Lillie Pearl — Restaurant in Richmond

Delicious food!

I had lunch here with my 2 boys ages 8 and 11 when we needed a break from the noise and crowds at the Collect-a-con at the convention center just a couple blocks away.

It was 1;00 in the afternoon on a Saturday and when we first walked in and asked for a table for 3 they immediately asked if we had a reservation which made me worried that this was a more upscale and expensive restaurant than we were expecting, I don't think ive ever made a reservation for lunch🤷 but we were quickly seated and our server immediately offered to bring us water while we looked over the menu. They have a large alcoholic drink menu, but the lunch menu didn't list any drinks at all, so with 2 young boys who are soda connoisseurs, we had to ask if they had Coke or Pepsi products. The server told us they had Pepsi products and also offered juices or a Shirley Temple which my boys immediately scrunched their faces at.😂

I ordered a club sandwich and my boys got the hamburger and chicken tender kids meals ($10 each) which weren't listed on the menu. They also have a mac and cheese kids meal option. We waited over 25 minutes for our food to arrive. It wasn't overly crowded, but they only had 4 staff working and it seemed to be the lunch hour rush.

The club sandwich was amazing and had what might be the best toast ive ever had! Perfectly buttered and just the right amount of crisp! There was a generous amount of meat and delicious fresh tomatoes that really tasted like they came straight from someone's garden! Im not joking when i say i had a hard time taking bites of this sandwich because i literally could not open my mouth wide enough to take a bite!

My boys loved their kids meals. My older son inhaled his hamburger and wished he would have ordered an adult sized burger because it was smaller than his appetite and the guy sitting next to us who ordered a burger got a huge one. My son considered ordering another burger and said "these burgers are better than Freddy's!" Which is really saying something coming from him!

The chicken tenders were probably the best I've ever tasted. They seemed like they were homemade, from fresh chicken and hand battered in a very light breading, NOT the typical mass-produced and cooked from frozen with more breading than chicken that is so common these days. The BBQ sauce served with the chicken was incredible! The perfect blend of smoky-sweet-heat!

Each of our meals were served with more fries than we could eat, but i wished i would have asked for a different side to try, the collard greens and pimento mac and cheese sounded intriguing. My boys were really tempted to order the peach cobbler bread pudding, but we were too full.

Overall, the food was amazing, the service was attentive but a little slow. We will definitely return if we're...

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...

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...