Very open-minded in regards to booking bands- can be pretty diverse. They also offer great perks for those in bands on the night of your performance (speaking from experience).
There is a mini arcade in the back as well! Sometimes they have gamers nights, movie nights, and art shows.
They also have a half-price burger and fries night.
Used a groupon here for dinner but the prices are already reasonable. Â We had a vegan reuben and a vegan tofu sandwich with fries and the homemade carrot slaw. Â It was delicious, not a crumb left on our plate. Â The waitstaff was friendly and attentive; he gave us a bunch of vegan and vegetarian restaurant recommendations for the city. Â There wasn't music booked for that night or we were planning to stay for a 5 dollar show. Â I recently moved from Brooklyn and this place is like Barcade + foodswings + Pete's all in one. Â Laid back, not pretentious, good vegan food-- we will definitely be back.
Review Source:So I want to go to a show, have a burger and maybe plan some video games. Â That's 2 to 3 stops right? Â Well Strange Matter has all three under one roof.
Often times when a place tries to do too much they miss the mark, jack of all trades master of none right? Â There is a little of this going at Strange Matter, I mean there are video games but it's not an arcade by any means. Â The main attractions are the venue and the food/bar so if you're going there for that, you'll be okay.
The burgers are above average. Â The bearded hipster they have in the kitchen making the burgers seems to know what he is doing. Â Cooked well and tasted like a restaurant burger should taste like. Â Worth stopping by if you're in the area.
Okay so I should've done my research before going here...consulted yelp or something! But I bought a Groupon and was in the area with the fam so we stopped in. Strange name. Strange atmosphere. Good food. It felt just dirty in there. I overheard a guy at the table next to us say "this isn't a restaurant this is a bar" and the waitress was quick to say "it's a restaurant too!" But the dude was right- it's totally a bar that happens to have good food. In the future though I will take it "to go." Not at all family friendly. But as I said, I take the blame for not knowing that before going; it is on the VCU campus afterall.
Review Source:I got the Noro Virus here from a lentil burger a while back, I had to give the health department a sample, and the restaurant was closed down for a week or two while they underwent an intensive, state mandated, cleaning. Â The girl I was seeing at the time, along with most of my friends who had eaten there that night, got sick as well, most of them from vegetarian or vegan dishes.
To give you an idea of how disgusting a restaurant needs to be to promulgate this type of infection I've included this excerpt from the CDC website:
"Food can get contaminated with norovirus when:
infected people who have stool or vomit on their hands touch the food,
it is placed on counters or surfaces that have infectious stool or vomit on them, or
tiny drops of vomit from an infected person spray through the air and land on the food."
I don't know if this is indicative of anything, but I got the virus so bad from strange matter that I had to have an I.V. to re-hydrate, they pumped 2 bags of Saline solution into me. The needles and doctors followed what can only be described as "the night of the living bowels"
Strange Matter seems to book this show frequently.
I've been to "Smatter" a few times, even once for dinner, but that was a while ago. Â Went there the other night to see The Spits, which was quite a show (black robes, skull strobe eyes, fiery cymbal!). Â What I like about Strange Matter is the large standing area in front of the stage, which gives everyone a chance to see the band up close. Â If you don't feel like standing, you can sit at the long, long bar, which goes almost the length of the restaurant. Â They also have some small booths and tables as well.
One of their biggest claims to fame is their small arcade in the back, with several classic games, like Mortal Kombat! Â The walls are decorated with Nintendo/video game characters, like a Mona Lisa fashioned as Princess Peach, or the Last Supper re-imagined as Mario and friends. Â The beer selection is okay; they seem to cater to the poor crowd, with more cheap beers than good beers. Â I usually get Yuengling; Ryan and I were buying Black Labels to save money.
I gave them 3 stars because their food is not good. Â From what I remember (and yes, it was several months ago), I didn't like my meal. Â Ryan got sick from his meal, and our friend we were with wasn't crazy about her food either. Â Stick to drinking and show watching here.
This place literally has everything a girl could want. There were arcade games, booze, good food, and an awesome show was to be heard the night I went. The artwork on the walls and the graffiti in the bathroom is pretty amusing as well. If you're looking for something to do in Richmond, check this place out.
Review Source:have been in Richmond twice--once I was actually there for a show and enjoyed this place--solid sound, affordable and solid drinks and a pretty cool vibe. I however, fell in love my second trip around, spent far to much time here--delicious food, great and uber cheap happy hour and fun staff. I was in love me and a friend wanted to move in.
Review Source:Most amusing bathrooms in Richmond. Â I always go in both of them to see the latest graffiti. Â And they are gender neutral! Â One is labeled "This bathroom has urinals" and the other says "Stalls." Â People hate the art for some reason, but I find it ugly-chic. Â
I've never eaten anything here, but the cocktails are around $5 and cover for shows is usually around $5. Â I appreciate the cheap. Â
Maybe not the greatest place in town, but if you wanna check out a bunch of hot 20-somethings in skinny jeans and ironic accessories, this is your place.
This place is ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE!!! Â No customer service skills at all! Â The management are on a high horse and think they are better than you. Â The rudest restaurant in all of VA and I have lived in this state for over 50 years; I have seen it all. Â And the food? Â Over-priced CRAP! Â A piece of beef was in my wife's Vegan chili, and the manager ACCUSED us of putting it in there! Â We didn't order any beef at all! Â She (the manager) did nothing to remedy the situation whatsoever. Â Their patrons must not have any cooking skills because I can cook their whole menu in a back alley, blind-folded with one hand tied in between my legs. The art SUCKS! Â The drink selection was a JOKE! Â Do yourself a favor and don't even consider 'Smatter' an option.
Review Source:Smatter earns a solid, 3 from me.
The food is good, not amazing, but good. I typically get the vegan falafel pita. It's good unless they overcook the falafel balls, which happens on occasion. Service is usually good, sometimes the staff forget when we ask for things like soy milk with coffee, etc. They also tend to be slow getting drinks (which is an odd problem for a place to have), don't go too thirsty. They are typically really nice though, which makes up for some of it. They also earn a few points for having mimosas available by the pitcher. Also, don't go to the bathroom there, those are gross.
Aside from the much talked about arcade games and vegan/veggie cuisine -- both of which are awesome -- Strange Matter is also arguably THE BEST venue to see bands in Richmond. Unlike many similarly sized locations, they have a proper stage, amazing sound, and a trained technician to keep the shows running sans hitch. Also, unlike the National the cover is rarely more than $5 and instead of trying to be all things to all people, the bar has smartly carved out for itself a legitimate niche in the garage/indie/rock/punk scene. (I mean, Ty Segall played here people!!!) They also have some pretty riotous dance parties, so be sure to check their calendar!
Review Source:1. Good food
2. Good music
2. Great beer
3. Great Arcade Games
In a world where arcades are slowly disappearing, I nearly cried when I stumbled into Strange Matter after work one day. On top of having Street Fighter for 25 cents, they had ridiculously good sandwiches and beer. The service was also friendly, more than willing to discuss beer and video games.
One of Richmond's gems. I have yet to find a good alternative elsewhere in most of the US (outside Portland, NYC).
Probably one of the best Vegetarian/Veg Friendly restaurants in the VA area. Staff are very friendly and will answers all questions about the food. The food is so good I had to check to make sure I didn't "get" real ham in "The Revenge". The artwork is one of the best parts of the place. As per the hipster rating I would say it's more punk/artsy than hipster.
Review Source:Strange matter is the right name. Took a risk, and bought a Groupon coupon for this place. Thought, why not try something different. Well, its different. Definitely a college/20 something type of a place. When we got there, there were a half dozen standing right by the front door, smoking. We decided to go in anyway, and almost turn around and left. It doesn't really look like a place you would want to eat dinner. But we pushed on.
My wife had the tuna salad sandwich and red pepper cream soup and I had the southwestern burger, and we had bean fritters for an appetizer. The tuna salad was okay, the burger and fritters were very good, and the red pepper soup was awesome. Service was average at best, and kind of slow. I gave a rating of 3 stars, but would give the atmosphere & service a 2, and the food a 4.
I bought the living social deal for strange matter on good faith and to try something new, but as we walked up, my boyfriend and I were a little apprehensive when we realized it was the old twisters/Nancy raygun. Â ("We're eating there?!") Â So we entered, and its basically the same as it ever was, a dark live music venue except add lots of old arcade games (cool). Â I had THE MOST AMAZING LENTIL BURGER of my life. Â It's a homemade patty with tons of amazing flavor. Â I forget which sandwich my boyfriend had that he said was good but mine was better. Â I will definitely be bringing back my vegetarian friends to try this amazing lentil burger.
Review Source:Yeah we didn't even get any service so I can't comment on the food. We have been here before, a few months ago, and loved the food and atmosphere. I guess the VCU hipsters have over taken it and you have to look like you fell out of an American apparel ad in order to get service. We waited for about 15 minutes, the bartenders saw us and so did other staff. I smiled, said hello and nothing happened. We left and went to Ipanema and got service right away; there was an equal amount of people in both places and Ipanema only had one waitress. I doubt it matters to them but you lost two customers tonight.
Review Source:Ended up going here with some friends while staying in Richmond. They have plenty of vegan and non-vegan options to please all. I tried Bobby's Dream Burger which was melted bleu cheese, mushrooms, and fried onions on a pretzel roll and i asked for it with a Turkey Burger. And for a side the Mac & cheese. The burger was quite good. Not your average bar/venue quality and the prices are still kept cheap.
Review Source:I arrived way too early for a punk show and ended up leaving before it started just on account of being tired, but in the two hours I spent within, I had a great experience.
Well, not the walking in part. The place definitely reeked of B.O though I'm not sure if that had a direct correlation to the touring bands milling about or if it's something that has been permeated into the walls after years or rocking.
The website alludes to a long history of rock venues occupying this space. And for good reason. Centrally located, near VCU, great drinks, great beer, great food, good feel. The back area of the restaurant (It's very weird to me that there are no "bars" in Richmond) is lined with arcade games. All your quarters are belong to us. The video game theme extends onto the murals along the walls and even onto the menu with a rad Space Invaders cover.
Since this place is a "restaurant," the far is far better than what you'd find in some more traditional bars that just happen to serve food. I had an incredible tuna melt with fries to pair with one of my favorite beers ever, Lagunitas IPA, and a "Weed & Ginger" which is about as Southern as a mixed drink can get. Sweet tea vodka and ginger ale. Stiff as a teenage boy on prom night.
There's booths, bar stools, and a large area for standing when the show you came to see finally goes on. I tried, I just couldn't hold out. I think they call this, "getting old."
Kind of a strange place (obviously from the name, haha).
Decent atmosphere, cool interior, pretty good customer service..
Their seasoned fries are really awesome, and we shared a vegan cheesesteak sort of thing. Nothing outstanding, but definitely great.
Update, I take back what I said. I'm really sorry. That vegan basil mayo dip has my heart. Plus gender-neutral restrooms. And I enjoy the atmosphere more that I've been there a few times.
And damn, DEM SAMMICHES.
I'm coming back to Richmond this week and I hope I get to come here.
Twenty of us stopped in to a restaurant/bar/venue in Richmond for a New Year's Day dinner, but I was sad to find out that the dishes I wanted to try weren't available that night. Â No veggie ham, no vegan crab cakes, no slaw, no this, no that. I was a bit disappointed. Then I was even more disappointed when we waited 2 hours for our food. Yeah, 2 hours, no joke. Another vegan and I were the last to be fed. I guess it wasn't a very good experience.
I know it's probably hard for them to get stock during the holidays, but it sucked for us sitting around being hungry. The power kept going off, their fryers went off, things weren't quite working properly that night. I really wanted to like the place because it seems like a decent option for vegans with adamant meat eating friends. If I'm ever in Richmond again, I'd give them a do over.
I ordered the vegan ruben. Too bad they didn't have any slaw for it, but it was delicious all the same. It had a bit of cheddar daiya, toasted bread and a side of really delicious French fries. Â The mango donut holes were AWESOME though, and definitely worth trying.
The server was apologetic, upbeat, friendly and helpful, and it was obvious that the problem was entirely with a disorganized kitchen or the lack of supplies. The manager also came out and apologized to our table.
As much as I would like to give a higher rating, and as good as the food was, the day my wife and I went, they were having issues. We waited about ten minutes to get seated (in a booth that hadn't been cleaned yet), and the waitress explained that the kitchen was a little behind, so we may have to wait a bit for our food. OK, we said... how bad could it be... twenty.. thirty minutes? No. Try an hour and a half. I overheard the table behind us complain that they had been there for two hours! I really couldn't understand what the problem was, exactly. There was a large table of about seventeen that had their food before we arrived. Otherwise, there were about seven people at the bar, two booths with about another seven people between them, and my wife and me. It just wasn't that busy. No further explanation from the waitress, other than, I'm sorry - Â it's coming. We were there so long, we were nearly late for our next destination. This was supposed to be a late lunch that wound up being dinner... we were hungry before we walked in - by the time the food arrived, we were desperate.
The food (a wild salmon burger with hand cut fries for me, and my wife had the neutron star, an imaginative sandwich with turkey, gouda, dijon, and mango chutney on a pretzel roll) was very good when it finally arrived, and was hot, so the delay was apparently in the cook getting to our order.
The menu, "vegan friendly, carnivore approved", is as eclectic as the clientele, mostly VCU students, and the decor is kind of anime meets subway graffiti. It's an ambitious idea that just doesn't quite get there in the execution. Too bad, because as I said, the food was very good, but I don't care how good it is, it isn't worth a 90 to 120 minute wait.
A fun joint with a full bar, this place has a hipster cool feel to it. Murals of street fighter influenced characters combined with old arcade games and space invaders on the front cover of their menu equals cool. Be prepared for loud music, though. At least it was decent rock blasting from the speakers.
I happened to eat here on a Tuesday night, which apparently also happens to be half-off burger night. Yes! The on-site made lentil burger with fresh-cut fries were perfect considering that I paid less than a Lincoln for it all. The bun was fresh, the lentil burger well-spiced, and the fries tasty, albeit a bit salty. Try the basil vegan mayo with it!
The restaurant itself is roomy, able to situate a large crowd if needed. Parking is horrendous, but it's in the heart of the fan district, so it's a given. And whether you're vegan, vegetarian, or omnivore, there is something for everyone.
Summary: Solid good food that is reasonably priced, arcade-like fun atmosphere, vegan-friendly, and good music guarantees that I will be back for more. If you're looking for something different, it's worth the horrendous parking.
4.5 stars.
Food here is seriously good.
Had the turkey with apple and mango chutney and gouda on a pretzel roll which was better than I imagined it could be. Thought the pretzel might be too tough but was a good roll for the sandwich.
Later had the burger with jalapenos, ham, bbq, and gouda. Could have done without the ham but the burger had an awesome taste and cooked the way I requested it. The grilled jalapenos were a good touch. Spicy but not overwhelming. Everyone enjoyed the taste of their burger. In general all the flavors they put together work.
The fries are good thick hand cut style. Rest of the sides are just ok (tried the fruit salad, vegan mac and cheese (not enough cheese flavor) , cole slaw).
Parking around here sucks, in the Fan across from Panda Garden, on the same block as Edo's Squid. Serious punky hipster vibe, but very friendly. Some old arcade games but didn't see anyone playing. Some interesting messages in the bathroom stalls...They have a stage for shows too.
Bring  a few quarters, because I'm totally going to kick your butt on Street Fighter II.
So what is Strange Matter? Â It seems to be a little more than just some place to grab vegan-friendly food or catch a cold beer. Â It has the arcade in the back, stage up front and a crowd full of scenesters to suburbanites looking for something different. Â
During the daylight hours, the food is the biggest draw. Â Meat-eaters and vegans can both eat off the menu. Â This makes Strange Matter one of those places where you can dare gather an entire crowd.
While it's not the most inventive food in the world, everything I've had was fresh, tasty and cheap. Â Also the price on the menu INCLUDES tax. Â
Brunch, lunch and dinner are served with weekly specials (Tuesdays are currently half price burger night), that are usually advertised on their Facebook page. Â Shows are also advertised in this manner as well.
This place is awesome. Â Its got a hipstery, dive feel but with great food and lots of sweet old arcade games. Â Pretty much everything there can be made vegan.
I ordered bacon, eggs and toast and was blown away. Â They actually made my eggs scrambled soft like I asked, which doesn't happen often. Â I could taste the bacon grease from the griddle in the eggs too...total breakfast food boner. Â And it was only $4.50. Â
I will definitely be back the next time I'm in Richmond.
Positive: This place just rocks. Hard. Awesome staff, awesome music, awesome environment and a large selection of good arcade games to play while you are waiting for your food. Very good food, much of it Vegan (although there are meat eater options as well.) Especially fond of the Barbecue Jackfruit Sliders. $6 dollars gets you 3 sliders and a side of fries! The restaurant also hosts concerts and arcade game competitions.
Neutral: The second time I went and ordered the sliders, they were  not quite as good. I think the Jackfruit needed to soak longer to become the correct consistency.
Negative: Waitstaff is pretty slow. I've often sat for 10-15 minutes waiting to place my order, even if there is almost no one else in the restaurant. This is because the restaurant is a work in progress, and the staff is usually working on something while they aren't serving, but it is a bit frustrating when you are hungry. It also can take a while to get your food, but this is made up for by the arcade games you can play.
Overall: I love this place. So hard. If they just start serving people in a more timely manner, I would give them 5 stars.
Strange Matter is a perfect example of an enterprise that is doing things right in RVA. My girlfriend and I were ravenous after taking a long, scenic walk around the city, and after having another one of those cyclical "I don't care where we eat" debates, we decided to go for a new venue and walked into this place. Plus, my friends had raved about the burgers, so I had to see what the deal was.
First off, the waitstaff was incredibly charming, patient, and helpful with suggestions, from foods to beers. My girlfriend ordered the vegetable sub [the waitress recommended adding prosciutto, which is how she had ordered the same sub earlier for lunch - excellent call] and I had the fried eggplant sub with pesto. Of course I had to try the homemade fries, which a friend said I should have with their dill veganaise. Holy crap. I can't believe how fresh the ingredients were, and the food was obviously prepared with a lot of care. I didn't know I could even like veganaise. I'm getting really hungry just thinking about it.
I'd been avoiding going for awhile, because I was afraid of getting involved with any establishment that was susceptible to the "929 W. Grace St. Curse, " but after my experience, I don't think they'll have any trouble staying open.
Summary: Amazing Food + Awesome Staff + Best Fries in RVA Contender + Live Bands + Fair Prices + Booze + ARCADE GAMES = What More Could You Possibly Want?
Came back for a third time to eat, and was blown away yet again!
Awesome, friendly staff who dance with you to their jams. This time around, I got tofu scramble with teese, mushrooms and spinach. Tasted strangely like eggs while on toast. Curried apples with cinnamon -- they came out much better than mine did a few years back, so kudos.
Finally with an extended menu, too! They now have mango donut holes (veg-friendly) that taste AMAZINGLY like funnel cake bites. Yow. Be still my heart. That, and the quirky "Suezo"-like drawings all over the walls. So glad Strange Matter is around; please go try them out!
Just went to Strange Matter tonight with a friend and it completely exceeded my expectations!
The food was so good. Â I had the vegan crab cakes with a spinach salad with roasted almonds and citrus dressing. Â It was so good I had to keep myself from licking my place. Â We finished off with the mango donuts...also amazing. Â And the best part, the entire check for for 2 people was 16 bucks! Â It doesn't get better.
This place will be an amazing music venue...and I love the art!
Can't wait to come back!
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