Friday night, Bob and I ventured to Church Hill to try The Roosevelt. We had reservations (a must in my opinion)and were seated promptly. My first impression was that parking is a beast. I know in theory it shouldn't be a mitigating factor but challenging parking situations stress me out (unfortunately all to common in both downtown and the Fan). Second impression was that it was a very dark restaurant even by restaurant standards. It is a beautiful restaurant though and had a great vibe.
We ordered two glasses of Virginia Fizz ($7/each) to start. It was a nice, dry sparkling to start the meal with. For an appetizer we decided to share the Southern Poutine ($8) with French fries, pimento cheese, and Benton's Ham gravy. The fries were fresh and hot, the pimento cheese tangy and crumbly just like I like it but there was no gravy to be found. For our entrees Bob chose the short ribs with Anson Mills rice grits, slow cooked egg and chili broth ($18) and I ordered the pork cheeks with cheese grits, hominy and mushroom broth ($16). We also ordered a bottle of Vertitas Petit Verdot Reserve ($40). I, for one, will be happy when the soft egg accompaniment falls out of favor. Having said that, Bob loves soft eggs and short ribs and was pleased with his meal. The pork cheeks were tender and the cheese grits very good. Both meals were solid, the wine was solid, but nothing was memorable. Service was outstanding and everyone was very friendly. If I lived in Church Hill, I'd likely be a regular but if I'm driving into the city, there are other places I'll probably go where there is consistently a "wow" factor.
It's a great neighborhood place and a nice addition to the Church Hill dining scene.
http://rooseveltrva.com/
Monday, January 16, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Sedona Taphouse....good place for a cold one and casual meal
Last night Bob and I ventured out to Sedona Taphouse. Serving 500 craft beers by the bottle and 50 on tap, it's a great addition to the Westchester Commons shopping center just off 288 in Midlothian.
Walking in, the atmosphere was a bit dark and stark (the rainy night didn't help any) but it grew on me after we settled in at the bar. The bar area is set up so you have the option of either being in front of the TVs or not. That's a nice touch.
Our bartender Chris gave us menus and an overview of the beer offerings, which are the star of the show. Each night three of the drafts are on special for $3 during happy hour, which we took advantage of for round one. Bob had a Fat Tire and I had the Abita Purple Haze. We ordered the Goat Cheese and Basil flat bread ($7)as a pre-dinner snack. The flat bread was one of the best I've had. Thin (but not crackery) crust with a robust tomato sauce, Le Chevre goat cheese, mozzarella, parmesan it was baked to perfection and topped with fresh basil. It made me wish they were opened for lunch during the week.
The flat bread was so good we decided to go ahead and have another beer and dinner at the bar. Bob was happy to see Duvel on draft ($9.75) and I let Chris choose a beer for me. He selected one of his favorites, Dogfish Head Palo Santo ($10.50), and it lived up to the hype. It's a robust and flavorful dark beer that went well with our meal and warmed me on a cold, rainy night.
For dinner, Bob started with a bowl of lobster bisque ($6). We each ordered the American 'Kobe Beef' sliders ($7). The two sliders were served with caramelized onions, Vermont cheddar and their house sauce (a homemade thousand island) and served with house made blue potato chips. We also ordered the Blues & Blue appetizer ($2.50) with more blue potato chips served with blue cheese dip. The burgers were outstanding and the blue potato chips were a nice change from regular chips or fries.
Sedona Taphouse is a welcomed addition to our side of Midlothian. Good service, good food, good beer as well as free music on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and located near the Regal Cinemas, I believe it will quickly become a popular place for a casual date, a quick beer before the movie, or a place to hang out and have some good food with friends while listening to some local talent.
http://www.sedonataphouse.com/#!
Walking in, the atmosphere was a bit dark and stark (the rainy night didn't help any) but it grew on me after we settled in at the bar. The bar area is set up so you have the option of either being in front of the TVs or not. That's a nice touch.
Our bartender Chris gave us menus and an overview of the beer offerings, which are the star of the show. Each night three of the drafts are on special for $3 during happy hour, which we took advantage of for round one. Bob had a Fat Tire and I had the Abita Purple Haze. We ordered the Goat Cheese and Basil flat bread ($7)as a pre-dinner snack. The flat bread was one of the best I've had. Thin (but not crackery) crust with a robust tomato sauce, Le Chevre goat cheese, mozzarella, parmesan it was baked to perfection and topped with fresh basil. It made me wish they were opened for lunch during the week.
The flat bread was so good we decided to go ahead and have another beer and dinner at the bar. Bob was happy to see Duvel on draft ($9.75) and I let Chris choose a beer for me. He selected one of his favorites, Dogfish Head Palo Santo ($10.50), and it lived up to the hype. It's a robust and flavorful dark beer that went well with our meal and warmed me on a cold, rainy night.
For dinner, Bob started with a bowl of lobster bisque ($6). We each ordered the American 'Kobe Beef' sliders ($7). The two sliders were served with caramelized onions, Vermont cheddar and their house sauce (a homemade thousand island) and served with house made blue potato chips. We also ordered the Blues & Blue appetizer ($2.50) with more blue potato chips served with blue cheese dip. The burgers were outstanding and the blue potato chips were a nice change from regular chips or fries.
Sedona Taphouse is a welcomed addition to our side of Midlothian. Good service, good food, good beer as well as free music on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and located near the Regal Cinemas, I believe it will quickly become a popular place for a casual date, a quick beer before the movie, or a place to hang out and have some good food with friends while listening to some local talent.
http://www.sedonataphouse.com/#!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Time to dust off the blog....a wonderful time at Arcadia.
It's been nearly 9 months since my last blog post. I haven't been enjoying great food and cheer. I've been lazy.
We went to some great places in 2010 I should have written about...The Inn at Little Washington, Town House in Chilhowie and of course the new Stella's here in town, among many others.
I am back now, for better or for worse.
Bob and I visited John Van Peppen's place, Arcadia, at the end of December. Let me start by stating I have known John for eight years and consider him a friend. While one's first reaction is I may be biased, that isn't the case. I had very high expectations because I know what John is capable of when it comes to making a restaurant work. He loves food and wine, but more importantly (or at least as important), he loves people and appreciates dining is not only about the food. It's about the experience.
Arcadia is in the former Cafe Gutenburg location adjacent to the Farmer's Market on Main. Richmonders know how challenging parking can be in that area. Arcadia has valet parking available daily and we were happy to use it.
We walk in and the atmosphere is sleek, elegant and very comfortable. We were greeted by the hostess and John and decided to have a drink at the bar before dinner.
Arcadia has a solid and very user friendly wine list. With selections of $20/bottles and $30/bottles, one doesn't feel they need a GPS in order to navigate. We started with a bottle of Sharfenberger Brut sparkling ($30) and shared with others around us to toast the new kid in town.
The two bartenders, Mark and Brian, made us feel so welcomed we decided to have dinner at the bar rather than a table. We shared a salad of Shaved Iceberg with
Duck Bacon, Roma Tomatoes, Creamy Shallot & Mustard Dressing that was the perfect start to the meal. The lettuce and tomato cut the richness of the bacon and the shallot and mustard dressing was very flavorful and not heavy. It was one of the best starter salads I've had in some time. For an appetizer, we shared the rock shrimp mac & cheese. Perfectly cooked pasta with an indulgent gouda cheese sauce and topped with the shrimp, it could easily be paired with a salad for a meal. For entrees, Bob had the Pork Osso Bucco with Barley Risotto & Port Wine Reduction. On John and Mark's recommendation I had the John Dory with black lentils and diced pineapple. Bob's meal was rich and comforting and he enjoyed it immensely. My John Dory was off the charts delicious. The fish and the lentils (both cooked perfectly) complemented each other and the small dice of pineapple on top brought a nice sweetness to the dish. Chef Matthew Tlusty knows his way around the kitchen for certain. We had a bottle of Adelsheim Pinor Noir with the meal and ended the meal with a satisfying but not overly rich pear tart.
Not only was it a great meal, but it was a great experience. The staff is charming and welcoming. The other diners all seemed to be enjoying themselves and I cannot wait to go back for another dinner and also to try their lunch and Sunday brunch.
Arcadia accepts reservations via OpenTable and is perfect for dinner with friends and family or date night with your best guy or gal.
Good job John. I knew you could do it.
http://www.arcadiarichmond.com/index.html
We went to some great places in 2010 I should have written about...The Inn at Little Washington, Town House in Chilhowie and of course the new Stella's here in town, among many others.
I am back now, for better or for worse.
Bob and I visited John Van Peppen's place, Arcadia, at the end of December. Let me start by stating I have known John for eight years and consider him a friend. While one's first reaction is I may be biased, that isn't the case. I had very high expectations because I know what John is capable of when it comes to making a restaurant work. He loves food and wine, but more importantly (or at least as important), he loves people and appreciates dining is not only about the food. It's about the experience.
Arcadia is in the former Cafe Gutenburg location adjacent to the Farmer's Market on Main. Richmonders know how challenging parking can be in that area. Arcadia has valet parking available daily and we were happy to use it.
We walk in and the atmosphere is sleek, elegant and very comfortable. We were greeted by the hostess and John and decided to have a drink at the bar before dinner.
Arcadia has a solid and very user friendly wine list. With selections of $20/bottles and $30/bottles, one doesn't feel they need a GPS in order to navigate. We started with a bottle of Sharfenberger Brut sparkling ($30) and shared with others around us to toast the new kid in town.
The two bartenders, Mark and Brian, made us feel so welcomed we decided to have dinner at the bar rather than a table. We shared a salad of Shaved Iceberg with
Duck Bacon, Roma Tomatoes, Creamy Shallot & Mustard Dressing that was the perfect start to the meal. The lettuce and tomato cut the richness of the bacon and the shallot and mustard dressing was very flavorful and not heavy. It was one of the best starter salads I've had in some time. For an appetizer, we shared the rock shrimp mac & cheese. Perfectly cooked pasta with an indulgent gouda cheese sauce and topped with the shrimp, it could easily be paired with a salad for a meal. For entrees, Bob had the Pork Osso Bucco with Barley Risotto & Port Wine Reduction. On John and Mark's recommendation I had the John Dory with black lentils and diced pineapple. Bob's meal was rich and comforting and he enjoyed it immensely. My John Dory was off the charts delicious. The fish and the lentils (both cooked perfectly) complemented each other and the small dice of pineapple on top brought a nice sweetness to the dish. Chef Matthew Tlusty knows his way around the kitchen for certain. We had a bottle of Adelsheim Pinor Noir with the meal and ended the meal with a satisfying but not overly rich pear tart.
Not only was it a great meal, but it was a great experience. The staff is charming and welcoming. The other diners all seemed to be enjoying themselves and I cannot wait to go back for another dinner and also to try their lunch and Sunday brunch.
Arcadia accepts reservations via OpenTable and is perfect for dinner with friends and family or date night with your best guy or gal.
Good job John. I knew you could do it.
http://www.arcadiarichmond.com/index.html
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
A very nice lunch at Lin's Asian Bistro
As I have stated before, after working in the same area for 15+ years I am always excited to find a new lunch place.
Today I tried Lin's Asian Bistro located just off Hull Street at 13253 Rittenhouse Drive (in the Swift Creek Shopping Center just to the right of Kroger). It was a perfect lunch getaway.
A tasteful, clean decor and relaxing music is quite welcoming as was the hostess and rest of the staff. The menu is extensive with Chinese, Thai and Sushi offerings. I decided to order one of the lunch specials, Red Curry Chicken, for $6.25. The specials are served with plain fried rice and soup. I chose my usual, hot & sour. It was served promptly with a basket of fried wonton wrappers with duck sauce. The soup was very good. It was nicely spiced with a lot of pepper and filled with mushrooms and tofu.
The curry chicken arrived and did not disappoint. The tender white meat chicken with red and green peppers, mushroom, bamboo shoots and slices of baby eggplant in a mildly spiced red curry sauce was light and flavorful. The fried rice was more like brown rice, which was fine with me.
The service was very good and it will definitely be in my regular lunch rotation.
http://www.valinsasian.com/
Today I tried Lin's Asian Bistro located just off Hull Street at 13253 Rittenhouse Drive (in the Swift Creek Shopping Center just to the right of Kroger). It was a perfect lunch getaway.
A tasteful, clean decor and relaxing music is quite welcoming as was the hostess and rest of the staff. The menu is extensive with Chinese, Thai and Sushi offerings. I decided to order one of the lunch specials, Red Curry Chicken, for $6.25. The specials are served with plain fried rice and soup. I chose my usual, hot & sour. It was served promptly with a basket of fried wonton wrappers with duck sauce. The soup was very good. It was nicely spiced with a lot of pepper and filled with mushrooms and tofu.
The curry chicken arrived and did not disappoint. The tender white meat chicken with red and green peppers, mushroom, bamboo shoots and slices of baby eggplant in a mildly spiced red curry sauce was light and flavorful. The fried rice was more like brown rice, which was fine with me.
The service was very good and it will definitely be in my regular lunch rotation.
http://www.valinsasian.com/
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Another great neighborhood place in Northside....lunch at The Mill on MacArthur
Whenever I venture over to the Northside, I get "Northside envy". I love the older, beautiful homes, the tree lined streets, and the "real" neighborhood feel it has largely because of the number of restaurants catering to those who are fortunate enough to live and work close by.
Since I am not so fortunate, I took advantage of my trip to pick up Flying Squirrels tickets to have lunch at the newest addition, The Mill on MacArthur.
First impressions were positive. The restaurant is clean, bright and sleek. I was immediately greeted by two cheerful ladies and told to sit where I like. I was promptly brought my menu and water and shortly thereafter iced tea.
I love this menu. It has something for everyone, including you veggie-heads, and each offering appears to have been geared towards the customer with nothing seeming to be a mere afterthought.
After much consideration, I decided on the Oyster Po-Boy. This was made with breaded fried oysters, Virginia country ham, lettuce and tomato on warm ciabatta with remoulade and served with freshly made potato chips. I am one who is very picky about sandwiches...often there is too much bread, an in balance of ingredients, poorly chosen condiments, limp veggies, too cold, too hot, etc. Sandwiches tend to bring out my inner Goldilocks.
This sandwich was perfect. Perfect. And only $8. The bread was lightly toasted (not too soft, not too crunchy). The oysters were crisp with just enough breading, perfectly seasoned and the perfect temperature. The country ham was sliced at the right thickness and there was enough to give a salty contrast to the oysters but not so much as to overwhelm the sandwich. The lettuce and tomato were fresh and crisp. The remoulade was tart and garlicky and the right amount was on the sandwich. With the homemade chips (again the right thickness and just the right amount of seasoning) dipped in ranch rounded out my meal.
This is the type of local business I am excited to support. They are doing good things at The Mill on MacArthur. Please check them out. www.themillrva.com.
Since I am not so fortunate, I took advantage of my trip to pick up Flying Squirrels tickets to have lunch at the newest addition, The Mill on MacArthur.
First impressions were positive. The restaurant is clean, bright and sleek. I was immediately greeted by two cheerful ladies and told to sit where I like. I was promptly brought my menu and water and shortly thereafter iced tea.
I love this menu. It has something for everyone, including you veggie-heads, and each offering appears to have been geared towards the customer with nothing seeming to be a mere afterthought.
After much consideration, I decided on the Oyster Po-Boy. This was made with breaded fried oysters, Virginia country ham, lettuce and tomato on warm ciabatta with remoulade and served with freshly made potato chips. I am one who is very picky about sandwiches...often there is too much bread, an in balance of ingredients, poorly chosen condiments, limp veggies, too cold, too hot, etc. Sandwiches tend to bring out my inner Goldilocks.
This sandwich was perfect. Perfect. And only $8. The bread was lightly toasted (not too soft, not too crunchy). The oysters were crisp with just enough breading, perfectly seasoned and the perfect temperature. The country ham was sliced at the right thickness and there was enough to give a salty contrast to the oysters but not so much as to overwhelm the sandwich. The lettuce and tomato were fresh and crisp. The remoulade was tart and garlicky and the right amount was on the sandwich. With the homemade chips (again the right thickness and just the right amount of seasoning) dipped in ranch rounded out my meal.
This is the type of local business I am excited to support. They are doing good things at The Mill on MacArthur. Please check them out. www.themillrva.com.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
After a hiatus, I am back and happy to be posting. Lunch at Cafe Ole
It's been a while since I have written for a number of reasons, but am happy to be back and looking forward to spring.
Yesterday I had lunch in Carytown and tried the new location of Cafe Ole. Upon arriving my first impression was "Man, it's cold in here". Not sure if they had turned off the heat overnight, but it was downright chilly in there. It was also bright and clean and I was immediately greeted by the staff and quickly forgot about the chill in the air.
I have not been to the downtown location, so took a couple of minutes to review the menu and noticed soft corn tacos, which is always a good sign. I do not understand why more places don't offer soft tacos with corn rather than flour tortillas. One of my many pet peeves in life.
In the interest of research, I ordered one vegetarian soft taco (pinto beans, guacamole, lettuce, cheese and salsa), one beef soft taco (beef, salsa, cheese and lettuce) and one chicken soft taco (chicken, salsa, cheese and lettuce), and a Diet Coke. Got my soda and headed to the table and promptly my tacos along with complimentary chips and salsa were brought to me. Each taco was individually wrapped which I liked and the chips consisted of fried corn tortillas along with some fried flour tortilla chips with a nice size cup of fresh salsa. The chips were fresh with the right amount of salt and the medium spiced salsa was fresh and hit the spot. I started with the veggie taco and the beans were cooked perfectly. The taco was prepared with mild cheddar, with the beans on top, salsa, guacamole topped with shredded Romaine lettuce. I like the cheese on the bottom as it has a chance to melt and also keeps the tortilla from getting soggy. Next was the beef taco made with shredded beef. It was very good also as was the shredded chicken in third taco.
I was impressed. The freshness and quality of ingredients, the shredding (rather than dicing) of the meat and a good balance seasoning made for some very good tacos (the soft corn tortillas didn't hurt either). The addition of the flour tortilla chips in the chip basket were a welcomed twist on an old standard.
Another great lunch place in Carytown is always a good thing.
Yesterday I had lunch in Carytown and tried the new location of Cafe Ole. Upon arriving my first impression was "Man, it's cold in here". Not sure if they had turned off the heat overnight, but it was downright chilly in there. It was also bright and clean and I was immediately greeted by the staff and quickly forgot about the chill in the air.
I have not been to the downtown location, so took a couple of minutes to review the menu and noticed soft corn tacos, which is always a good sign. I do not understand why more places don't offer soft tacos with corn rather than flour tortillas. One of my many pet peeves in life.
In the interest of research, I ordered one vegetarian soft taco (pinto beans, guacamole, lettuce, cheese and salsa), one beef soft taco (beef, salsa, cheese and lettuce) and one chicken soft taco (chicken, salsa, cheese and lettuce), and a Diet Coke. Got my soda and headed to the table and promptly my tacos along with complimentary chips and salsa were brought to me. Each taco was individually wrapped which I liked and the chips consisted of fried corn tortillas along with some fried flour tortilla chips with a nice size cup of fresh salsa. The chips were fresh with the right amount of salt and the medium spiced salsa was fresh and hit the spot. I started with the veggie taco and the beans were cooked perfectly. The taco was prepared with mild cheddar, with the beans on top, salsa, guacamole topped with shredded Romaine lettuce. I like the cheese on the bottom as it has a chance to melt and also keeps the tortilla from getting soggy. Next was the beef taco made with shredded beef. It was very good also as was the shredded chicken in third taco.
I was impressed. The freshness and quality of ingredients, the shredding (rather than dicing) of the meat and a good balance seasoning made for some very good tacos (the soft corn tortillas didn't hurt either). The addition of the flour tortilla chips in the chip basket were a welcomed twist on an old standard.
Another great lunch place in Carytown is always a good thing.
Monday, December 13, 2010
A Wonderful Date Night.....dinner with Bob at Millie's Diner
Saturday was a date night for Bob and me. He's been incredibly busy at work. I've been busy training our new puppy, Tyrod, and so dinners out have been close to home rather than venturing downtown.
We decided on Millie's and once again so glad we did. It was the perfect meal on a cold night.
We arrived early and had a glass of Graham Beck Sparkling while we reviewed the impressive-as-always menu. We decided to start with a bowl of Smoked Bacon, Potato and Leek Soup ($5) with two spoons. Incredibly creamy and flavorful, the saltiness of the bacon with the sweetness of the leaks made for a delicious soup.
Next we had an appetizer of Baked Local Oysters on the Half Shell ($15) with salsify puree, baby spinach, smoked bacon and parmesan-herb bread crumbs. The oysters were fresh and sweet and the preparation was similar to Oysters Rockefeller but brought up to the next level.
For entrees I chose an appetizer, the Braised Beef Short Ribs with Yukon gold puree, roasted vegetables and natural jus ($13). I am a sucker for short ribs and this was tender, spicy, and rich. The appetizer portion proved to be the perfect size for me. Bob ordered the Braised Lamb Shank ($30) with Andouille sausage and vegetable paella with wilted baby spinach. He gave his dish rave reviews as well. With the meal we had a bottle of Domaine Gachot-Monot Cotes de Nuits Villages, '06 France ($46), which was not too heavy but had plenty of flavor.
Once again Millie's did Richmond proud. And once again it was perfect for date night. www.MilliesDiner.com
We decided on Millie's and once again so glad we did. It was the perfect meal on a cold night.
We arrived early and had a glass of Graham Beck Sparkling while we reviewed the impressive-as-always menu. We decided to start with a bowl of Smoked Bacon, Potato and Leek Soup ($5) with two spoons. Incredibly creamy and flavorful, the saltiness of the bacon with the sweetness of the leaks made for a delicious soup.
Next we had an appetizer of Baked Local Oysters on the Half Shell ($15) with salsify puree, baby spinach, smoked bacon and parmesan-herb bread crumbs. The oysters were fresh and sweet and the preparation was similar to Oysters Rockefeller but brought up to the next level.
For entrees I chose an appetizer, the Braised Beef Short Ribs with Yukon gold puree, roasted vegetables and natural jus ($13). I am a sucker for short ribs and this was tender, spicy, and rich. The appetizer portion proved to be the perfect size for me. Bob ordered the Braised Lamb Shank ($30) with Andouille sausage and vegetable paella with wilted baby spinach. He gave his dish rave reviews as well. With the meal we had a bottle of Domaine Gachot-Monot Cotes de Nuits Villages, '06 France ($46), which was not too heavy but had plenty of flavor.
Once again Millie's did Richmond proud. And once again it was perfect for date night. www.MilliesDiner.com
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