Bad Dad Pint & Slice Richmond — Restaurant in Richmond

​I recently stopped by the highly-anticipated new spot, and honestly, the experience was about as satisfying as an empty pizza box. This place feels like it's trying way too hard to be super bougie, from the minimalist decor to the fancy water service, but all the style in the world can't make up for truly sub-par food. ​The pizza, their supposed specialty, was the first letdown. The pizza dough was the worst offender. It was dense, somehow both bland and slightly gummy, offering zero of that light, airy chew or crisp crust you crave. The whole pie felt heavy and lifeless. It's clear they're focused on presentation over the fundamental quality of their ingredients. ​Hoping for redemption, I also tried a hoagie—specifically, their take on a classic cheesesteak. This was another massive miss. The sandwich had absolutely no flavor. The meat was dry, the cheese was barely melted and seemed like an afterthought, and the whole thing desperately needed seasoning. It was a pale imitation of what a good cheesesteak should be. ​Ultimately, Bad Dad Pint & Slice is a case study in style over substance. If you're looking for a trendy atmosphere to sip martinis, or grab a pint of beer maybe check it out. But if you want a decent slice of pizza or a flavorful sandwich, save your money and go somewhere that cares more about the food than...

Tonight we visited the recently opened Bad Dad’s. I usually like to wait 4-6 weeks after a new place has opened before trying, to give them time to work out the kinks., but curiosity got the better of me. The location on N 8th St is easy to get to and there is plenty of parking around the corner on N E St. We were greeted as soon as we walked in, which is a big, big plus in my book. We were able to choose our own seat in the comfortable but tight interior. The beer list is cute, with funny names for each brew, indicating different kinds of “dads”. I chose the Dude Abides brew which I actually liked. Normally, I’m not a fan of IPA. We ordered a salad to share and it was enormous., plenty for 4 people. I can’t say enough good things about the salad. Fresh, crisp greens, red onion, cucumber and feta cheese, topped with a delicious vinaigrette, made this salad exceptional. Clearly, it was not made with bagged lettuce you so often get. The pizza was light and crisp, with pretty sparse toppings considering the $21 it cost. It was delicious, but small for the hefty price. We also ordered tiramisu, which was unlike any I’ve ever had before. It was pretty to look at but lacked the flavor we expected. I’d pass on that. The service was fantastic and we will...

I thought this place was just.. okay.

I ordered a fungi pizza (12" I think is the only size for some reason) which was almost $20 and I also orderd a 14" cheese steak sub which was about $18. For two items it was $39. Not worth the money in my opinion.

The food itself was the part I was a little disappointed in. I live by test middle school, so my drive to from the depot district to my house wasn't that far and when I got home, the pizza since it's very thin crust was hard to chew as well as the sub. My mouth and jaw were tired by the time I ate my sub.

I was also kind of hoping for the cheese steak sub to be shredded, but it was actual cubed steak which was off-putting.

Will I come back here? Meh.. maybe if my wife wants too, but only if we dine in and reason being, I want to eat everything hot so I'm not chewing endlessly and trying to "power through".

Like I said, this place is...