Half Way House

Very disappointed in the Half Way House Staff. We dutifully checked their website and went to them after reviewing the Unilocal recommendations expecting a wonderful experience. They were closed for the week after Christmas with no notes on the board, nothing on the website, and when we called were rudely treated — like it was an imposition that we wanted to dine there. Very disappointed — hopefully they can overcome this negative impression in the future.

I have only been here for lunch (on multiple occasions) so I can’t say anything about their dinner. However, the food is excellent and the stepping back in time atmosphere really adds to the dining experience.
Staff is always friendly and attentive. My kids probably wouldn’t like it (probably why I have never been here for dinner) since they don’t like places that are «old». I wouldn’t call it old I would call it historical (except the bathrooms (ok they would be old but hey they are obviously an add on of course not original to the home).
I have gone with customer for lunch meetings and the historical nature is a conversation piece and the food, service has never disappointed. Also good for couples for a romantic dinner.

The boyfriend and I went to Half Way House for our two year anniversary and it was perfect! Immediately upon arrival we were treated and my boyfriend’s coat taken to be hung up. We were seated in an isolated location (perfect for a romantic dinner with your love) which was directly across from the fireplace. With the dimmed lighting, fireplace, candle centerpiece, cozy brick, and historic charm; I was immediately blown away (and almost in tears at how well my boyfriend thought our anniversary out.)
First came the dinner/​cinnamon rolls; they were delicious! We ordered blackened duck for our appetizer; it was moist and appropriately seasoned. I ordered the fillet mignon which came with green beans, twice baked potatoes, and a crab cake; steak was perfectly cooked to my liking, crab cake had a crispy outer layer that I loved, I enjoyed the red peppers with the green beans, however I was not a huge fan of the twice baked potato (I believe it was just too plain for me.) my boyfriend ordered lamb which he allowed me to try (only one piece mind you) but that was all I needed to know it was incredible as well. He received the same sides as I (beans and twice baked potato.) we also ordered drinks; the waitress did a wonderful job at picking out the perfect wine for my picky tastes so props to her.
So thank you Half Way House staff for you wonderful service and delicious food! We will definitely be returning.

What a treat to dine in a historic 1760 building! The selections were all tempting. We started with fried green tomatoes. One of us had crab cakes which were excellent. (Usually we are disappointed with crab cakes because they tend to be more filler than crab, but these were terrific!) We also had their special, red snapper with crab. Service was exceptional. Can’t wait to go back.

Great atmosphere, wait staff and food truly excellent. What a treat. The waitress was very attentive and provided great tips for what to order and was very attentive on refilling my drink. I would highly recommend this place to someone if they want something unique to the area. it’s a little pricy, but worth it.

Wonderful welcoming service for two last minute road trippers looking to have a good dinner outside of the city of Richmond! Our server was so warm and friendly, she made us feel right at home even though we came in a bit on the later side. I’ve been in the service industry for over ten years and I know how annoying it can be when someone comes in on the later side when you have hopes of getting out earlier! Much appreciated from these tired travelers! Wish I had caught her name but regardless… Excellent food; fried green tomatoes a must!!!

True southern charm… I ordered the Parmesan Scallops… the food was slightly less appetizing than what I had hoped but still good. the fresh baked muffins and cinnamon rolls were awesome. the service was really great too… so glad I tried it!

You expect nothing less from a fine dining establishment, but the food and service here were really superb! The food was fresh and the shrimp were colossal as if a fishermen just caught them and delivered it directly to Halfway house!
This is a great place to learn history as you dine over a fine glass of wine in the dim romantic ambiance. Guys and gals, if you want to really impress your partner, take them to this little gem.

Great piece of history. I love how they have preserved the house and kept almost everything original. The setting is cozy and perfect for a nice romantic dinner. We went for our 6^th year anniversary and spent $ 150 including tip. Ordered the lamb rack, fish special, duck and scallops appetizers, and a cup of soup. Everything was amazing and worth every penny.

Awesome food and atmosphere! Very friendly staff on the road with dad and Kevin, Peachtree Camera repair business trip at Cardinal Camera.

What can I saw but WOW. The atmosphere was incredible. My girlfriend was very impressed and the experience made for a perfect ending to the day. The waitress was very friendly even taking the time to take pictures of us. The food was incredible. I got the house special both the steak and crab cake were perfect. She got the scallops which were delicious. I will definitely come back again.

This place is quaint and enchanting. Very romantic location and it feels very intimate. We got there around 7 pm on a Thursday and we were seated promptly. I had a glass of the house Riesling and it was nice and cold and delish. The server was very friendly but the service was a little slow. We got our bread at the same time as our meal.
We both had the specialty of the house with the shrimp. It was great! The sirloin was cooked perfectly and the shrimp were one of the best shrimp I’ve had. The plate came with three jumbo shrimp, petite sirloin, twice baked potato and green beans, all for $ 38. It’s a bit pricey but we expected that. After dinner I had the crème brûlée and it was alright. Not the best but good enough.
All in all, if we were to be in the area again we would definitely go back. And also check out the rest of the house.

This place is enchanting. I did not even know it existed and my boyfriend took me here on my birthday because I was a History major and I love things like this. First of all, you eat in a basement but do not be discouraged, it’s fabulous. You also eat by candlelight and if it is during colder months, there are fireplaces. The bread is fabulous, they bring typical dinner bread but they also bring you yummy cinnamon buns. I ordered the crab cakes, which were delicious. They were plump and tasty. They came with sautéed green beans and a twice baked potato, these were also very good. You do not get to choose your sides here but the ones they provide are good and usually can accommodate everyone. We finished the meal with pecan pie a la mode, which I loved. It was not the best pecan pie I’ve ever had, but it was tasty. The service was good and friendly. I really enjoyed this experience.

I enjoyed the historical presentation of Half-​way House. The bread basket was a great way to start our meal. All of the dinner entrees are over-​priced, but they are tasty. Half-​Way House does not appear to have any immediate competition in the area, so they appear to be up-​charging. I appreciate the inclusion of regional wines, but wish they would identify regional information for the entrees. Worth a visit but unsure of a return visit… wait, maybe, for those dinner rolls!

Loved the history behind the place, and the food was fantastic. We would definitely go back if we were in the area.

My partner and I went to Half Way House for a an anniversary celebration on the drive back from Atlanta to DC, and overall we felt that it was a very classic yet simple place with tasty food.
I had never heard of this restaurant, but my partner had and had been wanting to go here for some time. The restaurant is rather close to I-​95, so it wasn’t that much out of the way. I didn’t know what to expect with this place, but it has historic charm exuding from the outside. The inside dining area is VERY small, but this is a true historic place, so it didn’t bother me. The inside is rather romantic, but there were only large groups there wen we were there. The noise echos through the small room, so even though that was a bit distracting, I don’t fault the builders in 1760 for not taking into account dining acoustics for someone in 2013! :)
There were not many choices for food — and the entrees were all over $ 30. This is not a cheap place, that is for sure. The options are rather plain and simple, and originally I was disappointed. However, plain food done extremely well is still very good food. You don’t have to jazz everything up with green apple foam (or whatever) to be good food. Half Way House definitely scored points in my books for having sophisticated seafood pasta with perfectly cooked scallops and shrimp. I don’t know if the seafood was local from Virginia, but I would have liked to have known that either way.
Overall, we had a very nice dinner at Half Way House in a historic building. In the middle of nowhere, I think it’s a great destination for non-​chain food!

The history of this establishment is really fun and worth learning about. The dining room is in the bottom level of an old house where stone walls and a fire place create an authentic cottage feel. I give the hostess and wait staff lots of credit because they were extremely friendly and functional. The meal, however, left something to be desired. I ordered the specialty of the house, which was a 6oz filet. The steak was prepared well, but I felt the cut of meat was not great to begin with. Which would normally be fine, but when the entre is $ 38, I expected something more impressive.
Admittedly, I am not a frequent steak eater. The Half Way House menu offers mostly steak and seafood (some pasta and salad options available as well) and the food was boasted about by my dinner company. So I tried, and I am wiser for it.

An amazing place for a romantic dinner. I had the seafood pasta with a glass of Riesling and it was a fantastic experience. It was the best seafood meal I have ever had, hands down. I recommend the Half Way House to everyone! Great food and lots of American history!

When we lived in Richmond in the 80s we dinned here frequently and always had a wonderful experience. We returned this week after 23 years and are delighted to report that the food, ambiance and service remain spectacular.

Great food, great atmosphere! The bread is awesome! It is a great place to go for a special occasion.