Richmond Restaurant Lemaire at The Jefferson Hotel

Richmond Restaurant Lemaire at The Jefferson Hotel

Having five year old twins in our family greatly limits our culinary experiences, which is a tragedy when you realize what a "Foodie" type of city Richmond, Virginia really is. Our choices for family dining are usually limited to Chick Fil A, Red Robin, and maybe, if we are lucky, The Cheesecake Factory. However, this week was different!

My children have been away for almost an entire week and while I miss them, I have LOVED getting to experience some Richmond restaurants I normally wouldn't get the chance to. So, this past week my husband and I had the pleasure of dining at the Richmond Restaurant Lemaire at the Jefferson Hotel. Oh, what a treat!

First, the ambiance of Lamaire at The Jefferson Hotel is second to none. Conceived by famous Lewis Ginter, The Jefferson Hotel was a labor of love from its inception. At the heart of the hotel is a grand statue of Thomas Jefferson, which was commissioned by Ginter and skillfully came to life by sculptor Edward E. Valentine. Although it took two years to erect, the statue certainly is the centerpiece of the hotel that can not be missed.

Despite being named the finest hotel in the country, in 1901 The Jefferson Hotel experienced a devastating fire that ruined most of the building. But, the crown jewel  of Thomas Jefferson was spared by crews using a mattress to remove the statue from the burning hotel. Although they saved the statue, it wasn't without injury as Jefferson's head broke off when the statue was accidentally dropped. Luckily, the sculptor was able to make the necessary repairs.

Several years later, The Jefferson Hotel was renovated and reopened in 1907. The interior had a new look, but the ambiance was just as magnificent with new furniture, faux marble columns, a grand staircase, and over 300 more rooms. And, one of the most famous fun facts about The Jefferson Hotel is that alligators, yes ALLIGATORS, lived in the marble pools in the Palm Court. There are many tales about the alligators, but the last alligator named Old Pompey died in 1948.

Although there is so much more history about this fine hotel, let's get back to Lemaire. Our dinner started off with some wonderful bread and a nice bowl of mussels for my husband. My main entree was a fantastic As Southern As It Gets Pork Porterhouse with new potatoes and greens. Delicious! I'm not sure what my husband ordered as I was so wrapped up in my food, but whatever he had looked amazing as well. The dessert menu was very tempting with chocolate molten cake, mint julep creme brulee, and carrot cake bread pudding, just to name a few. Sadly, we were too full to sample any of these, but my husband did sip and enjoy a nice cup of coffee while I simply took in the atmosphere.

Our experience at the Richmond Restaurant Lemaire at the Jefferson Hotel was a marvelous one and I look forward to our next Richmond Restaurant adventure!

Sounds like an outstanding place to live, work, and play? Contact your me, your Richmond real estate agent at Home Sweet Henrico with Keller Williams Realty Richmond West, and let me light your way to home sweet home in the Richmond Real Estate market!