3rd times a three charm pendant. each time I eat here the food gets better. the service in all honest won't get much better unless they pay for my food. lamp lollipops are a go to for every good reason. duck incredible. even the roasted carrots kept up to the bar set. another time had the pork. wow. sitting at the bar is a treat if you enjoy watching masters at work. whether its the bartender or the chefs on the grill. three words... see you soon. read more

Incredible and quaint restaurant that makes the hands-down best whiskey sour in all of Richmond! Food is five-star: we had the roasted carrots, simple salad, and split the ribeye. For filet mignon people, my husband and I both would get the ribeye again. read more

The pork shank was phenomenal - fell right off the bone. Their service was incredible, even the music was great. Can't recommend this place enough. read more

The Stables - Pork shank - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Without a doubt, this was one of the best dining experiences I've had in RVA. From the food to the service everything was top notch and I left full and with no complaints. Our visit was on a weekday evening without a reservation and we were able to be seated at a table right away. While the restaurant did fill up, the bar had openings throughout the evening had we come later and the space never grew too loud where it became a problem to talk to whoever you were dining with. The food itself was outstanding with some standouts being the chilled spring peas which was both light and refreshing and the pork chop which was cooked perfectly and very filling. Service was great, with wait staff who were attentive without being overbearing. Their recommendations demonstrated their understanding of the menu and ensured we had a great evening. Most entrees were in the $30-$40 range, and while this is on the more expensive side for the area I didn't leave feeling like I had overpaid for the quality, service, and experience we had. I will certainly be back again. read more

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The Stables is a vibe! Great place for a date or special occasion. I love the mood lighting! Everything put on our table was perfect. The food is next level! Parsnip ice cream. Who knew?? Service was spot on! Our server, Olivia, was amazing. Somehow she knew what we needed every time without us even asking. Ask for her by name if she's there! You won't be let down. 10 out of 10! read more

The Stables - Fennel and Pepper encrusted Ribeye - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Our party of 5 was lucky to be in a small, semi-private room. The food and service were both excellent--we never needed to ask for water refills and our servers, plural, were attentive without hovering. We had several shared starters and everyone enjoyed them all. The mains were delicious and the portion size was appropriate. The price level means that The Stables will be mostly a special-occasion place, but very much worth it. read more

Amazing restaurant, hidden gem. They cook the food in front of you. Friendly staff. You must try! read more

The Stables - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Crab and artichoke dip: cheesy with big lumps of crab, bread was perfectly toasted not too hard Bone in pork rib chop: my friend said it was tender and cooked perfectly, the sauce was oniony and complimented the pork well Harissa glazed salmon: 10/10 the salmon was crispy on top and cooked perfectly on the inside, salmon was flaky and soft, the cucumber mix was lemony and fresh, the feta was salty and a little sour in a good way and complimented the salmon well read more

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Excellent food, attentive staff, great atmosphere. We will definitely come back. My girlfriend and I came here for a date night to celebrate 6 months together and The Stables did not disappoint. read more

The Stables - Pork chop - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

One of the most solid (and expensive) restaurants in the museum district. This place has always been one of my favorites. The staff is always amazing and attentive. The food and drinks are also fantastic. One of my favorite date night spots. Highly recommend the duck if they have it on the menu! read more

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I had the duck and highly recommend it! The flavor and accompanying sides were incredible. It's fun sitting at the bar because you can see them cook and prep your meal. The service was excellent and the bartender was very personable. The atmosphere of the restaurant was very warm and welcoming, it would be good for a date night. read more

An absolutely lovely valentines dinner. And actually, as someone who works nights, the fact they open at 430 meant we got in a scootch early which is good for me since I'm sort of starving when I get up. Now, I will admit we were a Little disappointed the regular menu was off the table but on the other hand, the sparse choices for it solved my occasional menu-decision-paralysis. The specialty menu was definitely designed to prepare and move quickly (salad, soup, scallops, etc) but it was done beautifully and neither of us left hungry, that is certain! The staff was very sweet and helpful, the cocktails (both on menu and a 'make me something interesting ') were lovely, and the location - a Bit off the main dragon Cary street- makes it easier to park, even. The only thing I would fuss about is the weather was too chilly to leave the front door open and I was kinda cold even after it was closed again. I particularly recommend the Pear of aces drink (tequila and pear) as being delightfully refreshing, and if they still offer it later on, the lamb chops with mushrooms and parmesan grits with onion soubise as being basically flawless. read more

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My first visit to The Stable and it was definitely worth the trip. It's a small storefront in a residential area and reservations are needed but once you're seated the experience begins. Friendly knowledgeable servers guide your decisions and the chefs are well seasoned in preparing these wonderful victuals. When you go, parking is available in the rear or on the street. Full bar with premium spirits. Bring your appetite and don't be afraid to share. read more

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My husband and I took our son to The Stables for his birthday with great anticipation given all the stellar reviews. Our experience was a very mixed bag. First, the ambiance. The restaurant is cozy and inviting - perfect for a cold autumn evening. We were greeted warmly and seated promptly at our reservation time. Service is slow. We were at our table 45 minutes before any food arrived. We had lovely cocktails and lots to talk about, so we didn't mind, but if you are considering dining here, plan to have a slow, relaxed evening. The specialty cocktail menu had several interesting choices. We tried the grape expectations (whiskey, cardamom) and sage advice (sage infused gin). Both were excellent. The grape expectations was warming and slightly sweet, with just a hint of cardamom. The sage advice was tart and bracing with a lovely twist of lemon rind. Our appetizers and salads were wonderful. The simple salad is plentiful, studded with Roquefort and walnuts. The potatoes in the sweet potato salad were perfectly cooked, and the tart dressing, nuts, and ricotta made for a wonderful bite. The short ribs were the star. Tender but with a good crust, a lovely sauce that let the flavor of the meat shine, and mascarpone polenta and onions to die for. So good! We also ordered rolls and butter to be brought with the salads, but they didn't arrive, and we had to ask for them with our entrees. The entrees were where the evening fell flat. My son and I ordered the brown butter scallops. The scallops were tender and perfectly seared, but the accompanying cauliflower and turnip purée had an odd, too-sour taste. My son was hungry so he ate most of his cauliflower despite being underwhelmed; I left most of mine on the plate. My husband ordered the rib eye with broccoli rabe and bread pudding. The rib-eye was perfectly cooked, but was served at room temperature. The savory bread pudding was delicious, but was hard to find buried under the sliced steak and broccoli. The broccoli rabe was crisp tender and plentiful, but otherwise unremarkable. The presentation was very messy and looked like the food was thrown on the plate. Our server recommended a moderately priced bottle of Nebbiolo wine and it was lovely. Light enough to go with scallops, but with ample heft for the steak. We did not try dessert. I was surprised that the server did not ask us how we liked out meals, especially with so much food left on my plate when she cleared the table. Overall, the appetizers were so good that we may return to try other dishes, but we are not in a hurry. read more

The bartender was great. The woman that was serving tables tonight was rude and unkind.

Probably one of my most difficult restaurants to review. I am a consumer who left without complaint so I will therefore give 5 stars and break my experience down into categories Staff: easy A+ on this one. Nice. Always filling my drinks. Very attentive. Atmosphere: uniquely kind of quiet. Makes you want to be hush hush in conversations. I liked the darker room and music. Definitely upper scale for dress code as I saw business casual around me. Not required, but hey make sure to look good and feel good. Finally the FOOD: my mouth went on a flavor journey... not in a good way. Also, not in a bad way. A few of the descriptors I came across were "fireworks, bacon, eggs, grandmas house, rich, filling". Yeah I don't know how those arose either. We started with bread rolls. Solid. Nothing special. The fluffy butter was what made it great. Next was pear soup. Delicious. Rich. Could have been a little larger in portion. The main course was pork chop. Very sweet. Very rich. The flavors were kind of all over the place. Not the American rugged flavor profile I expected and prefer. This was kind of like a candy meat which led to a very confusing end to the evening's meal. Did I enjoy my dinner? Sort of. Was it worth $60 a person? Most certainly not. I've had much better foods with comparable atmospheres around the city of Richmond for far less or of equal value. In summary, you receive my 5 star evaluation, but with hopes of elevating your menu flavor profile to a new status and attraction of similar value to your fellow neighbors. Just had the leftovers. EVEN better the next day. The flavors marinated into a great flavor. read more

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Super excited to visit this restaurant! Small, intimate restaurant but surprisingly unnoisy. Ambiance was great with a semi open kitchen concept on the bar side. The rolls and butter were okay but I thought the rolls were a bit dry.Drinks apps and mains were all amazing. Service was fantastic! Would love to return one day read more

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Delicious cocktails and food, well presented. Service attentive but not obtrusive. Could have a slightly higher ambient lumen count. We old folk can't even read the menu well without more light. The setting is intimate and cozy and relatively quiet. read more

Casual American Bistro at Belmont, Richmond, VA. There is good food and drinks here for everyone to try. read more

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Friends were in town from Los Angeles. Asked that I pick somewhere nice and unique to Richmond. The Stables did not disappoint. We have a lot of great restaurants in our city. The Stables is at or near the top of the list. Can't wait to go back. read more

The Stables - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

This is one of my favorite restaurants in the very recent past. It takes something special for me to remember a restaurant, but I feel confident I won't forget this one. A little bit of a hole in the wall- but a treasure! I am not from the area, but would certainly go again and try more of the food. The menu changes every few months according to the bartender. We were seated at the bar because we went there on a whim and there were no seats. We felt like we had the best seat in the house, with the food being cooked right in front of us the entire night. We got to see everything that everybody ordered being cooked on the spot. Everything we got was amazing. We got a varied selection of food (meatballs, carrots, and a mushroom side), and everything was AMAZING. read more

The Stables - View of kitchen from the bar - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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I was very excited to visit The Stables after hearing rave reviews. The restaurant is TINY, which lends itself to the exclusivity. We showed up 30 minutes early for our reservation so we sat at the bar and got drinks. In the time it took til our reservation, we had JUST received our drinks and closed out with the bartender, taking full drinks to our table. The bartender seemed very overwhelmed (I felt bad for her because it was clearly just busy, but there probably should've been two bartenders). We were sat at a table in a side room that was essentially private. We were told it was because our table of five would be too big to fit in the main room, which was true. Initially it felt exclusive but being isolated from the main dining room proved to be a disadvantage because our waiter, who was very nice, only made it to our table so often. So we had quite a wait before ordering any drinks, our food, even getting the check. The appetizers were good. I liked the pimento cheese dip, but it felt a bit watery (maybe too much liquid in the collards) and the lamb lollipops were great but 3 small lollipops for a $23 price tag is hard to justify. Most of our table got the scallops and while the sear looked good, the weren't super crispy (which perhaps is just my preference). It was probably due to the fact that it took a while for our food to make it to us because the rest of the veg on my plate was very cold. I also was able to try the duck and the skin was not crispy at all (a misnomer given the name). The accompaniments were also cold on this dish as well. I will say that the flavors of everything were great, so no complaints on that front! Overall, I was slightly disappointed. For the promise of (sort of) fine dining, it felt like they didn't follow through on a lot of the details which ultimately left me underwhelmed and out a couple hundred dollars. read more

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Very cute little place in the Museum district. Looked around for a place for a good anniversary date night and I hit a home run. Our waitress, Katherine, brought us two glasses of champagne since I told them in advance it was my anniversary. I was very pleasantly surprised. Started off with the beet salad. Very flavorful. My wife had the lamb lollipops. Tender, tasty with a nice char. I had their seafood pasta. They were very generous with the crab and lobster. The bartender was very creative. A man devoted to his craft. So many good selections on the menu. But, my wife just gave some flavor profiles and he made a wonderful custom drink. Finished the night off with their Mango bread pudding. They staff made us feel very special on our anniversary. Thanks for the wonderful food and service. read more

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Situated in the heart of the Art District next to VMFA. Super nice higher end vibe. Everything was delicious with excellent service read more

The Stables - Vegan Celery Root Steak. Delicious and very filling. - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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We had a wonderful meal here. The atmosphere and creativity of the menu makes for a nice surprise from an outwardly unassuming restaurant. read more

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I really wanted to like this place more, but I just can't give it more than 3 stars. Firstly, it felt very stuffy in the restaurant, I feel like the tables were placed way too close to each other. I hear other tables conversations and they can hear mine. I felt cramped, so I was never able to relax at my seat. The service is so friendly and attentive and the drinks were great. For that all my stars go to them. Where I was disappointed was the food which is unfortunate because there was great care in the presentation. The entree I ordered just didn't make sense. It was described as something that was "lighter" which is fine, but I'm still baffled at why the purée and vegetables were cold and straight-off-the-cast-iron scallops sat on top of it. The hot scallops and cold vegetables don't make any sense to me. Within 3 minutes I had a cold meal. The flavoring was alright, but the scallops and vegetables did not taste cohesive, like they were intentionally put together. It feels like the chef really wanted to make something different just for the sake of it being different and then got stuck once they got the puree and bed of raw zucchini. So they slapped scallops on there. They were cooked just fine. Unfortunately, there were grains of sand in my vegetables too so that made the experience even more disappointing. Overall, I just don't see how that dish fits into the rest of the menu and it's an example of "just because you could, it doesn't mean you should". read more

The Stables - Scallops - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

We had a fantastic dinner the other night. We sat at the bar, so could see the chefs in action, which was a real treat (as were the wonderful smells coming from the cooked food). The food was excellent -- we had four appetizers from the new fall menu, and they were so good. The romanesco, sweet potato salad, short rib, and lamb lollipops were all knockouts! The cocktail menu is fun, and the wine list is great as well. My husband and I already agreed that we would come back to Richmond just to visit The Stables -- thanks again for a great dinner! read more

I had such a wonderful dinner at Stables with my children to celebrate Mother's Day. I was able to make a reservation ahead of time, which I highly recommend, since it's not a very large space. We were seated as soon as we checked in with the host, which I appreciated. We ordered drinks, as they have a lovely cocktail menu. I had the Sir Winston, and my son had the Belmontier--both were amazing. Then we had the Virginia three-cheese platter as an appetizer, and it was wonderful. For dinner, I had the scallops, my son had the lamb shank, and my daughter had the ribeye. It was the perfect amount of food, and everything was absolutely delicious. The scallops were perfectly prepared, and my daughter's ribeye came out medium rare, just as she ordered. We all tried each other's meals, as they were all so good. Our server was simply wonderful--Catherine. She was attentive, offered recommendations, and made sure we were taken care of throughout our meal. read more

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We enjoyed a spectacular dinner with impeccable service. James (bartender) was delightfully engaging and made us feel welcome. Catherine, our server, was perfect AND I DO MEAN PERFECT. She was helpful with making decisions for dinner (so many delicious options) and her attentiveness throughout our dining experience was appreciated. Our meal included the starters: parsnip and pear soup and the oven roasted romanesco. We ordered the scallops and flounder for entrees. All dishes were ridiculously delicious. Go. Relax. Eat. Enjoy. Repeat. read more

so enjoyed date night at the cozy place. I enjoyed the white wine, the mussels appetizer and the crab and shrimp saucy dish. highly recommend! read more

This review is long overdue and I honestly don't want to share because it's my little hidden gem. Good vibes all around and the food and drinks are delicious. The lamb lollipops are a must! My only "complaint" is that the menu changes every couple of months, so if you have a favorite don't count on it staying on the menu..but I mean, it does force you to try new things! read more

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Finally made it here for our anniversary dinner. Spectacular food, service, & ambiance. Inspired, quality products, execution, & presentation. I'd happily return again for all of it, however, the charcuterie board and lamb lollipops alone are enough to motivate future reservations. The Saturday early 5-pm dinner reservation was a great idea. Ample street parking, and a more intimate ambiance, coupled with the thoughtful, polite, and warm service we received have made us fans! read more

The Stables - Perfect scallops dish - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Get the scallops, even if you only came for dessert or just a cocktail... get the scallops. They are perfectly cooked and perfectly paired with the bacon collared greens and rosemary polenta. They are seared just right to add a little crisp crunch but then they are melt in your mouth soft with the ocean washing through in a briney delight. The Lobster and Crab Gnocchi is rich and decadent in flavor, all the ingredients of this dish mesh together in the most wonderful way, even the snap peas play an important part... you can taste each thing and everything all it once. I wish I could describe it to you better but I can ensure you that nothing was left on the plate. The Smoked Pork Shoulder was savory and heavy, it filled your belly like a warm blanket next to a stoked fire on a wintery evening. The charred pineapple bits brought this wonderful sweet crunch that balanced out the pork and the jus... it was like a happy lil surprise every time you took a bite and that pineapple burst in the most wonderful way. The meat was so nicely cooked, all you needed was a fork, it just fell apart tenderly, begging to be eaten. The establishment itself was farmhouse chic, almost fancy but you could be comfortable in cargo shorts and a T-shirt or dolled up in a cocktail dress and not be out of place. The staff was helpful and friendly, everyone had a natural smile and the atmosphere just seemed relaxed. The restaurant looks like it ran like a well-oiled machine. It was super easy to book a reservation through Open Table, making walking up and getting in a breeze. Only bad thing about this spot is there is no parking, just street parking in a residential neighborhood, so if you can walk here or just catch an Uber, you'll be less annoyed. :) read more

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How have I never posted a review for The Stables??? But I have posted pics :) First off... I want to take a moment and thank the team that is continuing to work though this pandemic. Much appreciation to all of you!!! Sending love to the restaurant industry. My family and I have frequented The Stables many a time the last few years. Anytime my parents and brother are visiting from N.VA The Stables always comes to mind as we can reserve for our group of 7-8. We have always gotten the private room on the side which has been great with two little ones. Hands down the best lamb lollipops in the Richmond area. If you have never have them before and love lamb you need to make it your duty to try it during this time and you will want to go back in when the restaurant opens up! The Roasted Halibut that we had previously was also delicious from what I remember. Perfect crisp outside and flaky fish on the inside. I remember the Shrimp and Grits had an awesome spice but I knew when we got it... it could've been hotter :) You know the lamb lollipops with asparagus and mashed potatoes are good when both my husband and I ordered it. So the Gumbo.... one word Ahmazing!!! Great flavor, good amount of ingredients when all heated up it was just so hearty and delicious. We wished we bought it in bulk it was that good. Definitely compares to our friend's gumbo that he makes homemade which is awesome. Overall, if you read this I urge you to give The Stables a try if you have never been. I would hate to see them go out of business selfishly. Stay safe everyone!! read more

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Looking for a lovely neighborhood dinner in Richmond or a post-college tour place to enjoy a great meal? Look no further. We found The Stables online in several "best of Richmond" lists, and concluded the reputation was well-deserved. Intimate bistro-like setting with an interesting assortment of cocktails and wines by the glass or bottle. Creative menu with several super-cool dishes. All of the selections were interesting and thoughtful -- not the usual, expected dishes in the increasingly generic world of restaurants. At the recommendation of our (fabulous, knowledgeable) server, I started with the Summer of '77 cocktail, a variation on a Manhattan. We shared (also at her recommendation) the lamb lollipops, prepared with goat cheese and a red pepper relish. Delicious. My guest went for the braised pork shank which we devoured. I had the crispy duck breast, which was a great combination of tastes and temperatures (one of the sauces was cool, the other warm). Two wines by the glass -- both off-the-beaten path recommendations. A Gruner Vetleiner for the white (no, not all German wines are sweet ) and a Syrah blend for the red. Both at the recommendation of the server (n.b. we agreed heartily on the selections -- not just the typical chardonnay then a cabernet). Complimented the entrees beautifully. I'm a big believer in the idea that there is an efficient market for restaurants. If a place is crowded, it's good...and The Stables was both. Definitely worth the trip...and perhaps a return trip, too. read more

LOVED this cute and quant restaurant! My bf and I went here for a date night and it was an amazing experience. I got a rez later in the evening bc all earlier slots were full. We knew we didnt want anything too heavy and started with the pork and fennel meatballs, the lamb lollipops and a side of polenta & mushrooms. The meatballs were to DIE FOR The dish had some raisins and fresh salad at the bottom which paired so well! The lamb lollipops were soooo delicious! We got them at a medium temperature which I definitely recommend They were juicy and tender and just perfect for the type of meat. The polenta paired well with all dishes and even on its own! The app portions are decent as well and great to split if you're a lighter eater. I love to try a little of everything and this perfect Our server Katherine was amazing and so accommodating. To add, the bartender surprised me with a special drink when I wanted a surprise and he did not disappoint read more

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In need of last minute reservations for an impromptu one week anniversary celebration, my wife and I selected The Stables near the VMFA for its appealing menu of cocktails and tasty sounding New American menu. We showed up a little early and passed some time at the bar. To our delight, the head bartender happened to be behind the counter and guided us skillfully through the awesome cocktail menu. The Stables makes most of its cocktail ingredients in house with unique techniques, and a passion for cocktails truly shines here. We enjoyed all three cocktails we sampled, including the smoky Vaxx Populi, the slightly piquant Mane Squeeze, and the herbaceous A Place Between the Pines. The cocktails represented some of our favorite libations we sampled in the city and actually ended up the highlight of our meal. Once we got done imbibing, the friendly staff kindly offered us one of the best tables in the house since we were celebrating. Our waitress remained available and affable throughout our meal, which she paced perfectly. We started with the scallops and lamb lollipops for appetizers. We preferred the perfectly cooked lamb chops which had a tender texture and juicy meat, paired smartly with a tangy tamarin aioli. The scallops were decent, but I found the collard greens a bit too salty and the scallops themselves not super flavorful. The dish was saved by an addictive polenta cake that balanced all of the flavors well. My wife's lobster gnocchi won for our favorite entree of the evening. The pillowy gnocchi swam in a seafood inflected, creamy broth stuffed with ample chunks of fresh lobster and crab. Despite the richness, the dish ate light and fresh. My smoked pork shoulder was simply okay. The fork tender meat lacked appreciable smoke, and the poblano gravy lacked the promised pepper notes and rather tasted simply of salt. The accompanying cheddar biscuits had a pleasingly fluffy texture, but again ran too salty. Our meal ended with a complimentary glass of champagne, a nice touch. We spent about $150 on three cocktails, two appetizers, and two entrees, which we found reasonable given the quantities and quality of the fare. We give The Stables a hearty five stars for drinks and service, but a more reserved three on the food. This overall makes for a solid four star experience, and we still would gladly return for more killer cocktails and excellent hospitality. read more

I was recommended The Stables by a friend and coworker for my boyfriend's birthday dinner. Neither of us had ever been, and when asking others who had been how their experience was everyone gave rave reviews, so I decided to give it a shot! I made a reservation a few days prior, and upon arrival we were immediately greeted and taken to our table. The ambiance inside was beautiful! The tables are dark wood set with lit, warm candles, and the walls are tastefully decorated with antique looking paintings. We began with cocktails that came out quickly and were absolutely delicious! We then placed our entire food order and were met with knowledgeable feedback and recommendations by our server that actually saved us a few bucks! Our server, Olivia, also made sure to pace our appetizers so that we could truly enjoy each dish. We had the baby kale and arugula salad and the lamb lollipops to start, followed by the red curry mussels and were absolutely blown away. The mussels were accompanied by a baguette that was replenished for us free of charge. For the main course we shared a perfectly cooked and equally delicious ribeye. When informing our server Olivia that we were celebrating a birthday she surprised us with a champagne toast and a lit candle. Olivia truly went above and beyond for not only us, but each of her tables. She truly made our time at The Stables a fantastic experience. My boyfriend and I are in the industry and can confidently say this is the best meal and dining experience we have both ever had in our lives. We literally have not been able to stop talking about it. I cannot recommend it enough! I've already made plans to return for my Mom's birthday! read more

Food, ambience and service were top notch. Went on a Saturday night with friends and had a marvelous tapas style meal ordering most of the starters. Wine selection and friendly waitress and just the right amount of attention are the cherry on top. read more

Had a lovely dinner here in late February. Table for two, seated in the dining area in the room past the bar. For our appetizer we enjoyed the mussels. I don't know that the bread needs the butter with all that lovely sauce to sop up under the mussels. It's a wonderful bowl full of mussels. We did opt for extra bread to enjoy the sauce. For entrees, we had the scallops and the duck. There were 4 scallops, as well as several shrimp. I cleared my plate and was stuffed, stuffed! My companions duck was beautifully plated and tasted quite nice. We passed on the desert menu. No major notes. Classical ambiance. Could seem a little stuffy to the youngest dining out set. But I liked it. read more