Author: restaurantarama

It seems like just yesterday that Restaurantarama was gleefully rhyming our way into the new year, spouting verses about restaurants new and old. This week, however, is a different story. News of a few restaurant closings rolled in, along with one mysterious rumor we’re still investigating.

The fall of Rise

A few weeks ago, Restaurantarama reported that Rise PizzaWorks at Barracks Road had changed its concept from custom slices to premade. Owner Andrew Vaughn added new pies to the menu and sandwiches, too. “There’s definitely a different vibe when you come in,” he told us.

Last week, the vibe changed again—when the restaurant closed. There’s been plenty of speculation on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter that Brixx Wood Fired Pizza, which opened in Barracks Road last fall, stole his spotlight. Tweeted @CvilleFood, “It’s unfortunate that Barracks Road placed two similar pizzerias within a 1-minute walk of each other.”

Vaughn agrees: “We certainly didn’t welcome that,” he says, “though we were having problems before [Brixx] showed up.”

As for future plans, Vaughn says he’s still involved with Rapture, but is also looking forward to spending more time with his wife and kids.

Tapped out

Bad news for fans of the 12th Street Tap House. Bartender Adam Brock confirmed via Twitter last week that the West Main Street restaurant and bar is closed. The Tap House opened in January 2009 after owner Chuck Adcock made a host of renovations—on Coran Capshaw’s dime—to the former Northern Exposure space. Calls to Adcock were not returned by press time.

Out of Place

It wasn’t even six months ago that Arby’s owner Tom Slonaker cut ties with the company and re-opened his Forest Lakes restaurant as A Patriot’s Place, aiming to serve American nosh with a side of national pride.

Now, Restaurantarama hears the restaurant is closed. In fact, Slonaker is no longer involved with the space at all—the owners of the Arby’s on Emmet Street will soon take over. A sign posted in the Barracks-adjacent restaurant solicits applications for the 29N spot. Calls to Slonaker were not returned by press time.

Ventana replacement

The former Ventana space at 117 Fifth St. SE has been leased. The question is: To whom?

A few weeks ago, Restaurantarama heard a rumor that Fleurie (and Petit Pois) co-owner and chef Brian Helleberg was nosing around the space, but when we followed up, he denied any involvement in the project.

Savoir Vivre (a French phrase meaning “know how to live”) recently filed an application with the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for a wine and beer license, under the name Tempo. The listed owner? Stewart M. Cunningham, who happens to share a last name with Helleberg’s business partner, Brice Cunningham.

When life hands you lemons, you make lemonade. When life hands you a restaurant, you make good, old-fashioned comfort food. That is, not until you overhaul the whole place.

That’s how it went for Lex Gibson, who about six months ago was handed the keys to L7, Jim Baldi’s former Elliewood Avenue Asian fusion spot, and given the reins to do as she pleased. When Restaurantarama first spoke to her in August, she was hopeful The Pigeon Hole, as she named it, would be up and running by the middle of that month. As it turned out, the building she inherited was itself somewhat of a, excuse the pun, lemon.

“We’ve been learning a lot about construction,” says her business partner, Naomi Annable. The women, who met while working at Dr. Ho’s Humble Pie, have put blood, sweat and tears into the space’s renovation, refinishing floors, retiling the bathroom, patching holes—and those are just structural improvements. The duo has big plans for the decor, too. They’ve handstained table tops and gathered a slew of mismatched white plates and silverware. Annable has amassed quite the collection of salt and pepper shakers, anything from a radish and cucumber-shaped set to a pair of roosters.

“If this fails,” Gibson says, “we could probably start a salt and pepper shaker museum.”
But let’s talk food. Restaurantarama got a peek at the menu: The all-day breakfast spot has plans to offer a $5 bag lunch (complete with a sweet note, just like Mom used to include), different kinds of sammiches (their word, not ours) and, for Sunday brunch, The Crabby Florentine, among other things. They’ll also serve fresh squeezed juices (carrot, apple and, coincidentally, lemonade) and authentic mint juleps. In other words, they’ve thought of every last detail.

“When you run a restaurant,” Annable says, “you have so many opportunities to touch people throughout the day.”

Adds Gibson, “You have the opportunity to turn someone’s day around. I just want [coming to eat here] to be an experience.”

The restaurant’s opening date (they hope for real this time) is January 18.

Light on its feet

One thing’s for sure: Folks in Orange County aren’t going hungry. Restaurantarama previously reported the opening of Vintage at the Inn at Willow Grove and, as of this month, Orange just gained another eatery: The Light Well, located in the old Rickett’s Drugstore Building at 110 E. Main St. It touts itself as “coffee, kitchen, tavern” and offers healthy, local and organic ingredients in original homemade recipes—including many veggie options.  

Au revoir, Buddhist Biker Bar. So long, Bel Rio. We’ll miss you, Cassis and you too, Milano. We sure liked Ventana and enoteca was swell. Goodbye, Deuces Lounge—we didn’t know you that well. L’s Burrito & Juice Co. will be sorely missed, and we’re sad to include Arirang on our list. We were surprised to hear Taco Bell had burnt down and shocked when L7 (and Bel Rio) owner Jim Baldi skipped town. Red Lobster moved north, The Upstairs was sold, and Cantina’s concept just never took hold. See ya later, Boston Market and Golden Corral. And, hey, Royal Indian? We’ll miss you, old pal. We thought Zam Zam Kabob was so fun to say and Asia Specialty had a tasty buffet. We’ll finish our rhyme with Brix @ Monticello and, coming up next, to the new spots say, “Hello!”

In nearby counties we welcomed a few:

Paulie’s Pig Out, Patriot’s Place, Tony G’s are all new. So are Bangkok ‘99 and Blue Tavern & Sports Bar. Stonefire Kitchen and Barbeque Exchange aren’t too far. Visit Green House Coffee and Southern Way Café. Both of these spots set up shop in Crozet. 

If it’s pizza you want, try Fry’s Spring or Brixx. The JPA and Barracks Road spots, respectively, give you a fix. It took a whole year but Semolina’s now open—we had been wishin’ and wantin’ and prayin’ and hopin’. Try Sweet Frog for froyo or Baskin Robbins for ice cream; Carpe’s storefront for donuts and Dunkin’ for coffee. Visit Para on the Corner to nab a Charlottesville Cupcake and, nearby, try Sushi Love for goodness’ sake! 

In terms of ethnicities, we welcomed a bunch. Hibachi Grill and Supreme Buffet, maybe King Chef for lunch. Hello to Mykonos and Osaka III. The hot pots at Taste of China are just the bee’s knees. Lil’ Sweden has meatballs, El Jaripeo has guac. Marco & Luca’s new locations (at 29 and the Corner) have dumplings on lock.

We saw a few casual eateries open up: Penne Lane, Downtown Hotdog and The Backyard—tip top! In Belmont, La Taza reopened as Roast and Downtown above Escafé, it’s Brookville we toast. 

While we’ve yet to try Wings Over C’ville or HoneyBaked Ham, we’ve heard Vintage at Willow Grove Inn is the jam. We salute Martha Jefferson’s Terrace Café and tip our hat to Olive’s Grill, just down the way. Roving kitchen The Lunchbox is a business of note and that, dear foodies, is all that she wrote.

Rhyming aside, keep your eyes peeled (and stomachs empty) in 2011 for these soon-to-open spots: The Livery Stable (at 218 W. Water St.), Carlton’s (in the former Boheme and Asia Specialty space), The Pigeon Hole (formerly L7), Atlas Coffee (on Fontaine Avenue) and Peter Chang’s China Grill (in the former Wild Greens spot). 

Atlas, mugged

Down in the dumplings

Enoteca update

As of Monday, December 6, it’s official: Baldi is on the lam. An Albemarle County grand jury handed him indictments for two counts of embezzlement in his absence. Accordingly, his fugitive status has gone from “whereabouts unknown; maybe on vacation” to “running from the law.”

Followers of this story will recall much Baldi drama from the past year, beginning with complaints from Belmont residents about loud noise coming from his restaurant, Bel Rio. The groans sparked heated noise ordinance debates in the city and resulted in a lowered decibel level of 55 for Belmont and two other mixed-use neighborhoods. 

In July, the venue appeared closed to hungry patrons, citing vacation time and kitchen renovations despite reports to the contrary from building owner Jeff Easter. Shortly thereafter, Baldi, who also owned an accounting business, split town. The recent indictments against him, prompted by one of his clients, Albemarle-based rug cleaning company Duraclean, are added to his growing rap sheet. 

Baldi is the subject of a $300,000 fraud lawsuit filed by Bel Rio partner Gareth Weldon and in August, the county issued a warrant for Baldi’s arrest, citing more accusations of embezzlement from Proffitt Managment and W&K Foods, which oversees the local Wood Grill Buffet. Baldi also owes about $18,000 in Federal and state taxes. 

Tasty bits

A few things happening in the restaurant biz this week: Toshi Sato, former chef at Tokyo Rose and current Japanese wedding coordinator at Keswick Hall, is planning to open his own sushi restaurant behind Monsoon. Says Sato, who’s having to adapt the space to be restaurant-ready, “There’s still a long way to go.”

Restaurantarama wants to wish Jinx Kern a happy birthday. His East Market Street pork barbeque joint, Jinx’s Pits Top, rounded its 10th anniversay this month. We wonder if Kern went hog wild to celebrate.

Richmond BizSense reports that a McAlister’s Deli franchise is in the works for late next year. Franchisee Glenn Miller recently opened his sixth soup-salad-sandwich location in Virginia. He couldn’t be reached for comment.

Good news for happy hostesses: The Local will soon offer catering. 

Vintage reviews

Restaurantarama’s been hearing some great things about Vintage, the new 50-seat restaurant and tavern at the newly renovated Inn at Willow Grove in Orange. In addition to high marks on travel sites like Trip Advisor—one diner even said it ranks “right up with there with the Inn at Little Washington”—the spot boasts a farm-to-table menu prepared by Executive Chef Jason Daniels. If you’re the type who likes to book early, Vintage is offering a four-course dinner for two (plus champagne!) for $150 on New Year’s Eve. Call (540) 672-7001 for more information.

Ken Waxman, who serves on the advisory board of PVCC’s Viticulture and Enology department, says he and his wife, Antje, strive to make each event “a fun affair,” with discussions on food and culture—and, of course, a few sips of the good stuff.

Thanks to Ken Waxman, hosting a holiday party for friends comes easy. The former Martha’s Café owner and wine enthusiast is offering to host a vino-centered event in your home. 

Here’s how it works: Gather a bunch of your friends (up to 30), and sip your way through six different types of wine (at least one of which will be Virginia-made). Nosh on appetizers made by Waxman’s wife, Antje, and answer wine trivia to win prizes from places like HotCakes and other local spots. 

Not interested in anything but Pinot Grigio? Waxman says that’s no problem; he’ll tailor the event to your interests. What he really enjoys, though, is an international night. “You get to go around the world,” he says. “I’ll say, ‘Want to go to Spain? Argentina? Let’s go.” 

Waxman and his wife have done two parties so far, and he’s excited to see what comes of their “little side project.”

“I’m already looking forward to doing events on people’s decks [in the spring], when it gets back to Rosé season,” he says.

Each event will last about two hours. For parties with up to 12 people, tickets are $25 per person. For parties with up to 30 people, tickets are $20 per person. As host, you pay nothing. Talk about taking a load off. 

For more information, contact Waxman at kwaxman733@earthlink.net. 

Vino variation?

Seems local wine buzz isn’t enough to keep enoteca afloat. Word on the street is that the Downtown wine bar—formerly VaVino, another wine-focused restaurant—is readying for an upgrade. No official statement from backer Coran Capshaw or his team, but Restaurantarama hears enoteca will turn into an American bistro next year. Stay tuned.

Chang watch

Yes, folks, it’s official. At least for now. Illustrious runaway chef Peter Chang is coming back. Restaurantarama heard from Stuart Biel, the leasing agent for the former Wild Greens space at Barracks Road, where Chang’s new eatery will be located. “We’re very excited to announce that Peter Chang’s China Grill will join Barracks Road in early 2011,” is his official statement on Chang’s impending arrival. Chang left town in March after a much-publicized stint at Taste of China. Hope he’ll stay with us for a while. In the meantime, get your chopsticks ready!

Camille Phillips’ new coffeehouse, Green House Coffee, isn’t your average coffeehouse. In addition to java, the shop will also offer baked goods, a kids’ play area and classes on gardening and composting.

Situated on nearly one acre at 1260 Crozet Ave., the coffee shop was but a dream for Phillips five years ago. She’d always wanted to create a place where the neighborhood could gather, so when the old house on Crozet’s main drag came on the market, she went for it. With her husband, Phillips renovated the building—“basically took it apart,” she says—inside and out. The spot got new landscaping and a fenced in area for kids, too.

“It’s more than a coffeehouse,” she says. Indeed, Phillips has plans for a kids’ storytime and classes on gardening and composting, which the shop practices in its own kitchen.

And speaking of the kitchen, Phillips has big plans there, too. Currently, the shop serves Shenandoah Joe coffee, baked goods from Goodwin Creek Farm & Bakery in Afton and Green House’s gluten-free speciality, the Skinny Jeans cookie. Phillips says Green House will also offer sandwiches, soups, salads and daily specials.

Barely open a month, the coffeeshop is already a hit. “The response has been great,” Phillips says. “We get very busy with the after-school crowd.” 

For more information about Green House Coffee, visit greenhousecrozet.com. 

Grill ’em

Restaurantarama knows all you buffet lovers have been missing the Golden Corral since it closed back in June, but we have good news: Hibachi Grill and Supreme Buffet, a family-owned franchise that began in North Carolina eight years ago, is open for business. 

One of more than 30 Hibachi locations nationwide, the 29N restaurant offers close to 250 items, a far cry from the menu at GC. Drew Huggins, who handled Hibachi’s takeover of the space (and many of the Grills’ real estate deals), says you can expect buffet tables filled with everything from pizza and grilled chicken to salads and Chinese food. Plus, a designated area where chefs will prepare food in front of you, hibachi-style. (Hence the name.)

Dumb Bel

Belmont restaurants won’t have any new compatriots for a while, as the former Bel Rio space has been rented to Hyam Hosny. Hosny, whose Clay Fitness was previously relegated to only the lower level of the building, will expand her fitness and nutrition center to the main floor as well. Followers of the Bel Rio story know its history of stirring up noise ordinance debates and the like until it closed in July. Here’s hoping neighbors don’t mind the sound of clanging free weights.

Chef Tucker Yoder will prepare a Thanksgiving feast at Clifton Inn come Thursday.

In case you were as blindsided by the arrival of Turkey Day as we were, here’s a list of some local spots dishing out tasty holiday specials. Remember to save room for dessert!

At Clifton Inn, chef Tucker Yoder will offer a three-course menu for $65 per person from 2-7:30pm. The menu options are a carnivore’s dream: Indulge in quail, ham, turkey, beef, bass—and the list goes on. Call 971-1800 to make reservations.

The Ivy Inn is offering a five-course prix fixe menu. For $60 per person, enjoy soup, appetizer, salad, a turkey entree and a dessert sampler. We’ll take a slice of the spice cake, please. Call 977-1222 to make reservations.

Though it’s not offering a Thanksgiving meal per se, Michie Tavern will be open on the holiday, serving its regular “Bill of Fare”-—Southern staples like fried chicken, mashed taters and green beans—from 11:30am-2:30pm.

The Silver Thatch Inn will serve a traditional Thanksgiving menu for $55. Choose from turducken (boneless chicken with mushroom stuffing inside boneless duck with chestnut stuffing inside boneless turkey with corn bread), roasted tenderloin or seared Atlantic salmon as an entree. Call 978-4686 to make reservations.

Over at Keswick Hall, chef Dean Maupin will prepare an afternoon buffet in the ballroom for $65 per person, followed by a more traditional meal—Polyface turkey, cranberry mostarda—that evening at Fossett’s for $80 per person. Call 979-3440 to make reservations. 

In Gordonsville, The Toliver House will serve a special Thanksgiving menu. Choose from crab cakes, rib eye steak, pork loin or roasted turkey. Follow it up with a slice of classic pumpkin pie. Call 832-0000 to make reservations.

For those of you who’d rather eat at home, nab an eight to 10-pound prepared turkey from Anderson Carriage House. For $109.99, take home enough dressing, cranberry relish, gravy, rolls and two sides to feed six to 10 people. Call 970-2722 to place an order.

Book deal

Talk about a bargain. Hospice of the Piedmont continues its Dining Around the Area fundraiser this year with a booklet of more than 50 discounts at local restaurants. Valid now until next November 1, the $50 book is valued at more than $1,000 and proceeds benefit HOP, a nonprofit that serves terminally ill patients in the area. 

The list of participants includes culinary luminaries like Blue Light Grill, Clifton Inn, Sticks, Fellini’s #9 and 12th Street Tap House, to name a few. Visit hopva.org for more information. 

Sweet ’stache

This season, give the gift of spice: The product from local food dudes Bill Hamilton (of Hamiltons’ at First and Main and Sticks Kebob Shop) and Tim Gearhart (of Gearharts Fine Chocolates), Mas Guapo, is a featured stocking stuffer in this month’s issue of Real Simple Magazine. The all-natural spice, priced at $10 for eight ounces, is a bargain when you consider each jar of the stuff comes with a fake mustache. Visit masguapo.com for more information.

These days, you can customize just about anything: fashion accessories, electronic devices—even hair color. But, when it comes to pizza, says Rise Pizzaworks owner Andrew Vaughn, creating a special slice is way too tough.

Vaughn admits that the previous concept of the restaurant was too complicated and confusing. “Sometimes it took people 15 minutes [to order]!” he says. Now, patrons can be in and out before they can say “mozzarella.”

“Customers have no problem building a whole pizza,” he says, “but, choosing toppings for one slice, for some reason it blew their minds.” That is, until last week. 

With the help of friend and fellow pizza maker Christian Tamm (owner of perennial Best Of C-VILLE winner Christian’s Pizza), Vaughn has overhauled the apparently complicated concept of Rise. Instead of ordering a custom slice, hungry ‘za lovers are now able to choose from premade slices. You’ll still see some favorites on the menu—Vaughn says he’s keeping the gluten-free pizza, for instance—but that “it’s definitely a different vibe when you come in,” he tells us.

And the prices have changed, too. Vaughn says now you can get a slice of cheese for just $2. Plus, the menu also includes a bunch of sandwiches—the Italian sub and the avocado and tomato sammy come to mind—and a few salads. 

So far, Vaughn says, the response has been great. Folks are getting their pizza more quickly, and have room to try a few different slices. 

“[The old way], they’d get a quarter pie and not be hungry for another.” With the premade slices, customers are free to experiment. As Vaughn says, “People like to mix it up.”

Brix closes

Tough economic times means bad news for Brix Marketplace owner Karen Laetare. She announced last week that her Pantops restaurant is closing. But don’t mourn her tasty limoncello cake just yet—the Martha Jefferson Outpatient Care Center location, which opened this past June, will remain open. 

Ham it up

Smell that? It’s ham, and it’s coming from The HoneyBaked Ham Co. & Café. Now open in the Rio Hill Shopping Center, the company specializes in tasty boneless hams, glazed turkeys and sandwiches piled high with both. Our lips are a-smackin’!

Turkey trot

Vegans unite! On Saturday, November 20, Studio 206 will host a two-hour seminar on cooking a flavorful Thanksgiving meal vegan-style. Keith Molyneaux and Jennifer Livingston will teach knife skills and ingredient selection and will discuss nutritional facts. Plus, you’ll get to taste-test. Tickets are $25. Visit studio206downtown.com for more information and to RSVP.

They say money never sleeps. When it comes to Bernard Dukes, truer words were never spoken. His new restaurant, Carlton’s, is the latest addition to the Downtown dining scene, and he says it’ll be open all hours of the day (and night): brunch, lunch, lupper and dinner. That’s right, we said lupper. 

Dukes tells Restaurantarama he’ll keep the East Market Street eatery going even after lunch is over. Between the hours of 3 and 5:30pm, Carlton’s will offer a limited menu, then switch to dinner. After that, the restaurant converts to a soft jazz club, with an emphasis on “soft.”

“So many places with live entertainment are just too loud,” Dukes says. “Here, you’ll actually be able to have a conversation.” He’s been getting a good response from the musical community, as well; local jazz acts and the like have reached out for more information. 

But let’s talk menu. Dukes says his chef, Nelson Moore, will prepare a “contemporary American fusion” menu, with an ethnic flair. A traditional Moroccan dish like olive chicken, for instance, will incorporate a hint of Indian flavor. For Sunday brunch, Dukes envisions something more New Orleans-style, egg dishes and drinks like Bloody Marys and Brandy Milk Punch. 

Dukes sees a lot of potential in the spot, formerly Asia Specialty and, once upon a time, French bistro Bohéme. He plans to make use of the patio and courtyard, possibly bringing the musical acts outside. 

“This’ll really fill a niche that’s lacking here,” Dukes says. “I have very high hopes.”

Chef’s in

Restaurantarama’s been following the chef search at Clifton Inn since Dean Maupin moved to Fossett’s at Keswick. Says a PR rep for the hotel, Clifton’s new hire is Tucker Yoder, a former sous chef at Clifton who is returning from a Lexington farm-to-table restaurant called The Red Hen. 

Donation creation

Brookville Restaurant’s Harrison Keevil tells Restaurantarama that the Downtown Mall eatery is starting a donation program: Every Tuesday and Wednesday, $1 for every guest will be donated to one of four charities.

Among the charities receiving the benefits are the Local Food Hub, the V Foundation for Cancer Research, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  

In other Brookville news, Keevil tells us the restaurant has obtained its ABC license and is now able to sell beer and wine.  

Talk it out

Speak! Language Center’s Christina Ball says the local chapter of the Slow Food movement, Slow Food Albemarle Piedmont, will present “The Terra Madre Report” Friday, November 5. Folks returning from a trip to Torino, Italy will speak about Terra Madre, the biannual Slow Food convention held there. Plus, wines and cheeses from the region will be offered. The event starts at 5:30pm and is $10 per person. Visit slow food albemarlepiedmont.com for more info.