Farm and Oak — Restaurant in Short Pump

We were very excited to try this place. Right out the gate, the customer service was lacking. My wife stood at the host station while I parked. Two young ladies never greeted her, talking amongst themselves, addressing others who came in after my wife. Finally, we were acknowledged AND seated by a nice young man (Robert) who seemed to be a consistently hard worker throughout our time there. Once seated, we were greeted by Jada, who also did a good job as our waitress. I did notice 3 managers going around, greeting folks, refilling drinks, and asking about customer's experiences. We both ordered the Short Rib Burrito for brunch. Beautiful presentation, however the potatoes inside had no seasoning, while the short rib also lacked much flavor. The star of the show was the queso, because without it that would've been one bland burrito. We did also notice other "service" issues, like one couple being seated at a wobbly table and then just finally moving. We had just witnessed 2 of the managers before they arrived move that table and chairs and position it for a large party. Guess they didn't think to check to see if the table was stable. The biggest surprise was ironically the "Service Fee" on the check. I didn't even notice the fine print on the menu that others verified in many of these other average and lower-rated reviews. People, if you're going to charge this "fee", you best be giving me Chick Fil A (or Ukrop's grocery store) "my pleasure" kind of treatment. It seems the owner thinks that paying people more from the start rather than performance-based tipping compensation is the answer to staffing problems. However, it's ENABLING most of these young people to not care because no matter what, they all share the 20%. I'd rather you charge me $13 for a good burrito rather than $11 for a so-so one and make the quality people that you need to hire EARN their money. Heck, keep paying them more, raise your prices, and let the servers earn their tips by providing great service. I know it's hard to find quality people, and you think the answer is to pay more and pass it on to the customer, but why not up your food game, charge a little more (most would pay more for delicious food), and hold yourselves AND the people you hire accountable?? Based on other reviews, it's obvious the "Service Fee" isn't popular, and yes, run your business the way you think is best..but don't expect the customers (the reason you're in business) to return for such a mediocre or lackluster experience. Sam, the GM we spoke with said to me feedback is "how we get better". She also, as a good faith gesture, removed the fee. I did tip $7 on a $25 bill ($2+ more than what the service fee would've been btw) and it was because of our waitress' good service. Well, that's my feedback on how to get better, and it's backed by 56 years of being an eater of (and appreciating) good food and 44 years of successfully working with others, training them, and managing expectations. The speed of the leader is the speed of the team. Work isn't easy sometimes. You've got a nice place and a good menu. Listen to your feedback. Make changes. Maybe your new place will not only survive, but thrive. If it doesn't, there's 5 other new places waiting to give it a try in this competitive...

We finally decided to dine at Farm + Oak last week Friday. We entered into a lite and modern with a rustic flair atmosphere. The dining hall was open so the rustic did not appear heavy.

Great calm and friendly atmosphere.

We wanted bottled water and they were out. They went out of their way to get us bottled water. That was really amazing!!

The drink we ordered, specifically the Steal Magnolia was excellent! Very balanced, not too much gin, not too sweet. It allowed the botanicals of the gin to come through. So enjoyable!

The food was also delicious! From the appetizer to the dessert everything was perfect and well balanced!

We had the Fried Green Tomatoes, they were not heavily battered so you could actually taste the tomatoes and the sauce added a nice kick!

I had the Crispy Skin Salmon and I have to say this was probably the best Salmon I have had in Richmond! (Even though I had to order it very well done!!!) The side dish, collards, also very good! Everything was perfectly seasoned.

We also had the Braised Beef Short Ribs on a bed of mashed potatoes with a side of collard greens and roasted root veggies. Wow! The Ribs were tender!! The potatoes were real (with pieces in it!! Yum!) and again everything well seasoned.

The portions were perfect, the presentation was magnificent.

The desert: We ordered Peach Cobbler to take home. What a great way to end this foody experience!! Hands down best dessert EVER! We discussed just coming here for a night cap and dessert!! Excellent!!

I think I’m in love with this place!

I hope it will stay this way! It wasn’t super busy but even if they are - I hope they take their time with food and presentation as they have - I rather wait for my perfect dish rather than get one fast and mediocre.

Also, all the staff were attentive, professional and very friendly. It just added to the wonderful experience.

This place is a must taste...

When you're going out to celebrate your wife's birthday, the stakes are raised in regards to the intended experience. Everything has to be better!

And...everything was!

This was our first experience dining at Farm and Oak and we were not disappointed. From the second we walked in and were greeted with a smile and calm, professional demeanor, we knew were in good hands.

My wife is adventurous when it comes to food and was excited reading the descriptions of the menu items.

Farm and Oak's twist on classic Southern cooking is well-imagined and well-executed. The flavors are new and, yet, not. Everything was fresh and the flavors popped.

Our server was personable and knowledgeable. With natural charm and poise she guided us through what was popular. Which, as it turned out, was pretty much everything. She wasn't a salesperson just reciting the evening's specials, she was a friend recommending her favorites.

The cocktail was smashing!

The appetizer was a tasty, perfectly portioned and a great way to begin our exciting dinner.

Our dinners were amazing. There was nothing extemporaneous on our plate. Every detail worked. Everything had a purpose. Delicious. Needless to say, the birthday girl was very happy.

Our exceptional meal ended with what may be the best banana pudding I've ever had. Just right size and, again, a successful twist on a classic.

Our first experience was everything you want your first time in a restaurant to be: across the board, from atmosphere, service and, most importantly, the food, FIVE STARS.

We've since recommended Farm and Oak to our friends via conversation and social media posts. All the responses from those who took our suggestion had similar experiences as we did. Nice to know 'consistency' is another key word I can add my review.

Farm and Oak offers a high dining experience in a casual setting.

There is...