Munch Richmond

Rowland

2009-02-09T13:27:00.000-08:00

The building that houses Rowland, has a deep nostalgic feel to me. I remember coming in during lunch and having my grandma, Stella, make me one of her awesome grilled cheese sandwiches on her homemade bread, and a big bowl of her brunswick stew. Stella's closed and in came Bruce and Virginia Rowland- they bring with them a vast knowledge of food and a knack for upscale dishes.

We started the meal with the enjoyable butterbean cake (8), loaded with cucumber, grape tomato, avocado salsa, and a spicy cilantro oil. They have a nice citrus tang that's loaded with cilantro- a deep kick of spiciness, and the cakes have a nice texture. I wish I could have had a little more of it! Next, we enjoyed the curry shrimp spring roll (9) (spring roll of the day). It came out piping hot and was loaded with currants, shrimp, and rice served with the salty and tangy ponzu dipping sauce- awesome. Bruce, owner and chef, sent us out a bbq shrimp and grits appetizer which was also delectable. Grits were cooked up right, topped with a very generous amount of shrimp in a savory barbeque-esque sauce drizzled over top.

With the entree's you get a house salad- that night Rowland was out of all of their dressings, except for the fine-herb vinaigrette (which is homemade by the way). The dressing was honestly amazing, with a little tangy bite- and had a nice lightness to it. Rowland also serves up homemade bread- a whole wheat loaf, warm, and perfect for dipping up any excess juices from the rest of your dishes.

For dinner I enjoyed the grilled rockfish (32), over a lobster risotto, topped with baby buk choy served in a light butter brown sauce. Everything was awesome, the lobster risotto was creamy but had a nice texture, and the flavors combined to give a nice modern and eclectic southern feel. We also enjoyed the malpeque oysters (14) (on the half shell), the oysters were fresh, garnished with lemon and greens. We couldn't pass up dessert- Rowland serves one of the best banana's foster (10) dishes I have ever enjoyed, their version is served up in a candied shell, inside- a cluster of banana's foster goodness. We also enjoyed the white chocolate bread pudding (7), which was equally as delicious. Our server was very well versed and sweet, and had the whole place to herself.

We recommend Roland for a good upscale meal, and their banana's foster dessert.
Google Rowland Fine Dining for more information, it is located on Main and Shield's.

Home Cooking

2009-02-02T20:05:00.000-08:00

We decided we'd also like to feature a "Home cooking" section here at Munch. If you would like the recipe for any of these components, please just send us an email at munchrichmond@gmail.com. Tonight I made a Pan seared Chilean sea bass, topped with wilted spinach and raw-honey infused fried red onions sitting over a bombay curried potato latke drizzled with a blood orange sauce. Its actually not that hard of a dish to make, and would be an easy way to impress a date. The thing that takes the most time really are the potato cakes. The blood orange sauce has a nice sweet but salty flavor, and with the right, simple and etiquette plating- you can make this look extremely upscale in no time with a lot of ease. Swap Chilean sea bass out for Halibut if your local grocery is out- both will do fine.

For a full recipe for the entire dish- send us an email at munchrichmond@gmail.com!

Kobe

2009-02-01T20:54:00.000-08:00

We were craving Japanese and decided to try Kobe, downtown (across from La Grotta). Kobe really is a cool place, there is a sushi bar upstairs with booths, and then the whole underground is a hibachi joint. As soon as we arrived we got the craving for hibachi and decided to head downstairs. We sat at the back table and ordered some sushi to start- The Killer Roll (eel and avocado wrapped in a tempura crunch) and an ala carte eel. The Killer roll was smaller than your average sushi roll, but tasty nonetheless- I really liked the light tempura crunch the surrounded the entire roll. The eel ala carte was fresh and fine. For dinner we both settled on the classic chicken hibachi. Kobe (like every hibachi place) gives you a clear soup, ginger salad and shrimp appetizer to start. Our chef came out and provided us with the classic hibachi sauces- a ginger/soy sauce and a spicy mustard. Kobe does really well on their hibachi dipping sauces- something I think hibachi places need to take into consideration, we dip like crazy. Our chef definitely wasn't showy- so if you're looking for a bombastic hibachi chef, I wouldn't really recommend it (we were scoping out the other tables and didn't really see anything crazy (we didn't even get the classic onion volcano). Our fried rice was good, but the food wasn't really that memorable. However, that being said, it is close to home, looks cool, and is a different spot to enjoy hibachi. Next time we will definitely skip the flying knives and just enjoy sushi upstairs amongst the cool interior of Kobe.

Enjoy the short video we took of our chef preparing some of the food. Kobe is located at 19 South 13th Street, downtown. Please visit www.kobesteakandsushi.com for more information.

Kuba Kuba

2009-01-25T21:48:00.000-08:00

Greetings bloggers- it has been a few days. I'm flying solo for a few posts as Rachel is off continuing her education at university. I decided to grab dinner with the family tonight. We decided to go see uncle Manny cook at Kuba Kuba with my family, his sister, her husband, and a few close friends. We had a table ready for the 8 of us, and arrived at 7:30- it was packed like a can of sardines. You could barely move at the entrance- Rachel and I love Kuba Kuba, and it's obviously apparent Richmond does as well. Rachel and I usually come for brunch- we can never pass up the Huevos Rancheros and Cafe Con Leche.

We started off with a few things, the empanadillas (the 50/50) one stuffed with spinach and ricotta, and another stuffed with picadillo (Cuban beef hash). The empanadillas are homemade and ridiculously appetizing. I have to order a 50/50 order every time I come. I also enjoyed a black bean soup (my favorite in RVA), topped with a little sour cream and served with Kuba's cornbread- I douse this with sriracha and enjoy every minute of it. On the lighter side- we split an avocado salad- mixed greens topped with fresh avocado, tomato and cucumber, served with fresh pressed toast. The last appetizer we feasted on is usually always on the special board- the coconut risotto cakes, which are insanely good- they are served with a black bean and corn relish- a perfect contrast to the cakes.

At this point I was stuffed, but we continued on with our dinner orders- first up- the pork shank with a roasted shallot demi-glace, grilled asparagus, and whipped potatoes- awesome. The meat was tender and fell off the bone, and the roasted shallot demi-glace is the icing on the cake for this dish. Next up- a whole red snapper served with asparagus and a warm fennel and spinach salad. Look at the picture- need I say more? I particularly enjoyed the fennel and spinach salad- the spinach and fennel combo was sauteed beautifully, and was soaked up in a near perfect broth- the fish- whole and fresh, served up in the classic traditional Cuban style- FRIED. I told my sister we should split the Arroz con Pollo, one of my favorite dishes, seared chicken breast, served with yellow rice, peas and roasted red peppers- I always enjoy this, and there's plenty to take home for lunch the next day. Last up, the pan seared salmon with coconut risotto cakes (same as the appetizer) with the black bean and corn relish. I'm not even a fan of salmon- and the salmon at Kuba Kuba is awesome.

Since mami (Manny and Judy's mother) makes her desserts on every day but Sunday, Kuba was sold out (obviously) of everything except for 2 pieces of flan. This is preaching to the choir, but if you've ever had Mami's Tres Leches cake, you would know it's the greatest thing you've ever put in your mouth, not to mention the myriad of other desserts she makes including Natilla- my favorite Cuban dessert. The flan was amazing, perfect texture, chilled, and drizzled in a scrumptious syrup.

Rachel and I always recommend Kuba for brunch, but it is probably one of the best dinner spots in Richmond- not to mention the best Cuban food in Richmond HANDS DOWN- if anyone wants to argue this- they can take it up with me. The inside is covered with Ed Trask's beautiful and distinct painted renditions of old Mendez childhood photographs. Kuba keeps a stock of authentic latin goods to purchase, including Cafe Bustello coffee, Inca Cola, Manny's wonderful house dressing, tons of other products i'm forgetting to mention, and those badass Kuba Kuba "Coca Cola" style tee-shirts everyone is always rocking around town.

For more information go to www.kubakuba.info.

Vietnam 1

2009-01-19T19:41:00.001-08:00

Of course, everyone knows how amazing Mekong is, and we will of course have a post about Mekong very soon, but another one of our favorite Vietnamese spots is Vietnam 1. It's located just a few blocks down from Mekong, across from O' Charleys in a little strip mall (right next to Tan A- the asian supermarket.) It's look is deceiving, as it's crammed in next to a pizza joint and print and copy store, but their food is remarkable. We always go for lunch, and sometimes for dinner. The food comes out blazing fast, but don't expect a beautiful interior or even super friendly service- this place is another machine. Their pho is amazing, and if you enjoy Vietnamese broken rice dishes, this place is for you. We sat down and started off with a couple Jicama root rolls, crunchy Jicama root paired with shrimp, scallion, rice noodle, and basil, etc wrapped up tight. The peanut sauce is as good as ever, and the crunch from the Jicama rounds these rolls off in pure delight. I always get the N5 (they prefer us Americans to just simply tell them the number, thus preventing any confusing pronunciations of the traditional Vietnamese fare.) The N5 is a chicken broth Pho soup, with egg and rice noodles and a plentiful amount of chicken, shrimp, and pork. (I always go sans-pork and replace it with tofu, but the dish is killer either way.) Piping hot broth, chicken, tofu, and shrimp, and noodles cooked perfectly, a little lettuce and a side of sprouts to top. Help yourself out to the sriracha, fish, and plum sauce located conveniently on every table.

We also ordered the Tofu BBQ over broken rice. Man, these guys know how to cook a good tofu. The Vietnamese style BBQ hits the spot perfectly, and it comes out as hot as ever with great texture, topped over the broken white rice with cucumber and carrots. Pour the nouc cham (vietnamese fish sauce) all over it and enjoy. I would definitely recommend this dish for people who aren't in the mood for Pho, or aren't used to Vietnamese cuisine. All in all, Vietnam 1 is affordable, quick, tasty, and efficient. It's definitely a great spot to go for a quick lunch with a client. I have seen tons of business folk gathering there to enjoy the tasty Vietnamese fare they provide.

We recommend Vietnam 1 for Pho and a good lunch date. Google Vietnam 1 for more information, it is located on Horsepen and Broad St.

Zaytinya (Washington, DC)

2009-01-14T16:14:00.000-08:00

This is a very special post for us, as it is our favorite restaurant in the western hemisphere. José Andrés (who beat Bobby Flay on Iron Chef America) owns this spot, as well as a few others in the MD-VA-DC area. This is by far my favorite of his places. It features a Pan-Mediterranean cuisine offering dishes from Lebanon, Turkey and Greece. The whole menu is done mezze style, minus a few bigger dishes. We've only ever been for dinner, but decided to snag some lunch here. We filled up the parking meter across the street (valet parking is only available for dinner), and quickly hurried into the restaurant.

The interior of Zaytinya is beautiful, located on the corner of 9th and G Streets, NW, it's always busy. In fact, I've never once seen the place without a buzz- for a good reason. The food, atmosphere, and dining experience is always incredible. If there's one restaurant I always recommend to folks passing through DC, it's Zaytinya. At Zaytinya, they start you off with a little oil and balsamic mix, and their amazing, fluffy, lebanese style house bread to dip (the waiters come around, no joke, every 3 minutes and fill you up with 3 hot fresh pieces every time you run out). We ordered a hummus (6.5) and fatoush salad, and dolmades to start- simply incredible. The fattoush (6.5) was a perfect blend of pomegranate, lemon, oil, cukes, peppers, etc., and the hummus is my favorite hummus in the world next to my grandmother Stella's. Rachel's list has Stella's #1, and Zaytinya #2. She also wanted to mention to go to 3 Monkeys to experience the best hummus platter in the city of Richmond. The dolmades (7) were just as fresh, which featured a more-tomato like filling inside the grape leaves- wonderful. In the meantime, Rachel ordered the blooming tea, which if you've never had a blooming tea, when you pour the hot water over it, a flower blossoms in your glass, flavors include a strong jasmine flavor- very floral.

For lunch I decided to order the Shish Taouk (7.5), (grilled chicken, sumac onions, grilled tomatoes, garlic tuom). I make sure to order this dish every time I come. The chicken and garlic tuom combination with the grilled vegetables is an astounding combination. I recommend taking the house bread and creating a mini sandwich out of these ingredients (especially for lunch). Shish Taouk (A+). I'd also like to mention that the Lebanese Taverna at Tyson's galleria serves up a great shish taouk as well amongst other amazing Lebanese fare. Rachel ordered a sandwich only available during the lunch hours- the Kofte Sandwich (13), which is ground lamb and beef, Middle Eastern spices, tomatoes, sumac onions, hummus, on toasted bread. You get your choice of marousalata or the home fried patates with a yogurt topping. The meat was delicious on the sandwich, and the patates are in a league of their own- best home fried potato fries I've had in a while, and the yogurt topping rocks.

For dessert, we ordered the trio of honey ice cream scoops. The honey ice cream at Zaytinya is amazing, as well as the rest of their desserts. Perfect blend of honey and vanilla, and a great way to end the lunch date. This is by far my favorite restaurant on the east coast- if not America. José Andrés has created an amazing spot, and every time I'm up in DC, I make it a point to come here. It's some of the best mediterranean food I have had outside of Greece, with a beautiful interior, amazing service, and consistency. I have had the pleasure of trying nearly every dish off the menu, and have never been disappointed with anything. Even the avgolemono soup rivals both of my Greek grandmother's. This restaurant is a machine.

We highly recommend it for dinner, lunch, dessert, mediterranean- anything. Please visit www.zaytinya.com for more information.

Asia Nine (Washington, DC)

2009-01-14T13:43:00.000-08:00

We are going to feature an out of town section here on Munch Richmond. This won't be all the time, as we aren't some pair of crazy travelers, however- we wanted to offer a little insight on our dining experiences out of town. It was my birthday and we decided to drive up to meet my parents, their partners and friends for a celebration dinner. We took the circulator bus ($1) from Georgetown to Asia Nine (between 9th and 10th and E). Asia Nine is a modern pan-asian fusion restaurant complete with tons of seating space and a cool little sushi bar. We grabbed a table in the back, and quickly got down to business. We ordered a flurry of sushi and dishes to split. The Obama President roll (pictured first) looked great (lobster meat, avocado, radish sprout, basil leaves, crunchy sesame seeds on the outside, and topped with a spicy mayo). It was off their special inauguration dinner menu- we think they should add this to their normal sushi menu as it was definitely the best dish of the night. We also ordered soft shell crab tempura, calamari with an asian dipping sauce, and chicken satay. All which were quite tasty. In addition to the Obama roll, we ordered a dragon roll (crunchy shrimp with eel and avocado on top), two lobster rolls, a spider roll, eel, tofu, sweet egg, squid, octopus, and tuna. All of the sushi was enjoyable and appetizing. The presentation of the sushi was beautiful. We haven't dined at many DC sushi restaurants, but we'd definitely recommend the sushi at Asia Nine.

We also ordered a few entrees to split, including the Hoisin BBQ Beef short ribs (served with asian slaw and wasabi mashed potatoes.) Great portions and the short ribs were cooked to perfection- really tender. We also ordered Gway-Phei, a thai noodle dish, our friend is a huge fan of this dish- and said that Asia Nine did a wonderful job on it. (I had a bite, it was great). For dessert we ordered the fresh mango with sticky rice (awesome, for a local version try Ginger in Carytown, they do this dessert perfect as well), and Tiramisu, which was Dean's birthday cake, and everyone at the table said it was surprisingly great for an asian restaurant. All in all we had a good experience at Asia Nine- the server was nice and did his best to put up with a bunch of loud Greek people.

We would recommend it simply for the Obama President Roll. Make it up there before the inauguration, or before they take it off their menu!

For more information google "Asia Nine", it is located between 9th and 10th street and E street in Penn Quarter in Washington DC.

Edo's Squid

2009-01-12T20:43:00.001-08:00

Once again, a place like Edo's has been reviewed thousands of times, and we all know how awesome Ed Vasaio's restaurants are- but every time we eat at Edo's and Mama Zu's it simply reiterates this fact. Not only is the food great, but my dad always mentions how consistent these places are, he knows what he's going to get and how good it's going to be, every time, hand's down, no questions asked. We went tonight for a little birthday dinner with Rachel's parents (who simply love the place).

Edo's starts you off with a loaf of thick bread- dip it in the olive oil and balsamic vinegar at the table. We'd also like to mention how Edo's as well as Mama Zu's serves the old school Coca-Cola drink in the glass bottles- just a personal touch we've always really enjoyed. We started out with the mozzarella and roasted red pepper appetizer, topped with basil and olive oil, and served with olives. The red peppers were fresh, the mozzarella was fresh, and it was quite tasty. We also got the broccoletti, which is soaked up in olive oil and lemon, with pine nuts, garlic and topped with a little crushed red pepper. The broccoletti at Edo's is simply awesome. Ask for more bread to sop up the remaining juice.

One thing we have to mention before we continue is the rockfish. It is the best rockfish dish both of us have ever eaten. A filet of rockfish cooked perfectly, topped with lemon, salt and pepper, and crushed red pepper. It is amazing, we crave it all the time, and it is probably in the top 5 dishes of all time for both of us. Unfortunately others share the exact same opinion as us, because they were out of it (completely understandable). So Rachel opted for the filet of flounder, topped with basically the same ingredients. I had a bite and it was great, cooked perfectly, and extremely appetizing. Rachel loved it. The remaining three of us, all ordered the amazing veal scaloppini marsala. The marsala at Edo's as well as Mama's has a distinct taste- perfection. It's thick and sweet with what appears to be cooked with a real thick stock, doused with a whole lot of marsala wine. The veal is as tender as ever, and we thoroughly recommend this dish. The veal marsala at Edo's is Rachel's father Stuart's favorite dish ever. The fish entree's come with a side of pasta, with your choice of marinara or garlic and olive oil. And the marsala dishes come with a side of pasta with marinara.

For dessert we ordered a cannoli and chocolate gelato. Both were great. Edo's continues to be a Richmond staple, with a beautiful interior (my grandmother Stella's legendary restaurant used to be here back in the early 90's.) It has a wonderful nostalgic feel, and is heavily dimmed, every table is lit by candle light and the atmosphere is loud (in a good way), it sets a great mood for an enjoyable dinner. We won't ever stop going to Edo's. Our server was nice and we always have a great time here.

We highly recommend Edo's for an affordable, wonderful Italian meal with good portions and a great vibe- you will not be disappointed. For more information google "Edo's Squid". It is located on Harrison St. (across from The Village Cafe).

Carytown Sushi

2009-01-12T13:39:00.000-08:00

We have been coming to Carytown sushi ever since it opened. As many of you know, there are a ton of sushi restaurants in Richmond, three just in Carytown. Each spot has it's own allure and unique positive attributes, but we decided to do birthday lunch at Carytown sushi around one o'clock. We came right in and sat down, it's a small, quaint little place with 5 or 6 booths and a back table. It also has a cool little sushi bar in the back to watch the chefs prepare your fish. The green tea is killer as we're a big fan of ricey tasting green tea's, and Carytown sushi happens to carry a green tea right up our alley.

Since it was my birthday, we decided to go all out. We ordered an edamame (3.2) and a ginger salad (2) to start. If you're a big fan of ginger dressing, you will love it. For two bucks, you can't complain either- cold lettuce and good dressing. Edamame was nice as well, a little sea salt topping hits the spot.

For lunch we decided to split a number of rolls, and two al a carte items, the eel (4), and bean curd (3.5). The eel is always great here, I get it every time, the same goes for the bean curd- wonderful. For our main sushi we ordered the spider roll (8.2) (soft shell crab, etc.)- which is great to order if you're new to sushi or you're not a fan of fishy tasting sushi, the manhattan roll (9.9) which has crunchy shrimp inside and is topped with eel. (This is our new favorite). If you've never had eel, please try it, it's delicious and is again great for someone who doesn't enjoy overly fishy tasting sushi. The last roll we decided to try was the lobster tempura roll (10.9)- great again, very similar to the other two rolls. All of the sushi was appetizing and the rolls were tight. Personally it is our favorite sushi spot- but not even because of the sushi, but because it's close to home, affordable, and it is the only sushi place in Richmond that offers hibachi and other traditional Japanese delicacies. On a personal note, I enjoy the hibachi here- it's the closest I can get to hibachi without having to go to Benihana, Kabutos, etc.

For birthday dessert we settled on fried green tea ice cream (4.5), which is always an artery clogger but awesome. Our server was really sweet, and we always really enjoy this place. When we come for dinner, one of the sushi chefs always sends us a little special fried eel appetizer. Be sure to tip the sushi chefs!

We recommend it for those who are trying to find hibachi, good green tea, and decent sushi at a quieter and convenient location.

For more information google Carytown Sushi (it is right across from the Byrd theatre in Carytown).

deLux

2009-01-11T12:32:00.000-08:00

We decided to try deLux for a quick brunch with our friends. Both of us have always admired the beautiful interior designed by Helen Reed, and of course Ed Trask's distinct imagery that decks the walls of deLux. We ordered orange juice and water, and one of our friends settled on a Blue Moon.

I decided to order something simple, 2 eggs (sunny-side up) with sausage. (5.9) (You have your choice of bacon or sausage.) It comes with home fries and toast. I really liked the toast that seems to be served with all of the egg dishes. It's thicker and is great for dipping.

Rachel ordered the Dulce De Leche French toast (8.9), which is stuffed with a caramel spread. Imagine a french toast sandwich with a thick caramel spread inside. Rachel thought that the portions we're great for brunch, and the caramel was a cool twist on a traditional french toast. This also comes served with home fries.

Our friend ordered the Blueberry Pancakes (6.9), which are three large-sized pancakes, with powdered sugar on top. This comes with no side. I asked her to rate the pancakes based on other blueberry pancakes she's had in her lifetime, and she rated them third- not bad for a lifetime of blueberry pancake eating. Her boyfriend ordered the breakfast sandwich (ham, egg, and cheese on an english muffin). It came out with home fries. He said he enjoyed it. I always enjoy a place with a good breakfast sandwich.

What we like about deLux is the beautiful interior. The chef there, Oscar, is an excellent cook. Unfortunately he wasn't there today, but the food was nevertheless tasty for brunch, our server was nice, and we had a great time. It's a great place to take a friend and enjoy a decent priced meal and be wowed by the awesome look and feel.

We recommend it to take a friend from out of town if they think Richmond isn't hip. For more information visit www.deluxrichmond.com

Capital Ale House (Downtown)

2009-01-10T23:35:00.000-08:00

We understand a lot of you have already been to Capital Ale House. But for those who haven't, we'd just like to provide a little insight. This was the first time at Capital Ale for both of us. We grabbed a bite for dinner before my show at the venue next door (great sound, BUT IF YOU ARE UNDER 21 AND WANT TO SEE A BAND THEY WILL NOT LET YOU IN- NO MATTER WHAT. YOU COULD HAVE CANCER AND IT COULD BE THE LAST DAY YOU LIVE- THEY WILL NOT LET YOU IN TO SEE YOUR FAVORITE BAND. NO MATTER WHAT. PERIOD. YOU COULD BE ESCORTED BY MICK JAGGER TO THE DOOR OF THE VENUE- AND IF YOU ARE NOT 21 YEARS OLD YOU WILL BE REJECTED.

Our server was really nice. We eyed the menu, and the Bavarian Pretzel (5.9) (apparently imported from Germany) which comes with a sweet grainy German mustard looked awesome, and we had to have it. When we took our first bite, it was the best pretzel we have ever eaten. (Rachel said it even tops Aunt Annie's.) I countered the Pretzel with a salad. I am a huge fan of buffalo sauce, and had to try the Mexicali Salad (7.9), a grilled chicken breast tossed in a buffalo style wing sauce on mixed greens with a blue cheese-dill dressing. I really liked the chicken on my salad- all wing sauce connoisseurs take note.

We also ordered a pound of the Garlic Herb Mussels (8.9), light sauce. Good dipping bread. We can't really complain as this is Capital Ale House- you're supposed to order beer, sausage and pretzels, and burgers. We could go on an on about how we like our mussels prepared, or about how we had these amazing mussels at this amazing restaurant out of town- but seriously, what's the point of that? To boost our ego- on a food blog? We have lives thank you.

In conclusion, Capital Ale House is a great place to go get a snack, and by snack we mean order the Bavarian Pretzel! It is amazing, but make sure you get an extra mustard dipping sauce- it is tasty. We also recommend going anytime they have some sort of special offer- like dollar burger night. Our friends always persuade us to go, and I think we might check it out sometime. If it's meat or dough, don't hesitate to order it- you will enjoy it. I don't think we need to comment on their wonderful selection of beer.

We recommend it for snacking/light fare. Visit www.capitalalehouse.com for more information.

Gibson's Grill

2009-01-09T20:11:00.000-08:00

We'd like to start the post by saying.

GIBSON'S IS NOT LOCATED INSIDE THE NATIONAL THEATRE. IT IS RIGHT NEXT DOOR.

I think there has been a lot of confusion as to where it is located and how to access it. It is located directly next door to The National and you can access it directly from Broad street. There are tables and booths upstairs, as well downstairs. There is also the lounge area entitled "7 Below". DJ's spin on the weekends, and there is an additional lounge menu available late night.

I (Dean) would like to start off by saying, I'm one of the biggest critics of my parent's places. I'd be the first to tell them if I didn't like something. So while this post may be a little bias with me spewing out info about the place- I think the place deserves to be given the recognition. It's beautiful.

We sat down and decided to dine in the lounge area. We ordered the home fried potato chips (4) which come topped with shaved parmesan and a creamy dipping sauce. We highly recommend them. We also shared the sesame seared ahi tuna appetizer (8.9) topped with a miso ginger glaze and served with asian slaw- also great. The portions are so large, you're guaranteed to leave full, or have enough food to take home to your family for a week. (My parents love to give obnoxious amounts of food.)

I might add Rachel's favorite appetizer (not pictured) are the Habanero Raspberry wings (7.9). For dinner we split the Steak and Oyster frites (22.9). As you can see in the picture, it's definitely enough for two (or three). Rach said they were the best oysters she's ever had- not even joking.

What we both really like about Gibson's is that it's got a big city feel, with affordable prices and good food. We also love that there are tons of options on the menu from sandwiches to salads to entrees. The lounge could definitely be a destination point for a girls night out, large parties, or any get together.

We recommend it for an affordable dinner and nice night out.

Although it may be downtown, parking is not an issue. Visit www.gibsonsgrill.com for more information.

Zed Cafe

2009-01-09T12:34:00.000-08:00

We wanted to start out with one of our favorite (organic) lunch spots in Richmond's north side- Zed Cafe. We have never been for dinner, but have always frequented the spot for lunch. There is a salon next door and the restaurant has a very clean, modern, and minimalist feel to it. Zed is a great place to take a client for a moderately upscale lunch date.

After perusing the menu, Rachel settled on the Lump Crab cake sandwich (12) on focaccia, with chipotle mayo and a spicy slaw. Rachel thought it was one of the better crab cake sandwiches in RVA, all lump no filler. Portions are expected to be smaller as Zed is more of an upscale place. We both have always enjoyed the homemade sweet potato fries (with skin on them) that come with the sandwich dishes.

I was eyeing the Morocco, spiced chicken, tzatziki, and fresh local herbs on a grilled flatbread. (I've had this dish before, it's great). But unfortunately they were out (understandable, there was a 16 top right next to us that raided the menu before we arrived). I settled on the Grilled Portobello sandwich (7.5) which was pressed on a panini style bread with spinach, feta cheese, garlic aioli and mixed greens. It was most enjoyable.

We would also like to comment that Zed offers a homemade iced tea of the day, today's options were Black and a sweet White Peach tea. Our waiter was quick to fill us up every time we hit the bottom. Be sure to ask for the agave to sweeten your tea- they always have it.

We highly recommend it for lunch!

For more information, check out www.zedcafeonline.com.

Welcome!

2009-01-09T12:26:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone, welcome to MUNCH Richmond- a blog dedicated to tasty food in the greater Richmond area. We wanted to open up the blog with a non-pretentious view of Richmond's restaurants. I (Dean), was tired of people being overly pessimistic about my parent's restaurants (and other restaurants) in the Richmond blog world. We want to find the good in every restaurant, and share with everyone our dining escapades. Each post will include pictures of our meals and place, which give a better description than most words could achieve. We hope you enjoy our outlook on some of Richmond's classic locations as well as newer spots.