The Dish

Our second column features deep dish news, choice V-Day eats, happiest hours and more.

Welcome back to your biweekly fun-run.

For the record, this week’s Dish was written while sipping $8 old fashioneds at Lemaire’s recently reinstated happy hour. On Monday through Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m., you too can sip $8 cosmos, or the aforementioned old fashioneds, $4 select beers and $6 house red and white wine. It’s a “see and be seen” (make it chic and frugal) in Richmond’s swankiest hotel bar. We’re so glad this pre-COVID favorite has returned.

What we’ve heard

Deep-dish dreams 

After rumor followed by rumor, we finally have a location for Emmy Squared, the Detroit pizza chain with a cult following and eight locations across New York City, Nashville, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and Louisville. The pizza joint is slated to take over the old Burger Bach space in Short Pump at 2225 Old Brick Road.

Shawarma Shake-Up

Located at 6215 W Broad St., Lebanese Bakery is now Shawarma Inc. The menu has many of your old Lebanese Bakery favorites like fatayer (savory pies) and Lebanese pizzas, but they’ve added eye-catching, vertical rotisserie “spits” roasting chicken and beef shawarma. And they are popular—the restaurant sold out the first three days of its grand opening.

Where we’ve been, what we’ve seen

Black History Month 

Ruby Scoops will continue its flavor series to celebrate Black History Month. This year, owner Rabia Kamara will center her creations on the African diaspora to “showcase how flavors that started on the continent have spread through the Caribbean, South and Central America and then North America,” she says. Be on the lookout for ice cream flavors like mango habanero made with Sankofa Orchard habaneros.

Learn more at rubyscoops.com and Happily Natural

A file photo of Rabia Kamara at her Ruby Scoops location on Brooklyn Park Boulevard.

Valentine’s Day is looming 

A polarizing Hallmark holiday for sure, made better only by snacks.

Juan More Taco has heart-shaped taco boxes (as in the tacos are heart shaped, not the box) made for friends, lovers or co-workers. The box comes with 25 tacos and every topping a person might want: six roses, chips and salsa and two margaritas. Give the heart what it wants and who has a heart that doesn’t want tacos? But also—why only two margaritas, Juan? We’re asking for us.

The box is $80 and can be ordered by calling the shop at (804) 537-8226. Located at 304 N. Robinson. juanmoretaco.com

Juan More Taco has heart-shaped taco boxes made for friends, lovers or co-workers. The box comes with 25 tacos and every topping a person might want: six roses, chips, salsa and two margaritas. Photo by Scott Elmquist

From your favorite fishery, Fighting Fish, you’ll find a full “chocolate box” of chef’s choice Temari sushi. It’s $75, cute and colorful, and you can choose to pick it up at 2 or 5 p.m. on the big day of V. As of this writing, these were not sold out. To order, visit fightingfishrva.com, select “order takeout online” and click “platters.”

Fighting Fish, a full “chocolate box” of chef’s choice Temari sushi. It’s $75, cute and colorful, and you can choose to pick it up at 2 or 5 p.m. on the big day of V. As of writing, these were not sold out. Image provided by Fighting Fish

You’ve got to try it

Sweet P’s

Is this the only chocolate souffle in town? Most likely. Sweet P’s owner and chef Antonio Owen is all about M.T.O., meaning everything on his menu—including his chocolate souffle—is made to order, so be prepared to wait. It takes the time it takes. The souffle is as it should be, an airy delight. Watch for upcoming (also made-to-order) THC/CBD dinners. sweetpsrva.com

The Chocolate Soufflé at Sweet P’s. Photo by Scott Elmquist

Echelon Wine Bar

The Shockoe Slip wine bar regularly offers wine classes and dinners, but we’ve got our eye on the Italian Wine Dinner coming up on Feb. 1. Focused on northern Italian wine and food, the dishes are braised and stewed with stocks and wines and butter and perfect for winter. Tickets are $99 and get you a welcome bubbly and four paired courses. Consider booking this as a pre-masses Valentine’s date night.

Wings and beer

Did you resolve to save money in 2025? You don’t have to stay home. Go to Fuzzy Cactus! On Wednesday nights, our favorite rock ‘n’ roll bar is offering a dozen of its insanely good wings for $10 and $3 frosty Modela Negra mugs. We are already fans of the happy hour, which runs Tuesday through Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. with $5 daiquiris and old fashioneds along with $3 Lone Star beers, among other specials. 

What we’re eating at home

Robey: All the soup because my face is freezing off, but mostly pozole from Abuelitas. Need soup inspo? Check out our roundup here.

Megan: It’s my birthday month! The only thing I’m eating at home is electrolyte packets and protein shakes. But did you know The Jasper offers a bangin’ dirty martini with house-made brine?

Where we’re headed

Somewhere south, though not necessarily warmer than the 10 degree weather we are experiencing now.

Raleigh

The train ride is less than three hours and the drinks are amazing.

Here’s your itinerary:

  • Dinner at Jolie. Order the beef tartare and escargot. Ask about the door to the secret bar downstairs.
  • Drinks at Aunt Betty’s Gin & Absinthe Bar. Order the “IDK, Man, Just Make Me a Weird Daiquiri” and get your world rocked.
  • Breakfast at Heirloom. Order the crispy chicken biscuit with hot honey.

An Uber away, Durham

Your itinerary:

—XOXO Megan and Robey

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