Quaint corner bar & eatery with a varied Italian menu featuring innovative mains & pastas.
Tatiana Loarca
I really enjoyed my chicken carbonara! I also got an arugula/roasted red bell pepper salad…while it tasted super yummy they literally only gave me 3 slices of bell pepper and THE MOST arugula I’ve ever been served as a salad (felt like it was a whole bag)…I was excited for the roasted bell pepper so only getting 3 slices was lowkey annoying. The bartender was awesome tho, really enjoyed my french martini! Gave my friend and I recs on where we should go next that was near by:) we also got the tiramasu for dessert, was yummy, a bit heavy on the espresso but good overall. By the way, DEFINITELY CALL to make a reservation for this place – they were completely booked out for the rest of the night(we got there an hour after opening) so we waited a good 15-20 minutes for bar seating
… moreScott White
Overall decent food for the price. Good flavor (would not say standout) and healthy portions. Service was good given it was really busy. It probably took about 10 minutes to get seated but that’s because they were packed, so no complaints with getting seated. Environment was fine, and noise level was reasonable. There was free street parking when we went which was helpful. I was in the mood for veal scallopini, while the rest of my family went with chicken Marsala. Both were good (not great), and worth having again, but I feel could be better.
… moresteven cohen
This visit to Baccus was a return trip after a less than stellar experience about a year ago, and unfortunately it landed the same way.
The fundamental issue is the kitchen. The cooks do not seem to communicate, they are not tasting the food, and they are not seasoning with any confidence. Every pasta dish at our table came out bland and flavorless. The eggplant parmesan was also underwhelming, with very little cheese and almost no depth of flavor.
One practical fix: the entrees need to lose the side salad. A side salad with eggplant parm misses the mark. What people want is a small side of pasta. You can see it on the plates when the salad comes back untouched.
Service was okay, but not stellar. Our server was clearly stretched thin with too many tables.
Bottom line: Baccus is a great local spot with a lot of potential, but it needs an owner or chef back in the kitchen someone who takes pride in the food and brings passion to execution.
… moreAllison Yan
I heard all of the hype about this place….and was extremely disappointed in the food. I feel like Bacchus is Italian food for American people who haven’t actually had good/real Italian food.
My husband and I went for date night and each of our three plates was a complete miss. Our kale salad just tasted…bad. The kale was too tough and not chopped up correctly. The stuffed mushroom and pasta main were both bland and watery, not seasoned well. I feel like we could have made better tasting food at home.
2 stars instead of 1 because the ambiance was cute and we did like our wine. I will not be returning.
… moreChris Fenton
I’ve never eaten at a restaurant and been off put by the butter served with the bread. If that’s the same butter they’re cooking with – that’s a big sign. Everything only tasted like black pepper – I had the clam chowder and the shrimp and scallop scampi. Nice atmosphere, but our waitress never came to check on our table and I had to ask a different one for a refill. I’ve literally had much better experiences at Cheesecake Factory. I don’t really like leaving bad reviews – especially for small restaurants – but my side of the bill was $40 and I couldn’t even finish my meal because of how strong the black pepper was. I absolutely could cook better than this and I don’t really like cooking. The hype must be from people who don’t care about money or food.
… moreCharles Ix
Havn’t been to Bacchus in quite a while. Six of us went for dinner and had an amazing time. The calamari was outstanding and there was a white bean appetizer that also was excellent. Main courses of Tuna and the NY strip with gorgenzolla topping were out of this world. Side dished of spinich and polenta were fantastic.Customer service was spot on and pricing wasn’t crazy for the high quality of food served and the excellent service provided. We will be back !!!
… moreEric Bliss
My wife and I dined here tonight, as we continue to explore Richmond having just relocated from Austin. Friendly staff and great service. From the outside you expect to enter someplace dark but the amount of sunlight coming through the front is impactful…it creates this vibrant atmosphere, which for a neighborhood joint really elevates your initial impression. Truly a nice vibe we walked by the bar to our booth near the rear. We began with drinks and some pate and a goat cheese and beet salad w/ greens. We then moved on to the most amazing duck breast which could not be done better anywhere. We also ordered the scallops over prosciutto (superb) and some spaghetti w/ butter and parm and also a side of sauteed endive w/ cranberries we shared. All were great. 5 stars w/ no hesitation. Prices were also great. The only thing to improve is the wine list–but then my wife is a Somm so she would like to see a few elevated choices available.
… moreJennifer Schulz
I haven’t eaten here in about 15 years, but it was recommended by friends to go for a very special birthday celebration. We had guests who drove from Charlottesville and they were running late, so I called and pushed our reservation from 7 to 7:30. They said absolutely no problem. We arrive at 7:30 and spent a few minutes getting drinks and catching up. The waitress was not pleasant from the start. After getting our drinks she asked what we wanted. I said we needed a few more minutes and she said, “well, the kitchen is closing at 8.” I would not have pushed the reservation back if I had known this was going to be a rushed dinner. We had to hurry to make our decisions and did so. The food came out quickly and was delicious. We had been looking forward to a dessert our guests had seen on the menu, but our waitress came over, threw the check on the table and walked off. I work in the service industry and couldn’t believe how bad the service was. Really disappointing.
… morePaul
Thoroughly bummed with my experience at Bacchus. Richmond has a competitive dining scene and this restaurant seems to fall flat across the board.
I work in customer service myself, so my patience and threshold in these environments is typically high. Our server could not have seemed less interested in our table, and was generally cold in their demeanor until our bill began to tally into the hundreds. I won’t name names, but I feel like you know who you are, and you (or management) doesn’t seem to care if you do better.
The food was hit or miss. Some dishes were okay. Some were not. There are at least 2-3 other Italian options within a 3 mile radius that accomplish the same goal while meeting or exceeding expectations.
The dining area was poorly ventilated. I actually had to step outside to catch a breather and collect myself. It’s hard to put me in an uncomfortable dining situation yet here is Bacchus yet again managing to lower the bar.
The wine was great, the bathrooms were clean, and once our server mentally checked out the bar staff was lovely.
… moreSterling Harrelson
Absolutely delightful dining experience at Bacchus Restaurant in Richmond, VA! From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere was warm and inviting. I ordered the rockfish, and it was cooked to perfection—flaky, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Each bite was a testament to the chef’s skill and attention to detail.
To complement my meal, I indulged in their Old Fashioned, which was expertly crafted. The balance of flavors was spot-on, making it one of the best I’ve had in a while. The staff was attentive and knowledgeable, enhancing the overall experience with their recommendations and friendly service.
I highly recommend Bacchus for anyone looking for an exceptional meal in a cozy setting. This place is a gem! Five stars all the way!
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