Bottoms Up Pizza — Restaurant in Richmond

RECENT experience Oct. 2022: Pizza was so delicious. Our server Mia wasn't very personable but most important was she was verbal and set expectations which we appreciate so much. Food took a bit longer than was expected but football night and upstairs sounded busy so may have impacted that. We previously loved their wings. However, we refuse to pay $22 for 12. They raised those prices during a chicken shortage which is understandable but I feel they may be taking advantage that patrons still ordered 'em and now they see no reason to lower the price. END of update. 6:15 reservation New Year's Eve 2019 for party of 12. Arrived and had set up for party of 10. Husband and I got there at 5:50ish to make sure everything was copacetic. We ordered waters and waited for our guests. They arrived and drink orders were given. I ordered a beer which took 30 minutes to serve. Nachos and wings finally arrived with no plates and no silverware. Plates took about 15 minutes and utensils about another 10. It took a couple of guests about 40 minutes to receive their appetizer of wings. We started ordering entrees and some of our party order pizza, at which time we're told they are out of thick crust pizza, the dish they're known for as being their most popular. I asked waiter how long he had known to which he responded '30 minutes.' 'I replied 'then we should have been told 30 minutes ago.' Thin crust pizza was ordered and served. Two out of three pizzas were described as terrible. A salad was ordered and it was huge. However, I noticed my niece did not eat it. She later explained it consisted of lettuce, 4 cherry tomatoes, a very few carrot pieces, and was covered in onions. I ordered a swiss cheese and mushroom burger. In the meantime everyone ran out of drinks and had to wait about 20 minutes before the waiter came back to our table. We literally had to yell for him a couple times as he wouldn't check on us for long periods of time even after serving tables very near us. I finally got my hamburger and upon taking a bite, immediately tasted the bitterness of burned meat. I took the bun crown off and the burger looked great. When I turned it over it had obviously been cooked only on one side and was burned, not to mention dry as a bone. I ate a couple of fries and when the waiter finally returned to our table, asking if he could get us anything else, I told him to take my meal off of our check. The only good thing about this experience was their chicken wings which were fantastic, cooked to perfection and delicious. Unfortunately, delicious wings did not negate that it was the worst dining out experience I've ever had. The waiter was totally indifferent and obviously did not care about our dining experience. A member of another lg. party beside us had to get up several times to locate their waiter who was also ours. Out of our party of 12, nine vowed never to return to Bottoms Up. Such a shame as we used to love going there. I could just never take another chance on them after such a negative dining experience. I have to wonder if this has become the norm considering the downstairs wasn't busy at all even...

Ok. Why? Why? Why? I thought I'd try it again. After so many years of greatness the last time had to be a fluke. Right? Well no! It was even worse! $50.00 of nothing but horror. Why? What is wrong? Don't they read their reviews? Do they even eat their own food or do random quality checks? Well too bad! Definitely my last time now and that is sad to say after such greatness for so many years. I wanted to add a pic of my dried-up toppings in the middle with the sauce on the out side with no cheese. So much so that every time you took a bite everything would just come off in your mouth and on the plate. I tried to upload a pic but for some strange reason it wouldn't! The order was (under Johnson...Loaded) on and was $50.00 at about 3:50 pm. I added this info just to show the owners I am not making this up this time or last and in hope's they correct this grave thing to what was the best pizza in Richmond at one time before they lose more long time customers like my family. Oh and did I say dried up toppings... like the pizza was reheated! And what is up with the wide crust. It's as if it a way to cut down on toppings by giving you a wider crust with nothing on it! Oh my my my. I have ordered from Bottoms up for longer than I can remember. Always good. No. Always Great. So good that when I'm full I still want more before I can put what's left over away. The prices are up there but you get what you pay for. I had my mother and sister come to Richmond for the holidays and the first thing they wanted was the pizza and chicken I have been raving about from Bottoms up. I stopped by on my way home from work. Ordered and waited no more than about 15-20 mins for my Loaded pizza and signature hot wings. On the way home the smell drove me crazy in anticipation. Finally we set down to eat and the pizza was not done all the way through! It looked done but when you got to the layer between the toppings and the crust it was mushy uncooked dough. I was so disappointed and embarrassed with my family looking at me like "this is what you've been claiming for years is the best pizza in Richmond? I immediately put 4 frozen steaks in my sharper image. Taking the pizza back was not an option because of traffic and I live to far for delivery. I'll drop $50+ in one order for two people like nothing there because of the consistency all these years. Now... I am afraid this might be the end of a great thing. At least for now! Would have been nice if they had atleast offered a replacement meal for another day. That way my mother and sister would have gotten a chance hopefully to taste the best pizza as I talked about at another time. Oh well, it was really really nice while it lasted. If anyone knows another good place please...

I remember liking this place in the past and it was a real treat to go as a family or with friends. To be honest, we don't usually venture in this area and parking is horrible, but we made a special point to end a fun day here. After being shown to our table, we sat for a long time (on those horrible metal chairs in a somewhat depressing back room) without being acknowledged. One server passed us several times but wouldn't make eye contact. Not even to say "someone will be with you". We were feeling invisible and ready to leave (but were really excited to eat there and drove out of our way)so we stayed. We were finally able to flag someone down and order. In time, our appetizer came and it was good. Later came the pizza, which was also tasty, and flavor was on point -but sadly barely luke warm in the middle. I would have sent it back to get warmed up more but was afraid we'd never see the server again to return it to us. I was right, we didnt. It was perplexing as our server would disappear for long periods... so if you did need anything, like a refill, or extra napkins, you're outta luck. Getting the check was another chore. We weren't the only ones waiting for a check. The neighboring table had to ask the other (no eye contact server) to get the server to get their check, I noticed. There is definitely not a team service effort- putting customers first either. Some restaurants, a server just walking by may pick up a used dish off a table that's not theirs. Not here. We couldnt get anyone without practically waving. I can understand slower service when a place is slam busy, but they weren't, and it was a weekday. Though we still left a tip, it's hard to want to when service is almost non-existent. It's also hard to want to pay nearly $30 per pizza at an out-of-the-way joint downtown with horrible parking. I really wanted to enjoy my visit but that wasn't it. Sad but true that bad service can really ruin your time out. I could have overlooked the food temp and parking hassle, but we won't be making a point...