Fantastic cocktails, great service, delicious food, fun & cozy atmosphere. Highly recommend.

The food and cocktails were amazing! Wonderful dining experience and excellent service. We were greeted by owner Kendra Feather on our arrival. Our waitress was very personable and knowledgeable. We went for my boyfriends birthday and they even brought out dessert with a candle which was very sweet! We will definitely be back again soon! Thank you, Laura Lees! read more

The atmosphere is fresh and bright. The service is outstanding and the food melts in your mouth. We can't wait to go again.

I got reservations for my wife and I to celebrate her birthday evening and it was a great choice. I had the steak special which was a hanger steak cut and cooked perfect. My steak was medium and was complimented with grilled bok choy greens along fried polenta cakes. The plate was dressed with a Dijon mustard sauce which was tangy sweet surprise that fit well with the plate's trio of delicious food. My wife had the chef's special of the night which was soft shell crab with pork shoulder on a delicious bed of the tastiest potato salad. The potato salad was a welcomed tasty surprise for my wife because she is that person who gives that side eye rolling look when offered potato salad that isn't hers, or those matriarchal family members who have found the secret of slap yo mama n da face good potato salad. The cocktails were great. I had the It's Showtime: Tito's vodka, Canton Ginger, Lemon, Vinegar, Sugar, and Beet juice $10. My wife had the Guerrilla Gardener: Citadelle Gin, Aperol, St. Germaine Elderflower, Sage, and Lemon $12. We laughed because my drink had the girlie straw and hers didn't but both drinks were outstanding. For dessert we shared a slice of Coconut cake that was moist and delicious to cap off a wonderful evening. We dined in the garden outside and it was a perfect setting for our dining experience. read more

OMG!! SOOOOOOOOO YUMMY! We were seated right away and ordered the fried oysters and wild mushroom polenta appetizers. Both were fantastic. Then we had the mountain trout entree and broccolini side. Again, fantastic! Perfect flavor combinations and sizeable portions. Very good, well-priced, high quality dishes. Will return! Waitress was great. read more

Great new restaurant addition to our Southside neighborhood. Really enjoyed the wine, appetizers and the snapper. The service was excellent. Will be back soon. Then a quick stroll into NEST next door for some lovely items. Is it too early to shop for stocking stuffers? read more

My husband and I had dinner at Laura Lee's last Friday and it was wonderful. Kacie serves up her signature cocktails at the bar and Michael makes sure the front of the house is in order. All that service is great.....but often a place has good service and the food isn't quite as good. That is not the case here. The wine list is great and reasonably priced and the menu was such that it was hard to decide on what to get. We shared a salad and polenta special as our appetizer and my husband had the crab entree and I had the ham and cider sausage. Everything met or exceeded our expectations. read more

Relaxed and unfussy, quick and friendly service and excellent food at reasonable prices-Laura Lee's is a hit in my book! The menu is creative yet comforting and makes you want to order one of everything. read more

We had a great dinner. Loved the bright cheerful dining area. Good service. The soup of the day, corn and crab chowder with pickled ramps was totally delicious. I would be back just for the soup. Pasta bolognese and steak salad were tasty. Really enjoyed the different greens in the salad. We will definitely be back. read more

Very good food, pleasant service and nice atmosphere. Slightly noisy with a full room which prompted the 4 start rating.

This place is fantastic! A cozy neighborhood feel, lovely art, knowledgeable, friendly wait staff who were spot on with their recommendations. Creative cocktail menu and the food was innovative with just the right portions. One of my new favs in Richmond. read more

Very cute space, excellent service. The menu is interesting-- loved the beet and the asparagus appetizers -- and the cocktails are good. One of my favorite spots in Richmond. read more

Food was excellent. Wine choices although limited were very good. Service was friendly and the food was served promptly. The only downsize for me was that the noise level was too loud. read more

Richmond Restaurant Week. My only regret is that I was so busy enjoying my food (and that of my husband and friends!) that I forgot to take pictures! Although everything was tasty and beautifully plated, the Mascarpone polenta, asparagus, corn, fried egg and pea shoots appetizer was so so amazing that I would like to go back and eat that as my main course! I think variations of this are on their regular menu and I'm anxious to try them. My entree had a delicious blend of Mediterranean flavors: Mountain trout, fried chickpeas, olives, capers, roasted red peppers and tzatziki sauce. Yum! We tried all three of the dessert options: chocolate turtle cheesecake, peanut butter pie with whipped cream and my personal favorite, the strawberry rhubarb crumble with whipped cream! Unique cocktails and a nice wine list along with a friendly waitstaff are additional perks that will definitely have us going back soon. read more

We went to Laura Lee's for restaurant week to try it out. They offer a nice variety of dishes, both small and large plates. Our server, Miriam, was pleasant and attentive. It was a bit warm, but when they opened up the garage door there was some good air flow and it cooled down. To a person, the appetizers, entrées, and desserts were enjoyed. Smart of them to participate in restaurant week as it provided a nice introduction. We will be back. read more

Hip new place. First dining experience here and pleasantly surprised. Wings were awesome. Double cheeseburger prepared on a flat top. Juicy and very tasty fresh meat. Served with mixed fresh greens with dressing. Can't wait to go back. Soon. read more

I took my out-of-town brother here because I wanted to make sure he had an enjoyable meal with me during his short visit. His crab cakes were literally burnt and dry. The potatoes were not edible because they had been so overcooked. While he enjoyed his appetizer and dessert, he couldn't even eat his entree. There is no excuse for this lack of quality control. Next time a relative is in town, we will visit a restaurant that has consistently good food instead. Perhaps this place has been a victim of its own success? read more

Sunday brunch and the kitchen was way too free with the salt. Nice place, but I literal needed scrape the salt from my 2 scrambled eggs. Two others at the table enjoyed the pancakes and the pork, the fourth thought the kitchen had gone wild with the salt on the salad. We have had dinner here before and it was nice, perhaps I should have sent the eggs back, but then I have never sent anything back. read more

Food and service were excellent. I highly recommend the vegetarian pasta, made with local veggies.

The food and service were fabulous. The entrees feature an interesting mix of meat, veggies, and grains that are different that expected. The atmosphere is good and the seats are comfortable. Because of the size, it can get a bit loud inside but otherwise it is good. I recommend it. read more

Our entire experience at Laura Lee's was A++. Michael and the staff are very gracious and so thoughtful, plus our dinners were superb. I had the crab cakes which were huge, with big chunks of crab meat and delicious. Everyone at the table raved about their entrees. The atmosphere is comfortably chic and we all agreed after dinner this was our new favorite restaurant in Richmond. read more

The food is off the chain delicious and the atmosphere is so enjoyable, especially when the overhead door is open. And one cannot forget to mention the adorable red bearded Michael, he definitely adds to the experience! If you haven't been to Laura Lee's, you must head over to Semmes Ave to give this place a try. read more

My family went to Laura Lee's on Mothers Day for brunch. It was the perfect spot to celebrate! I loved the open feel of the restaurant as well as the friendly staff. Two of us ordered sausage gravy on biscuits with soft eggs. The other three ordered the burger and fries . All of us were quite satisfied with the quality of the meal. We all would have liked slightly larger portions however. An added bonus to the meal was the spicy Bloody Mary. We look forward to returning for dinner. read more

I came here for restaurant week, and I would definitely come back. The food was great. There was a good balance of typical food (e.g., steak, chicken, fish), but then it would be paired with something you don't find as often (e.g., fried chickpeas, olives, beet salad). The atmosphere was nice and cute, with the garage style doors that make the restaurant open air. I will say that the light above us kept browning out, which was a little annoying. Everyone was nice and took care of all our needs. The service was a little bit slow, but that's probably because 1) it's restaurant week and 2) we had a party of 6 that got sat at 9pm when they closed at 10. (As a former server, I hate being those people who make such late reservations, but it was the only time available for a party of our size since it's restaurant week.) Overall, I recommend Laura Lee's and would return. read more

A very nice neighborhood restaurant gem. Went their for brunch, the dining area filled up quickly, however the service was very good along with the food. Plan to go back soon for dinner. read more

The whole experience was delightful. The waitstaff was extremely attentive & knowledgable about the menu. The food was excellent. The place has a good vibe. We will be back often. read more

I made a reservation for brunch through yelp knowing that the restaurant has been popular and busy. My reservation was for half hour after they open and it wasn't super busy yet. No one really greeted me and I waited about five minutes for someone to come over to seat me. They assumed I was sitting at the bar but the entrance and check in is right at the bar so that's the only place you would wait. Our food arrived pretty quickly but none of it was hot. Everything we ate tasted really good but I'd prefer it to take a little longer than come out fast and not hot. One person in our party is GF so she opted out of the bun on the burger but didn't get the tomato marmalade that in my opinion made the burger. We also had a hard time getting our server to come back for several things (including asking if we could get her the tomato marmalade). I'd like to go back for dinner but definitely think they could work on a few things. read more

Every person we dealt with was delightful. Menu was just different enough to make decisions hard. The oyster appetizer was fabulous and large enough for 3. So large that my friend and I each chose another appetizer for our meal. Her mussels were in a delicious broth and my burratta (sp?) with beets & arugula was light & lovely. Good friends, good wine, good food, good service....doesn't get much better than that. read more

The fried oysters are incredible as are the scallops and trout. Our group of five had two entrees, several small plates and salads plus a cheese plate. Everyone enjoyed what they ordered very much. Desserts were also wonderful - not too large. The service was superb, the atmosphere warm and the wine excellent. Our only negative observation was about the noise. It was hard to hold a conversation once the house was full. Would definitely go back, but early before the crowd, so we can hear each other. read more

The food is absolutely fantastic, I highly recommend going there for brunch and having sausage gravy over biscuits - it was mind blowing. This was our second time there, the first being the week they opened, the second was yesterday. The first time service was pretty spotty and we chalked it up to being new, figuring out the kinks, &c. However, months later, the service was still impressively slow. Our waitress was nice, and the place wasn't very crowded, but it took five minutes for our dining companions to receive cream for their coffee. That's really the only drawback to this delicious south side eatery. Highly recommend for patient patrons! read more

Had a delightful dinner here. Gorgeous little spot with wonderful attention to decor, ambience, service, and hospitality. Highly recommend a reservation. Started with drinks at the bar before dinner. Had burrata/grape/beet salad and pork belly apps, along with duck and pork shoulder entrees. Everything was delicious however pork shoulder entree with grits was a bit too salty for my taste. read more

We have been here for both brunch and dinner. This place is excellent. The staff is super friendly whether you are with kids or without, the atmosphere is great, the drinks are AMAZING and the food is reasonably priced and very tasty! Highly recommend! read more

Love this place! The staff couldn't be friendlier and the food is fantastic. Very approachable but also inventive and interesting. The decor is soooo cute. The exposed brick and ferns are great. We waited only about 10 minutes on a busy night. They made every effort to seat us as quickly as possible. Next time I won't make the mistake of not making a reservation! This is a great neighborhood hang out and a nice destination restaurant. read more

We thoroughly enjoyed our meal at Laura Lee's. The polenta dish was superb. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. I look forward to a return visit! read more

Delicious food (with GF options!), great drinks, friendly service, accessible prices, lovely atmosphere. Southside win!!

Lovely!! Food was wonderful, served in a timely manner, drinks were excellent, atmosphere was warm and inviting, a little noisy for one of our older dinning companions, fine for us, overall a smashing success. Waitress, host and servers were excellent. read more

Another Kendra Feather gem! We live up the street from Garnett's and work around the corner from Ipanema, so we were very excited to try Laura Lee's. The atmosphere and decor have been prettied up from the somewhat dreary White Horse, with better lighting (apart from an electrical glitch), warmer colors and nice touches like table flowers. There's a good selection of draft beers and the draft wines are served in generous 8 oz. carafes at very reasonable prices. We didn't try any of the cocktails this time, but they sound and look great. Our party of four shared the polenta appetizer that was absolutely lip smacking and the beet and goat cheese salad with an excellent dressing. For entrees we tried the trout, hangar steak, rotini pasta and arctic char. All were ample, nicely presented and so delicious that we all cleaned our plates. Unfortunately, we had to skip dessert because we were running late for a concert. Next time... read more

I've been wanting to love this place since it opened, but I felt a little underwhelmed the first time I tried it. We decided to give it a second go around for Fall 2017 Richmond Restaurant Week. We had the following: General Tso's wings with celery and ranch; Arugula, apple, fennel, smoked bluefish salad with quince yogurt; Double cheeseburger with kimchi mayo and fries; Pork shank, Thanksgiving stuffing and fried brussel sprouts; Pumpkin cheesecake with candied pecans and whipped cream; and Raspberry coconut cake. The wings were large and crispy but didn't have the sweet heat we were craving. The salad was unexpectedly amazing. The burger was a delicious because most burgers are, but it was nothing special and overcooked as it seems all burgers these days are. The pork shank was delicious. It was filling and really hit all the right savory, Thanksgiving notes. I was between this and the catfish with crawdad grits. I saw the catfish come out and it was tiny, so I was immediately reassured I made the correct choice. The raspberry coconut cake was good, but not what I was expecting. It was a nicely crumbed, fairly moist and large piece of coconut cake with raspberry icing. The pumpkin cheesecake didn't really have the density or taste of cheesecake but was delicious and the better dessert of the two. Service was excellent. read more

Wanted to love it, as I live in the neighborhood and love eating out. First, the good: the space is gorgeous, cozy, and welcoming. Service was excellent, and my cocktail was divinely well-balanced. The negatives are partially colored by the fact that I am vegan (my partner is not). I read the menu before we went and saw that there would not be many options for me, but what was listed sounded enticing. Unfortunately when I ordered the tofu the waitress informed me they were out of that dish. I asked what the kitchen could do that was vegan, and she came back and said they could do the tofu but with quinoa instead of somen noodles. It was a poor pairing that made for a very dry dish, and I am certain the noodles would have been better. My partner ordered the pasta with butternut squash, which he said was tasty enough but nothing special. It was listed as a large plate but it was an extremely scant portion so he was still hungry afterward. Despite the disappointments I was looking forward to dessert, as the menu listed a vegan chocolate cake. However, after I ordered it the waitress returned to tell me it wasn't actually vegan. Given that Kendra Feather also owns Ipanema I had hoped for a somewhat more vegan-friendly place, but I will be in no hurry to return. read more