The Sidewalk Cafe

We enjoyed Brunch at this lively and cozy cafe. There was a buzzing atmosphere as soon as we walked in, and the fact that it was packed combined with the appetizing smells made us want to wait. And we were glad we did as it was worth it and we were not disappointed. Service was friendly and attentive, and prices were good. The pitcher of mimosas was amazing to pair with delicious dishes. I had the Eastern omlette which had crab in it and my husband had Eggs Edwina with an English muffin, fontina cheese, bacon and tomato. Both were served with the most amazing fried potatoes seasoned to perfection. All the while funky music had us singing along. We look forward to trying more food at this fun joint.

I came to the sidewalk cafe with a couple of friends and we LOVED our food! We each got something completely different from one another and no compliments! We demolished our food! This place also has a great atmosphere and you really feel like you are in the middle of Richmond nightlife. Definitely will come back again!

We come here for brunch literally every weekend unless we’re out of town. The food is just outstanding and the staff is awesome, super friendly and super good at their jobs. The Cajun hash and eggs will ruin all other brunch for you, but the chicken and waffles are really good too. Honestly I’ve tried everything on their brunch menu and loved all of it.

My EVERY weekend stop for great food, great dranks and awesome staff that I consider family! Customer service above and beyond! Real comfort food that'll make you want to slap somebody! 😋 Portions worth the great prices, too! Them mimosas hit different, too! Love my Sidewalk!

Every time I come here it just gets better and better. Had dinner with my girls for Mother's Day last night. I was so good. Of course I had the French Dip with Fries. So delicious. Tender Roast. I come here for the Food but the Vibe is something special here. And to my waitress you were AWESOME.

on Strawberry street you'll find this little cafe - prior to covid they had a salad bar with a claw foot tub fille with ice centered in the building. Amazing drinks, great staff and lively atmosphere!

Cool spot. The place was packed! We were greeted immediately by the bartender and seated. It seemed like everyone in there knew eachother and were having a great time. Food was amazing and the service was stellar.

Thank you google for helping me find this place! Some of the best food Ive ever had! I wandered into this place on a Sunday during brunch. The atmosphere was lively and I made new friends immediately. The food was impeccable. I got the Sidewalk Benedict and savored every bite. The servers were both gorgeous, attentive, and kind. If I lived in the area Id frequent this restaurant every day. 10/10 HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Sidewalk Cafe is easily one of my favorite places to grab brunch in the Fan. It's a no-frills experience where the food is always good and you never leave hungry. The interior itself can be a bit dark, and has a nice dive bar feel without being dirty. I typically order the Cajun Hash for brunch which is simply massive and always ensures that I have at least one full meal of leftovers for later. The hash is seasoned well and potatoes are cooked through perfectly, being soft while not falling apart. The last time I went, however, I decided to switch things up and for the first time order something off the main menu: the Chicken Parmigiana and a Caesar Salad. The salad was delicious with good flavor without being over dressed, and the chicken was moist with a good balance of cheese to sauce. It was honestly better than what you'll find at many Italian restaurants. And true to form I also left with at least one more meal in hand. The food here is inexpensive, particularly considering the portion size and quality, with entrees costing around $15. The only caveat of coming here - the operation is small and so service can be slow when they're busy. So come with good company, have patience, and just enjoy the Sidewalk Cafe for what it is.

we love sidewalk for late night nachos. we always get the supreme nachos r with chicken instead of chilli and a pitcher of mimosa. service is always so great and the environment is so cute. it's a dive bar worth visiting. the portions are huge!

I have loved this spot for years! Edwina always brought a smile to everyone's faces and now her daughter is there running the show upholding that legacy. Everyone is so nice and the food is amazing! I always get the eggs Edwina! I really like their ranch too. This is definitely one of the best brunch spots in the fan for sure!

Food is amazing and Derrick and Marissa are rock stars excellent service. It gets packed for brunch on the weekend so if you don't get a table right away, I promise you to wait as well worth it.

The portions are insane here! For what you pay it is so worth coming here! The food was delicious, very busy but there was still a lot of room to sit outside and indoors. The server was very friendly and courteous. This place is pet friendly! The server filled up a dog water bowl with fresh water for my dogs so that's a plus! The parking is in the street and free.

Food was so good and hot!! the big portions were great too. service was quick for as busy as it was.

Richmond staple for brunch or a late night meal. The inside is always a bit crowded but the service and food is always top tier. I usually come to Sidewalk for brunch because I love the Cajun hash and eggs but last night I ordered buffalo wings and the hot fries and it was everything I was craving. The wings were fried crispy and were a good size and the fries were hot, crispy and loaded. I have a whole meal leftover after dinner so the portions are great for sharing as well. My sister gets their Philly sub every time and enjoys that as well. Lots of options on the menu for the whole family!

Rambunctious atmosphere for a Saturday afternoon - but great cheese burger. I highly recommend the spaghetti a la Greek and will be coming back for late night comfort food.

Visited here on a late Wednesday night because I was hungry and I've been meaning to try this place for years! It feels like a little hole in the wall place and they were a little busy, but I wish the service was a little better. Our waiter wasn't super attentive and didn't take our order for almost 15 minutes. I ordered a cheesesteak with fries and it was good, but nothing I would go crazy over. My friend opted for a Greek salad and she liked hers. I definitely plan to come back and try this place again because I always hear GREAT things, so I'll be sure to update my review!

If you're looking for a cute quiet brunch where servers are super attentive this isn't for you... BUT If you're looking for a no frills brunch where the energy is always high, drinks are flowing, and the music pumping, this is your spot! Everyone in Sidewalk feels like family and you can definitely tell they have their regulars. Expect a wait during prime time brunch hours on Saturdays & Sunday's! It took about 30 mins before I received my pitcher of mimosas bc our server was verrrrry busy (it was only her and one other on the floor) however, she was very sweet and had great energy nonetheless. Menu is extensive and a bit overwhelming, but there are options for everyone! The prices are good and the portions are huge. Can't go wrong with the Cajun hash or the club!

Best brunch spot after a long night out ! I usually get it to go or take a spot on the patio if I can. It's a bit crowded inside and loud but that just shows even more how much everyone loves this place. Service is good for how busy these people are but I'm also very understanding when it comes to this as I used to be a server myself.

Love this spot! It's one of those places that just feels authentic and local and hasn't changed in forever because it doesn't need to. I've been for brunch, lunch, and dinner, and it's a fun and quaint atmosphere any time of day. On the weekend there's often a bit of a wait (they don't take reservations) but it's worth it! The bathrooms are tiny though (probably the smallest I've ever seen) and definitely not accessible, just FYI. Brunch: I got the Greg's big breakfast. Best deal to get all the options! And of the course the mimosa pitcher. Lunch: the club sandwich was classic and timeless. Also recommend the onion rings - they make them really good!! Small up-charge from the fries but worth it Dinner: the sidewalk spaghetti - WOW. there's a lot of places in Richmond that serve big plates of spaghetti and this is absolutely one of the best. The addition of the peppers and mushrooms makes this amazing. It's so much food you will have dinner for 4 days - highly recommend! I really think you can't go wrong with anything on their menu! Definitely coming back to try more things.

Went for brunch...loved the atmosphere. Food was good & decently priced. would def. go again

Really good. Looking good, smelling good, and tasting like Great place with cozy atmosphere and nice service

Hands down one of my top fav hole in the wall's in Richmond, not to be taken offensively, it's a true gem. Don't expect fancy, but do expect great food & huge portions! Biggest con, really just the bathroom can be a bit ick lol. But it just adds to the hole in the wall aesthetic I guess ha, I just try to avoid it at all costs if I can Definitely get the Greek Nachos for something yummy & unique from your average nachos.

This was an amazingly delicious surprise. The restaurant it's self doesn't look like much, it is definitely a "Dive Bar". But the service was great and the food was even better. Warning!!! The portion sizes are HUGE and easily shared between 2 or 3 people. The turn around time for our food was surprisingly fast as well. The prices are very reasonable which makes it even better. Heads up, they do NOT have Pepsi or Coke, they have RC Cola. We started out by ordering the Greek Plate appetizer which was enough food for three of us to split and still have leftovers. The plate included feta, hummus, tzatziki, fish spread, grape leaves, olives, tomatoes, pepperoncini peppers, cucumbers, and red onions which had been marinated with their house Greek dressing. It also can with a huge loaf of fresh bread that's had a perfect crust on the outside, and was soft and warm inside. Everything on this plate tasted fresh and was full of flavor. We did order a side of pita bread which I felt went better with the plate than the loaf of bread, but it was good either way. The red onions with the tzatziki sauce on the pita was my favorite combination. The marinade of the onions brought out a sweetness in the onions that made the flavors bloom. By the time our main dishes arrived we were so full from the appetizer, we could barley eat the main dishes. We order the Richmond Sub which was loaded with 3 meats, cheese, lettuce and tomatoes; this could easily be split between 2 people. The picture I posted does nothing for the actual size of this sandwich; each half was probably 4-5 inches. Once again the bread was on point with the outer crust being crispy and the fillings made a perfect combination of flavor (I even took a few of the red onions from the appetizer plate and added it on sandwich...Game Changer). We choose the potato salad as our side which unfortunately had a little too much salt for my likings, but it still had an overall good flavor. We also order the Black & Blue Caesar salad, which once again could have easily fed 2 people. It was a huge salad filled with crips romaine lettuce that was tossed in a basic Caesar dressing. What made this salad over the top was the blackened ribeye steak they placed on top. We ordered it rare and I kid you not, the steak was able to be pulled apart it was so tender and melted in your mouth. Combing the steak with the blue cheese and you could taste heaven in your mouth. Our last trip to Richmond left me questioning the restaurants in the area, but this place has redeemed my faith in the city. This will definitely be a repeat spot for us.

The ambiance is not the cute little cafe you'd expect but the food is delicious, affordable and the staff are very friendly. No wonder it's packed every time I've been there. Lol Videos below are from a recent Sunday brunch. Catch the Chicken & Waffle special whenever it comes around. I ate it before i remembered to take pics

10/10 would recommend. Food is plentiful and reasonably priced. I had the club sandwich and the chicken kabob with veggies and rice . Both entrees were fantastic. This place is always packed so be prepared and patient. I would've taken a picture but go surprise yourself and go get some.

I've been going to Sidewalk for almost 30 years. It's not fancy. Get the black bean nachos and add chicken. Got a handjob in the 90s in the back corner booth/table sitch on the right (back by the toilets) by a girl that knows who she is of she sees this. Sidewalk is for the real Fan/Richmond people.

A solid Fan brunch spot! On a Sunday without reservations and a desire for mimosas, Sidewalk came in clutch for me and a friend! When our original rooftop plan fell through due to weather, we drove around for a bit & saw that it looked like we might be able to snag a seat at Sidewalk without a wait, which isn't necessarily easy for Sunday brunch at around 10:30 a.m. We found easy nearby parking, snagged one of the last few open booths and had ourselves a great ole' brunch. The key? $11 mimosa pitchers, baby! And these are not small pitchers or heavily watered down either. A good deal that speaks straight to my bargain brunching heart. Food was also delicious and plentiful! Vibes are definitely divey & a little sticky, but I'm here for it. Can easily have an indulgent brunch for $30 or so!

Phat Boy Philly herez. Your boy ain't lyin. He is solely herez for the wings. Visiting from Philly. The wings are literally the best in the northeast (or south so they say). Reminds me of Ground Round back in the 80s when it was cool to have high cholesterol. Crispy. Peppery. Perfect sauce. This place is a must try for the wings. Phat Boy out!!!!

breakfast from @sidewalkcaferva . First time visiting and can confidently say it will not be the last. The our waitress Shelby was so attentive and kind. Such a yummy breakfast with friends: breakfast burrito, huevos rancheros, French toast, and the Cajun hash & eggs. Washed all down with multiple mimosa pitchers RVA

I stopped in for the very first time with a group of friends on Saturday night. It was pretty bopping inside, but not squished. We were seated in the booth right next to the door, which needed to be spaced out a bit. Our server was super friendly and efficient. I ordered a gin & tonic and the Sidewalk Sub for dinner. My friend had warned me that Sidewalk has huge portions, and she was not kidding. My hoagie was massive. I had to ask for aluminum foil and put the other half in my purse for the next day. The vibe inside was chill, though I don't think I'd sit next to the door again when it's in the low 20s outside. There's no buffer and people kept walking in and out nonstop. I definitely need to stop back for brunch and to try more of their menu. Those nachos, for example, looked delightful. I just needed to come here to sing the praises of that sub. I got it cold rather than hot, as that's my preference, and I appreciate that that was actually an option since it isn't always.

My friends told me about this hidden gem and I would say they were not wrong. This place has some of the best ranch fries and chicken pita I have tasted in Richmond Virginia. I love that have beer on tap!

Love the vibe here. No frills, good people. Great place to have a drink and actually talk to people. Maybe even play a card game at your table.

Best French fries in town! This is a bar, but their food is really good. I got the Greek pasta the other night and it was delicious. The portion was large enough for 4 meals.

Bartenders are some of the coolest bartenders in the city and bacon cheese burger slaps!!

We went to side walk cafe on a Saturday evening. Despite being pretty busy we got our food and drinks relatively quickly considering how busy it was. The staff are all super chill, it's definitely got a dive bar/restaurant feel. The music is awesome if you like rock and early 2000s alternative too. Just a cool place with nice vibes. The food was pretty good, I liked the black beans and rice that came with my burrito! There were honestly so many veggies in my burrito, I wasn't expecting it, but if you're a big veggie person, it's a great option. I got the onion rings too. They were good with ranch but a bit greasy. I'd definitely come back to try some of their other stuff since they have such an extensive menu. I will say just as a warning - the prices on the online menu do not match up with the prices on the menu at the restaurant, so just be mindful of that. I think for the two of us to eat it was about $50 with an app, two entrees, and two drinks! So not bad for a weekend dinner.

Hubby found this spot. It's definitely a dive restaurant. It doesn't look like much on the inside our outside. But it has some good food! There was only one waitress, who was also bartending and hosting as well. I must admit she was holding it down. We ordered supreme nachos, BLT, Caesar salads, and bacon cheeseburger with onion rings. They aren't skimpy with their food that's for sure. Nachos are definitely enough to feed a table! The only complaint I have is the amount of time it took our appetizers to come out. The price for the food is amazing. Oh & great music for us to come in around lunch time on a week day. The cheeseburger was well seasoned. Tasted homemade or fresh.

One of my favorite restaurants in The Fan RVA. Brunch is great, the mimosas are wonderful, and they give you so much food! Wait staff is friendly and I love the low lighting in the establishment. Very chill but good vibes.

This cafe was very nice. Customer service was awesome. They give you a lot of food for your money and that's a plus. Great vibe.

Super bad experience tonight. The bartender was super rude and skipped over me, when I tried to tell him my order within the five seconds he greeted me. After ten minutes of him serving people drinks that arrive 5 minutes after I was waiting, I ordered the Richmond sub with fries. After getting my order I got the sidewalk sub. Nothing against that sub, I eat bacon and not a lot of other pork products and the sub was way too much pork. Not what I ordered and was super disappointed with the sub I received. I wanted turkey, roast beef, bacon, and fontina cheese. Just feel like the bar tender didn't listen and just put in whatever sub was convenient for him. I don't ever order that sub, because everyone knows what they like and that isn't the sub for me, nor would I ever order that. Wish it never got that sub, and wasted my time and money.

Me and my girlfriend went here for lunch right around 11:30. I know this place is typically more popular at night but I highly recommend going earlier in the day. The atmosphere is very pleasant and comfortable, reminding me of an old fashioned bar/diner. The staff was only one person taking care of the customers and bartending while the rest were in the kitchen. Obviously this was early when they first opened so it is understandable. I would like to say that Johnny did an amazing job juggling serving, taking orders, and bartending with little to not trouble at all. He was nice and attentive to all of the people in the restaurant, even when it got busier near 12. The food is in massive portions but that does not take away from the flavor. I was recommended the Cordon Bleu and thought that the chicken was nice and juicy (not dry at all) and paired well with the large slice of ham. The fries were delicious as well, I could not get enough of them! It was pretty quiet and cozy however I am aware that it most likely doesn't last as it turns more into a bar later in the night. Only reason it is not a five would be the inconsistency between day and night for the restaurant as well as some sanitary issues. The place definitely had some dust in the air and the bathroom is not one I would willingly use often. Other than that, stop by here, it is absolutely worth it!

Came in here New Year's Eve to get some food after being at another place. Food was surprisingly tasty for a dive bar. Had the Sidewalk Sub and fries which the bartender recommended. Great service. Come here to get a quick bite and fill the void!

First things first, shoutout the COURTNEY one of the waitresses here , me & a friend came in one night & literally watched her handle every single table in the dining area by herself like a freakin beast , being servers ourselves we couldnt help but be impressed & let her know that she was absolutely killing it ! Thanks again girl you were great. Okay so at first glance you would think this is just a spot to grab a mediocre cocktail and some wings and call it a day, it is a dive bar after all, (& it is quite tiny, make sure you all lose 10lbs before trying to fit into their booths with friends lmao) but that is just simply not the case (imean it could be if thats what youre into) lol the food here was surprisingly sooooo good. I got the chicken parm & it was HUGE i think i ate it for 3 days lol, flavors were delicious though i did ask for an extra side of meat sauce which they brought out super fast. My friend got fried shrimp that came with a really good cocktail sauce. Another friend got a chicken sandwich that he said was so juicy & my sister got the flaming brie cheese that came with toasted pieces of bread , so so good . We all shared a side of fries & onion rings also super good .

Great everything, love the food and the staff is very warming .. 10/10 HIGHLY RECOMMEND

The Sidewalk Cafe is one of my go to spots for a good late night meal. I love that they serve more than just your typical bar food and have a really great variety. Most of the dishes are American but they have a pretty good amount of Greek style food too. They typically serve food until 1 AM, even on weeknights. The vibe here is pretty divey and it's typically very dark and sometimes loud and crowded-especially on weekends. I don't mind at all, but I think it's important to note for others. No matter what you get, the portion sizes are huge and the wait is never excessive. I've had the quesadilla, the wings, a few of their sandwiches and their salads and burgers. I tend to switch it up every time I come, the only thing I am consistent with is their saganaki appetizer. If you've never tried this flaming cheese this is a great place to give it a go!

Accessibility is an issue here. Came in with my brother who uses a power wheelchair and were told to sit wherever we wanted. When we sat down at a table with two chairs and moved one into the aisle so he would fit, we were told to move because the chair in the aisle was a fire hazard. The waitresses was polite and the policy was not her fault, but this is so embarrassing and unnecessary. We then moved every single table in the restaurant so we could squeeze into the back and were fine until we had to leave. There was a crowd around the bar so it was even harder to get out. We pushed some tables out of the way but couldn't move them enough due to the crowd and his wheelchair ended up crashing into a booth. Once that incredibly embarrassing loud noise rang out the folks at the bar turned around to help move the tables out of the way. That was nice of them but none of us should have had to move tables around, crash, or been told to move due to having a guest with a wheelchair. I know the building is small but that is not an excuse to be inaccessible to wheelchair users. If there were other people seated at the tables in the middle of the restaurant we simply wouldn't have been able to dine here. The food was great so it's a shame we can't come back. My brother and mom were so embarrassed afterwards. We shouldn't be the embarrassed ones. It's not our fault this restaurant didn't think about all types of people when laying out their tables.

if you are looking for big portions this is the place to go. great late night hole in the wall. good food and drinks!

Me and my daughter went on a Wednesday night for burger!!!! The Burger was huge and absolutely delicious, love the French Fries!!!! We also ordered wings and they were cooked to perfection!!!!!!

My mom and I were visiting Richmond and had heard a lot about Fancy Biscuit so we tried to go there. The line was ridiculous so we ended up at the Sidewalk Cafe. We did not miss Fancy Biscuit one bit! It's a small dive bar type place with a bar and booths. The waitress was incredible, super friendly and you could tell she knew the locals who were regulars. We ordered the club and the gyro, both of which came with fries. The club was the most massive sandwich I've ever seen, with tons of meat and cheese and really tasty. The portion of fries was huge as well. My mom enjoyed her gyro too, there are a lot of Greek items which made the menu interesting! Check this place out for a filling meal in a casual environment.

I went here last weekend for brunch with a good friend and we loved it! I hadn't been to the Sidewalk Cafe before...I love the interior. It's got wooden booths, a tin ceiling, a decent-sized bar plus a few tables in the center. They also have colored lights hanging up around the interior, which I always love. It's not very big inside, and because it's popular, you may have to wait, but it's worth it. I had a waffle with a side of bacon...yum! My friend had the egg breakfast, and was very happy with it. We shared a pitcher of mimosas, and I liked that they weren't watered-down like some places I've been to. The service was quick and efficient, and I felt like it was a good value for the money paid. This is a great place in the Fan, and I'll definitely be going back.

Best nachos in town, bar none. Been coming here since Manny opened it, and it's still as good as ever.

Bartender ruined the experience. Skip the drama. Go somewhere else. Clearing some things up front: I was a waitress, and will say that these waitresses were doing the most to help people. I got to this place at around 11:50. My party and I left around 12:35 without being seated at a table. The waitresses tried to seat us two times, only for the bartender to direct the waitresses to seat his friends first. At one point, I asked the waitress why my party of three was not being seated at a 4 top, because a party (of 2) that had come after us was seated there. She said something along the lines of "I'm sorry, what Derek says goes." None of had eaten, and didn't want to drink on an empty stomach. Bartender was pushy and kept asking us if we wanted drinks after we told him that we would prefer to wait for food. By about 12:20, two parties had left because they were skipped in lieu more of the bartenders friends (I guess?) being seated first. We called Kreggers and were told that we would be seated immediately. And we were! I know what it's like to have regulars, you look out for them. But I was there 10 minutes before this crowd showed up, and was told that I would be seated 3 or 4 times by the waitresses (who were very clearly uncomfy with him) that we would be seated, for us to not be?? It was just an icky experience.

One of my favorite gourmet dive bars on the planet. My go-to is the Chicken Cordon Bleu sandwich with onion rings. Tasty, juicy chicken breast topped with ham and Swiss with lettuce, tomato, and onion. Add a bit of mayo to the toasted bun and holy... Also highly recommended are the fried mozzarella sticks as an appetizer.

Me and my girlfriend were lucky enough to have come across this restaurant on a walk one hungry afternoon. At first glance walking inside the restaurant, you automatically feel the comfort and pleasure the atmosphere brings, not to mention the patio and outside seating they have available. At first glance of the menu, I felt pretty overwhelmed, but with help from my server, my girlfriend and I went through with the Fantastic Chicken Sandwich and the Steak Sub! Can't forget those GIANT Onion Rings! This restaurant really surprised me. It offers so many categories of food that seem all appetizing, their service is great, atmosphere on point, and w/ the pricing, truly a hidden gem Take this place for what it is, and If you plan on coming here, no need to worry about denting your wallet, instead come with a hungry stomach and I promise it'll leave you with your belly fool and happy

The quesadilla was awesome. My kind of crowd. I have to say more words for this review to be accepted.

Pretty dirty- it looks like it hasn't been deep cleaned since it was opened. But it's a dive after all. The food is alright. It's impossible to get served on a Sunday because they only have 2 people working. I would go elsewhere

Food is outstanding, unexpected from a dive bar! You get a lot of food for the price.. kudos to the chef!

Cajun Hash and Eggs Alot of food and alot of spice. Too spicy for me. My sister-in-law got the same thing and we spicy to her as well. Not sure if I would order again.