Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse
Restaurant · Shockoe Bottom ·

Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse

Restaurant · Shockoe Bottom ·

Elegant brick eatery with elevated Chesapeake fare and steaks

steak
lobster
special occasion
filet mignon
crab cakes
ribeye steak
oysters rockefeller
happy hour
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse by null

Information

2306 E Cary St, Richmond, VA 23223 Get directions

$100+

See Menu
Restroom
Popular for dinner
Dinner reservations recommended
Cozy
Dressy

Information

Static Map

2306 E Cary St, Richmond, VA 23223 Get directions

+1 804 643 6900
bookbindersrichmond.com
@bookbindersrichmond
𝕏
@bookbindersva

$100+ · Menu

Features

•Restroom
•Accepts reservations
•Popular for dinner
•Dinner reservations recommended
•Cozy
•Dressy
•Romantic
•Trendy

Last updated

Jan 14, 2026

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10 Hidden Bars and Restaurants in NYC

"A hidden, clubby bar located within the fifth-floor restaurant of Thomas Keller’s TAK Room, outfitted with a marble fireplace and green velvet sofas to evoke old-New-York aristocratic drinking rooms; the vibe is throwback and refined, with an emphasis on classic cocktails and a reservation-only, members-club feel." - Chris Crowley

https://www.grubstreet.com/2019/05/10-hidden-bars-and-restaurants-in-nyc.html
Bookbinder's Seafood & Steakhouse

Betsy A.

Google
What a magical place to dine. It is romantic, waitstaff are spot on, there is a beautiful Koi pond out back. Last, but number one, the food is divine and cooked to perfection. What a special way to celebrate my birthday!!

B C.

Google
Haven’t been to Bookbinder’s since the late 80s in Philly. Hard to beat. Great food and service and loved the ambiance. Not cheap, but you get what you pay for. 5 stars. We will return.

Shanda B.

Google
What an amazing find while out working my gig one day. Decided to bring Hubby for our “half anniversary” celebration and we were not disappointed. From the moment we walked in, the ambiance was classy. We were immediately seated which was good being we had reservations. Our server, Melody, was extremely but not overly attentive the duration of our meal. She ensure we had what we needed when we needed it & quickly removed used dishes from our table. The owner came by and introduced himself & thanked us for choosing to celebrate at his establishment. He later sent over complimentary champagne flutes which was a very fine touch. The food was absolutely delicious. Hubby had the crab stuffed lobster & I enjoyed the crab cakes appetizer with a Cesar salad. No sides. However, the crème brûlée for dessert…chef’s kiss! Hubby also enjoyed a mighty fine old fashion for his beverage of choice. The music that flowed throughout was perfect as it was oldies but goodies and added an awesome touch to a perfect date night. Highly recommend. Worth the price. Please dress for the occasion. Enjoy!

Erika Q.

Google
We love this steakhouse! Every time my husband and I eat here, we always try something new or one of their specials. Their steaks are just perfection. Service is amazing and I can't wait for the day I'm able to get a seat in their outdoor area.

Brian D.

Google
We had a wonderful dinner at bookbinders for our first time there. We both got the filets with shrimp scampi and lobster they were delicious and cooked perfectly the way we like it. Nick our server was a great server and was very nice and professional. We will be back for sure.

Calvin Royster J.

Google
Brought the family out for a celebratory dinner. We appreciate the accommodations they made to get us in on such a busy day! Great customer service. The food was amazing. The portions were generous and the chefs did a wonderful job with presentation and flavor. Not my first time here and definitely won't be my last.

Jocelyn J.

Google
The food was okay very bland in my opinion. Our service started off a little rocky(not sure if it was because they just opened up)and ended up better towards the end. Nice restaurant and atmosphere.

Cheryl L.

Google
OMG! This place is amazing! The food is absolutely the best crab cakes and filet. The filter melted in your mouth. The loaded mashed were so tasty. Bradley was on his toes bringing everything we needed. He’s a Magician, I think. Even met the owner! This is our new special place. Thank you to Jackie for the special twist on my mixed drink! She made it happen and dressed it up nicely too! They even made me a personalized menu.
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Ryan D.

Yelp
Bookbinders is a fantastic fine dining experience in Richmond, especially for seafood. I've never ordered a dish here that wasn't great. Service is very attentive and friendly.
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Dave F.

Yelp
First, the good: Our server (Garrett, I think) was extremely attentive and came often. Our water glasses were never empty and Garrett was very polite. The wine list was very good and had an excellent selection from most regions. The spirits list was also good, with many pours and cocktails to choose from. The menu itself was very much par for the course for this kind of seafood and steakhouse. Two of us started with selections from the raw bar: a shrimp cocktail and oysters on the half-shell. Both tasted fine. For the main course, the scallops looked the best of the four dishes at our table and were apparently amazing. The rockfish special was also delicious and my steak was a perfectly cooked medium-rare. The red mashed potatoes were excellent as well. The table shared two berry bread puddings with ice cream and the bread pudding tasted good. The restaurant was pretty empty, as it was early dinner on a Tuesday. Our table by the window was perfect and we were able to talk and hear each other very well (until the end when a loud table was seated next to us). When we left, the owner was outside offering to take pictures of us with a phone. He had a ring light, posed us nicely, and we got to take home some nice photos, which was a nice touch. Now, the not so good: Although Garrett was super nice and attentive, I'm not sure they listened very well. My béarnaise sauce never arrived and Garrett looked at me oddly when I mentioned it, so I don't think he heard when I ordered it. Also, Garrett forgot my cousin's coffee at the end of dinner, and because we were headed to a show, he had to pass on the coffee due to time constraints. Although the wine list was very good, some wine bottles were marked up 400% or more from what you can purchase them for in the store. I understand when you order a glass of wine, the first glass needs to pay for the bottle, so by the glass is one thing. However, for the bottles to be so expensive I thought was a little excessive. I'd bring your own bottle and pay the cork fee if they allow it. As mentioned, the spirit list was good, but it would have been nice to see some more special whiskeys as well as some varied bourbon choices from Buffalo Trace distillery. When I got my shrimp cocktail, I have to say we were all rather shocked at how small the four shrimp were for $22! I order shrimp cocktail whenever it is on the menu and when it's that expensive, it's usually four to five colossal shrimp that could almost be considered a meal unto itself. These four shrimp were your normal run of the mill large shrimp that you could buy already cooked at your local grocery store for $2-$3 tops. It was really laughable. I don't mind paying a lot for it, but make it worth my while man. Our biggest complaint across the board is that all of the food that was supposed to be served hot was on the warm to even cold side. As mentioned earlier, I ordered a medium-rare filet, which I know is not going to be super hot due to how it's cooked, but it had hardly any temperature whatsoever. A little hot oil would have been an easy fix. Also, I couldn't taste any salt, so I'm not sure anything was done other than cooking it to how it was ordered (ever watch the Food Network, guys?). When I reminded them that I ordered béarnaise sauce (because I know that restaurants can serve steaks cold and with little taste, lol) it came quickly, so of course it too was cold. The thing that was supposed to warm and provide taste to my steak, did neither. Considering the price of things at Bookbinders, this is pretty unacceptable. To cap things off, when the berry bread pudding came out for the two ladies at our table, it was also served cold. One could say it was slightly warm, but it wasn't warm enough to melt the ice cream it was served with and was cold in the center. Although it tasted OK, it just wasn't enjoyable cold. Overall, a cold dinner that costs you over $500 isn't quite worth it.
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Chris M.

Yelp
Great spot. Love the interior, but love the outdoor space with the fountain out back even better! You walk in to some lobster tanks and sets the tone for the seafood element. Dark interior, heavy with wood finish, like a classic steakhouse. Have been a few times and had salmon, ribeye and most recently the coffee crusted filet. Not a huge filet fan, but the flavor on this was great. Lots of sides and apps passed around. In general liked all the food. All three times the service was meh. Nothing remarkable. For the money I'd have expected more attentiveness, more engagement.
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Cameron N.

Yelp
Went here for our last supper during our return to Richmond getaway. We got the cowboy ribeye, the mac n cheese and the shrimp scampi. The food was amazing! For drinks, we had an old fashioned and a lavender martini - both were delicious. I wish I'd had room for dessert, but we had to pass. I loved the lobster tank when you enter (90's baby!) and how spacious the booths were. The music was nice, not too loud and the restaurant was so clean. Even the restrooms were spotless, and I hate public restrooms with a passion. The booths were sticky, and there was no dust anywhere. If I chose two things to not like, it'd be that the scampi had only 3 shrimp for $20 and that I indicated that it was our anniversary during the reservation and it was not acknowledged- though I heard other guests be acknowledged by their servers. We also wanted to sit on the porch, but our server told us it hasn't been open consistently due to the high pollen count.
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Megan Marie M.

Yelp
We came here Saturday night to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday. As special as this occasion is, we don't expect royal treatment but atleast the bare minimum, especially for the price I paid. I'm talking about not getting a refill for water, having to point out that the diet coke needs a refill towards the end of the dinner because the server never even looked at the empty glass and having to wait for so long to even know who our server was. I won't mention his name here but I ask management to have a word with the server who took care of the table under my reservation, Saturday at 8pm. Mind you, there were tables but it was NOT that busy, definitely not if he kept on going back to the table that ordered alcohol. I still was polite about it but he keeps on giving excuses why he could not tend to us right away. Thankfully the entrees we ordered were good, but I have to say I regret spending $200 for such service, it's unacceptable. It took away the enjoyment of the experience, celebrating a birthday at that.
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Dennis T.

Yelp
Our single dinner here turned out to be one of the best meals we experienced on our cross-country trip. After being deposited in a plush booth Diane and I began with a very good Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail that featured shrimps that were not really jumbo in size. Moreover, the original platter had to be replaced because the shrimps were embedded in Cocktail Sauce even though a request had been made by us not to serve the dish this way because of Diane's aversion to this particular type of sauce. The replacement dish was prepared properly as requested. Next we were served a Bowl of fine New England Clam Chowder and an excellent Caesar Salad with tasty requested Brown Anchovies, along with delicious crusty Ciabatta Bread and Butter. For our mains Diane and I shared 3-1/2 pounds of fine live Lobsters. It was just the right amount of food, artistically presented like a crouching animal on a plate. A side of Johnnie's Potatoes added great-tasting balls of fried potato. And this memorable meal was further enhanced by a sweet and unusual New York Chocolate Blackout Layer Pudding Cake ala Mode, a real treat. Service by Joe H. was exemplary. Brick walls, white tablecloths, and black booths resulted in an elegant and upscale steakhouse ambiance. And I felt honored that restaurant owner John Taxin stopped by to present us with a unique Bookbinder's challenge coin in recognition of Diane's military service, and joined us in our booth to chat for a few minutes and pose for a photo at my request. It was a leisurely and very enjoyable meal. I only wish this restaurant was situated much closer to where we live, so we could visit it often.
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Roy M.

Yelp
Best food and service our family has had in a very long time! 9 1/2 out of 10! A gift package from our Son, the outstanding one he is. Thanks!
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J B.

Yelp
We came here for my mother's birthday. As we walked up we saw the owner outside tending to the flowers out front and was very nice. We were sat promptly for our reservation. Our server was very patient and informative, he even gave my son some fish food for the coy pond they have out back. We started off with appetizers: raw oysters, clam chowder soup, and arugula salad; my mom loved her seafood picks and my salad was very good. For our dinners I ordered the cowboy ribeye. I was disappointed with the flavor and the meat itself. I feel it lacked flavor and the cut of meat wasn't the best for a $66 price tag. My son and mom had the salmon which was good. My husband had the crab linguine; that was ok it wasn't the best he has had and not the worst. Overall my mom would go back for the oysters and soup but I wouldn't go back for the ribeye.
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Dave F.

Yelp
We Tried Bookbinders for the first time, Anniversary treat. Yea us! Place is beautiful and easily located in Richmond. Service was epic, Thank You David. Prices were a bit high but expected in this area. This is why I gave 4 stars. Wedge salad was $ 25 (?) Started with a few glasses of wine and I had an Ol Fashion and we tried the shrimp cocktail. Both were great. My wife had the wedge salad w/crab, she didn't care for the Louis dressing, but the balsamic was amazing. I had the scallops with asparagus risotto. This dish was fantastic and it had 5 nice size scallops, perfectly cooked. Risotto was good. Definitely be back for the NY strip! Thank You for the amazing service David!
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Libby B.

Yelp
My husband made reservations here for our wedding anniversary. We were seated inside and we got a customized menu that said "Happy Anniversary" which was special. Our waitress Petra was wonderful - kind and attentive. We got a complimentary champagne toast which was yummy. For drinks, I did the huckleberry fin and my husband did the Bouchard Pinot Noir - both delicious. The sourdough bread was great paired with olive oil & butter. We both got the petite filet cooked medium rare which was amazing, smooth as can be. We shared the Johnnie potatoes which were delicious. For dessert, we shared the chocolate chip brownie which was rich and topped with vanilla ice cream. All in all so yummy! Highly recommend for a special occasion.
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Rachel D.

Yelp
Wonderful spot with excellent steaks and interesting cocktails! Don't miss the goat cheese mushrooms either. One of the best appetizers in Richmond.
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Patricia D.

Yelp
The restaurant has an old world feel making it a perfect date night or special occasion spot. Servers were knowledgeable about the menu and made nice suggestions on what to get. The price is reasonable for the highly quality meals served!
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Crystal R.

Yelp
Bookbinders is definitely one of the better steakhouses in the area. It's a little pricey but the quality is great. The service was meh, and the ambiance was ok but I didn't get to see much as we were sitting by the door. The fromage topping in the steak was amazing!
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Catherine H.

Yelp
Bookbinders is one of those restaurants that should be a go-to for special occasions . It's consistent, it's delicious, and there's not one thing on the menu that will disappoint. The leather booths are comfortable, the lighting is romantically dim, and the exposed red brick is cozy. I always start with a ' old fashioned OR a Manhattan . Warm bread and butter and a wedge salad start the meal. The wedge is everything you could want: blue cheese crumbles, bacon , diced tomatoes, and heaps of rich dressing. This place is my go-to birthday or ultra special occasion splurge for one main reason- the Ḷöḅṡẗëṛ . There aren't many places in Richmond that you can get lobsters over 3.5 lb . (Tip: Don't get it de-shelled- half the fun is cracking it open!) We always order shared sides of (veggies are important ) and . Don't miss the for dessert- it's creamy, the perfect amount of sweetness, and the crunchy torched top is absolutely amazing.
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Steve I.

Yelp
First time visit and was extremely satisfied. Our server was knowledgeable and friendly. The food choices on the menu were fantastic and the food tasted wonderful. Really nice atmosphere inside and of course it's right next to the river for ambience. Terrific place for a date night or special occasion.
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Liz W.

Yelp
This is a fantastic place for a special occasion! I ordered the crab-stuffed lobster, and it was absolutely incredible. The cocktails were spot on, and everything was delicious. Our server was also great.
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Whitney B.

Yelp
Celebrated my birthday here and it was a great time! The food was good, but I wasn't amazed (I think I had set my expectations too high). The highlight of my meal was definitely the crème brûlée! The ambiance was upscale and the service staff were friendly and attentive. I would like to come back to give them another try.
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Amanda C.

Yelp
Came for an anniversary and they pulled all the stops to make it special. The waiter was amazing and attentive, he came back often to check on us and make sure everything was okay. Also gave us recommendations as well. The food was absolutely amazing, my favorite was the ancho-rubbed ribeye steak, the portion size is so good. The portions for everything are so generous. In addition, we also got the clam chowder and it was delicious, genuinely best clam chowder I've ever had. The bread is also so crispy and good, we ate two loaves. Overall the restaurant is beautiful and I will be going back.
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Chandni D.

Yelp
One of the best steakhouses I have been to! A bit pricy but worth it! I'd recommend the prosciutto wrapped beacon, petite filet & the red bliss mashed potatoes! Their bread they give in the beginning is also so good with their butter. I asked for medium and they cooked it more on the rare side but they were super nice and took it back to cook it more! Every other time I've been has been cooked perfectly. Great service. If it's warm outside I highly recommend sitting outside in their patio. It is so well decorated and reminds me of being in Italy. Their desserts and drinks are also amazing! My boyfriend and I went for our anniversary last year and they are able to customize the menu and wrote "happy 2 year anniversary" for us that we were able to take home. It was amazing all around!
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Brian E.

Yelp
Came here for a business dinner recently I like the vibe of this place a lot more than your typical chain steak houses like Ruth Chris Morton's or capital Grille. You can tell this place has been a local institution for a long time for very good reason. The service was top-notch, super attentive, and the fillet I had was absolutely delicious. Sometimes fillet can be a little bland and flavorless but the kitchen did a phenomenal job of putting a nice sear on the fillet, putting a nice little bit of crunch and every bite. I apologize for not posting pictures of the food, but I think that's weird to pull up my phone to snap amongst a bunch of business contacts. Trust me when I tell you it's delicious.
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Nikki D.

Yelp
Loved this place. The ambiance, welcoming at the door, staff was great and the food was absolutely delicious. Highly recommend!
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Stanley T.

Yelp
Yes it is the real deal from Philly. Need I say more? Steak, bisque Lobster. Excellent

Chris L.

Yelp
Very nice oysters at the bar...quite LARGE and quite FRESH. No sand or shell. Superb. Convo was light but common. No one was eating in silence
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Aurora H.

Yelp
Went here to celebrate my son's birthday. Price is expected. Food is always good! Drinks are great! Staff is always a treat from the hostesses to the waiters. Ambience is a romantic type of vibe.

Michele K.

Yelp
Amanda was a great server. The food was outstanding. Will definitely be back next time I'm in Richmond.
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Mary A.

Yelp
This is our second visit to this restaurant and it, again, was impressive. Our server, Cameron, was delightful - a perfect mix of funny, honest and attentive. The setting is beautiful and the dedicated parking makes this so easy. I loved the decorations as you walked in and all of the dark wood. The bar area is really pretty and the old fashioned that my husband had was very well made. For food we had the seared tuna appetizer, shrimp bisque and a wedge salad. All were really good. For entrees we had petite fillet, seared scallops and the special crab stuffed rock fish and the mashed potatoes. I have to say we were very impressed with the meal. For dessert we had the brownie a la mode which I found to be a little dry - my only small issue otherwise everything else was excellent. I was surprised by how crowded the restaurant was for a Monday night.
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Crys A.

Yelp
Great food. Great space & Great people! Love this place! Food is amazing. We usually have our Work Holiday parties here!
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Matt B.

Yelp
Date night started at the bar. The drinks were great. When we were seated, I was impressed by the decor/architecture...really cool space. It took a bit too long for the server to take our drink order, but she wasn't invisible. She'd pop by every few minutes to bring water and tell us she'll be right back. I ordered the Barboursville Chardonnay from the wine list. After 5 min, she came back to say they don't have it. That was the last/only bad thing that happened. Food was pretty good. Calamari was....well it's calamari. The rockfish special was amazing. I'd get it again and again. The pan seared chicken breast was about as good as a chicken breast can be served. I'd prefer to give Bookbinders a 4.5 out of 5, but a 4 would be too low.
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Keneene L.

Yelp
Their happy hour is amazing and affordable. Every small plate and glass of wine that we have tried the multiple times we have visited it was amazing. The service was very personable and welcoming. I would definitely recommend it.
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John D.

Yelp
This place has a wonderful warm & welcoming feel to it. It is clearly an historic building and the interior is magnificent - well worth the trip. We had a lovely meal here. I started with the Oysters Rockefeller. While the oysters were plump, there was too much juicy spinach and very little cheese. For my main course, I had the Herb-Crusted Swordfish. I rarely order swordfish because it's usually too dry, but they did a nice job here. The 4 of us shared sides of Garlic Mashed Potatoes (very good) and Asparagus (okay). My wife had a Crab Louie Salad that had quite a few lumps of fresh crab and was delicious. Come to this place for the ambiance & service, but be sure to bring 2 or 3 credit cards because it's wildly expensive. Nevertheless, this is a great place for a special meal. Food: 4 stars Service: 5 stars Ambiance: 5 stars Value: 2 stars Location: 5 stars
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Omar S.

Yelp
My weekly go-to place! John is amazing and the staff makes you feel welcome every time we visit.
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Caitlin R.

Yelp
Went here to celebrate my friend's birthday and it was way bigger than I expected! The inside felt very classy and had dim lighting. We had already made reservations so we got seated quite fast. They gave my friend a personalized menu that said Happy Birthday with his name on it and I thought that was such a unique touch to the restaurant! Our server was very attentive and knowledgeable on everything on the menu. We ended up getting the lobster mac and cheese, the cowboy ribeye, and the stuffed salmon! I usually get steak whenever I go to a nice place, however, I decided to try something new and I was NOT disappointed! The stuffed salmon was the best salmon I've ever had and the highlight of the food. I also got to try my friend's ribeye and I wasn't that pleased. I think it was charred too long, giving it a burnt taste. The lobster mac and cheese however was really good! Great overall experience.
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David W.

Yelp
Atmosphere is nice for a special night out or a business meeting. I had Crab stuffed Salmon and the shrimp bisque. For pure food experience I would choose somewhere else.
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Hilda M.

Yelp
Came here tonight for the first time, and they did not disappoint. Patricia, our server was sweet and always checked on us and made sure everything was good with our order. The host stand were polite and quick to sit us. The guy who brought out the lobster and salad was also polite and friendly. I loved the atmosphere in the restaurant, and the tables were perfectly set. The food tasted amazing! The stuffed lobster was the best lobster I ever had! Wish they had a location in Fredericksburg.
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Marin W.

Yelp
I've been to Bookbinders a few times and have had good experiences. This restaurant is in my neighborhood and features a lovely courtyard and friendly service, but the pricing is what keeps me from coming back more often. I don't mind a spendy meal, but in my opinion, the prices are on the very high end for RVA and not warranted given the food quality. We can walk to other high-end restaurants in the area, have a comparable meal, and spend far less than what we spend when we go to Bookbinders. Don't get me wrong, the food is good, but it's not amazing. If I'm going to spend $40-$60 on a steak in Richmond, I'd rather go to another fine-dining restaurant where I know I will be blown away by a truly phenomenal steak. The Kona Coffee Crusted Filet at Bookbinders is good, but it simply does not compare to Lemaire's unbelievable filet or L'Opossum's iconic Beef Swellington, with the latter being about $10 less expensive than the aforementioned Bookbinder's steak. What will keep me coming back to Bookbinder's on occasion is the courtyard patio. This beautiful patio is one of my favorites in Richmond. I love the old brick and and the koi pond with waterfalls. It is picturesque and romantic. It's such a lovely patio for a date night. The owner, John, is also extremely personable and friendly. He is very involved with his customers, and I sincerely appreciate his attentive nature. Last time we were there, John took our picture, gave me food to feed the koi, and took the time to tell us more about the restaurant. He's really great. Everyone is a VIP at Bookbinder's thanks to John. He takes personal responsibility for making sure his guests enjoy themselves and it shows. I do enjoy this restaurant and will be back, but I'd come back more often if the food was outstanding or the prices were more competitive.
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Paige H.

Yelp
Come hungry. The food is phenomenal, you won't want to stop despite your stomachs protests. We ordered 3 appetizers and two entrees with two sides....that we couldn't finish. My dress would have popped at the seams. The food was perfectly seasoned, crisp, and obviously very fresh which is pivotal for seafood. The only dish I could have done without was the escargot (which I normally love) as they were a bit overdone and the buttery flavor was lost. The filet was divine, crispy salty exterior and buttery tender interior, paired with crab cake left nothing to desire. Our waiter, Joe, was one of the best we've had in the world.
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Juliana C.

Yelp
Overall a very nice place to go for a night out. Few complaints; starting off with over cooking the oysters rockerfeller, ordering a medium well steak and getting a rare steak. It had great flavor so luckily I was able to reheat it at home. The staff was very attentive and nice. The drinks were amazing and the bartender had a heavy hand (in a good way) the wedge salad was also delish! I would recommend this place for starting the night with their drinks!
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Johnny J.

Yelp
The service was very good. Our waiter was attentive. We had the Broiled Stuffed Salmon and Pan-Seared Scallops. The meal was enjoyable. It was a nice evening out. My only qualm is if value matters to you is I feel I could have had a similar quality meal and paid less.

Carolyn C.

Yelp
Where shall I begin? With the meth head hostess? Our waiter was likable but inept. From the get go the timing was way off. Before our cocktails were served my soup entree was served. He acted like he knew that was a faux pas, but the rest of the meal followed suit. We ordered a bubbly to complement the raw oysters, but the entrees appeared before the oysters and sparkling. While they got cold we waited. Finally he appeared with Cabernet glasses for our sparkling. So far, not so fun. My husband refilled our glasses the entire evening as he never appeared. Let me say that the food was delicious, but the experience definitely did not live up to the $220 price tag. I have heard of Bookbinders my whole life and was really looking forward to this night. We will be sure to inform the concierge at The Jefferson of our experience.
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Kori P.

Yelp
I went here for my sisters birthday and I don't know where to start! They printed happy birthday on her menu which was so special. The food!, I'm still thinking about the food a day later. I've been waiting for oyster season since July and I was not disappointed. Our server, Joe, was great. He was patient, knowledgeable, had great quick decisive answers for menu questions and entertained our questions not of them menu. The restaurant does shareable sides we got Mac, mash and asparagus. I like to think of myself as a Mac and cheese connoisseur and this was the best baked Mac I've had in life so far. The asparagus was tender all the way through to the ends and had a nice sauce on top. My main course was the Kona Crusted Filet Mignon and it was cooked to perfection, of course it is a steakhouse. And they had a ring light at the front of house for pictures to be taken in front of their wine selection barrel. It is on the pricer side but you're definitely getting that value in delicious food, ambiance and service.
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Danny B.

Yelp
Excellent place to take clients, spoil your wife or impress your future wife. Service top notch, food incredible, ambiance is right where it should be.
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Lauren L.

Yelp
We split the porter house. Sides are extra but the lobster Mac and mashed potatoes were really good. Clam chowder was also good. The dark chocolate pate was really good as well. They were definitely busy and would have liked our waiter to come to the table more. Also the parking was full and we had to wait for someone to leave to finally get a spot. Nice attire for this restaurant
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Jeff L.

Yelp
Great Steaks, Appetizers & dessert. Service popped & the atmosphere was great! The owner personally checked on every table , I thought that was a nice touch. Highly recommended
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Mark C.

Yelp
**4.25 Holiday cheer was in no shortage inside this space for dinner after viewing the nutcracker. From the Christmas tree to the nice man taking photos for guests. Service was friendly, accommodating and ever present. Cocktails were delicious. I even had a nice pour of Weller Special Reserve as a night cap! All appetizers hit the spot, particularly the tuna. Now, the one I was most excited about was the biggest let down, the snapper soup. I've had soups of this style numerous times before and this particular iteration is lacking substance. It was creamy and delicious yet was missing the contents of the turtle itself. Much like a clam chowder has bits of chewy clams this should have bits of turtle, and it didn't. Needless to say, it didn't live up to the "world famous" name tag. It's a steakhouse after all and my cowboy ribeye didn't disappoint. It was a perfect medium rare, tender, juicy, etc. and the horseradish sauce on the side set it off just right. All in all a great experience here.

William O.

Yelp
Appetizers (tuna, escargot) were delicious. Rappanhanock River Oysters were very mild with little salinity. Would have preferred a 2nd selection. Cowboy ribeye and regular ribeye steaks cooked medium rare were tasty but not tender and certainly not prime. I would expect prime steaks at the price for a renowned steak and seafood restaurant. Steaks were a disappointment and the primary reason for a 3 star rating. We will seek another place for steaks. Stuffed lobster was very good. Service was a disappointment with waiter forgetting something we requested multiple times.
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Giuliana R.

Yelp
If ever I had to choose one place to call my favorite restaurant in Richmond, VA it is Old Original Bookbinders. I absolutely love this place. Whenever I wish to actually spend some money on a special occasion I always want to come here. Their escargot is my absolute favorite appetizer on the menu. Love their steak with the sauce, the lobster, and their asparagus. I would highly recommend stopping by at least once if you're a RVA local. You wont regret it. Sincerely.
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Flora L.

Yelp
Perfect place for a special occasion or treat-yourself dinner! The steaks are perfectly cooked as I want them to be: crisp outside yet pink/juicy inside. Oh and don't forget about their happy hour at their bar! It's a great deal to try all of their appetizers. I especially enjoyed Seared Tuna and Oysters Rockefeller. Only downside is steaks and lobsters are a bit pricy and sides are not included in the price. If you aren't concerned about the price, make sure you try their sides!! The lobster Mac and cheese and roasted Brussels sprouts are always amazing with the steak.
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Doug G.

Yelp
Recently had dinner at bookbinders about a week ago, and I have to tell you I was extremely disappointed. We have been coming to this restaurant for a number of years now obviously we came back because we always enjoyed. It had a good time good food and good atmosphere.. obviously with restaurants, things change and can happen this last visit left me very very disappointed. I ordered a ribeye steak for my entrée and as I always do, I ordered it cooked medium. The steak came out and as I cut into it, which was very difficult I found it tough, not even cooked close to being the proper way to the point where my knife would barely go through the cartilage, which didn't seem like it had been cooked at all and for ribeye. The steak was extremely tough. I am not and have never been a complainer when it comes to eating out, I always try to be considerate to the weight staff manager and whoever I deal with when I go to a restaurant so I after being extremely dissatisfied with the first steak, I politely asked my waitress to take a look at it and see what they can do to get me a better one to which she took it back and said we will try to get it right. The manager as well then came over and said the same now mind you my wife and son had pretty much gotten through their meal already. After returning with another steak. I took a look at it and again started attempting to cut it this time the steak didn't even seem like it was a ribeye And was also extremely tough and not cooked properly. I don't know if they had a chef in training or something, but whoever it was needed to be trained some more on cooking a steak properly still being extremely dissatisfied. I was going to send it back again, but my wife grabbed my arm because we were already there a while and said just wait. don't say anything and Maybe contact them after we left to which I did. I've called the restaurant a few times to speak to the manager to which I have not gotten a call back this really really disappoints me as that was a $60-$70 steak. I do not mind paying the price of an entrée at any restaurant as long as what I get is what I paid for in this case this was an extreme disappointment terrible and the worst steak I have ever had. I don't know if it's the grade of state that they are buying, but they need to rethink who they buy from but also they need to address a customer's concerns all total we spent over $300 that night and that was without a tip our waitress Jackie was very nice. She did a good job so I do appreciate her efforts The manager terrible for not even responding to my phone calls until I hear from him or her I won't go back and I would suggest that nobody else go either this does disappoint me because as I said, we have been there numerous times and this was the worst experience ever.
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LaTeri M.

Yelp
First, the best thing about this restaurant is that they let you personalize the menu for special occasions, which is super sweet. Second the food was delicious. The scallops were seated perfectly. The steak was cooked and flavorful. The service was amazing and the drinks are good. The restaurant the Decour is kind of outdated, but it has a good vibe overall and I say this because it's like a picture of all the presidents of the United States and who wants to look at that while they are eating.