Richmond Dining-Out scene

[burt]

Looks like another chain for the city.

Noodles and Co. Has leased space at 814 W Grace St. In VCU, the building with a Panera and Chipotle. The empty third space is where I'm guessing it will go.

This certainly will generate more foot traffic for the area.... Not to mention I love Noodles and Co.

The nearest location for me is Willow Lawn (and still will be, however I like that a chain is going into the city market. It actually is good news in my opinion

Check this weeks Pipeline from BizSense for the proof. Excited!

RVA, I just googled the address, and 814 West Grace was The Biograph Theater until it closed and later became a night club.  It is just beyond Panera and Chipotle which front on Laurel Street at Grace.  NOODLE & COMPANY will be prctically next door to the VCU dorm under construction on the north side of Grace between Laurel and Shafer Streets.   

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

Ah, yes the VCU West Grace North dorms building.... I'm going to be in that area tonight-- Lehigh/VCU b-ball game so I think I'll check up on construction for that building, as well as scope that address to get an idea of what this will turn out like.... Will be very interesting seeing this part of Grace brighten with activity.... Just wish it would happen a few blocks east as well! ;(

Edited January 5, 2013 by RVA-Is-The-Best

[burt]

Union First Market Bank is no longer in The Canal Basin Building (it has moved to James Center III on Canal Street) but MORTON'S THE STEAK HOUSE is still there.

 

A company called Pizza III has just leased 6,200 s/f of vacant space in the Canal Basin building according to real estate transactions in Richmond Biz Sense.  The actual address for Pizza III (which may have connections to Domino's Pizza) will be 111 Virginia Street and that happens to be the street address for MORTON'S as well as other businesses in the building.

 

Not to worry. A MORTON's representative assures they are doing just fine and are not going anywhere.

 

Perhaps Pizza III is leasing the space in the 5-story canal front building for business operations.

 

 

[burt]

I've heard a rumor that STICKY RICE, a very popular bar/restaurant in The Fan at 2232 West Main Sreet, is considering opening some type of food operation at 318 East Grace Street in the building next door to RAPPAHANNOCK.

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

I swear, Grace is just exploding these days.... Sticky Rice already has two operations here (Sticky Rice and ToGoGo) plus locations in DC and Baltimore, I wonder what they plan next? Hopefully another full service sit down restaurant like the original location. Where have you heard this, burt? I would love to fund out more.

[burt]

I swear, Grace is just exploding these days.... Sticky Rice already has two operations here (Sticky Rice and ToGoGo) plus locations in DC and Baltimore, I wonder what they plan next? Hopefully another full service sit down restaurant like the original location. Where have you heard this, burt? I would love to fund out more.

Secret source, RVA. 

 

Remember, it's just a rumor.  

 

But here's a restaurant fact:  MAX'S, a project of TARRANT's owner, will open just off of West Broad Street on Brook Road after the $1million renovation of existing buildings is complete.  It will be a 2-level Belgian-themed restaurant -- sort of a downtown version of Carytown's  CAN CAN.  It's in the triangle formed by Brook Road and North Adams Street.

 

And just a few doors north on Adams Street at Marshall, a new restaurant called SAISON is open and welcoming diners.

 

PS:  There's a very funny show called THE PRODUCERS that has about another week to go before closing a two-and-a-half month run at The November Theatre (fomerly called The Empire) on West Broad between Adams and Jefferson Streets. 

[burt]

Karri Peifer announces in a lead story today at Richmond dot com that a long-awaited Asian restaurant will open tomorrow, January 9th.

 

A2, it is called, and is an in-town operation by Holy (pronounced 'Holly") Yang of MADE IN ASIA located at Hancock Village in Chsterfield. 

 

A2 is in the former Hunan Cafe at 1112 East Main Street across from Bank of America.  Ms Yang promises an ECO friendly restaurant with a futuristic interior design and a heavy emphasis on Japanese cuisine.

 

Lunch and dinner will feature Bento Dogs which are on no other menus in Virginia.

 

Click A2's website at the bottom of Karri's story to read a full and comprehensive menu.    

 

http://www.richmond.com/

[burt]

Karri Peifer announces in a lead story today at Richmond dot com that a long-awaited Asian restaurant will open tomorrow, January 9th.

 

A2, it is called, and is an in-town operation by Holy (pronounced 'Holly") Yang of MADE IN ASIA located at Hancock Village in Chsterfield. 

 

A2 is in the former Hunan Cafe at 1112 East Main Street across from Bank of America.  Ms Yang promises an ECO friendly restaurant with a futuristic interior design and a heavy emphasis on Japanese cuisine.

 

Lunch and dinner will feature Bento Dogs which are on no other menus in Virginia.

 

Click A2's website at the bottom of Karri's story to read a full and comprehensive menu.    

 

http://www.richmond.com/

 

Relative to A2, Deveron Timberlake did a piece in her Short Order column in Style Weekly nearly a year ago.

 

http://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/short-order/Content?oid=1664590

[burt]

TEDxRVA translates to Technology, Entertainment, Design in Richmond VA.

 

An event under that acronym will take place on March 22nd inside the massive power plant at Richmond on The James along The Haxall Canal.  Several months ago the power plant's exterior was decorated with colorful murals as well as nearby sections of the flood wall.

 

Several fits and starts to convert the interior to restaurant operations failed to materialize, and to my knowledge TEDxRVA will be the first use of the building' interior.

 

A new restaurant across the canal has just opened.  It is called CASA DEL BARCO and is sure to attract many diners during the TEDxRVA event.

 

From today's Richmond dot com:

 

http://www.richmond.com/events/article_da9616b0-59a8-11e2-92f1-001a4bcf6878.html

 

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

WOW. More chains

 

Jimmy John's is opening a location in Shockoe Slip. It will be in place of A Movable Feast which closed in July last year.

 

http://www.richmond.com/food-drink/dish/article_49c78e14-59be-11e2-b509-001a4bcf6878.html

 

It will be the fifth location in the region.

[burt]

Union First Market Bank is no longer in The Canal Basin Building (it has moved to James Center III on Canal Street) but MORTON'S THE STEAK HOUSE is still there.

 

A company called Pizza III has just leased 6,200 s/f of vacant space in the Canal Basin building according to real estate transactions in Richmond Biz Sense.  The actual address for Pizza III (which may have connections to Domino's Pizza) will be 111 Virginia Street and that happens to be the street address for MORTON'S as well as other businesses in the building.

 

Not to worry. A MORTON's representative assures they are doing just fine and are not going anywhere.

 

Perhaps Pizza III is leasing the space in the 5-story canal front building for business operations.

 

Leave it to Karri at Richmond dot com to dig around and uncover the facts.

 

It seems that certain buildings in Richmond, including adjoining structures, share one street address.  Karri has learned that 111 Virginia Street in The Slip includes the old Southern RR Deli on 14th Street as well as the Canal Basin Building.

 

It's not official but PIZZA 111, a spin-off of the wildly popular club called OFF THE HOOKAH, will have a dual personality when (and if) it opens in the former Southern RR Deli -- serving up pies during daylight and club like activities after dark.

 

From today's Richmond dot com:

 

http://www.richmond.com/food-drink/article_2bb8d632-59bc-11e2-9a97-001a4bcf6878.html  

[burt]

Deveron Timberlake's Short Order column in the current Style Weekly is sub-titled 'Next Table" and provides considerable information about up-coming dining options.

 

She begins with A2 at 1112 East Main Street which is discussed a couple of entries above in this thread.

 

But there's lots more.  Read on:

 

http://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/next-taste/Content?oid=1807672

[burt]

THE ROGUE GENTLEMEN is running a PR campaign unlike any I've seen in Richmond.  Cryptic clues are being distributed to the proper cognoscenti prior to an opening expected this month. 

 

The work of a very talented and clever Seattle artist named Levi Hastings is prominent in some of the promotion.

 

Recipients of the clues may be "dry" in concluding that the prohibition-style speakeasy is at 2nd and Marshall Streets -- maybe so, maybe not.

Edited January 12, 2013 by burt

[burt]

I missed this rare 4-star review by Dana Craig in the 12/20/12 issue of the RTD because I was on a  train bound for my holiday destination.

 

Read on -- it's a rave about HERITAGE (formerly Six Burner) in The Fan.

 

http://www.timesdispatch.com/entertainment-life/food-dining/dining-out-review-heritage/article_d7724601-4c9a-5968-a869-a99e6d9b10ff.html

 

HERITAGE

Dana's rating:  4 Stars

1627 West Main Street

804/353-4060

http://www.heritagerva.com

twitter.com/@heritagerva

Noise level:  High

Tab for two:  $63

[burt]

Here's a neat video about the revival of activity that is beginning on East Grace Street in Richmond's bustling shopping district of yore.

 

I'm placing it in this thread because most of the revival in the three blocks discussed in the story is because of 3 new restaurants (525 at THE BERRY BURK, PASTURE and RAPPAHANNOCK) and the busy Carpenter Theatre at Ricmond CenterStage.

 

From Mark Holmberg at CBS6: 

 

http://wtvr.com/2012/12/18/holmberg-bringing-grace-back-to-east-grace-street/

[burt]

The latest on CASA DEL BARCO in the Italianate building on The Haxal Canal:

 

Like Broadway shows, new restaurants generally have previews, although they are referred to as 'soft openings' and Kevin Healey's production called CASA DEL BARCO has announced an Invitational Dress Rehearsal for tomorrow night.

 

In other words he wants to work out the kinks to an understanding few before opening the doors to the masses.

 

It's a good bet that paying customers will be welcomed next week.

 

No phone number has been announced as of today, but if you click on the facebook page (below) you can keep up with the progress and enjoy some photos.

 

https://www.facebook.com/CasaDelBarco

[burt]

TEDxRVA translates to Technology, Entertainment, Design in Richmond VA.

 

An event under that acronym will take place on March 22nd inside the massive power plant at Richmond on The James along The Haxall Canal.  Several months ago the power plant's exterior was decorated with colorful murals as well as nearby sections of the flood wall.

 

Several fits and starts to convert the interior to restaurant operations failed to materialize, and to my knowledge TEDxRVA will be the first use of the building' interior.

 

A new restaurant across the canal has just opened.  It is called CASA DEL BARCO and is sure to attract many diners during the TEDxRVA event.

 

From today's Richmond dot com:

 

http://www.richmond.com/events/article_da9616b0-59a8-11e2-92f1-001a4bcf6878.html

 

 

Here is a rendering of the apartment complex on the Haxall Canal called THE LOCKS.  The new restaurant called CASA DEL BARCO in on the ground level of the Italianate building in the foreground and note the footbridge.  If it is built it will provide additional access to the power plant (at bottom of picture) where TEDxRVA will be held in March.

 

 http://www.richmondbizsense.com/images/boathouserendering.jpg

[burt]

Hey, mate.

How 'bout a delicious down-under pie?

PROPER PIE by a Kiwi from New Zealand has just opened in the shadow of St. John's on East Broad at 25th Street.

The main product is meat pies, but they've got the sweet kind, too.

From chpn:

http://chpn.net/news...now-open_24863/

 

 

PROPER PIE, as it turns out, is not the only new pastry shop in Church Hill.  Two others, WPA BAKERY and SUB ROSA,  have established shops in the neighborhood and all of them are experiencing brisk sales.

 

From Jacob Geiger in an RTD supplement on Jan. 11th:  

 

http://www.timesdispatch.com/business/local/three-bakeries-open-in-church-hill/article_1ff177bd-49d2-56e8-a045-0e293b7d20ea.html

[burt]

Can anyone identify the second downtown Richmond restaurant (following the picture of HALLIGAN's) on this rvariverfront site?

 

Click the box titled 'View Gallery' for this mystery place.

 

http://www.rvariverfront.com/entertainment/eat.html

 

[burt]

TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT at CASA DEL BARCO.  Grand opening, January 14th, 2013..

 

Mariachi bands can't be far behind.   

 

https://www.facebook.com/CasaDelBarco#!/photo.php?fbid=226878557448155&set=a.187931208009557.46663.143942052408473&type=1&theater

 

 

[burt]

TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT at CASA DEL BARCO.  Grand opening, January 14th, 2013..

 

Mariachi bands can't be far behind.   

 

https://www.facebook.com/CasaDelBarco#!/photo.php?fbid=226878557448155&set=a.187931208009557.46663.143942052408473&type=1&theater

 

This is the menu at CASA DEL BARCO (WARNING:  PDF:)

 

From today's Richmond dot com:

 

http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/richmond.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/6d/36d39868-5e76-11e2-a7b2-001a4bcf6878/50f44b38eb7e2.pdf.pdf

 

I suppose it's reasonable to assume that Quacamole will be prepared tableside.

 

Call 804/775-2628 for reservations.

 

Valet Parking is offered, and there is one of those 'honor' parking machines in the middle of the parking lot behind the floodwall.

Edited January 14, 2013 by burt

[burt]

The food scene is heating up on Church Hill.

 

DUTCH & COMPANY opened last night (01/15/13) at the northwest corner of 27th and Marshall Streets.  One of the chefs has had experience at Acacia  and the other at Aziza.

 

From chpn:

 

http://chpn.net/news/2013/01/15/dutch-co-is-now-open_25744/

Edited January 17, 2013 by burt

[burt]

There are 4 floors of apartments above CASA DEL BARCO on the ground level of The Italianate Building as well as many new apartments in several other nearby renovated buildings at the complex called The Locks.

 

Music, such as a Mariachi band, could be annoying to residents.  I understand the Mexican restaurant has not yet decided on an entertainment policy, but I note on their facebook page that very attractive acoustic absorbing ceiling panels have just been installed.

 

Take a look.

 

https://www.facebook.com/CasaDelBarco#!/photo.php?fbid=10151414906866410&set=a.10151414901271410.536476.60786351409&type=1&theater

Edited January 16, 2013 by burt

[burt]

After being enthralled by the Chihuly Glass Exhibit on the lower level of VMFA, whiz up in the glass elevator to the top floor and order a Chihuly-inspired cocktali at the bar in AMUSE.

 

Our friend Karri Peifer did just that and tells us all about it in this video from Richmond dot com:

 

http://www.richmond.com/arts-entertainment/video_cd90e400-5f42-11e2-b7f5-001a4bcf6878.html

 

The Toulouse Lautrec model behind the bar moonlights as a can can dancer on the bar at CAN CAN in Carytown.  (Just kidding.   .)

 

.

[burt]

One last post before leaving for Penn Station:

 

The new restaurant on Adams Street just off of West Broad is an expensive off-shoot of Tarrant's a block away.

 

It has been under construction for months and has had a change of direction as to ethnicity.

 

A million dollars is going into Ted Santerella's venture which will be a Belgian themed restaurant called MAX'S.

 

From today's Richmond Biz Sense:

 

http://www.richmondbizsense.com/2012/12/20/restaurateurs-family-adds-2-members/

 

I'm off to Richmond for 14 days. 

 

Happy Holidays.

Karri Peifer has done more research about MAX'S TAVERN and reports that the Belgian themed restaurant hopes to open at 305 Brook Road in May.

 

When I was in Richmond over the holidays I peeked through the windows of MAX'S.  The building itself is at interesting angles and should make for an unusual interior on two levels.

 

From Richmond dot com:

 

http://www.richmond.com/food-drink/article_09338ed3-bd1e-57d8-8df0-f0f49c311ca3.html

 

PS:  I also dropped into SAISON at the corner of West Marshal and Adams Streets (about half a block north of MAX'S) and chatted with one of the owners.  The restaurant (formerly known as Marshall Street Cafe) has been the recipient of some nice words in Imbibe Magazine about the cafe's beer selections.