Home Care In Midlothian, VA

Two years after leaving the kitchen at Quirk Hotel and striking out on his own in Midlothian, David Dunlap is readying another concept a couple miles away.

The owner of Midlothian Chef’s Kitchen is planning to open 1870, a French-inspired concept at 13310 Midlothian Turnpike.

“We’re going to go for a French-inspired steak-and-seafood house, with a heavy emphasis on French and Virginia wines,” said Dunlap.

The restaurant’s future home, Jewett-Bass Hall, is a two-story building that dates to the 19th century. The concept’s name is a reference to the year the structure was built.

Dunlap bought the 4,000-square-foot building and an adjacent parcel through an LLC for $850,000 in October.

Dunlap said the building is near his house, and he had admired it for some time. After deciding he wanted to own the space for his next restaurant, he found that Jewett-Bass Hall was for sale.

“We pass by it all the time and we always said it’s an amazing building and it’d be really cool for a restaurant,” Dunlap said. “We were looking to purchase a building for a second restaurant and we’re looking at a couple different options and this came up on our radar. We came and checked it out and fell in love with it.”

1870 is expected to open early next year, with room for 130 diners between the two floors.

Dunlap said he intends to maintain the building’s historic appearance, and plans to install two bars (one on each floor) and buy new equipment to outfit the building’s existing commercial kitchen area. The upper level will feature two private dining rooms.

Dunlap declined to share what he planned to invest in the build-out of the space.

Jewett-Bass Hall is believed to be the only brick commercial building constructed in the 19th century that is still standing in Chesterfield, according to a history on the website of the nearby Mount Pisgah United Methodist Church, which owned the building from 1988 to 2019.

From the year it was built until the early 1950s, it was a general store. The store was operated at first by brothers George and John Jewett, who built the building, and in the 1920s sold it to a married couple named Bass. In the 1960s and 1970s, the building was home to a bicycle shop.

Mount Pisgah used the property as a Sunday School and meeting space. The building was most recently home to Jenni Comer’s real estate firm Jenni and Co., which according to its website has moved a few blocks away to 13510 Midlothian Turnpike.

An entity tied to Comer sold the building to Dunlap, according to county land records. The property is next to the Caddy’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill.

Heather Placer of Shaheen, Ruth, Martin & Fonville Real Estate represented the seller in the deal. Neemit Shah of Cornerstone Commercial represented the buyer.

Chef’s Kitchen will continue to operate at 11501 Busy St., where Dunlap opened it in early 2021 after he was laid off from Quirk Hotel during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dunlap said he wants the two sister restaurants to complement each other.

“I didn’t want to do the same exact concept because we’re two miles down the road,” he said.

Chef’s Kitchen expanded in June 2021 to take over an adjacent storefront within the Courthouse Crossing shopping center. Later that year, in order to focus on the dine-in experience, the restaurant phased out its market area that sold prepared meals in response to changing customer preferences as the pandemic continued.

Dunlap co-owns both restaurants with his wife, Brittany.

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This is the second installment of our Hidden Gems series, highlighting restaurants that are creating delicious dishes, but you might not know about them. These five spots should be on your visit list in 2024.

La Bodega

Walking up to La Bodega Latin Kitchen (104 N. 18th St.) in Shockoe Bottom, you feel like you’re approaching a diner in New York or South Beach with neon lighting and vibrant bright colors beckoning you. Grab a table next to the old pay phone covered in stickers and take in the eclectic décor and the tiny flat top turning out “New York-style Latin food.” It almost feels like you’ve left Richmond.

Breakfast is served all day, and the café con leche is a favorite, also served to-go. Whatever time you stop in, start your meal with the Queso Frito. Crispy fried white cheese is served atop soft grilled white bread and drizzled with honey for a sweet-savory palate primer. The rest of the menu combines Puerto Rican, Dominican, Columbian and other cuisines with options ranging from churro French toast to chicharron mofongo.

2M Mediterranean Market

With 2M Mediterranean Market (7103 Staples Mill Road), I am divulging my favorite last-minute party food destination.

Tucked in a random strip mall at Glenside and Staples Mill, this tiny trove of Mediterranean, Greek and Lebanese cuisine is packed with flavorful finds.

The creamy hummus, fresh tabouli, stuffed grape leaves and house-made pita chips are perfect for picking up and plating immediately. 2M also has a small dine-in area and a menu of gyro, schwarma, falafel, meat and spinach pies and more, also all freshly made for a casual and satisfying lunch or dinner.

There is also a grocery with Mediterranean items.

Fest

If you are a fan of beer or sausage — and who isn’t? — Fest (7044 Woodlake Commons Loop) is worth the 25-minute-ish drive from Richmond city center to Midlothian.

Choose from seven different artisan sausages, spanning the duck-and-bacon-based The Hunter, topped with beet chutney, goat cheese and honey-dijon vinaigrette, to The Herta Huewar, made with bratwurst, sauteed onions, sauerkraut and house-made spicy curry ketchup.

There are also giant Bavarian soft pretzels, pierogies, schnitzel, craft burgers and fried chicken sandwiches, along with a wide selection of American, German and other European beers and ciders to wash it down.

The big biergarten patio has been outfitted with a fire pit for winter and inside you’ll find a casual beer hall vibe — pile the family in the car for a winter day trip.

Enoteca Sogno

Tucked in the Northside (1223 Bellevue Ave.), Enoteca Sogno has been turning out homemade Italian food in a warm, old-school oasis for over 15 years. You want a reservation? Call. The name literally means “dream wine bar,” and owner Gary York fulfills it by stocking the restaurant with Italian wines and traveling to Italy annually to keep current with flavors.

You’ll find a menu of classic Italian dishes like house-made tagliatelle with pesto, gnocchi bolognese with classic meat ragu or whole branzino roasted with garlic and herbs. Enoteca Sogno is generally only open Wednesday through Saturday and reservations are recommended.

They also offer Pizzeria Sogno Tuesdays where private pizza chef Tyler Northrup turns out pies alongside regular appetizers, desserts and wine. To find out about the pizza nights, which happen about every other week, follow @tylerspizzarva on Instagram or call the restaurant to get added to the email list.

Devil’s Lettuce

Still think “vegan cuisine” means not filling, bland or rabbit food?

Devil’s Lettuce (4028 Cox Road) will change your mind. Take the Devil’s Dip ($15), for example. Braised jackfruit is piled onto grilled Italian bread with sweet caramelized onions, zesty horseradish sauce and smokey “provolone” cheese, and it’s served with a side of au jus for dipping. Does it taste exactly like a cheesesteak? No, but it’s packed with flavor and very filling.

Other menu options include a po’ girl wrap with fried hearts of palm, an “I Would Do Anything For Loaf” Beyond Meat meatloaf platter, fishless chips, and many iterations of beer-battered vegan nuggets.

The restaurant is a quick-serve setup with catchy branding, bright colors and a few dine-in tables that shares an entrance with Hurley’s Tavern. Also check out Sunday brunch from 11 a.m. To 2 p.m., where you find choices like vegan chicken waffles, pancakes and a “brunchrap” Taco-Bell-style crunchwrap.

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Chesterfield actor John El-Jor makes his ‘pink’ screen debut in the movie-turned-musical Mean Girls, topping the box office charts.

Before securing his role in the 2024 Mean Girls movie, 23-year-old El-Jor began his acting career in Midlothian High School’s musical theatre program. It was midway through his high school career that he caught “the bug” for acting and began conceptualizing a career for himself in the arts.

After graduating from Midlothian High School, El-Jor went on to pursue a degree in musical theatre at Penn State in 2022. Once he received his degree, he began going to casting calls in New York City.

In Mean Girls, El-Jor stars as Jason Weems – the hot and cold boyfriend of Gretchen Weiners. However, El-Jor originally auditioned to play the character Kevin G., the infamous “mathlete” of the film, but he never heard back on the role.

El-Jor said he was later asked to read for the role of Jason Weems, and described to 8News the moments leading up to hearing back about his audition.

“I remember twiddling my thumbs because I hadn’t heard [back] in so long,” El-Jor said. “And it was a movie musical, and the way I got into acting was through musical theatre.”

After what felt like an eternity of waiting and an eventual breakdown on his ex’s couch, El-Jor received the call-back. He said the first thing he did when he received the exciting news was call his mom.

“You know, you’re never too old to be a mommy’s boy. I was just giddy; I was jumping for joy,” El-Jor said.

El-Jor detailed the surreal experience of watching himself on the big screen for the first time at the Mean Girls movie premiere.

“The first time I saw it – whoa, I was a nervous wreck,” El-Jor said. “I think my first instinct was to hyper-analyze myself and criticize myself, just an artist – or even human – thing to do.”

While El-Jor considers himself a pretty chill, cool-tempered person, he told 8News he was starstruck when he met the writer of the film, Tina Fey, for the first time.

“Come on it’s Tina Fey, it’s someone hard not to be starstruck by,” El-Jor said. “I remember the first time I met Tina Fey. She actually pulled me aside and introduced herself. I was too afraid to talk to her.”

Though his role in Mean Girls is just the beginning for the Chesterfield actor, El-Jor shared his plans for the future which involved pursuing his passion for songwriting and music, as well as acting.

“I want to continue doing this, in whatever way that means,” El-Jor said. “I hope to take on roles that stretch me as both an actor and a person.”

The River City is just getting started.

In This Article

Richmond, Virginia, is a city with a deep and complicated history. It also has a reputation as a hip landing spot for young professionals and new businesses. The Commonwealth's River City is home to picturesque neighborhoods that could give Charleston's Rainbow Row a run for its money and craft companies like Belle Isle Moonshine that swear they couldn't have planted roots elsewhere. Thanks to its culinary creativity, Richmond has recently gained traction as one of the South's best food destinations, ranking with cities like Nashville, New Orleans, and Savannah. From the treasured local haunts to the buzzy newcomers, dine at any of these restaurants, and you'll soon understand that Richmond's growing culinary scene is just beginning to showcase everything it has to offer.

Alewife

"Here, Szechuan peppercorn-dusted oysters and scallops with carrot-miso butter feel at home alongside cornmeal biscuits and refried lentils," Priya Krishna writes of Alewife, voted the South's Best New Restaurant just a few years ago. "It's a place that [chef and owner Lee] Gregory says exemplifies the growing diversity of Richmond's population and foodways." Order the Siren's Song—a signature sampler platter that changes by the hour, repurposing the night's food scraps or odds and ends into supremely innovative Mid-Atlantic tasters. Current starters include Virginia oysters, smoked trout, and Wagyu beef tartare, served with cilantro, a fish sauce, benne, and rice crackers. As for entrees, catch the Grilled Whole Rainbow Trout with farro verde, broccoli raab, Calabrian chili, and Italian sausage.

Mama J’s

This 2020 South's best local restaurant feels like home, from the relaxed dining room to the generous portions of fried chicken and catfish. Mama J's is Richmond's go-to spot for authentic soul food. It's a family-owned-and-operated spot in the historic Jackson Ward area that celebrates the tradition of eating good food with family. You'll find fried chicken, trout, crab cakes, pork chops, beef brisket, and barbeque spare ribs on the menu—and that's just the lineup of entrees. There's a whole host of sandwiches, starters, and sides to try too. If you didn't bring your appetite, snag a seat at the bar—the signature drinks are all named after the Mama J family members.

Brenner Pass

Seated in the city's growing Scott's Addition neighborhood, Brenner Pass is the sophomore eatery from Top Chef contestant and Richmond native Brittany Anderson. The restaurant serves Alpine cuisine inspired by the mountain pass that borders Italy and Austria. Stop in to order Gruyere and Emmentaler fondue for the table, whole-roasted Virginia trout, and dry-aged ribeye au poivre. After dinner, continue the regional adventure next door at Anderson's Black Lodge, where you'll find classic cocktails, caviar, shot pairings, and late-night bites like fondue fries and hotdogs with Alpine-influenced toppings.

Sub Rosa Bakery

Led by brother-sister duo Evrim and Evin Dogu (who received James Beard Award-semifinalist status in 2019 and 2020), Sub Rosa Bakery takes "homemade" to new extremes: They "mill their own stone-ground flour from Southern-grown grains and bake homemade bread in a wood-fired oven," writes Hannah Hayes for Southern Living. "Evin's morning selection of delicious chocolate croissants and pastries filled with fig and Appalachian cheese provides reason enough to schedule a wake-up call." No trip to Richmond is complete without something delicious baked by the team at Sub Rosa Bakery.

Longoven

Longoven is an exciting player in Richmond's diverse dining scene, bringing sophistication and refinement to a city known for its relaxed groove. Located in Scott's Addition, they "offer seasonal tasting and snack menus that change regularly, highlighting the best products from [their] farmers and purveyors." You'll find dishes like chili oil grilled lobster made with pine nut puree, gingered crunch, and pickled spruce on the extended menu, which is available to browse online.

The Roosevelt

Tucked away in Richmond's Church Hill area sits The Roosevelt, a neighborhood gem where you can snack or feast on the menu's offerings, which include small plates like cornbread, smoked chicken wings, and beef tartare, and entrees like fried catfish, seared scallops, and hickory smoked eggplant. The century-old building has been home to numerous restaurant concepts—from seafood to Mexican—but The Roosevelt's pioneering role in Richmond's culinary growth has cemented its status as a modern RVA institution.

Stella's

Inspired by both rustic and modern Greek fare, Stella's fills their menu with Mediterranean classics like spanakopita, dolmades, and keftedes, as well as flavorful entrees such as moussaka (sautéed eggplant with spiced aromatic ground beef baked with béchamel), braised lamb shank, and crab cakes. The restaurant is one in a long lineage of restaurants named for Stella Dikos, a legend in the Richmond food scene. Stop by Stella's Grocery if you cannot snag a reservation at the sit-down restaurant or want to take some of their Greek classics home. With six locations across the city, these gourmet shops offer baked goods, prepared foods, sandwiches, rotisserie, and gelato.

L'Opossum

This formal-yet-funky fine dining restaurant essentially encapsulates the spirit of Richmond—it is artful and excellent, but it still doesn't take itself too seriously. L'Opossum's clever, elegant menu features playfully named dishes like "Les Escargots à la Ham Biscuit," which comes with a sweet garlic beurre blanc, and "A Brisk Fall Cookout in the Boneyard," which, according to the restaurant's menu, is "roasted rack of lamb atop a chimichurri sweet potato salad" served with "big round blackberry barbecue bordelaise." You're in for an adventure when you show up for a meal at L'Opossum.

More Dining Spots

Richmond's culinary scene is vast, and there are plenty of other spots that you don't want to miss. Here are just a few additional restaurants to consider:

No matter where you land, you'll always find an excellent meal in Virginia's capital city.

Whether you burned the main course and need a Plan B or don't celebrate the holiday, sometimes you want to dine out on Christmas Day.

Here are the restaurants that are open, with options ranging from steak and brunch to burgers and beers:

Amuse (in the VMFA, 200 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd.) is offering a three-course prix fixe menu, but it’s pretty much booked. Walk-ins are accepted at the bar.

Carytown Indian Cuisine (2907 W. Cary St.) will be open for regular hours — use the holiday as an excuse to try one of the city’s new hotspots.

Beauvine (1501 W. Main St.) will have your burgers, duck-fat French fries, boozy milkshakes and seasonal cocktails from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Bottoms Up Pizza (1700 Dock St.) will be serving classic topping-loaded pizzas from 4 to 9 p.m., and you can make reservations.

Dave & Busters (4001 Brownstone Blvd.) is open if you’re ready to change up your holiday tradition or in need of evening entertainment for kids on a sugar high. It also accepts reservations.

Floris at VMFA (200 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd.) will be offering a special holiday tea menu from Dec. 24-27, including on Christmas Day, with a selection of sweet and savory courses for $65 per person. Reservations are strongly encouraged.

Jack Brown’s Beer and Burger Joint (5810 Grove Ave.) opens at 5 p.m. on Christmas Day. Escape the family, or bring them out for a round of beers, burgers and fried Oreos.

Lehja (Short Pump Town Center, 11800 W. Broad St.) will be open and serving the regular menu along with a selection of Christmas specials.

Lemaire (101 W. Franklin St.) has long been sold out for the entire month of December, but it is open on Christmas Day with holiday specials and a regular a la carte menu. It does offer a wait list.

Old Original Bookbinder’s (2306 E. Cary St.) is offering a three-course prix fixe for $95, with choices of fish, steak, crab cakes or grilled portobello mushrooms and white beans as an entrée.

Peter Chang’s (2816 A. W. Broad St. and 11408 W. Broad St.) will be open and serving the regular menu.

SB’s Main Street Love Shack (2600 W. Main St.) will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for all of your creative brunch needs.

The Lobby Bar at Quirk Hotel (201 W. Broad St.) is offering a Christmas Day brunch buffet for $65 per adult and $40 per child 8 and under. Load up on traditional breakfast items, buffet stations like porchetta with sweet-potato-cherry mostarda, platters and desserts.

The Patio Thai (103 E. Cary St.) will be open and serving the regular menu. Roasted duck curry and pad Thai sounds like a pretty delicious celebration to us.

Texas de Brazil (11800 W. Broad St.): Why commit to one meat when you can have an unlimited supply? Dinner costs $52.99 for everything or $31.99 for the salad bar only.