Marylous Soul Dining Experience — Restaurant in Richmond

Visited here on July 4, 2024, never had the food but it was just a bad experience. I called several times to ensure they were open their regular hours as posted on Google no answer. But Google said they were open so cool my sister and I went anyway. Also, why don’t they have a website, smh. Anyway there is no signage outside the building that says Marylou’s so make sure you know the address, why the signage still says Postbellum I’m not sure, smh. But they have through rugs on the sidewalk that no one can see from the street that says MaryLou’s, can’t make that up, smh. Anyway once inside it was not crowded, very nicely decorated pretty bar area, I will say that, nice and spacious. These were the only positives during my failed visit. No one was at the door to greet us, two it was raining and they were not allowing seating inside only the rooftop was open and we were told they were waiting to see what was going to happen with the weather but either way no service in the dining room, huh? We go to the rooftop which is only accessible via stairs so how does someone with a disability, wheelchair, someone who has trouble walking, older person access the rooftop if you are denying service inside? We had to sit at the bar because that is the only area of the rooftop that is covered/dry. I don’t sit at bars, I don’t drink. Anyway we are served water in a plastic cup which I despise. You can’t be a full service restaurant and definitely not a so called upscale restaurant serving any drink in a plastic cup, that’s tacky!!! Probably put ice in champagne too. But even the young ladies that ordered drinks which cost $12 and up were served in plastic cups, tacky!!!! Anyway we were told they weren’t serving their regular menu but “cookout food” burgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, meatballs, deviled eggs.” Huh, this is not what I came here to experience at a so called “Upscale Southern/Soul Food Restaurant.” Nah I’m good. Keep your plastic cups and cookout food, poor customer service, failure to accommodate the customer with seating in the dining room instead of forcing people to sit in the rain. I really try to support Black Businesses in RVA outside of my hairstylist but I rarely have a good experience, it’s really sad really a shame. Then y’all say black people don’t support black businesss. Well take some restaurant and hospitality classes, customer service classes, learn the law regarding ADA. Have a website that says for July 4, 2024, we aren’t serving our regular menu but a special cookout menu and list the items, answer the phone, greet the customer when they arrive within 10 seconds, etc. Buy some glasses, dang. I’ve visited black businesses/restaurants in other cities only in my hometown of RVA is it...

I took my husband here the day before Father’s Day. Normally, we have a good experience. This time was HORRIBLE! When we got there, we saw that there were plenty of tables however we were told there were no tables and we had to sit at the bar… OK no biggie but I watch all of them empty tables, including one right behind us (see phot) and all of them stayed empty the entire time we were there and when we left the same tables WERE STILL EMPTY. So we sit at the bar and I our bartender was pretty good but as we were eating our food A COCKROACH crawled Right in front of us and down into the bar station😳 we immediately brought it to the attention of the light skin girl who wears her hair in a ponytail with a little blonde on it , because she was the person that was standing right there. Our bartender was the other young lady with a long black hair and she had stepped away. The light skinned girl asked me was it an ant and I said NO! sweetie it was a 🪳 ROACH! Just as I was explaining to her where it went to our original bartender walked up, and I explained to her that we had just seen a roach crawl down into the area where she was …as she went to pick up the bottle to pour it into a glass, the roach was on the bottle so they both saw it. Our original bartender, the young lady with the long black hair attempted to find where the roach went… The other bartender, the short light skin girl with the bun, just how much turtle shoulders and moved as if to say oh well… And she went on about making her drinks further down on the bar as if this were normal🤮. Once our bartender could not locate the roach she also continued to make drinks as if it were normal. Another male bartender watched… And another male server walked past and asked what was going on and we said that we saw a cockroach and that is what they were looking for… He said “oh” and walked off with his plates in hand… WHEN I SAID WE WERE APPALLED. THAT IS WHAT I MEAN‼️ We immediately asked for our check, we paid and again as we walked out we saw all the tables that they claimed we’re not available, still empty so they basically wanted to keep some of the areas clean and undisturbed, I guess. At one point I actually really like this place before I Customer to see roaches and bring it to your attention and watch 3+ different employees ignore it 😳 I absolutely positively WILL NOT be returning and unless you want to guess whether you’re gonna be eating a roach, I wouldn’t return either. Such a...

Soul Food.. according to websters dictionary the definition is, a type of food southern black Americans typically eat. Keep that in mind.

Saturday my best friend and I had a Galentines dinner date at Mary Lou’s located on Main Street. I found the Black Woman Owned restaurant from an Instagram post of their bartender Chaney making new cocktail called “Forever in Bloom”. I’m a sucker for a cocktail and beautiful stemware. His unforgettable personality from a 2 min post made me look up their menu which looked amazing. So we made reservations thru toast and Saturday were so excited.

We were greeted by the most pleasant host. Not only keeping the restaurant organized, but gave suggestions, was keeping everything clean and pre bussing tables. Sims is absolutely amazing. They got us seated as soon as we arrived. The menu was great but we weren’t even prepared for the art work and jewel colored seats. The comfortable seating, immaculate restroom. Did I mention the stemware choices???

Cici was our server and is otherwise known as fluffy. Her personality is heavenly. It’s like sitting down with your homegirl to talk about good food. She gave us suggestions and helped us choose great drinks and food. I spotted the infamous Chaney from the IG post and told him he was the reason we made a reservation. I ordered an espresso martini with tequila, Brussels as my appetizer and Turkey Wings and Yams and Collards as my meal. TENDERRRRRRRR! My turkey wings were so flavorful and falling from the bones. The greens… the greens… let’s just say I drank the pot liquor. My yams were so delicious and melted in my mouth. Someone’s Granny is definitely in the kitchen throwing down! Chaney even dropped by our table to see how are drinks were.

When we finished our meal we were so sad to leave this atmosphere with the great staff, food and the music was too tier. So we went and sat at the bar to have a drink made by the wonderful Chaney! His personality is truly infectious and whew can he make a drink! He made us strawberry Cosmos, Blackberry Burbon Smashes and lastly Green Teas.

Mary Lou’s features recipes from her grandmother Ms Mary Lou. I know what Webster says, but soul food is not just a food black southerns eat. Soul food is comforting, it reminds you of home. It’s a safe place. It’s nourishing to the soul. Soul food is dinner at granny’s house after church on Sunday! Mary Lou’s is all of that and I can’t...