The Jasper — Restaurant in Richmond

The Jasper is one of Carytown's coziest rooms: dark wood, patterned wallpaper, and low, flattering light that makes it easy to settle in. Service has been consistently warm and capable at the bar, and the daily happy hour from 5 to 7 pm keeps the place humming. It is a discreet little spot on West Cary with a loyal following and a line right before open on busy nights.

Where it could improve for me is in the glass. Too many builds feel "pre-Death & Co" in structure: base spirit plus mixer, perhaps a juice, and done. They drink clean but a little simple. What's missing is mid-palate intrigue from the kinds of elements that add contour and carry: amari and aperitivi, sherry or vermouth frames, thoughtful bitters architecture, infusions or tinctures that echo the base, fat washes, a touch of saline, a whisper of acid-adjust. Without those layers, several cocktails read front-loaded on spirits and/or sweetness and citrus with not much development after the first sip. They are pleasant in the moment, less compelling to linger over.

The vibe and hospitality make it an easy recommendation for a low-key night out, and the happy hour classics are a fair value if you are nearby. If the menu leaned more often into rarer base spirits, modifiers and secondary notes that evolve as the ice melts, this could be a destination for contemplative sipping as well as casual rounds. As is, it is a comfortable bar with streamlined drinks that...

The Jasper is an incredible idea created by talented and incredible people. The environment is definitely cozy enough to walk into in shorts and a tee shirt, but most people do appear to dress a little better for it. The whole premise is around craft cocktails from some of Richmond's biggest celebrity bartenders. Boy, do they deliver some dangerously delicious cocktails. I absolutely love the Spaniard. I have not tried the food yet. All of the drinks I've had are amazing, and they do have some typical cheaper beer as well, if you don't want to break the bank. Those amazing drinks (let's be honest, that's why you came here, that or the mysterious exterior appearance) do come at a cost, however. They are quite pricey (~$13/cocktail) and the reason for dropping a star: every time I've ordered it takes around 15 minutes for that deliciousness to arrive at my table. One time it took closer to 25. We considered leaving, but stuck through it. Yes, I get it, craft cocktails have special ingredients and take time, and yes, I've worked in the service industry for years, but this does make for a slightly frustrating experience every time. It's prudent if you plan to have more than one drink to order the next one when the first arrives. Otherwise: great atmosphere and drinks....

Funny thing is I was so excited to try Jasper! My friend told me about it and how good drinks were. I popped into town and it was setup as a Christmas pop it—perfect! Or so I thought.

While standing in line, the hostess ask the couple in front of me “how many?” They responded “2” she says okay I only need to see “1” ID and would you like bar or table?

Well moments later she comes to me and says “how many “. I respond “2” she days okay I need to see both IDs. This was a flag for us because she only asked for 1 ID from the couple in front of us. My friend immediately responded but you only asked for one ID before. The hostess looked down to the ground. She also never asked if we preferred bar or a table. This certainly felt like racial profiling and that doesn’t sit right with me—honestly if it weren’t for standing in line so long and it getting pretty late we would NOT have stayed. While the drinks were good I would rather spend my money elsewhere and you should too....