Price range for entrees: Dinner $18 to $45; lunch $12 to $20Recommended dish: Short rib egg rolls. Chef Michael Lindsey has amassed somewhat of a dining empire in Richmond, with Jubilee, Buttermilk and Honey, and the recently opened ML Steak Modern Chophouse – but it's his Lillie Pearl restaurant downtown that consistently sees packed tables for dinner or Sunday brunch. Diners can't get enough of the fried Brussels sprouts and the pimento cheese-stuffed short rib egg rolls, which some describe as the star of the meal and an appetizer well worth returning for.

Africa, North Carolina and pure heart mingle on the plate at Lillie Pearl, in care of chef Mike Lindsey and his wife and business partner, Kimberly Love-Lindsey. Obe ata, a West African mother sauce combining chiles, tomato and onion, braises lamb shank (the dish also appears at Lindsey Food Group’s Jubilee in Manchester, in a stunning seafood hot pot). Flaky seared striped bass swims in rich, creamy-sweet lobster bisque, while sides, including creamed charred corn with slab bacon and piquant Hoppin’ John, do justice to the chef’s heritage.

Address: 416 E Grace St, Richmond, VA 23219Highlights: Lillie Pearl offers a modern take on Southern cuisine, presenting a brunch menu that is both innovative and comforting. Popular dishes include the Fried Chicken Biscuit, which combines crispy chicken with a buttery biscuit, the Crabcake Benedict, a rich and savory option, and the Cinnamon Roll French Toast, which is as indulgent as it sounds. The contemporary setting and flavorful dishes make Lillie Pearl a standout brunch destination in Richmond.

Lillie Pearl also came as a recommendation from my sister and, located just over a block away from my hotel, it made for an excellent lunch spot in Downtown Richmond. The restaurant is part of the Lindsey Food Group, one of the husband and wife duo’s four Richmond restaurants. I selected the restaurant’s fried chicken sandwich, topped with lettuce, heirloom tomatoes, shaved pickles, spicy honey and buttermilk ranch.

Friday & Saturday:Lunch 11am - 2:30pm | Dinner 4:30pm - 11pm ;​Sunday :Brunch 11am - 2:30pm | Dinner 4:30pm - 9pm ;Normal Hours: Monday to Thursday:Lunch: 11am - 2:30pm | Dinner: 4:30pm - 10pm. Laid-back eatery whipping up classic Southern comfort food such as burgers, ribs, seafood & cobbler. Alcohol,Beer,Cocktails,Coffee,Comfort food,Happy-hour drinks,Happy-hour food,Small plates,Spirits,Vegetarian options,Wine

If you’re looking for a place to eat in Richmond that exudes the flavors of the Mid-Atlantic, Lillie Pearl is it. A native of North Carolina, Chef Mike Lindsey merges the southern flavors with dishes he’s developed in his over two decades of being a chef throughout the United States. Named after Chef Lindsey’s grandmothers, the menu at Lillie Pearl centers on southern African American cuisine.

Evening: Lillie Pearl is a new can’t-miss destination for dinner, where husband-and-wife team Michael Lindsey and Kimberly Love-Lindsey combine West African heirloom ingredients with his North Carolina roots for a unique take on global cuisine, like obe ata–braised lamb shank and lobster and shrimp and grits. End the evening at hip lounge The Jasper for a nightcap like their Lux Manhattan.

Lillie Pearl, a beacon of culinary innovation in downtown Richmond, is where Chef Michael Lindsey's vision comes to life. The restaurant dazzles with its short rib egg rolls, a creative twist on a classic, stuffed with pimento cheese and wrapped in a crispy shell. It's a dish that embodies Lillie Pearl's approach to cuisine: familiar yet surprising, comforting yet exciting.

416 E Grace St | Shockoe Bottom | http://www.lilliepearlrva.com. To start off, the only reason Lillie Pearl didn’t make it to the top of the list today is because it just isn’t as accessible to people as Milie’s Diner is. In fact they recommend everybody make a reservation in advance and you will have exactly two hours at your table to dine at this place.

Chef Mike Lindsey offers diners a diversity of options, including Lillie Pearl, Buttermilk & Honey, ML Steak, and Ram’s House. You’ve got Inner City Blues on Nine Mile Road; Southern Kitchen on 2nd Street; Nomad’s Deli & Catering on Brookland Park Boulevard; and The Original Ronnie’s Barbecue down New Market Road – just to make a few more!

Lillie Pearl combines these rich cultures into a menu full of delicious dishes such as the Obe Ata braised lamb shank, short rib egg rolls and “Smashville” fried chicken sandwich. The restaurant’s popularity has seen Michael and Kimberly launch Buttermilk + Honey, another restaurant in Richmond’s West End.

Why Visit: Lillie Pearl restaurant, one of the famous restaurants in Richmond, sees tables packed for dinner or a Sunday brunch. The short rib egg rolls with pimento cheese-stuffed and fried Brussels sprouts are described as the star of the meal. This appetiser of Lillie Pearl is well worth returning for.

Southern and soul influences show themselves in the ingredients that go into each dish on the menu. You’ll find braised lamb shank served with jollof rice, braised short rib fragranced with benne seeds and the smothered pork chop set up with a bowl of Hoppin’ John. And, of course, there are the cocktails.

Lillie Pearl adds a New American twist on African American soul food. The name comes from the owners combining their grandmothers’ names. The food is enriched with a legacy of fellowship, storytelling, and culinary magic.

For a taste of Southern cuisine with a vegan twist, head over to Lillie Pearl in Downtown Richmond. This versatile restaurant offers an array of gluten-free options and can modify dishes according to your needs.

- Rating: 4.5/5 (650 reviews)- Price level: $$- Address: 418 East Grace St. Richmond, Virginia - Categories: Southern, New American, Cocktail Bars- Read more on Yelp