Weekly Food News: Fall Restaurant Week, Anchor Bar sails away, a restaurant just for nerds, and a Love Shack for Lakeside

All the news that’s fit to eat

Richmond Restaurant Week continues through this weekend – The fall iteration of Richmond Restaurant Week continues through Sunday, and you’ve got a few more days to enjoy three-course dinners at 30 area restaurants for $29.17 apiece. A portion of each meal goes to support the programs of FeedMore, our local food bank that supports hungry families in Central Virginia. It’s a great opportunity to revisit a favorite local restaurant or try something new. Here’s who’s participating and what they’re serving.

Anchor Bar sails away after just eight months – The struggling Stony Point Fashion Park is down a restaurant after Anchor Bar, described as the “home of the original Buffalo wing,” closed its doors after just eight months in business. In my personal opinion, I never really got the hype. Their wings were good, but nothing to write home about–perhaps proving that just because you’re the first, it doesn’t necessarily make you the best. I think the bigger issue at play here is the location, though–a problem that has plagued the open air mall. Richard Hayes has some nearby options for those of you looking to get your wing fix right here.

Proposed restaurant and lounge to transport nerds to another planet – Sci-fi and fantasy nerds, your ship has come in–literally. Richmonders Daniel and Brianne Jackson are currently crowdfunding for a restaurant and lounge space downtown to be known as Midway Station. The concept would welcome guests aboard an intergalactic space station and offer themed rooms and props, video gaming, graphic novels, a store, a full bar, and more. It’s a lot to pack into one space, and especially with the ambitious goal of raising $100,000 by November and opening in January of 2018. Still, Jackson says he has a plan. It’s a very interesting idea, one which you can read more about right here.

Renovations complete at Strawberry Street Café – You don’t become (or stay) a Richmond institution without offering something unique or adapting to changing times, and that’s exactly what Strawberry Street Café has attempted to do with their recent renovations. The owners brought in an interior designer to give the space a refreshed and more hip feel in order to attract younger customers, and made some changes to the menu as well. Don’t worry–the famous bathtub salad bar remains! Here’s a look at what you can expect at this neighborhood mainstay.

SB’s Lakeside Love Shack bringing a new option to Lakeside – A new spot is coming soon to Lakeside, and the owner is seeking a little help from the community, for a spot that she hopes will in turn become a gathering spot for neighbors and friends. Sarabeth Hagen, a well-known server who’s worked at places like Curbside Café and Perly’s, is stepping out on her own for her first restaurant venture, SB’s Lakeside Love Shack. Sarabeth is currently hosting a GoFundMe in order to raise the funds for equipment and to support other costs, per the campaign:

If you’re from or have lived in Richmond, VA, you probably already know her: she’s the bubbly 6’2″ waitress with a big flower in her curly hair. More than likely, she’s served you brunch at Perly’s or Curbside Cafe with her contagious smile. Sarabeth is a well-known RVA service industry staple; a hardworking single mom who has been waiting tables since she was 15 years old. She is *finally* making her dream of owning a community-based restaurant come true. In order to launch this new local business, she needs your help!

Learn more about the restaurant here and make a contribution to the crowdfunding campaign right here.

This week’s restaurant reviews

• Fighting Fish (Richmond Magazine)
• The Stables at Belmont (Style Weekly)