Virginia’s Most Talked-About Oyster Platters Aren’t Actually Found In Richmond
I still remember the first time someone told me about the oyster platter that had all of Virginia talking.
Naturally, I drove to Richmond, imagining neon signs and briny towers on ice at every corner bar. Spoiler: I struck out completely. Not a single menu matched the hype. Only later did I learn the obvious truth—the state’s most celebrated bivalves weren’t lounging in the capital at all.
They were an hour east, where creeks braid into the bay, oysters taste like tides, and shuckers move faster than rumors. I pointed the car toward the water and finally found the magic.
Welcome To Topping!
The platters that broke the internet aren’t in Richmond because they never left Topping. Merroir, the riverfront tasting room of Rappahannock Oyster Co., sits right where the oysters are born—on the banks of the Rappahannock River, about an hour east of the capital.
I checked their site this morning, and they’re open Thursday through Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., with Wednesdays off for a breather.
Booking is live, hours are current, and the buzz is real. You can’t fake that kind of riverside charm or the fact that your oysters practically swam to your plate. Richmond has great food, but this spot owns the water-to-table crown.
Where the Hype Started
Most oyster bars serve oysters; Merroir was born from them. Built right beside the company’s own farms, this place was designed as a tasting room where Chesapeake oysters could show off. Raw or grilled over an open flame, every bite tells the story of the river it came from.
That authenticity—and a whole lot of word-of-mouth—earned it a nod from People as Virginia’s most popular restaurant. When your backyard is an oyster nursery and your view is pure tidewater magic, hype isn’t manufactured. It just happens, one shucked shell at a time, and Richmond can only watch from afar.
The Platter: Three Virginia Classics, Three Distinct Merroirs
Order the mixed dozen and you’re signing up for a flavor road trip without leaving your seat. Rappahannock River Oysters come in sweet and buttery with low salinity.
Rochambeau oysters from the York River strike a balanced, mildly briny middle ground. Then Olde Salt oysters from Chincoteague hit you with bold, ocean-forward brine that wakes up your taste buds.
Lined up side by side on ice with mignonette and cocktail sauce, they’re a masterclass in how water and salt sculpt flavor. Richmond restaurants can truck in oysters, but they can’t replicate this kind of curated, farm-fresh geography lesson on a plate.
Not Just Shells: Small Plates from the Grill
Raw oysters are the star, but the grill is where things get playful. Merroir keeps a tight rotation of seasonal small plates—roasted oysters slathered in herb butter, creamy oyster chowder, fish of the day, tacos, and a po’ boy that locals guard like a secret. Menus shift with the catch, but the grill-centric philosophy never wavers.
Everything is executed simply so the seafood can do the talking.
Richmond has talented chefs and great kitchens, but when your grill overlooks the river that raised your oysters, the food just tastes more honest. That’s not something you can bottle and ship inland.
How to Visit (Reservations, Hours & Ordering)
Planning a visit is easier than parallel parking in the city. Just dodge that Wednesday closure and you’re golden—lunch through sunset is wide open.
The restaurant’s site offers book-a-table and order-online options, and third-party platforms like OpenTable reflect daily service from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Locking in a reservation takes about thirty seconds if you want peace of mind. Richmond diners are used to spontaneous walk-ins, but Merroir’s location and popularity mean a little advance planning goes a long way. Trust me, showing up without a plan on a Saturday evening is a gamble you’ll lose.
An Easy Day Trip from Richmond
Richmond to Topping is roughly 55 to 65 miles, depending on where you start—about an hour and fifteen minutes of easy driving.
I’ve done it on a whim more than once, and the route through Virginia’s River Realm is half the fun. After oysters, you can poke around charming waterfront towns like Urbanna or Kilmarnock.
It’s the kind of day trip that feels like a mini vacation without the airport hassle. Richmond has plenty to love, but sometimes the best meals require a little windshield time and a willingness to follow the water instead of the skyline.
Pro Tips Locals Swear By
Arrive during late lunch or early dinner to dodge the rush and catch the river glowing in soft light. Bring a light jacket—the breeze off the water is refreshing until it’s not.
If you’re feeling adventurous, Merroir has limited day-use boat slips for those arriving by water, which is as cool as it sounds.
Above all, start with a mixed oyster platter so you can taste the full spectrum. Once you find your favorite merroir, order another round and settle in. Richmond has plenty of oyster bars, but none of them come with this view, this vibe, or this backstory.