I'll be honest, this wasn't my first choice for Christmas dinner, but our original spot cancelled dinner service on the holiday, so I jumped at the open spot here. I've had a couple spotty experiences at OOB, but I was proven wrong on Christmas 2021. A pre-set menu can sometimes be a problem for folx with food allergies, as one member of our party has many, but this menu and the kitchen worked together to meet their needs. We had excellent service that night, great ambiance, too. I'll definitely give OOBanothe shot for a regular/ non- holiday meal!! read more

I am so disappointed in my non-experience with this restaurant. Coming from the Philadelphia area, I was so excited to eat at a familiar establishment. I made a 9pm reservation and called ahead to say I would be less than 10 minutes late. The person on the phone said no problem, you just need to order promptly. Manager was completely insolent and rude and said we are closed and you did not speak to me. I had to show him my phone to prove I called the location. Ridiculous and insulting answer in the day and age of every customer counts. read more

My mom got me and my wife a gift certificate to Bookbinders for our anniversary. I was happy to break free from our Near West End comfort zone and try something new. Our experience didn't really make us feel like we had been missing out on too much. The food was pretty good and the seafood quality met expectations, but nothing outstanding. The crab cakes had a decent taste and were lump, however they weren't special and the lines of sauce they squirted on there were 7-11ish. We had the fresh catch and it was cooked properly. Sides were of good portion and no complaints. The service was really strange. It was one of those 3 people come by every now and then, but you never know who is actually your server. The owner did come by at the end talk for a minute which was nice (he got around to each table). Overall, I almost gave it 4 stars, but I really wish that they would kick it into high gear and make this place the steak and seafood house we need in Richmond. read more

The food was great! The outdoor area is so pretty and feels very special. Even on a 90 degree day it was pleasant to sit outside because they have fans and tents. The staff was super friendly and accommodating. We had a great time and will be back. The seafood was super fresh and delicious and we loved the lobster mac & cheese! read more

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Came in here for my graduation dinner with my husband which they absolute did not acknowledge by even a simple "congratulations" even though we included this info when making reservations. When you walk in theres an unsightly lobster tank, but not a nice one like you'd expect to find at this place but more like one you'd find at a fish market. Ordered the she crab soup and half a dozen raw oysters, both were good but nothing special. Our food took forever to come out and we had to remind the server that we were still waiting on it. I got the lobster mac and cheese and my husband got the halibut special. Again, everything was good, not great or phenomenal. This place is definitely over priced for what you're getting and the overall experience. Came here looking for something special to celebrate a special occasion but was not impressed. Would not recommend. read more

Old Original Bookbinders - Lobster mac and cheese - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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20+ years ago, we visited a fabulous Bookbinder's restaurant in Philly. We're thrilled to find a Bookbinders in Richmond. The elegant surroundings of a converted tobacco warehouse set the right tone for the sumptuous meal. The crab cake, diver scallops and steak were delicious. we will definitely be back next time we're in the area. The owner is a gracious host, and wait staff are top flight. read more

Bookbinder's was a great experience. My fiance' made reservations during our visit to Richmond on Cinco De Mayo for a Saturday night dinner.We both love Seafood and Bookbinders came in on the Top List of Seafood Restos that you must visit when in Richmond. I ordered the 1lb lobster which was plenty for one person, and a side of creamed spinach. The lobster was DELICIOUS - nothing but fresh and lobster sweetness. It is a bit messy to eat because it is served in a big bowl rested on ice pebbles to keep it fresh and chilled the whole time you're eating it. Paired perfectly with lemon and their butter. It was heaven in my mouth! VERY delicious! My fiance' ordered the stuffed swordfish and crab. I actually didn't even pay attention to his entree because I was so preoccupied with my juicy lobster! The swordfish was very flavorful and grilled perfectly. We loved the creamed spinach and felt that it went well with both of our dinners. For dessert - we ordered the NY chocolate pudding cake - SO SO SO GOOD and a must if you are chocolate loves like us. Super tall chocolate cake, i believe it was 4 layers, topped with whipped cream and a side of vanilla ice cream. VERY GOOD, and it was definitely a PERFECT end to our wonderful dinner at Bookbinder's. read more

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Last night's dining adventure took me to a locale whose genesis was over 150 years ago, in 1865, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, "The Cradle of American Independence." It has hosted such iconic guests; from Marilyn Monroe to President George Bush Sr. Now, this restaurant resides in the Tobacco Row area of Shockoe Bottom, here in my city...RVA. As I entered into the establishment, sounds of classical jazz filled the atmosphere. Business men toasting to new successes as, just a table away, laughter and smiles to celebrate another year of life. Ladies and Gentlemen of Discovering RVA, it is a privilege to unveil to you, The Original Bookbinders Seafood & Steakhouse. @bookbinders_restaurant . Appetizer pt.1- New England Clam Chowder- A warm and creamy cup filled with chunks of potatoes and clams. . Appetizer pt. 2- Seared Cajun Tuna- Well seasoned and Seared Rare with a Ginger Soy Dressing and streaks of Wasabi running along the plate. . My Goodness...Fam, Zach made me try this and needless to say...NO REGRETS! . Entree- Tender Herb Grilled Swordfish atop a bed of Tuscan White Beans, fresh Baby Arugula and house made Bacon-Tomato Jam. . I was nervous because I've had swordfish before and it was extremely tough, but Executive Chef Chris Booth put all of that anxiety to rest. Thank you Good Sir. @chrisbooth2306 . Wine Pairing- a glass of Ken Forrester, Petit, Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2017. . Dessert- A smooth, thick piece of Dark Chocolate Pate accompanied by blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and raspberries. On top sweet whipped cream and garnished with mint leaves encircled by a ring of enriched Melba Sauce. . Zach- Man, Thank you so much for your service, patience, rapport, and candor. You made my first experience at The Original Bookbinders a memorable one. Fam, if you get a chance to make it out to this gem, ask for Zach, and tell him Mr. RVA sent you! . #discoveringrva . #804 #va #virginia #rva #richmond #richmondva #rvadine #rvaeats #Rvafood #food #foodies #foodshare #foodstagram #foodiesofinstagram #yummy #foodblog #foodblogger #foodlover #foodpost #foodography #delicious #delish #foodpic #eating #foodandwine read more

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We travel to Richmond several times a year and love exploring new restaurants in the area. We decided to try Bookbinders due to the amazing reviews. We walked in and the interior is beautiful and the outside seating area looked wonderful. For appetizer we ordered the calamari and the escargot and both were wonderful and that is where it ended. My husband and I both order the filet medium rare and my daughter ordered the New York Strip medium rare. When we cut into the filets it was like shredded beef, pulled pork consistency which means it wasn't a true filet. We left half the meat in a shredded meat consistency on the side of the plate which should have given the server and management a hint that something was wrong but they never said anything. My daughter's strip had absolutely no seasoning on it what so ever. We asked for a list of desserts and the server said they had chocolate soufflé. They are one of my favorite things so we decided to order 3. We let the server know we understand they normally take at least 20 minutes and we were prepared. However the server said, "Oh no, It doesn't take that long." That was a huge red flag. When they came out it was just a congealed, hardened mousse like consistency, not warm in the slightest. This restaurant has the hallmark of being an amazing restaurant. We have gone to a number of high end steak houses such as DC Prime in Ashburn, VA, Flemings, Morton's, Ruth's Chris and sadly this doesn't even come close. For spending over $350 the quality was no where near. We felt there was no point of saying anything because we ate the food since we were hungry. Wehave a feeling it wouldn't change anything since that is the meat they purchased or butchered and there is no way to change it. read more

The crab cake is 8ozs with no filler! This was a standout! Never had anything like that before. I even had trouble finishing my crab cake! read more

Old Original Bookbinders - 8 oz crab cake! - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Absolutely incredible. The waiter was excellent and new every dish. Service is top notch. Shrimp bisque is absolutely delicious. I also had a filet filet mignon that was cooked with coffee grounds. Impeccable. I didn't need a knife to cut the steak, and to be honest I didn't even need teeth to chew it. Absolutely incredible. The atmosphere and hospitality represented a 10 star restaurant. read more

First of all, I would like to thank the owner for introducing himself. Asking us if our dinner was going well. Only a few times have I ever seen owners do this, but it definitely made a huge difference. I felt more welcomed and satisfied. I will always remember him introducing himself with fine customer service. The food was simply amazing. Nothing too fancy or overwhelming, which in my opinion is great. Some fine dining restaurants try too hard and it backfires. I had the new york strip, taste was great! My family had other dishes such as the lobster and filet mignon. There were no complaints about any dish. I would highly recommend coming to this restaurant if you around the area. I would guarantee you will not be disappointed! read more

Old Original Bookbinders - New york strip! - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

This place is AMAZING! I was visiting Richmond for a couple of days for my birthday. I researched for some great seafood restaurants and Old Original Bookbinder's has so many great reviews. So I thought why not. Man, was I not disappointed. Tim, our waiter, was the best! He knew the history and menu as if he'd been working there since the beginning. I had the crab cake appetizer. Nothing BUT crab meat...no extra filling what so ever. My entree was the NY Strip with Garlic Butter Shrimp. The steak was huge and sooo good. The shrimp were colossal and delicious. My friend had the mozzarella for an appetizer...she said it was really good. Her entree was the scallops, by the way those scallops melted in your mouth. This was an amazing experience. I will definitely be returning whenever I visit again. read more

From the atmosphere, to the food, to the customer service everything was amazing! We got lucky and sat on the patio on an evening with beautiful weather. The food was so delicious. I'll be back & I recommend you try them too! read more

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Amazing food! They put my name on the menu for my birthday. Our server Hunter was knowledgeable of the menu and very kind!! My steak was cooked to perfection. And my friends both enjoyed their meals! Overall 10/10. read more

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Amazing amazing food, service and all around experience! From the moment we walked in we were given an all around experience, the hostess was very kind and gladly sat us. Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu as well as drink/wine pairing. They are a family owned business and you definitely feel how they go the extra mile to satisfy you. The steak was cooked to perfection, salmon was delicious as well as the crab cake! The lobster Mac and cheese is a big serving and definitely enough to share with 2-3 people. Calamari is seasoned very nicely and paired with a semi spicy aioli sauce. Highly recommend for date night, birthdays or any event! Pricing was great for the service and quality of food you receive! No complaints at all! read more

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For the money we spent, food was disappointing. Steak was nothing special, crab-stuffed salmon was dry on edges, soup was just ok. Won't be back next time we want to splurge on a luxury meal. read more

We came here for our anniversary and had a phenomenal experience. We started with the calamari, which was seasoned and fried to perfection. Then, we ordered steaks for our main entrees with a side of mushrooms and creamed corn. We ended with a huge piece of chocolate cake before we waddled out of there. The night was perfect and our waiters were so pleasant. Thanks for an awesome experience, Bookbinder's! Also, the free bread was amazing and I dream about it every day. read more

My husband and I was trying to figure out where we wanted to go as we had planned to go to Fl for our wedding anniversary. I saw the restaurant before when searching for a location to celebrate my husband's birthday, but we ended up choosing another establishment. Upon our arrival, we were amazed how personal our experienced were when we saw our personalized menu to bring in our 12th year anniversary! The waiter was helpful in choosing the right meal and drinks for our special occasion! The food was prepared with perfection specially those oysters! My husband had the salmon stuffed crab cake entree and I had the flounder stuff crab cake entree. Delicious! We celebrated and shared our anniversary with our young daughter, who enjoyed her time as well (much to say from a picky eater!) Great experience, ambiance, and a warm staff from the time we arrived and left! Our experienced was topped off with a photo station! We look to share more special moments in the future! read more

Old Original Bookbinders - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Came here to celebrate my bday. Staff was excellent and accommodating to the change in my party size. Everyone really enjoyed their meal. Such a wonderful place to celebrate any type of special occasion! read more

Old Original Bookbinders - Personalized Menus - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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My husband brought me here for my birthday. It's definitely a nice restaurant, perfect for special occasions. The bread they offer was awesome to me but my husband wasn't a fan. The food itself was good. I had the salmon with corn au gratin. My husband got filet mignon with shrimp. He originally wanted a lobster tail but the told us they were only offering whole lobsters at this time. Definitely a good experience, can't wait to go back. read more

Great food and service, that's all u need to know. Sat at the bar, treated well, enjoyed our meal.

The staff, the ambiance and the overall experience was spectacular. My wife and I enjoyed our anniversary here and it did not disappoint. The owner of the restaurant greeted us as we walked in and offered to take photos of us. He was very kind and genuine. He even checked on us during our meal. Our waitress (I wish I remembered her name!) was thoughtful, polite and professional. She gave great recommendations and convinced me to try the snapping turtle soup, which was FANTASTIC. Wife ordered the petite filet mignon along with shrimp scampi and I ordered the 12 oz Filet Mignon with scallops. The cheesecake was amazing and the top neck clams were fresh and succulent! OUTSTANDING and top notch restaurant!! read more

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I had a Relative with her husband flying into Richmond, and they wanted to eat at one of the Best Steak Houses in Richmond.... So, I sent her several links, which included Ruth Chris. She made the Choice of Original Bookbinders. I have heard many great things about the Restaurant and Food. I was looking forward to my Restaurant Experience as this was also my First time, including the other 6 people with us. She had made Reservations. Parking was great as they have a NO problem in finding a parking place for the Restaurant is across the street and it is well lighted. You did not have to have the worry of coming out to your auto when leaving. Upon entering, I noticed the Tanks of Lobsters, and as I entered, the atmosphere gave you the feeling you were in the Deep South. We stopped at the bar to have drinks before sitting. I ordered a Dewer's & Water with a twist. The Drink, was perfect as it was not too much Scotch, or too much water. When we finally sat down, the Waiter introduced himself and of course I was anxious to check the Menu. I noticed how everything was Ala cart. Upon ordering I decided on the 18oz. Ancho-Rubbed Cowboy Rib-eye Med-rare. We decided to order the Seafood Sampler which had Lobster; large chunks of Crab Meat; Shrimp; Fresh Shuck Oysters & Claims. I had one of the Claims and I thought it had just come of the water as it was sweet with a hint of the Salty Sea. WOW! What flavor it had... That was a 5 PLUS dish! When my Cowboy Rib-eye came out, I was anxious to cut into it to see if they cooked it the way I had ordered. Since 3 others ordered the same dish, I also wanted to make sure I did not get one of those well cook steaks... The Rib-eye was cooked to perfection and when I cut into it... it was tender, and when it entered my mouth... MY taste-buds went into over drive in excitement in how it had a nice Charcoal taste with the chimichurri on top. It was like this piece of meat melted in my mouth.... I was so over whelmed in what I had... I just wanted to take my time to savory every bite. We had Salads, and the Hanover Tomatoes tasted like they were picked that morning.... We ordered several deserts so we could pass them around... Now, I was beginning to feel like the "Pillsbury Dough Boy"... To TOP my excellent meal off, I had a Cognac VSOP... Finally, I would like to say.... This is a great 5 Star Restaurant for both Steak & Seafood. The Atmosphere and food was Outstanding... It is in the OLD Lucky Strike Building. In fact, my cousin who was with us... Her mother worked in the building when Cigarettes was the thing to smoke. We probably ate in the very room where she worked on the line in making Lucky Strikes... If I could have given this a 5 PLUS rating... I would have. I am looking forward in returning, and I hope you take the time to go.... :-) read more

My husband and I came for a romantic dinner. As mentioned in other reviews, it is very expensive, so just for special occasions, but you get what you pay for. The food, wine and dessert was amazing. The crab cakes were pure meat, amazing. The lobster mac and cheese was to die for, and I'm not even a huge lobster fan. Our steaks were cooked perfectly. The big stand out is the service. The service was amazing. We were constantly checked, the waiter could discuss everything on the menu. Our glasses were never empty and the minute I was done using a utensil after a course, it was replaced with a clean one. This is the service I would expect from a classy restaurant and they clearly pride themselves in their work. read more

Old Original Bookbinders - Steak and crab cake - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I was between three and four stars, but the food was pretty darn good, so I'm going for four. We went to Bookbinders for a friends' birthday dinner. It's pretty much your standard, upscale steak/seafood restaurant. It's big, slightly masculine and dimly lit with oversized booths, big wine bottle displays and a large-and-in-charge lobster tank right inside the front door. Since it was a birthday dinner, bottles of wine were in order. We were slightly surprised and turned off by the markup on wine bottles. We started our meal with the popular Cakebread Cellars Chardonnay ($75). I know I've gotten this at other restaurants in town for less money. Other popular wines like Silver Oak and Caymus also seemed high. We went with a more obscure Coted du Rhone with our steaks, which was probably less marked up. For a nice restaurant, our server was, well, kind of clumsy. She knocked over a beer bottle (luckily the person it was knocked onto caught it), she almost pulled the bread basket off the table and was just not too with it. She was also very pushy about upselling. I know at any corporate-ish restaurant you're going to get some of that, but it was kind of over the top here. We started our meal with the crab cake appetizer and the cajun tuna. After hearing about Bookbinder's crab cakes for years, I was kind of underwhelmed. They were mushy and barely held together without much flavor. The cajun tuna, on the other hand, was awesome. It was rare, fresh, well-spiced and it came with a very good, spicy wasabi sauce on the side. This dish was a big hit. The sourdough bread was also very good. It was warm, crusty and hard to stop eating. The main-course menu had your standard steak, seafood and combo items. I went with the medium-rare petit filet with the blue cheese topping. Other people at my table got a regular filet and filets with Oscar topping. We also got sides of creamed corn, mashed potatoes and asparagus. Everyone's steaks were cooked perfectly. The Oscar topping was amazing. The Oscar steaks were served over big, flavorful asparagus spears with mounds of crab and hollandaise on top. My blue cheese topping was also pretty darn good, but if I went back, I'd probably just go Oscar. I personally wished my steak had been a littler crisper on the outside, but I really like that contrast between a crisp, flavorful outside and rare-ish inside. Everyone else was very happy. The sides were all good. The mashed potatoes were fluffy and garlicky, and the creamed corn was sweet, cheesy indulgence at its finest. The asparagus was topped with hollandaise. More of the goodness that came with the Oscar. We were all to full for dessert, and we were disappointed in the dessert wine selection. It was small without any red ones. There were ports, but not red dessert wines. We went on a Friday night with an 8:45 reservation. By the time we left a bit after 10:30, the restaurant was completely empty except for us. This was kind of weird, but no big deal. I'd prefer a place that's a bit busier on a weekend night, but whatever. Despite the service hiccups, the meal was exactly what I expected for a quality steakhouse meal. Nothing inventive, just standards done right. Next time I'm in the mood for this, I'll definitely consider returning to Bookbinder's. If you go and park in the lot across the street, make sure you let the host know. They'll give you a card for free parking. read more

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I went to dinner last night for a group meeting. The ambiance was amazing. It was quiet enough for everyone to hear the presenter. There were about 35 people and it wasn't cramped. The waiters were quick and respectful of the presentation. They served white and red wine (Cab) as part of the menu. The Cab was amazing! We had the shrimp bisque soup for an appetizer. It was warm, buttery, and flavorful! Caesar salad and bread was served and it was a good size for an appetizer. I ordered the Petite Filet Mignon which came with broccoli and potatoes. It was delicious and the steak was cooked just as requested (medium). For dessert I had New York Cheesecake with an amazing crust and topping. It was very very good. Worth the extra calories. The waiters were friendly, professional, and even funny. I am pleased and would go there again for dinner on my own! read more

Old Original Bookbinders - Petite Filet Mignon (medium), broccoli, and potatoes - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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We came here on New Year's Eve and they don't serve their mina menu, just a 4 course pre-fix menu and add on a 20% gratuity no matter the size of your party. I knew that going in and liked the menu options, so we decided to try it out. Once we were seated, our waitress brought us bread and reminded us that it was a pre-fix menu. She then came back about 5 minutes later to see if we were ready to order, which we were. I had the mini crab cakes to start with and they were very tasty and full of grab meat. For my second course I had the lobster bisque soup, which was very good, but there wasn't any lobster in it. For my main course I had the ribeye and that was topped with fried onions (which makes anything better) and I'm not even sure what side came with that, so it wasn't that memorable. For dessert, I had the buttermilk pecan pie a la mode which was amazing.....I ate every bite of it. The food was all very good, but I felt like we were being rushed through our meal, which was a bit disappointing. The courses came out way too fast and I noticed that other tables around us weren't being rushed the way we were. Our server wasn't very attentive either. I had to ask another server for a spoon for my dessert since she only brought over a fork even though my dessert included ice cream. I guess she figured she didn't need to work too hard since she knew we were already being charged 20% gratuity, which was disappointing. I'd come back again to try their main menu and hopefully the service will be better. read more

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Old school, good food and service. Excellent seafood, I didn't try the steak but they looked amazing. To give you a perspective on service, the owner stopped by everyone's table to make sure we were pleased and enjoying our experience; it wasn't overbearing, just nice hospitality. read more

We went for the Valentine's experience , and have no regrets. Special kudos to the bartender, as the cocktails (a martini and a negroni) were outstanding. The crab cakes deserve their outstanding reputation. The three course meal selections were a good variety, and everything we had was delicious. Service was good but not stellar, but did not detract from the experience. I would definitely return for another evening. read more

We could not have been more disappointed in a meal. Ridiculous prices and honest review, we have had better food at a cafeteria. The owner was more concerned with taking pictures than the swill coming out of the kitchen. Do not spend your money here. $256 and I could not get home fast enough to brush my teeth. read more

The food was superb. Serving was more than I could handle at one sitting. I ended up getting a take home box. Our waitress was very attentive. Atmosphere was excellent. I'd definitely go back. read more

It was good for our anniversary but nothing too special. The building was beautiful and the atmosphere was nice. We were greeted with friendly smiles however I think we had our reservation maybe for not such a good time seeing as how the waitress seemed a bit out of it, the food was alright nothing to write home about but not terrible. Our order got messed up but was fixed expeditiously and caught by the waitress. All in all I would do it again if on a pinch and needing a nice place to eat read more

I will give this place one star because we cannot give negative stars. Place is overpriced and very low quality for a steakhouse. Most of the steaks in our table were overdone. I like to ask for well done on my first visit to check how good is the place (steak should be cook and still juice in the center). I got a butterfly steak that was dry and extra salty. I had visit great steakhouse where I ask for the same thing, and I get a well-done juice piece of meat. Sides were not better... Again, for an upscale restaurant, is very basic... read more

Had Christmas dinner here. It was pretty amazing. I had the appetizer salad and the Filet Mignon and my husband had the appetizer crab cakes and the Wasabi Crusted Salmon. He said the crab cakes were life changing and he is from Maryland. The filet was the best steak of my life. I will be back 100%. I really appreciated the owner coming around and the ambiance. This is was my first holiday meal at a restaurant and it will become a new holiday tradition. read more

I rated one star because the personalized menu was the best thing about tonight. When receiving a bill for +$200 for two people, forgive me if the expectations are a tad bit higher. We received overdressed salads, overcooked steaks, over a baked potato, and an undercooked large crab cake (total mayo in the middle). I chose this restaurant because of our past experiences here. I'm dissatisfied, and if we sent 1/2 of the food back and didn't request boxes, one would think there was a problem, but I guess the manager thought we wanted to waste $200 on a Monday night. Where's the old manager? Did I mention they had a problem with gift card and I ended up putting 20% on my debit card plus the tip? It's cool Bookbinders; we'll head South to Ruth Chris for our next special occasion. read more

This place had such delicious food! The owners and staff were friendly. A perfect place to celebrate a birthday. Another great Richmond find... read more

Zach took really great care of us. He had excellent recommendations from the wine list to the side dishes. I had the coffee rubbed filet with creamed spinach, lobster Mac, and mashed potatoes and they were all excellent except for the creamed spinach which was too salty for us(it was taken off the bill without us even asking!). I'd love to come back soon! read more

Old Original Bookbinders - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Every single bite was delicious, will definitely be back again. Oh, and the cheesecake was the bomb! read more

Old Original Bookbinders - Crab cake, asparagus, and mashed potatoes! - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

We went to bookbinders for our 25th anniversary and I was excited to try it out for the first time. I had read lots of reviews that it was amazing for special occasions. When I made the reservation there was a spot to note any occasion for the dinner, so I put in that it was 25th anniversary. I also called the restaurant and asked if I could put a note on the reservation that I would like to pre-order/arrange to have a dessert brought over at the end of our meal as a special treat to my hubby. They assured me that would be no problem and they would make sure the server would handle it. When we arrived the staff that created us was pleasant and sat us right away in a booth off to the side for a more intimate dinner. They brought us our menus and they had customized the menu by printing Happy 25th Anniversary on the front page. Nice touch! I was impressed and thought that we were in for a special night. We started with a champagne toast and ordered a couple appetizers, the clams casino which were just okay and some oysters on the half shell which were very good. The server was attentive but seemed to be rushing us to place our entree order before we even received our appetizers. When I asked his opinion about the swordfish he said, "it's amazing you'll love it don't even look at the menu anymore" and began to write it down as my order. I was a little shocked and before I could say anything my husband (who already knew what he wanted) gave his order, the 18 oz ribeye, so I decided to let it go because I was leaning towards the swordfish anyway. We also ordered two ala carte sides and off he went. We still had our champagne when the apps came and he asked if we wanted wine with our dinner. We said we would and to bring back the wine list. The list came back as he cleared the apps and we never saw him again. Our entrees were delivered and we were half way done before we could flag him down to order our wine. I half expected and apology seeing we discussed ordering wine for our meal but the server didn't seem to be bothered by it. The entrees were pretty good, my swordfish was cooked perfectly and my husband enjoyed the rib eye. The mashed potato side was tasty, but the creamed spinach seemed like it came from a frozen pouch, flavor was just ok, but the dish looked too uniform to be cooked in house. As we finished up the server came around and asked if we wanted dessert. I was kind of surprised seeing I pre-arranged to have a dessert brought to the table. We didn't order any dessert as I was hoping the server would realize there was a dessert pre-ordered, but after 20 mins it never came so we just asked for the check. I debated going over to let them know but that defeats the purpose of why I called ahead and we were pretty full anyway so it would have been just for show at that point. All in all, food was ok, but I've had better meals for way less than the price we paid. And it was a big disappointment from the service side. Wouldn't go back for a special occasion and don't recommend it if you're looking for that special dinner. read more

Old Original Bookbinders - Seafood Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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