Shockoe Bottom to get a luncheonette, Mint officially opens, and Tobacco Co. shows off a new menu

The Tobacco Co. has a new menu to greet spring, Julep’s owner opens her latest restaurant called Mint, Six Burner will open its doors in April for a rare brunch, and what sort of lunchtime fare might be heading to Shockoe Bottom?

March 22, 2012; 9:51 AM • by RVANews staff

Spring has clearly sprung, and it might even feel a little bit like summer already? With new seasons come new menus that feature seasonal ingredients to please your palate. Tobacco Company has a list of new dinner entrees that pair well with the warmer weather. New additions include:

Orange Roughy with a black bean cake and red and yellow tomato salsa
Tuscan Chicken Breast over a white bean and escarole ragu
Rack of Lamb with Mediterranean couscous
Potato Gnocchi (Vegetarian) in a white wine sauce with fresh sage and rosemary
Wild Mushroom Polenta (Vegetarian) with Fontina cheese and marinara
Baby Back Ribs, hand cut fries, baked beans and hush puppies

Some of the old standards such as slow roasted prime rib of beef and company crab cake will stay for those Tobacco Co. diners who do not appreciate change as much as others. Tobacco Co. is open everyday for dinner service beginning at 5:30pm.

According to Richmond.com, Shockoe Bottom is getting a new lunch option. Carlos Londono, owner of the recently opened Margaritas Cantina, has purchased the space across the street from the newly opened restaurant at North 18th Street. The vision for his second Richmond restaurant is an old fashioned luncheonette. Growing up in Queens, luncheonettes were a standard and he thinks it is high time Shockoe Bottom had one of its own. His definition of a luncheonette is a fast food diner that operates on a small menu that boasts unique items made by short order cooks. Everything will be under $10 and breakfast will be available all day. He wants to “keep it in the neighborhood” by buying and hiring locally. The restaurant is slated for a late-April opening.

Six Burner isn’t typically open for brunch, but on Sunday April 1st they will be hosting a special event in partnership with local food blogger, The Marinara, from 12pm to 2pm. Tickets are $25 per person which does not include tax or tip, but will include a coffee or drink along with the following menu:

Fried chicken “sous vide,” three different flavors
Belgian style waffles, served with maple syrup, cilantro jalapeno yogurt, sweet and sour dipping sauce, & hot kimchi.
Braised greens
Green tea panna cotta with carbonated fruit

Tickets can be purchased here.

Mint New Casual Cuisine officially open on Monday at the corner of Davis and Main and, thanks to Fan of the Fan, we have some shots of the menu. Mint is open for dinner beginning at 5pm and will start lunch and brunch service soon.

photo by Fionnuala Bradley