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821 Bakery Café
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
825 W Cary StRichmond, VA 23220
(804) 649-1042
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 8 am - 10 pm
Thu-Fri 8 am - 11 pm
Sat 9 am - 11 pm
Sun 9 am - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Breakfast, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Hipster
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
82 reviews for 821 Bakery Café
Review Highlights
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"The rosemary potatoes and banana pancakes are divine." In 9 reviews -
"Returned for the chocolate chip french toast." In 7 reviews -
"So I got the vegan breakfast burrito." In 7 reviews
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- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
82 reviews in English
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Review from Tina Y.
Richmond, VA
4/10/2012
Hipster. Everything screams hipster. But I love it. It's small, cozy, and they regularly change the local art they cover the walls with, which I respect. Honestly, I come here too often. I haven't really been disappointed with the food yet. They are usually busy busy whenever I go, so food may come out slow, servers may be kind of aloof, but in a cafe that serves mainly college students, I really don't factor that in too much. I consistently order either the chicken salad croissant, the crab cake sandwich, or their breakfast sandwiches. I should be more adventurous. I've eaten off of my friends' plates before (with permission)- their french toast, pancakes, wings, are all good. Just come try it for yourself.
(Oh yeah, my friend recently ordered a peanut butter, bacon, and banana sandwich- too good apparently) -
Review from Reagan T.
Richmond, VA
3/2/2012
I am dreadfully ashamed that I did not discover 821 sooner. Just thinking of all the delicious lunches and brunches and beer I could have had back in my days as an undergrad makes me weep with remorse at my own naivete. For shame! I have now vowed to live the rest of my days in Richmond making up for this massive oversight.
But seriously folks, the eats at 821 are nothin' short of fantastic. I've never been disappointed with a dish or sandwich, although my favorites are their grilled turkey sub with peppers and onions, the chicken philly sub, or the Big Fancy for breakfast/brunch. (Can we talk about those rosemary potatoes?! Perfection! Throw cheddar cheese and a very satisfying combination of veggies on top and I surrender everytime.) All my companions, vegetarian/vegan or carnivores alike, usually find something to hit their tastebuds. And can we mention cheap?! Your wallet won't be hurting after a trip here.
The guys and gals who wait tables have always been very friendly to me, willing to explain menu items or make suggestions if asked. They may not necessarily be in the biggest hurry, but part of the 821 experience is sitting back to enjoy your company and the atmosphere. It's a great place to meet friends, catch up while you wait for your food to arrive, and then descend into silence as you stuff your face in happiness. I wouldn't come here if you were in a rush, but I personally find the wait time between ordering and being served pretty reasonable.
In other words, stop reading and start eating!Listed in: Stuck on Campus with an Empty…
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Review from Erica T.
Richmond, VA
2/26/2012
821 Cafe is cheap, tasty comfort food with plenty of vegan and vegetarian options. It definitely has a very "Richmond-y" feel, so service can be a little bit surly, but most Richmonders have come to expect this.
This place is almost always busy, but deliver orders arrive within a reasonable amount of time and nine times out of ten, the food is hot and still tastes fresh. You might have to shout into your phone so that the person taking orders can hear you over the music and noise of many raucous diners. It's worth it, though.
My favorites are the vegan burger, vegan chili, and the buffalo tofu sandwich. The burger has a lot of flavor, and comes with spicy mustard and avocado slices on a big, toasty bun. The chili is thick and delicious, with tomatoes, onions, peppers, beans, and corn. The buffalo tofu is a nice slab of tofu, battered and fried, with a tangy and spicy sauce. It is vegan if you ask for it with veganaise (instead of ranch of bleu cheese).
Best of all, you get a lot of tasty food for not very much money. The bang you get for your buck at 821 is really hard to beat. Recommended, especially as a good delivery option. -
Review from Holly P.
Richmond, VA
5/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
This menu has such a variety, it does not matter what your'e in the mood for, you can find something that will make you happy! My go to? BANANNA PANCAKES! So delicious! The beer selection is also impressive, although I have never come late enough to want beer.
Listed in: Comfort Food
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Review from Jalpa P.
Richmond, VA
5/10/2012
Got the Chicken Philly sub...it was pretty good. HOWEVER...they took like 20-30 minutes or so to make it. If you go to Piccola's it takes them like 10 AND it's amazing. While I was waiting I was sitting around some emo guy who smelled like he hadn't showered in a while. I've been in Richmond for a long time and the people I'm referring to are weed-head Caucasians bros who grow their hair out to make dreads which is fun and all up until THEY DON'T SHOWER...it smells terrible and this is the crowd that 821 tends to attract hence why I hesitated on going into the restaurant haha. This sub didn't wow me but it was pretty delicious not gonna lie. I got a side salad and asked for ranch dressing...it tasted like they were serving from out of a Hidden Valley or Kraft bottle...where's the classic restaurant style buttermilk ranch dressing? I've been seeing a lot of great compliments on their pizzas though and I'd definitely give them at least 4 stars if they're as good as people say they are- I would love to give it another chance and try the pizza :). Service was great and don't remember cringing at the prices.
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Review from Bradley B.
Richmond, VA
1/19/2012
I moved to Richmond 6 months ago. Mo roommates are Richmond natives and have introduced me to all the local hot spots. Among my favorite of those is 821.
Now not being a a vegan/vegetarian/pescatarian/artsy/hipster/RVA dweller I was skeptical that this was going to be another place where all I can get is another mediocre lentil burger, or something that is entirely made of tofu. I was very wrong.
I've had multiple dishes here and have never had something I didn't love!
$2 burger & bourbon night is awesome (Mondays), as is Taco night (Wednesdays). My favorite is going there for brunch -- I always get the Biscuit and Gravy with 2 eggs. Sounds simple, but let me tell you, those giant homemade biscuits will make every other biscuit you've ever had before seem like a stale cracker. It comes with a great sausage gravy too (yes,don't worry, the gravy is available in vegan). A lot of my friends get the vegan breakfast burrito, and I hear wonderful things about that.
Service is good. They do get incredibly busy, so at peak times the servers can get a little unavailable, but nothing unacceptable.
It's my fave little RVA eatery this far in my journey here. -
Review from Cyril G.
Richmond, VA
2/10/2012
Very very very very very busy during peak times--but worth the wait, especially if you would like a lot of food for not so much money. I can usually squeeze in at the bar, but larger groups will have to wait quite a while if they are coming in at higher-traffic times (brunch hour is always packed). It can get noisy and crowded--not the place for a romantic date or an intimate conversation, but perfect for grabbing breakfast after a long night.
On my first trip here, I had the union cakes--they are perfect. They are a very large stack of fluffy pancakes topped with banana slices, blueberries, and chocolate chips; I ate until I really truly could not eat any more, and I still had about 1/4th of the stack left over to take home. Dinner is less great than breakfast--still tasty and filling, but nothing that will blow you away--luckily they serve breakfast until 5 in the evening. (And when I came to eat breakfast at about 2 pm on a Saturday, they were showing old Cartoon Network on the above-bar TV--it was never my preference, but I know that so many '90s cartoons enthusiasts are out there!)
The waiters are very pleasant and friendly--during crowded times, they aren't so attentive (still enough for the basics), but that's understandable. If you come in when there is hardly anyone there, they will pay you plenty of attention! Also make sure to see the blacklight-lit painting on the wall separating the bathrooms. -
Review from Charles S.
La Jolla, CA
12/8/2011
Breakfast. Two adults, two students. Mounds of food. Funky atmosphere. 1970 prices.
$5 gets you:
-- two eggs any way you want them,
-- grits or hashbrowns,
-- toast, English muffin or a huge homemade buttermilk biscuit
-- coffee.
Even the college students couldn't finish.Listed in: Richmond
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Review from Jessi C.
Richmond, VA
12/21/2011
I have been coming to 821 since I was in high school (back when i ate meat like it was my job). Since then i have gone through all your standard hippie phases of vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, back to vegan and currently residing on vegetarian (with the occasional sushi slip up). Even through all those eating phases there has ALWAYS been something beyond tasty to enjoy at this amazing establishment.
When you walk in it is quaint (even in their new larger location) and homey. You are instantly buddies with the wait staff (who are always helpful in recommending what they think you will like more when you cannot decide) as well as the patrons next to you who will inevitably ask what you are eating while they are pouring over the menu because, trust me, it will be hard to decide.
There are so many choice and I have yet to make a bad one over the years. Be daring and bold and go for it here. You will thank me (and so will your taste buds) later. -
Review from Jenna G.
Richmond, VA
4/19/2012
821 is sooo yummy. don't go here if you're in a rush though. the servers are really laid back and take their time. but the food is delicious for an awesome price.
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Review from Duke D.
Henrico, VA
4/13/2012
great breakfast spot, try the crab and spinach omelet
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Review from Robert P.
New York, NY
10/23/2011
I stayed at a hotel downtown and decided to try this place because I am vegan, and they deliver. I ordered the Buffalo Tofu Sandwich, which was so good that I ordered it twice. The first time I opted for onion rings, where excellent, the second time I asked for fried artichoke hearts (as a separate side), which were unbelievably good. The herbed orzo was a disappointment (did the job, just not amazing), but overall, if what I ordered is any indication of the quality of the other vegetarian items on the menu, I will definitely order from this place again if I am ever in Richmond.
Finally, I am extremely grateful that they deliver. If you are staying downtown, there is almost nothing for vegetarians (many restaurants downtown don't even have a single vegetarian dish on the menu, although most will make one if you ask), and many places either close early or open late or are not opened at all on the weekends, so the fact that they are one of the few vegan-friendly places that deliver is hugely helpful. -
Review from Elijah C.
Richmond, VA
9/11/2011
I'm a picky eater - and this place is perfect for me. Flavor and quality are consistent.
My colleagues love the breakfast, while I normally get a delicious grilled cheese or burger. Dare I say, their cheese steak (cooked with ketchup by special request) is more filling and flavorful than Mojo's.
Wait staff is always cordial and generally awesome every time I (or we) go.
Due to popularity and limited seating, getting in is an issue at peak hours. But when you do... you're in for a culinary treat. -
Review from Jennifer G.
Livermore, CA
1/18/2012
I thought this little cafe reminded me of a place in San Francisco and I loved it but I found the food to be a little tasteless or too salty The vegan Chili needed more flavor and the pancakes were dry and crumbly. The buffalo wings were more like Asian wings and and the Philly was like eating straight salt, the wait for the food was dumb.. People who came after us got served before us.. The only reason we wanted to try this place was because it appeared on Man Vs. Food. Not very good..
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Review from Barbara P.
Richmond, VA
1/7/2012
AWFUL EVERYTHING. We finally got our food after waiting so long we had to move our car to a different spot. When we got it, my friends meal had an obvious hair laying across it. The waitress asked us if everything as "O.K" and when we replied no she ran away. There is hardly any seating and the tables are always dirty. I have given them several chances and have yet to have one decent, fully edible meal here. never again.
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Review from Metthea Y.
Greenbelt, MD
12/24/2011
I will drive way out of my way to eat at 821. I love their vegetarian biscuits and gravy and BBQ tofu sandwich! Eat here, you won't be sorry.
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Review from tracy f.
Chicago, IL
4/27/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I am from Chicago. It is a big city with a ton of restaurants. Some are good, a few are great, most are mediocre.
So what's the deal with the huge concentration of incredible food in Richmond? Especially vegan food. I ate my way through the weekend we spent in this city, and I will never forget the moment I laid eyes on the fried artichoke sandwich on the menu. Nor will I forget the approximate 6 minutes it took me to devour it and order a second to go. I mean, wtf. A vegan fried artichoke sandwich? I'm telling you right now, this is culinary greatness.
Before we left for the drive home, we stopped by 821 to get food to take with us. It was that good. -
Review from Sally M.
5/15/2011
I usually don't like breakfast foods, but I am in love with the breakfast burrito here. It came with eggs, black beans, cheese, potatoes, and pork sausage. The sausage was my favorite part and they didn't go skimpy on it (they get a star just for that reason). It was big and fulfilling and the homemade salsa gave it a nice kick. I just wish that they had more options than just grits and (more) potatoes for the side dish.
My buddy had the pancakes with bananas, which look big and fluffy but turned out to be a bit dry. I thought the little plastic boxes of syrup on the table were a little low rent (even if it was local syrup).
The service was decent, although it took them quite awhile to take our order. -
Review from Kelly K.
Fredericksburg, VA
1/30/2012 1 photo
We drove down to Richmond to take our son to the Children's Museum, and we wanted to try a new place for lunch. We normally eat at City Dogs or Maggiano's, but I know that Richmond has some awesome restaurants, and it was time to find one. I found 821 via the Happy Cow website. They do serve meat, but they have a lot of vegetarian items! We drove up and saw people waiting outside, so I knew we had found the place. We waited probably half and hour to be seated. Service wasn't that quick, but it looked like there were only 2 servers and the place was packed. I ordered the Biscuits and gravy (you can request vegetarian sausage gravy), and I added on a side of 2 fried eggs. The biscuit was HUGE. As far as biscuits go, I've had better. It was almost more like cornbread to me. The gravy was really good. The eggs were ok. My husband got the Tofu Po' Boy sandwich, which was Southern-fried tofu with spicy grilled onions and peppers. You get a side with that, and he chose veggie chili. He said the sandwich was good, but it wasn't spicy, and the chili didn't have fake meat in it, so it was more like salsa. My son wanted a veggie burger, so we got him that plus some chips. He liked the burger, but my husband said it was more of the "grainy" type of veggie burger. I hate that kind (I like my Boca's!). But my son liked it. There is so much more on this menu that I want to try, so we will be back.
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Review from Mike S.
Washington Metro
7/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Overpriced for what you get. Grilled tofu too oily, albeit palatable; understandable though considering it was store bought. Utter lack of seating and inattentive staff, then again, we're still in Virginia. Coffee was burnt, obviously been left in the pot too long. However the menu was, overall, suprisingly diverse for the area.
Oh, and be sure to prepare for the onslaught of grimey "hipsters", obnoxious college students, et al. -
Review from CS B.
Richmond, VA
3/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Last night I heard a little tinkling of gravel against my bedroom window. I peeked outside, and it's 821's Mozzarella sub, and it's down on one knee, and it's like, "Baby, sneak out! I know it's late, but come run away with me! Let's elope! We'll go to Niagara Falls!" And I put on my shoes and some pants and I climbed out my bedroom window and I kissed Mozzarella sub and as I tasted the garlic bread and the basil and the roasted red peppers and tomato and balsamic glaze over the thick slices of fresh mozz, I realized I had finally found true love.
"Yes, Mozzarella Sub. I love you, let's run away and get married!" -
Review from Jenni C.
Chapel Hill, NC
12/20/2011
Came here with family on Saturday night and had a really, really great time. The beer selection is amazing, staff is super nice, and they have a lot of clearly marked vegan options. Definitely coming back next time we're in Richmond.
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Review from Andrew M.
Arlington, VA
1/20/2011
More like 3.5 stars....
I will keep coming back to this place for a couple reasons:
1. It's cheaper than IHOP
2. It doesn't suck (unlike IHOP)
3. The breakfast food
4. Like home cooking
In college, all you want out of your food is for it to be delicious and cheap. Sure, you may settle for meal every now and then that's made up of every scrap left in your fridge. I know I had many fine dining dinners with half a hot pocket, a pack of easy mac, 2 slim jims a snack pack and a tall glass of tang. 821 gives students and locals a nice spot to go out and eat home cooking for a price they can actually afford. My favorite you ask?? The two egg breakfast of course, just like any red blooded American man wants...
2 over easy eggs, 2 sausage links, 2 pieces of Bacon or ham, a biscuit and country potatoes. On the side: ketchup mixed with sriracha.
You: "What's that?? They have copious amounts of sriracha there???"
Me: "FUCK YEA THEY DO!!!!"
They also have several non breakfast options, but I personally only enjoy their breakfast. Hell, I could eat breakfast for every meal! I would have given them more stars, but their service is notoriously slow. Aside from that, 821 is definitely worth a taste. -
Review from Steven B.
Bethesda, MD
6/14/2011
Jaclyn and I stayed the night in Richmond after Kings Dominion and we're really happy we found this place! The omelette was great and I tried grits for the first time and was happy I did.
We'll be back next time we're in town. -
Review from Jess H.
10/1/2011
Underwhelming, mediocre food that was not worth the wait at all (almost 50 minutes). My crab, spinach and swiss omelet was severely bland. I tried dumping salsa on it to get some flavor. The rosemary potatoes that came on the side were just average...could've used a pinch of salt. And the fresh fruit? Clearly not fresh. Where have I seen the same combo of day-old melon, (canned) pineapple and grapes before? Oh yeah, Martins' salad bar. C'mon, now. You can do better than this.
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Review from Dominique M.
3/4/2012
I don't live in Richmond anymore and I miss 821 SO MUCH. Everything is good, I can never decide what to get when I go there because I want everything. Good specials, add them on Facebook for updates on what kind of beers they're tapping, etc. Good ambiance and the wait isn't as bad since they moved next door to a (slightly) bigger location. MISS IT!
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Review from Erin C.
Richmond, VA
Updated - 9/21/2010 1 Check-in Here
I am aghast and somewhat disappointed. 821 is no longer hip.
I'll pause a second to let that sink in.
821 moved next door to a larger, airier, just refurbished building. The glass at the front is no longer smoky, there are no longer insane plants taking over at the front, you can no longer see directly into the kitchen, the aisle isn't partially obscured by a falling apart magazine rack filled to busting with abused magazines and copied-at-Kinkos zines, the bar doesn't look like hell, the wall is no longer entirely covered with local art (though there is still some) and the walls are...exposed brick!
Exposed brick I tell you!
Good news though! They still serve the same great food, they still have the ancient old chalkboards with drawings of beer and partially rubbed off specials that is difficult to read, they still have those awesome mismatched tables and chairs (plus some new ones and some booths!), they got better looking menus and...
the hipsters are still here! I suppose 2$ PBRs and banana sandwiches conquer even exposed brick and light, airy windows.Listed in: Vegetarian in Richmond
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/22/2010
I'm pretty sure that 821 is so hipster that it buds new hipsters off the back of the building like a… Read more »
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Review from Matt L.
Sacramento, CA
4/23/2011
Just went here! The vegan options were really great! For some reason, I was in the mood for pancakes though... And they didn't have vegan one. So I got the vegan breakfast burrito. It was pretty good, but also kind of small... But not too small, because it still filled me up. The rosemary potatoes were awesome.
Only down side I think was the canned fruit.
Also the decor is really cute. All little Formica tables! -
Review from Kara R.
8/14/2010
Though my hometown can out-hipster these folks any day, 821 has most of my favorites beat when it comes to taste and value. The fam came here on their last day in town and absolutely loved it.
We all had omelets ($8), which include an omelet with fresh, creative, and tasty ingredients, potatoes or grits, fruit, and a choice of bread product. It's rare that I leave food on my plate, but there was just no way I could finish all of the food. Our omelets were all amazingly tasty, and I particularly liked my biscuit. My only complaint was that the fruit could have been a bit more fresh, but that's more of an issue with the geographic location in general.
Though service was a little slow, our waitress was always friendly and prompt to refill our waters. This will definitely be a regular spot during my four years here.Listed in: RVA Favorites
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Review from Julie V.
Arlington, VA
3/20/2011
Service was great at the bar. We arrived five minutes before 9am on a Sunday morning and there were already six cars lined with people waiting to get in the resturant. It wasn't as busy as I thought it was going to be, but VCU was on spring break so there weren't to many students around.
I had the breakfast burrito with veggie sausage that was just okay. The coffee was great and the potatoes were tasty. My husband loved his chocolate banana pancakes, but the pancakes were so large that we had a good amount of leftovers to take home.
If we lived in Richmond we would definitely frequent this place during happy hour. The specials offered throughout the week are definitely worth a trip to this place. -
Review from Robbie A.
7/6/2010
Of all the times I've been to 821 [new and old locations], one simple premise stands out: They NEVER fail to exceed my expectations. Ever. And I've even tried to trip them up!
Everyone knows that the "Billy Philly" deserves its own statue on Monument Ave.; that their fried artichoke sub is made with a secret government substance proved to be far more addictive than crack; and that their eggplant parmesean is the most blissful cheesy gooey concoction you can get in town. Oh, and that the vegan chili with just a dash of Sriracha sauce is a local panacea, curing everything from hangovers to James River brainworms.
But even deviating from the tried an true on the menu, 821 still delivers. Over the weekend I went for their catfish po'boy, amusedly half-expecting it to be a slab of commercial freezer fish fancied up. What did I get instead? A big fresh meaty piece of catfish fried up to perfection, with some tomato, lettuce, mayo, and whatever delicious crack-flavoring they use, all on that delectable sub roll.
My lady got the daily special "breakfast nachos," which sounded scary at first, but if you imagine all the amazing components of an 821 breakfast, smothered on top of tortilla chips and black beans it might make sense as to what a gratifying [if unhealthy] brunch this was.
821 never disappoints. 4.5 stars, only docking 0.5 because sometimes the waitstaff seems like they don't want you in there - they're all nice as hell, but for some reason they can make a person feel all kinds of awkward some days. -
Review from Jenna G.
San Diego, CA
2/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
How do I say.....awesome in every language?! This place is amazing! I hadn't been here since Chip took over. I was excited to go on the morning of my birthday. I came to Richmond for a family visit and to celebrate my birthday and I was pleasantly surprised to find this place so good!
I love the vegan and vegetarian options on the menu! The menu changes too, so it was good to go back again on the day before I went back to Cali. Naturally, I got the french toast with chocolate chips and a side of veggie sausage. I always have this dilemma over breakfast...sweet or savory? This place is sure to please any palate! They have omelets, breakfast burritos, pancakes, french toast and plenty more to choose from. It all has a twist too...not just ordinary stuff. My husband got peanut butter and bacon stuffed french toast. Pretty cool for the carnivores.
Everyone seemed pleased with what they ordered and it was very reasonable, as far as price. The place is small, but I love places like this. Good food, good service and good prices. I loved the aesthetic too. They had old mix-and-match coffee mugs, stickers all over the napkin holders, chalkboard menu, an old diner-style bar to eat at and cool old tables and booths. The bathroom even had a nice mural on the wall.
Awesome food with creative twists and at a decent price! Don't forget to try the nice beer selection while you are there! -
Review from Nicole P.
San Francisco, CA
10/19/2011
Went for a late breakfast/early lunch the other day. Had the crab omlette which was good, but could use a but more of a kick. Bf had the biscuits and gravy which he enjoyed and very filling. God location and very nice staff.
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Review from Joseph T.
Richmond, VA
10/17/2011
821 has been a staple since I first moved to the fan in 2001. Always delicious, amazing vegetarian options which I enjoy although I eat meat. 821 just may encompass everything that is Richmond and its indie/hipster culture. If you love tattoos, vegan chili, and breakfast all-day to boot, go!
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Review from Aaron M.
Florence, MS
10/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
I hate rating places low, but I went here for breakfast and was pretty disapointed. I've been looking for a good breakfast spot to frequent, and this didn't quite make the cut. Honesly Ive had better food at waffle house.
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Review from Tommy B.
Richmond, VA
Updated - 7/6/2011
The coffee is now the best. Thanks to 821 for the awesome improvement.
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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3/14/2010
Secret Breakfast Hint: Add Southern Fried Tofu for a nice upgrade on Veggie Biscuits and Gravy. Read more »
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Review from Tee-tee B.
Richmond, VA
3/30/2008
The space here is tight when it's busy... which is most of the time. Be prepared to spend some time waiting outside if there's a rush. The style is lazy old Richmond- mix matched mugs and plates, local art on the walls with some funny staff photos thrown in. You will never feel undressed here.
The staff is friendly and ranges from right on point to man I hope they come back with that coffee in a few- don't worry, they will.
I usually go for breakfast. Vegan biscuits and gravy? Awesome. The pancakes should be renamed mancakes cuz they are friggin huge. The side fruit is always a good mix and yummy. I love grits and they do them right. None of that sissy watered down crap. Even my kid likes to eat there. When I win the lottery, I plan on giving them a grant to expand the space. Then they'll have to kick me out at closing every night. -
Review from Amanda L.
Camp Lejeune, NC
11/2/2010 1 Check-in Here
Conveniently there was a Talk thread about tattoos, so my husband and I set off on a mini-adventure in Richmond to get some lunch, check out Salvation, and get some bubble tea. Yelpers seemed to really like this place, and I'm sure I would have liked to, too, but here's what went wrong.
I'm sure we picked a bad time to come in (weekend, around 1pm), but next to a large school every time is likely a bad time. This is the tiniest damn cafe for having that much business...and I understand that they moved for more space? They should have kept both buildings... We were told we were first in line for a table and then the seemingly overwhelmed waitress jetted off for more rounds of coffee.
Well, rather than awkwardly standing on top of the patrons trying to eat their supposedly delicious food we decided to go over to Salvation. Hubs found an artist he liked, got it set up, blah, blah, and then we walked back. Apparently people had come in since, and the waitress promptly let us know that they were ahead of us in line for a table... Not cool.
Your restaurant has NO space for waiting except at other people's tables, and we get pushed to the end of the line for being courteous. I guess we just weren't hip enough.
We didn't get to eat, and it greatly pissed me off. The only reason that I'm giving two stars instead of one is because what I smelled was awesome. I'm hoping my husband I will be hip enough the next time we're in the neighborhood. :( -
Review from CriDick R.
Richmond, VA
5/12/2011
I like to flirt with other restaurants, sure. I'm married to this place though. I learn more about myself through its strengths and put up with it's faults. I used to find the faults charming and endearing, but now I have just learned to accept them as part of the package. Part of what I love.
Where should I start? Brunch. The service is a gamble unless you sit at the bar. The wait is crazy once all the hungover crust punks and hipsters wake up at noon. The biscuits are huge. Easily the best in town. Veggie and vegan sausage available! Sometimes they cook an egg better than anyone else. Sometimes they really don't. Crapshoot. The rosemary potatoes are delicious. The grits are watery and instant. The breakfast specials are hit or miss, but the kids will love what they dream up sometimes with french toast. Inventive omelets. Cheap breakfast sandwiches to go will make you never return to the golden arches. The coffee is finally drinkable. Thanks, Black Hand! I don't know what I'm supposed to use to clean my truck engine now, though. The bloody mary's are on point, but the mimosa's....MMmmmmm, the mimosa's.... 15 oz. of champagne and ice topped with 1 oz. of blueberry, orange, mango, cranberry, grapefruit or pineapple juice! (Best drank in that order.)
Lunch is great. Being engulfed by the VCU campus, it is packed during the week, though. Lunch specials are usually great. The sandwiches on the menu are better than they sound. Buffalo Tofu Sandwich, Crabcake, A Classic Club, they have everything. No seriously, they have everything. Most of it's fantastic if you don't mind the occasional beard hair on your plate. You'll see why this place was voted to have the best burger in town. No shit. Crucial Nachos, Burritos, wraps, veggie burgers. Delicious vegan chili is available as a side.
The dinner specials are great. They obviously enjoy being creative with them. The rotating beer selection on tap is always phenomenal and balanced. Who knew!?
Delivery is often super fast or super slow. Best to ask about the wait beforehand.
Oh yeah! The deserts. WTF?! This place has better deserts than anywhere I've eaten in Chicago, Portland or San Francisco when I lived there. I don't understand it. I'm not really a cake guy, but I tried a bite of my girlfriend's once. Since then, I order a slice of whatever whenever I go there. Half the time it is labeled vegan, but you can't tell by taste. I want to buy a cake from here for my birthday and not share it with anyone. The whole party will be people watching me eat a pistachio cake with no utensils.
This place rules. Good people too. Employees and patrons. I always feel pretty welcome and comfortable. What you want in a cafe or diner. The quality will surprise you. This place is all heart. Till death do us part. -
Review from Michael S.
Los Angeles, CA
12/6/2009
A great place; I'll definitely be back. Don't be fooled by the name, though: it's really more of a diner/restaurant than a bakery or cafe. I came here expecting to have a latte, but I had a eggplant parmesan sandwich instead. Not that they don't actually have coffee; it's just that once I was here, the food looked so good. And it was really good.
Very friendly, laid-back. Good place to linger.
