One of the best restaurants I've visited. Ambiance was nice, seated right away, music was great (if you're into 90s r&b), service was outstanding, and the food was some of the best I've had. I had the sweet potato cornbread, crispy salmon, with a side of collards. My wife had the oysters (with a really tasty hot sauce) and the crab cake (no filler). Everything was savory and light, cooked to perfection. We were both stuffed as we walked away from this gem! read more

I finally got to the new location of Lillie Pearl. The location is great. Right at the triangle where the Maggie L Walker stature stands on Broad St. It's open and airy with two levels of seating a a nice bar. We were there late Saturday night(8:30pm). The server, Briana, was one of the best I've had in a very long time. Personable, great smile, friendly, and knew her stuff. We ordered the brussel sprouts- they were great with a nice heat from the sauce. We had the crispy skin salmon, which came with a nice fresh salad, The skin was amazingly crispy and the flesh was flavorful. I asked Briana to surprise me with something good and boy did she deliver. It was their porkchop served over some super tasty mashed potatoes. Note that this is not how they are usually served, it was Briana's favorite way to eat this dish so she made the decision for me. The porkchop was very very good. Nice grill marks, onions, and a very nice cream-based sauce. This was so so good. They are doing great food at this new location and I will be back again. read more

This is a solid restaurant with good southern vibe. We had high expectations and the food is good but not amazing. We came without reservations but they sat us down at a large table right away. The food portion is not great compared to its price. Fried chicken is good but not great. Shrimp and grits can be done with a bit less butter read more

New location is very pretty on the inside. Waiter was ok, he seemed kind of bothered. Dirty Martini had no olives in it. The patio seems like a hangout for the randoms hanging out on the corner. Lots of people just walking up to the railing talking to a couple that was seated, making out, walking around with a walking stick on their head (yeah, that's not a typo). Lots of flying insects of all varieties... inside. Food was fine. It was just kind of eh. read more

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. read more

Lillie Pearl - The OG - Southern Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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. read more

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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. read more

Lillie Pearl - Restaurant is behind this square with statue of Maggie Lena Walker the first black bank president. - Southern Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Lunch date with my sister and daughter was wonderful. We had the sweet potato corn bread, fried Brussel sprouts, pork belly, cauliflower steak, short ribs and lobster and crab cakes everything was delicious. Staff was attentive and nice. read more

Love this Restuarant. Great food, service and ambiance. The wings are amazing - dry rub seasoning and delicious. Cornbread is special - seriously, you must try it. I had the duck breast and was pleasantly surprised how flavorful and succulent the dish was. Finally, the salads are really good as well. Anytime I'm in Richmond, I will visit Lillie Pearl. read more

Went here as a recommendation from co worker. First day could not get in because it was completely sold out. Next day went for lunch. Food was excellent and service. I had pork belly and BLT sandwich. The pork belly was cooked to perfection. I highly recommend dine here. read more

Lillie Pearl - Southern Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Came to this place based on Yelp reviews and was not disappointed. The short rib egg rolls were excellent. The Thai basil dipping sauce is perfect. Lobster shrimp and grits was delicious. The grits were the perfect texture. ( I'm not sure why I can't get good grits in California). Lastly we share the sweet potato cornbread-nice!! I only wish we had room for the peach cobbler. It looked wonderful. Grace was our server and so helpful. Not only with our menu selections but also things to see and do in Richmond. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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Really nice meal. Service was wonderful (from my own waitress and her coworker in the same space- just hearing the interactions with other customers - genuine care and pride in their jobs, it shows!). I enjoyed the sweet potato cornbread, the short rib egg roll was solid, though i may not repeat that one. My main was the lobster shrimp and grits- the taste was on point, just disappointed in portion size for the price and there were literally two shreds of lobster in it.. the shrimp was cooked well though, not overdone or rubbery. I would actually order this again.. but after trying other offerings. Will be back! read more

Lillie Pearl - Lobster + Shrimp + Grits - Southern Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Restaurant was delish. We went for brunch and decided to choose lunch items. The egg-rolls were amazing and so were the brussels. I also ordered the chai cocktail and the Nashville hot chicken sandwich, and both were also delish. This new location is also beautiful! There's 2 levels. Parking does suck, but that's typical for downtown Richmond. The service was also great. Everyone we interacted with was super nice and helpful. I'm looking forward to coming back for dinner. read more

Lillie Pearl - Fried Brussels Sprouts Short Rib Egg Rolls - Southern Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Last month, my friend and I went to Richmond for an event, and decided to go to this restaurant, and so glad we did! As soon as you walk in, there is a welcoming vibe, good music, and amazing staff! The food was on point and lots of flavor! Our server told us about the history of his family and the beautiful family pictures on the wall. We felt at home. We are planning to go back! Loved this place! read more

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Friendly and helpful service and they have sweet southern ice tea too! I just had a simple breakfast of scrambled eggs, potato latke with applesauce and beef sausage and rye toast! Delicious! I was sitting in front of the bartender and she made these delicious looking bloody Mary's but alas they were not mine! It was an enjoyable meal at a cute place! read more

Lillie Pearl - Beef sausage, rye toast, one scrambled egg with cheese and potato latke with applesauce under it! - Southern Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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First time at Lillie Pearl. First off, the location is excellent. Right in the heart of downtown. And the space is spectacular. The interior decor is very retro, very cool. On to the meat and potatoes: Got seated quickly (had a res). Server (Caleb) was attentive, but not overbearing which was nice. Helped me out with ordering the brussel sprouts, suggesting them as a side instead of the appetizer (since it was just me) which was cool. Food: Phenomenal. Ordered the braised short ribs with a side of fried brussel sprouts. Short ribs were meaty, super tender, flavorful and plentiful. Served over mashed potatoes. With a (large) side of really good collard greens. The brussel sprouts were different from any other brussel sprout I've ever had. Very much had a "kung pao chicken" vibe to them (that's what Caleb called it, and he was right). Really really good. Only downmark is on the banana pudding. It was "good" don't get me wrong.....but it was super sweet and didn't have any real bananas or Nilla wafers in it. I would have been happy if the serving was 1/2 the size it was (because it was so sweet, couldn't eat the whole thing). Just came off as overly commercial. All in all a great meal, and a great start to a Saturday evening. read more

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Enjoyed our visit to Lillie Pearl. The layout is a little odd - poor servers have to go up and down the stairs for EVERYTHING. Can't imagine why they would have set things up this way in a brand new spot. Drinks were extremely sweet - would honestly just have preferred wine and wish we'd gone that route. Enjoyed the cornbread, brussels sprouts and oysters (though they served the oysters with two sauces, no spoons, no oyster fork, teeny tiny lemon wedges, making them less than ideal to enjoy...I mean, at least a spoon for the sauces would have been welcome). The chicken wings were dry. The mains were enormous and we were fairly full by the time they arrived. The variety on the mains is a little lacking - nothing jumped out as particularly special and it was all quite expensive. An odd thing I'm not a fan of - they had us keep our cutlery from round one for round two. They should change those out without comment. Especially since there were no spoons for the oysters, we had to use forks to put hot sauce on those and, well, just didn't want oyster flavor in my main. All in all, it's a nice restaurant and service was good. A little more variety would help, some less sweet cocktails, and the appropriate cutlery for the dishes on order would all be welcome! read more

The food was very good. I tried the braised beef rib and collard egg rolls which were complimented by the Thai sauce. Also had the smothered pork chop and substituted collards for the hoppin john side. My only wish is that I had asked for the chop to be cooked Mid rare to medium, since it was cooked more medium to med-well. Overall Jacob was a very attentive and friendly server. The atmosphere is very chill with a good volume and lighting. read more

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This restaurant truly delivers on its nice aesthetic appeal, offering a beautiful and inviting space. However, be warned: this popular spot gets packed early! Even on a Tuesday night, the restaurant was full by 6pm. We didn't have a reservation and were seated at the bar, which worked fine. I highly recommend you make a reservation if you want a table. For the main course, the Shrimp and Grits was delicious. It was so creamy and s good portion. I have a sweet tooth so I was excited to try the sweets. The Bread Pudding is to die for. We also tried the Banana Pudding, which was equally wonderful. We greatly appreciated the staff's accommodation. They kindly split the check three ways and even managed to seamlessly divide the cost of the two desserts among the three bills. I would return. read more

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This was my 2nd visit to Lillie Pearl at their new location at 305 Brook Road. I absolutely love the new location. The decor and the ambiance are invigorating & soul soothing concurrently. On both occasions I ate in the upstairs dining area & I really enjoyed being able to look out their windows & observe the hustle & bustles of Broad Street while dining. The music that played in the background while we dined was the perfect aural companion to a down home Southern cuisine centered meal. As you know, I love when the music in the restaurant compliments the cuisine & Lillie Pearl's playlist is top notch. During our dining time, we ordered their Smoked Wings as our appetizer. The wings were perfectly seasoned & visually appealing. However, I found them to be a bit dry & overcooked for my taste. My dining companion, however, had no problem with the wings texture. She enjoyed them very much. For my main meal, I ordered their Wild Game Burger[a mixture of Waygu Beef, Bison & Wild Boar] with a side order of Fries. The burger was cooked perfectly. It was well seasoned & juicy. The fries were delicious. They were crispy and also perfectly seasoned. I could have eaten a whole plate of just the fries alone. I ordered a cocktail to complement my meal, the Sweetest Thing. It was bright, crisp & a perfect drink for my food. As for Customer Service, Our server was courteous & attentive & knowledgeable about any menu changes we needed to be aware of. Also of note for me was that I had a reservation I needed to change to an earlier time slot & the staff was able to accommodate my request expediently. I also appreciated the fact that they informed me in advance that they were still on the Lunch menu & not dinner as my initial reservations had requested. I find that type of honesty & transparency refreshing & is definitely one of the reasons I will ALWAYS be a loyal Lillie Pearl customer. read more

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09/27/25 Came here for an after race meal, Run Richmond 16.19. Service was a really slow. We had to keep requesting the same things from our server as he never brought it out I ordered the short rib egg rolls and I did enjoy them. One of my dining companions ordered the Lillie salad and Brussel sprouts. She shared the Brussels with the table and they were cooked to perfection and were very crisp but tender. Collard greens were a no for me. In MY opinion they do not have any flavor. This was my first time having stewed tomatoes in my collard greens, not a fan I ordered the peach cobbler bread pudding to go and I did enjoy it back at my hotel. The bread pudding was still warm when I arrived back to my hotel The ambiance & decor were cool. Space - instagramable Music - decent level where you could still have a conversation with your table mates Parking was easy as you really have to read the signs. The parking at the church is restricted M-F and on Sunday morning...any other time, it's free game Lillie Pearl next time I'm in Richmond, you will be on my list to try dinner read more

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Everything was right on spot. Food was great, service excellent and a great new space for them. They have changed decor from the dim sum place that was previously in the space. I would highly recommend. Lillie Pearl has been doing things right with a strong following for some time now. I think a good decision on the move up the street to a bigger and nicer space. Best of luck! read more

Reservation: highly recommended Parking: available on the street or a parking garage in a short distance. Appetizers: braised short rib egg rolls Two well seasoned egg rolls filled with delicious braised short ribs. Perfect size for sharing. 5/5 Wedge salad - the salad is one large bushel of lettuce. The salad is filling and flavorful. I especially loved the generous amount of REAL bacon. 4.5/5 -Smothered Pork Chop- The pork chop was surprisingly a large portion, tender and the sauce or gravy with the onions was chef's kiss 5/5 - Hoppin John - first time trying and it was AMAZING!! It was delicious flavors that I could quit figure out. Think red beans & rice with a burst of flavor. The sauce or gravy combined with the pork chop were a perfect pairing. The pieces of crispy Brussels sprouts were an added treat. 5/5 - Mac & cheese - awful and very disappointing. The mac & cheese was dry and tasted old. 0 Our waitress was very knowledge and attended to our needs. The Hoppin John she suggested was amazing. My food was delicious and the service was great. I can't wait to return to try the bread pudding. Highly recommend a visit. read more

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Stopped past this place based on the reviews. The service was good. I liked the esthetic of the restaurant. The dinner menu was ok, not enough options for me. I had the short rib meal with Mac and cheese & collards. The ribs were so tender and really good. The sides were meh. They weren't seasoned very well. For dessert we had the peach cobbler bread pudding and that was delicious. The music was really good! I can appreciate a restaurant that plays great music. read more

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Visited on a Friday night at 6PM and it was not as busy as I expected it to be. We got the Brussel sprouts appetizer and I highly recommend, it may have been the star of the entire meal. The best part is the spicy ranch and sticky Asian glaze they toss sprouts with. I ordered the fried chicken and it was good, I'd give it a 7.5/10. We also got the peach cobbler bread pudding and it was amazing. Laura was our server - she was friendly, attentive and patient. Really love the decor including old penny tile flooring and overall ambiance. read more

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Lillie Pearl hosted our work group for dinner one night, a group of about 20 or so, and a rowdy crowd at that. They were sweet and accommodating, which we appreciated! Food was delicious, I especially enjoyed the Brussels sprouts. The striped bass was also quite good. Servers were friendly and we were able to walk from our hotel, a big win! read more

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This place was such a delight!! They have a variety of options on the menu, (great options for seafood which I loved), a friendly/caring staff, and overall cozy, rustic vibe. You can see right into the kitchen which was really special; those guys are hard at work and it shows! Everything was tasty and hearty. Perfect spot for a flavorful but casual dinner read more

Lillie Pearl - Seared Sea Bass - Southern Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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I went on Sunday with a group of ten and it was very busy and service was very slow. Waited for 15 mins when we had reservations. Waited an hour for any meal was served and meals came out piece meal not together. I personally hate street parking. read more

Absolutely worst customer service and hospitality ever. I was given every excuse why they didn't answer the phone and was even told no one at the bar would be leaving soon so the seats wouldn't be available soon either. When I tried to explain that their phone wouldn't ring, the host immediately cut me off to explain how busy they were. The disgusted look on their face as I walked in explained everything regarding their service. As a chef ! This is a terrible way to conduct business and I will be carrying my review to Google as well. read more

Lillie Pearl - Southern Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I like the layout of this souther cuisine restaurant in RVA. They have tables throughout the restaurant along with bar seating. The staff were nice. The wings were good. The crispy skin salmon was delicious. It was accompanied by a corn and arugula salad...very fresh. Someone got the lobster shrimp and grits. They said it was real good. Someone got the fried chicken with Mac and cheese and collards. They said that was good. I added a side of hopping John, which was yummy. read more

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Such a cool vibe! The service was absolutely spectacular. We had a large group and the waitress was professional and attentive. Food... some of the best brussels sprouts I've ever had! Recommended the crispy salmon. Will be back! read more

There are not enough good words to say about Lillie Pearl. I was in town for a weekend and heard that this place had a great brunch. My server was a handsome young man with cheekbones to die for and skin so smooth (he deserved that compliment). More importantly he was attentive and gave us great service. The food was amazing. We had the breading pudding French toast and shrimp and grits. It was absolutely amazing. The portion was small so I did not overeat. Highly suggest this for brunch in Richmond. read more

Let me tell you this. I was fully prepared to talk trash about this! Fully prepared to come on here and say - "after I came to this Black owned, Gullah Geechee born restaurant and asked for Vinegar to go with my greens & the waiter said all they have is balsamic vinegar" ... blah blah blah. But really the food was good. No they didn't have brown vinegar for the greens and that's just crazy BUT yes well worth the visit and this Peach Cobbler/Bread pudding mash up - wow! Incredible! read more

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Had a great experience here for brunch! The southern comfort food really hit the spot--everything we tried was absolutely delicious and full of flavor. The service was amazing, super attentive and all of our dishes came out right on time. The only downside is that it's a little on the pricey side, but overall, definitely worth checking out for a tasty brunch! read more

Lillie Pearl - Dad's Dad's Breakfast Sandwich - Southern Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

My first time in Richmond, VA. Tried a black owned restaurant Lille Pearl. I love to support! 1. Customer service = Decent 2. Braised Beef Egg rolls= missing braised beef- should have been called sweet collard greens egg rolls as that is all I tasted ( even when dissected only saw CG) not good. 3. Waiter recommended Shrimp/Lobster Grits = did not disappoint, very tasty sauce. 4. Short Ribs and Mac & Cheese= delicious 5. Sweet Tea- probably not ordered by many. It tasted like it had been there all day- I had to add water in order to drink. Overall, I would recommend. I would probably go at lunch or for early dinner as they were out of some items. Very nice and clean. Music was good and at a good volume. I did not go upstairs, but from the outside the esthetic looks nice! read more

Food is delicious! Service fast and friendly. ordered a martini that was amazing! Rum, Kuhlua, coffee. and banana liquor-highly recommend read more

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Really good service and food. The crispy salmon was cooked to perfection. Cheesy shrimp and grits was good too. Oysters were cold and fresh. Entrees range from $26-$42. The only drawback was the noise level. The low ceiling and loud music led diners to shout above the noise. Decibels reached 87, so painfully loud. read more