Bacchus in Richmond

2 N Meadow St, Richmond, VA 23220, United States

★★★★☆
(465 reviews)
Categories: Italian restaurant

About

Quaint corner bar & eatery with a varied Italian menu featuring innovative mains & pastas.

Address
2 N Meadow St, Richmond, VA 23220, United States
Plus Code
GGXM+PJ Richmond, Virginia, USA
Time Zone
America/New_York

Business Hours

Sunday
5–9 PM
Monday
5–9 PM
Tuesday
5–9 PM
Wednesday
5–9 PM
Thursday
5–9 PM
Friday
5–9:30 PM
Saturday
5–9:30 PM

Services

Service options
Takeaway Dine-in Delivery
Highlights
Great dessert
Popular for
Lunch Dinner Solo dining
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Cocktails Coffee Comfort food Happy-hour drinks Healthy options Small plates Spirits Vegetarian options Wine
Dining options
Lunch Dinner Dessert Seating
Amenities
Bar on site Toilets
Atmosphere
Casual Cosy Romantic Trendy Upmarket
Crowd
Groups Tourists
Planning
Dinner reservations recommended Accepts reservations Usually a wait
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Children
High chairs
Parking
Free of charge street parking

Photos

Reviews

4.4
★★★★☆
465 reviews

Most Mentioned

calamari (10) salmon (9) spinach (9) bartender (8) mussels (8) brussel sprouts (7) picatta (7) chicken marsala (5) duck (5) artichokes (5)
5 stars
315
4 stars
89
3 stars
29
2 stars
15
1 stars
17
★★★★★
December 8, 2024

Valerie is amazing, attentive, and overall a very cool person and immediately made us feel very comfortable and offered suggestions on the menu. The food came out quick, hot and perfectly made, excellent seasoning and flavors. Arugula truffle salad was great, best sautéed calamari I've had in years. Overall great vibe 100%!

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Sat at the bar and the service was immaculate. Luke was the bartender and he was very attentive and polite. I had the artichoke as my starter and duck as my entree. Loved the service and food. Will be back.

★★★★★
November 10, 2024

Naomi is still the best bartender in Richmond!! I always sit at the bar, but if you have more than 2 people I recommend making a reservation.

October 22, 2024

I ate at Bacchus 5 years ago and still regularly think about how awful my experience was there. I ordered a pasta dish and in addition to being a flavorless jumble of unseasoned parts, it arrived with stagnant water at the bottom. It appears it hadn't been fully strained, which to me is a shocking display of culinary incompetence. When I alerted our waiter he seemed bothered that I was not satisfied with my bland, pasta soup. He begrudgingly took it and I watched as he simply tilted the dish over the sink to halfheartedly drain the excess water before returning it. Probably the single worst dish I've paid for at a restaurant in my life, and one of the worst service experiences as well.

★★★★★
September 13, 2024

One of the BEST Italian restaurants I’ve ever ate at! The portion sizes are generous and the food is phenomenal. If you love pasta I definitely recommend the Wild Mushroom and Ricotta Pasta & the Creamy Pesto Pasta!

★★★★
July 18, 2024

The food is tasty, satisfying with huge portions. We had a caesar salad, spaghetti with spinach and cream and added salmon, and spaghetti with marinara and crab meat. We were quite hungry and still left with a lot of food. Atmosphere is nice, a small neighborhood restaurant. Reservations are a good idea - they only take them by phone. I'll add photos of my leftovers. I plan to return, likely when I am quite hungry, want leftovers and a laid back evening.

★★★★★
May 9, 2024

Photo doesn’t do justice to the soft shell crab special they have going tonight! So fresh — and of course with Bacchus - huge portions. Also got the bacon Gorgonzola Caesar with about a pound of Gorgonzola! Taking most of that home 😅. And the chicken liver pate appetizer - so yummy — and definitely not easy to find! Sat at the bar and bartender was super affable and attentive. Thanks for a great meal with unexpected delights!!

★★★★★
March 4, 2020

What a wonderful place to have gourmet meal with fresh ingredients. My husband had the salmon and shrimp served in lobster sauce. I had a hardy lamb shank in white bean broth. We also shared a fried goat cheese salad and Bacon Brussels sprout on the side. Everything was delicious! The best of all, our waitress Hanna was extremely friendly and helpful. We will definitely visit Bacchus again.

★★★★★
November 24, 2024

Good little spot. The prices were good and the food was great. Parking can be tight. Dietary restrictions: Gluten free pasta options

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

We had a great night here last night! Everyone loved their food, service was great and the atmosphere was perfect!

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

The food is so good and cooked perfectly. I always wanted to try this spot and finally had the time to do so I will definitely be back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

The food was delicious, the atmosphere cozy, and the staff attentive and professional. Well definitely visit again when in RVA.

★★★★
October 22, 2024

Thoroughly enjoyable. Looking forward to going back. Kitchen can be noisy. But theyre preparing the food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Great place. The food is great! Reservations advised. Will definitely return!

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Only spaghetti or penne but it is good

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

We love this place and go every week. Happy hour always. I tell everyone about it. Keep it up! Thanks

★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Food was good and portions were great.

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

Great service from the bartender and the happy hour you should take advantage of. The portion of the salad for $9 was not skimped either. One of the better places to go around the city, disappointed I hadn t tried it earlier.

★★★
June 22, 2024

I would give a four star but my wife got sick last night after getting the mushroom pasta, dripping in olive oil. We brought it home and in the take out pan it left a pool of olive oil! But otherwise we go often even if its pricey per plate. Carbonara is easily for two. Wait staff always nice!

★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

We have been seeing Bacchus for years and decided to give it a try. The menu is a little hard to understand at first, but we figured it out. I would say that the food was good and the service was great.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Was a great place to Meet friends Food

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

This is our favorite place to go for date night and visiting friends.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

They really care about food quality and proportions. I had the mussels and clams bon Appétit

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Fabulous food and fast service. Would come back in a heart beat

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

We came in for dinner on mothers day and sat at the bar for dinner. Great service with incredible food, we will be back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Great drinks and great food! I got the ribeye and it was 10/10, couldn t have asked for a better meal. Would definitely go back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Our favorite goto restaurant! Shrimp Scampi in brandy and tomatoe sauce. Vegetarian options: Great vegetarian options. Food : 5/5 |

March 22, 2024

Signage is burnt out on the front of the building. No name on the building. No signage and dark. Graffiti outside. Hole in the wall.

March 22, 2024

Orginally ate at Bacchus for the first time and had a great experience and loved the food. My partner and I had extended family we wanted to introduce and thought Bacchus would be the perfect spot. We called in advance and booked a reservation for 8. We had family come in from out of town and we all met up at Bacchus to discover they had not written our reservation down correctly. It was a Saturday night and no other places were able to accommodate us. I love the restaurant but very disappointed with how our night wound up. If you go here I d recommend calling multiple times for your reservation to make sure you can actually eat there.

★★★★★
March 22, 2024

Service and food were exceptional.

★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

Loved the vibes. I had the sausage and spinach dish. I didn t care for it.

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

Fantastic Italian food, wonderful atmosphere and true Fan classic.

★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Great food, generous portions, and a cool atmosphere although the restaurant gets quite packed and the food can take quite a while to come out. Drinks are great as well. Other than the occasionally long waits for seating and food this place is great, truly love it

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Love the cozy vibes/atmosphere here, at night especially! Service and food are excellent!

★★
January 22, 2024

The reviews were great so we decided to try. Took us a while to find it because it has no exterior lights. Graffiti on exterior. It s sign does not illuminate so it is dark outside. Inside is dingy and tables are sticky. Food was nothing memorable. Was not impressed Parking: Not good parking options

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Lovely food and wonderful for a New Years Eve date night. Pasta was lovely and the crème brûlée was delicious- definitely bigger proportions than we expected! Parking: Street parking in Carytown is always hit or miss so be sure to calculate that into your travel time if you have a reservation!

★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Food is usually pretty decent but ordered takeout tonight and was very disappointed. The arugula salad looks wilted and old. Also ordered the shrimp fra diavolo and it was legitimately inedible. The shrimp was rubbery and tasted a few days old and the beans werent cooked all the way. The sausage penne was decent but for a $70 meal that took 30 minutes longer then the app said, it was all pretty overpriced and underwhelming.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Good food and service. Pleasant atmosphere, the staff is friendly. I recommend the pasta with sausage and marinara sauce and a side of sautéed artichokes. Keep in mind the portions are extremely generous

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Vegetarian options: Plenty of GF options; I had Yukon Gold Potatoes with mozzarella & kale salad and took home a doggie bag. Parking was adequate although we walked as we were staying very close. Wheelchair accessibility: It was accessible but not the easiest. It was crowded when my party of 2 arrived without reservations; it seemed that some of the restaurants/bars were closed while the VCU students were on winter break.

★★
December 22, 2023

This was disappointing to say the least. We went for dinner on a Saturday night with high expectations and lots of good recommendations from friends. When we got there, the wait staff was immediately off putting, talking down to us and providing very minimal and rude interaction/service. When I asked for a single glass option of one of their wines, they brought the whole bottle and poured several glasses before I could say I only ordered one glass. Not wanting to be a problem, I didn t say anything and ended up paying $30 for a bottle that s $10 at the grocery store. My partner ordered a steak and it came out severely undercooked. One of their pasta options had no cheese listed under its ingredients, but came with cheese piled on top. For vegan or lactose/dairy-free people, their menu is a bit hard to navigate unless you ask the staff, which, given how rude our waitress was, I wouldn t want to ask. The food overall was under seasoned. Our water was never refilled through the 1.5 hrs we were there. When given the check, we ended up closing out at the bar because it had been 20 mins since the check had been dropped off and our waitress had disappeared. It all was just a let down. This place has so much potential to be an RVA gem and I hope we just caught them on an off night.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Delicious and fresh Italian. I was so pleased that it was not saturated with sodium. Very nice spot for a local date or catch up dinner. Had the calamari and was pleasantly surprised that it was not breaded and fried - delightful! Also the broccoli was delicious.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

My favorite restaurant in Richmond. Amazing pasta and unique entrees. Our go to for both date nights and relaxing nights out.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Small but intimate environment. Food was fresh and seasoned for regulars. Fast table turnover.

★★
December 22, 2023

It was ok not my kind of atmosphere...food was ok..loved the Brussel Sprouts

★★★
December 22, 2023

Good pasta and nice ambiance.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

We loved it. The room upstairs was perfect to accommodate our party of 10 and we loved the family style option! Service was excellent Food

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

My go to. I met my wife at this restaurant. Blind date. Took my kids here the other night. Food was great and staff was great.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

great cozy environment and food was excellent! the shrimp and scallop pasta was so good. the scallops were tender and cooked perfectly. the shrimp was also very good. the sauce was a little salty but overall it was one of the best i ve had. the veal marsala was also very good. the veal was thin but the sauce kept it moist. the service was also great. the hostess and waitress were all very helpful and kind. overall would come again!

Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Need to improve their lighting. Their main sign does not illuminate because of burnt out bulbs. No signage. No lighting on a busy corner of Main with a very small sidewalk.

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Parents beware, the owner does not want kids in his restaurant. The food was good and our waiter was very friendly and welcoming. However, we had a child with us and were approached by the unhappy owner who claimed to be worried about our son falling through the window that he was touching because the window is loose. He also made a comment about it being a nice restaurant and not for kids (no high chairs). After we apologized profusely he responded ... and now we have to clean the window. Unfortunately we did not enjoy our experience because we clearly were not welcome. We wont be back.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Excellent service, excellent food! Will be back. Thank you Naomi!

★★★★
December 22, 2023

Great food & wine! Generous amounts of food for one serving. Friendly staff. Place needs a little more lighting.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Squid ink pasta was great

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great food, excellent service, good wine.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Bacchus is a constantly awesome restaurant. Nancy as the general manager and Chris as the chef, they produce an absolutely authentic Mediterranean dining experience. This is NOT Olive Garden with pasta on the side. What you get is an amazing gastronomic experience true to its roots. Duck breast, chicken piccata, scallops and prosciutto, wedge salad, tapenade, and chicken paté. Every bite was heaven. Nancy, the co-owner waited on us. Her French giblets are non pareil!!! I have been here numerous time and it only GETS BETTER!

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Cozy corner pasta bar

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Bacchus gave me the old style Italian restaurant vibe I was looking for! My friends and I had a nice bottle of Côtes du Rhône and the calamari for appetizer, which we just fawned over. None of us had ever had calamari that wasn t fried so it was a new experience for us. The juices were so delicious, we even sopped up the arugula plate garnish in it! Our entrees were great too, the duck was amazing! Would definitely return the next time I m in town.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Incredible place, excellent flavor of food, good quality wine, pleasant atmosphere, attention to detail.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Great food,Great Ambience and Good service what else could you ask for.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Superb food and excellent service.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The food is undeniably fresh. The quality of ingredients are excellent. Oysters and calamari were fresh. The problem is the flavor. The fried oysters were cooked in oil that needed to be changed and you could definitely taste that. The salmon was alright but it didn t have good flavor. The veal with artichokes was very surprising but not in a positive way. Not sure what happened with that meal, the flavor was quite indescribable. We didn t finish it nor did we box that. It tasted sour, gamy, but none of these are actual flavor profiles. There s no way to describe it without saying something that would sound disrespectful. Maybe it was an off day. The whole restaurant smelled like smoke and the air inside was worse than the air inside.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The duck in red wine reduction was phenomenal. Good rolls.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

This place is amazing! Love the laid back atmosphere and superb pastas. Really liked the idea of the kitchen being open, so you can see the food being prepared.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

This place is very unassuming. Being from out of town, it was suggested to me. Cozy, neighborhood atmosphere. Good drink selection, a good amount of menu options, which made it difficult to decide. The Chicken Picatta is so delicious. Tender, juicy and flavorful. It was filling without being too much. Service was quick. Make a reservation if you plan to go during a typically busy period. This will be my return spot during future visits to explore more of the menu.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Amazing food and great value.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great place to eat, great atmosphere and prices werent too expensive.

★★★★
December 22, 2023

Best Italian food in the city!! However.. I ve been coming here for years and unfortunately no matter what I do lately they only seem to care about their customers if they are older, rude and snobby. I ve sat at the bar the last few times next to people who are openly not polite to the servers/bartenders and those people continue to get the smiles and good service. Meanwhile I feel I go out of my way to be relaxed, understanding and a simple guest with little to no personality in response from my server(s). Just so very unfortunate for such an amazing Italian spot with the best food.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

We ve returned multiple times. Everything seems fresh, and there are unusual things to try on the menu. It s italian cuisine, somewhere between rustic and slightly upscale.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The service was good and friendly but all the dishes came out at once (8 of them which was pretty weird) The only decent dish was the polenta. Everything else was covered in too much sauce and oil. The pasta was over cooked and looked more like a broth (pasta in brodo) than an actual pasta dish. The veggies also sat in a huge amount oil and broth. The bathroom was absolutely disgusting like it hasn t been cleaned in weeks. I heard really good things about this place from locals but my experience was quite subpar

December 22, 2023

No high chairs or booster seats :(

December 22, 2023

to say something positive to start, the restaurant is cozy and the service was friendly. and my husband would never go back but didn t hate his food. i write almost exclusively positive reviews, but the $18 spaghetti with meatballs i got here was the worst i ve ever had. the sauce was soupy and broken with meat grease. kobe meatballs were so gross and undercooked. i had the option between spaghetti and penne, so i picked spaghetti, yet it was partially penne. for this money, i expect fresh pasta, but this was your standard thick noodle from a box. it comes with a tiny, store-bought little roll with no butter. it was so bland and watery a jar of sauce and a box of pasta would ve cost me $6 and I would ve had food for four days. instead i barely had a single meal because i hardly ate anything. I haven t regretted eating out this much in such a long time. it will be a very long time before i eat out italian again. this was that bad.

December 22, 2023

The place looks a little sketch on the outside. Construction cones, a beat up table, and their signage is even burnt out. Curb appeal and presentation is important, and they fail.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Food was tasty and good portion sizes, we also ordered the Paté which was also very good. I do wish we had gotten a bit more than two little rolls of bread though for the table.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Not the top Italian food in Richmond, but totally solid; no complaints on the food. Perfect for date night and to hang at the bar. Wine is cheap and variety of food options ensure everyone will be happy.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The food was disappointingly bland and uninteresting. My dining partner agreed. She had been there before, and remembered it being much better, however, I had no prior experience to compare it with. The service was good though. Still, I won t be going back.

December 22, 2023

Was looking for a quick bite in the fan with the Mrs on a Saturday because we had to be somewhere. Waited in line, was told we could sit at the bar by the hostess because it was over an hour wait for a table as two people get up from the bar and we move in, the bartender says, Oh sorry, I ve reserved these seats for my cousin. Nehhhh. Bar seats are first come If your buddy or family is coming to eat, make a reservation for them. #industrybasics

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The drinks were amazing! We got the Cesar salad as a starter and it was delicious! For entrees I got the chicken alfredo and I loved it! My husband got the shrimp and scallops in brandy sauce and wasnt impressed. We also got two sides, russet potatoes and brussel sprouts. The brussel sprouts were over cooked and the potatoes didnt taste like much. Overall, I enjoyed the experience but I dont know that I would go back or recommend it to anyone.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Very loud. Food very good

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

My mom and I come here every time she s in town. She always talks about how good it is and how it s her favorite restaurant in Richmond. The food is always delicious and the service is excellent. Parking is always easy to find on Broad. We ve also gotten seated without reservations before, which can be difficult to find in the city.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Food great. Service fast at the bar. Cider was good.

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Service was quick, accurate, and helpful. Food was very very very very mid. Seems like corporate has confused grill marks for flavor

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Huge portions of delicious pasta!! The mushroom and ricotta penne...fantastic!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Quaint little spot at the corner of Main St and Meadow. Nice attentive service and outstanding food !

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Warm and cozy, generous portions, affordable prices, delicious meal. Always wonderful.

December 22, 2023

Owner served us tonight, suggested the NY strip (horribly grainy), alcohol was completely skipped on all four people at the table for the entire meal and couldnt bother filling the water either. In total: Server/owner never asked how our food was and couldnt keep our drinks filled. Just a failure

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Great service! We had no reservation and yet they still seated us. Food was excellent!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Great pasta and tasty sauce

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Quite possibly one of my favorite meals of all time! No exaggeration. Delicious calamari, unique, fresh sauces, perfectly cooked burger, yummy deserts, excellent cappuccino, friendly service, and all for a reasonable price. What more could you ask for?

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Best Italian food I ve ever had. Service was great and fast even though it was packed when we went to eat. We got clams, mussels, pasta, salmon and shrimp. Can t wait to go back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

The food is absolutely delicious and service was great

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Nancy, one of the owners, is one of the Best. A must go place to wnjiy. Great food and service. Real attention ro detail..

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Bacchus is a gem, and one of the best restaurants in the area. Ive had many a meal there over the years, and I highly recommend it. Tell Chris I sent you there.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Very welcoming atmosphere with menu item choices for every palate. Rockfish with Romesco well prepared. Chicken Picatta and Marsala also perfect. My wife and I shared roasted brussel sprouts with bacon and dried cherries. Food is prepared in open kitchen and arrived piping hot! Will definitely be back!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

We ordered a smorgasbord, everything FANTASTiC. Firstly, they serve Rockfish: hard to find. Extra Delicious Their fried oysters are a staple, another rare find and the creamed spinach melts in your mouth Want to go back immediately

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

The customer service was great, but the food was just ok. We ordered several dishes and no one was in love with their food. The marsala was abnormally sweet, the carbonara was definitely not authentic (tasted like a pasta with gravy) and none of the main dishes ordered were served with pasta. Just disappointed overall with the reviews I read.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

The food was delightful!

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Bustling and busy when me and husband stopped in for mid-week dinner but not too busy for friendly seating and service at the bar. Really good vibe from staff, with servers and kitchen working seamlessly without performative huffing and puffing. Food was flavorful and well-seasoned. Pasta portions were definitely shareable!

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Great food! Monkfish fra Diavlo is exemplary. Service is always attentive and quick.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Cannot top the food here ,man its Good

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Best Italian in Richmond, VA! The carbonara and shrimp scampi dishes are absolutely amazing. The service is incredible as well. Can t wait to go back next time I m in the area.

★★★
December 22, 2022

We were celebrating friends Anniversary from out of town..called in advance to tell them this and to try to put a candle or write something on the dessert plate..nothing done. The husband, an old Sicilian Italian, orders a bottle of wine and was presented with the worst pouring etiquette I have ever seen. After the waitress poured his glass she let him taste it and basically slammed the bottle down next to his glass and left! She brought multiple glasses but didnt even offer to pour anyone else a glass. I could see he was a little taken back and I immediately apologized.We chose this over any restaurant at The Jefferson where they were staying..the food was ok ( except one appetizer and one side: excellent fried oysters and broccolini).

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Excellent calamari and fried oysters paired with great service.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Calamari is a must. Duck was delicious as well. Will definitely come back

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

lovely place and amazing service! Everything is good and worth trying. one of my fav spots in the city!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Love love love..great food and fast friendly service.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

This place nails it every time we have been. Usually I get the steak as they cook it perfect, its a huge cut and super great price. I have had 5-7 things and every time its great. Their service is also always top notch. We went once during COVID when we could not sit at the bar so the set us up with a high top against the bar and worked around us on the floor. They also make a killer espresso martini.

★★★
December 22, 2022

Not bad, but not great. Definitely not homemade pasta. Large portions and good service.

★★
December 22, 2022

If review was based on food alone the rating would be 4 + stars. However, the meal was ruined by the server. She was one of the most rude servers we have experienced. There was another server who did help her. When she came to check on our table, she was delightful and did not make us feel as if we were inconveniencing her like co worker. Bacchus may need to consider hiring more friendly servers to take care of their customers.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Love this place! Every time Im in town I make sure to stop by here because its delicious and actually reasonably priced. Some of the pasta dishes are really oily, but Im not on a diet so it doesnt bother me any! Glad to see it made it through the pandemic and is still open. Definitely stop by if youre in the mood for Italian.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Not bad but not great Italian restaurant. Wine menu needs work. Antipasto has no meats. Carbonara made with cream. Red sauce was good. Not enough staff to handle the crowd. Ill find another option for Italian in the future.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Always a positive dining experience. A large and eclectic menu, generous portions, skillfully prepared. Friendly yet attentive service.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Absolutely Fantastic! You have to go here. Get the baked artichoke, its soooo good.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Very beautiful setting and very generous dishes.... Good welcome

★★★★
December 22, 2022

I got take out and the service was very fast. I ordered the mushroom and ricotta pasta and it is excellent 10/10 but i also ordered the shrimp scampi and it was good, a bit more spice and tomato than expected but overall an 8/10. The place itself has a very great feel all around and I will definitely be eating from here again.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Well .

★★
December 22, 2022

First impression is a cozy dimly lit restaurant with a very large menu. Wine and drink selection vast. Went on a busy Thursday and they were clearly understaffed with two FOH. The attitude showed. No attention from wait staff just a go-go-go mentality as food was pushed out. Clientele vastly rich older people who can blow money on overpriced food. Entree and appetizer served w grocery store mixed greens? Carbonara served with undercooked bacon? Plating choices from a target selection? Fried oysters with no salt? Odd choices but seems to be just a gimmick Italian restaurant. Weird dynamic but matches the typical food fare on Main St with good ambiance and a target towards those who love to drink but with very little culinary bite. Great place to enjoy a good bottle of wine and bunch on small plates which will appear better then they taste with every drink. Looking for Italian? 8 1/2 Pizza and Edos Squid might stand the test but steer clear here.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

They have great date night specials on Thursday, check it out

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Great food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

One of the best restaurants in Richmond. Always impressed with the quality of the food and there are a variety of options that are all very good. The staff is very nice, especially the bartenders. The atmosphere is very intimate and cozy. If you don t have a reservation, you may wait about 20+ mins on the weekend and it is worth it!

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

First time dining here. Comfortable atmosphere. Service was excellent. Spinach and greens salads were the freshest I ve had in a very long time. Dinners were prepared perfect and served hot. Veal Marsala, salmon and strip steak. Will definitely dine here again! Enjoy!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

So good. I got the anchovies and garlic pasta. So freaking good. The tomato spinach cream was also so freaking good.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

EEEAHHHHHHH Apologies for startling you, but the brilliance of my family style meal at Bacchus restaurant was borderline agony. Force fed like the Grinch during the annual Holiday Cheermeister, I loved every bite of my unceasingly nonstop pasta cuisine, though my belly rumbled in a state of fullness that might as well have said IT S GONNA BLOW! The quality in grain behind the bread was what one might call good. Left enervated and without an ounce of motivation to move, the staff was kind enough to let me sleep on my table. Now that s what I call great service. Will go again.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

The food at Bacchus is incredible, the menu is second to none in Richmond, and the staff continues to impress me time and time again. I was there tonight, 12/18, and it was very busy. Walk-ins lined up at the door, phone ringing nonstop, packed with reservations The bartender and waitstaff were calm, polite, and professional and I never heard them complain once. Very impressive and extremely rare in this area. Hiring well done! Love to support this local gem.

Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Bacchus is the god of wine. Ironically the wine selection here was not very good but still better than their service. Rude staff, poor knowledge of their own wine. I do not recommend this place and was taken back by the rude way we were spoken to and treated.. Go to Jardin or Celladora for great wine, food, and staff.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Eveleth italian

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

fantastic food, fantastic service, overall a decadent and memorable time! Came for Valentines day and was not disappointed!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Ordered calamari app, chicken piccata, veal scallipini, endive side dish. All were sensational. The calamari was the best Ive ever tasted. Huge menu of creative pasta and sides. Good deals on wine. Good enough choices on drinks. Service friendly prices fair.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Skeptical at first but this place exceeded expectations! Dont be scared by the prices for the entrees because the quality and portion size make it 100% worth it. Great atmosphere, service, and food. It had been a while since I had last been and Im very glad I did!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Amazingly tasty pasta dishes, flavorful cocktails, and fantastic atmosphere. Been a couple times now and its always been a excellent experience.

December 22, 2021

I wish I could give this place no stars. The owner was the absolute worst person I ve ever met. Would not recommend for visiting VA.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

I am spoiled being from NY but this place wasnt anything special. Pasta was waaaay overcooked. Servers were friendly, highlight of my meal was the roasted cremini mushrooms which were flavorful and well cooked.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

The food is amazing and the staff is phenomenal. Our waiter Alex, was a treat. Very helpful about the menu and was a delight to chat with. Come for the food, stay for the staff.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Probably the best soft shell crab weve ever had. Great service.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

The outdoor seatings and the decor reminded me of home (France) Definitely good food and European vibes...

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Chalk this place up for the 3rd real deal Italian Restaurant I have had the pleasure of dining at in Va. The sauce... so simple, rustic in nature, and without gross hamburger in it. Hard to choose any course off the menu... it all looks and sounds so good. Service was impeccable. Im going to go out on a limb here and say that we didnt see a childrens menu but, Italians bend over backwards for the bambini so maybe ask when youre making reservations. Yes, reservations, make them well in advance. We waited our first time and never got a table. People dont usually cancel them... according to or server.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Great menu. Old school Richmond vibe. Very cool.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Fun , food was only ok

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

This is a go to spot. Food was awesome staff first class.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Amazing! This makes my top 5 for Phenomenal food and the greatest cocktails! The atmosphere is really warm and relaxing. My wife and I went with friends and had a great time. Amazing service, outstanding food and the best craft cocktails at a reasonable price! Go check it out!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

HUGE portions! Had Pasta dish and a Eggplant Dish. Both very good.

★★★★
December 22, 2021

The staff is great. We love the pasta with anchovies.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Absolutely darling restaurant, every penny spent was well worth it. Highly recommend and will be back again!

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Staff was amazing! The food was a bit bland, but cooked well.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Good Italian food. Menu has good selections. Relaxed atmosphere. Good service. Friendly staff.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Parking is bad but service and food Amazing will deff return

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Great local Italian bistro. I took my sister and her husband there tonight and it was delicious!

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Awesome food and large portions!! Very Happy!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Great chicken picatta and anti pasta!!! That place rocks

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Our go to restaurant when we are in Richmond. Fantastic food!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Yummy pasta, nice staff, cute atmosphere

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

My partner and I tried Bacchus while visiting Richmond. We were both very pleased with the ambiance, friendly staff, and delicious food. I tried the shrimp and salmon, my boyfriend had the steak with gorgonzola, and we split the brussel sprouts as an appetizer. We left full and happy, with the portions being very generous for the price. I d recommend if you re looking for a fine dining experience in a cozy and relaxed setting.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Intimate, cozy, old school Richmond atmosphere with kind, attentive staff, incredibly delicious food and fabulous cocktails. So thrilled to see them always movin and groovin! Reservations recommended to save your space!

December 22, 2021

Last dish in the house I was told, kitchen is about to close. While they were preparing my salmon and shrimp with lobster sauce, they served it. One bite and it burned my entire mouth with cleaning liquid, fabuloso no apology from them.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Very good food. Know that the salads are huge. You could split one.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Great steak, veal marsala, chicken picayta, creme brulee

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Food and service was good

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Best Italian food ever!!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Great food, service, value, and interesting selections on menu

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Went here for special occasions! It was tasty and has the atmosphere that is the epitome of Richmond! Would highly recommend for any visit!

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

Excellent eggplant parmigiana and chicken marsala for pickup last night. Good portions at a fair price.

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

Cant go wrong with this place at all. Its great that theyve kept service going during the pandemic with take-out options. If youre looking for some solid pasta and wine - this is it. Doesnt get any better in Richmond!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Perfect service as usual. Very cute server and cook we could watch. Food was perfect, the gorgonzola bacon ceasar was the BOMB, I would suggest going there just for that. Scallops were friggin awesome. Ive had scallops before which I would imagine were fake or over cooked because I thought I didnt like scallops but these were succulent perfection. The ambiance is always on point, the perfect place for a date, anniversary, birthday. Classic Richmond go-to restaurant. I have never been disappointed. Though I do miss their short rib or braised beef Bolognese they had like 10 years ago.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Always great food!

December 22, 2020

Appallingly bad Italian food, words can t even do justice how bad the red sauce is. Anyone who claims this place is good just doesn t like authentic Italian and is probably afraid of salt and pepper.

December 22, 2020

Worst experience I have ever had at a restaurant! Owner shamed us and charged us for a dish we didn t like. I would avoid this place based on how a customer should be treated!

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

Nice

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Nice wait staff, great service. Food is respectable Italian fare with a good selection of wines and spirits.

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

About two weeks ago I stopped in to Bacchus for dinner and my favorite cocktail and all of it was wonderful as usual. I was really hungry and planned on leftovers for the next days meal, too, so I ordered veal parmigiana, a bowl of garlic and herb penne pasta, a bowl of brussel sprouts with bacon and golden raisins, topped off with a chocolate martini. The bowls are big enough for two people, the Brussels sprouts were heavenly as was the veal, and the martini about 10000 calories of sinful buzzing goodness. You dont need dessert if you drink one of those. Oh, and I forgot that I got the antipasto as well with lots of different flavors with the olives, pickled cauliflower and lots morel. It was all wonderful and about two extra days of food for me. They are a small restaurant, made smaller with COVID restrictions, so Id call to make a reservation first, as I got turned away the other night when I was jonesing for those sprouts and a martini and just dropped in. Lol

★★
December 22, 2020

Long time fans of Bacchus. However, our recent experience has challenged that notion. Today, I believe was it. Ordered scallops with arugula salad and a few sides for take out. Picked the order, everything on time, everything good. Portions as always huge, word for the wise - order half of what you want, and you will still have too much. Brought dinner home and the aroma from the scallops suddenly became quite strong and frankly overpowering. Unfortunately, I did not notice the smell in the car as the weather was nice and I took the top down. Not sure if scallops were previously frozen and went bad or what, but the smell (ammonia like) was quite strong. This was before we opened the packaging containers. Needless to say, a really unpleasant experience. We had to toss the scallops and still are trying to vent the house of the aroma. The arugula salad and the sides (endives and brussels sprouts) were as always well prepared. The scallops on the other hand were bad, really bad. We have been ordering takeout from Bacchus over the last month (hello Covid) and have never had this type of experience. Tuna, duck, all were good. Not sure what to make. I guess be careful what you order, perhaps skip the seafood?

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Excellent food, large portions, lots of unique options to choose from

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

The food was good. It would have been even better if they had gluten free pasta option but they did not.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Very cozy little restaurant and bar. Hostess was very nice and friendly and enjoyed the seating on the upper floor. Wasnt feeling so hungry, so I ordered the spinach and goat cheese salad and really liked it. Fair price for all items on the menu.

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

Delicious food served in a cozy environment.

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

Omg, The tomato soup with scallops!!! But look out its got a kick.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

The atmosphere is everything here from staff to patrons you have to come experience it for yourself words cant describe this place

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

Delicious! Great wine for great prices!

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

I love this restaurant. The food and service is always amazing. It is definitely my top choice to take friends or family who are visiting me in RVA.

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

The food was delicious and service was fantastic. We really enjoyed ourselves

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

I went with my granddaughter last night oh, it was the best carbonara this side of Rome and the spinach with almonds was fantastic. Great food great service if you live close you need to make it your go-to place

★★★★
December 22, 2020

Cool spot with tasty food

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

Always a wonderful and delicious visit. The staff is so very friendly, professional and attentive. The food is delicious and prepared with precision. Thank you for a great dinning experience!