4277 replies to this topic

[burt]

burt, on Jul 2 2005, 02:32 PM, said:

In Brent's list of favorites is COMFORT at 200 W. Broad (across Jeferson street from the Empire Theatre).  It opened several years ago as The Blue Bottle but never really took off.  Now, under new management and retitled COMFORT, it is very popular and, more than that, very good!  There are a lot of art galleries along that stretch of Broad, and once a month they stage what they call First Friday Gallery Crawl.  COMFORT is sort of THE watering hole for that mob of artistically inclined people, but manages to stay full regularly with its southern style down home cooking and lively bar.   

Incidentally, around the corner is the Milk Bottle.  Originally built as The Richmond Dairy plant with 3-story milk bottles on each corner, it is now apartment living for a full contingent of downtown lovers.  Or should I say lovers of downtown!?

A whole row of 4 and 5 story former furniture stores across from and slightly east of COMFORT on Broad have been gutted and converted to fancy apartments.  Rumor has it that another street level restaurant is scheduled to open (maybe it already has) in the former Popkin furniture building at corner of Adams and Broad.  Oddly enough, the restaurant is to be called - what else? - POPKINS.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Chef Tony Capece, formerly with Amici and more recently La Grotta, will be in the kitchen of the new restaurant at Adams and Broad.  Its name has not yet been announced, but I sort of doubt it will be POPKIN'S.

[burt]

I've been derelict in my restaurant reporting.  Very busy on project in NYCity, but promise to post more soon.  Meanwhile, comments are appreciated from readers. So far there have been over 800 hits.

[wrldcoupe4]

Well I'd say you probably know more Richmond restaurants than myself and you are several hours away

[burt]

wrldcoupe4, on Jul 22 2005, 02:37 PM, said:

Well I'd say you probably know more Richmond restaurants than myself and you are several hours away

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And considerably more than several YEARS away!!

[theriverpirate]

Good news, everyone!  A friend of mine has a job interview today with Bottoms Up; word from them is that they plan on re-opening within the next few weeks!

[wrldcoupe4]

very cool news! It'll be new and improved. I can't wait to get a slice from the original bottom's up!!!

[burt]

There's a surburban French-American restaurant I've read about that interests me.  It's called Chez Max way out at 10622 Patterson Avenue in Richmond's far west end.

Anybody been there?

[burt]

The Northside, once practically void of restaurants, is coming into its own.  A few are:

Bella Arte at 1223 Bellevue Ave. - upscale, attractive.
Hermitage Grill - 6010 Hermitage Rd. - good food in fun setting
La Casita - 5204 Brook Rd. - Great Mex
The Glen - 1000 Virginia Center Pkwy - upscale in a new resort hotel
Buz and Ned's Real Barbecue - 1119 N. Boulevard - one of Brent's faves.
Glenn's Tavern - 1509 Chamberlayne Ave. - been there for years.      
LA Grill - 5516 Lakeside Ave. - new and popular
Dot's Back Inn - 4030 MacArthur Ave. - nabe music and eating spot
Upper East Side - 7103 Brook Rd. - great jazz

Any comments and or additions?

Edited by burt, 26 July 2005 - 09:15 AM.

[burt]

Hahaha.  Read something funny in RCW today.  Someone was confusing Ma-Musu with the Oregon Hill Italian mecca, Mamma 'Zu.

Ma-Musu is African with soul food leanings, and is gaining a big following.  It used to be on West Broad near Fieldings (a large private gay club), but has moved to 2nd and Main where Winnie's Carribbean used to be.

Nile Ethiopian Restaurant and Cafe, at 309 N. Laurel got a good review recently in a local publication.  No utensils necessary - eat with your hands as is the fashion in the owners' homeland.

A new restaurant is setting up shop at Ma-Musu's former location on W. Broad.  Some notable Richmond chefs are involved and, if memory serves, I believe it's going to be Italo/French - but on the light side.  Can anybody supply more information, including the name?

What's going into the Power Plant at Riverside on the James?  Rumors have floated that a club out of Annapolis called Rams Head Tavern was going to take up residence there, but that talk has diminished.  Riverside (commonly referred to as ROTJ in this forum) is comprised of a 15-story office building, a 10-story residential building and the wonderful old Power Plant along the banks of the Haxall canal on Browns Island downtown.  The office tower is about 90% leased, and the condos sold out long ago.

IMO, the Power Plant will go the up-scale dining route rather than clubby.  The Ladybird building downstream at the Turning basin is undergoing transformation into Toads Place (the name MAY change), a 1400 to 1500 seat capacity spot for musical entertainment with a range of food offerings.

Incidentally, the success of condo sales at ROTJ has spurred the upcoming Vistas on the James at the Turning Basin.  All of their condo units sold out a week after it was announced, and shovel won't hit dirt until possibly this fall.

While we're talking about condos downtown, financing has been completed for the old Miller & Rhoads department store conversion to 249 hotel rooms and 140 condos; the vacant Hotel John Marshall is now enclosed with construction fences while it begins conversion to upscale condos.  AND just announced, is 22-story CENTENNIAL on Main between 5th and 6th, a mixed-use project containing retail, boutique hotel and condos.

If that's not enough, how about this?  Bow-Tie properties out of New York has bought the entire block of Main/Cary/3rd/4th streets to erect housing, retail and a much needed cinemaplex.

And DON'T FORGET!  A much enlarged stagehouse for the Carpenter Center, with adjacent facilities for jazz, a restaurant, 200-seat theatre and compatible features, PLUS a multi-purpose Music Hall will occupy the block bound by Broad/Grace/6th/7th streets.  Thalhimer's Department store used to occupy much of this site across 6th street from the new Miller & Rhoads Hotel.

And let us not forget the gigantic full-block new Federal Courthouse on the 7th/8th/Broad/Grace street site.

Sorry for the diversion from food, but all of these exciting projects will generate PLENTY of new restaurants.

Edited by burt, 30 July 2005 - 05:34 PM.

[burt]

It's been said that all Cheesecake Factory franchises are expected to gross at least $10 million per year.  According to reports, the operation at the new Virginia Beach Town Center ranks second in the Mid-Atlantic region (DC to Atlanta).  The CF at Tyson's Corner is Number 1.

Wonder how Short Pump CF is doing?  Any comment?

Edited by burt, 02 August 2005 - 10:22 AM.

[wrldcoupe4]

it hasn;t even been open a year so tough to say. I know that Copeland's Cheesecake Bistro at Stony Point does well...Great dessert after Flemings or P.F. Chang's

[burt]

NEED YOUR HELP! I don't know the name of the place, but I'm sure some of you do. It is a mostly take-out/catering sort of operation, though I'm told there are a few table for dining in. A brave young woman took a chance and opened in a somewhat edgy area in an oddly shaped building on an irregular lot at Leigh street and Jefferson Avenue. I believe it abuts a section of the East End called Union Hill. Apparently, it's been a great success and has regular customers in the gentrifying district and frequent customers from all over town. DOES ANYBODY KNOW ITS NAME?

FLASH!!!

Ha ha!  Thanks to Deveron Timberlake's Side Dish column in today's Style, the name of this cool spot is JUMPIN' Js JAVA at 24th and Jefferson Avenue straddling Church and Union Hills.  Now, entertainment is offered at Sunday brunch and on Thursday evenings outside from about 6 to 8PM.  

Deveron also reports that CAN CAN will soon have accordion-style windows opening onto the Carytown scene, weather permitting.

Also, HILL CAFE at 27th (or is it 28th) and Broad and EMILIO'S at Meadow and Broad have completed renovations.

Also, MARTINI KITCHEN AND BUBBLE BAR, formerly in the John Marshall Hotel, will open soon at the Old Main Street Beer Company at Meadow and Main.  It's the only Fan place I know of with plenty of parking.

By the way, what is a "Bubble" bar?  Do they specialize in bubbly wines?  And Brent once referred to Bubble Tea!  What the Hell is that?!!

And about EMILIO's.  A couple of years ago when it was known as something with PACIFIC  in its name, they had terrific (and I MEAN terrific) improvisational jazz on week-ends.  Hope EMILIO's is keeping up that tradition along with its tapas and Spanish cuisine.

Edited by burt, 03 August 2005 - 12:02 PM.

[wrldcoupe4]

I'm looking forward to the new New Orleans style restaurant coming on 18th st at the former Awful Arthurs

[burt]

A New Orleans style cajun place is opening in the Bottom where Awful Arthur formerly held sway. It's at 18th and Franklin and is called JACQUEOMO'S (boy, that's a run of interior vowels!) They're waiting for their liquor license and, apparently will offer blues and jazz along with Louisiana cuisine in a very trendy and colorful setting.  (proudly cut and pasted from page 1 of this thread )

HaHa.  I dare you to try pronouncing this name, coupe!

Maybe it has already opened.  Does anyone know?

Hmmm.  After some cogitation, I believe it is pronounced JOCK - MOEs.  What say you?  

Edited by burt, 04 August 2005 - 12:56 PM.

[eandslee]

burt, on Aug 4 2005, 08:45 AM, said:

A New Orleans style cajun place is opening in the Bottom where Awful Arthur formerly held sway. It's at 18th and Franklin and is called JACQUEOMO'S (boy, that's a run of interior vowels!) They're waiting for their liquor license and, apparently will offer blues and jazz along with Louisiana cuisine in a very trendy and colorful setting.  (proudly cut and pasted from page 1 of this thread )

HaHa.  I dare you to try pronouncing this name, coupe!

Maybe it has already opened.  Does anyone know?

Hmmm.  After some cogitation, I believe it is pronounced JOCK - MOEs.  What say you? 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

In Spanish, you would pronounce it "hack-kay-o-moes", but I believe it would be pronounced in French since it will be a New Orleans place...In French, it might be "shzock-o-moes"?  Who knows, my French is horrible.

[wrldcoupe4]

it wasn't open yet a few days ago when I was taking pics....I won't attempt to pronounce it I took German and Latin in high school.

[Beas]

Just giving everyone the heads up...

Bottom's Up is doing a Friends & Family on Monday night (invitation only) and will open to the public on Tuesday night.  Will try to keep everyone posted if things change.

Beas

[wrldcoupe4]

wow thats awesome! I can't wait to go back to the real bottom's up. Welcome to UP by the way. Always feel free to contribute. Let us know how the first night goes if you can!

[burt]

ATTENTION ALL BOTTOM AFICIONADOS!!!

The long-awaited reopening of BOTTOMS-UP PIZZA will occur on Tuesday, August 9th.  A "soft" opening for old friends and family will be held Monday the 8th.

This good-news report is brought to us by Beas who, I hope, will visit this site often.

  

[Downtowner]

Hey if I dreamed of a few new restaurants in Downtown Richmond heres my top 3

ESPN Zone
Hard Rock Cafe
Unos Chicago Grill & Pizza