Ripple Ray's — Restaurant in Richmond

Great first experience at Ripple Rays! Had heard about it from a few other locals and we finally went to visit.

The food was tasty and fresh. All the menu items are cleverly named after Grateful Dead songs. The arancini were properly fried and tasty on the inside, and the marinara sauce that came with them, although spicy, was very flavorful! Same deal with my entree, their chef's special steak sandwich, again, just full of flavor, the marinated steak with the peppers and sauce reminded me of Argentinian steak flavors. We also had the brisket sliders which were also top notch!

The vibes were great. The decor is a bit quirky but tasteful, you can see there was some design process that went into it. They had live music on a Sunday night (5/18/25), and it was not all Grateful Dead songs. The musician took requests and did great acoustic renditions and song mashups of Top100s rock and pop songs. Maybe his audio was a bit too loud when he was playing, but the whole crowd seemed to be into it so it was fine.

Service was great! Our bartender Indigo was running the whole bar (tables and bar seating) by herself, and even with how busy the place was starting to get, she made us feel like we were her only customers.

The whole experience in general was 10/10 for us, and we will definitely make this one of our regular...

Ripple Ray’s is a vibrant, psychedelic oasis of music, art, and nostalgia. Over 14 months, owner and visionary K.J., alongside her friend Ryan—a skilled artist and craftsman—transformed a once-forgotten neighborhood spot into a mesmerizing 60s-inspired retreat. This trippy, retro bar pulses with the free-spirited energy of the era, paying homage to the Grateful Dead while embracing the rebellious, love-infused essence of the hippie movement. Step inside to experience a kaleidoscope of glowing dreamlike light shows, Grateful Dead tribute bands, and an eclectic fusion of far-out artwork, iconic 60s décor, Buddha’s eyes, dreamcatchers, and rainbow fabrics—all radiating an everlasting message of peace, love,...

We will go back for the food and more GratefulDead vibe! The salmon cake dinner was tasty and the Brussels Sprouts were not overcooked! The fried cauliflower was fresh and light. Was not impressed by the sauces being served in plastic containers. The servers were pleasant, especially Brooklyn who checked on us and acted like she wanted to be there. "Goldfinch?" "Goldfish?" Was sweet and on point. We couldn't get served at the bar so moved to a bar table where the servers were ready! Would have been nice to have a hook or something for jackets or purses since bar seating at the tables had no back (stools.) The sound was not good from the video. We could not stay for live music that...