Went here for a bday dinner with the bf. I had heard a lot about Rappahannock and I was excited to have an excuse to treat myself. We started the meal with a couple of cocktails and a dozen oysters. They had 3 varieties they were offering that evening- Not an oyster expert? Don't worry the staff will explain it to you. We tried the York and Olde Salt oysters -6 of each. Both were delicious!!! Definitely get oysters. If you go for happy hour, I heard the oysters are $1 a piece. Not sure about the happy hour details but I plan to look into it. I had the paella and I enjoyed my meal, but as a whole, I think that it wasn't quite worth the cost. Maybe best to stick to happy hour drinks and oysters. They also use Sub Rosa bread that is so perfectly chewy and salty- a must for a few dollars when you go. read more

Great list of brews and cocktails. If they have the branzino as the fish of the day, GET THAT and the steak tartare. I've been twice now and the combo is immaculate. read more

Oh.My.GAWD. I'm an admitted bivalve phreaque, so having oysters will guarantee that I'll at least give you a try. These folks have some phreaque-in' OYSTERS. Heck, they grow their own, and they are succulent, salty, slippery nuggets of pure perfection. But then they have to go and serve stuff like Barcat oyster chowder, and fluke ceviche, and ... well, here's the full rundown: Started with 2 dozen oysters (no, I was *not* dining a seule!), did two 1-dozen flights of a mix of the three types of oysters they had today, ranging from light and sweet to savory-salty. Served with fresh horseradish and mignonette - perfection. With these, I had a Spanish, which is a gin'n'tonic with enticing ruffles and flourishes: licorice root, juniper berries, and orange peel. Next up: Barcat chowdah. Bacon, oysters, potatoes, creamy/oyster-liquored brothiness. Need I say more? (If you said yes, you're crazy, or have no soul whatsodamnever.) We moved on to fluke ceviche - which included blood oranges, and a seasoning mix that was stellar in its diversity and palate impact - and a smoked Scottish salmon trout plate with beets, castelvetrano olives, creme fraiche, and Grinnel caviar. All either of us could say, in between groans of gustatory pleasure, was "holy merde!" and "shut the front door!" (those comments are bowdlerized in case kids are watching) Were we done? Oh, hellz no. Our final course was a dish they tagged Oysters and Pearls - six of their lovely bivalves topped with nori granita and trout caviar. This was the most amazing explosion of flavor I've had in many a meal: the briny oyster, the sweet-and-salty nori seaweed infused shaved ice, the beautiful little pearls of orange trout caviar. Along with that, we had their mixed-lettuces salad, which included some shaved fennel and apples, some shavings of a great Pennsylvania cheese called 5 Spoke Tumbleweed, all lightly dressed with a sherry vinaigrette. And Billy Bread croutons. OH.MY.GAWD. We tried their prosecco on tap, as well as the Muscadet and Savignon Blanc/Savignon Gris blend they have by the glass. Prosecco was good, the wines were better. Only quibble in the whole meal? The potato chunks in the chowder were large enough that they held too much heat. We think they could be cut in half. Seriously, that's it. I have to mention the service, which was prime. Personal, personable, knowledgeable, everything that's needed for a great restaurant experience. As we walked back down Grace St. in the afterglow, my lunch partner said that it was the best lunch he'd had since he'd lunched at Taillevant in Paris almost 10 years ago. That's a thing. This is now, IMO, the destination restaurant of River City. And that's saying something, 'cause we got some FOOD in this town, people. read more

What are you doing? Are you making reservations for Rappahannock? Go make reservations, then come read my review. I'll wait. Okay? Okay! So, basically, I'm going to talk about just one dish. Everything here was wonderful, but there's a particularly surprising dish on the menu that really captivated me. Specifically, the Tuna Crudo. This uses powerful preserved lemon and delicate chile to draw out the deep concentrated flavor of the Akami they use. Normally, I prefer chu-toro, but this time I was really blown away by the depth of flavor provided by this leaner cut. Slivers of olive rounded out the dish, and provided a faintly briny complement to the lemon. Order This. read more

I've been here several times and even given gift certificates to Rappahannock as gifts. This restaurant never disappoints and consistently offers top notch service in addition to outstanding food and cocktails. In fact, their service is so above and beyond that when I ordered a gift certificate at the last minute on Christmas Eve one of the owners actually emailed me an e-version so that I would have it right away for gifting purposes and wouldn't have to wait for the mail version. DID I MENTION IT WAS CHRISTMAS EVE?! That is truly going above and beyond. But I digress, the food itself is truly exceptional. They offer four different types of Virginia oysters so whether you're new to eating raw oysters or an addict like myself there's a style to suit your tastes. With a name like Rappahannock obviously all of the seafood is going to be phenomenal (the shrimp small plate features the biggest shrimp I've ever seen) but last night I tried some of the pork as well and it was without a doubt the best pork ever. They always offer great seasonal, farm to table ingredients amazingly executed. The cocktail program rivals the culinary offerings at Rappahanock. Hand crafted cocktails are cultivated from an elaborate assortment of jars and containers containing fresh ingredients and garnishments. This is the kind of restaurant that you can take out of town guests, clients, dates, etc., to and rest assured that the experience will be of the highest caliber. read more

I really like the modern/industrial feel of the decor this place gives off. We went because the other half was craving raw oysters, and they were pretty delicious. We opted to try the three different types they had to offer, and nothing exceptional stood out about them. But they were tasty, none the less. I went with the market fish option that was grilled (tasted wood grilled) and was fairly satisfied. The exterior had that familiar wood grill taste, and the interior of the fish was cooked properly. Lacked seasoning, but was tasty. Just wasn't floored one way or the other about this place. For the price tag, you should wow me. I've had tastier dishes for half the price. And I know there is a 'pro-Rappahannock' person who reads these reviews, because they've left snarky "compliments" to friends who didn't enjoy the restaurant to a 4+ star level. To them I say, maybe next time I will just order a pizza and stay home. read more

LOVE this place! My pal Kristin V suggested we check it out for after-work drinks when she heard there was prosecco on tap. The prosecco got us in there, but the great atmosphere, wonderful service, and amazing oysters will keep us coming back! The decor is super laid back and charming. And our server was top-notch. Kristin and I were both oyster newbies, so our server really held our hand through ordering and advised we try the Rappahannock oysters both raw and grilled, and advised us on how to top them and eat them. And they were amazing! I feel like the grilled ones especially are a great gateway drug to the world of oysters. I also tried the local flue ceviche, which was light and fresh and amazing! Tender white fish marinated with citrus, chilie, pom seeds, and cilantro and served with two big pieces of toast. Really good. Rappahannock is a wonderful and unique addition to the Richmond restaurant scene! I can't wait to go back! read more

Rappahannock is a classic example of Richmonders getting carried away with the unfortunately empty allure of pretentiously high prices, swanky atmosphere, and local hype. To begin with, the service is unforgivably bad. We had reservations and were not seated until 45 minutes after our reservation time. Meanwhile, we managed to be served at the bar where it took them over 45 minutes to shuck oysters. I was almost tempted to jump over the bar and just shuck them myself. Though the cocktails were wonderful, and I truly enjoyed my oysters, our frustrations with the service got worse after we were informed that they weren't able to transfer our check to the table from the bar. Hence it took even longer for us to be seated since we had to flag down a bartender, wait for them to get our bill, and then run the card. The service continued to be slow at our table. Our water was never refilled, and the food took forever to come to our table. When the food did come, it was obvious that our whole cooked snapper had been sitting under a heat lamp too long - or someone just doesn't know how to cook fish properly. It was drowned in a heavy mole-like sauce that would normally overpower snapper, but because the fish was so overcooked I needed more sauce. The meat was tough and chewy with a burned flavor. Fortunately not all of the food was horrid. The scallops on the other hand were cooked perfectly and balanced nicely by the rest of the dish. But they weren't good enough to keep us from practically sprinting around the restaurant looking for our second bill of the night so we could leave. Our patience was so tried and our wallets so empty despite dissatisfaction with nearly every aspect of the restaurant that we just wanted out - and knew it was going to take forever for us to do so. I'd only return to Rappahannock if A) there was some type of oyster happy hour with drinks, or B) D dumped me and I had to re-enter the dating world, so someone else I didn't care about was paying. And even then I'd be annoyed by their poor restaurant choice and not go on a second date. read more

Contracted Nora-virus after eating here... Oysters were all I wanted, all of them were shucked poorly, still attached to the shell and had to remove bits of shell with every bite. . . My caviar ($30!!!) was supposed to come on a simple plate with creme fraiche, deviled egg, and crackers, but no creme fraiche, even mentioned it loud enough for our server to notice and not do anything about it... I know eating raw oysters is taking a risk, but I've eaten tons, and other raw foods, and never contracted an illness before... this was just awful. :( Spent the days after my birthday dinner on the toilet, puking my guts out and in pain. read more

I was so excited to try Rappahannock. My expectations were high after hearing so many great things. Unfortunately, we were wildly disappointed. We arrived at precisely our reservation time and walked past a dozen empty tables beautifully lit by natural sunlight only to be sat in the rear where there was no lighting. The dark and dreary ambiance pretty much defined our whole experience. We started with a half-dozen oysters. Given they were fresh and ice cold, they were the only nice part of the meal. We then ordered the pork and pickles. We enjoyed the pickle salad on the side but the pork was okay in flavor. Disaster came in the form of a beet salad. I love beets and especially love beet salads. Now, imagine pulling beets and greens from a garden and eating them without even rinsing. That's the flavor of Rappahannock's beet salad - DIRT. The beets were just cooked - there was no flavor. The sautéed greens on the bottom were an unpalatable earth "flavor" (if you can call dirt flavor). The horseradish dressing lightly drizzled around the plate could do nothing to save the salad. Those poor beets and greens wasted. We're usually polite and push a bad dish to the side but this one we sent back. The chef and owner have to know this is a bad dish. How can they not!? To complete the meal we ordered the paella. I get that paella is a difficult dish. But if you're going to have it on your menu, especially with a $32 price tag, then I'm going to assume it's a great dish. It was wholly underwhelming. The shrimp was fishy and the rice mush. I've never been so disappointed with a Richmond restaurant. We paid a pretty penny for our meal (it's not often as new parents we splurge for date night) and still tipped generously. Needless to say, I feel like our much needed date night was ruined. After leaving the restaurant we went to Cinebistro to see a movie. My husband, having given me a chin-up cheer throughout the disappointing meal only proved his distaste as well when he ordered a cheeseburger at Cinebistro! read more

Rappahannock is a Richmond staple. Downtown and dirty good. I mean: really flavorful and prepared fast. Came with family. Grabbed a corner table for four. Wait staff attentive, alert. Friendly and involved atmosphere. Drinks were slow, because many people drank at bar. Neat presentation. Awesome appetizers. Flavor and more flavor. Good music. Left slightly doused and satiated onto sidewalk. Rappahannock deserves a great rap! I'll be back when in town. Simple ingredients. Lots o' flavor. Fish dinners slightly dry. Keep rock'n'rollin. Rebel Reviewer says: 4 stars. read more

Oysters on the half were awesome and at 2$ a pop, not too bad. Food was OK but not worth the money, especially with the portion size. I had swordfish with mashed potatoes and brussels sprouts. The fish was maybe 6oz. There were enough potatoes for about 4-5 fork scoops with a couple of little cooked potato strips. There were three tiny mussels on top. They gave me 3 brussels sprouts cut in half and sautéed. My SO had the monkfish served with fennel in a light coconut milk & paprika broth. It was a delightful dish, but still the portion size was too small for the price paid. Rather than charging for bread, they should provide bread to sop up the broth. total bill w/ tip = $148.55 which included a bottle of their cheap white wine. Not worth the money read more

Much prefer the sit-down experience at the Richmond location than the casual counter service at Union Market I think it's partly because the menu is so awesome, and you want lots of time to try everything. (I somehow always feel more rushed at a counter.) The passionate oyster shuckers behind the bar clearly know their stuff, which is always a nice thing to see. And the food was superb. The half dozen mixed oysters, plated in order of least briny to briny, were all delicious. If you're into French cuisine, then you must try their seemingly Gallic-inspired green garlic soup with Burgundy snails, parsley, and butter. Basically, you're getting a soupier version of the familiar escargot appetizer. The snails were huge and very tender. For those who aren't squeamish about their texture, these snails are a must-try! Also got the beet and chicory salad, which came with blood orange, goat cheese, and almonds. This starter was very tasty and refreshing. I loved the colors and the way the flavors mingled together. Our third appetizer was the wood-grilled octopus, which was prepared just the way octopus should be prepared. Not too salty and very tender. Win. Had to make room for dessert, so I shared hubby's pan-seared fish of the day, a nice rockfish. The accompanying morels were so savory and delightful. The fish was perfectly cooked and satisfying. To appease our inner sugar fiends, we ended the meal with their chocolate ganache buckwheat crepe cake. Depending on how you feel about buckwheat, you may not like this option. However, I thought that the chocolate ganache was just what this pancake needed to balance out the bitterness and make it scrumptious. The accompanying homemade marshmallow and berry syrup were also lovely touches. Really enjoyed our dining experience at Rapphannock Richmond. Great service and exemplary food. A five for sure. read more

Liked it a bunch good wine list and variety of food offered. Service was great and we were seated right away. I'll go back and write a more detailed review. read more

Food Deserves a 4. Customer accommodation deserves a 2. If you can get over the idea the customer is secondary to their mission, it would be a good choice. Very good food presented very well. Ambience was good. Flexibility in preparation is nill so check out the menu before moving. Here with a party of four. Started off with half dozen rappahanock oysters. Good but did not come with Tabasco. Waitress seems put off that we would ask for something the restaurant did not automatically provide with the food. The rest of the meal was overshadowed by the arrogance of the staff. It is an arrogance that is obviously passed down by the chef - an attitude of don't you dare ask me to serve anything I don't think fits within my vision. Really surprised Richmonders put up with this. There are so many choices in Richmond that serve food as good, if not better, and appreciate the patron. First visit was the last. read more

Yum yum yum!!! As a pescatarian I really appreciate a restaurant dedicated to delicious seafood. Rappahannock is more than dedicated to seafood! My girl Lauren C. and I went here after work today to get a few drinks and to finally try some oysters. I had a bad experience with oysters at my cousin's wedding and was somewhat weary of trying them again. Rappahannock has 100% made me an oyster fan! The Rappahannock oysters they serve are absolutely delicious! I tried one raw and one slightly grilled, each with their own special sauce that complimented them perfectly! Our waitress was super nice and helpful in instructing me on the proper way to eat our oysters and the end result was delightful! I also got the tuna crudo which was super yummy, marinated in a spicy lemon sauce. One of the main things that I think will have me coming back for more is the fact that they have prosecco on tap! Prosecco, delicious seafood dishes, and my new-found love for oysters - this homegirl is hooked! read more

On the fence about whether to come back. Nice restaurant and nice staff. Feels a little trendy but absolutely not off-putting. Menu is interesting and original but I thought the dinners and appetizers we all had lacked a little flavor. Almost like they were made with a little less than what we was needed. Love the wine list because it gives you adorable descriptions line fatty, plumb, cherry juice and fresh lime zest - so if you're unfamiliar with the label you have an idea what to try. I had than branzini and it was undercooked. Thus absolutely took it back without question and comped it but it was bit disappointing. I think I'd try it again as is a great location and a nice atmosphere. read more

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I love raw oysters and I love beer! So where's the best place to be? Here Of course! The service was amazing, the ambiance was great and the oysters and our entrees were delicious! I've always wanted to try this place and I'm so mad at myself for always pushing it down the list. Thankfully, it was my birthday dinner and I was craving oysters. Our server greeted us right away with a friendly smile and water. He definitely knew his stuff about the menu and recommended some great beer. I got the 4 flights for $10 and my favorite one that stood out was the gingerbread stout. Yum! Sadly, I don't fully remember all 4 different kinds of oysters we got but we wanted to try all of them. One of them I know was the Rappahanok of course! Our server told us what each one was called and how they would taste. (if it was salty or mild or tasted like the sea. Haha) this was very helpful. Their sauce that came out with it was amazing! I'm a Cambodian American and one of our prominent sauces for cooking is fish sauce, and this was mixed with the red wine sauce and garlic. It tasted like home! Oysters = A+!! My friend got the baked oysters and I got the monkfish. Oh man did they taste as good as they looked. Very flavorful meals and not overcooked. I hate when fish is overcooked and rubbery. This would be a perfect spot to just get drinks and dinner. The bar was very nice. I definitely recommend coming here! read more

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Greg: With a growing taste for oysters, I've been really excited to check this place out. What better opportunity to try "Richmond's best oysters" and get a yelp review in at the same time. Matthias and I went for happy hour which runs from 4-6. The bartender mixed me the fanciest drink (Old fashioned) I could imagine for $5. I order 12 oysters (2 Rapp, 5 Stingray, 5 Olde Salts). The oysters were very fresh and offered a great salinity range that would suit any palate. I ended with the wood grilled octopus that was one of the most flavorful things I've had in a while. The woodgrilling added a fantastic smoke/barbecued flavor to the octopus. It was placed on top of smooth creme fresh and garnished with these tiny salty olives and thinly sliced citrus. The portion size was small (about the size of a beef frank), however it was considered an appetizer and was made up for in quality. Over to Matt with your local weather, take it away Matt. Matty-ice: IT'S RAINING SIDEWAYS! Rapphannock was a very classy restaurant that had a nice low-lit yet easy going atmosphere. Immediately entering the establishment, you're greeted by a hostess who asked us if we had reservations - we didn't, and instead of waiting to hear if they had seats, we decided to seat ourselves at their bar. As Greg mentioned, happy hour was from 4-6, which allows you to get discounted drinks, or $1 oysters! I got 2 of each variety oyster as it was my first time trying them, and they were delicious. I personally preferred the Olde Salts, as they were nice and salty. Popping the first one in my mouth, took me on a trip down memory lane, where I found myself out at Virginia Beach, looking out past the sunset, while the wind rushed past me, as if it were late to a meeting. Like Greg, I also got an Old Fashioned as part of the happy hour deal for $5, but I opted to get the bourbon variant, as opposed to the Rye. For my entree, I ordered the wood-grilled Monkfish, and let me tell you, this was easily the best fish that I have ever had. Sorry Mrs. Knight! (Greg's mom) The outside was drizzeled in a caramel glaze, and it sat on a throne of chickpea tapenade. The monkfish was cooked to perfection in every way. Barely crisped on the outside, warm almost-flaky on the inside. While the prices can be a bit steep, and the portion sizes a little lack-luster, it is completely made up by the exquisite and robust taste of the food, made with wholesome ingredients that don't leave you with a lingering hunger. For the average consumer, I wouldn't recommend Rappahannock for an every day meal because of the price - but if there's a cause for celebration in your personal life (like making it through your Monday meetings without strangling your co-workers), and you want some of the best seafood in Richmond, head on down to Rappahannock. You heard it here first folks! read more

Rappahannock - Bars Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Rapphannock is the new brainchild of the Rappahannock River Oysters, LLC. They opened their small tasting room, Merrior, in Topping, VA first - then a place in DC - and now a raw bar/restaurant in Richmond. It was hotly anticipated, and opening dates were pushed back several times. When they finally got an opening date, I made reservations for opening night for my boyfriend and myself. I had followed them on Facebook for several weeks and was aware that they were opening a more "upscale" establishment. Let me say first that my review is biased due to the fact that I love their place in Topping so much. Great wine/beer list, oysters, small plates, and a couple entrees all at a very reasonable price in a casual atmosphere. Great place and well worth the ~1 hour drive from Richmond. We were a little early for our reservation, but they immediately seated us. The atmosphere/decor is pretty simple - large square bar in the middle of the room, wooden "distressed" benches and chairs for seating, standard tables, and lightbulbs suspended from the ceiling. Nothing special and nothing that screams upscale or expensive. However - the menu sure is upscale and expensive! Cocktails were all $9 and are made by their acclaimed mixologist from DC's The Columbia Room. They all use prosecco, which is on tap. Good wine/beer offerings. I had a red cocktail that filled about half of a champagne flute for $9. Very good, but very pricey! We're big oyster fans and immediately ordered a dozen each. They had 3 Virginia oyster options with 2 of those being Rapphannock river oysters. We asked several questions about the oysters of our waitress who intelligently and quickly answered every question. She obviously knew the menu well. The oysters were great; big and delicious. They were priced very high though - $2/oyster. So at that point in the meal, we already had a $64 bill without tax or tip. We then each ordered an entree - the shrimp and the scallops. They had a very unique taste and were good. Both dishes were extremely small for the price tag attached; $11 and $18, respectively. Rappahannock is extremely proud of their chef and sous chef, both experienced and high-end from my understanding. The best thing about Rappahannock is the service. Our waitress was great and knowledgeable, food and drinks arrived quickly, the General Manager came over and talked with us, and we were greeted and seated right after walking in. The food was good too, but significantly overpriced for the amount you receive. Our bill for 2 (SMALL!) entrees, 24 oysters, and 2 drinks was $130. Rapphannock, you should have stuck with what you were good at - good, high-quality seafood in a casual, friendly, low-key, reasonable priced package. The high-end experience was not what I was expecting or hoping for. And if you insist on going with that approach, at least amp up the decor to match the price and atmosphere. Great service and great food for those looking to spend big money. Unless there's a happy hour with food and drink specials in the future, I won't be back. I'll visit Merroir as soon as it warms up in springtime when I'm craving some of those big Rappahannock river oysters! read more

I have been here many times, and know this is a Richmond top ranker for many reasons. However, I have to be honest in my review: the restaurant has turned a corner south. First, the price point is too high for somewhat uninspired food. I absolutely love oysters and am willing to pay for amazing seafood. Don't get me wrong, it's fine - but it's not been knocking my socks off. Secondly, the non oyster dishes are just meh. Both me and others have had several of these dishes and each time have left thinking... but ...this was Rappahannock. We should have been raving. Not so much. As well, in an effort to be original, one thing I had recently entirely lost its meaning and thus its appeal. Let me explain. If one orders soup, you expect a liquid. If one orders chowder, you expect a liquid. Same with ceviche. By definition, this is seafood poached/marinated/"cooked" in a citrus base. The citrus is flavorful and a key component of the ceviche. I ordered a "ceviche" and I got dry items on a plate. No liquid or even any indication there ever had been any in sight. I pretended it was something else that could be enjoyed for its own merits and deliciousness, but my excitement at the prospect of ceviche just left me with a craving. All in all, still a nice ambiance but I think Rapp Station next door is a better choice. A different ambiance to be sure, but oysters can be enjoyed with a cold beer or a glass of wine in a dress down vibe just as deliciously. read more

Went to Rappahannock for an early birthday dinner on a Tuesday night (mom's treat - thanks mom!) because it had been recommended by a friend. I was not disappointed! Service: Perfection - above and beyond. Mom and I sat at the bar and I'm not sure if it was one of the managers who took care of us or what, but he was amazing. My mother is very, very particular about her white wine, and we basically sampled the whole menu before she chose one. Our server was very patient, informative, and accommodating. Everything came out in a timely manner (and we even got a few extra oysters thrown in for free!) Drinks: Decent wine selection, mostly dry - not a crazy amount of variety if you order by the glass, but we only looked at the wine list. Food: Amazing. We started off with some standard raw oysters (2 from each of the "sweeter" regions as recommended by our guy). He also threw in a couple extra from a more salty area and had us try it. I'm not too experienced with raw oysters, so I tried them and they were okay... (just too raw for me). However, I remembered one of the reviews on here recommending to ask for them "grilled" if you aren't a big fan of raw. We did, and WOW. I will always go back here and order them lightly grilled from now on. They were big, fat oysters served with a side of homemade paprika butter sauce and they were truly the stars of the show. As far as main courses, I ordered the Tilefish with braised shell beans, oyster mushrooms, pickled red onions, and sauce bernaise. It was incredible. The portion size was smaller than average but perfect for me. I felt completely satiated. The fish was crispy, flavorful, and the sauce was distributed nicely without being too overpowering. The mushrooms, beans, and onions were a perfect sweet and savory combination. Couldn't get enough of the whole thing. Mom ordered the grilled head-on shrimp "with red quinoa tabouli, grilled peaches, smoked honey" but asked them to take the heads off because it "freaked her out". They very nicely accommodated her. The shrimp were big, and the entire dish was light and sweet - I'm not even a fan of quinoa but I tried and it they do it right. Overall: I had a great time, was really very impressed by the service, and the food was downright craveable. It may be a little overpriced, but I can happily say that we got what we paid for. (I should reiterate that we went on a Tuesday night around 8:45, so we had no problem getting a seat where we wanted. I've heard that it can get crazy busy on the weekends so keep that in mind.) read more

I was highly curious after reading mixed reviews but decided to try it for a date on Saturday. As suggested by fellow yelpers, I made a reservation-and it's a good thing! The place was packed but we were seated immediately. The restaurant isn't huge, so quarters can be a little cramped at times, but it really didn't bother me or my date. The drink menu was really impressive! Not only do they have a fantastic selection of draft beer, I really loved their artisan cocktails. I read an interview with the bartender Rappahannock brought in from DC in last weeks style the next day and felt pretty special for having the opportunity to try one of her soon-to-be-famous concoctions. My date and I ordered oysters-that's it. We tried the Rappahannock and Witch Ducks, both were delicious! I'm not sure what they put in their signature mignonette sauce, but I'm relatively certain it had crack in it. Best mignonette I've had-ever. The fresh shredded horseradish is also a perfect compliment. The oysters were awesome, well shucked and not gritty at all. If you're new to oysters, try a few grilled, they're awesome! The service was top notch. The restaurant was really busy so drinks were a little slow getting to the table, but the server was fast and attentive. I will definitely be back, a lot! read more

Drinks were great. Oysters (tried three kinds) were amazing! Worth the trip for the oysters! Green bean fig salad was excellent. Octopus also excellent. Great service. Easy parking. Highly recommend read more

Rappahannock - Bars Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Good restaurant, Nice vibes. On the pricier side. That being said the oysters are great. Got the paella for the second time- it was OK at best. The shrimp was over cooked and the rice was under cooked. Would go back but would not get the paella. read more

Rappahannock - Bars Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

If you love raw bars and oysters in particular - go here and take advantage of the $1 happy hour oyster special. I was in town for a week and ended up eating here three night straight. They have a wood-fired grill for their seafood, meat and vegetable entrees. You'll smell it when you walk in. The grilled octopus app was awesome. Also? The house-made cotechino sausage entree from locally-raised pork. Rappahannock is the restaurant branch of an oyster-farming operation. They serve oysters raised in different estuaries of nearby waterways. The oyster selection varies from day, but during my visit, they had four varieties that ranged in flavor from mild to very briny depending on the waters where they grew. Order your food at the bar instead of taking a table. Watching the bar staff do their thing was entertaining for me, and I spent five hours ordering cocktails, oysters, and sharing plates with my friends. Nolan the oyster man wields the shucking knife like a surgeon. Ever seen a hack shucker hammer open oysters with a mallet? Not here. I ate here three nights in a row and put away more than ten dozen with my friends. Not a single one of those oysters had a trace of shell or grit because Nolan's a shucking savant. If you're into sophisticated craft cocktails, sit at Stephany's station. By night two, she knew my preference for heavy gins and bourbon. I stopped ordering specific drinks and asked her to walk me through different cocktails that she though I might enjoy, and I did. read more

The good : This is an awesome addition to the Richmond restaurant scene. I'm very happy that this place is injecting some much-needed life into Grace Street. Kudos to the owners for taking an old building and renovating it into a sleek and modern gem rather than plopping this place in Short Pump. They have a killer raw oyster and clam selection and the fried oysters are divine. The Olde Salts were definitely my favorite. I had the ceviche appetizer for my entree and it was definitely big enough. YUM. The bad : The place was packed! But hey, that's a good thing. The ugly : Grace Street after dark? In time, I'm hoping that more restaurants and bars will open up here. read more

Disappointing. With all the hype and the Esquire stuff we expected something amazing. Something unique. Something we couldn't wait to go back to. But we got meh. Crummy service did not help our experience. But even the best service would not have rescued our main courses. Mine was fine and my wife's was average at best. The first courses were outstanding and I wish we'd stopped there but we didn't. I'd love to say we would go back to give it another shot but we just cannot afford such as expensive mediocre meal. There are plenty of other RVA spots to spend our money. read more

Definitely try one of each oyster - the old salts are the best! We tried this place as we had never had raw oysters and due to the good rating wanted to try them right. Let me tell you, the food is amazing, the oysters are wonderful but it also has a high price tag to come along with that quality! We each had 1 of each oyster (there are 4 varieties) a small beer flight, 1 entree and two appetizers to share. Over 100$ check. Be ready to drop some cash. Typically the amount and quality of the food we ate I would equate with a 50$ meal somewhere else - but what you're really paying for are the quality oysters, I think. The atmosphere on a Friday evening was a few 30 something business professionals at the bar but mostly the 50+ country club-ish crowd (those you know, with more money to burn than your early 30/Late 20 -somethings like us.) populating the tables. Pros: Amazing food Good service Great decor Cons: Cost Small portion sizes Uppity crowd read more

Not worth the price (i.e way overpriced). There was no bread, the food took forever to come and there is no kids option. We tried ordering pasta for the kids and they sent us plates with literally seven strings of noodle (for $12 each). Did I tell you that there was no cheese for the pasta as well? Even though the food was ok I am never coming back. read more

We were eager to try Rappahannock after hearing so much about it over the last few years. The restaurant space is beautiful with that modern industrial vibe going on and there's also a nice bar area. But for me, the food leaves much to be desired. FOOD The Oysters (we got Tangier and Rappahannock) were definitely our favorite bite that night. You just can't beat that briny flavor - they really are the fruit of the sea! For entrees, the Sockeye salmon, Seafood Paella, and Wood Grilled Yellowfin Tuna were all tasty and flavorful but I wouldn't say totally memorable. We were not impressed with the two starters: Confit Rock Shrimp (pretty bland) and Escargots (too much bread crumbs and not enough butter). Overall, the experience was just okay. The oysters were definitely the highlight for us so with that in mind, I'd be more keen to try Rapp Session next door. read more

Very unfortunate, but essily the worst dining experience of the year, so far. Meal took over two hours ftom the time that we were seated. Cook was texting and waitresses stood around talking to each other. Never saw the manager. This was a corporate outing. Embarrased is all I can say. read more

Cold scallops, salty veggie, Dry harmony farm pork which is Market Price. This sums up the experience. Feb 13, 2016. read more

Rappahannock - Cold scallops. Only looks good. - Bars Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Great atmosphere and great oysters! The bartenders (I sat at the bar) were very helpful in choosing the types of oysters I would like, they tasted wonderful. I also ordered the chocolate flip dessert cocktail and it was delicious! It was a bit pricy for oysters and drinks but totally enjoyable. The only negative I would give is that the restaurant smells like smoke from the kitchen. You and your clothes end up smelling like this (reason for the 4/5 stars). Overall - worth the expense and I will return!! read more

Rappahannock - Bars Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Second visit. Love this place. Great bartenders, great food. Had the Bronzino first time, this trip had the cheese plate and the scallops. Great service, both times I sat at the bar. I'll be back!! read more

Great atmosphere and food. Traveling sales rep and always looking for great local place with welcoming bar. Found the perfect spot at Rappahannock's. Dined at bar and had the best bar tender Ethan. Ethan is a Great conversationalist with super service. Strongly recommend this classic spot...... sit at the bar and enjoy great conversation with Ethan and staff. Cheers!!! read more

Love the ambience! That farmhouse chic vibe. The service was excellent. Very patient with describing the oyster choices. (Thank you!) drink wee great! Happy hour specials were worth it!! This place is NOT a disappointment! Left feeling happy and satisfied! read more

Rappahannock - Bars Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Okay, so I only came here after the owners at the oyster farm mentioned to me that they were opening one at this Richmond. In no way are the 2 similar. The original is more of a semi-fancy oyster bar on the docks, and here in Richmond, they have tried to make everything classy. People tend to come here to drink lots of wine it seems. So it can be really loud here. Also, because of what they're serving, people tend to dress pretty classy. The raw schucked oysters are great like usual. I would recommend the olde salte's if any. They tend to have the most briny flavor. The rappahannocks are pretty sweet. The food is classy and they really do try to emphasize quality in their food, which is commendable. Is it great? Well let's just say it's a good effort. I am not sure if I would come here again, but if I ever want oysters in Richmond, I would go here to just get some raw oysters. I just wish that they had baked oysters at this location. read more

Really solid and unique seafood place downtown. I am so glad so many cool places have started opening up in this particular section of downtown! When you walk in you immediately notice three things - the giant corner windows letting in lots of light, the HUGE bar in the middle of the restaurant and the smell of smokey grilled goodness. I went with a large group and our waiter was phenomenal - totally on top of everything and explained the dishes we had questions about. I would go back for the service alone...but that's not all! The food was fantastic. I ordered an appetizer because I felt awkward about not ordering oysters (not my favorite thing, but I've been told this place has the best). My tuna crudo app was okay for what it was, but I probably wouldn't order it again. My entree however was heaven on a plate - the scallops. I can't wait to go back so I can order it again. YUM. All in all a great new spot that everyone needs to check out - they are on opentable which I appreciate and wish more locally owned places took advantage of! read more

I love oysters. And I found them here for $2 per delicious oyster. We got a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and a flight of Virginia made beers. Both went well with our mix of oysters and ceviche. The oysters tasted fresh and had the perfect amount of salt to them. Nothing beats an oyster with a beer. Really nothing. The ceviche was fabulous. It had something called watermelon shoots and diced jalapeños mixed in and saturated with lime juice. Delicious. The place was hustling and bustling for a Saturday night but we managed to snatch a couple bar seats. Lucky wait time was over an hour. The shucker was right in front of us working away. Lots of plaid and tattoos - it all went together in this city oyster bar. I loved it. read more