2939 W Clay St, Richmond, VA 23230, United States
An Italian inspired restaurant and bar open for dinner Wednesday - Sunday.
BEST service of all of the Richmond restaurants. Very amazing servers - water glass was always full and they would wipe the table between each course. The ambiance is really beautiful and upscale. Very unique to the richmond food scene. Our appetizer (the peppers and anchovy) and bread was really good. Really excellent fresh ingredients used for the app with a really creative sauce. My only complaint is the pasta (gnudi) I got was lukewarm / had gotten cold by the time it was served. My boyfriends dish came out steaming hot. When paying over $30 for a single pasta dish, I would want it to be steaming hot when presented. I appreciate all of the vegetarian options on the menu!
The food was okay. I saw the other reviews about portion size but the portions were fine. I wasn't a fan of the menu options. Not a very gluten friendly restaurant if you have dietary restrictions. The restaurant has great atmosphere and if you are looking for an elevated drinks and appetizers spot then this is your place!
My friends and I had a delightful girls' dinner at Lost Letter, and it was an experience worth sharing. We chose to sit in their charming outdoor covered patio area, which felt like a secret garden tucked away from the bustling city. The ambiance set the perfect mood for our evening, starting with the appetizers, which were simply amazing. Each dish was a burst of flavor, setting high expectations for the rest of the meal. For my main course, I indulged in the clams, which were nothing short of fabulous – cooked to perfection and seasoned just right. We couldn't resist sampling a few of the desserts, and each one was fantastic, making it hard to pick a favorite. We also split a few bottles of wine, and the staff's recommendations were spot-on, complementing our meal beautifully. Our waitress was a highlight of the night – upbeat, happy, and attentive without ever making us feel rushed. Her positive energy added to the overall enjoyment of our evening. One thing to note: the restaurant sign is very small on the window, so you might think you've missed it, but don't worry – you're in the right place. Lost Letter provided a wonderful dining experience, and I can't wait to return for another enchanting evening.
Had a great experience here. Very sleek and modern interior and ambience. They had outside dining spaces that looked charming too. All of our food was SUPERB, from the bread to octopus carpaccio and lemon bucatini. The pasta was so simple but so incredibly delicious! Would definitely come back just to have it again. Service was a touch slow but the food was so worth it.
Absolutely perfect, this experience was one of the best we’ve had. Food was 10/10 - wouldn’t change a single thing. Delicious from the starters to dessert Drinks were 10/10 - they have a great bartender with very good taste Service also a 10 - our server was kind and personable but not putting on a show, and she had the right amount of presence at the table. We were celebrating our anniversary and Sophie and the staff helped me prepare a surprise gift in the perfect way. Couldn’t have had a better night
🤯 We have lived in Richmond for just over 20years & Lost Letter was recommended by a friend because they knew that I’m a foodie 😊 Lost Letter is Absolutely the best Restaurant in Richmond Virginia in our opinion. After eating here a month ago and then again tonight it confirmed it. We spent 3 weeks in Italy 🇮🇹 for our 25th wedding anniversary. That being said it’s the Best Italian food we have both ever had. The lay out of the restaurant, the impeccable service & cleanliness is spot on!! But hold on!! The mixed drinks we had tonight were soooo perfectly made!! There wine selection & the recommendations from there sommeliers were spot on!! All that being said when you have a menu with less than 25 items on it, highest quality of ingredients & chefs 👨🍳 that look like they really enjoy there jobs then there you have it!! We both look forward to many more experiences in the future!! Thanks LL for mind blowing experiences!!!!
A friend and I were in town for a few nights and booked our Lost Letter reservation a month out. It was a great experience from start to finish, with amazing food. I especially loved how many vegetarian options there were, I never felt like I was missing out. The staff was friendly and personable too.
Celebrated my son's birthday at one of his favorite restaurants. There were five in our party and our serj1ver suggested we order several appetizers and several entrees and pass the dishes around the table so everyone could share. That was referred to as family style.. which turned out to be a great idea!!! We all enjoyed a wonderful variety of dishes and all were delicious and beautifully presented.
5 stars across the boars. Matt was an excellent server. Great cocktail menu and wonderful appetizers. Definitely a go-to in RVA.
The pork shank was fantastic. Tender, fell off the bone. Everything else was bland, overpriced and underwhelming. Fried olives were gross 1/10. Octopus was ok, 6/10. Lamb pasta had no flavor. Service was friendly, not their fault. To be clear, nice place, decent food, but not a premium experience that matches the price tag.
Server had an awful attitude (guess bc 22% gratuity already added onto my bill). The apps were very good. The entrees were underwhelming at best.
Went here for the first time and really enjoyed the atmosphere and the food. Great neighborhood gem!
Excellent dining experience food, drinks and service was exceptional.
Came here for a celebration with my wife. Made a reservation through Resy. The restaurant is very modern and trendy on the inside. The host and waiter both greeted us with a warm smile. We decided on an app, and once we received that, we ordered our mains. The waiter informed us that they were out of their lamb ragu pasta. We were very disappointed since we were both going to order that, and we typically eat pasta and some form of red sauce when dining in Italian restaurants. After eating some of our app and mulling over the remaining choices on the small but well done menu, we decided to pay the check and leave to try to find another restaurant. The waiter was very apologetic and super kind, comping our appetizer of bread and olive oil. I didnt want to slam this seemingly great restaurant with a 1 star review, because we do understand things happen, and the dish we picked was obviously one of their most popular. Instead we give 5 stars for the service and atmosphere, and we will be back to hopefully put the food in the same 5 star category.
Went here for my birthday with my girlfriend and everything from food to service to ambiance was PERFECT. Highly recommend for a date night - won t be disappointed!
The menu sounded promising, but the food didnt hold the promise.
Food was amazing! We had reservations for back room but were seated up front. Our pasta took over an hour to come out. 5 stars on the food, though! Excellent.
Service, food, and ambiance were great. This place is a hidden gem 5/5 across the board.
Another lovely visit: delicious dishes,amazing presentation,fun drinks, good wine selectio by the glass and nice & professional staff. Best restaurant in Richmond for an amazing dinner experience.
Some of the best service Ive ever experienced in Richmond! Not once was my water glass empty or crumbs/dishes left on the table! We dined on the patio and it was lovely weather and beautifully decorated, our friends commented that they felt like they were on vacation the ambiance was perfect! The food was delicious! We enjoyed the bread, octopus starter as well as pastas and a meat dish. The only thing we were surprised with was the cost compared to the amount of food. Three pasta dishes were ordered and the ragu could have been a meal in itself but the angiolotti was a surprisingly small portion compared to the other two. Overall a great experience and we hope to be back soon!
Food, service, and presentation were top notch.
Lost Letter had a lot of hype to live up to, and I have to admit I was a little disappointed. Not that it wasn t very good Italian food - it was. But the hype made me expect something out of this world, and it wasn t that. The menu is pretty small for an Italian restaurant. You won t find old favorites like veal parmigiana here. The wine list is extensive. All of the food is very good. Portions are in the Goldilocks zone. I might recommend having a few of the small plates instead of a main dish, as I felt these were stronger and allowed for more diversity. The tiramisu is the go to dessert, and worth saving room for:).
Superb!
We dined at Lost Letter tonight for our 10 year anniversary. The entire evening was perfect. Superb service, drinks, food, and atmosphere. We both said that it felt like we were in one of our favorite Chicago restaurants. Being welcomed with a lost letter at our table wishing us a happy anniversary was also such a sweet, sentimental touch. Thank you for a memorable evening. We can t wait to come back!
The pork shank was amazing! The vibe was vibing! 5 stars all around. Will be back!
This was our 3rd time having dinner at Lost Letter and each time has been incredibly solid . Wonderful food, atmosphere and a feeling of being transported. Perfectly timed courses even towards the end of the night. Comfortable, knowledgeable and unobtrusive service (thank you Allie). We look forward to our next visit. We are lucky and grateful to have this gem in Richmond.
Lovely restaurant and staff! The broccolini and gnudi were so good. Some of the portion sizes felt a little strange to me but it s entirely subjective (like the tiramisu was a bigger portion than the gnudi).
Beautiful service. Delicious food and presentation of the dishes.
My group and I loved every plate. The staff makes this place absolutely unique.
An italian gem in the city. This place is striving for me and its close but needs to work harder at breaker the larger richmond mold of mediocre service. The sommelier could have done a better job at talking about the wines. Even a brief attempt at a description on triple digit wine bottle would be suffice at this caliber restaurant. Thankfully the food is the show here and it doesnt disappoint. Everything was top notch and will definitely return!
Just all around exceptional. I see a James Beard award in their future.
On a week vacation to the outer banks we stopped for an overnight in Richmond and discovered Lost Letter - by far the best restaurant on our whole trip! Food, service, drinks we all perfect. I dont know if well ever be back that way but if we are, were going to Lost Letter again. (order the Gnudi. Youll thank me)
3.5 stars (rounded up, read whole review) Went here for anniversary dinner. Cute card when we came in but other than that there was no mention. We selected this place because of reviews posted on Google and doing some research. We knew that the price point would be high, but we re willing to pay. The bar seemed busy for a Friday night, which was great however it was very noisy if you were sitting next to the bar. If possible, I would recommend requesting to sit in the back part of the restaurant or in the garden outdoor section. There was nothing wrong with our food, but it wasn t anything to write home about and ultimately we believe worth the dollar amount that we paid. Dietary restrictions: Servers did specifically ask if there were dietary restrictions or concerns before taking our order to the kitchen. Kid-friendliness: Not kid friendly. Wheelchair accessibility: Could accommodate.
Beef tartare is the best Ive ever had!
Excellent service, outstanding wine list, one of the best menus in Richmond - perfectly executed. Our party of 4 tried almost everything on the menu and each dish was super! We will be back!
Drinks were amazing!! I did not care for most of the food, I found it to be underwhelming and at times bland. The dessert was pretty good. Portion sizes were very random, either huge or tiny. Service was fast and decent. Atmosphere was ok, it s not a very diverse crowd.
This is the kind of place you go to order things you can t pronounce. The pork shank (the only thing I could pronounce) was incredible and cooked to perfection. And my wife had ricotta which was delicious but the plating was meh. We felt super underdressed but it s all good. Sometimes you just want good food but don t want to look like a Goldman Sachs sales rep. I was super unhappy to see that the cooks in the back weren t verbally abusing each other like in The Bear but that s okay. Maybe I ll catch them on a busy night when everything s going wrong. Overall this place is dope so I ll shut up now.
Now that is has been open , the attention to food quality and service is wearing off.
We have eaten here four times. Excellent meals! A great place for a leisurely romantic meal on par with Grissette, Pinky s, Roosevelt - but maybe a tad better. Helpful sommelier. They can accommodate a vegetarian. Well done, Lost Letter!
Our bartender Mel was the best!
we celebrated my wifes birthday last night and the food was fantastic. the menu choices were all tempting so we had lots of it. service was excellent all dishes from appetizer to main course wete great. rarely can I say that. usually there is something I dont like but not here. all were excellent. the staff were very accommodating and very laid back nice. Will be back for sure.
Incredible upscale Italian. Wine list is extensive, every single dish we ordered was awesome (gnudi/bucatini vongole/broccolini were standouts) and the service is great too. Grayum, Allie, PJ, Im forgetting some others but me and my wife left super happy and full on an impromptu date night.
This was such an amazing experience for my husband and I. Food was incredible, wine and cocktails perfect and the staff was exceptional. We even sat next to the kitchen and it was super quiet. The kitchen looked clean and organized plus very quiet. Not many places can say that. We will definitely be back.
Lost Letter was an absolutely fantastic meal. It was one of our birthdays, and they made our day! The back garden is so peaceful, beautiful, and quaint, and all of the staff were tremendously gracious and kind. Every bite of food we had was sensational!
This restaurant is phenomenal, exceeded all expectations. Service is top notch; anytime they wipe down the table and bring new cutlery between courses, I am impressed and appreciative. Atmosphere is modern and sophisticated. Cocktails were great, didn t drink wine, but they have a full list. The menu is creative and the food was delicious. Had the fried olives, dry aged beef with tuna, the pesto ricotta pasta and the ragu as well as the beef shank with polenta to share and the tiramisu. The Gnudi di Rocotta (pesto pasta) was the stand out dish for me. This place is expensive, but totally worth it, would definitely go back to try the rest of the menu.
The food was surprisingly underwhelming unfortunately, but the restaurant is really pretty. Everyone that works there is pretty and really nice!! If you re super rich and want somewhere mildly contemporary (atmosphere not food) and stylish to eat you can go here. It s instagramable I guess but not yummy. The food was not elevated or seasoned well. The pork shank was reminiscent of a state fair turkey leg, the polenta was bland, and the mackerel was mid. I did enjoy the ricotta gnudi.
I don t get to go out to eat that often but our party of 6 for our family member s birthday was outstanding. I feel awful for not knowing our servers name but he was absolutely incredible. To be honest I m kind of out of my element in fine dining but the entire staff here made the experience for me. They were all beyond attentive and helpful while working their tails off on a busy evening. Thank you all for a lovely evening!
service is everything in an industry like this and lost letter doesn t have it. We had an unforeseen circumstance of a delay in travel and called to let them know we couldn t make the reservation and they still charged us $100 and said they don t make exceptions to their policy. At the end of the day, exceptions can always be made and the host continues to treat us with negativity and a lack of understanding. The cancellation fee is not a make or break for keeping the restaurant open, but their decision to not make things right is definitely a deterrent from wanting to go back. And people should be aware of that.
Wonderful meal!
Perfection. Thank you!
Trendy plane with good food and cocktails. The beef tartare was amazing.
I really wanted to love this place! We were suggested to try out lost letter after hearing great things from our friends. I was incredibly disappointed with the service and the food. The service took over an hour and a half for us to receive our entrees - we ended up having to pack our entrees and take them home. On top of the slow service, our feedback was not taken well by the staff and was instead met with defensiveness and inflexibility to accommodate our unideal circumstances. The food was way too salty and overall not worth the cost. I did appreciate the ambience, but that upside alone is not enough to warrant spending $200 for a night out with really bad service. I d love to support this restaurant, but I really had a subpar experience and would not go here again!
To start, we were torn between the octopus and the beef tartare. Our server steered us towards the tartare and it did not disappoint (our favorite dish of the night). For entrées we had the clams and the chicken. If you get the clams, you ll want to order a side of bread to soak up the jus! Impeccable service and very cute atmosphere. Try to get a table close to the open kitchen to watch the talented chefs in action! Would go back!
Ambiance was modern with a chill vibe. They provide outdoor seating as well.
Good food and great service! No need to add the (clearly out of the jar) bacon bits to beef tartare; martinis a bit diminutive and disappointingly warm.
What an amazing experience. Everything was top notch. Can t wait to go back.
But for Google we might not have found the plain, unmarked door, but stepping inside is like entering an oasis. After a drink at the bar (we had a reservation but it was so beautiful, we asked to sit on the patio on arrival and they needed a moment to arrange it), we were shown out to the lovely patio area. Neatly walled off from the outside and with a roof to prevent the weather from ruining your meal, its a pleasantly peaceful space - well lit even after sundown and spaciously arranged. The menu is reasonably brief but still difficult to choose from, and we finally settled on two antipasti and two pasta dishes (the risotto lives in the same section) after we were advised they were perfectly entree sized. The burrata and beef tartare were delicious, especially the former with its blood orange, hazelnuts, and what I believe were slivers of fennel. I will confess a note of puzzlement, since neither appeared to come with its own bread (we ordered bread and olive oil separately) as if one were expected to eat it with a spoon- the potato listed as a tartare ingredient was definitely delicate crispy crumbs, not crisps as I expected. A second plate of bread was provided (and extra olive oil, though this was honestly wasted) without delay on request though. The mushroom risotto packs a heavy earthy punch. Its cooked well, and quite filling, perhaps heavier than might be expected. The Meyer lemon bucatini was a light, airy flavor, a touch sweet as opposed to savory, much like the citrus and burrata. I demolished it entirely, though I probably could have been satisfied with less than I did end up eating in total. Sensibly, I took the tiramisu home. It traveled well and was delicious once I had the space in my stomach to consume it. All in all a beautiful experience, the only thing ordered that wasnt consumed was a milk punch- Do not be fooled by the list of ingredients, it is extremely sweet, but the staff replaced it for me without protest, and my corpse reviver was immaculate. We would absolutely go back, though the price point is to be taken seriously, it is not a place to go on a budget. Vegetarian options: There are a number of things which are vegetarian (its a small menu) and they are reasonably clearly marked. It is still probably wise to ask about things like the risotto, since you never know what broth is used. Dietary restrictions: There is a very short menu and no real room for substitutions here. Depending on what your dietary restrictions are, it may not be doable.
Another stellar experience from the people that brought us Longoven (RIP...) Awesome food and cocktails, fantastic service and enjoyable ambiance.
Six of us had a fabulous dinner tonight. First rate
My boyfriend and I had dinner there last night. From the moment we walked in, everything was phenomenal. It has a romantic, lovely inviting atmosphere. We were served creative and delicious cocktails at the bar before we were seated at a romantic and intimate table in the back of the restaurant, with a view of the open kitchen. Service was impeccable, not rushed, but attentive at the same time. We shared their version of a Caesar salad, I had the beef cheek ravioli, and he had the rockfish. We shared the Nutella flavored gelato for dessert. We split a bottle of Nebbiolo wine at dinner, followed by a couple of glasses of Prosecco with dessert. Every bite, every sip, every moment was perfection. We ate slowly and savored the whole experience. Although on the pricey side, it is worth every cent for a memorable and special experience. Hands-down the best restaurant I ve been to in Richmond. We will definitely be back!
Went here with a group of 3 couples. The food was excellent and the atmosphere is very nice. We had reservations but the waitress and sommelier were very very slow with our beverages and ordering which is why service is a 3. It was a full 45 minutes from seating until we had a glass of wine. Luckily the food saves the review. We ll try this restaurant again to see if the service improves.
Went with friends the other night and had a truly memorable meal. The service was excellent. Everything we ordered was prepared to perfection with amazing presentation. Or waitress was knowledgeable about all of the menu items and was able to provide meaningful opinions when asked. If you are looking for a special meal, this is the place!
A fine meal of clams, chicory salad, beef cheek ravioli, 24 month prosciutto, a craft cocktail (the Via Lattea) and Pinot Bianco wine, marred a bit by the 45 minute wait between courses. The clam broth was very salty. The chicory salad is incredible. Nice touch with the white anchovies and soft-boiled eggs. 24-month prosciutto was excellent although perhaps sliced a bit too thick for my liking. My dining partner loved the beef cheek ravioli. My Italian friend whose grandmother came from Piemonte says the ravioli looks authentic to the region. Delicious Alto-Adige Pinot Bianco by the glass. I had a botanical craft cocktail before dinner. Cant remember the name. Very interesting. Dining alfresco in the garden is going to be more and more desirable as spring turns to summer and summer gives way to autumn. Thats where we sat.
I have been twice now. We sat in the restaurant once and at the bar the other time. The ambiance is solid. The wine selection is one of, if not the best in the city. I love that they offer coravin pours of large format bottles. Their menu is a comfortable approach to edgy. They push boundaries of normal while still satisfying grandmas need for a classic. Thankful to have something like this so close to home.
First, I looked at their website for the menu items. I booked a reservation, and to my surprise, when we got their the menu was different even though the website says the menu is up to date. That was frustrating because other pasta dish options I couldnt really eat. One of the plates only came with several pieces pieces of pasta stuffed with either (beef or pork) cheek. The pieces were small, and they werent enough for a dinner portion. The pork shank was just a large piece of meat on Polenta, and that was it. There were no vegetables or other sides with the dish. The quail dish was similar but did have some vegetables with it. To add to our frustration, all of the food was under-seasoned. We did enjoy our cocktails, which were delicious. Our biggest frustrations are that they advertise as an Italian restaurant but there are 3 or fewer Italian main dishes. The other main items are fancy names but not really Italian dishes. I guess you could count the charcuterie appetizers, antipasti, and desert as Italian. This place is very expensive for what you get. After spending a good amount of money, all three of us went somewhere else to eat after dining here. This should give you an idea of the dish sizes. I will end by saying the shank is a good size, but it was underseasoned and had one green leaf at the top. I would guess that most people would want some sort of vegetable included.
One of the best restaurants in Scotts addition. Very tasty italian food inspired by the piedmont region cuisine and impressive cocktail and wine selection
Incredible food and service! Paloma was a great server. Highly recommend.
Authentic Italian
GM was welcoming and accommodating with our reservation when one guest was unable to attend last minute due to a sick child. Bar/Mixed Drink: While waiting for our table (about 30 minutes beyond our set reservation time) ordered a vodka dirty martini. When deciding between two options of vodka and despite asking, I was not given any guidance on the difference between the house vodka and the Japanese vodka flavor profiles. I decided to try the Japanese vodka as something new to experience. I learned that this particular one has a sweeter flavor profile so would not recommend for a dirty martini. App: Burrata app tasted great, interesting use of currants, honey and cheese into a spread. Really enjoyed the flavor palette for a starter. Portion was good for two to share. Downside was that it was only served with 3 small crostinis, which were burnt. Even if the crostinis had not been burnt, given the large portion of Burrata, there was not enough bread to finish the app so we had to *buy* an additional order of bread. Wine: By the glass selection was good. Was able to taste two before committing. Nothing exquisite available by the glass unless you wanted to spend $50/glass. Would be interested in the $50/glass option or a bottle in the future. Entree: My friend and I both had the halibut (Pesce Arrostito), which was great. Really enjoyed the flavor profile with the fennel sausage and black rice. No complaints, would order again. Dessert: Tiramisu was heavy on the cream and not particularly coffee flavored nor sweetened. Would not recommend if you are looking for the traditional version of this dessert. Service: Slightly pretentious vibe from the bar and wait staff. I would have been ok with it, but ultimately felt like it was unwarranted for the level of service. 1) Our leftovers were placed in the same bag. When we attempted to divide up the to-go boxes in the bag after we left the restaurant, we discovered that our entrees had also been combined into the same box. I would never expect my entree to be combined in the same box with anyone else s when packaging it to-go, but I would especially expect a fine dining restaurant such as this to know better. 2) For an elevated restaurant bar, I would also expect the bar staff to have an intimate knowledge of everything they are serving and be able to give me guidance on the drink I am choosing. That was not the case given the limited knowledge of the Japanese vodka and the poor outcome of the dirty martini. Atmosphere: Was a fun, elevated, moody vibe with a pretty outdoor garden. I sat on a wooden bench against a hard wall several inches higher than my friend s chair across the table. I would have enjoyed a cushioned seat with more back support closer to the same height as the chair across from me. The outdoor space appeared that it could accommodate the additional seating. I did enjoy being outdoors and how the garden was lit up as well as the beautiful greenery. Value for the Price: We spent $255 for a shared app, 2 entrees, shared dessert, 1 mixed drink each, 2 glasses of wine each. The alcohol definitely made this meal super expensive, but the app ended up being almost as expensive as an individual entree. Price tag did not match overall value and experience.
The food here is wonderful. My husband and I were lucky enough to dine here twice this past month, including the prefix menu on New Years Eve. During our last visit we were asked to leave because of an upcoming reservation. We also had a reservation and the folks sitting next to us had been dining longer. We wish the meal hadnt ended on this note.
My wife and I went here for our anniversary dinner and it certainly did not disappoint. Would recommend getting a reservation because seating can be a bit limited. Started off the meal with bread and oil with a delicious mint cocktail. We got a squash antipasti that truthfully could be shared with 4-5 people so its a great serving size. I had the buccatini and that was scrumptious. Some of the best pasta Ive had to date. We concluded the night with a tiramisu that was as tasty as expected. The restaurant felt a bit like a hidden gem as far as location but I would highly recommend this location for a nice night out.
My bf and I love to eat at the bar here. The bartenders are knowledgeable, professional, and friendly. The unique food/drinks (specially the beef tartare) constantly blow our minds. The atmosphere is romantic, cozy, and sleek. We both travel a lot for work but agree that this is one of the best restaurants weve been to. The appetizers are my favorite part, and they make a beautiful espresso martini.
Made reservations for the NYE five-course prix fixe dinner and was disappointed. TL;DR: Have wanted to try this place for a long time but had a very unsatisfying $550 meal and wont be back. We were seated almost 30 minutes after our reservation. The menu wasnt published at the time I made reservations so we didnt know what was on the menu until we got there. Having seen the regular menu online, I wasnt concerned because everything sounded so good! I was immediately turned off to see that three of the courses were seafood. Im an adventurous eater and I like seafood in general but I didnt care for most of the meal. The first course was an enormous portion of raw tuna with off-putting sauces. Followed by a large steamed scallop in room temp onion broth, beef cheek tortellini (good), black bass (mid), and Nutella Gelato (also good). Most of the dishes were one-note on texture - soft with no bite or crunch anywhere. The bright spot was the wine pairing with the sommelier who is obviously passionate about wine and loves his job. His presentation of the wines he selected was lovely. The table service was also good.
Ideal setting for an intimate meal. The size, atmosphere, and menu are all very intentional to set the stage for a personal experience. Good choice for fancy date night or a professional celebration. The menu is short, but thoughtful with classic Italian dishes and bold flavors. The wine menu is also wel crafted and built with luxury in mind.
Sister to Longoven, Lost Letter is a niche Italian restaurant in Scott s Addition. Upscale but not too pricey. We started with two mocktails, something bright and something dark (our favorite, tasted like a lighter root beer). The antipasti, beef tartare and octopus salad - flavors were very complimentary and went great with the house baked bread. Both pastas we ordered were delicious as well. Apparently, they have gelato cake on Sundays so we ordered a slice. It was ok.. but I think I d want to try the tiramisu next time! Overall a great experience and a lovely date spot.
Frankly this was the worst Italian I have had. We ordered a purschitto and buratta. There was little thought in the favor and balance of the dish. The purschitto was not aged so it lacked texture and salt. The dish was only garnished with a bit of olive oil and salt. Not enough to balance all the far between the purschitto and buratta. We asked for balsamic vinegar to counteract this but they said they could not provide any as they didn t have may. We both ordered the fresh pasta ragu. The pasta was literally crunchy. I have stayed at farm to table agriturismo in Tuscany. That may have been the best pasta I ve ever had. This was like I was eating barilla out of the box. When prompted why their pasta was crunchy they said that is just the way they do it. I guarantee you there was no way that any Italian restaurant here(at minimum) or in Italy would EVER EVER serve crunchy pasta. That texture is indicative of at minimum day old pasta. When asked about the pasta texture, the manager said, That s just the way we do it. Terrible excuse for lack of care which has clearly taken over the thought of the menu through to the quality of food. Wouldn t come back if someone paid me.
One of the good Italian restaurants in RVA. Food was good. Good selection of wines. The tiramisu was on point, not to sweet and it was a huge portion. However, the cocktails were very mediocre to sub par I would say and with very minimal portions of alcohol.
I absolutely loved my experience at Long Oven, so I was hyped to find out they also have Lost Letter. I went yesterday, 7/2/2023, and found the food, atmosphere, and staff outstanding! The food was delicious and packed with flavor. My boyfriend and I got two appetizers, two pasta dishes, a dessert, and one alcoholic drink all for about $130 (with tip) and found that incredibly reasonable for what is provided here! The staff should be proud of what they have created with Lost Letter and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an enjoyable dinner night out.
Impeccable.
Hands down the best authentic Italian, and some of the best food and hospitality in RVA! Go treat yourself!!
Amazing! I so enjoyed my time here last night. Probably one of the best dining experiences in Richmond.
From the greeting as we entered through the front door all the way through each delicious plate (crudo, calamari, burrata, pasta, tilefish) ending with bunet and glorious budino then finally a French Connection each bite, the room and all the service were just perfect.
My partner and I went here for our anniversary on 7/9 and I have to say its one of the best meals and experiences Ive ever had. Our server, Chris, recommended a fantastic wine neither my partner nor I had ever heard of and we wound up ADORING it. (If they have it, try the txakolina!) From there, we got two appetizers, the vitallo tonnato and the pesce crudo. The vitello was lovely, but the the pesce crudo was positively divine. My partner said he thought theyd left out the tomato because there were no apparent tomatoes in the dish. Which was weird to me, because I *tasted* tomato in it. Turns out, its made with tomato water which factors in later. We then ordered two pasta dishes, one tajarin al ragu and one agnolotti pisello. Both were wonderful and cooked perfectly. But then the braised pork shank came out and that was just a master class in deliciousness. Somewhere during the course of the evening, my partner mentioned he couldnt have most cocktails because theyre too high in sugar. Between that and both of us raving about how wonderful the crudo was, the host Sophie told us that the bar had a tomato gin and that some tomato water had been acquired from the kitchen if my partner would like a crafted tomato gin martini. This description will never do justice to the positively astonishingly good drink my partner was presented with. I didnt catch the bartenders name that night, but there were some fabulous suspenders involved, and exquisite skill in balancing the cocktail. From start to finish, this was a warm, welcoming, delightful, fun, and astonishingly delicious dinner. Thank you, Lost Letter, for helping us have such a joyous anniversary dinner. <3
Amazing experience and service from the same great team behind Longoven. This is still truly a hidden gem in Richmond but not for long. The lost letter concept has brought the teams culinary talents to a broader audience. Many will find both the pricing and menu more approachable than the Longoven tasting. You can t go wrong with anything on the menu. Delicious Italian flavors. Great wines, and top it all off with amazing desserts. Definitely a good date night location. If you re looking at this review today, then let Lostletter highlight your barbenheimer weekend itenerary.
Cute restaurant, perhaps trying a little too hard. Some dishes were way too simplistic but plentiful (radiatore pasta and pesto), others were tiny portions (ravioli) and the tiramisu was just wrong (which is a shame for an Italian restaurant). There wasn t much on the menu I felt I would return to eat. Overall it was quite pricey. It s a little noisy with not much done to dampen noise so avoid large diner parties. Special mention to the thoughtful amenities in the bathrooms and the cute decor throughout. It was ok.
A wonderful meal with excellent service.
Everything was phenomenal. The aesthetic, the service, and of course the food.
Reservation on Wednesday night for 5. This was a new experience for all 5 of us. We ordered pork shank, bolognese, and ravioli (kale and mushroom). Food was excellent, with bold flavor, enjoyed by all. Tirimasu was excellent to finish. Only reason not 5 out of 5 for food was the portion sizes. Would get appetizers next time give. A few were still hungry. Service was top notch.
I love it here. The pasta was very simple but it had a something special. it was not oily and greasy. The chicken and potatoes is very good too. It was roasted adequately so that it was jot burnt or dried out. And I like herb scent. Food
Lost Letter definitely inherited the pedigree of Longoven. The octopus carpaccio was perfectly executed. As was the halibut. Bar service for dinner or drinks was excellent. I sampled different wines with each of four courses, and the glasses available were adequate. Although my sparkling glass was more flat than frizzante (Im really splitting hairs on the wine, but I can because everything else was done so well).
Food was good, but that was about it. Showed up for reservation 10 minutes early and were happy to grab a quick drink at the bar while we waited for our table to be ready. Little did we know we would wait 45 minutes (35 minutes past our reservation) only to be told our table still wasn t ready. At that point we were offered a table outside in the cold rain and accepted with no clear time of when our reserved table would be ready. Once seated it then took an additional 10 minutes before a waitress came by. We were never offered the slightest bit of an apology at all through the evening. Our server was disinterested in being remotely helpful and never offered a drink menu during our entire dinner. The food and atmosphere was enjoyable, but the lack of service will surely prevent us from coming back and is well below what you would expect at this price point.
Went to Lost Letter recently for a birthday celebration - could not have been more pleased. Exceptional environment (sat in the covered courtyard area); professional, friendly service; very nice wine selection; delicious, interesting dishes from all categories. It is so noticeable when a restaurant has experienced management and professional staff. Have recommended the restaurant to several friends. Parking: It was a Sunday evening - saw 10+ open spots within a block of the restaurant
I went to Lost Letter with my girlfriend on a Friday night. We had a reservation and were sat immediately. The atmosphere was very nice, it was well lit when we first got there (5:15) and then they dimmed the lights and made things a bit more romantic (lit candles on tables and elsewhere) later on. We got one appetizer (octopus carpaccio), two pasta dishes (papparadelle and ravioli), and sharing one entree (Halibut). See the menu picture for full descriptions. The carpaccio was fantastic, though the capers were a bit overcooked (charcoal-y tasting). Both pasta dishes were very tasty, we both ended up preferring the papparadelle. The halibut was perfectly done, very flaky and well seasoned. The black rice and sausage were delicious. We had two drinks each, all of which were well mixed and tasty. All told our bill was $187 pre-tip for the above. Well be back here for sure.
Pasta was just OK, nothing special. Halibut was very good, too much fennel on the rest of the plate. Braised short rib was good. Tiramisu was really good. Gelato was not great, tasted like breyers chocolate icecream. Easy parking, good service.
New favorite Italian restaurant. Great food. Pro service.
Food and service were amazing. A must.
Great experience there! The food was delectable, the staff is very attentive & the Garden, where my party ate, was very comfortable.
Dinner evoked in me the same immediate, primal, embarrassing reaction that I assume leads someone stupefied by the behavior of a puppy or baby to say I m going to eat you up! Another absolutely transcendent experience from the sputini to the dulci. Generally, Lost Letter, in every manifestation, is a peerless establishment in both its service and cuisine. It easily, reliably beats out several 1 & 2 star Michelin experiences I ve had. Flavorful, innovative interpretations of classics (Burrata, Cruda, Quail) are delivered with expertise & fluency by a friendly & knowledgeable staff. The cocktails (Spaghetti Western, Italian Loafer) were poetry on the level of Eliot everything on & off the table reminded me that food can be surprising, evocative, & disarming rather than simply good, or even great. Also, really reasonably priced for the occasional experience.
We had a lovely dinner on the patio. The patio is covered and they had heat lamps making it very comfortable. Everything we ordered was excellent. We got all 3 pastas, the broccoli main dish and several antipasto including the octopus, leeks and anchovies.
Our meal was fantastic. Perfectly prepared. The sommelier selected a wine that was great with our order. And a rarity for Richmond - we could hear each other!
Great experience all around. Will be back!
I had the worst experience. My husband and I went to Lost Letter to celebrate our wedding anniversary and we waited 1 1/2 hours and still had not received our dinner so we left the restaurant. We complained to the manager on how long it was taking to receive our dinner and instead of apologizing she said she would box our dinner up for us. Great way to celebrate our anniversary. It has to be the worst restaurant for customer service. The manager should be fired!
Absolutely incredible date night here. Such an amazing ambiance. Sat outside in the garden and it was just delightful. Food was incredible. Service was great also- very nice people.
Amazing food some of the best I ve had in Richmond!
Graham is the best! Also the food is delicious. You will not be disappointed!