Welcome to my 2011 Edition of the Marinara’s Top 25.
Same as last year, there are a few places that are not on the list because 1) I haven’t been there or 2) I haven’t been there enough. Included on that list is Lemaire, Coast, Secco, Lehja, Bistro Bobbete, Aziza, Pescados China St, and Tastebuds.
I know I have a couple of chains on there, but they do some of the best work in their specific categories.
Enjoy the list, and please feel free to tell me where I missed something
1. Mamma Zu- Best pizza, Best steak, Best sweetbreads, Best soft shells
2. Sensi- Veal Chop could be the best meat dish in town. Risotto of the day never disappoints.
3. Bistro 27- Carlos might be my favorite chef in town. Tasting menu at the bar is tasty and entertaining.
4. Acacia- Chef Dale Reitzer is too good for this town. What a treat having him here.
5. Can Can- Close to home. Super awesome staff. Love being able to spend $10 or $50 on a meal, depending on the occasion.
6. Louisiana Flair- Nate could cook for me everyday and I wouldn’t be disappointed.
7. Black Sheep- Our most frequent brunch location. Wish we could get there more often.
8. Millies- One of my first loves in Richmond.
9. Balliceaux- Pastrami might be some of the best this south of NYC.
10. Cafe Rustica- Chef Andy is a Schnitzel GOD
11. The Empress- Carly has the best hot sauce in town, too bad everything is so good it is hard to find uses for it.
12. Pho So #1- Fat Brisket and Tendon Pho. My wife and I could eat here twice a week.
13. Juleps- Prettiest establishment, best bartender, and they have kick-ass food.
14. Edo’s Squid- It is still Ed Vasiao’s food, but doesn’t have the charachter.
15. Texas de Brazil- Grilled salty meat and chimichurri sauce.
16. Kabob Grill- I love spicy curries with beef or goat brains.
17. Full Kee- Not a big dim sum guy, but they have a respectable Peking Duck and their noodle soups are a steal.
18. Croakers Spot- Soul Food in a cleaner, more welcoming space.
19. La Grotta- Classic, old school Italian.A legend in RVA.
20. Quaker Steak and Lube- Easily the most consistently good wings in town.
21. The Balkan Restaurant- A carnivores dream. The meat pastry is freaking awesome.
22. Kuba Kuba- It’s an old habit that won’t go away.
23. Chioccas- Best old school bar in town, and they have a sub with anchovies on it.
24. Chicken Fiesta- Peruvian chicken and rice and beans. Add the dipping sauces and life is good.
25. Capriccios- My favorite NY Style Pizza. Frank nails it with the extra large pie.
You will most definitely add Secco to your list as soon as you try it! They’ve got a three-course, $10 lunch that is absolutely delicious no matter what you get. And yes, I said TEN DOLLARS. Also the lack of “mamma zu charm” is precisely what I love most about Edo’s – basically the same food in a more asthetically pleasing location with a nicer staff.
Nice top 25 – I will be hungry for the rest of the day now!
And if you haven’t made it to Tastebuds American Bistro in Northside, please consider going. It’s great.
Good list! You mentioned Aziza’s & Coast, both of these are definitely some of our favs. Also Pescados China Street is a new found love for us!
And while we have only been once, we loved Lehja! The food was excellent and the service was impeccable (probably the best service we’ve had in a long time).
You missed two of my favories. Jason at Comfort does a fantastic job and I am always happy after a great meal there. I also don’t think you had Millies on the list, they have to make it for dominating the brunch category. Lobster scrambled eggs with hollandaise over puff pastry…yummy
Okay my bad Millies is on the list but Comfort deserves a mention as well
There was a time where Comfort would have been in the Top 10. For some reason it has fallen off of my radar.
Chioccas in the Top 25? Interesting!
Why is it I think of Jack Black’s reaction in High Fidelity when Rob gives his Top Five Track One, Side Ones regarding the Massive Attack song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rv2rfPMMQgs
Love ya, bro!
it is what it is. I feel like I can like dumpy places and nice places alike.
No, it’s not that at all, it’s not that it’s dumpy/not dumpy — to me good food is good food — it’s just that it’s a “sly declaration of new classic status”
You know I’m messing with you.
This list will be quite helpful once the bf comes to visit! Tastebuds is wonderful – promise you’ll go ASAP? DO NOT miss their bread pudding…
I have to admit, I wasn’t sure if this was the real Sheila or the Baltimore Sports loving Sheila.
What can I say…I have so many sides. But only real Sheila could love Tastebuds so much
You all seem to have a good grasp of where the good quality local restaurants are. I’m spending a long weekend in the Richmond area (Short Pumps?..Short Pump?) and would like to know if there are there any recommendable restaurants within reasonable hailing distance of the 12,000 block of W. Broad Street? I have no idea where the restaurants discussed above are in relation to our hotel. Type of food is less important than quality, although my friends seem to prefer the meat and potato route. Certainly a good barbecue suggestion would not be out of order, nor would good Steak and perhaps Italian. Thank you very much.