Rosie Connolly's Pub Restaurant

Kindness on Tap at Rosie Connolly’s Pub

We planned our day trip to Richmond, Virginia, around ROSIE CONNOLLY’S PUB & RESTAURANT thanks to its closeness to Richmond’s Main Street Station.

After a damp day of exploring Virginia’s Capitol Building and the Canal Walk (Wed, May 28, 2025), we knew we’d be dry, warm and well fed and watered in Rosie’s at the end of our visit.

The owner’s daughter, Helen, gave us a very warm welcome and she talked to us about the history of the pub and how she’d come here from Liverpool as a child. It actually felt like we’d just walked into our local pub!

Food was on our minds, so we ordered:

🥪 Reuben sandwich & fries = $13.95
🍛 Rosie’s Chicken Balti Curry = $16.95
🍺 Guinness = $6.16
🍺 Non-alcoholic lager = $5.31
❤️ We received another round of drinks at the compliments of the owners
😢 Tax = $5.72
💰 Total = $48.09

We enjoyed our food, which was served piping hot and swiftly. The Reuben was the kind of sandwich you wished you could make as good at home! The Balti curry was interesting: a battered chicken breast was served atop the curry sauce with jasmine (coconut) rice, topped with mushrooms and onions. It had a good flavor.

A couple of pints of Guinness complemented the food nicely.

Rosie’s was busy but the owwner of the pub, Mr Thomas Goulding, waved to us and took the time to come over and introduce himself. We had a good chat and it was interesting to hear his story - the real American dream - about how he arrived here in 1985 and went on to run his own pub, having originally worked for many years at Ford back in the U.K.

When the check arrived, Helen kindly informed us that the second round of drinks was on the family. What a generous gesture and one that was indicative of the family-run business. We thinks it’s incredible that we can walk into places as strangers and find such kindness in many of the places we visit on our travels across the U.S.

Rosie Connolly’s was the type of place we could have sat in all night, enjoying the Guinness and the craic, but sadly we had a train to catch and we had to leave sooner than we would have liked. Little did we know that our train was delayed and we could have had another 30 minutes there, and as we waited in Main St. Station for our late train, we looked out down onto the rear of Rosie Connolly’s thinking about our memorable visit. If only we could pop back; we know we’d be welcome!

It’s and authentic Irish Pub I don’t know how I keep landing these gold mines but this is my second one I’ve been too and it was great. I had the curry chicken and the steak sub both were great!

Good basic pub food. Server was excellent in a crowded and challenging group of people.

You can't find to many authentic Irish pubs anymore.... but this fits bill perfectly.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Pint of Guinness and a Shot of Jameson

This has been my favorite place in all of Richmond for 14 years. Tommy Gladys and Helen are the best. You can't go wrong here!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Pint of Guinness and a Shot of Jameson, Sausage Rolls, Bangers and Mash, Corned Beef Sliders, Fish & Chips, Fries, Burger

this place has the best burgers i have ever eaten oh my god they are so delicious i can't even begin to explain how good they are

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Fries, Burger

This is the Authentic Irish pub that all the others are trying to be. Traditional Irish music on the second and fourth Wednesday evenings is not to be missed.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Bangers and Mash

Initially intended to grab brunch across the street but wandered over here instead.

Overall, the vibe is very on brand. Liverpool was playing and I imagine it's a great space to watch this if that's your speed. Sunday lunch menu had a good mixture of things. I was drawn into the special, which was a pork belly quiche with Irish cheese and green onions. This was ultimately quite fine. Big quiche fan but this wasn't my favorite crust nor my favorite cheese. And if I hadn't been told there was meat in it I'm not sure I would have noticed. The side salad had a nice balsamic dressing. What was most bothersome, though, was the size of the quiche. It was cheap enough but not really a lunch potion. Wish I had gone with a sanwich.

Drinks were good-pretty standard. The service was astounding and everyone was so nice. Probably wouldn't come back for the food but if you want to watch some football (soccer) it's a nice option.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 3

Service: 5

Great food. Great atmosphere, outstanding beer

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Bangers and Mash

We always have such a great experience here!! We met the owner and he is amazing and super accommodating! We love Tommy!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

decent place.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Bangers and Mash, Fish & Chips

Good food, drinks, service and often has musicians playing music.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Friendly and attentive staff. Delicious food.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Fish and Chips and Salad

The greatest pub around ?

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great corner place, food was on point, Ruben was fantastic with the hand cut fries, husband got a sausage & gravy special. The decor is wall to wall and looks and feels like true pub. Glad we came in instead of that busy place full of kids across the street, Lulus or whatever. 2 thumbs up.

Wheelchair accessibility: It’s flat coming in from the sidewalk , no stairs.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Sausage Rolls, Hand Cut Fries