Best of Virginia Winners

Table of Contents

No results found! Sorry, no resource were found with this specification

General

Address:

Henrico

Phone Number:

804-553-0495

Link:

ASharperPalate.com

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-868-8900

Link:

GroovinGourmets.com

After starting as a casual café 20 years ago, Mosaic has expanded to include a full-service catering and event planning business offering cuisine, light design and rentals. If the business has learned anything in the past two decades, it’s that the best things are often the simplest— to this day, its most popular dish is the signature smoked gouda pimento cheese.

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-525-2190

Link:

MosaicCateringEvents.com

Address:

804-592-3138

Phone Number:

Link:

Pig out on award-winning barbecue sandwiches, brisket and baby back ribs along with classic homemade sides like fresh country greens, hush puppies and Cajun fried corn at this Richmond institution, featured on both Food Network’s Throwdown with Bobby Flay and Travel Channel’s Man v. Food.

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-355-6055

Link:

BuzAndNeds.com

Address:

Phone Number:

804-897-9007Third place: Alamo BBQ

Link:

MidlothianQBarbeque.com

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-359-1605

Link:

ArdentCraftAles.com

Address:

Roseland

Phone Number:

434-361-1001

Link:

DBBrewingCompany.com

Since the beginning of Richmond’s craft beer craze, Hardywood has made a name for itself with quality beer brewing and community engagement. Hosting local Richmond bands, beer release parties, and music video screenings for Richmond film collective Good Day RVA, the brewery is a do-not-miss destination for anyone interested in creative brews and RVA’s diverse local culture.

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-420-2420

Link:

Hardywood.com

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-282-1509

Link:

Azzurros.com

Hidden on the second floor of a restaurant-heavy block near Virginia Commonwealth University is Edo’s Squid, a favorite Richmond stop for Italian cooking. Popular dishes include the rockfish, composed of a filet roasted in olive oil, salt and pepper; shrimp fra diavolo; and, of course, Edo’s fresh-never-frozen calamari.

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-864-5488

Link:

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-788-4205

Link:

Barboursville Vineyards has received accolades for its high quality wines and for founder Gianni Zonin’s daring to produce such wine in Virginia, a feat unmatched even by founding father Thomas Jefferson, for whom the noted Octagon red is named. Enjoy Barboursville wine with dinner at the vineyard’s Palladio Restaurant, or stay for the weekend at its 1804 Inn.

Address:

Barboursville

Phone Number:

540-832-3824

Link:

BBVWine.com

Address:

Phone Number:

434-244-3341

Link:

KeswickVineyards.com

Address:

Afton

Phone Number:

540-456-8000

Link:

VeritasWines.com

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-612-9232

Link:

BarrelThiefWine.com

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-285-8011

Link:

JEmersonFineWine.com

The folks at Total Wine really do mean it when they say “total,” whether it’s in the shop’s selection or their knowledge of wines, beer and spirits. For those a little overwhelmed by the number of choices, the store offers weekly wine and beer tastings, plus wine and spirits classes to help you discover new favorites.

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-323-5866

Link:

TotalWine.com

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-888-9861

Link:

BelmontPizzeria.com

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-644-4400

Link:

BottomsUpPizza.com

Pizza is usually the purview of more casual haunts, but Waterstone’s pizza serves up decidedly less humble pie. Its upscale gourmet version of the Italian classic is sophisticated and smart. Pair unusual pies like the lemon pepper chicken pizza with a gourmet appetizer for a full meal—and be sure to finish with the tiramisu.

Address:

Lynchburg

Phone Number:

434-455-1515

Link:

CraddockTerryHotel.com

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-204-2387

Link:

BevsIceCream.com

Address:

Fredericksburg

Phone Number:

Link:

CarlsFrozenCustard.com

This decadent, small-batch maker of “heavenly handmade ice cream” is opening a fourth location near Bow Tie Cinemas in Scott’s Addition, where it will offer popular flavors like creamy chocolate decadence and salted caramel. It’s one more good reason to take the day off and catch a flick.

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-364-2100

Link:

GelatiIceCream.com

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-855-0800

Link:

BlackHandCoffeeCo.com

Address:

Danville

Phone Number:

434-483-2138

Link:

BrewedAwakening.org

While enduring the summer heat, stop by one of Lamplighter’s three locations for a refreshing cold-brew coffee. Hungry? Popular sandwiches include the Quilt (a BLT made of woven bacon strips, red onion and mixed greens, topped with garlic aioli) and the Goat Herder’s Daughter (grilled leeks, asparagus, goat cheese and fennel on fluffy focaccia).

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-728-2292

Link:

LamplighterCoffee.com

Lunch at 9th and Cary streets wouldn’t be the same without the Boka Tako Truck. An RVA staple, the business comprises three trucks, two carts, two restaurants (Boka Grill and Boka Tako Bar) and a booming catering business. Wherever you find them, enjoy Boka’s gourmet braised beef brisket with crispy potato and chimichurri or kimchi and bulgogi tacos.

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-928-2652

Link:

BokaTakoBar.com

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-400-3663

Link:

ChristophersRunawayGourmay.com

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-464-8226

Link:

Goatocado.com

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-750-2000

Link:

Buckheads.com

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-378-0600

Link:

SizzlingSteak.com

It’s clear that Shoemakers knows steaks—its house specialties include classic steak au poivre and filet mignon grilled to order. With any steak, enjoy a side of garlic and chive mashed potatoes, with the option of a drizzled béarnaise, fromage, or peppercorn sauce. Add a Caesar salad for an extra flavorful flourish.

Address:

Lynchburg

Phone Number:

434-455-1510

Link:

CraddockTerryHotel.com

Just what is a “Bach” (pronounced “batch”)? It’s a New Zealand version of a beach house. Put “burger” in front of that and you have Richmond’s answer to a gourmet burger bar—one that serves organic grass-fed beef and lamb patties and unusual fresh-made dipping sauces like jalapeño remoulade.

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-359-1305

Link:

BurgerBach.com

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-358-5225Third place: Citizen Burger Bar

Link:

CarytownBurgers.com

Address:

434-979-9944

Phone Number:

Link:

Address:

Lynchburg,

Phone Number:

434-847-2970

Link:

CaoArtisanChocolates.com

More than 80 jars of candy-by-the-pound line the walls of For the Love of Chocolate, with shelves and cases of candy, confections and baked goods that range from gourmet chocolates and fair trade chocolate bars to cookies, international candies, and even more unusual items like chocolate pasta and Italian absinthe candy.

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-359-5645

Link:

LovChoc.com

Address:

Charlottesville

Phone Number:

434-972-9100

Link:

GearhartsChocolates.com

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-355-3228

Link:

ChioccasDeli.com

Serving Carytown since 1982, Coppola’s Deli aims to provide its customers with an authentic Italian deli experience—serving wine, cheese, deli meats, and sandwiches and subs, of course. Pop by for a cheesesteak, or, for the deli purist, the popular Industrial sub, a salami and Capicola ham sandwich topped with peppers and provolone on a fresh-baked roll.

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-359-6969

Link:

CoppolasDeli.com

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-367-7909

Link:

GarnettsCafe.com

Ellwood Thompson’s offers a selection of locally sourced nutrient-dense prepared food and local beers on tap that you can either sit and sip in the Beet community space, or as you shop the store’s wide variety of organic and local produce. Free nutrition counseling sessions can be arranged with Ellwood’s resident health coach.

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-359-7525

Link:

EllwoodThompsons.com

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-355-3190

Link:

TheFreshMarket.com

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-285-6414

Link:

LibbieMarket.com

Address:

Richmond,

Phone Number:

804-354-9888

Link:

FatDragonRVA.com

Everyone garnishes a bowl of pho (Vietnamese noodle soup) a little differently. At Mekong, pho is served with a side of lime, bean sprouts and chili peppers, so you can create your own symphony of flavors. Get hands-on again with Mekong’s roll-your-own-spring-roll grilled platters. The restaurant also features an impressive 60 beers on tap and about 200 more in bottles for the true-brew connoisseur.

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-288-8929

Link:

MekongIsForBeerLovers.com

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-364-1688

Link:

PeterChangRVA.com

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-353-4060

Link:

HeritageRVA.com

You can’t get more creative than a customizable cocktail. Just choose two words (like “herbal” and “sweet”) and your favorite spirit, and a Rogue Gentlemen bartender will create a delicious quaff to your specifications. Prefer your drinks by-the-book (or menu)? The bar has a daring selection of drinks rotated seasonally, along with a selection of beer and wine.

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-477-3456

Link:

TheRogueGentlemen.com

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-658-1935

Link:

RooseveltRVA.com

Address:

Midlothian

Phone Number:

804-379-8100Third place: Mekong

Link:

LatitudeSeafoodCo.com

Address:

804-288-8929

Phone Number:

Link:

While you’re staying at the Craddock Terry Hotel, meet your dinner date for happy hour at Shoemakers for a wide selection of fine wine, beer and specialty cocktails, including a selection of martinis such as Shoemakers Classic served “moldy”—garnished with a splash of olive juice and a gorgonzola stuffed olive.

Address:

Lynchburg

Phone Number:

434-455-1510

Link:

CraddockTerryHotel.com

Address:

Midlothian,

Phone Number:

804-379-8100

Link:

LatitudeSeafoodCo.com

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-545-0565

Link:

RROysters.com

Seafood and steak lovers alike are in luck on Friday and Saturday nights, when specials at Shoemakers often include a choice between elegantly served lobster and prime rib. That doesn’t mean it skimps during the week, either—the popular restaurant’s oven-roasted crab stuffed trout over asparagus risotto entrée and crispy calamari with lemon aioli will satisfy any day.

Address:

Lynchburg

Phone Number:

434-455-1510

Link:

CraddockTerryHotel.com

Address:

Phone Number:

434-455-4485

Link:

LynchburgCommunityMarket.com

Running year-round in Forest Hill Park, this producer-only market offers goods ranging from local produce to hand-thrown pottery. While there, be sure to grab a latte at Alchemy Coffee’s trailer and a fresh-made sourdough donut from Mrs. Yoder’s Kitchen, a popular food truck run by an Amish family.

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-814-2373

Link:

GrowRVA.com

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-288-2867

Link:

SaintStephensRichmond.net

With an authentic 25-foot pressed tin ceiling and wooden floors hewn from the planks of an old Lynchburg tobacco warehouse, Market at Main may conjure the 1920s, but the menu is fresh and modern. Breakfast staples include a fried green tomato BLT, sweet potato pancakes, 6-ounce center cut steak and eggs, and Market’s riff on a classic: pulled pork Benedict.

Address:

Lynchburg

Phone Number:

434-847-9040

Link:

MarketAtMain.com

Address:

804-358-0369

Phone Number:

Link:

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-643-5512Third place: McLean’s

Link:

MilliesDiner.com

Address:

Lynchburg

Phone Number:

434-847-9040

Link:

MarketAtMain.com

You wouldn’t expect a line out the door for a storefront as unassuming as Millie’s, but it’s worth the wait for soft scrambled eggs with lobster and hollandaise, and the diner’s open-faced frittata, a curried concoction called the Devil’s Mess. No worries if you’re feeling impatient—you can order one of Millie’s pint-size Bloody Mary’s or mimosas to enjoy while you wait.

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-643-5512

Link:

MilliesDiner.com

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-788-8000

Link:

JeffersonHotel.com

Mexican food doesn’t have to be synonymous with unhealthy food, as the Garcia family well knows. Their restaurant offers authentic Mexican dishes with fresh ingredients, options for those with dietary restrictions, and unusual dishes like avocado fries—breaded and fried slices of avocado served with a white sauce.

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-320-1069

Link:

Mexico-Restaurant.com

Address:

Chesterfield

Phone Number:

804-272-0920

Link:

PepesVa.com

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-888-9984

Link:

PlazaAzteca.com

Address:

Richmond,

Phone Number:

804-784-4800

Link:

PorticoRichmond.com

Ideally situated on the James River, Shoemakers’ patio provides the perfect backdrop for a superb dining experience. The former tobacco warehouse, now part of the Craddock Terry Hotel, is in the heart of the city’s metropolitan dining scene, with masterfully crafted meals as well as its modern exposed brick interiors and convenience to the city’s Bluff Walk.

Address:

Lynchburg

Phone Number:

434-455-1510

Link:

CraddockTerryHotel.com

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-342-8990

Link:

TheDailyKitchenAndBar.com

Address:

804-355-0666

Phone Number:

Link:

Address:

Richmond,

Phone Number:

804-788-7672Third place: Jean Jacques Bakery

Link:

SubRosaBakery.com

Westhampton Pastry, in business since 1952, does things the old-fashioned way, right down to its décor, and more importantly, its recipes. Pick up the popular melt-away coffee cake or glazed donuts for a weekend morning—arrive early to get them when they’re hot out of the oven.

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-282-4413

Link:

WesthamptonPastryShop.com

Shoemakers was once the home of one of Lynchburg’s most successful shoe factories, but the restaurant’s current reputation for top notch surf and turf (and notable desserts) may well eclipse its prior fame. Shoemakers serves classic American cuisine, including filet and fish specialties like an eight-ounce filet mignon paired with either jumbo Cajun shrimp or a crab cake.

Address:

Lynchburg

Phone Number:

434-455-1510

Link:

CraddockTerryHotel.com

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-358-2011

Link:

StellasRichmond.com

Address:

Orange

Phone Number:

540-317-1206

Link:

InnAtWillowGrove.com

You may argue over where to go for dinner, but we bet you’ll agree that Shyndigz is the place for dessert. Towering slices of salted chocolate caramel cake, Butterfinger Wow pie, peanut butter pie, and pecan streusel bread pudding are some of the treats waiting for you to eat in, or carry out at the new Shyndigz 2go located a couple of doors down.

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-938-3449

Link:

Shyndigz.com

Address:

Richmond

Phone Number:

804-364-4300

Link:

TheCheesecakeFactory.com

Address:

Midlothian,

Phone Number:

804-639-9940

Link:

TheDesserterie.com

Events

September 27, 2024

State Fair of Virginia

The Meadow Event Park

September 28, 2024

Sinkland Farms 33rd Annual Pumpkin Festival

Sinkland Farms

September 29, 2024

Sinkland Farms 33rd Annual Pumpkin Festival

Sinkland Farms

The Virginia Scenic Railway Brings Train Travel Back to Virginia

Before the Acela hit 160 miles per hour and turned train travel into a race from one destination to the next, riding the rails was an occasion. Sweeping vistas right outside the window and meals served with silverware made traveling by train an experience—one that a dwindling generation looks back on fondly. But the Virginia […]

by Heather Bien

More of Virginia’s Most Bizarre Destinations

These are just a few more artifacts that make Virginia so much fun. We’ve compiled a short list of Virginia’s most bizarre destinations. Up to Speed. Weighing a mere 34 tons, one of four manganese bronze ship propellers from the S.S. United States once propelled the 990-foot ship, built in 1951 and retired in 1969. […]

by Elizabeth Cogar

From Dior to Dessès, UVA’s historic clothing collection

A 1795 off-white, wool men’s jacket and breeches with a dark tan silk brocade waistcoat; a black silk taffeta, beaded mourning bustle skirt and bodice from the 1880s; and three Christian Dior ensembles from the ’60s and ’80s—all found in the University of Virginia’s Historic Clothing Collection, housed underneath the Culbreth Theater. For Marcy Linton, […]

by Hope Cartwright

Best of Virginia Winners

General

Current Issue

Events

State Fair of Virginia

Sinkland Farms 33rd Annual Pumpkin Festival

Sinkland Farms 33rd Annual Pumpkin Festival

Most Popular

The Virginia Scenic Railway Brings Train Travel Back to Virginia

More of Virginia’s Most Bizarre Destinations

From Dior to Dessès, UVA’s historic clothing collection

Best of Virginia Winners

General

Current Issue

Events

State Fair of Virginia

Sinkland Farms 33rd Annual Pumpkin Festival

Sinkland Farms 33rd Annual Pumpkin Festival

Get our most popularweekly newsletter: VL Today

Most Popular

The Virginia Scenic Railway Brings Train Travel Back to Virginia

More of Virginia’s Most Bizarre Destinations

From Dior to Dessès, UVA’s historic clothing collection

Get our most popularweekly newsletter: VL Today

Get our most popular
weekly newsletter: VL Today

Get our most popular
weekly newsletter: VL Today