We always have our eyes open for great value. And when we find something that delivers, we like to pass it on to our family and friends. This is especially true in these uncertain economic times. Every little bit helps.
We recently found something that we just had to post to this blog. We think you will really appreciate it as much as we have. That is of course if you would be pleased to save a couple thousand dollars off your food bill.
We used to spend $200. or more every week in the grocery store. That is until we discovered how we could save $1,000. any time we wanted to. Now we spend less, much less. We eat the same foods we always have, we just get them for less money. Imagine that concept.
And yes we know what you may be thinking… “yeah but how much time do you spend clipping coupons, and don’t you get tired of eating all those generic off brand bland foods?” – right?
We don’t spend any time clipping coupons. We also eat the very same food items we always have enjoyed. We still eat the national brand name products we love. The difference is we simply don’t have to spend as much when we go to the grocery store any more. We can’t imagine ever having to spend as much ever again now that we’ve made this amazing discovery.
At the same time we discovered how to save $1,000. in the grocery store, we also discovered how to save another $1,000. in restaurants! This was a really awesome discovery. And we know what you may be thinking… “yeah that sounds good but what kind of restaurants?” – right? Well, how about these…
These are just a few of the thousands of restaurants and eateries you can choose from. Are you starting to get a bit curious yet? What if we were to tell you that you save $10. bucks every time you eat at these or any ofhers on the huge list? Hmmm, saving ten dollars can really add up to a lot of savings huh? We thought so and this is another reason why we are so glad we made this amazing discovery.
To get more information about how you can save $2,000. plus another $1,000. on the same things you already buy now and much, much more – go to http://groceryandrestaurantsavings.com. You’ll be really glad you did.
Shackelford’s Restaurant and Raw Bar
11500 Busy Street
Richmond, VA 23236
804-794-4900
You can watch this video in HD on our YouTube channel. WHile you’re there leave us a comment and subscribe! We would appreciate it.
We arrived for Brunch at 12:50PM on Sunday 11/08/09. We were promptly seated in a large over sized spacious booth and really liked the seating. The layout of this new restaurant was very open and spacious as well. We saw a full bar complete with a couple flat panel TV’s and also another TV mounted in the dining area.
Our waitress was very friendly and attentive as she took our order and then came by numerous times just to make sure we had everything we needed to enjoy our meal. We certainly never had to wait for service. She was there on the spot every time.
Rhonda had pancakes, scrambled eggs, hash browns, and country ham. I had crab cakes benedict and asked them to add country ham for an extra kick. They did and man was it good. We really liked the thinly sliced, very well prepared ham. It was sliced really thin but not shaved. It had a great flavor. I also had a salad which included very fresh assorted greens and also roasted red peppers. I chose a sun-dried tomato vinaigrette which really pulled it together very nicely. And we can’t forget about the mini muffins they served us while we waited for the meal to be prepared. They were tasty and just the perfect appetizer.
Over all we really enjoyed this place. It was not to loud and just spacious enough so that we didn’t feel crowded. It was really clean and well maintained. The staff was very friendly and attentive to our needs. The manager personally checked on every table and the whole experience was very enjoyable.
We were invited to come back for one of their nightly specials such as 1/2 price shrimp on Mon. and Wed., 1/2 price burgers on Tue., and 1/2 price snow crablegs on Sun. Kids under 12 eat for 1/2 price also. And they have happy hour from 3PM to 7PM daily. The menu offers something for everyone and the food is really good.
Our meal was $34.49 and out of 5 stars we rate this restaurant 3.5. We will certainly go back and sit on the cool outside patio.
This location is easy to miss unless you happen to be riding by the side street and see it. The easiest way to get to this restaurant is to travel East on Midlothian toward the Ukrops. Turn right like you’re going to Ukrops and travel down the side street looking for Shackelford’s on your right.
Belle Vie European Bistro
1244 Alverser Plaza
Midlothian, VA 23113
804-379-3338
We arrived at Belle Vie on a Friday at about 7:00 PM. We were greeted warmly by two staff members upon entry. We were seated moments later.
We had been inside this building in the past when it was the Bookbinders restaurant. We thought the new look was well executed given the previous buildings cosmetic limitations. They did a good job giving the place a European flare with simple fabric, lighting, and miscellaneous decor.
We opened with Tomato Basil soup. It was good but definently different then we are accustomed to around the city. For me it was really thin. It tasted like it was diluted heavily with water. As a result I felt as if the taste was diluted as well. Rhonda enjoyed it.
I ordered the Orange Glazed Duck with potatoes au gratin and veggies. I chose the duck because there was not a chicken entree on the menu. Rhonda suggested I be a bit adventurous so I went for it! I liked the orange glaze more so than the duck. To be fair I’m not really a duck fan. I did have several bites and despite not really caring for the dish, I have to say that had a been more of a duck person, I think I would have really enjoyed it. Our waiter said it was one of their most popular dishes. The potatoes were VERY hot but also very bland for my tastes. I asked for sour cream but was told they didn’t have any. The veggies were mixed and had more onion than anything else. They were also cut in thin strips making it hard to get a bite without all the over powering onion. The salad however was extremely tasty. The mixture of greens and the special house dressing was an excellent combination. I really enjoyed it.
Rhonda had the Pork Tenderlin with Belgian mustard sauce. She said it was nicely balanced and seasoned well. It was light but very tasty. We shared the veggies and potatoes. Rhonda enjoyed the potatoes but agreed with me on the veggies. We both enjoyed the bread as well.
We enjoyed this restaurant and will return in the future. We recommend it. The menu is diverse. They offer unique entrees and multiple deserts. A full bar and ample seating inside as well as a patio outside make this an interesting place worth a look. Our meal was $72.22 and we rate ir 3.75 out of 5 stars. When you go be sure to come back to this blog and let us know how you liked it!
You can watch this video in larger HD format by going to our Food Around Richmond channel on YouTube. While there if you would leave a comment and subscribe we would appreciate it. : – )
The Hard Shell
1411 E. Cary Street
Richmond, VA 23219
804-643-2333
We arrived at The Hard Shell restaurant on a Saturday at approximately 5:00 PM. We were immediately greeted by a friendly host and seated promptly. We were quite pleased visually with the cozy, warm and inviting space.
We started with a basket of bread which was served with a very tasty butter. Soon our salads were delivered. We really enjoyed them. They consisted of a very fresh and lively collection of mixed greens etc. What made them really awesome was the superb Wasabi Ginger dressing. It was so good I had to ask for another portion!
Rhonda had the barbecue ribs, mashed potatoes and asparagus. They said “everything tasted great!” I had the lobster, potatoes with skin, and we also added a side of fries. And we were really glad once we tasted them. They were seasoned very well and came with a very tasty dipping sauce which had a bit of a kick to it as well. I liked the lobster but really prefer to dip my lobster in drawn butter so I can control the amount etc. This lobster was infused with butter during the cooking process. It was a bit over powering for me. It was good but not the best I’ve had in Richmond. Over all we really enjoyed our meal. We topped it off with a chocolate brownie with strawberry sauce and ice cream. It was really good!
This is a very cozy spot. It’s perfect for romantic dinners and even entertaining special friends or relatives etc. Our bill was $97.62 and out we rate this restaurant 4 out of 5 stars. We also put this one on our favorites list for sure. Give it a try and let us know how you liked it.
You can visit our Food Around Richmond YouTube channel and watch this video in larger HD format! Be sure to subscribe and leave a comment while you’re there. Thanks!
Benny’s BBQ
2819 Hathaway Road
Richmond, VA 23225
804-320-7447 (PIGS) : ) We thought this was a neat touch. Talk about branding!
We arrived at Benny’s on a week night at 6:55 PM. This is a small restaurant located in the Stratford Hills Shopping Center on Forest Hill Avenue. We discovered a line of people waiting to be seated. The place was packed. There literally wasn’t much room to stand to wait for a table. There were a few emtpy chairs by the bar but it would have been a very tight squeeze. We could tell immediately from those waiting that many were repeat customers. We waited about 30 minutes to be seated.
The restaurant has a very laid back country casual decor and atmosphere. The staff was very friendly as if they know something you don’t when you go in for the first time. The BBQ sauce is more of a North Carolina vinegar base and isn’t my favorite but Rhonda enjoyed it. She had minced pork, slaw, greens, fries, and hush puppies. We both really enjoyed thew hush puppies! Hmmmm. I had chicken. I would have prefered a sweeter or even a smokey based sauce over the vinegar base. I also had BBQ beans which surpised me in as much as they actually had real BBQ in them versus just a BBQ sauce. Since I’m not a BBQ fan per say, I didn’t care for them. The bisuits were burnt pretty bad on the bottom which made them pretty much undesirable.
The meal over all wasn’t that bad. We would reccomend Benny’s to you if you enjoy Southern BBQ style food and are looking for a fairly priced restaurant on the Southside of the city. It was clean and the staff was reasonably attentive to our needs. Our meal was $27.89 and we rate Benny’s 3 out of 5 stars.
Qdoba Mexican Grill11500 Midlothian Turnpike
Richmond, VA 23235
We arrived at Qdoba on 6/14/09 at 1:35pm. The place was packed. In fact this is usually the case from several occasions in the past.
This establishment is semi buffet style. You walk up to the large wall mounted menu and tell the server your selection(s). The server then prepares your meal in front of you as you walk down the ingredient line. The ingredients are very fresh and appealing. There are many menu choices and combinations. And I’ve always found the staff to be very accommodating when asked to give extra portions and to customize our selections.
We each had a taco salad which consists of a large crisp bowl shaped shell, greens and many optional ingredient choices. Personally I love the chicken, rice, pinto beans, peppers, lime citrus sauce, sour cream, and mango tomato mix! I had chicken in mine while Rhonda chose steak. I especially like the way they prepare their chicken. It’s cooked the way I like it. It also has a very southwestern flavor. It’s really good. It makes me want to go there today for lunch! And I think I will!
You’ll have to check out the video below to see why Rhonda and I are split on this restaurant. I absolutely love it and recommend it very highly. She on the other hand isn’t a big fan.
The service is always great. The place is always clean and very busy. The food is great. The prices are very reasonable. We usually eat there for around$15. They offer a free frequent diner card which saves you money the more you go. I also appreciate the fact that it’s located in front of Chesterfield Town Center which makes it really convenient when running errands etc.
Our bill was $16.85 and we rate Qdoba 3 out of 5 stars. And if it were up to me the rating would have been higher!
Copper Grill Lobster & Steak House
11800 West Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23233
804-364-9408
We arrived at Copper Grill on 6/12/09 at 5:45pm. We were promptly greeted by the hostess and kindly asked to wait for a couple minutes to be seated. While waiting we admired the very large lobsters in the tank which sits just inside the entrance.
Upon being seated we were given a menu and warmly greeted by the wait staff. At Copper Grill you often have more then one person taking care of your needs. It’s a nice touch. Service was excellent and it’s been consistent every time we’ve been there. We started with the Jumbo Shrimp appetizer. It was verrrrrrry good. The shrimp are HUGE and the cocktail sauce ties it together in a remarkable way. We really love it!
Entrees included steamed lobster and fillet respectively. Ala Carte sides included creamed corn, fries, and asparagus. The lobster is really good at this establishment. The actually have a HUGE lobster option large enough to feed an entire family for around $300. Imagine that! The fillet was quite tasty. The sides were good but not as good as they usually are. Perhaps they’re breaking in a new chef or something.
This is a great romantic spot to take someone for a nice meal in a cozy spot. It’s quiet. The lights are slightly dimmed. And the booths offer semi privacy. It is a bit pricey. Our bill was $175.82. Out of 5 stars we rate Copper Grill & Steak House 3.5. It’s also on our favorites list.
The North Pole
1558 River Road West
Crozier, VA 23039
804-784-4222
We arrived at 5:00 pm on 8/1/09. We were immediately greeted by a very warm and friendly hostess and promptly seated. Our waitress appeared within a minute or so and cheerfully took our drink order. It seemed like only a moment or so had passed before our drinks were on the table. The menu selection was a bit on the small side. However, the choices would suit just about everyone. Beef, chicken, fish, seafood etc.
We started with the Jumbo Shrimp appetizer. Again, it seemed like no time had passed before it was on the table. We were very pleased with the fast service. We loved this appetizer. The shrimp were large and they were very fresh. They were extremely tasty when combined with the homemade cocktail sauce. It sure packed a bite that was very tasty if you enjoy spicy stuff!
Next our salads arrived, They were pretty basic as this establishment doesn’t offer tomatoes on their salads. We thought it was weird in today’s times but we rolled with it. The salads were simply greens, carrots, and red onion. The thing that really jumped out at us about the salads were the homemade dressings. We had blue cheese and Parmesan peppercorn. Both were absolutely fantastic, and then some! They had a sharp bold flavor you just have to taste to really appreciate.
They didn’t have bottled water so I settled for cranberry juice. They served it in a very small glass. So I had to have several to accompany my meal. I would have liked a larger glass. In fairness I didn’t request one. However, if I had (since they charge for each small glass) I’m sure it would have evened out to be the same in the end.
Our entree selections were Surf N Turf (Lobster & Fillet) with baked potato. And Lobster with baked potato and onion rings. While I prefer steamed lobster for its texture, I have to admit the broiled lobster was quite tasty. It was cooked just right and wasn’t chewy or tough. Rhonda really liked the fillet and ate it without any sauce which is rare. It was a clear sign of how tasty she found her steak. The baked potatoes were large and lots of extra butter and sour cream was given. We especially liked the onion rings as well.
The North Pole is a very small, cozy, romantic spot tucked away in a rural section of Crozier, VA. It’s worth the ride to get to it. The atmosphere is friendly and inviting. It’s decorated well and the restaurant looks and smells fresh and clean. The staff was very accommodating and made us feel very welcomed and appreciated. We certainly will add this restaurant to our favorites list.
Our bill was $138.60 which was obviously a bit pricey. The food was really good. We enjoyed this establishment and rate it 3.75 out of 5 stars. We highly recommend it for special occasions.
Jiang’s Chinese Restaurant
1213 Carmia Way
Richmond, VA 23235
804-379-6607
We arrived at 8:03pm on 5/15/09. We were immediately greeted and promptly seated. The host was very friendly and accommodating. Within a minute or less our waitress was taking our drink order. And within a couple minutes our drinks were on the table.
The menu is very diverse offering many chicken, beef, and seafood choices. The selection is rather large and the combinations are exciting and very appealing. We ordered the Sha Cha Beef and the Hunan Shrimp. I asked the waitress to modify the included vegetables that come in the Hunan Shrimp stir-fry. She was very eager to accommodate my wishes. We also ordered the Crab Meat Dumplings, Spring Roll, and Egg Roll appetizers.
Everything had a very good taste. The veggies were cooked just right. They weren’t over cooked as they often are most places. They had the perfect balance between crunch and texture. The appetizers were great and over all everything had a really good pleasing taste.
Our bill was $39.59 which was fair considering the portion sizes and three appetizers. We really enjoyed this establishment and rate it 3.5 out of 5 stars. We highly recommend it.
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse
11500 West Hugenot Road
Midlothian, VA 23113
804-378-0600
We arrived at 7:57pm on 5/4/09. We were greeted by a friendly hostess and told there would be a 30 minute wait. We sat in the front waiting area and were comfortable. This restaurant is located in an old plantation style house with period themed decor. It’s actually quite nice inside. We were seated in 20 minutes despite seeing many prom night kids. They were really busy but seemed to handle the crowd well. This is the mark of a well tuned staff.
We were seated at our table and greeted immediately by Samantha who seemed a bit nervous. However, after we told her the people were just people and not to let them get to her, she relaxed and the nervousness faded away. Brian was out waiter. He was extremely knowledgeable about the menu and very accommodating. Samantha delivered our drinks promptly and Brian made sure our order was delivered to the kitchen for preparation.
As we waited for dinner we were surprised that despite the large number of people in attendance, the over all volume was such to allow comfortable unforced conversation. We noticed acoustical tiles in the ceiling. This was an especially welcomed touch. We hate trying to eat a meal where we are un able to have a nice conversation over. It just takes away from the whole event.
After looking over a very diverse menu, we ordered steamed Lobster and Filet as our main courses. Each was accompanied by chosen potatoes, asparagus, and salads. Everything was really good. The lobster was not steamed. It appeared to be broiled. It was very good. It was not as good as Flemming’s but it was very good indeed. Also the asparagus was a bit over cooked. It was not even close to being as tasty as Taella’s Bistro. The Chocolate Explosion desert is the same as what is served at Flemings and it’s every bit as tasty. We also had a chocolate moose in a glass over top of a brownie / Oreo cookie mixture. It was also quite tasty. The French press coffee offering was great as was the bottled water selection.
The atmosphere of this place is definitely upscale and more on the formal side than casual. The soft music and lighting mix well to set the stage for a nice romantic evening. Our meal was $126.95. A bit steep for one meal we realize. And honestly we’ve eaten better meals for a lot less around Richmond. However, the food was really good and the service was great. The place was clean and everyone treated us well. This isn’t the sort of place you may want to go to often but for those celebratory times and related special occasions, it’s a nice choice. We rate it 4 out of 5 stars.
$1,000. any time we wanted to. Now we spend less, much less. We eat the same foods we always have, we just get them for less money. Imagine that concept.
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