Weekly Food News: Spoonbread and Awful Arthur’s head west, a Carytown restaurant petition, the Luncheonette shutters, and more

All the news that’s fit to eat

Mayor Levar Stoney proposes hiking city’s meals tax to 7.5% to support schools – Mayor Levar Stoney submitted a proposal earlier this week to hike the city’s meals tax by another 1.5%, bringing the city’s tax on prepared meals to a total of 7.5%. City officials say a new funding source for schools facilities is needed in order to increase debt capacity while not negatively impacting core city services and operations and still produce the $224 million needed to fund construction of five new schools and needed repairs to existing facilities identified in a School Board report last year. Obviously, this isn’t sitting well with everyone. Get the scoop here.

Chef Michael Hall taking Spoonbread concept to Short Pump – Michael Hall, chef and owner of the (delicious, if you ask me) southern eatery Spoonbread Bistro is taking his concept west. Hall will take over the former home of longtime Short Pump restaurant Patina, which closed late last year to open Spoonbread Deux in mid-April. Learn more here.

Awful Arthur’s set to take over former Shackleford’s Restaurant & Raw Bar – Elsewhere in the West End, Awful Arthur’s is making a return. You might remember the restaurant had a location near Broad and Glenside up until, I want to say the late ’90s or early 2000s. The seafood joint will occupy the space that formerly housed another long-time local West End restaurant, Shackleford’s Restaurant & Raw Bar in the Gleneagles center. Read more here.

Petition to save original Carytown Burgers & Fries reaches 10,000 signatures – It’s an open secret that Publix, along with the property owner, is eyeing the Richmond Shopping Center, which sits at the head of Carytown and includes a now-vacant Martin’s grocery store, for redevelopment. Amid the arguably ugly, brown, circa-1970s shopping center sits a nearly 200-year-old building that once served as a house for toll takers along the Westham Turnpike (now W. Cary Street). Now, it’s home to Carytown Burgers & Fries, who are fighting to save their business from demolition. Read more about what’s at stake here.

7 Hills Brewing heads for the hills after two years – 7 Hills Seafood & Brewing Co. in Shockoe Bottom has packed it up after two years in business. The restaurant served its last meal Monday evening. Owners posted a message to Facebook thanking patrons for their business and said little else. I will say I went twice and the food left a lot to be desired, and the beer was just okay. Am I alone in this? Here’s what the owners said.

Both locations of The Luncheonette close – We already told you about the closure of the Brookland Park Luncheonette and its replacement Dixie Burger Bar. What we didn’t know was that the Shockoe Bottom version of Luncheonette had recently closed. The Shockoe Bottom version was the original opened by Brad Barzoloski in 2014. Richmond BizSense.com has the details on its closure and what’s next for the owner.

Chef Mike Tam taking over the kitchen at Laura Lee’s–temporarily – Laura Lee’s has been welcomed into the Forest Hill neighborhood and is usually packed with hungry locals. Kendra Feather and her staff aren’t just sitting on their laurels–they’re exploring entire new continents of cuisine and will soon invite Chef Mike Tam into the kitchen for a special popup. Learn more about this kitchen takeover where you can enjoy eclectic Asian flavors right here (no tickets required!).

This week’s restaurant reviews

• Athens Tavern (Style Weekly)
• Moore Street Café (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
• Tulsi (Richmond Magazine)