Remember last fall? There was a lot of hysteria going on at that time over Mayan prophecies that supposedly foretold the end of the world. The fact that you’re here to read this in 2013 proves that there wasn’t any merit to such predictions, but back in December, when no one knew whether we were going to die or not, we here at RVA Magazine decided to launch a poll of our readership. We wanted to take stock of the local scene, find out what up-and-coming artists are generating the most heat, and which local spots have become our favorite hangouts over the past few years. That way, we figured, if the world did end, at least we’d know. Thankfully, December 21 came and went, and the days continued on in much the same way as they had before. Now that we’re sure that RVA will be here for another year, we’re delighted to be able to reveal the results of our readers’ poll, retrieved from that heady time when the end of days was still upon us. The thriving local community is what makes this city a great place to live, and [in this article, Part 2 of which will be posted tomorrow], we recognize the people and places around RVA that we love the most.
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FAVORITE BEER BAR: MEKONG
While primarily operating as a Vietnamese restaurant (and a damn good one, at that), everyone in RVA knows that “Mekong is for beer lovers.” Providing an extensive collection of craft beers that is unrivaled in Richmond, owner An Bui’s passion for hops and barley is apparent to all who set foot in the bar area at Mekong, where the friendly atmosphere makes everyone feel like family. Its recognition as the best beer bar in America by craftbeer.com only proves that Richmonders are right to single out Mekong as the place to be for those who love beer.
2ND PLACE: CAPITAL ALE HOUSE
HONORABLE MENTION: JOE'S INN
FOODIE RESTAURANT: EDO'S SQUID
Edo’s Squid has a lot to offer within its small corridors. Yes, you will need a reservation, and an open mind when it comes to personal space, but you will not be disappointed by the variety of pasta dishes, the quality of which more than reflects the price. Don’t let the climb to the second floor and closely placed seating arrangement fool you--Edo’s is as hearty, delicious, and unique a dining experience as Richmond gets.
2ND PLACE: COMFORT
HONORABLE MENTION: MAMMA ZU'S
LUNCH PLACE (TIE): KUBA KUBA
Located in the heart of the fan, Kuba Kuba is impossible to miss, with the large, swanky, blue-hued painting of a man and a dog sprawled out on the side of the building. Kuba Kuba has great food presentation, outstanding quality, and a very intimate atmosphere. The favorite for lunch is the Tres Leches Cake, but you shouldn’t leave without ordering the empanadas and fried plantains as well. And while they were honored for their lunchtime delicacies, Kuba Kuba’s weekend brunches are also not to be missed.
LUNCH PLACE (TIE): 821 CAFE
821 Cafe has an ever changing specials menu that seems to hit the right spot with Richmonders, including the "picnic basket" - a deliciously unique sandwich with grilled brie, fried greens, apples, pears, and honey mustard. Their everyday menu contains some unusual items as well, from a fried peanut butter, bacon, and banana sandwich to the notorious “Brent Burger”--a pound of beef between two grilled cheese sandwiches. All of this in the intimate, European-style dining environment makes 821 a favorite in the Richmond community.
2ND PLACE: GARNETT'S
HONORABLE MENTION: LAMPLIGHTER
BARBECUE PLACE: BUZ AND NED'S
Throwing down with and beating the famous Bobby Flay in a BBQ-off, Buz and Ned’s has dominated the barbecue scene and won the heart of RVA readers with the meaty title. Having cooked BBQ across the country, and shared secrets with old timers mending the pits, Buz never tasted barbecue as good as Ned’s. Before he passed away, Ned passed his famous 150-year-old recipe to Buz, who brought it to Richmond and has been serving it to grateful RVA diners for two decades. Find Buz & Ned’s on Boulevard--or keep an eye out for their new location, on Broad St. in the West End.
2ND PLACE: ALAMO
HONORABLE MENTION: PHAT BOYZ
PIZZA PLACE: BOTTOM'S UP
It’s not surprising Bottoms Up won this category, as it has received many accolades since opening over two decades ago. This gourmet pizza place near the Eastern end of the historic Canal Walk has wonderful outdoor seating, with a view of the trains in the historic Shockoe Bottom area. But this isn’t the only reason to visit--their wide variety of unique signature pizzas and high quality ingredients keep tables at Bottoms Up in high demand all year round. The crust is famous for taking over twelve hours to prepare, the sauces are homemade, and the toppings are fresh and delicious, so regardless of the wait time, it’s always worth it.
2ND PLACE: MARY ANGELA'S
HONORABLE MENTION: BELMONT PIZZA
LATE NIGHT HANGOUT: THE CAMEL
For many, this will come as no surprise. The Camel has existed right there in the center of the Richmond universe for many moons; a beacon of great music, art, food (served into the morning hours) and a plethora of great beers. The Camel exists for the betterment of Richmond, and is one of the only bars in the city that I will go to without checking the evening’s event beforehand. Chances are that something pretty cool is going to be happening at “the social oasis.”
2ND PLACE: BALLICEAUX
HONORABLE MENTION: IPANEMA
DANCE PARTY SPOT: BALLICEAUX
This category is of dire importance. Sometimes you have just got to dance, and Balliceaux is the joint, with the perfect touch of swankiness, to let loose in. You don’t have to wear the jacket and tie every night, but it’s nice to kick it up a notch and swagger on down to Balliceaux for a good romp with the beautiful faces of Richmond. Something about the layout of Balliceaux just naturally cajoles you into dancing; you’re in the back of a nice restaurant, the lights are low… next thing you know, you’ve just dropped the JB splits in the middle of the dance floor.
2ND PLACE: STRANGE MATTER
HONORABLE MENTION: OFF THE HOOKAH
LOCAL VENUE (TIE): THE CAMEL
A tie in this category is almost a necessity, and props to The Camel for racking up a couple wins. The Camel is a place where you can go to see literally any genre of music--you’ll see national touring acts, you’ll see fledgling projects, and you might even see Bill Murray or Joseph Gordon-Levitt if you’re there on the right night. Richmonders treat The Camel as a legitimate place to see great music, not just as a bar, so this win is warranted and well-deserved.
LOCAL VENUE (TIE): STRANGE MATTER
Strange Matter, being one of the only bars in Richmond taken seriously as a great venue, certainly deserves a trophy. Of all the bands in Richmond, the punk and metal genres make up one of the largest percentages. Strange Matter is a safe haven for the city’s hardest and grittiest music – the music that has partially defined Richmond for so long. There’s an unmistakable old-fashioned feeling you get when you walk into a Strange Matter show; the arcades, the cement floor – you can sense the rich history of raw rock in the air.
2ND PLACE: BALLICEAUX
HONORABLE MENTION: THE REPUBLIC
LOCAL RECORD STORE: PLAN 9
For over three decades now, the people of Richmond have deemed Plan 9 the place to slake their musical appetites, a fact that continues to hold true today. Walking into Plan 9 is like walking into a pet store; it’s freaking awesome and it’s almost impossible to leave empty-handed. Plan 9 gives back to the community by shelving tons of local music, aiding many local bands. Almost anytime I go for a long walk, I end up stopping into Plan 9. Convenience pairs nicely with awesomeness.
2ND PLACE: DEEP GROOVE
HONORABLE MENTION: STEADY SOUNDS
NATIONALLY KNOWN RVA BAND: GWAR
With nearly three decades dominating the Richmond music scene, it’s no surprise that our alien overlords of metal, GWAR, continue to capture the hearts of RVA readers. After throwing the wild and crazy GWAR-B-Que 2012 on the alcohol-polluted shores of Hadad’s Lake last summer, the band introduced new guitarist Pustulus Maximus and kicked off the Fate Or Chaos Tour, which has kept them away from their beloved hometown ever since. However, they have been working on a new album, and rumor has it that this year’s GWAR-B-Que may feature the introduction of the group’s very own GWAR-B-Que sauce, leaving fans with plenty to look forward to.
2ND PLACE: LAMB OF GOD
HONORABLE MENTION: D'ANGELO
CORRECTION: While it has been corrected in the digital versions, we made a pretty significant error in the print version of this article, and a lot of copies of this issue made it out into the world before we caught it. Can you tell us what it was? If so, be the first one to email us at hello@rvamag.com with the correct answer, and you'll win a prize pack of assorted swag from RVA Magazine and other great local businesses. You've got til Friday to hit us up, but we can't imagine that none of our eagle-eyed readers will catch the mistake by then. Don't let us down!