Richmond Dining-Out scene

[burt]

Here is more of the New York Times story on Richmond in case you didn't click for further coverage in the above posting.

Boy oh boy! There are a number of Richmonders who have a hate on for THE TOBACCO COMPANY (see comments after the Frommer review on the second page.) Yes, it's a restaurant geared to tourists, but the food is not half as bad as some proclaim. And the ambience is remarkable. Drop in any night around cocktail hour and you'll see plenty of locals bellying up to the bar and filling many of the tables on its 3 levels. Richmond, IMO, is lucky to have the 35+ year old restaurant which was one of the first (after Sam Miller's) to put Shockoe Slip on the map as a classy place to visit.

http://travel.nytime...d/overview.html

[burt]

CROAKER'S SPOT which opened at 1020 Hull Street after closing down at 2nd and Leigh Streets is a very popular restaurant in Manchester across the river from the Shockoe Slip district.

I've heard rumors that they may be expanding -- back into Jackson Ward with a second location in Richmond.

Meanwhile, mikeas who writes about entertainment and dining on Norfolk's Urban Planet site has heard rumors that CROAKER'S SPOT may open a restaurant on 35th Street in that city.

Jason Alley established a branch of his hot Richmond spot called COMFORT in Porrtsmouth, but it folded after a few months. Meanwhile, Alley and his partner Ry Marchant are very close to announcinging the debut of PASTURE on East Grace near 5th Street.

[burt]

A new restaurant to be called PEACOCK PANTRY will be opening soon at 1731 West Main Street in The Fan.

It will be in the building most recently known as Mainstream. Its glory days were about 5 years ago when it was the first rate Dogwood Grill.

[burt]

It's been a long time coming.

Deveron Timberlake reveals that MANSION FIVE26 and THE SPEAKEASY are open at last. Ron Stallings, the developer of the Taylor Mansion and the next-door Hippodrome on North 2nd Street, wanted everything to be just right before officially opening.

Deveron's description of MANSION FIVE26 and the accompanying photo of THE SPEAKEASY are proof that Mr. Stallings' meticulousness has paid off in the ambiance department.

From the current Style Weekly:

http://www.styleweek...ent?oid=1629024

Edited November 3, 2011 by burt

[burt]

Tess Autrey Bosher highlights the nursey rhyme about the little bird in her Style Weekly review of THE MAGPIE.

Like other Richmond reviewers she found the restaurant nestled in the city's Carver District much to her liking.

From the current Style Weekly:

http://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/rhyme-with-reason/Content?oid=1629022

THE MAGPIE

1301 West Leigh Street (at the corner of Norton Street)

804/269-0023

http://www.themagpierva.com

[burt]

jbjust, a contributor to this site, first brought THE CITIZEN to our attention.

Dana Craig has also discovered it and, unlike a pair of reviewers who shall remain nameless, she knows the exact location of CITIZEN while the others placed it in Sun Trust Plaza.

Tucked into the subterranean level of The Mutual Building on the southeast corner of 9th and Main Streets, CITIZEN serves on weekdays between 7AM and 3:30PM. It is under the stewardship of a former sous chef at Amuse in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts named Greg Johnson.

Enjoy Dana's 3-star review in today's Times Dispatch with a jazzy slideshow.

http://www2.timesdis...h-m-ar-1430614/

CITIZEN

Dana's rating: 3 Stars

909 East Main Street (but don't be misled -- the entrance is through the 9th Street Courtyard of The Mutual Building, down steps and to the right.)

804/780-9038

Noise level: Low to average

Tab for two: $16

Edited November 4, 2011 by burt

[burt]

Boom Boom in The Bottom went out with a bang, and before that Papa Ningo held on and expanded at 1703 East Franklin Street, but it too shuttered.

Now, someone connected with LuLu's and Millie's has announced a new spot called TIO PABLO will revive the location.

From Richmond Magazine online:

http://richmondmagaz...19b52f4515b7efb

[burt]

Boom Boom in The Bottom went out with a bang, and before that Papa Ningo held on and expanded at 1703 East Franklin Street, but it too shuttered.

Now, someone connected with LuLu's and Millie's has announced a new spot called TIO PABLO will revive the location.

From Richmond Magazine online:

http://richmondmagaz...19b52f4515b7efb

If my memory serves, TIO PABLO will be the second new Mexican Restaurant in the area. A place called MARGARITA was announced for the old Zuppa location on the northeast corner of 18th and Franklin Streets.

[burt]

Ed Vasio is noted for his MAMMA ZU in Oregon Hill, but I wonder if that restaurant is as popular as his other one called EDO's SQUID on Harrison between Franklin and Grace Streets in The Lower Fan?

It's such an unassuming place you could easily pass by not knowing that up a rickity staircase lies what many consider the best Italian fare in the region.

Not much to look at, not much to see -- but, ahhh, the food!

EDO'S SQUID is always crowded and very LOUD.

Read some of these Yelp reviews when you get a chance:

http://www.yelp.com/...-squid-richmond

[burt]

Talk about raves, there are dozens of them among the comments on this Yelp site for JULEPS!

My one and only experience there was about four years ago, and it was delicious. Great ambiance and exceptional service. Pricey, but worth it.

JULEPS, at the southwest corner of Franklin and 18th Streets in Shockoe Bottom, occupies the oldest commercial building in Richmond. And as dicey as The Bottom may be, the restaurant is a destination stop for gourmands. It offers valet parking on weekends.

If you want a treat, scroll thru some of these reviews and call for reservations: 804/377-3968.

http://www.yelp.com/...juleps-richmond

[burt]

Kyle Sinclair who has operated and relinquished several watering holes in Shockoe Bottom is back in the hospitality business.

This time it is decidedly an Irish pub type of establishment called LOCAL EATERY AND PUB at 1108 West Main Street in the Lower Fan.

The "LOCAL" is in a town house about two blocks west of Harrison Street and once was known as Mezza, a restaurant and hookah bar that closed last April after a fire.

Kyle's new restaurant/pub is open and he is hoping for his liquor license by December 1st.

From today's Richmond Biz Sense:

http://www.richmondb...e-emerald-isle/

Edited November 8, 2011 by burt

[burt]

If you like being on camera, pop into KENN TICO BAR AND GRILL next Tuesday, November 15th between 5PM and 9PM.

The Travel Channel will be in town shooting a segment that will be aired nationally.

Seems to me Richmond is getting a lot of big and little screen exposure lately. Mr. Spielberg is here with his gigantic LINCOLN project and Katie Courac will soon air an interview she shot here with him. Now, the Travel Channel has been attracted to Richmond by the Cuban restaurant that is one of the best Latin eateries in the region.

KENN TICO's is located at 204 East Grace Street (between 2nd and 3rd Streets.)

From today's Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond...day-ar-1441675/

Edited November 8, 2011 by burt

[burt]

If you're a 'minter cheese devotee, as are many southerners (who generally whomp it up with plain old rat cheese), you might find an event tomorrow night to your liking.

There will be a screening at The Hippodrome Theatre of a locally produced film called PIMENTO CHEESE, PLEASE.

This story from today's Richmond dot com tells you how to make reservations for the 7:30PM screening (and tasting.)

http://www2.richmond...ere-ar-1435945/

The newly renovated Hippodrome in on North 2nd between Clay and Leigh Streets.

PS: While you're there, how about dinner afterwards at the snazzy new restaurant/bar complex next door called MANSION FIVE26 and SPEAKEASY?

[burt]

The phone number for MANSION FIVE26 and SPEAKEASY is 804/308-2913. Both rooms are located in the Taylor Mansion at 526 North 2nd Street and are connected to the next/door Hippodrome Theatre.

There is no website, as far as I know, but the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner.

I think the SPEAKEASY books in some pretty neat entertainment (you need to know the "password" to enter, but it's pretty easy to find.)

Maybe they're still going through their "soft opening" phase. As soon as I can dig up more information I'll post it here.

[burt]

Coming soon to the corner of 6th and Grace Streets.....

http://www.525rva.com/

[burt]

All restaurant-goers should receive equal treatment, but I would advise owners to familiarize themselves with the local corps of food critics by any means possible and spread that knowledge to kitchen, front of the house and wait staff. Favorable reviews can mean the difference between empty tables and full houses.

SELBA on an industrial/residential stretch of West Cary Street, has been serving for a couple of months but has failed to earn significant ratings from Richmond dot com and The Richmond Times Dispatch.

Jon and Leah Nelson covering SELBA for Richmond dot com found much to appreciate but, overall, were disappointed.

http://www2.richmond...iew-ar-1432869/

SELBA

The Nelson's rating: Two and-a-half stars

2416 West Cary Street

804/358-2229

See the posting below for The Times Dispatch review.

Edited November 10, 2011 by burt

[burt]

Relative to the above posting about SELBA, all customers should be treated as royalty in every restaurant. But, I bet a quarter had the staff recognized Dana Craig as she entered the building on a recent Friday, today's RTD review would reflect more than 2 stars.

Here's Dana report on her evening at the new restaurant from today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...ngs-ar-1447882/

SELBA

Dana's rating: 2 stars

2416 West Cary Street

804/358-2229

http://www.selbarichmond.com

Twitter: @SelbaRichmond

Noise Level: Average to high

Tab for two: $59

[burt]

Here's the video of a video being shot at KENN TICO BAR & GRILL by The Travel Channel Tuesday night.

KENN TICO's is on East Grace between 2nd and 3rd Streets.

Karri Peifer says the Travel channel also filmed Wednesday night at BANDITO'S in The Museum District and may go down to The Bottom to shoot at elegant JULEP's.

From Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond.com/entertainment/top-features/2011/nov/09/2/kenntico-travel-channel-behind-the-sce-88566-vi-32160/

[burt]

EJAY RIN NOODLE BAR will cease to exist as an Asian inspired eatery on Richmond's southside. The restaurant at 201 West 7th Street has not attracted enough business to encourage its owners, Bill Foster and Andy Howell.

While Foster will move on, Howell will stay on the premises and devise a new format under another name.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MANDARIN PALACE recently closed in Stratford Hills, but a new owner, Christina Zou, will reopen the excellent Chinese restaurant.

In the 1970's I was a frequent visitor to MANDARIN PALACE. I believe it introduced Szechuan style cuisine to Richmond.

From Richmond Magazine online:

http://www.richmondmagazine.com/dine/blogs.php?blogID=18f3721666006d565900336375234772

[burt]

Leah Nelson states the obvious in her commentary about Richmond'a dining-out scene, and she does it fairly, IMO.

While certainly not in the New York/San Francisco/Chicago/Washington league of fine dining, Richmond more than holds its own among medium-sized markets.

From today's Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond.com/entertainment/2011/nov/11/richmond-vs-big-city-dining-ar-1450582/

[burt]

RVANews has a batch of restaurant news in today's edition.

One of the items that caught my attention is that Mo Roman is closing VAULT, the subterranean club beneath BANK on East Main Street near 10th. But not to worry. While abandoning the club business, BANK will be enlarged and remodelled to attract larger dining crowds.

I suspect nearby http://offthehookahva.ning.com/ has attracted many of VAULT's customers.

I also liked reading BYRAM's menu since a new owner is at the helm.

From RVANews:

http://rvanews.com/f...food-news/52964

Edited November 12, 2011 by burt

[burt]

Sorry. I posted the Florida OFF THE HOOKAH above.

Here is the Richmond website:

[burt]

Deveron Timberlake's SHORT ORDER column has lots of information about Paul Keevil's new all Mexican restaurant in Shockoe Bottom. It will be called TIO PABLO and we have discussed it briefly in these pages.

Also, Deveron writes about the closure of KEBAB GRILL near Chesterfield Town Center.

And BISTRO BOBETTE in the Slip is attracting lots of showbiz types and film crew members.

From the current Style Weekly:

http://www.styleweek...ent?oid=1631003

Edited November 12, 2011 by burt

[burt]

Recently, I discovered a restaurant rating site called YELP and posted some of its comments about Edo's Squid and Juleps.

Now, I've discovered about 50 comments on the site about THE BELVIDERE AT BROAD.

A very few are clinkers, but at least 40 of them are 4 and 5 star reviews.

You might want to check this little neighborhood restaurant out when you're in the VCU area.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-belvidere-at-broad-richmond

THE BELVIDERE AT BROAD

506 West Broad Street

804/344-0644

Edited November 13, 2011 by burt

[burt]

Phil Riggan has compiled a list of coffeehouse options in Richmond (and the name "Starbucks" is nowhere to be found. )

From today's Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond.com/entertainment/2011/nov/14/richmonds-neighborhood-coffee-shops-ar-1426888/#fbcomments