Small, but delicious. The service was good. I would love to see the beer selection expanded, considering Richmond's current reputation for awesome craft beer. The entrees ordered by my friends appeared to be a hit. Myself, I ordered a red sauce pizza with sausage. It was awesome! Looking forward to the next visit. read more

Very good food. Happening atmosphere. A little loud for me but great if you are up for that excitement verses trying to catch up with someone. read more

Dinamo is an amazing spot. I religiously visit for the turkey or lamb sandwich. The lentil soup and cabbage bake during the winter is a good veggie option - or anytime. The tiramisu is the best in RVA. Period. The staff and management are also a big bowl of awesome. read more

Small, intimate, friendly. Wonderful food, a great time. Looking forward to going back!

Although I'm normally dubious about ordering seafood for takeaway, we decided to try it regardless since we love Edo Squid. To our surprise, everything was spectacular! The mussels in the white broth was the perfect mixture of garlic and other spices. They provided thick pieces of crunchy bread which we used to soak up the broth. We also got the polenta sausage- again, amazing-, mozzarella salad and the beet salad. Everything was delicious and we (my husband, father and I) finished everything without a single left-over. Highly recommend! read more

We dined here with 7 people. We ordered lots of apps and entrees and tried different bites. Everything was outstanding. The pizzas are crispy and have lots of good oil on them. The octopus salami and seafood salad are fresh and light starters. The squid with greens was garlicky and fantastic. The clams and mussels with linguini were on point. The sausage, beans and polenta were fabulous. The sausage is made in house and has broccolini and provolone incorporated into the sausage. The rockfish was cooked well, as was the soft shell crabs. We tried so many things on the menu and they were all terrific. I also had a bite of the dense chocolate cake - so yummy. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but don't let that deter you. I wish we lived closer so we could visit more often. read more

Amazing food and a great atmosphere. One of my favs in Richmond. If they have baked cabbage on the menu get it!

I stopped by this place on my way to the Richmond Forum on February 22, 2017. I was by myself, and as it was pretty busy, offered to sit at the bar. The wait was about 10 minutes. As I was waiting for the menu, I noticed the person on my right had on a jersey with the logo from my alma mater, and we started talking. He raved about the restaurant, but was there for a pickup. After he left, I began a conversation with the person on my left, who was in town for a bike race. Eventually, another couple sat down on my right. They had travelled from Short Pump (probably 15 miles) and said they were there a few times a month. I ordered the fish soup and crostini with salmon, which was listed as an appetizer. The four of us ending up talking to each other, and sharing tastes of food. My food was enough for a full meal, I ended up almost late to the Forum as I was having such a good time! I was encouraged by couple on my right to try the squid ink linguine, which I did when I brought my husband back the following Friday. I had the white sauce instead of red, and my husband had the rockfish, which was cooked to perfection. For a place that can probably only seat 35 people, it is outstanding. I will return for lunch next week! read more

5 stars for the squid ink pasta alone. I have tried other dishes, which have been good, but if anyone at the table orders the squid ink pasta you will be disappointed if you didn't also make that choice. Atmosphere is nice, although loud -- I would not recommend this spot if you are looking to have a quiet romantic night. Definitely better as a high-energy stop post-cocktails. My voice was actually a bit hoarse the morning after because I had to talk loudly in order for my date (seated just at the bar to my left) to hear me. As a result of its size, I wouldn't recommend going with a party of more than four. Will be back on many occasions! read more

Had dinner there with a friend last week. It was one of the best meals I have had in Richmond in a long time. Great service, great buzz.

I'm going to be having dreams about how good their white pizza is. Amazing. Fantastic. So delicious. Perfect amount of garlic and oregano and cheese and wow. Just wow. Can't believe I haven't tried this place sooner. Also, the clams and mussels in squid ink fettuccine was fantastic. read more

Dinamo's menu is almost identical (albeit smaller) to Edo's and Mamma Zu, but I'll choose this spot every time. Just like its sister restaurants, dishes are fresh, flavorful, hearty, and gigantically portioned. But what I like more about Dinamo is the space, which is certainly smaller, but feels more like a NYC transplant than a sibling of two Richmond institutions. Its not tough to get a seat on a weekday night, but on the weekend, call ahead for a reservation. And a little bonus, this place takes credit cards. read more

Came here with my friend for the first time and I LOVED IT. Being besties since high school, when we go out to eat, we automatically assume that we are going to share everything we order. Maybe she doesn't assume this, but I do. We were both sick, and neither one of us had ever had mazo ball soup before, so we got one to share. The broth was piping hot, and the mazo balls were so good. The soup was really simple and rustic with sliced carrots, but it was the perfect soup for my sore throat. We also got a white pizza with mushrooms which was thin, crispy, cheesy and garlicky. Obviously us being sick didn't affect our appetite because we also ordered the squid ink pasta with mussels in red sauce. I have never had squid ink pasta before but it was AMAZING with the perfectly seasoned sauce and the perfectly cooked mussels. Whenever I order mussels, there are always some little guys who haven't completely opened up or don't open up at all, and I always have to pick through them and chuck them to the side. All the mussels here were beautiful, perfectly cooked and were all open. We were both impressed that the cooks had taken the time to take out all the bad ones which probably took a lot of time when plating them. The food isn't presumptuous here. It's is all really rustic and simple but it is ALL DELICIOUS, perfectly seasoned, and comes out piping hot. PS the bread is killer. Super fresh, chewy and fun to dunk in olive oil and salt. I asked for seconds and my friend I probably killed half a loaf and sopped up a 1/4 of a bottle of olive oil. We made fun of the girls behind us who ordered salads and hadn't touched their bread, as we finished off our bread and longed for theirs. Their loss. If you're craving some crazy good, authentic Italian food, this place is a must try! read more

Dinamo is excellent. I enjoy the vibe, and the servers have been friendly and knowledgable. On the second visit, they already remembered us and greeted us as if we were regulars. Their pastas taste very homemade and pure and the flavors meld together perfectly. Though, honestly, the unlikely star here is the pizza. It RULES. It is very similar to 8 1/2 pizza, which was my favorite pizza in Richmond. I never thought I'd say this, but Dinamo's pizza might be better than 8 1/2's. It has become our go-to spot. read more

I went with a group of six people and for appetizers we got Crostini w/ chopped liver and Crostini w/ smoked whitefish salad. The Crostini w/ chopped liver was okay. I liked the Crostini w/ smoked whitefish salad more. We also got their Potato gnocchi, Calamari w/ squid ink fettucini, and Mussels w/ squid ink fettucine. They were all so yummy! The mussels were cooked just right and the serving size was pretty big. The potato gnocchi was amazing! Everyone left feeling happy and satisfied. read more

Until they came on the scene, their sister Italian restaurants were the best in town. Add Dinamo to the list. But it has advantages over Mama's and Edo's. The choices are fewer but the food is flawless and with my eyes closed I may have been in somewhere in the south of Italy. Perhaps its because there is more time for individual preparation. Like its sister restaurants, Dinamo offers fresh, exciting "home made tastes of Italy" and not contrived American Italian. Service could not be better and Maya runs a great show. It is obvious that the entire staff loves what they are doing. If you have an Eastern European background, try the Matzah Ball soup. Your grandmother could not do any better! Bravo to the very best in Richmond. read more

Great little place, love the costini with chopped liver and the provolone sausage with polenta and beans!

Great place for lunch. I've been here twice now. The first time I had the arugula and proscuitto sandwich up at the bar, and it was terrific. The second time I brought my wife and son, and we enjoyed several seafood choices. Overall it was very fresh and good. Service was what I like to call "Richmond Cool," but I really can't complain as everything came out fresh and tasty in striking and pleasant surroundings. I look forward to going there again soon. read more

I had dinner there this past Friday nite. I got the squid ink pasta which was good but some the calamari was a little rubbery. For the price of it the calamari should be nothing but perfection. So a little disappointed. Also don't like the menu, it gives no description of what's on it. Are waitress was very nice and will go back to give it another try. read more

Our party of 4 went here on Saturday night. Not very crowded when we arrived at about 6:30, but packed by the time we finished! The food was beyond good! Between us we had matzo ball soup, crostini with chopped liver, three of the pasta dishes, and squid with chard, plus salads. Everything was perfectly prepared and very tasty. The staff was friendly and helpful with explanations and suggestions. We were too full for dessert, but plan to go back and try them next time. The decor is fun, different and welcoming. Definitely try this one. read more

I visited Dinamo with a group of 4 for dinner. The service was good, the food was good, but nothing was really "great" for us. Nothing really stood out. For the price, I expected the food to be more thoughtful and better prepared. The meat and fish were slightly overcooked, the pasta was oily, the flavor combinations not imaginative. Don't get me wrong, it was a solid meal, but with so many better options at that price range (and below), I don't expect to be going back any time soon. read more

Lots of restaurants in Richmond, but Dinamo is a stand out! Delightful, delectable, delicious was our dining experience. Although it was a Mon. night and our foursome arrived at 5:30, the restaurant quickly filled. Warmly greeted by the hostess we were seated and immediately taken care of by our server. We ordered several unique appetizers which were not only attractively presented, but delicious and the large servings were filling enough for our meal. The warm, freshly made rosemary bread, lentil salad and white pizza were favorites. The chopped liver with rye bread plate was wiped clean! YUMMY sums up the menu items ordered by our group. Excellent service made the dining experience super! read more

I've been here twice so far, once for lunch and once for dinner. Both meals were excellent! I was dying to try the matzoh ball soup because I'd heard it was the real thing. It did not disappoint, with 3 melt in your mouth matzoh balls, each topped with a sprig of dill. Just like grandma's! Dinner was also yummy. My Italian friend and I shared gnocchi and a pasta in squid ink that were killer. read more

incredible food! love the chopped liver and clam chowder. entrees were out of this world. my favorite was the meal time closer - affogato! go there, get it, love it! read more

Maya is a cookie philosopher. The hamantaschen are some OG, grandma's recipe, generation to generation-type delicious. Those cookies might just win the James Beard award this year. :) The rest of the menu is likewise outstanding. But those cookies... read more

Delicious dinner with excellent service. Loved the seafood appetizer and the lamb ragu. Wish we would have had room for dessert. Will definitely return. read more

The wait at Mama Zu was too long so we decided to try Dinamo. Sat at the bar. Service was great. Eggs with tuna sauce- an all time favorite. Delicious except the sauce was slightly salty. Beet and fennel salad- huge salad with greens, enough for 3. Salad was a little overdressed for my taste. Wish I had ordered my staple, the peppers with buffala instead. Oh well. For entrees we had the tagliatelle with Gorgonzola and the mussels with squid ink fettuccine. The tagliatelle dish was again, slightly salty. I realize the Gorgonzola and pancetta add the saltiness but with the radicchio- it was just a little too much bitter/ salt. Still delicious, just couldn't eat a lot of it. The mussel dish was good- finished the whole plate. Overall great experience and delicious food. It's hard when you're favorite is Mama Zu- nothing else compares. I would go back to Dinamo. read more

This coffee-shop turned full-service restaurant is excellent. It only has a handful of tables so be sure to make a reservation. If you are looking for fresh, homemade pastas and pizzas, this is the place! I was not the biggest fan of the matzoh ball soup but then again, it may have been because it seemed a bit out of place on the menu and I had never tried it before. The rest of the meal was awesome though. We shared the red sauce pizza with mushrooms and anchovies and the black squid ink seafood pasta. Keep in mind that the anchovies are served minced on the pizza rather than whole making the flavor even stronger. We really enjoyed it though. The black squid ink seafood pasta was phenomenal. The pasta tasted so fresh, the seafood was cooked just right, and the red sauce was seasoned perfectly. I would go back to Dinamo just for this dish. I heard they also make gelato in house but we did not have any room at the end of our meal. I guess this just gives us yet another reason to go back! read more

Dinamo's food is fabulous. Think old school classic Italian. We had an 8:30 reservation tonight-party of two. When we arrived (on time) there wasn't a table available. Small space-packed Saturday night. There isn't a wait area. The bar was full and there was a table for four waiting at the other end of the restaurant so we stood by the front door. The hostess was very apologetic and kept us posted. She asked if we wanted a drink while we waited and after about 10 minutes brought over a plate of steaming hot white pizza squares (complementary) because we had to wait. We were very appreciative of this as we were very hungry. So about 15 minutes later a table for two opened up. We shared a bottle of wine $20 Italian red table wine. Since we had the pizza we skipped an app and each got a mixed green salad. Was cold and crisp with black olives, cucumbers, carrots, grape tomatoes. Poured our own olive oil and red vinegar. Bread was good with a crunchy crust. They were out of some specials by then but not the ones we wanted. Hubs got the brisket in red gravy with polenta which he LOVED and I got the ricotta gnocchi in bolonagse sauce -awesome. He got coffee which he said was great-they don't have decaf which bummed me out, but we shared a dessert-espresso chocolate cake with a scoop of caramel gelato-fabulous! Loved Dinamo-we will definitely return-it was worth the wait! read more

This is one of my all-time favorite dinner spots. I live in the greater D.C. area and will drive to Richmond to have a delicious, authentic dinner at Dinamo. Last time I was there, I had soft shell crab- incredible. The staff is great; always very interested in your dining experience, but not hovering. It's cozy and delightful- Dinamo never disappoints! read more

This is a great place. We had to wait about an hour for a table, on a Saturday, without a reservation, so that was pretty fair. The hostess was very accommodating and got us some drinks while we waited the last few minutes. She also gave us a complimentary tasting of the white pizza for having to wait so long. We enjoyed a long, late supper. Started with the mussels in red sauce and mozzarella with red peppers. Both were absolutely great. The star was the white pizza though! Oh My, a taste of toasted cheese. For our entrees we had the sausage/polenta/white beans, gnocchi with meat sauce, and squid/chard. The squid/chard was more of a shared appetizer, but was large enough for an entree. Honestly any plates on the menu are big enough to share. The gnocchi with sauce was great. the sausage had a lot of fennel which isn't my cup of tea, but the girl who ordered it loved and and I loved it except for that. The service was very attentive. The kitchen is open to the bar/restaurant, so it was very fun to watch the chef make all the food. The red sauce was exactly the same as that at Edo's and Mama Zu's which is sort of overdone. the food is so good, but each restaurant has basically the same menu. I do appreciate the scaled down menu here and the addition of pizza. I will definitely be back for the good food, service, and ambiance. read more

Excellent food and great service. Can't say much else as I am in a food coma. Mamma Zu white pizza along with the best rockfish I've had in a while. I somehow found room for the tiramisu which put me into this coma. Just go there, but it's a tiny place so reservations are probably a good idea! read more

The food was fantastic, the four of us shared appetizers and entrees and cleaned the plates. The deserts we polished off. The service was excellent. Thanks to Brad, Mya and Rachel (server) for a memorable dining experience. read more

Great place! It was busy and loud but the service was quick and the food was delicious. I had the lentil salad, which was large enough to constitute two meals. It was well seasoned and light on a hot summer evening. My husband had the gnocchi and loved it. For dessert, the little Rugelasch was a perfect end to my dinner and my husband loved his chocolate torte also. The waitress was sweet, kept my water glass full despite serving all the other tables in the restaurant all by herself, and served us quickly! The entire meal lasted 30 minutes! Yet, the waitress wasn't satisfied with her own performance and comped our desserts. We tipped her well! We will be back! Try it!! read more

So I've been in Richmond for 4 years. About to move out of state for a job in 3 weeks and I'm so upset I just discovered this place now. Hands down, best food in Richmond. Small place, but really great service and friendly staff. My wife and I sat at the bar, and ended up talking to the owner who was working. She was super awesome to the max. We got the lentil salad, which was phenomenal (the lettuce and tomatoes were very fresh) aswell as the chicken liver appetizer. Then my wife got the Tagliatelle bolognese which was to die for. I got the shrimp and calamari squid ink fettuccine which was incredible. Definitely coming back to this place at least one more time, probably twice before we move in a few weeks. read more

I went here last night with my husband and mother. By looking at the menu I didn't think I would like much, however we asked our waiter what each salad and half the courses were like and he was incredibly helpful and knowledgable!!!! We shared a bunch of different entrees and I loved each one way more than I thought. Everything was incredibly fresh and delicious and the staff was so awesome I would HIGHLY recommend this restaurant to anyone!!!! read more