Belmont Food Shop

I saw it the other day. "It" being that early fall, late afternoon, low light that I haven't seen in a year - that I'm definitely not ready to see right now. Long live summer! Today I'm so excited to share one of my most memorable meals of this season.

I walked into Belmont Food Shop - an intimate, six-maybe-seven-tabled restaurant in Richmond's Museum District - with our friends one summer Friday evening, not exactly knowing what to expect. I had heard great things about the restaurant, which once functioned as a neighborhood grocery store. Little did I know that I'd be leaving the restaurant later that night having had one of the best meals in Richmond.

Is that too bold of a claim to make here? I think not.

In a perfectly quaint, Downton Abbey-esque setting, I enjoyed my creative, flavorful cocktail. I fawned over the warm, right-out-of-the-oven bread accompanied by an unusual but tasty apple and olive oil dip.

// fresh bread and apple olive oil dip // tomato salad // shrimp and avocado //

Lost between contradictory impulses while looking over the chalkboard menu (which changes frequently), I was glad to see that an extremely reasonably priced $30 prix fixe meal was offered.

We couldn't pick a shining star because everything was incredible. From the succulent rabbit to the delicate flounder to the deceivingly plain yet unbelievable tomato salad, every plate was licked clean.

// rabbit // tuna // pork // flounder //

What I love about this place - other than the food - is the concept behind it. One man is in the kitchen making most of the food, "back to basics" style, with side work help from servers here and there. That kind of passion for cooking and community clearly shows through the utterly fabulous food. If it can be made in-house, it probably is.

With summer almost out the door and with autumn honing in on us, Belmont Food Shop remains the same - a perfect foodie retreat for any season.

// fig and coconut // blueberry cheesecake // chocolate silk pie //

Read more praise here, here, and here.

Have you ever eaten here? What did you think?

Belmont Food Shop
27 N. Belmont Ave.
804.358.7467
Hours of Operation
Weekdays 5:00PM - 11:00PM*
Weekends 5:00PM - 12:00AM
*Closed Tuesdays
Reservations available at 5:00, 7:00, & 9:00PM