Anyone who's anyone knows that wine has been all the rage lately. Whether it's visiting a winery, attending a restaurant-hosted tasting or just browsing the aisles of your favorite neighborhood wine shop, one thing is sure … Richmonders love their wine.
And when Barrel Thief opened in Short Pump last year, its success was proof that Richmond wanted and would support a wine shop / café. The secret to its success was combining Richmond's two great loves, food and wine. Not only can you browse and buy a bottle (or six) of you favorite wine at Barrel Thief, you can also order it by the glass and enjoy a light, gourmet meal in the process.
In fact, the only negative, in my city-dwelling eyes, about Barrel Thief was its Short Pump address. But that's about to change … sort of. Don't worry, West-enders, your favorite wine shop isn't going anywhere, instead it's expanding.
Barrel Thief snapped up a space on the corner of Patterson and Libbie, next to The Shops at 5807, and has a second location in the works. There's no exact opening date yet, but the plan is to have the second Barrel Thief up and running by the end of summer, the first week of August if possible.
And speaking of restaurants that we can't wait to open, Church Hill's Patrick Henry Pub and Grille (2300 E. Broad St., 804-644-4242) in the former Acappella hopes to be open within a few short weeks. Owner Eric Werner, who used to own Sausalitos on E. Grace St., has turned the former German restaurant into one specializing in Northern Italian fare, with a few pub sandwiches and appetizers thrown in the mix. Most entrees will be under $15.
Werner hopes to have Patrick Henry Pub and Grille open by June 1 and will be open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. During lunch, the revamped downstairs pub will be open and nonsmoking. After 4 p.m. the pub will be turned over to the smokers, much like Acappella, with an upstairs nonsmoking section. Check back with "Dish" for more information in two weeks.
In other news, Alex's Thai Cuisine (13 N. 17th St., 804-343-3934) opened last month in Shockoe Bottom and is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. The menu includes typical Thai fare with almost everything on the menu under $10. Sheba Ethiopian Restaurant (9 N. 17th St.), just a stone's throw away, should be open any day. Williams Bakery (3544 W. Cary St., 804-612-6130) has opened in Carytown in the former Metro Bakery.
Finally, Julep's New Southern Cuisine (1721 E.Franklin St., 804-377-3968) in Shockoe Bottom is celebrating its fifth anniversary tonight, Thursday, May 22 at 6 p.m. with a special anniversary dinner. Chef Eric Cohen's Fifth Anniversary Barboursville Wine Dinner includes five courses, each specially paired with a Barboursville wine. The dinner is $100 per person and reservations are required.