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.
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!
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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.
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.
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.
Kuba Kuba
1601 Park Ave.
Richmond, VA 23220
804-355-8817
We arrived at Kuba Kuba on 3/8/09 at 7:17pm. Our first impression judging from the outward appearance was this isn’t a place we would ordinarily find appealing. However once we got inside we felt much better about it. We were promptly greeted by hostess and seated. Within a few minutes our waitress brought menus and took our drink order. Drinks were served quickly however we were a bit disappointed they didn’t have tea or bottled water. Initially Sprite was ordered however the surpage was waaaaaay off so lemonade was ordered to take its place. The lemonade was made with seltzer water which wasn’t very tasty. They made it without the seltzer and it was good.
The menu offered appetizers of Avocado Salad, Black Bean Soup, Empanadillas (pastries stuffed with spinach and ricotta or Kuban beef hash. Six other items rounded out the appetizer list. Sandwiches such as turkey, pork, codfish, and even a pesto-tomato-jack melt were included in the seven choices. Entrees included Kuban Roasted Pork, Arroz Con Pollo (seared chicken breast with roasted red peppers and peas in yellow rice) Seafood Sofrito (sauteed jumbo shrimp and mussels served in a white wine sauce over angel hair pasta, topped with Manchego cheese) as well as six additional choices.
We started with the Moros Y Cristianos which is described as red beans and rice with cornbread on the menu. However it’s really pinto beans! They were seasoned very well and came with a mixture of finely chopped red onions, yellow peppers, and tomatoes on top. This is a must have appetizer if you like pinto beans and a bit of seasoning. Very good. The salad was very fresh with the exception of the tomatoes. They weren’t ripe and were a bit on the mushy side. The dressing was very tasty. And the side of cornbread that came with both the appetizer and the salad was sweet and tasty. We ordered the Kuban Roast Pork and the Paella Vegetariana which is Traditional Spanish rice with artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, asparagus, tomatoes, potatoes, peas, and spinach. It was served in a huge Jethro sized bowl. This was a very large portion. It was a bit on the bland side. It had no spice or seasoning and was sort of boring. More flavor was expected from the dish. The Kuban Pork however was really tasty. It’s marinated in MoJo sauce! It came with black beans and rice which were also very good.
Although we didn’t care for one of our entrees, we did see several other dishes being served that looked very appealing. The place was packed and people were enjoying their food. The atmosphere is a bit loud and reminds you of a short order diner type setting with lots of continuous activity all around. The cooks prepare the food from one corner of the room and the tables are very close together. There is limited seating as it is a small place. The food is tasty and the service is fast and friendly. Our bill was $49.23. We rate it 3 out of five stars.
Cafe Caturra
5811 Grove Avenue
Richmond, VA 23236
804-285-0690
We arrived at Cafe Caturra at 3:56pm on 2/28/09. Our first impression was how inviting the place looked from the street. As we approached we noticed a great patio area complete with lots of seating and a warm glowing outdoor fireplace. We were disappointed it was raining because we would have loved to have sat outside. It’s a very cozy, comfortable looking spot. As we entered we saw this same inviting design inside. There were several people gathered around tables, sitting on the sofa, and enjoying themselves. We saw people connected on laptops and even a couple business meetings taking place. The decor was simple yet classy. Everything was very clean. The floor plan is open and flows well.
We were cheerfully greeted with friendly smiles. We noticed a good wine selection and lots of coffee and beverage choices. The menu is listed above the counter and everyone orders prior to seating. There were several specials and also great looking cookies and other deserts displayed.
This cafe offers something for everyone from 7:00am – 9:00pm. Menu items include eggs prepared in a variety of ways, several great Paninis, soups, egg salad, tuna, salads, and a varying selection of artisan cheeses, meats & pates. We were surprised at the selection and found ourselves debating on what to get because everything looked so good!
We opted for Tomato Basil soup and also Thai Chicken Noodle soup. Both were very tasty and I especially liked the Thai soup. Our sandwiches included the Cuban Pork Panini and the Caturra Club. Both were really good. The club was very thick. It was tough to mass it down to be able to take a bite! They certainly didn’t skimp on it at all. We finished up with a Apple Turnover and coffee. Both were good.
This is a great spot to drop by for a good meal and catch up with friends, hang out and network with others, or even cozy up romantically. From the warm, friendly atmosphere, to the WiFi, to the great selections, it’s all a winning combination. There are two locations however this one is the best in terms of space, seating, layout, and selection. The food was really good. The service was great. The place was really clean. Our bill was $33.47 and well worth it. We rate Cafe Caturra four out of five stars.
Comfort
200 W. Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23220
804-780-0004
We arrived at Comfort located in the heart of downtown Richmond at 5:10pm 2/27/09. Despite the fact that Comfort opens at 5:30 there were several people standing in line to get in. At 5:32 the door opened and we were warmly greeted. We were seated promptly and given menus. We sat at one of the two front window tables. This is a pretty cool vantage point as you can see the whole restaurant as well as happenings on the street.
The menu includes an extensive wine and beverage selection. Entrees include fried green tomatoes (which were very tasty and light) shrimp & grits, surry sausage, potato cakes, shad roe, and soup du juor. We enjoyed the tomato bisque. Entrees include roasted chicken (it’s free range and incredibly tasty!) meatloaf, fried catfish, grilled trout, grilled pork chop, top sirloin, pulled pork BBQ, pork tenderloin, hangar steak (which had a little sweetness to it without being over powering and although it contained a bit more fat due to the cut of meat, it was great tasting.) mahi, rockfish, and a vegetable plate.
Sides include macaroni and cheese, brussels sprouts, braised greens, mashed potatoes (which were light, creamy, and very good, especially with a touch of brown gravy we asked for.) cheddar cheese grits, creamed spinach, fried okra (which had a great light taste without being greasy at all. Next time we will order a double order of these!) asparagus, green beans, squash casserole (which was for me a bit different than what I’m used to in this recipe. Leaning more toward the loose stewed side rather than a traditional casserole) roasted beets, scalloped potatoes (which were good but had a strong bacon flavor to them. Personally if the bacon was less prominent they would have been much better.) and sweet potato puree.
We each had a salad which consisted of a variety of fresh mixed greens, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and red onion. Topped with their home made creamy cucumber dressing, these salads were packed with taste and goodness. Drinks included sweet tea (which was much better than average) and Saratoga bottled water which was nice.
For desert we opted for the banana pudding which was presented in sort of a unique fashion. Prepared with vanilla wafers, custard, and bananas and served in a creme brulee fashion, we loved every bite!
The atmosphere at Comfort is what we would describe as rustic appeal meets casual elegance. The place is very clean and includes a large bar area and about 20 tables and a few booths tucked away in the back corner. The decor is simple yet appealing. Despite the place being filled with several people deep in conversation, we were able to enjoy great food and pleasant conversation without feeling distracted.
Comfort offers really good food, great service, wide selection, friendly atmosphere, and an enjoyable place to meet for dinner in the heart of downtown Richmond. What else could you ask for? Our bill was $81.97. We rate Comfort four out of five stars.
Da Lat
9125 West Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23294
804-762-9330
We arrived at Da Lat at 1:50pm on 2/20/09. We were promptly greeted by a pleasant host who gave us choice of seating. We were surprised at the layout and overall decoration of the restaurant. Initially we were a bit skeptical since this establishment is located in a strip mall setting. However, once inside we found it to be very nicely decorated with a pleasing layout that flowed very well. It’s large but not cramped. The bar rests along the back wall and is flanked by a large screen TV. They offer a large selection of drinks. The jovial atmosphere of several people enjoying their meal was welcoming.
The waiter was prompt and very attentive to answer menu questions. We ordered coke and cranberry juice. Both came in a large glass which was refreshing. It took a while for us to actually order an entree. This is because Da Lat offers a menu of more than 126 items! I was especially appreciative of the menu layout complete with a contents section to allow quick selection of chicken, seafood, steak, tofu etc. Lunch specials are even separated on the menu to make it easier to order. We started with crab meat and asparagus soup as well as vegetable soup. Both were good. Next we had the vegetable spring rolls. They were good without the greasiness often associated with spring rolls. They were served with a nice brown sauce which was tasty. We also tried the sweet chili sauce already on the table and found it to be good but very hot! We didn’t have the larger spring rolls but they must have been really good since we watched a girl eat ten of them as a meal! They were good sized rolls too.
Our entrees included Ga Dong Khanh (spicy crispy chicken in a light spicy sauce) and Bo Xao Dau Ve (sliced beef sauteed with vegetables in a light garlic sauce) which were both very tasty. The fried rice was quite tasty. You could taste the ingredients as opposed to most fried rice which tends to be sort of bland and filler tasting. The presentation was clean and colorful. Large portions too. We commented it would be perfect for a group of several people to come and share each dish to discover new tastes etc. We also noticed they have some tables for seating several in a group, complete with a turn-able center piece to make food sharing and tasting easy and fun. The setting is perfect for a fun, quiet meal with family, friends, and business associates. The food is authentic Vietnamese cuisine.
The restaurant and restrooms were very clean. You could tell the staff takes a lot of pride in presentation of not just the food but the whole dining experience. Our meal was $35.20 but did include two appetizers. Our overall rating of Da Lat is 4 out of 5 stars.
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