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Eating Good in the Neighborhood

The results of the Readers' Choice Best Restaurant contest!

Eating Good in the Neighborhood

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Kate Bredimus
Richmond.com
Monday, November 24, 2003

Eating. It's a tough job, but we've all gotta do it. Thankfully Richmond boasts an exhaustive variety of cuisines to keep our tastebuds from tiring when it comes time to dine. You looking for a steakhouse? New York, Texas, or Tokyo? In the mood for a nice Sunday brunch? Drive down Main Street and take your pick. From Italian to Indian, burgers to beer -- Richmond's got it all.

In fact, there are so many eating options in the city that we're sure you've often felt a little overwhelmed by the task of choosing. So we decided to narrow the field and let you tell us your favorites. The following are the winners in our first annual Readers' Choice Best Restaurant Poll. Thanks to all who participated. Now dig into these delicious results!

  • Best Atmosphere
    Havana 59

    Serious diners will tell you, atmosphere is key. The food could be superlative, but if there's a strobe light pulsing above your head, or a clown making tableside balloon animals, all is lost. This is why we like Havana 59. Shockoe Bottom's festive Cuban restaurant has mastered the art of tasteful concept. Crumbling plaster walls, rich wood paneling, and palm trees provide an exotic setting where the waitstaff peddles cigars and guests play poker or rummy while they wait for their paella. It's a colorful slice of Cuba sans the Communist regime. ¡Buenisimo!

    HONORABLE MENTION: The Tobacco Company, Texas Roadhouse.

  • Best Bistro
    Rivah Bistro

    HONORABLE MENTION: Bottega Bistro, Bistro R

    Ipanema
  • Best Vegetarian
    Ipanema

    The food world can be unkind to vegetarians. It's either grilled cheese and spaghetti, or one of those gooey veggie burgers from BK. Then there's Ipanema. The popular Grace St. hangout offers more refined options for pro-veggie people like oversized eggplant paninis, butternut squash pasta, hearty lentil loaf with gravy and mashed potatoes, and all sorts of soups and salads. Ipanema's meatless menu is savory enough to satisfy the most rigid carnivores. Not that they'd ever admit it.

    HONORABLE MENTION: Harrison Street Coffee Shop, Palani Drive.

  • Best Greek
    The Crazy Greek

    HONORABLE MENTION: Stella's, Zorba's

  • Best Bar
    Capital Ale House

    It's that cold strip running down the length of the bar, isn't it? That little stroke of genius has saved countless brews from warming up when the body heat index rises at this popular downtown watering hole. Capital Ale House's figures are mind-boggling -- 40 beers on tap and more than 200 bottled brands from all over the world, plus an array of wine and liquor. Needless to say, there are some serious spirits in this haunt.

    HONORABLE MENTION: Tonic, Main Street Beer Company.

  • Best Chinese
    Peking

    HONORABLE MENTION: P.F. Chang's, Yen Ching

  • Best Barbeque
    Bill's BBQ

    Some artists use paint, others use charcoal or pastels. And some use a tangy barbeque sauce to create their masterpieces. Bill's Barbeque has eight locations in Richmond and the surrounding areas where discriminating palettes can feast on savory ribs and tender pulled pork, or just pig out.

    HONORABLE MENTION: Buzz and Ned's, Double T's

  • Hamburger/Hot Dog
    Carytown Burger and Fries

    HONORABLE MENTION: Fuddrucker's, Cheeburger Cheeburger

    Jefferson
  • Best Brunch
    The Jefferson and Millie's

    In one corner, we have the Jefferson's stately spread of omelets and bacon, pâtés and terrines, oysters on the half shell, imported cheeses, prime rib, and pastries and tarts. In the other corner we have Millie's famous Devil's Mess, a piping hot pile of spicy fried potatoes, plus other hearty fare like oversized cheddar and avocado omelets, huevos rancheros, burgers, and eggplant and brie sandwiches. And according to you, Richmond, both are the brunches of champions.

    HONORABLE MENTION: Strawberry Street Café, Sidewalk Cafe

  • Best Indian
    India K'Raja

    HONORABLE MENTION: Farouk's, India House

  • Best Breakfast
    River City Diner

    Judging by the perpetual line out the door, a lot of people like to wake up to River City Diner's down-home spread of flapjacks, bacon and eggs, grits and gravy, and whatever else Arthur Fonzarelli used to eat. The 50's-era diner has two locations, Huguenot Road and Main St. in Shockoe Bottom. As the Fonz would say, "Aay-aay!"

    HONORABLE MENTION: IHOP, Aunt Sarah's/Joe's Inn

  • Best Japanese
    Kabutos

    HONORABLE MENTION: Akida, Hana Zushi

    Bottoms Up Pizza
  • Best Pizza
    Bottoms Up

    Would you care for the Karen Combo, loaded with spinach, ricotta cheese, Italian sausage and onions? Or perhaps the Barbeque Chicken, a savory combination of sweet onions and fresh chicken; topped with cheddar cheese and homemade BBQ? Maybe you'd like to make a signature slice with your choice of crabmeat, 24-hour tomatoes, caramelized onions, bacon, goat cheese, broccoli, and about 20 other toppings. Choose carefully, because one of Bottoms Up's mammoth slices is a meal and a half. The popular restaurant, a renovated warehouse tucked underneath the interstate in Shockoe Bottom, is usually packed with kids and adults, all hankering for some seriously decadent pie.

    HONORABLE MENTION: Mary Angela's, Roma's

  • Best Takeout
    Mojo's

    HONORABLE MENTION: Papa Johns, Mary Angela's

  • Best Service
    Ruth's Chris Steak House

    The relationship between a wait staff and their customers can be volatile. There are always going to be waiters who continually forget to bring the ketchup and customers who need 10 refills before their meal comes. Such is life. So we're especially glad to report that Ruth's Chris is full of kindly folk with a flair for service. And this brings us to the unveiling of our new ad campaign for the international steakhouse: At Ruth's Chris, the only beef you'll get will be on a plate. Thank you.

    HONORABLE MENTION: Texas Roadhouse, Bookbinders

  • Best Vietnamese
    Me Kong

    HONORABLE MENTION: Vietnam Garden, Pho So

  • Best Italian
    Mamma 'Zus

    Nobody does Italian like Mamma 'Zu, whoever she is. The Oregon Hill restaurant looks pretty nondescript from the outside, but try getting a table there on a Friday or Saturday night. The candlelit dining room is always hopping with folks jonesing for Mamma 'Zus family-style spread of garlicky pasta, fish, and beef. We'll take two of each, please.

    HONORABLE MENTION: Pasta Luna, Edo Squid

  • Best Fine Dining
    Ruth's Chris Steak House

    HONORABLE MENTION: Bookbinders, The Melting Pot

    Bookbinders
  • Best Family Dining
    Bookbinders

    Really? You sure? Apparently Richmond is full of pint-sized epicures. No more of that Chuck-E-Cheese nonsense. Bookbinders has kiddie-sized NY strip steak, for crying out loud. Not to mention old standbys like fried shrimp, chicken tenders, and linguine with marinara or butter. Besides, the upscale restaurant is located in historic Tobacco Row, and you know how much kids love history.

    HONORABLE MENTION: Ruth's Chris Steak House, Applebees

  • Best Seafood
    Hard Shell

    HONORABLE MENTION: Bookbinders, Red Lobster

  • Best Mexican
    Mexico

    Who doesn't like Mexico? No one. The festive family-owned restaurant won this category by a landslide. Mexico has five different locations in Richmond, all of them serving generous portions of spicy enchiladas, tamales, burritos, fajitas, tacos, beans and rice, and most importantly, margaritas. ¡Ole!

    HONORABLE MENTION: Casa Grande, El Paso

  • Best Thai
    Thai Diner

    HONORABLE MENTION: Thai Garden, Thai Diner Too

  • Best Place For Meetings
    The Tobacco Company

    Looking for a good place to network, rub some elbows, and wheel and deal? The Tobacco Company, has everything you need -- an elegant, casual atmosphere, good food, live (but not obtrusive) music. After the mergers and sales have been made upstairs, clients and colleagues can invest in some drinks and dancing in the downstairs club.

    HONORABLE MENTION: Capital Ale House, Bookbinders

  • Best Steak
    Ruth's Chris Steak House

    HONORABLE MENTION: Outback Steak House, Morton's

  • Best Restaurant in Richmond
    Bookbinders

    The Old Original Bookbinders, or Bookbinders if you know 'em, originated in Philadelphia in 1865. Last year the restaurant made its way down to Tobacco Row, to the delight of gastronomes all over the city. With a menu boasting Little Neck clams, oysters on the half shell, snapper soup, pan-seared sea scallops, Atlantic salmon, Porterhouse steaks, and lobster mashed potatoes, Bookbinders is, (yes we're going to say it) very easy to love.

    HONORABLE MENTION: Texas Roadhouse, Alexander's BBQ

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    1 comments.

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    Richmond.com Article Feedback - Leave your comment today!

    While I agree with a lot of this list, including restaurants like Ruth's Chris, Outback, and PF Chang's is retarded. With the huge selection of non-chain restaurants in the Richmond area, how in the hell did Red Lobster make the honorable mention list for best seafood? Might as well throw in Applebee's and TGI Fridays.



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