Photo by Forrest Nguyen
Burger Bach
RELATED: Don't miss our 2014 list of 25 Best Restaurants here!
Black Sheep, 901 W. Marshall St., 648-1300 › This place occupies some prime real estate in my heart, and not just because my husband and I had our first date here over brunch. Their ability to work crawfish into both morning and evening dishes brings me endless joy, and the ginormous battleship sandwiches deliver the goods, not gimmicks. —Catherine Amos Cribbs
Burger Bach, 10 S. Thompson St., 359-1305; 2225 Old Brick Road, 716-6748 › The perfect burger, pink or not pink, combined with gorgeous fries and garlic aïoli is the essence of Burger Bach. An infinite number of toppings, a fascinating wine list and delightful service make this a go-to for Richmonders. —Hollister Lindley
Can Can Brasserie, 3120 W. Cary St., 358-7274 › After a decade, Can Can is still a fixture on the Richmond restaurant scene. Set in one of the nicest spaces in the city, it has excellent service and the classic French cuisine, raw bar and bakery are consistently good. From coffee and pastries to wine, drinks and desserts, early morning to late evening, there is no other place like it in Richmond. —Paul Karns
Garnett’s Café, 2001 Park Ave., 367-7909 › I’m not really a sandwich-for-dinner kind of gal — except when I’m at Garnett’s. This retro-chic Fan District café has elevated sandwiches and made them something to savor. You can’t go wrong with a decadent, Mornay-drenched Louisville Hot Brown, but save room for the heavenly homemade cakes and pies. —Dana Craig
Kuba Kuba, 1601 Park Ave., 355-8817 › With its gold-toned lighting and bright Latin rhythms rippling through the air, Kuba Kuba is my vision of what a neighborhood favorite should be. It’s unpretentious, but consistently puts out superb Cuban classics, making it a go-to spot for lunch with friends. My undying need for huevos rancheros steers me there weekly. —Bird Cox
Lunch, 1213 Summit Ave., 353-0111 › When I have a hankering for a great sandwich with some awesome soup, I head over to this cozy little place (or their larger space, Supper, next door). A LYONS Den — shaved roast beef and Swiss with caramelized onions on challah and au jus, often with a cup of seasonally inspired soup — yes, the grilled cheese with bacon soup tastes just like it promises — is the perfect comfort meal. —Piet E. Jones
Max’s on Broad, 305 Brook Road, 225-0400 › It’s sexy, it’s tasty and it’s in the heart of the arts district. The owner of Tarrant’s Café serves up terrific moules frites and offers brasserie goodies with a Belgian twist, plus graceful service and a well-considered wine list. It’s a great spot for enjoying the First Fridays art walk. —Jason Tesauro
Mekong, 6004 W. Broad St., 288-8929 › Its food sometimes unfairly takes a back seat to the much-lauded beer curation, but Mekong began with a mission to bring Vietnamese cuisine to an unindoctrinated population. A vast menu created to bridge two continents, coupled with an eager-to-help staff, means that you are certain to find something you love. All you need to do is ask. —Susan Howson
Millie’s Diner, 2603 E. Main St., 643-5512 › In a town full of quality brunch options, there is still nowhere quite like Millie’s. With innovative egg-based creations dominating the chalkboard menu, it’s easy to see why the hordes of mimosa-sipping patrons will all tell you the same thing: It’s worth the wait. —Beau Cribbs
Palani Drive, 401 Libbie Ave., 285-3200 › The food is delicious and healthy, smoothies are some of the best in town and the large, covered patio faces Libbie Avenue for optimal people-watching. The consistency and affordability of this neighborhood place make Palani Drive a family favorite. —Karen Cauthen Miller
Naked Onion, 2118 W. Cary St., 972-3339 › A quick call to the Naked Onion, and you can pick up a bánh mì with melt-in-your-mouth grilled pork belly, pickled carrots, daikon, cilantro and garlic aïoli — all on a crunchy baguette — in mere minutes. You’ll plan to eat half and end up downing the whole thing because it’s that good. —Megan Marconyak
Tastebuds American Bistro, 4019 MacArthur Ave., 261-6544 › Reasonably priced craft cocktails, a small-yet-delicious wine list, thoughtful entrées, and owners that attend to every detail keep me going back to Tastebuds time and again. Check out the weekday prix fixe for delectable values. —Perry Matthews
