821 Café

The gravy is wonderful and the special was fried chicken with gravy and biscuits. I am so full of yummy goodness!!! Great little place and the prices are good too!

Great food just don’t try to sit where you want to. Great portions and beer sections. I had breakfast and it was amazing! I wish I would of gotten the french toast or pan cakes though. I had an omelet Bri and bacon. So yummy!

This place has it all. Delicious breakfast/​brunch offerings that are both sweet or savory. My favorite is the peanut butter and jelly French toast. So good. Cute and funky spot. Fun décor and nice staff.

I ordered the Billy philly for me and my husband and my daughter had the peanut butter and banana sandwich grilled with a side of vegan chili. My husband enjoyed his philly but when I unwrapped mine, I noticed a straight hair on the opening of my sandwich. Not cool!!! I know the hair is not mine because I have locs. I’m glad I ordered the fried artichokes because I could not fully enjoy my philly.

my husband and I came to town for a funeral and I as always the case when we travel it takes a little extra time to find Vegan food, but Unilocal saves the day again
the were several choices and I had a good meal, I was concerned that cheese was on my salad however it was easy to avoid.
the bean burrito was filling and tasty
the not so pleasant after effects of the meal occurred about 2 hours later. I receive a text from my bank that my number was compromised hmmmm the only place I have used the card in 8 weeks is today, so easy to trace. a 20 dollar meal and a 5 dollar tip is not worth this!
we called to alert them of our concerns
the owner was concerned and helpful. we hope the culprit was not from here. but caution is required by all. so I have increased my stars just due to his diligence

I think I liked almost everything about this place. It was inexpensive and light food. It wasnt greasy either and the food comes out fairly quick. I got the beef chilli, the turkey croissant and the nutella stuffed banana french toast. The food was pretty decent and I only have one complaint — there were one too many flies in the restaurant; one of which sat on my French toast. I was sorely disappointed since I didn’t get to finish it and it probably wouldn’t have been feasible to ask for my money back. All in all, this is a one and done kind of place. It wasn’t terrible and it wasn’t great.

821 café is a great red presentation of richmonds artsy side. Fresh coffee is served in novelty mugs and the whole table walks away satisfied. My girlfriend tried the crab omelet, the meat lover got «big meaty», and union pancakes satisfied my sweet tooth.
We only stopped in for breakfast but looked like they had some great happy hour deals.

So yummy! And nice and cheap too. The Nutella banana French toast is fantastic!!! It’s also a cool space with awesome and fun artwork all over the walls.

Great food for a really reasonable price! Relaxing atmosphere and I enjoyed the staff too. Didn’t give 5 stars because the outside area was really small

Ordered the BLT on wheat and added avocado, it was delicious and the service was great too. They have bold rock in cans, so my friend and I ordered ourselves one for each of us. My friend got the club sandwich and said it was tasty too. We went around 1:30 on a Wednesday so it wasn’t very busy and we were seated immediately. I definitely want to come back for their nutella French toast because that’s all I keep hearing about this place.

We were getting ready to see the Lion King at the Altria Theater and were running short on time. We needed somewhere close and quick. Pulled up Unilocal,and BAM 821 Café it is!
The weather was nice so we sat out on the patio. Excellent people watching in this location. The sun was setting in my eyes and I wished I’d had some sunglasses though. Obviously not 821’s fault, but next time I will come prepared.
The menu is varied, with prices extremely affordable and portions large. There were many intriguing options on the menu like a peanut butter, bacon, and banana sandwich. I passed on that. The Brent Burger, served between two grilled cheeses also sparked my interest. I ultimately landed on the Fried Artichoke Sub (with cripsy fried artichokes, spinach, tomato,
spicy mustard, and provolone) for $ 9 including my side of herb orzo. The boyfriend had a Pressed Cuban (with roast pork, ham, pickles, mustard and swiss) and fries, also $ 9.
My fried artichoke sub was awesome and the spicy mustard was just perfect. I’ve never had such a sandwich before, but I’d definitely return for that one. I could only eat half, and took a to go box for the rest. The orzo, while I appreciate options other than fries, was a little bland and dry. I probably wouldn’t opt for that again. My boyfriend said the cuban tasted just like he anticipated but didn’t stand out enough for him to have to order it again.
Over all, 821 fit the bill of quick and close, but was also affordable, tasty, and had large portions. I wouldn’t hesitate to return.

I’ve been here numerous times and have absolutely loved it every visit. The vibe of the place, the employees and the food are all top notch. Such a comfortable atmosphere and lots of variety as far as food. :)
We will continue enjoying this place for years to come!

This place is excellent for the vegetarian or vegan. The service is excellent the bartender Gabe is great. Feel like family. My wife and I come every Sunday. Check it out you will be happy.

The food was good. I couldn’t help but feel unwelcome for one reason or another… not the most friendly or professional service. But still recommendable for food, not a place I would frequent. Near campus.
Very casual environment, definitely a community business as many of the workers are familiar with the regular customers. They stated they sometimes eat their customers food… I wasn’t willing to share at the moment.
Had a Caesar Salad and fries for lunch. A reasonably cheap price for large portions. Fresh lettuce, arugula and spinach w/​a nice homemade dressing.

821 is one of the most convenient restaurants on the VCU campus, it’s almost always packed with people because of this.
Came here on a Sunday afternoon and waited about 15 minutes before we were seated. The server was really friendly and checked up on us multiple times and made sure we had every thing we need.
Food arrived about 10 minutes after we ordered and it was one of the best clubs I’ve had in Richmond. The side of fries was more than half the plate, they do not skimp you here. The best part, everything was under $ 9!
Overall, They have some pretty cool people working and a daily happy hour. Worth checking out if you’re in the area

Breakfast food is amazing here. How many places do you know serve breakfast till 4pm each day? They make the best grilled sandwiches. I have had so many things here. I love the grilled cheese sandwhich, rosemary potatoes, and the french toast. I love how Vegan friendly it is. I love how you can get fruit as a side here. They are super generous with fries as a side. On Thursdays, they have all day happy hour. It gets busy here but the atmosphere is really chill. I think it is a good spot to hangout with friends. You can always get good food at anytime of the day.

Heard of the reviews… decided to try this spot… invited a friend & we both walked away with a delicious experience. Loved the French Toast w/​banana’s & spinach omelet. Cool spot w/​cool art.

Heard that this place had some good vegan and vegetarian options. We were happy to see they have many choices that we could eat. I have the tofu poor boy and my wife had vegan curried chicken salad. Both were excellent. Recommend the vegan chili as a side. Bloody Mary was excellent and was only $ 5.00. Service could have been a little better. Will be back next week.

Came here for the vegan options. Food was ok, mimosas were ok too. Nothing to come back for

As mega-​hipster as this place is i like it a lot. They have great breakfast all day and surprisingly serve up healthy portions of meat in a college area where tons of vegans dwell.

I used to try to like this place. I’ve been a vegetarian for over 17 years. I appreciate a place with a large selection of veggie food, but I don’t appreciate any establishment that would overlook serving rotten food and show little remorse for doing so.
Last night my family ordered Delivery from here. Big mistake. No one was happy especially me. When I bit into the large Caesar salad I had ordered I was immediately assaulted by the taste of slimy old lettuce. I thought maybe it was just one piece, than I found a multitude of yellow/​brownish leaves. I had to throw the whole thing out. When we called to complain they simply stated, «Oh, I’m sorry about that. We will let the kitchen know». So, not only do they not care what the vegetables they serve, they also don’t care about trying to fix their mistakes and make their customers happy.
This place is an embarrassment to vegetarian dinning.

My roommate and I order from here all the time. Its the only place I know of that delivers breakfast. Their food is great and the portions are big. There are tons of vegan friendly options that according to my roommate are delicious (it is her favorite place to order from). The have a variety of different options. Burgers, wraps, omelettes, pasta, wraps, sandwiches etc etc the list goes on and on. Its not hard to find something you’d like with their extensive menu, delivery is usually set to arrive in 45 min but its usually comes way sooner.
I’ve eaten in the actual restaurant a couple times, the place is always packed and considering they do do delivery that may account for why people think the service is terrible. I dont recommend dining in here unless you are patient and dont mind waiting for a table. its a small and very popular place so you will have to wait.
A few of my personal favorite items are Fried Artichoke Hearts, The Nutella Stuffed French toast, (however i could recommend they use thicker bread), they have a great Philly cheese steak, Fried Chicken sandwich, and of course their build your own omelet has a great variety of delicious combinations.
I found the regular biscuits and gravy to be way to salty but the vegetarian style they do is perfect. My roommate loves their vegan chicken salad. and the rosemary potatoes are the bomb.

I wanted to like this place, I really really did. But like some of the other reviewers mentioned, their service here is terrible. I’m not a even difficult person but so many things were just wrong here.
Our group of 6 came here on a rainy Thursday afternoon for brunch and it was PACKED. There were 2 empty tables but they wouldn’t let us sit there or even combine the smaller tables and we were told to wait 20 minutes for their biggest table (which just became occupied and the people havent even gotten their food yet). Whatever, we were starving so we sat at the bar. The server totally dishonored the menu that clearly stated that the pancakes come with choice of 2 sides and told me that the pancakes come with no side. They took forever to bring the food out, didn’t come back to check on the table or refill our drinks, and we were just hoping that the grumpy servers didn’t tamper with our food.
I dont even expect top notch service at a restaurant that’s mostly student customers, but I’m not trying to goto a restaurant where the workers hate their job and customers. Food was decent but won’t be coming back here due to poor service.

This is such a fun restaurant – it’s very quaint and unique, and the menu is pretty creative, too. It’s got something for everybody. I’ve gone several times, and have taken several friends and my family. It’s especially great for brunch, although it can be a long wait on the weekends (but worth it)!
The nutella stuffed french toast is insanely rich and tasty – with that, I think it’s better categorized as dessert, than breakfast!
Their caprese salad was absolutely amazing. I loved the fresh tomatoes, and it came with TONS of fresh mozzarella, as well as basil and yummy balsamic vinaigrette. I recommend getting two, not because it’s not a nicely sized portion, but because it’s just that good.

Really good place to come eat for breakfast, the food portion is good and fulfilling. The service is great too. We came here before and had a bad experience but this experience was definitely worth it. Definitely a place to come eat when your in town

821 is a charming little spot. We came for brunch on a Sunday and of course it was crowded as most spots are in Richmond during that time. We had about a 15 – 20 minute wait outside because there isn’t anywhere to wait inside. When we were seated it took a little while for a waitress to come over. There was good music playing so it wasn’t a lousy wait. My friend ordered an omelet with potatoes but the omelet was very wet so she sent it back (it took a while for them to come back to our table so she could let them know she wanted something else) and just ordered scrambled eggs. By the time she got her food, I was done with mine. They didn’t bring her potatoes back (they took her whole plate) so she had to order more potatoes.
I had the french toast with blueberries. It was good, didn’t seem like enough though. I found myself looking at other people’s plates of pancakes and wishing I had gotten that instead. I would return if just to try the pancakes.

Their food is delicious. I have been here twice already. The sriracha bottles are always full and the beer keeps flowing.

This morning was cold, gray, and perfect for brunching on coffee and pancakes at 821. My boyfriend and I stopped here on our way out of town.
The ambiance is somewhere between homey and hipster; mismatched coffee mugs, retro bar stools, and traditional diner grub (omelets, pancakes, grilled cheese, tomato soup) seem like an attempt towards coziness, but the café’s dark lighting and hard booths make it slightly less inviting. It almost works, but the end result is just sorta confusing.
The menu has great variety, with both basic and elevated items. Modern choices include the black bean sweet potato burger, fried artichoke sub, vegan breakfast burrito, and my personal favorite, «bagel with hummus.» Prices are definitely fair, based on the large portion sizes, quality of ingredients, and vegan and vegetarian options. My chocolate chip pancakes were delicious. My boyfriend’s nachos were okay — they had a huge amount of beans and (not quite melted) cheese (like, enough to feed a family of four) but very few chips. They would also benefit from guacamole.
Only con other than the nachos and odd atmosphere: wait service was a bit slow. One waitress for the entire café.
Overall, this place has a great location, yummy food, and good variety.

I went here on my way back from a road trip in search of a yummy breakfast & the stuffed Nutella French toast was bomb. Don’t think it could’ve been made any better! Very delicious and the presentation of it was very nice. Bananas topped on it were ripe.
So why three stars? While the food was exceptional, the place didn’t feel too inviting for me. It does have that hipster vibe which okay I get it. My waitress wasn’t bad at all but I did feel uncomfortable a little since they seemed to know everyone and kind of gave me the cold shoulder. She just could’ve been a bit more lively or bubbly but oh well.
I do admire the art they had though on the walls, I thought it was pretty cool and creative. This is definitely a spot more for college kids I feel since it is by campus. Parking was ridiculous to find by here though. I wouldn’t mind trying some of their other breakfast dishes though. Maybe next time I’ll just order take out.

I’m one of those people that calls this Eight Two One
so that I can say Eight Chew One,
so keep that in mind while you read this.
I’ve been going to 8two1
since it was actually at its namesake address.
I miss the days of cramming into the window booth
and it feeling like a place I could hang for a few hours.
Since the place upgraded to what I would call
«true restaurant status» (aka going to 825)
I feel like a few of its charms were left behind in the move.
BUT you can find those charms
on Friday nights in Kate’s plates
or even in the specials every now and then.
Unfortunately, I’ve come here too often
and had fries that taste like they’ve been fried
in oil that had been set on fire at some point,
hard avocado (so jarring),
or just had a really long, inexplicable wait time.
I don’t hate 821 by any means,
but it’s fallen from grace too many times
and I keep it at a distance just so I don’t get hurt again.
I’ve not had trouble with the staff;
they’ve been diligent but generally aloof,
which makes an experience here usually okay.
The food feels a tad bit heavier here,
the vegan chili is woefully under-​seasoned
and anything fried definitely seems fried
(and sometimes a little wet).
I will always appreciate the veggie options,
but I miss the regular veggie burger.
The black bean and sweet potato burger
just doesn’t do it for me.
I miss you 821 at 8 two 1.

I’ve had an enjoyable experience here each time, and like to come here after class for an afternoon late lunch. What I like about it is that they have a varied menu and have a lot of unique dishes. and tofu!
The last time I was here I had the smoked salmon omelette, which had dill, cream cheese, and capers. Considering these things are like, basically my favorite things individually, I really liked this combination. However, I didn’t think the salmon tasted so smoked.
I also had the chocolate pancakes, which had a good amount of toppings, and onion rings, which were nice and crispy. My dish came with a biscuit (plain, a little hard).
I’ve also had the nutella/​banana french toast, which was delicious.
Looking forward to trying the other vegetarian dishes on the menu!

If you’re looking for a real hipster/​cool vibe place to hang, 821 Café is your spot!
I originally ran into it as I was finishing my morning run. I walked in and the workers were very welcoming and I asked if they did take out so they helped me to the bar.
While iced coffee was not on the menu, the bartender was awesome enough to make one for me and let me tell you, it is jet fuel! I was ready to take on the rest of the day!
I ordered the crab omelette to go and it help its ground! But the amount of food I received that day was endless! All delicious to the last bite which included the omelette, fresh fruit, toast, and grits!
I also have come back and tried their nachos which were absolutely delish!!! In addition had some watermelon mimosas which was very refreshing on a hot Richmond day!
Highly recommend trying it if you are in the area.

In a word ‘yum’. The décor/​vibe is different to my usual fare but it’s clean so I have no complaints. The wait staff provides stellar service: prompt, friendly, and polite.
The meal was fresh and tasty. (Thank you for not burning my sunny side up eggs; you can’t imagine how many places get that wrong. Ugh!)
Most importantly, the meal was reasonably priced: 2 eggs, side of potatoes, side of fruit, and toast $ 6.
Takeaway: This is a good solid place for breakfast.

I’ve been to 821 a few times and LOVED their Nutella French toast with bananas… Droooool.
Okay, this time I had the fried artichoke sandwich. It was good, but not great. We had just come from the gym so I was starving and it was good, but the fries were very mushy and had no salt on them. The mustard on the sandwich was yummy but the artichoke flavor wasn’t very strong. The mustard flavor overpowered it a lot… Maybe because there was a LOT of mustard in the sandwich.
But something that pissed me off was that I asked for a side of ranch and honey mustard because I wasn’t sure which I wanted to dip my fries in. I get the bill and they charged $.50 for each dip. The waitress didn’t even bother to tell me «hey, it’s $.50 for each, is that okay?» I would’ve only picked one since usually dips are free at restaurants.
It’s not the $ 1, it’s just the principle of it. Very annoying. Anywho, I always enjoy my food when I go to this place. Can’t wait to try more stuff here.

It is with a heavy heart that I give 821 café a mere 3 stars *braces self for the bashing by the cult following*. I think part of this is my fault, though.
I met up with someone for lunch here and not having eaten all day, my eyes settled on something really heavy. Boom! Chicken parm. I’m a sucker for Italian food so I stared at it and it stared right back at me, baby. When I got it, it definitely looked and smelled great, but the taste didn’t blow me away. It was definitely not the best choice I could have made, especially since Richmond has so, so many out-​of-​this world options for Italian food. 821 Café strikes me as more of a sandwich and beer type of place. Although, the day we went (Thursday) was all day happy hour. Well, when I asked if they had a very popular cider, the waitress said no. Then, when she brought the drink list, it was on there (crazy right?). This brings me to my next point…
I was not too impressed with the service at all. I mean, I don’t ask for much but throw me a bone! My drink went without refilling multiple times. I wanted to ask for more marinara sauce (ain’t nothin’ worse than dry pasta!) but it took forever for someone to pass me so that I could ask for it. I don’t know, it just seemed like nobody was happy to be at work that day.
Well, 821 Café, you were like the description says: just OK. I’m definitely going to give you another chance, though. And next time, I’m gettin’ the BLT!

Came here with a few friends a while back for some food and drinks. If you want a beer and something small and get a good server, you’ll be in good shape. If you want to get full, or a mixed drink, or happen to get one of the problematic servers, you’ll leave disappointed.
I’ll try to make this as concise as I can: the atmosphere is nice, and the food items were good (though unremarkable). The prices at first look seem good, though when you realize how small the meals are you’ll realize that you’re not getting such a great deal. That said, our server on this occasion (or the kitchen/​bar, you never really know unless someone accepts blame) managed to make two errors with our table’s food and completely messed up my friend’s drink, effectively rendering it undrinkable. This was probably due to her unfamiliarity with the drink name, though if she had been unsure it would have been wise to ask. We were polite and approachable, never be afraid to double-​check to make sure you understood correctly with customers who clearly won’t mind.
Even if the service had been good, I’d probably pass on coming here again because of the portions. I understand this place does Groupons occasionally, and if you are in the mood for light fare and you’re willing to take a chance, maybe 821 is for you. If you don’t want to gamble with your evening though, probably best to give this place a pass. If you’re a VCU student and you’re stuck on campus and don’t want to go to the Chili’s down the street, coming here may be your last option. I wish you luck!
Overall: 2.5 stars
— — — — –
Pros:
— Food is good, though nothing really sets it apart from other locations. Apparently they have some good vegan options if you’re into that. No one at my table had any, so couldn’t attest to the quality of the vegan food.
— Atmosphere is nice and appropriately trendy.
Cons:
— Service is pretty bad, and judging from the service I observed other customers getting, this place doesn’t keep good servers around. Not for very long, anyway.
— Parking is a major pain, especially around normal VCU class hours (this place is very close to the major buildings and residence halls).
— Mixed drinks are watered-​down and not crafted well.
— Portions are small, so make sure you order according to your appetite (and do it in the beginning, or you’ll be waiting a while inbetween food items).