About

The Roosevelt is a neighborhood restaurant in a turn-of-the-last-century building in Church Hill, Richmond's oldest neighborhood. Our food is an untraditional celebration of the food of the South, served alongside a great wine list, a hearty roster of regional beers, and a selection of craft cocktails that'll knock your socks off.

The Roosevelt opened in Richmond, Virginia, in July 2011, to public and critical acclaim. The Roosevelt was named 2012 Restaurant of the Year by Style Magazine, Best New Restaurant in the Region by Richmond Magazine and awarded an Elby as the city's Best New Restaurant. The Roosevelt was again awarded Elbys in 2013 & 2017 for Best Cocktail Program, and in 2014 for Restaurant of the Year and Chef of the Year.

Originally from Chesterfield, Virginia, and a graduate of Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, Chef Leah Branch was named one of "Richmond Dining All-Stars" in both 2022 and 2023, and was listed on of Richmond's "Top 40 Under 40" in 2023. Her cooking has been featured on the Today Show, Vice Magazine and the Cooking Channel's "Sugar Showdown". Branch has a strong passion for Southern cuisine and strives to explore our regional foodways at The Roosevelt.

With a wealth of experience, Restaurant Manager Sara Kerfoot most recently operated The Feed Store smokehouse and bottle shop in Maidens, Virginia, and served as general manager at both Saison and Saison Market. She was nominated to the Most Valuable Staffer at the Elby awards in 2019.

Mark W. Herndon is an owner/partner in multiple restaurant ventures, including Buckhead’s Restaurant & Chop House and Square Burger, a casual dining concept in McKinney, Texas. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Mark was previously the chef at Virginia's Executive Mansion, serving under three governors. He currently sits on the Board of Directors of VCB Financial Group andVirginia Commonwealth Bank's Community Board. Additionally Mark is a past board member of the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association and for Reynolds Community College Culinary and Hospitality Program, and the non-profit, The Doorways.

In addition to The Roosevelt, Kendra Feather owns 2 other restaurants in Richmond, Virginia. She opened Garnett's Cafe in 2009, and Laura Lee's in September 2016. Feather was also a founding partner in WPA Bakery in 2012, and opened Ipanema Cafe in 1998. She was named Restaurateur of the Year by Richmond Magazine in 2013, and featured in The Virginia Table in 2015.