Richmond Dining-Out scene

[burt]

Another dining option coming to The Slip!

Virginia College which began in Roanoke has a cooking school called Culinard.

Culinard has a large Alabama presence including a sort of student restaurant called Kitchen on George in Mobile.

By October Culinard will be serving customers at THE KITCHEN ON CARY in the former Dora's Brazilian Grill at 14th Street (next door to Sine (Shi-nay.)

From today's Richmond Biz Sense:

http://www.richmondb...are-your-lunch/

[burt]

525 AT THE BERRY BURK has been "in previews" for several weeks. Manager Paul Haas and Chef Taylor Hasty have announced that the new restaurant at 6th and Grace Streets will have its official Grand Opening Tuesday, July 24th.

Already during its try out it has received a 95% approval rating from readers of Urbanspoon.

The critics will soon have their say.

[burt]

On the eve of their Grand Opening, Paul Haas and Taylor Hasty appeared on Channel 6 (CBS) today and talked about 525 AT THE BERRY BURK, Taylor also cooked.

Ummmmm, That risotto looks delicious.

http://wtvr.com/2012...obster-risotto/

Edited July 23, 2012 by burt

[burt]

525 AT THE BERRY BURK served its 1st brunch last Sunday as a private affair for members of nearby Centinary Church. Henceforth, Sunday brunch will be a regular feature.

http://www.facebook....&type=1

Note all the people across the street attending a performance at The Carpenter Theatre.

[burt]

Deveron's Short Order column has some good news for Church Hill residents.

ANTHONY'S ON THE HILL at the northwest corner of 29th and Eart Broad Streets has been well received and is awaiting its beer and wine license.

Other food activities in East Richmond are also noteworthy.

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Deveron reminds us that The elegant LEMAIRE is going forth with construction on its alfresco terrace, but exactly where along the East Frankllin Street facade of The Jefferson Hotel is not identified.

Perhaps one of you can snap a cell phone shot next you pass the hotel and post it here

From the current Style Weekly:.

http://www.styleweek...ent?oid=1737357

[burt]

There are five more opportunities to partake of special deals at 17 restaurants in the Shockoes.

Maybe you'll want to go every night until Sunday, July 29th.

From Karri Peifer at Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond...nus-ar-2047118/

[burt]

Asian restaurants are legion in Richmond. Time was when many of them were clustered in the area of West Broad and Horsepen Road. But choices for Vietnamese, Thai, Indian, Japanese and Chinese cuisines are easy to find from The Boulevard all the way to Short Pump along the West Broad Street corridor.

Dana Craig has found one in the Lexington Commons Shopping Center that occupies the former Bistro R.

It is PHO SAIGON.

The accomanying Gallery in her review is mouth watering.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...nam-ar-2084249/

PHO SAIGON

Dana's rating: 3 stars

10190 West Broad Street in Lexington Commons Shopping Center

804/217-7979

www.phosaigonvirginia.com

Noise level: Average

Tab for two: $38

Edited July 28, 2012 by burt

[burt]

I was sorry to read in Kari Peifer's "Dish" that THE EMPRESS at 2043 West Broad Street has closed. I had a delicious meal there with a friend last winter.

I believe a former partner at The Empress was involved (perhaps still is) with C'EST LE VIN at 15 North 17th Street in Shockoe Bottom.

From what I have read (Yelp has a slew of favorable comments) C'EST LE VIN is a gallery and wine/tapas bar with a decidedly eclectic bent. Something goes on practically every night -- poetry readings; jazz; DJ; karaoke; an occasional singing waiter, and Tango instruction. Happy customers relax with fine wines and tapas.

Some of the full service dining options in The Bottom include ARCADIA; HAVANA 59, LULU's; JULEPS, and MAXIMO'S BISTRO.

Edited July 28, 2012 by burt

[burt]

TEXAS de BRAZIL, the upscale churrasciria that has been operating for several years at Regency Square is relocating to Short Pump Town Center.

It will occupy the former Copper Grill directly across from The Funny Bone Comedy Club.

Opening date for the popular Brazilian style steak house at SPTC is scheduled for Tuesday, September 4th.

The website does not yet show the new address but it was confirmed in a phone call today.

http://www.texasdebrazil.com/richmond

[burt]

The former Stronghill restaurant across the street from Buz & Neds and Movieland cinema complex has been purchased by The Rebkee Company.

THE FAT DRAGON, described as an upscale Chinese Restaurant, will open there on or about October 1st.

Its address is 1200 North Boulevard.

[burt]

If any of you happen to be near 4th and Grace Streets, please check to see if construction is going on at the northwest corner.

MERRIOR, the outstanding oyster house and seafood restaurant on the Rappahannock River near Chesapeake Bay has announced that MERRIOR RVA will open at that location in downtown Richmond.

A Cajun place called Louisiana Flair closed at 322 East Grace Street about 6 months ago.

MERROIR RVA's plan is to tear down the connecting wall between 322 and 320 East Grace and open their Richmond restaurant in September.

So, if you're nearby and have a cell phone, please snap a picture and post it here -- or at least pass on your remarks about the site.

SIDE BAR: Two new restaurants have recently opened on Grace Street -- PASTURE between 4th and 5th, and 525 AT THE BERRY BURK at 6th Street.

[burt]

Zagat is coming to Virginia (pronounced Zuh-GAT in New York -- with the emphasis on GAT which sounds like 'cat'.)

A good rating by Zagat is sought after by restaurants.

Virginia coverage will include Richmond, Charlottesville and Virginia Beach.

From Karri Peifer in today's Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond...ing-ar-2089914/

[burt]

There's an interesting little building at 616 East Franklin Street across Franklin from the new tall parking deck between 6th and 7th Streets. It has an attractive facade with a couple of flag poles jutting over the sidewalk (unless they have been removed since last I saw the space.)

Lou Llovio reports in his RTD Biz Buzz column today that FEDERAL COFFEE & TEA has taken up occupancy in the little building which has been vacant for years.

Owner of the business, Noah Cleveland, says it is open for breakfast and lunch most days of the week in an attempt to attract downtown workers and residents.

FEDERAL COFFEE & TEA's building, a former savings and loan company, is equi-distant between The Residences at The John Marshall (5th & Franklin) with 238 apartments, Berry Burk (6th & Grace) with about 50, and The 700 Center (7th & Franklin) coming on line with about 170 resiidential units.

Edited August 1, 2012 by burt

[burt]

This is a stunner!

DE LUX at 2229 West Main Street in The Fan is closing. A new replacement restaurant will open in that location in the fall.

DE LUX is one of the best looking bars in the city.

From Fan of the Fan blog:

http://fanofthefan.c...ing-in-90-days/

[burt]

This is a stunner!

DE LUX at 2229 West Main Street in The Fan is closing. A new replacement restaurant will open in that location in the fall.

DE LUX is one of the best looking bars in the city.

From Fan of the Fan blog:

http://fanofthefan.c...ing-in-90-days/

Karri Peifer has learned that the next incarnation of DE LUX will be a raw bar.

From Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond...ome-ar-2095375/

[burt]

Genevelyn Steele says that The National Association of Restaurants ranks Virginia 13th in the country for having the most restaurants per capita and Richmond makes the top ten.

I read that in an excellent blog review she wrote about MAXIMO'S BISTRO in Shockoe Bottom. I'd post it here but I don't know how to separate the review from the rest of the blog.

As far as I know, the main-line Richmond critics have not yet given opinions on the new Spanish/Italian place at 14 North18th Street between McCormack's Irish Pub at 12 N.18th and Julep's New Southern Cuisine on the corner of 18th and East Franklin.

http://www.maximosbistro.com

[burt]

THE PARKSIDE CAFE which is near the curve in the road that changes from Semmes Avenue to Forest Hill Avenue is back in business after a hiatus.

The beleagured southside restaurant stuggled after a delayed opening, but despite kind words from neighbors and critics, its owner called a recess.

It reopened last April with a reduced list of options on its menu and lower prices.

Dana Craig visited recently and offers luke warm comments but concludes that it is a pleasant dining experience.

From today's on-line edition of the RTD: (there is no "Related Box" offering the usual details.)

http://www2.timesdis...ity-ar-2101816/

PARKSIDE CAFE

3514-16 Forest Hill Avenue

804/864-8888

[burt]

Thanks to my friend Paul Hammond the riddle of LEMAIRE's outdoor patio is solved. It is on the eastern side of the Jefferson Hotel's Franklin Street facade.

From Greater Jackson Ward News blog:

http://www.gjwn.net/...re-now-serving/

[burt]

Remember when a yatch-sized boat called Mallory floundered during a storm at the Richmond docks? Its owners were a day from opening a restaurant on board when the ship sank to the bottom of The James.

Mallory (also called Celebration) was raised, repaired and sold to new owners (or managers) and the 78 foot long vessel will open very soon as FLATHEAD'S with a simple menu of burgers, hot dogs, chicken and seafood.

From the current Style Weekly:

http://www.styleweek...ent?oid=1739808

[burt]

Paul Hammond who posted a picture in the Greater Jackson Ward blog identifying the location of LEMAIRE's new Franklin Street patio (see a couple of postings above) has verified another exciting development.

He says that construction is ongoing at the corner of East Grace and North 4th Streets. The wall between #320 and #322 East Grace has been demolished leaving a large space in the building on the corner of 4th Street which formerly was the site of Louisiana Flair.

MERROIR RVA, the Richmond expansion of the Rappahannock River oyster tasting room near the Chesapeake Bay, is expected to open in the East Grace Street location this fall.

MERROIR RVA reportedly will be a full service oyster/seafood restaurant.

Edited August 4, 2012 by burt

[burt]

Mainstream media have not yet reported on 525 AT THE BERRY BURK, but several individuals on Yelp and other food-oriented blogs have been commenting.

Here is a review written on June 30th (about a week after the restaurant's Grand Opening) from the River City Food & Wine blog with pictures. The first photo is a view of the restaurant's stunning decor.

http://rivercityfood...-bit-green.html

Edited August 3, 2012 by burt

[burt]

Karri Peifer's sources tell her that John T. Edge, a prominent food writer, is in town dining in several restaurants and may report on them in The New York Times or another national publication.

Some of the places he has been seen in recent days are; LEMAIRE; CROAKER'S SPOT; THE ROOSEVELT and SALLY BELL's on VCU's academic campus.

And he REALLY likes the folks at Ingrid's Bakery.

From Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond...od--ar-2103771/

Edited August 3, 2012 by burt

[burt]

Richmond will be featured on The Cooking Channel next Tuesday, August 14th at 9PM. "Road Trip with G. Garvin" will visit LEMAIRE and COMFORT.

It is Channell 166 here in New York on Verizon Fios but may be different in other cities.

From Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond...nel-ar-2112323/

[burt]

If you decide to join the Shockoe Shuffle Thursday evening, August 9th, you may wish you had a downtown apartment so you could stagger home, but if not, be sure to have a designated driver.

The fun begins at 5PM in MAJOR WILLY'S on Dock Street. I believe it is one of the few bars where you can wager on horses, so you possibly could win a few bucks. The evening ends at THE TOBACCO COMPANY after several stops along the way.

From Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond...awl-ar-2111903/

[burt]

Beginning tomorrow morning, August 8th, Turner Classic Movies is offering 24 hours of my heart throb, Rita Hayworth. So you won't be hearing much from me on the dining-out thread.

Highlights are:

THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI (1947 with Orson Wells) at 11AM. Not well received in 1947, but a cult favorite now.)

ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS (1939 with Cary Grant) at 12:30PM

PAL JOEY (1957 with Frank Sinatra. All those wonderful Rogers & Hart songs) at 8PM. ('Zip" and "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" by Rita and Sinatra at his best.) **

GILDA (1946, the movie that made her Hollywood's film goddess) at 12:30AM on August 9th ('Amada Mia' and 'Put The Blame on Mame'.) ***

YOU WERE NEVER LOVLIER (1942, dancing the 'Shorty George' and the title song with Fred Astaire) at 2AM.*

and, if you just can't sleep:

MISS SADIE THOMPSON (1953) at 4AM**

*Special

**Very special

***Extra special

Edited August 7, 2012 by burt