We were in Richmond on a Sunday evening and traveling with our four legged friend. There were several options for outside dining and the menu suggested this was a good place to start. Soon after we. Ordered the octopus and mussel appetizers a storm came in and the rain fell pretty hard. Our choices were to run back to the hotel or stay and dine huddled under an umbrella. Being a little wet with beverages and good food seemed the better option so we ordered more food. The octopus was great. I have tried it prepared many ways and here it was both tender and flavorful, really done well. Shrimp cocktail is usually pretty basic, but often the simplest dishes demonstrate the most skill. This is truly one of the best I have ever had. The shrimp were plump and flavorful. Their cooking stopped at just the right time leaving a slight bit of translucent hue, but still cooked through. Very nicely done. The salad with home ranch was dressed nicely and the dressing was light. The scallops were cooked well and perhaps my only criticism is that the corn purée was better in concept than execution. I can't say enough about the staff. We were two people on a Sunday night crazy enough to dine in a downpour. The staff never made us feel like they wanted to punch out, embraced us being outside and were creative in waiting on us with umbrellas to keep the food from getting wet. It would have been understandable for them to limit the trips to check on us, but they persevered and made us feel welcome. If you are in the area, highly recommended stopping by, rain or shine, and sampling their menu. Nicely done. read more

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The food here was amazing! The grilled octopus was so tender and the risotto was delicious. I would've liked a touch more lemon zest in the gremolata though. The pan seared fish was moist, but the grits it came with were not crispy. The whole fish was also moist and tender, but the exterior could be a bit over-charred for some. The blueberry upside down cake was great. The staff were friendly and attentive. Overall, I would definitely come again! read more

Rappahannock - Beef tartare - Bars Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Walked in on a Monday evening. It was busy and it was only one of the few restaurants open on Labor Day. Got seated quickly. Grilled ribeye was okay. Whole grilled branzino was fresh and light. It was huge and perfect for summer. Banana pudding tiramisu was disappointing. It's like a cookie with banana pudding and few brulee banana slices. Our server Chez was wonderful. Giving this place a 4/5. read more

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One of the best happy hours !! If you're looking for a delicious burger oysters and drink specials this is your spot!! Super chill but also classy and they have some of the best oysters in the city!!! You can also get them delivered to your home. The service was really good we also sat at the bar during my most recent visit. The burger video reminded me of what a Burger King or McDonald's commercial hahah read more

Rappahannock - Bars Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

First time and will not be the last. The food was amazing with all of the savory dishes we had. Especially the rock fish. Some of the best I have had in years. The staff was really great and the atmosphere had a good vibe. read more

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The food was great and the service was super nice and we got are food quick 5 star deserved

I was in Richmond for 36 hours, so I had one night to experience the local food scene, which I heard good things about. I chose Rappahannock for my only dinner in town. Kate was my server and she was so friendly and attentive. I asked her a few questions about the menu and she answered me with honesty, which I appreciated. I decided to try two of each of the local oysters, the Smoked Fish Dip, and the Little Gem Wedge. The oysters were really delicious; fresh and cold served with both the mignonette and cocktail sauce. The Rappahannock River Oysters were exceptionally tasty. The fish dip followed and that was great too; they definitely give you a healthy portion of it as well. The Little Gem Wedge was really nice with the lettuce being very fresh. After all that, Kate made a convincing argument to try the blueberry shortcake; also fantastic! The hand whipped cream and blueberries were delicious and I had to force myself not to finish it as I was already stuffed to the gills! The restaurant itself is casual and fairly loud, but it's good for groups and individuals (has a large bar) and seems it would be kid-friendly. read more

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I had an incredible experience last night at Rappahannock. We were a group of seven gathering for a family dinner. I noticed a lot of other big groups here. If you're a group of 6+ wanting to make a reservation, you'll need to call ahead. Rappahannock is located on Grace st. and 4th st. There is parking nearby, but since we lived pretty close we just walked. Service is amazing here. They're super attentive and kind. They're great with big groups. We started off with some drinks and oysters. I absolutely adored my Grace St. Spritz. It was so delicious. Everyone else loved their cocktails. Their bartender is very talented. We also got a round of oysters, both raw and baked. They were very yummy. For mains, my Mom and I ordered the ceviche and scallops to share. I loved the sweet potato crisps in the ceviche. I wish it was heavier on the lime, but it was tasty. We really enjoyed our scallops. We were obsessed with the rice it came on. My fiance ordered the burger and liked it. His Mom got the octopus and it was, unfortunately, overcooked. Her dad adored the fish he got. Our friend loved her mixed greens salad. They have three gender neutral single stall bathrooms here. Things are a bit on the pricier side, but if you're looking for a place for big groups with amazing cocktails and nice seafood, I recommend checking Rappahannock out. read more

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Been awhile since I have been here but it is still phenomenal. Sat at bar, as I always do, and met Andy. He is great. Personable even while slinging drinks for the servers. Andy knows what he is doing! He was slammed but still had time to converse with me and other patrons at the bar. So many times the bartender just makes drinks and doesn't talk to those at the bar. Andy makes conversation! I had the She Crab and a dozen oysters. OMG. She crab soup is great. Oysters are oysters but Virginia oysters are very, very good. I really enjoyed Rappahannock and will continue to recommend it. read more

Cocktails | appetizer | chill Cocktails - We had great cocktails at this location. They had a nice menu and a really impressive selection of liquor. I highly recommend stopping by for a drink during happy hour or to start off your night. Appetizer - We stopped in for a quick appetizer, which was chicken-based, and it was perfect. It was a great way to start the night. The chicken dish was crispy and relatively filling, which was just what we wanted since we were only planning to have a small plate while exploring that area of Richmond. Chill - The restaurant has a pretty chill vibe overall. The bar is the centerpiece of the restaurant, which is quite interesting. It takes up around 50% of the seating area and is located in the direct center of the restaurant. The rest of the restaurant is surrounded by tables that are equally distributed from the front, the middle, the side, to the back of the restaurant. So really, the iconic part is the bar, and we just sat there and had a quick bite, which was awesome. read more

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This place was highly recommended to me but I'm still trying to figure out why. Over priced, small, flavorless oysters. Service was "ok". Restaurant itself was nothing spectacular. read more

Where to start... First Emily is the bomb diggity. Thank you for being engaging and fun! We started out with a salad and Oysters. The salad was big enough to share so that was nice...it was fresh and tasty. The oyster la were on point. But the main dishes...that is where the magic was for us tonight! I had the mahi mahi. Cooked to perfection with a lovely salad. Husband had the scallops and he raved about them as well. There was a spicy risotto that he absolutely loved. We were in town for a concert and stumbled upon this place. But we'd come back in a Richmond minute. read more

Had a solid last minute dinner at Rappahannock tonight! Mom said she was craving seafood & had been wanting to try this place so off we went. Light crowd for a Friday night but it was a bit later. We decided to do several shares from the chill/raw bar. This included a dozen oysters, the crab salad, & the scallop crudo. All were tasty! My favorite part of the oysters was the delicious mignonette sauce. Our server Peyton was also great! read more

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While it's a little smoky inside due to their wood burning oven, their overall vibe is open, intimate, and great for a first date or meetup for all fans of cocktails and seafood. There wasn't much on the menu for vegetarian or non-seafood eaters, so be sure you're coming hungry for some sea fare. The bartender was new but super nice and attentive. The only reason I didn't give this place 5 stars is due to the lackluster taste of the drink. It was missing that classic margarita taste and overall missed the mark considering the price point. read more

Rappahannock - Spicy margarita - Bars Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Wonderful food, especially the whole fish, and excellent cocktails! The oysters are impeccable, and this spot is perfect for date night or with friends. read more

A bit pricey! Tables are stack up side by side! Hostess doesn't separate guests in a sparsely crowded room! Service is fair but waitress is not engaging! Probably not fair after watching the Waitress at the Virginia Reparatory ! Food average for the price! Ambiance in s typical oyster bar! The oysters were good, but $3 an oyster! I enjoyed the hamburger with no fries! Salad greens were good! The 5 scallops dish at$37 was ok but not great ! All in all very average overpriced food! We were satisfied! After , $168 which included a twenty five dollar tip for 45 minutes of work! They certainly try to up sale! Beer was reasonable and good! I think next time focus on the oysters and share a salad! One of the best $22 burger I have ever had ! Missing fries! Great aioli! Charleston much better experience! read more

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Came in for a pre-dinner drink and sat at the bar... The bartender was friendly enough, but wasn't as helpful as she could have been. We were about 10 mins into drinking our drinks when we asked about happy hour and she told us the deals, but it was literally 6:01PM and happy hour had just ended at 6PM. We made a comment that it would have been nice to know when we sat down and she just laughed - geez. As for the venue and menu, there were some interesting items on the menu and the place looked industrial and like it's probably pretty popular. We wrapped up the single drinks and then moved on to the place we were going for dinner. read more

So I wish I had remembered to take a picture of the cocktail menu because I can't find it online anywhere. I had a delightful bourbon based drink, called Pear and Back Again that had four roses bourbon with ginger syrup, lemon, and plum bitters. It was incredibly smooth and too easy to drink really lol. I will say in my search for the menu Rappahannock needs to update some of their contact sites because there's some seriously old menus out there. My family and I have been to Rappahannock a handful of times over the last couple years. We're not big oyster fans boat we dig the smoky (grill smoke not cigarette) vibe and really enjoy the seafood options. If you're noise sensitive, I highly recommend asking for the back corner when you reserve a table. Service is always friendly and usually paced well unless it's a theater night. Every time we go, it's always been crowded so I think it must be doing something right. For appetizers, we ordered ceviche and the seafood gumbo. Both had a nice little kick to it and were delicious. The ceviche was fresh and bright while the gumbo had a subtle richness to it and just the right amount of kick. It does linger a bit while you're waiting for your main course though but I'm a lightweight when it comes to spice. We all enjoyed our entrées of the grilled octopus, the Branzino and the pan seared rockfish. All are on the small side serving wise which was fine for me, but some might find it lacking in size to be filling, particularly at these prices ($42 for the Branzino). My husband devoured the apple pie with butterscotch bourbon sauce The sauce was pretty incredible. I could have taken a jar of that home and just had with vanilla ice cream all week. Might need to make my own version.... We also enjoyed the smores tart which was unique and satisfying for a meal ender. My son thought some kind of crème anglaise with it would have been nice but we all likes it. read more

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Wowza. Travel a ton and this place hit every spot. Oysters were local and very buttery. Pan seared rockfish w pumpkin seeds and tomatoes hit the spot. Finished w a port wine and pineapple upside cake. Amazeballs. Staff was super friendly and chill. Highly recommend. read more

Great salads and food, always excellent!!! The menu small but what's there is always delicious!! read more

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Love the food here. Great spot. The liquor prices are atrocious. Easily double what they should be, and are everywhere else. I'll be back but I'm sticking to beer and asking the price first. read more

Pricey but delicious. Wonderful atmosphere with super fancy and extra tasty seafood. I will be headed back next time I'm n the mood for the fruits of the sea. read more

Cute little restaurant downtown! Our server, Lilly, was very helpful with offering her favorite entree, checking in periodically during our meal and overall being kind. The oysters hit the spot, we preferred the non-salted over the salted. The pan seared fish, which was halibut, was so good especially over the cornbread crumbs! read more

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Had a work dinner here. The place smells phenomenal. Quaint & cheek. The Brussels sprouts were not burnt & the oysters were perfect. I'd rec a selection w all to try. The rock fish was less white fish than expected but still cooked & seasoned right w dainty but hearty carrots . Our server was lovely and was just right for the occasion. The Chardonnay was flavorful & not buttery just as asked for. I would highly recommend this place if ur downtown or have a chance to be! read more

Visiting the area for the day and had a great late lunch (4:00 pm) here. I can't say enough excellent things about their food and service staff. I sat at the bar (which is huge) and Ray, who was super nice gave me excellent recommendations including their oysters and steamed muscles. David shucked them perfectly and very friendly. I was excited to learn there is another location at the Wharf in DC. read more

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We arrived for our 6:30 reservation a few minutes early and were promptly seated at a high-top table (I recommend). We got drinks and a starter of half dozen Chincoteague Salts that came with cocktail sauce and a mignonette that was tangy and added a punch to those Salts. Hubby ordered the Bibb Wedge which was delicious and so plentiful that he split it with me. For his entree, he got the special which was pan seared Tilefish and I decided to get the 6 baked oyster starter as my dinner. Both were hot and beautifully presented. Tilefish had a crispy skin and tender flesh. Baked oysters were spicy and tart at the same time. We enjoyed our entrees so much, we both ordered dessert. I ordered Banana Pudding Brulee. The hubs got the seasonal cobbler. Both were quite different that we expected but good. We will return to this resteraunt! read more

Richmond hip Rustic dive bar feel Charming staff Wonderful oysters Love the old downtown read more

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Took a chance given the uneven reviews and sadly nothing really was outstanding. Cheese plate was decent, wi the interesting cheeses but really small portions. Caviar service was served with crackers instead of blinis. Paella came out in a dish and not served in its traditional pan. Grilled pork was fatty and pretty disappointing. Dessert of truffles was also just ok. On the bright side, service was warm and efficient and the place was packed on a Friday. read more

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Went by myself on a casual weekday night. Sat at a high table overlooking the open kitchen, which was an added plus since it kept me entertained. Had half a dozen oysters as starter, nothing to complain about. They were fresh and tasted great. As a main I ordered the grilled octopus which was cooked perfectly. The sauce and potatoes gave it a nice fresh touch. Would love to go again and try some of their cocktails. read more

Rappahannock - Grilled octopus - Bars Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

The service was very good (hostess, waitstaff). The food was mediocre. The she-crab soup ($17) was okay, but not worth $17. The mixed greens salad ($10) was okay. The baked oysters were 6 very small oysters with lots of filler ($22) -- not worth the price. The pan seared fish was a small piece of salmon with no flavor ($32) -- something you could make at home. 2 Drinks at $12 and 3 @ $8 (1-ounce pours) plus City of Richmond meal tax and tip was $175. The restaurant is outdated and loud. We will not be back. read more

Delicious and so well done! The service is amazing! People were friendly and ready to answer any questions or offer suggestions. The atmosphere is relaxed, refined, but not pretentious. The food and cocktails are fancy though! We started with the octopus and Ceviche. They did NOT disappoint with those. The cocktails are also fantastic! They had a variety of liquor options and each was well balanced. I will say the main courses were a little underwhelming. The fish was small and the sides were over salted. I would definitely go again, but I'd stick to small plates and cocktails:) read more

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This used to be my favorite spot for oysters and cocktails, however lately it has not been the same experience. When we sit at the bar, it often takes 10-15 minutes before they even recognize we're there. My boyfriend took some work clients out for dinner one night and found a worm alive & moving around on the oyster plate! The hangar steak was overcooked. I am extremely disappointed because I have been looking forward to a nice night out with oysters and martinis. But honestly after seeing this, I don't know if I can even eat oysters anymore. Please do better. read more

Rappahannock - Bars Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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I was staying around the corner, and got into town just in time to hop over to Rappahannock for happy hour. I had plans for dinner, but I can not resist fresh oysters and a cold glass of prosecco. And let me tell you, they delivered. They had two options for oysters and I got half and half. They were both great. So fresh and expertly shucked. They came with a mignonette and a cocktail sauce, both tasted house made. That day they had a special mignonette available, made of shishito peppers mustard seed and dill. It was AWESOME. It has been over a week and I am still thinking about it. It isn't a combination I would have put together, but it was inspired. The prosecco, they have on tap. I loved that. I wish that is an option that would catch on. Perfectly bubbly and super cold. Frankly, happy hour out my dinner to shame. I should have stuck around and ordered another half dozen. The oysters were $2 a piece at happy hour and I believe the wine was $7. An excellent deal. The only bummer, and this is not the fault of the restaurant, apparently Richmond adds a meal tax which total comes out to 13.5% tax. So if you are not from the area, you are not caught unawares. read more

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As a huge seafood fan, I've always wanted to try this place but only recently got a chance to go since it opened for lunch on grad/mothers day weekend! Once you walk in you'll be greeted by an aromatic, woody/smokey flavor. I later learned that they wood-grill their whole fish which definitely exceeded my expectation in terms of taste. They offer different types of fish (on diff days I assume) but I was offered the branzino. It was super interesting and very tasty! The fish meat was juicy and gave off a nice smokey flavor. The accompanying olives, artichoke, and harrisa sauce were all delicious!! The candied lemon slices added a nice little sweet kick to the savory dish. Overall it was very interesting to eat a whole fish like this and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The scallops were super tender and nicely pan fried. It paired really well with the rice and the spiced Indian saag. Going in reverse order, the cerviche and baked clams appetizers were pretty good too, although I think the clams could have been cooked a little longer. The clams had a miso sauce with some crunch on top. It is a little pricey here but their seafood was definitely delicious. Service was great too! read more

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We ventured into Rappahannock for a quick bite and some cocktails after our event at Godfrey's. We shared some of the freshest oysters and sipped on red wine which was recommended by one of the bartenders. I wish we had more time to explore the menu but since we had just had lunch, we were quite full! I would totally come back! read more

Rappahannock - Bars Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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This is a great seafood focused restaurant with a chef who is bringing creativity to both classics as well as some great regional flavors. Our group shared their ceviche with the steak tartare and wood grilled octopus. The pickled vegetables and charcuterie were first class as was the simple but delicious namesake Oysters. We finished with the whole fish and a great house special pierogi stuffed with short rib. All at very high value pricing. Nice ambience, crisp service and a busy crowd but the food is the star. Will be back read more

I've dined at rappahannock a few times. Most importantly for their oysters ! I haven't really liked anything else I had off the menu. So my main dish is their branzino. When I say good! I MEAN GOOD. It's one of the best ones I've had in Richmond. Happy hour is a good time and not to pricey. Also order an old fashion because you can never go one with one of those. I definitely say you should check them out. read more

My copilot and I had a quality dinner here at the bar. Our server took great care of us and we enjoyed some small talk with the "oyster shucker"(?). We ordered a few cocktails of their cocktail list before switching to beer later on during the meal. They didn't have my first choice of beer after recently running out so our waitress made another recommendation that was fine. The cocktails were pretty good but seemed pretty expensive for what you get. We started with 30 oysters which included 15 Rappahannocks and 15 Olde Salts. They all tasted the same to us but we enjoyed them. For our meal, we each went with the Pan Seared Rockfish which was pretty good. It was a large portion of fish and they side of vegetables were tasty. Overall, we enjoyed our meal and didn't have any issues. The dining room is very inviting and has a relaxing and class atmosphere. The bar is impressive in size and we had pretty good service. read more

Rappahannock - Pan Seared Rockfish - Bars Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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This used to be my favorite place to hang before the fire. The food was always on point. What keeps me going back here, although the food is not as good as it used to be, the service is Fantastic! I mean really! Don't get me wrong the food is still good, but the atmosphere is great, I love low lighting since I am in bright lights all day... and the service is the best in town! Oh, and the food I hated was credited even after I insisted on paying because I ate it- they were just upset that I didn't enjoy it even though I ate it. I just tipped it to the waitress. I am going to check out that little place they opened right outside their door this weekend! Happy eating folks, please continue to discover the unique areas of Richmond and keep each other posted. read more

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I have been coming here since it opened and a bunch since it re-opened after the longest COVID closing in history. It may even be a world record. The bartenders are amazing as well as the drinks they create. I especially love the octopus! It seems weird that I am giving them 5 stars when you see the picture I have included of the cheese plate, but the place is that good (just not the cheese plate). This cheese plate isn't even worth charging $5 for and they charge $16. Tip of the day - order the Savage Water of Sorcery and not the cheese plate. They are the same price, but you will enjoy the drink! read more

Rappahannock - Shoney's has a better cheese plate. - Bars Near Me - Richmond, Virginia