Photo by Mike Freeman
Lamplighter Roasting Co. was named Best Breakfast Sandwich, as well as Best Community Coffee House
Best Beer Tasting Room
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
2408 Ownby Lane, 420-2420
From the locally grown blackberries in their Belgian-style Virginia Blackberry ale to the community-sourced hops in the RVA IPA, this Scott’s Addition brewery takes their commitment to local ingredients seriously. In March, local artist Ed Trask painted a mural in the tasting room that chronicles the business’ three-year history.
2. Strangeways Brewing
3. Mekong
Best Wine Tasting Room
Secco Wine Bar
2933 W. Cary St., 353-0670
Prior to opening The Room at Secco, a private event space next to the restaurant, owner Julia Battaglini hosted wine tastings at the former River City Cellars, the wine shop that used to occupy the same space. Since January 2013, Battaglini has offered wine classes at The Room for a fee. “It’s half-educational and half-party,” she says.
2. The Wine Loft
3. James River Cellars
Best Local Distillery
Belle Isle Craft Spirits
615 Maury St., belleislecraftspirits.com
During the Civil War, Belle Isle Manufacturing produced premium copper kettles that soldiers would use to make moonshine. “We’re trying to pay homage to that history,” co-owner Alex Wotring says of the 80-proof, aged white-corn whiskey that they sell for $30 a bottle.
2. Reservoir Distillery
Best Neighborhood Food Market
Ellwood Thompson’s
4 N. Thompson St., 359-7525
In June, the local grocery store stopped using canola oil in their prepared foods and shifted to cooking only with organic, unrefined olive and coconut oils. Canola oil is problematic from a nutritional standpoint, and the data on the other oils makes a compelling case for the switch. "It doesn’t affect prices … and customers won’t even notice the switch,” says chef Patrick Carr.
2. Libbie Market
3. Little House Green Market
Best Gourmet/Culinary Shop
Belmont Butchery
15 N. Belmont Ave., 422-8519
Swiss-trained chef Tanya Cauthen opened her neighborhood butcher shop in the Museum District with the idea of bringing restaurant-grade meats straight to the consumer. “My job is to find delicious, offbeat cuts and teach people how to cook them,” she says. “We want to feed people well.”
2. Yellow Umbrella
3. Libbie Market
Best Bang-for-Your-Buck Lunch
Christopher’s Runaway Gourmay
On the corner of Main Street at 8th, 10th, and 12th streets, 400-3663
Owner Chris Zechini estimates that his downtown food carts sell about 2,000 pounds of chicken salad a week. “The chicken salad is definitely the most popular,” he says of the shredded chicken breast with golden raisins in tarragon dressing. With two sides and French bread, it’s a steal at $5.75.
2. Mekong
3. Lehja
Best Virginia Wine Selection
The Roosevelt
623 N. 25th St., 658-1935
“When we opened, we were focusing on local ingredients, and local wine just seemed part and parcel of the whole plan,” co-owner Kendra Feather says. The Virginia-exclusive wine list at this Church Hill restaurant includes 32 varieties, representing 17 vineyards, with prices that range from $26 to $80.
2. Once Upon a Vine
3. Total Wine & More
Best Dining Event or Dinner Series
Richmond Restaurant Week
richmondrestaurantweek.com
Founded in 2001, the biannual event has raised more than $300,000 for FeedMore, the umbrella organization for the Central Virginia Food Bank and Meals on Wheels. During Restaurant Week, local restaurants donate $2.14 from each $25.14 prix fixe meal. “It’s an opportunity for the restaurants to do something good for the community,” says founder Aline Reitzer.
2. Broad Appétit
Best Retro Cocktails
Heritage
1627 W. Main St., 353-4060
On June 6, the contemporary American restaurant Heritage introduced the Cocktail Passport. Available as a book of 15 or 25 pages, the cocktail-exclusive gift certificate costs $145 or $225 respectively. “It’s a journey that people are able to sit at the bar and navigate through on their own time,” mixologist and co-owner Mattias Hägglund says.
2. The Roosevelt
3. Saison
Best Breakfast Sandwich
Lamplighter Roasting Company
116 S. Addison St., 728-2292; 1719 Summit Ave., 447-2648; 26 N. Morris St. [no phone—BPF]
The bleary-eyed masses that stumble into Lamplighter’s locations are looking for a coffee fix and a quick breakfast. Lamplighter makes it memorable. “We use free-range eggs. They’re completely different from your usual [factory] egg,” says co-owner Jennifer Rawlings. “They’re a completely different color — they’re delicious.”
2. Cupertino's New York Bagels & Deli
3. Boychik's Deli
Best Off-the-Menu Brunch
Millie’s Diner
2603 E. Main St., 643-5512
"Brunch is definitely our busiest time of the week," co-owner Paul Keevil says of the Church Hill eatery that serves about 700 orders of omelets, eggs Benedict and more every weekend. Occasionally, the chef from El Salvador will prepare pupusas. The traditional Salvadoran dish is made from round masa dough patties that are filled with shrimp, cheese or chorizo.
2. Can Can Brasserie
3. Joe’s Inn
Best Ice Cream
Bev’s Homemade Ice Cream
2911W. Cary St., 204-2387
Owner Bev Mazursky develops the flavor recipes and churns them in-house at her Carytown shop. “We make very seasonal specials,” Mazursky says of the summer sweet corn and fall pumpkin ice cream varieties.
2. Gelati Celesti
3. Sweet Frog
Best Local Chocolate Product
Gearhart's Chocolates
306 Libbie Ave., 282-1822
Chocolatier Tim Gearhart is on a sugar roll. He just hired two new employees — a Richmond store manager, Emily Jones, and a sales manager to oversee wholesale and corporate business. In addition to his
hand-crafted chocolates, Peanut Butter Pups and pistachio toffee, Gearhart has developed a new line of caramels. The first one is a miso caramel with toasted sesame seeds, inspired by a miso-caramel sauce that he made when he worked as a pastry chef. Look for honey-and-toasted almond caramels by the end of July.
2. For the Love of Chocolate
3. Shyndigz
Best Corporate Cafeteria
Capital One
15075 Capital One Drive, 273-1144
Different international dishes, salads and traditional American cuisine are made on-site at the multiple cafeterias on Capital One’s West Creek campus. “We provide our associates with a variety of healthy choices, and the options are continually changing,” says John Bevan, senior manager of extended operations.
2. SunTrust
3. Federal Reserve
Best Event Caterer
MOSAIC Catering + Events
3001 Cutshaw Ave., 525-2190
In October, MOSAIC opened a new catering headquarters in a 20,000-square-foot space off Broad Street. “Now we’re all under one roof,” sales manager Cristina Diez says of the kitchen, catering and sales team that operates out of the new location.
2. A Sharper Palate
3. Groovin' Gourmets
Best Doughnut Shop or Maker
Sugar Shack Donuts
1001 N. Lombardy St., 278-5900
Soon after the local doughnut shop opened their second location downtown in March, USA Today named Sugar Shack on of the 10 tastiest doughnut shops in the country. “We’re doing about 5,000 [doughnuts] a day since USA Today picked us up,” says owner Ian Kelley, adding that the number includes the doughnuts they give away for free.
2. Dixie Donuts
3. Country Style Donuts
Best Hospital Cafeteria Food
Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital
5801 Bremo Road, 285-2011
On Tuesdays, the Bon Secours Health System hospital features a seasonal entrée at the chef’s table along with a display that outlines the nutritional values of the ingredients. “We try to always have healthy options available,” says Lisa York, administrative director of Patient Experience.
2. VCU Health System
3. Bon Secours St. Francis Medical Center
Most Personable Chef
Jason Alley
Pasture, 416 E. Grace St., 780-0416; Comfort, 200 W. Broad St., 780-0004
It all comes down to giving. “I’m lucky to be surrounded by great people,” Alley says, “and I try to keep ego out of the business.” In return, Alley has grown several successful restaurants with loyal employees and loyal customers. “I get back much more than I ever give.”
2. Joe Sparatta
3. Michael Trak
Best Restaurant For Quiet Conversation
Lemaire
101 W Franklin St., 649-4644
Lemaire’s general manager and wine director Greg McGehee says, “Lemaire has many spaces that offer moments for quiet conversation, from the private dining rooms to the alcoves in our lounge areas.” And they can still put on a wedding reception or arrange business dinners, plus manage the after-work crowd stopping by for drinks or others looking for special-occasion fine dining.
2. Julep's New Southern Cuisine
3. Buckhead's Chop House
Best Seasonal Beer
Hardywood's Gingerbread Stout
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
2408 Ownby Lane, 420-2420
Beer Advocate calls it “Christmas in a bottle,” and sometimes it’s as rare as a Santa Claus sighting. “Blending the flavors of local Casselmonte Farm ginger and Bearer Farms honey, it celebrates the local flavors of Central Virginia,” says head brewer Brian Nelson.
2. Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, in general
3. (Tie) Legend Brewing Co., in general; Mekong Restaurant, in general
Best Burger Buns
Burger Bach
10 S. Thompson St., 359-1305; 2225 Old Brick Road, 716-748
While this New Zealand-themed restaurant imports its meat, its bread is as local as it comes. Angela Whitley, co-founder with her late husband Michael Ripp, says, “We worked with Richmond’s Billy Bread to craft a bun that [is] baked fresh daily,” a bun that would be a fitting bed for their tasty burgers.
2. Carytown Burgers & Fries
3. Five Guys Burger & Fries
Best BBQ Beef Brisket
Buz & Ned's Real Barbecue
1119 N. Boulevard, 355-6055; 8205 W. Broad St., 346-4227
A fixture in Richmond for more than 20 years, Buz and Ned’s is still at the top of Richmond's barbecue food chain. "Our brisket is special, because of the product and process we use," says owner Buz Grossberg. "We use certified Angus beef that's never been frozen. It's marinated overnight and cooked exclusively over wood for 12 to 14 hours." The process produces a brisket that's been cured by smoke and is packed with flavor.
2. Alamo BBQ
3. Q Barbeque
Best Indian Restaurant
Lehja
11800 W. Broad St., 364-1111
To eat at Lehja is to take a flavor journey around India. From coastal Goa to northern Punjab and Kashmir, “Lehja combines traditional Indian recipes,” co-owner Sunny Baweja says, exposing diners to “the wealth and variety of India’s cuisine and culture.”
2. Lemon Cuisine of India
3. Anokha
Best Mexican Restaurant
Mexico Restaurant
Multiple locations, mexico-restaurant.com
“We have been serving fresh food in a friendly atmosphere for more than 25 years,” says Mexico manager Javier Lara. “One of the reasons we are so popular is that we support so many community organizations.” From Virginia Blood Services and the Richmond Symphony to the Children’s Miracle Network and dozens of local schools, Mexico Restaurant makes it a point to nourish the city that has supported them for so long.
2. Maya Mexican Grill & Tequila Lounge
3. Casa Grande
Best Sweet Shop or Bakery
Shyndigz Dessert Café
1903 W. Cary St., 938-3449
Bryon and Nicole Jessee found their sweet spot in the new location on Cary Street for Shyndigz. When they moved from Patterson Avenue this spring, they tripled their size and increased seating from 40 to 160. “It’s Richmond’s only restaurant dedicated to desserts, and the community has embraced the idea,” Nicole Jessee says. “We’re already close to outgrowing our new space.”
2. Pearl's Cupcake Shoppe
3. Sugar Shack Donuts
Best Chinese Restaurant
Peter Chang China Café
11424 W. Broad St., 364-1688
Chef Peter Chang not only exposed many Richmonders to their first taste of food with hot and numbing Sichuan peppers, he’s developed a fervid cult following nationally. “I traveled all over the East Coast in the hope that more Americans could taste original and authentic Chinese food,” Chang says of his peripatetic journey that led him to Richmond.
2. Peking Restaurant
3. Chen's Chinese Restaurant
Best Pho
(Tie) Mekong Restaurant; Pho So 1
Mekong: 6004 W. Broad St., 288-8929; Pho So 1: 6403 Rigsby Road, 673-9940 and 9135 W Broad St., 562-5531
Noodle soup is like Vietnamese penicillin; it can be a weekly fix all season long. “Our pho is only as good,” says owner An Bui, “as the broth — which we cook overnight to allow the flavors to blend.” Pho So 1 can also claim one of Richmond ‘s best broths —almost silky with the richness of the marrow, and slightly sweet and savory at the same time.
2. Vietnam 1
3. Pho Saigon
Best Selection of Beers on Tap
Mekong Restaurant
6004 W. Broad St., 288-8929
A perennial favorite of Richmond’s beer aficionados, Mekong has garnered a national following. “For years I tried to bring in the best beers from around the world, but now the focus is more local,” owner An Bui says. “I try to find the freshest local beer. … We’re starting to brew our own as well.”
2. Capital Ale House
3. Sedona Taphouse
Best Vietnamese Restaurant
Mekong Restaurant
6004 W. Broad St., 288-8929
In a city with more than its share of Vietnamese restaurants, Mekong has offered a great range of food for years. “We are consistent, consistent, consistent, with very low kitchen staff turnover, says owner An Bui. “Our main chef, my sister Truyen, has been here for 19 years, cooking many recipes from our mom.”
2. Pho So 1
3. Vietnam 1
Most Creative Pizza Toppings
Mellow Mushroom
3012 W. Cary St., 370-8210
Owner Scott Douglas confidently opened his own Mellow Mushroom pizza joint without any restaurant experience — just an insatiable passion for pizza. “Every Mellow Mushroom [franchise] is different. They reflect the community,” Douglas says. The wildly innovative interior hearkening back to the building’s days as Plan 9 Records attests to a menu just as thoughtful and as creative.
2. Bottom's Up Pizza
3. Stuzzi Pizzeria Napoletana Bar e Vino
Best Steakhouse
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
11500 W. Huguenot Road, 378-0600
If you want the real steakhouse experience, you look for polished service and that perfect steak each time. "After we sear the flavor into the steaks on our patented 1,800-degree broiler, we serve it up on a 500-degree plate, so your steak sings all the way to the table," says manager Victoria Higdon.
2. Buckhead's Chop House
3. Hondo’s
Best Vegan Menu Items
Ipanema Cafe
917 W Grace St., 213-0190
Ipanema has always been at the forefront of vegan/vegetarian-based cafés in RVA, but when omnivorous chef Will Winkowski took the reins, he brought it to another level. GM Greg Darden agrees. ¨He is the driving force,” he says. “He creates all of the dishes.” Winkowski’s first vegan dish? Harissa-stuffed dates wrapped in grilled eggplant.
2. Fresca
3. The Daily Kitchen & Bar
Best Seafood Restaurant
The Hard Shell
1411 E Cary St., 643-2333; 11400 W. Huguenot Road, 464-1476
The Hard Shell offers not only the classics but also modern menu items. ¨We’re always learning, always re-inventing ourselves,” says co-owner Jared Golden. Fresh seafood from the Baltimore harbor allows the restaurant to boast the largest variety of raw seafood in the city.
2. Rappahannock
3. The Boathouse (both locations)
Best Sushi
Sticky Rice
2232 W Main St., 358-7870
¨We are the rock ‘n’ roll sushi bar,” says Sticky Rice sushi manager Kevin Wilson. “We’re free from the chains of the strict dogma that traditionally surround this cuisine.” This is America, so if we want chicken nuggets in our sushi, why not?
2. Osaka Sushi & Steak
3. Akida
Best Italian Restaurant
Edo’s Squid
411 N. Harrison St., 864-5488
Co-owner Ed Vasaio’s parents (who owned a restaurant in D.C. while he was growing up) taught him to cook the cuisine they brought from the Adriatic Coast. This type of rich, hearty food speaks to Edo’s family-style fare with an emphasis on fresh, local produce. ¨We’ve been doing local before local was cool,” says manager Jace Poliquin.
2. Mamma ’Zu
3. La Grotta
Best Thai Restaurant
Mom’s Siam Restaurant
2811 W. Cary St., 359-7606; 1309 E. Cary St., 225-8801
Mom’s Siam just celebrated its 14th year as Carytown’s pad thai darling and recently opened another location downtown. The secret to their success? Owner Ree Vanderhoof says it’s their smiley staff. “We want to provide our customers with a friendly, warm feeling when they walk through our door.”
2. (Tie) Ginger Thai Taste; Thai Diner;
Elephant Thai Restaurant
Best Middle Eastern Restaurant
Mediterranean Bakery & Deli
9004 Quioccasin Road, 754-8895
This neighborhood favorite, owned by Jameel and Saba Abed, is the West End’s go-to for Middle Eastern groceries, a vast array of deli items and other prepared foods. “We cook the food here just like we cook it at home,” says Jamee, “derived from our love as a happily married couple.”
2. Stella's
3. Döner Kebab
Best Latin American Restaurant
Kuba Kuba
1601 Park Ave., 355-8817
Why does owner Manny Mendez always win awards for his legendary, tangy, savory, Cuban-inspired platos? ¨There’s not a formula for the flavor, you know?” he says. ¨It’s [the ingredient’s] actual flavor; it’s not made up.” The Cuban sandwich is to die for, too, and don’t forget your leftovers, because they will last for days.
2. Estilo
3. Kenn-Tico
Best Deviled Eggs
Sally Bell’s Kitchen
708 West Grace St., 644-2838
In this town, Sally Bell’s Kitchen equals old-school, white-boxed lunches — and in each one, you’ll find a deviled egg, individually wrapped in a bit of wax paper. “It’s kind of like a little present to yourself,” explains owner Martha Jones. Her secret to deviled eggs? Sally Bell’s makes its own mayonnaise on the premises.
2. Lunch
3. Lamplighter Roasting Co.
Best Wings
Buffalo Wild Wings
7801 West Broad St., 672-8732
Not only is Buffalo Wild Wings Richmond’s go-to wing joint, it’s a sports bar with a side of karaoke. “If you can't make it to the stadium, we strive to be the next best thing,” says Kevin Donham, vice-president of Belle Holdings Inc. The company realized that the wing-fan’s favorite accompaniment (other than beer) was the game.
2. Hooters
3. Quaker Steak and Lube
Best Adult Milkshakes
Station 2
2016 E Main St., 249-4702
Where else are you going to end up with a $7 local, adult ice cream headache? We asked Manager Alyssa Koontz what makes these shakes so delectable. She implied that nostalgia gets us every time. ¨The Naughty Girl Scout is our bestseller. Customers love the grown-up version of the classic flavor combo of mint, vanilla and chocolate.”
2. The Dairy Bar
3. The Village Café
Best Food Truck
Boka Tako Truck
Check bokatruck.com for updates on location
“I saw a need for food trucks,” says owner and chef Patrick Harris. “It was a first mover opportunity.” Food trucks were a national trend in 2010, and Harris’ perspicacity helped to spark the RVA food-truck explosion and set the bar high — very high — for those that followed.
2. Goatocado
3. Christopher's Runaway Gourmay
Best Community Coffee House
Lamplighter Roasting Co.
116 S. Addison St., 728-2292; 1719 Summit Ave., 447-2648; 26 N. Morris St. [no phone—BPF]
The freshly roasted, small-batch coffee beans used in Zach Archibald, Jennifer Rawlings and Noelle Archibald’s coffee shops all come from the Summit Avenue location. “The single-origin [coffee beans] rotate constantly,” says Rawlings. “It’s a really painful procedure of roasting samples constantly — and constantly cupping and deciding what you want to use.”
2. Crossroads Coffee & Ice Cream
3. Black Hand Coffee Co.
Best Dinner for Under $10
(Tie) Boka Tako Truck/Cantina/Bar; Don't Look Back; Joe's Inn (both locations); Mekong Restaurant
Boka Tako Truck/Cantina/Bar: 1412 Starling Drive, 304 N. Robinson St.; Don't Look Back: 2929 W. Cary St., 353- 8226; Joe's Inn (Fan): 205 N. Shields Ave.; Joe’s Inn (Bon Air): 2616 Buford Road, 320-9700; Mekong Restaurant: 6004 W Broad St., 288-8929
Tacos at Don't Look Back will run you about $3 each, and a bowl of pho will only set you back about $7 at Mekong. At Joe’s Inn, that longtime, classic bargain spot, the spaghetti à la Joe will cost you $13, but it easily feeds two — or even three. “Our shrimp-and-grits taco is one of our biggest sellers,” says Boka Tako Truck/Cantina’s Patrick Harris. And at $3 a pop, even the hungriest of diners can make a meal out of two or three without breaking the bank.
Best Croissants
Can Can Brasserie
3120 W. Cary St., 358-7274
With a dedicated, on-site bakery and focus on the way to recreate French classics, it’s tough for anyone else to beat Carytown’s Can Can in this category. Throughout the week, the restaurant turns into a coffee house from 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. where you can get your Paris on with a café au lait and a plate of buttery, flaky goodness.
2. Sub Rosa Bakery
3. Jean-Jacques Bakery
Best Restaurant for Gluten-Free Diners
The Daily Kitchen & Bar
2934 W. Cary St., 342-8990
From fried oysters to pizza, The Daily makes sure that there’s plenty for those who eschew gluten to choose from. Owner Michelle Williams constantly hears the same thing from diners with specialized diets: ‘ “I can eat calamari? I can eat French fries? I can eat anything out of the fryer and it won’t make me sick?’ We were definitely focused in on that from the get-go.”
2. Estilo
3. Lehja
Best New Restaurant
The Daily Kitchen & Bar
2934 W. Cary St., 342-8990
It had been 30 days since opening The Daily, and Michelle Williams was taking her first day off. That didn’t really work out — she woke up to a phone call telling her that a car had just run through the restaurant’s front window and was parked inside. “The contractor was really on it,” she says. “We were open again within 24 hours.”
2. Max's on Broad
3. Dutch & Co.
Best Tacos
Boka Tako Truck/Cantina/Bar
1412 Starling Drive; 304 N. Robinson St.
Owner and chef Patrick Harris likes to color outside the lines when it comes to tacos. You can go traditional or you can start to tiptoe past the expected and try things like Korean beef bulgogi or chorizo with fig-ginger compote and goat cheese. “I have had classic French [culinary] training,” says Harris. “I think I bring something very unique to the table.”
2. Don't Look Back
3. En Su Boca
Best French restaurant
Can Can Brasserie
3120 W. Cary St., 358 7274
With a slavish attention to authentic design details, its all-French wine list and menu items like steak frites and coq au vin, Can Can brought classic French bistro dishes to Richmond in 2005 instead of haute cuisine. But don’t be fooled; the rotating plats du jour with things like pan-seared rockfish with ratatouille, goat cheese purée, and an artichoke, tomato and olive tart, rock the French bateau into the 21st century.
2. Chez Max
3. Amour Wine Bistro
Best Cake In Richmond
Shyndigz
1903 W. Cary St., 938-3449
Which cake, you ask? You can't really go wrong at Shyndigz, but owners Nicole and Bryon Jessee say their No. 1 best seller is the chocolate caramel cake. The dessert café moved from Patterson Avenue to its new Fan location earlier this year, and since then “we’ve been packed out every night.”
2. Cakes by Graham
3. Pearl's Cupcake Shoppe
Best Philly Cheesesteak
Mojo's
733 W. Cary St., 644-6676
Everyone has their own idea of what a real cheesesteak should be, says Mojo's, but the key to a really authentic one is ingredients. Mojo's uses just the right kind of bread and cheese in its iconic sandwich, which can be dressed up — with extras like teriyaki sauce, black olives or pepperoni — or down, with a simple smattering of “the Wiz.”
2. Str8 Out of Philly
3. (Tie) The Grapevine Greek & Italian Restaurant; Penn Station East Coast Subs
Restaurant With the Friendliest Servers
(Tie) The Grapevine Greek & Italian Restaurant; Heritage
The Grapevine: 11055 Three Chopt Road, 440-9100; Heritage: 1627 W. Main St., 353-4060
The Grapevine Greek & Italian Restaurant is all about family — and they don't just mean the staff. “When we see a familiar face, we welcome them back,” says assistant general manager John Trak. At Heritage — another family business — co-owner Mattias Hägglund says the secret to good service is “just care and attention, and good people.”
2. Lehja
3. (Tie) Burger Bach; Shyndigz Dessert Café
Best Place to Eat Every Week
Joe's Inn (Fan), 205 N. Shields Ave., Joe’s Inn (Bon Air), 2616 Buford Road, 320-9700
The two restaurants have a sizable number of staunch regulars. What keeps them coming back? “Consistency; that’s what our regular customers really, really want,” says the Fan’s Joe's Inn general manager Katie Price. “People are able to get their favorite things, prepared the exact same way, each time.”
2. The Grapevine Greek & Italian Restaurant
3. Burger Bach
Best Restaurant for Out-of-Your-Comfort-Zone Dishes
The Magpie
1301 W. Leigh St., 269-0023
“I always tell people, if you like chicken nuggets, you’re going to love sweetbreads,” says The Magpie's Owen Lane. The chef/owner, who attributes the restaurant's win in this category to “the way we use ingredients and put them together,” also cites crispy pig head and his foie-gras milkshake as some of the more challenging dishes he has created.
2. The Blue Goat
3. Heritage
Best Transition of Food Truck to Brick-and-Mortar Restaurant
Boka Kantina
1412 Starling Drive, 928-2652
Boka might be branching into stationary locations, but things don't stop moving for owner Patrick Harris. The man who arguably kickstarted Richmond's food-truck scene opened Boka Kantina in 2013 and Boka Tako Bar in April this year. Both restaurants offer an expanded menu. “Kantina has a gourmet fusion pizza menu in addition to the ‘takos,’ ” Harris says.
2. Don't Look Back
3. (Tie) Buz & Ned's Real Barbecue; Thai Corner
Best Downtown Restaurant
Pasture
416 E. Grace St., 780-0416
Pasture has always prided itself on its use of the best local ingredients — and now that focus is about to get even more local. “We’ve started a small garden to grow our own food — we’re growing tomatoes and different herbs — and we also have a herb garden on our roof,” says co-owner Michele Jones.
2. Comfort
3. Lemaire
Best Restaurant North of the James
The Grapevine Greek & Italian Restaurant
11055 Three Chopt Road, 440-9100
It may have been around a while, but the Grapevine is definitely not content to rest on its laurels. When asked what was new, the Greek/Italian restaurant produced a long list that included expanded gluten-free, vegetarian and beer menus; an online ordering facility; and a regular gig as caterer to the Flying Squirrels at home games. If it's good enough for Nutzy …
2. Stella's
3. Dutch & Co.
Best Restaurant South of the James
C & M Galley Kitchen
2805 Hathaway Road, 323-1117
“We try to please everyone,” says manager Christian Antonelli of Galley, which only opened in late 2012. And that's exactly what this Cuban/Italian restaurant, a partnership between Kuba Kuba's Manny Mendez and Bacchus' Chris DiLauro, seems to be doing. Repeat returners rave over its huge servings, diverse menu and Fan vibe.
2. Pescado's
3. The Boathouse at Sunday Park
Best Restaurant Overall in the Region
Acacia mid-town
2601 W. Cary St., 562-0138
Perhaps Richmond’s most decorated restaurant, including the Elby Award for Chef of the Year in 2012 and 2013 for chef/co-owner Dale Reitzer, Acacia mid-town sees no reason to switch things up anytime soon. “We’ve been doing what we love to do for the past 15 years; we’re not changing,” says general manager and co-owner Aline Reitzer. “It’s about finding amazing product, working with great purveyors, and working with an amazing staff.”
2. (Tie) Lemaire; The Roosevelt; Stella's
3. (Tie) Dutch & Co.; Heritage
Best Deli Takeout
Coppola's Deli
2900 W. Cary St., 359-6969
Over 30 years ago, Joe Coppola came from New York and opened Coppola's Deli in Carytown. Tom Roukous, the owner since 1989, barely changed a thing. “The proscuitto di parma is our most Italian sandwich,” manager Dan Weiseman says. And if you want to pair your sandwich with a beverage, all of Coppola's wines are imported from Italy, too.
2. Nick's International Foods
3. Padow's Hams & Deli
Best Restaurant Takeout
8 1/2
401 Strawberry St., 358-8505
8 1/2 suffered a fire due to faulty electrical wiring a while back, but the Italian takeout joint bounced right back. “It was put back together like Humpty Dumpty,” says co-owner Brad Wein. “The insurance company came in and told us to step aside. … “I would rather not have had it, of course, but in the end, they stepped up.”
2. Joe's Inn/Out
3. The Grapevine Greek & Italian Restaurant
Best Patio Dining
The Boathouse
4708 E. Old Main St., 622-2628
Looking for a scenic view to go with dinner? The Boathouse at Rocketts Landing can make that happen — spectacularly. “Get there 30 minutes before sunset,” owner Kevin Healy says, “People say it's the best view in town.” The patio is open from St. Patrick's Day until Halloween, as long as the weather permits.
Best Restaurant for Group Celebrations
The Boathouse
4708 E. Old Main St. 622-2628
Having served groups as large as 350 patrons, The Boathouse is well equipped to take on any group celebrations. “Each event space has large outdoor areas,” Kevin Healy, owner of The Boathouse, says. “People like that they can migrate inside or outside.”
2. Mekong Restaurant
3. Can Can Brasserie
Best Grocery Store Customer Service
Kroger
Various locations, kroger.com
Although you might think of Kroger as the place to buy your milk and eggs, Lindsay Grant, a spokesperson for Kroger, says their local brews, coffees and gourmet meats have recently become popular, too. All Kroger employees are trained according to Kroger's “Customer 1st Strategy.” Meaning, Grant says, “Essentially, treat customers how you would like to be treated.”
2. Whole Foods
3. (Tie) The Fresh Market; Martin's
Best Grocery Store Meat Department
The Fresh Market
10 N. Nansemond St. 355-3190
The Fresh Market's meat prices are slightly higher than other grocer's, but they trim away all the excess fat and gristle so that you're only paying for the meat you want to eat. Michael Faulkner, the district manager, says, “Some harder-to-find options are also available by special order, such as quail, pheasant, duck and goose.”
2. Whole Foods
3. Kroger
