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    Lillie Pearl

    4.5 (772 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

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    LILLIE PEARL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
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    Intimate
    Classy

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    Recommended Reviews - Lillie Pearl

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    Mac and Cheese
    Jason F.

    THE GOOD:Heard a lot about this place before visiting and it did not disappoint. Location, Vibe, and food were on point. Recommend making a reservation. Started with the Brussel sprouts, they were amazing, had some Asian fusion sauces going on they didn't stand a chance. Main course I had the shrimp and grits with a side of Mac and Cheese. Bruh that Mac was bussssssinn. It was simple but so good. The shrimp and grits were extremely creamy, tons of flavor, I prolly gained 2 pounds with all the cream and butter in it. My wife had the beef short rib with collard greens. Very solid dish. THE BAD: We had a tiny table and were sitting extra close to the other patrons in the restaurant, food was a bit on the pricey side, and drinks as well. THE UGLY: Man this food put me in a damn COMA. We had plans of having dinner and then. A night out on the town, but my eyes got heavy and I couldn't move, we hopped in a Lyft and went back to the room. Don't eat here unless you ready to go to bed! Check this place out if you are in town.

    Short Rib Breakfast Burrito
    Ryan C.

    Wanted a good brunch before we left Richmond and the menu here looked pretty solid. Reservation was easy to book shortly before opening. Parking was kind of a nightmare, had to park a few blocks away from the restaurant but we made it on time. When we arrived, it wasn't too busy and we got seated upstairs. We were pretty hungry so we got right to ordering. We got 2 sweet teas, Cheddar Biscuits, the Short Rib Burrito, and Dad's Breakfast Sandwich. The biscuits were cheesy and buttery, went well with the jam. The breakfast sandwich was pretty hefty and good amount of eggs and cheese. The burrito wasn't bad, pretty big portion and my wife only had about half. Tea was as you would expect for sweet tea but still refreshing. By the time we were finishing up, the restaurant was packed so we got pretty lucky. Prices were decent for the amount of food and the music was solid. Seems like the place to do brunch with how busy it got too!

    Short Rib Egg Rolls
    Ara A.

    What an amazing restaurant, with excellent food, great service and so much history imbedded in every single dish. This place gives me Charleston vibes and I'm so glad we tried it. Our server Michael was so knowledgeable about the menu and personable, he made such great suggestions based on individual interests. I had the shrimp n grits which is just unbrand and it didn't disappoint. Others had the burger and we started with the egg rolls which was a favorite of everyone. Top notch food, it's a much try!

    The OG
    Kenyon E.

    I went here with a large group of girls for lunch on a weekend. They had plenty of seating and we were 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.

    My bill
    Cherlyn M.

    The service was mixed. Our waitress did a great job managing our tables. The manager "Jason"wasn't so helpful. The issues was my party of 7 wasn't able to sit together. They have a policy for large groups over 7 people to reserve the table for $80.00. The manager made a comment that some people don't want to pay the $80.00 fee. We asked the manager to resolve the seating issue. He told us "I will take the hit! Also the bathroom didn't have running water. The food was mediocre. The place was nicely decorated. We were seated upstairs. It's not likely that I will be back. One reason is I live in the DMV. The other reason is it's not that great. I really wanted to like this place. It's in the historic downtown area of Richmond.

    Short Rib Breakfast Burrito
    Devon P.

    The food here is delicious! The short rib burrito was amazing. The interior is lovely and the staff are very friendly. The cocktails can take a while to come though. The cinnamon rolls were so soft and flavorful. Overall, I will definitely come again.

    Mischa J.

    First off, it started storming when we left the hotel. We proceeded, because we know your rumor is you are delicious. Well, it's true. We circled around an hour trying to get a parking space. We walked right in, and was greeted by management. We so excited, we forgot, we needed a reservation? Thank God, he sat us anyway. We started with the top two items, sweet potato cornbread and short rib egg rolls. Yes Ma'am! They good. I asked for some of their peach bbq sauce to go with mine, that's a must. Cornbread was my favorite. I was so full. Bae got the salmon with a hoppin John and spinach mixture that accompanied. This stuff here good. I got the banana pudding to go. Man, don't slap nobody. And, the music, button dialed on feel good. Service on super attentive. If you near Richmond, Lillie Pearl is a must.

    This is a picture of everyone that participated in the event with their flowers and their food
    Anneke S.

    The food is ready. The service is wonderful. Ambiance was amazing. This was a wonderful place to have our 3rd Annual Flower Exchange.

    Restaurant is behind this square with statue of Maggie Lena Walker the first black bank president.
    Teresa H.

    Excellent find and recommendation from our hotel.. Family run restaurant with Lillie Pearl being the great grandmothers name. Hostess and server were super nice and very attentive. Menu has a Southern flare and we had lobster shrimp and grits. Plus some yummy raw oysters with fried saltines. Excellent all around. The wine selection offered a tasty Pinot Noir at a reasonable price too. Bathrooms are upstairs and I did not find an elevator, so would confirm that before going. If an issue on stairs.

    Top floor decor and portrait wall
    Mike ..

    Okay, this is a common thread in Richmond, but the parking around here is usually hit or miss. This time it was a miss, and luckily it was raining to boot. Fun, wet times lol We were greeted by a very busy pair of hostesses with smiles on their faces. We did not have a reservation and it was a Sunday. I noted going forward that I will call ahead and reserve seating because it was BU-SY. We were seated within minutes and our server was kind and knowledgeable, always speaking through a smile. The decor was something I would label as modern southern boutique style. The walls were exposed wood painted black with what I can only assume are family portraits adorning the top floor's back wall. (If you can sit upstairs, you should because that view!). The menu is well manicured and specific to a certain region (where bacon is the winner). All of the gravy was bacon gravy, so if your not a fan of bacon, stay away from brunch. Also note, if you don't get here early enough, they are going to sell out of the French toast (I just missed it). We did procure a skillet of their famous sweet potato cornbread with whipped honey butter. Sweet potato is not usually a favorite. However, oh my, does the sweet potato cornbread deliver the goods here. To quote an excerpt from my notebook, "it tastes like riding a golden wave of sweet, cinnamon-y goodness." The brunch items were delicious, but wow, that cornbread. I am going back for that. I enjoyed the biscuits and gravy (I prefer sausage, but bacon was okay). I got a side of sausage, and it was the smoked sausage kind so not pork patties as I'd hoped. My partner had the Country Boy Benedict. I took the bacon and bacon gravy home for later (she's not eating beef or pork rn). Not to be missed: The bathrooms here were exquisitely clean, even after a busy breakfast/brunch rush. I wouldn't eat off of the floor. However, it was odorless, and the interior appeared spotless.

    Lobster + Shrimp + Grits (only 3 shrivels of lobster)
    Jen R.

    Delicious southern food, friendly staff, not the best atmosphere. Duck breast was cooked to perfection. The lobster shrimp and grits was delicious. Unfortunately there were only the smallest hints of lobster, so felt a little cheated there. Seating could be more comfortable. Some of the chairs were hard wooden chairs and tabletops for 2 were super small. Our starter plates were also really grimy and we needed to be served new ones.

    Danielle W.

    We went to Lillie Pearl for Mother's Day weekend and visited the new location for the first time. We dined upstairs with a beautiful view and absolutely loved the new space. The music, atmosphere, and service were great as always. We had the soft shell crab on risotto, fried chicken with mac and cheese and collards, wedge salad, and some very tasty beverages. Everything was flavorful and well prepared. We've already been back since Mother's Day...but shhh! Can't wait to return AGAIN.

    Lobster + Shrimp + Grits

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    Lillie Pearl Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Lillie Pearl

    Is there live music here? If so, was it good?

    Not a whole lot of space for a whole live music setup so I would say no. I enjoy the dinner music on the speakers though.

    Is there street parking?

    Yes plenty

    What are happy hour specials and at what time?

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    The Emerald Lounge - Bar Area!

    The Emerald Lounge

    4.3(68 reviews)
    1.6 miChurch Hill
    $$

    My date and I had never been here before and had the most amazing experience. The drinks? 10/10…read more.. the service 10/10... the ambiance? 20/10!! The patio outside was really cute and cozy, the various seating areas is really great because you get a different feel from different angles. Our server recommended a Mexican lager.. it was SO GOOD! Try the lager!! My only gripe, the downtempo music changed to club music around 12am and got much louder. My date and I had to raise our voices to continue our conversation, we wanted to take our drinks outside but were told the patio closes at 11 :( We got lucky as the crowd was really thin but most weekends our server said it gets packed.. it's such a small place, I can't imagine what it would be like with 100 people inside!!

    Not sure what this place thinks they are but it's not a 2026 customer service award contestant…read more Open the door for an elderly couple to leave and was literally yelled at to close the door, like the hostess almost physically accosted me to close the door. Yes, it's hot outside but c'mon, will the entire clientale die within 30 seconds of heatstroke? Fine, no worries, let it pass, walk in just wanting to grab a quick drink at the bar, AGAIN, accosted by the hostess that DEMANDS that I go back to her command center to talk to her, whereupon she really happily informs me that I can't even stand at the bar to have a drink and she would reluctantly put me on the bar waiting list which would be a minimum of one and a half hours... to grab a drink at the bar. tldr; AVOID unless of course, you love being judged at a low rent tiki bar...

    Photos
    The Emerald Lounge - It's Electric - be careful, it is strong!

    It's Electric - be careful, it is strong!

    The Emerald Lounge - Inside

    Inside

    The Emerald Lounge - Spring Fling

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    Spring Fling

    Lillian - Lobstahh

    Lillian

    4.6(48 reviews)
    2.1 miScott's Addition

    if you are going to read any of these dumb yelp review in full, this is the one…read more i once read an article describing the talent of the head chef's ability here to "cram so much bold flavor into a tiny dish". in general, i usually dread small plate restaurants expecting to pay a large bill and leave hungry. this was the exception. these were the most unique, creative, high end, flavorful, dishes i have ever had. seriously. the absolute best BITES of my ENTIRE life. i swear to god dormant tastebuds and flavors i didn't even know existed were provided here. the chef here draws spanish inspiration into each dish, and i was in there feeling like the food critic from ratatouille the way familiar flavors blended in effortlessly with extravagant flairs. and don't get me started on the presentation !!! everything was gorgeous. this restaurant was named #3 out of 100 in the city, and i honestly think it should be #1. i may be biased since my boyfriend works at a sister restaurant owned by the same guy, but this is definitely the favorite sibling for me. unreal how fresh, flavorful, and carefully crafted everything was. so so so so good. if you come to richmond, make this the top priority to visit. that being said, if you can't handle intense, innovative flavors, this isn't the place for you. also, go during happy hour

    Hats off to the staff at Lillian who continue to be wonderful, but now that they have scrapped…read moretheir dollar oyster lunch specials, the food has absolutely nothing to offer. Like too many restaurants in the Scott's Addition area, this is seafood cooked without finesse and then absolutely brutalized with absurd amounts of palate fatiguing, brash, loud flavors. Every item on the menu endeavors to conceal mediocrity in the quality and handling of the ingredients with explosive, overwhelming additives meant to shock you into submission. Things like black garlic and chili oil, raw garlic, sesame seed oil, and punishing heat are inescapable on the menu, which really says to me loud and clear "we do not understand the appeal of seafood, and might have a fundamental misunderstanding about good food in general." I don't exaggerate when I say these dishes would be improved (setting aside things like inability to properly cook octopus) by scaling back the flavors to 5-10% the loudness level they are currently at, to let the ingredients speak, and to make the dining experience less of a punishing marathon with no relief. I have had much subtler and more skillfully balanced dishes at Indian and Thai restaurants, cuisines known for strong flavor profiles. I'm through listening to these Richmond restaurants trying to excuse simply bad food by claiming "that's the nature of the cuisine." In this case, Lillian claims that dishes characterized by these cacophonous competing flavors is "South American." No it isn't - the person conceptualizing the dishes is just a bad chef who doesn't know what he's doing, and at the prices Lillian charges, that's inexcusable. Drowning every dish in flavors that overwhelm the palate is not a way to respect your ingredients or your diner, and only communicates youth and insecurity. Anyone who's eaten widely and knows their ingredients will rightly feel assaulted and insulted by this overpriced, unskilled fare. To anyone who decides to go anyway: Good luck with the digestive distress, and with the taste that will still be left over in your mouth the next morning, no matter how much you brush your teeth.

    Photos
    Lillian - Seafood Tower

    Seafood Tower

    Lillian - Banana dessert

    Banana dessert

    Lillian - Miller high life with Aperol

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    Miller high life with Aperol

    Grandstaff & Stein

    Grandstaff & Stein

    4.1(351 reviews)
    1.4 miShockoe Bottom
    $$

    A must stop in the downtown Richmond area!…read more It's truly a speakeasy with the door posing as a bookshelf. To get in, you must know the password or tell the host a joke that makes him laugh. We were escorted in and quickly noticed that this was more than a speakeasy-it was a full restaurant. We stopped in for drinks, but it was nice to have tapas. I got the popcorn with the Tequilla lime butter, which was the perfect balance of salt. I had a mezcal drink which was perfect! I'm such a fan of mezcal and am excited when I see it on the menu. Our waitress was a delight-super attentive and also a bartender so she was able to answer all of our drink questions. It was very spacious with outdoor seating. Definitely a 10/10 experience. I would definitely go again!

    The parking is a sh*t show around here. We walked here, so I can't fault them for that…read more Upon entering, we were greeted by an enthusiastic young man dedicated to his role. He asked for the password and we, unprepared, had to tell him a joke or an interesting fact. Luckily, my partner had one on hand. The atmosphere was lovely, very reminiscent of a 1920s speakeasy, or at least what you'd imagine it to be like. Our server came by within a few minutes of us being seated. She lacked enthusiasm, unlike the host, unfortunately. Her service turned out to be lackluster as well. We ordered the chicken pot pie and the filet mignon with asparagus. For drinks, the Grape Gatsby and Maine root beer. The food, like our server, lacked appeal. The saving grace was the host and the atmosphere. The view was lovely and the intimacy of the setting was a welcome experience. For dessert we ordered the bread pudding, and it was tasty, though nothing special. The burned odor that we smelled prior to its arrival turned out to be the bread. I can recommend Grandstaff and Stein as an experience, but you should not expect much in the way of culinary delights or exemplary service. We probably won't be back, but if you've never been, it's worth trying at least once.

    Photos
    Grandstaff & Stein - Atmosphere and large table

    Atmosphere and large table

    Grandstaff & Stein - Baked Brie

    Baked Brie

    Grandstaff & Stein - Hidden bookshelf door

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    Hidden bookshelf door

    Little Nickel - Flaming Pu Pu (partially consumed. SORRY!)

    Little Nickel

    4.3(579 reviews)
    3.0 miForest Hill Terrace
    $$

    Excellent food! I had the Hawaiian nachos and the General Tso wings. 20 out of 10. Lots of variety…read moreof healthy authentic food. Drinks were yummy too! Will definitely return.

    It turns out we had been here before, and I'd completely forgotten the experience until we arrived…read morelast Thursday around 7 or 8 o'clock. The parking lot is small, and there is a pothole in the alley near the parking lot entrance that will bottom out an SUV. Apparently, there is additional parking, but we didn't see it in the dark. The restaurant is cozy, Hawaiian-themed, and clean. We were seated within moments of entering the host's periphery, and received menus and ice water within minutes. I had the poke bowl last time, and I remember it being chilled and gently flavored. The avocado and spicy mayo did a lot of the heavy lifting. It was filling and very healthy. My partner enjoyed the Ipanema Sandwich last time we visited. This time around we snacked on the fried halloumi (fried cheese and mint yogurt dip) and Lumpia, taquito-type beef rolls, with sweet and sour dip. We absolutely demolished the coconut cream pie for dessert. The pie was so delicate and lovely that even my partner enjoyed it, a typical coconut detractor. I recommend Little Nickel to anyone looking to try something unique and ambitious that veers from the well-trodden culinary path. The staff here were courteous and helpful, the restaurant was clean, and the food was firing on all cylinders.

    Photos
    Little Nickel - Back entrance

    Back entrance

    Little Nickel - Flaming Pu Pu

    Flaming Pu Pu

    Little Nickel

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    Lillie Pearl - southern - Updated September 2026

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