Linguine with roasted vegetables, Parmesan and toasted almonds (Photo by Elizabeth Humphreys)
Downtown’s flourishing culinary corridor is stacked with en vogue spots just steps apart. In the heart of it, at the corner of Fifth and Grace streets, sits Pop’s Market on Grace with its communal tables, window seating and faux fireplace, all neatly complementing the retail section stocked with chips, condiments, produce, wine and brews.
But Pop’s is more than a pretty face. It’s more like the fashionista who never wears the same outfit twice. Mornings are when the bakery shines; lunch, the deli; afternoons, the café; and as evening draws nigh, the restaurant takes over with dishes ranging from rustic, freshly made pastas to prettily plated meat and seafood.
Portions are large, but flavor and detail are the real MVPs. Fresh, thinly sliced rare roast beef on an everything bagel — hand-formed daily by baker Kyle Poston — comes dressed with a standard mesclun, but the mayo with a hint of citrus is fragrant and enhances the bagel’s garlic and seeds.
A salad layered with blue cheese, walnuts, elegantly sliced pears and balsamic is the perfect starter for pan-roasted scallops with butter grits, a great alternative to the Southern classic with shrimp. Elsewhere on the menu, hanger steak with sautéed kale and fresh gnocchi reinvents meat and potatoes.
It's a modern take on the mom-and-pop, in actuality run by mother-and-son duo Josh and Patti Wright. Pop's brings a feel of Europe to Richmond. It could benefit from full service in the form of a hostess or server, but as it stands, one can still conduct business here; meet with an old friend; or dine on a date, solo or as a coterie.
415 E. Grace St.
644-7677
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Prices: $2-$26
Handicapped Accessible
