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Acacia Midtown
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
2601 W Cary StRichmond, VA 23220
(804) 562-0138
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 5:30 pm - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 5:30 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Trendy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
85 reviews for Acacia Midtown
Review Highlights
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"24 prix fixe with half-price wine on Tuesdays." In 7 reviews -
"Amazing wine selection." In 6 reviews -
"We had the pork belly and risotto balls to start." In 4 reviews
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85 reviews in English
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Review from Shalini H.
Richmond, VA
5/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
I love this place because I felt like I was back in Miami! They need to open multiple sister restaurants!
I made reservations for me and my husband during restaurant week. I was very pleased with the first impression of the restaurant and the hostesses were very friendly. The hostess immediately offered to hang our coats...I wasn't used to this being a Miamian.
We sat at the bar while waiting for our table. It did take a while for a bartender to notice us which was getting a little irritating. But once we ordered our drinks and manged to grab two seats, the bartenders were very attentive. The drink menu was very creative but unfortunately I did not try one of the inventions.... next time I will! After waiting about 20 minutes, we were escorted from the bar to our table. Again, it took a while for our server to come to the table. The food was perfect... perfect portion, perfect seasoning. I think I overheard the menu changes every month... correct me if I am wrong! So if that is true, then I will definitely be going back for satisfying food and perfect ambiance.
I don't want to put down the service, it wasn't horrible, nor do I want to use the excuse that it was restaurant week... but that was the only downside to our experience. -
Review from Mikey W.
Fairfax, VA
5/1/2012
Gf and I drove down to Richmond for the day to sight see and specifically try this restaurant after I saw it had been nominated for a James Beard award.
The open air restaurant is nice, although the view outside was not much to look at, so we decided to sit inside.
Service was great throughout the +2hrs we dined at the restaurant. We had one main server taking orders, etc and various runners bringing food to our table. Not sure if this was their way to train up new people before letting them interact with customers?
For drinks we got the just beet it and ginger smash. the color of the beet cocktail was great and there was a definite beet flavor. it had a very mild sweetness and was pretty refreshing. the ginger smash was delicious as well, i loved how the ginger ice cubes slowly melted to release additional flavors.
For apps we got the sugartoads, white bean soup, and agnolotti. The sugar toads were simple and delicious. Well fried and fun to eat(you debone the blowfish yourself). I was not very impressed with the white bean soup, thought the flavors were dull. The agnolotti was cooked well, but the squash seemed too sweet and overpowered the dish a little.
For entrees we got the softshell crabs and sweet and sour flounder(?). The entree portions were huge, as it came with 3 softshell crabs and the flounder had 2 filets. The softshell crab may be on the heavy side for some, with the creamy pasta in addition to the sauteed crabs. My flounder was well prepared and I liked the veggie sides that came with it. My only complaint was in the mango sweet and sour sauce. The vinegar flavor was too strong and I wonder if it needed to be reduced some more. Because of this strong tartness, it was hard to contrast it to the basil sauce.
For dessert we got the black forest cake and strawberry angel food cake. Both were delicious. I particularly liked the sour cherry sorbet and the basil ice cream. The only complaint was the cream used on the black forest cake, my gf thought it had a plastic-y after taste.
Overall this was a great meal and very reasonable prices when compared to what we normally pay for in NoVA/DC. Definitely worth a visit! -
Review from Jamaal C.
Richmond, VA
4/28/2012
We took advantage of the Restaurant Week promotion last night and enjoyed one of the better meals I've had in Richmond. Great ambiance, solid service, good pacing between courses and excellent food.
The prix fixe menu offered a wide spectrum of dishes to choose from. I went with the BBQ Mackerel over sticky rice in miso for my first course. This was my favorite course of the night. The mackerel was meaty and delicious. The sticky rice absorbed the subtle flavor of the miso and provided a nice contrast to the sweetness of the fish.
For my entree I had the Market Fish (white fish) with asparagus and crispy parmesean risotto balls (arancini/suppli basically). The entree was tasty as well. The fish was cooked perfectly and the risotto balls were a great slice of comfort food on the plate. I'm not a huge fan of asparagus but I happily enjoyed my spears.
For dessert i finished up with the chocolate panna cotta with banana cream (a dallop that looked like mustard but tasty divine) and peanut butter biscotti. A great way to finish the meal. The flavors mixed well and the presentation was simple but artistic.
I had tastes of my girlfriend's chimicurri beef and I was jealous I didn't order her entree. It had gnocci to accompany it and those were also pleasing.
I'd definitely go back to Acacia in a heartbeat. A classy restaurant with exciting flavors. Thanks for participating in restaurant week! -
Review from Tara S.
Tampa, FL
5/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
Did you know that bacon wrapped duck breast tasted like BBQ chicken and chimmichuri sauce had no garlic and you have to spend $25 an entree to experience this? Neither did I until right this second. The drinks and the delicious fried oysters saved this meal from the dreaded one star. And they ran our of mussels But I am staring at my duck right now and in my mind I'm screaming "F@$k!!!" the bartender was great but the waitress was unattentive. Like I put as tip on my receipt "this was definetly not a $90 meal".
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Review from Leslie H.
Richmond, VA
4/12/2012
Acacia is my favorite restaurant in Richmond, no contest. Food, service and ambiance are consistently excellent. Everything is always fresh and you feel like you are in a much more urban setting when you're there.
The crab cakes are a solid go-to. If you're not starving 1 will suffice but they are so delicious that you will probably be able to eat 2 if given the option.
Great place to bring out-of-towners, to go for date night or to hit up with a small group of friends. You will love it! -
Review from Brett H.
Richmond, VA
4/17/2012
(I am not a huge foody and never frequent nice restaurants like this, so this review might seem kind of biased.)
Overall, I thought the restaurant itself is a pretty good place for a really nice meal with a date. The food was super nice and the service was excellent. They have a robust beer/wine/cocktail selection, too. The ambiance was on the dimly-lit and romantic feel
The food, however, was not as good as the price tag suggests it should be, and I left wanting more. The girlfriend and I chose the Prix Fixe menu, a three-course meal for $25. The portions were pretty small although it was a nice place so I can see why. I would say the food was OK, but overall not anything I am dying to have again. Maybe the real menu has larger portions, but I left not feeling satisfied by the amount, and I am definitely not a huge eater. Most of the menu items are in the same $20-$25 ballpark as the prix fixe, too.
Like I said above, I don't ever eat at these modernist, upscale restaurants so maybe this is what they are all like, but it just wasn't for me. We are both in our mid-20's and were easily the youngest couple there, which made the experience a little weirder. We also ate outside which was nice at first, but the immediate surrounding area just doesn't really fit with what Acacia is, so it sort of took away from the experience.
Bottom line, if you are looking for a plate you might find on "Chopped" to experience with a significant other at a real nice place and have some deep pockets, this is for you. But for everyone else, move along. -
Review from Melody L.
Washington, DC
3/16/2012
Acacia is hands-down my favorite restaurant in Richmond. I've always gone on weekdays to get their prix-fixe $24 three course dinner, which is a fantastic deal especially for the quality of food that you're getting. I've gone there at least 4-5 times for various people's going-away dinners as well as random nights when I just want something really nice to eat. It's surprisingly never really that busy on weeknights and I've never had problems getting a table for four.
Parking is street parking, and there's usually plenty available on side roads. They also have valet, but I've never taken it.
For their major entrees, I've tried mostly their beef, lamb, and fish dishes. They always came perfectly cooked and well-seasoned - you could really taste the flavors in the meat as you ate the dish. The bread here is also pretty good. The desserts are delicious as well and my drinking friends have liked the cocktails.
However, I feel like the main strength of Acacia are the soups. They are absolutely fantastic. Balanced, flavorful, nuanced, they make great soups. I adore anything with truffle oil and some of their soups do feature it. Acacia has more off-beat ingredients in many of their dishes and I haven't found anything to be off-putting.
For the value and quality of the food, I give this place five stars. I would gladly come back anytime. -
Review from Matt C.
Richmond, VA
3/21/2012
You'll find no extreme opinions in this review - we enjoyed ourselves at Acacia. The entrees were as-expected from a slightly self-congratulatory establishment. I recall very much enjoying the interesting saucings (not a word, but I like it) on my plate. Presentation was nice. I did enjoy the atmosphere and the service was just fine. We ordered drinks at the bar, were seated promptly thereafter and enjoyed a few glasses of wine that were well-priced. I found no pretenses by the staff, only by our fellow diners. Acacia really does get quite the demographic (see for yourself).
Will keep going back for their creative drinks, at a minimum. -
Review from Jane D.
Richmond, VA
3/10/2012
Finally got a chance to visit Acacia's new location to celebrate my Dad's birthday.
We were warmly welcomed and seated in a row of small tables along the wall. I'm a big fan of low lit ambiance in a restaurant and unfortunately the lighting here was pretty garish. I could see that they were trying to be hip and modern but it did not succeed in making for a cozy feel.. too flourescent. Also, the tables on either side of us were in such close proximity that I had the feeling both couples were able to hear everything we said without even trying. Not such a big deal when dining with my father but not the best situation for a date. Another thing that struck me as odd and threw off the balance of the room was a large area that was curtained off.. seemed like a poorly disguised storage area or something. Just odd and detracted from the otherwise well-appointed atmosphere.
On to the food! Delicious!! We were delighted to find that we were able to order from a prix fixe menu as neither of us were starving but still wanted to be able to try a few things. Three courses for $24 AND Tuesday's half-price bottles of wine!! We felt like we'd hit the jackpot! We had an excellent bottle of chardonnay recommended by our very knowledgable waiter. All of our courses were divine and the portions generous considering the price. We left happy and satisfied.
Now if they would just lose the cold, stark lighting and slide the tables a little farther apart I would consider making Acacia a regular destination for date night! -
Review from Lisa N.
4/15/2012
I made reservations here for restaurant week a month in advance and was quite surprised at how popular it was. The menu changes, but I was very satisfied with the portion sizes, quality of ingredients, and price. The decor is modern, waitstaff are friendly and attentive, and overall experience was great. However, the street parking can be difficult to find (we had to park about 4 blocks away). I will definitely come back and try other items!
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Review from Tina K.
Richmond, VA
3/10/2012
I think this is the best restaurant in Richmond. The food is superb.
My only negative comment is that the acoustics stink. It's really, really loud, and sometimes you feel like you're screaming when speaking to others at your table.
I'm willing to get over this, however, because the food is so wonderful. -
Review from Sam P.
Richmond, VA
1/21/2012
I found them rude.
We had reservations for 7 people. The restaurant was half full and our table sat open waiting for us (it was a Wednesday night). We were told by the hostess that we couldn't be seated until everyone was present ("It's our policy.").
Once we had 6, I asked if we could be seated and was told she already told me no (she'd become my mother). I asked to see the manager. She stalled until our 7th person came in a few minutes later and let one of the waiters know we might be a problem (that seemed to spread quickly).
Once she sat us, she asked one side of the table,"Who did I talk with on the phone about your reservation?" When the person spoke up, she proceeded to reprimand the person repeating the fact that she'd told us they would not seat us until the entire party was present.
Now... If you're getting ready to spend what will likely be $400 - $500, you don't want to start your evening like this. It's a team dinner thing we do with our company to better connect on a personal level (we shoot for once a month). We like it to be fun.
So we left for Bacchus (a favorite of mine). It was only 6 blocks down the road. Fortunately they still had an open table in that little room upstairs. They killed it! Everyone was excited we made the change (sauteed calamari, goat cheese and beet salad, blood sausage, hanger steaks... oh boy... my mouth is watering right now).
Too many great options in Richmond to tolerate rudeness. Why couldn't they just let us sit down and not make it about themselves? -
Review from Shulamite L.
Richmond, VA
5/4/2012
I went here for restaurant week and it was fantastic!! The risotto balls were amazing. They have half price off their bottles of wine and a prixe fix menu for $24 on Tuesday night which definitely makes it worth going. Their service was great and the atmosphere is very clean and modern which is a breath of fresh air from all the wooden booths and american bar decor that dominates the dining scene in Richmond. I would definitely go here again.
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Review from Michelle L.
Richmond, VA
12/25/2011
My boyfriend took me here for my birthday a couple of months ago, and we had a wonderful evening! The atmosphere was very romantic and our food was unbelievable. We started with the beet and goat cheese salad, which was absolutely delicious, and both got seafood dishes for our main meal. My boyfriend said his meal was the best meal of his life - mine was definitely in the top 10. The service was friendly and fast, and we loved everything about our experience.
We'll definitely be back to Acacia Midtown! -
Review from Claire Y.
3/4/2012
Oooh, so close to 5 stars, SO CLOSE.
I went here on Friday with my parents for my birthday, to have a classy dinner and my first legal drink before going out with friends, and it was pretty delicious! We all did the $24 prix fixe menu, which is rather a good deal, I must say. My mother and I both got the butternut squash soup, which we both loved, especially on a dreary rainy day. My dad didn't have anything to say about his salad, which is a good thing in his case. For entrees, Dad had the salmon (good, but a little undercooked, in my well-done fish loving opinion), Mom the monkfish (didn't try it), and I the skirt steak. Now, I know skirt steak is notoriously tough, but this was really, almost comically hard to cut through. The flavors I did manage to taste were rich and enjoyable, though. The potatoes and other root vegetables were a good pairing with it, especially with the red wine sauce. And there was bacon, always a good option. The winner on dessert was my brown sugar panna cotta, matched with dates, pecans, and pomegranate reduction. My dad didn't enjoy his chocolate cremaux, but my mom thought her passionfruit gelee passable. Dad even pointed out that all the desserts had the same basic, easily made ahead consistency of Jello.
My favorite part of dinner, though, maybe even for the sheer novelty of it, was my drink. Steaks come and go, but your first legal drink is forever. I got the Sage Advice: tequila, St. Germain, grapefruit juice, sage leaves, and soda water. It reminded me of happy warm weather! Though if I had to give some sage advice to Acacia, it would be to keep up the good work, using different cuts of beef and different desserts. -
Review from Jess H.
10/25/2011
Came here for Restaurant Week, and MAN was the food good! I think the service and ambiance left some to be desired, which is why this place is just shy of 5 stars for me. Nevertheless, the food was incredibly delicious and I would definitely recommend this restaurant regardless.
My starter was the duck confit with sweet potato gnocchi, sage brown butter sauce, and pomegranate reduction. I couldn't much taste any pomegranate, but holy smokes the gnocchi was to die for. I almost thought it was a caramelized plantain. Combined with savory and slightly fatty duck...mm mmm MMMMM!!
For the entree I had the sauteed local rockfish on top of a parmesan cauliflower risotto, with roasted cauliflower and other veggies, and a bright green basil parmesan sauce swirl circling the whole dish. The rockfish was SO TENDER. Crispy edges, melt in the middle. Perfection.
The dessert was frozen persimmon mousse, pomegranate cranberry sorbet, candied pecans and spiced mascarpone. The sorbet was a nice way to end the meal because it was light yet tart and tangy. The spiced mascarpone looked like a small brick on the plate, but it was so smooth like cheesecake.
I was very, very, VERY pleased with the meal :) Service could have been a little faster, especially at the beginning, but to be fair it was Day 1 of Restaurant Week at peak dining hour. After we ordered though, everything was smooth sailing. The space itself looks alright, but it is much too loud. I could hardly hear BF across the table. And the booth is definitely higher than the chairs, so I was practically looking down at BF across the table. Felt weird and I ended up slouching all night just so we could be at eye-level. -
Review from Kevin H.
Glen Allen, VA
10/6/2011
Great trendy restaurant with some creative dishes from the chef. Only bad experience of the night was the following.
They asked if we minded to sit outside on the patio as the dining room was completely full. We said sure and proceeded to order wine and a beer. After my wife drank less than half of the wine a bug landed in the glass. We notified our waitress and asked for another glass of wine. She was hesitant and said that she would ask her manager what she could do. The manager then came over with a new glass of wine, not filled up, and said that he couldn't do this again if a bug landed in the glass again. It was almost like we put the bug in there on purpose!
I know we were sitting outside and it's really no one's fault that a bug will go after a sweet wine but come on Acacia, you're too good of a restaurant to act like this. And we spent about $100 on our dinner so again Acacia, train your managers on service. The meal was outstanding but the "bug incident" kept you from getting a full five stars from this reviewer. -
Review from Samantha T.
Henrico, VA
3/17/2012
Our absolute fave place. Always delish food. Great setting although loud when in full dinner service swing. Never go wrong with prix fixe menu. Aand the chef has done amazing things for RVA
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Review from Elizabeth L.
Annandale, VA
2/14/2012
I had made a reservation for Valentine's day for two. The only available menu tonight was the four course meal that was $55 per person. However, circumstances had force me to cancel my reservation and when I had called in, they said I would still be charged the $55 per person regardless of the situation. I had explained that it was an emergency and that I could not make it and asked if the cancellation fee could be waived; they said no. They just said it was simply because we had booked the tables we are responsible, no matter that the situation.
I honestly think this policy is very inconsiderate of the customers. Circumstances may rise and customers might not be able to make it to their reservations. We didn't even pre-order; the table was the only thing that would be left unoccupied. This to me shows that they are very greedy with the customers' money and honestly, I would've gone in another time and enjoyed the food if not for this problem because I had no problem paying for the exceptional food they have. I am just very disappointed at their level of consideration. -
Review from Sveta S.
Richmond, VA
Updated - 1/26/2012
Went back to the bar a few times and cocktails were great.
Last night though made me decide to never bother back.
Food was as good as last time although it seemed cooler than it should have been.
Service, conversely, was incredibly awful: inattentive, disconnected, unwelcoming, poorly timed and executed in many ways.
Just some heads up...if your server is Hansen, ask for someone else.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/21/2011
Great food, service and atmosphere. However, for such price this level of quality is expected. I… Read more »
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Review from Jessica S.
Durham, NC
2/4/2012
After debating which great restaurant in Richmond to try we selected Acacia. They failed to bring our first course and brought the second. When asked they said it was because we had not confirmed that we wanted our first when we ordered our second. They failed to apologize or offer any remedy for their mistake and instead insisted it was our fault for not reiterating our order.
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Review from Hilary D.
Decatur, GA
2/15/2012
We always set aside time to go here. The food and service is very good, no wow food but always very good. Will be back in June
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Review from John S.
Henrico, VA
12/6/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Our favorite restaurant in Richmond. Great food, excellent wine list, and fair prices. Try the scallops.
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Review from Lisa G.
12/7/2011
This is easily one of my favorite restaurants in Richmond. EVERYTHING on the menu is good. And the level of service matches the food. I definitely recommend a reservation, though, as seating can be hard to get if you just walk in.
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Review from t v.
Richmond, VA
5/31/2011
Came for the fixed price menu and was very happy. The food was good and definitely was full by the end. I don't remember my entree but the salad was good and I did have the bread pudding.
Great deal for excellent meal and atmosphere, although not best meal ever and food I dream about.
We were the first ones there when the restaurant opened but about 15-30 minutes later it was filling up quickly on a Thursday.
Nice place for a special occasion or just going out that won't kill your wallet (if you get the fixed price menu ;)). -
Review from Chris D.
Prince George, VA
1/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
The appetizers were much more pleasing than the entrees. I had the pork belly and oyster appetizers. Both were very delicious. We had the rockfish and skirt steak. Both were disappointing. Our server was good. The scene seems a bit pretentious; I think the cost of the disappointing entrees exacerbated this.
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Review from Rebecca R.
Richmond, VA
11/9/2010
So we walked in and almost turned around and walked back out. So not our scene - we were the only people in the restaurant in jeans, other than the staff. Everyone else looked like they were at their law firm's holiday party. We are so not schwa schwa and I will admit I was a little intimidated. I will also agree with another reviewers comments about the atmosphere - it is a little cold and highly pretentious.
We were thrilled to learn that Tuesday night was half price wine night and that a prix fixe was available. Now, while their wine selection was spectacular, my hubby likes to start his meals with a beer and the selection there was definitely lacking. Everything on the menu looked amazing but we did opt for the prix fixe - winter squash soup, duck for me, ribeye for hubby and sweet potato ice cream. From beginning to end the food was amazing. The soup was light but rich. The sauce on both entrees was so good I wanted to to pick the plates up and lick them clean. The sweet potato ice cream was inventive, if not completely successful, but the roasted marshmallow and vanilla bean ice cream brought it all together.
Looking at the rest of the bar menu was also really impressive - Japanese single malt scotch? Who knew?
We left smiley and satiated and can't wait to go back. I'll probably still wear jeans.Listed in: Food and Fun as Foreplay
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Review from Erin B.
Richmond, VA
12/18/2011
My fiancé and I finally went to Acacia, and it was amazing. It's a wonderful space, the staff was very friendly and professional and the food was phenomenal. We will definitely be back very soon!
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Review from Caitlin C.
Richmond, VA
4/24/2011
Loved the atmosphere, loved my dinner (scallops with gnocchi), loved the free valet service.
The missing star is for a very unfortunate tuna ceviche, which tasted very little of tuna or the citrus I generally think of ceviche having, and very much of some sort of way-too-spicy gaucamole-esque thing. -
Review from Kristin G.
White Plains, NY
4/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
The meal we had at Acacia was phe-nom-en-al!
My work colleagues and I were visiting from out of town and were told to go here. Our experience was outstanding! The menu was so interesting, we ordered 4 starters, 4 apps, 4 entrees and 4 desserts (and an amazing bottle of wine) and just sort of shared everything with each other because we wanted to taste it all.
Being from NY, we were blown away by the prices too! $24 prix fixe with half-price wine on Tuesdays!?! We thought we were in heaven! Great waitstaff too!
The things we liked most were:
* rabbit empanada
* risotto balls
* duck ravioli
* sweetbreads
* scallops with gnocchi
* grouper with brussels sprouts, lentils, raisins, pecans
* pork cheek with ramps
* lychee cream dessert
Wonderful place to explore creative, appealing and delicious dishes! Brilliant! -
Review from Nicole D.
Richmond, VA
2/29/2012
This is one of the best restaurants in Richmond. The scallop dish and steak dish are amazing. The bartenders take a lot of time and care into making the perfect drink. My experiences here have been fantastic and I highly recommend Acacia for pretty much any occasion.
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Review from Cheryl B.
Henrico, VA
9/13/2010
I went to Acacia for the first time this weekend; I thought it would be a nice treat for my birthday. Although I would say our overall experience was good, I am only giving Acacia two stars because I have had better food, service, and atmosphere elsewhere (e.g. Mezzanine).
The restaurant is trendy and cool... a little too cool. While we liked the seating (comfy booth and pillow), we did not like the lighting. The lighting was cold and the temperature of the room was freezing. I thought maybe they did that on purpose so people would eat and get the hell out. We did not want to lounge around after dinner. Although the bar area looked a little warmer and more inviting.
The service was just okay, in my opinion. I think our waiter was so concerned with formality that he forgot to have some personality. We tried to loosen him up, but that was not happening. He barely spoke up at all. He also put us in for the wrong salad, which actually turned out to be a nice mistake (the prosciutto and melon salad was outstanding). We also noticed that almost all of the waitstaff were men, which was no big deal, just different.
We started with the shrimp and caper bruschetta which was very delicious. Warm, tangy, and filling. Then, of course, we had the salad, which was equally yummy.
I ordered the grouper and it was quite tasty and the veggies were good. They even threw some eggplant in the mix which was great. The celery root ravioli, however, tasted too tart and I ended up squeezing the green goo out and just eating the pasta part.
My hubby ordered the crab cake which was ginormous. It tasted good with plenty of crab in it. It did appear to be made with some kind of mustard which became more noticeable as he tackled his way through it. He also said the cheddar grits were way to rich; I tried them and thought so too.
Overall, the experience was good, but I have a feeling I would go back to Mezzanine before I go back to Acacia. -
Review from Cindy W.
Glen Allen, VA
4/15/2012
very good
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Review from Jackie B.
Richmond, VA
12/19/2011
Acacia is by far my favorite restaurant in Richmond. It is my favorite destination when I have friends in town, birthday dinners and other special occassions! I love the fact that the menu changes, but there are some phenomenal appetizers (like the fried Oysters or the Beet and Goat Cheese Salad) and the main courses always make me salivate. I love the minimalist decor and the commitment to local foods. Years later in its larger space at Robinson and Cary, the restaurant still looks fresh. I love the complimentary valet parking (although it is often easier to park on the street), and the wine and cocktails are always amazing. This is one of the few restaurants where I always order dessert and my favorite was their cardamom creme brulee (which I have not seen since). The prices for what you get are extremely reasonable for Richmond. Dress to impress and prepare for your taste buds to be ignited!
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Review from Quang N.
Richmond, VA
11/5/2011
The best restaurant in Richmond. From the atmosphere, to the excellent meals, to desert, to craft cocktails, there is not a weak point for this restaurant.
While definitely not cheap, Acacia offers wonderful value as well. I don't think there's a better quality/price ratio than going on their prix fixe/half price bottle of wine night combos.
Use this as a place to take out of towners out for a great meal, but also keep it in the regular rotation as it's a fantastic value as well.
The duck, rockfish, and flounder are my personal favorites, but there are no bad items on the menu. -
Review from Jeff R.
Richmond, VA
5/28/2010
Location
Acacia is located in a downtrodden zone between quirky Carytown and downtown. You have the choice of parking on the street or handing your keys over to a very bored-looking valet.
Experience
We had a reservation for 7:30 and arrived on time. The hostess looked nervously at the podium and told us that they were setting up our table and it would be a few minutes before it was ready, so we sat in the cocktail area. A server took our drink order and never returned. After 40 minutes the hostess took us to a table with wet seats.
ProTip™: Do not lie to your customers. We are not as dumb as you think we are. Just tell me that you double-sat the waitstaff and it's going to be a while. And if you're going to take my drink order at least have the courtesy to bring the drinks.
Once we were at the table the waiter appeared in a timely manner and gave us a 5 minute explanation about the water and why it costs $1. The service was not remarkable in any way but after the seating debacle I was happy to have been served food at all.
ProTip™: If you're having trouble paying off your ridiculous filtration system then just build the cost into the food. Or just charge me the dollar. Do anything but berate your customers about tap water.
Food
We tried the tuna ceviche as an appetizer and were mildly impressed. The base was avocado which had been whipped into baby food on which tuna chunks had been plopped. I wouldn't go so far as to say it was real ceviche, but it was passable. Our entrees were very good though, which is the only saving grace for this review. I had the bacon-wrapped duck which was tender and seasoned very well.
Ambience
It feels like the owners went to New York and tried to copy a high-end restaurant with Ikea and Pier 1. From the chairs down to the place mats, the decor looks good from a distance but upon closer inspection, is cheap. That wouldn't be an issue accept that the restaurant and staff is so pretentious that it's palpable.
ProTip™: If you want to look like you've spared no expense to realize your vision, then spare no expense. But to act like you went all out and deliver such a sub-par experience and atmosphere is tacky.
Bottom Line
Overrated. Acacia is a knock-off. It feels like the owners have champagne taste on a beer budget and an extreme case of big city envy. In this price range, save yourself the ridiculousness of it all and head over to Comfort. -
Review from Paige S.
Richmond, VA
2/21/2012
For me, this place is just okay. We have tried it three times because we feel like we must be missing something as it gets great reviews, but each time leave feeling...meh. I can't say I've had a bad meal, I haven't at all - but i've never had something that knocked my socks off - and the total experience has never had me leaving thinking that I can't wait to come back. Slightly pretentious attitude here, but that normally doesn't bother me - perhaps i feel they just can't back it up. I wish i liked it, a lot of people do... One good thing - their Dark and Stormy cocktail is memorable, worth a try even if you've never had one.
-
Review from Jennifer H.
Falls Church, VA
12/5/2010
Quality, service, and the "oh-my-god what goodness did I just consume," experience. Acacia makes food that just hits your gastrophogus in the right way. It's hard to put into words, but just think back on a time when you had a meal which was just down right good. Everything was balanced like feng-shui. The meat wasn't heavy, the sauces weren't drowning the original tastes of the ingredients, the vegetables weren't bland or raw, and dessert wasn't a stuff your face full of sugar and crème fest...
SOOO, Acacia is just this type of experience. Acacia serves perfectly balanced meals with meat that juices in your mouth, sauces that hit different taste buds harmoniously, vegetables that have their own flavor with the minimal amount of cooking to accentuate the natural texture, and desserts which are sized above petite so you can actually savor it with your post-meal coffee while enjoying the rustic modern blend this locale presents so darn well.
It's not really worth talking about what I ate since the menu is in a constant state of flux depending on what's local, what's in season, and what tastes good. But the main point is Acacia is what you want to eat - always. Just bring money. -
Review from K. K.
Richmond, VA
3/24/2011
7,231 out of 7,219 for the food.
It is expensive though. -
Review from C L.
Henrico, VA
11/27/2011
My husband and I had never been to Acacia Midtown. Given the multitude of positive reviews and recognitions, we were excited to give it a try for Husband's birthday this past Saturday (11/26/11). Being a local restaurateur, Husband enjoys sitting at the bar for our meals - in a nutshell, it enables networking and I do not mind it.
So, we enter the building and set our sights on the perfect seats, right at the corner of the bar (Husband's favorite) - things seem promising. An uninviting barkeep gives a lackluster greeting by tossing a cocktail menu in our general direction. I overlook this as an honest slip-up on his part - "maybe he's busy". Given the special event, I deviate from my usual cocktail staple (vodka & water) and inquire about the difference between two vodka-based specialty drinks, emphasizing that I do not enjoy syrupy, sweet drinks. Following an unenthusiastic description, I make the seemingly appropriate choice. Husband orders his usual bourbon on the rocks. I watch the bartender prepare my beverage with care but to my disappointment, the end result is exactly what I said I didn't want - excessively sweet with the consistency of syrup. I'd really hate to know how sweet the other specialty cocktails are, as this one was described as "not overly sweet." The bartender chooses not to response to the cringes displayed on my and Husband's faces after sampling said drink.
We ask for a menu - this is the point in time in which we realized that all the previous "slip-ups" were, in fact, deliberate actions of an ill-mannered bartender - "We'd love a menu." His response, "Did you tell the hostess?" (Um...what?)
Husband: "Are we not allowed to eat at the bar?" (No one stopped us from sitting here.) "Well, we're at 'max capacity' and we normally require reservations for the bar so I have to check on that," the bartender states with an exhausted tone.
He leaves us confused as he speaks with the hostesses for several minutes. When he returns, he responds, "Since you're already here, I guess you can stay."
Alright now, sure, it's Saturday night but it was a little after 9 PM and this "max capacity" thing... to me, this means a packed house, waiting list, servers visibly hustling. Why is it then, within my direct field of vision, I see several unoccupied bar seats, at least 3-4 empty tables and a near-complete lack of direct floor staff?
Husband isn't pleased. We ask for the tab and I politely say, "thank you," as the bartender hands me the check. He did not say a word in return! He did not even look in our general direction. I was shocked.
I really wanted Husband to have a wonderful birthday meal, which we were able to find elsewhere. We enjoyed a dining experience in another restaurant that did not include being made to feel completely unwelcome and with a bartender who understood the definition of sweet and syrupy. We were originally excited to finally try Acacia Midtown and now, thanks to this one particular bartender's complete lack of appropriate customer service, I doubt we will ever return. There are too many good restaurants in this town to ever have to pay for bad service.
