The Magpie

The ABSOLUTE best bacon I’ve had in my entire life. No lie. They cure it in house and it is heaven.

I’ve been wanting to try Magpie for some time now but my wife isn’t huge on going outside the box and with options like rabbit and duck being menu staples it took some convincing. My birthday actually. Anyway, reservations were pretty easy but we went mid week. Parking was no problem along the street. The scene and the experience felt like a mix between Saison and Heritage. Much like Saison, the restaurant was smaller and they obviously put some thought into the spirits they offer. I had a specialty drink and an old fashioned and both were spot on. I even made special requests that were perfectly followed. They have a smaller menu like Heritage but cover many protein options along the way. Duck, rabbit, fish, pork, etc. I asked the waitress what to get, thinking the whole time I’m going with the duck, and she convinced me to try the pork chop. Good thing I did! You can tell when the food comes out that they take pride in their craft. Might be the best (certainly one of the best) meals I’ve had in Richmond. My wife got the house made sausage and it too was really tasty. Actually rich tasting now that I think about it. She also loved the fried pickles.
The only draw back to the meal was the amount of fat on the chop itself. More than half of the cut was fat. And I actually like to eat the fat along with each bite, but this was too much.
I’ll get it again though!!! Man, I’m hungry just thinking about it…

From the moment we walked in the door, my fiancé and I had a wonderful experience at The Magpie.
The staff was very warm & welcoming. Service was prompt & our waiter was very kind & knowledgeable.
We ordered several small plates including:
Roasted Beets, Heirloom Tomatoes, House Made (rabbit) Sausage, along with the Rockfish Ceviche special. Each dish was fresh, unique and delicious. The presentation — beautiful!
The Heirloom Tomato dish was a standout to me as it was uniquely paired with a feta gelato. YUM! The ceviche was served in a charred avocado and was as fresh as could be! The beet salad & the sausage were very good as well.
I was still a bit hungry, even after all of that, so we decided to order the Smoked Duck Spring Rolls. The waiter told us that these are crowd favorites and I love duck. Perhaps it was because we ordered all fresh items to start, combined with the fact that we do not generally order fried foods, but it wasn’t our favorite. Honestly, we had a little food regret. They were not bad by any means but for us they were not as delicious as everything else. Next time, we’ll skip the fried stuff!

This place is pretty silly. I guess it would be a good date spot. I didn’t come here on a date so I just thought it was weird. Anything less than $ 20 is an appetizer? Or is it a meal? They’re listed as small/​medium plates. I’m not quite sure what that means but they are appetizer-​type foods. In my humble opinion, what you get is definitely not worth the price.
The service was good and the food was good but that can be said of so many other, less expensive places in Richmond. Hipsters probably love this place. Personally, I won’t be back.

First time at Magpie. This review will be short and to point. Food quality, presentation and uniqueness of the menu is stellar, probably the best I’ve had in recent memory.
Service is without reproach.
Only issue is the small portion size in comparison to the $$. I know it’s normal for these fancy/​hipster places, but anyone over 125lb will not leave feeling even the least full purely off of an appetizer and main course.
Plan on a trip to the Taco Bell drive through.

My family and I came here for a graduation celebration, and had a three course meal. The menu is rather avant-​garde, but everything was delicious. We had rabbit spring rolls among other excellent appetizers, and the waiter was extremely helpful when we told him that my mother was having dental surgery and needed softer food. The kitchen even threw together a gnocchi dish just for her.
While I do think everything was amazing, the mushrooms were by far the star of the show. I’m not even normally a mushroom fan, but the morels were so full of flavor I was enraptured for hours afterwards.
The ambiance is quaint, and my only concern is hoping that they can stay in business with such a limited seating availability.
Definitely worth the visit, and the price tag is really very reasonable for what you’re getting.

Lived in Richmond for a year, and this was by far the most special meal I’ve had so far. Fresh, seasonal, rotating menu, and a very creative dessert selection. If they have the chocolate-​beet crème brûlée, GET IT. (Nix the goat cheese cake. it’s not cheesecake!) Also, kimchi based vinaigrette with fresh arugula salad?.. They sold out of the salad when I went, but I asked to taste the dressing. The waitress brought it warmed in a little ramekin and it was DELICIOUS. Special and delicious. Super cute amuse bouche. It’s classy dining without the hoity toity pretentiousness of it all.
They bring a really unique and fun array of flavors to their menu, and execute it with impressive finesse and sophistication. I’m already planning my next visit when i have visitors… go there, go all out, and enjoy your time. It really is wonderful.

This review is for a event diner we had at The Magpie. We started out at the bar, ordering a bottle of wine and a couple of the medium plate specials of the day, a soft shell dish and rabbit sausage. As we were waiting for our food, we struck up conversation with an out of town couple and ended up joining them for dinner!
I mention this because the staff is so accommodating here. Though they were booked with reservations for the evening, they made it easy for us to dine with our new friends. The food here is always fresh and inspired and the service is like hanging out with friends. Always a good time!

I fell in love with this place. Tucked away in a corner of the Carver area, this unassuming location houses some true MAGIC. I felt like I’d been transported in time. To the 1890s, via the décor. To the 1990s, via the music. And to some future time where food can change your damn LIFE. Yes, if was that good.
I’d heard so much about the house-​made sausage, so we had to try that. It was smoked duck the night we visited. Perfection. Also amazing was escolar ceviche in a rich broth with fresh strawberries, and amazingly light and crisp soft shell crabs in sweet, garlicky chili oil. Chocolate beet brulee for dessert upon the server’s recommendation — it was great. I would have liked to try even more food that night, but alas, a belly can only hold so much.
Don’t let me forget the cocktails. No night is complete without stiff cokctails and these did not disappoint! I can’t recall the names but the one I had with bourbon and chocolate bitters was divine. Such well-​balanced flavors, even in the drinks. CANNOT GO WRONG with Magpie.
It is a fairly small, but cozy and comfortable place — so make reservations in advance. Don’t «hurry» about anything here, savor it slowly. You will want to go back again and again.

Still stellar
spicy duck sausage — absolutely fantastic, and the cornbread croutons were out of this world
tempura soft-​shell crab — really good, not as crispy as I would like but great flavors
brisket was delicious, so was the rabbit entrée. Both plates had lots of great flavors and textures, really liked them.
desserts and drinks were great too — chocolate beet brulee was different but very tasty

We had high hopes for The Magpie, and we would definitely return if a group wanted to check it out, but I don’t think it will be on our list of regular jaunts in Richmond. We thought the food was good, not great, but good and the service left a little to be desired.
We started with a complimentary amuse bouche– radish, vinegar and house made chicharones– a very yummy bite. Then, we shared some appetizers– the brussel sprouts– which everyone agreed were delicious, clam strips with broccolini– fried perfectly but extremely salty, fried gnocchi with a dijon sauce– a little much on the sauce and not that flavorful, and finally the dish that won «Best Dish» at «Broad Appetite” — the crispy pork head torchon. My husband really enjoyed this dish, the rest of us felt kind of lukewarm about it– I was expecting it to have a lot more flavor and it was pretty subtle.
For our meal we shared 3 entrees– Smoked sirloin, braised rabbit, and seared venison. The rabbit was the star of the three we got– tasted like a homey, rich, thanksgiving meal. The other two were just okay. The smoked sirloin was an interesting idea but was just not that tasty. The Venison was flavorful but kind of tough.
We tried a lemon cheesecake for dessert that was good, but again, nothing that was so memorable that it would draw me back in. Try out Magpie if you are making your way through Richmond restaurants or if you are really looking for creative ideas, but look elsewhere if you are looking for an out of this world meal.

Went here for my birthday with high expectations. Unfortunately we left disappointed– and HUNGRY.
We thought we ordered enough– Mixed green salad and Venison Tartare for appetizers, a Beer Sampler, Smoked Sirloin Steak and the Market Fish for 2 people. Food was good but their portions are tiny and are overpriced. The steak was one of the smallest pieces I’ve had and was nothing spectacular.
We were still hungry after our meal that we went to go eat somewhere else afterwards. So if you want to spend big bucks to dine somewhere fancy, delicious AND filling, I suggest trying one of the many other great places in Richmond.

As background, I don’t believe in giving 5 stars or 1 star as a matter of course.
I believe both of these scores are vastly overused.
In general, 1 – 2 stars for for fast food, 2 – 3 stars for chain restaurants, 4 stars for very good restaurants that use local ingredients, prepare everything fresh, etc.
5 stars are for the very few restaurants that elevate the cuisine and or experience beyond what your are expecting.
That being said, I spent the evening at Magpies trying to convince myself that they didn’t deserve 5 stars.
I loved the limited but well thought out menu options.
I loved the chef’s use of ingredients that harmonized perfectly on the plate.
I loved the innovative dessert options.
I greatly look forward to going back!

Everything I previously stated about The Magpie still rings true, and it continues to be one of my absolute favorite restaurants. Not just in town, but in life. Anywhere.
The inventive menu is unparalleled, the vibe is cozy and totally my style, and every experience is perfection. But for this update, I just wanted to give a little shout out to the most amazing cocktail that I have ever tasted: «I’m A Veronica.» Belle Isle Moonshine (a local spirit, that is a must-​try if you haven’t yet!), apricot brandy, jalapeño shrub, peach bitters, and champagne. Umm… what? Yes, that crazy different combo of ingredients comes together brilliantly. Initially sweet, with a spicy bite at the end, it goes down smooth and could definitely be dangerous. Dangerous because I could easily continue drinking them until I’d more than reached my limit. But don’t worry, although I was tempted to have more, I stuck with one.
It’s on their seasonal cocktail menu, so I’d recommend running over sooner rather than later so you don’t miss this alcoholic gem. Seriously, the best. In fact… is it 5 o’clock yet?

Wow, what a unique dining experience I had here last night! So interesting that I’m already planning a return trip.
After another popular spot was all booked up last night, my dad, sister and I came here for dinner not knowing much other than that it’s a trendy newish spot near VCU. From the moment I saw the stately corner green brick building, I knew that we would be in for something different.
The inside is cozy and warm with a cute bar. The menu isn’t huge, but has many interesting sounding dishes and there are always featured specials. We opted to go with several small plates to share. While the descriptions of the dishes were strange and I didn’t know what to expect, I ended up really enjoying everything we had! And the presentation was fantastic. My favorite was the sausage. Spicy, full flavor with a tender interior and nice crispy shell. It was accompanied by a pistachio spread and jam. The textures and flavors just meshed so perfectly. My dad and sister’s favorite was the pork belly special, which was succulent. I thought my seasonal pumpkin soup was a nice start too.
Our waiter was pretty friendly and seemed to know the menu well. I’m taking off a star because the prices, while not astronomical for a fine dining restaurant, did seem a bit high. We certainly weren’t full after our meal, and with 4 small plates, a cup of soup and one beer, the bill was over $ 60.

It’s no wonder this place won best dish at Broad Appetit this year with their crispy pig head torchon. I would describe them as a highly creative eatery in a time where taking risks with food seems to be at the forefront of casual to fine dining. I didn’t know what to expect when I made reservations (and then canceled them and then changed my mind and walked in and they kindly took me in, even though I had no reservation) but my meal was worth every penny. And yes, it will seem like a lot of pennies but honestly how many times will you get to say that you’ve eaten things such as rabbit tamales, cherry lacquered duck breasts and bacon hush puppies with pear butter? Umm not many right? Right!
Service was outstanding (our waiter was attentive and even took a pic of us for us!), we got a spontaneous tasting of something the chef «just felt like» whipping up — del-​ish (!), and our actual entrees left us nearly speechless with the «mmms» and «ahhs». It’s hard to impress me on a culinary front but from the mouth-​watering presentation to the actually mouth-​watering taste I give this one thumb up (the other was too busy holding the fork!)
From it’s kitschy décor to an even kitscher menu I say the Magpie is a one-​of-​a-​kind restaurant that deserves a chance at making you smile.

–FOOD–
–Amuse Bouche–
Our fresh peach topped with feta, fennel pollen, and olive oil amuse bouche came out in small white soup spoons. It was a refreshing bite that did help to rev up my appetite. However, I didn’t leave satisfied with my meal here.
–Sweetbreads–
For what they are, my fried sweetbreads were beautifully presented over fresh peaches and aioli. I was really excited when I saw the dish but the sweetbreads weren’t crunchy, a little overcooked, and not very flavorful. The chewiness definitely made us more mindful of the fact that we were eating the weird bits of an animal.
–Fried Quail–
Like the sweetbreads, the quail also wasn’t fried crispy. The quail had a cornmeal coating that would have been really good had it been crunchy!
–Touchon–
The fried fois gras was just ok. I was expecting it to have a melt in your mouth texture but it was firm. Perhaps our mistake when eating here was getting all fried dishes?
Though none of the main dishes really wowed me, I did love love love the complementary caramelized onion spread. This was the most memorable part of my meal here. I ended up making my own version of it later on that week.
–SERVICE–
Service was great at first but then waned to standard during our meal and it wasn’t busy that night. This place has an unpretentious atmosphere while offering their own unique interpretation of American cuisine. However, the dishes I tried were not all that successful in my opinion. Next time, as tempting as they may sound, I’ll keep away from the fried items.
Food: 2.5
Value: 2.5
Service: 3

The décor and atmosphere is funky and the restaurant itself is very small but I love the ambiance. They also had a nice beer and wine list.
Smoked Asparagus and Swiss Soup
Definitely had elements of asparagus and swiss but I think only a cup made sense because the bowl was a little overwhelming, they weren’t flavors that I wanted an entire bowl of.
House Made Sausage: bleu cheese, mint, pistachio, blueberry jam
The sausage was a mixture of mostly beef and some pork but I found myself using the bleu cheese mixture because it was moist and the sausage itself was very dry.
Braised Beef Cheeks: Marinara, Cheese Straw, Basil
The beef cheeks were very tender but there wasn’t a lot of flavor. The cheese straw didn’t add anything to the dish, I couldn’t even taste the cheese and the texture was on the soggy side. The marinara and basil were necessary.
BBQ Duck: Low Country Fried Rice, Molasses Soy
This was my least favorite dish. The rice definitely had a sweeter flavor than traditional fried rice but it was undercooked and on the crunchy side. The duck had absolutely no flavor of BBQ and in fact, had very little flavor at all.
I would not return to this restaurant, it was an eclectic option but something I only will try once.

The Magpie is a locally-​owned gastropub in Richmond. They pride themselves in serving local meat, dairy, and produce selections from Dave and Dee’s Farm, Ashley Farm, Scott Farm, Victory Farm, Birdsong Farm, Manakintowne Farm, Caramount Farm, and Autumn Olive Farm. Reservations are highly recommended, as this place gets packed on the weekends for their brunch/​lunch. The place itself is very hip and cool, and I loved the ceiling décor and the funky-​colored chairs. Our server was Sydney, and she was pretty cool, had a great sense of humor, and very informative! I had the Crispy Pig Head Torchon Benedict (which came with 2 poached eggs, charred asparagus, and a spring onion crema with some cubed homefries — the torchon was interesting, as it tasted like deep-​fried pâté — definitely better with the KimKim sauce that Sydney introduced us to, which is kind of like sssamjang!); my husband had the Chicken Fried Steak & Eggs (which came with 2 fried eggs, beet greens, asparagus cream, and potatoes — this tasted like a battered pot roast, more than the typical country fried ground patty that is usually seen; I wasn’t much of a fan of that, but my husband thought it was pretty good). I loved the potatoes as they were crispy and delicious, and the charred asparagus were so good! I’d love to come back and check out their other menu items as it all looked very unique and delicious — the presentation also rocked! :D
+ask for Sydney: D
+KimKim sauce
+crispy potatoes!
+charred asparagus!

The Standard for Gastropubs
Magpie has a beautiful interior, from the mahogany bar to the plush couch against the wall. Magpie takes its food very serious.
Food
I ordered the Heirloom Tomato Salad and the House Made Sausage, which was just the right amount of food.
The Heirloom Tomato Salad is what you would expect from a tomato salad. What sets it apart is the dollop of fresh mozzarella gelato. Cheese ice cream sounds weird, but it’s really not. Instead, the cheese introduces another layer over the sugar and cream to contrast savory and sweet and to create a taste with depth.
The House Made Sausage is stuffed with meaty goodness. It feels honest and full, not mysterious or greasy. The tempura shallot rings aren’t like normal onion rings. On first bite, you can feel the layers of tempura collapse like puff pastry. Just like the gelato, they’ve taken old ideas and innovated to create new and complex flavors.
The theme running through both of these two examples is a deep understanding of food and its chemistry that results from many attempts at experimentation.
Many places will make food look like art, and Magpie makes food that IS culinary art.
Ambiance and Service ⁵⁄₅
Food ⁵⁄₅
Value ⁵⁄₅

Start with the Nectar Des Dieux and save room for dessert.