New Restaurants to Try in Richmond, Virginia

Richmond, Virginia, sees its restaurant scene grow in 2022 with the addition of several new, exciting eateries inspired by different international cuisines. Visit some of these new and unique restaurants this year.

Lillie Pearl

A Black-owned New American restaurant with Southern influences, husband-and-wife team Chef Michael Lindsey and Kimberly Love-Lindsey not only run the establishment but also seek to provide a welcoming atmosphere for guests coming for all occasions. Named after Michael’s grandmother, Lillie Pearl draws inspiration from Michael’s North Carolina roots as well as from West African and South African American cuisine.

Lillie Pearl combines these rich cultures into a menu full of delicious dishes such as the Obe Ata braised lamb shank, short rib egg rolls and “Smashville” fried chicken sandwich. The restaurant’s popularity has seen Michael and Kimberly launch Buttermilk + Honey, another restaurant in Richmond’s West End.

JewFro

What began as a pop-up concept transformed into a restaurant blending African and Jewish cuisines. Ari Augenbaum, Trey Owens and Marine Hovnanian launched JewFro to not only emphasize the rich flavors found in both African and Jewish food but also to highlight each culture’s diversity.

The restaurant offers Jewish deli-style, house-cured meats, artisanal sandwiches incorporating African spices and modern adaptations on African dishes and Jewish flavors. Some of the restaurant’s key dishes include grilled chicken in South African Peri-Peri sauce over Israeli couscous and Eritrean-spiced brisket over matzah polenta.

Black Lodge

Recently opened by Top Chef contestant Brittanny Anderson, Black Lodge offers upscale bites in a cool and casual bar-like atmosphere. Anderson utilizes her vast knowledge of food and beverage to create the perfect pairings with any dish. Try her combination of paddlefish accompanied by vodka or the sturgeon with gin. Black Lodge also includes dishes found nowhere else, such as a coconut curry lobster roll to a Russian hot dog.

TBT El Gallo

Beginning as a pop-up event at a local farmer’s market, Chef Carlos Ordaz-Nunez created this Mexican street food eatery following its success after 92 pop-up events. Ordaz-Nunez uses traditional Mexican flavors and adds his own creativity to produce bold and fresh dishes with a modern twist. Dishes like birria tacos, tortas and elote-inspired “children of the corn” fries can be found on the menu at this elevated Mexican street food location.