Penny's Wine Shop — Restaurant in Richmond

From the moment we stepped into Penny's Wine Shop, we were welcomed with genuine warmth. The cozy space, soft lighting, and relaxed ambiance made it feel like dining at a friend's home--if that friend had an impeccable wine collection and a talent for exceptional cooking. The staff was not only knowledgeable but also effortlessly helpful.

The meal itself was a journey of bold yet balanced flavors. We started with the honey butter and bread, a deceptively simple dish that left a lasting impression. The bread was served with a small bowl of whipped butter, lightly dusted with sea salt. At the bottom of the bowl, a pool of dark, rich molasses-honey infused the butter with a gentle sweetness, making every spread a perfect bite of salty, creamy, and sweet.

The braised cabbage was an unexpected standout. Cooked in broth and miso butter, it had a melt-in-your-mouth texture and was elevated by manchego crunchy bites and a smear of olive paste. The flavors were deep and umami-rich.

Next came the cavatelli Bolognese, a comforting and hearty dish. The pasta had a satisfying chew, coated in a rich, slow-simmered meat ragu and finished with fresh herbs. Every bite was deeply flavorful, making it the kind of dish that lingers in your memory long after the meal is over. If you're up for it, I dare you to dip the cavatelli into your leftover honey.

One of the most creative dishes of the night was the pho-inspired beef and broth. The tender beef was paired with a subtly complex broth that was both deeply flavored and delicate. The balance of richness and warmth made it a true standout--an inventive take on a classic that felt both familiar and refreshingly new.

No meal at Penny's would be complete without dessert, and the sweet offerings were just as memorable as the savory ones. The horchata Basque cake with ube was a masterpiece--creamy, caramelized, and infused with the warm flavors of cinnamon and vanilla. The addition of ube added a subtle earthy sweetness that made it even more special.

The pink pearl apple dessert was another highlight. Thinly sliced pink pearl apples were arranged beautifully and topped with a silky tiki caramel sauce, saltan, and crunchy manchego bites reminiscent of granola. The combination of textures and flavors was both elegant and satisfying.

Richmond may not have a Michelin-starred restaurant yet, but if it did, Penny's would certainly be in the running. Can't wait to see the menu...

i would rate penny’s lower than one star if i could. this restaurant nearly killed my friend after irresponsibly serving her a dish with tree nuts despite her disclosing her allergy. she had two use TWO epipens and go to the er on her BIRTHDAY because of their negligence! not only that, they double booked our reservation with a private event so we could barely hear each other after being seated late, tried to double charge us after we paid a $135 deposit in advance, then proceeded to HARASS my friend who simply asked for a refund after NEARLY DYING ON HER BIRTHDAY. they tried to bully her into signing an NDA ?????????? and then STILL REFUSED TO REFUND THE BILL ???? and changed their allergy notice to have bigger font and a disingenuous note about caring about your well-being after we visited? you care about people’s well-being but not enough to not serve people with allergies multiple types of tree nuts huh!! penny’s said, happy birthday, we hope you die! oh and they tried to serve us PISTACHIO gelato as an apology just to add insult to anaphylactic near death injury. i would never EVER recommend people go to a business with so little care for their customers’ well-being. booo...

Absolutely blows my mind that anywhere, let alone a “5 star restaurant” does not have the intelligence or respect to educate their staff on the dangers of food allergies . Nuts are probably the most common allergy that a person can have??? Were you born yesterday?? How does not only the server, but ALSO the kitchen staff not aware that there is a high-risk allergen in one of their dishes? Not only did this establishment brush off their mistake in poisoning the BIRTHDAY GIRL, but they actually dropped a check and charged them $300 for an experience that led to someone gasping for air and being hospitalized ON THEIR BIRTHDAY. How can you not have the human decency to own up to YOUR MISTAKE or at the very least, APOLOGIZE for almost killing your guest??? Whether or not you have a food allergy, just know that this restaurant does not care about your well-being and is too cheap to even try to cover...