14 Best Richmond Restaurants for Romance

By VI Staff on February 5, 2020

Richmond is a great city to visit year-round, in big part due to its vibrant restaurant, cafe and bar scene. Whether you are looking for authentic Southern cuisine or international flavors, your taste buds won't be disappointed.

Most romantic Richmond restaurants on our list work with local farmers and producers to source the freshest seasonally available ingredients for their dishes. Savor farm fresh New American cuisine, European favorites, Indian and Asian flavors coupled with award-winning wines, beer and handcrafted cocktails.

1.Max's on Broad

Max’s on Broad is a spacious two-floor Belgian eatery on Brook Road with lovely views over Broad Street. Owned by Ted Santarella, Max’s has an air of an old European brasserie with octagon tile floors and décor elements of iron, wood and brass, and boasts an appropriately Belgian and French menu.

Try French favorites such as onion soup, foie gras, and beef carpaccio, or one of the tasty sandwiches for lunch. Great dinner picks include grilled ahi tuna, jumbo crab and short rib ravioli. MAX’s on Broad offers a selection of over 100 wines by the glass, half-bottle or bottle, as well as craft beers and cocktails. If you are celebrating a unique occasion, Max’s on Broad is one of the best Richmond restaurants for couples. 305 Brook Rd., Richmond, 804-225-0400

2.Millie's Diner

You can’t beat the weekend brunches and jukeboxes at every table, when you visit Richmond’s landmark eatery, Millie’s Diner, which serves some of the best American diner fare in the city. Sip a delicious mimosa while enjoying a Devil’s Mess omelet or treat yourself with the Huevos Rancheros. Stop by for dinner and try the grilled quail.

London-born musician Paul Keevil opened the restaurant in 1989 and later brought on partner Lisa Edwards in 1991. Relax in the restaurant’s friendly, cozy, eclectic atmosphere at Millie’s Diner in Richmond’s Shockoe Bottom district. 2603 2603 E. Main St., Richmond, 804-643-5512

3.Lemaire

Dine in elegance at the fabulous Lemaire which serves farm fresh, New American cuisine with Southern influences, made with locally-sourced ingredients. Stop in and try the delectable Blistered White Corn Bisque (with bacon and crab) or the Garlic-Crusted Outer Banks Mahi-Mahi – and wash it all down with a fabulous signature cocktail, like the Pom Queen.

Executive Chef Walter Bundy has been running the kitchen since 2001, bringing his creative imagination and Southern twists to the exquisite dishes. You’ll find Lemaire inside the iconic and historic Jefferson Hotel, centrally located in the heart of downtown Richmond. 101 West Franklin Street, Richmond, 804-649-4629

4.Heritage

Housed in a stylish dining space, Heritage is a contemporary eatery that serves a menu of New American cuisine and sophisticated cocktails. Run by a trio of family members, namely Chef Joe Sparatta, who creates the delectable dishes on the menu, his wife, Emilia, who takes command of the front of the house, and her brother, award-winning bartender Mattias Hägglund, Heritage offers guests an unrivaled fine dining experience.

The menu features creative dishes such as Hanger Steak with purple potato gratin, and Hudson Valley Duck with vegetable fried rice and Korean chili paste. For dessert, don't miss the black forest cake with chocolate mousse or housemade ice cream. The restaurant is open for dinner Tuesday - Sunday. 1627 West Main Street, Richmond, 804-353-4060

5.Secco Wine Bar

Secco Wine Bar boasts an extensive array of wine and beer offerings, as well as a spectacular European-style menu. Start your night off right with an exquisite wine suggested by the knowledgeable staff and the pork rillettes appetizer, before diving into the Bay Scallop Ceviche. After opening her wine shop over a decade prior, owner and wine director Julia Battaglini expanded her store to include the Secco Wine Bar in 2010.

The menu features dishes prepared with seasonal ingredients, cheeses and traditional charcuterie. Open for dinner and weekend brunch, this eatery is located near The Byrd Theatre. 2933 West Cary Street, Richmond, 804-353-0670

6.Old Original Bookbinder's

Richmond’s Old Original Bookbinder’s is an upscale steak and seafood restaurant, situated inside a beautifully refurbished former tobacco warehouse. You can’t go wrong with the bold flavors and amazing dishes, like the Titanic Appetizer Platter, the Cider-Glazed Double cut Pork Chop, or the Miso-Glazed Chilean Sea Bass.

Although Bookbinder’s has a rich history that started in the 1800s in Philadelphia, current owner John Taxin and his family opened a location in Richmond over 30 years ago. Enjoy your fabulous meal in a charming alcove or out on the patio at Bookbinder’s, located on in the Shockoe Bottom district. 2306 East Cary St, Richmond, 804-643-6900

7.Julep's New Southern Cuisine

Located in the heart of the historic river district in downtown Richmond, Julep's New Southern Cuisine, owned by Amy Ayers, is famous for its modern take on classic Southern cuisine. Elegant atmosphere, and charming, friendly staff combine with outstanding cuisine to create a must-try dining experience.

Dishes such as the braised rabbit with dumplings, shrimp-and-grits, and crispy fried green tomatoes reflect Southern flavors of Savannah, Charleston, Atlanta and New Orleans while Old World wines and genteel cocktails provide the perfect accompaniment. 420 E. Grace St., Richmond, 804-377-3968

8.Anthony's on the Hill

Anthony’s on the Hill is a family-owned neighborhood restaurant that serves traditional Italian cuisine with the freshest ingredients at the corner of 29th and Broad streets. Pizza bases are crispy and thin, and topped with homemade sauce and freshly picked herbs.

Pasta and other favorite Italian dishes such as the chicken parmesan are just as delicious, and a small, but quality lineup of canned and bottled beers, from Fat Tire to Virginia-brewed Full Nelson, meet the necessary pizza-and-beer-combo requirement. 2824 E Broad St, Richmond, 804-344-3374

9.Lehja

Lehja is an exceptional Indian restaurant that will satisfy even the toughest Indian cuisine critic. Conveniently located on West Broad Street, Lehja serves traditional and popular Indian dishes with a contemporary flair in a casual, cultured and easy-going setting.

Four unique dining areas offer a different dining experience with each visit, and dishes range from traditional street fare favorites of chaat to classic meals like chicken tikka masala served mild or hot with creamy tomato and fenugreek sauce.

An outstanding wine list is the perfect accompaniment to the menu while the elegant bar and lounge feature an array of signature cocktails and spirits. Read more Short Pump Town Center, 11800 West Broad street Suite 910, Richmond, 804-364-1111

10.The Roosevelt

Located in a turn-of-the-century building in Richmond’s oldest neighborhood, The Roosevelt is an award-winning restaurant run by Chef Lee Gregory, whose untraditional menu celebrates the food of the South.

The Roosevelt opened in 2011 to public and has been serving favorites like the Southern poutine and lamb sausage, the roasted catfish served with rice grits, and the peanut butter pie with whipped cream. The famous bar boasts an all-Virginia wine list, regional beers and an array of signature cocktails that will leave you wanting more. 623 North 25th Street, Richmond, 804-658-1935

11.Tarrant's Cafe

Once a famous corner drug store, Tarrant's Café is an upscale eatery that offers all-American fare in a casual, cozy setting. Based in the historic building known as Tarrant’s that sold glasses and medicinal remedies, the celebrated neighborhood café-style restaurant features high ceilings, wooden booths and chandeliers to create an elegant ambiance. The extensive menu features an array of delicious options, ranging from brunch and lunch to dinner specials, pizza and mouthwatering desserts.

Paying homage to its past, the ‘prescription list’ features an array of sublime cocktails, as well as fine wines, craft beers, and spirits. If you are in a hurry to explore the city sights, order sandwiches to go and have a romantic picnic in the park. 1 West Broad Street, Richmond, 804-225-0035

12.Amuse Restaurant

Located at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Amuse Restaurant offers fine dining with a view of the museum’s Sculpture Garden and the Atrium. A modern interior with glass walls reflects the Museum’s design style, while an elegant patio is ideal for soaking up the sun over lunch or cocktails (which change with the exhibitions at the museum) during happy hour.

The restaurant serves a seasonally changing menu prepared with locally sourced ingredients. Amuse is a must-try for art lovers planning to spend a morning at the museum. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 200 N. Boulevard, Richmond, 804-340-1580

13.Buz and Ned's Real Barbecue

Buz and Ned’s Real Barbecue has been one of Richmond’s longtime go-to places for real barbecue, brisket, pork, and ribs. Boasting an encyclopedic knowledge of barbecue, Buz and Ned’s is a Southern authority on smoked meat, drawing barbecue -lovers from all over to savor the mouthwatering menu served to the tunes of Chicago blues music. If one rack of ribs isn’t enough, try the baby back ribs and beef ribs, served with garlic toast and collards with bacon lardons. Wash it all down with a range of local and regional microbrews. 8205 W. Broad St., Richmond, 804-346-4227; 1119 North Boulevard, Richmond, 804-355-6055