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Category Archives: restaurants
“Haunted Colleges and Universities of Virginia” Book Reading At 821 Cafe Today
From Style Magazine:
The book “Haunted Colleges and Universities of Virginia” explores ghostlore on Virginia campuses. Author Sharon Pajka’s book release will be held on Aug. 4 at 821 Café from 7:30 to 8 p.m. in conjunction with Haunts of Richmond’s Creepy Tales on Campus tour which follows the book signing.
821 Cafe Wins RVA Mag Reader Poll For Vegan Options
From RVA Mag:
821 Café didn’t just win this year, they reminded Richmond why they’ve been the go-to for vegetarians and vegans since before the trend hit mainstream. That classic Richmond mix of big portions, quirky charm, and a menu full of crowd favorites still works, and voters clearly weren’t interested in moving on. It’s comfort food with personality, and it still hits.
More Congratulations for David Shannon and L’Opossum
There is no dining experience quite like that of chef David Shannon’s L’Opossum. The Richmond restaurant is fantastically over-the-top, from the gilded tabletops to Shannon’s personal collection of art that fills every corner. The French-inspired menu with dishes like Les Excargots à la Ham Biscuit and The Swank Bank, with butter-poached lobster in a “louche yet obscenely rich truffled mornay cream,” as the restaurant describes it, hint at a bit of the Wonka-esque genius of Shannon who nightly presides over the pass, ensuring that each plate is prepared to his exacting standards. From the surroundings to the service, L’Opossum reminds guests that being playful is serious business.
Neighborhood Restaurant ‘Round Robin’ Planned
Photo by Arjan Stalpers on Unsplash
Now that Spring as arrived, Oregon Hill restaurant owners are getting ready to announce a promotional event, when, for two days, patrons can visit every restaurant in the neighborhood and enjoy at least one item in exchange for showing one master ticket. The idea is that people can walk from restaurant to restaurant and sample pre-designated fare, some which may be made special for the event.
It’s based on the traditional ‘progressive dinner party’, which involves a group of friends planning a meal with each course served at a different person’s home, making the party progress from house to house. Instead of eating an entire meal at one location, the group moves from one location to the next, with each location serving a different course.
The event will be called ‘The Oregon Hill Round Robin’ and will most likely take place early June, as more preparations and advertising are needed before official launch. It will undoubtedly happen during the week so it does not interfere with the weekend crowds. The names of the restaurants have not officially been listed (though at least 5 have committed), but they have all been described as within Oregon Hill’s ‘historic boundaries’ (which technically go to Broad Street and stretch into what is considered VCU’s academic campus) ‘or adjacent’.
West Cary Street looking westward from S. Pine
The ticket price for the Oregon Hill Round Robin has not been settled on yet either, though the figure of $100 has been bandied about.
Local foodies are all in a flutter, wondering and imagining how the menu will transpire. Many of them are thinking of breakfast food along W.Cary Street, while others are looking forward to a new Asian creation from the Grace Street or Belvidere Street area.
Restaurant Adarra Almost Open In Old Mamma Zu Building
RichmondBizSense.com has an article on how Richmond restaurant is set to open soon in the Mamma Zu spot at the corner of S.Pine and Spring. Renovations were massive but they kept the marker for Dirtwoman and hopefully much of the charm.The article includes an inside pic, but here are some photos of the outside from this damp December morning:
Elsewhere, there are excited rumors about ‘Brave Captain’ soon to open next to Tito’s on W.Cary. Another pizza option for the neighborhood?
L’Opossum Restaurant Celebrates It’s 10-Year Anniversary This Weekend
Award-winning China Street restaurant L’Opossum is now 10 years old!
Congratulations to David Shannon and crew!
From Richmond magazine: ‘Wild at Heart and Weird on Top’
RVA Magazine Article On 821 Cafe
RVA Magazine has a nice article on 821 Cafe and its current owners, who are celebrating their 20th anniversary of running the business. < follow this link and read the article. It also includes some cool history on the previous businesses at that location.
821 Cafe, the unassuming diner/restaurant/bar on the corner of Cherry and Cary streets – where Oregon Hill and the Fan meet – turns 20 years old in its current incarnation. Andrew Clarke and Chip Cooke bought the place from its previous owners back in 2004, and have since carried a torch we’d all be screaming about if it went out. 821 has been a staple in the neighborhood forever.
This place does really feel like it has a thousand fun ghosts partying in a hidden dimension just beyond our perception. If you tally up all of the hangovers put to rest in this place, the tonnage of awkward first dates, and the spillover of dank bro-downs, you get a a mere fraction of what this place really means to Oregon Hill, and Richmond as a whole. It’s much more than the sum of its parts. It’s a legend.
There were so many things that blew up at that time (2003 – 2005). Richmond was in a weird turning of the page/changing of the guard moment in time. The 90s dominant look in Richmond was raw and very grungy. At the turning of the millennium, its hardcore punk personality was giving way to sunnier, more fun expressions. I mean, we still screamed a lot but we danced more. It was like a tonal shift.
821 Cafe Announces New Hours
From social media post:
We got some exciting changes starting next week at the ol’ cafe! We will now be open 9am to 9pm Tuesday-Sunday. That’s an hour earlier on the weekdays, an hour later on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. and more importantly, we’ll now be staying open until 9 pm on the weekends! So, come see us a little earlier during the week or a lot later on the weekends!
Major Work Underway At S.Pine and Spring
Many Oregon Hill residents are thrilled and grateful that the old A&P/Mamma Zu’s building is being renovated and not torn down. Photos courtesy of Laurel Street neighbor Charles Pool.