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Sorry! We don't have any recommendations for Richmond, Fredericksburg and the Northern Neck right now.
Keep in the mind that hotel rooms can be hard to come by during Richmond's NASCAR Nextel Cup races, held over two weekends in May and September. The downtown Broad Street corridor is also crowded during the college school year, since the Virginia Commonwealth University campus is located here. Richmond has a wide variety of restaurants, from Southern comfort food to fine dining, and anything from Thai and Mexican to Dominican and French. Dress is casual at most restaurants; reservations are recommended for most fine dining or during special events. Downtown hotels may be a bit more expensive, but keep in mind that if you stay in an area outside the core, you'll have to pay for parking in the city.
The specialty here is New Southern cuisine, with seasonal lunch and dinner menus that include tempting dishes such as shrimp and grits or roasted game hen stuffed with a risotto of country ham, green peas, and mushrooms. The wine list is one to linger over. Try not to leave without sampling one of the restaurant's namesake drinks. The restaurant's location in the heart of downtown makes it a popular pre-theater or concert spot.
Housed in a pre--Civil War brick general store, this white-tablecloth restaurant actually has three dining rooms decorated like a French garden, with numerous paintings by local artists for sale. For more than two decades, this has been a Fredericksburg favorite for its consistently good food and service. The interesting menu changes with the seasons, and the chef sources his products locally. Specialties like house-cut beef, French onion soup, and seafood are all served with a Continental accent. A fixed-price ($25) four-course dinner is served from 5:30 to 7 Monday through Thursday.
Be prepared to wait in line at Richmond's favorite diner. Locals often bring lawn chairs and games to pass the time while waiting for their chance to try the upscale, contemporary selections at this quirky eatery. This is the place for brunch, serving everything from huevos rancheros to the signature Devil's Mess kitchen-sink omelet. Although the vibe is straight out of the '50s, with personal jukeboxes in every booth, the food is strictly 21st century, and includes contemporary takes on Southern classics as well as global offerings. The dinner menu changes every three weeks, but the most popular lunch and breakfast offerings are always available.
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