First, the staff was a delight! Thank you to Chloe for being so helpful and friendly. The ambiance was beautiful! Felt as if I was in a cute country home. Drinks: Majority of the party enjoyed fresh lemonade while my boyfriend and I enjoyed cocktails. Me: Flight of the Bumblebees- this was a refreshing summer drink My boyfriend: Tiger's Eye. Perfect bourbon flavor Food: The cornbread was our least favorite, really dry and lacked taste. Fried oysters- these were divine! Lightly seasoned and fried well. The remoulade and house pickled carrots, pickles, and onions added a fresh touch to the dish. My dish: Pasta Bolognese. This was AMAZING! All of the flavors that you'd look for in a well prepared Bolognese. I was thoroughly pleased Other dishes: Special: Steak with glazed rainbow carrots and stringed beans. The steak had a little too much salt but it was prepared well and the rainbow carrots were amazing Chicken tenders and fries for the little one. They loved it lol Bone in pork chops: I was told that this was incredible from start to finish Overall, we had a great dining experience and appreciate the staff for accommodating our large party during a graduation celebration. read more

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I am trying to be fair in this review but am struggling to find any part of the experience that was good to offset the bad. Here's my best one - Great root beer. We had tried to make reservations for a group visiting from out state but were not allowed to by the reservation. Should have taken this as a sign that groups are clearly not wanted nor welcome when arriving. The staff tried everything they could to make it an unpleasant experience once they were assured of an automatic 20% gratuity. Petty things, such as forbidding the movement to another table out of the sun, when there were many other tables available. I left early after being chastised for loving a chair but the family decided to stay. They shared that the crappy service continues the entire time they stayed. Those that are reported that the food was fair at best. Not sure that this sorry excuse for service is a great business model. Perhaps it is saved especially for large groups. Either way it would appear that the just do not care. Stay away. read more

We attended a graduation celebration at Laura Lee's in Richmond and had a generally lovely experience. The space is bright and inviting, an open layout, a long exposed-brick bar, ample seating and a charming outdoor area with great vibes as soon as you walk in. Service was courteous and responsive: when the cornbread arrived stale and dry, the server promptly removed it and took it off the bill. Beyond that hiccup, the drinks (the Tiger's Eye and the Flight of the Bumblebee ) were excellent, the fried oysters were a standout starter, and entrees including the pasta Bolognese, steak special and bone-in pork chops were all very satisfying; the kid's chicken fingers and fries were a hit with our nephew. Overall, a very enjoyable spot to sit, relax and celebrate. read more

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Loved our meals. My friends were SO excited they had orange wine as well. You could tell the burger was fresh and formed each time which I truly appreciated. The fries reminded me of McDonald's and the Mac and cheese was homemade WITH homemade noodles as well. It was all great. Would stop back. read more

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I finally made my way to Laura Lee's and overall it was a really good experience with a few things that could've made it great. Food: 4/5 The food was definitely the star of the show. I ordered the shrimp & grits, which was described as Cajun BBQ but it leaned more to a seafood boil Cajun flavor to me. Still really good and well-seasoned, just not what I expected based on the description. We also had the French toast (not pictured because the presentation wasn't giving), but flavor-wise? It was actually really good. I just wish it came with more whipped cream, fruit, and powdered sugar to match the taste with a better visual. And the bacon? A win. The portion was big and cooked perfectly crispy but still flavorful. Ambiance: 5/5 The space is beautiful. Clean, aesthetic, and very much a "cute brunch spot" vibe. Definitely somewhere you can sit, relax, and enjoy your time. ‍ Service: 3/5 Service was okay. Our server was kind, but we did wish she explained the dishes a little better especially since some items didn't quite match their descriptions. Final Thoughts: I'd definitely come back for the food and ambiance alone. With a little more attention to presentation and more detailed service, this could easily be a 5-star experience. Great for a cute brunch date or catching up with friends read more

Laura Lee's - Shrimp & grits - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

One of those spots we keep coming back to. The menu is limited but always creative and interesting, and we've never been disappointed with anything we've ordered. Great presentation, perfect for a date night or dinner with friends. Add in the warm atmosphere and genuinely excellent service, it's easily one of our go‑to restaurants downtown. read more

This was my first time at Laura Lee's. We came on a weeknight and had a reservation for 5 people. The atmosphere inside the restaurant is nice and inviting. I had pretty high expectations given this restaurants reputation. I got the double cheeseburger. Size wise it was great and had plenty of protein. Flavor wise it was a bit lackluster. The burger wasn't very juicy and it didn't seem to be seasoned much. It came with kimchi mayo on it, but it was still pretty dry. I ordered my burger "with pink" but it came out a bit overcooked. I requested extra aioli in order to eat it. I subbed the mixed greens as my side which were fresh and well dressed. I ordered the pasta special to go. It was pretty good and they gave a large portion. I do wish there was more squash in it. I got the everything nice as a mocktail and it was perfectly balanced! I would come back for drinks one day. Not sure if I'd order any entrees. Someone in my group got the corn bread app which she shared with the table. The corn bread was delicious and not dry at all. The cubes were huge! The butter it came with was great too. Our server was nice, but also kind of short with us/rushed. Any time he came over to the table he ran away before we could even answer him. We felt very awkward. Definitely make sure you arrive a little early as parking can be a little difficult. I'll likely come back one more time to give it another shot, but sadly not very impressed with our experience. read more

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Sat on Laura Lee's lovely patio last night and enjoyed their Date Night Pasta dinner. The salad with watermelon dressing was amazing, the pasta entree was delicious and generous, and the wine complemented perfectly. All for $50! Will definitely return! read more

*Restaurant week review* I heard great things about Laura Lee's and was excited to try it out during restaurant week. They had few reservations available but we managed to grab 8pm on a Saturday. When we arrived, a table wasn't available and had to wait for a party to leave. The restaurant is quaint so that was understandable. They have a bar to get drinks in the meantime. We went with the steamed mussels, fried shrimp, New York strip, and pumpkin cake. Most of it was good but the portions were very small. The fried shrimp was the best dish we had. The steamed mussels were quite salty. The New York strip was more rare than expected since we ordered medium. We were disappointed that it was only three strips with maybe four fingerling potatoes and brussel sprouts. Lastly, the pumpkin cake was the smallest slice I've ever been served in a restaurant (picture does it more justice) and while delicious, it was crumbly. We left pretty disappointed and hungry and had to stop elsewhere for food. Perhaps our experience was specific to restaurant week. read more

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Outstanding meal I had the pork chop and my wife had the pasta bolognese and the service was great. The whole place was very unique and had a nice patio. 4 stars instead of 5 because the appetizer was meh. We got the Buratta cheese plate. I think we were expecting more from it. The castelvetrano olives were just small slices and when it said country ham vinaigrette we thought maybe there would be ham? Maybe our bad. Anyway well worth a look. read more

Excellent cocktails, food and service. I had the pork chops and my wife made a meal out of the "plate" which is an appetizer but plenty for a meal. Both were delicious. Their signature cocktails are excellent. read more

Always a great experience with waitstaff & food! Bar seating is just as good as main room seating! GO ANYTIME read more

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Yum! We ordered the burrata to start, I had the pork chop, then we had a bananas foster cheesecake for dessert. Every bite was well seasoned, thoughtful, and delicious. The interior of this place and decor is so beautiful. Great little first date spot. I will say, parking is a bit confusing because of the area so I don't come here as often as I would like but I should get over it because I'm missing out! Really great food. read more

Laura Lee's - Bone-In Pork Chop - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

If you haven't been... Go. There's a reason that the restaurants in this little family (Garnett's, the Roosevelt) pop up on so many Best Of lists, and this pretty little spot is no exception. A soothing little oasis in the midst of concrete and traffic, I love stepping inside and just taking a deep breath and relaxing. I've been going here for years, now. Brunch with friends, mom's birthday, dinner with grandma, the occasional date- they have food to accommodate various plates and allergies, and drinks to match. The barkeep doesn't shy away from having fun, and makes excellent non-alcoholic options as well. When it's busy carpooling can be a good idea since parking isn't exactly plentiful, but it's absolutely worth it. read more

We dined at Laura Lee's during a snowstorm in Richmond and the restaurant was decently packed. The restaurant is located in Forest Hill so parking may be tough, but still worth checking out. Due to the snowstorm, the wait times were a bit longer; however the indoor atmosphere was fun and the views were perfect as it's almost like an indoor garage. We were able to see the snow fall through the garage windows, and had a fun date night at Laura Lee's - definitely check out their daily deals! read more

Laura Lee's - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Laura Lee's has to be one of my top restaurants in Richmond. I love everything about the food, the service, and the atmosphere. They have simple dishes that are elevated by quality and downright deliciousness. Their drink selection (mocktail and cocktails) are ones you don't want to miss. Ryan, one of my favorite bartenders there, makes some of the best drinks. The bar itself is absolutely stunning. The interior design here deserves an additional star itself. I'm surprised it's taken me this long to write a review for this local gem, but here it is: I love Laura Lee's and would recommend it to anyone in Richmond. They have a lot of gluten-free options and are very mindful of any food restrictions one may have. If you're looking for recs, I always (ALWAYS) order the milk bread and fried oysters. I wasn't a fried oyster girlie until I had Laura Lee's fried oysters. They're simple, crunchy, and still the perfect amount of fresh watery inside. The milk bread is what I imagine eating bread from a cloud village must be like. The whipped honey butter that comes with it is something I'd order alone too. I change up my entrees when I come here and have loved pretty much everything I've ordered here. On my recent visit, my mom and I got the branzino special. She isn't a cheese grit person, so they kindly switched it to these delicious brussel sprouts. Parker was our server, and he is incredibly kind, charming, and helpful. They have two gender neutral restrooms here. There is free street parking out front and nearby. If you're looking for incredible food, in a beautiful environment, with wonderful people, Laura Lee's is the perfect spot for you. read more

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Cute place with nice staff members. They didn't have strawberries so I couldn't get a strawberry lemon drop. Regular lemon drop was fine and effective. Bit of a wait for food and drinks. Coworkers enjoyed the swordfish and the vegetables . The chicken sandwich was good. Burger was good-relatively sizeable. Chicken wings were the only things that weren't good in our opinion. read more

Laura Lee's - Lemon drop - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Cute place but it's a bit out of nowhere. It was quiet when we went at a weeknight. Only two tables were dining there. The service is great, the waiter is very patient and friendly. The food is good but not great. I had the seared scallops, the scallops are big but I don't get why it sits on the bowl of soup, and the soup is also too salty. I might come back to try other dishes, the menu looks pretty interesting. read more

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I ate here on their meatless Monday night for dinner. We thoroughly enjoyed the fresh, farm sourced vegetables. I was worried wouldn't have enough vegetarian or vegan options if we didn't dine on Monday but that was not the case. Has ample appetizers that are vegetarian or can be made vegetarian as well as atleast two menu options for vegetarians everyday. On mondays has extra option/specials. I would recommend and go again. It's like an upscale neighborhood place. Only negative thing is no parking. read more

Laura Lee's - Happy hour at Laura lees - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

PARKING: Not the best parking available from what I can see. Street parking mostly. SERVICE: We had a very friendly waitress. Gave informed suggestions and checked on us frequently. FOOD: MILK BREAD WITH WHIPPED HONEY BUTTER Bread was pretty good. Had a slightly harder exterior and fluffy on the inside. Would have liked the butter to be softer. BISTRO STEAK WITH ROASTED POTATOES AND CARROTS My steak was a little disappointing. It had a lot of fat that should have been trimmed prior. The carrots were surprisingly the best part. However they were seasoned was perfect and the house sauce was delicious. DOUBLE CHEESEBURGER WITH SHREDDED LETTUCE AND KIMCHI MAYO My companion said that the burger was decent. The kimchi mayo was the waitress's main selling point but the flavor was a bit muted. It wasn't a bad burger but nothing to write time about. BLACKBERRY FROZEN COCKTAIL This was the special frozen cocktail of the day so it wasn't on the menu. I'm not a big blackberry fan but this was changed my mind for sure. All in all, the food was okay but nothing worth a repeat visit. read more

Going to Laura Lee's was such a fun time and delicious dinner. I love that the menu has a good variety but not so many choices that it's overwhelming. They're many weekly specials that they offer during the week. Our server was so good about sharing the specials and menu changes for the evening. The Meatless Monday that they prepared sounded delicious. I opted for the brussel sprouts small plate and they were cooked to perfection & so flavorful. My friend also loved the Soup du Jour, Butternut Squash, and the pasta dish. Everything came out quickly and was so fresh. The restaurant is so cute inside. It's all wood with gold, white, and teal accents. I particularly adored the fun artwork on the walls. Do you are able to have the best ambiance for your delish meal! read more

Laura Lee's - Brussel Sprouts - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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I have been for both weekend brunch and a dinner, and have enjoyed both very much. The food was delicious, service excellent, and super cute vibes in the restaurant. I loved the mussels, the cocktails, the scallops dish - so flavorful! read more

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Laura Lee's is a Richmond staple and rightfully so! The hues of brown and green and rustic decor add to the overall aesthetic of the restaurant. I met my best-friend here for an after work dinner and the food was delicious. We started off with the milk bread and fish dip. The-milk bread was so good that we couldn't stop eating it! It was crusty and moist. The fish dip reminded me of a cold salmon dip and it was great! We ordered it separately in lieu of the "plate" appetizer. For an entree I ordered the catfish and it was fried to perfection. The slaw and remoulade added the perfect touch. The overall service was great. The waitstaff was attentive and friendly. read more

Laura Lee's - Laura Lees - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Enjoyed this place for a late weekday supper before Thanksgiving. Our table was around 8pm and the place had started emptying out, so definitely come a bit earlier for a more lively scene. The ambiance is quite pleasant, spread across two large rooms. My guess is the one without the bar is quieter generally, but you could be happy with either side. Service was very attentive and quick - our fantastic waiter checked up on us frequently so we needed for nothing. Food really good. I enjoyed a nice beet salad and some raw oysters, followed by the butternut squash soup as my main (wasn't that hungry). Everything tasted incredibly fresh, especially my soup. Tried the duck and crab cake from two friends which were also quite delicious. Skipped dessert though it had some wonderful looking choices. Overall really nice experience. read more

Laura Lee's - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Two of us went here for the first time to grab lunch which included three items: an appetizer, a double cheeseburger and a sparse spring greens salad (greens with a few pickled carrots & onions). We only had water to drink and our total bill (including tip) was a whopping $59! Won't go back to be gouged like that again. The service was good and the food was pleasant but dang it was expensive. read more

Cute place, but the portions for dinner are entirely too small for what you pay for. The rockfish, and acorn squash entrees were more like sides. We sadly left hungry after paying over $100 for the bill (with wine). Overall this place is nice, and we would probably go back to try brunch only. read more

The food and atmosphere were both very good, but at least one of their servers has a habit that I REALLY don't like: removing what looks to them like an empty cocktail glass without asking. I prefer to nurse most of my cocktails until the ice has melted and I've gotten every drop of liquid out of the experience, especially at $15 per cocktail. I get incredibly annoyed when it is taken from in front of me without so much as a by-your-leave. Costs them a star. read more

Went here for a friends 21st birthday and ended up pretty disappointed. The food was absolutely delicious but service was lacking. After being seated it took our server 20 minutes to take our entree order. Unfortunately, they neglected to put our appetizer in to which we reminded them and it was clear they had no recollection of that order. When my friend tried to order her first drink as a 21 year old, she was met with a sly comment and had her ID checked once again by the host. The server checked on us maybe 3 times in the hour and a half stay and did not seem to be interested in any special occasion we had going on. As I currently work in the service industry, I know that my team, and myself, would not tolerate such an experience. I would recommend for the food but not the service we received. read more

I always forget how much I love Laura Lees! Came here to celebrate our anniversary and everything from the service to the food was outstanding. The new patio area is absolutely gorgeous and adds so much more seating. They also have heaters out there for chillier days/nights. As always, the food was delicious...my husband loves a really crispy wing and said these were the best he's had. I loved the ranch rub and the fact they don't put the Buffalo sauce on the wing (I'm not a fan). Quality double cheeseburger and so many fries they were literally falling off my plate. It wasn't busy (which I always thought there was always such a wait) so don't hesitate to go soon! read more

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Went here for a Saturday brunch. Two things about the brunch menu: the prices are pretty high for how small the portions are and there are just not a lot of options. The biscuits and gravy were pretty good and the mimosa was tasty (although very heavy on the orange juice). It did take me 20+ minutes to get a mimosa which was rough, everyone at my table was done eating before I got the drink. The server was apologetic but it was still frustrating as they were not very busy and I didn't see any reason for such a delay for a glass of champagne and OJ. Overall it was fine but I wouldn't go out of my way to come back for brunch. read more

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Best Muscles of my life! Such a delicious broth with them. Got the pasta bolognese which has a pleasantly surprising spice level. Also a pretty quality selection of alcohol. read more

Laura Lee's - Steamed scallops - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Visited for anniversary while in town based on reviews but this one's another Yelp dud. Ordered sparkling Cremant & day's special sparkling wine, the Cremant was old & flat. Ordered mussels appetizer to share, wife got french toast & breakfast hash for me. Mussels were great, fench toast nothing to write home about & the breakfast hash was waaay too salty that I couldnt continue eating. Told the waitress it was too salty & she couldnt care less. Definitely not worth the $$$ nor the drive from hotel. What a disappointment... perhaps their dinner is better but looks like owner's not around to keep on top of things bc quality control is missing. read more

If you are looking for a very cute place to have brunch or a meal, especially for a group of girls, or a bachelorette party, this is your place. Laura Lee's is quaint on the outside and chic and modern on the inside. The atmosphere screams "betches who brunch" and is great for photos. I came here for a lunch date after searching around for a cute brunch spot in downtown Richmond. Our server was attentive, and the drinks and food we're good. No complaints, but nothing that blew things out of the water. Overall, this place did not disappoint, especially if you're looking for bright, sleek, and cute vibes read more

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I'm going to keep this brief. Just go see for yourself!!! I gave it 5 stars! Trust and believe that was for a good reason! read more

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We've been here multiple times. Really wanted to like it - nice atmosphere, good service, nicely decorated etc. The food is just so bland and off-putting. read more

An exceptional evening! Beautiful restaurant. Excellent food and service. Steak was cooked perfectly. Generous portions. Soup was savory. Whipped feta appetizer was amazing! Delightful staff and cozy spot. We'll be back! read more

We went for restaurant week and was impressed! Appetizers and entree was good but the best part was the apple caramel cake. That cake was SO good. read more

Laura Lee's - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Seems like a nice place to linger over a meal. But I'll never know for sure as I was treated very rudely. I sat at the bar and ordered two entrees from the bartender for take-away. After waiting 10,+ minutes I was approached by someone else and told they were not going to provide the meals I'd ordered because "we're busy at the moment." This person's manner was very abrupt and on the verge of confrontational. I'll grant they were busy but not jammed up; there were several empty tables and they were still seating incoming customers. As I said, this looks like an attractive place. But if this is the way they treat all their customers they won't last long. read more

Great service and good. Our reservation was for 7:30 p.m. and we were shown directly to our table. Dishes ordered: Burrata appetizer Broccoli side Steak Double burger Carbonara One more, I forget. I could eat the burrata appetizer for a week straight and still want more. Dinner was delicious. Know the restaurant is not the quietest - but it was not so boisterous as to be disruptive. We look forward to enjoying again! read more

Laura Lee's is one of my ten out of ten. Excellent food and service. I like the privacy of the booths especially when it gets full because it can be pretty loud. We had oysters, mussels and gazpacho for appetizers, all were delicious. My boyfriend thinks they have the best mussels in Richmond and the oysters are some of the best too. Everyone loved their dinner, I had the fish and it was perfectly cooked, very tasty. Highly recommend Laura Lee's. read more

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