Edo's Squid

Food is awesome, but I prefer to be greeted by someone when I enter what isn’t clearly the entrance…. There is little outside to indicate a great restaurant is upstairs, but enter through the unmarked door and walk up stairs that look like you’re going into a storage area… When you actually get inside, there is no place to wait. When I asked if I came in the front door, I was given [too much attitude] a cold response from someone who acted as though I was in the wrong place, but told to wait…. Bottom line, make reservations and don’t expect a friendly greeting.

This Italian restaurant was amazing! The pasta was absolutely delicious , fresh, flavorful, and the portions were huge! You definitely won’t leave hungry. We didn’t have a reservation and had to wait about 20 minutes, but it was totally worth it. The atmosphere was cozy and authentic.

Best steak I’ve ever had. Service was friendly, available, and not disruptive. To be honest, the hanger steak dinner could have been split among 2-3 people with the pasta included - prices were fair for a fancy dinner. Will be back!

EdoSquid is always a great choice — the food is consistently delicious. We always enjoy the broccoletti, and they have so many great seafood options, like the clam dishes, linguine and clams, halibut or rockfish with a side of pasta, and the Diablo shrimp or Diablo fish. Always a great meal!

OMG! Just moved to the area, lucked out grabbin' 2 seats at the bar, dropped $250 w tip included and couldn't be happier...it was crowded and we had no reservation but timed it w luck to eat at the bar. Our opening salvo included some Campari-champagne cocktails and some liver somethin my wife always gets if available--fabulous--and after my 1st glass of wine, I opted for a bottle. Our entrees...my wife got an amazing duck dish while I, not very hungry, lookin for somethin lighter, got some pene doused in olive oil and garlic--holy sh!!--this was the best simple pasta dish ever...so much minced garlic it bordered on spicy and the shrooms were great...I'm a meat guy and I loved this dish. This is getting long, but my Somm. wife and our bartender headin to Baltimore, and the stairs up to this quaint place...ambiance vibe atmosphere stellar. Hard to sum up, but this is a hip, neighborhood, foodie gem. 5 stars.

Awesome experience! Very large portions. Get ready for lots of garlic. House wine was well priced and a nice pour. Crowded but intimately so, but be careful if you can't stand loud noise or other humans very close to you. Lots of steps to get up to the restaurant. I was really into the old photos in the stairway!

An absolute delight! We arrived promptly at 5pm. With no reservation, but first in line, we were seated at a wonderful table near the window. We started with the fried calamari and braised fennel. Would highly recommend the fried calamari! The portions are large so be willing to share main courses. 2 mains can feed four people comfortably. We ordered the double cut pork chop Marsala and spaghetti broccoli rob garlic olive oil with ricotta. Best pork chop of my life! We tried a cannoli which was yummy but was not the mind-blowing experience that the rest of our meal was. The service was excellent especially considering how packed and busy it got. One of the best restaurants I've been to in Richmond easily!

Amazing food such a hole in the wall restaurant. TUNA is a MUST! Staff was great will absolutely be back

Service: Good, nothing out of the ordinary Food: 10/10, very good, no complaints Ambiance: Very nice, soft lighting Price: more expensive but worth it

Make sure you make a reservation and that your party is there and ready to be seated. It is up on the second floor of a building. There were quite a few groups waiting in both the hall and the front area, but we were greeted and seated pretty quickly after our reservation time. The tables are very close together, but that is because they are making the most of the space that they have. The service is truly down to a science because there is already olive oil and vinegar at your table and they drop sourdough off quickly afterwards. The specials are outlined on the rolls of paper on the wall behind you. We knew that the portions were going to be large so skipped out on the appetisers for two pasta dishes. They were super understanding about what dishes were vegan and helpful to walk us through the menu because it was our first time. We got the eggplant cooked in a red sauce and the broccoli rabe with garlic and olive oil. It was so basic, but so flavorful. We didn't need to add anything to the dishes and they were outstanding. Normally I do not like paying for Italian that I could make at home, but the way they do it is something else. The food was prepared quickly and we didn't feel rushed at all. It took us less than an hour to be there and honestly such good service. They knew to check on us, but not feel smothered and we were not left alone despite how busy the place was.

Came here for a special occasion and was highly recommended to me by multiple folks. The space is small and very homey - closely arranged tables and we made reservations. Starting off with the bread - slightly disappointed that the bread wasn't warm. In fact it tasted slightly stale. The fried calamari was okay, not sure if it was timing of things but it arrived slightly soggy. We ordered the sausage/ricotta/broccoli pasta - this was by far our favorite dish. Creamy sauce with fresh pasta. We also ordered the hanger steak that came with a small salad and penne with marinara. We ordered the steak medium rare and it came out unevenly cooked with some pieces on the well done side and even the sort of medium rare pieces were chewy. The steak didn't have much seasoning to it otherwise. The upside is the portions were huge - pasta on its own can feed two to three people. Service was also overall really slow with most of our food being cool by the time it got to us which could be attributed to how busy it was but still. Simple things like flagging down the waiter for water multiple times. With how much we paid for the dinner - it didn't leave us as satisfied despite how highly recommended it was by so many people. Not sure if it was an off night or maybe we didn't order the right item. May have to be something we come back for a 2nd chance.

Had a little trouble finding it. Don't let the outside scare you! The inside was still classy and cozy. We had a reservation and got here a little early and were seated immediately. The Prosecco came in personal bottles which was cute. The food portions are huge so if it's just two of yall I recommend sharing. I got the eggplant parm and it was so cheesy and delicious! The bread had a good crust on it although it was a little dry/stale. Our waitress seemed to be having a bad night (it was super busy so maybe just stress?) but the food was AMAZING! The fried squid was fried perfectly! Overall we will definitely be coming back to this hidden gem!

A great Italian restaurant to visit and have a great time. As soon as you walk through its doors, you know you are at the right place.

Up a narrow flight of stairs and through a door flanked by brooms , you'll feel like Harry Potter ‍emerging from his bedroom when entering the warm, brick walled room upstairs that is Edo's Squid . The room where you dine is much more upscale in decor than the humble entryway suggests (think white linen tablecloths and candles ), and it's the perfect place for a nice lunch date or evening out. We started with the fried squid , and shared the mixed seafood and penne with marinara as a table of five. The fried squid was a wonderful, non-greasy, crispy texture and came ǵáŕńíśhéd with fresh herbs and thick wedges of lemon . The mixed seafood pasta had large bucatini-esque spaghetti noodles in a delicious briny, lemony broth and heaped with clams, mussels, squid rings, and shrimp . The red pepper flakes were a great touch. The penne dish was everything you could want from simple, comfort food. The red sauce tasted rich and creḁmy, almost like a vodka cream sauce mixed with marinara, and was heavily dusted with s grated aged parmesan. 10/10 from me! Tip: The portions are definitely large enough for sharing!

After 17 years of living in Richmond I FINALLY made it to Edo's Squid. It was a Monday, November 20th to be exact. This was easy to remember because the love of my life and I were celebrating 7 years of romance. We knew they didn't open till 5:00pm so we sat at The Village Café and patiently waited for 5pm to roll around. We gave them a 10-minute grace period but there were already four people who managed to sneak in there. Reservations you say? What are those? OpenTable? Resy? WHAT ARE THOSE? This place is absolutely full of itself. You walk up this weird staircase to some random ass door wondering if you're even in the right place. Once you enter and see the bar and tables you know you've reached the right place. The lady asked if we had reservations, the irony of the absurdity of this question was not lost on me. We politely said no and were seated right away. Keep in mind it was 5:10pm and I felt super stoked to be sitting down at a table for two. I saw the other tables which are nicely squished together. At those tables you get the privilege of sitting so close to a stranger you're inevitably get to make a new friend. Or you can just sit there all awkward for an hour like an anti-social. Our waiter came over and we put in an order for some red wine. Many of our friends recommended several dishes so it was very hard to narrow it down. We landed on the 'squid, white bean, and arugula' for our app which was delicious. The citrus and balance were perfect. For the main course we ordered the eggplant parm and pasta broccoli rabe with garlic and olive oil. The pasta broccoli was overhyped but delicious. The eggplant parmesan on the other hand was like tasting a masterpiece. My words fail to encompass how absolutely delicious this dish is. When Mama Zu's closed its doors, I was devastated thinking I would never be able to eat this masterpiece. Thank God in Heaven Mama Zu's sister restaurant Edo's Squid carries on the world class eggplant parmesan. We mortals may never know what sorcery is performed in the kitchen but I can assure you, it's incredible. If you have any affection for southern Italian cuisine, even a slight lean towards tomato sauce and cheese, then get your ass over to Edo's Squid and order this. It's enough for two so skip everything else and zero in on this. I'm not sure how much weight my Italian heritage carries or my 11 years as a Yelp Elite so you'll just have to trust me. Edo's Squid is a total vibe. All the locals are used to it. They can afford to be some kind of way due to the cult like following of its patrons. When you put out a dish that damn good it's hard to argue. Edo's Squid takes no prisoners and it doesn't have to pander to anyone. My experience was perfectly fine. Could the waiter have more hustle? Well of course, but it's Richmond. In this city you're waited on by a group of mindless zombies all mad at the world. I've been here for 17 years so I'm used to it. I know this review takes some weird turns and if you made it this far try your best to find your way here. The eggplant parm is 100% worth it.

A hole in the wall spot that I wouldn't have guessed would be as tasty as it was. We had a reservation for 6 and were not seated until 6:37. While this would normally not be an issue the space is so tiny that there's not really room to wait at the bar until your table is ready. We got the mussels and calamari as our appetizers. They were absolutely delicious. I got the broccoletti and shrimp which was a healthy serving and I probably could have split with someone else. My husband and I split a bottle of Pinot Grigio. We would definitely come back but not when we have somewhere to be at 8 pm.

super delicious! i loved the cozy atmosphere in there, makes great for a nice date night. my girlfriend and i always visit for a nice night out, and we leave stuffed every time. if it's just two of you, i recommend splitting the pasta as they give you large servings. the pasta is Argentinian approved, per my girlfriend. we also tried their Squid, Arugula, Garlic, Lemon dish and we were taken away by the presentation and flavors. this place is a great Richmond find- don't be deterred by their entrance!

Edo's squid is If you know you know. located in the heart of Richmond around VCU so you know parking is a pain here! but no worries they have a parking spot that you can park and thankfully it is not a lot. Whenever I got visit Richmond this is a must stop for me to eat. but!! before you go here make sure you have reservations and don't give up because they are always busy so it is a constant ring and you just need to keep dialing lol. Ambiance: this is located in a 2 story almost like house alike, underneath is a lower end hibachi place and you enter on the side door and go up on this super old stairs lol and you will probably think "what did I get myself into?" once you get on top you will be entering in this very small and dark place, they have small bar, counter and the rest is the dining area. Food: We never had bad food here, last time we were here we ordered family style since we have more than 5 on our party. We got the Calamari, fried oysters, garlic oil olive pasta, tuna steak (which is my favorite), rockfish. ohhh my goodness! everything was on point! The Tuna steak you have to order it raw and the cooks there knows how to prepare it. If you have not been here, do yourself a favor and go make reservation for your dinner and I do believe that they are also open for lunch.

We had the most fabulous meal at Edo's Squid - this place is such a gem. I mean this in truly the best way possible, but this place is EXACTLY what you want when you think "man, I just want some really rock solid, delicious, family style italian food". A couple of notes about our experience: - We went super super early (I'm talking 5pm) and I thought that time was actually really great to accommodate kids. In general, the staff was really kind to us as we had our 2 young boys with us! - If you don't like garlic... well, first off, why?... but you may have a harder time with the food here. They love garlic and are not shy about using it in their food. I personally love this, but I could see it being off-putting to some. - The carbonara pasta is a must. Just get it. - Seafood dishes come with a SIDE OF PASTA (and it's huge) -- garlic lovers, get the garlic pasta.

Underrated rager. We always try and stop here when visiting Richmond. Located in an unassuming spot on the second floor of a building, but the food does not match in unassuming nature. Everything we've had has been great here, I like the mixed seafood pasta, enormous and a tad bit spicy. The salads and antipasti has been consistently great on all attempts. Wait staff is always super attentive and friendly, answering all our our probably obnoxious questions. Don't forget to look at the specials posted on the wall!

Edo Squid is a restaurant where the experience almost matches the hype. Small, dark, and on the second floor. Not sure if they had an ADA access. It was a bit cramped. Noise levels were acceptable. Staff was very friendly and attentive and very helpful in choosing, my entrée. I've never had skate wing before and it was surprisingly delicate and well cooked. When friends from out of town come to visit, definitely will put this on the list to visit.

Came here on a Friday night and man was it packed! We had reservations and I highly recommend doing that because the space is small and seating fills up quickly! We came on a day where the high was 96 and you could definitely feel the heat in this restaurant, from the body heat from so many people in a small restaurant to the hot food coming from the kitchen, but overall it was a wonderful experience. We got the squid for the appetizer which was lovely but would have loved a dipping sauce! I got the veal with pasta while the other two people I was with got the pork chops which came with their beans, and soft shell crab with pasta. Overall, the food was so flavorful and thought it plated. My favorites were the beans (surprisingly) and the squid. The pork chops were a little tough in my opinion. Lovely restaurant and staff! Would come again when I get the chance.

Interesting experience for sure. We were able to snag a reservation for five week of but the place was packed. Tables are pretty on top of each other so be prepared to potentially share conversation with the table next to you. Service was good but food took awhile to come out despite us being there for the first seating. Our whole meal start to finish was over two hours. We got the fennel and broccolini to start and they were our favorites of the night. For entrees, regardless of party size you cannot order more than four dishes. We got the eggplant parm, carbonara, pork and fish special. The carbonara was pretty one note, you definitely missed the peas and the eggplant was cold inside and very soggy. We had to season both of these. The pork was the best entree hands down and the fish a close second. All in all it was good food and despite the four entree rule we had plenty of food with ample left overs, just were bummed by some of the food being cold and lacking seasoning.

My favorite food is pasta so my favorite restaurant in Richmond is... Edo's Squid. Do I like to dine in? Not particularly, I will choose take out over dining in but either is a win. People complain that it's crowded and it's a small space but the food is incredible so I say they should just get over it. The fried squid, Karl with spaghetti and sausage ricotta broccoli rabe with penne are our go to orders but you can't go wrong with anything here. Definitely make a reservation or you'll be waiting, and waiting in this small space is just awkward. Take our portions are still big and everything is always nicely packaged.

Very delicious! Service is attentive. Ambiance is dim and a lil cramped, but feels fitting for downtown. Do check it out!

Honestly, a hidden gem! It's not the most accessible as it is discreetly located above a hibachi place, & you'll club the stairs to reach a shut door & wonder if you're in the wrong place, but when you open the door you'll be greeted with a bustling Italian restaurant! We came late on a weekday without a reservation, there was a minimal late but our was still packed when we got in. The tables are uncomfortably close together & you'll hear everything the people next to you are saying, the service is subpar but it's worth it for the food. I got the broccoli rabe, garlic olive oil- w/ricotta + sausage. It was a huge serving! I was able to make multiple meals out of it. It was so creamy & delicious. I was unpleasantly surprised how much it was to add the sausage & honestly the pasta is good without meat too. The cannoli was not bad but nothing to write home about either; but the price was very reasonable for it.

The pasta was fantastic and the inside is very cute. There's lots of vegetarian options as well! I just wish they had a sauce instead of just oil.

Ooo my!! As soon as we went we saw a table with lots of fresh unpeeled garlic cloves ,, smaller tray had freshly peeled garlic..the dishes we had were flavorful, aromatic of fresh garlic. It's a cool spot in downtown Richmond around VCU campus. Some exposed old brick. Simple Italian style table setup. Casual dining with timely friendly service,, feels pleasant, but didn't notice any music playing . My husband's Veal was two large piece delicately prepared easy to cut. Pasta was cooked. Just right,, not over cooked. We finished with cannoli which was light, creamy with good crunchy shell... must be freshly prepared. No overload on chocolate chips either. This is the right touch place. Only two desserts though, tiramisu being second choice. Wonderful experience, gonna need a gym day tomorrow

We always bring out of town guests to Edo's since we love their food so much! The restaurant is small and as other reviews said, go up the stairs next to the Hibachi place. For parties of 5 or more, you have to order family style (only 4 different entree orders allowed but you are allowed to order double of any of those). We love the broccoli rabe penne, butter & Parmesan penne and the eggplant pasta. We also always get the calamari. The special appetizer of baked cabbage was spicy and flavorful, would definitely get again! Make sure to make a reservation in advance and plan on spending a few minutes looking for street parking.

This great little gem is like going to an old speakeasy. Some lonely stairs lead up a narrow corridor to the restaurant. Once inside the lovely smell of fresh garlic being peeled filled the air. Fresh French bread oil and balsamic was served immediately. Great service. Good simple Italian food. Only star loss was for my veal Marsala. It was a bit too sweet for my liking. My son was pleased with a beautiful mixed seafood pasta. Calamari appetizer was good. Only thing was no sauce or aoli. Just lemon. Great cozy atmosphere.

This is one of the few places that I have rated 5 stars. I went here for my girlfriend's birthday dinner and I was absolutely blown away by the food. This place is tucked away nice and cozy right above the hibachi box that I used to frequent back in college and you feel like you're part of some secret club as soon as you enter. It's definitely not for people who are afraid of eating right next to some random stranger but the closeness adds a hint of anticipation while you wait for your food to arrive. They give you a plate of bread while you wait which was nice and warm, soft to touch and it barely felt like you had to chew. The servers were really nice and were very attentive to our needs but all I really was looking forward to was the food. The salmon I ordered was DELICIOUS! Perfectly cooked and it literally melted like butter in my mouth. It was well seasoned with black pepper and the side of lemon helped add a touch of acidity to the dish. Eating the salmon with the spaghetti was not a match I was ready for but I'm afraid to say I would eat it again. The portion sizes were well worth the money and even though it's hard to get through their phones to book a reservation, I would do it all over again just to get a taste of that salmon one more time. You have made a big fan out of me Edo's Squid :)

Kind of nondescript entrance. We thought we were walking up a flight of stairs into a closet, but once we got in the environment is great. Food was even better. They were accommodating for our little one with a high chair. Our server was kind and prompt. Most importantly the food was delicious. Loved the Scungili salad

Lovely establishment. Very "hole in the wall" so be prepared to be next to other tables. Also, bring your stomachs because the portions are huge and it's all amazing.

Arriving at this restaurant for the first time, one has the feeling of discovery of a special hidden place. But it soon becomes apparent that many, many others have also discovered Ido's Squid. A reservation is necessary do to the great popularity of this Italian restaurant. The 4 of us had a wonderful dinner here. We started with the Fried Squid appetizer (of course!) and it was delicious. We also shared the Crostini with Beans & Arugula appetizer and it was also very good. For dinner I had the Mixed Seafood with Spaghetti and my wife had the Shrimp fra Diavolo. Both were outstanding. My Mixed Seafood had shrimp, clams, fish, mussels, & calamari. The others had the Penne with Meat Sauce and the Broccoli Rabe Pasta with Cheese and loved their meals. The portions here, by the way, are stupendously huge. The ambiance was warm and welcoming and the service was pleasant, friendly, & attentive. This is a wonderful restaurant. Food: 5 stars Location: 4 stars Value: 5 stars Service: 5 stars Ambiance: 5 stars

Me and one of my friends was in Richmond for a few days and wanted to have Italian. Some random bartender recommended Edo. So we walked a mile over to the restaurant. Went up some creepy stairs lol and into heaven. The food was outstanding and made exactly how I tasted it in my head. Our waitress was awesome and made good food recs and the ambiance was out of a New York Italian restaurant. Oxtails 10/10 duck 10/10 paired with wine. Will always go back when in Richmond.

Edo's Squid is a true hidden gem. To access the restaurant, you must navigate a narrow and unassuming set of stairs; at the top, the door will open to the dining space. The space is small, but the staff is able to utilize every square inch effectively. Reservations are a must, since there is limited seating. The food came out quickly after we ordered, and was delicious. The portion sizes are very large, so be prepared to bring home leftovers.

We have been coming to Edo Squid's for a long time. Unfortunately, last couple of times was a miss. The hostess took people who came after us to tables, we were then seated in one of the tables that are squeezed together where you are elbow to elbow (have to ask others to get up to let you through), it was too packed and too loud. The food especially the cabbage and pasta/sausage/broccoli rabe has gotten too spicy. Perhaps the red pepper flakes could be offered with the Parmesan. Our waitress was not attentive (seemed bothered when we inquired about a couple dishes on the specials board), never asked if we needed anything (additional drink, water, bread), slammed the beer and cannoli down and we had to ask for boxes and the check. The food we did get was great and a lot of it. Overall though very poor experience.

It was a little tricky to find, but we are happy we did! The food was delicious, the service was friendly and surprisingly fast.

Mama Mia! I love Edo's. I was invited to dinner here before a recent concert event and was delighted by my experience. The door to enter the establishment is just under its sign facing the street. I say this because it is a little confusing to find the entrance as the restaurant is on the second floor. Walking into the restaurant wait staff were peeling fresh garlic in a large bowl so that the smell of Italy smacks you in the face. The wait staff were very diligent and attentive. The wine list was fabulous, to include lemonchello and Grapa! There is obviously a heavy seafood aspect to the menu, think Sicilian fare. There is a great antipasto selection. The entrees are large enough to serve two hungry people, but we order separate entrees. The atmosphere is not upscale but the food and experience make it so. For two people not holding back on wine or food selection we left with a bill of only 135$! Don't miss Edo's and feel confident in making a long drive from Hampton roads for the experience.

One of the few places I like to bring friends and family that are visiting. I enjoyed a couple pre-dinner drinks just across the street at The Village Cafe waiting for Edo's to open at 5pm. About 10 minutes before, there was a line waiting outside on a Tuesday. As the door opened, we all went in a single line up the stairs - where an outsider would never guess that a fantastic restaurant lies ahead. When you first enter into the dining room, I was blown away by a huge whiff of fresh garlic. I'm watching several employees prep mountains of garlic as I am waiting to be seated which does not take long at all. I found the atmosphere quite cozy and intimate. I've eaten here when it is quite busy and when it is, it's very loud and does feel congested. An early Tuesday dinner was perfect. Our waitress was great and answered all questions we had. They also give you a basket of bread - olive oil, balsamic, salt and pepper conveniently on the table. I always look forward to seeing what the specials are that is written on the wall. As appetizing as everything sounded, I went with the puttanesca with anchovies and spaghetti. My partner decided on sausage, ricotta, broccoli rabe with penne which was delicious. The flavors of the puttanesca is out of this world - salty, savory and sweet. I was worried that the olives would overpower everything in the dish, but it did not (unless you took a bite with the olive!). I enjoyed a small glass of limoncello after dinner which was the perfect end. We loved the bread so much that we took a whole baguette home as well as calamari to go. Definitely get the calamari - it is so perfectly seasoned and cooked, you don't need any sauce for it. It also traveled well all the way to Chesterfield, it was devoured right when we got home! Dingy staircase, menu with little to no descriptions, no waiting area - do not let any of these steer you away because the food is phenomenal!

Have the flank steak, no idea how they do this steak but it is always memorable. Restaurant is stuffed with tables, it's loud, servers are purposely curt. Food is always amazing. If you have table of 6 will have to order family style but it's a great chance to try new things. Reservations are a must.

Fantastic food. Came in later in the evening and was seated right away. Eggplant parm as an appetizer was amazing. Carbonara for a main meal was wonderful. Ambiance of the restaurant was great. Would def come again

Great meal, very generous portions, just enough service. The eggplant parm was excellent, the cauliflower pasta special was to-die-for. Three of us enjoyed all the tiramisu we wanted from a single order. Yum.

High-quality, fresh food, simply prepared. What could be better? My son and I joined the 5:00 PM line on a chilly Friday and were thrilled to get a table right away. Our server was friendly and didn't rush us even though the place was hopping. We started with their crusty fresh bread and fruity olive oil and a bottle of Montepulciano wine while we perused the menu. For appetizers we had the fried squid and the crostini with arugula and beans. Oh my! The squid was very fresh, and lightly fried. All it needed was a squeeze of lemon. The crostini was served with wilted arugula and white beans in a garlicky olive oil sauce. So simple, yet so good! For dinner we had spaghetti amatriciana, and veal piccata with fried polenta (as a sub for a pasta side). The pasta was perfectly al dente and the flavorful amatriciana sauce had nice kick. The star of the meal was the veal. So tender, with a piquant lemon caper sauce. The best we've ever eaten. The fluffy polenta cakes were a perfect accompaniment to the veal to soak up the sauce. The portions were so large that my son and I each ate a bite or two of the pasta, and then focused on finishing the veal. The pasta went home with him for a midnight snack/meal. The restaurant is small and the reservation system is quirky (almost nonexistent). Don't let that deter you! Also, the online menu doesn't do justice to the full board full of meat and seafood specials. We can't wait to go back.

Edo's squid is my favorite restaurant in RVA! I love the brocoletti appetizer, and all the pastas. If you go with a group of 5 people or more, you need to order family style, which works out nicely. I highly recommend this place for delicious italian food. Either make a reservation head, or try to get a walk-in table right when it opens.

Food was great. Portions were too big for one/two people. I'm super particular about food with a concerning palette. My job took me around the world and dining at Michelin rated joints was frequent. Additionally, my family is from Sicily and having lived in Italy, I'm very weary of Italian restaurants outside of Italy. We were in town for my bodybuilding competition and I wanted my first meal after to be special. I saw Penne all amatriciana on the menu and thought this place might be worth it's salt. Disappointed they did not have bucatini-- but the penne was fine and sauce was lovely. There was just enough pasta for about 5 -6 people. (We were 3) The Veal scallopini came out first way ahead of anybody else's dish which is a pet peeve. However, it was flavorful. So good! I doled it out to everyone and we enjoyed the protein first. I don't like any foods drowned in sauces, and this dish border line was drowning. The pork chops were ridiculously large-- two thick chops that I could last me 5 meals. Boyfriend did a good job devouring one. Good flavor, but a bit dry for me personally. My daughter enjoyed the side of spaghetti marinara that came with my veal. Huge portion for a side (more of a large regular size) She loved it, and that's all I cared about. Bless her. The place was busy (always a good sign!) and even with a res, we had to wait 15-20 minutes. Very pleased with the food. Waitress was nice and polite. Restaurant was a bit dark and very loud. Hard to talk. Hostess could work on politeness. Happy with my choice. Back on the strict diet now and no more eating out for another 4 weeks.

I was down in Richmond not long ago and found myself at edo's squid for dinner. We were fortunate enough to grab a table as a walk in, but they typically recommend reservations and I can certainly see why. This is not your typical Italian restaurant and without the sign, you wouldn't have a clue this place existed. Upon entry, you walk up a flight of stairs to find the dining area on the second floor of an older building. Definitely an inconspicuous spot, but I like these types of places. For starters I went with an aperol spritz and the fried squid. The squid was lightly breaded so it wasn't too heavy and it was cooked just right. The serving size is enough to share with at least four people too. For my entree I had the all'Amatriciana pasta and I was blown away. I've had this sauce before, or at least so I was led to believe. This was above and beyond any other similar dishes I've had in the past. Sweet and sharp, this dish had me coming back for more over and over. It was again enough to feed the whole table, and is something I would easily order again. If you are ever down in Richmond, highly recommend giving them a try.

Third time at this restaurant, and felt like previous dining experiences and probably better. Consistency in seasoning. Nice and casual ambience. We were a group of five. Fried oysters to die for a must. Also had the calamari with white beans, branzino with spaghetti in a extremely delicious garlic and olive oil sauce, spaghetti carbonara, cod cheeks with an Asian soy dipping sauce, duck breast with crispy on the outside creamy on the inside polenta and beans. Very efficient and friendly service. We always make it a point to dine here when in Richmond. Worth climbing up those stairs where food heaven awaits you!

Absolutely delicious food. The pasta is served family style with more than enough to share. The specials are so good, with the halibut and pork chops being my personal favorites. I love the intimate ambiance, with dim lighting and limited seating so it feels personal and special. I love this place. Don't ever change.

Best restaurant in rva. Pictured is branzino, halibut, and pine nut, garlic pasta. tip: ALWAYS GET OYSTER STEW Other recs include (but not limited to): tuna, hanger steak, braised fennel, squid + arugula, broccoli rabe, the karl

Went to dinner with my sister and brother in law a few weeks back and a few dishes stood out that I wouldn't have expected. We ordered to share and for appetizers we got the burrata with roasted red pepper and the fennel. When I say GET THE FENNEL, I mean it. For mains we got the rockfish, the red mussels and spaghetti, and the carbonara. Hands down the Carbonara was the favorite. The Rockfish was ok but I think I was expecting more flavor from all the rave reviews. The mussels were good and the portions were HUGE. A tad expensive but worth the splurge for a nice night out. Forgot to take pictures of the food but the atmosphere is cute and very Richmond-y. Tables are close together as the space is small but I enjoyed it.

The food is delicious, my favorite bring the bean,sausage & polenta dish. It's a cozy place but usually full and service is not rushed so plan to spend some time on your meal. It's also tight with the tables so avoid bulky coats or bags.

food was excellent and would get Tuna steak evertyime service was exceptional and did not rush us and made great recommendations on pairing wine ambiance was good as we had someone new in town and they really enjoyed the place. congrats on a great evening

So I'm from Richmond and even lived a few blocks from this place! It's hands down my favorite place for pasta in the city! It's consistently delicious and I'm drooling right now thinking about it. The only not consistent thing is the service. It's hit or miss. Sometimes it's great and other times you're left alone in the corner for almost an hour. Anyway, the last time we went the service was on point, but just go with a relaxed vibe and you'll be fine. We got the ricotta pasta with broccolini. It's our favorite! We started with an order of fried calamari which is also a must and a bottle of Chardonnay. They always serve delicious fresh bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The food came out fairly quickly and was everything I wanted and more. We did ask for some more grated Parmesan for the pasta which added a little more zest. Wow, this is the best dinner ever! You won't be disappointed.

Don't believe the hate on here. This place is the real deal. Let me break it down for you. Get the fried sugartoads if they are available. You won't regret it. The service is good and friendly. Bartender was very hospitable while we waited for a table. I personally love the ambiance. It is a tight space but the staff make efficient use of every inch of the place. Love the giant bust of Caesar. Still so good after all these years. Been a staple since my wife was going to school at VCU over 10 years ago.

Seafood was well cooked but the sauce was in flavorful/lacked salt/spices. Bread was amazing and the ambiance was intimate

Very good Italian food. Hoppin' atmosphere. Lucked out with a seat at the bar and had a fabulous meal with my VCU student. Will be back!