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GOOD EATS RVA 004: Richmond Brunch Weekend, Saadia’s Juice Box opens, & Carytown’s Burger Bach to expand

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Now we’re into our fourth installment of GOOD EATS RVA, filled to the brim with restaurant news, new menus at local eateries, chef series and more. If you’re still among the few who missed RVA Magazine’s launch of GOOD EATS RVA, head over here to read up on it.

Just as before, we’ve got a huge helping this go around, so make some more room on your plate and pull up a chair and get ready for some GOOD EATS.

Richmond’s 2nd Annual Brunch Weekend

BRUNCH!!! Even if you’ve only lived in Richmond for a short time, you know how obsessed we are with brunch. Just step outside Sunday mid-morning on Main Street or Carytown or check out the line down the block at Millie’s diner and you can see everywhere is out getting their brunch fix. Luckily, last year Richmond dedicated an entire weekend to it, and there are a ton of restaurants involved ready to serve your hungry, hungover body.


Julep’s New Southern Cuisine

Richmond’s 2nd Annual Brunch Weekend will kickoff Friday at 5 pm at Southern Railway Taphouse and continue through this weekend. Local restaurants have created special menus with 10 percent of proceeds going toward VCU Massey Cancer Center. Some of the restaurants include The Daily Kitchen And Bar, 3 Monkeys, Savory Grain, The Betty on Davis, and Max’s on Broad. You can get more details and a list of all the restaurants here.

North End Juice Co. adds New Specials and Juices

North End Juice Co., a new sidewalk juice bar and walk-up window on North Cleveland Street serving fresh-pressed juices, acai bowls, smoothies, to-go salads, has some awesome new specials and new jucie creations which include Watermelon Gazpacho and Green Detox. Check out them menu and juices below.

Rapp Session reopens after fire, Rappahannock Restaurant remains closed

After a horrible fire at oyster and seafood restaurant Rappahannock Restaurant that forced it and its sister restaurant next door Rapp Session East Grace Street to close at the beginning of March, they are making progress. The oyster bar Rapp Session reopened March 9 and has resumed regular hours. Rappahannock is still closed.

Burger Bach taking over Wells Fargo in Carytown

Carytown burger joint Burger Bach is moving just down the block from its location at the corner of N. Thompson and West Cary streets and taking over the former Wells Fargo building at 3426 W. Cary St. The restaurant needed more space and will open in the 2,100 square foot building in June, according to Richmond BizSense.

Hattie Mae’s Southern Kitchen now open at Willow Lawn

Hattie Mae’s Southern Kitchen is now open at Willow Lawn in the former American Taproom space. The restaurant opened on the 15th and serves up southern specialities like hushpuppies, fried green tomatoes, peel & eat shrimp, catfish, chicken and waffles and more. See the full menu here.

Saadia’s Juice Box and Yoga Bar opens

Saadia’s Juice Box and Yoga Bar opened in the heart of Jackson Ward at 402 1/2 N. 2nd St. on March 3rd. On our menu you can find healthful concoctions of smoothies, raw juices, salads, wellness shots, teas and coffee. The shop also offers yoga and meditation classes. You can find their menu and yoga class schedule at the link above. I also suggest following them on instagram @saadiasjuicebox because they’re posts are drool-worthy.

RVA Food Truck Mean Bird to open in former StickyToGoGo space

Sarah and Mike Moore, owners of local fried chicken and vegan fried chicken food truck Mean Bird will open a storefront in the former StickyToGoGo spot in April. The space will be mostly takeout, a few seats for dining and a market carrying specialty foods from RVA artisans. You can read more in our interview with them here.

A look at Richmond’s Willie Byrd Dark Chocolate Sauce

RVA Mag recently profiled the women behind Wille Byrd Chocolate Sauce, a business that’s been selling four types of sauces to Richmond for the last three years, but began as a family recipe from the owner Scottie Phillips’ grandfather. It was passed down to her and her sister after her grandfather, the original Willie Byrd, died in 1994. They now sell four types including Peppermint, Dark Chocolate, Espresso, and Sea Salt Caramel at Libbie Market, Ellwood Thompson’s, Whole Foods, For the Love of Chocolate and Stella’s Grocery locally as well as 35 stores across Virginia and a few in Atlanta. You read up on how they got started here.

Long read: After 22 years, Cary St. Cafe’s owner has nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile

Wed Editor Brad Kutner had the chance to sit down with Robyn Chandler, the longtime owner of Cary St. Cafe and find out her back story, how she managed to get involved with the hippie bar known for its regular live music and how she’s managed to keep it successful.

You can check RVA Magazine’s interview with Chandler here.

Food Porn:

Head over to RVA Magazine’s instagram @rvamag to check out more photos of local good eats.

To submit news, ideas, press releases, menus, or other restaurant news, please email Amy David at [email protected] For advertising or sponsorship opportunities, please email John Reinhold at [email protected]

Photo Credit: Richmond Brunch Weekend

GOOD EATS RVA 003: The Jackdaw hosts Kamayan Feast, Richmond Black Restaurant Week, & more donuts for RVA

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Topics: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Now we’re into our third installment of GOOD EATS RVA, filled to the brim with restaurant news, new menus at local eateries, chef series and more. If you’re still among the few who missed RVA Magazine’s launch of GOOD EATS RVA, head over here to check it out.

Just as before, we’ve got a big helping this go around, so make some more room on your plate and pull up a chair and get ready for some GOOD EATS.

Richmond Black Restaurant Week Kicks Off

From March 6-12, a number of local Black-owned restaurants, coffee shops and other establishments will celebrate Richmond Black Restaurant Week to offer dining deals to bring in new customers and raise awareness. According to the Facebook page, 20 restaurants are participating including Croaker’s Spot, Mama J’s, Sugar’s Crab Shach, Charlie’s Kitchen and more. Stay tuned to a more in-depth interview on this new event. Enjoy $15.00 two course lunches and $25.00 three course dinners.

Richmond is the latest city to host Black Restaurant Week. Memphis, St. Louis, and Birmingham are also hosting their own Black Restaurant Weeks either this week or next. No calls were returned by press time, but the website states that Black Restaurant Week is an “opportunity for Black-Owned restaurants to offer dining deals to bring in new customers and raise awareness. It allows the country to support minority owned eateries.

We believe supporting Black restaurants play a crucial role in achieving socio-economic upliftment, and the sustainable implementation of these beliefs will strengthen our communities and open opportunities for future generations.”

Vegan food truck Mean Bird snags former StickyToGoGo space

Popular RVA food truck Mean Bird, which serves traditional and vegan fried chicken around town has just scored itself a brick and mortar spot in the former Sticky ToGoGo space. You can usually find them at Hardywood, Isley for their brunch and other spots about town. The couple announced on their Facebook page Feb. 25 that they would be moving their business into the space at 2227 Main St and plan to open in the next couple of months. Co-owner Sarah Moore said in an email that the space will mainly be a take out restaurant and market with possibly a few seats.

Mean Bird was starting to outgrow the food truck according to Moore and needed to expand to accommodate their customer base.

“In some ways, Mean Bird has maxed out the opportunities available operating solely out of the food truck,” she said. “Instead of pursuing a dedicated commissary space, we decided on a store front, which we see as the next step in keeping our customers happy and expanding Mean Bird’s business.”

Mean Bird will dramatically scale back the food truck business for the time being, but will still use it or catering and big events. Inquiries can be sent to [email protected]

Strawberry Street Cafe rolls $6 burger menu:

Strawberry Street Cafe has recently added a $6 craft burger menu with a bacon and mac and cheese burger, pimento cheese burger and more. See the menu below.

Kitchen on Cary Tuesday Wine Dinner, Thursday Wine nights

Every Tuesday Kitchen on Cary hosts a Wine Dinner with a unique menu. Three courses paired with three wines for $30. Check out tonight’s dinner menu and reservation info below:

Kitchen on Cary also hosts “UnPlugged and Uncorked” every Thursday night featuring half off select bottles of wine and live music.

Nota Bene’s Wood-Fired, Umbria-Inspired Book Dinner featuring Chef and Author Letizia Mattiacci

On Sunday, March 19, the restaurant will host chef author Letizia Mattiacci all the way from Umbria Italy for their Wood-Fired, Umbria-Inspired Book Dinner. Over a five-course dinner, Letizia will be sharing stories and recipes from her new book A Kitchen With A View.

Letizia owns Alla Madonna del Piatto bed and breakfast and cooking school where she has offered hands-on classes for over a decade.

Nota Bene’s chef Randall Doetzer collaborates for a seasonal and regional wood-fired menu available through the evening. This five-course dinner is $65 per person with an additional wine pairing and Letizia’s book available during the event. A limited number of tickets will be available during each seating and can be purchased in advance here. 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

The Jackdaw hosts first Kamayan Feast

Local pop up restaurant The Jackdaw (which you can read more about in our upcoming print issue!) is hosting its first Kamayan Feast at Citizen on Sunday, March 12.

Kamay is the Filipino word for hand. Kamayan means to either shake hands or since this is about food and this particular event, it would mean eating using only your hands. Kamayan has placed this traditional way of eating with hands on a pedestal and turned it into a real art form. This is a good way to kick back, relax, and get to know your neighbor while eating a feast on banana leaves. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased through Eventbrite here.

Rise Biscuits Donuts coming to Short Pump

Durham, NC-based biscuit and donut concept, Rise Biscuits Donuts, will open its first Virginia location in Short Pump in June. The business sells both sweet and savory breakfast and lunch options,

“We are excited to bring this creative, chef-driven concept to Richmond,” said David Dowdy who, with partners Nash Osborn and Matt Hurley, will own and operate the franchise. “We feel there’s a void Rise will fill nicely in the breakfast market and can’t wait to serve scratch-made biscuits and donuts daily to hungry Virginians.”

Menu items include fied chicken biscuit, ham and sausage biscuit topped with cheeses, spreads and eggs and the Cubano. The shop boasts such donut flavors as Maple Bacon Bar and Crème Brulee. Rise Richmond (Short Pump) will be located at 11561 W. Broad St., across the street from Short Pump Town Center. Check out Rise Richmond’s Facebook page here.

Kabana Rooftop unveils new menu and hosts Jazz over the James

Kabana Rooftop has rolled out a very diverse menu. Greek meatballs with house ground lamb, feta and taztiki, Pergories, a pulled chicken, rice and avocado burrito, and a steak and cheese taquito are just some of the dishes. See the full menu below.

Every Tuesday, Kabana also has Jazz over the James featuring live jazz music during dinner with select half price bottles of wines and champagnes.

Early Bird Biscuit Co. & Bakery flocking back to Northside

According to their Instagram, Early Bird Biscuit Co. & Bakery will be coming back home to Northside. Not in their exact space on Lakeside Avenue, but the biscuit and sweets shop has secured a space at 1221 Bellevue Avenue. Not to worry Fan residents, your beloved biscuits will stay put at Early Bird’s Robinson Street location.

Growlers To Go Launches Bike Delivery Through Quickness RVA

No longer do craft beer lovers need to make the trip up to the store or brewery to fill up their growlers. Growlers To Go has partnered up with local bike courier company Quickness RVA to deliver the beer of its 50 plus kegs that are tap to the masses.

“It’s awesome how Quickness is helping us reach people who might not yet know about our store,” said Alyssa McCartney, Store Manger of Growlers To Go in a release. “We offer a wide variety of craft beer and cider at way less than bar prices, now in the comfort of your home.”

In the future, Quickness RVA plans to work out a subscription ABC delivery by bike with the company.

Fire at Rappahannock closes restaurant

A fire at Rappahannock Restaurant forced the popular seafood and oyster bar on East Grace Street to close its doors along with its neighboring sister restaurant, Rapp Session, while they assess the damage. They sent out a message on their Facebook page where you can keep up with updates on the restaurant:

“Rappahannock Restaurant will be closed until further notice. We are still assessing the damages and hope to know more soon. All reservations are being contacted. We apologize for the inconvenience. Thank you all again for your support and well wishes. Also, we’ve received a lot of messages from the business community offering to help, thank you. We’re are very appreciative of all the support and help. We hope to have more updates soon.”

The Brunch Market launches in Scott’s Addition

Scott’s Addition recently got its own monthly artisan market and brunch spot in the Urban Roost event space, The Brunch Market. Music, local shopping, brunch, and bar to make for the perfect Sunday Funday. The new event space by Lunch.SUPPER! offers a beautiful layout, open air garage doors, full bar, and custom farm tables. Their next event is Sunday, March 19 from 11am-4pm. Brunch bites and cocktails served walk-up style with 20 local retailers all under one roof. Check the link above for vendors. 3023 W. Marshall St.

Wong Gonzalez Beer Dinner

On Wednesday, EAT Partners restaurant on East Grace Street, Wong Gonzalez will host a beer dinner featuring Charlottesville’s South Street Brewery’s brews. Enjoy 5 delicious beer from the Charlottesville brewery paired with Chef Ken’s Latin-Asian fusion. Only $50 a person, make your reservations today by visiting wonggonzlez.com or calling (804)-788-9000. 6:30-9:30pm.

Laura Lee’s rolls out brunch menu

Laura Lee’s restaurant at 3410 Semmes Avenue started serving brunch last weekend. Starts at 10:30am. You can see a sneak peek below and the full brunch menu here.

Quirk Hotel Wine Table Tuesdays

As you found out in the first edition of GOOD EATS RVA, Quirk Hotel has launched Wine Table Tuesdays, where each week, a new organization/charity will be featured and $2 of all wine tastings will be donated to the specific charity. $17 per person (includes 4 tastings). Tonight, Quirk Hotel will donate proceeds to the World Pediatric Project and next week, March 14, the Wine Table event will benefit the Legal Aid Justice Center.

Weezie’s adds to dinner menu

Weezie’s Kitchen in Carytown has just put out a mouth-watering specials menu for dinner along with some wines. The restaurant has added some new burgers, wings, chicken and waffles, and chicken and biscuits. Check out the menu below and drool over the photos while you’re at it.

Food Porn:

Head over to RVA Magazine’s instagram @rvamag to check out more photos of local good eats.

To submit news, ideas, press releases, menus, or other restaurant news, please email Amy David at [email protected] For advertising or sponsorship opportunities, please email John Reinhold at [email protected]