From slick, icy streets to false spring temps, this winter has been a beast. But daylight saving time is in two weeks, and there’s so much to look forward to. Let’s dig in.
What we’ve heard
The new year is bringing a lot of new eats. Here is the quick skinny on what we know:
Vicious Biscuit
The Southern fast-casual brunch chain is coming to the Stony Point Shopping Center in the former home of Southbound. A buttermilk biscuit Fat Boy sandwich — featuring crispy fried chicken, pimento cheese and hot honey — followed by some Trader Joe’s-ing sounds like a nice little Saturday. Opening date TBD.
Griffin Lounge
The Petersburg cafe opened a second, elevated coffee experience at 2037 W. Cary St., formerly Claudia’s Bake Shop. The location has seen some serious spiffing up and we are hyped for earthy vibes and interesting drinks.
New bar in the old Smoke and Barrel (2329 W Main St.)
The Jasper has taken over. What will the concept be? We don’t know. But we know there will be awesome drink. In the Fan. Fingers crossed it’s more The White Dog and less Lady N’alwins.
Bon Temps
Creole/Cajun cuisine in Bon Air (8000-8002 Buford Ct.) from the popular La Bete food truck. Read more about the cuisine and inspo here.
Le Petit Morceau
The French micro bakery found a full-time home at 1421 Bainbridge St. For now, there’s a full menu of French pastries and breads. The beverage program is still in the works. Follow them on Instagram for the latest updates on hours and offerings.
Fish Camp
The newest addition to the Ballast destination in Scott’s Addition, Fish Camp is casual eats from the Slack Tide team. Open for breakfast, lunch and early dinner, try clam chowder, pimento cheese, a lobster BLT and an andouille sausage corn dog. Because really, what else would we wash down a Cirrus Vodka ‘Cini Tini Briney Boy Martini with?
D’Annam Vietnamese Cuisine
House made noodles onsite — need we say more? Okay fine, we will. The newly opened spot at 7501 West Broad also features pho in a sizzling hot stone bowl so it doesn’t get too cold while you eat and Indochine-style fried rice. The menu is still building, and coming soon is an official Hangover Cure soup. We are so in.
One hundred ramen in a row? Try 120 different types, to be exact. Richmond just got its second* BYO ramen bar, Ramyum Zip. Well, technically it’s in Short Pump, but that doesn’t dampen our excitement. So what is it? A veritable buffet of packaged dried ramen, most around $5.50 sitting under the most unflattering lights ever. The noodles are cooked for you at Ramyum Zip, and then you load them up with unlimited toppings like scallions, fish balls, rice cakes and fried tofu for an extra $3. If you are not a ramen fiend, not to worry. There are shrimp crackers, rice bowls, bubble teas and even chicken wings and dumplings. Our local Reddit is going to go ham over this, so get in now.
P.S. Our favorite brand of ramen is the Indomie spicy.
*First ramen bar is inside the New Grand Mart (Broad Street location).
Culver’s
The Midwestern haven for burgers, fried cheese curds and frozen custard is coming to 4306 S Laburnum Ave. near White Oak Village. Opening date TBD
Where we’ve been
A few years back, a friend bemoaned the lack of real breakfast in Richmond. Where do you go before 11 a.m. — when it’s still actually breakfast — for a proper stack, a couple eggs over easy, or a quick BEC? Enter your dish mavens, RM and MM, with a non-comprehensive list of spots worth setting an alarm for (read: good).
4701 Forest Hill Ave.
 This spot opens at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday-Friday and 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday with a huge and hugely delicious set of morning type options. Positively delightful buttermilk pancakes (a three-stack) can be ordered from open to close. A mortadella, egg and cheese has the delightful addition of tater tots and is piled on a crisp English muffin, though we would suggest subbing into the flaky croissant which fortunately is the base of choice for their BYO egg sandwich.
1001 W Grace St.
Open 8:30 a.m. daily
Do people know that the Village Cafe has the best country breakfasts in town? Big Herb’s creamed chip beef is a heart stopper with crispy shingles of beef in white gravy slathered all over slightly toasted white bread. Pancakes are huge and available in every possible variation including the elusive breakfast Oreo pancake. We can’t think of a faster two eggs your way and toast nor can we conjure up better breakfast people watching.
4024 Cox Road
Open 6:30 a.m. daily
Anyone else wish Boychik’s would open a second spot? (Maybe in the city, maybe in the old— and vacant — Fresca on Addison, maybe just saying?)
The kitchen opens at 6:30 a.m. and all your breakfast favorites are in attendance. A bacon, egg and cheese on a fluffy biscuit will set you back $6, about the same as Hardee’s, but better, way better.
A tip (from Robey): The bagels and fish platters at Boychik’s are solid. Just get the Big Fish which gives you a bunch of everything:  lox (unsmoked and salted), nova (cold smoked Nova Scotia) and kippered (hot smoked and canned) salmon, a smoky and caper-forward whitefish salad, bagels, cream cheese, cucumbers and onions. A second tip (from Megan): You should always upgrade the bread that comes with your eggs to challah French toast. Thank me later.
5823 Patterson Ave.
Open 7 a.m. Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m. Sunday
With copious seating and a dining counter, this is one spot where you might be able to snag a seat if you don’t make it out of the house before 9 a.m. You’ll find traditional Southern favorites, but also some Mediterranean-leaning treats reflecting owner Faissal Aridi’s Lebanese Heritage. We like the Zucchini omelet, with the thinly sliced sauteed green stuff, plus tomatoes, onions and feta. Pro tip: Westwood is also a great secret spot to grab a whole cake to-go — you might need to ask the staff what is available.
111 E Grace St.
Open 9 a.m. daily
For a no-wait spot at Perly’s, you better be up early or go on a more chill weekday. But we do love that if you must wait for a coveted table, the hostess walks you right over to Stella’s Grocery next door where you can shop or sip a coffee before she returns to call your name. Order anything. You can’t go wrong: Freshly made corned beef hash, a bagel with schmear and one of six types of smoked fish, cinnamon babka French toast for the table. We also won’t judge if you go potato and duck pierogies first thing—we did it a few weeks ago and it was lovely.
1601 Park Ave.
Open 9 a.m. daily
We were recently reminded that this institution opens at 9 a.m., and if you arrive around then you likely won’t have to wait like you do for a coveted brunch seat. California huevos and a cafe con leche is the classic move here, but huevos your way and Cuban toast is a lighter weekday option.
1600 W Cary St.
Open 8 a.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday
Our favorite Fan delicatessen is now doing weekday breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. and we are in love. The streamlined menu is highlighted by one of the best shakshukas we’ve ever had, with runny eggs bathed in tomato-y matbucha sauce, topped with feta and served with crispy-outside, soft-inside challah toast for dipping. For more of a grab-on-the-way-to-work option, the classic breakfast sandwich features fluffy, thick scrambled eggs and your choice of cheese on a Baltik’s bagel. Add pastrami and you’ll likely be able to save half for an afternoon snack.
—XOXO Megan and Robey
Correction: An earlier version of this column had the incorrect address and spelling for Le Petit Morceau.
