After two weeks of restaurant news that amounted to a sad list of closings, there are finally some new restaurants to announce.
Stronghill Dining Company (1200 N. Boulevard, (804) 359-0202), Richmond's latest restaurant to be slated to open for forever and finally made it, opened last week on Oct. 1. And like Kitchen 64 and Buz and Ned's, it's proven that dining options north of the Fan (even if it is only a few blocks) are in high demand.
According to head chef Owen Lane, the restaurant, owned by Rob and Jessica Weaver, hopes to bring "an upscale kitchen with a casual atmosphere" to the city. The menu features a wide range of entrees and prices, like Sweet Potato Gnocchi ($14), Smoked Poblano BBQ Baby Back Ribs ($16), Virginia Peanut Fried Half Game Hen ($19), Grilled Double Bone Wild Boar Chop ($24) and Pan Seared Venison Medallions ($26).
Lane, whose Richmond restaurant resume includes Michelle's at Hanover Tavern, Helen's, Bacchus and The Track, wanted the menu to have Southern roots, while showing diners that Southern cooking is more than just "over-cooked vegetables, butter and protein."
Stronghill Dining Company is open seven days a week from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. And if you've heard the rumor of a rooftop patio, you may not be entirely mistaken. One doesn't exist yet, but it might be in the works down the road.
And I'm probably not the only Richmonder who discovered a new restaurant while drinking my way through the Italian Festival last weekend. It Must Be Heaven (2505 E. Broad St., (804) 788-8158), a quaint ice cream shop, serving Gelati Celesti and Nathan's hot dogs, opened a few weeks ago. The place is open Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Chesterfield residents also got a new restaurant recently. Flavors of Brazil (10825 Hull Street Road, (804) 276-0058) is in the Victorian Square Shopping Center (or the K-mart shopping center as we called it in my day). The owners were unable to get back with me prior to publication, but I'm going to take a guess and say they serve Brazilian food. Look for more details to come.
Finally, and sadly, South Richmond's Miss Hathaway's Cafe (6803 Forest Hill Ave.) has closed. This Stratford Hills café and sandwich shop was a favorite for a handful of locals, but it never caught on with the masses. Some say (and I agree) that it suffered from a poor location choice. Hey restaurant owners, South Richmond still wants more restaurants …we just want them in Westover Hills / Forest Hill / Woodland Heights, not in a Food Lion shopping center.
Got some restaurant news you want to 'Dish' out? Send it to karri.peifer@corp.richmond.com. And you can always read the last 'Dish' here.