Food news: Mekong does it again, Oktoberfest!, and Richmond’s oldest food fest

Just another week in Food News: local restaurants getting some big press, delicious food festivals, and plenty of beer.

September 19, 2013; 7:56 AM • by Ross Catrow

This first bit is almost non-news. Mekong was selected, for the second year in a row, as the #1 Great American Beer Bar. To be sure, this is fantastic, but it’s something that we Richmonders already knew in our hearts. To celebrate Mekong will be offering $2 drafts until Sunday.¹

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Also filed under Things We Already Knew: Eater.com’s DC branch listed Rappahannock and Buz & Ned’s in their “14 Stellar Dining Destinations within Two Hours of DC.” Also included was Chef Peter Chang’s location in Fredricksburg. Hey DC people, if you’re coming down this way, don’t bother with the ‘burg! Just hit up Peter Chang’s China Cafe in RVA while you’re down here.

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This year, the Armenian Food Festival celebrates its 55th anniversary. 55 years! That’s a crazy long time! Anything that predates the birth of the current president by a couple of years is probably worth checking out. Plus they’ve got this Hye Burger which Richmond Magazine named one of their five favorite burgers in town.

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Oktoberfest! A holiday celebrating beer, wursts, and Germany…I think? Whatever it is, it’s fantastic, and I love every minute of it. Which is why on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday you can probably find me down in the Museum District at St. Benedict’s Oktoberfest. The beer list is absolutely insane and features plenty of local and regional brews–including a couple offerings from Lickinghole Creek, Midnight, O’Connor, Rusty Beaver, Isley, and Extra Billy’s. These are local breweries that don’t have a huge distribution, so use this opportunity to drink something new!

Check out the St. Benedict Oktoberfest website for more information on times, cost, and food options.

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We’re smack dab in the middle of the Taste of Carytown Restaurant Week, not to be confused with Richmond Restaurant Week which takes place next month. Running through Saturday, this particular Restaurant Week features special menus and deals from some of Carytown’s staples. All proceeds benefit the Richmond Public Schools Education Foundation.

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While new restaurants are popping up every week, existing restaurants are closing their doors and popping up on Craigslist for sale. This week it’s Zeus Gallery Cafe on N. Belmont Avenue in the Museum District. Owner Ted Doll wants to sell the building and business as a package, ideally keeping the Zeus Gallery Cafe name attached to the space. The whole shebang can be yours for just $450,000!

Richmond BizSense has some more details.

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