Food News: Southern Season opens, Carytown Burgers expands, and ten local dishes to die for

This week: Long-awaited upscale grocer Southern Season opened today at Libbie Mill, two restaurant empires expand, Style Weekly questions whether the region’s craft brewery bubble is about to pop, and much more.

July 31, 2014; 12:49 PM • by Trevor Dickerson

Richmond sure loves grocery store news, so you all will be happy to know that Southern Season opened in the new Libbie Mill development off Staples Mill Road this morning. The upscale grocer is anything but a typical grocery store, though. Southern Season offers upscale goods (like 500 hot sauces, 380 cheeses, 2,050 wines and 430 chocolate bars, for example), cooking and wine classes in its posh kitchen, and an in-store restaurant called Southerly with plenty of patio seating. Look for a full photo tour of the store tomorrow on RVANews.

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After 15 years in business, Carytown Burgers and Fries is preparing to expand their burger empire with two new locations. Owner Michael Barber is opening a second location in Northside at 5404 Lakeside Avenue, and plans to open a Far West End location near Short Pump Town Center this fall, but won’t yet confirm the exact location of that particular restaurant.

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The Shops at Willow Lawn continues to be a hotbed of activity with yet another restaurant coming to the shopping center. Former ‘Top Chef’ contestant Bryan Voltaggio, owner of Maryland and D.C.-based restaurants including VOLT, Lunchbox, Family Meal and RANGE, announced plans this week to bring his casual family diner concept Family Meal to the center in early 2015. The Richmond location will be that brand’s third location and his first restaurant in Richmond.

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Nothing can keep Pomegranate owner and chef Kevin LaCivita down. The local entrepreneur reopened his popular former Shockoe Bottom restaurant in Carytown last February after it closed back in 2008. RVANews editor Nathan Cushing caught up with LaCivita this week to talk about what makes him–and his popular restaurant–tick.

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Style Weekly’s annual beer issue came out this week, and it’s overflowing with commentary and reviews on the state of the city’s craft beer scene. Scott’s Addition’s brewery boom is profiled (Ardent Craft Ales and Isley Brewing Co.) along with Goochland’s Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery and Triple Crossing Brewery near VCU. Reporter Ned Oliver also ponders whether RVA’s increasingly crowded craft brewery scene bubble is about to pop in the issue, on newsstands now.

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There’s no question Millie’s is one of Richmond’s favorite institutions, especially on the weekends (Have you SEEN the line for brunch snaking around the building?). While you’ll still likely find yourself waiting in line for one of the most delicious brunches in town, the restaurant is now accepting dinner reservations online as of this week. It’s a step in the right direction!

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After a decade as a local food critic, you’re bound to be asked what your favorite restaurants and dishes are. Former Richmond Times-Dispatch food writer Dana Craig sat down with Richmond.com to dish on her ten dishes to die for from local Richmond restaurants this week, and it’s a mouthwatering list for certain.

Photo: Style Weekly/Scott Elmquist