checkplease
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Posts posted by checkplease
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Agreed, thanks for the in depth review. I've yet to try Karsen's but a co-worker loves the place. Congrats to Burt on this thread making it to the 6 figures in views!
But wait, didn't Burt say he wasn't going to post anymore after it hit that mark?
Say it ain't so.
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I have heard, from a very reliable inside source inside Acapella's that the management was skimming off the top, and did not make the necessary payments to the landlord and thus, the place was padlocked. They showed up for work one day, and couldn't get in.
I haven't heard anything about Accapella other than they lost their lease. I don't know what the reason is.
As far as Cafe Gutenberg goes, the guy who owns the building and the restaurant is selling. The original plan was that someone would buy the building and the restaurant, hopefully keeping it as is. However, there haven't been any buyers (bad market I guess), so Cafe Gutenberg is closing this weekend (I think).
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El Nopal (East End) Great little stop for lunch
Qdoba - Stopped there once and loved it!
Never found a "good" chinese restuarant
I agree with Full Kee. About as authentic as you're gonna get in Richmond. I also like Mandarin Palace in the Stratford Hills shopping center. It's been around for ages, but it's still the best Chinese (other than Full Kee) I've had in Richmond.
We have so much great Thai and Vietnamese I don't understand why the Chinese options are so lacking.
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Hey folks, I am new to this site and am enjoying the Richmond restaurant talk. Everyone really seems to know their stuff and have enthusiasm. Quick question after reading about LuLu's... What's going on with the rest of the 17th Street area in Shockoe Bottom. I have heard things about a pianao bar and the fireman's themed halligan's but don't know what to make of it all. Any news?? Thanks for the great posts
Here's some info about Halligan. It's going to be next to Cafe Gutenberg in the old Kitchen Table location. It was supposed to have opened already, but word on the street is that the opening has been delayed until Spring. That's how restaurant openings go I guess. I can't remember one that's actually opened on time.
As far as a piano bar goes, that's news to me. I'll ask around and see what I can find out. The only piano bar I currently know about in Richmond is the Piano Club Steak & Seafood on West Broad Street.
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Hey, Karri: I just called LULU's (804/343-9771) and learned that they've been open for about two months already. There was a lot of crowd noise in the background, an indication that they're doing a booming lunch business. It is in those buildings that have had posters on their windows for months advertising a "new restaurant opening soon." It's Directly across from HAVANA 59, Lunch 'til 3PM and dinner "til 11PM.
Seems like most foodies have known about LULU'S opening long before it actually happened, including most of the major media outlets. In fact, Richmond magazine published LuLu's menu and website more than two months ago in their Dine supplement.
I swung by there the first week it was open, and they didn't have a liquor license yet. Sadly, the place was almost empty. However, I had dinner there about 2 weeks ago, and it was incredible. You'd never know the place was "new." It's actually across the street and one block down from Havana '59 (behind the Farmer's Market). If memory serves me correctly, I think it's in the old Chetti's location. I could be wrong though.
Anyway, it's already a very popular hot spot. One bite of the grilled salmon in a black bean coconut broth is enough reason to know why. Delish.
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Yep, that's where the crowd I was hanging out with stayed. They have a really nice fire place near the back upstairs. They also have three cool ceiling features that slowly change colors. Also, there was about a 5 minute wait to get in at midnight because they were at capacity. Nope, didn't get a chance to try the food but will let you know when I do.
Ha, I was at Delux on Saturday night too, and I second all you've said. The space is amazing. I can't believe we were in the Fan. The fireplace is a nice touch. We were there around 10 pm and there wasn't a line. In fact, it was full but not obnoxiously crowded. The martinis were insanely strong. Wish we had gotten a chance to try to the food. The two gentlemen enjoying dessert behind us looked very pleased.
I can't wait to go back.
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I hope Dana Craig will be back tomorrow in The Times Dispatch with one of her great restaurant reports. If there was a review last week, I couldn't find it.
I don't get the RTD website. Everything moves around, and then once it's not on the front page, articles are hard to find. I dug up last week's RTD review:
And this week's is on the homepage but who knows how long it will stay there:
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I'd be interested to hear details. I don't know anything about it.
Sadly, it's owned by the same company as Blue Point. Good to know Blue Point finally accepted its failure, but I don't have great hope for another spawn of Restaurants America.
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ACACIA NEWS
Just got this email...I heard the location will be in Rockett's Landing
Hello Friends and Loyal Customers,
Acacia opened nearly 10 years ago, we have had great success, great press,
national recognition, and awards. We have great loyal guests who have helped
build Acacia and make it what it is today and we have had the good fortune to
have an awesome staff.
We have done our best to work with the challenging space Acacia occupied. The
time has come for Acacia to stand alone. We are in the process of looking for
the perfect spot to continue the experience Acacia deserves. Acacia will serve
its last meal in our current location on December 31, 2007.
We are excited about this move and hope you will share in our excitement. Please
know that we will keep you informed as we unveil the new Acacia space. Thank you
again for your support in making the 10 year experience of Acacia a success.
We look forward to seeing each of you in the coming months ahead as we
transition to Acacias next marquee.
Sincerely,
Aline and Dale Reitzer
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Recommendation Request Seafood Restuarant
Celebrating birthday for family member (in their 50s but don't tell them I said that
) and I'd like to visit a resaturant that has a laid back atmosphere, seafood dishes fried or baked (dietary reasons), and a tab between $10-$15 per dish for the main course. Flexible w/ location, but prefer something Central to downtown, Fan, or Midlothian areas. Also, preference of a restuarant that have Sat and Sun brunch or early dinner hours.
Thanks
Pescados in Midlothian is by far the best, but the prices are around $20 per entree. It's seafood with a Latin touch (not traditional at all). No brunch.
I really like Crab Louie's in Midlothian as well. It's still not $10 an entree but reasonable and more traditional preparation. Plus the homemade bread is to die for.
Shacklefords in the West End is great too. I think most of their entrees are in the $15ish range. They also have a Sunday brunch.
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Jon:
Thanks so much - Didn't get to read this till just now, as we are just back from TDB. The actual choice became simple on learning that Epanema is closed Sunday. But you have reinforced the choice we came to and I'll add my fresh recollections for the record. The Salad bar was great. A far from complete list of items extracted from an old hard to access brain (mine) include: All standard
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When was Thai Curry House sold? That's my favorite one of all and I ate there just two weeks ago.
I've heard several folks rave about Pescados, but haven't been there myself.
PESCADOS is THE best! It's hidden in Midlothian and not a lot of people know about it. Some clueless woman over at Richmond.com slammed it, but it is excellent. I recommend the crab nachos (enough to feed 6) and the voodoo shrimp. They also have a $14.95 portion of the menu with stuff like tilapia tacos.
It looks like a beach bar inside (brightly colored, casual), but the food is anything but. It's actually kinda pricey but worth every penny. They have an enchilada with crab cakes and jumbo shrimp inside. Insanely good. Also, most entrees are served with saffron potato cakes. Truly addictive.
It's not really "Mexican" at all. The specials are along the lines of Limani's exotic catches (loup de mer, opah, escolar, etc.). And you have to try the avocado tart for dessert. The chef's wife makes it. Yum.
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Tab for two: $81 (I think Dana and her parties are on the wagon, unless the TD is not paying for booze anymore.)
http://www.timesdispatch.com/cva/ric/enter...07-19-0025.html
Ha. Come on now, what's dinner without drinks?
I was reading Your Two Cents in the Sunday Commentary section recently, and I noticed someone wrote in "complaining" that the restaurant reviews shouldn't include anything but the cost for food since some people drink, others don't and people tip differently. Something about sticker shock turning away those who don't drink, etc.
I noticed the tab for two "decreased" after that. The parens beside the cost just says food and tax now. Maybe they read the Two Cents thing and changed the reported tab.
Has anyone heard anything good about KARSEN'S in Carytown? All I've heard is that it's expensive. I think it opened last week.
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I hear that KITCHEN 64 on North Boulevard is doing quite well -- and that when full, it can be noisy.
Yes, I've heard they've been quite busy, and sadly, I've also heard they've been doing a poor job of handling it. While I have not been personally (although I am quite eager to go), I have heard more bad stories than good from friends who have gone. Granted, any new restaurant needs time to get going, but it seems a bit surprising that the owners (who are very experienced, also owning Sidewalk Cafe, Kuba Kuba and 3 Monkeys) wouldn't have expected the rush. People have been anticipating its opening for months.
I'm not quite sure what direction the menu is going in. It seems like a confused cross between a breakfast-lunch-dinner diner and something more like Avalon. Can anyone else offer their experience?
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Yeah, I found out that the chef's mom apparently makes all the desserts herself.
It's insanely coincidental that you should mention Kuba Kuba wedding cake thing, because the night before last, I had a dream where I was planning a wedding reception for a friend of mine. In the dream, I called Kuba Kuba and had them make a customized layered Tres Leche Cake!
You know you're addicted when you're having dreams about it! Was the groom's cake at your wedding layered or just like the regular whole cake?
Oh, I dream about desserts all the time. Have you ever had the peanut butter pie at Grandpa Eddie's? Or the banana pudding creme brulee at Comfort? These crop up in my most random of dreams.
I didn't even think to ask if they could make the Tres Leches Cake in a different size. Our groom's cake was actually 3 of the regular round Tres Leches Cakes. Just as good though! I would think if they made it bigger to serve more people, you'd get less icing per slice. Now that would be a crime.
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Ma Musu's is unfortunately the only of the restaurants you listed that I have tried. It was pretty decent though... buffet style where you pay by the weight.
Quick question for anyone though: Why is the Tres Leche Cake at Kuba Kuba so ridiculously good??!?!?!?!? ANyone else a huge fan? I often go there just to get a slice in a carryout box!
Oh my lord, you're speaking my language. The Tres Leche Cake at Kuba Kuba is like crack. I'll order one piece and want more and more. We found out you can buy whole cakes in advance and had one made as our groom's cake at our wedding. Heaven. I think it's the owner's family recipe or something. Either way, it's my favorite.
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I know this is off-topic, but I had Chocolate Mousse at The White Dog yesterday and..... oh... my... goodness. Although it was my second time having it, it was just as rich and awesomely delicious as I remember.
Okay, back to Zuppa. What's the "best" soup there?
Everyone loves the She Crab, but I'm not a big fan. However, the Thai Chicken Noodle rocks! And personally, I love the bread. Texas Toast it is, but how can you not love big thick bread with lots of butter toasted in?
I was there for lunch on Tuesday. They had a sandwich special that was incredible: blackened wahoo with mango salsa....on Texas Toast.
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India K'Raja is OK, but that's about it. I much prefer Royal India and Malabar.
Shish Kabob, which is tucked in behind Fuddruckers at Broad/Parham, is a quite good Pakistani place (and perhaps the only one in town).
There's actually a relatively new Pakistani restaurant I've been wanting to try: Kabab Grille. Apparently, it's not much to speak of visually (rather dive-ish), but it's supposed to be very good Pakistani. The online menu does look very similar to many Indian menus.
Speaking of Indian restaurants, my favorite, hands down, is India Garden & Grill, strangely also in Midlothian, an area of town I don't get to very often. India Garden & Grill is the only Indian restaurant I've been to in Richmond that does both Northern and Southern Indian cuisine very well. It's usually one or the other. If I recall correctly, Malabar is one of the few solely Southern Indian restaurants around.
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Matt Tlusty is now executive chef at the Carytown Seafood place out in Innsbrook. I'd say he's not going to open any sort of place of his own anytime soon.
Interesting you bring him up because I just saw an ad in Richmond Magazine for Carytown Seafood and I was puzzled. I remember reading Tlusty was no longer doing the hamburger thing, instead taking over CSaI and trying to make it the next Limani. However, the ad I saw listed someone else as the executive chef.
All I know is after I ate there I had absolutely no plans to return, so let's hope CSaI gets itself in gear.
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Building Permits reveals that Sam's Associates ll LLC is preparing 21 North 17th Street to the tune of $125,385 for build-out as a restaurant and office space.
Before The Bottom was "in", there was a worker's restaurant at that location called SAM's. It's on the s/e corner of 17th at Franklin and has been vacant for some time.
Is this the old location of THE KITCHEN TABLE, located next to CAFE GUTENBURG? I heard the owners of MILLIE'S DINER were taking over that space and turning it into a restaurant called LULU'S but I can't find any information on it.
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How come no one has mentioned HANNA SUSHI in The Slip. I've been told that is the most authentic of all.
Hana Zushi has changed names and owners (?). I haven't been there since it switched, but from the outside it looks the same.
Niwanohana Japanese Restaurant
1309 East Cary Street
804-225-8801
I was never that impressed with Hana Zushi. To me, it was just like everywhere else, includiing random non-authentic sushi with cream cheese or tempura to appeal to the American palate. However, the bento boxes at lunch are big, filling and good. Have no idea if it's still the same. Anyone been?
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Nara sushi has somehow become a better music venue than a sushi restaurant lately.
Only advice I can offer is go to either Akida. A friend of mine works in the kitchen in the Fan location, and ensures the quality of the sushi.
I've also heard that Ichiban in the West End is pretty awesome. Never been though.
Ohh, if we're talking sushi, I have to weigh in. I cannot agree more than Nara is the WORST place I have ever eaten. It floors me that they are still in business. Maybe it's the music you mention. I'm honestly surprised I didn't get food poisoning. Ugh.
Never been to Sumo San but I've heard "Love it!" or "Hate it!" and nothing in between.
Osaka on River Road is my favorite sushi spot, but it's kinda pricey. Definitely worth it though.
Akida is great for straightforward sushi, and it's consistently good.
If you haven't been to Ichiban, go now! It's great! Not only are the owners wonderful, but the sushi is great and not overpriced.
I was disappointed by Haru Sushi in the Village shopping center: too over-priced. I'd rather go to Ukrop's at the end of the shopping center.
Kobe in Shockoe Slip is pretty good, but it's more expensive than most places. I've heard they have sushi happy hour after work with discounted rolls.
I heard a new sushi place is opening in Carytown where Indochine used to be. The windows have been papered forever but I drove by there yesterday, and the paper's gone and a "now hiring" sign is in the window.
Ok, now I'm done. Sorry, just love sushi so I had to add my two cents.
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Landmark Communications owns Style, along with the Virginian-Pilot, Roanoke Times, Greensboro News & Record, Portfolio, and several freebie auto/job rags. Media General, parent of the Times-Dispatch, owns Brick, which is disappointing on many levels.
I agree Brick is disappointing. Maybe because it's still trying to find its legs. I think it needs time. I wasn't around town when Style debuted, so I don't know if it went through the same growing pains.
And of course, I have to point out that Brick's restaurant coverage is rather sad (you know, to stay on topic). I've read a few "reviews" that are basically a college-age girl's account of taking sake shots at a sushi restaurant. What's up with that?
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I was told that Style Weekly was funded by the Richmond Times Dispatch. I didn't want to believe it, but is it true? Or are they COMPLETELY indepedent from one another?
Hey BreakfastPills, are you thinking of Brick? It's a new "independent weekly" that is funded by the Times-Dispatch or Media General...not sure which exactly but either way it's connected to the RTD. I've noticed some of the writers for the RTD also write articles for Brick.
Check out the website Brick
Maybe it's just me, but I'm not quite sure how it can be an "independent weekly" if it's funded by the main newspaper in town. I know Style has parent company, but it's not the main newspaper's company, you know?
) and I'd like to visit a resaturant that has a laid back atmosphere, seafood dishes fried or baked (dietary reasons), and a tab between $10-$15 per dish for the main course. 
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Richmond Dining-Out scene
in Richmond
Posted
I believe it's called Moshi Moshi. Either way, I'm sure it's good since it's brought to us by the owner of Sumo San.