Richmond, VA

I’ve been dropping into Richmond for holidays for the last 10 years, and I’m just now figuring out the food destinations. I hope to add more as time goes on, but for now, I’ll also link this thread to others:

Virginia: Charlottesville, Richmond, Hampton Roads

Notes from Virginia

After my most recent trip, I realized that Richmond has a thing for grilled/broiled sandwiches. It doesn’t sound exciting, but the two locally-owned places I tried both used vintage (or just old?) gas grill/broilers. These souped-up, flame-shooting toasters are encrusted with years of burnt-on cheese, bread and sandwich miscellany. The charred tidbits are like the terroir of each shop’s sandwich, something akin to the pans at Burt’s Pizza—imparting flavors, aromas and regional funkiness that can never be duplicated elsewhere. And that’s a good thing.

Chiocca’s (pronounced “chock-uhs”, as far as I can tell) is the oldest of the two—in the same dark basement location since 1929. They offer a long list of sandwiches on the menu and specials board, stuffed with all manner of meats, cheeses, veggies and extras. I had The Gulf (a rockin’ tuna melt) one day, and on the second visit, a Made in Turkey—a grilled sub oozing with all the makings of a great BLT with turkey, plus prosciutto. They do the fancy ingredients, but without the holier-than-thou foo-foo-ness.

Chiocca’s
425 N Belmont Ave
Richmond, VA 23221
Phone: 804-355-3228

The second place, Phil’s Continental Lounge, has less of the build-your-own-monstrosity appeal as Chiocca’s, but it’s a local-heavy, no-frills bar that serves good bar food—including the “grilled” sandwiches. The bartenders are sassy, the locals are friendly, and there’s usually a game on. Plus, they have Yuengling on tap.

Phil’s Continental Lounge
5704 Grove Ave
Richmond, VA
(804) 288-8687

The Belmont Butchery was listed in the most recent Saveur 100 under the section on the increasing number of independent butchers (#60, “Old School, New Blood”). I had a nice chat with the owner, Tanya Cauthen, about the irony and absurdity of the foie gras ban in Chicago…and bought a nice hunk of it (along with some marble-white lardo and andouille).

15 North Belmont Avenue
Richmond, VA
804.422.8519
Monday thru Friday 10:00am to 7:00pm
Saturday 10:00am to 6:00pm

Bill’s Barbecue is a Richmond institution. Although it’s not the greatest version of a minced bbq pork sandwich I’ve ever had (I prefer the sliced), it’s a classic—served on a basic, white bun that turns glue-y and sweet by the last bite. The sandwich is best doused in the house-made hot sauce and washed down with Bill’s sweet limeade and, for a curtain call, followed by a slice of fresh pie (coconut, apple, pecan, and more).

Bill’s Barbecue (multiple locations)
927 Myers St
Richmond, VA 23230
(804) 358-7763
(804) 353-2757

Comfort serves—as the name implies—comfort food, but it’s yet another restaurant that, IMO, fails at doing the upscale spin on down-home favorites. There’s a terminal wait on weekend nights, and you pay a premium for a less-good, uppity version of food you can get down the street at a chicken, fish, barbecue shack for a fraction of the price. And, our food arrived kinda cold and unseasoned.

Comfort
200 W. Broad St.
Richmond, VA
(804) 780-0004

I had a nice, spicy beef patty at Jamaica House. The place does a brisk take-out business, and I’m told the curried goat and oxtail stews are the gems of the menu. The owner has also opened up another restaurant, Carena’s Jamaican Grille, just outside of town.

Jamaica House
1215 W Broad St
Richmond, VA 23220-3005
Phone: (804) 358-5793

Carena’s Jamaican Grille
7102 Midlothian Turnpike
(804) 422-5375