Weekly Food News: The Hop brings craft beer and pizza to the Fan, Tijuana Flats comes to town, 24-hour Cap’n Crunch waffles, and more

All the news that’s fit to eat

The Hop now serving up craft beer, pizzas in The Fan – If craft beer and pizza are your things (and if you’re reading this, I have to assume you at least have a mild interest, right?), hop on over to The Hop Craft Pizza & Beer in The Fan. The new spot at 1600 W. Cary Street has over 300 beers either on tap or available for purchase and delivery. They also employ traditional American/Sicilian pizza making techniques with modern flavor profiles to produce a unique style of pizza all their own. Dough is fermented in-house for at least 48 hours and baked at 550º in a flat top gas deck oven. Check it out here.

Casa Del Barco commissions world-renowned artist for Short Pump mural – Taking a cue from all the artwork adorning the power plant adjacent to its original location on the Canal Walk downtown, Casa Del Barco has commissioned Mexico-based muralist Curiot to paint a large interior mural at their Short Pump Town Center location, and it already looks fantastic. The artist hails from the portion of Mexico from which much of the restaurant’s menu items come. Check out the bright pops of color from the in-progress mural here.

Florida chain Tijuana Flats opens at Willow Lawn – Florida-based fast-casual Mexican chain Tijuana Flats has opened its first Richmond location at Willow Lawn, taking over a former Qdoba storefront. The company makes its own chips, tortillas, queso, guac, and salsa from scratch the day of service and specializes in street tacos, tostadas, burritos, bowls, and more. See the full menu here.

Local waffle shop takes cue from Waffle House playbook with 24-hour service – Capitol Waffle Shop, the build-your-own waffle bar with all sorts of crazy toppings on E. Main Street downtown, is taking a page from the Waffle House playbook and beginning 24-hour service on the weekends. That’s when you’re most likely to have a craving for a waffle topped with Cap’n Crunch, right? Let’s just say this: I’ve never wanted Waffle House more than around 2:00 AM after a night of drinking, so I think these guys are onto something. More here.

 Takeout options to satisfy your craving for a sweet treat – Speaking of cravings, ever crave a sweet treat late at night and want to know where to go when you just want to pick up something fast? Eileen Mellon at Richmond Magazine has a great guide to the area’s best sweet treats to go. Hungry? Then don’t click this link, because you will be after.

This week’s restaurant reviews

• Beauvine Burger Concept (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
• European Taste (Richmond Magazine)
• Little Nickel (Style Weekly)
• Little Saint (Style Weekly)