reminded me of my grandmother's homemade yams sweet, comforting, and absolutely delicious. The portions are huge, so you definitely will not leave hungry. Between the wonderful hospitality, outstanding service from Jamila, and amazing food, Croaker's Spot gave us a memorable dining experience. We will definitely be back!

I've been coming to Croaker Spot for years! I went to VCU, so I'm definitely no stranger to this…read moreplace. I even remember when they were in their old, much smaller location before moving here over a decade ago. This time, I stopped in after a soccer game with a party of four, and we had a great time. I ordered the oyster dinner with yams, collard greens, mac and cheese, and cornbread, plus a sweet tea. Everything was delicious. The only slight miss was the collard greens, which were a little firmer than I prefer. They tasted like they maybe could have cooked a little longer, but it certainly wasn't enough to take away from the meal. One thing to keep in mind is that there is only ONE single-stall bathroom in the entire restaurant. Unfortunately, it was occupied every time I tried to use it for about the first hour we were there. I kept going back and forth checking because I had to pee SO bad! Obviously, Croaker Spot can't control how long someone stays in the bathroom, but having only one toilet for the entire restaurant can definitely become an issue when it's busy. Our service, however, was excellent. I unfortunately forgot our server's name, but she was attentive without being overbearing. She gave us space to eat and enjoy ourselves while still making sure we had everything we needed. She was also very down-to-earth and relatable, which made the experience even better. All in all, we had a great experience, and of course I'll be back. I've been coming to Croaker Spot for years, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. I also really want to check out the Petersburg location because I've heard it's much larger!

I really am the HUGEST advocate and supporter for our black owned businesses and restaurants; but I…read morethink that I'd be doing my community a disservice if I wrongly rate my food experience based solely on just that....I ordered two plates: baked turkey wings with baked Mac and cabbage and meatloaf with gravy and mashed potatoes and green beans. The turkey wings were flavorless. They tasted like they were baked with water and its juices that accumulated in the pan from cooking. The Mac and cheese did not own up to its namesake and the cabbage was salty but tender. So I'll give an A+ for texture. Next up is the meatloaf plate: where do I even begin? Let's start with the meat:absolutely dry. I am not certain as to why it was not cooked WITH the gravy, BUT it wasn't. Now the GRAVY: OMG! THICK and straight out of the McCormick, Pioneer or Great value, Kroger or whoever else makes powdered brown gravy mix. Literally mixed per instructions and boiled til thick and nothing else was done to it. No seasoning. No nothing. Listen, I use that pack gravy; but you gotta know what to do with that when you're using it. Mmkay?? Mashed potatoes were homemade which I love; but the dollop of the same meatloaf gravy was ladled on top; so I was unable to even enjoy that one thing on my plate that actually made sense.....the green beans: SALTY! And the cornbread that people had previously raved about that 'was moist and cake like' was dense and had not a drop of sweetness in it. The star of the show was the roll that came with my turkey wing plate. I just warmed that in the oven and threw a bit of honey butter on it because I literally could not consume that food. Our people really gotta do better when it comes to advertising 'soul food', because that comes with expectations that you will deliver a meal that is going to be of comfort and nostalgia. I was EXTREMELY displeased.

The food is okay, not great. They put too much paprika and parsley on everything. The dont have…read morecustomer service skills at all. Will not be returning.

We ordered on Door Dash…read more Overall, our food was pretty good. The batter for the Stuffed Catfish and 3 Piece Whiting was a bit salty but still flavorful. The Mac and cheese was dry but still tasty, yams and collards were on point. The Blueberry Lemon Glazed Cornbread was missing the glaze and had a bread pudding consistency, the Cabbage was a miss. Not sure if we'll order from this restaurant again when we're back in the area.

I ordered the Jerk Chicken Pasta which was really good! Very flavorful but on the spicier side,…read morewhich I appreciated. I also ordered the collards and mac-n-cheese, which were okay.

When people say "hidden gem," this is exactly what they're talking about. Tucked away in an…read moreunassuming shopping center, Gummy's Home Cooking is the kind of place you don't casually visit -- you make it a priority. This tasted like Sunday dinner at grandma's house, no exaggeration. The turkey wings were falling off the bone, deeply seasoned, and cooked with real care. The mac and cheese was rich and comforting, and the cabbage had that slow-cooked flavor that lets you know it wasn't rushed. This isn't just good -- it's soulful. Richmond, don't sleep on this spot.

My and family and I love Gummy's! When you walk inside the atmosphere is nice and clean when you…read morewalk in! The staff there (Yasmine especially) is so nice! On this recent trip I went with my mom and dad! Had the best turkey wings!!!

I went here with a large group of girls for lunch on a weekend. They had plenty of seating and we…read morewere sat upstairs. The restaurant was clean and nicely decorated. We had the option of getting brunch or the regular lunch menu. I ordered the OG chicken sandwich and it was amazing. The chicken was full of flavor and juicy and I liked the sauce that came on it. The only complaint I had was the service. The server wasn't bad but he also wasn't good. It almost felt like he did not want to come to our table. He forgot to put in the order for one item that my table asked for. We had to flag him down to ask for refills or things like the check.

Lillie Pearl was pretty good, but not good enough for me to rush back. I think they may have been…read morehaving an off night. Their famous short rib egg rolls were a bit burned on the outside so a bit dry on the inside. They did have a very good sauce served with them that pretty well covered the flaws. We also got the sweet potato corn bread. It was tasty, but fell apart just a little too easily. I had to eat it with a fork. The risotto that came with my duck leaned a little too far to the mushy side. The duck itself was really good. My niece had the salmon, and she had no complaints. She said she had the leftover last night as a sandwich and that it was delicious. Service was excellent. No notes.

They are back!! I am…read moreso happy. I have waited so long and I am grateful that they reopened. This family owned business has the best seafood in Richmond. The staff is so nice and approachable, always welcoming. The food is still good and I now eat eggplant, thanks to them. I will definitely be continuing to visit and order from them. Please note that it is still very limited seating and mainly a carry out.

Back like we never left. So glad to see this mom and pop spot return and to learn that they have…read morepassed it down to the next generation warms my heart. Great food and great community connection The service is personal as they remember their customers and adjust accordingly to your order. This is the place you need to be real soul... Food.

Amazing food, incredibly friendly staff, and just overall great experience. This is a small place…read morebut about 8-10 two seater tables, and a bar area. Easy music playing to listen to and the you can tell by the visitors coming in, this is a local place where people are people not profits and everyone is considered family. Come hungry, eat plenty, leave satisfied with plans to come again!

Came during the weekend the drinks and wings were horrible ! The wings tasted old super chewy I i…read morejust stopped eating them at that point ! The drinks were frozen ! So I didn't understand why then didn't taste good at all , I tried both flavors I wasn't a big fan ... bartender was nice but not as friendly as I would have hoped ! First time , I may go back and try someone else ! Everything else looked tasty from what I saw !

Their service was very sweet. Their food is sweet. I purchased their collard greens, green beans,…read moreand mac&cheese. The collard greens was very vinegary and sweet. The green beans were brothy and good tasting. The mac and cheese was bland and had no salt. I'm kinda upset cause I was craving some good southern mac. This was not what I thought I was going to receive.

Fried chicken and fried fish! I chose the 3 jumbo fried wings w/2 sides + citrus sweet tea…read more The wings were fantastic!! The Mac & cheese was good and although I liked the collards overall, they were sweet.

Food was great. It took a while for it be ready, even calling ahead. I wasn't disappointed with the…read moretaste of it all. Just be prepared to wait a bit.

Went there today for lunch food was decent but the lady reeked of alcohol…read more I Was very disappointed because my friend spoke so highly of the restaurant only for me to get there and have a bad experience.