Grandstaff & Stein Book Sellers

Great food and atmosphere. Great place to surprise someone-​the whole password to get in thing is Funny!

Cool concept, but terrible service. Recommend sitting at the bar of you want attention

This place is unique and has a great theme and atmosphere. The music is 20’s and the staff dress as if from the 20’s which is fun. The food was good but nothing spectacular or different. I had the chicken and my husband had the pork. My chicken was really tender and juicy and the mashed potatoes were amazing! My husbands pork was a little dry but had good flavor. The blueberry BBQ sauce was also really good I just wished there were a little more. My daughter who is two didn’t want to be left home so we brought her. We got fun drinks and asked them if they could make something without alcohol and they made a really adorable special drink. Basically chocolate milk but in a cute little glass and frothy. Which as a mother I really appreciated!!! Overall this place was really good. My only other complaint would be cocktail prices for the size you get. The cocktails are $ 11 each which is fine if it’s larger. But these were really small I would expect double what I got for that price. And they were good but nothing spectacular and totally unusual to warrant an 11 $ price tag. For the size they were they should be more around the $ 7 mark in my opinion. Overall worth the visit and will be back again.

I had a great time at my recent visit to Grandstaff & Stein. Great atmosphere and the duck drumettes were definitely finger licking good. Also my first Moscow Mule was beyond yummy and was customized to our tastes. I will surely be back and will let my friends know this is the place to be for something different in the Richmond bar scene.

I’ve been here twice, and both times have been amazing! The speakeasy theme really sets the place apart and gives it a little something extra so it stands out amongst the 1,000,000 bars in Richmond.
The décor and ambiance of the place is stellar. Really sophisticated and cool. The type of vibe you really would expect of a 1920’s whiskey bar. Their food is also amazing. I’ve only had their butternut squash soup, cheese board, and a few other appetizers, but everything I’ve tried has been great. Truly great cocktails as well.
What really stands out to me is the service. Both times I’ve visited, I’ve came in with a larger group (4 – 7) during peak hours on Saturday night. Both times we were seated immediately despite the restaurant being busy. The second time we called ahead (since we had 7 people) and they had the table set and ready for us on arrival.
I’ve had the same server both times, and I wish I could remember her name! She is so friendly, and man is she SPEEDY! She’s always great at recommending cocktails and appetizers as well.
This is a really great spot if you’re looking to try something a little different for your evening of drinks and dinner!

Totally exceptional valentine’s day dinner.
We had the American Onion Soup, the Pancetta Shrimp, the Rockfish Almondine, and the Teres Major with pecan pie and fried cheesecake for dessert.
Everything was prepared perfectly and plated very well. The sides for the mains were excellent too, green beans were well seasoned and slightly crisp, and roasted potatoes were crispy outside and fluffy inside.
An odd stand out was the garnish of marinated mandarin oranges that accompanied the Pancetta shrimp. They were crisp and slightly fizzy? A really nice compliment to the rich, saltiness of the shrimp.
Service was also great, our server (forget her name) was sweet, knowledgeable, and prompt without ever making us feel rushed.
We will definitely be back, with company!

I went to Grandstaff & Stein Book Sellers for dessert after dinner. You’re asked for a PW before entering. The restaurant was really busy on a Saturday night. Luckily, we didn’t have a wait. It’s probably best to make reservations if you can. Grandstaff & Stein has a lively ambience on Saturday nights. The décor is perfect for a speakeasy. I had Grandstaff & Stein fried cheesecake for dessert. Calories didn’t matter because the cheesecake was delicious. Drinks took a while but they were prepared very well. The food/​dessert menu is limited. There are a variety of cocktails on the drink menu. Our server was attentive for a busy restaurant. Parking can be a hassle at times. It depends on day and time. I will be back to try other items on the menu besides dessert. Overall, I enjoyed my visit to Grandstaff & Stein Book Sellers.

What a fun speakeasy! Although I’m not able to comment on the food, the drinks were great. My girlfriend requested a unique drink, and the bartender was able to look it up and put his own spin on it. Great atmosphere, good drinks, cool speakeasy bookshelf, and a great time! You should give it a try!

What a fun little place! I went here for dinner with my Dad. The waitress was very nice and helpful. The food was also surprisingly good. I have not had a pot pie in years, so I was excited to see a vegetarian one. I had that and one of the soups and both items were great. A funky neat place overall. Really liked the ambiance – a perfect little spot on a cold evening for a nice drink and pot pie.

I went here with a group for New Years Eve. We were heading to a Gatsby themed party and I thought eating at a Speakeasy themed restaurant would be fun! We were a little late for our reservation but I called ahead and they were very accomodating. The cocktails were awesome, as were the appetizers. The duck wingettes were my favorite with the deviled eggs a close second. I ordered the pork belly as my entrée and it was good. I also tasted some of the chicken breast and pork shank. All which were good. A friend ordered the rockfish but wasn’t very impressed. All in all, I would recommend this as a dinner date spot or a place to sit and grab a few drinks. The service was slow, granted it was NYE and there was another larger party. I would definitely go back and try it again for date night with the hubby.

This place is really awesome. The vibe is perfect and the staff is very nice. I had the Moscow mule and it was one of the best I’ve ever had. I also had their pork belly. It was so good. Their slaw on the side really did it for me. I went with a group of 9 people and we were accommodated very well. It was such a great night. It’s definitely a hidden Richmond gem. I’ll definitely be coming here next time I visit.

Love the atmosphere of this place! Definitely a cool spot to take out-​of-​towers. Also really good service:
I went the other night with three of my girlfriends. We enjoyed a couple of drinks, which were a little pricy but definitely worth it (I highly recommend the Up and At Em and the Bean Picker if you like sweeter drinks!). When it came time to order, each of us started ordering our own entrees (2 of us wanted the pork shank while the other 2 wanted roasted chicken) when our waiter let us know that they were huge portions and we would be fine sharing. He was definitely right– the portions are huge (and delicious). Im so thankful he let us know as he easily could’ve continued with our order as is. Made for a really really great experience! I’ll definitely be back!

Much like others have said, it’s the theme that makes this place so charming! I’m in love with the ambiance and the overall attire the staff puts together to pull this place off as a prohibition era joint.
In the two times I’ve been, I’ve had very different experiences.
The first was a party of 8 with a reservation. Everything went off without a hitch, the waiter was very informative and attentive to the table. The birthday girl was presented with dessert and everything we ate was amazing. I splurged and got oysters rockefeller and it was delicious. The pan seared grouper was also amazing with brussel sprouts.
Second visit was just to the bar, but I remembered my friends mentioning that the Moscow Mule was especially good for cold nights so I grabbed one during a happy hour event.
The prices can add up fast but I feel like this is a nice place for parties, drinks, or dates.

I’m such a fan of Grandstaff & Stein. I’ve been more times that I’d like to admit since they opened and I enjoy every minute of it!
First off, I think that the speakeasy theme is so nicely done. You have to get the password from their Facebook page. When you walk in the front door it looks like a small, non-​assuming book store. Someone sitting inside will ask, «How can I help you?», prompting you to say the password. When you say it, they will open up a secret door in the bookcase which leads you down a short set of steps into the swanky restaurant/​bar.
The inside is dimly lit with a secluded back patio area (love!) and plenty of seating inside. I die for anything heavily themed, so obviously the décor tickles my fancy. Chandeliers, dark wood, 1920s music, record players… they thought of it all. The craft cocktail scene is booming in RVA; there’s no doubt about that. Grandstaff & Stein falls right in line with this scene. My favorite drink here is the French 45. It’s a slightly sweet champagne cocktail. It might make you sleepy, but it’s so worth it.
All of the food that I’ve tried here is great also. The last thing being a caesar salad (no anchovies). I would go back just to get that. The meatballs, mussels, and baked brie were all pretty good as well. I would highly recommend this place for a night out with girlfriends, date night, or a family dinner!

Ok this is an update on my previous review where they cancelled our reservation.
We have been wanting to go there and the manager when they cancelled our reservation did mention if we gave them another shot she would take care of a few appetizers or something.
So the good…
This is a really nice place. The 20’s theming from the restaurant to the music to the drink menu to the waiters uniforms. Bit all gives a nostalgic feel to the experience. When we got here about 6:30 for our reservation at 7pm. The place was fairly empty. By the time we left about 9:30 the place was absolutely packed. Seems it is a later evening dinner and after dinner drinks crowd. For drinks I had the Moscow mule and several old fashions. I have had better Moscow miles but it wasn’t bad by any means. As far as old fashions this is one of the few places I have been that does them right. I would come back just for one of those.
Food wise we had the shrimp cocktail, meatballs, and stuffed mushrooms. The shrimp cocktail was prob my least favorite and the meatballs and mushrooms were excellent. For dinner I had the grouper. It was very good but noticeably very good were the fried Brussels sprouts. My wife had the chicken which was also good. A friend had the pot pie which looked very good and she said it was excellent. I may try that next time. Pricing wise all dinners were under $ 20 so not over priced.
The semi-​bad…
It did take a long time for dinner. And it was more a reflection of they weren’t moving us along. Well over 2 hours for dinner was a long time. But there were a few factors in this. First we were not in a hurry so not asking for anything quickly. Secondly it started getting real busy by the time we were ready to start ordering and our waiter kept getting tied up waiting on drink orders etc (the bar was getting backed up). I don’t think the kitchen was backed up just the staff a bit. But our waiter was nothing short of excellent. He just probably could moved us a long a little faster. If i were really in more of a hurry though I don’t think it would be an issue.
The ugly…
There is some kind of issue with management they really need to get straight. First as can be seen in my first review they cancelled my reservation a few weeks prior just hours before our reservation on Friday night. A big mismanagement. But they asked in their first call to tell me they had a private party come in that night that if i have them another try they would take care of some appetizers or something.
So…I mentioned that to the guy who seated us and the waiter. The waiter said he ask manager and hey we’re aware of and would take care of a few of our appetizers. Sounding good so far.
So as we dined there was some kind of fight or argument it appeared with staff/​manager. All of a sudden I think it was the short lady manager that sat up front started slamming doors and running through the dining room. I think. I don’t know but it was very much a disturbance going on. I don’t know what happened but I did see that mgr back later in the evening talking to some guests.
Never had a manager come ask us how our dining was or anyone come apologize for the reservation mishap. And when the check came … No free appetizers on our $ 250 bill. Now I’m sure that was an oversight because they had gotten busy. But seriously where was the manager coming to make sure such promise to a customer who was let down preciously was taken care of. Where was anyone being a manager at all. Now at his point when I saw they had already run my credit card and everyone in our party was wanting to go so I didn’t go track down our waiter whom I sure could have taken care of. So we just left (I didn’t even bring it up to the others).
So my rating
This is why the management issues drive me so crazy. I would probably give this place an extremely high full 5 star rating. As can be seen I gave 2 stars for my experience with the cancelled reservation. But in all honesty people make mistakes it is how they handle them. Had the manager when we got there come and apologized and made sure we were taken care of I probably would have still given a 5 star.
So now I give it a 3 star. I take one star off for the manager never coming to speak to us and I take another star off for charging us for appetizers they said would be complimentary.
Hopefully there is an owner of his business that gets to see this and fixes some of this really concerning management issues (including the argument door slamming in the middle of the night between staff).
I wish I could have come back with a better rating. As I said I will return. Maybe one day I will get those two free apps.

Super cool place to bring a date or just have some drinks after work. The food was delicious (I recommend getting several of the appetizers, they were all good). I love the book store front area that you must have a password to enter. Love the low lighting and the employees outfits. A very swanky atmosphere and a place that fits in well with the up and coming Richmond restaurant experience.

This might be the most interesting place i have been in Richmond. I was so amazed by the entrance of this place since it is a proper speak easy. One of the bookshelves on the wall opens to a huge bar area. Great old school vibe and cool bartenders, we tried couple of cocktails. Snazerac is amazing for strong booze lovers.

So far, Ok.
Roasted chicken was bland. Brussels sprouts were salty. I kinda wish they put them together in a paper bag, and shook it hard until the saltiness evened out.
Drinks were good.
I love the atmosphere.
I’d give it another whirl. Besides, I didn’t get to try the duck wings, then.

From the moment I heard about the prohibition era, speakeasy concept behind Grandstaff & Stein, it couldn’t open soon enough for me. When opening weekend finally rolled around, I was there… twice… and it was definitely worth the wait. Grandstaff & Stein delivers an exceptional experience from the moment you step into the «bookstore» and are ushered through the hidden door. Edison style bulbs provide a soft glow just bright enough to read the menu without ruining the dark and intriguing speakeasy vibe cultivated so carefully by the proprietors.
The cocktails are among the best in the city; crafted with care and infused with fresh flavors, the drinks evoke an aura of nostalgia as you sip from the vintage inspired stemware. Want something to nibble while the authentically dressed barkeep in suspenders and a bow tie prepares your drink? Try the duck wings — uhh-​mazing. Also a fan of the popcorn (sounds so simple but oh so good) and the deviled eggs for something «lighter.»
With a nod to the past, Grandstaff & Stein has raised the bar for future establishments in Shockoe Bottom. It’s a sophisticated venue that appeals to those looking for more than a typical bar experience.

Wow! a cool club with a secret
in RVA. Go to the bar. Good strong artisan cocktails and minimal menu food selection. avoid the rockefeller (salty but by the denifition they are salty) and deviled eggs (ho hum in that throwing in the spice rack makes it interesting) Go for the duck legs (ummh good) cant say much of the main menu other that they avoided the richmond typical vomit of shrimp and grits but it turns out i always end up with some action before i order from the main menu. Early speakeasy jazz And downbeat uptempo beats later. A place if you have out of town fussy guests to take to and at the end dump them at the omni. Dad and mom would like this club early and i would say most professed liars show up later.