4. Restaurants

Mezzanine

3433 W Cary St, Richmond, VA, 23221
  • (804) 353-2186
  • Store is closed

Mezzanine Menu

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  • Mandy B.

    I have been here for dinner and brunch and both times the food was great. Love the the small plate vs. large plate concept. I had the shrimp and grits for dinner and it was perfect!

    (4)

  • Ryan N.

    Great food, extremely fair prices. Everyone already mentioned their dedication to local resources. Bloody Mary bar for brunch is real nice too. We had lobster&bacon omelette, short ribs w grits, and a crab Benedict dish w a southern twist. Everyone was happy. I'll be back for happy hour...the specials looked good.

    (4)

  • Eric M.

    My first visit to Mezzanine was on a Sunday night. Reservations are only accepted for parties of 4 or more, but the hostess offered to hold us a table if we called before heading out - a helpful and rare offer which we appreciated, but was ultimately not necessary as the restaurant was only about half full. Upon arriving we were asked where we'd like to sit, outside on the covered patio, upstairs or down. We opted for inside and upstairs to better experience the ambience for our first visit. The menu changes often as Mezzanine prides itself on only using fresh, locally available ingredients - therefore there are no printed menus, but instead a chalkboard on the wall. It was clearly written, but a slight inconvenience to crane your neck over to the side for several minutes to decide what to order. There was a wide variety of items to choose from on the menu that night, everything from crabcakes to lamb, steaks to chicken, and vegetarian options. I ended up choosing the She-Crab Soup as an appetizer and my fiancee had the Quinoa and Mushroom Salad. My soup was delicious, with generous amounts of crab included. The salad was unique, fresh and tasty. For our mains we had the Seafood Risotto and Chicken stuffed with Goat Cheese and Herbs. Both dishes were top-notch, perfectly cooked and mouth-watering. The risotto was available in a small or large plate, I opted for large and was not disappointed - for $24 it contained many shrimp and scallops amidst the tomato-based sauce. We finished off our meal with the S'mores Pound Cake. The substiution of cake instead of graham crackers worked perfectly and the chocolate and marshmallows had been slightly warmed over with a torch (the same kind used for carmelizing a creme brulee), which was a beautiful touch. On top of all the good food, the service was warm and friendly; a waiter from another table even gave recommendations for the "best steak in town" at another restaurant. - that kind of honesty is refreshing. We'll definitely be back to Mezzanine in the near future!

    (4)

  • Victor L.

    A group of six of us went there Sunday night. When the waitress came over to the table, we ordered drinks , so far so good. When we wanted a refill on out drinks we were informed that they had run out of a certain brand of liquor. We asked why and we're told that they had a lot of Living Social customers and they were busy. We told her we each had Living Social coupons also and she said fine. After dinner, which by the way had some quirks to it, like out of three of the same appetizers, two were good the third was really bad, we asked for the checks and reaffirmed that we had the coupons from Living Social. The waitress said that it was only good for one per table. We said that we had separate checks and that she knew about this before we ordered. By the way, we spent over $300. The "owner" came out to out table and proceeded to say that he has been going through this all week with these coupons and there was nothing he could do about it. He was rude and totally obnoxious . We had agreed to still tip the waitress, but she proceeded to come back at us and argue. She also made a huge deal about giving us separate checks. For those of you who may not know, all restaurants in Richmond, VA will give you separate checks, no questions asked. Needless to say we could only use one coupon, but we were so turned off by the attitude of the owner and the staff that we will never go back there again. There are too many really good restaurants here in Richmond with owners and staff who appreciate their customers. The food was good, not great, not cheap, but also not consistent. Save your money and time and go somewhere else.

    (2)

  • Day K.

    Went to Mezzanine Friday night of Valentine's weekend. They were only serving a three course Prix-Fix menu. We had a nice time and it was good but definitely not great. (Let me caveat before you read on that we're tough critics when it comes to food. It's all personal preference.) Our service was really great. Everyone was super friendly and we enjoyed the atmosphere of Mezzanine. We didn't like that we sat right next to the stairs but the place had a really nice "relax and enjoy your meal ambiance." We ordered a bottle of Buena Vista Pino Noir, which was delicious after it opened up. For the first course I had the butternut squash soup, which was a sweeter soup and it had a ton of flavor. I thought it was funny they served the soup with plastic wrapped saltines. Even their sesame toasted crackers would work better than crackers they didn't make. The date ordered the house salad with red onion pineapple vinaigrette - the dressing was delicious. It had a ton of flavor and perfect vinaigrette zing. The components of the salad were really fresh. For the second course I ordered the short ribs in hoison sauce served over grits. Aside from being a little on the tough side the ribs were delicious. The sauce had a ton of flavor and the grits were an interesting component but tasty (I'm not a huge grits person, so I don't really know how to judge them). The date selected the crispy noodle wrapped shrimp served with sarachi sauce. The shrimps were bad. They were extremely tough and very, very fishy. Needless to say we don't recommend them. For the third course I selected the duck con-fit served with gnocchi and oyster mushrooms. The duck was very tasty and delicious though I thought it could use a drizzle of sauce. It was just the meat and I like a little au jus or something on the side (personal preference). The gnocchi was not good at all but the mushrooms were fresh and tasty. The gnocchi were large plumps of dough that had no flavor and there wasn't much of a sauce over the gnocchi and mushrooms to provide what was lacking. The date selected the rib-eye with lobster smashed potatoes and broccolini. The rib-eye was really good and full of flavor. The date thought it was under-cooked for his taste (he ordered it medium and it arrived medium-rare to rare). I really enjoyed the lobster smashed potatoes but the date prefers his potatoes plain with garlic and butter. I didn't try the broccolini but the date loves broccoli and he thought the broccolini was terrible. For dessert they served every table yellow cake with chocolate frosting and chocolate covered strawberries. The strawberries were good but they should NEVER serve that cake again. It was tough and dry - a very bad combination. It's not hard to get cake wrong but this cake was beyond bad. Any restaurant would be embarrassed to serve this cake to their patrons. I finished the evening with a glass of Prosecco, which had a very nice fruity flavor. The date finished it off with a glass of Lapis Luna zinfandel/sangiovese blend that was corked. Our server was really nice about it and quickly replaced it with a glass of Pedroncelli Cabernet, which he loved. Overall the food was decent but not great. There were definitely elements that needed a little extra love and thought. I would go back there for a drink but probably not for a whole meal.

    (3)

  • Peter F.

    I've dined at Mezzanine many times (usually on Friday & Saturday evenings) over the past few years. The food is always well prepared and offers something delicious for everyone. My most recent experience however was a complete let down as far as service goes. We patiently waited 10 minutes for a seat and then once seated we were passed by our future server numerous times and ignored for nearly 20 minutes before our order was taken. No apology or explanation was provided for the delayed service. Once our order was taken our food was prepared in a reasonable amount of time and was fresh, hot and delicious. Once we finished our meal we waited another 20 minutes for our server to provide our check and collect our payment. I will likely return to Mezzanine but probably not on a Friday or Saturday evening as the restaurant seems ill equipped on busy nights to make their reputation for service match their outstanding meals.

    (2)

  • Anonymous P.

    Atmosphere & Staff: 10/10 points. Food: 3/10 points. For a restaurant with so much hype I was expecting a fully delicious meal, and I was quite disappointed. The restaurant is definitely cozy, the decorator is a genius. But honestly it just made the meal that much more disappointing! I don't care about the fact that there was a chalkboard menu, but I do care about the fact that there were about fifty ingredients to each plate. That is totally unnecessary if the food is actually good. I tried the shrimp and sweet potato fritters, and if I were a baby I would have been in heaven because it was mush inside fried. Then came the butternut squash soup, which basically tasted like cream. Maybe I'm sensitive to that because I don't eat dairy unless I'm out for a delicious dinner, but all the same, overly creamy soups are for sports bars, not highly regarded restaurants. Next came the crab cake served over black beans, avocado, and onion, with what I was told was a spicy Tom Yum sauce. I didn't think there was a kick to it at all, and I'm usually the one complaining about things being overly spicy. The crab was the disappointing part though... NO LUMPS! It was all shredded, tasteless crab. My mom makes better crab cakes and she sucks at cooking. Then came the special, which was braised pork belly. I admit, I never eat pork, and only tried a bite because I've heard so much about how delicious pork belly is. But I will say that if you don't like gelatinous, thick layers of fat, do not order this item. Actually, the spaghetti squash and pickled watermelon rind were good, but the garnishes shouldn't be the saving grace of a plate. For the large plate we ordered the tuna, medium rare, and it was cooked well, and served over israeli couscous in red sauce. The two elements of the dish were delicious, just not when put together. And there was a salad on the side that just didn't fit with the rest of the dish... it was good, but for a $23 nice tuna dish I want my sides well paired! The wine was delicious, the company was wonderful, and the server was so attentive and had great suggestions. And the general manager/owner, not sure which, is a hottie and spent time talking to most diners, which is always a good sign. I want to try this restaurant again and maybe just try one dish, one that I really really want to eat, and see if it changes my opinion. Otherwise, I'd just like to go in there and read a book or something! Interior decorators will love it, foodies, not so much.

    (2)

  • Sveta S.

    Went for brunch and fell in love even more! Great menu choices, fantastic prices for the quality & service is on top of the game. I'm picky & thoroughly satisfied. Thank you.

    (5)

  • Patrick M.

    This is one of the best restaurants in Richmond. I typically judge places on two main things: how unique are the dishes and how fresh are the ingredients. Mezzanine scores high for both. Unique - For my first visit, I had quail stuffed with crawfish ettouffee, which I'd never had before. Amazing. Fresh - There's a big yellow school bus (I know, that doesn't scream sophisticated dining) that parks near here sometimes, which sells fresh organic produce that is used in most of the dishes. There are no menus, with the exception of a chalkboard at the front. Try the fried green tomatoes. Some of the best ever. The rockfish, steak with lobster infused mashed potatoes (it's as good as it sounds), succotash and crab cakes are other highlights. For dessert, get the smores or you'll hate yourself for not trying it sooner, when you eventually eat it. It's the same basic ingredients you remember from childhood campfires, but done with a top chefs spin. The best server in the city works here. Knowledgeable about all of the dishes, but super chill. The only bummer is the inconsistency. I've noticed a slight drop-off in the quality of the food, depending on the night of the week. The busy nights, Thu to Sun, it's incredible. I don't know if the food's not as fresh or if it's because the head chef's not working. Either way, it's still good, but not as great as the other nights.

    (5)

  • Stephanie L.

    It has been a while since I've gone. Even though the food we ordered was tasty, there are quite a few things that keep us away. First, the service. I nearly had a server run me down when I first entered and she refused to make eye contact or even acknowledge me. I originally thought she was a customer until I noticed that she was holding silverware and greeting tables. Ok fine, you aren't the hostess, but would it have killed you to say, "Welcome. Someone will be with you soon." Our actual server huffed and hawed when she had to explain the menu. Not to mention that we never saw her again after we got our food. The restaurant was busy so I wouldn't have been too upset if it wasn't for the fact that I had to watch her be chummy with (presumably) her friends at another table. Second, the price. Again, our food wasn't bad but it definitely wasn't worth the price. I know they order most of their food from local farms but that alone can't explain the cost. I would suggest anyone in the Baltimore area go to The Dogwood Restaurant to see what Mezzanine could and should be. Not to mention that Dogwood restaurant serves their community as well.

    (2)

  • Craig H.

    Eclectic and creative menu, locally sourced ingredients, good unobtrusive service, nice wine list and a cosy atmosphere. The chalkboard menu was not really a big deal to us and did not define our dining experience (many good RVA restaurants have them - Mama Zus and Millie's come to mind) Fried green tomato w/crab appetizer was out of this world and venison shepard's pie and ginger rock fish were very very good. We will definitely be returning.

    (4)

  • Rachel P.

    I had a really great meal here. The food is good. My salad was awesome and had a lot of everything in it. Our service was quick and attentive and the shrimp and grits killed it. The crab cakes were eh but crab cakes in general suck. The salad, the pan roasted chicken, and the shrimp and grits were bangin. Maybe this place has had some off nights b/c tonight this place hit on my RVA top ten.

    (4)

  • Mmlpark P.

    We have been for dinner twice, and loved it both times. I would appreciate a real menu instead of the chalk board on the wall, but it still deserves 5 stars. Love the pomegranate spritzer, too.

    (5)

  • Virginia B.

    Food = at least 4 stars, Service = 1. We went to Mezzanine for our first restaurant week stop tonight. We'd never been there before, but always wanted to try it. Had the she crab soup and crab salad for appetizers, both were delicious. We had the crab cakes and shrimp and grits for dinner. I would never order shrimp and grits, but heard they were good here. All entrees were delicious and we were excited to come back. After 30 minutes with no dessert we asked our waiter. He told us that since we were holding hands and looking happy (aka trying to positively wait it out for dessert) he was waiting us on to tell him we were ready for dessert. That doesn't make any sense for restaurant week when it is so crowded that all wait staff are hustling and doing the best they can do deliver excellent service. Excellet job to the food expediters and bar tender, they were awesome about running plates out. Our waiter after another 15 minutes, told us that the delay was our strawberry pie not setting up. We quickly told the waiter luckily there was no problem because neither of us ordered strawberry pie. He consulted our check and said he'd be back with our dessert. He wasn't. We asked for our check and paid it, but our dessert still did not come. There was a huge line for tables and no one seated outside. We expect some hiccups on restaurant week, but 45 minutes between entree and dessert, paying for our meal and asking for it to go is too much. We will never go back. It would've been nice for our waiter to acknowledge a service delay, but instead he blamed it on us, then continued to disappoint. He lied multiple times, which was frustrating. We won't go back. Something similar happened to us at another restaurant in Carytown and they made it right. We will only say positive things about that restaurant, not Mezzanine.

    (3)

  • Andy W.

    My wife and I went to Mezzanine for a late dinner Friday evening and had a wonderful experience. They use fresh local ingredients and you could tell by the taste. We appreciated the small plates menu as it gave us a chance to order a few different items without breaking the bank. Standouts were the Butternut Squash soup, Lamb, and Rock Shrimp cakes. The service was terrific as well. Go to Mezzanine you will enjoy your meal.

    (4)

  • Nic S.

    Have only been once, for dinner. But the small plates were also excellent--fresh, local ingredients and inventive dishes. The atmosphere is warm and our server was friendly. Very hip.

    (4)

  • Megan M.

    I've dined at Mezzanine a bunch since it opened. There are things I like about it, things I don't like, but when I weigh it out, I guess I still end up on the positive side. What I like: - I like the locally sourced menu, which changes fairly often, and features a variety of local and ethnic-inspired appetizers, small plates and large plates. This allows me to create my own dining experience with one main meal or two to three smaller things to sample. - I like the atmosphere. In fact, I've come to hang out at the bar here in the evening. Service is always great and it's a fun place to go where there are other people but you can sit down and have a conversation. Which brings me to... - The wine list. There's a great selection with plenty by the glass. The bartenders are happy to pour you a taste, even if you're only getting a glass. I've also had them just give me half-glasses before when they run out of a bottle near the end of the night so they don't have to open a new one. Nice! - MOST of the time dinner is really good. The dishes are creative and there's usually something that sounds good. As another reviewer noted, the menu-standard ribeye with lobster mashed potatoes is always good and often when I get creative, I end up wishing I'd chosen it. - Brunch. Brunch at Mezzanine is great. The food is good, you get a free basket of yummy mini-muffins to start your meal, and the bloody mary bar is no-contest the best in town with every accoutrement you could think of. I also love the fried green tomatoes benedict topped with lump crab meat. Delish. What I don't like... - I've gone a few times and felt that the menu was lackluster. I'll see one thing that sounds good like lamb, and they're out of it, so I end up choosing something I'm disappointed in. Once, I got a pork chop with a fig sauce that was just flavorless. On another occasion I got quail over jambalaya that was lackluster. Maybe I'm just picking dishes that are too outside Mezzanine's norm, but I wish some of this wacky stuff was better. - Service is hit or miss. I've gone sometimes and had great, informed, attentive servers. On other occasions my servers have seemed somewhat distant. I think this happens more when I sit upstairs. If you order wine by the glass at a table it can be hard to get another one halfway through your meal. All in all, Mezzanine is pretty good, but could work a bit on consistency. Also, if they can't get a flavorful local menu ingredient (as in the case of the figs) they need to be better about changing the menu and getting more creative. I'll be back soon, though, I'm sure.

    (4)

  • John M.

    I ate here a little while back and came in without expectations. I wasn't really disappointed but I was far from impressed. The location is great and the service was pretty good although the server was absent a bit more than I would have liked probably due to our upstairs seating. The crab cakes were good but I got some shell in a couple bites. The other two people I was with enjoyed their gnocchi. I'd be willing to give it 3.5 if I could and I'll go back at some point to try it again.

    (3)

  • Kara W.

    Food was good, but pricey. Service was horrible.

    (2)

  • Stacey S.

    Finally made it to Mezzanine late one Saturday night. The only downside to arriving late is that several items on the menu had sold out. We ended up ordering two small plates - shrimp cakes and scallops. The shrimp cakes were delicious - nice sear, large chunks of sweet shrimp. The cakes were served with a basil remoulade and a small salad of microgreens and cherry tomatoes. I almost didn't try the tomatoes because it was March but I'm so glad I did. Where did they get such sweet little tomatoes this time of year? The scallops were perfectly cooked and served with a little leek puree that was a nice complement. The prices are a little high for dinner - more of a special occasion place for us or good for a lite bite at the bar since the menu offers apps, salads, and small plates that all sounded wonderful.

    (4)

  • Diana F.

    Mezzanine is my favorite Cary St. dining destination. Happy Hour deals and wine selection are great. Shrimp and grits are to die for - order them on the regular for brunch and if you're lucky as a special dinner entree. Scallop and shrimp ceviche tostado on the brunch menu is also tops. Waitstaff is super attentive and always willing to make a recommendation. Somewhat overpriced for 'what it is,' akin to other similar places, so I tend to go for brunch over dinner.

    (4)

  • Lucy Y.

    Came here on a biz trip and am looking forward to going back next time I'm in town. Great food, service was just a little slow. Braised hoisin short ribs over grits (it was either an app or small plate) was incredibly tender. Just the right touch of hoisin, not overwhelmingly salty or sweet, like some hoisin fusion dishes I've had. Pairs well with the grits, which was cooked perfectly. I had the clam risotto with shrimp - the risotto was creamy and flavorful, but a little heavy. The shrimp tasted a little funny though. All in all, good place. I would go back just for those short ribs, they were to die for!

    (4)

  • Jenny B.

    I've been here three times, once for dinner and twice for brunch, since I am a little bit of a brunch slut. Anyhow, brunch is out of this world, I listened to other reviewers and ordered the fried green tomato benedict. Umm, best benedict I've ever had, EVER. The homefries were good AND they have a bloody mary bar. When I went for dinner, i had the gnocchi with duck. I loved it. It was delicious and probably one of my favorite meals in Richmond. This place is a must go when in Carytown.

    (5)

  • Jesse M.

    Undoubtedly a classic dining experience. An easy going environment with a well set ambiance accompanies a nice long dinner with delicious spins on your favorite dishes from the appetizers through the desserts. With a seasonally rotating menu there's usually something new to try with the favorites (ceviche!). Go to enjoy the company you're with and a freshly sourced aesthetically pleasing meal. Definitely a favorite.

    (5)

  • Mary B.

    One of my favorite places to go in Carytown. The first time I went, they had live music which made a great atmosphere for a Friday night - they have two levels so it doesn't get too crowded. They also have an outdoor seating area which was perfect on a summer night! Rail whiskey sours were only three bucks so it was more than affordable to hang out there all night - Paul is a really quick and friendly bartender. If you're not a fan of late-night bars, they serve delicious and affordable food as well. I had brunch there on Sunday morning (make your own Bloody Mary bar!) - delicious (and cheap!) chocolate chip pancakes! My friend got an avocado sandwich, which she loved. Our server Jeremy was really great too - definitely asking for him next time we go! Mezzanine is definitely a must-visit if you're in Carytown.

    (5)

  • L C.

    3.5-- but only because it's expensive. our food was quite tasty-- a bit overpriced and the waitstaff was not very friendly, but overall i would recommend. very nice ambiance-- i like the chalkboard menu, and the flatbread and the beginning of the meal was great. (i'm a sucker for good free starters) there were many wonderful sounding options on the menu, and i really like the "farm-to-table" experience.

    (3)

  • Ali P.

    After having really bad diarrhea all day and spending 36 hours awake after an overnight flight from Los Angeles, I really needed some good food that wouldn't upset my stomach. So, my friend suggested Mezzanine, which she said offered fresh fare made with ingredients from surrounding farms. I'm really glad we came here because the food was absolutely delicious and there wasn't anything that was too spicy, too fried, or too heavy. I ordered the Maryland crab cake, which sat atop a mixture of black beans, onions, and avocado. It was absolutely delicious, and wasn't deeply fried, which meant it went easy on my poor stomach that day. My friends ordered the Thai green curry and the stuffed free-range chicken, and they were both very satisfied. The staff here are very friendly, and even though we sat in the quieter upstairs portion, we were still attended to on a frequent and regular basis. But be warned: it is rather expensive here, the seats upstairs weren't terribly comfortable, and the menu changes frequently and is therefore written on a giant blackboard, which can be hard to read for some. Still, it was definitely a good experience, and considering that 30 minutes later the contents of my stomach were still in place, I would say Mezzanine hit the spot- and stayed there, too!

    (4)

  • Brodie R.

    I recently ate at Mezzanine with a few friends and we all had an excellent meal. From the appetizer to dessert, the food did not disappoint. We started with the fried green tomatoes, and ended with the smores (delicious btw). I had the ribeye which was perfectly cooked. The lobster mashed potatoes were amazing and the zucchini was crisp and flavorful. The other dishes were spectacular as well. The grouper special was excellent and the succotash was fresh and delightful. For you vegetarians, the Buddha Bowl should not be missed. This is where the fresh local ingredients sing. Avoid the long wait and mediochre food at Can-Can/Water Grill and hit Mezzanine.

    (5)

  • Michael E.

    After much discussion with Natalie (the server in my Sine' review), I asked her what is the best restaurant in the area. She said that most of the chef's that she works with all talk about Mezzanine. It's truly a farm to fork restaurant embracing slow food and the local agriculture of the region. After hearing that how can you not go and sample their wares. We managed to score some parking right in front of the restaurant and watched the poor gentleman in the highlander in front of us attempt to parallel park. (It's such a lost art) He finally acquiesced to leave his rear passenger tire on the curb, much to the hilarity of Brit and me. So already in a light mood from watching that parking debacle we walked in. The FOH manager greeted us and handed us off to the hostess who was just returning from seating another group. She led us upstairs and gave us a table just the left of the top. Unfortunately from anyone eating or serving the upstairs area I sat facing the banquet and as such my shoulders managed to greet each and everyone passing through. So much for my chivalry in giving Brit the banquet. The hostess walked us to the table with a wine list in hand and when she seated us, took it with her. She must've thought I didn't want a bottle or two. I leaned over and stole one off of a neighboring table. The menus are changed daily so they do the chalkboard menu thing. (If you don't know see Ashley Christensen's restaurant Poole's in Raleigh) The service was a bit slow, slow food is one thing, but slow service is a different story. Our server didn't show up for the first 10 minutes of our visit. Needless to say that started off the experience on the wrong foot. We ordered the ceviche - shrimp and scallops in a lime juice and some jalapeño. I wish I could say that it was great. Unfortunately it was overly salted and the fish was a bit slimy. Not a standard ceviche texture at all. I would go so far as to say as the ceviche moves slowly and this was possibly a day to half a day older than it needed to be. The wine was a '07 Tryst Red, Tempranillo/Cab blend. Good pepperiness, deep luscious red. Brit had the tuna steak. Well seasoned flaky and cooked very well. She did make one comment that the tuna was thinner than the steaks she's used to. What they lost in thickness they made up for in width. It was an inch thick 8 inch wide piece of fish. I can't recall what the accompaniment was because they disappeared quicker than I could take note. I do know there were mushrooms, aside from that I believe there was a blur. I had a local farm free range rib eye. Thick, a little fatty (which is great) and well cooked. It came with some green beans (or haricot verts for those of you who are overly foodie-ish) and some lobster smashed potatoes. Holy mother of decadence Batman. The potatoes were great with decent chunks of lobster and the creaminess and chunkiness played well off of each other. This will be a place we will come back to when we're up there tooling around. (A couple of notes about the restaurant-they do not take reservations for parties of less than 4 people and they only serve coffee-can't a brotha get a mocha?!)

    (4)

  • marcella l.

    For a restaurant that has received such rave reviews in the local press I was sorely disappointed with the dining experience. My first annoyance was the large communal chalk board menu that is located between the bar and dining area. I wish Richmond would get over the chalk board menu fad!! In order to look at the menu you have to stand in the way of the servers who are trying to get drinks from the bar and who are also running food to tables. Then you have to memorize what you want before you sit down and relay your order to your server. That could be a problem at this restaurant because on the Wednesday night we were there it took our server about 10 minutes to get to our table. I don't fault our server for being slow, she seemed to be one of two or three servers in the restaurant, but I do fault the restaurant for being understaffed to the point where service is sacrificed. As an appetizer I had the quinoa and lentil salad with goat cheese, roasted red peppers, and a myer lemon vinaigrette. The flavor of the dressing was great, slightly sweet and refreshing, but for a about a cup and a half of salad there was only one dollop of goat cheese about the size of small finger nail. Some more goat cheese would have been a nice complement to the texture of the grain and sweetness of the vinaigrette. For my main course I had lobster stuffed quail over spicy jambalaya. This dish tasted ok but wasn't without it's flaws. The tiny quail had good flavor but looked a little silly on top of the massive pile of jambalaya. The subtle sweet flavor of lobster was overwhelmed by the spice of the dish and the flavor of the quail. And finally the shrimp in the jambalaya were over cooked and the cray fish were really salty. I wanted to like this restaurant especially since it uses local purveyors but the food didn't do the product justice.

    (2)

  • Mandy K.

    I've dined here on several occasions and have always had a positive experience. They have an excellent wine selection, the food is always spot on and the staff very welcoming. I'm also exceedingly grateful that they are happy to accommodate me on my diet restrictions as well. Definitely a favorite, brunch or dinner.

    (5)

  • Ryan S.

    This won't be an in depth review as I ate there a few weeks ago while vacationing...however, I felt that I must give this place some voice from Arizona. Parking is scarce on this street in Richmond, Va but found a nice spot near the house, er, restaurant. It is an old house and the inside is long and narrow - with a skim bar lining the left. The menu is on a chalkboard right at the door - we ate out side next to it and among other diners. Menu changes daily. They don't even have freezers. Really!? And on we go.... Wow. Great food, decent wine list and the atmosphere is simple and home-y. The owner (who looks like he's 15) came out, informed us of the restaurant's intent and technique which was really cool. I had a grilled caeser salad (really heart of romaine on the grill for a sec with simple parmesan and dressing) that was killer! My uncle had the ceviche (scallops and shrimp) and my wife had a tomato appetizer - forget the name - but it was a whole roasted tomato, sliced horizontally with balsamic reduction. My uncle and I both had the ribeyes - which were ridiculously, melt in your mouth, cooked perfectly. The ribeye was sidekicked with lobster "crushed" potatoes - these were great too. Wife had the gnocci and she really enjoyed it - i had a small bite and thought it was good as well. After 2 bottles of wine and wonderful fresh food, we left full and happy. This is a MUST DO for any traveler coming through. I'm jealous of the locals. Wonder what's on the menu today???

    (4)

  • Jacques A.

    On a visit to Richmond, we stopped into Mezzanine for a late dinner, after seeing great reviews on Yelp, Chowhound, and from Washington Post restaurant critic Tom Sietsema. We were not disappointed. I loved the fusion of New American and Southern classics. We split a fried green tomato app that was fantastic, and then went for the roast chicken, which was one of the best I've had, and the restaurant's take on shrimp and grits, which was good, if not fantastic. And the dessert we shared was a smores-like pound cake creation, that was surprisingly light and unsurprisingly tasty! We sat on the porch on the warm evening, and while the ambience wasn't the best (McDonalds across the street and smokers hanging out on the railing), we were perfectly content to enjoy the porch and let the busy-ness of DC fall away. Best of all for these two Washingtonians were the prices -- a split appetizer, two entrees, a shared dessert and two drinks came out to $67, for food you'd easily pay $100 for in the District. If you're making a day trip or a weekend to the Richmond area, I highly recommend making a stop at Mezzanine.

    (4)

  • Annie T.

    I enjoyed the meal and the service at Mezzanine. I left feeling satisfied and healthy, not gorged. My shrimp cakes were moist and flavorful. The ingredients were fresh and recipes creative. The desserts sounded phenomenal, though I limited myself to one: a peach half with chocolate filling and meringue topping. It was good, though I would've preferred a better balance of peach to filling - more filling for the chunky peach. As a farm-to-fork restaurant, though, they let me down a bit. The crabs for the crab cake weren't from the Chesapeake Bay, and there were no local beers. They did have 3 decent microbrews to choose from, though again not local. It was a little pricey, but the food was excellent.

    (4)

  • Shannon O.

    Came here for dinner with a friend. We sat downstairs, at one of the two-tops across from the bar. As everyone mentions, the chalkboard menu is annoying. We couldn't read it at all from where we were seated. We hopped down a few times to look at it but it was too much of a pain to try to remember the details of each dish. We finally gave up and just told the server we'd share the three small plate specials. Food: We started with the fried oyster salad. It was delicious: hot, crispy oysters with creamy interiors were perfectly balanced by cool spinach leaves and sweet sun-dried tomatoes. The standout dish for me was the mushroom risotto served in a baked acorn squash. Earthy and rich without being heavy, it was truly delicious. The collard green it came with were outstanding--they were perfectly cooked and bright with just the right amount of vinegar. The bbq pork belly was a disappointment--not crispy. We also tried the steak with lobster mashed potatoes and broccoli rabe. The rabe was great--smoky but not bitter. The steak was perfectly cooked. Service: good. Our server was friendly and she checked in on us just enough. Plates were cleared promptly, which was nice. I didn't like that we were served by three different people but that's more of a personal preference--I think having more than one server creates a more hectic, less relaxed dining experience. Still, everyone was pleasant and efficient. Price: we ordered five dishes and five glasses of wine for about $130. Mezzanine isn't a mind-blowing experience but it is a nice place to share a relaxing, tasty meal. You won't find anything especially creative or cutting-edge but you will find good food, simply prepared.

    (3)

  • David W.

    super laid back. just trendy enough. folks ranging from students, to crunchy outdoorsy-type, young professionals, thirty somethings, baby boomers, and even your grandparents all having fun the same. zero pretentiousness. knowledgeable and friendly service. come wearing a polo/flops or a suit. the focus here is on fresh local food. as a solo business traveler, i found a perch at the medium sized bar. No need for stale sportscenter highlights, when you can have the freshest ceviche in town dished up in minutes. Nice multi-citrus fruit dressing and no scrimping on the same-day local crab and shrimp. Following some nice friendly chatter with a couple of local foodies and the bartender, I was treated to a small plate (think hearty appetizer) of braised short ribs over stone-ground cheese grits. as a charleston sc native, I do know my grits and these had the perfect combination of smooth cheese and cream while maintaining the subtle coarseness of the hominy. The ribs were fall of the bone delicious, utilizing an asian inspired hoisin baste to form a sweet (almost crisp) outer layer locking in the moist, tender center. perfectly satisfied, but wanting more, i decided to finish with another small plate. Being an avid angler, i was drawn to the rockfish tacos. Perfect example of how less is more when you are working with the freshest fish. These fish tacos do san diego proud. just enough citrus cabbage, fresh salsa, and sweet/spicy white sauce to add an exclamation point to the plump, delicate chunks of rock fish- almost as succulent as lobster but with added moistness. After polishing off dinner, i was tempted to blow off work in the morning, drive to the bay, and charter the next fishing boat available. But for now, an edible tour via fresh ingredients from local virginia farms and the chesapeake over a couple of microbrews would have to do. Guys, Richmond is incredibly fortunate to have access to chef johnson's culinary work. With a wide selection of small plates and typically little wait required, not to mention a modest bill, you cant afford to miss this opportunity. Trust me- this aspiring young chef will soon be fighting back offers from the biggest names and venue. Funny thing is, even with all of his hardwork and long hours orchestrating and executing at mezzanine, he still made time to pull up a stool between me and my new friends and provide an in-depth analysis of who is going to prevail in this year's march madness. nice to see that local fame has not gone to his head. Like those of us lucky enough to enjoy the early formative years of an undiscovered band playing in a local college watering hole, go see this show now because before long it will be playing to sold out arenas.

    (5)

  • Jennifer T.

    Splendid food. Great service. Top-notch ambiance. I really have nothing negative at all to say about this place. They are currently doing a free-range chicken that is beyond belief. Highly recommended!

    (5)

  • Roger Y.

    A little overpriced, but pretty good. If I didn't have a Living Social voucher, I probably would have avoided this place.

    (3)

  • Sean C.

    Well, I just got back from a dinner at Mezzanine and I am proud to say that this was one of the best meals I have ever had in Richmond. We were seated upstairs at around 6:30 and the place soon became very busy. We had a very professional server who made great suggestions and was attentive without being overbearing. We started with Pomegranate Spritzers which were awesome on a day when the mercury rises to almost 100 degrees. Our first order was the "Tomato Stack" and thank God the Hanover Tomato's are officially in season after a very lackluster spring season. The stack was really just three pieces of tomato served with a mix of goat and feta cheeses. The texture was like butter cream and it was drizzled with balsamic. Another great hot day treat. We also kept the tomato theme going and had the fried green tomatoes which were done to perfection with a crispy crust ( I think it was cornmeal). Last, we shared a "small plate" of Shrimp Cakes that were also done perfectly with a side of fresh greens. Once we inhaled that and ordered another round of Pomegranate Spritzers and ordered another three plates. This time we did the Tuna, Pan Cooked Chicken and Short Ribs and Grits. All were perfect. The rub on the Tuna was a little on the hot side but I would go back for the chicken or short ribs in a second. We all agreed this was certainly one of the better, if not best meal we had eaten. The quality and freshness of the food from the mashed potatoes that tasted of cream, to the in season cauliflower and mini Lima beans. It was just really fantastic. As far as atmosphere goes, they managed to keep the upper deck relatively cool which I have to give them credit for given the heat outside. I enjoyed looking at the variety of local art on display but felt that a bit more attention to decor would add even more to the experience. Let's be honest, they could be serving this food from a double wide trailer and I would still eat it and rave. So there you go, and really......you.....should go too.....run!

    (5)

  • Quang N.

    Overall, the best restaurant in Carytown. Really a fantastic restaurant that hasn't disappointed whenever I've been. The wait staff are knowledgable and friendly, the food is fresh and locally sourced, and the meals are expertly crafted. The meals are not too elaborate, but still inventive. The outdoor patio is a great place to spend an evening meal. Their brunch is also inventive and fantastic, with the freshness really shining through. Their bloody mary bar is the icing on the cake. Overall, a fantastic venue, but just a bit pricey.

    (4)

  • Sara V.

    Worst dining experience in Richmond, and we eat out often. One chalkboard menu, only viewable from the front door; we chose to eat at the bar so we each had to get up and study the menu at the other side of the restaurant. I chose the scallops, yes, "a small plate," and they weren't kidding. THREE scallops with GARNISH (cooked just ok, not outstanding), not even a side, for $18. Give me a break. My boyfriend ordered the Thai Green Curry, which was good but not as good as authentic, and twice as expensive ($20). Never returning. Don't waste your money.

    (1)

  • Matthew F.

    Bubbly and engaging wait staff provide a fun and light atmosphere in a well renovated and warm building with charm and class. Happy hour proved to be a winner with good stiff drinks, well priced bottles of wine and great table service with bottle purchases. Food as always was spot on. Great seasoning on good sized portions. Braised short ribs and yellow fin tuna were perfect as apps or entrees. Squash blossom fritters were light and airy while the riff on a traditional capreese salad with feta and goat cheese made for a good bit of salt that isn't there with mozz. A great meal as always. We will be back for sure.

    (4)

  • David H.

    wow. better than I expected. you need to come for taco happy hour. tue-fri 5-7 avocado tacos are amazing ($3). fish tacos are pretty great ($4). short rib tacos were my least favorite but I would still get them again for sure ($4). gnocchi small plate was also delicious, cooked well in a tasty sauce with some simple vegetables and spinach. so good. but the braised short rib was on point. huge portion for a small plate, served with grits in a delicious jus. fell apart with my fork and couldn't get enough service was attentive. couldn't ask for more

    (5)

  • Alice G.

    Wonderful tiny little restaurant with a creative chef!!! The place is teeny, in the heart of Cary Street. Even with a reservation, we had to wait a bit for our table and it was worth it! It was clear that the menu had been crafted carefully and was full of creative options. We carefully planned our attack so there would be no duplicates among us: Starters: We tried the crab and corn chowder, the fried green tomatoes, and the heritage tomato stack. They were all incredible!!! Entrees: The succulent braised ribs served with grits, and the seared yellowfin tuna with courgettes and gnocchi came to us- again- Perfect! Desserts: we enjoyed the chocolate mousse, the bread pudding, and figs stuffed with marscapone. Plating was superior and it was clear the chefs really care here, and are putting themselves 100% into this little operation!! Great find!

    (5)

  • Craig H.

    What a delightful experience. We were visiting relatives in Richmond and had a free evening to spend due to a prior commitment of theirs. Who knew the choices in the local dining scenes would be so daunting. But we decided on Mezzanine based on Yelp and a few magazine reviews including a strong write up in the NYT. We were very pleased with our choice. The ambiance is cozy and genuine as is the service by the delightful staff. Our fried oysters were delicious with just the right crispness. The shrimp and grits could outshine any low country establishment and even the post diner decaf shined. The chef is world traveled and brings his knowledge home to creat a new southern cuisine with international sophistication.

    (5)

  • Jessi B.

    went here to celebrate after graduation and it was exactly what I wanted! started with a Moscow mule which was absolutely refreshing and delicious. I tried the grilled naan salad and the avocado tacos and both were great. I could eat those avocado tacos every day of my life! for my entree I had the soba noodles with out the shrimp and it was great and provided lots of leftovers! finished with the chocolate bourbon pecan pie which was amazing! can't wait to go back here!!!

    (4)

  • Liz J.

    This place really isn't worth it. The food is fine, but you can get better food at a better price elsewhere in Richmond. The one plus is that they do have a nice porch, but is eating outside in Carytown really that nice? There are nicer places around town. We started with the cheese plate, complete with three different cheeses, jam, and local honey. The honey was pretty delicious, as were the cheeses, but the accompanying bread and crackers were trying just a little too hard, and ended up falling short. The crackers were too dry and the bread was too hard. For dinner, my boyfriend had the steak, which was a little chewy, but flavorful. The asparagus and potato cake were nice sides. I had the chicken, which was a little fatty, but again, had good flavor. The mashed cauliflower was a nice change from mashed potatoes, but had a little bit too much spice. But the most disappointing part of the meal was the dessert. We had a "tiramisu brownie," which the two of us did not bother finishing. I don't know how they can get away calling that tiramisu, because it was absolutely nothing like tiramisu. It was a dry brownie in a glass with chocolate sauce and whipped cream. Sound like tiramisu to you? I didn't think so. I probably won't be going back to this place. They need better prices or better food to make it worth it.

    (2)

  • Whitney R.

    Had a great dining experience here early Sunday evening. Walked right in and was seated immediately. Small menu but the attention to detail is what counts here. The table had the goat cheese & beet salad, lobster gnocchi, and squash fritters for apps, Grouper fish tacos, flank steak, and braised short ribs x2 for entrees. Everyone was extremely pleased! I will say that the squash fritter app was quite possibly the best small plate I have had! It was outstanding. Short ribs were excellent but the accompanying grits could have used a bit more flare. Perhaps a vegetable and or some herbs. But all around, great staff, excellent food, and terrific dining experience.

    (4)

  • Cliff M.

    Small joint in Carytown but usually easy to get a table if you go there on an off night of the week. The beet salad with goat cheese is a great starter. The stuffed chicken breast is also excellent. I haven't tried the fried green tomatoes or shrimps and grits but the folks I've dined with have loved them. Decent selection of local craft brews. Nice ambiance and the service has always been excellent.

    (4)

  • Jay Rand B.

    They have a great location. The appetizers were above average. The entrees all look good. One major criticism I have is that I ordered a green curry chicken dish and it was uncomfortably spicy. I do like spice and consider myself pretty fond of Thai spices but this was over the top. There was no warning/comment from the wait staff on the level of spice to expect. I wouldn't go out of my way to go back to this restaurant but if I found myself there, it would be OK too.

    (3)

  • Kelly C.

    Huddled between two small stores in Carytown, Mezzanine is a nicely decorated two-story restaurant with a covered balcony complete with well-mannered waiters. Unfortunately, the food does not meet the price in terms of taste. Of the five of us, two ordered the short ribs, one the steak, one the fish tacos, and another the fish special. To attest to the upsides of the restaurant, seats were comfy with pillows as backrests, waters constantly refilled, and our bills automatically split up for us. Food: 1. Short ribs over grits: a medium plate of 3-5 pieces of semi-dry short ribs over plain grits sprinkled with chives. Overall an okay dish, just not worth the $18. Perhaps had the ribs been moister, I would have almost justified paying that amount. 2. Steak with potatoes and green beans: medium plate with 8oz steak; fellow diner expressed mild interest in the food and taste. For $25, this dish may not be worth it without her groupon. 3. Fish tacos: two small tacos. Fellow diner did not mention about the taste, but for $12, one might have expected larger portions or more "flare". Overall, average meals with somewhat high prices. My suggestion may be to try their shrimp and grits as it is what they're most popular for on Yelp.

    (3)

  • Steph X.

    Super good food and very classy atmosphere! Great date location!!

    (5)

  • Kara W.

    Pretty amazed they make really good food out of that tiny kitchen! It's a very cute place. I had the goat cheese stuffed chicken with collards and potatoes.....YUM! So simple, but so delicious. Can't wait to go back!

    (4)

  • Nancy H.

    Okay, if you're the type of person looking for an ever-changing menu with a chef that is truly original and his creations this is the place for you, they have a great wine list and they are quite popular with locals, because they tried to use farmers markets and local ingredients . Todd the owner manager and chef, overseas the kitchen and every plate that goes out. If you're looking to impress that first date, this is the place to go

    (5)

  • Leigh T.

    Best Shrimp & Grits I've ever had and I eat my way through some classy places in Charleston to find one that could compete but no dice - Mezzanine is where it's at for Shrimp & Grits! The Ceviche is also out of this world!!! My husband has tried several other dishes and has raved about everything he's ordered! We are also big fans of their Brunch menu!!! You can't go wrong here!!

    (5)

  • Shannon S.

    Visiting Richmond..... It's a really cute spot in Carytown which is also really cute. I had the shrimp and grits sans ham and it was very good; flavorful. Glad to have discovered this place...will visit again if I'm in RIC.

    (3)

  • J P.

    Mezzanine is one of those restaurants that Richmonders visit over and over again. Why? Because the menu and food is excellent, especially brunch.

    (4)

  • Jeff Y.

    Since I came here for Restaurant Week, I'm not sure how representative the meal was of Mezzanine's typical menu offerings, but I had an amazing meal nonetheless! A couple of friends and I really wanted to try a place during restaurant week, and we tried to make a reservation for Julep's but it was completely booked. We were fortunate enough to call Mezzanine around noon on Tuesday and squeeze in a reservation for 8:30PM that night (for a party of five). I thought it was really fitting that we ended up sitting on the mezzanine level of the restaurant. =) The place itself is gorgeous; really classy and cozy with lots of wood. There was a very interesting mix of music playing during our meal, and there was a peculiar piece of art of a gun made out of turquoise and white beads hanging on the wall above our table, but I guess it adds to the creativity? Even though we had an 8:30PM reservation and we arrived on time, we didn't get seated until shortly after 8:45PM (not so ideal for med students on a weeknight). Fortunately, we were able to look at menus and decide what to order while we waited. Service during the meal tended to be fairly slow as well, but maybe the restaurant was just super busy. We had to pick a starter, an entree, and a dessert. I chose crab soup, braised beef short rib with grits, and Nutella panini. I really wanted the strawberry pie for dessert, but they ran out. Three of the people in my group ordered the lamb chops; unfortunately, while we were working on our appetizers, the waiter said that there was only one order of lamb left in the kitchen. Two of my friends thus switched their order to beef. The soup was thick and creamy and loaded with crab! It was delicious, although I did have some small specks of shell in my soup. My main dish was PHENOMENAL: the beef was extremely tender, and the glaze was sweet without being overpowering. It went really well with the grits too. The Nutella panini was also amazing. I absolutely LOVED the flaky, pastry bread (was expecting something more akin to toast), which reminded me of a cross between a croissant and a Chinese bing3. I will say that overall, the dishes were slightly saltier than I would have preferred, but I can't deny that everything was absolutely delicious. The meal was definitely worth the $25.12, plus a portion of the proceeds went to FeedMore! Unfortunately, our server messed up when we tried to pay our bill (someone was paying for someone else, so although we had five separate bills, one card was covering two meals, with the remaining three covering one meal each). The waiter forgot to account for tax when he charged the card paying for the two meals, so it got added onto the remaining three credit cards' charges. This required the us to use some brain power and account for this error when we were tipping. Luckily, we were all med students, so we managed to figure it out. =)

    (4)

  • Seth M.

    Hmm. Yelp has let me down. While Everyone working there was really nice, This place was overpriced with boring and borderline bad food. The shrimp and crab ceviche was pretty bad - almost tasted rancid, and the mint peach "buffalo mozzarella" was a joke. The "buffalo mozzarella" was slices of bland sliced block mozzarella cheese placed in between slices of almost ripe peaches, with some mint, arugula, and a drizzle of balsamic. Are you joking? My ceviche and salad were $19 total together I could have made better at home for way less. My gf's $28 crab cakes were mediocre, and not worth that price. Shame on Yelp for their 4 star rating. I want my $47 back.

    (2)

  • Emily L.

    Ever since I read the profile of this place in the New York Times' "36 Hours" column, I was itching to try it! We went South for a weekend with some friends recently and the timing was perfect: even with horrible traffic, we arrived here just in time for a late dinner. Upon arrival, we were seated in an alcove just inside the glass-walled front entrance. It was charming, but chilly, and as soon as another table emptied out we asked to be re-seated. They were happy to accommodate us (I'm sure our first table would have been nice in warmer weather!) Cocktails: we all ordered one or two, and they were so good we almost (almost!) didn't get wine with dinner. It's been a couple of months now, so I don't remember what they were, but bourbon figured prominently, and they weren't too sweet or complicated -- a nice way to relax after the harrowing trip down I-95. Starters: The pink lady apple salad was great, with crunchy-spicy nuts, cheese and lots of fresh arugula. We also enjoyed the ceviche, which was impeccably fresh and flavorful. Entrees: They have a choice of small or large plates, which we appreciated as some were hungrier than others! I took one look at the shrimp and grits and put my menu down; everyone agreed they were outstanding, prepared traditionally with tasso ham on top and cheesy, creamy grits below the spicy shrimp. I didn't try the scallops (not a fan) but others swooned over them. My husband loved his pork chops with sauteed apples, and the Polyface Farms chicken was a real experience for anyone who's read "An Omnivore's Dilemma" -- just as juicy and chicken-y as Michael Pollan promised! Everything was simply prepared, but with quality ingredients and a knowledgeable kitchen staff, just delightful. Dessert: Once we heard about the chocolate bourbon pecan pie, that was it. It was everything it had promised to be and more -- buttery, dense, but not overwhelmingly sweet. We also tried a peanut butter . . . thing . . . (memory is foggy) that I loved. Service was fine, pretty hands-off which is our preference anyway. We were the last customers of the night, but no one seemed eager to push us out. The atmosphere is charming, eclectic and sweet -- a huge chalkboard wall lists the local ingredients on the menu and an open bar area has Southern charm to spare. In a way, I'm sad that we live too far away to make a return visit soon, but in another way, that makes the night that much more special. I hope we'll get to go back someday!

    (4)

  • Lauren F.

    Went here spur of the moment for my birthday and it was wonderful! Service was impeccable. Our waitress was so sweet and when she couldn't get us the other waitress and even one of the chefs helped. Great team work! The food was delicious, I had the grilled flank steak, lobster mashed potatoes and squash. YUM!!! My husband had the pork chop special, the chop was slightly overcooked but he still loved it and ate every bite. I will definitely be returning because there are about 4 other dishes I'm dying to try!

    (4)

  • Katie H.

    Wonderful, fresh food from a local source. There was a fig arugula pizza special which was a pretty delicious appetizer (large enough for a meal), and I had amazing crab cakes over fried green tomatoes. Everything was delicious, but it's definitely a special ocassion place, and I never go without a Living Social deal, bc it's just pretty darn expensive.

    (4)

  • Sonia P.

    We've heard good things about Mezzanine so we were very excited that LivingSocial launched a deal. We had a reservation for 7:30 PM on a Saturday night so it was naturally busy. Our party of 2 was a little concerned about the seating arrangement because our table was practically located in the kitchen prep area - the shelf full of extra plates/glasses was directly behind my head! However, our table location played to our advantage in the end because we got to watch the chefs prepare all the plates and that helped us decide our dinner choices for the night = free show for us! We got the shrimp and grits (best in Richmond in my opinion), fish tacos (good but I've had better), and a duck special with farmers market vegetables and pasta (delicious!). Service was a tad slow but we came on a busy night and the server was attentive and gave us yummy crackers to munch on. I like Mezzanine's concept about local ingredients and I enjoy the fact that it's not a huge menu - it allows you to try dishes that you might not normally order. This place is great for a date night but if you want a larger group, I'd reserve well in advance. I would definitely come back here again!

    (4)

  • Kristen L.

    Food was excellent. Our only complaint is the atmosphere. Appeared to be a trendy restaurant but they were playing oldies, It just doesn't work.

    (4)

  • Karen K.

    I stopped in for dinner on a Wednesday night when I was in town for a job interview. The restaurant was buzzing but not too much that you were forgotten by the staff. I sat at the bar since I was alone and was informed that it was restaurant week. A portion of the proceeds from my meal would go to better the city schools - sounds generous. My wine and meal was served to me by who I later found out to be the owner, Todd. He was a very charming, informative and modest host. He suggested a different wine than what I ordered, provided me with samples, and it turns out I liked his wine better. I had the braised beef short ribs, and unlike other reviewers, I thought mine was cooked perfectly and without fat. The meat fell right off the bone and had such a wonderful flavor from the hoisin sauce. The grits were a larger grain than what I'm used to, but I'm from the north, what do I know; they were a perfect counter balance to the meat. The dessert I had Todd chose and he brought me bourbon pecan pie, maybe there is a southern hiding in me after all. It was delicious! The coffee that was served with it was from a local purveyor and rounded out the meal well. It tasted freshly brewed and was topped off when I was ready. The portion sizes seem to be a complaint among other reviewers and that's because our society now lives with portion distortion. Yes, there were "only" three pieces of ribs on my plate but that is the correct portion size for a man (which I am not). If you want mediocre food and large portions of it, go to a chain restaurant...that will provide me with job security since I work in healthcare!

    (4)

  • Andrew B.

    I've been here probably 10 times in the last few years and its gone on a steady trajectory from fantastic to pretty poor in that time. The past few times I've gone I get the feeling that the ownership is super cheap with portions. I'm not looking for tons of food but, for example, last time I went I ordered ceviche as an appetizer. It was OK I suppose, nothing special. Mostly I was put off by the fact that I'm given two crackers in plastic wrap to go along with it. They could at least unwrap the crackers and pretend it's gourmetish. Instead I just feel like they're trying to do the bare minimum. On this particular night I ordered a steak medium-rare and was served a well-done flavorless steak. Honestly I'd be willing to forgive the steak being overlooked if it had had anything resembling flavor. And as a matter of fact one of me friends ordered the same thing and got an overcooked steak as well. Very disappointing. And the thing is I've had similar experiences the past few times. Every once in a while something is good but it's frankly not often enough to make me want to to back even with a groupon. In fact I had a groupon but let it expire rather than go back. I want to like it more because I remember how great it used to be but it's just not anymore.

    (2)

  • Jamie D.

    My brother was visiting from Atlanta a few weeks ago and we decided to do Friday night dinner at Mezzanine. After all, we had an amazing experience at this restaurant during his last visit so he was amped to eat there again. I'm a huge fan of anything local, so of course I totally dig Mezzanine's focus on using local ingredients. And Mezzanine uses these ingredients to create insanely delicious dishes. Now onto the meal: We started with the avocado tacos (2 orders) and the softshell crab appetizer (which was a special). There were 4 of us dining together, so we figured we'd need two orders of the tacos since each order came with only two tacos. Umm those tacos were legit tacos - as in, the taco size you expect when ordering tacos as a meal. They were absolutely amazing - tempura fried avocado with cabbage and a flavorful sauce. Definitely a must-try (and definitely a must-repeat for me next time I'm at Mezzanine). I order softshell crabs whenever they're available, so this was a no-brainer and did not disappoint. Like everything I've eaten at Mezzanine, it was mouth-wateringly amazing. Because I have a thing for early 90s films, I also ordered the fried green tomatoes accompanied with crab salad. They were perfectly prepared with just the right amount of crisp, but they didn't hold a candle to the tacos and the softshells. Had I started with the tomatoes, they might have made a deeper impression, but I was already floating on cloud 9 from the incredible appetizers that nothing could top the colossal heights my elated tastebuds had already reached. Hands down, Mezzanine is on my top RVA restaurants list. Chef Todd never disappoints.

    (5)

  • Xida Z.

    Came for Carytown restaurant week. It was really busy. Sat near the bar and the kitchen. They has a really wide selection of Scotch. I got the Shrimp and Crab Ceviche, Tempura Fried Soft Shell Crabs, and Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie. Shrimp and Crab Ceviche tasted like standard ceviche, nothing special 2/5. The rock shrimp tacos looked a lot better actually and wish I had ordered those. Tempura Fried Soft Shell Crabs were really good, right seasoning, right crunch 4/5. and Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie was really well done 4/5. Check was around 28. Food was good but I would have expected more for how much I paid. Ambiance: 4/5 Food: 4/5 Value: 2/5

    (3)

  • Thuy V.

    Been for dinner (with a coupon) and brunch and both were very good. It is a little too expensive for me to go to often as others have mentioned. Really enjoyed the chicken with goat cheese and shrimp jambalaya dish, it was pan cooked to perfection and one of the best corn breads I've tasted. The goat cheese under the skin was amazing. The hanover tomato stack was also good although not quite what I expected. One of the specials which was a sauteed beef with soba noodles was a little overcooked and bland...so maybe stick with the American dishes (although that could be a generalization). Brunch is good, but I think it is very hard to mess up brunch. The service is friendly and helpful but a little too slow in getting orders and the check.

    (4)

  • Chir p.

    There was a time when I would have chosen Mezzanine over any other restaurant in town. That time has passed. The quality of the food has steadily declined over the years and I'm not really certain what the root cause is. Two years ago I had what I consider one of the best meals of my life at Mezzanine, but my last two visits (On my birthday this summer and again tonight) have been increasingly disappointing. Tonight I ordered the Braised Beef Short Ribs over grits and my husband got the Surf and Turf Curry. I'll start by saying that the short ribs were not worth $18. That's a fairly cheap cut of meat at roughly $3-$4 a pound and we are talking about the small plate here. However, if the food is great I'm never one to complain about price. The fact of the matter is that it wasn't great. The short ribs were really dry and similarly fatty, which is odd when you consider how much liquid they were floating in. The grits didn't taste like they were cooked all the way as well. It tasted like a pot roast... nothing special, unfortunately. My husband's curry was floating in liquid. It was like a soup, which curry shouldn't be. It should be creamy and have some texture to it, not some thin curry-like broth... and I'll say this, as a British man he's pretty qualified to spot a decent curry. He ate his meal, but wasn't impressed. I didn't even finish mine though my husband ate the rest of my short ribs (he's not exactly a man that will leave meat uneaten.) I doubt I will go back to the Mezzanine again anytime soon. Two disappointing trips in a row is enough. (Unless, of course, they bring back that steak with lobster mashed potatoes. That was fantastic!)

    (2)

  • Tammy B.

    This was our first visit and noticed the menu was limited. After checking with our wonderful server Tracy, we found out that Mezzanine would be donating a portion of the cost of our dinner to Richmond Public Schools Education Foundation and that was why we didn't order off the regular menu. We were glad to be able to support this! The food, drinks and service was GREAT! We can't wait to go back. I put the price rate as "spendy" because we each had two drinks, but the cost of the three course meal was $25 which I though was very reasonable. My husband had the shrimp and grits which he LOVED. I had the special chicken dish with mashed potatoes and asparagus, it was so moist and flavorful...the bad news is it was a special and not on the regular menu. We each had an appetizer along with a mouth watering pecan pie (next time I will ask to have the pie warmed up.) We were happily stuffed when we left!

    (4)

  • James M.

    What a difference 8 months makes! After my last visit, I groaned about the slow service and lackluster flavor from Mezzanine when we went during restaurant week. We just returned tonight and witnessed the Mezzanine I hoped and knew it could be, and I'm glad I came back! First of all, I was happy to see a paper menu to replace the chalk board -- it's just easier and saves a sore neck. Secondly, I like the idea of the small plates menu option as an intermediate portion to a full plate. I started with Mezzanine's creative take on the restaurant world's traditionally-boring Caesar salad. The romaine lettuce was slightly grilled, which gave it a little smokiness but also created an intensely delicious flavor while maintaining some crispiness. The dressing was full-flavored and outstanding, and I definitely appreciated its placement beside the romaine rather than on top. Tonight I had the braised short ribs over cheese grits with a delicious, slightly sweet hoison-based sauce. It's a special thing when a chef can pair a bold flavor like saucy short ribs with a simpler flavor like grits, while still allowing the grits distinct taste to come through. Brilliant in execution and flavors! The service was dramatically improved as well. We were greeted with a friendly smile and seated promptly. Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu, very friendly, and very professional -- and here's an improvement over the last visit: even though the kitchen was a little backed up again this evening, she checked in regularly to make sure we knew she was taking care of us and was on top of it! This simple touch makes the world of difference! It's such a great feeling leaving a restaurant when you've just had a great meal and great experience. It just sets the mood for the rest of the evening. I'm sorry I waited 8 months to return but I'm certainly happy I did return.

    (5)

  • Aily D.

    This was our first trip to Mezzanine and it was beyond lovely. The atmosphere was relaxing and cozy if not a bit cold. The wait staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Although the hostess was extremely heavy footed to the point that when she walked across the floor it noticeably shook my chair. That was annoying but not a deal breaker. We started with the duck confit quesadillas which I have to say completely blew me away. I've been dreaming about them since. It was such a complex taste and texture mixture I could have nibbled on them for hours. I had the flat steak with mashed potatoes. The steak was good but nothing to write home about. The mashed potatoes were divine. My fiance had the tempura avocado tacos. They were light, fresh and crispy, but again nothing to write home about. It was all together a perfect evening but if it hadn't have been for those delicious duck confit quesadillas I probably would've let a three star review.

    (4)

  • Mike B.

    Second time around, this was very good. I don't like kale, but my wife and I both tried the white bean, kale & bacon soup (after all if it has bacon, that can overcome almost anything!) and I have to say it was amazing. She had fried green tomatoes and I had the avocado tacos. One of the best things I've ever eaten. Unlike the last time we ate her, when the service was so-so, this time the service was great.

    (5)

  • Sarah O.

    I hate to do this because I have eaten at Mezzanine for brunch a couple of times in the past and I probably would give it 3.5-4 stars based on those meals, but it's been a year or so since I ate there last. I go out to eat probably 3-4 times a week, but somehow hadn't been to Mezzanine in a year, so the recent Groupon was a good reason to go back. We made reservations, but there were only 2 other tables when we arrived. We sat upstairs which I don't recommend if the place isn't busy because once the other table upstairs left, we didn't get checked on very often. I was with my best friend and we ordered the cider-ritas for drinks. Really unique and delicious. We decided to go with a bunch of apps and small plates rather than entrees. I started with the white bean and kale soup. The soup was tomato based and pretty basic, but tasted good. My friend started with the beet salad which was actually a plate of mixed greens with a few cut up beets, avocado, hearts of palm, and walnuts. It seemed like there was little to no dressing, so she basically ate all of the extras on the plate and left the lettuce. The ceviche was well seasoned. Nothing to write home about, but enjoyable. Next, we had the oysters dynamite. This dish tasted fine, but the texture was all off. Steamed oysters with a bunch of water in the shell topped with way too much sriracha aioli added up to a mushy mess. The scallops were undercooked and when I say undercooked, I mean they were raw. I could tell this would have been a decent plate if it had been cooked properly, but instead they were rather slimy and unpleasant. The last dish was a tuna special. It was supposed to be tempura fried, but we were told it could be done without that as well. When it arrived, the waitress actually sent it back because we thought it was fried. Nope...it was just WAY overcooked. It was also completely unseasoned. Overcooked, dry, unseasoned fish on top of a bed of greens with no dressing. This was literally the worst plate of food I've had in this city since I could remember. Even with the Groupon discount, the meal was over $100 and I left hungry and unsatisfied. I hope this isn't typical of Mezzanine now, otherwise I don't see them staying open much longer. There are too many other great options in Richmond. We ended up walking down to C Street a block away for dessert. Better atmosphere and WAY better food and service for the same price...maybe cheaper, actually.

    (1)

  • Alex P.

    Went for brunch, haven't had dinner here so I can't speak for that. Service was good, food wasn't the best though. They do have great coffee, and brought us a small plate of fresh scones for free. Ordered the breakfast enchiladas, which were just eggs, chicken, and cilantro in tortillas with some pico on top. Said it had jalapenos but I didn't taste/see any at all. Very bland, barely any flavor. Breakfast potatos were more like chopped up french fries. Good presentation but needs some flavor. Girlfriend ordered the burrito which was also pretty bland. Atmosphere of the restaurant was very nice and service was great, which makes up for the food a little bit. Might try dinner sometime to see if they do that any better.

    (3)

  • Lauren G.

    I might've just died and gone to heaven. After hearing so many good things about Mezzanine over the years, who knows why it took me so long to go! 5 stars for food, 3.5 stars for service and ambiance (but I'm picky). I love places with small menus because decision anxiety is usually reduced. Although, every single option looked so phenomenal I made everyone in our party order something different. I went with their special: stuffed quail, truffle potatoes, and squash. Holy lord. I had a bite of the rib-eye...delicious. Had a bite of the sweet potato gnocchi...delicious. Oysters...big and delicious. Scallops....do I need to keep going? Their food was the perfect mix of simple and unique...and local! Cons: Cold! I kept my coat on the whole time! Both the hostess and bartender were bland and a wee bit unskilled. For how expensive the food was, I would expect the environment to match...but as I said before I'm a little picky. Get rid of the booths!

    (4)

  • Ross J.

    Fantastic food but I wish the portions were slightly bigger. To be fair Valentines day may have had a bit smaller portions just due to the massive volume they were expecting. (Their working space in the kitchen is about the size of an average bathroom or walk in closet, the cold storage is outside!) I had the oysters with Caviar and my wife has baked Brie to start, for the main course she had the Beef wellington, I had the Lamb chops. It all tasted fantastic and we left happy, although I ended up with a snack before bed.

    (4)

  • Jessica L.

    I came here with a large group of my girlfriends during Restaurant Week and thought the food was average. For my first course, I opted for the shrimp ceviche and thought the shrimp was a little too rubbery for my liking. For my entree, I chose the short ribs over sweet potato gnocchi. I loved the gnocchi but thought the ribs were pretty dry, even though there was lots of sauce on them. To end, I got the pumpkin pie mousse and was pretty disappointed with how bland it was. The only dish I really enjoyed was the fried avocado taco appetizer that one of the girls shared, which was very tasty and satisfying. I saw the great potential in all these dishes, but unfortunately they weren't executed well that night.

    (2)

  • Tony H.

    I think this is my first 5 star restaurant rating this year and it certainly deserves it! The farm to table dining is as good as it gets. I had the braised beef, yeah! Awesome, the best ever. recipe please! My wife had one of their wonderful salads and our daughter had the Crab Cakes......now how do you top a fantastic meal, well, by having the best servers. It clear everyone likes their job. Friendly, smiling, happy and attentive , that's how! Their's a new Sheriff in town and they are locking up the praises. Todd and the staff ROCK!

    (5)

  • Kim G.

    Thank you Mezzanine and Living Social! Never would have found this little gem without it. We thoroughly enjoyed our seat on the small patio and loved the crisp apple salad, fried green tomatoes, and crab cake large plate. They have appetizers/salads, small plates, and large plates and the above were two of the appetizers and a large plate, respectively. The service was very friendly and good. Would have been 5 stars but they seemed a little slammed and discombobulated service wise. We heard them say "last 3 days of living social" so that might be the reason. We will go back!

    (4)

  • Rebecca R.

    Stupid Living Social strikes again. I buy the restaurant deals with all kinds of good intentions of using it in the most frugal way possible - a nice, inexpensive entree out with the hubby. I end up using it the restaurants intend - a full check, before dinner drinks, after dinner drinks, that dessert that I swore I wasn't going to indulge in tonight but it sounds so damn good....Bleh. But Mezzanine lured me in and hooked me. We started with fresh oysters. Perfect. Cremini mushroom salad for him, sweet potato bisque for me. They appear to know what our favorite foods are and have tailored their menu accordingly. Rockfish and scallops for dinner, switching plates half way through so that we could both experience the full range of flavors. Again, the know our favorites and cook them to perfection. The sweet potato and duck confit hash with the fish was amazing (though, I'll be honest, the butternut squash risotto was just a little gummy). At this point you are all smiley and food drunk and you have to have the pound cake with fresh berries and cream. And you don't regret it for a minute. To top it all off the service was pleasant, the by-the-bottle wine prices were super reasonable and the atmosphere was very low-light-cozy-date-night. We will be back and we can't wait.

    (4)

  • Robert T.

    First, a confession... this review covers multiple visits to this restaurant. I know, I know; go ahead, give it to me now - the pursed lips, the sideways look, the soft head shake, the muttered "seriously?". I can take it. OK, we got through all that? Ready for the food? Let's go... Mezzanine is, hands down, my favorite local restaurant at the moment. The menu is made with local ingredients wherever possible, or so I have been assured. I am a big (as in, will fight you for them) fan of their shrimp and grits. Byrdmill grits with cheese in them, slathered with shrimp in a brown sauce with Tasso ham. It doesn't get much better than that. The winter menu had sweet potato gnocchi served with kale and sundried tomatoes - if you ever see that on the menu, race to the restaurant and get some. You want to go there. The only dessert I have been able to try is their chocolate bourbon pecan pie, because they put crack in it. Seriously. I can imagine a future in which I crouch in an alleyway, shivering and homeless, because of this pie... dreaming, dreaming of how to get another fix. It's that good. Don't say you weren't warned. Brunch is also excellent here. Each table is provided with a few homemade scones instead of the tired 'bread n butter basket'. Once again, our old friend shrimp and grits can save the day - they are also a brunch entree. On one visit, the fried oyster omelette received a five-star review from my mother (a highly demanding chef in her own right) - on another, the chocolate pancakes were a big hit with the kids. The staff has been consistently attentive and knowledgeable. Why are you still reading? Go! Go now! Eat!

    (5)

  • Matt D.

    The quality of the food is high here. I recently had shrimp fettuccine which tasted great and my wife's small plate of lamb chops was also very well seasoned and prepared. Definitely good stuff, but I found the prices to be way too high for the amount of food that was served us. My $24 entree was not worthy of that price tag nor was my wife's $18 small plate. Our shrimp appetizer was $10. We skipped desert in favor of what we had at home; my wallet was gettin' a little light. Is good, high quality food but for a high price and small portions. A little too pricey for my cheapness....

    (2)

  • Ginger W.

    This is a charming space, with lots of local artwork on display in both the downstairs bar area and dining room and the cozy upstairs room. My sister and I opted to eat upstairs as it was bit more private and there was a painting of Harper's Hardware in Church Hill right near our table so I felt right at home. If you get orgasmic about organic food, this is the place to go. Everything is organic and sourced regionally and seasonally, so the chalkboard menu changes often. We shared a variety of small plates and loved our Chesapeake crab and fried green tomatoes. I had pan-roasted free range chicken for my main course, and it was a revelation. I had forgotten what real chicken tastes like. That nasty stuff we buy in the grocery store is not related to a real, farm-raised clucker. Crispy skin, lots of juices...I could eat this every day! The only thing I missed was some creamy mashed potatoes to go with it. They're not big on the starches here. Parking is, as always, somewhat of a challenge in Carytown if you go on a busy night.

    (3)

  • Deb W.

    We enjoyed a wonderful meal with excellent service. Todd is an imaginative chef who clearly enjoys highlighting fresh regional products. Chelsea is a delightful hardworking server who made us feel at home. Great beer and wine selections. I am already looking forward to the chocolate pecan pie and Panama cotta the next time I am in Richmond.

    (4)

  • Alison M.

    I came to Mezzanine for a birthday dinner the other night and enjoyed the experience. We sat upstairs where the dimly lit restaurant took on a cozy, homelike romantic feel. I agree with the other reviewers that the chalk board menu was annoying. I did have a good view from where I was sitting, but obviously the menu isn't changing all that often so why make me feel like I'm staring at the people sitting below the menu? We started with the shrimp and sweet potato fritters. Can I say amazing? Really, it's like nothing I've ever had before. I ordered the grouper special and was unimpressed. The fish was light, but dry. It seriously needed a sauce. The bed of horseradish/potato/ cauliflower puree the fish was laid on was bizarre. No matter how much you like horseradish its hard to eat more than a few bites and for a $25+ dish I would like to be able to eat. Sadly, the star of the plate was the buttery, garlicky broccolini. On the other hand the rib eye dish with lobster mashed potatos was heavenly. I was jealous I hadn't ordered it. Service was very attentive, but I felt rushed out.

    (3)

  • Holly P.

    This place was truly an enjoyable dinner experience. We ate outside on the deck which was cozy and comfortable. The food was delicious, a bit on the pricey side compared to our norm, but you get what you pay for here. Dessert looked great, but we decided to save some money and get dessert somewhere else. Service was also great. I also liked that they used local ingredients. We used a living social, which made it affordable, not sure we would come back without the coupon, unless it was a special occasion.

    (5)

  • Brad G.

    One of my favorites in Richmomd! Mostly everything is great. Hands down best shrimp and grits in town and I've had alot. I lived in Savannah for awhile. Steak is great with the lobster mashed potatoes and the reduction on top! Must go!!

    (5)

  • Satori P.

    I totally agree with Marcell's review. WTH is up with that communal chalk board menu? I would understand if you change your menu everyday and you didn't have the means to print out a new menu everyday or if you're trying to save the planet by not wasting paper...but seriously it's not the most convenient thing to have when you sit below the chalkboard and have to strain your neck or get in the way of servers doing their job to read the menu. What also is up with being out of 3 different things on the menu at freakin 5:30 pm on a Sunday? Really? Your menu is only comprised of 15 different things and half of them are basically appetizers. The portions could have been better. 3 jumbo scallops for $18? That's $6 a scallop. Damn. I'm a fool for paying for it too. Thank goodness for Groupon otherwise I'm not sure if I would've. For $6 a scallop it should've tasted like sex in my mouth but it didn't. It was so salty and it broke my heart that something so beautiful was masked by a handful of salt. My hubby ordered the gnocchi based on the waitresses suggestion. The gnocchi was good but the duck confit was sooooo salty. Like saltier than a Virginia ham fresh out of the brine. What a waste of good quality ingredients. Fire the teenage boys in the back and get a new chef. Someone that actually cooks and doesn't stand around goggling at the hostess. Sometimes with Groupon it's hit or miss...this time around it was a miss. Too bad because the bar and vibe of the restaurant was pretty cool.

    (3)

  • Jon H.

    Third visit back... overall still maintains a good vibe and serious approach to really-good-to-great food. The short ribs with hoisin remain a standout. Sublime. A couple of new dishes (salad and side) with fruit in them had wonderful flavors, though the fruit was under-represented in both - maybe bigger slices? This time I had a different take on the service - while efficient and attentive, no one smiled. A small thing, but I watched the faces of at least two servers and the bartender for almost two hours They did not seem to be enjoying their work, nor showed real concern for the customer's experience. Maybe I am stretching a bit - but it does take a bit of luster off an otherwise fine experience when people seem to be just going through the motions. It could be that the current staff is just more introverted than previous folks who worked there. I will still go back - but not as much in a hurry.

    (4)

  • Jeff S.

    Spent 2.5 hrs here on a Tuesday night at the bar. Pat, our extremely friendly bartender guided us from opening drink to appetizer, to main course, and our dessert and after dinner drink. The place prides itself on a constantly changing menu and preference to locally grown/raised ingredients. I had the ceviche to start, followed by the Nevada-raised lamb chops, and ended with a really light chocolate mousse. This is not a beer-lover's joint, but it IS for the real bourbon fans out there. I knew the night was going to be a good one when I ordered a glass of Blanton's and the bartender told me that was his personal favorite. I would definitely come here again and I would recommend it w/o reservation for any foodie. Update: May 27, 2010 After several months on the road, this place really stands out in terms of the great service and food we had. I'm changing this review from a 4 to 5 star!

    (5)

  • Rachel C.

    The service was great, but the food was mediocre. Everything was just a bit off - calamari were way too salty, gnocchi were undercooked and under salted, shrimp and grits just weren't as tasty as I had hoped. The best part was the pecan pie! I probably won't be back unless there's a deal running.

    (3)

  • Greg C.

    Same as a couple other people, I tried this place because of the Living Social voucher. We tried a number of the small plates over our two visits, during which had the same server. The small plates were all tasty, with the short ribs being the top choice. The portions, given that they are small plates, are unsurprisingly small. The prices, however, are incommensurately high. This is the typical expensive restaurant that serves good food, but not good enough to justify the price of that food. (Don't get the tofu stir fry, which I made the mistake of getting, it's the only thing we tried that was actually just not good.) Other than the food, the outdoor seating is awkward and poorly arranged, leading to sitting at 90 degree angles at tables of two (weird) and our waiter was not very good. It took forever to get the check both times, and both times our waiter took breaks to pace around the sidewalk, which was weird. I wouldn't care if he had also taken breaks from his pacing to refill my water. Overall, fine food, high prices, food not worth the high prices, I'd rather go to the more affordable and equally tasty options around.

    (3)

  • Joe T.

    The best meal I've had in Richmond in months. My girlfriend and I went here on the Friday night of Carytown Restaurant Week. I went with the prix fix menu while she ordered from the traditional chalkboard. The restaurant was packed and bustling. It's in a converted house much like Water Grill, but it is much smaller and more low key. We sat on the patio so we could people watch and listen to the louder than expected 80s tunes piping out. I started with the shrimp and grits appetizer. These were simply the best I've had in Richmond (or elsewhere). Better than Julep's. A bit heavy for an appetizer but I can't complain. My girlfriend's Hanover Tomato Stack was quite good as well, but it couldn't measure up to my app. I went with the pan fried bluefish with squash salad and roasted potatoes. I have never had bluefish before, but damn it was good. The best fish I've eaten anywhere tonight. It was perfectly fried and still moist with an abundance of flavor. The potatoes and squash were a nice comliment, but I couldn't get enough bluefish. This was pretty surprising given that I'm not a big fish person. My girlfriend had the chicken entree with mashed potatoes and baby carrots. Very good, some of the best I've had in a while. We shared my bourbon pecan pie dessert. It was gone in about 5 seconds even after 2 appetizers and 2 entrees. Can't recommend enough. Great food, fun atmosphere. And all of the ingredients are local without being pretentious about it. I love Mezzanine. I waited too long to get there, but I'll be back soon.

    (5)

  • JM S.

    Cozy atmosphere and great service. I'm a fan of fine dining in a casual (read: not stuffy) setting and I found this spot relaxing and friendly. We came without reservations on a busy Friday and they rushed to get us seated and comfortable. The wine was good and affordable (not a Richmond trend) and the food was delicious. I would recommend splitting a lot of small plates, that way you get a taste of it all!

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Tue
  • Mon :Closed

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Romantic
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Mezzanine

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