The best restaurants and must-try dining experiences in Richmond, Virginia
- Richmond, Virginia offers an array of diverse culinary experiences that foodies will love.
- Keep reading for Insider's list of the best restaurants and eateries in Richmond.
It might come as a surprise that Richmond has a diverse food and booze scene, but the city has a glut of restaurants that should be on every foodie's bucket list. Keep reading for the best dining recommendations.
The Mantu
Grace your palate with the Afghan cuisine served at The Mantu. Chef Hamidullah Noori began his career at age 18 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Since then, he has been featured on the culinary competition show "Beat Bobby Flay." A menu favorite is the vegetarian Mantu, which is a homemade pastry shell stuffed with shredded butternut squash, chopped onion, cilantro, and mint, topped with yogurt, sprinkled with dried mint, and served with red kidney bean and tomato sauce.
L' Opossum
The quirky L' Opossum is idolized for its French-inspired cuisine. Don't let the colorful light fixtures and thrift-store-art-adorned walls fool you: The meal will be nothing short of decadent. Entrees include a roasted rack of lamb atop a chimichurri sweet-potato salad, garlicky kale, edamame succotash, grilled plum, and a big round blackberry barbecue bordelaise.
The Boathouse
When the city's waterfront views collide with locally sourced cuisine, gems like The Boathouse are born. Situated right on the James River, the restaurant offers house specialties such as Mediterranean sea bass with Israeli couscous and Boathouse crab cakes with Yukon Gold mashed potatoes.
Soul Taco
A blend of casual dining with an upscale, full-service experience is at the heart of Soul Taco. The menu is constantly evolving to represent the landscape of Latin American flavors and Southern comfort food. With dishes such as cornmeal-crusted catfish tacos and hush-puppy nachos, the restaurant unifies patrons with a deep love of food and culture. Into the bargain, everything is made in-house and fresh to order.
La Grotta Ristorante
The owner and chef Antonio Capece was born in Potenza, Italy, and has had a passion for fine cuisine since the age of 15. At La Grotta Ristorante, which resembles a wine cellar, Capece hand-makes dishes such as ravioli, potato dumplings, and bread.
View Insider's comprehensive guide to visiting Richmond, Virginia.