Where is Lemaire located?
Lemaire, one of Richmond’s finest restaurants, is located downtown, inside the Jefferson Hotel at 101 West Franklin St. Part of the city’s only Five-Star hotel, Lemaire is blessed with an equally sterling reputation. Revamped several years ago to include a more casual and modern feel to the cuisine, the restaurant exudes an old Southern style. Lemaire comprises a main bar and series of private and semi-private dining rooms; the space the restaurant occupies was originally the hotel’s ladies’ salon, where women took tea after being dropped off by their gentlemen, who enjoyed cigars and drinks in the check-in area downstairs, where you’ll now find the hotel’s other restaurant, TJs.
In recent years under the guidance of chef Walter Bundy, formerly of famed restaurant The French Laundry, Lemaire has drawn acclaim for its modern takes on Southern cuisine and emphasis on fresh, local and sustainable ingredients, nearly all sourced from farms and purveyors within a 90-mile radius of the restaurant.
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Lemaire is considered one of Richmond’s most romantic, fine-dining restaurants. While the ambiance is fairly casual, the food is highly rated and among some of the city’s finest; proposals, anniversaries, birthday celebrations and other occasions take place on a nightly basis at the restaurant. Though Lemaire was revamped several years ago to bring a more casual and modern feel to the cuisine, the restaurant itself is decorated in an old Southern style, bringing a charming and romantic dichotomy to high-end Lemaire. High-quality, reasonably priced food is what makes Lemaire stand out — this is the kind of place that you can afford to order a second bottle of wine at dinner on that oh-so-special date.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Lemaire is considered one of Richmond’s most romantic, fine-dining restaurants. While the ambiance is fairly casual, the food is highly rated and among some of the city’s finest; proposals, anniversaries, birthday celebrations and other occasions take place on a nightly basis at the restaurant. Though Lemaire was revamped several years ago to bring a more casual and modern feel to the cuisine, the restaurant itself is decorated in an old Southern style, bringing a charming and romantic dichotomy to high-end Lemaire. High-quality, reasonably priced food is what makes Lemaire stand out — this is the kind of place that you can afford to order a second bottle of wine at dinner on that oh-so-special date.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Children of any age are welcome at Lemaire, but generally speaking, guests of the restaurant are mainly 18 and over due to the refined food and drink options. The restaurant doesn’t provide a special menu for its younger guests, but the kitchen is pretty accommodating when it comes to preparing a dish to suit your kid’s specifications, within reason.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Children of any age are welcome at Lemaire, but generally speaking, guests of the restaurant are mainly 18 and over due to the refined food and drink options. The restaurant doesn’t provide a special menu for its younger guests, but the kitchen is pretty accommodating when it comes to preparing a dish to suit your kid’s specifications, within reason.
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Whether it’s a pre-dinner martini or a late-night whiskey sour, Lemaire’s cocktails change seasonally, but on our last visit, the menu featured a few standouts worth trying. Indulge in the Garden Martini, made with Hendrick’s gin, cucumber water and rosemary syrup, or the refreshing Ginger Mojito, made with Bacardi Silver rum, Canton ginger liqueur, ginger beer and mint from the restaurant’s own garden. Another favorite from the summer menu was the Franklin Street Sparkler, which includes pomegranate juice and Moscatod’asti. No matter what month you visit Lemaire, there’s no doubt that the specialty cocktails will accurately reflect the season, incorporating the freshest ingredients and garnishes sourced from regions near the Virginia restaurant.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Whether it’s a pre-dinner martini or a late-night whiskey sour, Lemaire’s cocktails change seasonally, but on our last visit, the menu featured a few standouts worth trying. Indulge in the Garden Martini, made with Hendrick’s gin, cucumber water and rosemary syrup, or the refreshing Ginger Mojito, made with Bacardi Silver rum, Canton ginger liqueur, ginger beer and mint from the restaurant’s own garden. Another favorite from the summer menu was the Franklin Street Sparkler, which includes pomegranate juice and Moscatod’asti. No matter what month you visit Lemaire, there’s no doubt that the specialty cocktails will accurately reflect the season, incorporating the freshest ingredients and garnishes sourced from regions near the Virginia restaurant.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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The hallmark of Lemaire’s menu is seasonality. Chef Walter Bundy puts forth all of his culinary efforts to provide a continually changing menu, but items are frequently tweaked to reflect availability at area farmer’s markets. No matter the season, however, one thing remains: a heavy emphasis on local and sustainable foods. Items on the menu featured tomatoes and herbs from the on-site garden, fresh local fish and in-season beets found in the vegetarian entrée on our recent trip to Lemaire. We especially loved our dessert, the peak of the season “blueberry soup”, with vanilla ice cream and housemade granola. The seasonal changes carry over onto Lemaire’s dessert and cocktail menu as well, making every trip to the restaurant a little different.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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The hallmark of Lemaire’s menu is seasonality. Chef Walter Bundy puts forth all of his culinary efforts to provide a continually changing menu, but items are frequently tweaked to reflect availability at area farmer’s markets. No matter the season, however, one thing remains: a heavy emphasis on local and sustainable foods. Items on the menu featured tomatoes and herbs from the on-site garden, fresh local fish and in-season beets found in the vegetarian entrée on our recent trip to Lemaire. We especially loved our dessert, the peak of the season “blueberry soup”, with vanilla ice cream and housemade granola. The seasonal changes carry over onto Lemaire’s dessert and cocktail menu as well, making every trip to the restaurant a little different.
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We recommend arriving a little early for your reservation at Lemaire; the restaurant has a large bar and lounge that serves as the perfect meeting spot before your meal. If you want to stop by after work, the bar offers happy hour specials, including $2 house and $4 craft and import beers, and $5 red and white glasses of featured wine. Before your meal, you can also munch on a set of three appetizers for $20 from 4 to 7 p.m. daily, and three courses for $30 every day from 5 to 6 p.m. Even though Lemaire’s cocktails change seasonally, standouts when we visited during the summer months included the “Garden Martini,” made with Hendrick’s Gin, cucumber water and rosemary syrup, the refreshing Ginger Mojito and the Franklin Street Sparkler, made with pomegranate juice and moscato d’ asti. Not as if you need an excuse, but the bar at Lemaire and the great food give you one more reason to come to the restaurant early.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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We recommend arriving a little early for your reservation at Lemaire; the restaurant has a large bar and lounge that serves as the perfect meeting spot before your meal. If you want to stop by after work, the bar offers happy hour specials, including $2 house and $4 craft and import beers, and $5 red and white glasses of featured wine. Before your meal, you can also munch on a set of three appetizers for $20 from 4 to 7 p.m. daily, and three courses for $30 every day from 5 to 6 p.m. Even though Lemaire’s cocktails change seasonally, standouts when we visited during the summer months included the “Garden Martini,” made with Hendrick’s Gin, cucumber water and rosemary syrup, the refreshing Ginger Mojito and the Franklin Street Sparkler, made with pomegranate juice and moscato d’ asti. Not as if you need an excuse, but the bar at Lemaire and the great food give you one more reason to come to the restaurant early.
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If you fancy yourself a foodie but don’t necessarily have the bank account to finance your distinguished palate, Lemaire is your new best friend. The restaurant only recently changed its tune to cater to a more budget-friendly crowd, while still maintaining its high level of quality of food. Although the menu changes seasonally, no entrée is over $30; that means an intimate dinner for two, with appetizers and dessert, will likely run only about $100. And no dinner is complete without a nice glass of wine, so splurge on a bottle of chardonnay — in fact, most wines are reasonably priced, under $50 per bottle. Of course, there are certainly ways you can spend more money while dining at Lemaire, whether it’s a fancy bottle of wine or ordering a whole slew of appetizers, but for the most part, you don’t have to worry about your credit card company calling about any fraudulent charges after you leave the restaurant.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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If you fancy yourself a foodie but don’t necessarily have the bank account to finance your distinguished palate, Lemaire is your new best friend. The restaurant only recently changed its tune to cater to a more budget-friendly crowd, while still maintaining its high level of quality of food. Although the menu changes seasonally, no entrée is over $30; that means an intimate dinner for two, with appetizers and dessert, will likely run only about $100. And no dinner is complete without a nice glass of wine, so splurge on a bottle of chardonnay — in fact, most wines are reasonably priced, under $50 per bottle. Of course, there are certainly ways you can spend more money while dining at Lemaire, whether it’s a fancy bottle of wine or ordering a whole slew of appetizers, but for the most part, you don’t have to worry about your credit card company calling about any fraudulent charges after you leave the restaurant.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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There are four private and semi-private dining spaces at Lemaire for you to choose from, each a different size, style and price. The largest room is the Valentine Room, which overlooks Franklin Street and the Jefferson Hotel’s main entrance, and can accommodate up to 60 people. With its original wood crown molding and custom, hand-blown glass chandeliers, The Valentine Room combines old Southern charm with sophistication. The name alone reflects more history: The Valentine Room was named after the famous sculptor and Richmond native, Edward V. Valentine, who was commissioned in 1895 to sculpt a life-sized, marble statue of Thomas Jefferson. And the coolest part? The statue still stands in the Jefferson Hotel’s Palm Court lobby.
The adjoining Gibson Room can be accessed from either the restaurant’s lounge or through the Valentine Room. This room can hold 18 guests at one table or 24 at separate round tables, so how it’s arranged depends on you and your group. Another interesting tidbit: The original “pocket doors,” often found in historic Richmond homes, were preserved in the Gibson Room, and now provide privacy for groups.
The Library is Lemaire’s most popular private dining room, oozing elegance and historical American artifacts. Filled with rich African mahogany woodwork, classic works of literature, a few original pieces of artwork from the hotel’s opening in 1895 and the original fireplace mantel, the Library actually focuses on The Soap Bubbles, a painting by Elizabeth Fardner. The Library can seat up to 20 guests at one table or 30 at separate round tables.
For all you wine enthusiasts, we recommend renting out the restaurant’s smallest private dining room, the Ginter Room, where Lemaire houses its prestigious wines. The room was named after Lewis Ginter, The Jefferson Hotel’s founder, and can comfortably seat up to 12 people. The Ginter Room combines with all the other rooms at Lemaire to give you a variety of ways to host your next events, whether it’s just you and your family or a special event.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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There are four private and semi-private dining spaces at Lemaire for you to choose from, each a different size, style and price. The largest room is the Valentine Room, which overlooks Franklin Street and the Jefferson Hotel’s main entrance, and can accommodate up to 60 people. With its original wood crown molding and custom, hand-blown glass chandeliers, The Valentine Room combines old Southern charm with sophistication. The name alone reflects more history: The Valentine Room was named after the famous sculptor and Richmond native, Edward V. Valentine, who was commissioned in 1895 to sculpt a life-sized, marble statue of Thomas Jefferson. And the coolest part? The statue still stands in the Jefferson Hotel’s Palm Court lobby.
The adjoining Gibson Room can be accessed from either the restaurant’s lounge or through the Valentine Room. This room can hold 18 guests at one table or 24 at separate round tables, so how it’s arranged depends on you and your group. Another interesting tidbit: The original “pocket doors,” often found in historic Richmond homes, were preserved in the Gibson Room, and now provide privacy for groups.
The Library is Lemaire’s most popular private dining room, oozing elegance and historical American artifacts. Filled with rich African mahogany woodwork, classic works of literature, a few original pieces of artwork from the hotel’s opening in 1895 and the original fireplace mantel, the Library actually focuses on The Soap Bubbles, a painting by Elizabeth Fardner. The Library can seat up to 20 guests at one table or 30 at separate round tables.
For all you wine enthusiasts, we recommend renting out the restaurant’s smallest private dining room, the Ginter Room, where Lemaire houses its prestigious wines. The room was named after Lewis Ginter, The Jefferson Hotel’s founder, and can comfortably seat up to 12 people. The Ginter Room combines with all the other rooms at Lemaire to give you a variety of ways to host your next events, whether it’s just you and your family or a special event.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Designed to reflect the Jefferson hotel’s Beaux Arts feel, Lemaire is composed of a series of private and semi-private dining spaces that were once the ladies’ salons. High ceilings, ornate moldings, polished wood floors and fireplaces add to the restaurant’s historic feel. As you enter Lemaire’s lounge, you’ll notice a rich mahogany and granite bar, along with a muted color palette of golds, tans and creams in a variety of textures that showcase the attention to detail. Bare wood tabletops and polished wood flooring provide additional warmth to the space, and the dining rooms feature beautifully restored historical architecture, enhanced by magnificent lighting fixtures. Whimsical nods to the alligators that roamed the Jefferson’s Palm Court lobby until 1948 can be discovered throughout, making Lemaire unique in a number of ways. Don’t let the casual pricing fool you — the restaurant’s interior is anything but average.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Designed to reflect the Jefferson hotel’s Beaux Arts feel, Lemaire is composed of a series of private and semi-private dining spaces that were once the ladies’ salons. High ceilings, ornate moldings, polished wood floors and fireplaces add to the restaurant’s historic feel. As you enter Lemaire’s lounge, you’ll notice a rich mahogany and granite bar, along with a muted color palette of golds, tans and creams in a variety of textures that showcase the attention to detail. Bare wood tabletops and polished wood flooring provide additional warmth to the space, and the dining rooms feature beautifully restored historical architecture, enhanced by magnificent lighting fixtures. Whimsical nods to the alligators that roamed the Jefferson’s Palm Court lobby until 1948 can be discovered throughout, making Lemaire unique in a number of ways. Don’t let the casual pricing fool you — the restaurant’s interior is anything but average.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Between the property’s rich cultural history in Richmond and the special attention to local ingredients on its menu, Lemaire has plenty for you to learn about. However, we’ve narrowed it down to five things for your convenience:
1. Prime Real Estate: One of the great things about Lemaire, other than the obvious answer of food, is its location in The Jefferson Hotel. Housed in a historic Beaux Arts building, the hotel was the vision of Lewis Ginter, the wealthiest man in the city of Richmond at the time of The Jefferson’s opening in 1897. Throughout its rich history, the hotel has housed 12 presidents and numerous celebrities and dignitaries.
2. Staying Local: Saying that Lemaire specializes in local cuisine is a bit of an understatement. Executive chef Walter Bundy has been committed to locally sourced products for years: He gets his oysters from Dave and Dee’s Mushrooms in Sedley, Va.; bison meat from rancher Billy Salmon in Madison, Va.; grits from Byrd Mill in Ashland, Va.; and local micro greens from Manakintowne Specialty Growers and Cabbage Hill, both outside of Richmond. As a whole, most of the food served on the menu is grown or produced within 90 miles of the restaurant.
3. Sophisticated yet affordable: Despite its former reputation for fine dining, Lemaire changed its tune a few years ago by maintaining its level of quality but lowering the price tag. The result? You can get a great meal without breaking the bank. No entrée on the menu is over $30 and most bottles of wine are under $50.
4. Straight from the garden: In a further effort to use local ingredients, chef Walter Bundy created the restaurant’s on-site garden to grow herbs and a variety of vegetables. Chances are, when you order a dish, you can thank the private garden for contributing to its delicious flavors.
5. Top Chef: While chef Bundy may not have appeared on the television show, his experience over the years in the culinary industry has garnered him enormous success and an a number of awards. Before being appointed executive chef at Lemaire, Bundy worked at the award-winning restaurant The French Laundry and appeared on Food Network’s Food Nation with Bobby Flay. Not to shabby, huh?
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Between the property’s rich cultural history in Richmond and the special attention to local ingredients on its menu, Lemaire has plenty for you to learn about. However, we’ve narrowed it down to five things for your convenience:
1. Prime Real Estate: One of the great things about Lemaire, other than the obvious answer of food, is its location in The Jefferson Hotel. Housed in a historic Beaux Arts building, the hotel was the vision of Lewis Ginter, the wealthiest man in the city of Richmond at the time of The Jefferson’s opening in 1897. Throughout its rich history, the hotel has housed 12 presidents and numerous celebrities and dignitaries.
2. Staying Local: Saying that Lemaire specializes in local cuisine is a bit of an understatement. Executive chef Walter Bundy has been committed to locally sourced products for years: He gets his oysters from Dave and Dee’s Mushrooms in Sedley, Va.; bison meat from rancher Billy Salmon in Madison, Va.; grits from Byrd Mill in Ashland, Va.; and local micro greens from Manakintowne Specialty Growers and Cabbage Hill, both outside of Richmond. As a whole, most of the food served on the menu is grown or produced within 90 miles of the restaurant.
3. Sophisticated yet affordable: Despite its former reputation for fine dining, Lemaire changed its tune a few years ago by maintaining its level of quality but lowering the price tag. The result? You can get a great meal without breaking the bank. No entrée on the menu is over $30 and most bottles of wine are under $50.
4. Straight from the garden: In a further effort to use local ingredients, chef Walter Bundy created the restaurant’s on-site garden to grow herbs and a variety of vegetables. Chances are, when you order a dish, you can thank the private garden for contributing to its delicious flavors.
5. Top Chef: While chef Bundy may not have appeared on the television show, his experience over the years in the culinary industry has garnered him enormous success and an a number of awards. Before being appointed executive chef at Lemaire, Bundy worked at the award-winning restaurant The French Laundry and appeared on Food Network’s Food Nation with Bobby Flay. Not to shabby, huh?
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Lucky for you, when you make a reservation at Lemaire, you don’t have to worry about any steep cancellation fees if you decide to ditch out at the last minute. Whether it’s an early flight home, a day of shopping that runs too long or simply a desire not to go out to eat, your cancelation won’t get you blacklisted. However, for courtesy’s sake, we highly recommend trying your best to make any cancellations at least 24 hours in advance.
Lemaire is a popular restaurant, especially on the weekends, and canceling last-minute means it’s harder for the restaurant to give your table to someone else. Just to be safe, keep Lemaire’s phone number handy so you can let the host or hostess know in advance that you won’t make your scheduled reservation.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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If you’re planning a trip to Richmond, Va. anytime soon, you’d better clear a space on your itinerary to eat at Lemaire. To make a reservation, you can book online, call or speak to someone in person at the restaurant. If you’re staying at The Jefferson Hotel, you can also call the concierge and arrange a specific date and time for your meal. The restaurant is fairly large size, featuring 139 seats, including the bar and lounge area, so making a reservation is relatively easy. Like any good restaurant, however, Lemaire is busier on the weekends, so to be safe, we recommend you book a day or two in advance.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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If you’re planning a trip to Richmond, Va. anytime soon, you’d better clear a space on your itinerary to eat at Lemaire. To make a reservation, you can book online, call or speak to someone in person at the restaurant. If you’re staying at The Jefferson Hotel, you can also call the concierge and arrange a specific date and time for your meal. The restaurant is fairly large size, featuring 139 seats, including the bar and lounge area, so making a reservation is relatively easy. Like any good restaurant, however, Lemaire is busier on the weekends, so to be safe, we recommend you book a day or two in advance.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Since the restaurant’s makeover in 2009, Lemaire’s dress code is now more casual — particularly in the bar — though the dining room has a more formal atmosphere. Lemaire underwent renovations to create a more contemporary and appealing environment for younger customers, so you’ll be just fine if you come dressed-down, but not sloppy (leave the flip-flops and ripped jeans at home).
Despite the more casual feel, you have to remember that you’re still dining in a nice restaurant! We recommend collared shirts for men, though blazers and ties aren’t necessary. Women have a bit more flexibility, as appropriate outfits can consist of a trendy dress or skirt. On the weekends, the crowd tends to be a bit more formal, but nothing too stuffy. As a whole, Lemaire offers sophisticated, yet accessible food, and your attire should match that philosophy: sophisticated, but accessible.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Since the restaurant’s makeover in 2009, Lemaire’s dress code is now more casual — particularly in the bar — though the dining room has a more formal atmosphere. Lemaire underwent renovations to create a more contemporary and appealing environment for younger customers, so you’ll be just fine if you come dressed-down, but not sloppy (leave the flip-flops and ripped jeans at home).
Despite the more casual feel, you have to remember that you’re still dining in a nice restaurant! We recommend collared shirts for men, though blazers and ties aren’t necessary. Women have a bit more flexibility, as appropriate outfits can consist of a trendy dress or skirt. On the weekends, the crowd tends to be a bit more formal, but nothing too stuffy. As a whole, Lemaire offers sophisticated, yet accessible food, and your attire should match that philosophy: sophisticated, but accessible.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Lucky for you, when you make a reservation at Lemaire, you don’t have to worry about any steep cancellation fees if you decide to ditch out at the last minute. Whether it’s an early flight home, a day of shopping that runs too long or simply a desire not to go out to eat, your cancelation won’t get you blacklisted. However, for courtesy’s sake, we highly recommend trying your best to make any cancellations at least 24 hours in advance.
Lemaire is a popular restaurant, especially on the weekends, and canceling last-minute means it’s harder for the restaurant to give your table to someone else. Just to be safe, keep Lemaire’s phone number handy so you can let the host or hostess know in advance that you won’t make your scheduled reservation.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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The best way to get to Lemaire is by car, whether it be with you behind the wheel or in the backseat of a taxi. If you decide to drive yourself to the restaurant for a meal, you’ll be given your choice between complimentary valet and complimentary self-parking, courtesy of The Jefferson Hotel. We liked the idea that the parking comes free, especially if you’re about to spend a chunk of change on a meal. If you’re staying at The Jefferson Hotel, the hotel complex that houses Lemaire, rates do apply when you stay overnight. Valet rates will cost you $16 per night, and self-parking runs $12 per night. We think it’s a small price to pay, given the Jefferson’s Five-Star status and all the wonderful cuisine you can eat at its restaurant, Lemaire.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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The best way to get to Lemaire is by car, whether it be with you behind the wheel or in the backseat of a taxi. If you decide to drive yourself to the restaurant for a meal, you’ll be given your choice between complimentary valet and complimentary self-parking, courtesy of The Jefferson Hotel. We liked the idea that the parking comes free, especially if you’re about to spend a chunk of change on a meal. If you’re staying at The Jefferson Hotel, the hotel complex that houses Lemaire, rates do apply when you stay overnight. Valet rates will cost you $16 per night, and self-parking runs $12 per night. We think it’s a small price to pay, given the Jefferson’s Five-Star status and all the wonderful cuisine you can eat at its restaurant, Lemaire.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Lemaire, one of Richmond’s finest restaurants, is located downtown, inside the Jefferson Hotel at 101 West Franklin St. Part of the city’s only Five-Star hotel, Lemaire is blessed with an equally sterling reputation. Revamped several years ago to include a more casual and modern feel to the cuisine, the restaurant exudes an old Southern style. Lemaire comprises a main bar and series of private and semi-private dining rooms; the space the restaurant occupies was originally the hotel’s ladies’ salon, where women took tea after being dropped off by their gentlemen, who enjoyed cigars and drinks in the check-in area downstairs, where you’ll now find the hotel’s other restaurant, TJs.
In recent years under the guidance of chef Walter Bundy, formerly of famed restaurant The French Laundry, Lemaire has drawn acclaim for its modern takes on Southern cuisine and emphasis on fresh, local and sustainable ingredients, nearly all sourced from farms and purveyors within a 90-mile radius of the restaurant.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Lemaire is located in The Jefferson Hotel, just off the main “Palm Court” area of the hotel. The downtown Richmond location makes Lemaire and The Jefferson easily accessible by both private transportation and on foot. The restaurant (and hotel) is just nine miles from Richmond International Airport and close to Interstates 64 and 95. Since Richmond is a mid-size U.S. city, taxis are readily available to you get to the restaurant. If you drive yourself, The Jefferson offers both guests staying at the property and those visiting for a meal the option of valet at the Franklin Street entrance and self-park at the Main Street entrance. Although Richmond has some forms of public transportation, such as the Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) bus system, we think your best bet is to make your way to Lemaire via car or by foot if you’re in the neighborhood.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Lemaire, one of Richmond’s finest restaurants, is located downtown, inside the Jefferson Hotel at 101 West Franklin St. Part of the city’s only Five-Star hotel, Lemaire is blessed with an equally sterling reputation. Revamped several years ago to include a more casual and modern feel to the cuisine, the restaurant exudes an old Southern style. Lemaire comprises a main bar and series of private and semi-private dining rooms; the space the restaurant occupies was originally the hotel’s ladies’ salon, where women took tea after being dropped off by their gentlemen, who enjoyed cigars and drinks in the check-in area downstairs, where you’ll now find the hotel’s other restaurant, TJs.
In recent years under the guidance of chef Walter Bundy, formerly of famed restaurant The French Laundry, Lemaire has drawn acclaim for its modern takes on Southern cuisine and emphasis on fresh, local and sustainable ingredients, nearly all sourced from farms and purveyors within a 90-mile radius of the restaurant.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Lemaire is located in The Jefferson Hotel, just off the main “Palm Court” area of the hotel. The downtown Richmond location makes Lemaire and The Jefferson easily accessible by both private transportation and on foot. The restaurant (and hotel) is just nine miles from Richmond International Airport and close to Interstates 64 and 95. Since Richmond is a mid-size U.S. city, taxis are readily available to you get to the restaurant. If you drive yourself, The Jefferson offers both guests staying at the property and those visiting for a meal the option of valet at the Franklin Street entrance and self-park at the Main Street entrance. Although Richmond has some forms of public transportation, such as the Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) bus system, we think your best bet is to make your way to Lemaire via car or by foot if you’re in the neighborhood.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Lemaire is considered one of Richmond’s most romantic, fine-dining restaurants. While the ambiance is fairly casual, the food is highly rated and among some of the city’s finest; proposals, anniversaries, birthday celebrations and other occasions take place on a nightly basis at the restaurant. Though Lemaire was revamped several years ago to bring a more casual and modern feel to the cuisine, the restaurant itself is decorated in an old Southern style, bringing a charming and romantic dichotomy to high-end Lemaire. High-quality, reasonably priced food is what makes Lemaire stand out — this is the kind of place that you can afford to order a second bottle of wine at dinner on that oh-so-special date.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Children of any age are welcome at Lemaire, but generally speaking, guests of the restaurant are mainly 18 and over due to the refined food and drink options. The restaurant doesn’t provide a special menu for its younger guests, but the kitchen is pretty accommodating when it comes to preparing a dish to suit your kid’s specifications, within reason.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Whether it’s a pre-dinner martini or a late-night whiskey sour, Lemaire’s cocktails change seasonally, but on our last visit, the menu featured a few standouts worth trying. Indulge in the Garden Martini, made with Hendrick’s gin, cucumber water and rosemary syrup, or the refreshing Ginger Mojito, made with Bacardi Silver rum, Canton ginger liqueur, ginger beer and mint from the restaurant’s own garden. Another favorite from the summer menu was the Franklin Street Sparkler, which includes pomegranate juice and Moscatod’asti. No matter what month you visit Lemaire, there’s no doubt that the specialty cocktails will accurately reflect the season, incorporating the freshest ingredients and garnishes sourced from regions near the Virginia restaurant.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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The hallmark of Lemaire’s menu is seasonality. Chef Walter Bundy puts forth all of his culinary efforts to provide a continually changing menu, but items are frequently tweaked to reflect availability at area farmer’s markets. No matter the season, however, one thing remains: a heavy emphasis on local and sustainable foods. Items on the menu featured tomatoes and herbs from the on-site garden, fresh local fish and in-season beets found in the vegetarian entrée on our recent trip to Lemaire. We especially loved our dessert, the peak of the season “blueberry soup”, with vanilla ice cream and housemade granola. The seasonal changes carry over onto Lemaire’s dessert and cocktail menu as well, making every trip to the restaurant a little different.
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Forbes Inspector answered a question:
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Lemaire is located in The Jefferson Hotel, just off the main “Palm Court” area of the hotel. The downtown Richmond location makes Lemaire and The Jefferson easily accessible by both private transportation and on foot. The restaurant (and hotel) is just nine miles from Richmond International Airport and close to Interstates 64 and 95. Since Richmond is a mid-size U.S. city, taxis are readily available to you get to the restaurant. If you drive yourself, The Jefferson offers both guests staying at the property and those visiting for a meal the option of valet at the Franklin Street entrance and self-park at the Main Street entrance. Although Richmond has some forms of public transportation, such as the Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) bus system, we think your best bet is to make your way to Lemaire via car or by foot if you’re in the neighborhood.
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The best way to get to Lemaire is by car, whether it be with you behind the wheel or in the backseat of a taxi. If you decide to drive yourself to the restaurant for a meal, you’ll be given your choice between complimentary valet and complimentary self-parking, courtesy of The Jefferson Hotel. We liked the idea that the parking comes free, especially if you’re about to spend a chunk of change on a meal. If you’re staying at The Jefferson Hotel, the hotel complex that houses Lemaire, rates do apply when you stay overnight. Valet rates will cost you $16 per night, and self-parking runs $12 per night. We think it’s a small price to pay, given the Jefferson’s Five-Star status and all the wonderful cuisine you can eat at its restaurant, Lemaire.
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Since the restaurant’s makeover in 2009, Lemaire’s dress code is now more casual — particularly in the bar — though the dining room has a more formal atmosphere. Lemaire underwent renovations to create a more contemporary and appealing environment for younger customers, so you’ll be just fine if you come dressed-down, but not sloppy (leave the flip-flops and ripped jeans at home).
Despite the more casual feel, you have to remember that you’re still dining in a nice restaurant! We recommend collared shirts for men, though blazers and ties aren’t necessary. Women have a bit more flexibility, as appropriate outfits can consist of a trendy dress or skirt. On the weekends, the crowd tends to be a bit more formal, but nothing too stuffy. As a whole, Lemaire offers sophisticated, yet accessible food, and your attire should match that philosophy: sophisticated, but accessible. -
Lucky for you, when you make a reservation at Lemaire, you don’t have to worry about any steep cancellation fees if you decide to ditch out at the last minute. Whether it’s an early flight home, a day of shopping that runs too long or simply a desire not to go out to eat, your cancelation won’t get you blacklisted. However, for courtesy’s sake, we highly recommend trying your best to make any cancellations at least 24 hours in advance.
Lemaire is a popular restaurant, especially on the weekends, and canceling last-minute means it’s harder for the restaurant to give your table to someone else. Just to be safe, keep Lemaire’s phone number handy so you can let the host or hostess know in advance that you won’t make your scheduled reservation. -
If you’re planning a trip to Richmond, Va. anytime soon, you’d better clear a space on your itinerary to eat at Lemaire. To make a reservation, you can book online, call or speak to someone in person at the restaurant. If you’re staying at The Jefferson Hotel, you can also call the concierge and arrange a specific date and time for your meal. The restaurant is fairly large size, featuring 139 seats, including the bar and lounge area, so making a reservation is relatively easy. Like any good restaurant, however, Lemaire is busier on the weekends, so to be safe, we recommend you book a day or two in advance.
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Between the property’s rich cultural history in Richmond and the special attention to local ingredients on its menu, Lemaire has plenty for you to learn about. However, we’ve narrowed it down to five things for your convenience:
1. Prime Real Estate: One of the great things about Lemaire, other than the obvious answer of food, is its location in The Jefferson Hotel. Housed in a historic Beaux Arts building, the hotel was the vision of Lewis Ginter, the wealthiest man in the city of Richmond at the time of The Jefferson’s opening in 1897. Throughout its rich history, the hotel has housed 12 presidents and numerous celebrities and dignitaries.
2. Staying Local: Saying that Lemaire specializes in local cuisine is a bit of an understatement. Executive chef Walter Bundy has been committed to locally sourced products for years: He gets his oysters from Dave and Dee’s Mushrooms in Sedley, Va.; bison meat from rancher Billy Salmon in Madison, Va.; grits from Byrd Mill in Ashland, Va.; and local micro greens from Manakintowne Specialty Growers and Cabbage Hill, both outside of Richmond. As a whole, most of the food served on the menu is grown or produced within 90 miles of the restaurant.
3. Sophisticated yet affordable: Despite its former reputation for fine dining, Lemaire changed its tune a few years ago by maintaining its level of quality but lowering the price tag. The result? You can get a great meal without breaking the bank. No entrée on the menu is over $30 and most bottles of wine are under $50.
4. Straight from the garden: In a further effort to use local ingredients, chef Walter Bundy created the restaurant’s on-site garden to grow herbs and a variety of vegetables. Chances are, when you order a dish, you can thank the private garden for contributing to its delicious flavors.
5. Top Chef: While chef Bundy may not have appeared on the television show, his experience over the years in the culinary industry has garnered him enormous success and an a number of awards. Before being appointed executive chef at Lemaire, Bundy worked at the award-winning restaurant The French Laundry and appeared on Food Network’s Food Nation with Bobby Flay. Not to shabby, huh? -
Lemaire is a great place for group dining, with a total of 139 seats throughout the bar, lounge and dining rooms. The restaurant was designed in a series of private and semi-private rooms, perfect for a family gathering, party, business dinner or wedding. The largest dining room, The Valentine Room, can seat up to 60 guests, while overlooking Franklin Street and The Jefferson Hotel’s main entrance. The adjoining room to The Valentine Room is the Gibson Room, which can accommodate up to 18 at one table or 24 at separate round tables. Even if you choose not to book one of the special private or semi-private dining rooms, Lemaire still has plenty of space to seat you and any group of 12 or fewer people.
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There are four private and semi-private dining spaces at Lemaire for you to choose from, each a different size, style and price. The largest room is the Valentine Room, which overlooks Franklin Street and the Jefferson Hotel’s main entrance, and can accommodate up to 60 people. With its original wood crown molding and custom, hand-blown glass chandeliers, The Valentine Room combines old Southern charm with sophistication. The name alone reflects more history: The Valentine Room was named after the famous sculptor and Richmond native, Edward V. Valentine, who was commissioned in 1895 to sculpt a life-sized, marble statue of Thomas Jefferson. And the coolest part? The statue still stands in the Jefferson Hotel’s Palm Court lobby.
The adjoining Gibson Room can be accessed from either the restaurant’s lounge or through the Valentine Room. This room can hold 18 guests at one table or 24 at separate round tables, so how it’s arranged depends on you and your group. Another interesting tidbit: The original “pocket doors,” often found in historic Richmond homes, were preserved in the Gibson Room, and now provide privacy for groups.
The Library is Lemaire’s most popular private dining room, oozing elegance and historical American artifacts. Filled with rich African mahogany woodwork, classic works of literature, a few original pieces of artwork from the hotel’s opening in 1895 and the original fireplace mantel, the Library actually focuses on The Soap Bubbles, a painting by Elizabeth Fardner. The Library can seat up to 20 guests at one table or 30 at separate round tables.
For all you wine enthusiasts, we recommend renting out the restaurant’s smallest private dining room, the Ginter Room, where Lemaire houses its prestigious wines. The room was named after Lewis Ginter, The Jefferson Hotel’s founder, and can comfortably seat up to 12 people. The Ginter Room combines with all the other rooms at Lemaire to give you a variety of ways to host your next events, whether it’s just you and your family or a special event. -
If you fancy yourself a foodie but don’t necessarily have the bank account to finance your distinguished palate, Lemaire is your new best friend. The restaurant only recently changed its tune to cater to a more budget-friendly crowd, while still maintaining its high level of quality of food. Although the menu changes seasonally, no entrée is over $30; that means an intimate dinner for two, with appetizers and dessert, will likely run only about $100. And no dinner is complete without a nice glass of wine, so splurge on a bottle of chardonnay — in fact, most wines are reasonably priced, under $50 per bottle. Of course, there are certainly ways you can spend more money while dining at Lemaire, whether it’s a fancy bottle of wine or ordering a whole slew of appetizers, but for the most part, you don’t have to worry about your credit card company calling about any fraudulent charges after you leave the restaurant.
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Children of any age are welcome at Lemaire, but generally speaking, guests of the restaurant are mainly 18 and over due to the refined food and drink options. The restaurant doesn’t provide a special menu for its younger guests, but the kitchen is pretty accommodating when it comes to preparing a dish to suit your kid’s specifications, within reason.
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Lemaire, one of Richmond’s finest restaurants, is located downtown, inside the Jefferson Hotel at 101 West Franklin St. Part of the city’s only Five-Star hotel, Lemaire is blessed with an equally sterling reputation. Revamped several years ago to include a more casual and modern feel to the cuisine, the restaurant exudes an old Southern style. Lemaire comprises a main bar and series of private and semi-private dining rooms; the space the restaurant occupies was originally the hotel’s ladies’ salon, where women took tea after being dropped off by their gentlemen, who enjoyed cigars and drinks in the check-in area downstairs, where you’ll now find the hotel’s other restaurant, TJs.
In recent years under the guidance of chef Walter Bundy, formerly of famed restaurant The French Laundry, Lemaire has drawn acclaim for its modern takes on Southern cuisine and emphasis on fresh, local and sustainable ingredients, nearly all sourced from farms and purveyors within a 90-mile radius of the restaurant. -
Lemaire is located in The Jefferson Hotel, just off the main “Palm Court” area of the hotel. The downtown Richmond location makes Lemaire and The Jefferson easily accessible by both private transportation and on foot. The restaurant (and hotel) is just nine miles from Richmond International Airport and close to Interstates 64 and 95. Since Richmond is a mid-size U.S. city, taxis are readily available to you get to the restaurant. If you drive yourself, The Jefferson offers both guests staying at the property and those visiting for a meal the option of valet at the Franklin Street entrance and self-park at the Main Street entrance. Although Richmond has some forms of public transportation, such as the Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) bus system, we think your best bet is to make your way to Lemaire via car or by foot if you’re in the neighborhood.
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The best way to get to Lemaire is by car, whether it be with you behind the wheel or in the backseat of a taxi. If you decide to drive yourself to the restaurant for a meal, you’ll be given your choice between complimentary valet and complimentary self-parking, courtesy of The Jefferson Hotel. We liked the idea that the parking comes free, especially if you’re about to spend a chunk of change on a meal. If you’re staying at The Jefferson Hotel, the hotel complex that houses Lemaire, rates do apply when you stay overnight. Valet rates will cost you $16 per night, and self-parking runs $12 per night. We think it’s a small price to pay, given the Jefferson’s Five-Star status and all the wonderful cuisine you can eat at its restaurant, Lemaire.
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- Walter Bundy
- Lemaire
- Executive Chef of Lemaire
- Richmond, VA
Lemaire is open for dinner service daily from 5 until 10 p.m. Many of Richmond’s more popular restaurants are closed on Sunday or Monday evenings so be sure to consider Lemaire when making your plans. Lemaire Bar and Lounge opens daily at 4 p.m. with service until midnight. Last call may be made as late as 1:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. -
Since the restaurant’s makeover in 2009, Lemaire’s dress code is now more casual — particularly in the bar — though the dining room has a more formal atmosphere. Lemaire underwent renovations to create a more contemporary and appealing environment for younger customers, so you’ll be just fine if you come dressed-down, but not sloppy (leave the flip-flops and ripped jeans at home).
Despite the more casual feel, you have to remember that you’re still dining in a nice restaurant! We recommend collared shirts for men, though blazers and ties aren’t necessary. Women have a bit more flexibility, as appropriate outfits can consist of a trendy dress or skirt. On the weekends, the crowd tends to be a bit more formal, but nothing too stuffy. As a whole, Lemaire offers sophisticated, yet accessible food, and your attire should match that philosophy: sophisticated, but accessible. -
Lucky for you, when you make a reservation at Lemaire, you don’t have to worry about any steep cancellation fees if you decide to ditch out at the last minute. Whether it’s an early flight home, a day of shopping that runs too long or simply a desire not to go out to eat, your cancelation won’t get you blacklisted. However, for courtesy’s sake, we highly recommend trying your best to make any cancellations at least 24 hours in advance.
Lemaire is a popular restaurant, especially on the weekends, and canceling last-minute means it’s harder for the restaurant to give your table to someone else. Just to be safe, keep Lemaire’s phone number handy so you can let the host or hostess know in advance that you won’t make your scheduled reservation. -
If you’re planning a trip to Richmond, Va. anytime soon, you’d better clear a space on your itinerary to eat at Lemaire. To make a reservation, you can book online, call or speak to someone in person at the restaurant. If you’re staying at The Jefferson Hotel, you can also call the concierge and arrange a specific date and time for your meal. The restaurant is fairly large size, featuring 139 seats, including the bar and lounge area, so making a reservation is relatively easy. Like any good restaurant, however, Lemaire is busier on the weekends, so to be safe, we recommend you book a day or two in advance.
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- Walter Bundy
- Lemaire
- Executive Chef of Lemaire
- Richmond, VA
Dinner reservations are not required for Lemaire but are strongly suggested. Guests are welcome to walk-in and will be served on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations may be made by calling the restaurant directly at 804-649-4629 or by calling The Jefferson Hotel at 804-788-8000 or 800-424-8014. Reservations may also be made on-line at lemairerestaurant.com or using OpenTable.com and searching for Lemaire. Group, private dining reservations may be made by calling Maureen Powers at 804-649-4663 or e-mailing Maureen.powers@jeffersonhotel.com. -
Between the property’s rich cultural history in Richmond and the special attention to local ingredients on its menu, Lemaire has plenty for you to learn about. However, we’ve narrowed it down to five things for your convenience:
1. Prime Real Estate: One of the great things about Lemaire, other than the obvious answer of food, is its location in The Jefferson Hotel. Housed in a historic Beaux Arts building, the hotel was the vision of Lewis Ginter, the wealthiest man in the city of Richmond at the time of The Jefferson’s opening in 1897. Throughout its rich history, the hotel has housed 12 presidents and numerous celebrities and dignitaries.
2. Staying Local: Saying that Lemaire specializes in local cuisine is a bit of an understatement. Executive chef Walter Bundy has been committed to locally sourced products for years: He gets his oysters from Dave and Dee’s Mushrooms in Sedley, Va.; bison meat from rancher Billy Salmon in Madison, Va.; grits from Byrd Mill in Ashland, Va.; and local micro greens from Manakintowne Specialty Growers and Cabbage Hill, both outside of Richmond. As a whole, most of the food served on the menu is grown or produced within 90 miles of the restaurant.
3. Sophisticated yet affordable: Despite its former reputation for fine dining, Lemaire changed its tune a few years ago by maintaining its level of quality but lowering the price tag. The result? You can get a great meal without breaking the bank. No entrée on the menu is over $30 and most bottles of wine are under $50.
4. Straight from the garden: In a further effort to use local ingredients, chef Walter Bundy created the restaurant’s on-site garden to grow herbs and a variety of vegetables. Chances are, when you order a dish, you can thank the private garden for contributing to its delicious flavors.
5. Top Chef: While chef Bundy may not have appeared on the television show, his experience over the years in the culinary industry has garnered him enormous success and an a number of awards. Before being appointed executive chef at Lemaire, Bundy worked at the award-winning restaurant The French Laundry and appeared on Food Network’s Food Nation with Bobby Flay. Not to shabby, huh? -
Lemaire is a great place for group dining, with a total of 139 seats throughout the bar, lounge and dining rooms. The restaurant was designed in a series of private and semi-private rooms, perfect for a family gathering, party, business dinner or wedding. The largest dining room, The Valentine Room, can seat up to 60 guests, while overlooking Franklin Street and The Jefferson Hotel’s main entrance. The adjoining room to The Valentine Room is the Gibson Room, which can accommodate up to 18 at one table or 24 at separate round tables. Even if you choose not to book one of the special private or semi-private dining rooms, Lemaire still has plenty of space to seat you and any group of 12 or fewer people.
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If you fancy yourself a foodie but don’t necessarily have the bank account to finance your distinguished palate, Lemaire is your new best friend. The restaurant only recently changed its tune to cater to a more budget-friendly crowd, while still maintaining its high level of quality of food. Although the menu changes seasonally, no entrée is over $30; that means an intimate dinner for two, with appetizers and dessert, will likely run only about $100. And no dinner is complete without a nice glass of wine, so splurge on a bottle of chardonnay — in fact, most wines are reasonably priced, under $50 per bottle. Of course, there are certainly ways you can spend more money while dining at Lemaire, whether it’s a fancy bottle of wine or ordering a whole slew of appetizers, but for the most part, you don’t have to worry about your credit card company calling about any fraudulent charges after you leave the restaurant.
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- Walter Bundy
- Lemaire
- Executive Chef of Lemaire
- Richmond, VA
Guests awaiting their table in Lemaire are invited to the bar and lounge to enjoy pre-dinner cocktails and small plates. For those that wish to simply wait, guests are welcome to relax in the Palm Court lobby of The Jefferson Hotel, located just outside the Lemaire entrance. -
- Walter Bundy
- Lemaire
- Executive Chef of Lemaire
- Richmond, VA
Diners in Lemaire will enjoy an eclectic mix of jazz vocal blends and Southern “deep south“ background music. -
- Walter Bundy
- Lemaire
- Executive Chef of Lemaire
- Richmond, VA
Lemaire offers a children’s menu including such favorites as pasta with marinara, grilled chicken sandwich, grilled cheese, chicken tenders and Chef Bundy’s famous macaroni and cheese. Prices range from $5 to $7 and a variety of kid friendly beverages, including Lemaire’s hand-made raspberry limeade are available. Children will be particularly interested in the story of the alligator that decorates the top of their menu and that can be found in several locations within the restaurant. The Jefferson Hotel was home to alligators that roamed the Palm Court lobby until 1948. One was even known to have regularly journeyed into Lemaire to “visit“ with the ladies that gathered there in the original ladies parlor. -
Children of any age are welcome at Lemaire, but generally speaking, guests of the restaurant are mainly 18 and over due to the refined food and drink options. The restaurant doesn’t provide a special menu for its younger guests, but the kitchen is pretty accommodating when it comes to preparing a dish to suit your kid’s specifications, within reason.
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Designed to reflect the Jefferson hotel’s Beaux Arts feel, Lemaire is composed of a series of private and semi-private dining spaces that were once the ladies’ salons. High ceilings, ornate moldings, polished wood floors and fireplaces add to the restaurant’s historic feel. As you enter Lemaire’s lounge, you’ll notice a rich mahogany and granite bar, along with a muted color palette of golds, tans and creams in a variety of textures that showcase the attention to detail. Bare wood tabletops and polished wood flooring provide additional warmth to the space, and the dining rooms feature beautifully restored historical architecture, enhanced by magnificent lighting fixtures. Whimsical nods to the alligators that roamed the Jefferson’s Palm Court lobby until 1948 can be discovered throughout, making Lemaire unique in a number of ways. Don’t let the casual pricing fool you — the restaurant’s interior is anything but average.
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Lemaire is considered one of Richmond’s most romantic, fine-dining restaurants. While the ambiance is fairly casual, the food is highly rated and among some of the city’s finest; proposals, anniversaries, birthday celebrations and other occasions take place on a nightly basis at the restaurant. Though Lemaire was revamped several years ago to bring a more casual and modern feel to the cuisine, the restaurant itself is decorated in an old Southern style, bringing a charming and romantic dichotomy to high-end Lemaire. High-quality, reasonably priced food is what makes Lemaire stand out — this is the kind of place that you can afford to order a second bottle of wine at dinner on that oh-so-special date.
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Designed to reflect the Jefferson hotel’s Beaux Arts feel, Lemaire is composed of a series of private and semi-private dining spaces that were once the ladies’ salons. High ceilings, ornate moldings, polished wood floors and fireplaces add to the restaurant’s historic feel. As you enter Lemaire’s lounge, you’ll notice a rich mahogany and granite bar, along with a muted color palette of golds, tans and creams in a variety of textures that showcase the attention to detail. Bare wood tabletops and polished wood flooring provide additional warmth to the space, and the dining rooms feature beautifully restored historical architecture, enhanced by magnificent lighting fixtures. Whimsical nods to the alligators that roamed the Jefferson’s Palm Court lobby until 1948 can be discovered throughout, making Lemaire unique in a number of ways. Don’t let the casual pricing fool you — the restaurant’s interior is anything but average.
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Lemaire is considered one of Richmond’s most romantic, fine-dining restaurants. While the ambiance is fairly casual, the food is highly rated and among some of the city’s finest; proposals, anniversaries, birthday celebrations and other occasions take place on a nightly basis at the restaurant. Though Lemaire was revamped several years ago to bring a more casual and modern feel to the cuisine, the restaurant itself is decorated in an old Southern style, bringing a charming and romantic dichotomy to high-end Lemaire. High-quality, reasonably priced food is what makes Lemaire stand out — this is the kind of place that you can afford to order a second bottle of wine at dinner on that oh-so-special date.
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- Walter Bundy
- Lemaire
- Executive Chef of Lemaire
- Richmond, VA
Lemaire is the perfect choice for a date. Whether planning a fantastic first date an anniversary celebration or just a date night without the kids, Lemaire delivers on the romance. The staff is attentive but unobtrusive, the menu is perfect for sharing, tasting and exploring flavors for plenty of great conversation and the surroundings are breathtaking. The handcrafted cocktails and wine list are versatile and the knowledgeable staff can guide you through your selections.
For that extra special evening, make a night of it and enjoy the Lemaire Dinner Package at The Jefferson Hotel. The package includes deluxe accommodations, a three-course dinner (of your choice) in Lemaire, room service breakfast in the morning, breakfast and dinner gratuities and valet parking.
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A Virginia native, chef Walter Bundy grew up near the Piankatank River of the Chesapeake Bay. Bundy took his rich culinary heritage with him when he left home for Hampden-Sydney College, and he was fortunate to live on a country farm where hunting was plentiful. After graduation, Bundy moved to Santa Fe, N.M and then enrolled in the New England Culinary Institute. A desire to learn about wine subsequently brought him to the Napa Valley, where he worked with renowned chef Thomas Keller at the legendary French Laundry.
Up until being named executive chef at Lemaire in 2011, Bundy accumulated a slew of awards and enriching experiences, from an appearance on Food Network’s Food Nation with Bobby Flay to preparing dinner at the James Beard House in New York. It’s safe to say that Bundy is both talented and passionate, and it shines through in his food during every meal at Lemaire. -
Lemaire’s chef, Walter Bundy, lives by a food philosophy that centers around two major ideas — the first, to produce Southern cuisine with a modern twist, and the second, is a farm-to-table concept with a heavy emphasis on sustainable and local ingredients. Even though the menu changes seasonally, Lemaire sticks with Bundy’s philosophy throughout the year. The restaurant has an on-site garden where Bundy and his team grow the herbs and heirloom vegetables you’ll find in the dishes you order. After Lemaire’s recent renovations, the menu changed its courses to become more affordable to diners; that means you should expect to find contemporary, hearty fare that’s sourced locally, at a price point that won’t break the bank.
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Lemaire’s menu is heavily local and seasonal, but it’s not particularly low-calorie. We suppose you could skip the creamy mac n’ cheese … but it’s so good, why would you want to? The menu offers a number of small plates, which you can combine to form a lighter meal, and at least one vegetarian option is available. Lemaire doesn’t serve many fried dishes, as the menu highlights the ingredients’ flavors, rather than focusing on heavy butter and sauce accompaniments. When we visited Lemaire in the summer, a few guilt-free options included the local summer tomato and fresh mozzarella salad, sustainably-raised loch duart salmon and warm blackberry cobbler with housemade basil ice cream.
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The hallmark of Lemaire’s menu is seasonality. Chef Walter Bundy puts forth all of his culinary efforts to provide a continually changing menu, but items are frequently tweaked to reflect availability at area farmer’s markets. No matter the season, however, one thing remains: a heavy emphasis on local and sustainable foods. Items on the menu featured tomatoes and herbs from the on-site garden, fresh local fish and in-season beets found in the vegetarian entrée on our recent trip to Lemaire. We especially loved our dessert, the peak of the season “blueberry soup”, with vanilla ice cream and housemade granola. The seasonal changes carry over onto Lemaire’s dessert and cocktail menu as well, making every trip to the restaurant a little different.
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Lemaire doesn’t have a dedicated kids menu, and most of the food is geared to a more mature palate. Of course, if your 9-year-old’s favorite food is fois gras, then feel free to tote your youngster along for a meal. Even though the restaurant doesn’t provide a special menu for its younger guests, the kitchen is pretty accommodating when it comes to preparing a dish to suit your kid’s specifications, within reason. It’s up to you whether or not you leave the kids at home, but just keep in mind that Lemaire doesn’t serve dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets.
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We recommend arriving a little early for your reservation at Lemaire; the restaurant has a large bar and lounge that serves as the perfect meeting spot before your meal. If you want to stop by after work, the bar offers happy hour specials, including $2 house and $4 craft and import beers, and $5 red and white glasses of featured wine. Before your meal, you can also munch on a set of three appetizers for $20 from 4 to 7 p.m. daily, and three courses for $30 every day from 5 to 6 p.m. Even though Lemaire’s cocktails change seasonally, standouts when we visited during the summer months included the “Garden Martini,” made with Hendrick’s Gin, cucumber water and rosemary syrup, the refreshing Ginger Mojito and the Franklin Street Sparkler, made with pomegranate juice and moscato d’ asti. Not as if you need an excuse, but the bar at Lemaire and the great food give you one more reason to come to the restaurant early.
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Greg McGehee is Lemaire’s general manager and director of wine. While earning his degree in hospitality and tourism management from the Pamplin School of Business at Virginia Tech, McGehee transformed his interest into a passion. He was an integral part of the 2009 renovation of Lemaire and took over the wine program in 2010.
He continues to further his education in wine, and currently holds Level I certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers and plans to take his Level II exam early next year. While young, McGehee has grand plans for the wine list, and hopes to expand Lemaire’s selections to include a variety of wines from expanding regions, all at affordable price points. -
Whether it’s a pre-dinner martini or a late-night whiskey sour, Lemaire’s cocktails change seasonally, but on our last visit, the menu featured a few standouts worth trying. Indulge in the Garden Martini, made with Hendrick’s gin, cucumber water and rosemary syrup, or the refreshing Ginger Mojito, made with Bacardi Silver rum, Canton ginger liqueur, ginger beer and mint from the restaurant’s own garden. Another favorite from the summer menu was the Franklin Street Sparkler, which includes pomegranate juice and Moscatod’asti. No matter what month you visit Lemaire, there’s no doubt that the specialty cocktails will accurately reflect the season, incorporating the freshest ingredients and garnishes sourced from regions near the Virginia restaurant.
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- Walter Bundy
- Lemaire
- Executive Chef of Lemaire
- Richmond, VA
Lemaire’s dining room is a delightful configuration of four different dining areas, each with its own special character and charm. The largest of the rooms is the Valentine Room which has fifteen tables. The adjoining Gibson Room features windows overlooking historic Franklin Street and a total of six tables. The Astor Room and The Library also each have six tables. The Bar and Lounge in Lemaire also provides five tables in the lovely Conservatory that are available for full service dining, in addition to the nine lounge tables suited for cocktails and small plates. An additional fifteen seats are available at the bar. -
There are four private and semi-private dining spaces at Lemaire for you to choose from, each a different size, style and price. The largest room is the Valentine Room, which overlooks Franklin Street and the Jefferson Hotel’s main entrance, and can accommodate up to 60 people. With its original wood crown molding and custom, hand-blown glass chandeliers, The Valentine Room combines old Southern charm with sophistication. The name alone reflects more history: The Valentine Room was named after the famous sculptor and Richmond native, Edward V. Valentine, who was commissioned in 1895 to sculpt a life-sized, marble statue of Thomas Jefferson. And the coolest part? The statue still stands in the Jefferson Hotel’s Palm Court lobby.
The adjoining Gibson Room can be accessed from either the restaurant’s lounge or through the Valentine Room. This room can hold 18 guests at one table or 24 at separate round tables, so how it’s arranged depends on you and your group. Another interesting tidbit: The original “pocket doors,” often found in historic Richmond homes, were preserved in the Gibson Room, and now provide privacy for groups.
The Library is Lemaire’s most popular private dining room, oozing elegance and historical American artifacts. Filled with rich African mahogany woodwork, classic works of literature, a few original pieces of artwork from the hotel’s opening in 1895 and the original fireplace mantel, the Library actually focuses on The Soap Bubbles, a painting by Elizabeth Fardner. The Library can seat up to 20 guests at one table or 30 at separate round tables.
For all you wine enthusiasts, we recommend renting out the restaurant’s smallest private dining room, the Ginter Room, where Lemaire houses its prestigious wines. The room was named after Lewis Ginter, The Jefferson Hotel’s founder, and can comfortably seat up to 12 people. The Ginter Room combines with all the other rooms at Lemaire to give you a variety of ways to host your next events, whether it’s just you and your family or a special event. -
- Walter Bundy
- Lemaire
- Executive Chef of Lemaire
- Richmond, VA
Opinions will vary on the best table in Lemaire but the Valentine Room offers the most traditional Lemaire dining experience and the two tops at the windows overlooking historic Franklin Street are certainly romantic. The Gibson Room and the Astor Room also offers a charming view overlooking Franklin Street and are smaller in size for a more intimate feeling. The Library Room is such a magnificent room that all the tables are created equal.
All of the dining rooms in Lemaire have been designed for the ultimate comfort of the guests. The kitchen is removed from the dining room entryways and server traffic is limited in the paths near to guest tables for very unobtrusive service by the staff. -
- Walter Bundy
- Lemaire
- Executive Chef of Lemaire
- Richmond, VA
Lemaire is located on the north side of The Jefferson Hotel and faces historic Franklin Street. Each of the dining rooms has tables at the windows for guests to enjoy the birds-eye view of happenings along Franklin. The Conservatory Room of the bar and lounge provides a particularly captivating view of the architecture and activity with windows on three sides of the room.
The architecture of each of the dining areas within Lemaire provides for a pleasant view no matter where guests are seated. The original artwork by local artists celebrating the bounty of Virginia, the fireplace mantels and the incredible chandeliers only add to the visual. -
- Walter Bundy
- Lemaire
- Executive Chef of Lemaire
- Richmond, VA
Wines in Lemaire are presented in luxurious Riedel stemware. This Austrian company is renowned for their dedication to creating glassware that brings out characteristics of the wine to make them their most enjoyable.
Cocktails are served in a variety of glassware to best match their character and contents — from the classic to the trendy. -
- Walter Bundy
- Lemaire
- Executive Chef of Lemaire
- Richmond, VA
The table settings in Lemaire are classically elegant and understated. White linen table cloths and napkins provide the backdrop to a traditional silverware placement of pieces from the Steelite International collection. Stemware is from the famous Riedel Company, respected for their contributions to creating glassware that enhances the characteristics of wine. The all white china is by Villeroy and Boch, a company with over two and a half centuries of practice producing distinctive fine china. The Chef’s select the pieces from across the Villeroy and Boch patterns to provide the perfect palettes, in a variety of shapes and sized, for each of their farm-to-table dishes.
Floral presentations created by Blooms at The Jefferson provide added elegance and just a splash of color to the tablescape. -
- Walter Bundy
- Lemaire
- Executive Chef of Lemaire
- Richmond, VA
Guests in the dining room at Lemaire can expect a moderate level of noise. A mix of jazz and southern “deep soul“ is piped in as background music. The enjoyment of friends and great food and beverage are the focus of most of Lemaire’s diners so the sounds of forks and glasses clinking and the exclamations of delight as dishes arrive at the tables are likely to be the most disruption that could be expected. The four separate dining areas with the restaurant also allow for smaller groups of diners in each area and thus a lower lever noise.
Lemaire bar and lounge tends to be a more festive atmosphere though guests can certainly expect to enjoy a pleasant conversation with companions. Televisions are positioned on two sides of the square bar for those that wish to keep up with the scores of the game or the news headlines while enjoy a cocktail. The volume is kept low, so as not to intrude. -
- Walter Bundy
- Lemaire
- Executive Chef of Lemaire
- Richmond, VA
Each of the four separate dining rooms in Lemaire has been arranged for the ultimate comfort of guests. The spacing between tables allows for private conversations and plenty of room for the service staff to engage each guest.
The kitchen is removed from the dining room entryways and server traffic is limited in the paths near to guest tables for very unobtrusive service by the staff.
The dining chairs are very comfortable with cushioned upholstered seats, high backs and arms. Guests in the bar and lounge will find the same comfort with plenty of room at the lounge tables and at the bar.
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- Walter Bundy
- Lemaire
- Executive Chef of Lemaire
- Richmond, VA
The service at Lemaire can best be described as friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. The Jefferson, and Lemaire alike, is known for genuine, friendly service. Each staff member is charged with exceeding their guest’s expectations in every way and that commitment is evident. Expect a warm welcome and a sincere wish for your return.
The staff is attentive but unobtrusive and the transitions and timing between courses is impeccable. Beverages are served with a great attention to detail and each course is presented expertly.
Most impressive is the staff’s knowledge of the menu items, the extensive wine list and the intricate handcrafted cocktails. Not only will they provide full descriptions of an item but also the details about the trusted local vendor that has provided each ingredient within the dish. Be sure to ask for their favorites, as they have tasted and discussed every menu item with the chefs and most of the wines with the wine director. -
- Walter Bundy
- Lemaire
- Executive Chef of Lemaire
- Richmond, VA
Chef Bundy will regularly make visits into the dining room. Should you wish to meet him personally, let your server know upon your arrival so that they can make the chef aware of your interest.
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- Walter Bundy
- Lemaire
- Executive Chef of Lemaire
- Richmond, VA
In the opinion of Chef Walter Bundy, the five best things to order at Lemaire are:
Chilled and slightly spicy vine ripe Hanover tomato gazpacho with jumbo lump crab meat and brioche.
Down south fried green tomatoes (f.g.t.’s) with Laughing Bird shrimp, sweet corn and Surry County sausage succotash with blue cheese vinaigrette.
Lemaire jumbo lump blue crab cakes with chilled cucumber, grilled Vidalia onion and Bundy Farms cherry tomato relish with garden dill cream.
Cast-iron seared free roaming Virginia bison ribeye with Anson Mills roasted corn polenta, urban garden ratatouille and bourbon-pecan demi glace.
Crispy ginger-crusted Chesapeake Bay soft shell crab with lemon cous-cous, h2o-melon and avocado coulis and Lemaire’s own chile oil.
Lemaire’s menu changes seasonally so enjoy these items with the changes of the season. Two year-round favorites are the Southern As It Gets Berkshire pork chop with creamy mac-n-cheese, all day collards and Coca-Cola BBQ, and the Lemaire house-ground Barnyard burger with pig bacon, sunny-side-up chicken egg, farmhouse cow cheddar and duck foie gras sauce. -
A Virginia native, chef Walter Bundy grew up near the Piankatank River of the Chesapeake Bay. Bundy took his rich culinary heritage with him when he left home for Hampden-Sydney College, and he was fortunate to live on a country farm where hunting was plentiful. After graduation, Bundy moved to Santa Fe, N.M and then enrolled in the New England Culinary Institute. A desire to learn about wine subsequently brought him to the Napa Valley, where he worked with renowned chef Thomas Keller at the legendary French Laundry.
Up until being named executive chef at Lemaire in 2011, Bundy accumulated a slew of awards and enriching experiences, from an appearance on Food Network’s Food Nation with Bobby Flay to preparing dinner at the James Beard House in New York. It’s safe to say that Bundy is both talented and passionate, and it shines through in his food during every meal at Lemaire. -
Lemaire’s chef, Walter Bundy, lives by a food philosophy that centers around two major ideas — the first, to produce Southern cuisine with a modern twist, and the second, is a farm-to-table concept with a heavy emphasis on sustainable and local ingredients. Even though the menu changes seasonally, Lemaire sticks with Bundy’s philosophy throughout the year. The restaurant has an on-site garden where Bundy and his team grow the herbs and heirloom vegetables you’ll find in the dishes you order. After Lemaire’s recent renovations, the menu changed its courses to become more affordable to diners; that means you should expect to find contemporary, hearty fare that’s sourced locally, at a price point that won’t break the bank.
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- Walter Bundy
- Lemaire
- Executive Chef of Lemaire
- Richmond, VA
Chef Sara Ayyash is the pastry chef for Lemaire and The Jefferson Hotel. Chef Ayyash is a graduate of Florida Culinary Institute and has been creating delicious desserts in Southwestern Virginia at The Troutdale Dining Room in Bristol and Willa Jacks Restaurant in Abingdon and at the famous Blackberry Farm Hotel in Walland, Tenn.
She recently moved to Richmond to join culinary team at The Jefferson Hotel as Pastry Chef and has been delighting guests with her sweet treats in Lemaire, TJ’s, Sunday Champagne Brunch and in the hotel’s private banquet functions.
In her time away from The Jefferson, Sara is an avid wild berry hunter. Needless to say, her interests translate well in her desserts. -
- Walter Bundy
- Lemaire
- Executive Chef of Lemaire
- Richmond, VA
The menu in Lemaire features extraordinary Virginia grown ingredients and the Southern influences of Richmond native, Chef Walter Bundy. The unique structure of the menu allows guests to personalize their dining experience according to their preferences. The menu is divided into categories that enable guests to share and sample multiple appetizer items from the Hot and Cold sections, or to design their own more traditional multiple course meal created with an appetizer from the Hot or Cold section, an entrée from the Main section and a dessert. The depth of the Hot and Cold sections may inspire a fourth or fifth course as well.
The bar menu in Lemaire is also exceptional with a unique selection of Southern inspired, seasonal small plates. The innovative cocktail list features interesting libations with a modern twist, many including a savory element and the same farm-to-table influences seen in Chef Bundy’s menu. The wine list of over 200 offerings, including a robust selection of bottles under $30 and wines that can be ordered by the glass, half-bottle or quartino, allow for experimentation with taste. -
- Walter Bundy
- Lemaire
- Executive Chef of Lemaire
- Richmond, VA
Many of the items on the Lemaire dinner menu are gluten-free and allergy sensitive, however, Chef Bundy is happy to work with guests to insure that they can enjoy the items that most appeal to their palette by substituting or removing troublesome ingredients. Several vegetarian options are regularly provided and additional options may be provided based upon specific requests. -
- Walter Bundy
- Lemaire
- Executive Chef of Lemaire
- Richmond, VA
The seasonal menu in Lemaire regularly features vegetarian and vegan dishes on the appetizer menus, including seasonal salads and soups. A risotto and a house made pasta are often featured and are vegetarian or vegan or can be made so by a few small alternations in their preparation without sacrifices to their taste. Chef Bundy is happy to work with the individual guest to meet their dietary needs and preferences. -
- Walter Bundy
- Lemaire
- Executive Chef of Lemaire
- Richmond, VA
The desserts in Lemaire are created by Pastry Chef Sara Ayyash and her team of confectionery experts. The menu provides a seasonal offering of Southern inspired desserts the mirror the philosophies of Chef Bundy’s dinner menu with the use of fresh, local ingredients whenever possible.
Through each season the dessert menu will include at least one dessert featuring the fruits that are at their best. The summer favorite is the unique Peak of the Season Blueberry “Soup“ with vanilla ice cream and house-made granola. The menu regularly features a cr�me brulee that incorporates the flavors of the season while chocolate can always be found the menu, whether in the “Smores“ cheesecake, a chocolate tasting or chocolate croissant bread pudding with Wild Turkey anglaise (a Southern favorite). -
- Walter Bundy
- Lemaire
- Executive Chef of Lemaire
- Richmond, VA
The signature desserts in Lemaire change with the seasons. In the spring and summer, the Peak of the season blueberry “soup“ with vanilla ice cream and house made granola, the peanut butter semifreddo with dark chocolate ganache, chocolate sauce and chocolate tuile and the peach cobbler with pecan lace tuile and buttermilk ice cream are the favorites. In the fall and winter, old-fashioned Southern pound cake with apple butter, bourbon caramel sauce and ginger ice cream, the chocolate croissant bread pudding with Wild Turkey anglaise and the “Smores“ Cheesecake with dark chocolate, graham cracker crust and toasted marshmallow are indicative of the season. Dessert is best enjoyed when paired with one of the cordials, brandies or dessert wines from the accompanying list. -
- Walter Bundy
- Lemaire
- Executive Chef of Lemaire
- Richmond, VA
The food presentation at Lemaire is innovative and unique. The beautiful Villeroy and Boch white china plates serve as the blank canvas for Chef Bundy’s artistic creation. The components of each dish are cooked to perfection and then prepared for presentation with precision knife cuts, gorgeous mixtures of the ingredient’s natural colors and the Southern influences of Chef Bundy’s style. Beautiful sauces are added for additional layers of color and taste. Garnishes are reflective of the farm-to-table philosophy and are often untraditional but impactful in the presentation. The overall effect is a spectacular plate that is as pleasing to the eyes as it is to the taste and smell. Guests will find an equally impressive presentation of the handcrafted cocktails and small plates in Lemaire’s lounge. -
The hallmark of Lemaire’s menu is seasonality. Chef Walter Bundy puts forth all of his culinary efforts to provide a continually changing menu, but items are frequently tweaked to reflect availability at area farmer’s markets. No matter the season, however, one thing remains: a heavy emphasis on local and sustainable foods. Items on the menu featured tomatoes and herbs from the on-site garden, fresh local fish and in-season beets found in the vegetarian entrée on our recent trip to Lemaire. We especially loved our dessert, the peak of the season “blueberry soup”, with vanilla ice cream and housemade granola. The seasonal changes carry over onto Lemaire’s dessert and cocktail menu as well, making every trip to the restaurant a little different.
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We recommend arriving a little early for your reservation at Lemaire; the restaurant has a large bar and lounge that serves as the perfect meeting spot before your meal. If you want to stop by after work, the bar offers happy hour specials, including $2 house and $4 craft and import beers, and $5 red and white glasses of featured wine. Before your meal, you can also munch on a set of three appetizers for $20 from 4 to 7 p.m. daily, and three courses for $30 every day from 5 to 6 p.m. Even though Lemaire’s cocktails change seasonally, standouts when we visited during the summer months included the “Garden Martini,” made with Hendrick’s Gin, cucumber water and rosemary syrup, the refreshing Ginger Mojito and the Franklin Street Sparkler, made with pomegranate juice and moscato d’ asti. Not as if you need an excuse, but the bar at Lemaire and the great food give you one more reason to come to the restaurant early.
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- Walter Bundy
- Lemaire
- Executive Chef of Lemaire
- Richmond, VA
The Lemaire bar menu offers a unique selection of small plates perfect for sharing and sampling. The menu features the same fresh, local ingredients and Southern influences of Chef Walter Bundy that are seen in Lemaire’s dinner menu. With items starting at just $5, the menu allows guests to explore a variety of seasonal tastes that can be perfectly paired with wine, beer or a handcrafted cocktail. From 4 to 7 p.m. and again from 10 p.m.-11 p.m. daily, guests can enjoy three appetizers from the bar menu for just $20.
While the offerings on the menu change seasonally, a few guest favorites can always be found on the menu, including: a local charcuterie platter featuring grilled Surry sausage, caper berries, “Surryano“ ham, Grafton cheddar; pimento cheese with white cheddar, olives and toasted sourdough; Rappahannock River Oysters on the half shell; house-ground filet mignon burger or jumbo lump crab cake sandwich (for those wishing to enjoy a more traditional bar fare). -
- Walter Bundy
- Lemaire
- Executive Chef of Lemaire
- Richmond, VA
Lemaire offers a list of over two hundred wines with many options available by the glass, quartino or half-bottle. With the knowledgeable assistance of their server or the wine director, guests can enjoy pairing wines with each course to experience a variety of tastes.
Lemaire regularly offers wine dinners focused on a particular region, varietal or winery, including a speaker who is an expert in that genre. The wines are paired with Chef Bundy’s farm-to-table cuisine for a truly memorable dining experience. These events are posted regularly on the restaurant’s website and advance reservations are required.
Guests enjoying the daily three-course menu for $30 from 5 to 6 p.m., may select three wines from the wine by the glass list and receive three-ounce pours of each for just $15 additional, per person. -
- Walter Bundy
- Lemaire
- Executive Chef of Lemaire
- Richmond, VA
Greg McGehee is Lemaire’s General Manager and Director of Wine. Greg’s interest in wine began on a trip to France. While earning his degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management from the Pamplin School of Business at Virginia Tech, Greg’s interest developed into a passion. Greg joined The Jefferson Hotel in 2005 and became a member of the Lemaire management team in 2007. He was an integral part of the 2009 renovation of Lemaire and took over the wine program in Lemaire in 2010 while continuing to further his education in wine. He holds Level I certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers and plans to take his Level II exam early next year. -
- Walter Bundy
- Lemaire
- Executive Chef of Lemaire
- Richmond, VA
Lemaire offers an impressive collection of over fifteen single malt and blended scotches representing each of the four regions. Single and small batch bourbons also play a key role in the spirits offering with over ten bottles available.
The highlights of Lemaire’s beverage program are the handcrafted, original cocktails. The innovative list features seasonally driven martinis and cocktails that are made with the freshest ingredients. Many are Lemaire’s unique spin on a classic while some are completely original creations by Lemaire’s mixologists. -
Whether it’s a pre-dinner martini or a late-night whiskey sour, Lemaire’s cocktails change seasonally, but on our last visit, the menu featured a few standouts worth trying. Indulge in the Garden Martini, made with Hendrick’s gin, cucumber water and rosemary syrup, or the refreshing Ginger Mojito, made with Bacardi Silver rum, Canton ginger liqueur, ginger beer and mint from the restaurant’s own garden. Another favorite from the summer menu was the Franklin Street Sparkler, which includes pomegranate juice and Moscatod’asti. No matter what month you visit Lemaire, there’s no doubt that the specialty cocktails will accurately reflect the season, incorporating the freshest ingredients and garnishes sourced from regions near the Virginia restaurant.
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- Walter Bundy
- Lemaire
- Executive Chef of Lemaire
- Richmond, VA
Lemaire’s extensive wine list of over 200 selections regularly includes 20 wines that are available by the glass. The list changes with each season but will always feature a representative from each varietal, a great cross section of regions, both Old and New World and sparkling options. The wine list provides an insightful description of each of the wines offered by the glass and often recommends entrees that are perfectly matched. The servers are extremely well trained and have tasted each of the wines so be sure to ask for their opinions if you’re having difficulty narrowing your selection.
Many of Lemaire’s wines are also available by the quartino or half-bottle and an impressive list of 30 wines are available on the “Discoveries“ list and are all priced under $30. -
- Walter Bundy
- Lemaire
- Executive Chef of Lemaire
- Richmond, VA
Lemaire offers a vast wine list of over 200 bottles that encompasses the major growing regions across the globe. The ever changing list features several special bottles for those connoisseurs searching for a truly unique wine experience. Some examples of these offerings are:
“Opus One“ Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Oakville ’06 and ’07
Ribera Del Duero Do Tinto Fino Emilio Moro “Malleolusde Sancho Martin“ ’07
Pauillac Grand Cru Classe Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Pichon-Longueville Baron ’05 Champagne AOC Brut Louis Roederer Cristal Reims ’02 -
- Walter Bundy
- Lemaire
- Executive Chef of Lemaire
- Richmond, VA
Seasonal “mocktails“ are prepared with fresh, simple ingredients by the skilled bartenders in Lemaire. Following the farm-to-table philosophy of Chef Walter Bundy, each features the flavors of ingredients at their peak and often those grown in Bundy Farms, Lemaire’s urban garden. Two favorites are the Guava-Mint Soda and the Raspberry Limeade. Guests can also enjoy a full listing of sodas, teas and coffees. -
- Walter Bundy
- Lemaire
- Executive Chef of Lemaire
- Richmond, VA
Lemaire proudly uses the Natura water system to provide guests with their choice of still or sparkling water. Natura’s proprietary filtration technology uses carbon filters and UV radiation to eliminate impurities while retaining healthily, thirst quenching minerals. The signature glass bottles are reusable, reducing the impact on the environment.
Lemaire is a Virginia Green certified restaurant and employs a wide variety of environmentally conscious programs and procedures, including recycling, composting and the responsible use of chemicals, in conjunction with the environmental programs of The Jefferson Hotel.