Shackelford’s Restaurant and Raw Bar
11500 Busy Street
Richmond, VA 23236
804-794-4900
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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.
Bottega Bistro
11400-123 West Huguenot Road
Midlothian, VA 23113
804-379-9899
At 12:43pm on 4/26/09 we entered Bottega’s for brunch. We were warmly greeted and promptly seated. Our waiter Chad was very attentive and explained the brunch layout and gladly answered questions.
We opted for the brunch bar which consisted of eggs, bacon, potatoes, biscuits, gravy, French toast, fruit, soups, pasta, sausage, and many desert options. The layout was simple yet well presented. Everything looked fresh and was well maintained.
We started with the Tomato Asiago soup which was absolutely delicious. Next we had Bruschetta which was very fresh and had a delightful taste. For our main meal we had eggs, bacon, sausage bacon gravy, biscuits, French toast, potatoes, and pasta. Everything was great. The eggs were especially good with their light and fluffy texture. They weren’t watery or greasy. They were prepared perfectly.
We finished with a variety of the bite sized deserts. They were awesome. The key lime offering was superb. We especially liked the bite sized portions which allowed us to sample many without loading up our plate.
The restaurant was clean. The atmosphere was friendly, quiet, and inviting. It was semi casual and nice.The tea was great and service was perfect. We never had to wait for anything. We were made to feel as if we were appreciated and valued as customers. Many other local restaurant owners would do well to visit and take some cues. Our bill was $38.84 and we rate Bottega’s Bistro 4 out of 5 stars.
Strawberry Street Cafe
421 Strawberry Street
Richmond, VA 23220
804-353-6860
We arrived at the cafe on 3/21/09 at 3:00pm. We were warmly greeted and seated. A short time later our waitress took our drink, appetizer, and entree order.
We ordered the Sun-Dried Tomato Bisque soup. It was good but a bit on the strong side. We also had the salad bar which was presented very well and contained a great variety of fresh fruits, pasta, soup, and other items. The salad bar is what many say put Strawberry Street Cafe on the map as far as national notoriety goes. They were featured on the TV show Jeopardy due to their bathtub salad bar.
Our entrees included the Crab Quiche and the Panino Al Pollo chicken sandwich which was marinated in Italian dressing, grilled, topped with provolone cheese, with lettuce, tomatoes, and dressed with pesto mayonnaise between slices of sun dried tomato focaccia bread. The sandwich was really tasty. The quiche was really really strong.
The atmosphere was busy with light jovial conversation. There was a good crowd which is usually the case any time we’ve been there in the past. It’s important to note out of fairness that on all of the other occasions the food and service have been great. Today however our waitress wasn’t very attentive. She seemed more interested in a couple tables with more people than us, despite the fact that we were seated first. One of the tines of my form was bent and despite my asking her for a replacement I never received one. We had to wait for beverage refills and for ketchup etc. She had a very cavalier attitude.
We do recommend this restaurant despite today’s bad service. Everyone has an off day now and again and we believe it just happened to be there’s this day. This is one of Richmond’s hot spots in terms of great food and usually great service. They have a wonderful menu and of course the salad bar is great too. They also offer several specials through the week and weekend brunch which is always packed. The salad bar is turned in to a breakfast brunch bar during brunch and they offer all sorts of really tasty items for everyone. If you’ve never been to Strawberry Street Cafe you should go.
Our meal was $36.60 and we rate it 2.5 out of 5 stars.
Millie’s Diner
2603 E. Main Street
Richmond, VA 23223
804-643-5512
We arrived at Millie’s Diner on April 5th, 2009 at 1:33pm. We noticed several people sitting and standing around outside the place waiting to be seated. It was a really hot afternoon and there was very limited shade. The staff was taking drink orders to help ease the heat a bit. We were greeted by the owner who was keeping up with the seating order via a small post it note pad!
Approximately 30 to 40 minutes later we were seated. Our drink orders were taken and we were directed to look at the menu written on a small chalkboard beside the bar. We were there for brunch so we opted for the Huevos Rancheros dish. It was 2 fried eggs over tortillas with black beans, tomato Ranchero sauce, melted white cheddar, salsa and sour cream. There were several brunch choices each diverse and interesting.
As we waited for our meal to be prepared we noticed the two cooks working from a small grill located just inside the entrance. They were entertaining themselves by yelling and ringing a bell quite frequently. They would simply yell the name of the waitress when the order was up. We quickly realized they did this to ensure she heard them whether she was in another room, outside, or it truly seemedlike up the street too!There was loud music playing as if to compete with the crowd or was it the other way around? We weren’t sure! Both were loud. It was very difficult for us to sustain a conversation despite the fact we were sitting across from each other in a booth!
When our meal arrived and we took the first bite, we sort of looked at each other with a look of approval and surprise. The food was really good. The dish we had was quite tasty. They didn’t have my bottled water or sweet tea. However, the fountain drinks were good and uncommonly the syrpage levels were right on. Usually this isn’t the case in many places we go. We really loved the taste of our meal despite the constant noise distractions and the inability to have a conversation as we ate.
This place does have good food. It also has lots of noise. They have another dinning room which is located off the main entrance. Perhaps we would have enjoyed it more if we had been able to sit in there. The crowd thinned out and the noise level went down toward the end of our meal. We agreed we would have had a much more enjoyable experience if we had just walked in at that time to have avoided the noise.
We also noticed a dinner menu which included lots of things we were surprised to see from the initial impression of the place. It just didn’t seem like they would offer the kind of entrees listed for dinner such as Thai Spicy Shrimp, Iron Seared Tuna, Pan Seared Gulf Snapper, Roast Duck etc. We can see ourselves giving Millie’s another try at night which will hopefully be less noisy and avail a more enjoyable overall meal.
The atmosphere is very loud and energetic. It’s not the sort of place you want to go to if you’re looking for a quite meal with meaningful conversation. Perhaps it is quieter late afternoon or early evening. The food is good but the noise really brings the level of enjoyment way down. Our bill was $30.97 and we rate it 3.75 out of five stars. If the food had been just average, this place would have received a much lower rating.
The Boathouse at Sunday Park
4602 Millridge Parkway
Midlothian, VA 23112
804-744-2545
We arrived at the Boathouse restaurant on 3/15/09 at 1:35pm. We were greeted by a friendly host who escorted us upstairs to a great table overlooking the lake. There was a small mini bar and a wall mounted flat screen TV just above it. We were then greeted by our waiter who delivered menus and took our drink order.
After we received our drinks we placed our order for Brunch. We had a tough time deciding on what to order due to a great selection on both the brunch and regular menu. The brunch menu includes Omelette’s, French Toast, Strata, Waffles, Eggs Benedict, Pizza, and Sausage Gravy & Biscuits. The regular menu is diverse. Appetizers include Lobster Bisque, Oysters, Chicken & Avocado Egg Rolls, Ahi Tuna and more! The Hot & Cold section includes Maki Sushi Rolls, Salmon, a Seafood Tower plus other items. Tree salads are also available. The menu is mostly seafood with items such as Oysters, Mussels, Shrimp, Tilapia, Crab Cake, Tuna, Lobster, Scallops, Flounder, Mahi Mahi, and Swordfish. Selections also include 11 Pizza choices, Roasted Vegetables, Mashed Potatoes, Calzones, Italian Sausage, Creamed Spinach, Parmigiano Asparagus, and more. Steaks include Sirloin, Fillet, and Strip. And they also offer Grilled Chicken Asiago. Four great sounding deserts round out the menu.
We had a salad for openers. The salad was fresh and looked great. It was tasty. Next we had the Maki Rolls which were awesome. They are sushi rolls with rice, nori, cucumber, scallion, red pepper, ginger, and wasabi with a sweet soy dipping sauce. We opted for the Crunchy Shrimp rolls which also included avocado, macadamia, cilantro, and jalapeno! These were so goooooood! Our entrees included Crab & Asparagus Benedict which consists of buttermilk biscuits topped with poached eggs layered with Hollandaise sauce and fresh crab meat and potatoes on the side. This was a really good dish. The interesting twist of the biscuit versus the traditional English muffin commonly found in a dish of this type worked very well. I have to say the Hollandaise sauce did taste like a quick sauce mix. It was good but not as good as the Hollandaise sauce from Magnolia’s Wine Bar & Bistro. Our other entree was Sausage Gravy & Biscuits which was served with two scrambled eggs and a side of potatoes.
The atmosphere of this place is really great. The first thing you notice when approaching is the great lake views. In nice weather you can sit out on the patio and enjoy the water, the sun, and the great view. It’s really a neat way to dine. Inside is packed with lots of cozy spots to sit as well. We sat upstairs which had a great view of the lake. We enjoyed out meal to a live singer walking around with a guitar downstairs entertaining the crowd. There were plenty of people on hand but despite the numbers the overall loudness was minimal. They do have a full bar downstairs as well. The place was very clean and well maintained. The staff was very attentive and friendly.
This is one of those pleasant Richmond discoveries to take a first date. Married couples will love the cozy romantic lure. Our impression was this is a place we would love to take our out of town family and friends. This one is certainly going on our favorites list. And we think it will be on yours soon as well. Our bill was $46.34. We rate it four out of five stars.
Magnolia’s Wine Bar & Bistro
7201 Three Chopt Road
Richmond, VA 23226
804-673-WINE
We arrived at Magnolia’s Wine Bar & Bistro on 3/8/09 at 12:50pm. We were warmly greeted by a very friendly host as we entered the wine selection room which doubles as the main entrance to the bar and restaurant. Upon entering we were drawn to the relaxed layout. It offered clean lines with a touch of casual elegance. We were promptly seated, given menus, and placed our drink orders. Our waiter was very attentive and an all around nice guy who answered our questions and offered great recommendations.
Drinks were served really fast and it seemed like no time before complimentary blueberry muffins were on the table. They were good and an especially nice touch to get our meal started. We ordered a salad which came with a wonderful presentation in a very timely manner as well. It was very fresh and contained homemade dressing and an edible orchid flower. The dressing was simply marvelous. It was really really good!
The menu is limited. Soups include Crab & Red Pepper Bisque and Truffled Butternut Squash. Salads include Cobb, Classic Casear, and Manolia’s Garden. Main entrees include Belgian Waffle, Monte Cristo (ham, turkey, and Swiss cheese with a Pomegranate Aioli sandwiched between French Toast) Grilled Duck Breast, Fruits de la Mer in Foil (Seasonal fish stuffed with peppers, onions, garlic, squash, and zucchini grilled in foil and seasoned with fresh herbs and butter) Dr. B’s Burger and a couple more selections.
We had the Aged Center Cut Beef Tenderloin with mashed potatoes, sugar snap green beans, and a light brown sauce. It was very tasty and refreshing. We also had the Chesapeake Benedict consisting of two pouched eggs atop a couple of crab cakes with hollandaise sauce. This was a very familiar dish which stood out among many forms of it eaten elsewhere. This one was prepared perfectly. The crab cakes were fresh as was the sauce. This was a very well prepared dish offering incredible taste and satisfaction. This is a great choice.
The atmosphere is cozy, quiet, and a perfect brunch spot on Sunday. We especially liked the open area extending on to the outdoor patio with patio seating. It’s right off the bar / eating area and extends brings a nice breeze in to the room. The place is very clean and well kept. The staff is very friendly and seem very genuine. They offer a full bar and a very large wine selection. Although the menu is small, they do the few items offered extremely well. Our bill was $55.94 and we rate it 3.5 out of five stars.
The Grill at Waterford
13548 Waterford Place
Midlothian, VA 23112
804-763-0555
We arrived at The Grill at Waterford on 3/1/09 at 1:14pm. We were promptly greeted and invited to seat ourselves. Within a minute or so we were greeted by our server and our drink order was taken. Within another couple minutes we were served drinks and our order was taken.
We ordered from the breakfast menu as we were in the brunch mood. Meal # 1 was the Grill Special which came with 2 eggs, bacon, potatoes, and a biscuit. We added cheese grits. Meal #2 was the 3 Egg Omelet with choice of two toppings and sides of potatoes (or cheese grits) and a biscuit (or toast). The omelet consisted of onions, tomatoes, and cheese. They were out of peppers and we were told “it is hit or miss around here as to whether or not we have peppers. I’ve told them many times we should keep peppers because people like them.” Breakfast is served 8:00am to 3:00pm Saturday and Sunday. All the breakfast basics are available plus Quiche, Granola, and Yogurt.
The food was surprisingly good for a small short order sort of dinner like place. The food was not greasy at all. It was quite tasty in fact. The potatoes were a bit heavy on the salt and seasoning however overall the meal was good.
The menu includes a variety of 16 appetizers and sides which are served anytime. There are five lunch entrees which include steak, crab cakes, pulled BBQ, Pesto Di Nocce, meatloaf, as well as four salads or the option of soup and 3 half sandwich choices. Ten sandwich choices are also available. Lunch is from 11:00am to 3:00pm. Dinner entrees include Grill Steak, Honey Bourbon Sirloin, Meatloaf, Crab Cakes, Pulled Pork BBQ, Island Pork Medallions, Pesto Di Nocce, Tuscany Grill Chicken Breast, Shrimp and Grits, and Seafood Au Gratin. Dinner starts at 5:00pm. There is a bar with a mounted TV. Assorted beer, wine, and mixed drinks are served.
This is a simple, small, down home kind of place which you will like if you don’t feel like cooking and you want to grab a bite to eat without a lot of fuss. The food is good. The restaurant was of average cleanliness and nothing major stood out. Our bill was $23.49. We rate it 2.5 out of five stars.
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