Fanboy

Fanboy, a gem right by the Diamond. Amazing food cooked up by an awesome chef. New items hit the menu every few weeks and I have enjoyed every dish I’ve tried. The drinks are beautifully delicious and well made. The bartenders also create their own cocktails on the menu, which I absolutely love. Emily, Fawn and Oshane are an amazing crew behind the bar and offer great service. The vibes are on point at Fanboy. Live DJ playing music, great drinks and delicious food.

Beautiful cocktails, delicious food, friendly staff, and cool atmosphere! This spot is always popping, so we usually sit at the bar- best to reserve ahead for a table or go on the earlier side! Everytime we come here, we are impressed by the bartenders’ creativity and recommendations- whether it is Fawn, Oshane, or Emily, we are always well taken care of. We 100% recommend the crab rangoons- best ones we have ever had! It is such a treat to go here to catch up with friends or for a date night, cannot say enough how much we love Fanboy and their staff!!!

Second time visiting but it felt brand new - new menu and cocktails! Came here a year ago and loved the experience so we came back for our anniversary. Love the vibe inside and the food and drinks are stellar. Our appetizer came out tasting burnt and they promptly corrected the issue and brought a fresh batch which were absolutely to die for. Both our entrees were also delicious! As far as drinks, the staff are extremely knowledgeable about their cocktails and explain things very thoroughly. They helped us pick the perfect cocktails for the occasion and meal! Can’t wait to come back!

Awesome ambient, love the outside being a white building and the red luminous light invites you in on an adventure. Once you step in the infrastructure of the building is beautiful. The whole place is such a vibe with great drinks and bartenders were so professional making the drinks look like art. The DJ is playing music live and everyone is having a great time. Will definitely be coming back. There’s also a patio you can sit outside.

love the red lighting ambiance but it does such a disservice to how gorggg the food is it is giving eating in red lighting to pretend im a cannibal type shit I have had and hated tuna in washington state, canada, cape hatteras, a full tuna omakase, spain, and all over but here I had the first time i’ve enjoyed tuna in my life something about her…..

First time visiting this establishment, I had no expectations and quickly realized what a hidden gem Fanboy is. The service was prompt and helpful. The yellowtail I ordered was not only perfectly cooked, rare to medium rare, but truly an experience. The combination of the rice and crispy kale left me speechless. This place is a must, if you can get a reservation!

Good food, good drinks, and better atmosphere. Staff was amazing. Very good oysters, ordered a dozen. I asked offhand what kind of vinegar was in the minionette, and they wrote down all of the ingredients for me! I really appreciated that they went out of their way to help me out! I'm making the minionette for Thanksgiving for my family and my mom is on hospice, so I want everything to be perfect. It means so much to me that they took the time on a busy Friday to do that for me.

Uff…i have so much to say. I tried so hard to like this place. I really wanted Richmond to have a cool vinyl hi-fi bar but… I have been here four times now. The food menu is a joke. They don’t seem to have a theme; I would hate to work in that kitchen, no idea how they handle all those incredibly random ingredients. I’ve been going due to wanting to listen to good music (their DJ line up is decent, mostly local people who only spin vinyl). The sound levels have been WAY too loud every single time I’ve been there. You can’t have a conversation. I asked the DJ to turn it down last time we went bc my girlfriend was literally holding her ears closed. He said he wouldn’t be able to hear his set if he turned it down. Hmmm get a booth monitor guys! Unfortunately, whoever designed this space has no idea how to make a listening bar. It’s all glitz, no smarts. Every surface is slick and hard, nothing soft to catch the sound. It’s an extremely small space, why not lean into that and make it feel cozy!! The speakers they are using are ridiculously overkill. Should’ve gone with some small space-age round ones rather than those unnecessarily massive ugly ones. Also not sure what the story is with the girl who has the shaved head, she seems to be the manager; every time we’ve been there she gives off an incredibly pretentious vibe. She micromanages the bar tenders, and doesn’t seem to be good at realizing when she’s just being straight up snooty to guests. Hope she sees this and considers joining her cohort in wearing a uniform, because it would make her seem like more of a team member. The first time we went she was wearing something akin to a nightgown. Not one to police what people wear but I’ve worked in restaurants and bars and it made no sense that she looked shlumpy while everyone else looked slick in their mixologist-aprons. TLDR: great cocktails at big city prices. Mid-food that’s greasy and poorly curated. Pretentious manager. Bar tenders are very nice. Music curation pretty good but sound design of the space is terrible.

Ambiance: top-tier. Loved the red lights & walls of vinyls. The music was a perfect volume & the DJ killed it. Service: also great. Both the host & server were welcoming & helpful. Drinks: just okay. The mocktail my date got was better than the 2 cocktails I tried. Food: not a favorite. Oysters were really good and fresh; loved the 2 house-made sauces: lemon (I think it was mignonette) & hot sauce. However, the beef tartare was lacking flavor & paired with burnt toast. All we could taste was burnt toast & salt. Then the squash toast was also lacking flavor. Price: high. The small portions gave "fancy restaurant", but the flavors did not. Overall: I MIGHT go back to try a different drink, but I won't be ordering food.

TLDR; great date night vibe! Delicious cocktails and small plates but the entrees are incredibly small and over priced. Food - we ordered the oysters, shrimp and crab rangoon to start. Everything was delicious although the shrimp would benefit from a dipping sauce. For the entree we ordered the agnolotti and the portion was SO SMALL especially for the price. We'll definitely come back as the vibe sets this place apart but next time we'll stick to the appetizers.

Fanboy had a really chill vibe, which I loved. I imagined the music would be great but not too loud -- and it was. It was a bit of a slow night not many people there. I ordered the OnlyFans martini and a dish similar to bang bang shrimp -- both were so good. Our server was awesome and made us feel welcomed right away. At one point, my husband took a couple of photos of me, not realizing flash wasn't allowed. A bartender let us know after the third one and asked us to stop -- we totally understood and apologized right away. But after that, her energy changed. She rolled her eyes, and since we were the only ones in the area, it got pretty awkward. That kind of killed the vibe, so we wrapped things up, paid the check, and left. Overall, we had a dope experience -- the food, drinks, and atmosphere were on point. Just a little hiccup with the photo situation, but lesson learned: no flash photography at this bar!

Updated Review: Still a great place for a late night cocktail and a vibe, but the food has been disappointing lately. The menu has completely changed, removing popular items and delicious natural wine selections that contributed to their initial success. The menu feels more on the pretentious side and lacks consistency. Everything that is fried tends to taste the same and be a bit burned, as if the oil needs to be changed. The music choices remain amazing and the staff is always wonderful. I'd suggest more consistency and bringing back signature items from the initial food & cocktail menu. Juicy wines, Pet Nats, lamb chops, tostadas, lobster rolls, etc. This is what not only drew people in, but makes them come back.

Fanboy was a very relaxing spot for a Sunday evening dinner and drinks. When we went, it wasn't crowded and the waitstaff greeted us promptly. We were celebrating my friend's play closing, and our waitress made sure to mention it and congratulate her. I'm not usually big on cocktails, but we tried the martinis and a mezcal smoke drink and both were phenomenal. For dinner, we started with a dozen oysters and the burrata toast. Then we shared the poke bowl and finished with another dozen oysters. Overall, the food was good. I enjoyed the oysters the most. The poke bowl was interesting with popcorn on top, but it still tasted fresh. I loved our waitress and the calmness of the space, since it was so different from a busy Saturday night. I'll definitely have to go back to try their brunch.

The food was surprisingly delicious! I got their chicken sandwich and it was amazing. The batter was fantastic and the sandwich itself had the perfect amount of sauce. The cocktails were just okay. They did not knock me out of the park, and they were "out" of 2 of them. For a cocktail bar to be out of their specialty cocktails was a bit of a bummer, so I knocked off a star. Cool vibes, good food, good drinks.

Visited Fanboy on a Friday night for Date Night. Originally, I had a reservation but prematurely cancelled it. It was no issue, because while we were quoted an hour for the two of us to wait for seats upon arrival, the wait turned out to be less than five minutes. MAJOR WIN. The ambiance is sexy and the red light makes for a relaxing atmosphere... literally. I felt myself winding down. There's also some eclectic decor to look at including an interesting array of vinyl covers along the back walls. We tried several cocktails including the Jade Stiletto and Ambassador Agave. From my experience, the front page that showcases Fanboy gems, are in a league of their own, above the rest. The price tag mirrors this - but it is worth it! Fanboy is for those looking for a splurge and a WOW - those who are not willing to pay $20 for a cocktail may not be pleased. I kind of had a feeling the ambiance and cocktails would be amazing, but the FOOD! It was to die for. Originally the menu had put me off. It seemed like a lot of fried food and an odd variety of options. But let me tell you, I was blown away. I don't usually find that cocktail bars have GREAT food to go with their libations but Fanboy proved me wrong. Well done. We will be back.

What a unique experience - as someone who doesn't love loud bars, this place had an uphill battle, as its small, poorly lit, and required screaming across the table to talk with my friends. Maybe just not my kind of place - personally loved my BBQ Old Fashioned - the candied bacon on top, although EXTREMELY spicy, was a fun addition to a really uniquely tasting drink that I have yet to find anywhere else in Richmond. Didn't order any food because the portions were so small and $$$ for what they were, but my friends enjoyed the truffle fries and burger. Service was good, reliable. Highlight here is the drinks for sure - just plan to spill your wallet out for them.

I visited for lunch and decided to Uber because of how bad parking can be in the area, but there's a parking lot next to the restaurant. There's no signage so you might walk right past the entrance if you don't know what you're looking for. The decor is so modern and lively, and the music is on point. It was nearly empty when visited but since the restaurant is so small, I can see how it would get crowded during busier hours. I love a good Old Fashioned so there BBQ Old Fashioned was a nice treat. The bacon garnish was surprisingly the best part. That was some damn good bacon. The drink itself was smoky as expected, and the barbecue flavor shined through. I was going to order the Chicken Tikka Masala Dip, but my friendly friend struck up a convo with the server, and he convinced me to order his favorite dish, the chilaquiles (corn chips, tikka dip, bhurta, avocado, queso fresca, cucumber yogurt, pickled onions, fried egg), which contains the same chicken tikka masala dip I wanted in the first place. This dish is something special. As someone who always leaves with leftovers, I was surprised to see myself clean the plate. The culture mashup of this dish is so creative and hits the mark.

Chef inspired tapas. Pleasant staff. Eclectic music Just go. PS-- they accept walk-ins but it's wise to make a reservation.

What a delightful little cocktail bar that I stumbled upon last night! My colleague and I were looking for a spot to grab dinner after our event which wrapped around 9. If you're looking for a spot where you can dine and enjoy a great drink a bit on the later side, Fanboy is a great option. We sat at the bar and Lawrence was our bartender/server and was absolutely delightful. I opted for a dirty martini and my colleague opted for the OnlyFans martini - their twist on a porn star martini. The dirty was made with Cirrus - a locally made Richmond vodka. I was so excited Lena M suggested that to me and I enjoyed it a lot. We also went innnn on the food. Our order included oysters, popcorn chicken, tuna tostada and the tikka masala dip. All were solid but my favorite were the oysters with the chili sauce and the tuna tostada. They also have a late night menu and with another martini my eye would def be on the burger they have on the menu!

This is my new favorite bar, and I've never had a favorite bar in my life. It's classy, modern, hip - a whole ass vibe. Located in little ole RVA, but gives New York and LA. I think I've been 3 times now and have to stop myself from going every weekend. My favorite drink is the Girl scout Cookies, but I've also tried the Banshee, The Milk, Mangoes & Honey, as well as the M&M and the BBQ old fashioned. There's probably not a bad drink on the menu tbh. Haven't yet ventured into food, but will eventually! The only thing I wish were different is that there's no space to dance . And I know, "iTs a BaR", but every time I've gone, the music is so good. To get drunk and then just...*sit* feels like an absolute CRIME.

I love fanboy. They are old reliable late night cocktail and snack bar. Their bang bang shrimp is indeed banging and their burger is delicious as well. This is my boyfriend's favorite spot in RVA THE WORKERS are all attentive and pay attention to detail. I will say I really miss the mushroom Philly cheesesteak please bring it back. The people really want it back.

I came into town for date night . Sat at the bar by myself as a patron visiting from DC. Wtf I'm blown away why don't we have a spot like this in DC. It's a 10/10 I almost am happy it's not in DC .... ALMOST. The bar program is unreal , very unique, inspired even. It's playful and enticing and the skillful bartenders bring the words laced into the recipe to life. I tried the Onlyfans Martini. Which I feel like would be a Drake Fave on account of the passionfruit but what got me was the cold stiff (vegan) Prosecco foam. Far better than any stiff egg whites ive ever had in a cocktail. Next ( i know) i tried the Monterey Martini and as a go to martini girl I have to say I was blown away. The salinity that comes through from the kombu is just the Percy touch to the grey whale gin. The decor the music and the service are all flawless. A hidden gem by far. I've traveled the world and Fanboy is definitely one of a kind

Boy was I not a fan. The issues start before you're even here. There is no signage so it's difficult to tell if you're in the right place. There's also no parking. I made a reservation so I could be sure to get a seat. After struggling to find the place and entering, I received no type of welcome. I stated I had a reservation once I got the bartender's attention. A table was ready and I was able to be seated. After being seated, I was ignored for quite some time. I will give them some grace because the person working seemed to be bartending, seating people, clearing tables etc. However, the amount of time I had to wait for service was unacceptable especially for a place with 7 tables. Drink took forever. On a positive note, the only fans martini is quite tasty! They have no soda at Fanboy so any kind of simple drink is out of the question. We finally got to order and requested a chicken sandwich and burger. Unfortunately the lamb lollipops are only for dinner. The food didn't take as long as the drink. The chicken sandwich was good and so were the fries. The burger was a bit salty and the signature sauce was mediocre at best. Overall not a bad burger. The food isn't what is going to stop me from returning. It's the service. I truly don't think I am their target demographic. They truly showed no desire to provide me with service. I overheard an employee say they have small water glasses there to encourage the staff to interact more with customers. I did not receive a single refill of water in over a hour and a half. I witnessed other patrons have a lovely time and get a bit of background on the restaurant and receive engaged service. My experience was the complete opposite. After sitting there with empty plates and empty drinks for who knows how long, I got the bartender's attention to ask for the check and paid right away. We exited the establishment in silence because why would they waste a thank you or a have a nice day on us?

I went this past weekend for dinner and drinks and it was very much worth the hype! It is one of the coolest spots in Richmond! I loved the atmosphere! It was so lively with the music and the lighting set a cool tone. Our waitress was lovely and the bartenders were super friendly as well! The food and drinks were so good as well! I had a dirty martini as well as Westie's revenge which was an out of this world bourbon and coffee drink! We got the tikka masala dip and a fried chicken sandwich and both were so delicious! Can't wait to go back!

Stopped in for a cocktail after seeing this place on social media. I went on a weekday night and was the only person there. The ambience was nice, but admittedly anti-climatic but as I mentioned I went at an odd time. Bar tender was kind and cocktail was strong. Some days prior reviewers had strong feelings about the music being too loud, but I didn't have a problem with that during my visit. I would definitely return on a weekend or something and try the food to maybe get a better sense of everything, but for what I paid and my expectations I wasn't blown away.

Drinks and vibes are great. Low lighting, cool vibes. Music is crazy loud. Difficult to hear if you're in a medium sized (6 person) group and near the speaker. Fun if ur already drunk and love to scream. Food is great. Blue crab Rangoon 10/10 with the dipping sauce. The double burger is good but literally just a really good Big Mac. If u let it sit for 15 minutes and it gets a lil cold it becomes a regular Big Mac. I've eaten here before and have loved most everything I've ordered. Drinks are good, night float was a crowd pleaser. The columba (not pictured) was a little sour but good.

Way overhyped. The food and drinks are fine, but nothing to write home about. The service was mediocre. At least the place looks cool.

Came here at 4pm on a Thursday to catch up with a friend and had such a nice time. Our drinks were delicious (I had the old fashioned) as was every dish we ordered. We just ordered some bites to share: parmesan fries, marsala dip, tea leaf salad, and lamp lollipops. I can't wait to come back and try more items from both their beverage and food menus. Tea leaf salad is a Burmese dish that I LOVE and it's impossible to find so make sure you give that a try. This place is tiny inside so I'm glad we arrived at a strange hour on a weekday so we didn't need a reservation. There is no sign on the building but it is the small white building on the other side of the little lot next to Sabai.

I'm a fan of Fanboy. I was dying to check this new & hot business out, so I went in with pretty big expectations. I'm happy to say I was happy with the outcome. The friends I went with pointed out how Richmond doesn't have that many cocktail bars, so it's really nice we got this one. We went on a Monday evening. It was pretty dark and the red moody lighting really creates an ambience. As of December 2023, you need to make a reservation if you want to be seated. We were seated at a booth near the window. I was happy for this because the menu is written in red ink like the red lights so you can't read the menu unless you use your phone or some other light source. I have to note that the interior design is gorgeous. The smooth wooden wall and ceiling are yummy for the eyes, and the vinyl collection in the back is literal art. I got the OnlyFans Martini and loved it. The passion fruit foam was incredible. I can't wait to go back for this cocktail again. They also have a great selection of wines (natural and organic wines included!). For food we got the mushroom "cheesesteak," popcorn chicken, and tikka masala dip. We loved everything. Each of us had a different favorite dish (and it was hard to pick a favorite). If you haven't gone already, I highly recommend checking out Fanboy.

Such a vibe. We came here for a work outing and man, this place screams Richmond while also feeling like you're in a much larger city. The food menu is primarily made of small bites and shareables. Cocktails were expertly crafted and they had natural wine (win!). Our server was attentive and accommodating for our larger group. They also have a live vinyl DJ on weekends.

Lots of good, but one crucial flaw! This place's mission is very apparent: create a snazzy, cool, and confidence-inspiring space. It offers good drinks, yummy snacks, and amicable service. No complaints on the restaurant side of this operation! The decor and lighting soften a unique room and create one of the most intimate bars in Richmond. Too bad it's all completely undone by one rectifiable thing. This is a problem that almost every bar in this city has. If nobodies dancing, or even has space to dance, if there isn't a strobe light or a fog machine, then why on God's green earth are you playing the music so loud that you want me to feel like I'm at the club?? I'm here for a cheeky drink and to look cool doing it, and I think thats how you want me to feel, but who can feel themselves if they have to lean over a table and say "What?!" every time they want to talk. I'm conflicted. Fanboy could be a go to; 4 or even 5 stars. But after my time there I'd give it a gracious 3: Average, and only because the fix is so easy.

3.5/5 - I really wanted to love fanboy, but it just fell short for me. As others have commented, the acoustics are such that people's chatter combined with the music make for an impossible time to talk. I was yelling at my friend across the table just to converse and we had to repeat our orders multiple times to the waiter because of the noise. The cocktails were great and the food was very good - but a little pricier than what I think it's worth. Overall I like the space and vibes - minus the noise complaint.

Ok so fanboy is that girl! Boldly popped in around 5 on Saturday without reservations & were put on the list, waiting about an hour at the nearby Sabai. We were eventually seated at the bar. Vibes are intimate & immaculate, lighting is low, and the wait was fully worth it. I ordered the patio crusher with vodka to drink - the name hit it perfectly- light, fruity, & easy to sip. My friend got the OnlyFans martini and let me try a sip; definitely another winning option. For food, we wanted a little sample of a few things so shared the truffle fries, popcorn chicken, and tuna toast. In such a cool space, it's really saying something that the food & drinks were the star.

Fan Boy is a splurge in the best of ways. It's tiny inside, like being inside a red-light capsule or a train car, with a dim and chill ambiance. Service was friendly; we had more than one server and they were on top of it throughout our time there. Our group of four reserved a table several days in advance, which is probably a good action to take for anyone who wants to go here, since it is so small with limited seating. I arrived 15 minutes in advance of the reservation and was seated right away, which was totally surprising and I would've been fine waiting if needed. Since it was the night before the marathon, my other friends took longer to arrive due to the parking situation around Broad Street, but the server was so kind about it and brought our food out as we ordered it. The wait time per item was minimal. For drinks, I ordered the Patio Crusher with gin, which was delightfully crafted with strawberry and basil. It came in a tall glass and was so refreshing. For my second drink, I ordered the Porn Star/Only Fans martini, which was heavy on passion fruit. It was good but I'd stick to the Patio Crusher or try something different on my next visit. In terms of food, I ordered the arancini, which came with three balls and was a tasty bite to kick things off. Definitely not filling by any means, if that's what you're looking for with them. I then ordered the double cheeseburger, which is built smashed style. The Fan Boy sauce was a nice addition to it. I do wish, for the price, that it came with a side though. It looked kind of sad on its big plate all alone. I did try a truffle fry that a friend ordered and it was good, not too heavy on the truffle. For dessert, I couldn't resist the lava cake special. It was such a great way to end the meal. For two cocktails and three food items, my total after tip was $86, which is reasonable. This is a good night out or special occasion spot. I'd definitely return.

Came here with friends for a little brunch and chat. Truffle fries were pretty good, i like mine extra crispy usually. Also got the only fans drink which was fruity and passion fruity. It was a bit busy and we sat at the bar, but service was quick and inside was not crazy loud. Environment is great!

I was recommended fanboy as a hot new spot in VA so I had to check it out. I wasn't very sure where to park when I got there but hopefully you're lucky enough to get something on the side of the building like I was. Fanboy is a small, date night vibe type spot. I wouldn't try to show up with 10 people. I sat at the bar and had a couple drinks (one was the Girl Scout drink) I had shrimp cocktail and the lobster roll with caviar (first time having caviar)... everything was tasty. I don't know if I'd come here for a full dinner, I think I'd have still been hungry. This is more of a spot to get your night started or ended. Worth checking out.

I have been wanting to try this place out for a while now and finally and the chance to. I love the ambiance and decor -- it's giving red light district. However, if you don't like dark spaces you probably won't really like the lighting of this restaurant. I ordered the --- and it was good but mostly filled with ice. I also got the truffle fries, fried chicken sandwich, and sheshotonpeppers. The star of the show was definitely the truffle fries. I usually dip my fries in honey mustard and they didn't have any, but they ended up making their own for me (using honey and Dijon mustard) and I thought that was super thoughtful. The fried chicken sandwich was pretty good too, but for the price I felt that it should've came with the fries. The shesito peppers were not all that unfortunately. Overall, this place has a lot of potential. Service was great and I really like the ambiance and feel. The food is decent, but overpriced and they can work on their ice to drink ratio in their cocktails.

I love the vibe of fanboy! It's an intimate bar with limited seat. Previous times I've been I haven't been a fan of the drinks but this time I loved it seems like they did a big menu change. I'd recommend the columba cocktail & night flight both of those are on the sweeter side. My favorite food they have is the chicken tikka dip, fried chicken sandwich & karage chicken. The service is amazing as well!

I recommend sitting at the bar so you can see the bartenders work their magic for their unique and creative drinks. It is a very small space so I've always gone pretty early to make sure I get a seat or make a reservation. Haven't tried the food here but have gone back multiple times for cocktails and love their rotating menu.

So the bartender, who was also our server, was very nice and quiet helpful. He even backed the BBQ old fashioned with the "don't like it I will make you something else "....more on that later. So let stater with the bad: - the menus were not updated and this lead to some concussion when ordering. We managed to get it sorted with the help of the friendly bartender. - signage....the place has none and doesn't intend to put any up. This was described to us by "if you know you know". We weren't sure the place was open till we pulled on the door. This is compounded by the fact that several adjoining store fronts are closed. The good stuff- - pretty good beer and wine list with several very creative cocktails listed. I tried the BBQ old fashioned which sounds more intimidating than it is. The flavor is really good and it comes off like a slightly sweet old fashioned. - food is creative and tasty. On the table we had a mushroom cheesesteak that you would not have known wasn't meat. We also had the tikka masala dip that was delicious and the truffle fries with black garlic aioli. These were also very good. I would go back again to try some of the other menu items and cocktails. The place is very cozy and the acoustics are great for conversation. Reasonably priced as well.

The food is just 1/3 of the experience. It's definitely a vibe here. I love the combination of flavors and the way the chef lets every food and drink and speak for itself. The menu is the most veggie forward among restaurants of its kind. Superb addition to the RVA dining scene (it's giving Navy Yard, DC or cute downtown LA). Food: You'll need to order the beet tartare, truffle fries, Peruvian ceviche, cheesesteak (this is vegan and I'm a cheesesteak snob who endorses this mushroom & herbed concoction that truly gives honor to Philly's favorite food group) and the donuts. Trust the pairings of your waitstaff and if you get there soon, ask for Chance. I'm going back for the scallops, mezze, shisitos, & lamb (heard a neighboring table raving about these lollipops). Drinks: Highly recommend the milk mangoes & honey and the passionfruit porn star martini. Heads up, it's dark af in there, so be prepared to squint or go at lunch. The after 5 vibe is all chill and ambience.

Luckily had a trip planned to Richmond right after Esquires best bars in America list came out and spotted Fanboy. Made a reservation on a Saturday afternoon (had to move it up due to traffic and staff were super accommodating). The entrance is unmarked, but once you walk in it's full of vibes. Meticulously curated, they make the most of the small space they have. My husband and I both got the caviar martinis and they were amazing. To eat we split a hot dog and shishito peppers, hot dog was incredible.

Fanboy is within walking distance of our place, so we definitely had to try it out and we are so glad we did! We snagged a dinner reservation (this is essential since it's such a small space, especially on weekends) about a week or more in advance for 6pm. We were greeted by a hostess who asked if we were lost because she saw us outside but we didn't immediately go inside because we were early and wanted to check out the building. Anyway, after we told her no and we have a reservation but we're a bit early then she actually welcomed us and checked us in and seated us. Thank goodness our actual waiter was Chance. He's super knowledgeable about the menu, especially the oysters. He was also very attentive and friendly. We started with the oysters and cocktails which were fantastic. Loved my Monterey martini. Oysters were delicious and fresh. Then we moved to the popcorn chicken which was perfectly seasoned and truffle fries were also perfectly seasoned and yummy. Then we split the wagyu hotdog and oh wow! So so good! We loved everything! The vinyl playlist was a definite plus and ambiance was cool too. Basically, we are definitely coming back for date night! Highly recommended!

Food and drinks beyond amazing. I also love the bartenders aprons. It's such a cute little spot that you can go to for a quick drink and snack late night or during the day.

Such a vibe! The place is small so go early or on a weekday... or make reservations. It's a great date spot, solo date or casual outing. Definitely one of those places you bring your out of town friends to. It's a bar! A real bar with fantastic bartenders and small plates for balance. First visit I had the chicken sandwich and fries. Second visit I got more creative and had the tikka masala dip and lobster corndog. Amazing! I wanted to take home the pita chips. The lobster corndog was not what I expected. I was thinking a traditional corndog but no, it's tempura lobster. My favorite drink is by far the Onlyfans Martini but all the drinks are good.

Please bring back the carajillo drink and whatever the pink one was :( my boyfriend and I have been 4 times just to get those and maybe some oysters or a burger or lamb depending on the menu changing, but those cocktails are mainly why we kept going back. We went a few weeks ago for the 5th time to celebrate his birthday since he loved the carajillo so much and I got fries, rangoons, oysters, and we all got different drinks that were sadly underwhelming. I hope the menu switches back or something because the ambiance is still fun, and the service ppl were super nice as always. We went at night this most recent time and the dj was blasting music during like 8pm dinner so it was hard to hear each other too (which wasn't a thing last time we were here at night), I just wanna like this place so bad and I hope they go back to how it was when it first opened

drinks were spectacular & so was service! the vibe inside is so fun too. honestly not as expensive as i had expected either. definitely worth popping in!

Ambiance - 5 stars. Funky! Drinks - 3.75 stars. They don't have many of the more recognizable brands of alcohol. Prices are toward the higher end for Richmond. Food - Meh. 2 stars. Nothing out of the ordinary, portions on the smaller than average size. Service - 4.0 nice, decent. If you want salt and pepper or a bottle of water for the table they act like that's a strange request. Overall, 3 stars. Glad we came, probably won't come back. I give them 18 months.

The hype is real. Awesome new cocktail bar in RVA. All the cocktails we got were very high quality craft level and did not disappoint. The BBQ old fashioned sounds weird but the little bacon garnish might be one the tastiest pieces of bacon I've had. The carajillo is a riff on an espresso martini and also very good. Staff was very friendly and informative on the drinks. And the vibe there is super cool. Love the ambient red lighting and the overall design of the place. Great for a date night or just hanging out. Definitely a contender for top cocktail bar in Richmond.

Super killer dope awesome spot. Bougie cocktails but the menu is all over the place. Don't overthink it. Go in and ask them what you should order and they'll lace you out.

Got there at 4pm on a weekday for drinks with a colleague. No reservation but they sat us immediately. The decor gives me a bit of a retro chic vibe. Nice server, explained they are a cocktail place with lots of small bites. The small bites looked good though I didn't get to try this time. I ordered the "Milk, mangoes & honey cocktail". It tasted just like it sounds, light and creamy. The other cocktails seemed a bit more experimental, so I'll have to try them out.

Had an awesome experience at this new spot in town! Very cozy, intimate, fun vibe for a night out. Service was excellent, it really seemed like all the servers kind of worked together and supported each other, and our main server was very attentive. I LOVE how veggie friendly their menu is. I got the Mushroom Cheesesteak (best veggie cheesesteak I've had) and their Truffle Fries--loved the dipping aioli. They have a small menu, but an excellent variety, absolute perfection. For drinks, I got the Only Fans Martini, it was delicious but you've gotta love passion fruit. Lastly, I also got the Patio Crusher and it was delicious & refreshing with strawberry flavor profile. Just a few things to keep in mind: the lighting is pretty low, dark with reddish/orange as you can see in my photos. It didn't bother me, but I could see it bothering some. It's a small space, definitely make a reservation, but booths are cozy. Otherwise, will most definitely be back--safe to say I am an instant fan of Fan Boy!

I am sad to write this review given that I have been a regular guest at Fanboy since it opened, but I think this should serve as a warning to future guests. I had a reservation at Fanboy last night with a group of four and we were essentially refused service all night. After ordering our drinks around 20 minutes into our reservation, we waited an entire hour to receive anything until we had to walk out. We watched the two servers on shift polish glasses/stand around the kitchen and ignore us the entire time. Our server acted as if talking to us when we arrived was some kind of burden on him (tall gentleman with curly hair), and we saw other patrons who came in after us receive a full course of drinks and food while we waited for some kind of acknowledgement. I will note that we used kind and respectful communication with all serving staff throughout the experience so I truly cannot imagine why we were treated this way. Not only was this a waste of our time but also a waste of the servers time missing out on making money. I have been here many times and never expected I'd feel so compelled to write a review about a more than poor experience. I wholeheartedly believe that Fanboy could be the best cocktail bar in Richmond if the service was not so cold and unprofessional, and unfortunately my friends and I will not be coming back.

Overall, creative cocktails, aesthetic interior and good food, but bit overpriced and service was lacking. I have been here twice, so here are some points to consider: 1: Parking is HARD to find around this area. So, make sure you dedicate some time to find parking before you go. 2: Make a reservation. Though, they were giving my friend a bit of a hard time with changing the reservation when he called over the phone. 3: Service was disappointing. First time I went, the server kept on telling my friend "speak up babe" in a bit of a harsh tone and it happened every time she ordered. I understand the music is loud, but it could have been said in a nicer tone. Second time, server told my friend to not use flash. Even though last time, I used flash to take pictures and flash light to see the menu (it is super dark, so you are straining your eyes to just see the menu). Also, the table next to us was using flash, so my friend was really confused on the server's comment. Also, the server was bit harsh to me when I asked politely about picking up something for my friend (she left her credit card and even called ahead for me to pick it up). He snapped at me and told me that it was not his job to do, but got the manager. Then, the manager graciously and kindly gave me my friend's credit card with no pushback. Usually, I do not leave reviews with negative connotations, but I was a bit off-put with the service. They are Richmond's new "hot spot" so I was expecting a bit more. Yes, the interior is decorated really nice and food/drinks were good, but the service soured my entire experience. Not sure if I will go back...

We ended up sitting at the bar because we wanted to enjoy the sights of all the beautiful wood decor and vinyl. Refreshing crafted cocktails and delicious food...plus, the attention to everything is top notch (ie cloth napkins and beautiful cutlery!) I would go back in a heartbeat!

The new Fanboy just opened in Richmond and I just had to check it out! Fanboy is a cozy cocktail bar and vinyl listening room with a full kitchen. The decor is so fly and the vinyl wall in the back is super dope! Can't wait to go back when the DJ is spinning. The bartendars are delivering great service while mxing up tasty cocktails and the kitchen is whipping delicious eats. This spot is a great add to the bar/restaurant scene here in RVA. Grab your boo or your crew and go check it out y'all. Even on the solo tip!

My friend and I thought we would stop by to grab a cocktail after dinner. She had put us down on the waiting list online but we stopped in. When we came in there were about 5 tables open. The hostess stand was at the back of the bar which was odd to try to determine if we were checking in or could sit down. The hostess let us know that a table would only be open for about 20-30 min and that wouldn't be enough time for food to come out etc. We said that we were only looking to get one cocktail and pop out and wouldn't need more time than that. She then backtracked and said that it wouldn't work. We then asked about sitting at the bar instead and she kind of just mumbled about those seats being on reserve but somehow different than the tables? She was fairly rude and dismissive, it just made us feel like we weren't the young client base their looking for. After we walked out we got the notification that we were off the waitlist but at that point we were not feeling the vibe. It was a bummer because it looked awesome inside and the drinks looked great.