Weekly Food News: Phone-free happy hour, Brenner Pass, Rocky-themed sandwiches, and more

All the news that’s fit to eat

Would you put your phone away and reconnect if it meant you got a discount? – That’s what Secco Wine Bar owner Julia Battaglini is betting on with the Fan restaurant’s new “Uncorked & Unplugged” happy hour debuting July 10th. Born out of Battaglini’s own struggle to step away from her phone, guests will receive a happy hour discount from 5:00 – 7:00 PM if they’re willing to place their devices in a box in the center of the table. The news has sparked a surprising amount of opinions, debate, and thoughtful comments across the board, as you can see on my personal Facebook profile (seriously, I was floored). Check our our full article here and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments.

Mountain rules are in full effect at Brenner Pass in Scott’s Addition – Okay, don’t go full “mountain rules” a la It’s Always Sunny in Philadephia, but the new Alpine-themed restaurant from Metzger Bar & Butchery chef Brittanny Anderson might just make you think you’re about to hit the slopes in the Alps of Italy. The menu “reflects a shared love of the Alpine region as well as a dedication to hospitality and great food and drink,” the restaurant’s website states. What does that entail? You can expect items like arctic char, steak frites, sweetbreads, and more. The restaurant opened last Thursday in The Symbol Building in Scott’s Addition. Read more here.

Yo, Adrien! Get on over to The Paulie RVA for one helluva sandwich – Jason Alley and the other good folks behind Comfort in Richmond’s Arts District are having a little fun this summer with a new pop-up sandwich shop inside the southern restaurant all summer long. Enter The Paulie RVA, featuring meat-loaded, Rocky-themed sandwiches on fresh-baked bread. We’ve got a full look at the menu, and whether you choose The Adrian, The Balboa, The Little Marie, or the Cuff And Link, you can’t go wrong. I’ve yet to get there myself, but it’s on the top of my list and the unofficial reviews have been pretty solid. Check out the menu right here.

The hands at Idle Hands are anything but idle with a new location in the works – It’s all hands on deck for Idle Hands Bread’s new location on Strawberry Street in The Fan. The bakery started out in Scott’s Addition, moved to another space in Jackson Ward, and will land next to 8 1/2 Pizza in a space formerly occupied by the short-lived Strawberry Wok & Sushi at 407 Strawberry Street. The smell of freshly-baked breads should fill the air later this summer, as Richmond Magazine’s Piet. E. Jones reports.

This week’s restaurant reviews

• Natalie’s Taste of Lebanon (Richmond Magazine)
• Pie Hole (Style Weekly)
• Sen Organic Small Plate (Richmond Magazine)
• Vagabond (Style Weekly)