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5:23 a.m. Time to make the doughnuts. Ash Daniel photo
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Tina Kafantaris along with her son, Eli, holds her childhood photo at Joe’s Inn. In the picture with her is her sister Maria. Sarah Walor photo
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Katie Brown photo
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James Dickinson photo
Best Restaurant Dish in Richmond:
Crab cakes at Acacia Mid-town
2601 W. Cary St., 562-0138
Owner Dale Reitzer is a master chef, as his James Beard Award nominations can attest. What makes his crab cakes so delectable? Simplicity. Backfin crab meat, a smattering of Old Bay, a dollop of Duke's mayonnaise, an egg and a few breadcrumbs are transformed via frying pan into golden patties of goodness.
2. Spaghetti at Joe's Inn
3. (Tie) Short ribs and grits at Mezzanine; Devil's Mess at Millie's
Best Vegetarian Options at a Nonvegetarian Restaurant:
Cous Cous
900 W. Franklin St., 358-0868
The backbone of Cous Cous' menu is vegetarian-friendly Middle Eastern cuisine. Owner Alex Copeland says, "Being the first restaurant in the area to serve traditional Moroccan fare could have something to do with [our win]. We prepare dishes using traditional Moroccan spices that can add flavors that may not be available at other eateries."
2. 821 Café
3. Comfort
Best Nonchain Asian Restaurant:
Mekong
6004 W. Broad St., 288-8929
Mekong, one of Richmond's Vietnamese restaurants, has now beaten all other Asian countries as well. After opening in 1995 on Broad Street, the restaurant has found a strong following. But An Bui, the restaurant's co-owner and chief beer officer, attributes its success, of course, to its international beer offerings. "I tell everybody that beer is the answer," he says. "We have 17 beers on tap and 200 in bottles."
2. Thai Diner/Thai Diner Too
3. Da Lat
Best Nonchain Doughnuts:
Country Style Doughnuts
4300 Williamsburg Road, 222-2466
Co-owner Wafaa Nassareddine is up at 3 a.m. six days a week to ice, sprinkle and glaze the 32 varieties of doughnuts sold at her eastern Henrico bakery. "It's tiring," she says with a laugh. "But it's something I have to do." The shop sells about 50 dozen sweet treats every day.
2. Daylight Donuts
3. Westhampton Pastry Shop
Best Nonchain Burger:
Carytown Burgers & Fries
3500 1/2 W. Cary St., 358-5225
The most recent addition to this burger joint's extensive menu is called The Flying Squirrel. The beef burger is topped with peanut butter, bacon and cheddar cheese. Although Carytown doesn't serve a squirrel patty — good news for Nutzy — you can ask for his namesake sandwich on a Boca, garden, black-bean or turkey burger.
2. (Tie) Can Can Brasserie;Capital Ale House
3. Dot's Back Inn
Best Sandwich at a Nonchain Restaurant:
Battleships at The Black Sheep
901 W. Marshall St., 648-1300
Chef and co-owner Kevin Roberts didn't know a lot about Civil War history before opening The Black Sheep, but after creating a sandwich menu that pays tribute to maritime battles, he's become a bit of a buff. "Each sub has some sort of semblance with the name, ingredients and where the ship was stationed," Roberts says.
2. Coppola's Deli
3. Chiocca's
Best Nonchain French Fries:
Can Can Brasserie
3120 W. Cary St., 358-7274
It takes four days to properly cut, soak and blanch these pommes frites, but once they're fried in peanut oil and sprinkled with kosher salt, they'll be on the table in minutes in Can Can's signature cone. "Our philosophy is out of the fryer and straight to the table," says head chef and owner Chris Ripp.
2. Kitchen 64
3. Carytown Burgers & Fries
In-Town Chef Who Belongs on Top Chef:
Hamilton Goss of The Commonwealth Club
401 W. Franklin St., 648-6543
Hamilton Goss is very familiar with the Bravo cooking show. In fact, he worked with last year's winner, Michael Voltaggio, at the Greenbrier Resort, and with one of the top pastry chefs from Top Chef: Just Desserts. "It'd be great [to be on Top Chef]," Goss says. "But it'd be hard to get away for three months."
2. Sean Murphy, F.W. Sullivan's Fan Bar & Grille
3. Dale Reitzer, Acacia Mid-town
Best Veggie Burger at a Restaurant:
Capital Ale House
623 E. Main St.; 4024-A Cox Road, Glen Allen; 13831 Village Place Drive, Midlothian, 780-2537
The black-bean burger is made from scratch at the Capital Ale House kitchen, and President Matt Simmons says it's popular even among carnivores. It's got some kick, so Simmons recommends pairing it with an IPA. Get it on Monday nights as part of $2 burger nights.
2. Carytown Burgers & Fries
3. Joe's Inn
Best Nonchain Family-Friendly Dining:
Joe's Inn
205 N. Shields Ave., 355-2282; 2616 Buford Road, 320-9700
Lots of Richmonders grew up going to Joe's Inn with their families, but Tina Kafantaris actually grew up in the restaurant. "It was a wealth of fascinating people," she says. "I have a child that's the same age as I was when my father acquired the restaurant, and it's been wonderful to see the same experience replicated [for] him."
2. Kitchen 64
3. (Tie) Mexico Restaurant; Strawberry Street Café
Best Selection of Virginia Wines:
Total Wine & More
8099 W. Broad St., 935-7750; 10036 Robious Road, 323-5866
Maryland-based Total Wine has 14 Virginia locations, including two in Richmond, and it recently expanded west into California and Arizona. The Richmond branches carry about 18 varieties of wine from a few dozen Virginia wineries. "Virginia produces some of the best Cabernet Franc and Viognier in the nation," says Wine Manager Ken Lukhard.
2. Kroger
Best Barbecue Chicken:
Buz & Ned's Real BBQ
1119 N. Boulevard, 355-6055
After more than a decade on the Boulevard, Richmond's barbecue authority is expanding westward. The second location, in the former Fuddrucker's building at Broad and Parham, will open in the early fall, says owner Bruce "Buz" Grossberg.
2. Q Barbeque
3. Famous Dave's
Best Beer Selection:
Capital Ale House
623 E. Main St.; 4024-A Cox Road, Glen Allen; 13831 Village Place Drive, Midlothian, 780-2537
Capital Ale President Matt Simmons says he was disappointed that the World Beer Festival canceled its Richmond show in June, but, he jokes, "we like to tell people every day is a beer festival at Capital Ale House." The restaurant carries about 400 draft and bottled brews from around the world, including 30 from Virginia.
2. Mekong
3. Legend Brewing Co.
Best Vegetarian Restaurant:
Ipanema Café
917 W. Grace St., 213-0190
Chef Will Wienckowski has added some tasty new items to Ipanema's menu. Take, for example, the tempura-fried squash blossoms served with a tomatillo salsa on handmade tortillas. Need to satisfy your vegan sweet tooth? Ipanema also specializes in vegan cakes, pies, crème brûlée and cheesecakes.
2. Fresca
3. Panda Veg/Garden
Best Spring Rolls:
Mekong
6004 W. Broad St., 288-8929
The most popular spring roll at Mekong consists of a hot, crispy lumpia wrapper tightly packed with pork, glass noodles, mushroom ears, carrots and cabbage. There are some secret ingredients, however, says co-owner An Bui. "My sister [Truyen Tran] does the seasonings, but she never tells me what she puts in them."
2. P.F. Chang's China Bistro
3. (Tie) Da Lat; Pho So 1
Best Farmers Market:
South of the James Market
Forest Hill Park (New Kent Road and West 42nd Street), sojmarket.com
A cross between an open-air grocery and a street fair, with crafts and prepared food and drinks, the South of the James Market attracts big crowds on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon. With more than 100 vendors, there's plenty to choose from. Among our favorites: Alfredo's Beehive, Pizza Tonight, Bombolini Pasta and Victory Farms.
2. 17th Street Farmers' Market
3. (Tie) Lakeside Farmers' Market; Tom Leonard's Farmer's Market
Most Creative Cocktail Menu:
Balliceaux
203 N. Lombardy St., 355-3008
Bartender Sean Rapoza likes to sneak inside jokes with his girlfriend into drink names on Balliceaux's signature cocktail menu. "The Phoenix Afternoon [made with Sauza Hornitos Tequila, Aperol aperitif, rosemary syrup, lime juice and club soda] is for her," Rapoza says, "because one of her favorite songs is ‘Days of the Phoenix' by AFI."
2. Julep's
3. Acacia Mid-town
Local Food Item With the Best Shot to Become Trendier Than Cupcakes:
Cake pops
The cute little desserts have garnered quite a following in Richmond. Cake pops — crumbled cake that's been mixed with frosting, rolled into a ball, stuck on a stick and dipped in a sweet candy coating — are sold at bakeries and coffee shops across the city, including Richmond's cake-pop-centric bakery, Candy Valley Cake Co. ( 381-1785 or candyvalleycakecompany.com ).
2. Frozen yogurt
3. Tacos
Best Mojito:
Havana '59
16 N. 17th St., 780-2822
The traditional Cuban highball is made with the freshest ingredients, says General Manager Mark Perkinson, "and served with a big, thick straw, so you can drink lots of them," he adds, laughing. "We've had nights [when we've sold] in excess of 600," Perkinson says. "Typically the hotter it is, the more we sell."
2. Julep's
3. 3 Monkeys
Saddest Restaurant Closing:
The White Dog
After closing The White Dog in June 2010, Barry Pruitt returned to his first passion — acting. A New York actor for more than 10 years before moving to Richmond in 1987, Pruitt appeared in Barksdale Theatre's production of White Christmas, and this summer he was in Wait Until Dark at Swift Creek Mill Theatre.
2. Philip's Continental Lounge
3. The Smokey Pig Restaurant
Best Pulled-Pork Sandwich:
Buz & Ned's Real BBQ
1119 N. Boulevard, 355-6055
The six-step process in the preparation of Buz & Ned's pulled-pork sandwich lasts 12 hours. "So it takes on a deep, woody, smoky characteristic," owner Bruce "Buz" Grossberg says, "and it gets very soft and tender at the same time."
2. Q Barbeque
3. Bill's Barbecue
Best Pho:
Mekong
6004 W. Broad St., 288-8929
Co-owner An Bui thinks the secret behind Mekong's fantastic pho (pronounced fuh) isn't actually in the rice-noodle soup itself. "The reason we won is that it goes well with craft beers," Bui suggests. "Most pho places don't have IPA, Belgian Blonde [ale] and Saison."
2. Pho So 1
3. Vietnam 1
Best Cheese Steak:
Mojo's Philadeli
733 W. Cary St., 644-6676
The 11 varieties of cheese steak at Mojo's Philadeli are served on 10-inch or 7-inch amoroso hoagie rolls with grilled shaved rib-eye or chicken. American, Swiss or provolone cheeses or Cheese Whiz are melted throughout, "so the meat is all creamy and covered with cheese," says owner Chip Zimmerman.
2. F.W. Sullivan's Fan Bar & Grille
3. Penn Station
Best Restaurant Ribs:
Buz & Ned's Real BBQ
1119 N. Boulevard, 355-6055
Buz & Ned's uses a 100 percent wood-cooked process to create its always popular barbecued ribs. "It's the real McCoy," owner Bruce "Buz" Grossberg says. The authenticity pays off. When asked how many awards the restaurant has received in almost 20 years of operation, Grossberg says at this point, he's lost count.
2. Q Barbeque
3. Extra Billy's Barbecue
Best Restaurant Overall in the Richmond Region:
Acacia Mid-town
2601 W. Cary St., 562-0138
Step into the 100-plus-seat restaurant at Cary and Robinson, and you might forget you're in Central Virginia. The sleek dining room, bathed in a subtle glow from Acacia's bustling kitchen, emulates a trendy SoHo dining destination. But owner Dale Reitzer sees room for improvement. "We're still fine-tuning the restaurant," he says.
2. Comfort
3. Millie's Diner
Best Place to Get Your Candy Fix:
For the Love of Chocolate
3136 W. Cary St., 359-5645
Sweet-tooth cravings and months to go before you start your next diet? We have just the place for you. For the Love of Chocolate carries more than 25,000 different varieties of sweets throughout the year that can satisfy even your biggest cravings. From Belgian chocolates to your favorite mixtures from the store's more than 500 different bulk bins, there's something for everyone. In the words of Mr. Willy Wonka, "If you want to view paradise, simply look around and view it."
2. Sweet Spot
3. The Fresh Market
Restaurant That's So Loud No One Will Notice Your Screaming Child:
Edo's Squid
411 N. Harrison St., 864-5488
Restaurant reviewer Piet E. Jones says Edo's is "great for parents who would otherwise have to flee a restaurant due to a fussy child and great for other diners who won't notice the meltdown." Food writer Matt Sadler says when he visited with his baby, "he was screaming the whole time, and nobody noticed except us."
2. Red Robin
3. T.G.I. Friday's
Best Indian Restaurant:
Lehja
Short Pump Town Center, 364-1111
Lehja's goal, says executive chef Mel Oza, is to be one of the region's best restaurants. Period. In the next few months, he and managing partner Sandeep "Sunny" Baweja plan to offer multicourse prix-fixe menus, enhanced by Lehja's impressive wine list. "There's so much diversity with Indian food that has not been tapped," Oza says.
2. India K'Raja
3. Anokha
Best Greek Restaurant:
The Crazy Greek
1903 Staples Mill Road, 355-3786; 11500 Busy St., 379-8941; (opening this fall) Hancock Village Shopping Center
The Crazy Greek's expansion after 36 years in business coincides with the growth of the owners' families, as well as a climate of lowered rent and construction costs, says manager Peter Athanasiou. A longstanding customer favorite is the Greek salad. "Everybody loves it," he says, noting that the dressing recipe came from the restaurant's original owner, Greg Panos.
2. Zorba's
3. Basilis
Best Dining Destination for Carnivores:
Texas de Brazil
1420 N. Parham Road, 750-2003
It's a meat lover's dream: Carvers approach your table with swords bearing juicy cuts of beef, chicken, lamb, pork and sausage — the meat is coated with rock salt, then roasted over an open fire — and they keep coming until you say stop. "We typically grill our meats to medium-rare, but we can grill any way the customers like," says Caroline Oliveira, general manager of the Henrico location.
2. Ruth's Chris Steak House
3. Buz and Ned's Real Barbecue
Best Dining Destination for Seafood Lovers:
The Hard Shell
1411 E. Cary St., 643-2333
A go-to spot for seafood for 16 years, The Hard Shell is branching out with a South Side location, set to open in September in the Shoppes at Bellgrade. Richmond Restaurant Group partner Jared Golden says the new place will resemble the original, down to the artwork by Richard Patterson, who painted the old-fashioned ads on the brick walls downtown.
2. Pescados
3. The Boathouse
Best Before-Theater Dinner:
Kitchen 64
3336 N. Boulevard, 358-0064
So you'd rather eat before the show or game? Kitchen 64's menu is available all day, and it offers something for everyone. "You can have a nice fish dinner, and your kid can have a hot dog," says partner Ernest von Ofenheim. On baseball days, employees wear Squirrels T-shirts (the team's owners, staff and players are regulars).
2. CinéBistro
3. (Tie) Acacia Mid-town; Can Can Brasserie; Stronghill Dining Co.; Tarrant's Café
Best Bar With a View:
The Boathouse
Rocketts Landing: 4708 E. Old Main St., 622-2628; Sunday Park: 4602 Millridge Parkway, 744-2545
These two locations are so scenic that they often host weddings and private parties, so why not enjoy the beautiful view while out for a drink? The Sunday Park location overlooks the Swift Creek Reservoir's 1,700 acres and boasts one of the best sunset views in Richmond at its outdoor cabana-style bar, the Shrimp Shack. The Rocketts Landing location also offers a full-service outdoor bar overlooking the city skyline and the James River.
2. Legend Brewing Co.
3. Conch Republic
Best Menu for Dining on a Diet:
Applebee's
Visit applebees.com for locations.
Ordering from Applebee's five-item Under 550 Calories menu doesn't mean you'll be hungry afterward. "It's a lot of food," says area director Bill Rodgers. "It will fill you up." His favorite? The Signature Sirloin with Garlic Herb Shrimp. The restaurant chain also offers three "SkinnyBee" cocktails and five Weight Watchers-endorsed dishes.
2. (Tie) Panera Bread; Sprout
3. Mosaic Café & Catering
Best After-Theater Dinner:
Kitchen 64
3336 N. Boulevard, 358-0064
With Movieland and The Diamond close by, Kitchen 64 makes a convenient post-show or -game stop. Restaurant partner Ernest von Ofenheim says the full menu is available until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and its large tables mean "you can go with a group of people and not worry about whether you can be seated."
2. Can Can Brasserie
3. New York Deli
Best Grocery-Store Wine Selection:
Kroger
Visit kroger.com for locations.
The wine consultants on hand at nine of Kroger's 16 local stores can help customers select from 1,200 or more bottles in stock. And at the new Short Pump store, shoppers can taste (or order a glass of) one of 24 wines dispensed from coolers. Kroger spokeswoman Anne Jenkins says the remodeled Carytown store also will have a temperature-controlled wall for fine wines and highly rated varieties that sell for $20 or less.
2. Whole Foods Market
3. Trader Joe's
Best Bar for Grown-Ups:
Can Can Brasserie
3120 W. Cary St., 358-7274
At Can Can, mixologist Ashleigh Hobson creates cocktails and syrups from scratch behind the striking 50-foot-long zinc bar, using seasonal ingredients. The drink menu is updated at least monthly; a recent sample is the Amarante (with Hangar 1 mandarin-blossom vodka, strawberry-infused Dubonnet Blanc, Aperol, Fee Brothers rhubarb bitters and a splash of lemon juice).
2. Lemaire
3. Balliceaux
Best Cups of Coffee:
Lamplighter Roasting Co.
116 S. Addison St., 728-2292
When Zach Archibald and his wife, Noel, moved to Richmond several years ago, they couldn't find that cup of coffee they'd rate a "10." By chance, they met Jennifer Rawlings at their children's school, and soon the trio created Lamplighter Roasting Co. to show Richmond what it had been missing. Though they claim choosing a favorite coffee bean is like picking a favorite child, Rawlings says the most popular is probably their Organic Bali Blue Moon.
2. Crossroads Coffee & Ice Cream
3. Ellwood's Café
Best Cooking Classes:
Sur la Table
Stony Point Fashion Park, 272-7094
Sur la Table Culinary Manager Tammy Brawley, aided by staff and guest instructors, offers classes just about every day. Grilling, preserves and Moroccan fare are on the schedule for August. In September, look for classes planned around fresh produce. "I'll talk about the local farmers markets and what I picked up that morning when I shopped for the class," Brawley says.
2. Mise en Place
3. University of Richmond Center for Culinary Arts
Best Fancy Lunch Spot:
Can Can Brasserie
3120 W. Cary St., 358-7274
At Can Can, the elements of a fancy lunch include house-made bread, live orchids, specially designed cloth napkins, stemware, an all-French wine list, relaxing music, a menu that changes weekly (with a few constants such as the signature moules frites — mussels served with a side of fries), and knowledgeable, black-and-white-clad servers who adapt to the needs of the varied clientele.
2. Chez Foushee
3. Amuse
Best Casual Lunch Spot:
Café Caturra
Visit cafecaturra.com for locations.
Customers at Café Caturra have come to expect upscale food served quickly (within eight minutes of ordering is the goal). That won't change, says marketing director Melissa Kirkpatrick, but the expanding local company has brought in a new culinary director, John Csukor, to rework the menu. Two new dishes have already debuted: a fattoush salad and an apple-and-almond salad.
2. Panera Bread
3. Mosaic Café
Best New Chef in Richmond:
(Tie) Tim Bereika of Secco Wine Bar; Neil Smith of LuLu's
Secco: 2933 W. Cary St., 353-0670; LuLu's: 21 N. 17th St., 343-9771
Aside from fondue, Tim Bereika's favorite food is squash blossoms. Through at least mid-August, you can order them stuffed with house-made ricotta, fried in tempura batter and served with basil sauce. The dish exemplifies Bereika's keep-it-simple, keep-it-creative approach. Neil Smith, born in England and raised in New Zealand, focuses on what he calls global comfort food at LuLu's. "One of my favorite things at the moment is grilled lamb chops with new potatoes and peas," Smith says.
Best Dive Bar:
Sidewalk Café
2101 W. Main St., 358-0645
Sidewalk Café, which turned 21 in April, serves more-creative-than-usual bar fare, like $1.50 to $2 tacos filled with beef brisket, pork belly or lamb as well as chicken or fish. "The guys in the kitchen are great at Mexican food," says manager Ernest von Ofenheim. "They came up with wanting to do it, and we let them do it."
2. Philip's Continental Lounge
3. Poe's Pub
Best Pastry Chef:
Graham Haddock of Cakes by Graham
718 N. Cleveland St., 288-1920
To create his custom-made cakes, former British Army chef Graham Haddock draws on his baking expertise and artistic ability, as well as technical drawing, engineering and math skills. "Some people leave us artistic license — they just tell us the subject matter and the theme," he says. "Some customers have specific ideas on how they want it to look."
2. Jozef Bindas, Jean-Jacques Bakery
3. Pierre Tocco, The Desserterie
Best Pie Seller/Maker:
Williams Bakery
Williams Bakery president Ron Williams learned the art of baking from his father, Bill Williams, who learned from his father, Bert Williams. "I'm teaching my kids, so we're working on the fourth generation," he says. This year, the bakery is celebrating its 100-year history in Richmond. The top-selling pies are lemon chess — a Southern tradition — and coconut custard.
2. (Tie) Ipanema Café; Ukrop's via Martin's
3. Westhampton Pastry Shop
Best Restaurant Appetizer:
Bang Bang Shrimp at Bonefish Grill
6081 Harbour Park Drive, Midlothian, 639-2747
This treat is made up of tender, crispy shrimp tossed in a creamy, spicy sauce and served on a bed of lettuce. Managing partner Bill Sperry had few words that could describe this delectable dish. "It's just plain good," he says. This chain has been serving up seafood cooked over a wood-burning grill for the last six years in Midlothian.
2. Gator Bites at Lady N'awlins Cajun Café
3. Voodoo Shrimp at Pescados
Best Restaurant to Ignite Romance:
The Melting Pot
9704 Gayton Road, 741-3120
This West End restaurant has been heating up cheese — and hearts — for 16 years. Manager and partner Cheryl Weferling attributes the date-night haven's romantic success to its intimate atmosphere and savory dishes. "It has a lot of private seating to where you actually believe that you are the only couple in the restaurant. What we offer is something that will touch everybody's taste buds."
2. Lemaire
3. Julep's
Best 'Burbs Bar:
Capital Ale House
4024-A Cox Road, Glen Allen; 13831 Village Place Drive, Midlothian, 780-2537
With 82 beers and ales on tap at the Midlothian location and 77 at the Innsbrook location on top of 350 bottled varieties, it's no wonder that Capital Ale House was a winner in this category. President Matt Simmons said, "We're a true pub, and we promote conversation." Simmons says that the wit beers — a refreshing Belgian-style brew — tend to be their most popular.
2. Kona Grill
3. Bar Louie
Best City Bar:
Siné
1327 E. Cary St., 649-7767
Siné has transported all of its furniture and decorations directly from Ireland to offer Richmonders an authentic Irish pub. Along with 27 beers on tap, the pub offers a covered outdoor patio and a full menu of Irish and American food. One addition to the pub is its new smoker. "We use the smoker to smoke our house pork for our barbecue sandwiches," said general manager Bob McNulty. "Then we use a special rub for flavor, but I don't want to give away too much. It's our secret."
2. The Republic
3. F.W. Sullivan's
Best Regional Winery:
Barboursville Vineyards
17655 Winery Road, Barboursville, (540) 832-3824
Located about an hour away in Orange County is the scenic and historic Barboursville Vineyards. The vineyard's private label offers many options for those who love both white and red wine. General manager and senior wine maker Luca Paschina says, "It's not just about making wine, it's about preserving a historic estate and accommodating people. We have created a destination where people can enjoy wine, history, landscape and fine food [at their fine-dining restaurant, Palladio].
2. James River Cellars
3. New Kent Winery
Bakery That Does the Best Job Accommodating Dietary Restrictions:
Pearl's Cupcake Shoppe
5812 Grove Ave., 285-2253
A big, delicious cupcake isn't always accessible to all. Pearl's Cupcake Shoppe doesn't think that's very fair and does its best to ensure tasty treats for everyone. They offer sugar-free, gluten-free and vegan options in a variety of flavors. "We don't feel like people that have those type of allergies or illnesses should be restricted," says owner Laura Condrey.
2. (Tie) Frostings; Jean-Jacques Bakery
3. Ellwood Thompson's
Best Late-Night Bites:
City Dogs
1316 E. Cary St., 343-3647; 1309 W. Main St., 359-3647
City Dogs not only offers mouth-watering eats, they also want to take you on a cross-country ride. The two restaurants offer hot-dog styles from all over the country like the Chicago, the Cincinnati, the Manhattan and the Philly. But the most popular is, of course, the Richmond dog, piled with chili, mustard and onions. Both locations are open until 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and the Main Street location is open till 2 a.m. on weekdays.
2. F.W. Sullivan's Fan Bar & Grille
3. Third Street Diner
Best Weekend Brunch Menu:
Millie's Diner
2603 E. Main St., 643-5512
Back in the '80s, Paul Keevil started a diner in Los Angeles. After a quick move to Richmond, Keevil made Millie's Diner a local staple. Its brunch menu will really kick your weekend up a notch. Signature dishes include the Castro's Mess — three eggs scrambled with Cuban spiced pork, onions, black beans, tomatoes, cheddar and crispy tortilla strips. Keevil, a co-owner, describes Millie's as "like you've been invited to a private party, and when you're invited into our house we make sure you have a really good time."
2. The Jefferson Hotel
3. (Tie) The Black Sheep; Joe's Inn
Best Empanadas:
Kuba Kuba
1601 Park Ave., 355-8817
Although empanadas are popular in many Latin-American countries, Kuba Kuba offers a variety specific to, you guessed it, Cuba. The dish — called empanadillas for their smaller size — is offered with a spinach-and-ricotta filling, or with picadillo, a Cuban beef hash of ground beef, garlic, olives and raisins.
2. Emilio's
3. (Tie) Kenn-Tico; Patina Grill
Best Sweet Snack:
SweetFrog frozen yogurt
Visit sweetfrogyogurt.com for locations.
Based in Richmond — with new locations opening so fast the website can barely keep up — SweetFrog lets customers fill their own cups with as many flavors and toppings as they want. The price is based on weight. And with nonfat or lowfat yogurt, and fresh fruit and nuts as topping options, it won't blow your diet.
2. Bev's Ice Cream
3. Pearl's Cupcake Shoppe
Best New Restaurant:
Pescados China Street
626 China St., 644-3474
With a successful Midlothian location open for nine years, owner Todd Manley, after partnering with Bob Windsor, decided to open another Pescados location in Oregon Hill. The restaurant's emphasis is on fresh food from local farms with a Latin/Caribbean spin. One of the most popular dishes is the Voodoo Shrimp, a combination of wild-caught shrimp, allspice, rum, chorizo, banana, soft-fried egg and habañero peppers.
2. The Mill on MacArthur
3. Lady N'Awlins Cajun Café
Best Brick-Oven Pizza:
Stuzzi
1 North Belmont Ave., 308-3294
Being labeled authentic by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (VPN) puts Stuzzi in a select group of about 50 eateries in the country that meet the group's strict criteria for true Neapolitan pizza. Says owner Peter Caserta, "It's not a stiff pizza that you can hold up like a cardboard disk," he says. "It's a soft, melt-in-your-mouth pizza."
2. Sette
3. Bertucci's
Best Pierogi:
Capital Ale House
623 E.Main St.; 4024-A Cox Road, Glen Allen; 13831 Village Place Drive, Midlothian, 780-2537
The potato-and-onion pierogie at Capital Ale House comes covered with melted Havarti cheese, herbed sour cream and Applewood-smoked bacon bits. President Matt Simmons attributes its success to the fact that the pierogie is a perfect complement to beer. "A lot of people don't know what it is and are afraid to order it, but there's usually one person in the group that recognizes it and turns the whole group on to it."
Best Local South-of-the-Border Cuisine:
Mexico Restaurant
Visit mexico-restaurant.com for locations.
As you walk into any of the local Mexico Restaurant locations, you're sure to be met with the flavorful smells of the rich Mexican food and the sizzle of fajitas. But according to Jose Garcia, manager of the Mechanicsville location, the food is just a part of the restaurants' success. "At any one of our locations, you'll find someone from the family working, and we care about what we're getting out to our customers."
2. Plaza Azteca
3. Casa Grande
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