Richmond Dining-Out scene

[burt]

Does anybody know the opening date for Kona Grille at West Broad Village?

I bet a quarter Tommy (TBurban) could find out for us. Also, Tommy, what can you tell us about the status of MC CORMICK AND SCHMICKS?

The manager of KONA GRILL is the former owner/manager of LA PETITE FRANCE just before its closure. The gentleman, whose name I cannot recall, spent a lengthy time in Phoenix training for his duties at KONA GRILL. I believe KG in WBV is one of very few on the East Coast and that its menu is heavy on seafood.

DAVE AND BUSTER'S is reportely opening in March at WBV.

[nhughes]

Richmond's Indian restaurants can't equal those in London or along East 6th Street in Manhattan's East Village, but RUCHEE UNIQUE INDIAN CUISINE is attracting considerable praise from the local press.

Tess Autrey Bosher adds her approval in the current Style Weekly.

Look for an expansion soon in The Fan near VCU.

RUCHEE UNIQUE INDIAN CUISINE

9930 Midlothian Tpk in Midlothian Green Shopping Center

tel. 804/323-5999

Website: http://www.rucheeuniqueindiancuisine.com

Smoke-free, but it appears in the "view gallery" of the above website that nipping is permitted

RUCHEE EXPRESS is the location you're referring to in the Fan. The address is 1201 West Main Street, where FAT LARRY'S STEAKS & HOAGIES was. They opened last week.

I just got off of the phone with the owner a few minutes ago just to check in. I sold FAT LARRY'S to them about two months ago. (meaning that I brokered the deal)

I'm glad to hear they are getting such good press, especially with the opening of their new location!

Edited January 21, 2009 by nhughes

[burt]

RUCHEE EXPRESS is the location you're referring to in the Fan. The address is 1201 West Main Street, where FAT LARRY'S STEAKS & HOAGIES was. They opened last week.

I just got off of the phone with the owner a few minutes ago just to check in. I sold FAT LARRY'S to them about two months ago. (meaning that I brokered the deal)

I'm glad to hear they are getting such good press, especially with the opening of their new location!

Thanks, Nathan for the info on RUCHEE EXPRESS at 1201 West Main. The word "Express" might lead some to think it is struictly a take-out version of RUCHEE UNIQUE INDIAN CUISINE on Midlothian Tpk. Is it large enough for indoor dining?

[nhughes]

Thanks, Nathan for the info on RUCHEE EXPRESS at 1201 West Main. The word "Express" might lead some to think it is struictly a take-out version of RUCHEE UNIQUE INDIAN CUISINE on Midlothian Tpk. Is it large enough for indoor dining?

There are only about 15 seats, so it is primarily take out.

crashvt03: Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that I read in the paper this morning that KONA GRILL is opening either today or tomorrow.

[crashvt03]

crashvt03: Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that I read in the paper this morning that KONA GRILL is opening either today or tomorrow.

You're right. I just found this on RTD online:

Kona Grill opens its first Richmond location today in West Broad Village (11221 W. Broad St.). The steak-seafood-sushi-noodles restaurant will be open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday (including brunch until 4 p.m.), 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 11 a.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday.

For more information, call (804) 364-5660. To see a full menu, visit http://www.konagrill.com.

[burt]

"Gibson's got it down" writes Dana Craig in today's Richmond Times Dispatch.

Read her three-star review and check out the slide show.

http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/entertain...-175344/184852/

GIBSON'S GRILL

708 East Broad Street in The National

tel. 804/644-2637

Web Site: http://www.gibsonsgrill.com/

Dana's rating: 3 Stars

Noise level: High

Smoke-free

Tab for two: $38

Edited January 23, 2009 by burt

[wrldcoupe4]

Maybe it would've been 4 stars if she tried the lamb burger... amazing.

[burt]

Melissa Ruggieri confirmed yesterday in her R-TD Table Talk column that KONA GRILL is now open in West Broad Village.

[burt]

Wine bars flourish in Metro Richmond.

Here's an illuminating story by Olympia Meola in today's R-TD:

http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/business/...-235433/181464/

[burt]

Somehow in her dining-out career Dana Craig has missed out on the pleasures of AMICI, the Northern Italian eatery in Carytown.

A recent visit to the newly remodeled osteria brings forth a three-and-a-half star rating in her Times Dispatch review with slideshow.

http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/entertain...-184809/191437/

AMICI

3343 West Cary Street

tel. 804/353-4700

Website: http://www.amiciristorante.net

Dana's Rating -- 3 1/2 stars

Noise level - High

Smoke-free

Tab for two: $81

Edited January 30, 2009 by burt

[burt]

A couple of years ago former restaurant critic Davis Morton wrote rhapsodically about a South Side restaurant called ANDRES.

Ginger Warder, writing this week in Richmond dot com, visited the place for lunch recently and was quite impressed. While the name has been changed to MY RESTAURANT, its website hasn't been significantly altered.

If I recall Mr. Morton's review, the former ANDRES was run by an Asian couple who imbued the menu with a Far East flair.

Here are Ginger's comments:

http://www.richmond.com/restaurants-dining/25974

MY RESTAURANT

3511 Courthouse Road

Rockwood Plaza at Courthouse Road and Hull Street Road

Tel. 804/276-8677

Website: http://www.andresgrille.com

Edited January 31, 2009 by burt

[burt]

Here's an interesting story by Andy Taylor in today's R-TD about survival in the restaurant business:

http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/business/...-233410/193831/

I'm a little surprised Andy didn't profile THE TOBACCO COMPANY. It has been around since the 1970's and, as far as I know, is still profitable. Way back at the beginning it was the top grossing restaurant in the area.

[burt]

CHIPOTLE opened its first Richmond location in 2003 at Stony Point Fashion Park. By late spring, its eighth Richmond area eatery will debut at West Grace and Laurel Streets in the former Pizza Hut near VCU.

Almost directly across Grace Street is the former HYPERLINK restaurant/bar/club -- still open but under a new name. It was built as The Biograph Theater in the 1960's but was shuttered for a long time before being converted. The Biograph showed interesting artsy movies rarely seen on other local screens.

[burt]

Here's Louis Llovio's column from today's R-TD which includes the story about CHIPOTLE's VCU location.

Louis also tells us about HOMEMADES BY SUZANNE beginning lunch service in the Colony Club at 10 East Franklin. This address is the town house that I personally think is one of the most successful and refreshing rehabs in the city.

Llovio includes a piece on retail promotion in Shockoe Slip.

http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/business/...-233715/193835/

Edited February 2, 2009 by burt

[nhughes]

Almost directly across Grace Street is the former HYPERLINK restaurant/bar/club -- still open but under a new name. It was built as The Biograph Theater in the 1960's but was shuttered for a long time before being converted. The Biograph showed interesting artsy movies rarely seen on other local screens.

That's an interesting way to say that it was a XXX theater, burt.... Or am I getting it mixed up with another spot on Grace? I know there was a XXX theater on that part of Grace about 15-20 years ago, but I could have sworn it was the Biograph.

[burt]

That's an interesting way to say that it was a XXX theater, burt.... Or am I getting it mixed up with another spot on Grace? I know there was a XXX theater on that part of Grace about 15-20 years ago, but I could have sworn it was the Biograph.

Nope, you're wrong on that Nathan. Not to say the Biograph didn't run some pretty far-out films, but it was never a porn grind house.

However, a block west, The circa 1930's Lee Theatre morphed from second-run movies to art cinema in the 1950's/60's and finally went XXX before being purchased by VCU. The University did a neat renovation including enlarging the stage and it is now known as The Grace Street Theatre. It is used frequently for dance concerts.

IPANEMA, by the way, is a fun vegetarian restaurant across the street from The Grace Street Theatre. So next you go to a dance program, IPANEMA and EDO'S SQUID (around the corner on Harrison Street) are good nearby dining options.

[nhughes]

Nope, you're wrong on that Nathan. Not to say the Biograph didn't run some pretty far-out films, but it was never a porn grind house.

However, a block west, The circa 1930's Lee Theatre morphed from second-run movies to art cinema in the 1950's/60's and finally went XXX before being purchased by VCU. The University did a neat renovation including enlarging the stage and it is now known as The Grace Street Theatre. It is used frequently for dance concerts.

IPANEMA, by the way, is a fun vegetarian restaurant across the street from The Grace Street Theatre. So next you go to a dance program, IPANEMA and EDO'S SQUID (around the corner on Harrison Street) are good nearby dining options.

Aahh, gotcha -- thanks for clearing that up!

[burt]

Style Weekly food critic, John Haddad, has discovered a new Italian restaurant south of the James. It is called MEDITERRANEO CUISINE and is in Powhatan County at the junction of Rt. 711 and Winterfield Road within sight of the ramps leading to Rt. 288.

MEDITERRANEO CUISINE

3730 Winterfield Road

Tel. 804/794-5350

Although actually in Powhatan County the address is Midlothian (zip 23113.) It is in a shopping center where the newly aligned Winterfield Road intersects Huguenot Trail (also known as Rt. 711.)

If I'm not mistaken, there is a golf club with a restaurant nearby on Winterfield Road.

Edited February 5, 2009 by burt

[jbjust]

Mediterraneo is awesome. Possibly the best atmosphere south of the river apart from Ruth's Chris.

[burt]

Style's Deveron Timberlake says that CAFE GUTENBERG at 17th and East Main Streets in Shockoe Bottom (tel. 804-497-5000) is closed until the end of February. New owners/chefs Jen Mendell and Garrett Berry are spiffing up the place and re-designing the menu.

Their web site also is being redesigned and will be up soon. http://www.cafegutenberg.com

Edited February 5, 2009 by burt

[burt]

Mediterraneo is awesome. Possibly the best atmosphere south of the river apart from Ruth's Chris.

Thanks, jb. Here is John Haddad's full review from this week's Style Weekly:

http://www.styleweekly.com/ME2/Audiences/d...9D3430288834D1D

[burt]

Who would think a diner could garner a 3-star rating?

Well, that's exactly what Dana Craig awards RIVER CITY DINER in today's R-TD:

If you find the wait at Lulu's not to your liking, slip a few doors down 17th Street to RIVER CITY where you'll find similar, if less imaginative grub.

Here's Dana's full review with slide show:

http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/entertain...-182411/198235/

RIVER CITY DINER

7 North 17th Street (in Shockoe Bottom)

tel. 804/644-9418

Web Site: http://www.richmondcitydiner.com

Noise level: Average

Smoking allowed

Tab for two: $34

Edited February 5, 2009 by burt

[burt]

Melissa Ruggieri's Table Talk column in today's R-TD let's us know that the former BOTTOMS UP PIZZA at 11389 Nuckols Road in the Short Pump area has dropped its affiliation with the famous Shockoe Bottom mother ship and now calls itself PARADISE PIZZA. It's a perception thing. Folks just think it can't be as good as the original BOTTOMS UP despite the exact duplication of the menu and preparation. Meanwhile, both ships sail on under different flags -- one flying at Nuckols Road and the original proudly waving over the corner of 17th and Dock Streets.

PARADISE PIZZA, tel. 804/249-2000 -- website under construction.

BOTTOMS UP, tel. 804/644-4000 -- website: http://www.bottomsuppizza.com

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AURORA at 4th and Grace Streets will begin dance parties on Friday nights starting on the 13th of the month. Metro Mambo will feature live music and professional dancers to show you how to move to the Latin beat.

AURORA, tel. 804/644-5380 -- website: http://www.aurorarichmond.com

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My note (not from Melissa): VAULT is mentioned as a hot dance spot in a current Richmond magazine story. Not true -- yet! But the long promised club beneath BANK at 1005 East Main Street is still on for a summer opening -- if it can ever get its city permits. Meanwhile, BANK still serves delicious meals and presents a DJ spinning for dancers on week-ends. BANK appeals to Richmond's International set among other trend setters.

BANK, tel. 804/648-3070 -- website: http://www.bankandvault.com

Edited February 5, 2009 by burt

[Shakman]

I finally got to make it to Julep's for dinner. Some of the best cooking I have ever had.

[burt]

Richmond dot com food critic Ginger Warder tries out vegetarian (or vegan) on Harrison Street in The Fan.

The pictures on the website of the two-level coffee shop look almost European to me -- specifically, Germanic.

http://www.richmond.com/restaurants-dining/26017

HARRISON STREET COFFEE SHOP

402 N. Harrison Street

tel. 804/359-8060

Website: http://www.harrisonstcoffeeshop.blogspot.com

Smoke free

Edited February 6, 2009 by burt