“Eating good food is, to me, one of life's greatest joys, and I will never punish myself for it.” - Miriam Shor
It’s always so much fun finding and visiting local restaurants. Hampton Roads has so many wonderful local gems and it has been a blast uncovering them. Virginia Beach is my hometown, but Richmond, VA holds a special place in my heart. After graduating from college in 2011, I got an amazing job offer in RVA, and lived there for about 3 and a half years. Richmond has some amazing food, and anytime I’m able to visit I jump at the opportunity.
Today, I am sharing three favorites from both Hampton Roads and RVA.
Hampton Roads, VA
Redwood Smoke Shack - Norfolk, VA
Redwood Smoke Shack has been a favorite of mine ever since we tried their delicious food at Back Bay’s Farmhouse at the beginning of the summer. I was super excited to finally dine in at their new establishment a few weeks ago, and was not disappointed. My husband has been several times since their opening this summer, and has raved about their food, service, and overall experience.
Everything was super delicious and fresh. I do recommend getting to the restaurant earlier in the day, as some of their popular items do sell out really quickly. The staff is nothing short of amazing, and they are always recommending some wonderful options.
Top Tray
The Woody - sliced brisket, pulled pork, house BBQ sauce topped with cilantro slaw, between a Krispy Kreme donut
Sides - Cornbread, Greed Chile Mac & Cheese, and Pit Smoked Beans
Bottom Tray
OG Sammich - pulled chicken
Side - Cilantro Slaw
Town Center Cold Pressed / Town Center- Virginia Beach, VA
TCCP is my new favorite spot in Virginia Beach. The coffee shop is serving up some delicious food, and well as some of the best juices, smoothies, and of course java. I absolutely love how the shop allows their patrons the options to curate their own sandwiches, and are so flexible with creating the best meals possible. The environment is so cozy, and its the perfect place to relax or go with a small group of friends.
Matcha Lemonade
Shake Shack / Town Center - Virginia Beach, VA
If you have been following me for awhile, you’ll know that Shake Shack holds a special place in my heart. My hubby and I went to the new Town Center location on opening weekend, and to say the least it was a wild experience. Now that the new location has gotten it’s footing and the buzz has died down - our time there was so much better! We were pleasantly surprised with turnaround, and how wonderful the staff is.
Shack-cago Dog, Fries, and Chick’n Shack
Richmond, VA
Upper Shirley Vineyards - Charles City, VA
I am a huge fan of Upper Shirley, and have talked about them countless times, here and here. It is very rare for a winery to have knockout amazing wines, but also an onsite restaurant that’s simply phenomenal. Patrons literally come in for the food alone - it is that good! G & I visited for a wine tasting on a Saturday afternoon, and the staff offered the option to dine in afterwards, and prepared our table while we completed our tasting. The team at Upper Shirley is great, and everyone was super welcoming during our visit.
Crispy fried oysters with slaw and remoulade sauce + side of fries.
Richmond Wine Station - Richmond, VA
My first visit to Richmond Wine Station was great - the staff was so kind! At the station, you are able to get a re-loadable card to insert into several different wine machines for a self-serve tasting. I really enjoy this concept and so glad more places are doing this! During my visit, I went with a group of girlfriends who all enjoy different types of wines, so this experience was fantastic for everyone. You are able to as little or as much as you want, and select a budget that works for you. Also, during our visit they hosted a free wine tasting - and the wines were great, and the host recommended excellent selections.
Caprese flatbread + Grilled chicken flatbread
Brunch… - Richmond, VA
The popular phrase, “Worth the wait.” is totally about Brunch… and this is now my new go to brunch spot in RVA. Brunch…is sooooo good! The wait is quite long, for a group of 4 we did have a wait for about 30-45 minutes. I would recommend having a member from your party putting your name down as quickly as possible or going earlier in the day. Service was quick and our waiter ensured that we got exactly what we wanted during our visit. Everything was delicious and I was super impressed with our time there. My waiter was very accommodating and even help curate an off the menu dish for me which was so kind!
Custom order, and not on the menu - Maple bacon waffle
XO, Analise