Let's drop the act, shall we? Any attempt at making (and keeping) a New Year's resolution is a joke. Whether you're trying to save some cash or lose a few pounds, I'll bet you will have abandoned the whole exercise before chips and dip go on sale for the Super Bowl.
What? You feel guilty not even attempting to achieve some sort of goal? Fine. Allow me to suggest the only resolution I see worth pursuing.
Resolve to support your local restaurants.
Despite a touch economy, Richmond's restaurant scene managed to produce new gems this year. Here's the list of my favorite new restaurants of 2010. For your sake (and that of our hard-working restaurant staff), this is definitely a resolution you can stick with.
Aziza's on Main
2110 E. Main St.
(804) 344-1523
www.azizasonmain.com
By day, this Shockoe Bottom café dishes up deli case goodies, ranging from chicken and potato salads to exceedingly refreshing tabouli and stuffed grape leaves. By night, the lights dim, the wine corks pop, and small plates, such as a perfectly soft-boiled egg served atop arugula, crimini mushrooms, prosciutto and mustard sauce, attract foodies far and wide. But there's more. Aziza's has also proved to be one of the stronger contenders in Richmond's recent wood-fired pizza wars. Its perfectly crispy, thin-crust pies are simply topped with everything from Belmont Butchery's hot sausage to San Marzano tomatoes.
The Grill at Libbie and Patterson
5724 Patterson Ave.
(804) 285-0002
Located in the former home of neighborhood favorite Freckles, The Grill at Libbie and Patterson is less than a year old but feels like it has been around as long as its predecessor. Serving a menu of stick-to-your-ribs fare, ranging from po' boys and cheesesteaks to fried lake trout and hearty pastas, it truly has something for everyone. Combine The Grill's recent expansion into the space next door with its all-weather patio, and you've got a recipe for family-friendly success.
Lehja
11800 W. Broad St.
(Short Pump Town Center)
(804) 364-1111
www.lehja.com
Whether your palate is well acquainted with the flavor variations among the 28 Indian states or you're simply proud of knowing how to spell pappadam, Lehja, Short Pump's newest chic Indian restaurant, showcases this varied cuisine with skill and contemporary flair. The extensive wine list pairs nicely with Lehja's inventive menu. Highlights include miligai podi-roased salmon with khoya-chili crème, rara lamb curry and heavenly garlic naan.
Amuse
200 N. Boulevard
(Virginia Museum of Fine Arts)
(804) 340-1580
www.vmfa.state.va.us/Amuse
Seemingly taking inspiration from its art museum locale, Amuse's menu of American fusion cuisine borders on artistry. Chef Greg Haley's contemporary menu uses locally grown or cultivated ingredients to create tantalizing yet appropriately subdued entrees such as grilled rockfish with black bean and tomato quinoa and cilantro gremolata. The minimalist decor not only acts as a sleek backdrop to the beautifully presented dishes, but it also creates an ultramodern venue for post-gallery-browsing libations.
Secco Wine Bar
2933 W. Cary St.
(804) 353-0670
www.seccowinebar.com
The restaurant spin-off of Carytown's River City Cellars defies the snobby stereotype of a wine bar. Every staff member, from bartender to sous chef, is well versed in not only vino and vittles but also the notions of carefree and casual. Whether the mention of terroir makes your brow furrow in confusion or you speak of the Piedmont region as if you were born there, Secco will make you feel at home. Chef Tim Bereika's rotating lineup of small plates, such as gorgonzola-stuffed fried Castelvetrano olives and ale-braised, paprika-dusted grilled octopus, never fails to blow me away.
Sprout Market & Café
1 N. Morris St.
(804) 592-5771
www.sproutrva.com
If you truly want to understand the benefits of eating local, this eclectic, Virginia Commonwealth University-area cafe owned by Jamie and Laurie Lay lives, breathes and shines local in the most sincere sense. Sprout doesn't throw a few farmers-market finds on the plate and call it a day. It takes Virginia's finest ingredients and turns them into a spirited menu of flavorful sandwiches, soups, entrees and desserts. Current seasonal highlights include oysters served with spoonbread, smoked ham roast and sautéed greens and Parisienne gnocchi with cauliflower cream sauce.
Bellytimber Tavern
1501 W. Main St.
(804) 592-5592
www.bellytimbertavern.com
This rustic, Fan District eatery isn't trying to reinvent the wheel, and that's exactly why I like it. Its menu is straightforward but adds pizzazz with fresh, local ingredients and plenty of vegan and vegetarian options. Bellytimber's wood-fired pizzas are topped with everything from basil and capers to Boroughsland Farm pork sausage. I can't get enough of its house-made pirogi with grilled onions and sour cream and black bean nachos with queso blanco and pico de gallo. Plus, the staff is so amicably laid back that I've turned it into a regular hangout.
Pescados China Street
626 China St.
(804) 644-3474
www.pescadoschinastreet.com
The second location of Midlothian's wildly popular Pescados could easily turn Oregon Hill into a bone fide dining destination. Located a block away from legendary favorite Mamma 'Zu, and festively renovated by owner and contractor Bob Windsor, this island-themed mecca of seafood takes wild-caught ocean treasures and turns them into exciting culinary adventures. Forget fried shrimp baskets. Owner and chef Todd Manley uses a vibrant mix of Caribbean and Latin flavors and the freshest ingredients to create signature dishes such as Enchilada Acapulco, stuffed with crab cakes, shrimp, Pescados' infamous saffron potato cakes and lobster-lime cream.
Amour
3129 W. Cary St.
(804) 353-4020
www.amourwinebistro.com
If you don't mind putting your dinner decisions solely in the hands of the kitchen, this quaint French spot in Carytown is a must try. It specializes in three-course, prix fixe menus based on a featured weekly ingredient. Included wine pairings change monthly based on a featured region. Owner Paul Heitz heads up a well-trained staff which goes out of its way to humbly explain how each varietal was chosen to pair with chef Blair Bowles' deftly executed courses. Next week's ingredient is fowl. January's wine region is Burgundy.
The Cellar Door
1600 Monument Ave.
(804) 716-0346
www.thecellardoorrva.blogspot.com
This laid-back hole-in-the-wall spot located in a cozy, Monument Avenue basement encourages lingering. Whether you're sipping on a Bell's Two-Hearted Ale or Peruvian organic coffee, The Cellar Door's menu of Mediterranean-inspired tapas and hearty sandwiches will leave you smiling. Don't miss the Rope Swing, Peruvian chicken noodle soup loaded up with quinoa grain and veggies. Alongside The Pump House, a thick-cut grilled cheese with sautéed spinach and tomato, it's the perfect remedy to this winter's bitter cold.
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