The music and vibe? Spot on. The ambiance was smooth, the energy was right, and the playlist leaned into 90's r&b which is rare for Carytown. Plus I think it's black-owned--which made it even more refreshing to experience. The crab dip was a miss for me--too soupy, and it had shrimp, which I wasn't expecting from something labeled "crab dip." The wings were solid though, and the cocktails looked great. I kept it classic with tequila, soda, and lime. The host was super accommodating and even comped our appetizer after a short wait. They've got some things to tighten up, but I'd definitely go back. The vibe alone is worth it. Support this spot and give them some grace as they grow. read more

Tried this restaurant tonight with my mom who needed a night out from a stressful work week. Our reservation was at 7pm, I arrived around 7:09pm. The hostess was super sweet -- KENYA! I got sat and waited for my mom for a bit. Someone sat in the 2 top table beside me after and was greeted first but I was greeted immediately after. I ordered waters and a Lemon Drop Martini while I waited. My mom arrived, ordered a Grey Goose and Orange juice (the server did not understand a Tan-query and Orange juice order) and I took photos in the bathroom where the lighting is best, in the main restaurant area, it was very much dim. We ordered the Spinach and Artichoke Dip for our appetizer (8/10 because you need to spread the dip with knife, soft chips won't allow you to dip) , Mink burger (with steak fries) (5/10 because fries were not fresh and burger was charred, overly well done) Steak & Cheese (6/10 because same fry reason & I felt like it may have been sitting, it was dry, I'm gonna add mayo at home.) We took our food to go. Also, ordered 2 shots from bar! Awesome bartenders. And had to ask hostess for silverware. Overall, we will be back but just for cocktails and apps at most, never dinner. The entertainment was so nice as we were leaving, live band came in! (The music was mostly hip hop and r&b) Also wish there was pay transparency -- 18% gratuity! read more

It was my first time at Mink Cocktail Lounge and I went around 7pm on a Saturday night to meet a friend for drinks. I didn't know what to expect, but I'm glad we went early because if you want to sit down, you definitely need to get there before it fills up. The spot is cute. Black owned. Dark and moody but still classy. The clientele was nice in my opinion. Mostly Black customers but the upscale, doing business type. It's a good mix of chill and grown. There's plenty of space and hookah is available. It is a little dark inside and some of the lights weren't working, but overall the ambiance is beautiful. It felt like an old school upscale speakeasy. When we first got there it was pretty calm. By 9pm it was getting packed, even though it still felt kind of quiet at first. After 9, it shifted into more of a club vibe with a live band and more people started coming in. The band was really good. That was my favorite part of the night. It's definitely a great date spot for a casual drink. The food was solid. Spinach dip was good and came with pita chips, which I love. 8/10. Crab stuffed shrimp was good too. 8/10. Everything came out hot. Drinks were decent. Purple Haze Punch 7/10. Key Lime Martini 8/10 and that one tastes like key lime pie, so that was my favorite. I did get the wrong drink at one point, the Christini martini. It wasn't what I ordered but I still drank it. It was pretty and decent, just not as good as the key lime one and I felt like the bartender finessed me into a more expensive drink just for the service fee. I ordered the original drinks with a server. Now the service. Service in the whole place was bad, especially once more people started coming in. It was bad when it was empty so you KNOW what that means with ppl there. Between the slow service, the drink mix up, and being charged for something I didn't order, that's really why I had to take a star or 2 away. Also, there's an automatic 18% added to every tab. They'll tell you it's not a tip, but it definitely feels like one and might be one. And they still expect you to tip on top of that. That part didn't sit right with me. Be prepared to pay about 40% on top of what you order. It felt a little finessed, and I think people should know that going in. You know that black owned is KNOWN for the bar finesse but this one is a little bit more blatant. Overall, I'd go back for the band and the vibe once it turns up, but the service and extra fees are something to keep in mind. And get there early if you want a seat. read more

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I visited back in May I believe it was a soft opening. I still dream about that crab dip The vide is very grown and sexy. It's dimly lit and very intimate. The service was great from the moment we walked in to when we left. Everyone was attentive and personable. I can't wait to revisit! read more

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The vibe, ambience and decor are amazing - luxurious vibes. I was really excited to try some cocktails for the happy hour. Cocktails and appetizers are $3 off which still leaves everything a little pricey for happy hour. Looking at the menu I was a little unsure of what to get. The appetizers all felt heavy - spinach dip, crab dip. We ended up ordering the cheesesteak egg rolls that took a while to come out. The meat on the inside was mushy and I was not expecting that... at all. On to the drinks, I started with the purple kush punch which was too sweet for my tastebuds. I tried the momma daisy which ended up being too sour. My sister got the Lyn lime martini - it was awful. She also got a 50/50 martini with a twist which is usually half gin or vodka and half vermouth. We watched the bartender make the drink, he put in half olive juice. No vermouth at all. Keep in mind, they just opened so give them a few months. The best feedback I can possibly provide to help them turn this around is to reconsider the drink and food menu. A lot of it is essentially the same with a little twist. read more

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I think this is one of my new favorite spots ! The chicken wings were delicious. Not dry at all. The artichoke dip was CHEESY. I was also able to get $6 margs during their late night happy hour. They knew what they were doing with that one. The ambiance is great. Came here for date night. They also have an outdoor patio area. I may have to come back here and do some late night work as the music was bumping !! I will definitely be back especially because the service was amazing read more

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Ambiance: Immediately when you walk in you catch a vibe; very intimate, grown and sexy. The music was great, some good throw backs and new age R&B hits. 10/10 Service: The front of house staff seems very relaxed. My friend and I waited about 7 minutes before someone acknowledged us being there. By that time there was a line down the stairs and even though there were vacant tables, they weren't ready for new customers. With this being my first time visiting, that demeanor within itself was very off putting. Our server, Ashlan, was great. Timely, courteous, responsive. She gave us good suggestions for our food. She, along with the ambiance, was top tier. Drink: I will be honest, I did not enjoy any drink I had. I tried 2 Specialty Cocktails: Bonita Blue Bonnet and Birthday B*tch. For both, I don't feel like they were crafted properly. The taste of alcohol was so potent. For $20 drinks, I expected higher craftsmanship. The quality of the drinks did not match the aesthetic of the venue. I ended up ordering French 75's with a tequila sub. I requested it be made a specific way and was not pleased. I ended up asking for the ingredients to be brought to the table so I could do it myself. It genuinely seemed like liquor was the only ingredient for each drink. I would advise giving the bartenders additional support to ensure everything that is produced is a reflection of Mink. Food: I tried the Street Corn Dip, Cheesesteak Egg Rolls and the Spinach Artichoke Dip. The Street Corn Dip and Cheesesteak Egg Rolls were top tier. 0 complaints. All praise! Overall, I would rate my experience as a 5/10. I would take into consideration this establishment is fairly new and may still be finding their footing. There needs to be some kind of order as it pertains to greeting, seating and front of house service. The craftsmanship of the Specialty Cocktails needs to be reworked. It is odd to me that signature drinks are not guaranteed to be enjoyable. The quality needs to be assured. I think the mixes have great potential but the execution was not proper. The food was amazing. It was hot and seasoned well. Our server was great! Great potential, execution needs reimagining. read more

Had a reservation, waited 5-10 minutes to get seated while looking at a vacuum full of of hair on the hostess desk. Drinks were mediocre, I'm all about pouring heavy but they just made my eyes water due to being so strong. Took over an hour to get basic appetizers, and they were mediocre other than the crab balls, those were pretty good. Santa fe egg rolls were mid, sauce was good though. Music was ear bleeding, music choice was good it's just the volume was far too much for a small venue. read more

I ordered the Bonita Blue Bonnet, which was described as a margarita with blue curaçao. In reality, it tasted nothing like a margarita--it was more like sipping straight from a Don Julio bottle. The ratios were completely off, and the cocktail lacked any balance. The drink menu felt scattered, with overly complicated concoctions and no real understanding of classic cocktails. It seemed more focused on flair than flavor. We also ordered the crab dip, but were served a shrimp mixture instead--no explanation, just a totally different dish. Mink is all aesthetics and no substance. Add in the 18% automatic gratuity and the extra 2.5% credit card fee, it's not worth it. Many other spots in carytown that know how to make a proper cocktail. read more

This was a nice little hidden gem in the heart of Carytown. Nice ambiance, staff were courteous, and the chicken wings were delicious.

Friday night - completely empty and got denied for dress code. I'm wearing khakis by the way. Not a vibe.

I was so excited to visit this black owned establishment! Upon entering, we were told there was about a 10 minute wait for our party of 4. A few minutes later a woman approached us asking if we had been helped....I asked if we could be seated in an open section we spotted and she advised it was being reserved for a very large party. Cool! Shortly after, a man identified as the owner approaches and the first hostess mentions we are waiting for a table. He looks at us and very rudely yells "I'm trying to get things together for this event!!! THEY are priority right now!" We ended up leaving because of that and I do NOT plan to step foot back into that place!! read more

We visited mink on a midweek night. The ambiance was really nice. The chairs and table were comfy any the staff was very attentive. The music was at a good volume and it was some good tunes. We order the southwestern egg rolls and the crab dip and the caramel cheese cake. I would rate it to be 5/10. The food was ok, it was the appropriate temperature it just left a lot to be desired. The crab dip had to much sour cream or cream cheese it was very tangy and creamy kinda over powered the crab. The caramel cheese cake was little to one note (sweet) for me and very dense. We ordered a French 75 and a raspberry lemon drop. The French 75 was not right but the lemon drop was pretty good it tasted like they used purée instead of like typical syrup which is nice. They do have a service charge for using a card and they are in the higher end when it comes to drink prices. Overall they may still be working out some kinks but I feel like they have some good foundation with the service. read more

Mink Cocktail Lounge - Menu - Lounges Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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This restaurant just opened up and is already a favorite of my family. The ambiance was amazing and they have a balcony overlooking Cary Street which was very nice at nighttime. We all tried different food and drinks but everything was delicious. The Philly cheesesteak was unbelievably good and the burger was delicious as well. The only issue was the food didn't come out all together. It was staggered over 2-3 minutes. For drinks I had the Ricky Ricardo which was topped with shaved chocolate. Overall this was a wonderful visit and we plan on stopping by much more. The food was great and the waitstaff was very friendly. 9.5/10 would recommend read more

Respectfully We started off by ordering an espresso martini--only to be told they didn't have anything to make it. Moved on to the crab dip, but what came out was some kind of shrimp mixture with stale, rock-hard bread. Tried to salvage the visit with chicken wings, but they came out completely raw. We left them untouched on the table. No apology, no attempt to make it right. Just a string of disappointments from start to finish. I rarely leave reviews, but this was a terrible experience. Definitely hoping yall pull it together. read more

This is the spot! The vibe was super chill but still fun, and the ambiance was grown and luxe. The staff were so welcoming and made the whole experience even better. The food was amazing. The corn dip and egg rolls were next level. All the drinks coming out looked just as good as they tasted. I had one called the "Birthday Bitch" and it packed such a punch of flavor in the best way. Highly recommend if you're looking for a place that gets the vibe right and delivers on both food and drinks. read more

I got the garlic Parm wings. It was good. They don't have boneless options bone and and I got a strawberry lemon drop cocktail. It was really good. Service was quick. It is a beautiful aesthetic for lounging music choice was good. The volume does range from quiet to loud. read more

We came on a Sunday night and I was very impressed Very mature crowd The food was amazing the music was giving 90's Taylor was a very good waitress I will definitely be coming back read more

Atmosphere is a vibe! Richmond needed this! The drinks did what they needed to do. Great service as well!