Dinamo

Would give them 100 ⭐️'s! This is an absolute hidden gem in the city of Richmond. We stopped in before heading to a show at Altria. Not big, ting place, but we squeezed in at the bar and made bar buddies with the couple sitting next to us since we were bumping elbows. I ordered the Oyster Mushroom meal, and it was one of the most amazing dishes I've ever eaten. Didn't even know you could make it into a full meal. My buddy got fresh made sausage, which he gave me a bite of, and it was incredible as well. If you want some top of line Italian food and not the normal stuff, you need to try Dinamo!

Wish we had eaten here sooner! It was delicious and satisfying. We enjoyed the peppers and Buffalo mozzarella, taglatelli bolognaise, calamari squid ink pasta. The Gelato and tiramisu were perfect.

Roasted chicken was the most bland thing I have EVER had at ANY restaurant in the world (And I ate in England for many reviews). Richmond seems to be a testing ground for what can you get away with and still have a gratuity charge. I watched t 2 young men get a pizza and have a way better experience. Polenta was horrible, roasted chicken was just bad and seasoned by me post cooking. If you are sub par you can make it in Richmond. TRASH!

Found this place on a food recommendation blog about top restaurants in Richmond. Love the mussel and squid ink fettuccini with the white sauce; never had such a combo in other Italian places. The other fettuccini bolognese was just average - the tomato sauce is too sour. The restaurant lies in a cozy neighborhood and close to VCU campus.

The food here is amazing. The gnocchi was very heavy but delicious nonetheless

Given the choice I’d eat here every day for the rest of my life, I think.

Great food and great service. I loved the red pizza and the crust! Everything tasted fresh and had plenty of flavor. The pasta was delicious and the desserts were great as well. This is a spot to check out!!

Love the freshly made tagliatelle! Recommend the mussels & squid ink tagliatelle that is served in white soup, flavored with garlic, red chili flakes and pepper.

Dinamo easily accommodated our party of 8 on Tuesday night. We arrived at 6:00 and were welcomed and seated promptly. The restaurant filled up quickly. Our group was seated in the front of the restaurant and were in a perfect position to watch the "poetry in motion" of the servers as they worked all of the tables and supported each other to provide excellent service. The kitchen had no problem keeping up with the flow. Our server (Emily) assisted us with our orders giving detailed descriptions of the appetizers and entrees. We never felt rushed as our group discussed and planned our orders. Fresh bread (made on site) was incredibly good. Most of the ingredients including sauces and pasta are freshly made from scratch, something that is rare in most restaurants today. Our appetizers and entrees deserve the highest praise for quality, flavor and portion size. We ordered Heart of Palm & Chickpea Flatbread, Beet & Fennel Salad and Mussels appetizers for the group. All were outstanding! We ordered the entrees family style so that we all could share. Gnocchi w/ Pesto, Calamari & Shrimp w/ Squid Ink Fettuccine, Sausage Polenta & Beans, Chicken w/ Polenta & King Oyster. All of us were thrilled with the choices. We were quick to enjoy our food so sorry, I don't have any photos. We could not pass up desserts Tiramisu, Chocolate Espresso Torte with cherries were exceptional and also scratch-made at Dinamo! Dinamo offers a great selection of wine specialty cocktails, espresso, and specialty coffees. I highly recommend this unique Richmond gem!

Such an amazing dining option, especially if you're going to go to a show at the Altria (we went before seeing Tina)! Clearly many people going to the show had the same idea as the restaurant was PACKED to the brim. We got a wide variety of food from the white pizza to the gnocchi (must get) to their tagliatelle (SO good) and one of their flat breads. I also had a cannoli at the end and it was delightful and my husband had their tiramisu and was obsessed. The restaurant itself is VERY tightly packed and loud, so if you're not looking for that kind of vibe, it might not be your cup of tea. Our seats were literally boxed in by the bar seats, but all of the restaurant patrons were so friendly and clearly used to this setup so it wasn't an issue as people just moved out of our way if we needed to get up. All in all, I highly recommend!

We went to Dinamo for our anniversary last night and were absolutely blown away! The food was some of the most flavorful, fresh, thoughtful food we've had in a long time - and we eat out fairly often. We started with the white pizza as an app, for mains I had the rockfish and my spouse had the half chicken with polenta - all three were exceptional. Can't wait to go back and try the rest of the menu! Super cute atmosphere inside too.

This was so good! The restaurant is really small so be sure to make reservations in advance if you can. The food was delicious and came out quickly. I also loved that they provided bread throughout the entire meal...a must for scraping up all the delicious broths and sauces!

Seems majorly disorganized. No hello. No "will be right with you. " nothing. A couple walked in before us. We walked in and another couple in after us. They sat the last couple in the door first when there were only two seats left so apparently last in first seated is the rule? So we left never to return, of course.

An underrated restaurant in Richmond. I've walked by the place countless times and somehow never realized it was there?! It is quite intimate so reservations are recommended. I went with a group of 10 and all of our dishes were cooked to perfection and timed perfectly. Pasta is made in-house. The portions are massive! Every person had leftovers.

Another visit, another unsurprisingly amazing meal. This place just seemingly doesn't miss the mark, continuously solidifying itself as my favorite Italian cuisine AND restaurant in Richmond.

Dinamo Ratings: 4.2/5 Food: 4.5/5 - I had a date night with my boyfriend here, and we both had a great time. I wanted to try their famous squid ink fettucine, and it definitely didn't let me down. Dinamo lived up to the high reviews and ratings, but their service could be a bit better though. Please read the descriptions below for more detail on the pasta and pizza we got to share. - Calamari & Shrimp Squid Ink Fettucine [GET]: It is an Italian restaurant, so we have to get some pasta. The squid ink fettucine was cooked to just the right texture, not mushy, but I think it could be more al dente. It is packed with insanely strong squid ink flavors, a bit salty, but it was delicious. The tomato sauce was rich and complex, so pungent and tangy too, literally a bowl packed with fresh chunks of tomatoes. It might look like a simple dish, but it allows the seafood to really shine from it. It's quite memorable. We ordered extra bread too to dip it into the tomato sauce; it was crusty on the outside and so fluffy and pillow-y on the inside. - Red Pizza [GET]: The pizza was huge, enough to feed 2 people with 8 slices. The crust was so crispy, and the dough was so chewy. Just look at how shiny the pizza looks. There are tons of cheese on top and you can see the olive oil oozing and drizzling from it, seriously divine. The cheese pull was insane. We added sausages and mushrooms on the pizza sausage, which was juicy and delicious. It is one of the tastiest pizzas I've had in Richmond. The pizza is on the greasier side though, so we only managed to have three slices each. Make sure to eat the pizza fast before it gets cold and soggy. Ambiance: 4.25/5 - It is tiny inside, got an old school Italy vibe and with a small bar. However, it's cozy and a perfect spot for a date night. Dinamo only has around 8-9 tables, so make sure to make a reservation. We sat right next to the kitchen and was able to observe the chef prepping the food. The table was cool as well. There was a story printed on it too, about a boy that loves ketchup very much, LOL. There's only street parking near the VCU campus, but it was not that too hard to find one. Price: 4/5 - Portions are massive here, and we had leftovers, and that's rare for us, since we eat a lot. The seafood squid ink pasta was $32, and the red pizza was $18, and each additional topping is $1 extra. Prices are highly than I expected, but I think it's fair for what's given. Service: 4/5 - Our server was average, not the friendliest or the most engaging, but she was fast and efficient. She was quick at giving us the extra portion of bread and got us the parmesan cheese and chili flakes. The food came out relatively fast and piping hot and steamy, so not complaining. BLUF: One of the best squid ink pastas I've had in Richmond. I highly recommend ordering the calamari and shrimp squid ink pasta, and that should be the reason to visit Dinamo. The tomato sauce and the seafood juice just work wonderfully together, literally too dangerous. I would probably not go for the pizza, but pasta definitely a yes if I return again.

Good ambiance! Feels like we are in New York. Pasta and pizza. With many veggie options.

The waitress was so rude. We were here for the first time and she never told us we would be on one check. Then when we asked she snapped at us and told us that was not possible. We asked why she snapped again and took our cards! Food was amazing but would never return!!!

This place is AMAZING. Everything is delicious, including the drinks. The space has a intimate setting that's perfect for date nights or family get together. Service was solid, too.

We are visiting and picked Dinamo because of yelp reviews and it met its ratings. Quite small it's best to have reservations which we didn't although our party of two was accommodated. We enjoyed two pasta dishes after the pepper and mozzarella appetizer. In truth, all the servings we large and we could have shared one pasta dish and the appetizer. I had tagliatelle with marinara which was good while my husband had the special lamb meatballs and fettuccini- in my opinion the meatball dish and red sauce accompanying it was better than the marinara. A lot of diners had white pizza which may have been a better choice. All in all it is a place I'd return.

Absolutely delicious meal, can't believe I didn't know this restaurant was here since I've eaten next-door numerous times. Same owners as Edo Squid I am told, another Richmond favorite. Cannot wait to return!

One of the better dining experiences I have had in months. We arrived for our reservation (reservations for dinner here are a must) and were promptly seated. I had informed the restaurant when I called that one of our party would be in a wheelchair and they remembered to set the table up for easy access. It sounds silly to start off like this, but I have to say the side salads were really good! Really crisp and tasty house made dressing and a large, generous variety of very fresh veg. I was seriously happy with this, more than seems reasonable in hindsight! I gotta get out more..... On to the mains -- my tagliatelle bolognese was perfect. The pasta was cooked to just the right texture, and the sauce was the best I have had since, well, since I ate in Ed's other local restaurants, before the pandemic. The pizza that my friend ordered was really flavorful, with a well cooked crust and lots of toppings. Best in Richmond? Maybe not, but I can't sit here and name 5 better ones. And the crab cakes that my Dear Love ordered were perfectly breaded, perfectly seasoned, and perfectly cooked. The only puzzling thing was the amount of greenery they were buried under -- like a salad amount of baby arugula -- but this was easily removed and the excess ignored. Even the highballs we ordered -- good bourbon on the rocks for me -- were generous pours and good quality stuff. Service was spot-on. Noise level is impossible, so it's not good for a quiet date night. But it is just the ticket for a nice sharable dinner.

This gem of a little Italian, quasi, Russian boutique restaurant is situated across the street from the South end of the VCU Monroe campus and i easily walkable from areas surrounding the college. Quaint decor and a delightful staff are just the setting; the heart of the establishment is their cocktails and incredible food. If you're a chicken liver lover, then you will be in heaven with their offering; a stylish, and plentiful, presentation of six large slices of fresh crostini generously topped with the aforementioned whipped delight, will definitely please those looking for a unique way to start a meal. Beware though; after ordering and before appetizers arrive, you're presented with a warm loaf of their wonderful bread and olive oil which is very tempting to dive into should you not fully realize what is about to arrive. No kidding; both the bread and then the Chicken Liver Pate are wonderful and you will want to imbibe on both counts. Because it IS an Italian restaurant, we had to jump in on the Calamari Napolenta with the Squid Ink Fettucine. Oh what a wonderful red sauce, chock full of fresh and expertly cooked Calamari over that delicious pasta. I am mouth watering just remembering how wonderful this dish smelled (and then tasted), upon arrival. The specials (a whole Branzino or Beef Short Ribs) sounded wonderful, but we had our heart set on their highly praised standards. I just wish we lived closer to make a quick return to try their other delights and specials, but we only make it to Richmond a few times each year. We will, however, be back on our next trip!

My husband and I went with two other couples and everyone raved about their meal! The restaurant is quite small, so I highly recommend reservations. It is simple, not fancy. Perfect for a date night or night out with friends. Our server was attentive and kept the wine flowing! I didn't get pictures of everything but here's some of what the table had: - crostini with smoked whitefish (I don't eat seafood, but my husband said it might have been his favorite thing all night) - roasted red peppers with bufala mozzarella - incredibly tasty and fresh - swiss chard - we all wondered what was so special about swiss chard and why it was $17. then we took a bite and didn't wonder anymore. absolutely delicious. - ricotta gnocchi burro e parmigiano - this was my entree and it was amazing. when I took the first bite and it felt like the pillowy cloud of gnocchi melted in my mouth, I knew I had made a good choice. - calamari & shrimp with squid ink fettuccine - my husband's entree - tons of seafood! huge bowl of pasta - mussels marinara - my friend's entree - more mussels than you could imagine - red pizza - just before our entrees arrived, I want a little crazy and ordered a red pizza too (might have been the wine talking). shared with the table and we all said it was the best pizza we've ever had. zero regrets.

Always exceptional dishes; we like to take out for home meals. Good for candle light dinners.

So good!! The restaurant is tiny, so definitely get there early and/or expect a wait but the wait in so worth it. I got the ricotta gnocchi and it was amazing. The other two I was with got the bolognese and it was also delicious. It was such a great little Italian find. The tiramisu was great way to end the meal.

Thoroughly impressed with Dinamo! Went last night for a Galentines dinner because a friend recommended it. We started with the mussels in their garlic sauce which was SO good. Literally asked for more bread just to dip in the sauce. Wasn't an awful price point either at $17. We all ordered cocktails as well which were very strong but I enjoyed mine. I got the Mic Drop which was like an Old Fashioned. For my entree, I got the lasagna and woah. I've never had anything like it. It was super flavorful, rich and complex. There were peas in it which initially made me question the dish but everything tied together perfectly. The inside is really intimate, great for a date night but wouldn't suggest if you have a larger party bc there's not a ton of elbow room. Will definitely be back!

Ok really nice spot near VCU. My daughter wanted to check it out. First parking is tough right on a busy street. On a Thursday though we found parking on Cary. Warning you have to pay off an app on your phone. I am old and old school so would have taken me days to figure out. Luckily with my daughter who understands that stuff and she entered on the app. Quick point. To the city of Richmond. Have an old peoples way to pay. I suggest 10 cents for two hours. I digress. We went in. Seemed hipster cool. I am not hipster cool so was apprehensive. They had a little bar like setup so we decided no wait let's sit there. This was a quick meal and the bar location did not disappoint. The cook was working hard and it was entertaining watching him work. Quick meal so we both got pizza. One white and one red. Both good and on my pizza scale would definitely get again and again. I am a pizza snob so it was very good. The bread to start was really good Really good. Did not try the other meals but when come back to dine will try the more "involved meals". Off my experience would absolutely recommend.

Consistently excellent! Intimate and relaxed while feeling elevated. It's not just one of my favorite spots for pasta, it's one of my favorite restaurants in all of Richmond.

Old school Italy vibes here. Small but mighty menu where everything looks good. Be sure to ask your server what their recommendations are though, they'll share their favorites & help you pair wines. We went for tagliatelle with sausage & a seared fish. Both were scrumptious and huge. If you're on this side of town, give them a call before you go (they're small and prefer reservations) - you won't be disappointed.

Clam Roasted Red Peppers w/ Bufala Mozzarella & Anchovy. Clam not on menu we just ordered it and both were delicious, the pesto gnocchi was also delicious Fish was over cooked and red pasta was also less to desired.

We did not have a reservation but we're seated in 30 mins on a Sat night. The restaurant smelled so Good when we walked in. We ordered a bottle of Primitovo which is similar to a medium body Pinot Noir. The waitress was spot on when she gave us the description-very good. We had the house salad which had the best dressing and ingredients ever and the house made bread (perfect)). Also shared the red pizza which is enough for 2-8 slices. One of the best tasting pizza we have ever had. Great vibe and food overall!

Was able to make last minute dinner reservations for a party of 4 on a Saturday night. LUCKY!!! It's tiny inside so be prepared to squeeze in to your seat -- so worth it! My girlfriends ordered cocktails and my Husband and I had a bottle of wine. We split a few well portioned apps, so fresh and yummy. And dinner was delicious as well! The bread was perfect too - crusty on the outside, soft on the inside. I was full at the end of the night - would love to go back to taste more! Calamari and Chard (App) was tender with a delicious lemon/garlic sauce. (App) crostini with smoked whitefish was well balanced and not overwhelming. I had the fennel and beet salad....great vinaigrette and the greens were fresh and spicy. Husband had the squid ink pasta - huge serving!

Bit of a disappointment last night. I wanted that awesome Chocolate Espresso Torte with Italian Cherries & Whipped Cream. I thought I might get some Pizza, too. So I parked in front of the store and called it in. I was told no Chocolate Espresso Torte with Italian Cherries & Whipped Cream. Bummer. That was my primary reason for going there. The man taking my order suggested Tiramisu. I reluctantly accepted. I had a 25 minute wait in front of the store, then went to the door, paid, and collected my food. At home, I ate 2 slices of Pizza. I've reviewed the Pizza before; no need to be redundant. On to the Tiramisu. OMG! It wasn't as good as the Chocolate Espresso Torte with Italian Cherries & Whipped Cream, but was unquestionably the best Tiramisu I could recall. I ate it gently with my own Coffee and Icewater. If you like Tiramisu, you owe it to yourself to go to Dinamo. Tiramisu on steroids!

I enjoy spots like this... intimate holes in the wall with good food. How long has Dinamo been open now? Years, but this is the first time I've been. Why? Because the menu does not appeal to me at all. A friend selected this spot for us to get together, and I wasn't looking forward to it because I knew there was nothing on the menu that I wanted to try. Starting off, we tried to find a bold red, something we both like. We tried two as recommended, and neither were good. In fact, to me, they were both downright awful. Vinegar-y and tart. I skipped on wine altogether. I almost went safe and ordered pizza. I don't order pizza. I instead went a little less safe and got the rigatoni bolognese. We shared the Heart of Palm, Chickpeas & Flatbread appetizer, and he got the rockfish. The appetizer was delicious... the flatbread amazing! If the flatbread is that good, the pizza must really be great. My rigatoni was just okay. The rockfish was good. The chocolate torte for dessert was just okay. I don't think I will be a repeat customer at Dinamo... just too many other restaurants that I love more, but this is a solid choice if you see something on the menu you like, and very "Richmond."

Omg I can't say enough to describe this restaurant!! Italian food on steroids!! Love love love!! Can't wait to go back!!

A lot of hit or miss but overall a very worthwhile experience. The dishes we got: Fried soft shell crab: 6.5/10 - it was a very delicate flavor that let the crab shine throughout but maybe a little too delicate (a little bland). For those that aren't a fan of strong bold flavors and something lighter, this dish is just for you. It also comes with a salad with a balsamic vinaigrette - very fresh but nothing to write home about. Not the best soft shell we've ever had and with a price tag of $46, you'd be better off getting something else from the menu. Gnocchi w/ pesto: 3/10 - my partner gave it a 6/10 - I thought the pesto was too salty and too rich of a flavor to be paired with something as soft as gnocchi. You couldn't eat too much without feeling too heavy. Hard pass for me. Calamari and shrimp w/ squid ink fettuccine: 11/10 - This is what is carrying this yelp rating 100%. I'm typically not a fan of red sauces but this dish has *chef's kiss* absolutely magnificent. If I could explain it, it was like when (SPOILER ALERT) Anton Ego in Ratatouille ate Remy's ratatouille dish and enjoyed food again for the first time. Granted, I wasn't spoon fed squid ink fettuccine as a child (let alone much pasta), but this dish was transcendent. I'm technically allergic to shellfish (mainly shrimp) but the I will say that the calamari, fettuccine, and the sauce especially..oh the sauce. A little spicy, very savory, not heavy at all. You need it. Tiramisu: 6/10 - Very strong coffee flavor. Not that big of a fan but would love to try their other desserts. Oh and their bread was really good. A little dry but tastes very fresh. When you dip it in olive oil and pepper with a little cheese or dip it in some sauce, it's the perfect vessel for flavor.

first i want to go over the seating and service first the seating was okay it was very narrow inside then when we first sat down it tool about 15 minutes for the waitress to get to us so we can order. We got bread and roasted red peppers mozzarella and anchovies. The bread was very good soft and the crust had a good amount of crunch. now to the main dishes we had were a half cheese half pepperoni red sauce pizza with tagliatelle with mushrooms and ricotta gnocchi with pesto. First the pizza was on point cheese and toppings were not to heavy on the pizza which was nice. now the roasted red peppers mozzarella and anchovies were fine anchovies fishy but not too fishy mozzarella on point had a good amount of olive oil on it red peppers were good. now the ricotta gnocchi with pesto was very salty not that great. now last the tagliatelle with mushroom was also very salty not great. now the ambiance was okay not much overall a 3 star

Oh man. Yummmmmyyy. Luckily got reservations in advance for this cozy little restaurant. The squid ink pasta is absolutely delicious. Not from Richmond so can't compare to other pasta places around there but it was memorable. Service was good, drinks were great, and have zero complaints.

Amazing tiramisu--the best I've had in a long time, actually. The calamari squid ink pasta was alright--fairly standard, but I was hungry and ate it all.

A small place with a small menu that carries a big punch! Do yourself a favor and get the asparagus salad (with crabmeat) - it was fresh, delicious, and flavorful! The rigatoni with the ramp pesto was unique and refreshing, and the red pizza has a ton of flavor. Perfect place to go before a show at the Altria, but make a reservation because it can get crowded quick! Parking can be tough in the area, but they have a small parking lot behind the restaurant off Green Alley.

1. They do not separate any part of any check at the table. So 1 person in your party must pay for everyone. 2. The waiter found it oddly bizarre that I asked which desert was the freshest and made that day. He even rudely commented on how I "seem to only like fresh food", your not supposed to speak with customers in that way. 3. The ONLY options they have to put a tip, are 20-25-30%. For these small fixes they can make yet seemingly annoying ones, I don't see myself being back.

After being told for months to try Dinamo, I finally took the plunge (albeit a 5:30pm early dinner). We were seated in an empty space that was quickly filled during our meal. The server was very quick, but not overbearing and was very pleasant. We started with the Roasted Red Peppers with Mozzarella and Anchovies. This was the "star" of the meal according to my partner. The sweetness of the peppers paired nicely with some of the best anchovies I've ever had in Richmond. All swimming in a pool of delicious olive oil and topped with a MOUNTAIN of shredded basil. I just wish there was more bread to sop up the olive oil, but I'm sure I could have gotten if requested. I just knew I was excited for the entrees. I had the Squid Ink Fettuccini with Calamari. Squid ink pasta is one of my favorite comforts and this one was just so light and soft, but not mushy in the least. There were tons and tons of calamari rings and the sauce was a simple marinara with a slight hint of heat. It was a great way to let the pasta and calamari shine. I could have eaten it all and not felt guilty bc of the lightness of the pasta. My partner had the chicken with polenta and it was pretty good. I loved the jus and kept sneaking dips with bread. The polenta was rather salty, but not inedible in the least. We finished with the tiramisu and espresso. The espresso was very smooth, and the tiramisu looked delicious. Tiramisu isn't my thing, but my partner said it was pretty good. I would definitely go back and do recommend getting a reservation well in advance for a weekend dinner. Also- had the leftover pasta for lunch the following day and it was even better.

While on a trip to Richmond, we came upon this little gem. We were looking for something downtown. When you walk in you can't help but enjoy all the wonderful aromas in the place. Our dishes were incredible including the wines we selected. We sat at the bar as we did not have reservations. Very friendly service. I highly recommend it. Street parking is almost impossible but the is a parking lot across the street.

Booked this for a date night dinner before a concert at the Altria Theater. So happy we did! The place was tiny but the flavors and service were huge! I had the Mic Drop cocktail (highly recommend for the whiskey fans), and the sausage entree. Both were well crafted, flavorful, and you could just tell cooked with love! We also tried a caprese type salad and bf had the chicken entree. So glad we checked it out! If we lived there, we would go back!

I was visiting RVA for the weekend & decided to try this place off of the reviews. We went on a Saturday around 7:15 and waited about 30-40 mins for a table, the restaurant is very small, yet cozy. Though it could use some more lighting, as by 8:30 it was very dim inside. The servers & staff were great, the food size was generous, but the food itself was bland! I ordered the bolognese and it was basically just noodles with a little sauce mixed in, honestly tasted like a can of chef boyardee with an $18.00 price tag. My mother had the ricotta gnocchi w/ pesto, she was not impressed, as it was very salty & too cheesy. Enjoyed my trip, but will go somewhere else when craving Italian food.

Dinamo is still killing it. We ordered their red pizza with sausage and onion, and it was just as delicious as always. Such a nice treat for a rainy day! I can't wait until it's finally safe to dine in at Dinamo again.

When Dinamo first opened, I couldn't wait to try it because I knew this was the next project from the owner of Mama Zu and Edo's Squid (two of my favorite Italian places). But the menu just didn't wow me. So I waited (too long), until now. What a mistake that was! My friend and I started with a wonderful dry Prosecco and a roasted beet salad with fennel and a side of feta. First, you should know that I hate beets. I only agreed to this because the server promised me that this would change my mind about them. She was right. As a matter of fact, this may be the best salad I have ever eaten. Roasted beets, shaved fennel and greens topped with a balsamic dressing and a side of feta. Pure heaven. I had the broccolini and provolone sausage, served with creamy white beans (in a tomato base) and grilled polenta cake. FAB-U-LOUS! My friend had the swordfish piccata, cooked to perfection with a side of fresh green salad and an incredibly balanced lemony/caper piccata sauce. Perfection. The beets were on the regular menu, but the other dishes were 'specials'. All of their pasta is house made. The fish is fresh, perfectly cooked, and maintains the high standards I have learned to expect from the incredible Ed from Edo's and Mama Zu. One additional note. Service was impeccable. It was a perfect dinner all the way around!

Excellent menu and creative cocktails. Loved the intimate setting and tenured staff. A must do!

Wonderful staff and amazing food! Went there twice in one week! First time specifically for the beet salad with feta! Never disappoints and big enough to share with 2 or 4 depending on what else you are ordering.The squid ink pasta with seafood delicious! Tagliatelle with mushroom's and the swordfish were all delicious! Highly recommend!

When you walk in the door and see the marble bar with the large Italian Espresso machine on it it is easy to forget that you are on Cary St. in Richmond and not a cafe in Florence! Dinamo is in the same family as Mama Zu's and Edo's Squid. For the longest time they weren't open for lunch, but when I saw that had changed, I popped in for a bite. I was not disappointed. We ordered the Matzo Ball Soup, the Reuben, and the Calamari with chard. The first thing that struck me was the huge portions! The second thing was the authentic style in which they were cooked with an open kitchen where you could see what was going on. In true fashion like its sister restaurants, It was a style of food that you simply can't find anywhere else in Richmond. All of the food was fantastically cooked with just the right amount of garlic and lemon. The service was great, and we were in and out in less than 45 minutes. Pricewise, it was a little much for lunch, but all of us had leftovers. The place only has about eight or nine tables, and I'm sure at dinner time it must be packed, but it was an excellent place for lunch stop. Highly recommended!

I've been to Dinamo when it first opened. It haven't been back since. For some reason we always end up at Mamma Zu's or Edo's Squid. Though after visiting it this go round I question why we don't come here more often... well at least for what I always end up getting at Mamma Zu's I could totally come to a Dinamo and not have a wait. Granted we did come here on a Wednesday and made reservations for 4 there was only one other table at the restaurant.... with 5-6 other tables free. It is a much smaller restaurant so my rationale is we always think it may be packed some we end up not choosing to go here. Regardless, might need to add this to the restaurant rounds. Unbeknownst to me, this was going to be my last dinner outing before having my little boy the end of January. He ended up making his appearance 2.5 weeks early! We decided to forgo appetizers and get dessert instead. We did get our fill of the complimentary bread which is the same bread you get at Mamma Zu's and Edo's. Three of us got Squid ink Pasta. One with mussels in red sauce, one mussels in white and I got Clams in white. The last time I had Squid ink Pasta was at Mamma Zu's. It was a special that had a mix of seafood in it, all I remember was that it was absolutely delicious, so I was excited to have the Squid ink Pasta with clams as I love to order Clams in white with spaghetti at Mamma Zu's. Literally it tasted just like I remember it at Mamma Zu's so delicious. I do want to point out that if you ever want to order Clams in White at Edo's... word of advice... Don't for some reason it's not the same and I can't even say it is even good... I ordered it once years ago and was so disappointed I have never attempted to try ordering the same thing at Edo's again... that is probably the reason why I've always preferred Mamma Zu's over Edo's. Dinamo's version is the equivalent of Mamma Zu's though. It seemed like the other girls with he mussels also enjoyed their dishes. My other girlfriend decided on the Gnocchi Bolognese... I tried some... I felt like the Gnocchi was a bit dense... can't say it was the best I've ever had but not the worse either. The Bolognese was flavorful. While I haven't been to La Grotta since it was downtown and it's been probably over five years I remember that their Gnocchi Bolognese was awesome and super light. For dessert... we got the Tiramisu, Espresso Chocolate Torte and Salted Caramel Gelato. All three were really good but the Espresso Chocolate Torte was really yummy... I probably could've eaten that all by myself and top it a la mode :) I also took home a to go order for my husband... the fish stew and a white pizza with sausage. The fish stew was awesome... definitely had a massive kick of spice but so flavorful... wish it had more actual fish in it though. The pizza was also really delicious, just like the pizza you get at Mamma Zu's or 8 1/2! All in all if we miss the cut off standing in line when it opens at Mamma Zu's or no reservations at Edo's we would totally see if Dinamo is a possibility! NOTE: It is also fairly close to Altria Center so this would be a possibility if you are going to check out a show at Altria

Although Dinamo has been open for some time (re-opening in June after a Covid closure), we had the pleasure of visiting for the first time yesterday. As soon as we walked in the door of this classic "hole in the wall" location right in the middle of the VCU area, we knew we were not going to be disappointed as the smell of roasting garlic and Italian aromas filled the dining room. We then proceeded to enjoy what ended up being one of the most satisfying and enjoyable dining experiences we've had in quite a while. The Beet and Fennel salad with feta exceeded our expectations, perfectly balanced and dressed. That led us the surprising Swiss Chard and Calamari dish, with a fantastic lemony broth that the crusty bread irresistibly dipped in multiple times. We then shared the roasted half chicken entree, with a crispy edged polenta and King Oyster mushrooms. Do not order this dish without those mushrooms! Covered in a light gravy, this was just a fantastic comfort-food masterpiece. Portions are large, and we took quite a bit home. The Nebbiolo we ordered proved to be a great choice for complementing all three dishes. Our waters were never less than half-filled, and the staff was attentive and professional. When we return, we plan on trying one of the many seafood entree's, and perhaps one of the pasta offerings. A great discovery for us, and we look forward to our next visit. Thank you to the Dinamo team!

I eat at a lot of places in a lot of cities all over the country, and Dinamo is as good as any Italian Restaurant I've eaten at. White Pizza with anchovies, mushrooms and mushrooms...if the mushrooms hadn't been pre-sautéed, would've been a 5 Seasonal Tomatoes and Burrata Cheese with Basil Chiffonade was spot on...the anchovies just added that extra umphhh! Squid Ink Pasta with Scallops in a Butter/Garlic Sauce was Awesome...the scallops were cooked perfectly and the combination was delicious! Thanks to Kim for the service and Dinamo for a meal worth raving about...Don't Walk, Run if you're in or around Richmond!!!

Food was amazing but service was truly awful. If the food wasn't so good, I would never come back

Fantastic restaurant! We had a sausage pizza, Pasta, and some deserts and loved them all! They only offer takeout now, but are incredibly safe and the food travels well. Highly recommended if you are in search of Italian in RVA

Food very good. Server not very nice. Service very slow (cocktail orders took about a half hour, food took a long time, too).

4th time here and I've been remiss in writing a review. Small, quaint, eclectic place. The staff was exceptionally knowledgeable about the menu and wine list and appropriately attentive throughout our visit. I like the simplicity of the menu. If you're looking for an Americanized Italian menu with pages of options and the basics, this isn't the place for you. Nor would it a long menu make sense for a 40-ish seat restaurant. Wine list is also simple yet but with a nice selection of Italian wines with a range of price points. Started this most recent trip with the Caponata w/ flatbread. Amazing flavor. Large portion for 2 - would recommend for a table of 3-4 to share especially given the table bread is tasty. Could possibly serve as an entree itself. Rockfish entree was amazing. Perfectly cooked and seasoned. Melt in your mouth. Highly recommend. Rigatoni w/ bolognese was also fantastic. An incredibly well done bolognese and fresh pasta. Tiramisu and the affogato were nice ways to finish a great meal. Both fantastic and well executed.