Lillian

10/10 highly recommend. If you like oysters, they have a wonderful selection, bigger than any place within 20miles (5-6oysters). Beyond the oysters everything is divine. You could close your eyes and pick off the menu and be delightfully satisfied each time. Their sides like house made saltines are a sleeper, the bread & butter perfected, and cocktails are dreams fulfilled. We tried most the menu & are looking forward to going again. Very refreshing to pick this spot on a whim and have it exceed expectations! If you’re looking for an upscale lunch spot, romantic date, special occasion, or anything in between - highly recommend. 10/10 easily.

I went for oyster happy hour on Saturday. They only let you order 12 oysters for the $1 happy hour. They have a great wine selection. Oysters were great. The fixings were yummy.

A good place to sit, have good seafood conversations and drinks. The lights are dim making it a calmer environment. Seating is limited so try a reservation if you can. Cocktails are nice, and the wine selection is very good, plenty of options to pair with your food. Not a seafood lover, they have none seafood options that are equally delicious. I typically go once a year for a birthday celebration, but need to make a point to go more often.

A truly lovely experience! We drove from Norfolk to Richmond for the night and had the absolute best meal. The ambiance and service were perfection. Thank you, Lillian! We will be back!

Food and drinks were amazing! Oysters were clean and shucked well. Only downside is there is a dozen oyster limit for happy hour but everything else was awesome! I got the silken tofu which was one of the best tofu dishes I’ve ever had. And the coffee drink with cherry and cold foam was like dessert in a cup. Sourdough was piping hot, stretchy and had a good bite.

My wife and I had a fantastic experience. The service was friendly and down-to-earth. Free sparkling water, love it. Everything we had was tasty. Too often, chefs try to get fancy and mix ingredients that just don’t get along—but not here. The dishes were exciting, varied, and genuinely delicious!

Good variety of oysters and a bunch of cool cocktails and drink options, the smoked fish dip with roe is incredible and the presentation of everything is 🤌 Plus lots of really nice people working here. The seaweed horseradish for oysters is genius. Definitely worth a trip, especially if you love seafood, and for sure a good place to take someone you want to impress.

Had an absolutely wonderful dining experience here. Everything was perfect from the atmosphere and service to the creative and masterfully prepared dishes and cocktails. It is evident that the staff are well trained and attentive and the head chef is a genius. I plan to come back here again for sure

One of the best meals I've had in Richmond. Sophisticated yet simple menu with a wonderful open kitchen and courteous staff. Interior is sleek and modern. Can't wait for my next meal back!

The food was amazing. Incredible flavors. You're able to see everything prepared. Probably not a great set up for large parties, but great for intimate meals. Service was fantastic, they knew all the flavor notes and had great recommendations. Happy hour is from 4-5:30. They have a selected $1 per oyster variant and have some beer/wine specials. Would go again

Our server was very nice. But the staff that clear plates/cups kind of rush you along! Literally took the last oyster off the tray and she cleared it before I could use the accompaniments. Oddly restrictive? For a half dozen oysters you are only allowed to pick 2 kinds and they are steep in price compared to other places in RVA. The mignonette could be better honestly. Clean, modern ambiance and the stools are a good height!

Went to Lilians for happy hour with some friends...definitely the time to visit. While the majority of the restaurant is standing or bar seating, our group was lucky enough to get the only booth in the place. The decor and atmosphere was modern and the wall to wall windows lent itself to a very light and airy space. Service was very attentive as well. The Lilian martini with oyster vermouth was a very pleasant surprise and probably the best drink we had there. The other drinks were creative and interesting but the martini really shone. During happy hour the Sauvignon Blanc and the Sea Salt Lime beer were also pretty decent for the price. As far as food goes, we got 3 dozen oysters and they were shucked exceptionally well and you could tell that they were fresh and of high quality. The mignonette was decent, although I think they could've done a little more to elevate that aspect of the dish. The hamachi crudo was beautifully plated, with interesting flavors like mustard oil and a nice salinity from the roe scattered across the plate. The hamachi is flown in from Japan and you could also taste the freshness from it. The beef tartare with maitake mushrooms was very good as well. While the beef was tender and savory with soy notes, the addition of the maitake mushrooms really elevated this dish. To finish our meal off, the burrata with asparagus and grapefruit was a nice balance of creamy, tangy, and salty. For a new restaurant in Richmond with a sister restaurant in Lost Letter, Lilian executes well for what it is. Lots of interesting items on the menu to come back and try including investigating the tinned seafood options in the future.

This review is a hard one.. My guy and I popped in late afternoon soon after they opened (to the public) on Jan 20th. We primarily went in just to check the place out, get a drink and an app but decided on a drink only and ended up going elsewhere for food. We personally weren't fans for these reasons: There is only bar seating so it's set up for 1 to 3 people. You could dine with more than 3 of course but would be harder to chat when seated in a row. They do have one dining table but I have no idea how you get that. Maybe first come first serve? The kitchen is the full length of the bar so you are seated at arms reach from all the work going on to prepare food. Not a big deal but distracting for someone like me They have no red wine. No red wine!! Seriously! Was very surprised about that. The menu is hard to understand. Well, not hard to understand but hard to envision what to expect. Namely referring to the "plates" option. Once the restaurant gets more reviews it won't matter bc I'm sure there will be photos to accompany menu items. Also, menu items are a higher cost for even non-seafood items. There isn't anything wrong with the place. We just weren't fans of the seating or the drink and dinner menu. The staff were friendly, both the hostess and server. Was surprised the server didn't "take us through the menu" considering they had just opened. It would've been a nice touch. Overall imo the vibes felt a little out of place for the neighborhood.

Step into an ambiance of great music and cozy low lighting at this restaurant. The friendly staff adds to the welcoming atmosphere, remaining attentive even during peak hours. With an open kitchen, diners can catch a glimpse of the bustling kitchen staff and servers in action. Seating options include bar stools and cocktail tables along the windows, offering a unique dining experience. Upon being seated, your server will guide you through the restaurant's three menus: lunch and dinner options featuring snacks, towers, and an array of plates, accompanied by a selection of desserts. Flip over to find their drink menu, boasting two wines on tap - Prosecco and Riesling - alongside a wine bottle selection. Don't miss their oyster menu, conveniently marked to indicate availability. Opt for a half dozen and choose two varieties, or indulge in a dozen and select four. I sampled the Walrus & Carpenter (saltier side, my favorite of the two) and the Hood Canal oysters (more bitter with hints of melon), both delightful. Served with specialty hot sauce, house-made horseradish jam, and pickled cucumber, each bite was a delight. For a unique starter, try the smoked bluefish dip topped with fish eggs. While I initially missed having bread, the kettle-cooked chips provided a satisfying crunch that complemented the dip perfectly. I'm already looking forward to my next visit and can't wait to share this experience with someone special. .

**A strong 4.25. A cool shellfish centric spot. The space had a good vibe, dug the music and lighting. Our service was fantastic, attentive. There was a good team effort, everyone had a role but helped each other. I found the food to be really good. My wife and I enjoyed the "Petite Tower" to start. The shrimp, tuna tartare and oysters were our favorites. We ended up ordering a half dozen more oysters of a different variety and found these oysters to be as good as any I'd had. Brine levels and flavor profiles of all sorts. We rounded out the night with scallop crudo and anchovy toast. Yum. Everything was well plated and presented. I'd like to see the menu items expand a bit. Yes, I know the place is in its infancy. I'd like that to include a few more tasteful craft beer options. I liked the allocated bottle selection, hope that grows as well. On the pricey side across the board. Overall a really solid night spent here with my wife. We will be back.

Best happy hour in Scott's Addition! Oysters and rose, can't fail. Friendly staff. Small venue but great vibe.

It will be interesting to see if this place survives. It has a very limited and specific menu. The seating is also odd in that it is one continuous bar making it difficult for parties more than 2. I thought maybe the chefs would engage you from the other side of the bar, but they mostly just frowned and stood around. There were good deals for happy hour but like I said a limited menu. Only three beers and one of them was Miller?! I heard multiple ladies around me try to order red wine only to be told they don't have any. That seems like an odd thing to exclude as this definitely comes across as a happy hour/ wine bar. We ordered raw oysters first. The oysters were nice but the minuet wasn't good. They also served it with a hot sauce and something green with absolutely no flavor. I was disappointed. Regular cocktail sauce would have been an improvement. The beef tartar toast was absolutely fantastic. Enough for two or three to share. That gave us confidence to order the tuna dish that the waitress recommended. Unfortunately it was terrible. I think if the tuna had been raw or slightly seared it could have been a good dish but it was poached into a tough grey matter that was nearly inedible. If the menu rotates I would be interested in coming back to see what else they come up with, but if it stays the same, I think once is enough.

Get there for Happy Hour when oysters are $1.00! Inviting comfortably spaced bar area to enjoy your raw bar and wine selections at, lots of natural light, great vibe! The oyster variety was fantastic, I preferred the ones from Lynnhaven, VA. Nice wine selection. The wine was well paired but a bit pricey by the glass.

Super delicious and cool new spot. Loved the variety of oysters available, including several sweet & briny west coast ones. I really dig the vibe, including the counter seating. Added to the aesthetic of what makes this place unique in RVA. Enjoyed every playful dish we had and will definitely be back again soon!

This is my new fave in RVA. Stumbled across this after walking back from Buskey Cider. They opened about a month ago now and it's such a vibe. Limited seating but still very nice!

Stopped at Lillian and was blown away by their oyster options, especially the West Coast varieties, which are my personal favorite. The Crudo was excellent, the cocktails were fresh and on point, and the wine selection was great. We shared a bunch of items with our small group, and nothing disappointed. Highly recommend popping in here for a drink before heading to dinner at their sister restaurant, Lost Letter (1 block away) or just enjoying the evening at Lillian. Either way it's a win, win!

A bit pricey but good atmosphere, quality, drinks, and oysters. Seated right away, and the bartender helped with drink recommendations.

The atmosphere, location, staff, and bar service were fantastic, and we're excited to see this place continue to improve. It was great and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys a top-notch dining experience.

Beautiful place and great service but wow was it expensive. We had one cocktail, one beer and 6 local oysters for $60 ($80 with tip)....

The food and drinks were fine. My experience, unfortunately, was not. We arrived and were told that we could stand at a high-top while we waited (a short time) for a table. A table soon became available, and we were then told that they have a policy against moving people from high-tops to tables. Despite a multitude of empty seats at tables, we were forced to stand. If you want to have a policy like this, fine. But given that we were told that we could move, this promise should have been honored. It was not. I then contacted the owner. She was somewhat apologetic, but offered nothing to compensate us for our inconvenience. Such a shame.

Very good food and drinks. Mostly good vibes. If you haven't been you should come and try it. Especially the beef cheek (totally delicious). Devon is a great server and Chris absolutely kills it at the bar. The bar program here is very well curated and truly deserves appreciation. If you want a great drink and you're in Scott's addition you should try this place out.