Casa del Barco coming to the Canal, food carts at Hardywood, Italian food goes ‘Deco’

Lots of moving and shaking on the RVA restaurant front including several new spots coming to town and one of city’s best cocktail makers heading to NYC

June 28, 2012; 10:29 AM • by RVANews staff

The Food Truck Court held every Tuesday at the Virginia Historical Society has been a big hit. According to Richmond.com, RVA will soon have two more opportunities to eat from the city’s best food trucks. Starting on Wednesday, July 11th you’ll find the Food Truck Court in the parking lot of Chesterfield Towne Center from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. On Thursday, July 12th you’ll find them at Hardywood Park, during the same hours, at 2408 Ownby Lane. Not only that, but a new law that goes into effect on July 1st allows you to grab a few beers inside of Hardywood Park prior to grabbing a bite to eat. Hooray!

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If you love both The Boathouse at Rocketts Landing and Mexican cuisine you’re in luck. According to Richmond Bizsense, Kevin Healy–who started the Boathouse at Rocketts–has signed a lease for a 5,700-foot space on the canal walk. The working name for the new restaurant is Casa del Barco, which translates to “Boathouse.” Todd Richardson, the current executive chef at the Boathouse, will head up the kitchen. Both Richardson and Healy have a background in Mexican cuisine and plan to produce a high-end, traditional Mexican menu. They hope to open in November.

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Beginning tonight, Devil’s Triangle will have another dinner option: Deco, located across from Bandito’s at 2901 Park Avenue. Owner Giuseppe Scafidi has spent the past nine months transforming the space from an upscale take-out option, Cucina, into a neighborhood bar and restaurant. Beginning tonight they will open from 5:00 – 9:00 PM. The menu is described as Southern Italian and Sicilian.

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The downtown bistro lounge 2113, earning buzz about its NYC-meets-Miami atmosphere, has a new menu. Executive Chef Aaron Hoskins–formerly of The Empress and advising chef John Maher of Spoon–have merged traditional bar bites with an upscale twist. Menu items include kimchi fries, fried pimento cheese fritters, ricotta gnocchi, and roasted duck breast. You can swing by between 11:00 AM and 2:00 AM Tuesday through Friday, 5:00 PM to 2:00 AM on Saturdays, and Sunday Brunch from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Prices range from $6 to $18.

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Bobby Kruger, maybe Richmond’s best-known bartender, is officially adopting a new area code. Probably most remembered for his time at Julep’s making craft cocktails out of fresh local ingredients, Kruger will now sling drinks at Back Forty West in New York City’s Soho District. We’ll miss you, Bobby! If any of you find yourself in Soho, be sure to pay him a visit. Maybe bring him an RVA sticker? You never know, could get you a free drink…

photo by Ashley Jenkins