Lillie Pearl
Lillie Pearl things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
Plan your stay
Posts
I had the pleasure of dining at this establishment on March 15th, 2025. Located near other competing venues, the restaurant greeted us with a warm and inviting atmosphere. From the moment I walked in, I was immediately impressed by the cozy ambiance and the music, which played at just the right volume—creating a perfect mood without overwhelming conversation. We began our meal with the smoked wings, which were crispy and full of flavor, though the spicy buttermilk ranch dip was just okay. We then moved on to the fried chicken entrée, served with mashed potatoes and collard greens. The buttermilk fried chicken was outstanding, with a crispy coating and juicy, tender meat. The collard greens were just as impressive, tasting as though they had been freshly picked from the garden. The mashed potatoes, however, were a bit too peppery for my taste, though I did enjoy their chunky texture—I just wished there was more depth of flavor beyond the pepper. We also tried a side of macaroni and cheese, but it was a bit too salty for my liking. The macaroni noodles were slightly overcooked, and while the cheese flavor came through, the saltiness was a bit overpowering. My friend ordered the shrimp and grits, and after trying a few spoonful's, I noticed that the grits weren’t as smooth as I expected—they might have been stone-ground. However, the accompanying sauce was absolutely delicious. The dish also included raw cherry tomatoes, which I would recommend pairing with a drizzle of olive oil and a light seasoning or even lightly smoking them to enhance the overall flavor. By this point, our expectations had been met, and our bellies were full as we looked forward to dessert. We decided to try the peach French bread pudding, which was very sweet with its toppings. The peaches were delicious, though I wished they had been drizzled with a lighter sauce to balance out the sweetness and more french bread. A scoop of ice cream or a dollop of homemade whipped cream would have been the perfect addition, elevating the dish even further. Our server was also very attentive, making the experience even more enjoyable.
T MT M
00
The visit to Lillie Pearl restaurant was above impressive. Our girlz weekend, ended with a BANG! Our decision to stop in Richmond and support a new local restaurant was one for the books. Although we arrived an hour to closing we were accommodated and seated at a comfortable table. (Which is rare yet it happens) Our drink order was taken within 3 minutes of sitting which was great. We immediately ordered the Chicken Wings, Crab Cakes and Brussel sprouts appetizers and the Scallops and Risotto entrée. First, those Wings and Sprouts were bomb like Boom. 💥 Brussel sprouts are a must appetizer for me at any restaurant that serves them and Lille Pearl did not disappoint they were Have Mercy Good! Next was the Oh My Goodness Crab Cakes, the most delicious I've had in a long while. It was ALL crab meat little to no filler... I appreciate a cake that ain't stingy on the crab. They were served with an arugula mixed greens and tomato that was seasoned so well I was tempted to lick my fingers. (Nah I did!) And Umph Umph finally the scallops, which were cooked to perfection with a sear on them babies that added a crunch to that melt in your mouth morsel, I couldn't stop eating em. And they had the nerve to place them on a bed of Risotto with collards, Lawwd it was so good and creamy, I closed my eyes, chewed slowly, and savored ever single bite. LOL I almost ordered a side to take home. Sadly our greed got the best of us and we also had some dessert. The Peach Cobbler Bread Pudding and the seasonal Apple Pie both were AWESOMENESS 👌🏽. This stop on our trip was a good idea and a great experience. From the time we walked in, the customer service was on point, the hostess, waitress and GM were all on their A game and they made sure we felt like First Class customers from start to finish. The ambiance was great and music was just the right selectin and volume, that allowed us to listen to music and still have a great conversation between our group. And let's not forget the FOOD, WHEW Chile I'm still licking my lips as I type this review. We will be returning.
Brooke BlackwellBrooke Blackwell
00
Lillie Grace is conveniently located downtown within walking distance of Hilton and Marriott. I used to work downtown years ago and was surprised to find this restaurant while visiting with my sister. Anyway, the restaurant features wonderfully juicy buttermilk soaked chicken and has an entire menu dedicated to their signature fried chicken. My sister says it’s the best she’s had and is why she brought me there today. I am on a no fry food diet self implemented so I was happy to find there are plenty of alternative options. In my case I decided to go with the special this weekend which was the soft shell smashville sandwich. This sandwich is made up of soft shell crab some Nashville rub seasonings, those fried onion things and other veggies on a brioche bun. I requested pickles on the side. The sandwich made me stop talking and devour half before talking again. It was that good. My sisters sandwich was the lobster and crab sandwich. It was just as good according to my sister. We both ordered cocktails. My sister ordered the watermelon cocktail and I ordered the mermaid cocktail. The watermelon cocktail was crisp and refreshing, perfect for this approaching heat wave. The mermaid was also cool and refreshing but had more of a citrus twist and tang. The ambiance was wonderful. Light and airy for a nice luncheon. I love the chandeliers and I want the “windows on the walls” see pictures. I loved the floor to ceiling windows which made it bright and open. They also have outdoor seating but I didn’t think it was warm enough to sit out there since it is a shaded area. The service was wonderful. The employees friendly and polite and though masked I could tell they were all smiling and gave off such a positive vibe and energy. Like they enjoyed working here just as much as we enjoyed eating here. It was definitely a wonderful experience compared to more known chains. Overall, this restaurant receives 10/10.
Sy MegumiSy Megumi
00
Updating the rating for my second visit. Absolutely an awful experience! The two star is purely for their food from my first visit. The first experience was good, so I actually brought my godfather and my uncle in for lunch for a belated Father’s Day meal. After I opened the door for rest of my party, I step in to check in with the host. I started talking to the host and she was about to check us in, then suddenly, a man(probably the manager, since he dressed differently) told me “Could you move aside?”(his exact words, no “please” or “excuse me”) Caught in a surprise, I thought someone with a handicap was coming through, so I quickly stepped back to make way. After checking no one was coming through, I looked back at him, he then told me, “They were here first.”(They, as in the three other people in my party, who are all white. And I was the only Asian.) To shorten the story, after I told him that we were in the same party, he then apologized by saying “Oh, then I apologize.” At that point, I felt embarrassed and a little angry, so we didn’t stay for the meal. And on the way out, my godfather went to have a word with that manager and found out that he thought I, the host of the lunch, was a food delivery driver. Because of what? Because I’m Asian? I mean, the manager(supposedly with more customer experience training), in front of maybe five of the servers, told me to “move a side.” Without a “please” or “excuse me”. And just automatically assume an Asian guy who comes into your restaurant is a delivery driver. Wow, you can’t make this stuff up. First visit: Good food and good service. I do recommend getting a reservation, as they tend to be busy. Everything we had were good, the appetizers were flavorful. Our entree, the Smashville fried chicken sandwich was great, the chicken was perfectly cooked, tender and juicy.
Jason LinJason Lin
00
We arrived about 12:10 pm. We were able to park nearby. We didn't have reservations and there were no tables available, so we were seated right away at the bar. The seating there was actually good for bar seating, but fortunately someone canceled their reservation and we were moved to a table. The waitress was very pleasant and efficient. We were brought water, coffee, and tea right away. For starters we shared the short ribs egg rolls. They were crispy and filled with good things; collards, carrots, pimento cheese, onions and a tasty basil sauce. For our entrees I had the Fried Chicken Sandwich with the spicy honey on the side and French fries. My husband had the Smashville fried chicken sandwich with fries. We both enjoyed them and were surprised that they could be so crispy yet so tender. He finished his but I had half of mine boxed to go. Because this was our first time here we wanted to get the full experience so we ordered desert. I ordered Peach Cobbler Bread Pudding and he ordered Banana Pudding. We intended to eat it there but after we had waited about 30 minutes and it hadn't come, we decided to get it to go. We waited about another 10 minutes before we got it. the waitress apologized several times for the long wait for desert. It was a holiday and they were short of staff so I'm not holding the wait against them. Once we got home my Peach cobbler bread pudding was still warm and it was delectable. His banana pudding was still cold and very good. Overall it was a very good dining experience. I will recommend it and will definately be returning.
K TaylorK Taylor
00
What to say about a place where food was great and so was our waitress? Me and my daughter looking for food after walking around Richmond decided on the restaurant 8/10 after seeing the pics and reviews. Unfortunately for us the host explained the only seating was at bar, which was full, or the patio. This despite the restaurant being less than half full. I let my daughter choose and chose not to make an issue over options provided. Shortly after a Caucasian family in shorts/attire more athletic in style had no problems being let to sit inside. Just as hostess had a lot of nerve to treat us that way I will have a lot of nerve to post this because I did not appreciate being treated this way with my daughter. That being said food was good just be aware if you have been walking around town they may not want you inside depending on their criteria. They can have their own viewpoint but that is mine. My reply to owner is that I left 45 min to 1 hr later and your restaurant was half full. So actually more busy and they asked if I wanted to eat inside at that time once they brought dessert but I had no desire at that point. Anyone may be one thing or the other at different times but people do make dumb mistakes. Good news is there are plenty of good restaurants so we will just both have to move on and no reason for me to return. My only statement would be to ensure proper training because at no time were reservations mentioned and like I said the restaurant was not busy for her at least at that time.
Ramon BillescasRamon Billescas
00
Nearby Attractions Of Lillie Pearl
The Jefferson Hotel
Richmond Marriott
The National
Omni Richmond Hotel
Brown's Island
Brown's Island
Hilton Richmond Downtown
Dominion Energy Center
Virginia State Capitol
American Civil War Museum- Historic Tredegar

The Jefferson Hotel
4.8
(1.5K)Click for details

Richmond Marriott
4.4
(1.4K)Click for details

The National
4.6
(1.4K)Click for details

Omni Richmond Hotel
4.2
(1.3K)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Lillie Pearl
Casa Del Barco - Canal Walk
Mama J's Kitchen
Perly's
Secret Sandwich Society
Capital Ale House
Tarrant's Cafe Downtown
Penny Lane Pub
Siné Irish Pub
Fall Line Kitchen & Bar
Wong Gonzalez

Casa Del Barco - Canal Walk
4.5
(1.9K)Click for details

Mama J's Kitchen
4.4
(1.8K)Click for details

Perly's
4.7
(1.5K)Click for details

Secret Sandwich Society
4.4
(1.3K)Click for details
Basic Info
Address
416 E Grace St, Richmond, VA 23219
Map
Phone
(804) 412-8724
Call
Website
lilliepearlrva.com
Visit
Reviews
Overview
4.6
(788 reviews)$$
Ratings & Description
Description
Laid-back eatery whipping up classic Southern comfort food such as burgers, ribs, seafood & cobbler.
attractions: The Jefferson Hotel, Richmond Marriott, The National, Omni Richmond Hotel, Brown's Island, Brown's Island, Hilton Richmond Downtown, Dominion Energy Center, Virginia State Capitol, American Civil War Museum- Historic Tredegar, restaurants: Casa Del Barco - Canal Walk, Mama J's Kitchen, Perly's, Secret Sandwich Society, Capital Ale House, Tarrant's Cafe Downtown, Penny Lane Pub, Siné Irish Pub, Fall Line Kitchen & Bar, Wong Gonzalez
The Hit List

- Please manually select your location for better experience