restaurants Archives

RVA Mag’s Downtown Holiday Jaunt

John Reinhold | December 23, 2020

Topics: Christmas lights, Coffee shops, Dinner, Dinner spots in RVA, Disk golf, food spots, Gift stores, james river, Lunch spots, restaurants, RVA coffee, RVA Downtown, RVA Light tours, RVA lights, RVA tour, sights, things to do in richmond va, things to do in RVA, Tour maps, walking tour maps

Well, here we are — close to closing out this most difficult and unusual year in RVA. We have all been trying to find a way to navigate, mentally and physically, this season. Our downtown is all lit up for the holidays. At night, you can see our wonderful River City in all its glory across the river, with buildings outlined in lights for Christmas and New Years. I desperately want to be a part of it all somehow, just like in years past.

This season, probably more than any other, I have been making sure to shop local, to support local restaurants and markets this holiday season. For many years, I have taken family or friends into the city for the lights and for good eats around this time. Despite the many precautions required by the pandemic, navigating all that now is still possible with a little planning and preparation. In this article, I’m going to show you how you can do exactly that. Think of it as a Day in the Life of RVA Downtown in 2020.

Before we begin, I don’t think of this as a guide; it’s hard to have an exact plan in 2020. Perhaps it’s something that gives you a sense of the possibilities that make sense for your trip. Ways to do it, be safe, and still have fun — all in support of the city and local businesses we love. So then — let’s get to it. I’m making our plan, packing up the car, grabbing our masks, hand sanitizer, coat, and gloves, and we’re heading out early morning. It’s a sunny day in RVA — a little cold, but just perfect for a river trip and a warm drink.

Let’s start by looking at our MAP to get an idea of where to head first. Ah yes — COFFEE! The first stop is coffee, because let’s be real: we need that badly. There are a few spots to choose from, all roasted up perfect. You can smell it before it’s even in your hand. I had to try Sefton, though Whisk was calling me with those pastries. We grab two cappuccinos to go and get back in the warm car.

Downtown Coffee stops:

We got the coffee, and the zombie feelings are starting to fade.Now, maybe some will get their food at the local coffee spot. But we had a certain spot, and plan, in mind for our breakfast. Perly’s is one of our favorites – lox and bagel curbside pickup sounds about right. So that’s this trip’s plan, but let’s list out a few other local favorites where you can grab that perfect breakfast.

*Perly’s Breakfast Bagel Lox is the play.*

Breakfast to go:

We head now to find a spot by the river for a walk with our coffee and bagel in tow. We go down by Rocketts Landing on the river to get a view of the James River across from Ancarrow’s Landing. However, there are many sweet spots on the river where you could spend a morning; let’s list a few.

River Spots:

Now to the actual plan for our day trip: we’re going to tour some murals around downtown. There are plenty to visit, and you can route them as needed. Let’s get a map and plan together. Here are some guides and links for starting your mural tour.

Mural Tour Links:

We could be at this all day, easily. But it’s getting close to lunch and it’s time for a break. Let’s regroup with a beer, and figure out our lunch plan. There are a few close-by places where we can grab a brew; we can even have them outside, or just make a pickup and figure it out. Perhaps we can even pick up some packs for home. Let’s go over our best potential spots.

*Triple Crossing in Fulton with its sweet outdoor area*

Lets Grab a Brew:

That was needed; now we’re feeling refreshed and we want to get some grub. There are plenty of spots to choose from downtown. It’s also easy to hit a market for some quick bits to go. I’m craving some tacos (duh), so we’re hitting up Soul Taco. But any of these spots are top quality and have easy to go pickup.

Soul Taco Reminder by the River, good idea.

Lunch Spots for your tummy:

Having grabbed our lunch, we head to finish up any remaining mural spots, then take a walk on the river as we digest our food. At this point we could stay on the river, do some Christmas shopping, hit up some disk golf, or even check out some museums in the area. Let’s list some possible choices, and we can form our plan from that. Remember to check for COVID-19 rules at some of these places; if you’re going to a museum, you may need to purchase tickets online before you show up.

Museums & Galleries

*Gillies Park Hole #18 Midday Disk golf*

Disk Golf Trip:

Gillies Park
Dorey Park (further out)

We opted for The Valentine Museum to take in some Virginia History. It also has a nice shop in it, so we picked up a classic Richmond gift. Now we’re gonna go down Shockoe Slip to take in the sights and make a popular stop at Fountain Bookstore.

*Fountain Bookstore is always worth a visit*

Shopping & More:

Fountain Bookstore
Circle Thrift and Artspace
Waller & Company Jewelers
Dransfield Jewelers
Antique Boutique
La Diff
Shockoe Atelier
Maven Made
Carytown Tobacco
Kulture Downtown
World of Mirth / Amazing Toy Store ( further out in Carytown)

After that busy afternoon, we’re getting hungry and want to grab our dinner. Ordering some takeout from J Kogi seems to be in order. We need that bulgogi badly, so we’re getting some super spicy to go. There are plenty of other amazing meals we could do in the Downtown area, and quite a few came up in discussion. We settled on J Kogi, but you might pick from any number of great options.

Dinner to go:

*RVA Holiday Night Lighting by @rvaphotog*

Finally we take in our surroundings as the sky gets dark and the city lights up all over. Heading back down to Shockoe, going past Kanawha Plaza to stop and see the lights, then over towards Brown’s Island so we can take in the light tour. The river walk is all lit up, from Turning Basin to Belle Isle. Feeling Christmasy about now.

Links and Maps for Lights:

Holiday Downtown Lights Guide
Walking Tour MAP DOWNLOAD
Holiday Lights in VA
Other Holiday Trips with Festive light up spots in Virginia

Well, we’re feeling pretty tired after all that, but successful overall, so let’s grab desserts and find a warm fire. For that, we’re hitting up Capitol Waffle on the way home, because they’ve got that one sweet waffle for win. Goodnight RVA — thanks for the sweet sights.

Remember: Shop Local ❤️ Local!

For more information on all of the shops, restaurants, and sights in downtown RVA and beyond, visit Venture Richmond & Virginia is for Lovers!

On the Line During A Pandemic

Noah Daboul | June 5, 2020

Topics: coronavirus, covid 19, face masks, Luna Maya, quarantine, restaurants, restaurants in virginia, The Bakehouse at Chelsea

Face masks, grumpy customers, and fear of exposure — what it’s like to be on the kitchen staff for Virginia restaurants attempting to survive and thrive during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Virginia’s food scene is incredible. Across the state there are many restaurants run by talented chefs serving incredible food. The quarantine brought on by the coronavirus outbreak has taken a toll on restaurants across the state, though, as people are not only hesitant but altogether not allowed to dine out the way they once did.

Most media in the state has focused on how owners of restaurants are coping with the virus — what they are doing on their new takeout menus, how their daily turnover has shifted, what plans they have to reopen. However, less attention has been given to the actual staff of these restaurants and how they are coping with the changes the pandemic has brought to their work.

As someone who works in food service, I can tell you that working in a kitchen during a pandemic is a blessing and a curse. I’m more than grateful to have work, but because of my constant interaction with customers I fear that I am exposing my family to the virus.

I work at an artisan bakery in the Chelsea district of Norfolk, fittingly called The Bakehouse at Chelsea. I work on the pizza crew, slinging pizzas into and out of a 600-plus degree wood-fired oven. Every day I go through my prep list as I normally would; I slice pepperoni, I make sauce, I cook bacon, I cut onions, I shape dough, etc. Unlike a lot of the restaurants around the area, the Bakehouse has been doing well; I think that’s simply because people want pizza when they’re stuck at home.

It’s not rocket science to figure out that people like pizza.

However, the coronavirus has introduced challenges that I have to face every prep and dinner shift. At around 4:45 p.m. every Friday, I’ve seen a sort of passive-aggressive mad dash amongst the four line cooks working the shift to determine who will be the ones working the line and oven that night, and who will be the ones wearing masks and working the register.

“We’re required to wear masks by law and we do,” said my manager, Kenny Gerry.

Naturally though, that slips our minds at times; especially when we’re in the middle of a weekend dinner rush and facing hour-and-a-half wait times. We’ve become a lot better about it as we realize the importance of it.. Although the staff is required to wear masks, until last week’s order by Governor Northam, customers were not. About half of the customers that came in before the order weren’t wearing a mask or any kind of protection, and sometimes completely ignored the hand sanitizer on the counter.

Interestingly, the customers who came in without a mask were more often than not the rudest and most entitled customers. Even when we’re clearly slammed, they repeatedly ask when their food is ready and why they have to wait. If they tip at all, it tends to be very little. I think that the same mindset of “Why should I have to wait?” falls in line with the mindset of “Why should I have to wear a mask, even if everyone else is?”

“I’m glad our kitchen is separate from our seating area, because I worry about the people coming in,” said Eric Durham, a line cook at Luna Maya. Luna is a Mexican restaurant in the Ghent district of Norfolk, and they have some of the best mojitos and quesadillas I’ve ever had.

“I’m not worried about the people that work there bringing the virus in,” said Durham. “I’m more worried about the customers.”

The bright side, in my experience, is that people are grateful for our work. Customers have been tipping well, especially when you’re able to compliment the mask they matched to their shirt, or have somewhat of a nice banter despite both voices being muffled underneath a mask.

“Business has fluctuated drastically since quarantine,” said Durham. “Sometimes it’s like we never closed, and other times there’s absolutely nothing to do.”

When there’s nothing to do in the kitchen of Luna, Durham likes to get creative. One of his favorite things to make is the “Dunc Wrap.” His take on Taco Bell’s CrunchWrap is chorizo sausage, poblano peppers, rice, beans, onions, queso, and pico de gallo, wrapped in a large tortilla.

“That’s the standard one, but I like to change it up each time,” he said, “especially if there’s nothing else to do.”

At the Bakehouse, Gerry has been getting creative as well. He made a barbecue sauce out of ingredients lying around the kitchen; this has led to a barbecue chicken pizza special hitting the menu. My coworkers and I have been able to experiment with our own ideas as well, making pizzas with pimento cheese, kimchi, pears, and whatever else might cross our minds.

From a line worker’s point of view, restaurants in Virginia seem to have been coping well with quarantine and the slow reopening of the state. Takeout menus have been a way for cooks to get creative. Restaurants that don’t have patio seating have taken tables out to their parking lots and have done what they can to welcome business.

However, the pandemic still lingers regardless of reopening. While people go out, they still put themselves at risk, and the line cooks working at these restaurants face that risk every shift. Regardless, though, people can only eat so many home cooked meals before they have the desire to go out. And as the state reopens, they’ll have more chances to.

Photos by Noah Daboul

Eat Local! The RVA Mag Guide to Supporting Restaurants During COVID-19

RVA Staff | April 1, 2020

Topics: 23rd and main, 3 monkeys, 3rd street diner, adarra, alewife, Ardent craft ales, bamboo, Bandito's, barrel thief wine, Belmont Butchery, belmont pizza, best restaurants richmond va, Black Hand Coffee, Blue Bee Cider, Boogaloo's, Brenner Pass, brunch, Burger Bach, Buskey Cider, buz and neds, can can, capital one cafe, Cary St. Cafe, Casa Del Barco, Citizen, citizen burger bar, Cobra Cabana, coronavirus, coronavirus richmond va, covid 19 richmond va, covid 19 rva, Crossroads, delivery groceries richmond va, delivery grocery richmond va, delivery restaurants richmond va, delivery richmond va, dogtown brewing, Dont Look Back, Dot's Back Inn, dutch and company, Final Gravity, fine creek, fuzzy cactus rva, fw sullivans rva, garden grove, garnetts, Growlers to go, Hardywood, helens richmond va, intermission beer, Ipanema Cafe, Isley, Jack Brown's, jack browns richmond, Joe's Inn, Kabana, L'opossum, Lady N'awlins, laura lees, Lickinghole Creek, little nickel, local restaurants, lulus, lunch and supper, mekong, mellow mushroom, Millie's, Mojo's, New York Deli, otooles, penny lane pub, perch rva, Perly's, Peter Chang's, peter changs richmond, piknik, Pop's Market on Grace, proper pie, rappahannock richmond va, rappahannock rva, restaurants, restaurants richmond va, River City Roll, roosevelt richmond va, Sabai, Secco Wine Bar, sidewalk cafe, social 52 richmond, southbound richmond va, starr hill richmond, stoplight gelato, Strangeways Brewing, sugar shack donuts, sullivans, tazza, The Answer, the daily, The Jasper, the treat shop, Tio Pablo, tje veil, to go restaurants richmond va, Triple Crossing Beer, Union Market, Väsen, where to eat richmond va, wpa bakery, ZZQ

The current situation may be tough on local business, but many restaurants in Richmond are opening up options for delivery and pickup orders to help get past the worst weeks of this pandemic. Here’s how you can help, while scoring delicious eats in the process!

While people are purchasing mass quantities of toilet paper, baby wipes, and frozen chicken, it can be tempting to lock yourself in your house and make meals with what you already have. But when you’re craving your favorite local dishes, restaurants in Richmond have a safe way to bring them to you: with pick-up and delivery, it’s still possible to enjoy the city’s best dining without the worry. Now more than ever, it’s time to support our local businesses however we can.

We’ve gathered a list of Richmond restaurants that are open for business with new takeout and delivery options during the COVID-19 pandemic. Listings will be updated as more information becomes available. In addition to using these safe avenues to support local business, many locals are also purchasing gift cards to help restaurants through the closures. It’s a great way to show your support now — and still be able to go out to eat when life calms down. Many included have shortened their operating hours, so be sure to order within their updated time frames for pick-up and delivery.

Check out your favorites here, and if you’re a local restaurant owner, reach out to us at [email protected] to have your spot added below.

Last Updated 11 AM Tuesday, May 5. No longer being actively updated as of 6/1.

DELIVERY & CARRYOUT OPTIONS AVAILABLE
These establishments — listed in alphabetical order for easy searching — are continuing with, or even adding, carryout and delivery options. Specific details listed with each business.

8 1/2
Church Hill location open (one customer permitted inside at a time). delivery through Quickness. Fan location closed indefinitely.

821 Cafe
To-go orders and delivery available. Open Wednesday- Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday-Sunday 9am-2pm. Menus for ordering options available here.

Ardent Craft Ales
Curbside pickup and delivery available.

Assante’s Pizza
Open regular hours (11am-3am) for takeout and delivery.

Barcode
Open regular hours. Takeout available, delivery through Grubhub.

Barrel Thief Wine Shop
Pickup and delivery both available.

Beauvine
Everyday 11am – 1am Takeout, Curbside, Delivery. Offering bottle beer, wine, and more. Call 804 -592-5592 to order.

Belmont Pizza
Pickup and delivery both available.

Big Herm’s Kitchen
Open Mon-Fri 11am-6pm for takeout and delivery. Order by phone or through Chop Chop, QuicknessRVA, Uber Eats, Grubhub, and EatStreet. Catering orders available. People wishing to support the restaurant can also purchase gift certificates and merch including hoodies, skullcaps, and pajama day shirts.

Bingo Beer Co
Pickup and delivery both available. 12-8pm daily, offering three delivery zones (check them out here) within 12 miles of their location in Scott’s Addition. Order on their website or directly through the link here.

Bryant’s Cider
Open for takeout Fridays 6-8pm, and Saturday-Sunday 3-5pm. Curbside pickup available. Delivery available through website beginning April 1.

Burger Bach Carytown
Open Sunday-Thursday 12-8pm, Friday-Saturday 12-10pm. Delivery from the restaurant directly.

Burger Bach Midlothan, Short Pump, Charlottesville, Durham
12-8pm every day. Curbside carryout, online ordering, and delivery. DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats ordering available.

Buskey Cider
Open Monday-Friday 3pm-7pm and Saturday-Sunday 12pm-7pm for to-go pickup and free delivery within 15 miles of cidery.

Buz & Ned’s
Open 11:30am-2:30pm and again 4:30-8pm. Curbside pickup available at West Broad location, pickup from express window at Boulevard location. Delivery available from Grubhub and Postmates.

Cafe Zata
Takeout available, delivery options thru UberEats and Eat Street.

The Camel
Taking orders over the phone for takeout or curbside pickup. Delivery through GrubHub, UberEats, DoorDash and EatStreet. Full menu, growler fill ups, and packaged beer to-go available. New hours are from 3 – 10pm.

Capitol Waffle Shop
Open for takeout and delivery, Monday & Tuesday 9am-2pm, Wednesday through Sunday 9am-8pm.

Carytown Burgers & Fries
Open for takeout and delivery, including beer, at Carytown and Lakeside locations. Order through website.

Casa Del Barco
Reopening downtown location Friday, March 27 for takeout and delivery. Open 12pm-9pm.

Casa Grande
Locations in Short Pump, on West Broad St near Parham Rd, and on Brook Rd near Virginia Center Commons, are currently open for takeout and delivery from 11am-10pm Mon-Thurs, 11am-11pm Fri-Sat, and 11am-9:30pm Sunday. Takeout orders can be placed through their website. Delivery available through DoorDash.

Casa Italiana
Open daily 11am-8pm for curbside pickup and delivery.

Cobra Cabana
Pickup and delivery both available.

Conch Republic Rocketts
Open for takeout from 11:30am-8:30pm, and for delivery from 11:30am-7:30pm. Employee delivery is available if you call the restaurant directly at (804)226-6242, or you can order through Uber Eats.

The Daily
Open for carryout and delivery. Offering delivery through ChopChopRVA, from both Short Pump and Carytown locations. Hours generally 12-8pm but check Facebook for updates.

Diamond Billiards
Offering curbside delivery of our full menu Tuesday-Saturday from 11:00am-7:00pm. (804) 794-8787

En Su Boca
Open every day noon-midnight for takeout and delivery. Curbside pickup available. Offering bottle beer, wine, and House margarita mix. Call (804)359-0768 to order.

Garnett’s Cafe
Takeout and delivery only. Order online at website.

The Grapevine
Open regular hours. Takeout and delivery available.

Growlers To Go
Boulevard location open afternoons, Thursday through Sunday. Short Pump location open afternoons, Tuesday through Sunday. Limited taps available. Offering curbside pickup. Delivery available 3-8pm every day; order through website.

GWARBar
Open for takeout and delivery 11am-10pm. Beer and wine available for pickup.

Helen’s
Open for takeout and delivery Tuesday-Saturday 5-9pm. Limited menu available, updated weekly. Call (804)358-4370 to order.

Home Sweet Home
Pickup and delivery both available. Call 804-355-9000 to order pickup, and delivery orders can be placed through Uber Eats, GrubHub, DoorDash, and Chop Chop RVA.

Home Team Grill
Fan location: Takeout and delivery available through DoorDash and Grubhub. 12-7pm daily hours.
Twin Hickory location: Takeout with Curbside and delivery through Doordash. 11:30am-8pm daily hours.

India K’Raja
Takeout and delivery available.

Isley Brewing Company
To-go orders, delivery within 10 miles of brewery.

Izzy’s Kitchen
Open for pickup from 11am-3pm and 5-7:30pm. Curbside pickup available. Delivery available through Chop Chop RVA.

Julep’s New Southern Cuisine
Opening for takeout and delivery with updated menu starting Tuesday, March 24. Hours will be 11am-5pm Monday-Saturday. Delivery available within 10 mile radius.

La Bamba Mexican Restaurant
To-go orders available including beer. Use parking lot and call to notify staff of your arrival. Delivery available through EatStreet.

Latitude Seafood Co.
Both locations open for carryout and delivery. Stony Point location open from 12-8pm, Westchester Commons from 4-8pm. Delivery available directly or through ChowNow, Grubhub, and Doordash.

Legend Brewing Co.
Open 12-8pm daily with to-go craft beer and food specials. Curbside pickup available, free delivery to Manchester and Forest Hill areas. Menu on website; call (804)232-3446 to order.

Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery
Open Monday-Friday 2-7pm, Saturday-Sunday 12-7pm. Drive-thru curbside pickup, delivery, and shipping throughout Virginia and some other states (check website for info on shipping out of state).

The Local Eatery And Pub
Open for curbside pickup and delivery 12-7pm seven days a week. Limited menu viewable on facebook page. Call (804)358-1862 to place an order.

Luther Burger
Open for takeout and delivery. Curbside pickup available. Hours and menu subject to change, check Facebook for current info.

Maldini’s
Open regular hours; 11am-10pm Sunday-Thursday, 11am-11pm Friday-Saturday. Curbside takeout, family-style dining options available as well as regular menu. Delivery in-house or through Uber Eats, Doordash, and Slice.

Mama J’s Kitchen
Carryout and delivery available; call or order through website in advance for carryout. Delivery available through Doordash and Postmates.

McCormack’s Whisky Grill
Open daily from 11:30am-9pm for takeout, curbside pickup, and delivery. Limited menu — check Facebook for available options.

Mellow Mushroom
All local locations open 11am-8pm for takeout and curbside pickup. Delivery orders available online only.

Mojo’s
Pickup and delivery both available. Employee support fund at GoFundMe.

Nama
Open for carryout and delivery Tuesday-Sunday 4-9pm. Two deals available that donate 15 percent of proceeds to Richmond Animal League.

Piccola Italy
Takeout available strictly from takeout window on Harrison St. side of building. Delivery continues with usual hours and ordering process. Call 804-355-3111 to place all orders until further notice.

PikNik
Open 3-9pm daily for takeout and delivery. To order, call (804)729-4693.

Pizza Express Westend
Open for curbside pickup and no-contact delivery, Sunday-Thursday 10:30am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 10:30am-11pm.

Postbellum
Open 4pm-9pm Wednesday-Sunday for takeout. Curbside service available. Limited menu available for delivery through Uber Eats and Doordash.

Rappahannock RVA
Open 12-8pm daily for takeout and delivery. Call (804)545-0565 or order online through Grubhub.

Root Stock Provisions
Open for takeout Thursday-Sunday 8am-2pm. Delivery available through Uber Eats.

Roots Natural Kitchen
Open normal hours, for takeout only. Delivery available through third party delivery apps (Uber Eats, Doordash, Postmates).

SB’s Lakeside Love Shack
Delivery and takeout available.

Sedona Taphouse
Curbside pickup and delivery available. Bottled and canned beer, and wine served at 50% off to residents and businesses within a 5-mile radius of Glen Allen and Midlothian locations. $5 delivery fee. Family Meal Deal with two flat iron steaks, with two sides each and a bottle of wine for under $40. Monday-Thursday and Sunday 11am-8:30pm, Friday and Saturday 11am-10pm.

Soul Taco
Both locations, Jackson Ward and Shockoe Slip, open for takeout. Orders can be placed through their website, or by calling in. Delivery available through Quickness, DoorDash, Uber Eats, Postmates, and Grubhub. Cocktails and meal kits available; check their Instagram or Facebook for current info on types of kits and times available.

Station 2
Open 11am-midnight for takeout and delivery. Parking lot pickup available, delivery available through Uber Eats.

Sticky Rice
Open daily for takeout and delivery 11am-9pm. Curbside pickup available. Delivery available through Quickness.

Strangeways Brewing
To-go beer orders only. Open 2-7 Monday through Friday, 12-7 Saturday, 2-6 Sunday. Curbside pickup available at both Dabney Rd and Scott’s Addition locations. Dabney Rd location also doing delivery Monday-Saturday. Order before 5pm for deliveries between 5 and 7pm that evening.

Sugar Shack Donuts
Lombardy St and Parham Rd locations open for takeout and delivery 7am-2pm. Delivery via Grubhub and Uber Eats.

Switch
Wine, beer, and merch only. Open Tuesday-Sunday 1-9pm for takeout. Delivery from 4-9pm.

TGI Fridays
Five local locations accepting orders for takeout and delivery. Hours and ordering info through website.

Toast
Carryout and delivery available. Curbside pickup available by request. Delivery handled through Uber Eats and Grubhub.

Triple Crossing Beer
Offering to-go and delivery options for beers.

Union Market
Dining room and bar temporarily closed, but full menu available to-go. Can be ordered online from UberEats (delivery fees have been waived for independent restaurants), or call in for pick up or for delivery through Quickness RVA. If you’re in the delivery zone for Quickness RVA, they can also deliver items from the market, including essentials, snacks, beer and wine. The market side of the business will remain open for shopping needs.

Upper Shirley Vineyards
This Charles City-based winery is offering delivery to Richmond Tuesday through Friday, and curbside pickup at the winery from 12-3pm. To order, email [email protected]rshirley.com. For directions, check their website.

The Veil
Open for takeout 1-7pm Monday-Friday and 12-6pm Saturday-Sunday. Delivery available ($40 minimum) by emailing [email protected] Orders placed by 12 noon will receive same day delivery by 6pm; orders after 12 noon will be delivered the next day.

Weezie’s Kitchen
Open for takeout and delivery. Brunch menu available daily, all day. Hours are 12am-10pm daily. Delivery available through Grubhub, Uber Eats, and Doordash.

CARRY-OUT RESTAURANTS
These places are operating mainly on a takeaway basis, some with limited hours and/or menus. If you are making a to-go order, check on order-ahead options — they’re a good time-saver when available. This list is long, so again, they’re in alphabetical order for easy scrollability.

Alewife
To-go only.

The Answer Brewpub
12-5pm Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday. A list of items available for purchase is available on The Answer’s Instagram.

Baked RVA
This food truck is on the corner of 10th and Leigh streets in front of Barnes & Noble Monday through Friday from 7am-11pm, offering takeout pastries and baked goods.

Barrio Taqueria & Tequila
Limited menu with pick-up only via online ordering. Delivery coming soon. They were closed all last week, so check Facebook for updates on whether they’ve reopened.

Belmont Butchery
Pickup available. Limit 3 customers inside butchery at a time.

Black Hand Coffee Company
Open for takeout. Brookland Park location from 7am-1pm, Patterson Ave location 8am-2pm. Offering mobile order pick-up on the Cloosiv app. The instructions for this are on their Instagram: “Simply download the Cloosiv app, enter your info, allow your location to be shared with the app and you’re good to go.”

Blue Bee Cider
Curbside pickup available.

Brenner Pass
Curbside pickup available.

Can Can Brasserie
To-go only options available.

Center of the Universe Brewing
To-go sales only with adjusted taproom hours. Curbside pickup available, park alongside the front curb and proceed to the front door. Patrons will stay outside, and COTU team will deliver orders to the front. All tips received will benefit the front staff during closures. 10% off all case purchases and a buy $50 worth of COTU gift cards and get $10 free promotion. Growlers can be filled (only with the purchase of a new growler). Kegs are available, ordering via email at [email protected] for availability and pricing. Gift cards are available here.

Chez Foushee
Offering curbside pickup between 4 and 6 pm Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings. Preparing a set amount of food nightly; order by midnight the night before to avoid sellouts.

Chiocca’s
Open for takeout 12-8pm daily.

Commercial Taphouse
Open for takeout orders Friday through Sunday, and on Cinco De Mayo. Orders can be placed by phone beginning at 2pm and picked up at the restaurant between 5 and 8pm. See their Instagram for specific daily details.

Curbside Cafe
Full menu available for takeout 11am-10pm.

Diamond Billiards
Full menu available for curbside pickup Tuesday-Saturday 11am-7pm.

Dot’s Back Inn
Open for takeout 11am-8pm daily. Limited menu available for curbside pickup.

Dutch and Company
To-go orders available at website. Back door dogs available every Saturday.

Early Bird Biscuit Co
Takeout available at both locations.

Fallout
Open for takeout with curbside pickup, 6pm-midnight daily. No membership required. Call (804)343-3688 to order.

Final Gravity Brewing Co.
To-go options available.

Fine Creek Brewing Company
To-go beers available for pickup.

Galaxy Diner
Open for takeout 12-8pm. Working on setting up delivery — check back!

Garden Grove Brewing & Urban Winery
Curbside pickup available.

Gelati Celesti
Takeout is available with limited flavors posted on their website. Call order hotline at (804)200-0600 from 11am-8pm to place orders.

Hardywood
Offering to-go orders of beers 2-7pm Tuesday through Friday, and 11am-4pm Saturday and Sunday. Place orders here.

Intermission Beer Company
Curbside pickup available.

Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Bar
Open 11am-10pm for takeout and delivery only. Curbside pickup available. Order through website.

Joe’s Inn
Takeout available for curbside pickup only. Call (804)355-2282 to order.

Laura Lee’s
Open for takeout 12-8pm. Order online through website.

New York Deli
Open 11am-7pm for takeout. Offering online ordering through the Toast Takeout app, or call 804-358-DELI. For extra support, check out the “New York Deli employee relief fund” on GoFundMe with 100% going directly to the staff, set up by Trent Hazelwood.

North End Juice Co
Open for carryout only. Food industry folks who’ve lost income are offered a 20 percent discount and a free wellness shot.

O’Tooles
Takeout only at both locations, Forest Hill and Midlothian.

Oak And Apple
Open for takeout Thursday-Sunday 5-10pm. Curbside pickup available.

Perch RVA
Open 12-8pm. Take-out meals available with wine; order via Toast or by phone at (804)669-3344. Menus will be posted daily.

Peter Chang
Takeout only.

Proper Pie
Takeout only. Limit of 5 customers in store at a time.

The Red Door Restaurant
Open 11am-5pm Monday-Friday for, as their email to us put it, “to-go and double parking.”

River City Roll
Open for takeout with curbside pickup 12-7pm daily.

The Roosevelt
Open for takeout — order online from noon to 8pm at Upserve. Check Facebook for current menu and hours.

Rostov’s Coffee & Tea
Pick-up services from front and back doors, customers can call ahead to order (preferred payment via credit card over the phone when ordering). Walk-up ordering available. Pounds of coffee and bags of tea for sale, no brewed beverages during this time. “Joe-to-Go” available (8 cups of brewed coffee) if ordered when calling ahead, and cold brew concentrate pick-ups are available as well. All pens, credit card terminals, door handles, flat surfaces and more are sterilized regularly.

Sabai
5pm-10:30pm. Offering take-out services only, curb-side pick-up is also available if preferred.

Secco Wine Bar
Online ordering and curbside delivery. “Secco Supper To-Go” includes two appetizers, two share plates, one dessert and one bottle of wine, tax and gratuity for $78.48. Menu and wine list available on Facebook. Offering pickup on cheese/charcuterie boards and will add more a la carte and retail wine options for pickup.

Sidewalk Cafe
Offering curbside pickup of to-go orders from 11am – 6pm.

Southbound
Takeout only.

Social 52
Takeout only.

Starr Hill Richmond Beer Hall & Rooftop
To-go beers available from the brewery.

Stoplight Gelato and Cafe
Takeout only.

Superstars Pizza
Open 11am-7pm daily for curbside pickup. Order at this link.

Tazza Kitchen
Curbside takeout and drive-through pick-ups.

The Treat Shop
Curbside takeout available Monday-Saturday 9am – 7pm. All menu items except donuts will be available.

Väsen Brewing Company
To-go only beer orders; crowler fills available.

Wooden Spoon Cafe
Open for curbside pickup Monday-Friday 11am-6pm, and during Saturday brunch hours 11am-2pm.

WPA Bakery
Takeout orders only.

DIRECT DELIVERY
These places are doing delivery only, either through particular apps or directly by the staff. We’ll give specifics in the listings (once again, alphabetical to aid in your search), as well as info on hour reductions.

Adarra
Wine delivery available. Deliveries made Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday afternoons. Email [email protected] to order.

Everyday Gourmet
This local catering company that also offers a weekly meal delivery service called WellFed. During social distancing, they’ll be doing contactless delivery through all of Richmond and their local communities including (but not limited to) Midlothian, Glen Allen, Mechanicsville, Ashland, Chesterfield, Goochland, Manakin Sabot. Low delivery fees (capped at $10 at the furthest distance). Delivering Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Offers bulk, family-sized selections, a breakfast menu, and freezer-friendly meals, along with special meals for the various diets of people in the area.

King Of Pops
King Of Pops are doing deliveries; an employee will bring pops to your door. Order by noon for same day delivery. Orders can be placed at kingofpopsstore.com

CLOSED

The following restaurants have closed their doors — most temporarily, a few permanently. This means total loss of income for these establishments — and all of their employees. Keep in mind that if/when these places return, they are going to need your help in a big way. We will list reopen dates when available.

23rd and Main
Closed until further notice.

3 Monkeys
Closed indefinitely.

3rd Street Diner
Closed until further notice.

Bandito’s
Closed temporarily.

Bamboo
Closed until further notice.

Boogaloos
Closed until further notice.

Brunch
Closed until further notice.

Capital One Cafe
All locations closed temporarily. ATMs in vestibules are still open, ATMs located within cafe are closed.

Cary St. Cafe
Closed until further notice.

Citizen
Permanently closed.

Citizen Burger Bar
Not to be confused with Citizen, above. Closed temporarily.

Crossroads RVA
Closed indefinitely. Donate to Staff Relief Fund at GoFundMe.

Dogtown Brewing
Closed indefinitely.

Don’t Look Back
Both locations temporarily closed. Support the staff by joining the Don’t Look Back Club, which donates all profits directly to the staff during closures. Perks from DLB Club last an entire year after re-opening, with discounts and special items for all members.

F.W. Sullivan’s
Closed for the foreseeable future.

Fuzzy Cactus
Closed for the foreseeable future. Events and shows cancelled through April.

Ipanema Cafe
Closed temporarily — “on hiatus” in their words.

The Jasper
Closed for the foreseeable future.

Kabana
Closed temporarily.

Lady N’awlins
Closed temporarily.

Little Nickel
Closed temporarily.

L’Opossum
Closed indefinitely. Support fund for employees available on GoFundMe.

Lulu’s
Closed until further notice.

Lunch & Supper
Closed temporarily.

Mekong Restaurant
Closed temporarily.

Millie’s Diner
Closed until further notice.

Penny Lane Pub
Closed for “at least two weeks.” Check back at the beginning of April for updates.

Perly’s
Closed temporarily.

Pop’s Market on Grace
Closed temporarily.

Tio Pablo
Closed until further notice.

Do you need to update any of these listings, or add one from your restaurant? Email us: [email protected] We will update listings as soon as possible.

Ipanema Is Here To Stay

Carola Rojas | March 10, 2020

Topics: best restaurants richmond va, drink, eat, food, Ipanema, Ipanema Cafe, local restaurants, restaurants, richmond va, RVA, rva vegan food, seth campbell, things to do richmond va, vegan food richmond va, where to eat richmond va

Under new ownership by Seth Campbell, Richmond’s long-beloved Ipanema Cafe will remain a staple of Grace St. and maintain its culture.

You may already know that Ipanema recently acquired Seth Campbell as its new owner, but you probably didn’t know that Campbell’s dedication to the full-service vegetarian/vegan café entitles a daily 70-minute drive just to get there. He’s been spending a lot of time on the road lately.

The New Jersey native graduated from the University of Virginia in the spring of 2019, and still currently resides in Charlottesville with his dogs, Tio, Bear, and Loki. He’s looking forward to moving to Richmond this summer.

Campbell has built his experience within the industry since he was 19, as a college student juggling different positions as a bouncer, food-runner, barback, and eventually a bartender.

*Beyond Rodeo Burger and Roasted Cauliflower at Ipanema Cafe, via @ipanemaveg on Instagram*

“I love a good challenge, and I love the responsibility that comes with it,” said Campbell.

His education and experience, blended together with his competitive drive, make him eager to further diversify the crowd of existing customers. “Ipanema means so much to Richmond because it’s a mainstay, and a staple of Grace St.,” said Campbell. With more than 20 years in business, Campbell is adamant about maintaining the culture of Ipanema as the café’s regulars know it.

What kind of culture does Ipanema embody? Campbell would tell you that it’s first and foremost a loving place, because its friends and customers feel like family. When you walk down the few front steps into the café, it immediately gives you a homey feeling. It’s a cozy place, whether you’re inside a booth or out on the patio.

*Cream of Carrot Soup at Ipanema Cafe, via @ipanemaveg on Instagram*

He emphasizes that it’s a fun place to be, especially on Wednesdays for the locally-loved karaoke night. Best of all, Campbell describes Ipanema as a place that has formed a community around being accepting of everyone that walks through its doors.

No matter how much Grace St. has changed over the years, Campbell is motivated to grow Ipanema in the tradition it has established, even with crowds that aren’t solely vegan or vegetarian. And while he doesn’t fall on either side of the vegan- or meat-lover groups, he does love Ipanema’s Beyond Burger and sweet potato fries, paired with their harissa mayo.

To grab a plate of your own, the café is open for lunch and dinner, and newcomers can find them at 917 W. Grace St. Find Ipanema here on Instagram and Facebook.

Top Photo via Ipanema Cafe on Instagram

Unicorns & Steampunk: Bryant’s Cider Crafts Their Own Path

Noelle Abrahams | October 17, 2019

Topics: apple cider, bars, bryants cider, cider, community, craft beer, craft cider, Jackson Ward, jerry thornton, Local, local business, restaurants, shockoe bottom

Ahead of their move to Shockoe Bottom, Jerry Thornton of Bryant’s Cider talks new recipes and future plans for the family-owned cidery.

“We’re the new beer,” says cidermaker Jerry Thornton, owner of Bryant’s Cider. It’s a bold statement, but it fits the vibe of their Jackson Ward tasting room. On its graffiti-covered walls, “Change the rules” is spray-painted in all caps below an image of a black cat and skull.

There may be some truth to Thornton’s words in regard to popular dietary trends. Bryant’s Cider produces small batches of uniquely-flavored hard ciders that are sugar-free, low-carb, keto-friendly, and made with whole, organic ingredients that are local whenever possible. Everything currently on tap at the Jackson Ward tasting room is also vegan and gluten-free.

With chalkboard paint atop tables that customers are encouraged to decorate, along with board games, card games, and adult coloring books, Bryant’s has a quirky (but edgy) vibe that marketing director Vanessa Gleiser maintains in their social media presence.

But days at the quaint Adams Street tasting room are numbered. Bryant’s just announced their purchase of 2114 E Main St. in Shockoe Bottom, where they’ll be relocating their Richmond tasting room to a mixed-use building that will also serve as a production facility. They hope to make the move in January 2020.

Right now, all of Bryant’s production happens in their other tasting room location, at Edgewood Farm in Nelson County, VA. The 386-acre property has been passed down through Thornton’s family since as early as 1850. His grandmother was born and raised there, and Thornton spent some time growing up there as well. After taking care of his grandmother for several years until her passing in 2014, Thornton took over the farm, because no one else in the family wanted to deal with it.

“For about four years, I didn’t know what to do with it,” says Thornton. At the time, he was working downtown at BB&T, in budgeting and forecasting analytics — “douchey stuff,” as he describes it. So while affording the farm wasn’t an issue, having the time to care for it was. Thornton is a single dad who raises his five-year-old daughter half of the time, so it wasn’t possible for him to work 80 hours a week, between the office and the farm, while also parenting a young child.

Nelson County is in an apple-dense region, so Thornton started growing cider apples at the orchard on his farm and quit the corporate-suit life to experiment with making cider. He got Bryant’s off the ground out of pocket, with not a single investor. “I still think I’m crazy,” says Thornton. As his family likes to remind him, he had a good job making good money with a guaranteed comfortable retirement, and he threw it away to make alcohol.

But he did so for honest and relatable reasons. “I’d just like to be human,” he said. “My objective isn’t to get rich. I just want to take care of my kid and my farm and not… hate life.”

Thornton went to cider school in upstate New York, but considers himself mostly self-taught. He likens cider making to cooking — you learn by experimenting, by trial and error. And what’s on tap at Bryant’s is certainly experimental: some batches on regular rotation are the chai-spiced Chaider, the cucumber- and habanero-infused Coolbanero, and the cold brew coffee-infused Red Eye.

Thornton is always playing with new flavors and testing them out in small batches. Right now, you can try the seasonably-appropriate Punkking, a pumpkin-spiced cider, and Still Swingin, which is infused with bourbon and peach. There’s an Old Fashioned-inspired batch in the works, and their next autumnal special planned is the Bryant’s Dirty Chai, a pairing of the Red Eye and the Chaider.

Their best-selling cider in retail is Bryant’s Unicorn Fuel, which has garnered somewhat of a cult following among customers. “I feel like more people know the name ‘Unicorn Fuel’ than ‘Bryant’s,’” says Thornton, which doesn’t necessarily bother him, but he cites the current location of the Richmond tasting room as to why they haven’t become a household name yet. “Jackson Ward is a great neighborhood, but no one knows we’re here,” says Thornton. “I could put a fucking unicorn suit on and stand on the corner, and maybe that would get a couple people in, but I don’t want to do that.”

The hope the move to Shockoe Bottom will expand their customer base since they’ll be in an area with higher foot traffic, right off the beaten path, and surrounded by popular bars and restaurants. “It’s an up-and-coming neighborhood, and really dense in terms of housing — just loft after loft,” says Thornton. “Whenever I’m down there, I see all these people walking their dogs and just hanging out. It’s the right type of people for us.” (Yes, both tasting rooms are dog-friendly!)

Bryant’s will also be preserving their safe distance from Scott’s Addition, where the only other craft cideries in the River City are located: Blue Bee, Buskey, and Courthouse Creek. Generally, the crowds in Shockoe, Church Hill and the East End don’t want to travel all the way to Scott’s Addition for a hard cider, so Bryant’s is hoping to corner that market geographically.

They considered moving to The Fan, but the historic quality of the building in Shockoe Bottom helped seal the deal. Built in the 1850s, Bryant’s liked that it’s about the same age as Edgewood Farm. “It’s super old and super cool. It fits our vibe,” says Thornton. “I didn’t want some generic, super-modern place because that’s boring.”

Thornton wants to do a steampunk theme at the new tasting room, which should gel nicely with the vibe of Shockoe Bottom, with the Canal Walk and Great Shiplock Park just a block or so away. He’s nervous about the move, but excited that he was able to buy instead of rent, because he has complete creative freedom in how to use the space. “There’s no landlord. If I want to break things, I can break things,” says Thornton. “Which I do, frequently.” He already has an idea for a light fixture: he wants to build a spider web chandelier across the entire ceiling using iron piping and Edison bulbs.

Byrant’s long-term goal is to split production between the farm and Shockoe Bottom. First, they’ll work to get more distribution and build the brand so Thornton can operate on a regular production schedule. Currently, Bryant’s has 85 active accounts in the Richmond area. “It’s getting there,” says Thornton. “We’re on rotation at a lot of places, but it takes time to build up.”

While Bryant’s is a young, independent business, they’re also an intimately small one. Thornton makes all of the cider himself and works on sales when he can. The only other full-time employees are the respective managers of the two tasting rooms, Afton Massie at the farm and Vanessa Gleiser in Richmond (who also directs marketing operations).

If you’re curious about where you can buy Bryant’s, they update their retail locations weekly. But what they really want is for you to visit the tasting room, and try some ciders that you wouldn’t normally order from a bar or buy in a six pack.

“We do weird stuff,” says Thornton. “You gotta come down and try it.”

Top Photo via Bryant’s Cider

One Month After Bourdain’s Death, We Still Won’t Talk About Mental Health

Ash Griffith | July 10, 2018

Topics: Anthony Bourdain, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, depression, health care, mental health, restaurants, suicide

I could just barely reach our countertop when my father started teaching me how to cook. Chef celebrity culture quickly became a thing in the late 90s, and my father used it to his advantage to teach me how to cook what we saw on our television. We started working on proper knife skills after we read Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential for the first time in 2000.

Bourdain was forever brutally honest about his struggles with addiction, and never sugar coated his experiences. As a chef who worked with immigrants, he was vocal about their rights, and openly acknowledged that the Latinx community was the physical backbone of the service and hospitality industries. Kitchen Confidential not only made him a household name, but helped tear down what he coined “kitchen bro culture” and reformed kitchen procedures in restaurants.

In his later years he became an extremely vocal ally to the #MeToo movement by refusing to just stand idly by colleagues, such as Mario Batali, who were called out on their despicable behavior. He demanded other men be better allies to women, while simultaneously dissecting his own role and how he himself could be a better ally to women.

He was a man who grew up with privilege and was aware of it, but understood that he could and should use it to others’ advantage. He made it his mission to find the everyman and eat where he ate, while getting to know him better and ask about his life and how he saw the world. He was one of the few people who made it a point to intentionally go to Muslim communities with the purpose of tearing down stereotypes Americans kept. He knew that fear of the unknown was the most dangerous of all.

Bourdain lived to start conversations.

It’s darkly appropriate that as a final goodbye, Bourdain also started one last conversation. Will America ever take mental health seriously? I want to be positive and say maybe one day, but I’m also the pessimist in the room who vehemently and loudly argues otherwise, with a scowl etched across her face.

Like Bourdain, celebrated fashion designer Kate Spade passed the same week and the social media outreach contained the usual platitudes.

“Well, you know you can all talk to me! Just reach out!”

“Make sure you call a hotline!”

“If you only said something!”

It all regurgitates the same very dangerous and unhelpful trend of victim blaming that our culture has become disgustingly comfortable with. The blame is always shifted onto the victim instead of anywhere (not anyone) else. For years and years, it was focused on the rhetoric that demonized these people as selfish instead of clearly in need of help.

Mental health is a complicated, enigmatic concept. We’re told from the start that it’s okay to be vulnerable, to reach out for help or reassurance, but as soon as you do, you’re put down for being “weak” or “needy”.

Human beings need help sometimes. A lot of the time.

We struggle to accept that sometimes, horrible things happen. We’re quicker to cherry pick things that we think we can argue are more in our realm of control, like addictions or depression and anxiety. Any viral Facebook meme will tell you that the key to curing depression is a walk in the park and a baby corgi. Unfortunately it isn’t that simple nor easily wrapped up.

If someone tells you they have cancer, they are quicker to be supported and have people actively reach out to check on their well-being. If someone tells you they have depression, the reach out is a lot more sporadic, if at all, and sometimes met with a, “Well, I’m here if you need something.” We tend to look at things like depression as things we can control, so when people who supposedly “have it all” end their life, it is usually met with anger or confusion, whereas if they had cancer, it would have been nothing but sadness.

Bourdain was also proof that despite what we choose to believe, depression and addiction are not prejudiced. Mental illness doesn’t care if you are rich or poor, male or female, or where you are, it just grabs you. It just holds on like a demon on your back sinking its claws into your flesh. It just holds on.

The phrase that gets listlessly thrown around is, “We need to do better.” We need to stop saying it and just do it, because at this point, the phrase means nothing. We have to stop saying things and actively be better for our friends, family, and peers. And we have to do so much more than just obligatory check ins.

We live in a society where we refuse to allow people to be vulnerable. The gut reaction and answer when someone asks, “Hey, you doing okay?” is,“Yeah, I’m fine.” We’re not fine, though.

The only way to really support each other is by forming actual, meaningful relationships with the people around you. If we form these true connections with each other, we’ll find that we get actual, honest, bloody answers. The next time someone asks how we’re doing, we might actually respond with the phrase we so desperately want to use: “You know, not that great. Can we talk about it?”

It’s not enough anymore to be half-assed allies to each other in order to gain metaphorical gold stars and brownie points with each other. We’re losing each other and we have to make it stop. We have to shut down the stigma around mental illness, and we have to start doing it now.

In 2016, over 45,000 suicides occurred in the United States, was double the number of homicides that year. The number is significantly more staggering in rural states, such as North Dakota, where the number rose to 57 percent. Nevada, however, had record a decline of 1 percent.

Suicide is now the tenth leading cause of death overall in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“I think this gets back to what do we need to be teaching people — how to manage breakups, job stresses,” said Christine Moutier, medical director of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in an interview with The Washington Post. “What are we doing as a nation to help people to manage these things? Because anybody can experience those stresses. Anybody.”

Moutier maintained that suicide can be addressed, if we can end the stigma around mental health. “If you think of [suicide] as other leading causes of death, like AIDS and cancer, with the public health approach, mortality rates decline,” Moutier said. “We know that same approach can work with suicide.”

With all that said, we may be at least on the right track. This past Sunday, New York and Virginia were the first two states to require mental health education in schools. Virginia’s law will require that mental health education be included in the ninth and tenth grade physical education and health curricula.

Virginia Senator Creigh Deeds is who we have to thank for sponsoring Virginia’s bill. He was inspired by listening to a presentation by Albemarle County high schoolers in 2017, and the death of his son, Gus Deeds. Gus died by suicide in 2013 after he was released by a hospital because there were no open psychiatric beds anywhere in the western part of the state.

“I was impressed by [the high schoolers’] thoughtfulness, because a lot of these young people had seen bullying. They had seen depression. They had seen classmates that had died by suicide,” Deeds said in an interview with CNN. “It’s part of tearing down the stigma and providing some equality with those that struggle with mental health.”

Deeds’ legislation is a good start, but it won’t be enough on its own. Talking about suicide and mental illness is difficult, but we can’t get past the stigma if we don’t. I don’t have all of the answers and I don’t know anyone who does, but what I do know is that we need to start doing better for ourselves, and for each other.