TABLE TALK: Howlett’s Tavern to reopen in Chester

Howlett's Tavern, which closed three years ago at its Chesterfield County location, is slated to reopen at a new spot in Chester in mid-June.

The restaurant, which will be nonsmoking, is in the Chester Village Green shopping center at 3530 Festival Park Plaza. It will be open for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch.

Joe Helbling, who owned the original Howlett's with wife Heidi, now is also sharing duties with his brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Tammy Helbling. He said the new restaurant is almost twice the size of its predecessor and will seat about 135 people, with an additional 20 tables on a patio.

The Howlett's menu will remain mostly unchanged, though wraps and panini have been added to the lunch options.

Helbling said popular specials, such as Tuesday-night reduced-price prime rib and Thursday-night fried oysters and seafood platters, will return, as well as a possible wine night on Wednesdays.

The restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

See menus at http://www.Howlettstavernchester.com.

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The Vegetarian Society of Richmond will hold a potluck picnic at 4 p.m. May 24 at Crump Park/Meadow Farm, Shelter #1, 3400 Mountain Road in Glen Allen.

Members are asked to bring a dish to share -- vegan preferred -- a place setting and a beverage.

The gathering is free for society members and $3 for nonmembers.

For reservations, call (804) 344-4356 or e-mail . Visit http://www.vegetarianrichmond.org for more information.

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The Legend Brewing Company deck is open for summer, and the restaurant-microbrewery at 321 W. Seventh St. also has some seasonal beers on tap: Legend Hefeweizen, a 50-50 blend of wheat malt and barley malt, which will also soon be available in stores; and Legend Doppelbock, a strong German-style lager available on draft only.

For details, call (804) 232-3446.

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Richbrau Brewing Company has made some changes, including a new menu featuring shepherd's pie, Texas-style beef brisket and tzatziki with pita.

The restaurant, at 1214 E. Cary St., also has a new chef: Mark Henry, who comes from Baltimore.

For details, call (804) 6443018, or visit http://www.richbrau.com for a list of nightly specials.

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Now open: The former Corner Bar & Grill space, at 1301 W. Leigh St., is now the Leigh St. Bar & Grill.

Coming soon: The Chipotle under construction at Grace and Laurel streets is expected to open around June 12.

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Wendy's has introduced the Web site http://frostycard.com, at which kids can design free e-cards for Father's Day. The chain will donate 25 cents to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption for every Frosty Card sent.

Additionally, Wendy's will soon offer on the site a buy-one-get-one-free coupon for any Frosty product, including the new Frosty-cino shake and Coffee Toffee Twisted Frosty.

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On Wednesday, Maggiano's Little Italy, 11800 W. Broad St., will hold an all-inclusive family-style dinner paired with a ticket to see Kevin Brennan at Funny Bone that night.

The cost is $64.94 per person. Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. in the north ballroom.

For details or to make a reservation, call (804) 253-0916.

If you have a tip for Table Talk, call (804) 649-6120 or e-mail . The deadline to receive items is noon Friday one week before publication.