Celladora Wines — Restaurant in Richmond

We've been hoping for a natural wine focused shop to launch in Richmond for some time. Fortunately, Celladora is here!...and it's so much more than we could have ever hoped for.

My wife and I had an excellent experience there last night. Owner Megan and Chef Ben took extremely good care of us and our friends.

First off, I just love the vibe. We were warmly greeted upon arrival and sat at a lovely six person table looking out on Lombardy St. The space itself is beautiful and cozy. It's not huge, but you can tell that Megan has considered every little detail in the space: the soft lighting, the electic colors and design, the ability to have hundreds of different bottles of wine, and of course a full kitchen. Overall, Megan and her staff are very accommodating and quickly helped us choose our first bottle.

Second, and speaking to the wine...wow, what a great selection. For my personal tastes, compared to the other options for wine in walking distance, it's no contest. Celladora is where I want to drink wine (and buy wine to-go). We started off with a citrusy Italian pet nat then enjoyed a lovely full bodied rosé from the south of France. Megan certainly knows her stuff, being able to not only guide us in choosing the wines, but also recounting the backstory of the people and place behind the bottles, which is really important to me and my wife.

Finally, and certainly not to be overlooked, their humble food menu might be my favorite place to eat currently in Richmond. I'll have to admit, I've sort of stalked their chef (in the least weird kind of way) from his days at Barrel Thief, and before, at Rappahannock...this guy can cook! I was so excited to see Ben at the helm with seemingly full creative freedom with the menu and sourcing. Our group enjoyed warm olives, fluke ceviche, a delicious chicory salad, and a braised cabbage dish. Everything was seasonal and just perfect. I also love that they use Sub Rosa bread...don't know why more restaurants don't do that!

Overall, we're so happy Celladora is here and it's more than we could have ever imagined. We plan to be regulars and look forward to many, many more great experiences there. ...

Celladora was something else entirely.

From the moment we stepped inside, we felt an unexpected mix of comfort and awe. The space is small, just four tables, but it carries a presence that’s artistic, warm, intimate, and quietly electric. They were running a little behind, but it didn’t feel like a delay. Vinny, our incredible server, welcomed us with glasses of chilled rosé, and time instantly slowed in the best way.

What followed was a food experience that felt intentional, layered, and full of soul.

We began with the charcuterie board, trusting their recommended cheeses and meats. Each bite was perfectly curated. The ceviche arrived bright and vibrant, filled with cilantro, Peruvian peppers, and a burst of sweet citrus. The Caesar salad, made with frisée, was a bold and refreshing take on the classic. The pasta with sausage, kale, and pecorino was delicate yet full of flavor, with a beautiful balance of lightness and spice. The pork larb, which I didn’t try due to dietary restrictions, was a favorite at the table; sweet, gingery, and ridiculously delicious.

Then came the dish that truly stopped me: the beef tartare. Herby, bursting with spices like cinnamon, cumin, and just a hint of cardamom. It was rich, memorable, and entirely unique. Paired with ultra-thin pita crackers, it left me speechless. I tried to savor it slowly, but it was impossible not to fall in fast.

When it came to wine, we shared the flavor profiles we typically enjoy with our server. Vinny returned with two perfect selections, each more spot-on than the last. We happily took both to say the least!

Dessert was a blueberry cake with a berry sumac whip. Simple, light, and the sweetest ending to an unforgettable meal.

I don’t leave reviews often. But if you’re debating this restaurant, don’t. And if you’re lucky enough to get a reservation, savor every...

After walking by Celladora several times and admiring how cute and charming it was in there, I finally made a reservation for dinner. Despite being predominately a wine shop, I was very impressed with the food.

We started with the beef tartare, which was very unique compared to other restaurants in Richmond. Instead of relying on capers and olive oil, they used a really complex combination of spices to really make it taste exciting and different. I loved it.

Then we had the flounder ceviche, which was refreshing, delicious, and a bit spicy! Moving onto the seared tuna -- it was cooked perfectly and the sauce was wonderful. I loved the dollop of cream to help bring a richness to the dish. The green beans were fine, but the star was definitely the tuna.

Lastly, we had the pork larb, which had so much flavor! I was genuinely impressed by this dish and how sweet yet sour yet spicy it was. There were so many flavors and it was just delicious.

I'm not a wine expert, but the bottle our server recommended to pair with our food was very nice. I will definitely be...