My Top 5 Richmond Restaurants

One of the things that occupies many of the conversations that many of my friends and I seem to have is what are your Top 5 Richmond Restaurants? Forget about price-If you want to go have an amazing meal where do you go? The debate goes on and on, let's face it here in Richmond people are passionate about their food. I think it feeds off the local business or else vibe the Fan puts out, but of all the things that makes Richmond special-local restaurants has to be up there. And if you are gonna sell me on how good Kona Grill is or how amazing Maggiano's new dessert is, you reading the wrong damn blog. Get out and experience Richmond, and here are my recommendations on where to start:

1. Acacia- The easiest choice on my list is who do you put at #1. Acacia kills it, every damn time. They have won award after award and in my opinion they deserve every one. From appetizer, to salad, to entree, to dessert they are flawless almost every time. Acacia will tell you they take pride in their seafood dishes and it shows. Just an amazing dining experience-Dale keep doing what you are doing

2. Edo's Squid/Mamma Zu's - To narrow down your favorite 5 restaurants in Richmond you may be tempted to cheat a little bit and that is kinda what I do right here. With the same owner, and very similar cuisine/menus I call Mamma Zu's and Edo's the same restaurant. I like Edo's a little better personally-better atmosphere, and a few more meat choices on the menu in my experience but the food at both is incredible. I have heard people make good arguments that Edo's has the best seafood in town(try any of their fish especially the Rockfish and the Tuna), best steak in town (the Hanger Steak is mean), and the best Italian (this is an easy one IMO-their Marsala is amazing!). I'm down for Edo's regardless of mood, craving, day-the place is just that damn good.

3. Millies - If you spend any time in your 20's living, drinking, partying, in the Fan you learn to live for Sunday Brunch. It is a great way to try amazing restaurants without breaking the bank. Plus after two hard nights out what is better than a great meal to get the day of rest started. Brunch is a Richmond tradition. No one does brunch better than Millies. Unfortunately this is no secret as shown by the multiple hour wait they have been known to have on any normal Sunday. Get there early or prepare to wait with a Mimosa or Bloody Mary because the food is worth the wait. Whether you go for the Castro's mess, the Lobster, scrambled eggs with Puff Pastry and Hollandaise, or just a darn good Eggs Benedict it never disappoints.

4. Mezzanine - These last two spots are difficult for me, a lot of worthy contenders. Mezzanine is a baby to the Richmond restaurant scene but when they came in, they came in with a bang. Open less than 4 mos and claiming Style Weekly's 2008 restaurant of the year, they turned a lot of heads early and really never slowed down. One of the first restaurants on the "locavore" movement, they use local ingredients in creative ways and seem to consistently wow you. Their Ceviche is probably the best in Richmond, and their menu has some real diversity to it, appealing to a range of diners.

5. Kuba Kuba - This is the hardest spot choice for me. There are a lot of great places you could put into this spot and you always feel like you are leaving a deserving restaurant out. But I love Kuba Kuba. My favorite part of Kuba Kuba is the diversity of their menu. It's all Cuban food what the hell does he mean? Kuba Kuba is great if you want breakfast- Huevos Rancheros or any of the Tortilla dishes, lunch- Cuban Sandwich, Kubanaso, and Turkey Press are all amazing(gotta love the tostones) , or dinner-their nightly specials are always great-from the Lamb Chops to the Pork Shank to NY Strip you can't go wrong. Take someone from out of town to Kuba Kuba and it will stand out-plus Manny is the man, you meet him once you have to love him


There it is-starting this blog off with my most debated topic in Richmond food- Give me your opinions, if you eat out in Richmond you have to have em. There are a lot of great ones who could be on this list-Mekong, Juleps, Comfort all immediately come to mind but it is hard to narrow it down. Get out there support local restaurants and tip your damn server!