Tips for Dining, Eating and Food Shopping in the South
Start New ThreadAny recommendations for downtown?
By wblaid
on Jan 11, 2009 06:29 PM
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The Jefferson Hotel. What are you looking for in the way of dinner? Lots of good selections in downtown Richmond.
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Hotels - The Jefferson is classic. The Linden Row Inn is also cool - a bit more fun if you like restored old properties. There is also a Doubletree on Franklin that is fine. The Omni is in a great location too - near the river. If you are traveling during the General Assembly session rooms are harder to get and more expensive.
Downtown-"Comfort" for southern cooking. Pearly's diner on Grace. Cafe Ole on 6th for fish tacos. The food carts near the medical college (amazing Thai). Tarrarants on Broad (it's in an old pharmacy). If you head just east of town to Shockhoe Slip there are more touristy places. Continue east to Shockhoe Bottom and have pizza at Bottom's Up.
If you head east from downtown, you will find lots of neighborhood restaurants. In the Fan District, Kuba Kuba is known for tres leches cake and The Sidewalk Cafe for Greek Nachos. In Oregon Hill, Mama Zu's is a classic - not fancy but good seafood and pasta. Jackson Ward has Croaker's Spot (cornbread and seafood).
All of these places are within walking distance of downtown.
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Which one would be best for an anniversary trip in late March? I am taking my wife to racing school at Richmond International Raceway and plan to spend the night. I am inclined to go to the Jefferson but saw some reviews that the rooms are getting old and rundown.
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They are older rooms (afterall The Jefferson is historic) but have been recently renovated. We stayed there in December and our room was great. If it's good enough for Pres-elect Obama, it will probably be good enough for you (being funny, not snarky).
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How about the Berkeley Hotel in Shockoe Silp? Nice, smaller high-end hotel at East Cary and 12th across the street from the Tobacco Comapny Restaurant. (stated for reference; not a recommendation to eat there) and kitty corner from the Omni. They also have a nice dining room although I haven't eaten there in quite a while.
Restaurants nearby (not including ones already mentioned): Pomegranate, Lulu's, Black Sheep, Sensi, Millie's.
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For a romantic weekend (even more romantic than racing at RIR), I do think that the Jefferson is the place to stay. The lobby and indoor seating areas are quite elegant. I would suggest doing some serious rate-searching using some of the internet searches -- and call the hotel. Their rack rates are high but they do offer good deals when they aren't full. Also, check RIR and see if they have any hotels that offer special rates to their customers. You will find plenty of good places to eat in our little city. Have fun!
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We are going to be in the Northwest area of Richmond, near West Broad Street. Any restaurants you would recommend? Would prefer casual, reasonably priced(no more than $25pp) and one in our party is a very "plain" eater(nothing too gourmet or ethnic). Person particularly enjoys salmon, comfort food and italian cuisine.
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