The Conservatory

The Conservatory reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

1. E

   Eleanor

   Richmond1 review

   5.0

   Dined on April 9, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We were 5 people so they set up 2 square tables for us, which allowed each person more room than the round tables. We each had a very comfortable chair, rather than a sofa seat, to sit on. The Conservatory decor has many different decorative parts to it; we couldn't decide the theme, although it seemed to fit together. The food was very good, tasty, and sufficient for our early evening meal. The tables are cloth-covered , with cloth napkins, etc. Waitress and man who assisted her were attentive. The Conservatory has a relaxing and comfortable atmosphere, lots of seating available within and nearby. Currently there is free parking and you're located at the beginning of the Downtown Mall, great for walking, browsing, and shopping at not-run-of-the mill stores and restaurants.
   

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2. c

   carol

   Richmond17 reviews

   3.0

   Dined on March 22, 2025

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 2

   Limited menu. Our table was next to a music speaker making it difficult to hear and talk. Food was unremarkable. Crab cakes could use more Crab and less mayo, mac and cheese could use more and sharper cheese sauce. Servers were attentive and personable. Probably won't come back.
   

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3. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Richmond8 reviews

   3.0

   Dined on March 21, 2025

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 2

   The service was slow, the food sub par, the menu was limited and the room was drafty and cold. Otherwise, perfect.
   

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4. A

   Aaron

   Richmond3 reviews

   1.0

   Dined on March 21, 2025

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 3

   I know people only leave reviews if something is either really good or really bad. In this case, our meal at The Conservatory was very bad. First off the service was super slow. Took 20ish minutes before someone came to greet us and get our drinks. Our drinks from the bar were also super slow. By the time I got my Whisky the big ice cube had melted. Then no one came back to our tables for close to 45 minutes. Didn't check if we were ready to order or get another round of drinks. We finally had to flag down someone else to take our order. Things happen and places have been short staffed so was willing to let the food speak for itself. We should have paid attention to the red flags. We ordered the steak and fries, mushroom small plate, and an Ahi Tuna salad. The Steak was so overcooked and insanely small for the price. I can't remember ever sending a dish back but had to get the steak removed from the bill. The mushrooms were not seasoned at all. For a 13 dollar small plate it was flavorless. My wife mostly enjoyed the Ahi Tuna salad. I mostly write this hoping the restaurant makes some adjustments. The restaurant itself is very cool and cozy. A nice place to be a night, but it can't survive on vibes alone. Best of luck. Hope it gets better.
   

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5. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Richmond6 reviews

   1.0

   Dined on March 21, 2025

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 4

   Dreadful experience for a weekend birthday dinner. Both the food and service left so much to be desired. To list a few specifics: wine never arrived to table, steak was well done (not med rare as ordered), all items came out at same time and took quite a while, server blamed the bar and was completely unprofessional…I’ll stop here. Such a disappointment because the space was so lovely. Hoping things improve in the near future!!
   

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6. G

   Georgia VIP

   Richmond2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on March 2, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   We enjoyed the steak frites, chicken and waffles, and salad nicoise, but the cocktails stole the show! Our server possibly forgot about us one or twice and brought a wrong drink, but the staff was so friendly which coupled with the ambiance more than made up for it!
   

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7. A

   Aleania

   Richmond1 review

   4.0

   Dined on February 2, 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Was not a fan of the mushroom appetizer 😕 it was basically mayonnaise and mushrooms. When I mentioned it to the server he offered me another app which I enjoyed (cheese plate) the service and the rest of my meal were great and I would recommend this place for a nice quiet date night
   

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8. D

   Dolores

   Richmond6 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on February 2, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We enjoyed a 3 course meal during Charlottesville Restaurant Week and it was our first time there. We were immediately impressed with the lovely ambience. The server was tops and the food delicious.
   

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9. M

   Michael

   Washington DC1 review

   2.0

   Dined on February 2, 2025

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 2

   Went during restaurant week, the experience was poor. Not especially busy for a Saturday night. The food was mediocre, our server rarely checked in, and it took them a while to provide refills on water. The restaurant was also out of several items, but no mention of this was made by our server ahead of time, even after taking our order.
   

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10. J

    Jordan

    Charlotte2 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on September 7, 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 5

    Salmon was undercooked. Steal (ordered medium) was burnt. Everything was very under seasoned. Staff was great until they disappeared for over 30 mins. Good drinks, nice ambience.
    

    The ConservatoryResponded on September 8, 2024

    Hi Jordan! I have passed on this information to our kitchen and the staff that assisted you on Saturday evening. We sincerely apologize for your experience and value your feedback as we strive to constantly improve our service here. We do not expect anything less than great times here at The Conservatory! We would love to change your opinion of us and hope that you give us another chance! Please feel free to reach out at any time with any additional concerns or questions you may have. All the best, Marlie The Conservatory Manger
    

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