L’Opossum

I had to book a reservation for 2 about 8 weeks in advance — unless I was willing to take a 9:30pm rez (too late). I settled for a 5pm rez (earlier than desired). I realize now, they’ll likely never have a 7pm slot available for 2; their booths are designed for 4 people and they want to maximize the number of patrons they seat at any given time.
This restaurant is located on a corner within a residential area (and some might consider it a bit run-​down). My wife and I arrived 5 minutes early and the restaurant was locked. So, we stood out in the sun for 5 minutes listening to a couple inebriated locals in their 50s heckle the folks standing in line to get into the restaurant. I can’t fault the restaurant for the actions of others. But, I’d advise L’Opossum to let their patrons in and have a seating area in the front.
My wife and I enjoyed the ambiance. Low lighting. Cool décor. Interesting paintings line the walls. The service was friendly and attentive. The menu is written in an amusing way. Overall, there is a fun and quirky vibe.
I’d skip the cocktails next time we dine there. Food prep, quality, and presentation were good, but nothing spectacular — so I don’t understand why L’Opossum appears to be booked so far in advance. I suppose it’s just the small number of tables.
Dinner with 2 ran about $ 180.
update: Our apps were forgettable. I had the Seared Tuna for my entrée and found the wasabi to be heavy handed. My wife had a vegetarian dish and wasn’t overly impressed. The chocolate flambé was a fun desert. Great to share. Overall, maybe we were there on a slightly off night. We’ll try it again sometime later in our rotation.

Best meal of the trip.
Appetizer — French onion dip, not what you are expecting. Lovely caramelized onions with nice crispy bread. Delicious.
Entrée — Lobster Mac n cheese, best I’ve ever had. Not too cheesy, huge portion of lobster, fresh herbs, chopped asparagus. Perfect.
Entrée — Seared tuna, outstanding, perfectly prepared, very fresh ingredients, beautiful presentation
Drinks — specialty drinks, something for everyone, nice tap list
Desserts — Chocolate ganache, delicious. The pineapple bundt cake with buttered rum sauce is unbelievably delicious.

Incredible food. Awesome bar staff. Cozy atmosphere. Excellent place for a little date night. I’m not sure why but it seems most people haven’t come here. It is a bit pricey for Oregon Hill so that could be a reason, but it’s totally worth it. This place is a favorite and constantly tops the charts on here, tripadvisor, and other review sites. Check it out.

This place is a gem. I’m always leery when a place already carries a five star rating. This place earned it. Everything is simply right. The lighting, the music, the décor… The food is AMAZING. The barman is fantastic. One of the best meals I’ve had in years and a pleasant experience.

Amazing and on point! We had a group date and reservations were made in a month in advance. Definitely worth it! I don’t remember what I order but I def have the photos for it. Haha, the cocktails were amazing and on point!
My husband and I got the violet femme and the hibiscus kiss but it was so smooth and delicious. My husband got the beer and I finished my meal with the French tickler. It was soooo good!
The meal we got were the specials. It’s been over a month so I don’t remember the names. (Sorry!). It was so beautiful displayed and the portions were just right. I left feeling very satisfied and not too food. My husband and I even got the dessert La Petite Mort Au Chocolat en flamb. ON POINT!
Amazing! I would highly recommend it for single or group dates. Beautiful atmosphere and the hostess and servers are really sweet and wonderful. I will def be coming back again!!!

I FINALLY got a chance to eat at L’Opossum, and boy was it worth the wait. Granted, I had pretty great company to top the evening off (we were mistaken for a celebrity couple), but every single bite was a burst of flavor!
First, the menu is grossly over-​written. Short and simple is better.
We started off with the mesclun salad. Small but seasoned perfectly. Not the dressing. Not the toppings. But the seasoning is the star of this show. We also had the oysters Rock. No kidding… probably the best I’ve ever had in my life. OMG!
For a 92 degree day in May, everything on the entrée menu seemed pretty heavy (wondering if this is a seasonal menu that has yet to switch to summer fare), so i went with what seemed lightest – crabcakes. Yes, they were delicious. The best? I don’t know, but definitely delicious. I also had a bite of my friend’s lobster mac & cheese. OMG! Lots of lobster. Lots of flavor.
We topped off the night with the black bottom (snicker) chocolate cake. Definitely not the best chocolate cake I’ve ever had, but there is no such thing as bad cake.
Portions are not huge – you won’t take home any leftovers – but the dishes are so rich that they are still quite filling.
In terms of service, Mark was wonderful! His answering questions about the menu is his specialty! Go ahead, ask! His answers are a presentation in themselves. Beautiful, appetizing descriptions.
I was not crazy about the décor of L’Opossum. It actually looks more Asian inspired than French inspired. Very dark. Cozy and intimate. Not bad, just not my preference of décor style.
Still, L’Opossum is a treat. Do go if you get a chance.
Warning: if you prefer mildly-​seasoned foods, L’Opossum is probably not the place for you. Every dish is rich and exploding with flavor!

The service was excellent. The food was amazing. The signature drinks are amazing. I personally had the Mesculn salad, Pork Chasseur, and the Lavender Limoncello. I can say, this was the best meal I’ve ever had in my life. The pork chop was so good, that with every bite I mumbled naughty words to myself. I can’t find a single negative thing about my experience at this restaurant. Thank you for an amazing evening!

Simply outstanding! Maybe the best meal I’ve had in Richmond since moving here.
Lamb chops were beautiful on the plate and extremely tasty. Had soup and apps with a larger group which also was very good. Must say the chocolate lava cake thing was tremendous and I could have licked the plate. Wine was excellent.
Décor is very unique and I guess personal to the chef/​owner. I love Star Wars so that was cool by me. Bathroom a bit startling and I leave that impression for you to experience.
Definitely need to find another time to come back.

Best bite of food I have ever. Had. In. My. Life was at L’Opossum. Get the escargot. Good lord. Words just don’t describe it. The desserts are out of this world. I don’t know what else to say. Perfection. Service was great, too.

As everyone writes, this place is RVA’s finest! Had a great time there, there was no rush of our party of 6 — they let us stay and enjoy the total experience. Server was great — explained everything and was attentive. I wish the drinks had been quicker when we sat down but that was just because i was ready to have a cocktail! Food was amazing, everyone one enjoyed the experience. Reservations are hard to come by so do yourself a favor and book weeks/​months in advance for what you want and you will be good to go.
Street Parking is easy too!

If the service was only half as good as the food! The atmosphere was quite dark. The food was delicious however the hostess put a damper on our night right from the start. A reminder to the restaurant as well as the chef… You are only as good as your staff. Unfortunately the staff at l’opossum needs some customer service training.

I have travelled extensively in the United States and around the world with the good fortune to have dined in the best restaurants every where I visited. L’opssum ranks among the best experiences I’ve had any where. We sampled multiple appetizers, had entrees and five desserts. Everything we had was sheer perfection. I don’t generally like oysters, escargot and caviar, but I loved all of it here. It’s an experience
I will remember forever.

The food here was delicious and I know why the chef is up for a James Bread award. The beef swellington was tender and duxelles sauce was delicious. My husband had the crab cakes that had no filler– none. Fresh crab which was tasty. The quail was light and well cooked.
Cocktails were delicious and I love the special vodka and San pelligrino grapefruit juice.
The server was knowledgeable and always right there but not hovering. This dinning experienced rivaled my meal at the Inn at Little Washington.
I’ve already made my next reservation for a weekend and I will be counting the days until April 16^th. Yes, it is just that good!

Another wonderful evening at L’Opossum.
The ambiance, the service and the cuisine is all top shelf.
My #1 in all of metro Richmond.
This visit included escargot, ahi tuna and chocolate flambé.
There is something for everyone here.

My mom and I had a terrific all-​around experience here for dinner last night.
I had bookmarked the restaurant after reading some really great reviews from credible Unilocalers and had the perfect opportunity to go with Mom last night. I was easily able to make rezzies from their website the night before. We showed up a little before the time I signed up for and were still seated immediately.
As we entered, we were both immediately impressed with the interior. Dark, but charming and a little bit quirky. Additionally, both the hostess and server were friendly and knowledgeable.
We split the Polyamorous Hippie Three-​Way appetizer, which was a good choice. Crispy tabouleh paired with an interesting combo of flavors and textures with a black-​eyed stew hummus and stewed «tomatoganoush». Everything came together beautifully. And it was just the right amount to save room for the entrees.
I ordered the COQ au Morocco and Mom ordered the Big-​Ass Lamb shank and we split the two. I was the biggest fan of my dish, but both were delicious. The chicken in the COQ was the most flavorful and tender chicken I think I’ve tasted. Absolutely incredible. Mom’s lamb was also fall-​off-​the-​bone tender and the cranberry-​orange relish gave a nice sweet contrast to the richness of the lamb.
The cocktail, wine and beer lists were all interesting. Since I had to drive back to W-​burg later I stuck to one cocktail– the French Tickler– and as with everything else we had it was on point!
From the charming atmosphere and personable service to the interesting and delicious food and drinks– Chef David has created a superior dining experience in the cute little neighborhood of Oregon Hill.

I’ve been wanting to check this place out since it opened and finally I made it out. Of course I always feel like I’m sinning being that close to Mamma Zu and not eating there, but man, it’s worth the guilt. The scene is small and dark with booths down the sides and a row of tables down the middle. The reservations were full so we sat at the bar in the back (good comfortable seats). We weren’t the only ones with that idea.
For appetizers we got oysters Rockefeller, then went with filet and grouper special mains, followed by apple crisp and chocolate cake desserts. Everything hit. Each dish was well prepared, flavorful, interesting and layered. As soon as you think you’ve tasted the full extent of the dish you bite into something that takes it to another level. For example, the grouper was bedded on wild rice but included grapes. And the filet garnish seemed to be for looks but apparently Truffled Duxelles & Duck Butter with your filet is AMAZING.
The only criticism might be that it was too dark? I mean, I’m really trying to find something but that’s all I can conjure up.
Go. You’ll like it. But get a reservation well in advance.

L’Opossum offers excellent food in a very quirky, unassuming environment. My boyfriend and I started off with the goose foie gras appetizer which was delicious and just melted in our mouths. Definitely a must try especially for those who’ve never had liver before. I got the lamb provencal while my boyfriend got the steak. My lamb was executed beautifully. It was a perfect medium rare and everything on the plate complemented it so well. My boyfriend’s steak wasn’t a game changer, but it was cooked perfectly and the sauce that accompanied it was delicious. We ordered their la petite mort au chocolate en flambé for dessert. The name of this dessert is pretty funny since «la petite mort» is a French slang for orgasm (woohoo, five years of French classes paid off!) – and it was really good. After our waiter placed the plate on our table, he lit the liquor on fire which was really neat to watch in the dimly lit restaurant. Other diners were even peering over their shoulders to take a peek at what was going on at our table and making mental notes to themselves to ask for whatever we were having. The texture of the dessert is like a really dense dark chocolate mousse and was a nice finish to our meal.
Expect to be here for an extended period of time, I believe our total dining time was nearing three hours. Though the food comes out slowly, I promise that it is more than worth the wait. L’Opossum is definitely a perfect spot for a nice, leisurely date night.

Ok, yall. Kristine B.‘s review basically covers everything you ever needed to know about L’Opossum. But I’ll still add my 2 cents worth…
These were easily the best crab cakes I’ve ever had in my life. I was totally NOT expecting that. But it was lovely! I devoured it. The menu says «All Crab. All the time» and they were right. These succulent lumps of crab will melt in your mouth and make you feel like the happiest girl in the world. Orrrr maybe that was just me? Before I sank my teeth into those crabby cakes, I ordered the grilled caesar salad without anchovies. I’m usually not into these alternative hipster grilled lettuce salads, but it was so good! I actually enjoyed the smoky flavor. The lettuce was wilted, but nowhere near mushy or unpleasant.
I ordered a drink with my meal as well. The French Tickler. It almost had me on the floor, yall! These drinks may be small but they pack a lot of punch. This is another location in the books for Richmond’s growing craft cocktail scene.
I would give L’Opossum a 10 if I could. It quickly became one of the best restaurants in Richmond for me. Only downside? Service was rather slow. I get the feeling that the culture of this restaurant is literally come and stay a while. I don’t believe any tables turned more than once… maaaaaybe twice. So remember that, kids. Service is good, but slow. Next time a special occasion comes up, you know where to go!

Very interesting French restaurant. Came here with a party of 6 last week for our monthly International Supper Club.
The restaurant is tucked away in Oregon Hill, which isn’t always on everyone’s radar. Once inside, you find yourself looking around a lot. The décor is interesting and inviting. You feel excited to be in there.
After being served a warm piece of sourdough bread and whipped butter, we ordered. I began with the Grilled Caesar salad. Salad was set up with a wedge of lettuce with the usual Caesar salad ingredients. It was delightful. For my entrée, I ordered the Pasta Free Pasta Prima Vera, which uses spaghetti squash. It was delish. It was a tiny overpowered with garlic, but I like garlic, so I enjoyed it. The vegetables were exceptionally savory. The flavors of the dish were impressive.
For dessert, I went with the Hot Black Bottom à la mode, which was equivalent to a cupcake. It was topped with Ganache and whipped cream. Mmmm. It was really moist and the ice cream tasted homemade. It was scrumptious!
My entire party enjoyed all of their dishes. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable, along with the other staff. However, we were there for 3 hours… so, make sure you plan to be there for a while. I would have preferred it to be a little quicker.
The restaurant is pricey, however, the food is upscale and well thought out. Definitely a place you want to go to when you want to splurge a little.

Came here for International Supper Club. I’m glad we did, because I never would have found this place otherwise! L’Opossum is located in a very secluded spot mixed in with houses in Oregon Hill. It is also a pretty small restaurant upon entering, which is something to keep in mind if you have a large group (might be best to make a reservation). Street parking outside is not too difficult to find.
However, the interior is perhaps the most unique restaurant I have been to in all of Richmond. There are a bunch of candles and cool paper lanterns everywhere, as well as quite an assortment of paintings and random odds and ends throughout. The mirrored glass walls and charming music also help create a truly one-​of-​a-​kind atmosphere. One of the unisex restrooms also had several distinctive clown paintings on the wall. The soap in the restroom was unsatisfying to me; it was of the foam variety but felt very watered down and not sudsy enough. The lighting of the restaurant’s interior overall is also a little dark for my tastes, but to each his own.
As for service, our waitress was excellent and was very patient. She was willing to split our check six ways even after she had printed one bill. She seemed to be stretched kind of thin though since I think there were only two servers for the entire restaurant. While she checked on us frequently, and there were many other runners as well to help with water refills, utensil changes, and food serving, the service was still rather slow. Our entire meal ended up taking about three hours.
The menu is not too big, and the names are rather playful and creative. Some examples: «Polyamorous Hippie Three-​Way,» «Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes: All Crab, All the Time,» and «Sweet & Innocent North Atlantic Salmon Beguiled into Comrade Dave’s Enigmatic Embrace of a Crispy Horseradish Latke, Beet Velvet and a Tangle of Nefarious, Pinko Conspiracies.»
As for the food, it was truly quite excellent. From the start of our meal with mint-​infused water in tall glasses, to warm bread served to us individually with light, delicious, homemade butter, to appetizers, entrees, and dessert, everything was executed with utmost precision. A lot of careful attention was paid to detail, and the presentation of every dish was stunning.
So why the four stars? My escargot starter was excellent, but the generous snail meat was a little soft for my tastes (I prefer slightly chewier meat). My filet mignon was cooked to a perfect medium and flavor was phenomenal, but the seasoning/​sauce was too salty and I was not able to fully enjoy the natural flavors of some components. Nevertheless, the red peppercorns were fun. And finally, my crème brûlée dessert had a nice crunchy crust, but was rather thin so the custard to surface ratio was smaller than I had hoped.
Prices are high, but so is the quality, and portions are decent with some dishes on the larger side.
L’Opossum is still fairly new and it is an excellent dining establishment. Despite some minor disappointments with the food if I am being extremely picky and pretty substantial wait time, I had a very memorable and pleasant dinner.