Best restaurant in a gas station
Chamo’s Arepa House
8211 Hull Street Road
Take the drive down Hull Street for an authentic Venezuelan meal located in a little building attached to a BP. Chamo’s Arepa House offers a friendly staff and a big menu. Start with any of the full suite of crispy, fried bites like empanadas or tequenos. Move on to sandwiches, arepas, cachapas, or weekend specials like freshly made paella. Try the Patacon, a fried plantain sandwich stuffed with your choice of meat, cheese, a fried egg, house sauce, bacon and tomato. Portions are hearty and prices are affordable. Owner Otto Rodriguez also makes his perfected paella recipe for catering with advance notice.—M.M.
Best Place to Get Tea On Tap and Make Bespoke Books
Apothec
318-320 Libbie Ave.
shopapothec.com
Want a taste of the wizarding world of Harry Potter without having to commit to the whole theme park thing? Take a trip to the scenic Libbie-Grove area instead and pop into the magical world of Apothec. The shop is divided into a pantry and tea/coffee bar on the right and parfumerie—think scents, lotions, essential oils—on the left. Owner Tricia Boor has created a one-stop rejuvenation destination: book a massage, facial and even a psychic medium reading before heading to the restorative libations bar for a refreshing tea on tap.
Boor says that June tea offerings will include Persian Garden, Coconut Jasmine and Sassy Peach. They’ll also have a Dreamsicle mocktail on tap. In the way back, Boor hosts a variety of classes in a light-filled atelier. Choose from custom candle-making, bespoke book building, custom face mask-making, herb planter assembling and more. Snag a snack from Superior Creamery and Confections, which provides appropriately whimsical and delicious treats like lavender and lemon polenta cake, on your way out.—M.S.H.
Best drink to treat a hangover
Frozen Oaxacan coffee
Get Tight Lounge
1104 W Main St.
gettightrva.com
At New Orleans’ famed Tales of the Cocktail event, there are many scheduled stops. But what Get Tight Lounge co-owner Drew Schlegel always looks forward to is the next-morning visit to Erin Rose for a frozen Irish coffee. When Schlegel opened Get Tight in Richmond near VCU, he wanted to serve something similar, but “for Get Tight and my own personal appeal, it’s mezcal, horchata and coffee,” he says.
The blend of caffeine and booze with a smooth, creamy texture is designed to set you straight after a long night. It’s served in a souvenir cup just like at Erin Rose and, also like in New Orleans: “If you’re really hungover, add a floater, and after that you’re really feeling great,” Schlegel says. He notes that with the drink’s texture—similar to a Wendy’s Frosty—it’s also a prime dipping vehicle for Get Tight’s hand-cut french fries.—M.M.
Best moment in local beer history
When Richmond paved the way for canned beer
In the old days, there used to be two options when it came to beer: From a bottle or from a tap at your local watering hole. Canned beer has been available for less than 100 years, and the world has Richmond to thank for it.
While the commercial canning of food began in the early 1800s, it would take more than a century for the commercial canning of beer, because it was much more difficult. As CO2 dissolves in the beer, it exerts an outward pressure of roughly 80 pounds per square inch, risking explosion. Additionally, beer reacts with metal, which could potentially ruin a beer’s taste. A can would have to be constructed with a non-reactive lining.
That can was pioneered by the American Can Company, which had been tinkering with such a contraption through Prohibition. By 1933, they had developed a can that was strong enough, but still couldn’t answer one important question: Would people drink beer from a can?
Given its demographic makeup and its central location on the East Coast, Richmond was chosen by the Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company of New Jersey as the test market for American Can’s creation. Four cans of Krueger’s Finest Beer were sent to 500 loyal Krueger beer drinkers in Richmond. The verdict? Some 91% of Richmonders approved of canned beer and the rest is history.
Because Richmond said yes, the entire world enjoys canned beer, soda, wine and other beverages today.—R.G.
Best reminder that soup dumplings need spoons
Mr. Noodle
9127 W Broad St. #C
Picture this: It’s Sunday night and you’ve just picked up a to-go order from Mr. Noodle, the recently opened (fall 2024) Henrico strip mall noodle spot. It’s worth the 25-minute drive there, but it’s just too tempting to dip your fingers in the bag and steal a few bites on the way home. The scallion pancakes are basically finger food, no harm no foul. The (succulent!) beef fried noodles are trickier but hey, you’ll get the car detailed later.
But it’s the much talked about, steaming hot soup dumplings (Xia Long Bao) that you need to be careful with. Sit down with a bowl and spoon for these beauties. You’ll want to savor the tender dough, the rich broth. You’ll also accidently burn yourself if you try to one-bite devour this dumpling. Mr. Noodle warrants more than one visit, so be sure to try the myriad hand-pulled noodles and hand-rolled dumplings, plus the braised beef noodle soup and sweet and savory buns.—M.S.H.
Most refreshing drinks for sweltering summer days
Lolita’s Aguas Frescas
2929 W Cary St.
It’s a sultry summer day. One of those times when ice cream or a glass of cool water just isn’t cutting it. When you’re craving something refreshing, flavorful and ice cold, you’ll want to grab one of Lolita’s creative aguas frescas or mocktails.
The Carytown restaurant’s aguas frescas (“fresh waters”) celebrate this traditional Mexican beverage typically composed of fresh fruits, spices, water and a touch of sugar. Lolita’s are all vegan and a creative collaboration between owner Karina Garcia and bar director Adan Velis. One is the classic Jamaica. The fuchsia-tinted drink is made from dried hibiscus flowers, giving it a slightly tart base reminiscent of cranberries enhanced with a faint sweetness. There’s also the well-loved coconut horchata which features delicious notes of creamy coconut and cinnamon.
The restaurant’s margarita house mocktails come in flavors ranging from juicy mango to spicy. And don’t overlook the tepache. This fermented drink is made with pineapple skins, spices and piloncillo, a commonly used sweetener in Mexican cuisine made of unrefined cane sugar. Lolita’s tepache evolves to highlight the changing seasons.
“In the winter, we opt for winter herbs like pine needles, rosemary [and] juniper berries,” says Garcia. “In the warm seasons, it varies between basil, mint, thyme blossoms and magnolia flowers.”—R.K.
Reservation worthy of hacking a neighbor’s phone to get
Restaurant Adarra
501 S Pine St.
The best thing about dinner at Adarra is the ability to put yourself in the hands of experts for a fire-cooked meal featuring hyper-local ingredients. But don’t expect to scour an online menu and select your meal ahead. The selection changes daily based on what the local purveyors provide. There’s no wine list because the ever-changing selection of over 3,000 bottles is too much to write down. Tell your server what flavors you like and a price point and let them guide you. Cocktails vary based on what’s growing in bartender Danny McDermott’s garden. “Sit back and take a load off. You’re here to have a good evening,” co-owner and chef Randall Doetzer says. “Let the best group of people that we can put in a room take care of you.”—M.M.
Most unexpected spot for French onion soup and late-night music trivia
Curbside Café
2525 Hanover Ave.
The recipe for Curbside’s rich and satisfying French onion soup isn’t written down, but it has a long history. Owners Matt Bailey and Jeff Sullivan picked up the basics from longtime Buddy’s cook Miss Mary while working there back in the ‘90s. Over the years, they’ve tweaked it a bit, adding herbs like rosemary and thyme and topping it with a blend of smoked gouda and Swiss cheese. “The recipe has evolved, but we’ve been making it the same way for 15 or 20 years,” Bailey says.
In winter, they’ve been known to make two to three batches of soup a day, and it even sells on Richmond’s hottest summer days. If that’s not reason enough to head to the Curb, on Sunday nights longtime bartender Phil Pierce hosts late-night music trivia. You’ll see Richmond restaurant crews and other night owls filing in for the event he originally started to drum up business but now can’t stop because of demand.—M.M.
Best reason to turn on Gmail alerts
Getting a spot for Hem and Her pop-up dinner
Scoring reservations for the city’s hottest Cambodian-inspired supper club requires dedication, but your work will be rewarded. Sign up for the Hem and Her email list, then watch for the next supper club announcement—it will include the date for the dinner and a reservation release date. Set that alarm on your phone! When the reservation release email arrives, respond with the answer to the enclosed trivia question ASAP (this eliminates sneaky email schedulers) and hope you were quick enough to snag a spot.
Your two-person resy will gain you entry to Santana Hem’s home for a BYOB, multi-course creative meal inspired by the Cambodian flavors he grew up eating and cooking with his mother. Lazy eaters can also order some of Hem’s addicting brown butter sesame brittle cookies for pick up at Second Bottle Wine (and soon in more stores around town). Also, we hear there may be pop-ups coming to the ICA café this fall with treats like khmer pork buns, spring rolls and sandwiches.—M.M.
Best place to sip on specials like the Brave Seaman’s Swallow
Brave Captain
729 W Cary St.
We love a cheekily named cocktail as much as the next lush, especially when they’re strong and tasty to boot. But owners Herbie Abernethy and Josh Novicki (Cobra Cabana, Hot For Pizza) promise more than just stiff drinks at their nautical nook.
Brave Captain opened quietly at the end of 2024 and has since lured in landlubbers—for lunch and dinner, daily—with hot, crispy, excellent fried seafood sandwiches, melty crab dip and steaming bowls of chowder. They’ll give it to you raw, too, with poke nachos and seared tuna power bowls. And, like Abernethy and Novicki’s other concepts, Brave Captain boasts vegan dishes that even meatheads may choose over their animal counterparts. While the former Mojo’s space is small, there’s ample room for double entendres, karaoke and $5 PBR mug nights. The only rule on this ship? No jerks allowed.—M.S.H.
Readers’ Choice
Wings
1st
Cocky Rooster
2523 W Main St.
2nd
Wood & Iron Gameday Restaurant and Bar
1405 Roseneath Rd.
3rd
Bryan Park Bar & Grill
5516 Lakeside Ave.
Wine Shop
1st
Once Upon a Vine
4009 MacArthur Ave.
2nd
Second Bottle Wine and Snack Shop
324 N 27th St.
3rd
Celladora Wines
111b N Lombardy St.
Wine Bar
1st
Penny’s Wine Shop
405 Brook Rd.
2nd
Jardin
1520 W Main St.
3rd
Celladora Wines
111b N Lombardy St.
Vietnamese
1st
Mekong
6004 W Broad St.
2nd
Pho Tay Do
6328 Rigsby Rd.
3rd
Sen Organic Small Plate
2901 W Cary St.
Vegetarian
1st
Gold Lion Community Café
1012 Hull St.
2nd
Blue Atlas Restaurant & Market
1000 Carlisle Ave. # 200
3rd
The Beet Box
(multiple locations)
Vegan
1st
Philly Vegan
1126 Hull St.
2nd
The Beet Box
(multiple locations)
3rd
Tiny Vegan
104 S Sheppard St.
Tacos
1st
Don’t Look Back
3306 W Broad St.
2nd
Wong’s Tacos
(multiple locations)
3rd
Cochiloco
3340 Moore St.
4th
Y Tu Mama
4910 Forest Hill Ave.
Takeout
1st
8 ½ in The Fan
401 Strawberry St.
2nd
Charlotte’s Southern Deli
200 S 10th St.
3rd
Yummvees To Go
4711 West Broad St.
Steakhouse
1st
Buckhead’s Chop House
8510 Patterson Ave.
2nd
ML Steak
328 E Broad St.
3rd
Hondos Steak House
4120 Cox Rd. B, Glen Allen
Southern
1st
Mama J’s
415 N 1st St.
2nd
Lillie Pearl
416 E Grace St.
3rd
The Roosevelt
623 N 25th St.
Seafood
1st
Croaker’s Spot
1020 Hull St.
2nd
Alewife
3120 E Marshall St.
3rd
Yellow Umbrella
(multiple locations)
4th
Beaucoup
111 N Robinson St.
Sandwiches
1st
Garnett’s Café
2001 Park Ave.
2nd
Stanley’s
2601 Park Ave.
3rd
Neighbor
4023 MacArthur Ave.
4th
Charlotte’s Southern Deli
200 S 10th St.
Rooftop Bar
1st
Quirk Hotel, Q Rooftop Bar
201 W Broad St.
2nd
New York Deli
2920 W Cary St.
3rd
Common House Richmond
303 W Broad St.
Cocktail Bar
1st
The Jasper
3113 W Cary St.
2nd
The Emerald Lounge
2416 Jefferson Ave. C1
3rd
Fanboy
2713 W Broad St.
Pop-up
1st
Sunday Bagel
2nd
Daily Coffee Company
3rd
Nam Prik Pao
Pizza
1st
Zorch Pizza
2923 W Cary St.
2nd
Pizza Bones
2314 Jefferson Ave.
3rd
Hot For Pizza
1301 W Leigh St.
Patio
1st
Blue Atlas Restaurant & Market
3306 W Broad St.
2nd
Jardin
1520 W Main St.
3rd
Portico Restaurant
12506 River Rd.
4th
Ardent Craft Ales
3200 W Leigh St.
New Restaurant
1st
Sweet P’s RVA
304 W Broad St.
2nd
Susie’s
1600 W Cary St.
3rd
Beaucoup
111 N Robinson St.
4th
Lillian
3001 W Leigh St. Suite A
Mexican
1st
Mi Jalisco
4019 MacArthur Ave.
2nd
Y Tu Mama
4910 Forest Hill Ave.
3rd
Cochiloco
3340 W Moore St.
4th
Conejo
5820 Patterson Ave. Suite 103
Martini
1st
Birdie’s
305 W Broad St.
2nd
The Jasper
3113 W Cary St.
3rd
Pink Room
803 N 23rd St.
4th
Beaucoup
111 N Robinson St.
Margarita
1st
En Su Boca
1001 N Arthur Ashe Blvd.
2nd
Blue Habanero
421 Strawberry St.
3rd
Lolita’s
2929 W Cary St.
Lunch
1st
Garnett’s Café
2001 Park Ave.
2st
LUNCH.SUPPER!
3023 W Marshall St.
3rd
Charlotte’s Southern Deli
200 S 10th St.
4th
You Matter Juice Bar & More
4040 MacArthur Ave.
Late Night Bites
1st
Galaxy Diner
3109 W Cary St.
2nd
Cobra Cabana
901 W Marshall St.
3rd
Sidewalk Café
2101 W Main St.
Korean
1st
Lotte Plaza Market
7801 W Broad St.
2nd
Kogi
325 N 2nd St.
3rd
Yewon
10827 Hull Street Rd. N
Japanese
1st
Lucky AF
3103 W Leigh St.
2nd
Akida Japanese Restaurant
606 N Sheppard St.
3rd
Osaka Sushi & Steak
5023 Huguenot Rd.
Jamaican
1st
Jamaica House
416 W Broad St.
2nd
Carena’s Jamaican Grille
7102 Midlothian Tpke.
3rd
Irie Ting Jamaican Grill
100 E Cary St.
Italian
1st
Edo’s Squid
411 N Harrison St.
2nd
Mama Cucina
4028-O, Cox Rd., Glen Allen
3rd
Lost Letter
2939 W Clay St.
Ice Cream/Frozen Treat
1st
Ruby Scoops Ice Cream & Sweets
310 W Brookland Park Blvd., Suite 100
2nd
Gelati Celesti Ice Cream
(multiple locations)
3rd
The Sweet Xscape
Happy Hour
1st
Wood & Iron Gameday Restaurant and Bar
1405 Roseneath Rd.
2nd
Lolita’s
2929 W Cary St.
3rd
3 Monkeys Bar & Grill
2525 W Main St.
Greek
1st
Stella’s
1012 Lafayette St,.
2nd
Greek on Cary
3107 W Cary St.
3rd
Bell Greek
7011 Three Chopt Rd.
Fried Chicken
1st
Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken
2200 West Broad St.
2nd
Mama J’s
415 N 1st St.
3rd
1115 Mobile Kitchen
Food Cart/Truck
1st
1115 Mobile Kitchen
2nd
Rollin Eatz
3rd
The Sweet Xscape
Doughnut
1st
Country Style Donuts
(multiple locations)
2nd
Sugar Shack Donuts & Coffee
(multiple locations)
3rd
The Treat Shop
(multiple locations)
Dive Bar
1st
Poe’s Pub
2706 E Main St.
2nd
The Locker Room
5035B Forest Hill Ave.
3rd
Dugout Bar and Grille
1510 Mountain Rd., Glen Allen
Distillery
1st
Belle Isle Moonshine
615 Maury St.
2nd
Reservoir Distillery
1800A Summit Ave.
3rd
Virago Spirits
1727 Rhoadmiller St.
Diner
1st
Moore Street Café
2904 W Moore St.
2nd
Dot’s Back Inn
4030 MacArthur Ave.
3rd
Galaxy Diner
3109 W Cary St.
Deli
1st
Perly’s
111 E Grace St.
2nd
Coppola’s Deli
2900 W Cary St.
3rd
Nomad Deli & Catering Co.
207 W Brookland Park Blvd.
Coffee Shop
1st
Blanchard’s
(multiple locations)
2nd
Stir Crazy Café
4015 MacArthur Ave
3rd
Urban Hang Suite
304 E Broad St.
Chinese
1st
Peter Chang
2816 W Broad St A.
2nd
Fat Dragon Chinese Kitchen
1200 N Arthur Ashe Blvd.
3rd
Beijing on Grove
5710 Grove Ave.
Burger
1st
Beauvine Burger Concept
1501 W Main St.
2nd
Cobra Burger
400 N 27th St.
3rd
Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint
5810 Grove Ave.
4th
Eazzy Burger
3204 W Leigh St.
Brunch
1st
SB’s Lakeside Love Shack
6935 Lakeside Ave.
2nd
LuLu’s
21 N 17th St.
3rd
Neighbor
4023 MacArthur Ave.
4th
Lyra’s Natural Kitchen
9200 Stony Point Pkwy #146
Brewery
1st
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
(multiple locations)
2nd
Triple Crossing Beer
(multiple locations)
3rd
The Veil Brewing Co.
(multiple locations)
Bloody Mary
1st
Helen’s
2527 W Main St.
2nd
Neighbor
4023 MacArthur Ave.
3rd
Bryan Park Bar & Grill
5516 Lakeside Ave.
4th
Metzger Bar & Butchery
801 N 23rd St.
BBQ
1st
ZZQ Texas Craft Barbeque
3201 W Moore St.
2nd
The Smoky Mug
15 E Brookland Park Blvd.
3rd
Bar-Q
2600 W Main St.
Bar
1st
Bamboo Café
1 S Mulberry St.
2nd
Fuzzy Cactus
221 W Brookland Park Blvd.
3rd
Bryan Park Bar & Grill
5516 Lakeside Ave.
Bagel
1st
Nate’s Bagels
21 S Allen Ave.
2nd
Chewy’s Bagels
3138 W Cary St.
3rd
Sunday Bagel
(pop-up)
Bakery
1st
Sub Rosa
620 N 25th St. (reopening November 2025)
2nd
Up All Night Bakery
1221 Bellevue Ave.
3rd
Idle Hands Bread Company
407 Strawberry St
4th
Kimmy Kakes RVA
American
1st
LUNCH.SUPPER!
3023 W Marshall St.
2nd
Liberty Public House
418a N 25th St.
3rd
Laura Lee’s
3410 Semmes Ave.
4th
Neighbor
4023 MacArthur Ave.
African
1st
Addis Ethiopian Restaurant
9 N 17th St.
2nd
Buna Kurs Ethiopian Café
402 1/2 N 2nd St., Suite A
3rd
Elegant Cuizines
415 W Grace St.
View the winners in each of the following categories:
