Anyone from Richmond, VA?

[SP33Demon]

for dinner this weekend for a date. Place should be more upscale than not (jeans is ok, but prefer more of a business casual place). Really ritzy is ok too. Any suggestions appreciated!

 

[glenn1]

What type of food do you like? I can suggest dozens of places........

 

[SP33Demon]

Originally posted by: glenn1
What type of food do you like? I can suggest dozens of places........

Glen, right now I've chosen Carrabba's, but I'm open to Italian, South Am, Latin, Japanese, Mediterranean cuisine.

 

[Megatomic]

Does it have to be Richmond or maybe Chesterfield county? If Chesterfield is ok, there is a Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in the Midlothian area that is nice. The Tobacco Factory is excellent too, especially if you like microbrews. Well, it was nice when I lived there back in the pre 2000 era...

 

[GCS]

Bookbinders restaurant. Ate there 2 weeks ago and it is MILES BETTER than Ruth Chris. It is upscale (no jeans etc) and pricey -- total meal for us was $160 including tip (that included Appetizer, main course, sides, dessert, and drinks). If go the Lobster Mac and Cheese was AMAZING and the crabcakes are HUGE and full of chunk crabmeat. Cheesecake was excellent as well.

Food and service was outstanding. Ruth Chris IMHO was poor compared to the $150+ it cost me (went about 2 years ago)

Bookbinders is in the Shockoe Bottom area of downtown. Reservations required.

Melting Pot is always good too if you are looking for a cozy romantic type meal (takes a while though).

Greg

 

[glenn1]

Originally posted by: SP33Demon

Originally posted by: glenn1
What type of food do you like? I can suggest dozens of places........

Glen, right now I've chosen Carrabba's, but I'm open to Italian, South Am, Latin, Japanese, Mediterranean cuisine.

Mediterranean probably offers you the best option on your list, Cous Cous is an amazing restaurant and is perfect for a date.

If you like Italian, La Grotta is the best choice IMHO, although a lot of folks swear by Mamma Zu's - to me, the food is OK, but the ambience leaves a bit to be desired.

South American, well, you're kinda limited - there's Ipanema Grill on the west end and a nice Peruvian chicken shop on the southside named Chicken Fiesta.

For Latin, one of the best restaurants in the city is Kuba Kuba. Food is amazing.

If you like teppannyaki, there's plenty of options in Richmond, you can probably find one without my help.

 

[Pepsei]

i love mamma zu's... but good luck getting a table... the ambience does suck, but you're there for the food; if you're going to mamma zu's. if you're in the west end, go to zorba's for greek/italian or momma cucina near innsbrook.

ipanema is not too bad for all you can eat Brazilian bbq.

lots of good asian fare. for vietnamese, i'd go to the Dat LAT in west end. for chesterfield area, Wasabi is a good Japanese place that is really owned by Japanese people, you may get a yakuza looking waiter with tattoos. Thai Diner 2 is good too.

i heard Can Can is pretty good if you're in the cary town area. but i personally have never been.

 

[dbk]

Just make sure you don't make THAT wrong turn and end up in a very very scary place.

 

[SP33Demon]

So many choices... thanks a ton glenn, gcs, pepsei, and megatomic. I'll probably try most of your suggestions eventually now that I've been visiting Richmond a lot, it's a nice change from the hustle/bustle of NOVA. Going to be exciting checking out some of these places. Thanks again!

 

[mb]

Book Binders is fantastic. I ate at a Book Binders Grill in Christiansburg many times.. mmmmmm! I've been meaning to go to the one here.

Enzos Ristorante & Tavern is my favorite place. It's in Manakin-Sabot. Most likely you haven't heard of it, but it's just down on Broad Street not too far from the Short Pump Mall.

 

[boredhokie]

Down in Shockhoe bottom you can try Tobacco Company. If you like French there is Pomegranite as well but I didn't like it that much when I went. In the Fan, I like Sticky Rice and Avalon for dinner - 3 Monkeys and Starlight both have good brunch, as well as Sidewalk.

In the West End I enjoy Maggiano's - it's a chain but very good quality - it's at the Short Pump mall. I also hear Copper Grill is delicious (but pricey) - haven't been yet.

 

[glenn1]

Originally posted by: Pepsei
i love mamma zu's... but good luck getting a table... the ambience does suck, but you're there for the food; if you're going to mamma zu's. if you're in the west end, go to zorba's for greek/italian or momma cucina near innsbrook.

ipanema is not too bad for all you can eat Brazilian bbq.

lots of good asian fare. for vietnamese, i'd go to the Dat LAT in west end. for chesterfield area, Wasabi is a good Japanese place that is really owned by Japanese people, you may get a yakuza looking waiter with tattoos. Thai Diner 2 is good too.

i heard Can Can is pretty good if you're in the cary town area. but i personally have never been.

I agree with Zorba's. For Vietnamese, I prefer Pho So 1 on Horsepen Rd near Tan-A supermarket for it's great prices - you have to work very hard to spend more than $20 in there for 2 people.

For Thai, I'd add Beauregards to the list.

Here's other places which I think deserve a visit:

Sticky Rice (fusion asian/sushi, owned by the same people as Cous Cous)

Nile (Ethiopian)

LaMilpa (out of the way but only good Mexican in town)

Bottoms Up (yummy pizza)

Cedars downtown (5th and E. Main St?) is good Lebanese.

Full Kee is old-school Chinese on Horsepen (immediately next to Pho So 1 which I mentioned earlier). Get the non-beloved patriot menu if you want duck tongue, beef tendons, etc.

 

[mb]

So where did you go?