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Best Doughnut Dixie Donuts 2901 W. Cary St., 359-1119 Move over old-fashioned glazed, the gourmet doughnut is the new fave. Owners Betsy Thomas and J. Frank sell 20 different flavors of cake doughnuts, ranging from their signature Virginian with sweet-potato glaze and pecans to Bali Burst with coconut, lime and ginger. "Our thing is taking a fried treat and using a variety of interesting flavors, [make] something you've never had on a donut before," says Thomas. 2. Country Style Donuts 3. Daylight Donuts Best Locally Made Bread Montana Gold Bread Co. 3543 W. Cary St., 359-7700 Follow the cheddar garlic scent wafting down Cary Street, and you'll arrive at Sher and Rich Lahvic's bakery, which they opened nearly 20 years ago. "Our claim to fame is our honey whole wheat," Sher says. Their bakers mill their own wheat and knead all bread by hand. Staples include hearty white, cinnamon swirl, challah, French sourdough, cinnamon-raisin- walnut and garlic knots. 2. Billy Bread 3. Sub Rosa
2013 Best & Worst
Ice Cream So Good You'll Eat It in the Winter Gelati Celesti 8906-A W. Broad St., 346-0038; 3004 Stony Point Road, 320-0000 In mid-May, the ice cream shop that opened in 1984 went mobile with a food truck. "If we get that truck in front of people, we sell a lot of ice cream," owner Steve Rosser says. The ice cream truck carries eight of the shop's more than 85 flavors. 2. Bev's Homemade Ice Cream 3. Sweet Frog Best Pie Proper Pie Co. 2505 E. Broad St. No. 100, 343-7437 "We started out with a bang," co-owner Nikki Smith says of the boutique pie shop that had lines stretching out the door for the first few weeks after opening in November. The bakery was originally only going to employ a dishwasher and now has 22 people on the payroll. 2. Shyndigz 3. Ukrop's Homestyle Foods Best Pork Belly Heritage 1627 W. Main St., 353-4060 Chef Joe Sparatta has food ADD, compulsively changing up the menu, but he's kept pork belly in the lineup because it's such a big hit. Hardywood's Singel beer in the braise, kimchi, carrot purée, ginger, Asian sweet chili sauce and hoisin all add to its deliciousness. But Sparatta credits the pig: "It comes down to the quality of the animal and using responsibly raised animals." 2. The Savory Grain Restaurant & Draft House 3. The Roosevelt Best Burger Burger Bach 10 S. Thompson St., 359-1305 First, you need to know that it is pronounced "batch." Then you need to know this is one great burger, made from grass-fed New Zealand beef, ground daily and hand-pressed into juicy burgers. Open since February 2012, the Bach now serves about 500 burgers a day. Fear not, the Bach is currently working on a second location in West Broad Village, with a targeted October opening. 2. Five Guys Burgers and Fries 3. Carytown Burgers & Fries Best Salad Saladworks 11845 W. Broad St., 364-7141 Saladworks is hitting its one-year mark this month, and owner Kevin Long says he and his partner plan on expanding the franchise in Richmond. The salad shop boasts more than 55 ingredients and 12 signature salads. "You can make anything your little heart desires," says Long. 2. Strawberry St. Café 3. (Tie) Baker's Crust; Café Caturra Best Spring Rolls Mekong Restaurant 6004 W. Broad St., 288-8929 Mekong is not just for beer lovers; it's for spring roll lovers, too. Soft or crispy, meaty or veggie, Mekong's spring rolls with peanut sauce are a popular starter for $1.50. Filipino lumpia wrappers are the secret ingredients for keeping them crunchy after frying. "We sell hundreds and hundreds a day," says owner An Bui. 2. Pho So 1 3. Peking Restaurant Best Steakhouse Ruth's Chris Steak House 11500 W. Huguenot Road, 378-0600 Manager Mark Ainge estimates that about 80 percent of Ruth Chris' guests are celebrating a special occasion at the steak house. From scattering "Happy Birthday" confetti on the table to serving a special dessert plate, the staff makes sure the celebration is an experience guests won't forget. "We really take care of our guests to help them mark their milestones," Ainge says. "We want them to feel special and to come back year after year." 2. Buckhead's Restaurant & Chophouse 3. Hondo's Best Burritos Bandito's Burrito Lounge 2905 Patterson Ave, 354-9999 Bandito's has been serving its huge Mexi-Cali burritos since 1997, when there were few decent Mexican options in Richmond. That's no longer the case, but Bandito's 13 signature burritos are still grade A. Owner Sean McClain attributes his success to the restaurant's inventive approach to burrito fillings. "They are filled with things that sounded good, not necessarily things you would think of as typically Mexican," he says. 2. Plaza Azteca 3. (Tie) Alamo BBQ; Cafe Olé; Don't Look Back Best Pizza Bottoms Up Pizza 1700 Dock St., 644-4400 Bottoms Up, with its overloaded slices, is a perennial favorite with readers. Since opening in 1990, it has become something of a Richmond institution. The new express lunch option promises your pizza within 15 minutes or it's free. "I think our atmosphere definitely has something to do with our popularity," adds Holly Cohn, marketing manager. Convenient to the Canal Walk, the restaurant offers two levels of deck seating. 2. Mary Angela's Pizzeria 3. Belmont Pizzeria Best Barbecue Buz and Ned's Real Barbecue 1119 North Boulevard, 355-6055; 8205 W. Broad St., 346-4227 West Enders rejoiced when Buz and Ned's opened its Broad Street restaurant and started serving up its smoked pork, chicken, brisket and ribs in a large, comfortable space more conducive to lingering than the original bare-bones Boulevard location. Not that it matters — local barbecue lovers would happily chow down on Buz and Ned's barbecue in a dark alley if that was their only option. 2. Q Barbeque 3. Alamo BBQ Best Sushi Osaka Sushi & Steak 5023 Huguenot Road, 288-8801; 11674 W. Broad St., 364-8800 When Osaka opened on Huguenot Road eight years ago, there were just a handful of sushi places around Richmond, recalls Ren Mefford, director of operations for Eat Restaurant Partners. A couple of years ago, he counted 50. "Now, I wouldn't be surprised if it's 100," he says. Osaka keeps its edge with creative sushi, a chic atmosphere, attentive service and a beverage program that includes about 80 wines. 2. Sticky Rice RVA 3. Akida Best Dessert in Richmond Shyndigz 5716 Patterson Ave., 938-3449 "I like to think of them as story cakes," co-owner and cake artist Nicole Jesse says of the custom cakes she creates to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, proposals and even divorces. "I've learned to not let any request surprise me." 2. The Desserterie 3. Pearl's Cupcake Shoppe Best Fried Chicken Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken 2200 W. Broad St., 355-1059 This Lee's has the distinction of being the only one in Virginia as well as having the best sales volume of 150 restaurants, says owner Henry Loving. Getting to that point took time, though. Loving recalls that Lee's struggled when it opened in 1991. Among the keys to its success, he says, are ensuring just enough freshly cooked chicken meets the demand at various times of the day, and regularly filtering and changing the cooking oil. 2. Ukrop's Kitchen at Martin's 3. The Dixie Chicken (closed) Best Locally Made Pasta Bombolini Pasta 1606 W. Main St., 213-0212 Owners John and Lolita Kreckman, who began making pasta at their home in 2008, are always trying new flavors along with their regular varieties like garlic, black pepper or spinach. "One week we'll have a barbecue-flavored ravioli," he says. "The next we'll have caprese." Tarragon-and-lime pasta has been a recent success. 2. Cavanna Pasta 3. (Tie) La Grotta; Secco Wine Bar Best Onion Rings O'Toole's Restaurant and Pub 4800 Forest Hill Ave., 233-1781 The batter used to make onion rings at O'Toole's is a secret, says owner John O'Toole, whose late father, Jim, opened the restaurant in 1966. But he will say that O'Toole's buys 700 pounds of colossal onions each week, cuts them by hand and marinates them for a day before they're fried. Each day, someone is assigned onion-ring duty, which takes about six hours on weekends. And with that much time around onions, O'Toole says: "You will cry." 2. The Village Café 3. Carytown Burger and Fries Best Cupcakes Pearl's Cupcake Shoppe 5812 Grove Ave., 285-2253 It takes a lot of ingredients to satisfy Richmond's sweet tooth. "We go through 400 to 500 pounds of flour and butter a week," co-owner Laura Condrey says. The confectionery does savory as well. "We did a hot-wing cupcake for the Super Bowl," Condrey says. "It was very popular." 2. Frostings Bake Shop 3. Carytown Cupcakes Best Locally Roasted Black Coffee Lamplighter Roasting Co. 116. S. Addison St., 728-2292; 1719 Summit Ave., 447-2648 Lamplighter ensures that its coffee tastes fresh by serving it to customers within a week after the beans are roasted at their site in Scott's Addition, and they offer a single origin and a blend daily. "We offer choices when people come in," says co-owner Noelle Archibald. "We don't just ask if they want light or dark." 2. Blanchard's Coffee Co. 3. Rostov's Coffee & Tea Best Soup Baker's Crust 3553 W. Cary St., 213-0800; Short Pump Town Center, 377-9060 Eric Wilson, co-owner of the Baker's Crust in Short Pump, came up with the recipe for the restaurant group's signature tomato-and-cheese soup 15 years ago, while working at the location in Norfolk's Ghent district, as a way of using up tomatoes and scraps of cheese left over from sandwich making. "We cook the tomatoes in chicken stock and add cheese and cream," he says. "[Now], that's our staple." 2. (Tie) Citizen; Tarrant's Café 3. Strawberry Street Café Best Locally Themed Cocktail The Seersucker at The Roosevelt 623 N. 25th St., 658-1935 "It's nothing too far off from what a lot of people drink in the South, mixing bourbon and sweet tea," Thomas Leggett, bartender and manager, modestly says. This tasty concoction's secret ingredients are charred lemon cubes (frozen grilled lemons), which release a smoky flavor, and Leggett's homemade sweet-tea syrup. "It's not sweet, but focused on bourbon. People try it because it's one of our more approachable drinks." Best Banh Mi Banh Mi Catina 6215 W. Broad St., 339-7322 For $3.50, walk away with a traditional Vietnamese sandwich — a crunchy baguette topped with sliced meat, homemade mayo, pickled veggies, jalapeños and cilantro — and be in and out of the sandwich shop in less than five minutes. It's delicious, convenient and cheap. And don't forget to polish off your banh mi with a fruity bubble tea. 2. Mekong Restaurant 3. Pho Saigon Best Bargain Lunch Christopher's RunAway Gourmay Corners Main and Eighth, 10th and 12th streets, and corner of 12th and Marshall streets, 400-3663 After 28 years, Christopher Zechini hasn't changed up his food carts' menu or bargains. "Richmond likes consistency," he says, and his customers have been coming back for decades. For $5.75 you can walk away with a filling lunch — think tarragon chicken salad with two sides (sesame pasta, country coleslaw or marinated cukes), and a fresh, crunchy piece of French bread and a cheese wedge. 2. Citizen 3. Don't Look Back Best Restaurant Outside of Downtown (Tie) Peter Chang China Café; Stella's Peter Chang, 11424 W. Broad St., 364-1688; Stella's, 1012 Lafayette St., 358-2011 Peter Chang continues his splash in Short Pump. Andrew Zimmern of Bizarre Foods America recently filmed the chef's prowess with chili peppers, and Travel and Leisure magazine named it one of the Best Chinese Restaurants in America. In the Near West End, Stella Dikos, the Greek mastermind of Stella's, grabbed the attention of the Southern Foodways Alliance. Catch the video: tinyurl.com/n33e84p 2. (Tie) Acacia mid-town; Toast 3. (Tie) Lehja; Portico Most Underrated Restaurant Bacchus 2 N. Meadow St., 355-9919 Chris DiLauro, chef and co-owner since Bacchus opened in 1999, attributes the restaurant's success to staffers who have been with him a long time and to the fact that they all love to cook. Consistency is the hallmark here. "People come in once a week to eat my scampi, to eat my veal scallopini with brown butter and artichokes," DiLauro says. "We do them and do them well, and people want to see them on the menu." 2. (Tie) The Magpie; Toast 3. Garnett's Café Best Downtown Restaurant Tarrant's Café 1 W. Broad St., 225-0035 From the marble-topped soda fountain bar to the old pharmacy artifacts on the walls, this former drugstore-turned-restaurant has some of the best fried green tomatoes and fish tacos in town. Tarrant's fits the bill for both history lovers and lovers of comfort food, whether it's brunch, lunch or dinner. 2. Comfort 3. (Tie) Julep's New Southern Cuisine; The Tobacco Company Restaurant Restaurant With Best Gluten-Free Menu Selba 2416 W. Cary St., 358-2229 The locavore restaurant takes gluten-free cooking seriously, going as far as using separate cooking utensils and fryers for foods with and without gluten. "Its not just a marketing thing," general manager Todd Boyd says of the restaurant that has three separate menus — comprehensive, gluten-free and vegan. 2. Toast 3. (Tie) Lehja India Delicious; The Mill on MacArthur Best Food Cart Boka Truck 928-2652 The Boka Truck is staked out on the corner of South Ninth and East Cary streets every day, but you can also find it at Richmond's food truck courts. Popular dishes include The Gauntlet, a trifecta of Mexican chicken, American pork and Asian beef. Crowd pleasers are also the shrimp and grits, pork belly, and fish tacos. "If I took any of those items off the menu, I'd be chased down the street with a pitchfork," says owner Patrick Harris. 2. Christopher's RunAway Gourmay 3. Pizza Tonight Best Takeout 8 1/2 401 Strawberry St., 358-8505 What's the secret to the sauce? Head chef Lawrence DiJoseph says that's a recipe he'll take to his grave. "We're busier than ever," he offers, adding that he attributes the Italian takeout restaurant's success partially to their central location in the Fan. "It's a symbiotic relationship with the neighborhood." 2. Sticky Rice RVA 3. Mekong Restaurant Best Breakfast Joe's Inn 205 N. Shields Ave., 355-2282 Breakfast for dinner? It can happen at Joe's Inn — and it's what makes Joe's one of the best breakfast joints in town. "People come in and order spaghetti at 8 a.m.," says manager Katie Price, "and people want steak and eggs at midnight on a Friday." For $7.95 fill yourself up with The Big Breakfast (two heaping plates of food) and wash it all down with a $2.75 bloody Mary. 2. McLeans Restaurant 3. Millie's Diner Best Restaurant for a Lunch Meeting Can Can Brasserie 3120 W. Cary St., 358-7274 Can Can's location makes it ideal for business meetings over lunch. "It's centralized, easy to find, and a lot of people can identify Carytown," says manager Sarah Gray. The servers are attentive yet unobtrusive, and there are sections of the restaurant where you can tuck yourself away. The prix fixe menu is popular, and "there's really something for everyone," Gray assures. 2. Mekong Restaurant 3. Café Caturra Best-Bang-for-Your-Buck Happy Hour Joe's Inn 205 N. Shields Ave., 355-2282 Drink specials at Joe's Inn were such a hit that management had to cut back happy hour from 3 to 7 p.m. to a 6 p.m. ending in order to maintain their family-friendly atmosphere. The deals ($3 for house wine and $2 for rails) keep regulars coming back along with their list of 20 beers on tap for just $2.50. 2. The Tobacco Company 3. VMFA's Best Café Best Happy Hour for Grown-Ups Lemaire 101 W. Franklin St., 649-4629 The refined happy hour-goer frequents Lemaire. "You can come in, you can relax," says event coordinator Melissa Warner. "You aren't fighting for the bar." Three appetizers for $20, daily drink specials, and an updated wine and beer list keep people coming back, too. "You are in The Jefferson [Hotel], and you have that nice ambiance of old-school Richmond." Yeah, that's pretty nice, too. 2. The Boathouse 3. Can Can Brasserie Best Bar Food Sidewalk Café 2101 W. Main St., 358-0645 Some customers at Sidewalk Café stick to a strict liquid diet (even on Sunday mornings); others come in for the food. From Greek to Italian, soups and salads to seafood, brunch to dinner, the Sidewalk Café has it all. 2. Three Monkeys Bar and Grill 3. (Tie) Capital Ale House, The Continental Westhampton, F.W. Sullivan's Fan Bar & Grill, Gus' Bar & Grill Best Local Beer Selection Mekong Restaurant 6004 W. Broad St., 288-8929 What started 18 years ago as a Vietnamese restaurant serving beer has morphed into a beer restaurant serving Vietnamese food. Chief Beer Officer An Bui can often be found behind the bar, cheerfully pouring one of Mekong's more than 200 craft brews and sharing his passion for beer. Got a question for An? As the restaurant's motto states, "Beer is the answer." 2. Capital Ale House 3. Legend Brewing Co. Best Outdoor Dining The Boathouse 4708 E. Old Main St., 622-2628; 4602 Millridge Parkway, 744-2545 "People hang out on the patio, have a few cocktails and watch the sun set," says manager Zach Deaver. From the Rocketts Landing location, diners get a glimpse of the skyline and James River, while the Midlothian location overlooks the Swift Creek Reservoir. Both outdoor spaces have a bar with a daily happy hour that just sweetens the deal. 2. Legend Brewing Co. 3. Portico Restaurant & Bar Best Place to Have an Intimate Dinner The Melting Pot 9704 Gayton Road, 741-3120 Whether you're with your dream date or on a ladies night out with your best girlfriends, sharing the fondue pot at The Melting Pot in Gayton Crossing Shopping Center is a communal hit. Come here when you want a leisurely paced dinner and order The Big Night Out, which includes a cheese course, a main course, a dessert fondue and a salad. 2. Julep's New Southern Cuisine 3. Acacia mid-town Best Food Event Broad Appétit In six years, Broad Appétit has grown from 7,500 attendees to attracting a crowd of nearly 35,000 people. This past June, the food festival had 60 local restaurants serving up their signature dishes for $3 per plate. "It's a big ol' foodie heaven," says Tracey Leverty with Echelon Event Management. "It's a great way for people to get a real taste of what Richmond is." 2. Greek Festival 3. Food truck courts Best Baristas Lamplighter Roasting Co. 116. S. Addison St., 728-2292; 1719 Summit Ave., 447-2648 Lamplighter baristas must be meticulous and coffee aficionados. "Our baristas really care about what they are doing and really have a passion," says co-owner Noelle Archibald. Lamplighter's espresso bartenders go through rigorous training for drink preparation as well as education on coffee's origins and regions. And now Lamplighter is offering barista classes to Richmonders at their new Scott's Addition locale. 2. Crossroads Coffee and Ice Cream 3. Black Hand Coffee Co. Most Charismatic Chef or Restaurant Owner An Bui, Mekong Restaurant 6004 W. Broad St., 288-8929 Bui laughs boisterously when told he was voted No. 1 in a category that includes the word chef. "I never cook," the restaurant owner clarifies. "I prefer to be called Chief Beer Officer." In September, the Vietnamese restaurant was awarded first place in Craftbeer.com's inaugural "Great American Beer Bar" contest. 2. Jason Alley, Comfort and Pasture 3. Manny Mendez, Kuba Kuba Best Restaurant Service (Tie) Acacia mid-town ; Lemaire Acacia mid-town, 2601 W. Cary St., 562-0138; Lemaire, 101 W. Franklin St., 649-4629 A newly minted patio is meant to entice passersby into Lemaire. "Richmond loves dining outdoors," general manager Greg McGehee says of the patio that was added in July 2012. At Acacia, the vibe is upscale, not necessarily fine dining. "We offer all the finer points of service in a more approachable manner," says co-owner Aline Reitzer. 2. Lehja India Delicious 3. (Tie) Can Can Brasserie; Heritage Best Local Chocolatier Gearhart's Fine Chocolates 306 Libbie Ave., 282-1822 Earlier this summer, the Charlottesville-based chocolatier launched a Barboursville wine ganache made with the vineyard's cabernet franc. "Our goal is to pair with other local wineries and even breweries," owner Tim Gearhart says. The Barboursville chocolate includes plum preserves to complement the wine's fruity flavor. 2. Chocolates by Kelly 3. De Rochonnet Delights Best Restaurant to Take a Visiting Friend The Boathouse at Rocketts Landing 4708 Old Main St., 622-2628 Catch the sunset over Richmond's iconic skyline on the dining destination's elegant patio. The restaurant's location along the banks of the James River makes it a perfect perch. 2. Stella's 3. Can Can Brasserie Best Latin-American Restaurant Kuba Kuba 1601 Park Ave., 355-8817 Initially, Cuban-born partner Manny Mendez had envisioned the former lunch-counter drugstore at Park and Lombardy as a neighborhood bodega that sold groceries and to-go food. Fifteen years later, "It's become quite an institution, and I'm proud of it." Regulars love the Spanish-style omelets, paella and Cuban sandwiches. "One of my favorite dishes," Mendez says, "is picadillo [Cuban beef hash] and rice with two eggs on top." 2. Kenn Tico Cuban Bar & Grill 3. Chicken Fiesta Best Middle Eastern Restaurant The Phoenician 4401 W. Broad St., 359-5590 When Naji Kadi decided nearly six years ago to convert his Mexican restaurant into one that reflected his Lebanese heritage, he vowed "to make the menu exactly the way you'd find it in a restaurant in Lebanon." Tabbouleh salad, for example, is kept simple: vegetables, salt and olive oil. Kadi says the restaurant is a tribute to his late sister, Leila Kadi, who ran the Grapeleaf restaurant in the Village Shopping Center. 2. (Tie) Aziza's on Main; Döner Kebab 3. (Tie) Cous Cous (closed); Stella's Best Thai Restaurant Thai Diner 8059 W. Broad St., 270-2699 For 19 years, owners Mac and Rachel Hong-charti have been serving authentic Thai dishes such as pad prik poa, a stir-fry with the meat of your choice accompanied by basil, onions, mushrooms, green onions and house-made chili paste. Sara Sritevarit, a manager and host at the restaurant, notes that complexity is a distinguishing feature of Thai cuisine, with flavors varying based on "the way you put the ingredients in the pot." 2. Mom's Siam Restaurant 3. Ginger Thai Taste Best French Restaurant Can Can Brasserie 3120 W. Cary St., 358-7274 On a sweltering weekday, chef/owner Chris Ripp observes that the lively scene in his restaurant, even in the mid-afternoon, fulfills his vision of a place where people feel comfortable stopping in any time of the day. And while French food has a reputation for being rather heavy and sauce-driven, Can Can's interpretation is lighter, highlighting seasonal vegetables and varying the wine used in braising. 2. Bistro Bobette 3. Chez Max Restaurant Best Mexican Restaurant Plaza Azteca It's been an invasion of sorts, with five locations opening around Richmond within three years. Founded by two natives of Jalisco, Mexico, this Hampton Roads-based company has been enticing diners with its signature guacamole, made table-side. Manager José Hernandez also recommends the Molcajete Azteca, a mix of steak, chicken, shrimp and pineapple. 2. Mexico Restaurant 3. Casa Grande Mexican Restaurant Best Chinese Restaurant Peter Chang China Café 11424 W. Broad St., 364-1688 The lines haven't stopped since once-elusive Sichuan chef Peter Chang set up shop in Short Pump. To minimize your wait, Chang's business partner, Gen Lee, suggests coming in before 6 p.m. or after 8. "Our mission is, we want everybody to taste our food," he says. Richmonders return again and again for Chang specialties like dry-fried eggplant, cilantro fish rolls and bubble pancakes. 2. Yen Ching Dining 3. Peking Restaurant Best Indian Restaurant Anokha 4015 Lauderdale Drive, 360-8686 Ownership partners Jaswinder Singh and Charanjeet Ghotra are celebrating Anokha's fourth year in Short Pump. While the ever-popular chicken tikka masala remains on the menu, chef and part-owner Moninder Pal Singh, also works in new dishes like konkani crabmeat curry (crabmeat simmered in coconut-curry leaf sauce). Anokha also prides itself on cuisine-tailored cocktails. 2. Lehja India Delicious 3. India K'Raja Best Italian Restaurant Edo's Squid 411 N. Harrison St., 864-5488 Co-owner Brad Wein, also a partner in Dinamo, says he thinks of Edo's Squid as a seafood restaurant. "It's an everyday kind of place," he says. "Not too pretentious, not too fancy." Monkfish, for instance, is roasted in the oven with olive oil. "We don't go too heavy on anything else," Wein says. The squid with white beans is a customer favorite. "You see that on a lot of tables." 2. Mamma 'Zu 3. La Grotta Most Creative Menu The Blue Goat 5710 Grove Ave., 288-8875 When Blue Goat opened in July 2011, chef Kevin LaCivita went whole hog on promoting a nose-to-tail concept. No BLT sandwiches here for lunch, but there was braised goat on a baguette. LaCivita's menus change seasonally, and his newest way to serve his beloved goat: pierogies filled with braised goat and topped with peach-rhubarb preserve. (At press time, LaCivita announced he was leaving and opening another restaurant.) 2. (Tie) The Magpie; The Roosevelt 3. (Tie) The Black Sheep; Heritage Best Vietnamese Restaurant Mekong Restaurant 6004 W. Broad St., 288-8929 Though Mekong is increasingly known for its vast selection of beer, plenty of people still come for Vietnamese favorites like the tom hoa tien (rocket shrimp) appetizer and various noodle bowl combinations. An Bui, an owner and "chief beer officer" at the restaurant, says his favorite dish is the grilled pork chop with broken rice and egg. For its 18th anniversary year, Mekong is updating its look with new tables, booths and décor. 2. Pho So 1 3. Vietnam 1 Best Bakery Westhampton Pastry Shop 5728 Patterson Ave., 282-4413 The bakery has been in Guy "Boots" Rogers' family since 1976. "Everything he's done in his entire life is baking, since 16," says Boots' wife, Diana. "This is his passion and his profession." Westhampton's bakers make breads, rolls, coffee cakes, pies and tarts, cookies, cakes, danishes, donuts, and cakes for any occasion. "We have a pretty wide variety of stuff," says Diana. 2. Jean-Jacques Bakery 3. Shyndigz Best Seafood Restaurant The Hard Shell 1411 E. Cary St., 643-2333; 11400 W. Huguenot Road, 464-1476 While both locations offer favorites like crab cakes, lobster tails and raw oysters, extra space in the Shoppes at Bellgrade site has allowed The Hard Shell to bring back the Lawrence Olds Quartet. The group, which used to play at the downtown restaurant, performs on Saturday nights. "In Bellgrade, the bar area is separate," says Richmond Restaurant Group partner Jared Golden. "You can have a lively bar crowd without it affecting the diners." 2. Rappahannock Restaurant 3. The Boathouse Best Late-Night Menu Galaxy Diner 3109 W. Cary St., 213-0510 Galaxy Diner's late-night scene includes a full bar and breakfast for dinner. The Trailer Park Pancakes (peanut-butter French toast), fried pickles and milkshakes keep people coming back. So do the $1.50 PBRs. "We have been accused of being kind of hipster," owner Michael Pace says, and laughs. 2. Third Street Diner 3. Uptown Market & Deli Best Small Plate or Tapas Menu Europa Italian Café & Tapas Bar 1409 E. Cary St., 643-0911 Executive chef Troy Dewees (formerly at Comfort) has been at Europa for only a few months but has already made his mark. "I would say it's the tapas and consistency," says Dewees of what keeps customers coming back. And with around 30 tapas from $5 to $15 per plate, customers have plenty to choose from, too. 2. Pasture 3. Emilio's Best Vegetarian Menu Ipanema Café 917 W. Grace St., 213-0190 Avowed meat lovers often change their minds about vegetarian cuisine after enjoying one of Ipanema Chef Will Wienckowski's creations, such as meatless Jamaican curry or the revelatory BBQ jackfruit sandwich. Owner Kendra Feather says the restaurant recently added a "steal-this-wine" list, offering $30 wines that may cost double at other restaurants. "We are trying to promote the idea that vegetarian fare can be just as festive as a fine-dining meal." 2. Fresca on Addison 3. 821 Café Best Brunch Millie's Diner 2603 E. Main St., 643-5512 Mille's most popular dish, the Devil's Mess, an Indian open-faced omelet, is inspired by co-owner Paul Keevil's childhood in England, eating traditional Indian food. "It's very rare that a person has a bad experience [here]," says Keevil. "We don't let that happen." Customers attest that the food and atmosphere is top-notch — on weekend mornings, you can't help but notice the long line snaking down the sidewalk. 2. The Jefferson Hotel 3. Can Can Brasserie Best Spinoff Restaurant Mint Gastropub 2501 W. Main St., 359-9690 Amy Ayers, who also owns Julep's, came full circle when she purchased the former Davis and Main restaurant and turned it into Mint. She used to be a waitress at Davis and Main during college at VCU. Opening Mint New Casual Cuisine in March 2012, she brought in a new partner this spring, Malcolm Mitchell, who recently appeared on Food Network Star. In July, Mint Gastropub unveiled its menu. Try the sweet potato grits. 2. Pasture 3. (Tie) EAT by Pescado's china street; C&M Galley Kitchen Best Lunch Hot Bar Ellwood Thompson's Local Market 4 N. Thompson St., 359-7525 "My hat's off to them every day for producing such wonderful food," says Ellwood Thompson's executive chef Michael Grayson of the kitchen staff preparing the selections that make up its famous hot bar. The rotating 30-plus dishes (raw food, soups, vegan dishes, meat and seafood) also include cuisine from local restaurants Malabar and The Nile. 2. Whole Foods Market 3. Kroger Best Butcher Belmont Butchery 15 N Belmont Ave., 422-8519 Belmont Butchery opened in 2006, the same year Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma was published and just before the release of Food Inc. "In the last seven years, our customers' food knowledge has dramatically changed," says owner and head butcher Tanya Cauthen. "Consumers demand better food quality and transparency of where their food comes from, and that completely matches our philosophy." 2. The Butcher at Bon Air 3. Fresh Market Best Grocery Store Kroger Visit kroger.com for locations. Kroger entered the Richmond market in 2000, when Ukrop's reigned supreme. Now, with the local chain no longer on the scene, Kroger takes the top spot. "Kroger believes that customers are looking for friendly service, lower prices on food and fuel, clean stores, quality products, local options — and they want to get in and out of the store quickly to get home to their daily lives," says Carl York, spokesman for Kroger's mid-Atlantic division. 2. Whole Foods Market 3. Fresh Market Best Organic Produce Section Whole Foods Market 11173 W. Broad St., 364-4050 Not only does Whole Foods sells nearly 200 varieties of organic produce, but the store also knows exactly where it's coming from, thanks to its relationship with its growers, many of whom are local. Linda Thomas, marketing team leader, says the store's prices on organics are competitive and urges shoppers to look out for the store's sales. At a recent one-day sale on organic blueberries, "people were coming out of the woodwork," she says. 2. Ellwood Thompson's Local Market 3. Fresh Market Best Farmers Market Vendor Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen (540) 395-5213 On a typical Saturday at the South of the James Market, owners Jay and Judy Yoder serve nearly 2,000 from-scratch doughnuts out of their 16-foot food truck to a very long line of customers. "The line is just unbelievable," says Jay. The sourdough and glaze (a family recipe) keeps them coming back for dozens more. 2. Agriberry 3. Amy's Garden
