THE HOT LIST: Where you should eat in Richmond this May
Matt Portelos
Chicken Katsu (White rice macaroni salad and a mixed greens garden salad with the plate lunch & Taro Chips with the sandwich)
By: Robey Martin
and last updated 2021-05-05 11:53:01-04
RICHMOND, Va. The weather is warmer, restaurants are reopening, and more people are now vaccinated against COVID-19. Seems like a perfect time to bring back the Richmond Hot List. A curated collection of places to eat and things to do around Richmond.
PATIOS AND BURGERS
Itâs deck season and Richmond is really showing up to the outdoor challenge. Emerging from COVID, Richmond restaurants have dialed in the outdoor dining adding twinkling lights, lush landscaping, and comfy seats.
Richmond restaurant roundup for 2020: Pandemic pivots and new eateries
BizSense file)
While the pandemic was the defining event of the year for Richmond’s restaurant industry, resulting in the closing of dozens of local spots, plenty of local operators also continued with expansion plans.
Here’s a recap of local food news from a year that many in the industry would rather forget:
Pandemic pivot
The pandemic pivot became a go-to for almost every restaurant in town this year. The government-mandated shutdown combined with patrons’ lingering fears left proprietors scrambling to find new revenue streams, shifting into a to-go-focused model and finding ways to squeeze enough tables and seats into their spaces while still maintaining social distancing.