Lillie Pearl
American restaurant · Grace Street Commercial ·
Southern African American cuisine, short rib egg rolls, lamb shank
Southern African American cuisine, short rib egg rolls, lamb shank
"A Southern-styled restaurant offering regional comfort dishes that reflect the area’s culinary traditions." - AFAR
"A thoughtful take on Southern African American cuisine, Lillie Pearl impressed me with dishes like short rib egg rolls—braised beef short ribs mixed with collards, pimento cheese, vegetables, and Thai basil sauce—while the lunch menu leans toward salads and sandwiches (fried chicken, slab bacon BLTs); if you can order from the dinner menu, the tender braised lamb shank atop Jollof rice is not to be missed. The group also operates Buttermilk and Honey Fried Chicken and Jubilee." - Missy Frederick
"In the Richmond, I found something to like around the clock at Pearl, the all-day cafe and bistro from the team behind Pizzetta 211. At breakfast the toasted farro bowl and the wood-fired bagel with smoked salmon stand out (although avocado toast and granola are "present and accounted for"). At brunch the star is a "magnificent assemblage" called Eggs in Purgatory — lamb sausage, spicy tomatoes and polenta — and at dinner I’d start with the soft egg before moving on to the soft and luscious handkerchief pasta in a sauce that exhibits just the right amount of restraint to create a genuinely gratifying sense of unity." - Andrew Dalton
"I also noticed Pearl, another Richmond newcomer offering seafood and drinks from the Pizzetta 211 team." - Caleb Pershan
Chef Mike Lindsey’s Sunday brunch weaves West African influences with Southern comfort—short rib burritos, peach cobbler French toast, and polished hospitality. Spotlighted by local editors and regional outlets.