Comments on 86 Richmond: Restaurant Review: Stronghill Dining Company

Everything is right but the food. I've been there...

2009-11-06T21:48:36.737-05:00

Everything is right but the food. I've been there twice. Service is great. The place is gorgeous. I had a great cheap wine. But they seem to have forgotten the flavor. Onion rings are bland, yet undercooked. Short ribs, though a comfort food, are uncomfortable in their tastelessness, like they'd been abused when they were very, very short. Duck breast was served with a steak knife. That seems a lack of self confidence, but a sound listening to past feedback. Everything that came with it was puffy and grim.

You want them to win as a Northsider, but it's all pasty and grim. I hate to say it, but fire your chef and find one that isn't afraid of flavor. Sorry if the chef is an owner. That's a less reconcilable problem. Maybe your decorator can cook.

I have to agree with the review here. I was excit...

2009-04-09T09:15:00.000-04:00

I have to agree with the review here. I was excited to try Stronghill and had a friend's recommendation... however everything we tried was just... okay. It wasn't bad, or very good, just somewhere in the middle. The ribeye was quite good, however the smoked tomato mac & cheese left me craving Buz and Ned's across the street. Stuffed tomatoes were kind of weird but okay. Chocolate mousse for dessert was pretty good. However the $70 bill at the end when you split an entree is a bit disappointing, even with a couple of drinks. Waitstaff was great though and we loved the decor.

I agree with you-- I visited recently with my husb...

2009-02-04T13:04:00.000-05:00

I agree with you-- I visited recently with my husband and we were abysmally disappointed. And be glad you didn't try the beet salad-- it was mediocre. Sweet potato gnocchi was bland, starchy and more like bloated, greasy dumplings than gnocchi. The crap all sucked, basically.

After reading some good reviews. My wife and I tri...

2009-01-24T11:29:00.000-05:00

After reading some good reviews. My wife and I tried Stronghill. Food was good (not great). My ribs were great, but the sweet potatoes tasteless. Scallops were also very good, but the sides were just okay. I tried the wedge salad...very bland...

I ordered apple pie with ice cream. I am a bit of of apple pie snob because I have tasted the fruit of the lattice top apple pie from Shawnee Spring Market in Cross Junction, Va (the best on earth). This Stronghil pie was just ordinary and it was $9.00....It's apple pie!

As a follower of your blog, your opinions, and rev...

2008-12-09T13:27:00.000-05:00

As a follower of your blog, your opinions, and reviews, all which I usually agree on and love, I have to completely disagree with you here. Yes, they might have been having a bad night, and I never think any Richmond restaurant does seafood particularly well, but from my visits there, Stronghill is worth another shot from you. I have been in twice, eaten there once, and it was delicious. Expensive, but you can tell that it's going to be pricey right when you walk in the door.

How was your overall experience though, not solely based off the food. Wait staff, hospitality, menu? Expand a bit more on your thoughts. Don't try and scare people away with words like "suck" and "crap" like Iwishicouldcook mentioned.

Either way, keep on writing, I love what you have to say, but give them another chance.

Wow. Were you having a bad night? Stressed about s...

2008-12-08T06:40:00.000-05:00

Wow. Were you having a bad night? Stressed about something? Not trying to start an online tiff but I've never disagreed more with a blogger's review. Stronghill is excellent in every way, shape and form every time Ive been. Give it another chance when you're in a better mood. "sucks" & "crap" aren't very enlightening descriptions.