Richmond Dining-Out scene

[burt]

I just tried CONCH REPUBLIC last night and was quite pleased. The service was excellent and it is nice actually eating along the James. The food was good though Lady Narlin's on Main and Stafford makes a better Po-Boy in my opinion. At 9pm on a Thursday both CONCH REPUBLIC and THE BOATHOUSE had a decent crowd. I noticed the same when I drove by Sunday evening.

I really wish ZUPPA's had worked out.

Here are some photos of THE CONCH REPUBLIC on The James River at Rocketts Landing:

From Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond...cketts/gallery/

A note to non-Richmonders:

You may be confused by contrasting pictures of the James River at Richmond. The city is at the fall line of the river. It is navigable to ocean-going ships (if they're not too big) to a point just upstream from Rocketts Landing (location of the CONCH REPUBLIC pictured above.) West of there (at about 14th Street (Mayo's) Bridge), the river is no longer tidal. For a stretch of about 10 miles from downtown to Rt. 288 west of the city, the James is a raging white-water river popular with kayakers, tubers and swimmers. It contains rapids up to Class IV and offers spectacular views of the downtown skyline.

Edited May 29, 2011 by burt

[burt]

The Annual BROAD APPETIT chowdown on West Broad, spanning the three Presidential streets named for Adams, Jefferson and Monroe, is this Sunday, June 5th between 11AM and 5PM.

About 60 restaurants will be dishing up their specialities.

Here's the website:

http://www.broadappetit.com/

First Friday Art Walk is this Friday (June 3rd) in The Gallery District, but you'll want to head down there again on Sunday for the food fest.

Here's a list of participating restaurants compiled by Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond...ced-ar-1063672/

Edited May 31, 2011 by burt

[burt]

Virginia's ABC laws are daunting...and confusing. A World Beer Festival which had been planned for this summer on Brown's Island was cancelled because of financial restrictions imposed by the state.

I was under the impression that the ABC laws also disallowed serving alcoholic beverages on public streets and sidewalks -- thereby discouraging restaurants from operating sidewalk bars.

Apparently, there are ways of getting around restrictions.

Deveron Timberlake's Short Order column in Style Weekly talks about the proliferation of al fresco dining and drinking in Richmond. THE REPUBLIC at Allison and West Broad Streets has fenced off a portion of a public sidewalk and, according to Deveron, is selling drinks.

From the current Style Weekly:

http://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/short-order/Content?oid=1514240

[burt]

It has taken Gary York quite a while, but he has finally opened his relocated ENOTECA SOGNO to Richmond's Northside. It occupies the former Belle'Arte restaurant at 1223 Bellevue Avenue.

The neat trattoria operated for several years on West Broad Street between Meadow and Allison Streets (now the location of The Empress.) Subsequently York opened COAST "on the Avenues" at Grove and Libbie which continues to please West Enders with excellent seafood. But a revival of ENOTECA SOGNO was always on his mind.

Take a look at the photo essay from today's Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond.com/list/enoteca-sogno/gallery/

[burt]

ZEUS GALLERY CAFE is tucked away on Belmont Avenue a couple of blocks west of The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The RTD's restaurant critic, Dana Craig, describes it as tiny, but since its inception ZEUS has expanded into the next door building and, while small, it is twice as large as its original footprint.

Dana awards ZEUS GALLERY three-and-a-half stars out of a possible four. It missed the top grade because of Dana's reservations about a pair of appetizers, although entrees, wines, desserts and service were top flight.

ZEUS GALLERY is on the pricey side.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...unp-ar-1079624/

ZEUS GALLERY CAFE

Dana's rating: 3 1/2 stars.

201 North Belmont Avenue (between Grove and Hanover Avenues in The Museum District.)

804/359-3219

Noise Level: Average to high.

Tab for two: $102.

Enjoy Dana's slideshow of ZEUS GALLERY:

http://static.mgnetwork.com/rtd/slideshows/20110602_DINE/index.html

Enjoy

Edited June 2, 2011 by burt

[burt]

After 35 years, LIBERTY VALANCE at 7017 Forest Hills Avenue has shut down. One of its features was a stage coach in the middle of the room.

If you're driving from Stratford Hills Shopping Center to Chippenham Pkwy, the restaurant building is on the left hand side of the road.

From Lou Llovio in today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/business/2011/jun/03/tdbiz01-cowboy-themed-liberty-valance-closed-ar-1082376/

[burt]

Here's a three-piece selection of Richmond's night life in three different postings.

#1. Lest anyone thinks Richmond is dull after dark, take at look at some of the pictures at the OFF THE HOOKAH website.

There are 63 pages of photos, so you might just want to click on the thumbnails that look particularly interesting.

OFF THE HOOKAH is in the old Lady Bird Hat Factory on the canal at Virginia Street in Shockoe Slip. Its 3-level club shares the building with a hot club/music hall called The Hat Factory.

http://offthehookahva.ning.com/

[burt]

#2. In my three-part series of Richmond nightlife, this is a recent concert by The Flaming Lips at The National Theatre in downtown Richmond. Click on the picture of the entertainer to see more pix.

http://chunkyglasses...ichmond-va.html

This is also posted in The National Theatre thread.

http://www.thenationalva.com

Edited June 4, 2011 by burt

[burt]

#3 and final entry in the nightlife series:

Click on RVALUTION at this website:

http://www.hatfactoryva.com

This is a weekly event held on Tuesday evenings for twelve weeks in the summer months.

The Hat Factory shares The Lady Bird Building on the canal in Shockoe Slip with Off the Hookah.

[540_804]

EXCITED FOR RVALUTION!

I just hope they can bring in some bigger name artists.

[burt]

As I type this, the number of viewers of the Richmond Dining-Out Scene thread is 222,222 .

[Culpeper Hokie]

Had the pleasure of meeting Justin Ayars, creator of a new concept restaurant to be located at 2113 E. Main St.(near Sensi), to be called "2113". He describes it as "Richmond's First Restro-lounge" and will cater to the "Bohemian-chic" crowd. He showed me a number of conceptual drawings as well as some pictures of the current construction progress. Based on his drawings and description of the atmosphere, it definitely sounds like it will be a welcome addition to the Tobacco Row area. He tells me they are looking at a mid to late August opening. He says the web site is still under construction, but some info can be found at the following: http://raisecapital.com/tag/2113--richmond-virginias-first-restro-lounge-13130

[burt]

Had the pleasure of meeting Justin Ayars, creator of a new concept restaurant to be located at 2113 E. Main St.(near Sensi), to be called "2113". He describes it as "Richmond's First Restro-lounge" and will cater to the "Bohemian-chic" crowd. He showed me a number of conceptual drawings as well as some pictures of the current construction progress. Based on his drawings and description of the atmosphere, it definitely sounds like it will be a welcome addition to the Tobacco Row area. He tells me they are looking at a mid to late August opening. He says the web site is still under construction, but some info can be found at the following: http://raisecapital....ro-lounge-13130

Thanks Hokie. That stretch on and off of East Main between 20th and 27th Streets seems to be coming alive with dining/drinking options.

In addition to 2113, an upscale burger place will soon occupy the old fire house across the street. A brewery/pub has been announced for space in a rennovated warehouse on 21st between Cary and Main Streets.

Establishments such as GLOBEHOPPER, AZIZA's, SETTE, SENSI, BOOKBINDERS, MILLIE's, HONEY WHITE's and POE'S PUB offer a variety of menus ranging from modest to expensive.

Edited June 6, 2011 by burt

[wrldcoupe4]

Interesting. This is part of the "Haxall View" project next to Glave & Holmes space.

[burt]

Interesting. This is part of the "Haxall View" project next to Glave & Holmes space.

Also, the planned brewery/pub is in Haxall View -- the section that has been converted to residential on 21st Street. The entire project of two or more old buildings wraps around the corner of South 21st and Main.

http://www.richmondb...ns-to-downtown/

Edited June 6, 2011 by burt

[wrldcoupe4]

Does anyone know what's going on in the old Henrico Courthouse at 22nd and Main?

[georgeglass]

Does anyone know what's going on in the old Henrico Courthouse at 22nd and Main?

I have been wondering the same thing for months. Obviously, something is happening. I have tried to find information online a few times and come up empty.

[georgeglass]

While we are on the topic of goings on in that general area. Does anyone know the status of the planned Haxall Brewery on 21st? I have checked there facebook page and there has been no new information in quite some time. I thought at one point, they wanted to open by the end of May. I had hoped this would happen. Anyone have any info?

[burt]

I ran across this BOTTOMS UP PIZZA website and decided to post it as a reminder that it is still an institution in The Bottom.

http://bottomsuppizza.com/our_story_bottoms_up_pizza_richmond_va.php

[burt]

I don't recall seeing this reminder in yesterday's Richmond dot com about KUBA KUBA being featured on The Food Network.

Anyway, it's too late now. But click "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" link to see the list of other restaurants in other cities that were talked about on the show.

If you click and diddle around on the website, you might be able to find the segment about KUBA KUBA's delicious con leche dessert. So far, I have not. But I'll try again when I've the time.

From Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond...ght-ar-1089060/

Edited June 7, 2011 by burt

[wrldcoupe4]

So good it was our wedding cake!

[burt]

PARKSIDE CAFE has taken a long time getting here, but Dana Craig writes in today's Times Dispatch that it was well worth the wait.

The building it occupies at 3514 Forest Hill Avenue was formerly a market. It is where Semmes Avenue curves off to become Forest Hill Avenue and is close to Woodland Heights and Forest Hill Park.

Dana's 3-star review describes the amazing variety of items on its eclectic menu.

In another review, Style Weekly summed up the menu selections thusly: "meatloaf, tamales, pasta, steak of the day, sandwiches, salads, vegetarian (and) desserts in a charming neighborhood cafe."

Another reviewer praises the pimento cheese sandwiches and banana beignets with creme fraiche ice cream.

Enjoy Dana Craig's RTD review. Sadly, a slideshow is not included, nor is there a website for the restaurant.

PARKSIDE CAFE

Dana's rating: 3 Stars.

3514 Forest Hill Avenue

804/864-8888

No website available

Noise level: Average

Tab for two: $53.

http://www2.timesdis...fe/food-dining/

Edited June 9, 2011 by burt

[georgeglass]

PARKSIDE CAFE has taken a long time getting here, but Dana Craig writes in today's Times Dispatch that it was well worth the wait.

The building it occupies at 3514 Forest Hill Avenue was formerly a market. It is where Semmes Avenue curves off to become Forest Hill Avenue and is close to Woodland Heights and Forest Hill Park.

Dana's 3-star review describes the amazing variety of items on its eclectic menu.

In another review, Style Weekly summed up the menu selections thusly: "meatloaf, tamales, pasta, steak of the day, sandwiches, salads, vegetarian (and) desserts in a charming neighborhood cafe."

Another reviewer praises the pimento cheese sandwiches and banana beignets with creme fraiche ice cream.

Enjoy Dana Craig's RTD review. Sadly, a slideshow is not included, nor is there a website for the restaurant.

PARKSIDE CAFE

Dana's rating: 3 Stars.

3514 Forest Hill Avenue

804/864-8888

No website available

Noise level: Average

Tab for two: $53.

http://www2.timesdis...fe/food-dining/

I can vouch for Parkside Cafe. I went there a couple of weeks ago on a Sunday with my partner and we had a very nice lunch with mimosas. I had the pork tacos which were good...(I like Alamo BBQ better). My partner had an Omelette special that he said was quite tasty. The service was great and the decor is charming. We had a nice experience and I would definitely return.

[NYCJSW]

I heard Davis and Main has closed. It sounds like the place has been on the market.

[NYCJSW]

I heard Davis and Main has closed. It sounds like the place has been on the market.