Dinamo in Richmond

Outstanding food. Have to go here before a show at the altria theater.

It was busy Friday night. Had a pleasant dinner. Very good service and food was very good.

Cozy but crammed atmosphere. Food smells delicious right when you walk in. Super friendly staff, fairly expensive even just for appetizers

Not much to say, except this is the real thing. Not fancy, but chic in its own way. No waitresses with fake smiles always in your face, but real people. Love it.

Best Italian food I ve had in a long time!

Great food and service

Not accommodating for a single small stroller

Outstanding ambience, service and food. Highly recommend!

Awesome

Food good. Not friendly staff members.

Problem was meat sauce on pasta was way too salty. Pizza was good.

Love the freshly made tagliatelle! Recommend the mussels & squid ink tagliatelle that is served in white soup, flavored with garlic, red chili flakes and pepper.

Great handcrafted food.

Go here. This place is special. It feels good. The food is full of love and most of the team Ive come in contact with seems warm and kind. Prices are generally good given the evenings we have. Hard to say its a deal but good places usually arent cheap. My wife and I like to get a white pizza with anchovies and then split an entree or large appetizer. If were more hungry and want leftovers for the next day, well get both an appetizer and entree along with the pizza. Before you die, you should have the chicken with the polenta and king oyster mushrooms -- probably the sausage, polenta, and beans too. Go 8:15 or later for a better shot at a no-reservation table. Enjoy!

Great food and great service. I loved the red pizza and the crust! Everything tasted fresh and had plenty of flavor. The pasta was delicious and the desserts were great as well. This is a spot to check out!!

Amazingly delicious food in a cozy environment.

The food here is amazing. The gnocchi was very heavy but delicious nonetheless

Amazing pizza

Dinamo is one of my all time favorite restaurants. The dishes are superb and the atmosphere is cozy and fun!

5 stars across the board. Amazing pizza and pasta

Worth the wait.

Excellent meal, the four people in our group each got a different entree. Each was delicious! Shared a White Pizza, we were ready to pass on the entree menu and order two more of them. Incredibly delicious!!!

Absolutely amazing service and great atmosphere.

Love these rare finds! Simple. Excellent. Authentic.

Could very well be the best restaurant in the city. Service and food are outstanding!

Cool little local restaurant with good food and good service

Great everything!

Outstanding service and every time we ve been the meal is top-notch, whether a menu staple or a nightly special.

The pizza was great. Well definitely go back to try more of their dishes.

Id been wanting to try this place since learning of the place from their pasta maker randomly in town. Will definitely return!

The menu doesnt offer a lot of choice, the quality of the ingredients are not bad but poorly associated with each other. Everything was unnecessarily spicy making it very hard to enjoy and taste the food. With so much pepper all taste the same. This place has good potential, good service and a good atmosphere but all have bell pepper which doesnt match with most food and all we had was spicy . If at least they would add a note to the menu so people know. Got sausage with linguine, pasta was not al dente, loaded with a heavy oily spicy bell pepper sauce and mushrooms kind of gross. The chard was undercooked and guess what spicy red pepper, chicken was kind of ok, Hopefully it was just a bad unlucky night

Very disappointed after reading excellent reviews. Food was overly spiced ,pizza salty and also spicy. With the reviews and prices I expected more.

Very hard to hear. Food great. Very noisy from the open kitchen and no soft surfaces. Food

We loved this place! It was packed and we didnt have a reservation but they fit us in. Wine, salad, pasta and dessert were fantastic. Will be back next time we are in town.

Wonderful restaurant with well prepared entres, great bar, and terrific waite staff....hole in the wall location, easy to miss and frankly dismiss. It is a word-of- mouth venue that you must add to your list of restaurant choices.

Food was very good here. You also need to consider that most of the restaurants are southern food based. They concentrated on Italian and did it very well. They had decent cocktails, good sized portions, and really good desserts. Service was cordial. However the atmosphere and tables was kinda a step above a pizza parlor. So sit down wise it feels a bit cramped.

Great little find in RVA..Caprese salad was on point, the homemade Tagliatelle Bolognese was delicious, and the desserts were scratch-made and excellent. You wont be disappointed!

The pizza is great. Service is great. But we were really disappointed to find the mushrooms on our pizza and in the pasta were from a can. I know things are expensive right now but just charge me a few more dollars for fresh mushrooms if you have to. Really didn t expect canned mushrooms from a place like this. The mussels and the pasta were both really garlicky. I would go back for a pepperoni pizza and a beer but that s about it.

Delightful dinner. More of a southern comfort and Italian food fusion. This was a pre show dinner and didnt disappoint. Huge portions. Highly recommend. Reminded me of under the radar restaurants in SF and NYC. Definitely a Richmond vibe. We didnt have reservations but they found a way to fit us in.

A great neighborhood spot for some delicious Italian food. Appetizers were especially good! Heather, our server, ran a crowded floor (with just one bartender helping out!) and she is very good at what she does. This restaurant is small and can get noisy, but I think it is terrific. Will be back very soon! Thanks, Dinamo! And a special thanks to Heather for handling our party of 6 with such efficiency.

The food was incredible. The chef is hot. Enough said.

Little bit loud.

Awesome..coming back tomorrow. Everything we had was great.

Had a really good meal here, and would definitely recommend it. Tried the mushroom pasta and had a few drinks, all of which were great.

We had a reservation for a larger group on a Thursday night. The small restaurant was busy but our table was ready on time, it just took quite a while to get drinks and food ordered and then service after we got our food. Otherwise everything was absolutely flavorful and delicious. They really know what they re doing! Portions are massive so come hungry or dine with friends. Vegetarian options: Vegetarian pasta and pizza options were great! The mushrooms are especially delicious in various dishes.

Called to make a reservation and was told it was a first come, first served in the restaurant and at the bar. Arrived and first question asked: do you have a reservation? and then proceeds to tell us that a reservation is needed. Get your story straight.

I love this little place. The menu as short as is the wine selection. However, the food is always great and I love the vibe of this place.

The food was outstanding. Service was great, it definitely is a compact eatery, so you ll need a reservation. It s an experience tho - to see the kitchen making your food as you sit and talk. Great cocktails and coffee options. We tried the tiramisu, but it was gone before I could take a picture! It was simply incredible

We ate there a couple days ago before seeing Lion King at the Altria. Seating is tight so definitely call ahead or make reservations. We had the white pizza, calamari w/squid ink fettuccine, and ricotta gnocchi, there are so many ways to make these dishes wrong but they were all fantastic. Service was efficient and friendly, atmosphere was very nice. Looking forward to a return visit!

Its a cute little food shop. I enjoyed the food and it tastes great reheated at home. Only 4 stars for staff acting off or weird. Vegan options available as well.

The food was 100 percent fresh and was very tasty. It did feel overpriced for what you get and the wine wasnt even served in a wine glass Vegetarian options: If you wanted it they could offer

Dinamo has to be one of the top Italian restaurants in Richmond. Very casual family feel to the dining room. Tonight it was rocking with folks standing outside lustihg after a table. For starters we had the arugula and green bean salad and the summer squash salad with a marinara. Both excellent. For a main I had the ricotta gnocchi with pesto. The ricotta was so creamy in the gnocchi and the pesto very fine and garlicky. Heaven in your mouth. I was so focused on mine I think my companion had the tagliatelli with calamari. None remained. The chocolate torte is creamy not cakey with black cherries. Vanessa had all the tables. Wonderful.

Love the Calamari and chard. Come here atleast once a week. Best chefs and bartending service in RVA. Extremely welcoming and make sure you get exactly what you want. Love talking to the cooks and bartenders. Down to earth and never too busy to make sure you have the best conversation and dining experience! Definitely an RVA gem! The rock fish is superb as well! The steak over butter sauce is delicious. Dont even need a sauce with it!

Hadnt been here in a while. Packed on a Wednesday night. Arugula & green bean salad, soft shells with voluminous sweet basil chiffonade, mussels marinara, mushroom & kalamata pizza. Stoli vodka martini with a twist. A dry rosé from Provence with dinner. Everything was spectacular. The softshells were some of the best Ive ever had. Fried to perfection. Meaty. Crisp. Highly recommended. One of the top places in Richmond.

so quaint. great staff- and the food is next level

Traditional Italian dishes elevated far beyonf D the typical pasta house. Drfinitely worth a visit. You can tell a lot about a restaurant by how it handles a simple side salad-and Dinamos is by far the best side salad I have ever had. Everything is made fresh, including the pasta, with exceptional ingredients. I got the soft shell crab special, which were fantastic and crunchy. The tomatoes in the Caprese were local heirloom, and the gnocci was hand made. You really cannot go wrong.

My lover says this place is very European. I had the time of my life to be quite honest. Each thing we ordered, the spice runner cocktail, the macchiato, the beet salad with feta, the mussels marinara, the sautéed calamari with chard, were sensual delights, so truly flavorful and unreal that experiencing them engaged my entire cerebrum and felt not dissimilar to a satisfying physical exercise.

Attentive service and tasty, creative entrees!! Small space, and popular, so make reservations 2, 3 days in advance to avoid disappointment.

Lovely atmosphere and extremely cozy. Favorite spot to spoil ourselves.

Ate in one night and takeout another. We had pizza, tagliatelle with provolone sausage, calamari/shrimp with squid ink fettuccine, mozz and roasted peppers with anchovies, and shrimp app. The sauces were so flavorful. We finished them with spoons and sopped it up with bread which was a rustic Italian. Atmosphere was loud but wonderfully lively. Waitstaff were friendly and efficient. There were a few specials for the evening. We will be back when visiting our daughter in Richmond. Best Italian this side of Italy.

Excellent food! Cozy, lively and fantastic service. A perfect place for dinner after a Theatre VCU show!

Make sure you get a reservation. Great food, it was quite busy. We got the gnudi and squid ink fettuccine.

Great food, great service, I moved here from Baltimore and this one is one of my favorites including Stellas which I have not reviewed as of yet.

Excellent Italian food and service. Plate sizes were large and they have a good selection of beers as well as mixed drinks.

The food was excellent overall. The Pizza was exceptionally good. Thin and crispy just like we like it.

If you havent been here or its sister restaurant, youve done yourself a huge disservice. Go as soon as possible

If youre reading this review, just go. Its good, consistent, and quaint. Dont leave without a mini cannoli.

Very very nice spot for a good dinner. It s a small place and gets busy so be prepared. We had the lentil eggplant flatbread which was basically an entire pizza! They aren t shy on their portions. Flatbread was incredible, so many flavors. Dishes we had sweet potato gnucci (solid, needed more sauce) and the mushroom tagliatelle which was great. I also enjoyed being able to see the kitchen and chefs working since we sat at the bar. Good entertainment, lol.

A pleasant atmosphere blends well with exceptional service, wonderful eats, and delicious drinks.

Great food, wonderful atmosphere. Definitely coming back for the pizza!

Did not accept postmates, so not eating here.

I challenge you to find a better roast chicken anywhere in the world.

So good. Fresh menu thats so so tasty and not too expensive

Omg pickup 2 pizza was fumazing thanks guys and gals for the fast service

Wonderful

Really excellent restaurant. One of the best in Richmond. Ive never had a plate that wasnt delicious. Reasonable prices. Generous portions. Great atmosphere and good service. My family likes to go here for celebratory meals and share entrees. Honestly, weve never had a bad experience at Dinamo.

Went with several people so we could order family style and try about half the menu. EVERYTHING we tried was delicious. Cant wait to try the other half of the menu

Small, but delicious

Never ate, but the atmosphere of this spot is incredible. Check it out

Delicious and unusual. Will go again.

Stellar as always!

V good

Good service with old diner ambience. The food was delicious as one would expect from the proprietor of Mama Zu and Edo Squid. Dont expect a luncheon discount but everything is fresh and homemade. I recommend the calamari with chard.

One of my favorite places in Richmond.

Great food

Excellent Lunch menu!

One of the my favorites for pizza and Italian.

Absolutely amazing experience here. The food portions are generous and priced fairly for such quality! The wait staff was amazing and was incredibly friendly. I cant wait to go again!

Wonderful food, atmosphere & service

Ive never had a bad meal here.

Had the Mussels Marinara for lunch...so excellent, forgot to take a photo! Only critique - personally prefer a pronounced fumet flavor, but the tomato broth was fantastic with the crunchy, legit bread. Olive oil on the table was an nice garnish I chose to drizzle. Please see the red pizza with mushrooms which paired beautifully with personal pantry anchovies . Friend had the Rueben Sandwich that she exclaimed is constantly fantastic with a hot, steamy center. Lovely 1/2 deli pickle garnish. Great value!!

So delicious! Great service! Cozy atmosphere! So delicious! Soo delicious!

Good food and friendly staff. As someone who relies a lot on lip reading, I wish the lights were just a smidgen brighter and/or there was a little less background noise.

Loved it. Nice people, great modern Italian Jewish food. Had the matzoh ball soup. Hot and tasty with perfectly formed but tender dumplings. Delicious dill notes. Eggs in purgatory were spicy and rich. Belgian farmhouse ale gem Maine was sharp and refreshing.

Tasty food, great pizza

Very tasty. But limited menu.

Terrible greasy and flavorless pizza. When i didnt eat it I was told I must not like Sicilian pizza. Never again!!!

Favorite Italian restaurant in Richmond!

The Bolognese was exquisite, 10/10

36 seats that include those at the bar. Reminds me of some of the neighborhood places in NYC when I was a kid. Great food

Way to crowded, place very small. Not many choices on the menu .

Not expensive enough. The extra tax ones pays to eat in the city doesnt raise the price enough. $20+ for pasta with meat sauce

Great service and excellent food. The halibut was wonderful

The Reuben was very good although a bit fatty in my opinion. The rigatoni Bolognese were spectacular, as well as the Capuccino.

Just stopped by for their great chocolate dessert with cherries and cream. Loved it! Will head back soon for dinner. Craving the flatbread with chickpeas and artichoke hearts! My favorite.

Get the squid ink fettuccine.

Sat at the bar excellent service (bar seats 6 FCFS) atmosphere noise levels very muted. Had the Cuttlefish pasta with monkfish. The ingredients were very good, the execution poor as it was swimming in tomato sauce which was all you could taste.

Just as good as NY pizza...

Dinamo has the best food and atmosphere in Richmond. The staff is superb and Mya a superstar.

Absolutely incredible food! One of the best Italian restaurants in Richmond. Reservations taken which is rare for restaurants like this.

Small intimate place. Very loud. Food was good, not stellar, but good.

I love this place. I go in sometimes by myself and sit at the bar and watch them cook. Its dinner theater. I particularly like the fish soup. Parking is a bit of a challenge; well worth the effort.

Fun, small place. Good food & service. Loved watching chefs cook behind the bar!

Shhh! Dont tell too many other people about what you read here... Seriously,it would be a shame if crowds wrecked the intimacy and friendliness of this small establishment. The atmosphere pares perfectly with the authentic Italian food at a price that even students could afford. Speaking of students - yes, its close enough to VCU for parking to be an insurmountable problem - if you plan on eating dinner before 5pm. Otherwise, you may even get a space within a few hundred feet. Dinamo is owned and operated by the folks who brought you Mama Zus. And they brought experienced kitchen staff, including chef, with them. The only thing they left behind was the attitude. The menu provides more selection than you would expect to find in a place this small. It probably seats no more than 30 people, maybe less,but they dont crowd their patrons shoulder to shoulder. There is no downside to this place. Eat happy,eat well!

You find yourself saying This is my favorite gnocchi/rockfish/roast chicken/seafood salad/house-made sausage/bolognese/sugartoads, about so many things. My cousin plans visit to RVA around this restaurant.

I went to Dinamo recently for a friends birthday and had a mixed experience. The positives were that the wait staff was very friendly and attentive, and the mussels in white wine sauce were perfectly cooked, fall off the shell tender, and stewed in a delicious savory broth infused with plenty of garlic (which begged you to wipe every last bit up with their spongy bread). However, the brisket we ordered was mostly fat, the red pizza had charred crust, and the squid ink pasta left a strange aftertaste. The environment was a little crammed, and unfortunately we were seated by the door which let in a constant flow of cold air.

One of the best spots in Richmond.

Best ever

Great food, great staff, great prices, great ambiance, great locale. 5 greats = 5 stars. Thanks Dinamo!

Awesome little restaurant in RVA

This was my first time at Dinamo. The food was delicious. Especially good is the feta and beet salad . The service was swift and friendly.

Nichole @ #SoulFunds reviewing Dinamo. For anyone who does not know about this place, You should!!! I will take a picture the next time I go there (usually once or twice a month), but I forgot to get the pics when I left. Awesome VIBE, not much space, which is cool if you go anytime before 5ish. After that? They get jammed and are lucky enough if you can get a table so you will be better off making reservations. My favorite Latte THUS FAR! The food is organically healthy too. Best muscles Ive had thus far too!! I do have a pic!! Me drinking latte at Dinamos!!

Wow. We wandered in based on the Google reviews at 7 on a Saturday night. OOPS. Luckily, there were a few cancelled reservations. FOOLS! We were ready to be put off by the small, almost TOO eclectic menu. Except it smelled SO good. Ramps? Little onions that are in season a month each year that the owner says they put in everything. Thanks for putting them on the white pizza I also are for a snack and breakfast. With enough garlic to kill your average horse. And the sausage, polenta, and beans my companion ate was a huge hit as well. Yum. Yum. Yum. Go!

I never thought Id have lentils on a pizza (w eggplant & feta)-- SO good & made for killer leftovers. Plates are sizeable/shareable.

Yummy.

Excellent good and good service.

Great food. Better people

A really cool mix of culinary styles. Its hard not to order everything on the menu!

Really really good pizza and rockfish salad, smaller restaurant, not too busy around lunch time. Nice staff and pretty solid color scheme going on inside.

Baked cabbage and corned beef sandwich was outstanding!

Killer lunch. Highly recommended.

I called to make reservations and was told we didnt need them before 7pm and to just walk in. Upon my arrival, they inquired if we had reservations and told that they didnt have a table for us. The food is was fresh and delicious.

Not an extensive menu, but well prepared and oh so good. Service is friendly and quick, though limited seating requires some planning ahead or hanging around waiting. One can be served at the (small) bar if impatient to wait for a table. And yes, espresso is served.

The pizza is over-cooked and too salty. The fish soup is not fish soup, It is a seafood soup with squid.

Nice spot, tonight we had the beet/fennel & feta salad, soft shell crab & pesto pasta. All were excellent! Topping it off with TIRAMISU! One of the best drop in spots in Richmond when VCU is out of session.

Awesome, enough cant be said

Our favorite go-to place. Great food and great people. They make you feel like youre coming home.

Best Best Chopped Liver in Richmond

We recently moved back to Richmond after being away for many years. As with many things lately, my hipper-than-us 80 year old parents introduced us to this spot. Loved the vibe, the service and especially the food. I ordered the whole branzino because I didnt want pasta and also because I wanted to say I ate the whole branzino. It actually was just the right amount of food.The whole fish served on top of mixed greens was divine! Also split a limoncello tart which was good, but ended up envious of my mothers tiramisu. We had a reservation for 4 and by the time we left around 9ish, the place was full and hopping with lots of couples eating at the bar.

You will want to stay 2+ hours because it is so cozy. The food was phenomenal.

Rockfish is Killer.... Cabbage is awesome. The team is on point.

Fine dining at an accessible price point served by friendly staff.