Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden - Henrico

To the management at Ginter, I recently took my niece to the Garden Café for dinner, and I must say it was the worst dining experience I’ve ever had. Unfortunately, I will not be returning to Ginter in the future for any reason. 1. We shared a Virginia Ham platter, which was disappointing. There were no pickles, and instead of the expected Smithfield ham, we received plain slices of picnic ham. The biscuits were dry, and the pimento cheese was tasteless; it felt like false advertising. 2. I ordered the fried chicken with peppercorn and peanut gravy. It was excessively salty and tasted like it came directly from a powdered mix filled with MSG, lacking any actual peppercorns or peanuts. The mashed potatoes appeared to be instant flakes, not fresh potatoes. It was a disappointing experience. 3. My niece tried the gnocchi, and it was simply terrible. It was dry, overcooked, and had the wrong texture. There was no trace of the sage and brown butter sauce that was promised. The only redeeming part was the mushrooms. Our server, Tammy, kindly removed the charge for the gnocchi from our bill, but it still felt like false advertising. 4. My niece also ordered a side of cheesy grits, which were equally unappetizing. I have never felt compelled to write a complaint to a restaurant until now. The quality of the food we experienced was appalling, leaving me not only shocked but quite angry. It was evident that something was amiss, as there were only 3-4 other occupied tables during our visit. A respected establishment like Lewis Ginter should take pride in its offerings, and it is disheartening to see such a decline in quality. I felt it was important to share my experience. Sincerely, [Your Name]

We went on Saturday January 7 at 5:30pm. It had rained during the day so when we arrived there was plenty of parking. We had a party of 7. Majority of us got the mock tail which was SO good. Our meals were also delicious. I think between the table we all had one of each of salads/entrees. Our servers were lovely and super helpful. My only complaint is that we asked for a to go box for the gnocchi and it ended up being taken to the kitchen never to return but that’s ok! Great experience, yummy meal and then straight to the lights at 7pm.

So happy we were able to see the lights and dine on almost the last eve of the event. It was wonderful!!

Food mediocre at best prices high. They add a 15% tip without telling you.

Our server, Tammy, was attentive and friendly, which made for a pleasant experience. However, we noticed that other staff members were unfriendly and brusque with guests, and we overheard some complaining about patrons. Overall, the staff seemed quite unhappy. The dining area showed noticeable signs of wear, and it would be beneficial for the Garden to refresh the décor. The menu was limited, which is typical for events at the Garden, but the food did not justify the prices. One entrée, the pork tenderloin, was lukewarm, while the striped bass lacked flavor. As long-time members of the Garden, we've enjoyed many wonderful events and holiday dinners in the past. The cafeteria food has always been good and reasonably priced. We sincerely hope the Garden will consider revamping its food service vendor for the holiday season.