Blue Goat does lunch, Jorge’s Cantina opens today, and RVA gets pickled

When one restaurant closes in this town, another opens–and that’s now happening in Carytown, plus our first president dons a sombrero, and RVA gets pickled.

March 21, 2013; 10:25 AM • by RVANews staff

Last week we learned that Cous Cous will be closing on March 30th after seven years of business. Be sure to swing in the next week for one more round of curry fries!

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A couple weeks back, we learned that Bonvenu closed and–as it goes with Carytown restaurant spaces–it didn’t take long for someone to move in. The Consultant Chef & Wine Director of Lehja on Broad Street, Mel Oza, has taken over and will open Curry Craft Indian Restaurant and Wine Bar in April. Oza told Richmond Magazine, “I intend to be totally rooted in India, so we’re not trying to be fusion.” Based on the rave reviews Lehja continues to receive, this is the exactly the type of restaurant Carytown needs.

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Jorge’s Cantina, Jake Crocker’s fourth Richmond restaurant, is set to open today at the corner of Floyd and Robinson in the old Fan House location. The menu features Mexican cuisine and a slew of tequilas and margaritas. Fajitas, salads, and appetizers range from $5 – $12. That sombrero wearing George Washington is guaranteed to drive some T-shirt sales.

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Blue Goat is now open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM! Take a peek at the menu here (pdf). Blue Goat is located at 5720 Grove Avenue in the Libbie Grove area.

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Another place now serving lunch is Homemades by Suzanne in the Hotel John Marshall building. If you work downtown, the $9.85 lunch (which includes a drink) is well worth the trip. The Hotel John Marshall is located at 101 N. 5th Street.

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If you’re a pickle fan, you’ve now got some local pickle makers to support. Sweet. Sour. Salty. & Co. is headed by former Bonvenu chef Chaz Robinson, as well as Jamie Fitzgerald and Dan Anderson. The idea for the company came about when Robinson had downtime in Bonvenu’s kitchen and started making pickles. The new pickles come in sweet and spicy bread and butter pickles, as well as a dill variety. You can purchase them at The Little Green House Grocer in the Northside or at O’Virginia in Carytown.

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We all remember the laugh-induced ab workout we got when Secco’s Matt Brehony did a spoof on Guy Fieri. Well, he’s done it again with a Drink Something Different campaign. If you’re a die hard chardonnay fan, don’t get your feelings hurt!

Correction: a previous version of this post referred to Mel Ozra. His name is Mel Oza. He was also incorrectly named owner of Lehja, but is actually Consultant Chef & Wine Director of that restaurant.

photo courtesy of Jorge’s Cantina