4277 replies to this topic

[burt]

This Dining-Out thread has attracted 294,199 views since I started it in 2005.  By the end of May, it should pass the 300,000 mark.

I did a rough search through Urban Planet's Southeast roster of states and could find only two other topics that have surpassed the 300,000 figure -- Orlando's Archive thread with 394,332 views, and Charlotte's topic about The Vue, a so-far unsuccessful condo skyscraper that has rung up 358,137 views.

It's pretty amazing that Richmond is the only city in Urban Planet's Southeast division that has an active topic devoted to restaurants -- and it's led by me, an 84-year old expatriot living in New York City. I do it because I'm retired and enjoy writing about my old home town.  It's like going to work every day.

Two more notes:

Most  viewers are "guests" and not contributors to Urban Planet, and they could be checking in from anywhere on the globe.

Secondly,  I'll be off-line for about three weeks in early May while vacationing in (where else?) RICHMOND.

Edited by burt, 22 April 2012 - 07:44 AM.

[burt]

The Virginia Press Association held its awards dinner in Roanoke over the weekend.

Our friend, Dana Craig of The Richmond Times Dispatch, won a third place award for critical writing.

Dana has been reviewing restaurants in the Richmond area for more than 4 years.  Her intelligent, witty and fair reviews appear every Thursday in the RTD.

[burt]

MILLIE'S, the diner-like gem at the eastern end of Main Street before it swerves toward the James River docks may be as well known by out-of-towners as it is by locals.  When film crews and name actors are in town they pack the place;

Leah and Jon Nelson have come under MILLIE's spell.  The pair who write restaurant comments for Richmond dot com finally gave MILLIE's Sunday brunch a try and claim there is no better in Richmond.

From Richmond dot com:

1854532/

MILLIE's
2603 East Main Street
804/643-5512

Millie's has spawned a couple of other eateries in Shockoe Bottom -- LuLu's at 21 North 17th Street and TIO PABLO at 1723 East Franklin.

[burt]

Work is progressing on the transformation of a porn shop into Richmond's first taqueria.

Two well known local restaurateurs, Patrick Stamper and Randy O'Dell have gutted the Triangle Book store just off West Broad at the junction of Myers Street and North Boulevard.  They hope to open EN SU BOCA by June.  When its deck is completed, the indorr/outdoor capacity should be around 150.

It will be very convenient to folks attending Squirrel games at The Diamond, as well as to tenants in the former cookie factory when it is ready for occupancy.

From Richmond Biz Sense

http://www.richmondb...-to-new-tastes/

[jbjust]

Am I the only one who thinks "in your mouth" is not the best name for a taco store located in a former porn shop?

[burt]

jbjust, on 23 April 2012 - 08:08 AM, said:

Am I the only one who thinks "in your mouth" is not the best name for a taco store located in a former porn shop?

Check out one of the comments under the story.

[burt]

Restaurant Week starts today, April 23rd and ends next Sinday, April 29th.

Here's some helpful info from RVANews:

http://rvanews.com/t...restaurant-week

[burt]

The lead piece in Deveron Timberlake's Short Order column today is that Chef J Frank is opening DIXIE DONUTS in the former Cafe Ole at 2901 West Cary Street.

Since it will only have 2 chairs, DIXIE DONUTS will obviously offer take-out service only (unless I misread the story.)

From today's Style Weekly:

http://www.styleweek...ent?oid=1701650

[burt]

Dana Craig and friends visited Carytown's BLOW TOAD which is Jimmy Sneed's latest restaurant that some people report is packing in crowds.

While the bar is bustling, Dana has some reservations about the food. She holds high hopes that BLOW TOAD will hit its stride after a shakedown period.

There's no "Related" box in the RTD online edition, but there is a gallery of photos.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...thm-ar-1868798/

BLOW TOAD
No rating
2907 West Cary Street
804/355-8623

[burt]

Deveron Timberlake writes in Style Weekly that Malcolm Mitchell, a contestant on the TV show called FOOD NETWORK STAR, is going to open a restaurant in Shockoe Bottom.  He says he is "close to inking a deal" at 2300 East Main Street.

Neighboring restaurants in that section of Shockoe Bottom/Tobacco Row are SENSI, SETTE, OLD ORIGINAL BOOKBINDERS, STATION 2, AZIZA'S, HONEY WHYTE'S, 2113, and MILLIE'S.

Mr. Mitchell is going to call his restaurant CHARLESTON BY CHEF MALCOLM.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RVANews reports that actor Stanley Tucci, who you may remember from JULIE AND JULIA and THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, may do a film about the hottest chef in Richmond, Peter Chang.

[burt]

People from near and far are still lining up to get into PETER CHANG'S CHINA CAFE in the Short Pump area (definitely NOT to be confused with P.F Chang's at Stony Point Fashion Park.)

Chang's spicey Szechwan cuisine has been highly praised by many critics, but here's a less enthusiastic review by Jon and Leah Nelson.

From Richmond dot Com:

http://www2.richmond...iew-ar-1871210/

[burt]

They're making progress.  Hardwood flooring is going in and wall lighting figures  are being installed:

525 AT THE BERRY BURK.

And, by the way, the banner in the Miller & Rhoads window across Grace Street from this restaurant which I inquired about in a recent posting is advertising for M&R apartments.  

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

[burt]

This review is from the April 17th issue of Style Weekly.  It is written by Karen Newton who, I believe, is the gal blogger of "I Could Go On and On and On" which I enjoy reading.

C'EST LE VIN, a combination gallery-wine-shop-tapas bar-restaurant, is in Shockoe Bottom.

Sounds pretty neat to me.

http://www.styleweek...ent?oid=1699093

C'est le Vin
15th N. 17th Street (at Walnut Alley in The Bottom)
804/649-9463

PS:  This is my last restaurant posting for 3 weeks while I'm vacationing.  I hope others will keep the site lively.

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

Since this forum seems best to fit the topic, I'll post it here:

The Daily Show, the popularly watched television show hosted by Jon Stewart, has apparently filmed their newest episode at BAJA BEAN to ask and interview bartenders and patrons about their opinions on Obama's speaking, and whether they came from out of town to see him and whatnot.

RVANews:
http://rvanews.com/e...w-evening/60104

Richmond.com:
http://www2.richmond...day-ar-1891277/

Edited by RVA-Is-The-Best, 06 May 2012 - 08:31 AM.

[burt]

I'm still in Richmond and check this site from time to time on a family computer.

Glad to see you are keeping things alive and active, RVA.

When I saw this 4-star review by Dana Craig in today's RTD, I felt compelled to post it.  She covers PETER CHANG'S CHINA CAFE to a tee.  I had lunch there last Friday with friends, and after waiting 20 minutes for a table, we all agreed that the food is truly supurb.

So many people I've talked to here in Richmond think I'm referring to PF Chang's when I go into raptures about this genuine Sichuan treasure tucked away in the shopping strip near Walmart's at West Broad and Pouncey Track Road in Short Pump.  Believe me, while I enjoy PF Chang's, the two are poles apart in authenticity.

From today's RTD:  

http://www2.timesdis...ce--ar-1903479/

PETER CHANG CHINA CAFE
Dana's rating:  4 Stars
11424 West Broad Street (in the shopping strip just beyond Walmart)
804-364-1688 -- reservations strongly advised (though you'll probably have to wait a reasonable time anyway)
http://www.peterchangrva.com
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/sichuanboy
Noise level:  High
Tab for two:  $61

PS:  Since my arrival May 3rd I've dined at LA PARISIENNE (10th and Canal in Williams Mullen Bldg); ENOTECO SOGNO (on Bellevue Avenue near Brook Road); BUCKHEAD'S (at Patterson and Parham in Beverly Hills Shopping Center); S@MPLE on Morris Street between Main and Floyd in the Fan, and will be dining with a couple of friends Wednesday night at SELBA in the 2400 block of West Cary Street.

[burt]

525 AT THE BERRY BURK is hoping to open on May 25th.  That's four days after my return to New York, much to my dismay.  Check out their facebook address posted somewhere above and click previous pictures for some up-to-date shots of flooring and false ceilings.

[burt]

This thread is on its way to topping 300,000 views.  

Have recently dined at ARCADIA in Shockoe Bottom, HARD SHELL at Belgrade, and SELBA in The Fan.

Also, returned to PETER CHANG's in Short Pump for a dazzling spicy meaL with friends.  Mr. Chang made an appearance toward the end of the evening and received applause from the diners -- some of whom posed for pictures with the famous chef.

Will be back on home turf tomorrow in New York.

[burt]

I'm thinking Deveron Timberlake is taking some time off at Style Weekly, because she has no "Short Order" column in the current edition -- at least, as of this hour (10AM.)

The weekly Style restaurant review is also missing, but delightful writer Robey Martin wrote about BURGER BACH at the top of Carytown on May 15th.

Here's her review of the New Zealand themed restaurant (the last name of which is pronounced batch)where Happy Hour from 4 to 6 every day features half-priced seafood -- like New Zealand mussels as well as oysters and shrimp.

But burgers are the mainstay -- and they're on the pricey side, especially if you ask for lettuce ($1), tomatoes($1) and other toppings.

From the May 15th issue of Style Weekly:

http://www.styleweek...ent?oid=1709610

BURGER BACH
#10 South Thompson Street (wasn't that once the location of High's Ice Cream?)
804/359-1305

Edited by burt, Today, 01:07 PM.