The Emerald Lounge 2416 Jefferson Avenue, Richmond, VA 23223

"The atmosphere is excellent. It’s comfy and not loud but still has a good energy. There are purse hooks and outlets under the bar! And a lot of them. We ordered one of everything from the food menu. It was all very good but the stand outs are the spam sliders and popcorn. Great cocktail menu and prices. They have a $6 daily daiquiri that’s not just a happy hour special. I can see myself coming here often."

"This place is beautiful, but unfortunately, they haven't yet mastered how to handle the high demand for their services. I arrived at about 8:15pm on a Friday night, at which time I was told there would be about a 30-40 minute wait. Given I was meeting friends there, I thought that I could have a drink and wait for them to arrive. They do not allow you to stand in the common area and have a drink- you must be seated. I was told I could wait outside in the cold (no heated patio) or go to my car. I really wanted to try this spot, so I opted to be put on the waitlist. An hour into my wait, I replied to the text notification asking for an update. I was told it would be about 20 more minutes. By the time they notified me that my table was ready, it had been two hours and 20 minutes. Obviously by then we were not interested. A small establishment like this should have a protocol to ensure a time limit for their tables or should simply not use a waitlist system. I gave the establishment 2 stars based on the facility being beautiful and reviews from friends who have (somehow) gotten tables who reported the drinks were good."

"The atmosphere of this place is exceptional. Kind of a hip tropical/west Coast vibe. A lot smaller than I anticipated... It's not a restaurant that serves drinks and calls itself a bar, it truly is a bar that serves a few food items but emphasis on the drinks. That said, everything I received was satisfactory. I asked for a food recommendation and was steered towards the spam sliders which were delightful. As a drink I got a Negroni, which I've never had before. but, based on the one here, I shall be having it again. Very strong but not overpowering. Had a refreshing bitter taste. Anyway, the service was excellent. The bartenders seemed to be in their element. And readily available even if serving many people. I can see how this place could get very crowded quickly during peak times. But luckily, I went on a random Thursday evening and it wasn't overwhelming. Overall, great time. Recommended."

"I honestly appreciate how they take a well executed basic cocktail from Jasper/Grand staff and completely take a risk and elevate it to a level where you aren't sure if the drink will work when you read the description. You ask yourself if it's too crazy but the Emerald lounge completely knocks it out of the park every time. I love the variety of the main alcohol ingredient they use. Very fun atmosphere and very friendly and helpful staff. Don't sleep on the appetizers."

"We visited during the Sippin' Santa pop up event. This event is why I found the bar. We had a great time. Loved the decor and service. Food and drink was great. I'm very interested in returning to try their regular menu. They had a great back bar."