Our waitress became irate when we explained that one of our party members had a set of severe food allergies. She then ignored the allergies listed and suggested dishes that would have sent my friend into allergic shock. I'm optimistic that this was just an incidental occurrence, or a bad night, but when I explained that he truly was allergic, and that we were not trying to be obnoxious, she stared at me like I was from mars. Ultimately, we left in frustration, leaving behind a 24% tip, limitless frustration, unwarranted mockery, and my former favorite richmond restaurant. My friend with the allergies? It was his birthday. To clarify, we were only asking for subtractions, not substitutions. read more

I hate to write bad reviews! But after eating dinner here last night, I felt the need to share. My dad and I went here for a Father's Day celebration of such. He's been here many times growing up and I've been there once before. When we walked in around 7:30, it was pretty calm; we were seated right away without a reservation--sweet! Unlucky for us, we were pretty close to the stove. We commented to the two chefs right before we sat down--"how do you stand that heat??" It just seems cruel! That being said, pretty soon we were enduring some of that same heat--and continued during our long meal. Also--the bar chairs squeak like nothing else. Like nails on a chalkboard. We received drinks fast--many thanks! And the cornbread and warm bread and soft butter were really yummy. Then, we ordered and received our appie pretty quickly (the peppers--they were ok) and waited. And waited some more. Our server did come by a few times and assured us it would be "just a few more minutes." We received our food at 9. It was incredible how long it took, especially with barely anyone there! Unfortunately, the food was terrible. My dish had some sort of mustard sauce that was way too strong and buttery and salty. I knew even looking at my Dad's that he was experiencing the same kind of thing. His pasta was doused in butter and cheese. After the 100$+ check, I think No Millie's. Side note: My boyfriend and I called Mille's a few weeks ago to inquire if we were able to make reservations for brunch (I was pretty sure that they did not, but nonetheless, a girl is gonna do what she wants to do). Instead of politely informing us no, or assist in any way, the person inquired if we even "lived around here" and scoffed when we said that we did--because apparently everyone knows that they do not do reservations for brunch. He then continued: Millie's is a "staple in Richmond. Everyone comes here." Well, you can leave me out, Millie's. read more

"Best brunch ever" says the boyfriend. *Cue flashback to every single brunch place in memory lane* Is that true? Is it possible that this humbly small restaurant owned by an extremely friendly and oddly cool British bloke who originally ventured into music in LA offers the best brunch ever? The menu is certainly original. Soft scrambled eggs with lobster, bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms in a puff pastry served with hollandaise was definitely delicious and an interesting mix of flavors. The Eggs Benitez with pork papusas, poached eggs topped with salsa verde was innovative. The list goes on and quite frankly you can't go wrong here. The owner, Paul, told me himself "Why put things that aren't delicious on the menu". Right, who would want something on the menu that patrons or servers won't recommend?? "Actually honey, you don't want to order that" is just not something a restaurant wants to hear. That's why Millie's strive to put the best on your table. TIPS: -Come early for weekend brunch. We arrived a little bit before 9 am and was able to be seated within the first wave of customers. -Sit at the bar (Paul if you're reading this, we were the customers who met up for a romantic weekend rendez-vous ;-). The two chefs who manned the small kitchen were amazing. Watching them work was like watching a well choreographed dance. AND you get to see the different plates as they come out. -Order different things at your table and share. Obviously if the restaurant boast that all items are worth your time, you want to keep them honest. So is this place as good for me as it was for the boy?! Maybe it is but I will head back to find out. . . Just to make sure ;-) read more

In a Nutshell: Best Food, Worst Service. Let's just start from the beginning shall we. I've never been to Millie's before. I was late to a brunch party celebrating the engagement of one of my best friends and his fiance. I didn't think it was a big deal, it was supposed to be a casual experience... you know BRUNCH. Anyways, they wouldn't take any of the orders for my table until I got there. Why? Because that's just how they do things. So, after showing up 20 minutes late, they finally serve the whole party. The menu is up on a blackboard. I ordered the shrimp and grits. That was the only time I talked to our server until we asked for the check. Food was brought by another server. The food was great. I really enjoyed it and would've loved to go back, but the service staff and (presumably) the owner, ruined it. After asking for the check, the server brought us back the full sum of the table and told us tip was included for a table of our size (no problem). Then she told us we had to do the math ourselves and split up the check at the table. Uh, why? Because that's just how they do things. With a raised eyebrow, my best friend did just that. Our table was becoming visibly upset. To which the wait staff immediately became defensive. An elderly looking man came into the room and stood about 10 feet away watching us the whole time we split the check. Upon realizing that one of the prices was wrong on the ticket compared to black board menu, I pointed it out to the waitress. She copped an attitude and immediately got some chalk and changed the price. She did it right in front of us. It was not a very welcoming experience. Millie's made our dining experience about them when it was supposed to be celebration of an engagement. So, instead of a fond memory of the food and friends, I'm left with a sour taste. I've never written a review about a restaurant before. Thanks Millie's. read more

Wow!!!! This was delicious. We had to wait about 40 minutes but the wait was worth it. Brunch on a Saturday with bloody Mary's and mimosas. It was packed but food and drinks were quick. We had the lump crab and scrambled egg burrito and the special which was stewed pork with shrimp and a Mexican flair and poached eggs! read more

My first time at Millie's and at a brunch restaurant - and it was definitely an eye opener with my 3 sisters! Food: We ordered the Devil's Mess, Cajun Mess, Huevos Rancheros, and Turkey Sandwich! And my favorite has to be the Huevos Rancheros, hands down! All the dishes were very favorable and was pretty unique to the restaurant in my mind (maybe because I've never had legit brunch before). The turkey sandwich was definitely a surprise to me, I didn't know it came with so many ingredients in the burger - definitely worth the try. Price: The prices were alright. But the portions definitely made up for the price. We ordered 4 plates and had leftovers for every single plate even though we did family style and ate off of each other's plate, to taste the variety. Service: We definitely came in at the right time. There was no wait and our waitress was pretty on point with everything. Since it was my first time here, I had a lot of questions about their dishes because the dishes' names can be a little vague. And let me tell you, the waitress knew the menu and helped us tremendously when we asked what was in the dishes we were interested in. I will definitely be returning to try something different and possibly bring a friend that is from out of town to try this place also! read more

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Even at 10:30 AM on a Saturday, Millie's was ridiculously crowded. We sat for an hour waiting, but at least we got to enjoy a mimosa while we did it. The mimosas were very refreshing, but they got a little watery at the end. The waitresses are very nice, but there's so many people in here, and everyone is so hungry from waiting that it seems like the food takes forever to arrive. Order another mimosa. You're going to need it. I'm not even going to talk about what I got, because I was a fool. The only thing to get at Millie's is the Devil's Mess. If you get anything else, you're a fool. Believe me, I got something else, and it was not worth it. I took one bite of my friend's Devil's Mess and I'm a believer. Don't be a fool. Follow the crowd, just this once. It's so worth it. read more

After having told the staff it was our first time at their restaurant they never explained the not splitting checks policy. It wasn't until the end of the transaction that we were told there was a 3 card maximum on a bill. After the waitress said they would make an exception this time, and for us to figure out how much to put on each card... the owner came over and said that was a no go and we weren't allowed to pay with more than 3 cards. This communication error between the staff and ownership leads to a bad experience. We browsed the website prior to going and it's not listed there, even under the reservation policy. The wait time was long, but it's a small place, so we didn't mind. The food was pretty good, and reasonable for the price, but the service killed the entire experience. Was hoping this was going to be my new favorite breakfast place, guess not! read more

Like Millie's needs another 4 or 5 star review. :) You'll make your way into the crowded doorway next to the 40 square foot area that is called the kitchen, where you can watch two guys juggling ingredients, hot pans and dishes like a very well coordinated Vegas act amidst a tower of eggs. The owner (?) will take your name and offer mimosas or bloody marys (maries?) for your wait outside or near the diner counter next to the packed booths in the front. The service in this teeny tiny, warm diner is wonderful - friendly and always hustling because they're never not slammed. I've never met anyone who doesn't seem like they love their job there. I've been coming here for years and it's consistently delicious and worth the wait. Mainly for brunch where I typically get one of the wonderful, generous messes (Devil's, Cajun, Veggie, etc.) large enough to share, and also once for one of the best dinners I've ever had. The Benny is great. The fried potatoes have something in it that make me want to eat many, many more fried potatoes. The coffee is yummy. read more

Evidently, "frittata" is Italian for "pricey omelet" but when the omelet, I mean frittata, is as delicious and filling as those from Millie's, they can call it whatever they want! We were down in Richmond for a spur of the moment road trip. Unfamiliar with the area, the foodie-gods were clearly looking out for us, as we stumbled upon Millie's, a brightly decorated, moderately hipsterish (but in all the good ways), but completely unpretentious restaurant that specialized in frittatas. I ordered the Devil's Mess and my husband ordered the Cajun Mess, yet what we got was anything but a mess. My Devil's Mess was a frittata of spicy sausage, cheese, various veggies, and surprisingly curry overtones! Everything was well cooked and the complexity and layers of flavors made each bite a delight. With the frittatas came a side of breakfast potatoes which were rich and tender, however, even for this carb-addict, the frittatas were clearly stars of the plate, which is just as it should be. Although the restaurant wasn't full (we came after the lunch rush), the service was extremely slow and it took several times for us to get our server's attention. Also, the music was very loud, which made conversation a little awkward, but once the food came, we didn't notice anything else but licking our plates clean. Definitely a recommend for couples on an impromptu visit to Richmond, or for a group of friends to meet up. The space is interesting enough that this would even be a great place to meet up for a first date - especially as the food is so good that even if the date sucked, your day wouldn't be a complete loss. read more

This was my first time at Millie's and will probably be my last. I was very excited to try their food as it is a Richmond favorite, but I was disappointed with both meals I tried. Both dishes lacked any flavor and the breakfast potatoes were burned. The service experience was also very poor. My server was not attentive, and sat at several tables where was socializing with friends. My partner ordered a drink and our server was so busy socializing he did not pick it up from the bar for 30 minutes. Additionally, the kitchen staff is very inflexible and will not allow ANY substitutions on any dish. A very disappointing experience from such a popular local spot. read more

Devils mess is amazing!! Perfect blend of sausage, veggies and spices. .. all the other food choices sound so good but I can't bring myself to get anything else. Best coffee around and I'm a coffee snob. If you're in town you should definitely try Millie's. If you're local and haven't been here yet.. shame on ya! read more

Millie's Diner - Devils Mess - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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I just don't get it. I went to Millie's for a work lunch and it was barely average. The only thing I'd write home about were the home fries. The sandwich I had was boring,uncreative and unmemorable. I also heard that they refused to be on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives because they don't think of themselves as a diner or a dive. Get over yourself Millie's. read more

I love this place. Go on a Sunday morning and it is packed. Line out the door. If you can get yourself in, order a bloody mary as soon as possible. Sooooo yummy. Sit at the bar. Have another bloody mary, hope your friend is driving home! Devil's mess. No need to eat another meal until dinner. One last bloody mary. Head home to take a nap! Perfect Sunday. :) read more

Given the reviews, I had high hopes for this place. In short, if "hip" were a food, then this would be a 5-star review, but this review is based on our dining experience yesterday. We arrived around noon for brunch and were seated right away at the small counter near the cooking station. The man who seated us called these the "best seats in the house" and watching the cooks work was fun. From here things went downhill. Our drinks were virgin without our asking them to be; that said, the Bloody Mary MIX that we were served had a nice amount of horseradish in it, which many don't. As for our food--we were in the mood for brunch, so my sister ordered the General Lee, and I the Benny. We shared so that we could taste both dishes, which works well since each plate offers 2 poached eggs. Well, the poached eggs were the highlight of the meal--absolutely, perfectly poached with molten yolks that seeped out delightfully over the bread underneath and the whites offering a slight tang of vinegar from the poaching water. The Benny, a take on Eggs Benedict obviously, swaps croissants for English muffins to ill effect. Country Ham is a good meat selection here, however. The General Lee consists of poached eggs over a different variety of ham (not as good as the Country Ham) and a cheese biscuit. These dishes were OK, but mainly because of the poached eggs. The potatoes served alongside both meals were so over-seasoned as to be inedible. I hope that we're not getting to the point at which chefs are so fearful of under-seasoning that they are going overboard in the other direction. Of course, no one asked us how our meal was as we were eating. And to continue that theme, no one in the restaurant thanked us as we paid our check and left. Just a quick thank you would have been appreciated--I mean, we did spend about $45 for brunch (before tip). But, you know, this is one of those places where they don't care because they don't have to care. They've got the reviews, the hipster cred, the location, and maybe some good dishes. I won't find out about that, however, because I never will visit Millie's Diner again. read more

Absolutely blown away by the quality of this little diner. Innovative, thoughtful, fresh, and delicious. THE ABSOLUTE best brunch I've ever had. So good I'm going back for dinner on the same day. The owner Paul is friendly and cool and the staff and chefs are awesome. One of my highest recommendations on Yelp to date. If you're in Richmond... Go. read more

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Hate to bore you with yet another five-star review, but yes, it's that good. First let me say that I have lived in Richmond for many years but that this was my first visit to this long top-rated restaurant. And my first impression was one of surprise. I've seen some reviews and heard talk of the place, but for some reason, I did not realize how small and intimate it is. I love the fact that it is softly lit and cozy and that much of the food was prepared in a small kitchen within sound and smell-distance of our table. We sat in a wooden booth and were served by a friendly, unpretentious waitress who made us feel very much at home (and who dropped us a few quarters to play the tabletop jukebox). The food, was what we expected--superb. I had the pan seared rockfish and my wife had quail. Both entrees and the accompanying side dishes were all perfectly cooked (if you agree that great cooking means great tasting) and well presented. We were so impressed that we even stayed for coffee and desert to savor the experience (never). The best restaurants, to me, offer something out of the ordinary. The fact that Millie's Diner wasn't what I expected is the very thing that makes it so special. read more

Went for dinner during RVA Restaurant Week, and I was not impressed. The portion sizes are TINY: for example, my dessert was an almond cake with honey gelato, and the "cake" was smaller than the size of my thumb, and the scoop of gelato was not much larger. The food itself was ok, but definitely not worth the price. Cornish game hen was 100% forgettable and asparagus soup was a weird mix of bitter, herbal, and spicy. To end our dining experience, the owner told us we had to leave because he needed to give our table to another party. We weren't asked if he could bring us anything else in the way of food or drinks, we weren't offered seats at the bar, just told that we needed to go so they could turn the table. I get the whole concept of needing to turn tables, but you don't straight up tell your customers to leave. Kind of left me a bit sour. read more

Its a local spot that I just love. My wife and I did date night there and both had fantastic dinners. My wife ordered the beef shoulder (cajun spiced) that was topped with watermelon salsa (with feta crumbles) on top their signature mash potatoes. She ordered the beef shoulder medium rare and the meal came out just as ordered. The meal in her opinion (and mine because I kept stealing bites) was just extremely well executed. We in fact couldn't think of a way to make it better. I ordered the bouillabaisse. The featured fish in the bouillabaisse was red snapper. From a presentation perspective the meal was beautiful. 3 pieces of three point toast, abundant broth, mussels, shrimp and chunks of white fish. I have never ordered this before but, it was very very good. In fact, its something I would recommend. I wanted it spicy so I threw in a healthy amount of Siracha to help. Overall, great date night meal! read more

3.5 stars: This was my second time at Millie's - opt for brunch here over dinner! In my opinion, dinner was overpriced for some run-of-the-mill food. Bloody Mary: Unfortunately watery. Soft scrambled eggs with lobster, bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms, puff pastry & hollandaise: Delicious. I loved the addition of the flaky puff pastry and large chunks of lobster meat. My only complaint is that I found numerous pieces of shell. Grilled flank steak with poached eggs, asparagus, and hollandaise: The steak was juicy and flavorful, but you can't specify how you want yours cooked. Our waitress said they grill the entire flank and cut and reheat it as orders come in. Dutch pancake: Cheesy. A bite was good enough for me, but not sure I could've stomached the whole thing. Devil's mess: Yum! Good brunch spot, but get ready for a long wait! read more

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Not to sound like a pretentious jerk (well just a bit), but Millie's is one of the only restaurants in Richmond to be of "big city" quality. Instead of nestled between the Richmond 'downtown' and a seriously scary looking ghetto, Millie's would better be at home in the Mission district of San Francisco or New York's East Village. Millie's is fantastic (down with superlatives!) though commensurately pricey while the atmosphere is totally unpretentious. The food, straying far from any resemblance of diner fare, is inspired, seasonal and constantly evolving. Less importantly the menu isn't too 'exotic', meaning you can please a picky eater (in my case, a picky date) who reject 'weird' food. As a result, you can please the most discerning gourmet while also accommodating less inspired eaters. Again the relatively high prices don't correlate to a stuffy atmosphere. Waiters garbed in jeans and T-shirts sling food in the dark and moody atmosphere, tastefully decorated like an old-school diner complete with table-side jukeboxes. While i've physically moved on from Richmond, Millie's Diner has always held a place in my heart and in my stomach. read more

Start thinking about what spirits you're in the mood for before you go to Millie's for brunch. Because when you arrive, there's going to be a wait for a table at this small restaurant, and the bartenders are only too happy to start your day with a Bloody Mary, mimosa, or Bailey's hot chocolate expertly mixed by a hip girl. And, this may be the only place in Richmond where you can sit on the patio or stand on the public sidewalk with a fine beverage and not get carted away. Once it's your turn to be seated for breakfast, let your eyes linger on the large chalkboard squeezed between the bar and the open kitchen that's colorfully scrawled with the morning's mouth-watering selections. Millie's serves up riffs on Eggs Benedict, messes, and some quirky food pairings, so order based on what you're really craving. My companions and I had the Tuscan Benedict with gorgonzola and sun-dried tomatoes, the Cajun mess featuring andouille, crawfish, peppers, corn and cheese, and the Devil's mess with spicy sausage, cheddar, garlic, tomatoes, and mild curry, all of which were accompanied by the most tender, flavorful breakfast potatoes I have encountered. Every dish was nicely prepared, richly and exquisitely flavored, and artfully decorated with sri racha flourishes. In fact, I believe the chef may be part of the sri racha cult following. Not that I would know anything about that... Hip and unpretentious, Millie's is paradise for breakfast. read more

It's amazing how quickly bad service diminishes a restaurant. The GF and decide we are in the mood for breakfast to help cure the hangover from the night before and as would be expected neither one of us was willing to cook. What to do? Why not go to one of the top rated restaurants in Richmond! I'll tell you why not. Be careful when you get to this place as there is a usually a waiting list. In and of itself that is not a problem. What is a problem is when they can't seem to keep that list straight. No one appreciates waiting 15-20 minutes to get in to a restaurant, because of course you are waiting outside on the street, let alone to be skipped over because they can't keep the list of people waiting in order. The food was fine. Nothing spectacular in my modest opinion. I was just suffering a headache because I had to strain my eyes to read some shitty chalk messy board menu because they don't give you one. Maybe in time I will retry this place in the future but for right now I will pass. read more

I did my research, I was expecting a wait. There definitely was one - maybe 40 minutes. Luckily, it was a beautiful sunny morning and I was able to drink my bloody mary in the sunshine while I reminded the boyfriend that an extra 40 minutes with me should be the perk of waiting to be seated. Walking in to put my name on the list seemed to be a little unorganized. I gray haired man (the owner I presume) was running around seating people so I had a bit of a wait to put my name on the list. Either I was waiting then, or I was waiting after - it didn't really matter to me. Besides, getting those tables flipped should be getting me seated sooner. While I'm waiting in front of the tiny fully exposed kitchen a few eggs drop ALMOST on top of me. Everyone was nice and apologized. No use crying over spilled eggs. I get my name in, am asked what I'd like to drink and proceed outside. Once we're seated (at the bar), we were greeted by the regular who told us all about the menu. We decided on the Devil's Mess and the Salmon with Poached Eggs. Both were delicious! I can't wait to go back and try out the rest of the menu. read more

You're not a true Richmonder until you've had Millie's for brunch. And you better be a patient Richmonder because unless you get there early as the sun rises, you're probably going to be waiting - but don't worry, it will all be worth it. Plus, waiting is made all the better when they take your drink order - mimosa or bloody mary - and deliver it before ever sitting down - and keep them coming. The name, "Millie's Diner" is a sort of half-truth. Truth, it has a narrow interior with bar seating where you can watch the inner-workings of the culinary team, but the food is anything but traditional diner fare. Perhaps best known for it's famous open omelette "mess" offerings - you really can't go wrong with any one of them. Cajun Mess, Castro's Mess, Veggie Mess, Devil's Mess... if it has the word "mess" behind it, it's sure to be a mountain of freshly made goodness. There are also other breakfast/brunch offerings - many with a Mexican slant including a breakfast burrito and huevos rancheros. Millie's can be loud. You may be cramped while waiting, and maybe even when seated. But the food is so worth it, and the servers and management run the organized chaos (it's not uncommon for the restaurant to be packed with shoulder to shoulder guests waiting for tables) with precision and efficiency. Just prepare yourself for the inevitable wait and you'll be A-OK. Oh, and if you have room after brunch, they have dinner which is supposed to be phenomenal and I hope to try someday! read more

As good as they say After hearing about Millie's for more than a year, I had still not made it out there. I'd like to say that it's because Shockoe is sooo far away, but let's be honest, it's just laziness. When a friend came into town, there was more no excuses left. On a Saturday morning, we trekked over to Millies and was met with the dozens of people waiting outside. I would not be defeated, so we waited. Food I ordered the Devil's Mess and was met with a steaming plate of eggs and potatoes. The eggs were fluffy and cheesy, but the Indian spices is what really makes it special. The potatoes were soft and crispy.The best part was that I got to eat it again the next day. Ambiance and Service 4/5, for the wait Food 5/5 Value 5/5 read more

Memorable. As a former Richmond resident, I always love going to places that I couldn't afford to go to when I lived there many years ago. I don't recall if this was one of them, but it was in the city (we lived in Short Pump) so the only time I ever ventured over here was after rugby games. This is near that Edgar Allen Poe place on the way out of Richmond to the east. Great food with lots of attention to detail; I wasn't starving and was more than fine with a Caesar's (with anchovies, of course!) and the appetizer portion of the pork belly - very tasty. Warning: if you are seeking a 'diner', this isn't the place. It's more a funky, in-townesque like place that is more foody than "Mel's Diner" like. Nonetheless, it was great and we'll return. read more

Now for the first edition of... drunk yelp reviewing! They're sloppy. They're rough. They're hot off the press and fresh from the meal! Having been to Millie's several times for brunch (read the other million reviews for brunch and they say all you need to know plus this tip- order the corned beef hash if you can't because it is the best corned beef hash I've ever had), I wanted to check out the dinner menu. Tonight I was bored, so I decided to put on my eating shoes and head to Millies! Dinner at Millie's was a lot less hectic than brunch at Millie's, and the place had a nice, calm ambiance. Since I was eating alone, I sat at the bar and started the evening with an old-fashioned (obviously watching Mad Men.. again). What a great drink! Muddles cherry and orange with Maker's Mark, hits the mark, HEYO! It will also give you a nice buzz. Since I wasn't very hungry, I decided to order an appetizer with dessert for the end of the meal. Plus none of the entrees really sang to me, and at $20-30 an entree, I didn't want to blow a lot of money. I was deciding between the flash fried oysters and the short rib, and ended up going for the short rib since it came with some cheddar jalapeno polenta. Oh, I also got salad. The salad was the typical pile-o-greens-with-vinergarette. What makes this a great salad is that it is elegant in it's ingredients and presentation, and when done well, it stands on its own. The salad was great here, with a nice mix of greens, sprouts, and some wonderful grape tomatoes. The shallot vinegarette was spot on in its ration of vinegar to oil. Great salad. The short rib was nice and hearty. The beef was tender and it came on a nice plop of polenta. (C;mon, polenta doesn't pile, it plops for real) What was great about the polenta is that the "variety" kind of polenta/grits/etc can often go terribly wrong. I don't know how many times I've had bland, cheesy grits, or something that claims to be "cheddar jalapeno" that only tastes like cheese. In this case, it was a nice balance of flavors, and it went surprisingly well with the short rib. My only complaint was that there wasn't more, NOM. At the end of the meal, I ordered creme brulee for dessert. It's one of my favorites, although it can go so, SO wrong. Not at Millies'. The creme brulee was spot-on! It had a nice, hardy crust of burnt sugar that stayed crisp even when it got mixed in with the custard. The custard itself was delicious and creamy. What was best, though, was that the custard retained some of it's coolness without being overly cold. There were three, plump blackberries on the side as garnish, which was great with the custard. I should have asked for more blackberries! I think I may try to come here for dessert fixes more often. I only live a block away! read more

The food was sub par and hardly deserving of the near $30 per entree charged. The lamb was so tough that our table made a running joke about how it was uncuttable. The NY strip was super fatty and, at medium rare, seemed as chewy as a well done filet. Our server was great, with exception of running our card for the wrong table. Frankly - I could not be paid to give this place another shot. Epic fail. read more

This was a diamond in the rough. My friends took us here and I was pleasantly surprised. It is a small dive joint, and you dont think that quality food is going to come out of this small kitchen. I was wrong. We ordered the ceasar salad that was fresh and had a lot of taste, and the star of the night the seafood bolognese. The broth was a buttery white wine loaded with shell fish, served with a buttery custy bread for dipping in the broth. We all could have eaten more. The staff were pleasant, and the chefs in here really like what they do and it comes out in the food. Keep it up! A must when you visit Richmond. You will also love the quirky music boxes on each table that play the oldies. Really fun :-) read more

Note: this was from jan 14 wallowing in my yelp drafts I have friends who come to Millie's whenever they are in Richmond. I had never been able to join them though. So I decided to just make the trip by myself to see what all the hype was about. Walking into Millie's you immediately see what type of place it is. The kitchen is immediately to your right thru the door. It's a tiny square with the cook frantically filling orders. I would dare say most home kitchens have a bigger set up. The whole space gives the vibe of grandma is cooking you dinner plate by plate. The menu is small so no menus just a chalkboard and small print out on the tables listing the specials. I ordered the Cajun mess. A delicious frittata of sausage and crawfish and a side of perfectly done house fries. This food is smack your mother good. It's gosh darn great. Service though stinks. We had the waitress with the stanky face and attitude, but food prevails read more

Millie's Diner - Cajun Mess - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I've always been a fan of brunch and Millie's, and I finally returned for dinner this weekend. My meal was great! First off, the dinner atmosphere is really nice. It's a bit dimly lit, but it still has a pleasant, laid-back vibe. My boyfriend was wearing a baseball cap, and although it might have been a bit too casual for dinner, he didn't feel all that out of place, which was nice. Some might complain about this, but I thought it was cool. The place felt classy without being stuffy. For dinner, we both got the New York strip served over mashed potatoes and topped with grilled asparagus, watermelon and some type of cheese. Really inventive and tasty! My steak was nicely cooked, and great quality, especially when I'm more of a ribeye girl. I loved the way the watermelon provided a different, refreshing twist on a typical steak dish. Everyone else was pleased with their dishes, too, which included Thai shrimp, shrimp and grits and pork chops. To drink, I started with a kir royal (love seeing these on menus!) and then had a glass of Malbec. It was good but not life-changing. Would love to see a slightly expanded by-the-glass wine list here. Service was friendly and prompt. We had a group of 6, and gratuity was added. Keep in mind: Millie's doesn't offer separate checks. Can't wait to return for dinner again! read more

This review is mainly for the out-of-towner or a Richmonder who has never ventured here before. Best for a party of 4 or less. Brunch is their specialty. Its served Saturday and Sunday until 3. Don't try and go in at 2:57 expecting a table. Half the enjoyment is the experience and yours will be hindered if you do. If you only have a half hour for brunch, may I suggest takeout. Okay here is the rundown of how Millie's Diner works. If you arrive at 12pm, expect to be seated around 12:45PM. Why go then if you get an automatic 45 min wait? Because, fool, its worth it. Go inside and you will be joined with other patrons vying for the owner's attention to get your name on a post-it note. Yep, Sex and the City isn't the only one making post-it notes famous. The owner will write your name on one, then ask you how many bloody marys/mimosas you want for your party. Get some and head back outside to join your new 40 best friends outside. Its the best way to cure a hang over. Feeling like you need more of a kick, get the Evil Keevil. Fruity blend of rum, orange, pineapple, and cranberry juice. Its my favorite. The dining area is not large. If you can manage to get a seat at the bar, take it. You get to see all of the food as its made. The cooking area is directly as you walk in the door. When I first went, I couldn't decide what I wanted. But all of the mouth watering choices piled up on the bar, so I chose that way. The Devil's Mess is what made this place a staple in Richmond. Its like an omelet with a blend of sausage, onion, green peppers, and tomato, topped with avocado. I love the Soft Scrambled Eggs with Lobster. The hollandaise is perfect and there is a puff pastry on the top and bottom for soaking up all the extra sauce. I would give yourself at least 2 hours at Millie's. Don't rush yourself. Its well worth every bite. I have introduced many people to Millie's and every time they come back to town, they alway want to come back. I haven't made my way there for dinner yet, but if its like brunch, I can't wait. read more

What can I possibly say that hasn't already been covered? Husband and I dared to try this place around 10:00 on a cold and blustery Sunday morning. Needless to say, it was absolutely mobbed and everyone was smashed inside to get out of the cold. After so many great reviiews (and my husband's favorable memory of the place), though, we couldn't pass up the opportunity, so we waited. We finally got seated at the bar which was excellent as we got a chance to interact with the owner and staff quite a lot which was awesome. The owner (I'm assuming that's who it is) is fantastic - friendly, cool-headed, and obviously enjoys seeing so many happy people in his place (and not just because they're clearly raking in the cash). My Bloody Mary was good (not great) - a little heavy handed on the Worchestshire sauce for me giving it a bit of a strong fishy taste, but I am SUPER picky about my Bloody Marys. Others would probably find them just fine. Husband liked his mimosa which they make with just a splash of OJ for color (trust me, I know, I watched them pour lots of them). But the food -- OH the food! I have been looking for good, house-made corned beef since we moved back to VA 1.5 years ago and finally (!) I found it. Though I was very tempted by the chrorizo pupusa dish, husband urged me to go for the corned beef and the waitress agreed and I am SO happy they did. It was superb. Too often, IMO, places trim all the fat off corned beef leaving it dry; this had nice fatty bits that gave it that melt-in-your-mouth texture, while also having some crunchy bits in it as well. Eggs were cooked perfectly, giving a nice runny yolk-sauce to the whole dish. I contemplated licking the plate, as the owner encouraged me to do, but managed to sop up every bit of goodness with toast. Husband got both the vegetarian mess AND the grilled eggplant and brie sandwich, both of which were divine. This place makes me wish I lived in Richmond!! I can't wait to come back and try something more... perhaps dinner... read more

We really enjoyed Millie's! Expect to wait for a table, but they have a nice patio where you can get a drink and hang out until your name comes up. They specialize in southern comfort food, and it's hard to pick from all the great options on the menu. I ended up getting one of the daily specials (a really great grits dish) and it was amazing. They have solid options for vegetarians, too. The service is also very friendly. We would definitely eat here again! read more

When dining at Millie's for brunch (Saturdays 10am and Sundays 9am) it is imperative that you show up early. We arrived at 8:30am on Sunday and a line had already begun to form. The place is teeny-tiny and people know it fills up fast. It was kinda cool (actually very COLD while outside in the winter) watching the chefs prep food. Thankfully we weren't too far back in the line and were able to be a part of the first wave seated at 9am when they opened. Our server Caitlin was very busy but sweet, attentive and very knowledgeable. After taking our orders she (and really the whole Millie's crew) kept our coffees and waters filled. The food took a while, but as expected with a group of 5. It gave us time to enjoy our coffee and drool over all the delicious looking plates arriving at neighboring tables. Coffee: so very good, and I'm a picky coffee drinker! I drank about 3 more cups than I normally do on a good day! I seriously contemplated purchasing a package... until I remembered I only have a Keurig now. General Lee: a housemade cheddar biscuit cut in half, topped with sausage gravy, ham and 2 poached eggs. It also comes with home fries - large chunks of potatoes fried up with onion and peppers. AMAZING, lip-smackin good, delicious, no-way-I-couldn't-eat-every-single-bite kind of good! So bring your appetite to Millie's cuz you're sure to lick your plate clean! *Tipping the chefs here is very much appreciated - and they show you so! Every time $$ is put in their bucket, the chef rings a bell and yells things like "Thank you for tipping the chef! God Bless America!!" *Seating policy - if your entire party has not arrived yet, you will not be seated. Like I said, the place is tiny and it wouldn't be fair to those waiting to be seated. *No menu changes. None. (so NO, you cannot sub bacon or whatever it is that your heart fancies but they don't already include in the meal. Bummer, but the food is still so good!) *Millie's accepts early seating reservations for parties of 6 or more. read more

Millie's Diner - The General Lee - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

This place rocks. PAUL rocks. I am in love with this place and him! heheehh No, seriously. The wait was not that long and I had the most enjoyable time chatting with paul and of course drinking bloody marys (they were delicious with the perfect amount of spice btw) - he just seems like he's having so much fun partying / managing at Millie's. He seems so passionate about what he is doing and genuinely gets to know his customers. Now, onto the food...the devil's mess and soft scrambled eggs with lobster were FABULOUS!!!!!!!!! I barely shared my lobster scrambled eggs (just wouldn't let him touch it lol)and finished this huge portion (and part of his devil's mess)...it was THAT delicious and flavorful! This place is just such a homey, fun place to go and I know that if I lived in Richmond, i would be a regular. Paul showed me the dinner menu as well and I can't wait to make another richmond run so I can stop by for dinner and then brunch the next day ;) oh my love, Paul, found out I was visiting from DC and knew I would be driving back that day and gave me "Millie's Jukebox Hits" for the ride home.....the songs were awesome and now I can't wait to go back!!! sigh. love. read more

Being the only person in Richmond who hasn't tried Millie's, I decided to check it out last Sunday. I really don't understand the hype. The food was good...not great. We got there a half-hour before they opened and the line had already started at the door. Maybe I am just cranky and near-sighted, but why do restaurants think it's cool to write the menu on a blackboard? Half the time the writing is so small, you can't read it. If you have any type of food allergy, it's impossible to discern exactly what ingredients are included in each dish when all the words are crammed together and there is someone behind you breathing down your neck because they can't see the board either. But I digress...to the food. I had the devil's mess, which was quite tasty. Unfortunately, the server brought me huevos instead. To her credit, she was super cool about the mix up and brought out an order of devils mess a few minutes later. My husband ordered a poached egg on a bagel with smoked salmon. The eggs and potatoes were cold and he found a hair in his food. Gross. Some helpful hints: If you order any of the "mess" dishes, you are unable to substitute/hold ingredients. There are no pancakes, waffles, etc. on the menu, so if your kid is a picky eater, this may not be the best place for you. Luckily my son was happy to eat toast and a side of bacon and thought it was the best place ever. read more

I know, I'm committing blasphemy by only giving Millie's a 3-star rating, but if I was only rating them on their brunch and not their dinner as well, they'd be getting less. Dinner -- phenomenal! They can easily rank right up there with the higher end restaurants in Richmond, and for less money...always a big plus. Brunch -- well (queue screeching break sound effects) not so much. The food was good, don't get me wrong. But nothing that I couldn't get elsewhere. Certainly not enough to warrant a 2 hour wait. Without coffee. (Thank God for the Starbucks in the grocery store across the street!) Not only a 2 hour wait, but the process just to get on the seating list was crazy. So you have to fight the crowds to get inside, and then ask people who look like they might work there where to sign in. Walk through the restaurant, and attempt to get that person's attention. Usually involving yelling over the people sitting at the bar eating. Then going back outside (because there's no waiting room inside) and straining to hear the old dude call out a name every time he walks out the door. Again, blasphemy...but not worth it. For brunch, go to Kitchen 64. The food is just as good, and there's no ordeal for a table. read more

Ok, so the food wasn't the best, but that was the least of my concerns. I had a crab and egg enchilada. It was ok, but I could barely taste the crab over the amount of cheese smothered on it. Not bad though. The problem was that, after waiting for 45 minutes for a table, as soon as we finish eating the server informs us that we need to either order drinks or leave, because people are waiting. Hey, I understand the need to move things along. After all, I waited my 45 minutes. But to be rushed out after paying for meals and drinks for 4 people is rude and amateurish. We should not be the ones feeling grateful for being allowed to sit on your tables for a few minutes. Restaurants should be grateful that they are open because of paying customers like us. Definitely my first and last visit to Millie's Diner, and I'll make sure my clients know why they shouldn't eat there either. read more