We visited on a Friday evening, and the place was pretty dead although we got there around opening, so I figured that had something to do with it. We stayed for two drinks and the first bartender was pleasant and gave us recommendations and chatted with us. My second old fashioned was a bit overly sweet which I wasn't expecting after the first one being quite good but I didn't ask for it to be fixed so that's on me. The problem is that one of the other bartender/server came up to the bar and CLIPPED HIS NAILS while we were sitting there. I initially questioned what I was hearing as surely, no one in the food industry thinks this is okay?! Unfortunately....someone does. Due to the set up of the bar I have to assume it was being done into a sink? Trashcan? It didn't seem low enough while he was chatting with us to be a trashcan. Needless to say we did not end up ordering food and moved on quickly. I will not be back. read more

I literally drank every store pick he had, okay, I tried. And I'd do it again. If you're within an hour of this place, detour and go. Absolutely worth it. I loved the spot and loved the owner even more. I only drank while I was there, but watching how he interacted with customers was impressive, warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely top‑notch hospitality all around. The cigar area is a fantastic touch too, though I couldn't partake this time. Still, it sealed the deal for me. Run, don't walk. This place is special. read more

I decided to come to this place for my birthday dinner with one of my besties. We had always talked about how much we used to go to the Whiskey Grill in the Fan and I decided it was time to come to an easier parking location haha. Plenty of parking but expect it to be full right after work. There are also plenty of seats to choose from when you first walk into this place. (There's some outdoor seatings too but it's the middle of summer so we decided to sit inside.) We both had a cocktail (I can't remember the name) and we decided to start out with their Chorizo Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates. HOLY moly, this is a must try for appetizer. (I guess you could share it but I may have to order my own plate for myelf in the future haha.) For the main entree, we decided to split the Cast Iron Ribeye (cooked rare). WOW, this came out PERFECTLY how we wanted it. This dish came with herb butter rosemary potatoes, and brussel sprouts. EVERYTHING was cooked pretty quickly and presentation was appealing. It definitely delivered and was the right portion for both of us. It was super filling because we didn't have room for dessert! (That says alot since I typically have a separate stomach for desserts haha) Highly recommend! The staff was super friendly and helpful when we were discussing the type of whiskey to mix together. Beautiful whiskey wall set up/display and the place is very clean. I will definitely be coming back here! read more

McCormack's Big Whisky Grill - Cast iron ribeye - Barbeque Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

There are a couple of these places that exist in Richmond, the owner is normally in the location at Stony Point and is always very friendly and helpful - shout out to Mac. Regardless, the food is ok and not a place that I would intentionally go to for dinner - however, the drinks of course are the reason most folks stop by. The selection of whisky is quite impressive. If you are into trying out different and at times rare whisky this is your place. Here are a few comments regarding the lower rating: The food as mentioned is not really great. It's solid at best and the few times I have been here I can tell that they are really trying but it just doesn't come across in the flavor. I have had both the meet loaf (as suggested) and the BBQ. I believe at one time I also had a sandwich. All were ok. A random observation is the hand sanitizer. I know this is an odd one - but bear with me for a second. At first it had a pleasant smell but then it became overpowering and I honestly smelled like it for multiple days after using it. I would avoid that. Lastly, the place is a bit slow at times which causes an awkwardness that is difficult to describe over a review. Try it out if you are into whisky and keep your expectations in line for any food purchases. Make sure to not wear a hat - something I respect (but always forget until I get to the front door!). Cheers. read more

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Great service, really good food and a ton of whiskey to choose from! So many great options and the bar tender really knew what he was talking about when it came to whiskey. read more

McCormack's Big Whisky Grill - Plenty of whiskey to choose from!! - Barbeque Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

My wife and I stopped in here to have a drink before we went to dinner at another location. We sat and the bar and the place was not overly busy at the time but it picked up later. The owner started talking to us and he is a very interesting guy. He very much likes to try and pair you up with a whiskey for you and your flavor profile. He actually found a scotch that my wife liked and she does not drink whiskey at all. We decided to stay for dinner. Unfortunately, that was not the best call. The owner left to attend to some personal business and after that the experience was not as good. My wife wanted a steak and she does not like it med rare or even medium. The waiter tried to talk here into medium and she declined... it still came out medium at best. I will say the next day she heated the steak up in a toaster oven and it was really good. My meal was not bad overal. They do have a very good pimento cheese appetizer. I will definitely go back for drinks, appetizers and a cigar. They have an outdoor smoking area for cigars. Also- bourbon and whiskey fans- this is one of the largest collections at a bar i have seen. Plus this gives you an opportunity to try a pour of things that you have heard about but cant find in the current market. He also does his own barrel picks. read more

McCormack's Big Whisky Grill - Barbeque Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Supporting a local biz we already love but even more so now. Will be coming in for my T shirt this weekend + as always, for some delicious beverages and food! Owner is awesome too. Knows his stuff & super chill and welcoming! read more

While its location at the Regency Shopping Mall in Richmond is a bit odd, there's nothing strange about McCormack's Big Whisky Grill and its reputation as one of the best Bourbon bars in the country. When you walk in you'll be greeted by a gigantic wall of brown water, larger than their original location in The Fan. You'll find almost any bourbon your heart desires as well as a large selection of picks hand selected from distilleries across the country by owner Mac McCormack. On a recent visit, I enjoyed chatting with Mac about Bourbon, the industry, and his own whiskey journey- which you can learn more about on his YouTube channel: @bigwhiskeyrebellion. I can't recommend this place enough if you find yourself in Richmond. Oh if you are hungry definitely get the french fries! read more

McCormack's Big Whisky Grill - Mac! - Barbeque Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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My wife and I have been waiting to try the Big Whiskey for awhile. We'd checked out Mac's other establishments and enjoyed them all throughout the years. This was our last one to visit. The place feels like going home....if your home had a veritable library of alcohol to try and delicious food to pair it with. Check the photos. You'll see the extensive collection available to you to choose from. Then, talk to Mac. He's a great conversationalist and has forgotten more about the various libations to try than I have ever remembered. The food is top notch. It's the most wonderful comfort food you could imagine. They have keto, vegetarian, and vegan friendly options on the menu. I had the chorizo meatloat while my wife had the carb free Mac and cheese. Both were excellent meals. If you go, buy a T-shirt. The message is pertinent and timely. Tell Mac yelp sent you, he'll laugh, you won't know why, and you can ask. read more

I have never had a bad meal at any of the Mccormick locations. Service is excellent so is alcohol pairing with my meal. I highly recommend... read more

We went here on mothers day as i wanted somewhere not to busy. The owner was very nice and knowledgeable. I have seen other reviews being very critical but I think it's because they think this place is like any other. It's not, nor is it ment to be. If you want good food/drink and you don't mind something a little different, you should give this a try. Just remember, it's not Applebee's. read more

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I got the arugula and chicken flatbread which was delicious. I ate the whole thing and I loved it. Would definitely get it again. Got an old fashioned too which was delicious as well. Nice service and friendly staff read more

McCormack's Big Whisky Grill - Flatbread - Barbeque Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

This is a very nice and chill place. Excellent service and a very nice cozy feel. The food was excellent. We started with the creamy shrimp, bacon and artichoke spread. That was very tasty and a good sized portion which was more than enough for the two of us. Mrs had the shrimp and grits. Very nice creamy flavor. I had the burger which was good and flavorful. The fries were spot on. Neither one of us could finish our plates. The selection of alcohol was seemingly endless. We will be back. read more

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First time to this restaurant and had a not so friendly service experience that had me walking before I even tried the food. The tavern is located at the Regency mall. It's small- maybe ten tables, with equivalent seating outdoors. There is a large bar that nearly takes up the entire back wall which was really cool. The place does have nice tavern ambiance. No wait or greeting staff when we walked in, just a bar tender who after a minute of waiting at the door yelled for us to take an open table. Described as a BBQ joint, it's more of a BBQ steakhouse and the entree prices reflect that at $25-30/ plate. Looked like a good mix of unique appetizers and sandwiches in addition to the entree options. We would have liked to try the food but the bar tender who doubled as the wait staff made his first service impression, not by welcoming us or saying he was glad we chose to dine there, but was tapping on his head and said you need to remove your hat. It was hugely embarrassing and being the only server in the place, the interaction drew the attention of the other people in the restaurant. Very uncomfortable and it made a terrible first impression on us. Note to the management: 1) it's a tavern 2) and a BBQ joint 3) in a mall 4) and there's nothing noted anywhere that says that there is a dress code at the tavern nor on the website. Since you have a dress code, please make it noted somewhere. You will do yourself and your patrons a favor. If not, perhaps be more friendly and discreet about telling your patrons when needed. It was an immediate turn off for us. We left and walked 25 yards to the next restaurant. read more

Went in the other night for dinner. I got harassed by the owner for wearing a hat. I obliged and took it off after his nonsensical rant. Afterwards I had to wait for over an hour to to get an over cooked meal. Never going back. Don't wear a hat!! It's 2025 not 1945! read more

Over priced and bad food. Tried some of their apps with drinks and wouldn't go back.

This restaurant is a gem! The food is very creative and the service amazing! Daryl shared in his knowledge of bourbons/whiskeys and allowed us time to relax and enjoy family over great food! If you haven't been here, make it your next trip. P.S. Try the fried artichokes...they are out of this world! read more

If you are in the west end of Henrico County, VA, near Regency Square, I suggest you consider stopping by McCormack's Big Whisky Grill. Take your time to enjoy your cocktail and consider a meal item from the menu. Sensation to the senses. read more

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One of the best Ribeye's in town and probably the best Whiskey selection for 100 miles.

As soon as you walk in you are bathed in the amber glow of the enormous wall of bourbon and spirits. Angels may have been singing too. This place checks all the boxes: extensive bourbon selection, extremely knowledgeable and friendly staff, comfortable vibes and amazing food! I started the evening off with an Old Fashioned cocktail, the way they make it. I had smoked wings and then had the smoked duck entree. I finished up with a Willet Pot Still Reserve. Everything was really good! McCormack's Big Whiskey Grill is truly an experience. read more

What a cool place. I'm not a huge whiskey person (and I have a college bar level of knowledge about it), and I had such a good time in here a couple Saturdays ago! I sat at the bar by myself and talked with the bartender and another patron for the better part of 2 hours. I learned a ton about whiskey, tried one I really liked, and made plans to stop back in. A really nice guy with lots of knowledge, a good dry sense of humor, and a lot of patience. Slightly pricey on the food and drink, as they are a nice BBQ/steakhouse kind of place. Some really unique options on the wall that you can't get elsewhere. Will definitely be back! read more

McCormack's Big Whisky Grill - Ridiculously amazing selection - Barbeque Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Great time, great atmosphere, great drinks and wonderful food. The owner Mac came to our table and helped us make a decision about which whiskey we would like and was very pleasant and knowledgeable but without making us feel stupid. Food was hot, fresh and the fries were amazing. We ordered the Nashville chicken sandwich and a burger. We also ordered wings to go for my son at home and he loved them. We will definitely be going back read more

They obviously have a great selection of bourbon. But anybody can buy a great collection. What sets McCormacks apart is their service. The owner took time to come over and give a private lesson in bourbon making and tasting. Fantastic education and experience! read more

I recently attended a work Christmas party here. While the vibes of the restaurant are really unique and the front bar is one of the coolest bars I've seen; some things were left a little flat. The vibes of the place were rustic and put together. The food was hearty but salty. We had a buffet style set up with Florentine salmon, vegetable lasagna, mushroom chicken and chorizo meatloaf. The best thing on the line was the meatloaf which was good. The Mac and cheese whole cheesy and tasty was very salty. The cornbread was dry and unfortunately just the style of serving the food the salmon was overcooked. The turn off for me was the bartender laughing at a friend of mine for asking for a certain drink. They had a table full of all kinds of liquor (not just whiskey) and she was laughed at for asking for a mojito. We understand it's a whiskey bar but if you can't make something there is a more professional way to communicate that. It was a good party overall but just a few things were lacking on the food and service side. read more

The food is fine. The service, not so much. We had gift certificates here that were issued by Regency Mall (next door) a few years ago. We let our server know about the certificates once we sat down, and he said he may have to issue them manually but there would be no problems redeeming them. It was only after our meal that he relayed to us that Mac, who we didn't meet but was communicating to our server over text, said they could not be used because the mall "issued them without the restaurant's permission." I'm not sure who signed off on the gift certificates, but looks like it was a mistake. Nothing was done by management to remedy the situation. read more

McCormack's Big Whisky Grill - Barbeque Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Food and drink were great. I ordered the spicy chicken sandwich. It was a bit of a mess to eat but so delicious. The drink selection is crazy and the bar is super cool. Kind of weird that they enforce a no hat rule but whatever. Since the food and drink were great I have no complaints. Will definitely be back sans hat. read more

If you're looking for an assortment of whiskey, this is the mother load. Visited a couple of times to enjoy casual meal and several selections of whiskey. Even had the owner spend time with us at the bar discussing pros and cons of different brands and walking us through tastings. Great place for group of guys who appreciate tasting & discussing a variety of whiskeys. Worth a try! read more

Tried taking my family here for a birthday dinner and was denied service by the owner. I attempted to make a reservation beforehand and was told that it's first come, first serve - okay, no problem. However, when we showed up there was one party of 6 and another party of 4 already sat in the otherwise completely empty restaurant. I cannot overstate how desolate the place was. We had a party of 6 and were denied service because the "kitchen would be overwhelmed." We suggested pushing two four-tops together and were told no. We asked if we could sit outside and were told they do not serve food on the patio. We suggested the bar and were again denied. The owner was adamant nothing could be done and that the kitchen couldn't possibly handle our party despite the place being practically unoccupied - I genuinely do not know how they operate when the place is half or even completely full if the kitchen allegedly can't handle more than 10 people in the dining room at a time. Highly disappointed at the owner's refusal to accommodate us despite our multiple suggestions to be seated, including splitting ourselves between tables. Everything was met with a stern no. I have worked in the service industry and was genuinely shocked at how the owner chose to treat his customers. The other tables were staring and the tension in the bar was palpable. Would not recommend this place to anyone, ever. I'd give this place a 0/5 if I could. Stay away if you want to enjoy your evening, there's too many restaurants in Richmond to waste your time here. read more

Best ribeye in RVA. Mac is awesome and the food is amazing. Ignore negative reviews and go see for yourself

The best selection of bourbon you'll ever see. Staff will be more than happy to help you narrow down from the 1,000 of bottles on hand.

Would go again. Duck breast and the wine reduction was great! The sliced brisket (not pictured) was so tender! read more

McCormack's Big Whisky Grill - Duck breast with grits and kale - Barbeque Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

The Desperado moved slowly towards the saloon doors, his spurs clinking with each stride. The brim of his hat masked the intensity in eyes as his pancho held water droplets from the heavens; six-shooter at his side. Biting down on straw, he entered. The piano player stopping the tunes abruptly. "Go about your business," he said as patrons stared at the mysterious stranger. Moving past aged bourbon barrels, he was escorted to his seat. "My only request Sir, is that you kindly remove your fedora while in the building," the waiter and host asked; the proper etiquette of a Gentleman. Yeah, this wasn't an old western movie; just Mr. RVA on his latest dining adventure. I obliged, taking Onyx and placing her on the back of the chair. The warmth of the room was elevated by Oak wood walls and Mocha Oak hardwood floors, reminiscent of an old country log cabin. B.B King exclaimed that "The Thrill Is Gone" while Clint Eastwood graced each movie poster adorning the walls. And there it was...a breathtaking Wall of Whiskey; one of the largest in the Commonwealth; curated by owner Mac McCormack. With 10 years in the making, his collection boasts of around 18,000 bottles. This Regency Square treasure delves into the American pastime; Barbecue. Ladies & Gentlemen of Discovering RVA, the honor is mine to unveil, McCormack's Big Whiskey Grill. @mccormackswhiskygrill . Appetizer- Creamy Shrimp, Bacon, & Artichoke Spread~ Chunks of fresh Shrimp, chopped Bacon, & sliced Artichokes resting in a smooth Cream Sauce, topped with a layer of Cheese, escorted by house-made Crustini. . Entree- Smoked Duck Breast~ Sliced, tender Smoked Duck Breast with freshly chopped Wild Mushrooms & Onions, simmered in a Ginger Cider Reduction, & accompanied by creamy Peppered Grits & southern style Kale. . Spirit Pairing- Classic Old Fashion~ Aged Rye Whiskey, Bitters, & Simple Syrup, garnished with an Orange Peel. . Trevor- Thank you for your hospitality, rapport, and service. . Owner Mac McCormack‐ I truly appreciate you showing me around your establishment & sharing it's origin. . Please, if you haven't already, follow me on my official Instagram page @Discoveringrva and take a journey with the Gentleman, "Mr. RVA" and uncover the hidden gems of our noteworthy city. . #discoveringrva . #804 #rva #richmond #richmondva #rvadine #rvaeats #Rvafood #food #foodies #foodshare #foodstagram #foodiesofinstagram #yummy #foodblog #foodblogger #foodlover #foodpost #foodography #delicious #lifestyle #foodpic #eating #foodandwine #foods #foodie #eeeeeats #foodiegram #igfood #forkyeah read more

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Excellent atmosphere, service, food and beverage. As soon as you've entered you feel as if you've been invited to a good friend's cabin for whiskey tasting. You can see and smell the effort that has been put into making the place welcoming. Bartenders are what you want a bartender to be: a micro therapist. I'll never be able to try all the whiskeys, but I've had most of the food, and it's excellent. Always appreciate coming here, and the Fan location. read more

Great steak and the bar is unbelievable. Try the mezcal old fashion and the Brussel sprouts appetizer

Honestly such an unwelcoming and weird place, it's INCREDIBLY cluttered, there was no staff staff was weird, asked me to remove my hat never even got around to ordering food because it was such a bizarre environment read more

Stay away from anything they call BBQ. Disgusting flavor and ribs dry. Strange place. Can't place why but as others mentioned, it's just an odd vibe. read more

Would love to give 5 star. Ribs were ok, kale was great, slaw great, mac and cheese was amazing. Roach running across bar not so good. I didn't finish my meal. Notified the bar tender. He swept it to the back of bar. He said sorry. Offered to make me something to go. I declined. read more

Great place to visit and eat at! A large menu with something for everyone. The beverage list is even larger, with an extensive whiskey/bourbon list! Our server and bartender, who also just happened to be the owner, made great recommendations and was very quick. Have questions or want a recommendation on what to drink, just ask! You will not be lead astray! Overall, a casual atmosphere that can accommodate any group! Just remember to remove your hat. read more

McCormack's Big Whisky Grill - Ribeye - Barbeque Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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HANDS THE WORST SERVICE EVERR THE PRICK THAT WAS ATTEMPTING to serve us talked to the whooooollleeee table like we were beneath him. told us to take our hats off, we understand the rules but the ONLY other table in the restaurant there was a guy wearing a hat !!! 1000000:10 highly DO NOT recommend ever eating here !!! wish i could put negative stars!!!! read more

Thought the ambiance, food & staff was really good. I liked the food more than my hubby, but we would go back.