M Bistro & Wine Bar to land at Rocketts Landing

The only urban community located on the banks of the James River, Rocketts Landing has struggled to build its residential appeal. A new restaurant, only the third within the community, hopes to invigorate the the Landing’s broader gastronomical appeal.

May 25, 2011; 11:24 AM • by RVANews staff

Question. If you had $447,000, what would you do with it? Buy a house? Take the family on a year-long vacation? If you’re Michael Hall, you invest that money into a new restaurant called M Bistro & Wine Bar at Rocketts Landing. Hall, the former executive chef and general manager of the Bull and Bear Club, and who also was head chef of the Berkeley Hotel, has desired a restaurant of his own, and has been scouting locations since last July. He has leased 3,000 square feet at 4821 Old Main Street.

M Bistro & Wine Bar becomes the third restaurant to open in the recently developed community in Richmond’s East End. The first was Boathouse, followed by last month’s opening of Conch Republic Rocketts. M will specialize in “Southern comfort food with a French flair,” says Hall. One appetizer that we are privy to before the finished menu is molasses duck with caramel corn pudding. “I like to do very clean and powerful dishes that use a Southern emphasis, mixed with the sauces the French use, which I love.”

Complimenting the bistro will be a wine bar. Hall has been intrigued with the marriage of food and wine for many years, and will offer a wine lounge that will accommodate about 100 chairs. In addition to experiencing M’s culinary fare and its offerings of fermented grapes, there will also be wine, chocolates, cheeses, pates, olives and more for sale in a dedicated retail section. Hall hopes that it will be used as a one-stop shop for those entertaining at home.

M Bistro & Wine Bar is tentatively scheduled to open June 28.