525 at the Berry Burk brings affordable, upscale dining
A new restaurant in the Grace Street Corridor funded by members of the famous Ukrops family brings something new to the RVA dining scene
- Who: Restaurateur Thomas Hass, Jim and Ted Ukrop, and Chef Taylor Hasty
- What: 525 at the Berry Burk makes a high-quality dining experience more affordable
- When: Currently open
- Why: “I want people leaving here thinking they got more for their money,” said Thomas Haas.
- Where: 525 E. Grace Street across from the Carpenter Theater, in the Berry-Burk building
- Dishes: Starters include: an edamame dip, chevre and walnut spread. Various sandwiches and entrées. Small plates include: asparagus with marinated crab and crawfish, crispy fried green tomatoes on a layer of crab meat, marinated portabellas in chopped garlic and onions served over diced peppers.
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525 at the Berry Burk had a big test last Friday. The 150 seats inside the 3656-square foot restaurant, located diagonally across from the Carpenter Theater, filled almost simultaneously with theater goers wanting a meal before watching Idina Menzel from Broadway’s Wicked perform.
“It was too much for everyone,” said Thomas Haas, 31, co-owner and visionary behind the new restaurant that has yet to have an official grand opening. “I don’t like learning lessons the hard way.” But as a result the restaurant learned how to better stagger and accommodate such an influx of customers. If anyone can adapt, it’s Thomas Haas.
Haas majored in religious studies at William & Mary. In 2005, he became a partner at Bentley’s on 27, an upscale penthouse restaurant in Charlotte, North Carolina. The restaurant routinely hosted celebrities and the crème de la crème of Charlotte society. But it was the customers not a part of those worlds that meant the most to Haas. The men who were unaccustomed wearing a tie to dinner, the women who would wear a fancy dress for the first time in years, celebrating their anniversary over a fancy dinner. “Everyone should have the best experience possible at all times,” said Haas. It’s his philosophy, and it’s not exclusive to the wealthy.
Regularly visiting Richmond while at William & Mary, Haas had an extended stay in the summer of 2008. “Instilled in me is a love for all things history.” Richmond is certainly full of the stuff. But there was more that charmed him about the city: “People in Richmond love Richmond.”
Unlike the past, Haas said that there is no one industry in Richmond. It’s something more. “What Richmond is projecting as ‘true Richmond’ is culture.” He said restaurants and culture go “hand in hand.”
In November 2010, Haas moved to Richmond and began tending bar at Lemaire. While eating lunch at Deluxe in January 2011, friends introduced Haas to a man. That man was James “Jim” Ukrop, former chairman and CEO of Ukrop’s and current board member of Union First Market Bank. Within a month, Haas pitched the idea for a “high-end restaurant with an approach to lower rates.” Haas needed a space. Jim Ukrop had one in mind.
In 1926, the building at 525 East Grace Street was a mens clothing store. It was commonly known as the “fashion center of the South.”1 Now occupied by 31 apartments (Haas currently lives in one of them), remodeling began on the Berry-Burk’s first floor in December 2011. Below existing laminate floors were the Berry-Burk’s original wood and marble flooring, which Haas kept as “the quintessential demonstration of 1920s opulence.” The restaurateur has retained the building’s fashion origins in the restaurant’s decor: the white tablecloths and black napkins evoke a gentleman’s tuxedo and the pinstripe pattern booths conjure a dapper suit.
The restaurant offers New American items, to “push the palette” of the city. Haas said that “our value is in the small plates menu.” Not only does it encourage sharing, but “it gives you the freedom to find the dishes you like.” Customers can also turn a small plate item into an entrée size. “I want people leaving here thinking they got more for their money.”
Haas said that he proximity to the Carpenter Theater is a boon for the restaurant, “but I don’t think it will be our anchor.” Haas expects lunch hours to be profitable. He said there are few sit-down lunch options available along the Grace Street Corridor, an area stretching between 1st and 6th streets. The Corridor is primed for further retail and residential growth. That’s right where Haas wants to be.
“I want the neighborhood to do well. I want Richmond to do well.”
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Footnotes
- Several customers at the restaurant have told Haas that they remember coming to Berry-Burk when they were children. A former employee of Berry-Burk recently showed Haas the man’s business card. On the back of the card was a note a young lady wrote in 1954. ↩
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Nathan Cushing
Nathan Cushing is a writer, journalist, and RVANews Editor.
Notice: Comments that are not conducive to an interesting and thoughtful conversation may be removed at the editor’s discretion.
My Dad bought me a suit here. I really wanted it to be good but can only say it was not bad. Space is lovely and waitstaff friendly and attentive, but food was just not bad and small plates quite small. When we requested plate to split several small plates on to, we got miniature “plates”. Didn’t leave feeling the value referred to in the article and slightly let down.
This place is GREAT! Love the small plates theme, pricing is good considering the quality and upscale atmosphere. We came here with a group after a show across the street and were not disappointed. Will be going back soon!
This is an excellent addition to Richmond’s great dining culture. The menu seems to be evolving, but I’ve always enjoyed the food. Friend green tomatoes are the best I’ve had, plus they add bit of crab. The calamari (often a boring part of a restaurant experience) uses a part of the squid I’d never had before – delicious and tender. Excellent drink menu – def a place to enjoy a few high-end cocktails.
We were there before a show across the street and it was amazing. The food portions and prices were perfect and the bartender and owner made the whole experience one to remember. We will be back frequently and I highly recommend trying this to everyone!!!!!
I and two of my co-workers went here for lunch this afternoon (12/14/2012). The restaurant has no blinds or window treatments, leaving its mid-day patrons exposed to the to the blinding rays of the low winter sun. We were deposited at a window table, where we couldn’t even raise our eyes to each other during our conversation. The glare off the tablecloth made even reading the menus painful.
The hostess filled our water glasses and abandoned us to our clueless server. He came and took our drink order–I made the mistake of ordering an iced tea while my companions were content with the water. He brought my drink and informed us of soup of the day. He then ignored us for more than 30 minutes while he served other tables across the restaurant. Meanwhile, the party of two who arrived after us were seated at a neighboring table (but mercifully for them, apparently in another server’s section). As we waited, they ordered and received their starters and entrees.
Disgusted, we rose to leave. I informed the hostess that we had waited over half an hour and our order hadn’t even been taken. I handed her a $5 bill to cover my tea, which she accepted. She held it dumbly in her hand as our party put on our coats. Then I asked her for my change. She replied that they had no money at the hostess stand; if I wanted my change, I’D HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE SERVER! She didn’t offer to take it to the bar. She didn’t offer to comp the tea and give the $5 back.
I told her I’d already waited for the server; I’d waited 30 minutes and I wasn’t waiting anymore. I told her we were leaving but that it wouldn’t be the last time I discussed my experience at 525 At the Berry Burk. So, as promised, I’m sharing it with everyone I can. Be warned that the service here is atrocious. If you work downtown, as I do, you’d better arrive with more than an hour for lunch. And stay away from the iced tea–at $5 a glass, it’s expensive.
Too bad. I would suggest talking to a manager and giving them another chance. I have had several good meals there including the soup, salad and sandwich combo for under 10 dollars. Living close by, I feel like I have a stake and some of these restaurants succeeding. These people have their life savings invested in this venture. I hope they can benefit from your experience.
“Disgruntled” I would like to inform you I am submitting this as the “bad review of a restaurant of the year” award. Your antagonism and pain are well expressed here, and I think this may deserve an award. Congrats, or something.
I and several friends had a very pleasant evening there in early October and I certainly plan to revisit 525 At The Berry Burk over the holidays.
PS: Just read a fabulous review of Rappahannock. Have reservations there next weekend.