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

I tried this restaurant for the first time this week and I was thoroughly impressed. It's been on my radar for a while and since Virginia is starting to open back up, I've felt more comfortable going into restaurants to eat. I went with my sisters so I had a chance to try a ton of different things including the muscles, scallops, duck, pork shoulder, Jambalaya, dirty rice, collard greens, shrimp, and a few cocktails. Unfortunately, the shrimp and lobster gnocchi was sold out for the evening and I really wanted to try it. I was really impressed with the lamb and collard greens! They were very flavorful. A lot of the things that I tasted except for the dirty rice and duck was very flavorful. I would definitely recommend the muscles, the jambalaya and the scallops. They were all so delicious. I do wish that the portions were a little bigger but overall it was a very decent restaurant read more

See all

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

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

Stopped for a second visit and were less than impressed. Serving sizes shrunk, the bread in the mussels was slathered in mayo and sriracha, and everything was too salty. read more

It's alright, they have an accommodating kitchen willing to work with people who have gut issues. The food is good. Service is nice. I just can't help but feel like a horse when I eat here. read more

Another great addition to RVA!!!! My friends and I were in the Museum District. The food is simply delicious and drinks are made to order. The restaurant is great for date night with that special persons, or casual hangout at the bar!! read more

The Stables - a dining room with a chandelier and a stained glass window - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

biz casual atmosphere. everything was tasty. nice presentations. small portions. dinner for 2 ran around $200.

Awesome food, excellent drinks and service, and some truly funky (Bekaa Valley, Lebanon) wines which were really good. My wife had the celeriac steak, I had a wonderful piece of fish, friends had the lamb lollipops and duck breast for their mains. All was wonderful and I'm definitely going back. read more

For my second visit here, I finally got to bring my husband to The Stables to celebrate our wedding anniversary. I saw lots of people there, so I would recommend making reservations (I used OpenTable app to do so- super easy). For the appetizer we decided on their Duck Pate Mousse with a dose of jam on top. It was fabulous. I love how their give you many slices of baguette to enjoy with. As for the entree, we decided to share the duck breast and the smoked veal short ribs. Both plates were pretty good and enough to split and share. I really enjoyed the sweet potato that was served with the duck. I didn't really enjoy the 5 spice baguette bread pudding was pretty heavy and I don't think it was necessary with the Veal. Overall, the banh mi slaw was delish! My favorite part of the evening (and many others) was the dessert. We got their special, panna cotta smores. OMG, it was definitely filling and so rich in flavor. The chocolate was amazingly done and so creamy. If this is on the menu, be sure to get this order! Overall, the experience was wonderful and we have a nice evening. read more

See all

Been many times now both dinner and weekend brunch. 5 star service - the wait staff is excellent. Evan is a 5 star chef. His menu changes seasonally so I always have a reason to go back. I haven't had a dish I didn't like and I always have trouble making my final selection once I narrow it down. Although the lamp lollipops have always been a favorite of mine. The service has always been excellent and I have never had a complaint. Popular and limited seating so you may want to make reservations since it is always happening. read more

All I can say is "Wow". New Year's Eve and during COVID, this restaurant managed to pull off one of the better meals I've had in RVA in a long time. Admittedly, I had some negative thoughts about this place after dining during their first week open, three years or so ago, but I wish I didn't let that experience keep me from dining here again until now. Firstly, the space was well-used to maintain safety standards, create a nice ambiance, and make it feel "full". Our waitress was the kindest and most helpful in helping make the dining experience that much better. I order mocktails from restaurants and I must admit, many fall flat or are undrinkable. The waitress also orders mocktails and assured me that the bartender makes the best, so I left it in her hands. She was absolutely correct. Definitely a place to go for a great drink for a good price. My friend had a Grey Goose Gimlet and it was only $9 dollars! We had the option of doing the prix fixe menu for NYE or ordering a la carte, which I really appreciated. We ate dinner on Christmas Eve elsewhere and I was beyond disappointed in the prix fixe (which was the only option and was not mentioned on their website). To start I had the Southern Scallops and my friend had the Shrimp and Grits. Both so beautifully cooked and bursting with flavor. When they say small plate, they actually mean normal-sized plate! The scallops were seared to perfection and the perfect color and texture inside. It came with a rosemary polenta cake and collards (I'm writing this over a week later and the dish was that memorable; I'm salivating right now). The Shrimp and Grits were well-seasoned and the gravy was just so so good. For entrees I had the Lamb Lollipops and friend had the Catch of the Day, which was salmon. I cannot stress enough how good these were and that anyone who likes lamb should make a reservation or takeout now. The relationship between the proteins and accompaniments was spot on and the portions were massive, especially after the "small" plates. We split the vanilla cake with cinnamon buttercream and caramel. It was very good, but very sweet. Definitely something to split. read more

The Stables - Lamb Lollipops with Cauli Purée and Grilled Zucchini - AMAZING Back: Catch of the Day (Salmon) with Beet Tabouleh - Great - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

food and drinks were pretty good, but oysters were a bit of a miss. tasted kind of like bread crumbs on oysters. servers were nice but not quite as attentive as you might like, especially with a bigger party. drinks took a little longer than probably necessary, but it was a little busy. over all, cost compared to experience: it was alright. not terrible but maybe not the greatest. read more

See all

Came here for the second time this weekend and it was just as good as the first! The food here is delicious and meticulously curated. The wine list is also exceptional. My BF and I had the smoked burrata and oysters to start. The oysters had great, unique flavor due to the red pepper and fried onions. I'm a burrata lover and was not disappointed by the burrata here. For entrees, we had the ribeye and duck. The Stables has the most tender and flavorful ribeye I've had in Richmond. The duck was perfectly cooked with a sweet, honey flavor. Overall, I highly recommend coming here if you're looking for a nice dinner out in Richmond. read more

Cozy vibes, great service and comforting foods? The Stables may very easily become a staple for all of the above. I didn't really have any expectations before coming here, but was charmed by the ambiance and dazzled by the dishes. We opted for a few small plates (because honestly, I could have been happy making a meal out of these menu items) with the scallops being a standout, with the cauliflower wings being a close second. As for the lamb lollipops, they weren't as tender as I'd hope, but still tasty! We also ordered the Penne Bolognese to share, and that was comfort at its best. This dish was rich and indulgent and full of familiar flavor. It was sizable enough that with a few small plates, sharing this dish left us both full. (Although with a heart appetite, perfectly perfect for one as well.) Also, our waitress was on top of things! She was swift, and thorough and never left us waiting or wanting anything from the time we were seated until the time we left. Definitely a warm, and welcoming restaurant that is casual enough to become a regular, but nice enough to dine for a special occasion. read more

See all

The food here is GOOD. We initially ate take out from them in the middle of the pandemic, and we're floored by the lamb lollipops and shishito peppers. We later took our family there for a special occasion and they did not disappoint! Add this to the list of awesome RVA restaurants! read more

The Stables - Lamb Lollipops, Shishito Peppers - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

This is not an exaggeration. I'm not a foodie or whatever. Just a normal person that took my wife on a date. When I say this was the best meal I have ever had (second to my mom's food) I'm not kidding. I'm not sure how they do it, but it's magic. The atmosphere is like being a rich person in Scotland at a fox hunt club. The art is great and the folks working are extremely nice and knowledgeable. But the food... We had perfectly cooke mussels as an app, then I had duck and my wife has acorn squash for entrees. We were both in awe. Like, we look at each other and both said "how does this food taste like fall" and it weirdly triggers that atmosphere of being in the Scottish country side away from your royal duties for the weekend. Lastly the desert. We ordered the bread pudding with cinnamon apples. Neither of us like bread pudding but we LOVED THIS bread pudding. Again, somehow they created the perfect dessert and it was so perfect, we again both had the same weird memory pop up of grandma giving us dessert in front of an open fire. Please treat yourself and go here. The value is absolutely worth the dollar. Especially compared to other restaurants in the area, or even state. read more

We had a wonderful anniversary celebration here. Making a reservation was easy, the service was friendly, and the food was wonderful. My husband had the scallops, which came highly recommended and they did not disappoint. I took a chance and had the rabbit fettuccine, which was great. Lots of veggies and perfectly cooked pasta to accompany the rabbit. I enjoyed an Argentinian white wine with dinner. The atmosphere and decor is cozy and warm. Loved it. read more

Whew! What an amazing place. My boyfriend made a reservation here tonight for our anniversary & it was amazing from start to finish. First, our server was great! She was very attentive and knew the menu quite well; very friendly too. I had my classic amaretto sour's for my drinks then the appetizer came (lamb lollipops). Those were the most tender and flavorful I've ever tasted. Best I've had was in California and these beat those by far. Then comes the beloved entree. This was the first time I've had duck, and it was phenomenal (just as the server described). I can't say enough good things about it. My baby had the NY Strip which he loves as well, but he kept diving into my plate because he said and I quote "The skin on this is immaculate!" I recommend this place 10x over! You won't regret it. read more

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

See all

Received a gift card for the Stables and absolutely loves this place. Would definitely go back without one too! Everything was perfect- the food, the cocktails, and of course the service was amazing. read more

Love the menu, service is friendly and knowledgeable. Great ambiance. I'll be returning!

Fun. Kitchy. Good food. Great service. Ambiance is ok. Bathroom is lacking. Parking in back

What an adorable find! This quaint place is nestled on Belmont amongst Fan houses. Dining here was a unique experience for sure! We sat at the bar and were able to watch all the food for the restaurant cook right in front us with their open kitchen. The chefs served us their creations hot from the kitchen. The bartender was also wonderful and gave great suggestions for cocktail favorites and food. We made a meal out of shared small plates. We ordered 6 different options and paid the same we would for entrees, but got to try more dishes. The variety of small plates was awesome and the food was excellently prepared! I highly recommend the lamb and buffalo cauliflower. The owner also frequents the place, making it feel like a more personal experience of dining rather than just a business endeavor. He sat at the bar with a drink, but also appeared to jump in and help the staff. I appreciated him being involved. He says he has another restaurant too, (a burger place nearby) which we plan to check out soon! read more

Everything here was delicious. I mean we cleaned our plates. The only drawback is the ventilation isn't great so I left smelling like the smokiness from the food cooking in the kitchen. Street parking so if you're meeting someone plan accordingly, it's the Fan district. Full bar to pair with your meals. read more

See all

Excellent service with great detail about how each item is sourced!! The duck was beautifully presented & my BF throughly enjoyed it. I got the chicken confit, it was a little salty for me, but the red peas made up for that. The environment was a little too loud for the price point, but overall a good experience that I'd return for. read more

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

See all

First off, you must sit at the bar. It's one of the best experiences in Richmond. Jeremy will make you a custom drink based on your preferences while the kitchen works their magic right in front of you. It's dinner and a show. The food is fantastic. Street corn salad, lamb lollipops, and crab lobster gnocchi were all delicious. The benefit of sitting right in front of the grill is you can see everything they make. Have a drink, watch the kitchen, and then decide what you want. You won't be disappointed. read more

Wanted to splurge at a fancy restaurant to celebrate finishing another year of medical school. Browsed yelp for a new spot to check out and saw the high reviews for this place so made a reservation and came on a Friday evening. It's located behind the VMFA in a quaint little spot. There's no parking lot so you have to find street parking which was pretty available when I got there around 6pm. Started off with a drink from their cocktail menu that was a special beet infused tequila and mezcal combination. It was complex and spicy and I enjoyed it. The waitress told us that they had just released their spring menu that day and explained all the new options and some of the classic fan favorites that had to stay on the menu. We decided to get a couple of the new starters including the Thai mussels, duck sausage, and scallops. I enjoyed the broth that the Thai mussels came in and the mussels were cooked perfectly. The scallops were nothing amazing, just scallops. The duck sausage was pretty good, especially with the fresh whole grain mustard. For the entree I got the lamb lollipops. They were just ok, not that impressive. Overall I would give this a place 3.5 stars. I think for the price point I was expecting more from the food and it just didn't make the mark for me. read more

The Stables - Lamb lollipops - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

See all

Went on a Saturday night date with my wife. I started with their Belmontier cocktail which was OK. Wife had a Chardonnay which she thought was good. We cycled through a bunch of small plates. We agreed at the end of the night the muscles were the best thing we ate. If you go I would definitely recommend those. Everything else was just Ok/good. Nothing really inspiring but definitely well executed. Out main gripe was the service. It was really intrusive. The waiter kept checking and checking on us. I really hate having to interact with the server every 5 minutes. We felt we were being rushed as the server kept asking about what we would have next half way through our current dish. It was the type of service you expect at a very causal place but this was a $170 meal in the end for the two of us and I expected a lot more polish. Perhaps it was just a fluke with our server but I don't think I'll be back. Good food, cool space, mediocre cocktails and poor service for a fairly expensive dinner. read more

My friends have been raving about The Stables for years now. And I finally got to try it - it was well worth the wait. We started with the lamb lollipops...I knew I was going to like these because a) I love a good lamb chop and b) my friend, who typically doesn't like lamb, loves them. They were to die for. Perfectly prepared, seasoned and grilled. I could have eaten an entire plateful of those as my entree and been content! For entrees, we ordered the duck breast and cioppino. I was nervous about the duck, because I haven't had good experiences elsewhere with duck, but was super impressed by the quality of it. The duck itself was a perfect medium rare, and had amazing flavor. The brussel sprouts on the plate were a perfect accompaniment. The only thing I didn't care for much was the sweet potato puree, which was just a tad too sweet for my taste. The cioppino was phenomenal as well. I could have drank that delicious broth all on its own, but the grilled bread was the perfect pair. Sometimes cioppino can come out a bit too fishy, but this was not the case here. I really look forward to exploring the rest of their menu. Their drink menu is very robust, so there's bound to be something for everything! If in Richmond, this is a must try. read more

Fantastic food and cocktails. Highly recommend sitting at the bar and watching chef and crew work their magic. Plus you can pick the best looking dish! The chicken liver mousse was incredible. Our seat neighbors raved about the lamb appetizer and we saw a ton of them go out. Nice sized portion for the price. We also really enjoyed the chicken and fish. The parsnip purée and sauce with the chicken were so delicious. Next time we aren't waiting so long to order so we can get the scallops. They looked perfectly browned and were huge. read more

Took my wife for her birthday.. Service and food was top notch! Definitely recommend App: Lamb Lollipops: sooooo much flavor!! Entree: Pork Shank: Delicious! Duck Breast: soooo good! Dessert: Pumpkin Cheesecake: loved that it wasn't overly sweet read more

See all

The best duck in town! Ambiance is great in the front half of the bar, and they have a great private room! Lamp lolly pops are also a highlight! read more

Last night's dining adventure lead me to Richmond's eclectic Museum District; to a smooth, quaint locale. But, don't let the size fool you; this spot is bursting with life and personality. As I perched at the bar, Salt-N-Pepa was spittibg verses about Mr. RVA being a "Mighty Good Man," Lol...JK, I got a front row seat to witness Chef Evan Campbell, work his magic in his domain. Surprisingly enough, this hidden treasure, is celebrating it's Second Anniversary of opening. The New American Cuisine, with that amazing French Cajun flare, has already helped garner this spot's "Diners' Choice 2019 Award." Ladies and Gentlemen of Discovering RVA, it is a privilege to unveil to you, (I'm about to take something from Marvel) "Your Friendly Neighborhood," Stables at Belmont. @thestablesrva . Appetizer- Southern Scallops- Pan Seared Scallops, home cooked braised collards, golden crispy herbed polenta, in a rich bacon beurre. . GOT DANG! . Entree- Grilled Lamb Lollipops- a nice bundle of marinated Grilled Lamb Lollipops served with a medley of roasted new potatos, red bell peppers, mushrooms & zucchini and drizzled in a house made tamari aioli. . Wine Pairing- a glass of 2015 Klinker Brick Old Vine Zinfandel, Lodi, California . Dessert- Almond Joy Pie- Chocolate cookie crust, creamy coconut filling, chocolate ganache and topped with with toasted Almonds. . Shouts out the Pastry Extraordinaire Richard. . Esther- Fam, she schooled me with some advice that is soon to go into play...Lol! I listened E. Thank you for your hospitality, service, and rapport. . Chef Evan Campbell- Chef E is one of the most stylish chefs I've ever met. Ester asked us, "How did you guys take the pic on one take?" Evan's reply, "Because we're just that Handsome!" Thank you for everything Brother. The food was Amazingly Delicious! Cheers to you Good Sir. . #discoveringrva . #804 #va #virginia #rva #richmond #richmondva #rvadine #rvaeats #Rvafood #food #foodies #foodshare #foodstagram #foodiesofinstagram #yummy #foodblog #foodblogger #foodlover #foodpost #foodography #delicious #delish #foodpic #eating #foodandwine #eeeeeats #forkyeah #foodgasm #foodporn read more

See all

Finally went to The Stables after having it on my list for a few years and it did not disappoint. The food was delicious and enjoyed the atmosphere of the restaurant. Loved the ambiance as it really felt like we were in the Fan Neighborhood... a lot of newer restaurants in the area have lost that vibe. read more

See all

My boyfriend and I decided to drop by The Stables to try some small plates and cocktails before seeing a movie. Luckily for us, they had some great happy hour specials and offered discounts on their wine, cocktails, and small plates (other than the charcuterie). We decided to order the crab cakes, scallops, and the peach caprese, as well as cocktails. The crab cakes and scallops were very good. Both of these small plates were ample portions and enough for the two of us to share. The crab cakes were very good and didn't have too much filler and were heavy on the crab. The scallops were perfect. I especially enjoyed the fact that the chef didn't try to mask their flavor and instead complimented it with a delicious piece of polenta and a bed of greens. The peach caprese, while still good, was the weakest of the small plates. I think it would have been better if the peaches were grilled a bit longer, as they were a bit on the underripe side. The Stables is a great place for small plates, especially during happy hour. I would definitely go back to try their entrées in the future! read more

See all

Fantastic waitress and food. You have to try the lamb pops and duck breast. The duck breast is perfectly paired with sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts. Pair it with their Zin red wine and you're all set. Truly great atmosphere and food selection - sort of an upper class American selection. Will definitely go back. Went back for Sunday brunch and it was just as delicious as the dinner! Had the lamb lollipops, fruity pebbles French toast and veal eggs Benedict and they were all delicious. I highly suggest this place for brunch - it could easily become your favorite! read more

This cute cozy restaurant is nestled in the Fan area and it's not completely hidden but you can definitely walk past and not know what goodness you're missing. I easily made reservations online and we were seated quickly. We still had time for happy hour and ordered a glass of their house red - delicious! We started off with the lamb lollipops and after the first bite we knew we were in good hands with the chef. For our entrees, we ordered the duck breast and the seasonal monkfish dish. My duck breast was extremely tasty and cooked to perfection. My boyfriend wasn't super impressed with his monkfish dish but I think in comparison to the duck breast he was a tad disappointed. We'll definitely be back - there was a pork belly dish we didn't get to try and it's next on our list! read more

See all

This restaurant is always on top. I always order the scallops, which are seared to perfection. On a perfect night, you can catch my my wife sucking the last few morsels of lamb clean off the bone. This place is classy, intimate, and all around dignified. I only make reservations here when I plan on impressing someone read more

First, someone else paid the bill, so I can't say anything about the value. It was OK, but not stellar. Had the rabbit and my bride had the scallops. Nothing really jumped out as being 'exceptional'. Service was good and regularly checked in with us. read more

This is a great place. The staff are great, Gaelen the bartender is awesome, very knowledgeable about the food and cocktails. I love to sit at the bar and watch the chefs. The baked oysters are the best I have tasted in Richmond: the lollipop lamb chops to die for, the mussels too. The pork chop so succulent and flavorfull as is the Rib Eye but way too much for one person. No tvs so all you can hear is civilized conversation and satisfied munching. read more