Richmond Dining-Out scene

[burt]

One of these Richmond restaurants will win some time on The Travel Channel:

KENN TICO CUBAN BAR & GRILL

JULEP'S NEW SOUTHERN CUISINE

BANDITO'S BURRITO LOUNGE

HANOVER TAVERN

BALLICEAUX

THE EMPRESS

PICCOLA ITALY PIZZA AND SUBS

Meanwhile, when you've got some time to spare, check out the video of each included in this story from today's Richmond dot com.

http://www2.richmond.com/entertainment/2012/jan/19/3/richmond-restaurants-compete-travel-channel-ar-1623574/

[burt]

If watching Dana Craig's mountain-music themed slideshow of HOGSHEAD CAFE doesn't harden your arteries, her review might convince you to have a tablet of Lipitor (or its new generic) close by after your meal.

HOGSHEAD CAFE doesn't spare the calories, but there's no denying that everything on the menu is tasty.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/entertainment/food-dining/2012/jan/19/tdweek03-dining-out-hogsheads-hog-dog-is-one-awe-i-ar-1621696/

HOGSHEAD CAFE

Dana's rating: 3 and 1/2 stars

9503 West Broad Street

804/308-0281

http://www.thehogsheadcafe.com

Noise Level: Average

Tab for two: $35

[burt]

THE HIPPODROME THEATRE and its two adjoining food and drink rooms called MANSION FIVE 26 and THE SPEAKEASY are up and running on North 2nd between Clay and Leigh Streets in Jackson Ward.

The facilities are elegantly chic. Nine or ten musical acts each month are expected on stage at the theatre and nightly entertainment will be offered in THE SPEAKEASY.

Photos and story from yesterday's Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond.com/entertainment/top-features/2012/jan/19/hippodrome-theater-ar-1620784/

[burt]

THE JEFFERSON HOTEL retains its 5-Diamond (AAA) and 5-Star (Forbes Travel Guide) ratings. The downtown hotel's principal restaurant, LEMAIRE, was awarded 4 Diamonds by the AAA.

Four other hotels in Metro Richmond received AAA 4-Diamond Awards (The Berkeley Hotel; Hilton Richmond Hotel & Spa; The Westin Richmond, and The Wyndham Virginia Crossings Hotel and Conference Center.)

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...nds-ar-1627914/

[burt]

The largest French Film Festival in America, sponsored by VCU and The University of Richmond, returns for its annual event at The Byrd Theatre in Carytown on March 29th for four days.

More than 21,000 people attended screenings last year. French flags and banners adorn poles along West Cary Street and the countless restaurants in the area do flourishing business including some that specialize in French cusine such as CAN CAN BRASSERIE, AMOUR WINE BISTRO and SECCO WINE BAR.

http://frenchfilmfestival.us/

Edited January 21, 2012 by burt

[burt]

Amy David at Richmond Biz Sense has a nice piece in today's edition about Helen Reed.

Richmond has some neat restaurant interiors thanks to H L REED DESIGN. Jimmy Snead's BLOW TOAD in Carytown was done by Ms Reed as well as SAMPLE (with an @ where the A is) on Morris Street in The Fan. Upcoming designs will be seen at MINT (formerly Davis and Main in The Fan) as well as the anticipated 525 AT THE BERRY BURK. Another new project she named is BLUE in The Slip near SAM MILLER's.

The photograph at the top of Amy's story is GIBSON'S GRILL in The National Theatre.

From today's Richmond Biz Sense:

http://www.richmondb...esigner-dining/

Edited January 24, 2012 by burt

[burt]

There's a squib in the commercial Pipeline transactions of today's Richmond Biz Sense that PATINA GRILL has taken 3,360 s/f at 4194 Lauderdale Drive.

PATINA GRILL, presently listed at 3416 Lauderdale Drive, is one of the finest restaurants in the far West End. The phone number is 804/360-8217.

[burt]

CROAKER'S SPOT will return to the corner of 2nd and Leigh Streets directly across 2nd Street from its former location which was closed due to tax problems involving a sattelite operation known as Bojangles at 6th and Marshall in the glass portion of 6th Street Marketplace.

The new CROAKER'S will be in a brand new Eggleston Plaza building on the site of the former Eggleston Hotel.

Parking in the area is already a major problem since the recent opening of MANSION FIVE 26 and The Hippodrome Theatre on 2nd between Clay and Leigh Streets. The theatre and restaurant provide valet parking which results in lines of waiting cars limiting traffic to one northbound lane on 2nd Street.

After CROAKER's closed in Jackson Ward, it opened a very popular restaurant with the same name on Hull Street in Manchester across the James River from downtown Richmond. It also has an operation in Old Town Petersburg.

[burt]

RVANews has some news about several dining out spots in The Fan and West of The Boulevard.

The photograph is of the former Davis and Main Restaurant which is close to reopening as MINT (note the color of the door. )

From RVANews:

http://rvanews.com/features/the-fate-of-baja-bean-carytown-serves-new-zealand-beef-and-dates-for-2012-restaurant-week/55824

[burt]

PASTURE has received its first mainstream review. The RTD's Dana Craig has mixed feelings about the downtown restaurant, generally praising the small-plates flowing out of the open kitchen but put off by the minimalist decor.

Her review is not rated (at least, not online.)

PASTURE

Dana's Rating: ?

416 East Grace Street

804/780-0416

http://www.pasturerva.com

Twitter: @Pasture_RVA

Noise Level: High

Tab for Two: $68

Dana's Slideshow features photos with voice-over by Jason Alley.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...ite-ar-1639833/

Edited January 26, 2012 by burt

[burt]

Everybody talks about MAMMA 'ZU, but it's rare to read a review of the place anymore.

This rave is from a blog by a lady named Sheila that I found today at Richmond dot com.

http://fdcooking.blo...-zu-review.html

MAMMA 'ZU

501 South Pine Street in the Oregon Hill area

804/788-4205

Prepare to wait for a table.

Edited January 27, 2012 by burt

[burt]

What used to be Main Street Grill, then Cafe Gutenberg at the corner of 17th and East Main Streets in Shockoe Bottom is now a comfortable, attractive and tasty steak house called ARCADIA.

I had an excellent meal there when it was previewing and shortly after the world-wide circulation photo of Daniel Day-Lewis dining there.

Restaurant critics Jon and Leah Nelson had a pleasant meal at ARCADIA and awarded it 3 stars.

From today's Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond.com/entertainment/2012/jan/27/arcadia-restaurant-review-ar-1642354/

[burt]

I can't wait 'til spring when 525 AT THE BERRY BURK will be open for business.

Imagine sitting at a window table and peering out at Richmond Center Stage and Miller & Rhoads whilst sipping a cocktail.

Here's a story about progress on site.

From today's Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond...urk-ar-1642773/

[burt]

Jimmy Snead's BLOWTOAD is expected to open any day in Carytown.

From yesterday's Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond.com/entertainment/top-features/2012/jan/26/blowtoad-opening-very-soon-ar-1639620/

Edited January 27, 2012 by burt

[burt]

Richmond Magazine has listed its choice of best restaurants and lunch spots that have opened in Richmond in 2011.

From Shockoe News:

http://www.richmondm...abcf95790b452b5

Edited January 28, 2012 by burt

[jbjust]

Amy David at Richmond Biz Sense has a nice piece in today's edition about Helen Reed.

Richmond has some neat restaurant interiors thanks to H L REED DESIGN. ...

Another new project she named is BLUE in The Slip near SAM MILLER's.

Blue suddenly looked nearly finished as I drove by it Friday night. It appears to have flat panel televisions facing the street and the whole outside of the restaurant is bathed in blue light. Looks like nothing I've ever seen in Richmond.

[burt]

Blue suddenly looked nearly finished as I drove by it Friday night. It appears to have flat panel televisions facing the street and the whole outside of the restaurant is bathed in blue light. Looks like nothing I've ever seen in Richmond.

jb, did you happen to notice signage for a new club called KAI at 1212 East Cary Street. I think it is adjacent to the old Richbrau restaurant and bar. In fact, isn't BLUE in the same block?

[jbjust]

You know, Burt, that could have very well been Kai because that's exactly the location I was referring to. I guess I just assumed it was Blue because it was so, well, BLUE.

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

You know, Burt, that could have very well been Kai because that's exactly the location I was referring to. I guess I just assumed it was Blue because it was so, well, BLUE.

jb, did you happen to notice signage for a new club called KAI at 1212 East Cary Street. I think it is adjacent to the old Richbrau restaurant and bar. In fact, isn't BLUE in the same block?

I don't think I'm exactly much help, but after searching for KAI, here is it's website....

http://www.kairva.com/

In fact, all it really is is a large screen size of their logo and links to their Foursquare, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts.....

Edit: Okay, after visiting the Facebook page, it looks like it is bathed in blue on the INSIDE, but not really much on the outside, but still, their Facebook page does say a LOT more than their actual website.... I'm sure it will be up and running with more in a few days though. The pics on KAI's FB is interesting. Check em out and see if that was what you were talking about.....

Edited January 29, 2012 by RVA-Is-The-Best

[jbjust]

That's definitely it. The doors were open because they were working on it, so I guess some of the blue spilled outside

Here is the picture which shows what I saw:

Edited January 29, 2012 by jbjust

[burt]

Thanks jb and RVA for your input.

I'm beginning to think that maybe BLUE and KAI are one and the same. When designer Helen Reed was interviewed by Richmond biz sense she mentioned that one of her upcoming projects (and I'm paraphrasing) is a place called Blue near Sam Miller's in The Slip.

KAI's web page, as you say RVA, is not very informative but I believe Deveron Timberlake is gong to give some information about it in her next "Short Order" column at Style Weekly.

Good or bad, it seems there's more and more night life in and near The Slip with THE TOBACCO COMPANY CLUB, CHA CHA'S CANTINA, LUCKY BUDDHA, BANK, BUFFALO WILD WINGS, MAJOR WILLIE'S, FISH BOWL BISTRO & BAR, SYNERGY, OFF THE HOOKAH, THE EPIC THEATRE and, now, KAI.

[jbjust]

Judging from their website, looks like their grand opening was Friday night.

I agree with you Burt, it's not my cup of tea but anything to drive more people walking around the Slip at night is a positive in my book.

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

Anything to get foot traffic, I guess.... but I'm not much of a drinker or a late-nighter, I'm just waiting for the day a national chain comes to Downtown. THEN I will set step in the Bottom.

[burt]

Anything to get foot traffic, I guess.... but I'm not much of a drinker or a late-nighter, I'm just waiting for the day a national chain comes to Downtown. THEN I will set step in the Bottom.

OK, RVA, put on you hat and coat and head downtown.

I can think of at least three chain restaurants that would be happy to have your business:

BLACK FINN RESTAURANT & SALOON at Riverside on The James.

MORTON'S, THE STEAKHOUSE on Canal at Virginia Street in The Slip.

and, OLD ORIGINAL BOOKBINDER'S, 2306 East Cary Street

(Be sure to take a fat wallet, especially for MORTON'S and BOOKBINDER's. And nipping is optional. )

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

Actually, yes, I have been to Bookbinder's, that wonderful little place that was indeed expensive.... took out probably a hundred dollars in just 1 hour of dining there! But I haven't yet checked out Morton's or Blackfinns.... but like I said, I'm not much of a drinker, but still, they do sound nice, and I was rather referring to retail shopping chains when I said chain, but still, with your suggestions, will go ahead and check them out soon!