The Belvidere at Broad

For having such rave reviews I expected this place to blow my mind, but it turned out to be a big let down. The drinks were okay but overpriced, the stuffed mushrooms app were eh, and my sandwich was horrible. The biggest problem fell on the bread which was dry, flavorless, and stale, completely ruining a sandwich that could have been decent. Maybe we went on a bad day since I just can’t figure out why else people are infatuated with what seems to be another Richmond restaurant trying too hard to be hipster.

Excellent grilled salmon caesar salad! Cooked to perfection and very large portion. Will go back the next time I’m here on business.

We ate here last night for the first time. Group of 4 people. We went in without a reservation (they don’t take them) at 9pm on a Saturday and there were only a couple of other tables there.
The drinks were good although they have a bit of a small selection of liquor. I wanted a flavored vodka and they were out, so the bartender mixed in some lemon and lime juices into my drink and it was actually better than the citrus vodka.
We ordered the roasted mushrooms as an appetizer. Very good and as someone with celiac disease, it is AWESOME that everything on the menu is labeled as to whether it is gluten free or not! They even have gluten free breads (that were really good) available as a substitute on some dishes (like the mushrooms).
For entrees, we got the grilled salmon, the tequila grilled shrimp, the crab cakes, and the tuna tacos. Everyone seemed very happy with their entrees. I thought the shrimp could have used a little more heat/​flavor, but it was still a very good dish.
We were underwhelmed with the desserts — orange ginger crème brûlée (good) and chocolate/​espresso pudding (average). We’d definitely eat there again, but we’d probably skip the desserts next time.
The service was good. Not fine dining, but it’s not really that kind of atmosphere, so that’s expected. The restaurant is pretty basic in atmosphere. The area is bad. I know they are trying to fix it up, but they aren’t there yet. We got harassed by some people walking the ½ block back to our car when we left. I love Comfort right down the street, too, but I hate going there late for this same reason.

I was debating where to eat dinner last night, I decided on The Belvidere at Broad restaurant. I wanted to try something new in the area. The parking was a hassle. I was able to find street parking on a side street after riding around by the restaurant. The cocktail menu is very limited. The cocktail I order was strong and lacked some flavor. For the price, I expected a better cocktail. The appetizer was the best part of my meal. The grilled tenderloin canapes were delicious. For my entrée, I ordered the tequila grilled shrimp with mashed potatoes and Asian colelsaw. The grilled shrimp didn’t have the flavor I expected. The shrimp had a plain taste, no tequila flavor at all. The mashed potatoes were good. The Asian coleslaw missed the mark. I usually get dessert at any restaurant I visit but the flavors of the food were not good. So, I decided to pass on the dessert. The service was mediocre at best. The restaurant was pretty empty and and the waitress was inattentive. The atmosphere was social. The Belvidere at Broad is a small restaurant with a bar. I wasn’t impressed with The Belvidere at Broad service or the food (the appetizer was delicious).

I’ve been told that the Belvidere has the best burger in Richmond, so I had to try it out. Overall, a good burger, with a couple minor problems. First, although it was medium rare, the meat was a bit dry (probably an insufficient fat content). Second, the patty was disproportionately large giving the burger too much of a meaty taste. Third, the bun stood up fairly well, but could have done better.
LIke I said, pretty good burger, but could have been better.

It’s official! There are three kinds of restaurants that cater to gluten free patrons: the high-​end fine dining restaurant, where the chef is knowledgeable enough about food to adapt almost any menu selection to accommodate any dietary need; the restaurant chain, which has created an online gluten free menu, whether extensive or sparse, for its gluten free customers; and my personal favorite, the hip, organic restaurant that not only provides gluten free options, but vegetarian, and vegan choices as well.
The Belvidere at Broad is in the latter category! My daughter, Megan, referred to it as a gastro pub! I’m not sure if it qualifies as one or not, but it looks like a pub and they definitely serve high quality food! Laura ordered the All Natural Beef Burger with smoked Gouda cheese and Megan got the Smoked Gouda Veggie Club, which can both be prepared gluten free, if you just substitute gluten free bread for an additional $ 2, but of course, they don’t need to, so they didn’t. Megan also enjoyed the sweet potato fries with whipped cream, but that is definitely not gluten free, so just forget you even saw it. I chose the Ahi Tuna Tacos with corn tortillas, instead of flour tortillas. We even shared a gluten free Orange Ginger Crème Brule for dessert! Our taste buds were definitely doing a happy dance! Everything tasted so incredible!
What a find! Thankful goodness we discovered The Belvidere at Broad, especially since we struck out at a supposed gluten friendly restaurant earlier in the evening. By the time we arrived at The Belvidere at Broad, we were practically hallucinating from hunger. I promise, though, this didn’t influence our rave review of this amazing restaurant, even though before the food arrived we were looking at each other like we were members of The Donner Party. =)
For more gluten free restaurant reviews, check out
!

Friendly staff, great food — LOVED the ahi tuna taco!
The Breakdown:
Food: 5
Prices: 4 (You get your money’s worth here!_
Cleanliness: 4
Service: 5
Ambiance: 3 (A little «conservative» and «boring.»)

Duck Breast; Cheeseburger; Pork Tenderloin… uh awesome…
Let me tell you, not that I want the burger to overshadow the other food I tried here because I love it! The duck breast was perfect (not greasy for all you duck-​haters)… the Pork TL, excellent… But, the burger… this is not. Burger joint but next time I’m craving a burger I’ll forgo anywhere else… unbelievable flavor.
So try it all if you want shu-​shu-​lah-​lah but when you’re craving a great burger, also gotta think of this joint because it is stellaaah-​yummy.
Can’t wait to come back

I’d probably give this restaurant a 3.5, but I rounded up to 4.
We went on a Friday night and were able to get a table for two fairly quickly. The initial service was good, but as the meal went on, it took longer and longer to get service (and the restaurant was less busy as the meal went on).
Our meal was comprised of a great start, a great finish, and a mediocre middle. We split the roasted beet salad to start, and it was great. Maybe too great, as it set our expectations high for the main course.
For entrees, my date had the ahi tuna tacos and I had the portabello mushroom sandwich. Both were OK, but a little disappointing after the beet salad. The portabello was sliced, which I didn’t like, and the bread was too thick for my preference. I also had the special side of the day, brussels sprouts, and was severely disappointed by them. They were very large, which I didn’t like, and they were cooked in some type of sauce that I couldn’t place and tasted «off» to me. It was almost like a fish sauce, but can’t really say for sure. I love brussels sprouts (particularly at Avalon), so this was probably the biggest disappointment of the evening.
We split the poached pear dessert, and it was another highlight of the meal (even though it took awhile to order and receive it). It came with two generous scoops of gelato, which I thought made it a good value.
We appreciated the beer selection, and I did a flight of three while my date had one of the ciders (Crispin). I recall seeing a sign for $ 6 steins of PBR, which I liked, because most places don’t serve anything in steins.
The ambiance was what we expected; very similar to a fan bar in its size and layout.
One other thing to note is that it wasn’t clear where to park. There weren’t any signs around the building noting parking for the restaurant (not that we saw at least), so we just parked in the Rite Aid lot.

One of the few (if not only) places in Richmond where meat eaters, vegetarians, and vegans can all co-​exist in one restaurant, no one’s choices are neglected and all the food actually tastes great. The tequila shrimp hit the spot every time. Perfectly cooked.
Helpful hint — Ask for a signature drinks menu. Its not usually out on the table. Its worth it if you are looking for something more exciting than Bourbon & Ginger.
Warning — If there is a show playing at the Landmark, try and go early. It starts to get a little roomy since its one of the few places within walking distance that serves alcohol.

Good selection of vegetarian, seafood, and standard Richmond classics make this a great alternative to some well traveled Fan restaurants. The portions are just right and aren’t overloaded with sides that overshadow the main dish. The burger is a must try, but the Tuna Tacos are the jam!
The bar is well appointed with a great bartender who can mix up some lethal signature drinks. The beer menu rotates often and the staff is open to suggestions.

What a divey store front and run-​down interior for a restaurant with such an elegant name. Maybe they are renovating because the restroom is lovely.
Good thing that Don’t Care actively searches out bars as opposed to my shunning them, because I never would have tried this place. She loves the unusual but homemade tasting sauces like the salsa for the ahi tacos and the dressing on the Vegetarian Nicoise (OMG, she didn’t know how to pronounce it though she thinks she has «White Chicks» memorized) Salad to which she added ahi. HG and I split the beef burger with gouda per all the reviews, but it wasn’t as delectable as the Capital Ale House one. Well, in fact it was so unmemorable that I had to call her to ask what I ordered. Then the argument about adding sweet potato fries came rushing (okay, seeping) back — luckily HG won because, despite looking burnt, they were great. DC is a kinesthetic learner, so she remembers anything she chews; I’m visual, but I don’t need the picture to recall the meaty un-​meal/​breading-​polluted Maryland crabcake appetizer that I couldn’t photograph perfectly before the others tore into the three dainty lumps (not your baseball-​sized serving, so you concentrate on savoring it).
I am also experience learning that I need to give bars a chance!

It’s easy to just drive by this place and miss it. Unfortunately the front door is located by a bus stop, so expect a few people hanging around outside.
but the food is great. place is low key. The polenta fries app is a must order. Veggie lasagna is pretty good. and the turkey burger is decent. Portions are pretty big so unfortunately I had no room to sample the desserts. I guess i’ll have to go back.

I visited The Belvidere last month while travelling solo and it was a great find! From the street it looks like any other bar & grill, but when you step through the door you immediately feel the relaxed, casual, and welcoming vibe.
The menu has many wonderful options, and I decided to have the Ahi Tacos. The tacos were not presented prepared, instead they arrived on a plate fit for an art gallery with the Ahi fanned out over one half, with the other covered in a mound of house made tomato and avocado salsa/​guacamole, asian slaw and three soft flour tortillas. The Ahi was slightly blacked and served sashimi style. And the combined taste = mind blowing!
The waitress temped me with a dessert offering that was the special, a Watermelon Granita. This concoction was a mix of frozen melon, alcohol, and pepper. I thought the pepper sounded odd but my waitresses told me it was good, so i tried it. And all I can say is that thing could be hailed as the best adult snow cone — e v e r ! It was truly delicious, light, and hit the spot.
I cannot wait for my next trip to Richmond to try more from this favorite.

We were wavering on whether to come here, as we’d done it during our last trip into town and my mission is to always try something else. But after hearing the reviews of their burger, I wanted a taste.
We walked in, and once again were at a perfect time. 6:30 pm on a Saturday night, one would expect a wait. For some reason, the front window was full and one of the three booths had people in it. The rest of the restaurant was empty. Once we were seated the dining room became inundated and within 30 minutes they were on a 20 minute wait.
I ordered a Black IPA and Brit had a small hiccup with her Vodka and Soda (which was delivered as a Vodka and Tonic). This was rectified with her second drink. I followed the Black IPA with a Golden Belgian.
I started with the roasted beet salad. Crisp, toothy beets with a light oil and micro pea greens was a great start. Brit had the side salad with the citrus vinaigrette. The vinaigrette was almost too faint, but it really enhanced the flavors of the greens.
I, as alluded to earlier, had the Burger, with smoked Gouda and sweet potato fries. Cooked to my desired temperature of med rare. The fat to meat ratio was excellent, and I have to question whether it’s only a beef patty as stated on the menu. Normal beef without lamb and pork can’t taste THIS good. The Gouda was thick and went well with the caramelized onions and aioli. The fries were crisp — which takes effort to coax from sweet potatoes — as well as tasty.
Brit loved her Grilled Ahi tuna sandwich with spicy Sriacha aioli. While only being able to eat half the sandwich, the tuna all disappeared. Expertly cooked to rare, with a perfect sear on all sides. The tuna was sliced in ¼ inch slabs showing the pink rare middle and the grilled surround. She ordered the Asian Slaw which paired wonderfully with the sandwich.
Yet another home run from the little restaurant that could. One thing to note, they rotate the art work on the walls all from local artists. The art being displayed this past weekend was beautiful.

I was very excited to try out Belvidere at Broad, but unfortunately it did not measure up to expectations. The location was somewhat shady, but I knew that going in. It was a nice relaxed typical city bar atmosphere.
I will start out by giving them kudos on their drinks. If I ever go back, it would be to enjoy a few drinks. The bartenders and servers were very enthusiastic about their extensive drink menu. The drinks I tried were unique, tasty, and full of alcohol.
Unfortunately Belvidere at Broad could not deliver on their food. The roasted beet salad was so tiny it is hard to even remember what it tasted like. The price was extremely high considering the portion size. Our roasted stuff mushrooms were serviceable, but nothing amazing. The best part of our meal though, was the pita bread that accompanied the mushrooms for an additional charge.
My girlfriend and I both ordered sandwiches and here is where the restaurant fell completely flat. The bread tasted cheap and ruined any chance these had to be enjoyable. The beef tenderloin meat seemed like a lower grade of what you would find at Panera. The free range chicken sandwich would have been tolerable if not for the nasty bread.
The bill was very expensive considering the food tasted below the standards of most casual service restaurants. Stay away.

I have been to Belvidere at Broad twice. I have to say that they prepare one of the best burgers that I have ever tasted. All of the ingredients were very well selected and fresh. This burger was not your average fast food burger, it was gourmet. The choices of cheese range from the exotic to the tempting. The choice of sides is really amazing.
I am a huge burger fan and if you are too then I suggest that you stop in and bring your appetite. Prepare to be amazed!

I’ve eaten at the Belvidere several times, and I usually stick with the Smoked Gouda Veggie Club. It’s very tasty, though incredibly embarrassing to eat. Goes everywhere! Not a first date choice. The Veggie Lasagna is pretty good, too. The Vegetable Platter is really tasty, but not as filling as the price would imply. The Grilled Portobello sandwich is also good, but again hard to eat with cuteness. I consistently order the mashed potatoes as a side — creamy, garlicy decadence. If you are up for a side salad, the Parmesan Peppercorn dressing is fantastic!
Also, in the summer months, their cucumber-​based cocktail is amazingly refreshing!
They’ve recently started up brunch. Not bad. I had the Eggs Chesapeake, which was maybe not the best Sunday morning option… I think brunches are hard to review depending on the night you had before eating: /​I appreciated the side of fruit. Not my favorite Bloody Mary, though.
I’ve only been out there as drinking spot once. Nice bartender, but not really a scene I get much out of. Bring your own companion ;)

I went to The Belvidere at Broad for dinner last night, and boy was it good. The atmosphere is intimate and woody with tables in front, booths and a bar in back.
I was being responsible, so I skipped the cocktail menu, but there were some delicious sounding choices. This place has a cocktail of the day. Yesterday it was something involving freshly muddled blueberries, Tuaca and some other good stuff. Another day last week it was a blackberry Tom Collins. While I waited for a friend, I watched the bartender showing some friendly patrons a host of house-​made syrups and infused fruits for mixing in cocktails. I definitely want to go back here for drinks soon.
I was starving, so I decided to start my meal with the beet salad. Red and orange beets were topped with tangy blue cheese, microgreens, some sort of beet purée and a very light vinaigrette. It was fresh, flavorful and it quelled the rumbling in my tummy.
For my main course, I got a special, fish tacos. Lightly blackened tuna was served with three flour tortillas, some sort of Asian-​ish slaw, a tomato-​guacamole salad, a tangy mayo sauce and several lime slices. The flavors combined for a light yet flavorful meal.
My friend got a turkey burger with roasted red peppers, feta and an amazing mound of sweet potato fries. They were crisp, hot and topped with coarse salt for flavor. Being the helpful friend I am, helped her polish off the big pile.
Everything was simple and delicious. I’m definitely looking forward to returning.

Belvidere at Broad gets my vote for best new neighborhood bar in RVA — if you don’t live in Jackson Ward, they’ll still treat you like family.
Service is great: attentive, but not pestering. Food is definitely several rungs above the «usual suspects» found in neighborhood boites: outstanding burgers, inventive appetizers that can make a meal in themselves, great sandwiches (including the ahi tuna, which in spite of a previous reviewer’s experience, has for me always been perfect).
Really stellar beer list, a rotating roll-​call of highly drinkable wines, and some inspired mixology — ladies and gents, you gotta try the Amanda Absente, trust me — round out the experience.
it’s not a Mobil Guide 5-​star, but then that’s not what Belvidere’s trying to be. It’s a neighborhood bar — and in that category, it IS a 5-​star.