RVA Food and Drink Happy Hour Specials FALL 2010

Richmond Food and Drink Specials. Happy Hour and More!
Anytime

• Acacia: Prix Fix menu-$23 M-Th 5:30-9pm Fri&Sat 5:30-6:30pm. 562-0138
• Amici: Sun-Thur $25 3-course meal. Bottled wine 25% off. 353-4700
• Blackfinn: 7 days a week, 4-7pm $4.95 flatbread pizza. 643-3466
• Bouchon: $20 3-course prix fixe menu 5-6 pm Mon-Sat. 225-2118
• Café Caturra: Social Hour Daily 5-9 pm $5 wines by the glass & $3 beers
• Caliente: Happy Hour at the bar M-Th 5-7. $1 Miller High Life, $3 rail highballs and Jager shots. 340-2920
• The Camel: Happy Hour 5-7pm. $2.50 rail, $3 drafts, $5 cosmos & martinis, $7 Long Islands.
• Current: Happy hour 5pm-8pm with appetizer specials. $1 Drink Power Hour 8pm-9pm. 788-4281
• Davis and Main: 1/2 price well martinis from 4-6pm M-F. 353-6641
• Dot’s Back Inn:”Neighborhood Hour” 3:30-7pm. $2.50 10oz drafts, $2.25 domestic, $3 highballs, $3 house wine. 266-3167
• Europa: M-F 5-6pm. 1/2 off all Small Plates. 643-0911
• Fish Bowl Bistro & Bar: Happy Hour 3-7pm daily. $2 off rails and drafts
• Garnett’s: M-Sun Happy Hour 3-6. $3 beer and wine. 367-7909
• Globehopper: M-F 4-7pm. $2 off wine by the glass. Discount beers. 523.8083
• Grandpa Eddie's Alabama Ribs & BBQ: M-F 4-7pm Sun 12-6, $2 Miller Lite draft, House highballs, House wine, fried onion straws or okra, smoked kielbasa. 270-RIBS
• Kitchen 64: Daily specials 3-7 pm. Rail Drinks:$4, Domestic Bottles:$2. Smoking is allowed on the patio after 10pm. 358-0064
• Lemaire: Happy Hour M-F at the bar and lounge 4-7 pm. $2 House and $4 Craft and Import Beers. $5 Red and $5 White glasses of featured wine. 3 appetizers for $20 from our bar menu 4-7pm and 10-11pm. 3 courses for $30 From 5- 6pm: 649-4644
• Mojo’s: $6 dine-in lunch, incl beverage. M-F 11am-3pm. M-F 4-7pm $1 off All Drafts, $3 House Drinks, $3 Glasses of Wine. Any Nachos $5. Any Pizza $6.
• Nacho Mama’s Mechanicsville: Fiesta Hour M-F 3-7pm. 730-7311
• O’Toole’s: Daily M-Sun 3-7pm All Draft and Bottled Beers $.50 off. All House Wines $.50 off. All House Liquors $1.00 off. 233-1781
• Poe’s Pub: Everyday 4-7 pm $2.25 domestic bottles, $1 off drafts. 648-2120
• Sam Miller’s: $2 10oz Miller Lite, $3 House Wine 4-8pm. 644-5465
• Six Burner: $24 prix fix menu M-Th 5:30-9:30pm. 353-4060
• Strawberry Street Café: M-Sun Happy Hour til 9pm. $2.50 highballs, $3 martinis, $2.25 domestic bottles. 353-6860
• Stronghill Dining Company: Happy Hour M-F til 7:30 pm. $6 wine, 25% off appetizers at the bar. 359-0202
• Tarrant’s Cafe: Happy Hour 4-7 M-F.1/2 off drafts, wine glasses, rail drinks.1/2 off select appetizers. 225-0035
• Tobacco Company: Th-Sat, $1 drinks from 8-9 pm, $4 Red Stag Cocktails and $4 Red Bull or White Grape Cocktails all night (always mobbed in there at happy hour though). Free valet parking during dinner hours and all day on Sunday. 782-9555
• Weezie's Kitchen: Happy Hour: 3-7pm M-F $1 off all drinks. 726-1270

Monday

• Avenue 805: Cheap Date Night: a choice of a large house or Caesar salad to split, a large bowl of pasta, a dessert & a bottle of house wine all for $35. 353-2505
• Baja Bean: $4 burgers all day. 257-5445
• Bank: $1 sliders during happy hour
• Bouchon: Entrée portion salads, choice between 4, $20
• Buddy's: $3 quesadillas, cheese fries, grilled cheese 5-9 pm. 355-3701
• Café Caturra Short Pump: Blind wine tasting. Discounts given for correct guesses. 5:30 - 7:30pm
• Caliente: ½ off po’boys 5-10pm
• Capital Ale House: $1 burger nights (with purchase of a beverage). 4pm-1am.780-ALES
• Cha Cha’s Cantina: $2 off quesadillas. 726-6296
• City Limit: ½ price appetizers, 5-7pm. 282-4232
• Cous Cous: Date night: soup or salad, choose of 3 select menu items, dessert to share and a ½ carafe of Sangria or bottle of house wine-$40. After dinner: mystery beer night--different beers each week are $1. 358-0868
• Curbside Cafe: 35c wings, ½ off quesadillas 5-10pm. 355-7008
• Europa: Pasta Night-all pastas $9. 643-0911
• Kitchen 64: Mojito Monday: $6
• Legend Brewing Company: Buy 1 dozen oysters, get a half dozen free. 4-7 pm. 232-3446
• Lemaire: $5 high balls 4-7pm in the bar and lounge
• Little Mexico: $1 tacos.
• Mojo’s: 7-11 pm or til end of MNF: 35-cent wings. $1 off any Philly Cheesesteak. $6 Miller Lite & Yuengling Pitchers. 644-6676
• Nacho Mama’s Mechanicsville: All You Can Eat Tacos with Rice & Beans $9.99
• Six Burner: Any bottle of wine $50 or under is 1/2 price. 353-4060
• Star-lite: taco specials starting at 5 pm. 788-7077
• Sticky Rice: half-price sushi 10:30pm-12:30am. 358-7870
• Xtras: $5 appetizers for those in the 23221 zip code. 355-0446

Tuesday

• Acacia: ½ price wine
• Avenue 805: Cheap Date Night: a choice of a large house or Caesar salad to split, a large bowl of pasta, a dessert & a bottle of house wine all for $35
• Baja Bean: Buy 1 Get 1 Free tacos all day
• Banditos: $2 Aristocrat highballs all day. 354-9999
• Bank & Vault: 50 cent wings, $3.50 rails, $2.00 domestic beers, $3.00 premium beers, $5.00 house wine 4-8pm 648-3070
• Bouchon: Date Night—3 courses $50/couple
• Buddy's: Wear Buddy’s shirt, get a discount 5-9pm
• Cafe Caturra Short Pump Crossing: 3-6pm. $5 Glasses of Wine.$4 Wine Fare.$3 Bottled Beer. 360-3377
• Caliente: ½ off burgers 5-10
• Capital Ale House: Steal the Glass Night. Order one of the featured brewery beers, keep the named glass it comes in. 4pm til glasses run out.
• Cha Cha’s Cantina: $1 tacos from 8-9 pm
• Cous Cous: Facebook specials. After dinner, it’s Musi-ko (music trivia).
• Curbside Cafe: 75c tacos 5-10pm
• Europa: Date night: three-course meal for just $16 per person. Weekly Wine Specials at $16 a bottle
• FW Sullivans: $10 buckets of Alaskan Snow Crab Legs 6-11pm
• Infuzion: $5 off all pasta entrees. 447-6852
• Kitchen 64: Tequila Tuesday: $4 Margaritas
• Legend Brewing Company: Buy 1 pound shrimp, get a half pound free 4-7 pm
• Lemaire: $5 Sparkling Wine Cocktails. 4-7pm in the bar and lounge  
• Mojo’s: Taco Tuesday $1/each--build your own at the fixins bar-7pm. Tecate tall boys $2.50. Date Night 7-11pm: Order any 2 entrees or vegetarian item and get a select starter or nachos for only $17
• Nacho Mama’s Mechanicsville: $1 Tacos all day
• New York Deli: 35 cent wings. 7-10pm. 358-DELI
• O’Toole’s: Martinis & Cosmopolitans: $4
• Pescados: two tacos with coconut black beans & achiote rice for $10. 379-7121
• Sette: 1/2 price bottle of wine from 5-9pm. 788-7077
• Six Burner: Wine by the glass is 1/2 price
• Star-lite: $2 Aristocrat highballs all day. 254-2667 
• Strange Matter: ½ price hamburgers 5pm+  
• Tastebuds: Prix Fixe. Salad, Entrée, and Dessert for $16. 261-6544 
• Tiki Bob’s: 10c tacos, 25c beers 6-9 pm. 644-9091 
• Xtras: Date Night: ½ price bottles of wine
• 821 Café: Moto Tuesday: come in on a motorcycle or moped and get 10% off any one item. 649-1042

Wednesday

• Baja Bean: ½ off quesadillas all day.
• Bank and Vault: Wine Down Wednesday: ½ price bottles of wine during happy hour 4-8pm.
• Blackfinn: $1.50 burgers 5-10 pm. Wii Wednesday at 8pm
• Boathouse at Rocketts Landing: Wine Tastings 6-8pm
• Bouchon: Steak Night: Marinated Top Sirloin with sauce, Frites and Salad: $20
• Buddy's: 5-9 pm Fajitas $6.95 & Half Price Nachos
• Cafe Gutenberg: half-price select glasses of wine
• Caliente: Local Night-ID w/23221 or 23220 zip gets 10%off food bill 5-10
• Capital Ale House: Pints of most Virginia beers are $2.50 from 11am-9pm at all locations.
• Cha Cha’s Cantina: 50c drafts and $1 tacos 8-9pm
• Curbside Cafe: half-price burgers 5-10pm
• Europa: half-off bottles (up to $40) with the purchase of two entrees
• Havana '59: ½ off mojitos 780-CUBA
• Kitchen 64: Wine Wednesday: Merlot and Chardonnay: $4
• Legend Brewing Company: Buy 1 dozen clams, get a half dozen free 4-7 pm.
• Mojo’s: 12 oz. Can o’ Beer of the Week - $1. 7-11 pm: Any 7” Philly Style Cheesesteak - $4
• Nacho Mama’s Mechanicsville: Kids Night 1/2 off
• Pescados: Margarita specials 379-7121
• Sam Miller’s: 35 cent Wings 4-8pm
• Star-lite: 1/2 Off All Pasta Dishes and Pasta Date Night: 2 salads, two pasta entrees& a bottle of house wine for $30
• Tastebuds: Prix Fixe. Salad, Entrée and Dessert for $16.
• Zeus Gallery Café: Wino Wed-all bottles of wine under $50 are half off
• Xtras: $10 bottles of champagne
• 821 Café: Taco Night. Drink specials. $1 mystery beers

Thursday

• Baja Bean: Until 7pm, appetizers half off
• Bouchon: Ladies Night: ½ price wines by the glass and desserts
• Buddy’s: $3 quesadillas, cheese fries, grilled cheese 5-9pm
• Café Gutenberg: 5-7 pm seasonal microbrew and PBR specials
• Fish Bowl Bistro & Bar: Steal the pint glass night 4-6pm
• Havana '59: 1/2 off appetizers
• Legend Brewing Company: Buy 1 pound mussels, get a half pound free 4-7 pm
• Lemaire: $5 Classic Cocktails 4-7pm in the bar and lounge
• Mojo’s: PBR - $2 / Bourbon - $3. Prime Rib Night 7-11 pm. 8 oz. cut - $7, 12 oz. cut - $10, 16 oz. cut - $14 served with side salad and choice of 2 sides
• O’Toole’s: Margaritas on the rocks: $3.50
• Sam Miller’s: $0.75 oysters 4-8pm
• Sette: 1/2 price beer 5-9pm
• Star-lite: 2 for 1 burger night & cheapie cans of Coors & Coors Lite.
• Tastebuds: Prix Fixe. Salad, Entrée, and Dessert for $16
• Xtras: Ladies Night: $5 cosmos and $2 Woodchucks
• 821 Cafe: happy hour all day

Friday

• Bank&Vault: Extended happy hour til 9 pm. (5/18)
• Blackfinn: $20 surf n turf and $20 select bottles of wine.
• Café Caturra Grove: $5/glass wine until 6 pm. (5/3)
• Café Gutenberg: 5-7 pm seasonal microbrew and PBR specials
• Ellwood Thompson: $1 off wine and beer until 6:30ish (5/3)
• Infuzion: 10% off dinner for 2 (excludes beverages)
• Joe’s Inn: $1 PBR and $2 Legend beer until 7 pm (5/3)
• Legend Brewing Company: Buy 1 dozen oysters, get a half dozen free 4-7 pm
• Lemaire: $5 Cosmos and $5 Manhattans. 4-7pm in the bar and lounge(10/20)
• Mojo’s: 24 oz. Coors Light Cans- $2.50. Shooter Special - $3 (10/14)
• Nacho Mama’s Mechanicsville: $6 Anything with Redbull (5/10)
• Rare Old Times: Prix Fixe: Soup or Salad, Choice from a Selection of Entrées, Dessert or Irish Coffee:$14.99 5-8pm. 750-1346
• Sam Miller’s: $0.75 oysters 4-8pm
• Sticky Rice: ½ price sushi, 5-6 pm. 358-7870

Saturday

•  Capital Ale House: American Micro Brew Day-most American Micro pints for $2.00, 11am-7pm
• Curbside Café: ½ off appetizers 5-10 pm
• Infuzion: 10% off dinner for 2 (excludes beverages)
• Legend Brewing Company: Buy 1 pound crab legs, get a half pound free 12-4 pm
• Mojo’s: RVA Special: PBR & Shot of Bourbon - $5. $5 Redbull Drinks. 10am – 4pm buy any Philly Cheesesteak & get ½ off another. Pizza Night 7-11pm Any Pizza, Any Toppings - $6
• Rare Old Times: Prix Fixe: Soup or Salad, Choice from a Selection of Entrées, Dessert or Irish Coffee: $14.99, 5-8pm. 750-1346
• Sette: 1/2 price Bloody Marys & Mimosas. 12-5pm
• Xtras: $2 dessert slivers

Sunday

• Baja Bean: $1 cheese quesadillas, $1 an hour pool, $1 12-ounce cans
• Bottoms Up: $3 Mimosas and Bloody Marys all day
• Café Caturra Short Pump: Extended social hour 5-9pm. $5 wines/glass and $3 beers
• Cafe Rustica: Sunday Suppah: $15 per person: three courses with a monthly rotating menu. 225-8811
• Capital Ale House: Prime Rib Special- 8 ounce prime rib dinner w/ potatoes & vegetable-$9.99 or a 16 ounce prime rib dinner w/ potatoes & vegetable-$16.99. Noon-9 pm.
• Cha Cha’s Cantina: $1 Tacos, 25 cent Wings. 9pm+
• Can Can: Beer specials til 9 pm.
• Curbside Cafe: half-price appetizers 5-10pm
• Europa: half-price tapas
• The Hard Shell: crab leg, including all-you can eat specials. 643-2333
• Kitchen 64: Drafts $2.50. Pitchers: $9
• Legend Brewing Company: Buy 1 pound crab legs, get a half pound free 12-4 pm
• Mojo’s: PBR Tall Boys - $2.50. 10am – 4pm buy any Philly Cheesesteak & get ½ off another. Burger Build 7-11pm $6 – add as many toppings to your burger as you'd like
• Nacho Mama’s Mechanicsville: $5 Angus Burgers w/ Fries all day. 10% off check with church pamphlet
• Pie: $3 Jumbo slice margherita pizza and pint of PBR. 257-7940
• Sette: 1/2 price Bloody Marys & Mimosas. 12-5pm. Date Night 5-9pm, share appetizer, salad, pizza & a dessert for $25.95.
• Six Burner: Sunday Supper-$20. Kids 10&under eat free w/ an adult.
• Star-lite: 1/2 off appetizers 5-10pm. $2 PBRs, other drink specials.
• Weezie's Kitchen: Food & Drink Specials 3-9pm
• Xtras: Industry Night

Homemade dinners and farmers markets

This was dinner from Saturday night. Amazingly put together, and I even helped! At the top left of the plate is the fresh cold salad we've named Citrus Tuber Salad: turnips and beets from the South of the James farmers market, backyard garden cucumbers and parsley, some orange, honey, olive oil, lime juice, pepper, salt, olive juice, and pine nuts (a last-minute addition that turned out to be perfect).

Here's a close up:

The beets made everything pink

The main dish was a combination of homemade pasta, grilled and marinated chicken, mixed cooked fresh veggies, fennel (the bottom left there, didn't turn out that great).

The food was all complimented so nicely by an acidic Spanish white and then a bottle of sparkling. I can't believe I ate as much as I did, since I ate so much by nibbling while we were cooking.

This is an edited-color photo of a flower I discovered in North Carolina. The flower is a purple-pink, but my crappy camera didn't do it justice, so I edited the tint. It was so so fragrant and soft. I was afraid it didn't grow here but turns out, it's everywhere! I picked these from the tree in the Ellwoods parking lot!

This was dinner from the other weekend: a salad with all kinds of greens from Victory Farms and other yummy veggies from Ellwoods, and my corn salad (corn, red pepper, feta, lime juice, pepper, olive oil)


It was my first time at the South of the James Farmer's Market this weekend. It is arguably the best/most popular one in town. I was feeling a bit car-sick and ill from the heat, and needed sustenance, so I had my first-ever Nate's Taco Truck Taco. I know, it's sacrilegious I've lived in RVA as long as I have without one of their tacos. Well for $3, my chicken taco got eaten in about 3 seconds. I would have liked a little more lettuce, but I always want more lettuce on everything. I went back for seconds after getting my iced coffee from Blanchard's Coffee, but they had gone on a break because of the heat. I was SO mad. So instead I wandered in search of more food, and felt like I might pass out if I didn't eat something. I found a table of someone selling homemade pastries and fresh cold salads and had the most amazing bow-tie pesto pasta salad with fresh fresh cherry red and yellow tomatoes, carrots, and beans. God it hit the spot.

The produce from Victory Farms was amazing and delicious looking and SO MUCH CHEAPER than Kroger. Why am I not buying all my produce here? I may have to start. I'm being turned into a hippie, I swear. Lots of people were selling really scrumptious looking blackberries, but I am holding out for picking access to a backyard bush I know. Oh, and I also had yellow watermelon for the first time. Weirdly, tastes just like regular watermelon. 

While there, I also ran into several familiar faces. Wouldn't be Richmond without it.

Music tonight with a cup of Illy coffee--The I-Am-An-RVA-Hipster-Mix:
Untitled 4: Sigur Ros
Hang Me Up To Dry: Cold War Kids (fun band name)
Idioteque: Radiohead
1901: Phoenix (my new favorite band)
I Turn My Camera On: Spoon

May-updated Richmond restaurant food & drink specials

Updated Fall 2010 Here

My list of Richmond restaurant food and drink specials has been updated (and is updated fairly frequently) here.

I'm working on getting active links to the locations and menus as well, so check back often.

illusions

I have to stop having illusions that I like Caliente. I keep trying. I think it was even nice once. It's in my backyard, it's usually quieter than the other joints in the Devil's Triangle. But lately it's just seemed hazy and sketchy and a little gross. AND last night when I was there, I discovered they are just blatantly disregarding the smoking ban, so that automaticaly gets you kicked off my list.

I am a big nerd and love thesaurus.com. I'm sure I've shared my affinity for big words before, and I still bemoan the closing of my favorite site: wordie.org. Apparently, it's turned into something else now but every time I try to retrieve my password, I get nowhere. :(

Updated RVA food/drink specials

Updated Fall 2010 Here

I am reposting this updated list of food/drink specials in Richmond. The details of which can't be shared apparently on "official" publications, which is total BS, because the whole reason I started doing this in the first place was for the details.

So here they are. Updated as of May 18, 2010

Richmond Restaurant Food and Drink Specials

Anytime
Acacia: Prix Fix menu-$23 M-Th 5:30-9pm Fri&Sat 5:30-6:30pm. 562-0138
Amici: Sun-Thur $25 3-course meal. Bottled wine 25% off. 353-4700
Blackfinn: 7 days a week, 4-7pm $4.95 flatbread pizza. 643-3466
Bouchon: $20 daily prix fix 5-6 pm Mon-Sat. 225-2118
Café Caturra: Social Hour Daily 5-9 pm $5 wines by the glass & $3 beers
Caliente: Happy Hour at the bar M-Th 5-7. $1 Miller High Life, $3 rail highballs and Jager shots. 340-2920
The Camel: Happy Hour 5-7pm. $2.50 rail, $3 drafts, $5 cosmos & martinis, $7 Long Islands.
Davis and Main: 1/2 price well martinis from 4-6pm M-F. 353-6641
Dot’s Back Inn: "Neighborhood Hour" 3:30-7pm. $2.50 10oz drafts, $2.25 domestic, $3 highballs, $3 house wine. 266-3167
Europa: M-F 5-6pm. 1/2 off all Small Plates. 643-0911
Garnett’s: M-Sun Happy Hour 3-6. $3 beer and wine. 367-7909
Grandpa Eddie's Alabama Ribs & BBQ: M-F 4-7pm Sun 12-6, $2 Miller Lite draft, House highballs, House wine, fried onion straws or okra, smoked kielbasa. 270-RIBS
Kitchen 64: Daily specials 3-7 pm. Rail Drinks:$4, Domestic Bottles:$2. Smoking is allowed on the patio after 10pm. 358-0064
Lemaire: Happy Hour M-F 4-7 pm. $3 beer, $8 Specialty Cocktails ($2 off) 3 appetizers for $20 649-4644
Poe’s Pub: Everyday 4-7 pm $2.25 domestic bottles, $1 off drafts. 648-2120
Sam Miller’s: $2 10oz Miller Lite, $3 House Wine 4-8pm. 644-5465
Six Burner: $24 prix fix menu M-Th 5:30-9:30pm. 353-4060
Stool Pigeons: M-F Happy Hour: $1 off bar drinks, select appetizers are $5. 344-4490
Strawberry Street Café: M-Sun Happy Hour til 9pm. $2.50 highballs, $3 martinis, $2.25 domestic bottles. 353-6860
Tobacco Company: Th-Sat, $1 drinks from 8-9 pm, $4 Red Stag Cocktails and $4 Red Bull or White Grape Cocktails all night (always mobbed in there at happy hour though). Free valet parking during dinner hours and all day on Sunday. 782-9555
Weezie's Kitchen: Happy Hour: 3-7pm M-F $1 off all drinks. 726-1270
821 Café: Happy Hour 4-7pm. All drafts $3.


Monday
Avenue 805: Cheap Date Night: a choice of a large house or Caesar salad to split, a large bowl of pasta, a dessert & a bottle of house wine all for $35. 353-2505
Baja Bean: $4 burgers all day. 257-5445
Buddy's: $3 quesadillas, cheese fries, grilled cheese 5-9 pm. 355-3701
Café Caturra Short Pump: Blind wine tasting. Discounts given for correct guesses. 5:30 - 7:30pm
Caliente: ½ off po’boys 5-10pm
Capital Ale House: $1 burger nights (with purchase of a beverage). 4pm-1am.780-ALES
Cha Cha’s Cantina: $2 off quesadillas. 726-6296
City Limit: ½ price appetizers, 5-7pm. 282-4232
Cous Cous: Date night: soup or salad, choose of 3 select menu items, dessert to share and a ½ carafe of Sangria or bottle of house wine-$40. After dinner: mystery beer night--different beers each week are $1. 358-0868
Curbside Cafe: 35c wings, ½ off quesadillas 5-10pm. 355-7008
Europa: Pasta Night-all pastas $9. 643-0911
Kitchen 64: Mojito Monday: $6
Legend Brewing Company: Buy 1 dozen oysters, get a half dozen free. 4-7 pm. 232-3446
Little Mexico: $1 tacos.
Mojos: 35cent Wing night. $1 off all "Philly Style" Cheese steaks, $7 Miller High Life, Miller Lite,Yuengling pitchers. 644-6676
Six Burner: Any bottle of wine $50 or under is 1/2 price. 353-4060
Sticky Rice: half-price sushi 10:30pm-12:30am. 358-7870


Tuesday
Acacia: ½ price wine
Avenue 805: Cheap Date Night: a choice of a large house or Caesar salad to split, a large bowl of pasta, a dessert & a bottle of house wine all for $35
Baja Bean: Buy 1 Get 1 Free tacos all day
Banditos: $2 Aristocrat highballs all day. 354-9999
Buddy's: Wear Buddy’s shirt, get a discount (5-9pm)
Caliente: ½ off burgers 5-10
Capital Ale House: Steal the Glass Night. Order one of the featured brewery beers, keep the named glass it comes in. 4pm til glasses run out.
Cha Cha’s Cantina: $1 tacos from 8-9 pm
Cous Cous: Facebook specials. After dinner, it’s Musi-ko (music trivia).
Curbside Cafe: 75c tacos (5-10pm)
Europa: Date night: three-course meal for just $16 per person. Weekly Wine Specials at $16 a bottle
Infuzion: $5 off all pasta entrees. 447-6852
Kitchen 64: Tequila Tuesday: $4 Margaritas
Legend Brewing Company: Buy 1 pound shrimp, get a half pound free 4-7 pm
Mojos: "Cheap Date Night" Any 2 Pastas and any 1 Appetizer - $15. Featured Bottles of Wine-$10, 6-10pm
New York Deli: 35 cent wings. 7-10pm. 358-DELI
Pescados: two tacos with coconut black beans & achiote rice for $10. 379-7121
Sette: 1/2 price bottle of wine from 5-9pm. 788-7077
Six Burner: Wine by the glass is 1/2 price
Star-lite: $2 Aristocrat highballs all day. 254-2667
Strange Matter: ½ price hamburgers 5pm+
Tastebuds: Prix Fixe. Salad, Entrée, and Dessert for $16. 261-6544
Tiki Bob’s: 10c tacos, 25c beers 6-9 pm. 644-9091

Wednesday
Baja Bean: ½ off quesadillas all day.
Blackfinn: $1.50 burgers 5-10 pm. Wii Wednesday at 8pm.
Buddy's: 5-9 pm Fajitas $6.95 & Half Price Nachos
Cafe Gutenberg: half-price select glasses of wine.
Caliente: Local Night-ID w/23221 or 23220 zip gets 10%off food bill 5-10
Capital Ale House: Pints of most Virginia beers are $2.50 from 11am-9pm at all locations.
Cha Cha’s Cantina: 50c drafts and $1 tacos 8-9pm
Curbside Cafe: half-price burgers (5-10pm)
Europa: half-off bottles (up to $40) with the purchase of two entrees
Havana '59: ½ off mojitos 780-CUBA
Kitchen 64: Wine Wednesday: Merlot and Chardonnay: $4
Legend Brewing Company: Buy 1 dozen clams, get a half dozen free 4-7 pm.
Mojos: $4 cheesesteaks 6-10pm. Drink Happy Hour extended til 9 pm. Thumb-wrestling competition at 10 pm.
Pescados: Margarita specials 379-7121
Sam Miller’s: 35 cent Wings 4-8pm
Star-lite: 1/2 Off All Pasta Dishes and Pasta Date Night: 2 salads, two pasta entrees& a bottle of house wine for $30
Tastebuds: Prix Fixe. Salad, Entrée and Dessert for $16.
Zeus Gallery Café: Wino Wed-all bottles of wine under $50 are half off

Thursday
821 Cafe: happy hour all day
Baja Bean: Until 7pm, appetizers half off
Buddy’s: $3 quesadillas, cheese fries, grilled cheese (5-9pm)
Café Gutenberg: 5-7 pm seasonal microbrew and PBR specials
Havana '59: 1/2 off appetizers
Legend Brewing Company: Buy 1 pound mussels, get a half pound free 4-7 pm
Mojos: "Bucket Night"-Special menu of favorite items served bucket style. 6-10 pm
Sam Miller’s: $0.75 oysters 4-8pm
Sette: 1/2 price beer 5-9pm
Star-lite: 2 for 1 burger night & cheapie cans of Coors & Coors Lite.
Tastebuds: Prix Fixe. Salad, Entrée, and Dessert for $16


Friday
Blackfinn: $20 surf n turf and $20 select bottles of wine.
Café Caturra Grove: $5/glass wine until 6 pm.
Café Gutenberg: 5-7 pm seasonal microbrew and PBR specials
Ellwood Thompson: $1 off wine and beer until 6:30ish
Infuzion: 10% off dinner for 2 (excludes beverages)
Joe’s Inn: $1 PBR and $2 Legend beer until 7 pm
Legend Brewing Company: Buy 1 dozen oysters, get a half dozen free 4-7 pm
Mojo’s: All things fried on special all day.
Rare Old Times: Prix Fixe: Soup or Salad, Choice from a Selection of Entrées, Dessert or Irish Coffee:$14.99 5-8pm. 750-1346
Sam Miller’s: $0.75 oysters 4-8pm
Sticky Rice: ½ price sushi, 5-6 pm. 358-7870

Saturday
Capital Ale House: American Micro Brew Day-most American Micro pints for $2.00, 11am-7pm
Curbside Café: ½ off appetizers (5-10 pm)
Infuzion: 10% off dinner for 2 (excludes beverages)
Legend Brewing Company: Buy 1 pound crab legs, get a half pound free 12-4 pm
Mojos: Special menu of herbed flatbread pizzas-$5. 6-10pm
Rare Old Times: Prix Fixe: Soup or Salad, Choice from a Selection of Entrées, Dessert or Irish Coffee: $14.99, 5-8pm. 750-1346
Sette: 1/2 price Bloody Marys & Mimosas. 12-5pm

Sunday
Baja Bean: $1 cheese quesadillas, $1 an hour pool, $1 12-ounce cans
Bottoms Up: $3 Mimosas and Bloody Marys all day
Café Caturra Short Pump: Extended social hour 5-9pm. $5 wines/glass and $3 beers
Cafe Rustica: Sunday Suppah: $15 per person: three courses with a monthly rotating menu. 225-8811
Capital Ale House: Prime Rib Special- 8 ounce prime rib dinner w/ potatoes & vegetable-$9.99 or a 16 ounce prime rib dinner w/ potatoes & vegetable-$16.99. Noon-9 pm.
Cha Cha’s Cantina: $1 Tacos, 25 cent Wings. 9pm+
Can Can: Beer specials til 9 pm.
Curbside Cafe: half-price appetizers (5-10pm)
Europa: half-price tapas
The Hard Shell: crab leg, including all-you can eat specials. 643-2333
Kitchen 64: Drafts $2.50. Pitchers: $9
Legend Brewing Company: Buy 1 pound crab legs, get a half pound free 12-4 pm
Mojos: Select menu items on special and build your own 8 oz. burger or chicken breast sandwich with as many toppings as you can cram - $6. 6-10pm. 24 oz. PBR Cans $2.50 all night Sunday Funday Night-play old school video games on our project screen TV. Starting around 9pm.
Pie: $3 Jumbo slice margherita pizza and pint of PBR. 257-7940
Sette: 1/2 price Bloody Marys & Mimosas. 12-5pm. Date Night 5-9pm, share appetizer, salad, pizza & a dessert for $25.95.
Six Burner: Sunday Supper-$20. Kids 10&under eat free w/ an adult.
Star-lite: 1/2 off appetizers 5-10pm. $2 PBRs, other drink specials.
Weezie's Kitchen: Food & Drink Specials 3-9pm

Espresso judging and Indian food with wine

What IS it with boys and bacon? I got to drink and judge all kinds of specialty espresso beverages this week, including those with goat cheese, chili, honey, and BACON. Here's my review below over at RVA News.

RVA Barista Jam Review


2 articles of mine were published today! I also wrote a review about Olio's wine dinner from last weekend. I enjoyed the experience, though the wine pours were a little scant, and the atmosphere and staff there never disappoint.

Olio Wine Dinner Review

new food at RVA News

I've got a few new articles up over at RVA News about food focusing on new places that have opened up, including Spoonfed, Strange Matter, and Fan House

http://rvanews.com/sections/food

Tarrant's

I was saving this review for a professional article, but that doesn't appear to be happening, so here it is.

A few weeks ago, I was itching to get out and have dinner. I had made plans to meet a friend at Tarrant's, one of my standbys, but he cancelled at the last minute as I was driving there, so I bravely went by myself. There are only a few places in town that I feel comfortable going alone and eating at the bar and it was a Sunday night, so I figured it would be fairly empty. I felt very much like Karen over at I Could Go On and On.

I sat at the first part of the L-shaped bar, right near the door. It was a cold, rainy, windy night when I arrived around 6:15 pm. While I was there, several parties of 6 or more came in, and the extended space next door definitely expanded their clientele. The phone rang steadily. There were 2-3 guys at the other end of the bar, who the cute, friendly red-headed bartender seemed to know. I enjoyed listening to their conversations.

An older gentleman came to the front of the restaurant and asked me if I'd mind if he talked on his cell phone. It was such a thoughtful gesture since I was sitting right there.

I got a glass of $6.50 Pinot Noir and settled in with my newspaper. I saw that a vegetable tart was on special ($8.95). It said it was layered with mushroom, goat cheese, olives, garlic, asparagus, and tomato, which I eagerly ordered. While I was waiting for my food, the bartender brought me a garlic bread "taco." Now normally I can't eat garlic because I can never get the taste/smell out of my system, but I figured I wasn't going to be making out with anyone that night, so I ate it.

I was hugely disappointed when my food came to find out that the vegetable tart I was promised was actually a flatbread pizza with veggies on it and a side salad. I know Tarrant's has recently gotten into the pizza business, but I did NOT order pizza. Tart implies something sophisticated, fluffy, layers, mostly vegetable. I love pizza, and it tasted good, but when you expect to get one thing, and something else comes out, well that's just frustrating.

My second wine pour was quite generous. After reading in Style Weekly that the 3rd Street Diner was thinking about starting a strip club in their upstairs (WTF?!), I shared this with the bartender, who had heard that news too. She mentioned she'd been there recently at 3AM and had a very pregnant server with her ta tas practically hanging out. Neither of us dared to imagine if she'd be one of the new "dancers" if the strip club opens.

The bartender and waitstaff alternated as front of house/hostess seamlessly. There was a good mix of old and young patrons, newbies and regulars. They offer free parking at Jim's parking lot on Grace & Foushee, but that's across the street from the lot where my friend Kevin got car-jacked at gunpoint a few years ago at First Fridays. Since then, I only park on well-lit streets.

Ellen turned out to be the bartenders name, and one of the guys at the bar was her roommate. He noted that one of her friends had frequently tried to take him home, and another staff member, possibly the owner, Ted Santarella, remarked that perhaps that friend could get a job as a stripper at the new 3rd Street. Ellen and I exchanged knowing smiles.
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Tarrant's Cafe
1 W Broad St
Richmond, VA 23220-4212
(804) 225-0035

Red Wines are $6-$7.50 a glass. Bottles are $20-$85 with most in the $20 range
White Wines are $6-$7 a glass. Bottles $20-$59.
$9.50 martinis, and champagne, port, and spiked coffee offerings as well.
Beer bottles are $3.50-$4.75 but fancy ones go up to $8.
Drafts $5ish

Snow breakfast

(Photo by Joe)

This was my snow breakfast on Saturday. I was planning to attend a morning screening of a film at the Reel Pride Film Festival, the first GLBT festival in Richmond, but the snow coming down was so pretty, and it was so cozy in my apartment that I just didn't make it.

I made us spinach and feta omelets, with salsa as a garnish, and that plate in the back is chocolates from my get-together the night before. Add coffee in my grandma's nautical mug and juice in the glasses my best friend got me for Christmas, and DONE.

I did venture out later to attend my friend's pre-show party at The Camel, and was pleasantly surprised to see that since I'd been there last, the place was nicened up. The bar was long and smooth, there were tons of beers on tap, and good happy hour drink specials The bartender was very friendly and knowledgeable about the special microbrews, even offering samples to taste. Afterward, we carefully walked through the ice to the Firehouse Theater down the block to see the final film: Edie & Thea: A Very Long Engagement. It was a documentary about 2 women who fell in love back in the 50s and 60s when lesbians were still very hidden, and it was told from the perspective of the then 70-something women, through photos and stories. It was supremely touching, bring tears to nearly everyone in the room. You could tell, that even after 42 years, the women still loved each other very much. It's sad to think I've never had a love like that, and that maybe most of us will never find it.

At one point in the film, the women were naming all the Lesbian bars in NYC at the time, and they showed a map (probably about 12-15), and my friend Kevin leaned over and said, "and we have one." That point really hit home with me. I realize NYC is a much bigger place than Richmond, but even then, in the hush hush times, they had more places to gather than Richmond does in 2010! That's just sad.

cats and cookies.

I can't say no to a funny cat video. If I were single, posting this would TOTALLY be getting me laid. (Video found from The Bloggess, which I found from The Checkout Girl)

I went to my local natural food grocer for the first time in like, 2 years last night because I was reminded they have an excellent, healthy hot bar (read: expensive). Every time I'm in that store, I crave refined sugar and high fructose corn syrup, and since I don't recognize any of the brands, I feel a bit like I did when I was studying abroad in Spain--no way to know if the product was any good or not.

So anyhoo, I do like healthy food, and was starved, and so I coughed up ELEVEN DOLLARS for like, 3 things. I must admit, I love this store because of the free samples. Grocery shopping makes a gal hungry, and I like to try before I buy. Well let me tell you about the heaven that was a gluten free cookie I found. I must have eaten 10 samples (self serve, baby) and finally went over and bought the pricey $2.47 or so cookie because it was the GREATEST THING I'VE TASTED. And get this, it's a Raspberry (just a tiny bit in the center) and Coconut cookie. Now not only does this sound like a cookie your grandma eats that's always the last one left on the plate, but I don't really like cookies, and I HATE coconut. The texture is odd, the flavor is not that good, but gosh darnit, this thing was amazing. Soft, sweet, probably about 5.5 inches in diameter.

(I just polished off this cookie as I write this and will plan to return to cough up some more cash for more later)

Spontaneity

I am not a spontaneous person. I think a lot of people like to use that as one of the words to describe them, but I am NOT one of them. I am a planner, I like itineraries, and planning ahead, and lists, and the giddy anticipation of looking forward to something.

That said, I do appreciate when friends call for a last minute get together, or people who actually follow through on the rare case that I ask them to do something last-minute. This is also why I love having friends within walking distance.

Sunday night was like another weekend night for me because I was off Monday (the only holiday we get until Memorial day-notwoot). I didn't have plans, and wanted to go out after watching the Golden Globes and drinking wine.

Thanks to the magic of Twitter and Facebook (didn't we use to use IM for this?), 2 friends responded, one who was traveling via bike, and the other who lives just a few blocks away. Bike friend had showed his penchant for impromptu meetups before. I walked the 6 blocks to my friend's house, and then another 6 to White Dog, which turned out to be closed. Through the magic of my friend's iPhone (I don't have a data phone), we found out RVAFoodie had ended up at Bamboo, where I happily go now that there is no smoking. Johnny ordered the fries, which were thin and abundant and AMAZING. We chatted, I drank $4.50/glass Merlot, and then walked/biked our respective ways home. The warmer weather made the walking bearable. Now that I add it up, it is a lot of blocks, but didn't feel that far away.

SUGAR

Can you tell my blood sugar bottomed out? After work I needed candy, so I stopped by the Dollar Tree and ended up with this. I've always wanted to try that bagged Beef Jerky. I liked Slim Jims as a kid and was intrigued by the texture of this stuff, but was always a little wary to try it bc clearly it is not good for you. The package was thin, and it tasted okay, but was sweeter than I expected. In the car on the way home I also had a handful of the wasabi rice things (they all taste terrible/bland except for the wasabi balls), a reese's cup, 1/2 the coke, and now am eating cheese and crackers. Please call and check that I haven't gone into a gluten coma.

The GayRVA fake matchbook wasn't gotten at the store, I just threw it in my still life here as a plug for my friend's blog.

Gotta love RVA

Nights like tonight make me love Richmond. I had an impromptu meetup with RVAfoodie tonight at new restaurant, Garnett's in the Fan. The nice thing about 2 degrees of separation in Richmond is that it's easy to get to know people. Had a lovely chat with the owner, Kendra Feather, who was manning (womanning?) the bar. We talked about community blogs, gluten allergies, and her other restaurant, Ipanema, which I love even though I am so not a hipster. I will go there so much more now that the smoking ban is in effect. I will be going to Garnett's for dinner tomorrow with my Church Hill restaurant owner friend.

RVAfoodie and I discussed anonymity on the Internets, online learning and higher education, and local food and food blogs, since he writes about food on his blog and organizes Richmond food blogs over at Eating Richmond. We even discussed this post here, where he calls-out the concept of "Best Of" restaurant lists. Go see for yourself and chime in.

Garnett's had gotten great reviews, from all over, but mainly from blogger I Could Go On and On, who writes so eloquently and descriptively about restaurants and fun things in RVA. This being Richmond, we've not met yet, but of course have 900 friends in common, and have just narrowly missed each other, including just this weekend at First Fridays.

Since putting together my list of RVA food/drink specials, patio dining, brunch, and cheap drinks early in 2009, I've gotten interest from other parties to continue this, so I'm going to make an effort to keep updating my list.

At Garnett's tonight, I discovered they have happy hour from 4-6 nightly, which means their already-affordable beer and wines are $3. Tonight I enjoyed the Sallies Malbec (I do love a Malbec) and my drinking companion had the San Vito Organic Chianti, though mentioned it was dry.

Tonight I will be walking to a friend's birthday party to hang out with a bunch of 22yr olds. This will make me feel even more old, especially since I found a new grey hair just this morning :) The friend, turns out, lives in an apt I drive by every day on my way home, so I will happily get drunkitydrunkdrunk if I so desire, and walk home in my chic, flat boots. I hate cold weather, but wine makes it a little more bearable.

odd combo

Having a full fridge after grocery shopping is very satisfying. My problem then is always, What to eat first? I was having a craving for a dark, frothy winter beer and lo, and behold, Kroger had my favorite Stout, Young's Double Chocolate Stout. Drunk out of my hometown brewery glass.

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one with her tree still up

And then I made these little tortillas with corn, black beans (though Kroger brand are more like brown beans, lime, pepper, and lettuce). I know these 2 things don't really go together, but I had a craving.


The Mexico episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (new episode, Jan 11--about time!) is on and I'm watching it for the 3rd or 4th time. I do love anything Latino and really want to go to Mexico again, and I want to do it right, with a native speaker. I've really got to stop letting my Spanish go by the wayside. Any time I have a student with a Spanish accent, I get all wistful. Had a Brazilian student today with a lovely Portuguese/Spanish accent.


Wore this to my first day of work after vacation. You can't see them, but I'm wearing my new thrifted tan/yellow wedges. They are def old, but they are leather and in great shape, and Nine West. It felt like a fun combination to do browns with greys. The outfit was comfy, until I wore it for 12 hours (work+rehearsal+grocery shopping).

Critical Mass

This is just a small representation of how crazed my apartment looks while I put up Christmas decorations and try to hide everything else in my small apartment. The amount of stuff I have in here, after emptying out my grandma's house, has reached critical mass.

The coffee and peppermint bark are there as a snack on this cold, rainy night as I put lights on my tree. Perfection.

New crack

I found my new crack. This stuff is amazing. 50c at Kroger

Sugar Rim

It makes all the difference really, the sugar rim

I'm having these right now. Got home from 2nd job early. Yum. Going to be productive, piddle on the Internets, and then watch MTV reality TV with my LOVERR. Listening to "Save Your Scissors" by City and Colour. It's good to be alive.

More FrozFood

I didn't intend for my blog to become a place to review frozen entrees, but I've found another good one. After I raved about Lean Cuisine's flatbreads last week, I couldn't find any at my grocery store (gar) so I got the Baja-style chicken quesadilla instead. It only takes 2 mins in the microwave and is VERY yummy.


This flavor is:
Grilled chicken strips, black beans and corn salsa with reduced fat mozzarella, monterey jack and cheddar cheeses in a flour tortilla.


Fat - 8g
Calories - 280

Not hot

Dear Campbell's: THIS IS NOT CHICKEN



When I had the flu last week, the bf was nice enough to bring me soup. Now this is partially my fault because I didn't specify which kind, so he brought me condensed soup. I haven't eaten condensed soup since I was a kid. I refer to it as the "slimy kind" because Chicken Noodle in this form is always a bit slimy. Well, I didn't want to look a sick horse in the mouth so I ate it anyway. Well I forgot how TERR-EE-BLEY the chicken is. I had to take a picture. I seriously need to mail this to the company bc that is GROSS. I just kept having to fish them out of the broth and line them up along the side of my bowl.

I went through more tissue boxes than this, but I just had to show you how many I threw away in ONE DAY.



On a nicer note, I was feeling a bit better this weekend, so the bf and I got pumpkins and I wasn't really up to carving mine, so he carved his, and we got this lovely bounty of seeds to cook. Last year we burned the life out of the seeds we baked, so I literally checked my oven every 2 minutes to be sure we didn't kill these. Turned out nicely!

Good tasting frozen food

I just had a Smart Ones Flatbread for lunch. It was the one shown here: Chicken Marinara with Mozzarella Cheese. It was amazing. Flavorful, large enough to be filling, not fake-tasting, fast in the microwave, and the bread actually got crispy! (a major feat for zapped food). And it's only 290 calories, 6 g of fat.

I am definitely going to be buying more of these.