The Ridley

Review summary

1. R

   Rob

   Washington DC

   6 reviews

   5.0

   6 reviews

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   A very enjoyable way to end our Christmas Day while traveling. A delicious southern buffet with such great surprises like gourmet deviled eggs and amazing collards. Also loved the carrot cake and White Christmas margarita.
   

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2. J

   Joni

   Richmond

   3 reviews

   1.0

   3 reviews

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 2

   Christmas dinner NOT worth $45 per person. Cold food, no ice in tea, water never refilled, cold coffee. Disappointing. Rewarmed mash potatoes, cos Mac and cheese, tough and cold steak. Ham fair, collard greens not fully cooked. Messy buffet area. Cheese cake was fair. Waiter was very disinterested. We will not be back.
   

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3. P

   Patricia

   Richmond

   9 reviews

   5.0

   9 reviews

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   We were happy to celebrate Christmas dinner at The Ridley, a new restaurant for us near home. Our server was the best we’ve ever had! She was very attentive and sweet, even offering to take our picture. The southern-style Christmas buffet was excellent, especially the collards and desserts, according to my partner. I had blackened salmon, perfectly prepared.
   

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4. K

   Kathleen

   Richmond

   3 reviews

   2.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on December 19, 2024

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 4

   We made reservations at the Ridley about a month ago to have dinner before seeing Trans-Siberian Orchestra at JPJ. We arrived a few minutes early for our reservation and it took a few minutes for someone to greet us at the desk. We were seated promptly. Our server started out pretty great. She took our drink, appetizer, and dinner orders all at the same time. Drinks seemed to take a little longer than normal to be delivered. Appetizer seemed to come out relatively quickly. Dinner took a long time to arrive. I'm not quite sure how much time elapsed but our server did drop by the table and say that they'd had an unexpected "70 top" arrive and the kitchen was backed up and that our food would be up in about 10 minutes. We did not see her again for much longer than 10 minutes. Meanwhile, a 4 top table, seated after us and that ordered after us had their food delivered and mostly eaten before our food arrived. It was just my husband and I - I ordered a Caesar salad with salmon and my husband had a burger and fries. When the food arrived, it was evident it had been sitting for a while. The fries weren't cold but they were not hot. Salmon was not hot. Salad seemed as though it had been sitting. After the food was delivered, our server didn't check on us once. Didn't offer us another drink. Didn't refill water. Nothing. I had to ask another server to bring the check to us. For a burger, a salad with salmon, a brussels sprouts appetizer and 2 drinks we paid $87 plus tip. Based on this experience alone, we would choose somewhere else to have our pre-TSO dinner next year.
   

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5. R

   Ram

   Richmond

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 12, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The Ridley offers a mix of strengths and little areas for improvement, but overall, it’s a spot worth visiting, especially for its warm atmosphere and accommodating service. As someone who isn’t a Southern food expert but is quickly becoming a fan, I found this experience enjoyable and eye-opening. The Skillet Cornbread is a standout dish—rich, flavorful, and perfectly baked. The ribeye is cooked to the requested doneness and absolutely delicious, while the lava cake is rich, decadent, and the perfect end to the meal. The Chef’s Seasonal Crème Brûlée is fantastic, with a satisfyingly crunchy crust and a delightful surprise at the bottom. Some dishes could use a bit more refinement. The Fried Wings in Phoenix Rub lack flavor, and while the chicken isn’t notably fresh, it thankfully doesn’t have an off taste. I’m looking forward to trying the maple BBQ rub next time for comparison. The gumbo is decent but not extraordinary, and the blackened salmon is unfortunately dry, which diminishes its potential. But then again, as someone who is not familiar with Southern Dish, they don’t taste bad, they just lack texture for them to be memorable. The service is impeccable. The staff is attentive and accommodating, with Lucas standing out for his professionalism and attentiveness. Their hospitality added to the enjoyment of our meal. The Ridley shines in its standout items and excellent service. It’s a place we’ll happily recommend to friends and family visiting the area. Looking forward to our next visit!
   

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6. C

   Cheryl

   Detroit

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on December 8, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Server made the experience the best. Shelley was engaging - attentive and fun. We were celebrating a birthday. She checked back often. And sang HB the best. As for the food - couldn’t taste the cheddar in the cheddar waffle but the avocado toast and French fries were good.
   

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7. C

   Courtney

   E. Tennessee

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 3, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Great food, great service. I had the salmon, my husband had the turkey sandwich and both were great. We had no complaints whatsoever! We also had our toddler with us and both our hostess and server were both very kind and sweet to her. It was decorated for Christmas also and the atmosphere was great.
   

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8. M

   Mary

   Richmond

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 1, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Our party of four dined at The Ridley for Sunday brunch. Our server, Shelly, was truly phenomenal. She was supremely prompt, efficient kind and warm. The food—presented immaculate and enjoyed by us all. We have vowed to return to see Shelly again. Thank you!
   

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9. S

   Susan

   Washington DC

   2 reviews

   3.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on November 29, 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 3

   This was our second time there. After the first wonderful time we wanted to go back. The service was horrible. There were only three parties in the place and all the servers were hanging out together near the register and/or the kitchen entranceway talking and laughing. At no time after we received our order did any one come to check on us. The only time we were able to get a server's attention was for the check. We will not be returning.
   

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10. f

    fernando

    VIP

    Richmond

    124 reviews

    5.0

    124 reviews

    Dined on November 29, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4

    Was a quiet afternoon after Thanksgiving, food was good but service kind of slow.
    

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