Gibson’s Grill
708 E Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219

As mentioned in yesterday’s post on Richmond, VA, I visited two local restaurants. Today’s post is the second restaurant: Gibson’s Grill. The reason I ended up here was that it was the only other restaurant that enticed me in the nearby area (there was one other but I did not find it until the morning of my departure). I was hoping I was not going to mess up the same way as Capital Ale House… (Please keep in mind that, being a short trip, I was not even trying to adjust time zones).

Heck, not even a real sign!

Judging from the picture above, you might think it looks like a diner. Well, I thought that as well until I was a couple of metres away from the door! So, let’s try again, check the picture below of part of the dining room.

Well, that’s not all. There is a stairs to a lower level, which serves also as a club. I guess appearances are deceiving…

Now, to the food… Before I went there, I asked myself, is there anything “local” to Richmond, VA? Probably, Soul Food? Southern Food? Well, if that is what it is supposed to be, I couldn’t find such restaurant so that left “American” (whatever that is supposed to mean…). Anyway, with my order, I also got a salad. Déjà vu, anybody?

There is not much to talk about here, it was about the same, except it did not have the grilled peppers. However, there was one “plus”: it had an olive. Well, that was a single olive but, hey, the fact it had it is what counts.

And the main… I think I went for broke and ordered steak (12 ounces) and oysters, which came also with some side fries. The steak itself was, well, disappointing. Sure, it was cooked to order (medium rare); however, the cut was a bit tough for a ribeye, not to mention I did not feel it juicy enough. As a result, I was wondering if the cut was indeed ribeye but something else. The fries felt they were an afterthought. However, what saved the dish was the oysters. They were plump and, when bitten, juices started flowing. The only thing missing was a lemon wedge.

Overall, it was quite a good meal for a business traveller. For a local, well, I guess there is a reason why people like to go to Cactus Club/Earl’s/Moxie’s and similar places.

Capital Ale House
4 Locations in Virginia
623 East Main Street (6th and Main St.)
Richmond, VA 23219

In my post last week on Long’s Noodle House, I mentioned my trip to Richmond… Virginia… ^_^;;; Unlike my previous business trips, where I would be for almost the whole week, this was a short one and, since the customer wanted me to be on a Monday, I chose to fly during the weekend. When I arrived, I found out something disappointing of Richmond, VA: If it wasn’t because of offices, library or some US government buildings, it was pretty much a dead area. Of course, it was possible I was, again, in a “dead” part of the city… Anyway, I shouldn’t be complaining about things like this but, rather, just focus on the food. So, for today’s post, one of the two restaurants I visited during this trip (the other place I had my meals was the hotel restaurant, something I would rather not blog…). So, what was particular about this restaurant? It just happened it was suggested by a colleague who was there just before me…

The restaurant was broken down into three sections: the bar, the dining room and an area where there would be live music. I was tired from my trip and was not in mood for loud music – which I could hear even when I was half a block away. Likewise, I wanted to be away from the gaze of the waiter/waitresses, so I asked for a table.

A beer bottle for a vase? I can live with that! ^_^

After checking the menu, I made my order. And, with my order, I also got a salad:

I will admit, the salad was quite decent, specially if I compare it to other “freebie” sides I have received with my meals in my trips. (Freebie, as in part of the meal, not something “on the house”). The dressing was raspberry vinaigrette which was a bit too sweet and not tangy enough. Not that it matter that much, as I am among the odd people who can eat salad without any dressing or vinaigrette. But, what made the salad was those small pieces of grilled/baked peppers. Wish more places would include grilled peppers in their salads…

For my main, I ordered a “Brat & Knack Plate”, which, according to their menu is “a Usinger’s knackwurst and bratwurst served with kraut, sweet & sour red cabbage and warm German potato salad”. Before anybody says anything, I think I messed up here. Since I was still tired from the flight, I don’t think I was thinking straight. Heck, I didn’t even check the specials of the day (as I was walking out, past their sandwich board on the street, I found out it was pork tenderloin). So, why the hell would I order this? Sometimes I have to live with my mistakes…

Anyway, I will have to say both sausages were average, as I did not find anything special about them. Is it possible I have been spoiled by the ones found in Vancouver? And I am not talking about the “fancy” ones found in places like Oyama Sausage; heck, I am talking about the pork wurst found in supermarkets! Probably it is because of the cooking method they used, since it looks like they just boiled them. In my case, my preferred cooking method (if I don’t have access to a grill) is a mix of boiling and pan searing, i.e., boil them in just a bit of water until the water boils away and then let it there to sear slightly…

As for the sides, actually, all of them were good. The one I like the most was the potato salad. Sorry the picture of the salad did not turn out that well. Finally, the sauce used, whole grain mustard, at least helped the wurst.

Overall, if I have to base my opinion on this single meal, I will say it was disappointing. Don’t get me wrong, ambiance-wise, it might be more suited for locals. So, it is possible I did not give them a fighting chance; but, as a traveller, that is all I can give them…