The Hill Cafe — Restaurant in Richmond

Came in tonight for my sister's birthday dinner: First I'll start by saying great, super fast and attentive waitstaff, all the way through our experience. The bartender greeted me immediately, everyone was friendly, and the vibe was that of the local neighborhood bar. Our server had knowledge and recommendations. Happy Hour also seems like it's worth checking out! First little blip happened with my drinks- they were out of mezcal for the mezcal negroni. Whatever, NBD, I ordered a martini instead. First one came out with a little gnat in it, but once I let our server know she took it back and had it remade for me very quickly. Other drinks were good though! For apps we got the cranberry and goat cheese salad (simple, huge, fresh, great champagne vinegarette dressing); the brussel sprouts (so good, you've gotta order these); and the spinach artichoke dip with pita (warm pita, the dip was awesome and looked like it was pureed? Very smooth and tasty). It gets a little dicey with the entrées we got: My sister wanted to get the filet mignon, but they were out (again, no big deal, restaurants run out of things over the weekend), so she got the chicken fried steak instead. The steak was fried a little too long, but was good, it could've used a bit more gravy, though. For sides she got green beans (fine, but much better when we added salt and dipped them in the lemon remoulade); and Mac and cheese, which also just fine. A little dry, but not bad. I ordered the fried oyster entrée, and the oysters were great, especially with the Meyer lemon remoulade. Seriously, I think the remoulade was my favorite part of the meal. The spinach and rice that came with it weren't great however. Rice was a bit dried out, and just plain white rice, no sauce or seasoning. Same with the spinach, I expected some kind of garlic or onion or any kind of flavor but it was just plain, not-quite-fully cooked spinach. Again, much better with salt and the remoulade. My mom got the fried fish entrée with the braised collards and spoon bread. The fish was good, just classic fried white fish. The spoon bread was also good. Not the best, but definitely enjoyable. The collards unfortunately were super caramelized to the point of being burnt (like.... little crunchy bits on some parts.) Our server was super understanding and got a replacement of mashed potatoes for my mom instead. Which were.... unseasoned. Tasted like they just boiled and mashed 'em. Again, added salt, pepper, and butter to them to make them more enjoyable. We ended the meal with a lemon cake! It was very tasty with fresh strawberries, blueberries, and whipped cream.

Overall, fantastic service, cool vibe; but the food ranged from awful to mediocre to great. I would definitely revisit to give it another chance, and hopefully find the gems...

I was genuinely looking forward to visiting this café for the first time, but unfortunately, my experience was very disappointing.

Upon arrival, the waitress greeted me with a noticeable sneer, which immediately set an uncomfortable tone. My friend and I both ordered Pepsi, yet she only brought one for my friend and ignored my order. When we requested assistance from another waitress, I finally received my drink.

The food itself was very good, and another waitress provided service during our meal. However, when the original waitress returned to handle the checks, she only addressed my friend and avoided eye contact with me. I clarified that our checks were separate, but later discovered the errors. My total on the original receipt showed $19, but my card was charged $25 I left a $7 and then I realized I paid $ 32 for a $17 meal which made me check again

"The waitress switched my friends receipt with mine charging me her total and not realizing she left my original receipt showing $19 at the bottom of the stack .

Unfortunately, from the beginning, the interaction felt racially motivated. Despite my kindness the waitress's demeanor made it clear that I was not welcome. I chose to leave quietly rather than cause a scene, but I feel it's important to share this experience.

The café was busy, and while the food was enjoyable, no one deserves to feel unwelcome or disrespected. I truly hope management reviews this situation and addresses it appropriately so that future guests are treated appropriately.

I am leaving 3 stars it is a cute cozy cafe with outdoor seating nestled in a lovely area . If you are the right person you will enjoy the best aspects of this cafe . The reviews prior to mine...

My boyfriend and I had dinner at The Hill Café, and honestly, it was a cozy little spot! The menu is super simple, but that's kind of the charm. It leans into comfort food without doing too much.

We kicked things off with the fried green tomatoes, and they definitely stole the show. Crispy, layered with pimento cheese, and drizzled in a spicy aioli-rich, tangy, and totally indulgent.

My bf got the fried chicken with mashed potatoes and mac & cheese. The chicken had a crunchy Southern-style crust. The mac and cheese was creamy and mellow, and the mashed potatoes were smooth and straightforward. Nothing fancy, just classic.

I went for the meatloaf with gravy, mashed potatoes, and green beans. The meatloaf had that home-cooked vibe with a nice crust on the outside; reminded me of salisbury steak (in a nostalgic, comforting kind of way). The green beans and mashed potatoes were super simple, but they worked. Lastly, we also tried the clam chowder, which wasn't super thick like most clam chowders I’ve had, but it had a nice cozy flavor that hit the spot.

In short— Hill Café isn't trying to reinvent anything, and that works in its favor. It's humble, filling, and a nice little spot for a classic...