Ask Lauren: A walkable Fan dinner, pies & pints, and dinner for the kids

You’ve got questions about dining, Lauren’s got answers!

October 25, 2013; 7:15 AM • by Ross Catrow

Now, through the magic of the internet, you too can ask Lauren your myriad food-related questions. Well, technically, you can leave your questions in the comments below, I’ll ask Lauren, and then I’ll let you know what she says. It’s like the three-legged stool of restaurant recommendations.

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I have a friend coming into town and want to show her Richmond’s charm by walking to dinner through The Fan. She’s a bit…eccentric, so nothing too bro-y or fancy.

Helen’s sits at the verrrrrry end of Robinson Street, surrounded by 3 Monkeys and Star-lite. It’s FAR older than either of those places—dating back to 1935, but the space has been occupied since 1912—and far different than the casual dining and late-night drinking experience you might expect on Robinson Street. The interior feels like something out of The Godfather and the brunch menu is to die for. After you finish up at Helen’s, stick around and drink the night away or do one of the following:

1. Head up Robinson toward the Commercial Taphouse for Richmond’s most thoughtful beer selection, or
2. Stop in McCormack’s Whiskey Grill for, whiskey obviously, but also great cocktails prepared by Bobby Kruger on Fridays.

I’ve been invited to a pies and pints party (a potluck where everyone brings pie or beer) and I have no cookings skills. Where can I pick up a killer pie so I don’t show up empty handed.

Pies and pints! That sounds clever, fun, albeit not super nutritious! Well, if you insist on escorting your liver and your waistline to an early grave, you can stop at any of these fine pie-slinging establishments (each in a different part of the city):

1. WPA Bakery (Church Hill)
2. Jean Jacques¹ (Carytown)
3. Shyndigz (Near West End)

We like to take our kids out to dinner, because it gives them a chance to feel grown up and show off some good big-kid skills. The problem is, we pay for them to have an entree, they just take two bites, and then mush the rest around on their plate. Is there somewhere we can go that all of us will enjoy without wasting money (and food) on the kiddos?

Take the little rascals over to Fresca on Addison this Saturday and order them some pizza. Because 1) who doesn’t like pizza! and 2) on Saturdays Fresca offers half off any pizza with the purchase of a beverage— you’re looking at ‘za for around $4-6! That’s a heckuva deal right there.

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October 25, 2013 7:15 AM 3