Richmond Dining-Out scene

[burt]

The RTD's Dana Craig revisited BISTRO R in the Short Pump area that calls itself Glen Allen because she had learned that a new chef is now in charge. In years past it has enjoyed a very nice reputation for its French/Continental cuisine.

Here's her two-and-a-half star review in today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/entertainment/dining/article/W-DINE0211_20100210-191808/323424/

BISTRO R

10190 West Broad Street

804/747-9484

Dana's rating: 2 1/2 stars

http://www.bistror.com

Smoke-free

Noise level: Low

Tab for two: $45

Edited February 11, 2010 by burt

[burt]

I wish this video of singles night at BALLICEAUX on Lombardy in The Fan were a little brighter. But the music is nice and, dim as it is, I like the look of the restaurant. It's a helluva lot swankier than when it was known as Bogarts.

http://www2.richmond.com/video/2010/feb/10/cocktails-with-caroline-31863/

Edited February 11, 2010 by burt

[burt]

If you're still pondering over where to celebrate Valentine's Day, Karri Peifer at Richmond dot com has some suggestions:

http://www2.richmond...nes-day-dining/

And/or, if you want a scrumptious Sunday Brunch on the romantic holiday, Richmond dot com's Colleen Curran offers her suggestions:

http://www2.richmond.com/content/2010/feb/09/valentines-day-brunch/

The most popular and elaborate Sunday brunch in town is weekly at The Jefferson Hotel for $42 per person. As Colleen points out there's a waiting list for tomorrow.

Edited February 13, 2010 by burt

[burt]

BUZ AND NED's famous barbecue is expanding west. FUDDRUCKERS' one location in Richmond at 8205 West Broad Street will close around April 30th. The 7,300 s/f property, built in 1985 specifically for the burger business, will be acquired by Buz Greenberg and remodeled to the tune of $1.5 million.

BUZ AND NED's far West End restaurant should be in operation by mid-summer. It's original location at 1119 N. Boulevard will remain.

Does anybody remember when Buz was talking about being the second restaurant at Bass Pro Shop? I guess we may assume that the old Fuddruckers was selected instead.

I lifted this information from Melissa Ruggieri's Table Talk column in the RTD.

Edited February 14, 2010 by burt

[KingDog]

BUZ AND NED's famous barbecue is expanding west. FUDDRUCKERS' one location in Richmond at 8205 West Broad Street will close around April 30th. The 7,300 s/f property, built in 1985 specifically for the burger business, will be acquired by Buz Greenberg and remodeled to the tune of $1.5 million.

BUZ AND NED's far West End restaurant should be in operation by mid-summer. It's original location at 1119 N. Boulevard will remain.

Does anybody remember when Buz was talking about being the second restaurant at Bass Pro Shop? I guess we may assume that the old Fuddruckers was selected instead.

I lifted this information from Melissa Ruggieri's Table Talk column in the RTD.

Shortly after Islamorada Fish Company opened up at Bass Pro, I was having dinner at the bar and ended up striking up a conversation with a guy who turned out to be Buz. At the time, he mentioned that he was about to close on the new property. It was going to be across the road from Bass Pro, not in the store itself. It's been a while since I've been there but I haven't seen much in the way of building on the outlying shops. Perhaps either financing or worries about foot traffic without the other shops is the driver? He mentioned to me what he was paying for his location on the Boulevard and it was not that much at all. He also quizzed me about where I lived and which location I would be more likely to go to. I told him I'd go to a newer location since the current one has the worst layout ever.

In other news, it looks like they are renovating the old Bennigan's building on Broad St. If I read the "coming soon" sign correctly, it's going to be a Quaker Steak and Lube. Never been to one, but I think I've heard good things. Either way, it'll be nice to have another choice in the area.

[burt]

King Dog, I must say I have never heard a more unappealing name for a restaurant than STEAK AND LUBE. Is that truly the name being considered for the former Benningan's?

[KingDog]

It is what it is. They already have a location in Newport News.

[burt]

While the Outer Banks Seafood Company dithers over a location in the Richmond area, writer and critic John Haddad of Style Weekly has discovered SUMMER SHACK in Eastern Goochland County which sounds like a very casual but inviting place.

Check out John's review:

http://styleweekly.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=69453ABEA8C04F04BDE99E11670B3A6D&AudID=B41896E73131487DA9D3430288834D1D

SUMMER SHACK

12850 Broad Street Road (one mile west of RT. 288)

804/784-4111

[burt]

ENOTECA SOGNO, the little Italian place that recently closed down on West Broad near Allison Streets, has found a new home in the former Belle Arte at 1223 Bellevue Avenue on Richmond's Northside.

Opening is expected in April.

[burt]

Obrigado, Dora, for bringing a touch of Brazil to The Slip.

Dana Craig gives DORA'S BRAZILIAN GRILL three-and-a-half stars in her Times Dispatch review.

According to the restaurant's website: "Rodizio is a style of Brazilian cuisine where customers pay one price and are served a variety of dishes throughout the evening. Food will be served until you are full."

And if you eschew cocktails and wine, two of you can get out of there for less than $60 (plus gratuity.)

Sounds like a winner to me.

http://www2.timesdis...-190005/324932/

DORA'S BRAZILIAN GRILL

1331 East Cary Street at the corner of 14th Street in Shockoe Slip

804/269-3697

Dana's rating: 3 1/2 stars

http://www.dorasbraziliangrill.com

Noise level: Average

Tab for two: $59 including tax (but not tip)

Edited February 18, 2010 by burt

[burt]

Here's a neat slideshow with voice-over of URBAN FARMHOUSE MARKET & CAFE in Shockoe Slip:

From Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond.com/content/2010/feb/18/urban-farmhouse-market-caf-photo-gallery/

[burt]

The Shockoe Slip restaurant known as RICHBRAU BREWING COMPANY at 1214 East Cary Street as well as their adjoining TAPHOUSE at 1212 East Cary have abruptly closed.

Back in November, RICHBRAU downsized the place. In years past there were always lines waiting to get in on weekend nights for food, drinks, dancing and good times.

It is a pretty large property on a couple of levels. I think it's safe to say that LA GROTTA, the excellent independently owned Italian restaurant in the cellar of the building is still in operation.

Although URBAN FARMHOUSE MARKET & CAFE and BOUCHON have revived spaces across the street, the RICHBRAU and TAPHOUSE closings leave a gap in the face of East Cary Street in The Slip.

Edited February 21, 2010 by burt

[NYCJSW]

The Shockoe Slip restaurant known as RICHBRAU BREWING COMPANY at 1214 East Cary Street as well as their adjoining TAPHOUSE at 1212 East Cary have abruptly closed.

Back in November, RICHBRAU downsized the place. In years past there were always lines waiting to get in on weekend nights for food, drinks, dancing and good times.

It is a pretty large property on a couple of levels. I think it's safe to say that LA GROTTA, the excellent independently owned Italian restaurant in the cellar of the building is still in operation.

Although URBAN FARMHOUSE MARKET & CAFE and BOUCHON have revived spaces across the street, the RICHBRAU and TAPHOUSE closings leave a gap in the face of East Cary Street in The Slip.

This one shocked me. Granted I have not been there in years but last time I stayed at the Omni we went to RICHBRAU and it was packed. Its closing is a big blow to the area.

[wrldcoupe4]

Maybe, as was the case with Pomegranate closing, it opens an opportunity for something new and better to take its place.

[burt]

I'm not at all sure, but I think the five stars that have been added to the Richmond Dining Out thread on the home page is because it's the most viewed topic on the Richmond UP forum with over 178,000 hits.

Perhaps Krazeeboi, Wrldcoupe4 and TBurban who are more familiar with Urban Planet policies can offer an explanation.

Edited February 22, 2010 by burt

[mikeas]

Richbrau had great beer... Does anyone know if they actually did their brewing on site?

[ric75]

Maybe, as was the case with Pomegranate closing, it opens an opportunity for something new and better to take its place.

That's my thinking as well. It's an amazing space in a great part of town. I have trouble believing someone won't take over... preferably a Dogfish Head brewpub

[burt]

This story from the current Style Weekly discusses recent bumps in the road that contributed to owner Mike Byrne's closing of RICHBRAU and THE TAPHOUSE in Shockoe Slip:

http://styleweekly.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=487F290CD24B4F7A9A5468AFDD85796D&AudID=20938C672A3049EEB0CF33069AEE1AE0

[jbjust]

There's no way that space doesn't get snapped up by somebody with have an idea of how to run a restaurant. That place consistently had the most uninspired and blah menu of anywhere in Richmond.

[burt]

The area of East Main Street that lies beyond The Bottom, down-slope from Church Hill as well as in and on-the-fringe of Tobacco Row is becoming more and more of a Restaurant Row in its own right. There are: Globehopper; It Must Be Heaven; Honey Whyte's Cafe; Millie's Diner; Old Original Bookbinders; Poe's Pub; Sensi, and Sette.

And then there's AZIZA's practically next door to Globehopper.

The Aziza family has been serving up Lebanese cuisine off and on since the 1950's. The most recent cafe started primarily as a deli but has expanded in size and operation to include a separate dining room offering lunch Mondays thru Fridays and dinner Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Billy Aziza, of Billy Bread fame, is the chef.

The RTD's restaurant critic, Dana Craig, offers a three-star review including a nice slideshow with Mideastern music:

http://www2.timesdis...-180007/326540/

AZIZA'S ON MAIN

2110 East Main Street

804/344-1523

Dana's rating: 3 Stars

http://www.azizasonmain.com (website is not up-to-date.)

Noise Level: Average to high

Tab for two: $62

Edited February 25, 2010 by burt

[burt]

From Melissa Ruggieri's Table Talk column in today's RTD:

Dale Reitzer, owner and head chef of ACACIA at Robinson and West Cary Streets, has been nominated for "best chef in the mid-Atlantic" and is a semi-finalist in the 2010 James Beard Foundation Awards. Finalists will be announced on March 22nd.

Edited February 26, 2010 by burt

[burt]

News today from Karri Peifer of http://www.Richmond.com:

A new Asian/fusion style restaurant called THE FANHOUSE at Robinson Street and Floyd Avenue is preparing for an official opening in about 10 days or so. The corner building most recently was known as Verbena. Prior to that, it had been Carlton's and, earlier, Konsta's.

I remember it as Cavedo's Drug Store in the first half of the 20th Century. In addition to Cavedo's being a chemists' shop, it had a soda fountain where at the age of 14 I dished up milk shakes, sundaes and banana splits and was paid the princely sum of 75 cents for a three-hour shift. It was my first after-school job and lasted about 6 months.

Welcome to THE FANHOUSE.

[Brent]

The nasty flower bed in front of this place has to go. More than food and service, I think that this kept diners away. It makes the place so completely uninviting. It is a hulking brick structure that is about three to four feet high. It leaves absolutely no room to linger outside of the restaurant (leaves just a narrow passage to enter the establishment ) and provides no waiting space (when waiting for a table). I haven't been by this location since Verbena closed but I suspect that this thing is still there. It really has to go. A small patio area with a nice bench and some potted plants would do wonders for this entrance. It would make the place much more welcoming and much better integrated into the street scene (as it stands now it creates a wall between Robinson and the restaurant). It is utterly stupid and if you haven't guessed by now, I loath it.

Edited February 27, 2010 by Brent

[burt]

Remember Pomegranate in The Slip (now BUCHON?) Kevin LaCivita who headed up the kitchen at Pomegranate now is stirring up Euro/Asian cuisine at the very popular SUSHI O on Alverser Plaza in South Richmond. Alverser Plaza near Chesterfield Town Center is its own little niche of worldly dining treats. The Belgian style BELLE VIE is nearby.

From Karri Peifer in today's Richmond dot com:

http://social.richmond.com/blog/kpeifer/2010/03/pomegranate-chef-revamps-sushi-o/

Edited March 2, 2010 by burt

[burt]

Style Weekly's Deveron Timberlake has a story in the current edition about The Virginia Wine Expo held last week at The Greater Richmond Convention Center.

It's good reading, but I don't for a minute believe that 75,000 people paid admission and jammed into the Convention Hall over a three-day period to taste and buy wine; nor do I believe that was Deveron's inrtention when she wrote in her next to last paragraph:

"The proof, though, is in the selling. This year's event is the biggest yet, with the largest number of vendors and 75,000 customers."

My guess is that her use of the word 'customers' means something other than number of bodies thru the Convention Center doors.

http://www.styleweek...9D3430288834D1D

Edited March 3, 2010 by burt