Dots Back Inn

A quintessential neighborhood American restaurant. This place was so busy when we came on a Saturday night, full of families and just people having a good time. But service was prompt and we were checked up on regularly. The food was delicious with very generous portions (none of us had any room for dessert)!

I got the catch of the day, which was blacktip shark. I had it grilled with green beans and mashed potatoes. I was pleasantly surprised with the green beans, which were cooked with tomatoes (I'm told it's a Greek preparation style). My husband got the lamb cheesesteak, and his parents got the fried catfish and a salad. Everyone heartily enjoyed their food!

There's a good amount of seating, though I would call ahead for larger parties. We came in with a party of 6 (4 adults, 2 kids), and while they were able to accommodate us, it was a lucky and close thing. There's indoor seating and outdoor patio seating, mostly in 4-person tables. There's also bar seating. It's certainly very beloved neighborhood spot, and for good reason. Highly recommend for a quaint, comfort food dinner!

Dots is just my kind of dive - if it's good enough for Guy Fieri, its good for me! breakfast til 3pm on weekend. Good tasty eats at local diner/bar.

A great small neighborhood diner with excellent food and decent prices. A little tight on the seating but that's typical of a small place with good food. I had a chili cheeseburger with home cut fries and it was very messy but excellent. Burger was cooked perfectly and the fries hot and crispy. I also liked the fact that they serve their full menu at brunch. My only ding on the place is that they serve a Reuben with tomato paste instead of thousand Island dressing which they don't have? Didn't order it because of that but maybe it's good but I wasn't willing to risk it.

Service was excellent. Enjoyed the patio dinning option. I had the Mediterranean pie.It's actually a appetizer. Was a wonderful filled pita filled with feta and tomatoes. Fresh and delicious. I also had a special on menu the charred pepper stuffed with ricotta and herbs and plated with a avocado sauce. Excellent. Embarrassed to say I split the fried cheesecake with my friend. I can't wait to return. Definitely a nice atmosphere and hospitality.

Can’t believe I almost missed this place. It was my very last stop in Richmond as we were leaving town and immediately jumped into my list of favorite brunch spots here. It’s a diner feel, but much better than an ordinary diner. They usually have some specials (like the tacos with sunny side up eggs) that are definitely worth trying in addition to all the regular items. Staff was fantastic too.

Went here for brunch with some girlfriends and an awesome place. The atmosphere is cozy the food was delicious, such a great experience!

My dad used to go to this place all the time when he was a kid and he always said it was the best diner and had great food and it still does! I got their fish special for the day (Mahi Mahi) and it was to die for! I went here for my birthday and was amazing! The limeade they served too and amazing and I highly recommend this place to anyone who loves good food and atmosphere!

Excellent comfort food in Richmond. Burgers, sandwiches, salads and soups. The specials menu is seasonal. Appetizers if you just want a bite and a drink. I had the blue cheese burger cooked to order. My friend had the chicken MacArther which was chicken strips, artichokes, onions, and feta cheese over pasta which was superb. There was way too much to eat in one sitting but we took it home for another meal. The staff was attentive and friendly. We’ll definitely be back!

Great spot. True Richmond landmark. Great food. Nothing fancy, just quality ingredients and great service. The Tuna Melt is awesome. Mostly tuna, little filler. The spicy potato salad is a great side accompaniment. Nice outside covered patio and great atmosphere inside with a good size bar. Enjoy!

First time at your it was ABSOLUTELY AWESOME. I had the Rosenbuger with provolone cheese and enjoyed every bite of it. The fries were delicious 😋. Will come back at another time.

Always a favorite place. It was raining but we were quite comfortable on the covered patio. I had a larmb gyro & fries. My friend had the cold plate with Tuna salad, potato salad & cole slaw. Both were delicious & we each took some home for later.

Loved, loved, loved the bbq sandwich with fries! I'm usually a NC bbq fan, but this was shredded pork with a red sauce that melts in your mouth. This was my 1st visit, and I will definitely be going back. Sorry, I forgot to take pictures.

I sadly didn’t take any pictures, but you’ll be able to see those on other reviews. Sorry about that.

I went here on a Wednesday at around 7 with my mother. She’s got a rollator which is one of those fancy walkers with wheels.

I got an andouille sandwich with their spicy potatoes salad. The sandwich was much more than food than I expected. I was quite full afterword. It was two sausages cheese melted on a toasted bun with onions. Excellent meal that I was hesitant to try. The potato salad was great. Better than my mom’s but not quite as good as Garnett’s.

My mom got a hamburger with only onions it’s her typical fare with the red skin potatoes. I tried her potatoes and they were good. Her hamburger was pretty boring but she liked it. I think they could have made the beef patties bigger for the price but we had a good meal.

Staff was very friendly and accommodating. The meals came out in a reasonable time.

The place is very cute and unique. It’s a smaller establishment with a covered patio. The place is handicap accessible but would be difficult with a wheel chair. My mom did fine with her rollator. No steps or anything to get over. The bathrooms are tiny but I think that’s due to the age of the establishment.

If I’m in the area would definitely return. Great food, staff, and atmosphere.

Hubby had been, but pretty sure I hadn't. It was really good! We got the Rasta Burger with fries and the Chicken Cordon Bleu with spicy red potato salad. They cook your burgers to order. Outdoor or indoor dining, we chose to sit outside and enjoy the cooler weather. The Rasta had a kick to it that was just the right amount of spice. Can't wait to try something else next time.

Went there kind of late in the evening and had fried oysters which were huge and perfectly cooked. They were corn breaded, which we don’t usually get up north. Ann was the sweetest bartender and everyone else was helpful and friendly including other patrons. They even had two hockey games going in the bar and a great music list playing. I might come back to Richmond just to visit again.

Stopped here while in town on business. Did not disappoint. Classic old school diner feel. Friendly staff. I had the blue cheese burger. Excellent flavor. Might be a blend of veal in there.

If you're in Richmond, VA & you're looking for an outstanding diner-style restaurant, look no further than Dots Back Inn! A wonderful menu full of a delicious variety of both diner staples & a whole lot more. They also make cocktails & a mighty good gin & tonic, I might add. Exceptionally friendly staff, great food, cool, Americana atmosphere, check it out!

We had heard about this establishment from Diners, Drive Ins, & Dives. My family went for brunch. The service was great, the food came quickly, and each menu item we had was excellent. The place was packed with happy diners, so it appears that it deserves the great reputation it enjoys.

I stopped in here after finding it on a search for a good local place. It's exactly what I was looking for. This is a local place and serves excellent home made food. I sat at the bar and the staff was friendly and helpful. They had a good sized menu as well as a number of specials on a chalk board.

I went for one of the specials which were some grilled pork medallions and had sides of stewed green beans and grits. I washed it down with a couple draft beers. The food was just excellent and perfectly cooked.

It seems like this place really attracts locals of all types. When a local friend heard I was there he said it was a favorite spot. Incidentally the bar was 1/2 full and I was the only one that didn't order a shot with my beer. I'll make up for that next time I visit.

This little spot wouldn't be hard to miss, but once you're inside, you're glad you didn't. The atmosphere is quaint as could be, the food is quite good, the staff are friendly, and the prices really aren't bad. There's a cute patio too that gets enclosed in cold weather, so it's always an option for seating.