The804.com–Richmond VA Real Estate Blog

You better believe it.  Read, Drink, and Be Merry has a humorous anecdote to demonstrate my point:

It had been a couple of years since I had been to Capital Ale but it had been a number of times so thought I knew what to expect. I was wrong.  The initial bartender blamed it on shift change (and actually joked that he would hear about all this on a blog - little did he know...) but the problems went deeper than that.  

So, is this a good thing?  I think the emergence of bloggers has raised (or can raise) the standards of service in the restaurant industry.  A good paranoid owner will assume anyone who walks in the door could be a blogger, so every customer in turn gets treated as if they were a newspaper reviewer.  That assumption should be the golden rule for any business as far as I’m concerned.  At the same time, I am sympathetic with the owners, and I think customers ought to also exercise the same golden rule in return.  

Interestingly, some restaurant owners are now actually taking part in the dialogue, no longer settling for the role of passive voyeur.  The latest example is the back and forth happening at Live Journal’s RVA Eats over Bin 22 (see Bin 22 at Betsy’s–Recommended, sort of  | Owner Response).  For those who don’t know, the RVA Eats community is the Greek Chorus of the Richmond restaurant scene; the comments in the forum can range from thoughtful to downright vitriolic-mean.  In the end, it’s probably one of the most honest places for dining opinions in this age of corporate media ownership. 

I thought owner Greg Pullen did a great job of addressing the criticism of “cerealwriter.”

What I will comment on is last Thursday night. We had a bad night, and I will be the first to admit it. Some circumstances contributed to that…we had recieved a great review from Richmond Magazine last week…and it was 75 degrees and our patio got packed just before you arrived. While not an excuse for slow service the fact is we have a small pantry kitchen, it limits us. If the patio is pack, food will take a while to come out of the kitchen. I wish this were not the case. Next time let me know you are in a hurry, I’m the guy wearing the apron & jeans. Cheers Greg.

Because Bin 22 has an excellent track record with me personally (I voted it Richmond’s best wine bar), I’m taking the cerealwriter criticisms with a grain of salt.  I would just chalk this one up as one of those freak “perfect storm” kinds of nights. On average, Bin 22 is a fantastic wine bar and value regardless of low wattage light bulbs and pastry unavailability past 5 PM.

• in vino veritas gives us a heads up (complete en espanol) of an upcoming “seminario sobre tapas” at the Compleat Gourmet.  Here’s some additional information off their website: “In this class, Bill demonstrates some of Spain’s signature preparations: sofrito (red sauce); oysters with olives, capers and lemon; fried balls of Serrano ham and chicken; calamari with sweet pepper confit; and quail with smoked bacon and lentil stew.”  
• And while we’re on this topic of Latin cooking, I had an awesome meal today @ Bodega Latina (9046 W Broad St).  Muchos gracias Style for their profile of this restaurant within a tienda.  The dish cited in the article is called “Pollo Guisado,” basically a yummy chicken stew (big chunks of chicken breast in a zesty sauce…couldn’t quite figure out the spice combinations (was there a slight hint of curry??)…with yellow rice and a cheesy spaghetti side…I think they call it spaghetti…).  I was quite impressed with myself today as I applied every bit of High School Spanish I could muster.  Thoroughly enjoyed eating my meal while watching Mundo2 (Spanish MTV) and “international” banking transactions going on in the back.  The decor is high end Mexican truck stop, and the menu had some variety (not just Mexican…Salvadoran, Colombian, Dominican, etc).  I could sit there all day sipping on  fruit punch Jarritos longing for days gone by. 
• And while we’re on this topic of chicken stew, the Rockville Ruritans are hosting their annual Brunswick Stew sale this Saturday.  Take it from me, their recipe rocks.  Brunswick Stew…talk about a food with a high concentration of jumanji. (March 29, Rockville Community Center–Take the Rockville exit I-64. Go north on Rt 623 for 3 miles to Rt 271, turn left on Rt 271 for 3 miles, and building is on the left OR if you live in Short Pump, just shoot down Pouncey Tract all the way down)

An extremely disturbing post in today’s Style’s Short Order:

Dear Short Order: 

So a friend of mine on MySpace sent me these pics of XXXX (works at XXXX) with one of the cooks. The pictures are on the XXXX MySpace page. I expect this kind of behavior at XXXX, but not XXXX. Please don’t use my name for anything, but if you log into MySpace anyone can see these pics. It looks like the back kitchen to XXXX restaurant and they are both naked and in the dish wash sinks. It freaked my friend out. In my friend’s words ‘but it’s f— ing wrong… and unbelievable and childish… and stupid.’ So maybe you would want to write something about it, about the permanence of the Internet.” 

— No name please 

Dear NNP:

You’re right. We rushed to the site, XXXXXX, and found all those photos, just like you said, and will forever order our beer in bottles, not glasses.

Is this fucking [sic] establishment insane?  Not only are they opening themselves up to the great vengeance and furious anger of the health department , city inspectors, and ABC (THEY have the power to shut anyone down; ask the Velvet), but if word gets out on the name of this restaurant, what patron in their right mind would ever want to eat there.  Whatever you do, don’t order the carbonara. 

Fan Corner bar with a myspace.  It shouldn’t take Hercules Poirot to figure this one out.   You almost want the perp outed because guess what?  All the other innocent Fan bars are going to suffer as people are going to wonder if theirs is the restaurant.

• This week I’ve made it a special mission to only patronize restaurants supporting the Richmond Tap Project.  When mapping out your weekend restaurant plans, consider making Tap participation part of your decision process.  There are a ton of great places participating, and it all ends this weekend.
• Funny, I went to Delux for lunch this week specifically because they were on the Tap list.  I foolishly ordered a coke, so they never got around to asking me for a donation.  I got so into my lunch conversation that I totally forgot about it.  So the next place I hit, they’ll get two dollars for that treated James River nectar.  Oh yeah, my first impression of Delux:  The interior design is Cool Jazz Cool (didn’t recognize one element of Southern Comfort; analagous to City Limits-Potter Pub).  Service was professional.  The homemade potato chip appetizer was the TRUTH.  When it came to entree time, that $15 Kobe burger looked tempting as hell…I opted for a blue plate special instead just so I could get a lay of the land of their comfort starch sides.  Surprise, I got the fried chicken.  Nice, juicy, buttermilk (?) breaded boneless breast cut.  Not crazy about the orangey sauce though.  The mac n cheese was decent but not at the level of White Dog, Acacia (when they have it), or even Buzz n Neds.  Biscuit was a nice touch for the bread.  Initial Verdict: I’m gonna go back.
• There is some good discussion going on at Chowhounds about Richmond’s best seafood restaurants.  The prolific Janet from Richmond (who really needs to start a food blog) reminisces about Fass Brothers Fish House on Horsepen and the original Skilligallee on Staples Mill?!  And to think, I always thought the current Skilligallee was the original location (seems like it’s been there forever).  Anyone remember Skipjack (currently, Rare Olde Times)?  When shopping for a fish restaurant, look for a crowded  place that turns over lots of business and sells out dishes.  The one I like Xs off the triangles on their butcher paper menu.
• Damn, evil Girl Scouts have been hitting me up everywhere.  I have enough Tagalongs to last me through Armageddon and beyond.
• Yet another Richmond Restaurant Guide has been launched, and I’m not even talking about RVAEats.com which had a “soft opening” this week.  From the fine makers of “West End’s Best” and “Chesterfield Living” comes the Maitre’D Restaurant Guide.  Let’s not kid ourselves, this is a heavily advertorial-based vehicle (buy an ad, get a positive glossy article you can frame on your entrance).  Ain’t nothing wrong with that (this is America, baby), but it is what it is.

Ah, Style’s State of the Plate 2008…The issue we (at least, I) have all been waiting for.  Definitely pickup or read this issue online.  Some quick observations:

• Millie’s is Style’s Restaurant of the Year.  Yeah, I totally get this choice.  The writeup argues that this is probably the Restaurant of the last decade or even score. 
• Judging from the articles, my prediction for next year’s RoY is Cafe Rustica.  There is a lot of love for this fairly new restaurant (two mentions in Best Dishes, praise for using local ingredients in the Green article, new addition to the Top 50 list (see below), and even a compliment on their rustic interior design).   
• This action packed issue has a bonus interview with NBC12’s Ashley Swann (probably, known as the Grim Reaper amongst the restaurant crowd).  The NBC Restaurant Report is a real service to the community keeping kitchens honest and, hopefully, cleaner.
• Top 50.  As you may know, I love me some lists.  The curious data geek in me compared this new list to the 2007 one.  
  • Restaurants added to the list:
    • Angela’s Ristorante
    • Bacchus 
    • Buckhead’s
    • Café Rustica
    • Chez Max
    • Cous Cous
    • Dd33
    • Little Venice
    • LuLu’s
    • Relish 
    • Sí
    • The Ironhorse
    • Zed Café 
    • Tastebuds
  • Removed from the list:
    Some surprises: Wow, the critic darling that is Full Kee is no longer a Top 50.  La Grotta, Mary Angela’s, Michelle’s (stretched out too much?) and Six Burner (son of Acacia…speaking of Acacia, where’s Acacia on this list?) were surprises.   
    • Café Gutenberg almost closed
    • Coppola’s Deli
    • Da Lat
    • Dogwood Grille & Spirits closed
    • El Caporal 
    • Fox Head Inn closed
    • Full Kee Dim
    • La Grotta 
    • Mandarin Palace 
    • Mary Angela’s Pizza 
    • Michelle’s at Hanover Tavern
    • Pegasus 
    • Perly’s 
    • Six Burner
  • Maintained Top 50 Status
    • 1 N. Belmont
    • Amici Ristorante
    • Azzurro
    • Bistro Twenty-Seven 
    • Buz and Ned’s
    • Can Can Brasserie 
    • Chez Foushee 
    • Comfort 
    • Croaker’s Spot 
    • Davis & Main 
    • Edible Garden
    • Edo’s Squid 
    • Enoteca Sogno
    • Europa 
    • Havana ’59 
    • Helen’s 
    • Ichiban 
    • Ipanema Café
    • Julep’s 
    • Kuba Kuba 
    • Lemaire
    • Mamma ’Zu
    • Mekong 
    • Millie’s Diner
    • Nile Ethiopian Restaurant 
    • Patina Grill 
    • Pescados 
    • Pomegranate Euro Bistro 
    • Rowland Fine Dining 
    • Sensi 
    • Shackleford’s 
    • Tarrant’s Café 
    • The Dining Room at the Berkeley Hotel 
    • The Track 
    • Zeus Gallery Café 
    • Zuppa 

RETRACTION: Having just talked with an owner, ROY’S IS NOT CLOSING!!!!  Offical Word Pending…

Son of a b…. It’s been a roller coaster of good and bad news this week with restaurant openings and closings.  The latest casualty is everybody’s favorite burger stand, Roy’s in Lakeside.  

Josby of the RVAEats roundtable breaks the story:

Bad news! I was at Roy’s Big Burger today and there is a sign up that they will be closing for good on April 9th. It doesn’t appear they are going out of business…the lady is just tired of making burgers after 38 years. I can’t fault her for that, but I’m still disappointed. Great burgers, and one of the few places that still has one of those ice machines that makes that small crumbled ice.

So, go by there while you still can!

Anyone know of alternatives? I can’t take much more…first Zippy’s on the Boulevard closed, and now this. The only other similar kind of place I know of is Sam’s Burgers on Route 1, but I don’t like their burgers as much.

Man, Roy’s is one of a kind.  To answer Josby’s question, the only comparable burger similar to Roy’s is, maybe, the “What a Burger” on Jefferson Davis…but that would be a hike for a Northsider.

Hopefully, some eager entrepreneur will take a chance on this great road stand location.  I’d love to see a charcoal grill conversion, and maybe, a Shake Shack like option (Cheeseburgers and Frozen Custard).

Finally, shame on Josby for re-opening the wound that was Zippy’s closure (I’ve tried to repress that memory).  God, I miss those pita puppies with Czech Rebel beer.  Look, I like Kitchen 64, but Zippy’s…Zippy’s had real character.

It has been reported that a seafood restaurant will take over the old Hollywood Grill on 626 China St.  But can someone confirm this rumor that the establishment will actually be a Pescados (probably, the best restaurant in Midlothian)?  If that is the case, O-Hill immediately becomes “Seafood Restaurant Row” and a dining destination (if it wasn’t already with just that one restaurant).

It’s been confirmed (see comments, thanks checkplease!)…Time to re-name Pine Street: Oregon Hill Wharf.

I checked the recent Richmond ABC reports (a great source, by the way, to peak at new places in the pipeline) and didn’t see anything.  Though the following places looked intriguing: Alex’s Thai Cuisine N 13 17th St 23219 and Mezza American 1106 W Main St.  Also, Stronghill might finally be opening!

Richmond Tap Project

What a great idea…Check out Buttermilk and Molasses for the full scoop.  I also listed the participating restaurants on the Good Life with links and contact info of the participating restaurants.  Yeah, support those guys…

Joining Brandon Eats, another Richmond food blogger has “graduated” onto the staff of the city’s main alt-paper.  John  Haddad of Food for Thought makes his Style debut tackling The Halligan Bar & Grill.  The review is technically well-written and thorough, a good first impression.  Of course, since I haven’t tried Halligan’s yet (I keep on hitting other places when I’m in the Bottom), I have no idea whether he is accurate or full of sh*t when it comes to judging food. :)  Time will tell whether he earns my trust as a referral source. 

If this blogger-to-journalist thing is a trend, then I would like to urge all the editors of local media to turn their attention to Read, Drink, & Be Merry.  Some of the best and most prolific independent food reviews are coming out of that Willow Lawn area bookstore.  The recent look at 1 N Belmont is a must read.

Ahhhh!  I can’t believe the Red Oak, a tradition in ole Manakin Sabot, recently closed its doors.  Rumor has it that it was rent inflation.  The landlords in this small village are demanding Short Pumpesque prices per sqf, hence the recent exits of other restaurants of note like Grandpa Eddie’s and the great Foxhead Inn. I fear the country charm of this neighborhood is slowly disappearing.  Perhaps, a Subway will take the Red Oak’s place.

Here’s hoping the owners re-surface somewhere.  Gonna miss their crab dip.

Richmond.com has a nice overview of Richmond area Sports Bars this morning.  Lots of key metrics in this article including number of tv’s (a high definition breakout would have been useful but I’m nitpicking), number of kinds of draft, and, of course, number of wing flavors.

I thought their list left out a couple of very significant sports bars (at least, a couple that I’ll patronize from time to time):

• Penny Lane Pub (421 E Franklin St (804) 780-1682) Your absolute best bet to watch a football match.  
• Big Al’s Sports Bar & Grill (3641 Cox Rd # F (804) 270-4454) What’s not to like about Big Al’s?  NON-SMOKING, supports local teams, Hi Defs, great food (especially the burger), just the right size, and a “celebrity” owner who actually mans the bar and works two honest shifts a day.
• Glory Days Grill (10466 Ridgefield Pkwy (804) 754-3710) If you think about it, the Gleneagles could pound-for-pound be the best restaurant shopping center in the metro Richmond area (maybe, I’ll write about this in a future post).  Glory Days has tons of televisions, and, most importantly, little individual sound boxes, so you can actually listen to a game (as opposed to reading closed caption).  They also have one of the area’s best house honey-hot wings.  Once I do my top 5 on wings, theirs will be on it.
• Hooters (multiple locations) Don’t laugh, and no, I do go there just for the wings (their breaded, buttery style is unique and really good when you’re in the mood. Curly fries are right on).  Best bet if you want to see a PPV fight on the cheap (boxing/UFC)
• Some other notables: Gus’ Italian, Ham’s, Pour House, or my favorite, the empty bar where you have the crappy corner tv to yourself.