We love a moody moors moment and can’t get enough of filmmaker Emerald Fennell’s stylish, steamy interpretation of “Wuthering Heights” (this is up for debate). But all that intensity left us… hungry? And it got us thinking, where would Cathy and Heathcliff eat in our fair city? Without further ado, here is our 24-hour guide to losing, regaining and being haunted by love in RVA. (These are not up for debate.)
The early, happy days
Richmond might not have “moors,” but a moody river view feels fairly close? C & H claim a corner table at Blue Atlas at sunset and Catherine alternates deep eye contact with suggestive bites of harissa cauliflower.
Heathcliff’s hideaway
Each time Cathy infuriatingly rejects him, Heathcliff retreats to Poe’s for off-the-grid shots and beers. It’s also right by Shiplock Park for broodily staring at the sea.
Cathy’s happy days
Of course Cathy and Edgar Linton have a permanent hold over Stella’s booth at Lafayette Tavern where she’d hold court, eating caviar-topped hashbrowns and sipping Paloma Royals.
Cathy’s breakdown/fever dream
Cathy retreats to bed for days, almost refusing food entirely (oh Richmond! The horror! Start a GoFundMe!) with the exception of trays of Garnett’s sandwiches that Edgar orders en masse. She tears through Point Guard after Point Guard and Bon Vivant after Bon Vivant, alternating turkey and ham while dramatically staring at the James River and muttering about her freedom. Does she dream of Heathcliff and a croque madame? Is it a fever or is it mornay? Are they fighting for love or the last piece of buttermilk pie?
The return
Heathcliff’s dramatic return takes place at Can Can. The music stops as Catherine sees him strolling down Cary Street through a big open window and she drops her espresso martini. He saunters in and suggestively bites off the end of a baguette. The heat in the air causes Champagne bottles to start spontaneously popping.
The obsession returns
Cathy and Heathcliff meet in a secluded booth at L’Opossum. Heathcliff has rented out the entire restaurant. He sips the Throwing Shade while Cathy eats dainty bites of the Fabergé egg. Things get heated when that silky, dark and sweet la petite morte au chocolate en flambé arrives.
A few days later we see them curled up in the darkest corner at The Brooklyn, eyes locked over the nutty, dark, sweet and slightly bitter Adonis cocktails.
The final meeting
Bedridden Cathy receives her last secret visit from Heathcliff, laden with Sub Rosa croissants, and hoping for redemption. They swear eternal devotion and then immediately blame each other for ruining their lives. A croissant gets crushed somewhere in the chaos, layers collapsing under Heathcliff’s fist, its flaky shattered shards like evidence of better intentions.
Catherine’s death
Cathy perishes shortly after the birth of her daughter, and Heathcliff spirals. Naturally, he begins haunting late-night bars again. He sits alone at the half booth in the back of Bamboo Cafe, brooding over a dirty martini and onion rings and muttering into his glass. At the latest last call in Richmond, he’s still there, staring down Main Street like a ghost of bad decisions.
Heathcliff’s revenge era
Years fly by and Heathcliff has become wealthy and rather petty. If anyone asks how he’s doing, he just says “fine” and orders another whiskey. He basically lives at McCormack’s Big Whisky and Mac, the owner, has become his closest confidant. They share stories of old haunts and earlier conquests.
The next generation
Unlike the film, we won’t cut the new generation. Cathy 2.0 and Hareton would cuddle up at The Roosevelt with meals that honor the generations that came before and local ingredients — humble, unpretentious and delicious.
The ending
Richmond really is the ideal second setting for an eerie love story, and we see this one wrapping at Patrick Henry’s Pub where Cathy hangs with other spirit friends, haunting only Heathcliff when he rolls in for one more shot of Jameson. Hearing her calling, he runs out on to Broad Street and the two off float over Libby Hill Park and into the ether.
24 hours of Wuthering Bites tour of Richmond
What to order: The spicy harissa cauliflower or the deceptively spice-forward sweet potato
What to wear: A vest and heels
Time of day: Dusk
Best for: Simultaneously ignoring and fawning over your date.
What to order: Many, many cold beers
What to wear: Ripped jeans, work boots, a hoodie
Time of day: Late evening
Best for: Commiserating over unrequited love
What to order: Caviar on everything, a large steak, rare
What to wear: High, low—Gucci loafers, thrifted Levi’s
Time of day: 6 p.m. precisely, with a reservation, making a friend holding a ring light follow you
Best for: Being seen living your best life
What to order: Frites, an espresso martini, bread service (yes, they charge for bread now, but your imaginary rich husband is funding this)
What to wear: Your best revenge look
Time of day: Happy Hour
Best for: Dropping a gossip bomb and watching your friends’ public reactions
What to order: Fabergé egg bedazzled with caviar and dill cured salmon, and la petite mort au chocolat en flambé
What to wear: Your most avant guard ensemble
Time of day: 8:30 p.m.
Best for: Impressing your date with a bold gesture
What to order: Anchovy bread and a house martini
What to wear: Black on black, bandit chic
Time of Day: 9:45 p.m.
Best for: Casual nonchalance that actually required a lot of chalance
What to order: Any croque
What to wear: Your comfiest soft clothes
Time of day: Noon
Best for: Making up
What to order: A dozen assorted pastries
What to wear: Elevated loungewear
Time of day: 11 a.m.
Best for: Impressing your would’ve/could’ve been in-laws; crying yourself to sleep
What to order: Three martinis
What to wear: Anything or nothing
Time of day: 12:45 a.m.
Best for: Erasing your memory
What to order: The expensive stuff
What to wear: Quiet luxury
Time of day: 10 p.m.
Best for: Talking a big game, reliving your glory days
What to order: Fried catfish and a side of Deb’s Nana’s collards
What to wear: Coastal grandma chic
Time of day: A wholesome 5:30 p.m.
Best for: Cozy, emotionally healthy gatherings
What to order: Shots and beers in the basement
What to wear: More black
Time of day: 11:59 p.m.
Best for: Finding or exorcising your demons
—XOXO Megan and Robey
