So I was in this part of town checking out the new Barnes and Noble (supposedly, the BIGGEST in Richmond)…Meh…(btw, the best B&N in the country is the Baltimore Power Plant…harbor views…fish tanks…three floors but I digress)
OK, since I was in the heart of Midlothian, I decided to scout out some new restaurants. Next stop was Cafe Caturra which I’ve been meaning to try (as you may know, I sort of have a coffee shop fetish…I’m always looking for the perfect coffee shop).
Well, on the way, a new place caught my eye, The Piano Cafe (13211 Midlothian Tpke (804) 897-8288). Well, of course, the curious glutton had to check it out (I don’t think it’s been written up yet in the local big pubs). Nice cozy place serving coffee, pastries, and even gelato. The centerpiece of the location is one of those self-playing grand pianos (according to the sign, live performances every Friday). Yeah, the sound is so much nicer on those things (compared to a cd)…real piano hammers hitting real strings gave the place a nice aural environment.  After further research (as I needed to update my coffee shop list), I learned that the cafe is owned by the piano store in the back, hence its passionate focus on music….I’ll try Cafe Caturra next time (looked crowded as I drove by)…Â
Last stop on my Midlothian staycation: AN.Y. Slice (get it?)…I’ve eaten there before (real Italian ownership….Serie A on the TVs)…I also remember when it was Al Dente (sister restaurant of Pescados).
Some recent feedback that I got from a reader was championing it hard, so I decided to give it another try. Again, like before, I thought it was nothing spectacular but a solid, solid NY style slice. Candela’s btw is another place in this area that does a good job with ‘za.Â
Look I like Popeye’s as much as the next guy (That’s my Atlanta Airport Go-To…Remember when Lee’s was the OG Popeye’s?..That’s my Red Dawn question in case we ever get invaded by the commies and I need to determine whether you are a Russian spy or Richmonder but I digress…)Â
…But Bojangle’s is the real jank. With their biscuits n breakfast, they’re at a whole other level, man. Anytime I visit North Carolina, it makes me happy to be in the land of Bo’s. I’ve always been perplexed that they have never been able to make it here in Richmond (the home of the original Bojangles). There was a store on Patterson Avenue that folded. The last one we had (I think) was on Broad Street near Hooters.
Anyways, buried deep in this Petersburg Progress article about commercial development is the little nugget that Bojangle’s is making its majestic return to metro Richmond (Dinwidde Avenue in Hopwell). OK, Hopewell is a hike for most Richmonders, but it’s a start. Even with $4 gas, I’m making the pilgrimage when it’s ready! Let’s hope, Bojangle’s makes it across the river soon.
In commemoration of this news, I give you the Richmond Good Life’s Best Take Out Fried Chicken list. BTW, feel free to comment or recommend another place if you disagree (I’ll add it to the Good Life article)
I always feel “special” when I’m the first to break a major story to the world…Well, this news is huge…Are you ready?…Pierce’s Bar-B-Que just updated their menu! (on the 4th of July)
Just got back from the beach…Any self-respecting Richmonder knows that Pierce’s is a mandatory stop when traveling to VA Beach or the Outer Banks. They might as well re-name Lightfoot to the Pierce’s Exit. So I get there and to my surprise they added an awesome wrinkle to their menu. First, a little known fact: Pierce’s has the moistest rack of ribs this side of the Missouri River.  It is often overlooked because the BBQ sandwich is so good. Historically, this has made my personal decision tree very difficult. It’s always JC Special versus the half rack of Ribs. Of course, ordering both is just too damn much food (and expensive as the ribs are $9.99).Â
Pierce’s has made the world a better place by adding Ribs as an add-on to the menu for a very reasonable $2.99 extra (granted a quarter rack but that’s just perfect to go along with the BBQ dinner).  So here is your new game plan:Â
BBQ Dinner (includes fries, hush puppies, and slaw): $9.99 + Addon Ribs ($2.99) + Addon Roll (.$49) = THE BEST MEAL IN VIRGINIA UNDER $15.
Updated the Richmond Music Calendar for the month of July with new musicians and wikipedia links for more information. Some thoughts:
- The cover-tribute band trend that I talked about last month continues (Melissa Ruggierie also wrote a nice article on this topic). Add Led Zeppelin (Zoso) and the Cure (the Cured) to the list. Mike Gordon will probably cover some Phish songs as well.
- While on this topic, here’s something weird: Springsteen tribute band Bruce In The USA will be playing this Thursday at Toad’s Place. Of course, as we all know, the real Bruce Springsteen AND the E Street Band will be playing the Richmond Coliseum in a month or so. Which begs the question, who’s going to see the cover band with the real thing just around the corner?
- (The real) Bruce tickets are still available, btw. I just checked Ticketmaster and, thankfully, the best seats available are those in the unGodly rafter seats in Row UU. The reason I say “thankfully” is because this is a good harbinger for a sell-out. I was really scared with such a recent date in Charlottesville, Richmond wouldn’t show up, thereby, (unfairly) solidifying our reputation with the concert promoters as a non-viable market. Go see this concert even if you already went to Cville. I have a sneaking suspicion the Boss himself actually requested the Richmond show. Â
- Good to see hometown girl Aimee Mann coming back to play the National.
- The Flobots are coming to the National. Their song “Handlebars” is the hottest song right now for the 102X/Y101 set. Though it reeks of “one hit wonder,” I think the song itself does a masterful job of capturing “manic psychosis” in song form.
- The weird Guitar God Buckethead (the darling of my ipod playlist last year…We are One, download it now!) is storming into the National in October. We should reciprocate by going to the show wearing Lee’s Fried Chicken and Chicken Box containers. More on Chicken Box a little later on Glutton Opines…