Restaurateurs in Richmond, Virginia

Updated 11/13/2019

Growing up in a restaurant family since I was 13 (Richmond Restaurant Group) I’ve had the pleasure to get to know many other restaurateurs in this city. Often times I’ll be having a conversation about a new restaurant that’s opening and someone will ask “who owns that?” This post is a list of restaurateurs in Richmond, Virginia that got their start here. They can expand outside of the area, but they must have started in Richmond. No chains, no outsiders, all local. I’ve put family-owned restaurants at the bottom since they are not one group, but many different family members.

I’m sure there are more that didn’t make the list or I’ve left off a partner so please let me know in the comments below.

14 Establishments

• Johnny & Katrina Giavos
  • Sidewalk Cafe / Kitchen 64 – with Ernest von Ofenheim
  • Kuba Kuba – with Manual Mendez
  • Kuba Kuba Dos – with Manual Mendez & Hugo Jordan
  • Galley / Galley Market / Little Nickel – with Manny Mendez & Chris DiLauro
  • Perly’s Delicatessen — with Kevin Roberts & Scott Coleman
  • The Continental / Stella’s: Richmond, Charleston / Stella’s Grocery: Lafayette St, Scott’s Addition, Grace St. – Independent

• EAT Restaurant Partners (Chris Tsui & Ren Mefford) – Osaka / Wild Ginger / Fat Dragon / Foo Dog / Boulevard Burger and Brew / Wong Gonzalez: Grace St, Greengate (Coming Soon) / Beijing on Grove (Rebranded from The Blue Goat) / Red Salt / Pizza & Beer of Richmond: Fan, Hanover (Coming Soon) / Hot Chick (Old River City Diner), Ashlend / Fatty Smokes

12 Establishments

• Travis Croxton
  • Rappahannock Restaurant / Merroir / Rapp Session / Rappahannock Oyster Bar: Union Market–DC, Charleston, DC Wharf , LA – with Ryan Croxton
  • GWARbar – with Hilda Staples & GWAR
  • Eat the Rich / Brine / Rock Salt: Charlottesville, Charlotte – Independent

8 Establishments

• Richmond Restaurant Group (Michelle Williams, Jared Golden & Ted Wallof) – New Concept (Coming Soon) / The Daily Kitchen & Bar: Carytown, Short Pump / East Coast Provisions / West Coast Provisions / The Hard Shell: Downtown, Bellgrade / The Hill Cafe
• HOUSEpitality Family (Kevin Healy) – The Boathouse: Sunday Park, Rocketts Landing, Short Pump, City Point / Casa del Barco: Canal Walk, Short Pump Town Center, Chesterfield Town Center / Island Shrimp Co.

7 Establishments

• Ryan Croxton – Rappahannock Restaurant / Merroir / Rapp Session / Rappahannock Oyster Bar: Union Market–DC, Charleston, DC Wharf, LA – with Travis Croxton

6 Establishments

• Rueger Restaurant Group (Herb Reuger) – Lunch / Supper / Brunch / The Grill / City Diner / The Village Cafe

 5 Establishments

• Eddie & Sidney Padow – Padow’s Hams & Deli: Downtown City Hall, Downtown Ironfronts, Midlothian, Brandermill, Glen Allen
• Matt Simmons & Chris Holder – Capital Ale House: Downtown, Midlothian, Innsbrook, Harrisonburg, Fredericksburg
• Angela Whitley & Dan Brantingham – Burger Bach: Carytown, Short Pump, Raleigh, Midlothian, Charlottesville
• Manny Mendez
  • Kuba Kuba – with Johnny Giavos
  • Kuba Kuba Dos – with Johnny Giavos & Hugo Jordan
  • Galley / Galley Market / Little Nickel – with Johnny Giavos & Chris DiLauro
• Ed Vasaio – Mamma ‘Zu / Edo’s Squid / 8 1/2: The Fan, Church Hill / Dinamo
• Kevin McGrath & Steve Rogge
  • Wood & Iron Game Day Restaurant: Midlothian, Scott’s Addition (Coming Soon)
  • Asado Wing & Taco Company: VCU, Charlottesville / The Flyin’ Pig – with Ian Anderson

4 Establishments

• RVA Hospitality (Frances Santerella & Liz Kincade)
  • Tarrant’s  / Tarrant’s West / Max’s on Broad / Bar Solita
• Ron Morse
  • Station 2 / Postbellum / Root Stock Provisions / Oak & Apple — with Historic Restaurant Concepts
• Kendra Feather 
  • Ipanema Cafe / Laura Lee’s / Garnett’s
  • The Roosevelt – with Mark Herndon
• Josh & Jessica Bufford
  • Toast: Henrico, Powhatan / Hutch Bar & Eatery + Mix
  • Shouk — with Ran Nussbächer
• Rob Jones – Sportspage Bar & Grille: Midlothian, Mechanicsville, West End, Ashland
• Neverett Eggleston Jr.– Croaker’s Spot: Manchester, Petersburg, Norfolk / Sugar’s Crab Shack
• Zach Archibald, Noelle Archibald and Jennifer Rawlings – Lamplighter Roasting Co: Summit Ave, Morris St, Addison St, and Brooklyn Park Blvd (Coming Soon).
• Chris DiLauro
  • Bacchus — with Nancy Fisher
  • Galley / Galley Market / Little Nickel – with Johnny Giavos & Manny Mendez
• Paul Keevil – Millie’s / LuLu’s / Tio Pablo / Cafe Clang
• Historical Restaurant Concepts (Ryan Koontz, Jeb White, Ron Morse, & Paul Kostandin) — Station 2 / Postbellum / Root Stock Provisions / Oak & Apple
• Joe & Whitney Kiatsuranon
  • My Noodle Bar / YaYa’s Cookbook
  • Sabai / Temple — with Brandon Pearson
• Craig Brosius and Kevin Urbanowski — The Pit and The Peel: The Fan, Carytown, James Center, Short Pump Town Center
• Hani Atallah
  • District 5, The Annex — with Gary Wenzel and Roland West
  • Southern Railway Taphouse, Shiplock Brewing — with Chris Farag

3 Establishments

• Chris Farag
  • Southern Railway Taphouse, Shiplock Brewing — with a Hani Atallah
  • Great American Ranch — with a partner
• Jay Bayer
  • Saison / Saison Market
  • Bingo — with Jason Alley & Michelle Jones
• William McCormack – McCormack’s Irish Pub / McCormack’s Whisky Grill / McCormack’s Big Whisky Grill
• Karen Verdisco – Pie Hole Pizza: Ashland, Midlothian (Coming Soon) / Brew
• Mike Barber – Carytown Burgers & Fries: Carytown, Lakeside, Short Pump
• Brittanny Anderson, Nathan Conway & Brad Hemp
  • Metzger
  • Brenner Pass / Chairlift – with James Kohler & Olivia Wilson
• Tuffy Stone – Q Barbecue: Midlothian, Glen Allen, Hull Street
• Brandon Pearson
  • Sabai / Temple / Alio
• Carlos Londoño — Margarita’s Cantina, Mijas, and La Bodega (Coming Soon)
• Michael Cohen & Justin McDonald — Riverbound Cafe, Marty’s Grill, and Crafted (Coming Soon)
• Kathleen Richardson — The Urban Farmhouse Market & Cafe: Shockoe Slip, Midlothian, Scott’s Addition
• Salvatore “Sal” Anthony Nuara & Krystina Nuara
  • Bel Cibo Pizzeria and Capital Burger and Dogs (Coming Soon)
  • Belmont Pizzeria — with Melinda and Victor Guevara

2 Establishments

• FWS Group (Jake Crocker & Hayden Fisher)
  • F.W. Sullivan’s Fan Bar & Grill – with Evan Dority & Joe Carter
  • Lady N’awlins – with Wendell Sprouse
• Wendell Sprouse
  • Lady N’awlins – with Jake Crocker & Hayden Fisher
  • Uptown Market & Deli – with Joe Carter
• Joe Carter
  • F.W. Sullivan’s Fan Bar & Grill — with Jake Crocker, Hayden Fisher & Evan Dority
  • Izzy’s Kitchen – with Sharron Carter
• Jason Alley & Michelle Jones
  • Comfort
  • Bingo — with Jay Bayer
• Jay Ko 
  • J Kogi: Jackson Ward — with Michael Ng
  • Fighting Fish
• Melinda and Victor Guevara
  • Carmela’s
  • Belmont Pizzeria — with Salvatore “Sal” Anthony Nuara & Krystina Nuara

Restaurant Families

These restaurants are owned by different family members of the same last name.

• Garcia Family (8) – Mexico Restaurant – Ashland, Woodlake, Short Pump, Mechanicsville, Forest Hill, Innsbrook, Sandston and Little Mexico
• Lo Presti Family (7)
  • Mario Lo Presti – Mary Angela’s
  • Rick Lo Presti – Piccola’s
  • Francesco Lo Presti – Maldini’s
  • Joe Lo Presti – Mediterraneo
  • Joe’s Wife & Son – Pronto
  • Joe’s Son-in-Law – Arianna’s Fan and Arianna’s Lakeside
• Kiatsuranon Family (6)
  • Sukanya Pala-art (Mother) – Mom’s Siam and Mom’s Siam 2
  • Joe (Son) and Whitney Kiatsuranon – My Noodle Bar, Sabai, YaYa’s Cookbook, Temple