RVA Spots: Church Hill

annestuartteter
Dec 22, 2016
3 min read

One of my favorite things about Richmond is exploring the many different neighborhoods in our city. Last weekend I went on a Richmond exploration in Church Hill with my friend Courtney.

I have always liked Church Hill, it’s shrouded in history and the restaurants and shops just seem to pop out of nowhere as you walk around and blend perfectly with their surroundings. The other awesome thing about Church Hill is the neighborhood itself, often sleepy and quiet, this is not the bustling, loud neighborhood that can be the Fan or VCU area. Church Hill has a certain sense of sophistication.

So, off we went on a yucky, chilly Saturday. Our first stop was Millie’s to grab one of the best Bloody Mary’s the city has to offer. We sat at the bar and watched as the food was prepared right in front of us. Millie’s is well known for a reason; they have found what works and stuck with it. Don’t mess with perfection. As good as the food looked (and I know tastes, as I have been there for many a brunch), bloodies were the only thing on our agenda there.

We ventured back onto the blustery streets and headed for Dear Neighbor. I had seen the shop on Instagram (way to go marketing team) and wanted to check it out. So, for our second Church Hill stop we headed to 25th and Jefferson to an adorable shop that seemed modest from the outside but is a minimalists dream from the second you walk through the door. The owner was there and we chatted with her about how the store was doing, the different products, etc. She was upbeat and not at all pushy (thank you). They had everything from trays to sunglasses and beautiful aprons. This is now on my list of places to grab a cute gift. The aesthetic is, like I said minimalist, but also chic. I will definately be returning.

Next stop, The Dog and Pig Show. I feel like a bad Richmonder for only just trying this well known spot. I had been meaning to make my way there for so long. Finally, the day arrived and I was not disappointed! We walked up to the most charming looking cafe and were greeted with smiles and instructions on how to read the menu. It all looked great but we narrowed our choices down to three items - shrimp and grits, grilled cheese and tomato soup. You may think those sound like awfully boring options for someone who has been dying to try this place out, but let me assure you they were spot on. The food arrived almost as quickly as we settled into one of the only five tables in the tiny place.

The shrimp and grits were the first thing we dove into. We opted for the fried egg on top, because, of course. It was divine. Huge shrimp covered in grits and a sauce made with bacon butter (literally a girl's dream come true). I loved every bite and didn’t want to stop eating, but we had ordered more than enough food and needed to move on. Next up, the grilled cheese. I love grilled cheese and have tried hundreds in my lifetime. This was the best I’ve ever had. Hands down. No lie. Not only were we able to add bacon and avocado, but there was pimento cheese involved. Those are quite possibly three of my favorite ingredients ever. Having tried many a grilled cheese in my life, I know there is no better pairing than tomato soup to go along with it. This was no ordinary tomato soup. This soup was, first off, a generous portion and second, served with crab meat on top (their daily garnish...what is this place heaven?). Overall it was an incredible meal made even better by the darling location and charming staff.

To top off our day, we headed up the road to Fulton to check out the newly opened second location for Triple Crossing. Again, we were not disappointed. The space was thoughtfully designed (with a pizza kitchen to boot) and the beers were excellent as always. Despite the dismal weather, the day was filled with great experiences and I will certainly be headed back soon.