Developing Gus' Bar & Grill has been a family affair, says Rafid Stanley (pictured), one of the owners. For starters, the new restaurant is named after Gus Giavos, the father of primary owner Josie Flemotomos (the younger sister of restaurateur Johnny Giavos, who's not involved in this particular project). Gus also owns the building, at 2701 W. Broad St., and Stanley is the godfather to Flemotomos' 3-year-old son.
For eight months, Stanley says, he and Flemotomos' husband, Spiros, cleaned and renovated the space before opening on March 16.
Gus' still rocks some of the sports-bar vibe of its previous occupant, Out of Bounds, "but we're really focusing on our menu and the food," says Stanley, who recommends the fried spicy-ravioli appetizer (it's paired with salsa and sour cream).
Stanley also notes that Gus' tries to cater "to the kids across the street" (the restaurant faces the Children's Museum of Richmond) with a kid's menu featuring childhood favorites like grilled cheese, chicken tenders and spaghetti.
"We want to be a neighborhood place where people can have a drink and enjoy good food," he says. For more information, call 612-9275.