dscott

Mmmmm Sweatman's I seem to remember that the routes might actually have local street names rather than rte numbers, but I could be wrong. However, it's not a big place, I'm sure anyone can tell you how to get to Sweatman's if you stop in Holly Hill. Man am I jealous.

Okay thanks. I now understand the point that you're making and how it relates to Mr. Zagat. However, just so that we don't get caught up too much in the sanctity of polls and pollsters, there are many partisan pollsters who find ways to express their own opinions while maintaining the respect of their peers. The clear distinction with regard to Mr. Zagat is the ability to maintain the respect of one's peers.

Not sure that I follow your logic. To what mantra are you referring?

KK glazed when hot. DD every other time. Plus, DD's coffee is far better than KK.

John, to the extent that you're willing to divulge... your lamb minute steak is fantastic. Even my lamb-hating wife enjoyed tasting mine. My questions are: -what cut is it? -how do you prepare/cook it? Again, fantastic stuff. Thanks for creating such a wonderful atmosphere and wonderful food.

These are phenomenal posts. Keep them coming (although I have enough suggestions here to last a year)!

If I may piggy-back onto this thread... I'll be moving to the Valley this fall. Looking for any and all food recommendations folks may have including restaurants, markets (e.g., greengrocers, butcher, fishmonger, bakery), farms & farmstands, etc. All I know about, so far, are Whole Foods and Trader Joes and one very good meal at Del Ray. Point me in the right direction, please.

I haven't been by to confirm but today's TD weekend section reported that Binigi's has closed. True? If so, that sucks. What a jewel. I feel partially responsible since I don't eat out much anymore but, still, it was a great place.

Was troubled by MQ's Kuba Kuba report so I went last night to check it out (hadn't been in several months). Before reporting on last night, let me comment on two general points that relate to the previous post. 1) I've learned that indifferent service is a constant in most Fan/Oregon Hill bar/restaurants (including Kuba, Sidewalk, Star-Lite, Mamma 'Zu, Baja). That does not hold for most of the "nicer" eateries down there (e.g., Six Burner, Davis & Main). Frankly, I don't care about service most of the time that I'm paying <$10 for a meal (although it bugs my wife a lot more). 2) Air quality - The price we pay for living in Richmond. I hate smoking and don't eat during prime smoking hours (post-8pm) in places that I know are smokey (including Kuba). However, this town would die w/o P. Morris so if a restaurant chooses to cater to smokers, that's their biz. They just lose my post 8p.m. dollars. Of course, w/ a 6 mo. old baby, I only eat out after 8pm if we have a babysitter. Onto my Kuba experience. It was fast, cheap and delicious and the service was friendly (but slow considering the emptiness of the joint). Of course, because of the aforementioned baby, it was also 5:45 pm (egads). We were in a hurry so I had the Calif. huevos. They kicked a**. This is one of my fav dishes in Richmond. I wish we'd had more time 'cause the specials looked great too. There was one server who appeared new and clueless but, thankfully, that wasn't our server. MQ, bummer that your experience sucked because I love this joint.

Go to Lenny and Joe's, Rte 1 in Westbrook or Madison (Westbrook is closer and a sit-down restaurant) for very casual seafood. The Westbrook location is probably 5 miles from Saybrook Point (off the top of my head). Ambience is nothing but the food is good. Ambience is better in Madison where you can sit outside at picnic tables. In order: Lobster Roll (the buttered, not mayo-ed, kind) - this is one of the best tasting things on the planet Scrod and Chips Whole Clams (if you like) Clam Strips.

Taught in Binghamton for a year and never did find a good spiedie/speedie. Bummed me out because they sounded good. You're on the edge of Cornell chicken country up there. Go to this posting Cornell chicken) for three places that the Sterns talked about last year. I've never been to any but that chicken sounds great. Endicott would be the closest to Binghamton (just west on rte 17), then Owego (further west on 17), then Candor (1/2 way to Ithaca).

Well, I only got to eat on one visit and we were pressed for time but... we ate at the Pottery Wine & Cheese Shop on Wine(?) St. in Hampton. It was very good. Looks like a gem of a little place. Excellent beer choices (didn't look at the wines). I had a mixed salad plate that included a delicious mango chix sal, waldorf salad and a couple other bits and pieces. It was very good. I would certainly go back again were I in the area for lunch. Thanks again for all the suggestions.

A bbq chef's table? Does it get any better?

I'm game.

No website that I'm aware of but you might be interested in this article about 6 burner. Also, you can check out the Acacia website for Dale's main source of income. Not aware of a Kitchen Table website.

My sentiments exactly. Never the same standard twice, even if it was the same meal.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I'll report back.

I'll be in Chesapeake and Hampton next week for one day (and Hampton the week after) for work. What's good to eat in that area? I figure that Norfolk's on the way from Chesapeake to Hampton and I've heard that the Ghent area of Norfolk is a good place for chow. Any place specifically? Given my dining partners, a nice mid-range bistro would be perfect but they're pretty open to all foods. Whatever is best. Oh, this would be for lunch. Anything in Hampton itself? I'll be looking for dinner here, preferably at the low-price end and suitable for solo dining. T.I.A.

Virginia's annual shad planking is a must for those with statewide political ambitions.

One more weekend and THEN I'll be game. Sorry.

Dinner at Kitchen Table was excellent on Saturday night. I'm usually more focused on food than environs but we absolutely loved the space, service and overall feel at KT. The meal: House-Cured Salmon served w/ avocado, grapefruit and roe (Special) Crispy Catfish Wontons w/ slaw Maytag Salad Pork tenderloin w/ baby bok choy, fingerlings, ... Mahi Mahi w/ baby bok choy, morels, shittakes... (Special) Highlights of dinner: 1. House cured salmon served w/ avocado, grapefruit and roe This was the best dish of the night. I may be biased b/c I make a similar dish at home w/ homemade gravlax but this was the perfect combination of flavor and texture. I could have eaten 3 plates of this and been happy for dinner. Truly fantastic. Reminded me of the salmon appetizer that they serve at Cafe des Artistes in NYC (which is one of my most delicious memories of living in NYC). 2. Presentation of all dishes: Everything was plated beautifully, but not in a Jacques Torres-pastry-competition way (you know, where there are 15 items stacked on top of each other) . Rather, each presentation made the food look fantastic, made you excited for the dish and added to the overall ambience of the restaurant. 3. Dish accompaniments: In some ways the veg that were served with the mains overshadowed the main itself, which was just fine with me. Both mains came with braised baby bok choy (which rocked) and mine came swimming with morels and shittakes, which I just could not get enough of. The accompaniments to my Mahi Mahi far exceeded the fish itself. I would have traded the fish in for another plate of the veg. (To be fair, the pork was cooked perfectly and served w/ a delicious sauce). Also, the slaw (asian-inspired?) that came with the catfish was great. I was pushing the wontons aside to get more slaw! 4. The price: We felt that this was a great value. We had 2 beers, 2 glasses of wine, 2 apps, 1 salad and 2 mains for < $100. Even though each dish was not particularly substantial in and of itself, I could barely move at the end of the night from eating so much. Overall a great night. Would definitely return. Be interested to see how the space feel during the daytime.

Sean, Ed V. just opened a new takeout/deli joint called 8 1/2 on Strawberry St. (in the old Mojo's) in the Fan. We had fresh fried sardines and a sausage & mushroom pizza from there last night. Damn those sardines are good.

Ah, but I do that weekly (or more) anyway. Mmmm. Mamma 'Zu.

Would love to do the mkt + KT but no-can-do on the 15th. Maybe once you're moved in we can find another date. Bellevue is a neighborhood on the northside of the City (South of Bryan Park and North of Ginter Park). General boundaries would be Hermitage Rd on the West, Brook Rd on the East, Laburnum Ave on the South and Westwood on the North. Bellevue's been pretty much a dining/food wasteland since we moved to Richmond but it's been getting a little better recently. Stir Crazy just opened this week with a full menu supposedly. Will provide a report if I get over there.

Need I mention the question that this begs?