bugsy

juleps review mr and mrs bugsy took our richmond farewell dinner at juleps this past saturday. starters were sweet pea cakes for mrs and fried green tomatoes for me. we both thought that they could have put a little more pizazz in the peas, perhaps by breading and grilling the exterior. they were like squashed peas, good but not exciting. the fried green were as good as ever. we'll miss this dish. mains were scallops for mrs and halibut grilled and put on top of scrambled eggs and mushrooms for me. this halibut dish was really one of the best dishes i've been served in richmond. we had a bottle of oregon pinot gris (A to Z ) at $23/bt. perhaps the best wine value at a restaurant in town ( i think it's $15 or 16 retail) i don't have the details on mrs bugsy's dish; she liked it so much she wasn't in the sharing mode. best to all on this board and when we visit richmond again, we'll post again.

burt, being a scout for food and wine would be a dream job. i've got a good one (i'm in the wine biz) but not as good as a food scout. we did eat at Dogwood on saturday past and it was again spot on. i didn't bother to post since it wasn't that long from the last. we're heading to juleps this week end and we haven't been for a while, so i'll report in. it will be our last dining out as residents of Richmond. we're moving full time to Taos, NM. i'll still travel back here on biz,so keep eatin' and reportin' so i know where to go on my return visits. best to all, john and sarah (aka mr and mrs bugsy)

yes, it's the july issue. perhaps the subscribers get it earlier than the news stands. it's VERY positive and gives a little history also.

mrs bugsy just got her july isue of "food and wine" and ,holy cow, there's an article on the Richmond restaurant scene. they don't yet have it on the online site, but it should come up soon.

acacia...last week they had one of their "mini" wine dinners...not sure why they use the term mini. but you should all sign up with them to receive their e-mails on these special dinners. 1st course was cold asparagus soup,followed by a duck confit/watermelon salad and then the main course was a duo of soft shells over homemade fettucinni with corn and peas. what a great way to celebrate spring! the dinner included a small glass (perhaps this is the mini part) of wine with each course. the price before tax and tip was $32/person. wow! if there is a better bargain in Richmond for fine dining, please let me know!

Millie's diner mr and mrs bugsy were able to be seated without wait at 7.00PM this past Saturday after enjoying the movie "HOAX" (based on the true story, this movie was great). we started with a basic green salad and a zucchini fritter. salad was fine; fritter with a base of tomato coulis was really outstanding. mains were a thai shrimp dish for mrs bugsy and a tuna "steak" for me. mrs could manage to eat only one of her shrimp reporting that they did not taste fresh. the noodles and spices were very good...perhaps we should have complained....the tuna done rare on top of some sweet potatoes mashed was very good. a bottle of kermit lynch "cotes du rhone" at $ 26 and the bill totaled $ 94 before tip. the shrimp quality spoiled an otherwise fine outing.

let the games begin now that march madness is almost over! mr and mrs bugsy went to mamma zu monday night for the 1st time since we lived in richmond (over a year). we frankly had avoided it with the comments about nasty service and the fact that they don't take reservations. but, we love 81/2 which serves mz stuff and decided to go. we were promptly seated at our arrival at 7.30 and service was among the best we've experienced in richmond...informed on the menu items and efficient and very pleasant without interruption. food ?? sweet breads among the top ive had as far as the meat and breading goes, perhaps i'd order the sauce on the side next time....mrs bugsy had veal marsalla that was good if not overshadowed by the sweet breads. the squid and bean and arugala salad was awesome... a bottle of felsina chianti classico 2004 at $24 made this whole experience among the top in richmond ....sure, go in t-craps and jeans and lock your car, but this was fun and good !

howdy all mr and mrs bugsy went to 27 after seeing Zodiac (must see) without a reservation this past sat. night and was seated in the bar area at once. service was great, in spite of past news reports to the contrary. my caesar to start was only $5 and was large and well done. mrs bugsy had an asparagus and crab meat salad for $9 that was "terrific". she had the striped bass special with suburb haricots verts and mashed and she loved it also ($20). my main was beef paillard, which i don't ever recall having in a restaurant before covered completely with a pile of sweet potatoe fries....normal man has only one chance in 10 of finishing this dish $19 !!). good bistro fare ! only complaint was that the wine list was made up of poor representatives of their genre. ...good service, good food and plenty of it and nice place make this a place to return to. my first visit went well.

dogwood grill on main in the fan was where i went saturday last. mrs bugsy was out of town so i sat at the bar. ...they now prohibit smoking even at the bar. service by the busy bar manager was very good, even with a packed house. started with the grilled romaine salad($8) and then to a pork tenderloin($22), cooked med as requested and served with some southwest type salsa (fresh) and good haricot verts. a d'arenburg shiraz at about $30 went down real nice and i was happy that i didn't drive to the restaurant and walked home very contented (perhaps a tad wobbaly)

julips on east franklin...they do have a web-site with menus mr and mrs bugsy had a tasty and enjoyable dinner here a couple nights back. we were seated upstairs and it was a pleasant setting....i didn't notice smoke, so perhaps it's not allowed. fried green tomatoes and caesar salad were the beginning...both good, but the portion on the salad was a tad small. mains were both excellent; a gumbo with shrimp and chicken and sausage over polenta and a mahi-mahi stack. a wine list that is among the most reasonably priced in town and decent wine stems and good service puts this in my top 5 in Richmond. ( they told me that on mondays most wines are 40% off ) go and enjoy !

avenue 805 on Davis near Broad is a place that mr and mrs bugsy have enjoyed a couple times recently. very reasonable prices ($3.50 for house salad and $10 pasta plates) and some daily specials that were quite creative. $ 32 for a bottle of joel gott zin and you're in heaven....at least for a little while.

bugsy and mrs bugsy live on grove ave near strawberry and i can walk to 81/2..in fact i did last night. the white pizza made me forget how stinky the weather is !!

i'm new to the board and to richmond also...was never here to try Duro's previous life...altho' my credit card printed out Limani. we found it not to be unique at all...it's been a few weeks since we were there and i can't remember what we ate...bad sign ! i do recall that the wine list was terrible: way too small and way overpriced and even then they had items crossed out by hand.stemware equal to the qualiyy of the list. i can't understand why owner and especially chef/owners don't realize that they can make mucho bucks by having good wines and good stemware ??? i'm bringing my own Riedel's and i'll keep reporting... i must say that we love take out from 81/2 !