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1. Here’s what I got / consider myself knowledgeable enough to know.

   Food

   * Desserts - Best: Comfort and Kuba Kuba, Worst: Ukrops
   * Thai - Best: Thai Diner II, Worst: Tara Thai
   * Burger
   * Sushi - Best: Akida
   * Mexican
   * Pizza - Best: Mary Angela’s, Worst: Channello’s
   * Chinese - Best: Full Kee, Worst: Peking Gourmet
   * Vegetarian - Best: Ipanema, Worst: I dunno, Buz and Ned’s?
   * Southern - Best: Croaker’s Spot, Worst: Hill Cafe (I’m sorry, but every meal I have there is disappointing)
   * Italian - Best: Edo’s, Worst: I’m not sure,everything else is good just not as good as Edo’s.

   Nightlife

   * Bar - Best: Ipanema, Cous Cous, Worst: NY Deli
   * Late night fare - Best: Avalon, Worst: 3rd St
   * Place to go on Saturday night - Best: Ipanema, Worst: Cafe Diem
   * Drinks - Best: Cous Cous, Worst: Ipanema (I mean I love that place but the drinks are so weak and inconsistent)

   Shopping

   * Overall local retail experience - Best: Chop Suey, Worst: Plan 9 (it’s the smell, plus I really don’t even need to be buying CDs anymore, so there’s no need for you to be a snobby asshole to me. I used to work there too, kid. And I’d smile at a customer once in awhile.)
   * Farmer’s market/Produce stand -
   * Grocery/food - Best: Ellwood Thompson’s, Worst: Food Lion, Ukrop’s (seriously, their quality/selection has gone way down, and also I’m tired of the clout they have in the community)
   * Clothes - Best: Need, (this is hard because our local clothes selection isn’t that great) Worst: Lex’s
   * Mall - Best: Stony Point (Anthropologie duh), Worst: Chesterfield Towne Center - does that place have ANY store worth going to?
   * Bookstore - Best: Chop Suey

   Neighborhood

   * Park - Best: Maymont (obvs?), Worst: Monroe? I don’t know.
   * Corner store - Best: Shield’s Market, Worst: Patterson Express
   * Place to take out of towners - Best: The Jefferson lobby, Capitol lawn, Radio tower on Church Hill, Worst: Short Pump Mall
   * Large scale renovation project
   * Place to live - Best: Some sort of quiet area of the Fan, Worst: West End

   Entertainment

   * Movie theatre - Best: Westhampton (I mean the Byrd is the coolest but Westhampton is bringing us real cinema all on its own), Worst: West Tower
   * Local Musician/Band - Best: Quattro Na Bossa, Worst: River City High
   * Music venue -
   * Community Blog - Best: West of the Boulevard
   * Website - Best: RVABlogs, Worst: richmond.com
   * Festival - best: Monument 10K (not sure if this counts, but man is that fun), Worst: Watermelon
   * Live theatre/performance venue - Best: Modlin Center for the Arts,

   — Susan | @

2. I’ll follow Susan’s lead for format except just eliminating things I don’t have answers for because it’s a lot. I don’t really know a lot of worst’s.

   Food

   * Thai - Best: Thai Diner 2
   * Sushi - Best: Sticky Rice
   * Pizza - Best: Sette
   * Vegetarian - Best: Ipanema
   * Italian - Best: Mama Zu

   Shopping

   * Grocery/food - Best: Elwood Thompsons, Worst: The Market at Tobacco Row
   * Bookstore - Best: Fountain

   Neighborhood

   * Park - Best: Libby
   * Place to take out of towners - Best: the river and Carytown, Worst: The housing projects?

   Entertainment

   * Local Musician/Band - Best: Aimee Bayles
   * Community Blog - Best: CHPN
   * Website - Best: Probably RVABlogs, Worst: the TV station sites

   — Daniel | @

3. Food

   * Thai - that one in cary town (i joke!)
   * Burger - B CaryTownBurgers&Fries W CapAle on dollar burger night
   * Mexican - B El Caporal, W Taco Bell
   * Pizza - B Bottom’s Up, W Three Monkeys
   * Southern - B Comfort
   * Italian - B Joe’s Inn

   Shopping

   * Overall local retail experience - B CaryTown
   * Farmer’s market/Produce stand - B 17thStreet, Tom Leonard
   * Grocery/food - B Ukrops (service still counts), Fresh Market. W Food Lion
   * Mall - B Stony Point

   Neighborhood

   * Park - B Maymont, Lewis Ginter
   * Place to take out of towners - B Shockoe Bottom, W Short Pump, Jail
   * Large scale renovation project - W anything Wilder touches
   * Place to live - B WotB, W Jeff Davis Hwy

   Entertainment

   * Movie theatre - B Westhampton, W Chesterfield Town Center
   * Community Blog - B WotBN
   * Website B - Haduken.com (duh?), W Richmond.com WRVA.com
   * Festival - W Italian

   — nic | @

4. Food
   * Burger - Best: Honeywhite’s / Worst: … McDonald’s? ;)

   Nightlife

   * Bar - Best: Capital Ale House (downtown, downstairs)

   Neighborhood

   * Park - Best: Maymont / Worst: Monroe I suppose
   * Place to take out of towners: Best: Science Museum / River, Worst: Anything that ends in “Court”?

   Entertainment

   * Movie theatre: Best: Short Pump / Worst: UA West Tower 10
   * Local Musician/Band: Best: CopperSails
   * Music venue: Worst: Toads Place — Sorry but charging me $35 to get in the door THEN informing me you have no ABC license yet, screw you.

   — matt | @

5. Here are the selections on which I have enough of an opinion to stand behind:

   Food
   – Burger: Best - 5 Guys
   – Mexican: Best - La Bamba
   – Pizza: Best - Sette
   – Southern: Best - Croaker’s Spot
   – Sushi: Best - whatever Hana Zushi is these days, Worst - that place on Main near VCU

   Neighborhood
   – Park: Best - Jefferson Park

   Entertainment
   – Community Blog: Best - CHPN, natch.
   – Website: Best - RVA Blogs, Worst - CBS6 (wtvr.com)
   – Live theatre/performance venue: Best - Agecroft Hall

   — john m | @

6. Best Blog: Church Hill People’s News (chpn.net)

   Food:
   Pizza - Bottom’s Up
   Best Italian Restaurant - Maggiano’s
   Best Southern - Hill Cafe

   Entertainment:
   Best Local Band: Kats

   Clothes:
   Best La Grande Dame

   Bookstore:
   Best Barnes and Nobles
   Best Narnias

   — Sharon | @

7. Food
   Ribs- Hill Cafe
   Italian- Mama Cucina’s
   Place to take out of towners- Shockoe Bottom
   Large scale renovation project- Villas of Oakwood Condominiums
   Local Band- Offering

   — Darlene | @

8. Food

   * Desserts: Best – Tarrant’s Cafe; Worst – Blue Point Fish Club
   * Thai: Best – Tara Thai; Worst – Ginger
   * Burger: Best – Five Guys; Worst – Legend
   * Sushi: Best – Osaka River Road; Worst - Nara
   * Mexican: Best – Cielito Lindo; Worst – Viva Mexico
   * Pizza: Best – Sette; Worst – Kitchen 64
   * Chinese: Best - Mandarin Palace; Worst – China Panda
   * Vegetarian: Best – Ipanema; Worst - China Panda
   * Southern: Best - Comfort; Worst -
   * Italian: Best - Edo’s/Mamma ‘Zu; Worst - Pasta Luna

   Nightlife

   * Bar: Best - Havana ‘59; Worst - Martini Kitchen
   * Late night fare: Best - Old City Bar; Worst - 3rd Street Diner

   Shopping

   * Overall local retail experience: Best - Carytown; Worst - Short Pump
   * Grocery/food: Best - The Fresh Market; Worst - Food Lion
   * Clothes: Best - H&M
   * Mall: Best - Stony Point; Worst - VA Center Commons
   * Bookstore: Best - Chop Suey; Worst - Books-a-Million

   Neighborhood

   * Park: Best - Maymont
   * Corner store: Best - Hermitage Market
   * Place to take out of towners: Best - Edo’s Squid
   * Place to live: Best - Northside; Worst - West End

   Entertainment

   * Movie theatre: Best - Westhampton; Worst - VA Center Commons
   * Local Musician/Band: Worst - Conshafter
   * Community Blog: Best - River City Rapids
   * Website: Worst – Richmond.com
   * Blog: Best - Buttermilk & Molassas

   — Check Please | @

9. Food

   * Desserts (comfort)
   * Burger (5 Guys)
   * Mexican (Don Jose)
   * Pizza (Papa Johns)
   * Southern (Croaker Spot)
   * Italian (a taste of Italy)

   Shopping

   * Overall local retail experience
   * Farmer’s market (Chesterfield Berry Farm)
   * Grocery/food (Ukrops)
   * Bookstore (Amazon.com)

   Neighborhood

   * Park (Sunday Park - Brandermill)
   * Place to take out of towners (Belle Island)
   * Place to live (Chesterfield)

   Entertainment

   * Movie theater (Commonwealth 20)
   * Music venue (Toads Place)
   * Community Blog (rvablogs.com)
   * Festival (4th of July @ Dogwood Dell)

   — Eric | @

10. ok, back in — for best *blog* I’m nominating 6 (can I do that?!):
    River City Rapids
    Fig.1-Worm Drive
    Zilla Says
    Save Richmond
    Brandon Eats
    Buttermilk & Mollasses

    — john m | @

11. Food
    Desserts/ b- karsens (melting chocolate, mmm) w-?
    Thai/ b- thai diner too, chadar thai, w-mom siam
    Burger/b -carytown, five guys, w- ?
    Sushi /b-sticy rice (1/2 price night) akida (westend), w- sakura(we)
    Mexican/ b-taqueria del sol, su casa, w- mexico
    Pizza / b-8 1/2, w- kitchen 64
    Chinese / b-full kee, w- fu jian
    Vegetarian/ b- ipanema, w -panda veg
    Southern/b- comfort, w- weezie’s
    Italian/ b- all ed’s rest, w- ?

    Nightlife
    Bar /b- mccormicks, shenanigans, w- banditos, big daddy’s
    Late night fare / b-davis and main, w- 3rd street
    Place to go on Saturday night / b-home?
    Drinks/ b- sticky, avalon, mccormicks, shenanigans, w- big daddy’s

    Shopping
    Overall local retail experience- b/ grape and cheese, w- pink
    Farmer’s market/Produce stand- b-17th, byrd, goochland, w-?
    Grocery/food / b- ellwoods, w-?
    Clothes/ b-jetset,rumors, w-pink
    Mall/ b-ston. pt, w-?
    Bookstore / b-chop suey, w-?

    Neighborhood
    Park - b- deep run, w-?
    Corner store - b- shields market, w- the happy place
    Place to take out of towners- b- brunch at godfreys, w -funny bone

    Entertainment
    Movie theatre - b- the byrd, westhampton, w-?
    Local Musician/Band- b-farmvegas, brad spivey, w-?
    Blog - b- rivercityrapids, awkward, w- inrich
    Festival - b- hanover crab fest(all you can drink and all you can eat crab for 25.00) w-?

    — in vino veritas | @

12. Desserts - Cross Roads Cafe
    Thai - Thai Dinner Two
    Burger - Carytown Burgers and Fries
    Sushi - Osaka (river road)
    Mexican - Moe’s
    Pizza - Bottoms Up
    Chinese - PF Changs
    Vegetarian
    Southern - Julips
    Italian - Amici

    Bar -
    Late night fare - O’Tooles
    Place to go on Saturday night
    Drinks

    Overall local retail experience - Plan 9
    Farmer’s market/Produce stand
    Grocery/food - Ukrops
    Clothes
    Mall - Stony Point
    Bookstore - Chop Suey

    Park - Maymont
    Corner store
    Place to take out of towners - Carytown
    Large scale renovation project -
    Place to live - Forest Hill
    Entertainment - James River Park
    Movie theatre - The Byrd
    Local Musician/Band
    Music venue - Alley Katz
    Community Blog - Hills and Heights
    Website - Weekly Rant
    Blog - AdamandJeremy.blogspot.com
    Festival
    Live theatre/performance venue - Richmond Shakespear Festival

    — Adam and Jeremy | @

13. Blog - best - Brandon Eats duh

    — Susan | @

14. Wow. Only being back in Richmond for a month and half after having been gone for almost five years, I don’t have much to really contribute at this time. However, I will thank all of you because now I have a very good idea where I can take my wife for dinner, dessert, etc. from the REAL sources, i.e. yourselves! :-)

    Oh, I’ll try:

    Community Blog - NWEN
    Blog - Made in Richmond
    Website - Weekly Rant

    I’ll work on the food ones later!

    — Kory | @

15. How in the world is richmond.com worse than:

    q94radio.com?!

    — Random Rant | @

16. Food–>Pizza–>Mary Angela’s

    — john m | @

17. Food
    Desserts: Bev’s
    Burger: Hardees. Just saying.
    Sushi: Akida
    Pizza: Mary Angela’s
    Vegetarian: Grandma’s
    Southern: Croaker’s Spot
    Italian: Coppola’s

    Nightlife
    Bar: Grandma’s
    Late night fare: Racine
    Place to go on Saturday night: Lane Stadium
    Drinks: I interpret this as “best beer list” which is Commercial Taphouse

    Shopping
    Overall local retail experience: For Love of Chocolate
    Farmer’s market/Produce stand: Sprout stand
    Grocery/food: Carytown Ukrops
    Clothes: Need Supply
    Mall: Carytown. Take that, suburbs.
    Bookstore: No suitable candidates exist.
    Neighborhood: Museum District
    Park: Avenue
    Corner store: Strawberry St. Cafe
    Place to take out of towners: Monument Avenue
    Large scale renovation project: VCU
    Place to live: Museum District
    Entertainment: the drumming kids on Cary Street
    Movie theatre: No suitible candidates exist
    Local Musician/Band: The organist at the Byrd
    Music venue: Cous Cous
    Community Blog: WOTBN
    Website: rvablogs.com
    Festival: Greek food festival
    Live theatre/performance venue: Wherever the Richmond City Council is meeting

    — Justin | @

18. I confused myself, and voted for best entertainment and best neighborhood as categories. Sorry for being a moron.

    — Justin | @

19. Food
    Desserts - Mamma Zu worst: Bacchus
    Thai - Thai Diner Too
    Burger - Carytown Burgers worst: Capital Ale
    Sushi - Kobe worst: sticky rice
    Mexican - La Bamba worst: nacho mamas
    Pizza - The Pizza Place worst: bottoms up
    Chinese - Jiangs worst: east village
    Vegetarian - Nobody here does a good job
    Southern - Old City Bar worst: The Hill Cafe
    Italian Mamma Zu worst: Joes Inn

    Nightlife
    Bar Rosie Connoly’s worst: Stool Pigeons
    Late night fare La Bamba worst: 3rd St. Diner
    Place to go on Saturday night Havana 59 worst Stool Pigeons
    Drinks The Old City Bar worst: Hyperlink Cafe

    — Ian | @

20. I’m not from these parts, and am used to driving an hour+ to get anywhere… so with that I have a more macro view in a few answers:

    Italian: B Mama Zu and Edo Squid, W ?
    Southern: B Comfort and Croaker Spot, W ?
    Mexican: for real Mexican *cuisine*, closest I’ve found yet is Andale in DC (not far from Spy Museum)
    Burgers: B Longstreets in Petersburg (big honkin burger with ham and gouda plus these Fripps things that are delicious artery cloggers on the side)
    BBQ: B the tiny shack of a place on Hwy 54 about a 1/2 block west of Hwy 1 up in Ashland (runner up: Buzz/Neds), W Smokey Pig in Ashland (too much fat)
    Dessert: B Coldstone ice cream, anyplace with Tiramisu
    Fast food: B Chipotle
    Drinks: B Capital Ale House for beer, anyplace that serves Knob Creek or smokey Mezcal, Brickhouse Run in Petersburg (English Pub), W ?
    Best food/drink when you climb out of the river smelling of river funk: Legends

    Movie theatre: B Byrd and Westhampton, W Short Pump (drivers in that part of the world are on crack)

    Shopping, retail: B the Phoenix
    Grocery: B Wholefoods in Cville, W that place that is closed on Sundays (!)

    Blog: B Buttermilk & Molasses, Save Richmond, River City Rapids, Bacon’s Rebellion
    ‘hoodblog: B CHPN (the inspiration for many)

    Hm, new category (recreation): B James River bike trails, James River kayaking, Peak Experiences climbing, Petersburg Natl Battlefield Park bike/horse trails for those of us that can’t pick our way through Buttermilk in RIC :-D

    — Brenda P | @

21. Food

    * Desserts: Acacia (nice ending to the price fix meal)
    * Thai: Mom Siam (calamari and drunken noodle jae)
    * Burger: Five Guys (disgustingly good - says my wife)
    * Sushi: Sumo San (order the crouching tiger)
    * Mexican: Taqueria del Sol (two words: pastor y ceviche)
    * Pizza: Piccola (despite the wait)
    * Chinese: Fu Jian (bean curd with garlic sauce, please)
    * Vegetarian: Ipanema (almost as good as my kitchen)
    * Southern: Croakers Spot (one fish boat serves three)
    * Italian

    Nightlife: Netflix

    Shopping

    * Overall local retail experience: Marshalls (clearance rack)
    * Farmer’s market/Produce stand: wherever’s cheapest
    * Grocery/food: Salvage Barn on Hull (seriously, try it out)
    * Clothes: Marhsalls (and TJ Max)
    * Mall: that dog mall place where the forest used to be
    * Bookstore: VCU bargain bin

    Neighborhood

    * Park: Texas Beach (or Pump House w/doggies)
    * Corner store: anywhere that sells Yuengling lager
    * Place to take out of towners: dog-walking through Fan alleys
    * Large scale renovation project: Willow Lawn (a work in progress)
    * Place to live: Byrd Park

    Entertainment

    * Movie theatre: Short Pump (comfy seats, sorry Byrd)
    * Local Musician/Band: AVAIL
    * Music venue: Do we have these anymore?
    * Community Blog: I prefer my porch
    * Blog: http://stakolee.blogspot.com
    * Festival: India

    — RVA Foodie | @

22. Nightlife
    Bar B: B-Dubs W:EZ Street
    Late night fare B:4th St
    Place to go on Saturday night B: Stool Pigeons W:EZ Street
    Drinks B: NY Deliz
    Shopping
    Overall local retail experience B: C-Townz
    Grocery/food B: Krogerz W: Wal-Mart
    Neighborhood
    Park B: Bryan
    Corner store B:Patterzon Express W: 7-11
    Place to take out of towners B: Maymont
    Place to live B: Muzeum Diztrict
    Entertainment
    Movie theatre B: Westhampton W:University Towerz
    Local Musician/Band B: Fight the Big Bullz
    Music venue B: Ally Katz
    Community Blog B: WOTBN
    Blog B: WOTBN
    Festival B: Watermelonz

    — Sam | @

23. whaz up zam!

    — nic | @

24. Desserts - Best is the affogato at Gutenberg Cafe
    Thai - Best: Beauregard’s Thai Room
    Burger - Best: CanCan. They also have the best fries
    Sushi - Best: Akida on Robinson
    Mexican - Best: El Corporal near Regency Mall
    Pizza - Best: Roma’s
    Chinese - Best: Yum Yum Good
    Vegetarian ?
    Southern - Best: Croaker’s Spot
    Italian - Best: Amici’s
    Bar - Best: Anywhere non-smoking. Worst: Anywhere allowing smoking
    Place to go on Saturday night - Byrd Theatre
    Drinks - Best: Northside Grille (cheap and plentiful)
    Shopping- Best Carytown
    Overall local retail experience - Best: Carytown
    Farmer’s market/Produce stand - Best: Byrdhouse Market
    Grocery/food - Best: Fresh Market and Belmont Butchery
    Clothes - Best: Glassboat and Pheonix
    Mall - Best: Stony Point
    Neighborhood - Best: Northside. Worst: Far West End
    Park - Best: Maymount
    Place to take out of towners - Best: Zeus
    Place to live - Best: Northside
    Entertainment - Best: Ashland Coffee and Tea
    Movie theatre - Best: Byrd
    Local Musician/Band - Best: Page Wilson and Reckless Abandon
    Music venue - Best: Ashland Coffee and Tea
    Blog - Best: Veronica’s Test Kitchen
    Festival - Best: Italian
    Live theatre/performance venue - Best: Shakespeare

    — pjpink | @

25. I think we should do a brunch category. I nominate Millie’s for best (as long as you don’t mind waiting), and Cary St. Cafe for the worst.

    — RVAkid | @

26. Brunch Latin style, usually no crazy wait: Andrade’s, Petersburg

    — Brenda P | @

27. Food

    * Desserts Ukrops brownie bites
    * Thai The Thai Room
    * Burger Carytown Burgers and Fries
    * Sushi Akida
    * Mexican Don Jose
    * Pizza Mary Angelas
    * Chinese Hunan King Buffet
    * Vegetarian Im not the person to ask
    * Southern Croaker Spot
    * Italian Mary Angelas

    Nightlife

    * Bar Ipamema after Ny deli opened
    * Late night fare Mcdonlads
    * Place to go on Saturday night- to bed
    * Drinks Ipanmea

    Shopping

    * Overall local retail experience the dumpster or when the U of R kids let out.
    * Farmer’s market/Produce stand
    * Grocery/food Kroger
    * Clothes the dumpster or when the U of R kids let out.
    * Mall the dumpster or when the U of R kids let out.
    * Bookstore the dumpster or when the U of R kids let out.

    Neighborhood

    * Park Chimborazo
    * Corner store Worst-Clay Street market, wait no
    * Place to take out of towners Belle Isle
    * Large scale renovation project Worst-Anything they turned into crappy condos, the Diamond
    * Place to live Church Hill

    Entertainment

    * Movie theatre Byrd
    * Local Musician/Band Down to Nothing
    * Music venue alley katz
    * Community Blog chpn.net
    * Website rvablogs
    * Blog Buttermilk and mollasses

    — James | @

28. Food

    * Thai - Best: Elephant Thai
    * Burger - Best: 5 Guys
    * Sushi - Best: Sticky Rice Worst: Nara
    * Pizza - Best: Bottom’s Up Worst: Domino’s
    * Vegetarian - Best: Ipanema
    * Southern - Best: Croaker’s Spot
    * Italian - Best: Edo’s Squid

    Nightlife

    * Bar - Best: Sticky Rice, Havana ‘59
    * Drinks - Best: Sticky Rice, The Border

    Shopping

    * Overall local retail experience - Best: Ukrop’s
    * Farmer’s market/Produce stand - Best: Byrd House Market
    * Grocery/food - Best: Ukrop’s Worst: Ukrop’s near VCU (aka Ghettokrops)

    Neighborhood

    * Park - Best: Maymont Worst: Monroe

    Entertainment

    * Local Musician/Band - Best: Carbon Leaf
    * Blog - Best: RVABlogs

    — Lauren | @

29. Desserts - Carvel ice cream
    Burger - Five Guys
    Mexican - It was La Siesta until they stopped using green onions as a garnish after the big lettuce and green onions scare.
    Pizza - JoJo’s downtown
    Chinese - Nanking
    Southern - Bob Evans
    Italian - Ann’s in Mechanicsville

    Late night fare - Wendy’s

    Overall retail experience - Target
    Grocery/food - Tom Leonard’s
    Clothes - JC Penney catalog
    Bookstore - amazon.com

    Corner store - 7/11
    Place to take out of towners - to the airport
    Large scale renovation projection - Chippenham and Forest Hill
    Place to live - Hanover County

    Music venue - RIP Fox and Hound

    — Mariane | @

30. The best burger in town is hands down, without a doubt, not even close, everyone else might as well be McDonalds…….The Corner Bar and Grill in Carver.

    — Bob | @

31. Corner Bar for Best Southern Food as well…
    Is there a Best Relatively Unknown Rest., because they should get that too…
    They probably won’t win anything because they are in Carver, but you guys should get by there and check it out. Sort of like Croaker Spot with better food (I said it!), less feeling that you’ll die, and no crowd!

    — Wolf | @

32. could you tell me how exactly to get to the corner bar & grill? i’m dying for that burger.

    — maribeth | @