I would like to call myself a foodie, but I lack the funds to sponsor my aspirations. However, I do in fact make attempts to visit new restaurants and critique them. I often choose to visit restaurants based on Yelp reviews and pictures, price points and of course, the opinion of my significant other. Since relocating to Richmond, I have visited at least a dozen restaurants new to me, but a few have stood out among the rest.
1. Strawberry Street Cafe
I first visited Strawberry Street Cafe with my mother. Located deep in the Fan and across from a park, it is a restaurant best visited during the spring. During this time of year, it is nice to order a picnic in the park across the street. They offer specialty drinks that are often seasonal and quite affordable. I usually order the Broiled Maryland Crab Cake Sandwich with a side of fries during lunch or the Bathtub Brunch Bar during brunch hours. The Bathtub Brunch Bar offers an assortment of options such as sausage, bacon, donuts, biscuits, eggs, other brunch items and salad bar items as well. I give the food three and half stars out of five, only because I have tasted some pretty extraordinary crab cakes in my life. Menu items are appropriately priced; my significant other and I usually spend $25 to $35 total depending on whether or not we decide to try an appetizer.
2. Graffiato
Located on East Broad Street, Graffiato has to be my favorite restaurant in the city. Entrees are served as small plates and pizzas are a tad bit bigger than a personal pan, but still enough to share. The price is dependent on the number of small plates one chooses to order, but the food is worth the $70 or $80 total one might spend on dinner for two. My significant other and I order the White House Pizza, which has mozzarella, taleggio, ricotta, prosciutto, black pepper and honey to share and a small plate of our own. The roasted cauliflower has to be one of the most savory vegetable dishes we have ever tried; it’s is one dish we order every time, regardless of which small plates were ordered. We often go on special occasions because of the price, but this make the entire tasting experience more special.
3. Beauvine Burger Concept
Beauvine Burger Concept is located on West Main Street and is known for its Belle Ringer Burger and Duck Fat Fries. Having ordered this dynamic duo, I can understand why it is so popular; the tart goat cheese on the burger so well complements the tomato jam and pickled red onions. The burger is composed of many opposing flavors that surprisingly work well together. We often get the Truffle Parmesan & Herb seasoning on the Duck Fat fries. I don’t believe I have ever had better fries in my life.
4. Lamplighter Coffee Roasters
One of my favorite coffee shops is located on Morris Street, Lamplighter Coffee Roasters. My first time in the coffee house, I ordered the flavor wheel for breakfast, which was a light, refreshing take on a breakfast burrito with sliced bread instead of a tortilla. This was my favorite dish from the restaurant. The sandwich was accompanied by a cappuccino which had an unexpected yet pleasant flavor; it was much different from the high-sugar, high-caffeine drink to which I am accustomed.
An ideal situation would involve me tasting food from each and every restaurant in the city, but considering financial and metabolic limitation, I am content visiting those few that I have grown to love.
Images 1 and 2 by Alexis Branch; Image 3 by Eleanor Ritzman Photography