Food and service were amazing during brunch. We shared a few small plates and really enjoyed everything. We were even greeted with a complimentary nonalcoholic drink for our friend's birthday. The restaurant has plenty of seating and is the perfect backdrop for a special meal. We started with the beet salad and smoked fish dip. Both were fresh and flavorful. I especially loved the fish dip, which we heard will never come off the menu. The grilled focaccia and pickled vegetables were a nice touch. The beet salad has a tangy but perfect vinaigrette. I got the fish which came with an amazing sweet potato puree. The puree was nothing short of perfect! The dish also had roasted carrots and the skin on the fish was oh so crispy. I'm excited to go back for dinner soon!

This was my first time coming to alewife and I was very impressed! The hanger steak was excellent I would definitely get it again and the fish dip was great. We also had the beet salad I didn't get a picture of it but that was really good as well! I will for sure be back :)

4-year anniversary dinner that didn't freaking miss. This place is worth all of the love it gets from anyone who knows the restaurant scene in Richmond. You walk in, and it's nothing terribly impressive or stunning - just gives off the vibe of a local hangout spot - but MAN did the food/drink just blow me away. First off, we were greeted with a private table, served ceremonial champagne, and even though we were sat by the door on a cold night, the server/host brought over a personal space heater for us which was SO KIND. The drinks were fancy pants good - we got "The Tugboat Captain" and "Got a Day Job" - and I am still talking about those damn Crab Claws. HOW UNIQUE ARE THOSE UGH. Nowhere else have I ever had something like that before - and it was actually fairly priced...?!?! Of course the rest of our meal made up for that, considering we splurged on the Skate Wing and Arctic Char, as well as a Pistachio Olive Oil cake for desert... but all-in-all, it was so wonderfully worth it. Every bite of fish was an explosion of flavors in a way that made me eat slower than I've ever eaten before because I wanted to savor every dang bite. I wish I could relive my experience here 100x over - efficient service, delicious food, and just an overall feel-good atmosphere. Proud to have eaten here and would show this place off to anyone and everyone who visits our new home.

Family visiting and we managed to double-up on our anniversary dinner. We were brought a delightful fish dip to start that really popped w fresh. We ordered a bottle of champagne and the our entrees: I had the short rib special while my wife had the branzino and my in-laws had the mullet and king salmon. All were excellent, and I'd like to try the skate wing next time. Dessert was some kind of French apple streudel we all sgared. Service was excellent--Jeff was knowledgeable and a gentleman who helped us through the menu, drinks, and the whole experience. We finished w some amaro digestifs. Atmosphere / vibe / ambiance were really nice...goid music in the background, busy, and still a neighborhoid kind of feel you always hope for...5 stars.

I was excited to try Alewife with some family this winter holiday season. What was excellent? The burrata appetizer is to die for. We were seated promptly and Jewel was an excellent waitress. The restaurant features an open kitchen but we experienced none of the standard issues (smokiness, food smells in clothing) so we were impressed by that. The price point was reasonable (in fact, it felt lower than what I'd assumed based on the online sample menu). What was good? The arctic char was very good. The puppy drum gumbo was good, although the roux could be darker. The trout was a little fishy to 2/3 diners. It should be noted that the online sample menu felt a little bit bigger than the menu we saw last night. All in all we had a wonderful time and would recommend.

Delicious and adorable! This hole in the wall is a super cute spot in Church Hill. We made a reservation early, but could sit at the bar easily. The menu changes frequently, but what we had was delicious! I'd highly recommend the Confit Sunchokes! If you like smoked fish, you'd like the smoked fish dip. The house made pickles are an awesome addition of acid. Entrees were perfect too! Fresh and cooked perfectly. The sauces and sides were very well balanced. You can't go wrong with any of the options!

Popped in while on a work trip. I sat at the bar with my book, and had a lovely time. The menu switches often, maybe weekly (?), so I couldn't tell you completely what I ate or drank (LOL) but it was pretty enjoyable. The drink was definitely a heavy sipper, and it was great for sitting and reading - no real time line. One was enough! The duck was yummy, there were creamed parsnips or something along that line that I didn't love, but were alright. I'd say I really liked but would try something else next time. I LOVED the Virginia oyster and would get 10 of those next time!!! I didn't need dessert, though I got one. It was good, tasted like a toasted strudel. Again, enjoyed but would pick something else next time (or skip dessert, which is on brand for me). The bar was pretty and the restaurant felt cozy. Pro tip: order the siren song to get a sampler of like 12 menu items. The girls next to me ordered and shared one, it looked good! Too much for one person for sure.

The name of this restaurant seems so familiar but I have only been to Richmond 1 time before, and don't recognize the interior. My visit was during restaurant week, so I don't know if that's a good thing or bad thing, but during that time of year it is a limited menu. It doesn't really force you to order dessert though since you can sub for a 2nd savory dish. I chose the mussels, skate wing, and flan. PEI mussels - a little spicy and comes with a Texas toast slice, sliced diagonal. Maybe a half portion since it's restaurant week, but I really liked them since I enjoy anything spicy. Grilled skate wing - I don't eat this a lot living in Texas, but I really enjoyed it since it had a nice seasoning on it that is pretty good. The apple slices were the best part of the accompaniment. Just not a lot of meat in this dish, if you're hungry it would not be a good choice. Banana flan - I asked for a scoop of ice cream to go with my Flan and they brought out the ice cream which is sometimes homemade. This one was just a sea salt vanilla but pretty dang good. The flan was even better with a strong banana taste. The tricky part is the miso caramel syrup and making sure it doesn't drip everywhere. Overall, a really good experience here during my short stay in Richmond. I even enjoyed the iced tea here since it's slightly bitter but slightly fruity. Beware though, there are no free refills, so that was a bit of a surprise to me.

Love Alewife every time I go. The food is locally sourced, prepped fresh, and consistently good. I love that the chef brings in his Mediterranean roots with the occasional Asian influence. Always try a fish or potato dish. Chef. Does. Not. Miss. The greens are typically cooked with a southern flare and any sauce you get is perfectly braised to accompany your dish. The menu rotates often, so there's no true recommendation. But trust your wait staff, especially for events like restaurant week... They typically try the foods before you.

I come to RVA for work somewhat regularly and I've been meaning to try Alewife. I finally got to this trip and it lived up to the hype! I sat at the bar and asked my server for recs, and based on those I ordered crispy sugar toads (a type of puffer fish) that was one of the specials as an appetizer and swordfish with farro as my main. The folks sitting next to me at the bar ordered oysters, and they looked so good that I ordered 3 for my "dessert." Everything was flavorful and delicious. Service was friendly and prompt. I hope to return when I'm back in the area!