Laura Lee's in Richmond

We were at Laura Lee s for dinner Saturday November 23. I swear the chef was off that night. Our mussels weren t fully cooked. Two of us ordered the steak at our table. The cut was awful. Every bit had sinew. I cut several small bites out of each section and got a few decent bites. Such disappointment. My partner s pork was ok. The crab cake entree was nice too. But I think I sent back 70% of my plate. I didn t say anything as our server changed mid meal. But terrible, terrible.

Visited for Richmond Restaurant Week and left feeling very disappointed. Although the staff were working hard, we waited a very long time for our appetizers. I dont make a habit of leaving negative reviews, but my sunchoke soup with crab was frankly terrible. It came out cold and under seasoned, with lots of shell pieces left in the crab. My fiances appetizer and the entrees were better, but still less than inspirational. The pear tartlet was dry, the pumpkin bundt cake was stodgy, and both desserts were in extremely small portions. We wont be returning.

Tried this restaurant during Restaurant Week, and it was great!

Really a great place that made me feel home. Great food and a wonderful Banana Pudding

We have never had a less-than-stellar meal at Laura Lee s, and somehow they seem to keep getting even better. Took my parents last night and they couldn t stop raving. We ordered all the things - milk bread, broccolini, wedge salad (perfection), swordfish, lamb, and of course the tried and true Best Cheeseburger in Richmond (trust me on this). I normally don t love swordfish, but it was perfectly cooked and the flavors of the dish were *chef s kiss*. My mom also ordered the pasta bolognese with extra garlic, and you guys, when I tell you this is the best pasta I have EVER had in RVA. Not exaggerating. We all couldn t stop talking about it! So happy we live close enough to walk here.

Always a great experience. The food and drinks are all delicious. The service was top notch from beginning to end.

We always have an excellent experience here, one of our favorite date night spots!

Great atmosphere and outdoor patio with fresh specials and a small menu that they change seasonally. Sit at the bar or get a cozy booth!

I have been here at least a dozen times, and every time has been a great experience. Their burger is one of my favorites in Richmond and is well priced. I have tried a few of the dinner specials and all have been great. My only criticism of the menu is that I wish there were more vegetarian and vegan options, but the ones they do have are nice. The cocktail program is outstanding and rotates seasonally. Most of the time I dont even recognize some of the ingredients because they experiment often! The service is always wonderful and they are all knowledgeable, friendly, and on top of things.

I really wanted this place to be good, especially with how close it is to my house .unfortunately it was very disappointing. The poke bowl I got was underwhelming for the cost and lacked any substance. Also the kimchi they included was not good, maybe I just got a bad batch, but there was giant piece of seaweed/something green (about 6 inches long) that was so chewy it felt like I was chewing on bubble gum. It made me ill after eating what I could of the bowl. The peanut butter pie was good, I was just hoping for a bigger piece for $7. Unfortunately I won t be back.

Great burger, great atmosphere, and they have etch-a-sketches !

Delightful as ever!

The good: Have been for dinner and brunch. Both were outstanding. The fried chicken is the best Ive ever had. The plate on their brunch menu is to die for. However, having an outstanding dish here is completely dependent on what you order, unfortunately. The downside: I have been to Laura Lees several times now and the service is always average to bad. The waiters are nice, but food takes forever to come out and during brunch they always seem severely understaffed. The fried chicken is no longer on the brunch menu, and other brunch items I have tried were executed poorly (benedict: egg not poached and overall the flavors didnt mesh well. Crab cake sandwich: bland and lacked thoughtfulness). Overall, I am severely disappointed at how things have seemed to go downhill since my initial review.

Beautiful restaurant with excellent staff and some of the best food in Richmond. We always leave happy and full after visiting this restaurant. One of the few that is still top-notch even after covid.

Enjoyed quail with grits special and the pasta bolognese! Delightful evening!

The outdoor patio is one of the best in Richmond, the landscaping is excellent and makes it a charming atmosphere for a romantic evening or gathering with friends Dietary restrictions: Incredibly GF friendly!

Its our favorite local spot in town. The staff is our favorite part, but the food is also incredible.

So sad I wasnt able to experience a beautiful gem that all my friends complement server and bartender me.. Train them well or lose a great customer

Amazing and adorable inside, menu is fantastic with a little for everyone. Burgers and fried chicken sandwich are great, and their entrees are fantastic as well! Brunch brunch brunch. Mussels are delicious and enough for a meal! Biscuits and gravy are on point too. Cant go wrong here! Dietary restrictions: So accomodating. They have tons of gluten free vegan and vegetarian option

I took my Mom here for Mothers Day dinner and we had the best time!!

Cute spot. Fast service. Sad some things were gone before we sat down, but guess Ill have to come back!

Excellent, simple but refined would totally go again.

I love the vibe here. Food was great.

Been in Richmond for a few decades. Last Friday, went to Laura Lees. Nice neighborhood place. My wife ended up with the fish of the day (striper...aka rockfish) and I selected the pork chop. Both were excellent. Cooked just right, with great side parings, and tasty sauces. Well certainly be going back. Well done!! Sorry...no photos. Ended up spending more than we usually do as we were with a few couples and we shared a few bottles of wine. Otherwise, the meal would have been very reasonably priced.

I prevsly gave 4 stars b.c. I only give 5 for charity work and exceptionally kind or patient service. The food is excellent, service excellent, Special night w casual atmosphere, decor I dont care but Im told its good. They did me a small favor so I update to 5*s.

I love a place that serves equally good brunch, lunch, and dinner. Nice selections if you need a variety of vegetarian, gluten free, meat, and seafood. Seems to be something for everyone! I enjoy their selection of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages as well. I ve been here a few times and it s always consistent. Thanks for being a good place for good food with good company!

My husband and I had dinner at this restaurant tonight. On Mondays the restaurant offers a special meatless meal. I had it and it was delicious: potato latkes with roasted artichokes and a yogurt sauce. My husband ordered the swordfish. We shared fried oysters with pickled veggies. We accompanied the meal with special IPA draft beer. We liked the vibe, the food was delicious. Flavor was at its best. The service was a bit slow but we were not in a hurry as a storm was brewing outside. We enjoyed our dinner. It s not inexpensive but you get what you pay for. The veggie meal was delicious and inexpensive. It was super tasty. We plan to return next time we are in town.

Food was OK, there needs to be more of a vegetarian selection. I was there on a Sunday at noon and it was not crowded but he menu was limited. Dessert was 1 choice. Vegetarian options: Very limited options for vegetarian

Consistently great food, friendly service and fun atmosphere!

6 reasons why you should NOT visit Laura Lees. 1) Superb experensive. Prepare to spend $50 bucks and find yourself leaving restaurant hungry. 2) List of Menu items are ridiculously small. 3) No adjacent parking, can be hard to find street parking. 4) No conventional well-known items are available. Even if you see some of them on the menu, they wont be available in real time. 5) Main Entrees are very small in quantity. Quality is okay, definitely not worth the price. 6) Service was superb slow. The replacement choices provided by the server were very poor, in terms of knowledge and item taste/quality both. Within 1 mile radius of Laura Lees, go anywhere to have better food served in less time for less price. Please let me know if you find one good reason to visit Laura Lees. I am genuinely curious. Parking: Hard to find

Great place for a date or girls night. Food is divine!! Cocktails are clever, creative, and delicious. Highly recommend the Squash curry soup.

It is not the place for a traditional meal. The offerings were tasty but lacked the usual sides. So if you order chicken, you get chicken, yea chicken. You can always have the veggies when you get home.

Always a great meal here. The food ,the service, the atmosphere always on point.

Brilliant evening out with friends. Chef Scott turned out an amazing feast for us. Service was on point and super friendly.

Very pretty restaurant.

I had a great brunch here. I cant wait to try dinner one evening.

Catfish sandwich. Mmmmmmmm

The atmosphere was very pleasant and the food was delicious. We were there for brunch, and we were not disappointed.

We loved this place ! The vibe itself was the best. Fried oysters and steak dinner were incredible. We will def return.

Fabulous cocktails. Food was great too. Perfect date spot. Went on a weekend night and the small bar was not crowded. Great service and staff.

Very small portions for the very pricey food.

Staff is friendly! Food is good. It s a little pricy, but it s a great place with a great atmosphere. Give it a go!!!

Each year for my birthday I like to branch out and try a new place in RVA. Laura Lee s has been on my list for years and I am so disappointed that I waited so long to visit. They have some of the best cocktails I ve found in RVA, they were all flavorful and delicious. The Winter Vacation cocktail was fabulous. For dinner we ordered the Roast Half Chicken and Fried Chicken Sandwich. Both dishes were amazing and portions were large enough for leftovers. We also enjoyed the holiday decor! I will definitely be coming back soon!

Cute and quaint. Nicely done dishes that are tasty.

Interesting and great food. Nice brunch cool place to be.

Excellent experience on all levels! Cauliflower leek soup and Hanger steak were both delicious.....and dessert, Espresso martini was perfect

Great neighborhood spot to chill and have a great cocktail and meal. Dietary restrictions: GF options Food : 5/5 |

Small social neighborhood place. Limited menu but good food.

My daughter and son in law attended brunch today with family on the patio in honor of their wedding. The food was great, and Parker did an outstanding job of taking care of our needs. Thanks to all there behind the scenes who also contributed to a very nice event for us. Thank you.

Laura Lees has grown on me since it first opened. There are still not enough vegetarian options on the menu and the food can be spicy if you dont have a lot of tolerance, but it is well-prepared and creative. Desserts are limited but definitely worth a shot. The restaurant is comfortable and an outstanding outdoor patio area with heaters. The main dining area has a roll-up window for good weather. The staff are very attentive and personable.

Great atmosphere, great staff, and great food. They happily accommodated my diet with substitions. Loved it!

Very nice place. Great service. Has a nice bar area.

Amazing food, pretty atmosphere and great staff!

Great!! Loved the 3 course meals, I had the fried shrimp, the bistro steak and the Boston dessert. (I forgot the whole name,) and loved all of it. The atmosphere felt awesome, cozy and great. Would come again!

Very tasty!

It was the last day of restaurant week. It was delicious

One of our favorite places to go in Richmond! Amazing food and service every time! Love Laura Lees!

My first visit was for the drag brunch fundraiser and it was awesome. The decor is reminiscent of 50s style dining, the food is elevated and worth the money and they have interesting cocktails. Highly recommend. Our most recent visit included a chance to try skate fin and it was so well done and tasty. The other dish was swordfish as the market fish; it was very well cooked, something thats hard to do with such a meaty fish. Im really digging on the trend to include tasty mocktails on drink menus. I hope it stays. Vegetarian options: Fish or pasta dishes; meat garnish that is easy to leave off Dietary restrictions: Gluten-free

Great atmosphere and service. The drink and food menus are both well curated, executed, and concise. They have just the right amount of options and little something for everybody. Tonight, fried chicken sandwich with mac and cheese, pasta bolognese, and swordfish were ordered. Everybody loved their dishes and drinks!

Service and food are fantastic. Small menu but I havent had anything on it that I didnt absolutely love. Pasta nights on Wednesday are such a great deal. Cocktails are unique and delicious. Becoming our go-to date night!

Really lovely experience recently here, got a table on a Friday night easily, everything the table got was delicious, service was friendly and prompt. Amazing mocktail selection, thank you

Just a great little neighborhood restaurant. One of the best meals weve had in a long time. The scallops were cooked to perfection and the pressed pork was fabulous!

Food was good but over-priced ($100 to two meager meals) and service was a bit slow.

Visiting dear friends in Richmond VA and decided to have brunch at Laura Lees Restaurant. Not much vegetarian choices so was bummed. I ordered pea soup and they ordered fish. Very tasty and a very classy place. Thank you! Food : 5/5

Solid atmosphere and friendly waitstaff the food was generally quite good but the portions are laughably small I was hungry after my crab-cakes (which were delicious) and the strawberries and fig appetizer, which I ate all by myself. Guest ordered the fried chicken platter (for two) and they were served the equivalent of a half chicken so, a fine portion for one person but disappointingly small for two people. I would come back again but maybe during a happy hour for small bites; they might consider rebranding as a tapas spot.

The milk bread was so delicious and the cocktails were also great

Five stars across the board.

We went to Laura Lees for date night, and the restaurant did NOT disappoint. The food and drinks were both tasty, chill atmosphere and great service. LLs will likely be one of our regular date night spots. Great experience!

Went for brunch and had French toast with mango. Food was delicious and servicebwas good

Excellent food, excellent cocktails, great service and great vibe. Love it!

Amazing food. Great service. Loved Amelia B. Just wish the music would have stayed on. And it wasnt even a big deal.

My boyfriend and I drove past this restaurant and decided to stop on a whim. We were dressed very causal (not knowing this was fine dining) and was treated SO poorly because of it. It wasn t a busy night (Tuesday), but took 15 minutes to be seen by our server and another 15 minutes to get our drinks ( a canned Diet Coke) this was a recurrent theme throughout our night. People who were sat 30 minutes after us received food orders. We were there for two hours. I use to serve, so I am a very reasonable person but this was not it. Very disappointed. We ordered the special fried chicken w spicy honey (fairly good) and the double cheeseburger + fries (liked the pomme frites style)

What a cool restaurant

Very nice and friendly atmosphere and family orientated

Great date night with friends. Drinks & Food

We enjoyed dinner for two on the charming outdoor patio last night. First a beer and a Cosmopolitan along with some delicious fried oysters. I ordered the Mahi with Butterbean and corn and my friend had the bisro steak. Dessert was Mocha Cream pie! All were delicious and the pie was magnificent. Check it out! $113 before tax and tip added.

Cool vibes and creatively delicious food.

Really wonderful meal in a beautiful space. Went with our server s rec for the fried oysters and scallops and could not be any happier!

This restaurant always hits the spot. One of my faves in Richmond.

I love their seasonal cold soup that they always seem to have! Got a gazpacho once and a cold pea soup! Very refreshing and light.

Visited the area for a weekend & the food/service was soo good the first night we came back for brunch the following day. Awesome food, drinks, ambiance & service.

It s not the amazing food, or the incredible atmosphere, or the top notch waitstaff, or the high quality cocktails. It s all those things. They don t miss. Ever.

Wow! Wow! Every single bite was amazing and memorable!

Had a lovely date here, the server was super nice and the food was yummy despite both of us being picky eaters.

Service was excellent. Went here for Wednesday pasta dinner with my partner. Only complaint was they had run out of the pasta they had advertised the deal with. However they subbed it with pasta Bolognese which was delicious.

I ve had two nice meals here, but unfortunately both times I got food poisoning. 2/2 seems like maybe more than a coincidence.

I took my partner here for our anniversary, and we had a great time. The food was absolutely delicious, and great portions, and the drinks we got were amazing as well. The service was all at a good pace, and the waitress was attentive. It was a great experience, and well definitely be back next time were looking for a nice place to dine out.

Decided to pop in this year for restaurant week. You never know what to expect during these charity weeks, especially post COVID. The only thing Laura Lees did was fail to disappoint. They really hit the mark; accommodating staff, food on point and atmosphere amazing as always. This experience was impressive and Ill be sure and tell all my foodie friends to come back with me on my next visit.

It was Restaurant Week! The cocktails and all three courses were amazing. We cant wait to come back and check out the full menu.

Came for restaurant week. Not that impressed. Food was okay. However, the mussels were solid. Wish they included more broth for the mussels though. Expected better service as the waitress disappeared often and didnt check on us. She was nice when we did see her. I like the location, vibe, decorations, and cleanliness of the restaurant.

Super cool, small but nice. Great drinks. Didnt get to eat there, but really wanted to.

Great spot for a Sunday brunch, we had a great time and hope to come back soon.

We were traveling on I-95, spent the night in Richmond, and had dinner at Laura Lee s what a great decision. The place is stylish yet comfortable. Both are meals were so good shared with a bottle of wine -- hubby had the bolognese and I had the local rockfish with cauliflower mash and charred broccoli with romesco sauce. Thanks to Ryan for making our evening so enjoyable.

Cute restaurant in the Forest Hill Area, their brunch menu is southern inspired and executed well. I got the Benedict and it was the right balance of savory with creamy, with the brussel sprouts being a highlight for me. Also tried the apple pie crumble which was a nice way to wrap brunch. One to check out!

Laura Lees is one of my favorite go-tos in RVA. Its cozy, warm, casual, and when the weather is right, the garage door being open is a treat. Always feel welcomed, and have noticed lots of neighbors there, too. Ive been for special occasions, as well as a quick seat at the bar for a drink, and its always great. My in-laws and family when they visit town just love it. Chef Mark knows just what hes doing in the kitchen: As soon as the food comes out, the conversation dies down cause were having a food rush. Get over to LLs soon!

We tried a mock tail Fiona and the Honey hot fried chicken. It was very very good. The chicken was so tender and moist, then the hot honey you could dip. We will be back.

We tried Laura Lees for the first time today and we loved it. The food was very tasty, and the portions were nice. Will definitely be back to try the other offerings. Thumbs up!

We had two appetizers, chiquiterr and a mushroom patte on bread both of which were good. One person had the strip steak, two others had scallops and I had the rockfish. My dish was not easy to decipher the flavors and some of the additional acutrime was not welcomed and detracted from the flavor of the fish. The fish itself was delicious. The service was good and the servers were very nice. I will visit again and you should give it a try.

My advice? Stick to the appetizers. Much cheaper and give a much better idea of what they can make back there. Wonderful service and always a solid drink menu.

Excellent food, great music, good vibes.

Full disclosure, Im scarfing down the leftovers from my dinner last night as I write this review. Gnocchi mac n cheese, a few bites left of a perfectly cooked hanger steak, and one lone piece of broccoletti that no matter what I tried, wouldnt fit in my stomach last night. Somehow, I had managed to hear nothing about this restaurant just south of the river located in one of my favorite neighborhoods in Richmond before we ended up there last night. My girlfriend and I dont get to eat out as often as Id like to but have made an effort to try new places when we can. And so last night we walked thru the doors to the beautiful Laura Lees not having any real expectations. Probably one of the best meals Ive had in Richmond in the 5 years Ive been here. Seriously! I later learned that this place has ties to Roosevelt. Of course it does! Explains a lot as Roosevelt is another of my favs. After we had almost finished up with our charcuterie app, the server surprised us with an order of twice-fried Korean chicken wings! Probably the best wings Ive had. Green onions, cilantro, Kim-kim sauce, some fish-sauce tossed in too. They were amazing! Twice fried is the only way i eat wings now. I hate it when they are soaking wet with sauce and under-cooked. I like em crisp and not leave me covered head to toe in sauce. Give them a try! Like I mentioned earlier, I also got the hanger steak - medium. Perfectly cooked and flavorful. Came with an amazingly delish side of roasted potatoes, cauliflower, yams, and I think there was some pork belly too, all of it on top of some homemade chimmichuri. It was off the damn chain, Im tellin you. It was priced pretty fairly IMO. $24 i think. The gnocchi mac n cheese really earned its 2nd-best-M&C-ever award in my mind! (best m&c in the world is at Pooles Diner in Raleigh). Rich, colorful, nice thick cut bacon mixed about and of all the pasta options to use, gnocchi! Just perfect. My girlfriend and I left full, happy, and more than satisfied with our luck in choosing a restaurant that night. I plan to go back and plant my ass in a seat at the bar and get some more of those wings and a beer soon! Well done LLs!

Dont let limited menu fool you. The few things on the list are incredible. And tonights cobia special was really tasty.

Had an excellent experience here for Valentines Day weekend. We got some great recommendations from our waiter, Troy. The fried oysters and Plate were both very good. The NY Strip I had was delicious. The Mahi was also very good. We tried the Milk Bread, which was interesting. The butter was very sweet, so it was like eating a piece of cake. Unfortunately, didnt get a chance to try any of the desserts. Maybe on my next visit!

The fried chicken sandwich was really fantastic. The cocktails were delicately balanced and full of complex flavors. The service was wonderful. The decorations fun but sophisticated. Loved it.

Always a good experience here! Tegan is amazing. It was also evident that the staff was taking reasonable covid precautions which was very much appreciated during these times.

Atmosphere was nice and clean, staff friendly, and the food was good! Will definitely be returning!

Love the food, atmosphere and staff here!! Laura Lees is a regular favorite of mine. You will not be disappointed!

Family dinner for 11. Lovely interior, great service and amazing menu.

I finally made my long awaited visit to this restaurant and it did not disappoint. The service was great, food delicious, and cocktails fantastic. As someone with dietary restrictions, I appreciated the options available, even on a smaller menus. It had such a cute and cozy atmosphere and a great patio to enjoy this nice weather. I appreciated the easy reservation system w yelp and it helped us get seated quickly and keep the restaurant from being over crowded. We were checked on several times during our meal. I will definitely be back, it was a great experience.

This place is our go-to favorite restaurant. The food and cocktails have been reliably delicious since the day they opened. Whenever friends visit from out of town, we bring them here on our Best Things in Richmond tour.

Service was decent. Atmosphere was phenomenal and they can make some wonderful drinks if inclined to try. Parking: Back and side street parking. No lot.

I may be partial because this restaurant is in my neighborhood, but Ive always been impressed with the quality of their drinks and food. A lot of people sleep on their lunch and I absolutely love their tofu bahn mi. In my opinion, one of the best bahn mis in Richmond. This is the perfect place for cocktails or nicer lunch or dinner, but is not stuffy or inaccessible if you want a beer and a burger. Staff is always attentive and I just love it here.

Lovely lunch with 3 friends. Generous pour for glasses of wine. Spring pasta was delicious with a light white wine sauce. Diner who ordered the Oyster sandwich said it was the best sauce she had ever tasted. Service was properly attentive.

Nice, neighborhood restaurant. Well loved, usually busy but not loud. Bartenders know how to make a good drink. Staff is knowledgeable and friendly.

For the price, Im bothered that they didnt serve free refills.

One of the best meals I ve had in Richmond. We ate outside on their super cute back patio. For apps we started out with the fried oysters and steamed mussels. For entrées we got the scallops and duck leg confit. Their cocktails were also so good! All were *chef s kiss*

Have enjoyed a number of visits here and each time has been as good or better than the first! Have never had anything other than the Double Cheeseburger and Fries haven t eaten in a lot of other places that tout their burger in Richmond but IMHO Laura Lee s is arguably the BEST. Seated outside which was beautiful; weather certainly helped. Will have to sample some of the other items on their menu and am sure ALL will be delicious. Highly recommend

Of you have not been, go.....tonight. Fantastic appitizers - try the scallop, delicious entrees and THE best staff in Richmond. The beer list is a little weak, but they do serve Hamms. The patio is quiet and comfortable. Easily the best restaurant in South Richmond, maybe the best in town.

Fantastic restaurant. Everything was perfect: service, food, and the ambience. Not only they allowed modification to one of the dish but helped with what would go good with modification. For sure will be back!

This place is an awesome place to get a great quality bite to eat. They prepared the best fried oysters I ve ever tasted. The service was impeccable! I highly recommend Laura Lees!

Delicious food. Fried oysters, mussels, and soup were all great. Nice atmosphere for leisurely lunch.

Great gem, super tasty food, friendly service and a bar with a very cozy vibe.

We started our fantastic experience with fried oysters - customer favorite & yes they were!! V ordered & devoured his soba noodles with edamame, avocado (notice holder for soy- ginger sauce), kimchi, pickled carrots & onions while I thoroughly enjoyed the lump crab cake omlette with garlic scapes & mixed green salad with s light lemon vinegarette dressing with olive oil - no leftovers for me!! I truly enjoyed the LL Bloody Mary x2 (hehe)

One of the best restaurants located south of the river! The fried oysters are possibly the best ones I have had in Richmond. The fried chicken sandwich is another one of my favorites when dining here. The cocktail menu is extensive and uses a lot of local spirits. Also has a great vibe inside and appears to be a popular watering hole with locals in the surrounding neighborhood. Note that there is no dedicated parking for this restaurant, but Ive never had issue finding street parking during dinner hours.

I was excited to try this restaurant because everyone had told me great things about it. The drinks were fantastic. They know how to make a proper cocktail. Unfortunately, the food was just OK. I was expecting a little more from this place. The pasta was supposed to be orecchiette, and we got penne, the rockfish was slightly cold, and the Bistro Steaks portion was small. However, the milk bread was fabulous! The decor is lovely. I will definitely give Laura Lees another shot soon to see if I get a different experience.

I have gone here at least ten times since it opened. The meals are consistently excellent. The cocktails are fantastic. Highly recommended.

Fantastic experience all around!!

This was our third time here, but the first time in 3 or 4 years. Absolutely delicious with excellent service. The one thing to note is that the menu is relatively limited, so if youre a picky eater, you might want to check in advance what is on the menu that might.

Will go back. This time for dinner. Lunch was great, quiet, and Michael was very pleasant.

Lunch was very enjoyable. Looking forward to having dinner there in the near future. Parking: Street parking

Best burger Ive had in years!!!

My fiance and I have been here 2 times. Both were fantastic. Service is great, food is even better. The aesthetic of the restaurant is quaint and chic. Go ahead and get the butter bread, it tastes like they just baked it. Also plenty of delicious drink options including a handful of unique mocktails.

We had a wonderful, first time visit. The restaurant is quaint and relaxing; a great place to imbibe and enjoy a delicious meal. Rated one of the top 15 restaurants in Richmond. As you walk in you will immediately notice a spacious mirrored bar area w food being served as well as drinks. The main dining continues in an equally airy, yet intimate dining area in the adjacent room. I thought the tufted half mooned booths and the wall of garage door-like windows was chic. Their menu is varied, offering interesting appetizers and a good selection of entrées, ranging from seafood & steaks to sandwiches. I chose the catfish sandwich with a delicious light, fresh salad as my side. The fried catfish was lightly battered which highlighted the tender, mild taste of the fish. I dont remember having catfish that wasnt fishy or a sandwich so pleasant. Kudos to the chef. Returns visit brought raves for the PoBoy & Mac, Caesar Salad w fried chicken added, and chicken salad w greens.

In a strange part of town for such a quaint little restaurant. Overall, the food was tasty but not really creative. However the cocktails were delicious and intriguing.. I would go back for cocktails but not just for the food. Vegetarian options: Tasty Vegetarian dish for the entree using lentils and summer squashes. Parking: There isnt a lot but some available street parking along the street behind the restaurant.

Perfect restaurant for date night or drinks with you re friends! Food was also good! Plan on coming back very soon

Funky joint with great character, amazing food and even better service. Bee was our server and she was outstanding.

Not sure if it was an off day for the kitchen but the food was bland, undercooked, and underwhelming. Cocktails were amazing- the best part of this experience. Service was not good. Place is beautiful inside.

Delicious food and great service! I wish there were some more menu options but overall great experience!

Fantastic experience. Service was professional, friendly and efficient. Space is elegant and fun. Food was on point! Beer salad and a cobia dish. Cocktails and dessert are outstanding. This will be new fav.

Food was delicious and good service!

The food was delicious, my catfish was perfection, the scallops divine. Didnt prefer the season veggies bc Brussels werent crispy or completely done either, nor did I enjoy the red peas. Id skip their French fries as well. But otherwise it was superb

My wife and I enjoyed our time at Laura Lees but hate to say that we were not overly impressed with our meals. She had the beef short ribs entree with cheesy grits, pearl onions, mushrooms, and chimichurri, while I ordered the NY Strip, which was also served with cheesy grits, onions, mushrooms, and chimichurri sauce. My steak, though cooked medium rare, was full of gristle and fat and I would estimate that I was unable to eat nearly 1/4 of it. What was edible was quite tough and full of gristle. The grits were dry and clumpy in both of our entrees. Unfortunately, for $34, I was disappointed. I enjoyed an Octoberfest beer for a steep $7 as well. My wifes meal was definitely the better of the two entrees, though we both felt it was not terribly hot when it arrived at the table. The onions, mushrooms, and sauce were ice cold within minutes of delivery (this goes for my dish as well). We were both a little underwhelmed with the chimichurri combination with the savory grits, onions, and mushrooms, as we felt it detracted from the hearty flavors in the dish (this is opinion, obviously so no hard feelings). She had a gin cocktail (I forget the name but I believe it was flavored with Thyme and quite salty - very reminiscent of a dirty martini) for a ridiculous $14. This was our first time at Laura Lees and I dont know that we will be back, at least not for some time. Id like to think that because we arrived on a relatively slow Sunday, perhaps it was just an off time for an otherwise great meal destination but I am definitely disappointed that our $120 meal had so many downsides. The restaurant itself is very nice and clean and the wait staff was a highlight. Our server was very sweet and friendly. They were prompt yet not too intrusive. I will say that I did not alert the staff during our meal that I was disappointed, so for that reason I am giving the meal 3 stars (in my book thats average), though Id argue it was closer to 2 stars, especially when you consider the price. I HATE giving negative reviews for neighborhood small businesses but I would be doing a disservice if I was not honest. Dietary restrictions: My wife has celiac disease and their gluten free menu options were clearly marked, as well as the menu items that were able to be made gluten free with substitutions. Our server was even knowledgeable to the point that they knew about cross-contamination in a deep fryer! Parking: There is no dedicated parking lot but we were able to park on the street right outside. We visited on a Sunday and the restaurant was not full.

Food never disappoints, cocktails are fun and seasonal. Nice addition to the neighborhood. Reservations recommended even if not busy as they always ask if you have a reservation.

The catfish sandwich was OK... Nothing amazing. Bar service was great!

Savored a lovely Richmond Restaurant Week dinner experience here and looking forward to returning! Since we didnt have reservations, we ended up snagging seats at the bar. Service was top notch and the food and drink was equally as excellent! Parking is quite limited. Be prepared to park on side streets and walk a block or two to the restaurant. Book a reservation online in advance if you can, as this is a popular dinner destination.

So good, martinis second to none, fried oysters, salad and rockfish! There are back post pandemic lockdown and better than ever. Tastes so complex and fresh...

Casual retro vibe. Lots of great houseplants. Small but comprehensive American menu. Plate is a great starter. Delicious cocktails. The scallop (sometimes crab cake) entree was worth it for the beans alone.

The food was great with good service. Nice open air dining indoors.

Beautiful patio! We had a relaxing and delicious dinner at Laura Lees, its definitely one of our favorite restaurants, now that spring is here we look forward to eating there again!

Food & drinks were yummy, service was great, and they even have kid menu!

Outstanding !!! Food was excellent.... best oysters in a long time, scallops and rockfish both divine!! The outdoor patio a real delight ... going back for sure !! HIGHLY recommend..

Fair price for a menu stacked with a number of great dishes. You will be dreaming about this place afterwards!

Fantastic food, the manakintowne salad and grouper were both excellent, and the patio in back is really pleasant. Cant wait to go back.

Good date night spot. Fair priced menu with great cocktails. Knowledgeable and fun staff. Get the fried oysters app you wont be sorry.

I cant speak highly enough about this restaurant. The food here is amazing! I savored every last bite. The inside is beautiful with artwork and plant life and tasteful furniture. Its perfect for a date night or birthday dinner.

Great food, great service. Have been twice and would defiantly go again.

Their food is great but the ability to get that food is a challenge. Usually the phone goes to voice-mail or no one answers. The online ordering system is equally frustrating. We havent given up hope but its almost not worth all the effort attempting to order. Hoping they can improve this bc the food is awesome!

Amazing dinner. Gnocchi appetizers. I had the Cornish hen with black-eyed peas. Donald had mussels. We asked the to make a French gimlet. 2 parts gin, 2 parts lime juice, 1 part elder flower. PERFECTION!!!!!

Food is always great! If you can get a seat, the back patio is charming.

The food, phenomenal. Bartenders, supreme. Ambience, choice. Its not the restaurant its the staff that makes this place glow. Shout out ti Mark Lewis and Mike Melkonian for an EXPERIENCE.

Very good food and service.

Awesome spot for modern southern food, great drinks, attentive service. The menu is limited, but trust everything on it is fabulous. I also love the art lined walls and the atmosphere.

One of my forever favorite Richmond spots! I m a fan and looking forward to coming back soon!

Definitely one of my favorite restaurants in Richmond. Food, drinks, service and atmosphere are all on point!

we Just got Fried Orestes they were delicious

Wow amazing . Me and my husband came to celebrate my birthday. Our first time here , Seonaigh w. Our amazing server took care of us fantastic service . Thank you so much , we are definitely coming back .

Did date night here the other night and was very pleased! Drinks were amazing!! (Red mare & cider) Fried oysters were to die for! Husband ordered scallops which were excellent, and I ordered the fried chicken sandwich. I was unimpressed with the chicken sandwich as it was dry and lacking flavor. We ordered apple pie for dessert which was delivered still frozen and tasted like a store bought frozen pie, however the server took it off the bill without us even having to ask. Service was great, so we will definitely return to give it another shot!