LuLu's Restaurant: Restaurant Week - 21 N. 17th Street, Richmond, VA 23219

Never one to pass up Boston's Restaurant Week, I was so happy to find this window of affordable dining bliss is available in Richmond as well. Even better, the three course dinner is $25.11 per person... down from $33.12 in Boston. As if that wasn't good enough, $2.11 of that $25.11 is donated to FeedMore in order to provide for those who are hungry in the Central Virginia region.

For our Restaurant Week experience, I decided to make a reservation at LuLu's in Shockoe Bottom. My husband and I have a fondness for open kitchens and were excited to see one when we walked into the restaurant. With an industrial edge, LuLu's definitely has a cool but warm vibe. However, I do have to say I could have used the slightest bit of cushion on the booth seat.

Somewhat surprisingly, we did not stray from the Restaurant Week menu (which has been known to happen in the past). I ordered the country ham and pimento cheese croquettes, the miso-marinated cod, and the sweet potato pie. My husband decided on the lobster tart, hanger steak, and chocolate creme brulee. We both agreed that, while our waitress was nice enough, she did seem pretty distracted.

Our food came out rather quickly and was received with mixed reviews. My croquettes were pretty tasty but heavier than their traditional spanish counterparts. The ham and pimento cheese went well together and I enjoyed the hint of spice in the dish. I only tasted a piece of lobster from my husband's tart. It was well cooked, but something seemed gritty in the sauce. Maybe from the leeks? I asked him how the composed dish was and he said it was good, but almost too rich.

The entrees followed almost as quickly as the appetizers and I found myself disappointed. The cod was tasty and pretty well-cooked but I did not care for anything around it. The fried broccoli garnish had an odd taste to it and the accompaniments were overly miso-ed. The miso was so overwhelming that I did not finish the plate, which was not a super generous serving to start. My husband's steak turned out to be more successful. The meat was cooked well and the classic grilled onion and pureed potato combination was hard to fumble.

Dessert was good, if not a little on the small side. My sweet potato pie slice was thin but the components were good. The chocolate creme brulee tasted like warm brownie batter and somehow ended up on my side of the table... mostly to compensate for the fact that I didn't eat much of my main course.

Perhaps my experience was unique to Restaurant Week, but it didn't leave me excited about going back to LuLu's on a full-priced night. I always feel like Restaurant Week is an opportunity to showcase what a restaurant has to offer, perhaps to an audience it wouldn't have a chance to capture otherwise, and LuLu's missed the mark for me.

Akida - 814 North Robinson Street Richmond, VA 23220

Just like how Friday night was pizza night when I was a kid, Friday night used to be sushi night for us in Boston. Over the last couple of years we got away from our ritual, but decided to bring it back this past Friday.

After seeing a lot of 5 star Yelp-ings, we decided to venture down West Broad to Akida. With a dining room roughly the size of a sardine can, it was no surprise that two couples were ahead of us waiting for a table. However, the line did move faster than I anticipated and we were seated within about 15 minutes.

Two waitresses buzzed through the tiny dining room, efficiently taking orders, delivering plates, and busing tables. We quickly received our drinks and (not so quickly) looked through the menu. What you have to know about my husband and me when we go out for sushi is that we have a routine. I take care of the apps, he takes care of the rolls. My job is usually pretty straightforward. Miso soup for him, salad for me, shrimp shumai to share. While admittedly a little on the boring and painfully predictable side, we know what we like and it does give us a way to easily compare restaurants. All of our appetizers hit the table at almost lightning speed and, we both agreed, they all scored high on the sushi restaurant relativity scale. The miso soup was much richer than the normal watered-down versions. I opted for the seaweed salad and it too had great, consistent (but not overwhelming) flavor. Finally, even more rarely, we could actually tasted the shrimp in the steamed shumai! That always gets bonus points in my book.

Moving onto the main event- sushi rolls. Where my job was easy, my husbands was not. Akida's roll menu is quite extensive. It took a while to get through and even longer to decide. Somewhat amusingly, when our order came out it was apparent that 3 out of the 4 rolls he chose were different variations of the same thing. One plain spicy tuna, one shrimp tempura with spicy tuna on top, and one spicy tuna with tempura flake on top! Needless to say, we did enjoy all forms of spicy tuna. The tempura was even still a little warm from just being fried- a first for me. Our order was topped off with something completely different- the green monster roll (funny enough, probably not named after Fenway Park like those of the same name in Boston). I should have asked to see the menu to figure out what exactly was in it, but it was delicious and had a really light taste which was a great counterbalance to our tempura-spicy tuna bonanza. All of the rolls tasted really fresh which is definitely what I want, especially when it comes to raw fish!

Akida was a great way to get us back into the swing of Friday night sushi!

Kuba Kuba - 1601 Park Avenue Richmond, VA 23220

I've seen it on Food Network, I've heard about it from friends, I had to try Kuba Kuba for myself. Let me say this- it did not disappoint!

There was a brief wait for a table during the dinner rush on Wednesday night in the small, no frills dining room. Well, to be totally honest, I was a few minutes late meeting my dinner buddy... so I think it was brief (still working on the whole punctuality thing). Once seated, I immediately knew I was going to order a Cuban cuisine staple, the Cuban sandwich. I really haven't experienced authentic Cuban recipes before, so I figured I should start with the basics. My friend ordered another well-known Cuban dish and one of the specials for the evening, Ropa Vieja. Our server took our order shortly after we decided and it was not too long before we received our food.

I absolutely loved my sandwich. One thing you need to know to fully appreciate my favorable review is that I am not a huge pork fan. I have never enjoyed the taste of ham and I went for the better part of my high school career not eating any pig products. I'd say it's because I was respecting my half-Jewish heritage, but really it was biology class. I have since worked pork back into my diet, but have never really gotten fully on-board with the "everything's better with bacon" philosophy. That being said, Kuba Kuba Cuban sandwich=delicious. The main ingredient was roast pork, accented with ham, swiss cheese, pickle, and mustard. All of the components combined in the pressed Kuban bread to make one cohesive, savory, satisfying flavor. The sandwich was served with tostones (fried plantains) and brightened on the plate with a garnish of diced peppers and red onion. Not one to miss out on anything, I tried a fork full of my friend's Ropa Vieja. Again, a wonderfully savory dish. Certainly a must-order for anyone who likes pulled beef as much as I do.

I've talked about my love of Top Chef on the blog before, but the channel on loop at my house most of the day and night is the Food Network. I can't tell you how many times I've been in the kitchen and know how to do something I've never done before or react to fix something I've never encountered because I've seen it on FN. I couldn't tell you what show it was or when I saw it, but the information somehow emerges when I need it. One of the more recent shows to hit Food Network is Best Thing I Ever Ate. After we decided to make the move to Richmond, there was an episode of Best Thing where Duff Goldman (Ace of Cakes) highlighted Kuba Kuba's Tres Leche Cake. Again, not what I would typically order. But, if Duff came all the way to Richmond to have it, I'll try it. Boy am I glad I did! The cake was moist, but not soaked and the marshmallow-like frosting was to die for. It was a perfect way to end the meal and certainly not something I would have thought to try on my own.

An avid fan of both the Cuban sandwich and paella, I can't wait to bring my husband to Kuba Kuba... and I will definitely save room for dessert!

Zeus Gallery - 201 North Belmont Avenue Richmond, VA 23221

Last week I visited Zeus Gallery. Well, actually, it was me aaand a pretty large party of ladies. The small restaurant had an instantly cozy feel to it when I walked in and they were nice (and smart) enough to put our big group in a second, semi-private room.

There is one unique feature about Zeus Gallery that still leaves me undecided. There are no menus… at least not in the traditional sense. The dinner menu for the evening is written on a child-sized chalkboard and placed at the end of the table for all to view. The wine list is on a large wall-mounted chalkboard, intended to be seen by the entire room. While I applaud the intimate rustic feel the restaurant seems to be going for, the practicality and ease-of-use just isn’t there. Fortunately, our group had pretty good eyesight, but I could imagine the set-up being incredibly difficult for those who struggle with reading menus. Even with good eyes, we had to pass the somewhat clumsy dinner menu board around the table, which made for a funny, if not mildly awkward, experience. As for the wine menu, it was on the wall behind my head… so I could not see all but the bottom right corner. So as not to make a fuss, I ordered a generic “sauvignon blanc” and called it a day. All this as a long way of saying loose the chalkboards- or make cheap printouts that are easier to pass around and see along with the cutesy boards.

But, I digress… on to the food. I was lucky enough to steal a bite of salad from one of my fellow guests and it was really quite good. A special that evening, it was an arugula-based salad with marinated tomatoes, homemade croutons, and a charred tomato vinaigrette. The dressing really had a great punch to it that elevated the appetizer from just another ordinary salad to something special.

After tasting the salad and smelling all of the great smells floating around the restaurant, I had high hopes for my entrée. I was having a difficult time deciding between shrimp and grits, scallops over white bean puree, and a homemade pasta (as noted in the Enoteca Sogno review, I am a total sucker for homemade pasta in any form). Based on our waitress’ recommendation, I went with the scallop dish. However, I must admit I was a bit disappointed when it arrived at the table. I am sure plating 15 dishes at the same time is no small task, so it’s not that I was expecting mine to be perfect. The scallops were definitely a little overdone, with one seared side and one “gently kissed” side. I found the white bean puree and the collared greens to be overly salty and overpowering to the dish. And, although the bacon in the greens could have been a nice touch to enhance the dish, it just seemed to be rather aggressive for a plate that seemed like it lent itself to a bit more finesse.

Our server went completely out of her way to accommodate us, from separate checks to splitting the cost of a bottle of wine 4 ways on said checks. She definitely put more work on herself to make it easier for us and I totally appreciated the gesture.

I do plan to go back and try Zeus Gallery again… this time, maybe with a slightly smaller crowd.

Westhampton Pastry Shop: Doughnuts - 5728 Patterson Avenue Richmond, VA 23226

Since I made the move to Richmond, I've heard about the Westhampton Pastry Shop and their doughnuts. The "doughnut squad headquarters" sign in the window actually made me chuckle at first, but after hearing such good things I thought I'd see for myself if there was any truth to the statement.

Late one weekday morning I walked into the bakery and ordered my single glazed doughnut. The total came to 87 cents and I was already pleased! To me, glazed doughnuts are usually fine... unremarkable, really. This was different. I can best describe the Westhampton doughnut as a cross between a glazed doughnut and a cider doughnut- combining the best components of each. The glaze was nicely sweet and evenly coated the pastry. The doughnut itself was substantial, but not overly dense, and had a lovely hint of fall spice. Overall, it was well-balanced and satisfying.

Westhampton makes an otherwise unmemorable snack a stand-out. I even convinced my husband (who is not a fan of the doughnut) to try one next time I visit the shop!

The Blue Goat - 5710 Grove Ave. Richmond, VA, 23226

Like Enoteca Sogno, The Blue Goat is one of my new Richmond favs. We met friends for dinner there this past Saturday; what a treat!

We arrived right on time (working on that whole punctuality thing) and the hostess informed me that a party was still at the table assigned to our reservation. After only a minute of looking around, she apologized - completely unnecessarily - and sat us at a different booth. Our waiter didn't follow too far behind and did a good job of talking over the Saturday night buzz.

Since The Blue Goat is a tapas-style restaurant, we decided to divide and conquer the menu. All-in-all, we tried the:

• House made whipped honey sage butter with artisan bread- butter was DElicious
• Pommes frites with pork dust, sea salt and garlic aioli- lovely salty pre-dinner snack
• Forest mushroom ragout with mascarpone polenta- a little overpowering, not exactly the crowd favorite
• House made Ricotta with a warm white truffle honey and sea salt- great savory/sweet balance
• Braised pork cheeks over spaetzle- awesome! highly recommend, especially around oktoberfest
• Seared Diver scallops with a smoked vanilla bean sabayon- nicely cooked and seasoned
• Pork and venison bolognese over housemade potato gnocchi- wonderful, fluffy gnocchi
• Veal demi braised oxtail over butter whipped potatoes- table favorite by far... huge depth of flavor and perfect for a fall evening

I paired my dinner with a light, fresh strawberry/basil/vodka cocktail and crisp, clean 3 Brooms Sauvignon Blanc- both great choices.

To round out the evening we tried the Caramel & Lava Salt In House Gelato, the Chocolate Godiva Pate, and the Bourbon Barrel Stout Ice Cream Float (yes, a beer ice cream float). All were delicious in their own ways. The gelato had a great, deep caramel flavor that was really enhanced by the lava salt. The "pate" was like a lovely ball of fudge, but not overwhelmingly rich. And the beer float was like a spiked childhood favorite.

During the course of the night, plates came out quickly, but not on top of each other, and the staff was very attentive. We left pleasantly full after a great evening with great company. I can't wait to return to The Blue Goat for a fun night out or just a bite and a drink during the week!

Huynh's Restaurant- 5905 W. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23230

After a disappointing start at Mekong we crossed the street to Huynh's, hoping for a better experience. It was probably 8:45 or so on a Thursday, so we weren't surprised to be two of only a few others in the restaurant. The dining room was very clean, if not a little antiseptic-smelling. Our waiter came right over with water and took our drink order. We were already ahead of where we were across the street!

Our waiter took our dinner order with equal speed and we had our appetizer in no time. We tried the crystal shrimp dumplings. They weren't bad, but the rice paper wrapping had a little bit more of a rice cake taste than either of us were expecting. However, we certainly couldn't complain about temperature- they came out piping hot!

We both ordered pho soup- mine with shrimp, his with "everything." It all came out fresh and hot, just what you would expect from the famous vietnamese dish. I actually almost finished my bowl... a rare occurrence!

Overall, good food and service will make Huynh's a great standby for those Pho cravings that will undoubtedly get more frequent as the weather gets cooler.

Mekong - 6004 West Broad Street Henrico, VA 23230

Well, this will be one short review. Last Thursday night we decided to cast aside leftovers and grab a bite (or a slurp, since we were in the mood for Pho Soup) at Mekong. My husband and I had dinner there one of the first nights we moved to Richmond, but were far too tired to focus much on the meal. We were excited to go back and actually be able to concentrate on the food and have a relaxing dinner. We gave up one weekend night due to the crowd, but this was Thursday night... how bad could it be?

We pulled into the parking lot a little after 8:00, only to find the same packed lot. We did find a parking space and walked in to give it a try. After looking around for a minute, the host sat us at a table in their front room. A few minutes later he came to give us place settings... and that was the last time we saw anyone at our table for a good 15 minutes. There was one clearly frazzled waiter who rushed in and out of the room, careful not to make eye contact with anyone but the particular table he was serving. As time ticked by, we tried to get his attention with a polite "excuse me." He paused and continued on his way out of the room. It was unclear if he heard us (and ignored us), so we waited a little longer. A woman bussing one of the tables next to us saw us looking around and got us glasses of water. By now we had been sitting at the table for at least 20 minutes. We told her how long we had been waiting and she went to talk with the waiter. We saw him rudely ignore her as well and that was our cue to leave. The waiter certainly was unfazed as he did see us get up and walk out.

It sure seemed like an overwhelming, and most likely understaffed, night. However, I know from restaurant and customer service experience of my own that there are better ways to treat your patrons and coworkers. I'm sure we will try Mekong again (as I know it is a Richmond favorite), but it probably won't be for a while.

Enoteca Sogno - 1223 Bellevue Avenue, Richmond, VA 23227

LOVE, LOVE, LOVED Enoteca Sogno in Bellevue. Aside from almost missing the place (yikes!) due to teeny, tiny, almost non-existant signage, this italian wine bar nailed it.

The restaurant itself is simple and cozy. Once seated, our water glasses were immediately filled and a gentleman I assumed to be the owner came to take our wine order. He gave us a wonderful background on the Barbaresco we selected while uncorking the bottle, poured our glasses, and set the bottle down behind us displaying the cork artfully in front of it. The red started the night off on a high note and we commented on the depth of the wine list in both choice and price.

Enoteca Sogno has a simple but enticing menu and our waiter added to it with a full list of specials for the night. Pasta is one of those foods that I could eat almost every day and fresh pasta is always such a treat. I selected the seared scallop, arugula, and reduced balsamic appetizer special, but couldn't decide between the pasta dishes. I asked our server which he liked best. His through descriptions of his top choices led me to the pesto. My husband (the more decisive one in the marriage) went for the fig, gorgonzola, and pancetta appetizer special and the sausage and rapini penne -side note: I now know that rapini is, in fact, broccoli raab-.

We received a pre-appetizer bread basket with extra-virgin olive oil and the appetizers themselves did not disappoint. My husbands figs were sweet and salty, while my scallops were cooked perfectly. The sear almost gave them a meaty taste that was really satisfying.

Dinner was equally as successful. I'm pretty sure it was the best pesto I've ever eaten. The sauce had almost a creamy texture on perfectly-cooked fresh tagliatelle. As for the sausage and rapini, I loved how the spiciness of the sausage and the broccoli raab permeated the tomato and marinara and ricotta sauce. It was such a satisfying dish (and my husband will tell you that the bread from the basket was the perfect vehicle for soaking up any remaining sauce).

Although we were pretty full, the meal was too good not to finish with a little dessert. Our waiter recited the three selections and we chose to split the tiramisu. Now, I typically find that tiramisu can be one of the most overdone italian desserts... and not in a good way. Too often it is soggy mess, doused with liquor and not the "pick-me-up" the name suggests. Enoteca Sogno's tiramisu was every bit a pick-me-up and one of the best I've had in a very long time. It was light and flavorful, without being overpowering. All of the ingredients were distinct and it was the perfect ending to our wonderful meal.

My only somewhat negative comment was that, even without a packed house, the dining room was a bit noisy. However, it was not overly distracting and nothing a little acoustic work couldn't fix.

We had a perfect date night and will be visiting Enoteca Sogno again. It might even end up being our go to when out-of-town guests come to visit Richmond!

Capital Ale House - 4024-A Cox Road, Glen Allen, VA 23060

Last night my husband and I ventured out for a casual Friday night dinner. After seeing the Mekong's packed parking lot and diners waiting on the sidewalk, we decided to keep driving down West Broad (I suppose that review will have to wait). A chill in the Richmond air, we Northeasterners were finally starting to feel a bit Autumnal so we pulled in to grab a beer and bar food at the Capital Ale House.

The hostess told us there would be a 15 minute wait. Being a Friday night, we had finally resigned to the fact that we would have a wait wherever we went. Why not go to the bar and grab a beer in the meantime? As the restaurant's name suggests, the Ale House's beer menu is extensive. Their wall of glass door coolers display the bottled selections with taps in the middle. I was tempted by the Dogfish Head (60 Minute IPA is one of my favorites) or one of the bitter or triple choices. Instead, I went seasonal and tried the Brooklyn Post Road Pumpkin Ale- side review: good but not particularly Pumpkin-y, in my opinion-. While placing our order, my little table buzzer went off. 15 minutes.. more like 5!

Our server greeted us and she was very pleasant. I ordered the half-rack of ribs and the hubby got a burger. While my entree came with a salad, he added one to his order. The greens were fresh and the dressings had a little twist, which was nice (blue cheese with dill and a smokey ranch). As for the main course, I was slightly disappointed with my ribs. I do prefer a well-sauced rib and they hit the mark there. However, the meat seemed kind of tough for ribs... they certainly didn't fall off the bone. I usually don't expect ribs to be a knife and fork meal (even being from Connecticut). The accompanying fries were fine, but I really did not care for the cole slaw. I have extremely fond memories of vinegar-based cole slaw from my childhood, but, while it was not mayonnaise-y, it had some very odd flavors. My husband's mushroom-gruyere burger was delicious. The beef was almost buttery, complemented by the toppings and bun.

Now, the restaurant could definitely benefit from a bit of a facelift. The wood dividing the restaurant is topped with dated glass blocks lined with electric blue lights that just scream 1980's fab. The decor seems somewhat thrown together- Oktoberfest pennant banners hanging from the ceiling, contemporary asymmetrical salad bowls. Just a little updating and a touch more lighting would go a long way.

All in all, Capital Ale House is a good place to grab a burger and a [craft] beer in the 'burbs. But, some improvements could definitely make it great.

Six Burner - 1627 W. Main St. Richmond, VA

Ahh, back in the saddle again. Time to dust off the typing fingers and get back to writing about what I love- food.

For my inaugural Richmond post, I visited Six Burner in the Fan. Parking turned out not to be the challenge I anticipated, so the evening started out smoothly. I was even early which is kind of a big deal- just ask someone who knows me. The hostess promptly greeted us, complemented me on my dress (how lovely of her), and seated us in a very clean, if not slightly tight, booth. Our party complete, we started out with cocktail orders. Six Burner has a very unique drink menu which convinced our group to stray from defaulting to wine right away. Each cocktail turned out to be refreshing, albeit somewhat surprising for my husband (whose Maker's Mark drink came in a very manly champagne flute).

Both the fried green tomato and fried oyster appetizers were delicious. The crust on each was well-seasoned and crunchy. Accompanying sauces added to, rather than overwhelmed, the dish.

The main course did not disappoint. The oyster mushroom bucatini had a wonderfully earthy and complex flavor. It wasn't the most lady-like to eat in the company of others, but I found myself not really caring after a few bites! The wine in the sauce (I think it was madeira) gave the dish a pleasant, unexpected taste and the cheese provided just the right salty note. Unfortunately, I did fall down on the job a bit and didn't taste what anyone else ordered. Apparently I was a little too wrapped up in my own selection- will do better next time.

Our server was knowledgable and very accommodating. When we were ready for wine, her Pinot Noir recommendation was spot on. She made sure my entree did not have too much cream and was just really approachable and good-natured in general.

I would certainly recommend Six Burner (can't wait to try their tasting menu one of these weeknights) and think I might really like it here in Richmond!

Commonwealth Cravings Has Moved!

Out with the old and in with the new... Commonwealth, that is.

Goodbye Massachusetts, hello Virginia!

What better way to get to know my new city than through food. Looking forward to getting back to the blog and tasting everything the Richmond area has to offer.