Dine Goals: Our Must-Try New Restaurants for 2021
Image: Sandra Seitamaa
We don’t know about you, but after last year, we are just itching to get out there and try new restaurants. But where to go? There are tons of locally-sourced restaurants, cafés, and hotspots that have opened in the past year, and we did the dirty work of finding them for you! From Richmond to the Highlands, we put together a killer list of new restaurants that are sure to satisfy any foodie!
Central Virginia
Image: @thevafoodies on Instagram
The Beet Box (Richmond)
Health-conscious foodies: we have the perfect thing for your post-workout pick-me-up. The Beet Box opened in Carytown in fall 2020, and their locally-sourced juices, smoothies, smoothie bowls and toasts have been making waves ever since.
Image: Blue Atlas
Blue Atlas (Richmond)
Southside Richmond is going international with the opening of Blue Atlas, a restaurant and market in a historic schoolhouse in RVA’s Fulton Hill neighborhood. Their focused on sustainability, with mostly vegetarian dishes inspired by cultures all over the globe.
Image: dino’s restauranT
Dairy Market (Charlottesville)
Who doesn’t love a food hall? No one, that’s who. The Dairy Market is a recent C-ville addition with a lot to offer the local foodie scene: 13 food stalls, a brewery, a full-service restaurant, a full-service bar, 2 retail shops, and a rotating schedule of events. Sounds like a party to us!
Image: the Ridley
Image: Zorch Pizza
Zorch Pizza (Richmond)
RVA pizza food truck, Zorch Pizza, turned brick and mortar this year when they opened their Carytown location. Their NY-style pizzas run the gamut from veggie to carnivore, with tongue-in-cheek names like “Chopping Broccolini” and “Meat Boy”. Stop by their shop for dine-in, or carry out, or get it delivered! And good news for beer lovers, you can still find their pizza truck at The Veil Brewing Co. on most weekends.
Shenandoah Valley
Image: Broad Porch Luray
Broad Porch Coffee (Luray)
Harrisonville peeps already know that Broad Porch Coffee Co. has top-notch house-roasted coffee and locally sourced treats, and now Luray can join in on the fun! Broad Porch opened a second location in historic downtown Luray this past Spring, much to the delight of Luray’s caffeine aficionados. Pro tip: they offer discounts if you bring your own container! Waste not, want not, foodies!
Image: The Buttery
The Buttery (Millwood)
Millwood’s The Locke Store has been in our hearts for some time, and now they’ve expanded their Dine-In services with The Buttery, a farm-to-table restaurant featuring local food, wine, beer, and seasonal cocktails. Check them out for dinner and Sunday brunch and thank us later!
Image: Flour & Water
Flour & Water (Woodstock)
Previously a pop-up, Woodstock’s Flour & Water opened their doors in December 2020 to early awaiting fans. Flour & Water is all about providing high-quality baked goods to the community they love. Their menu of handcrafted breads, pastries, desserts, and sandwiches changes with the seasons, so you’re bound to find a new favorite every time you visit!
Blue Ridge Highlands
Image: Little Green Hive
Little Green Hive (Daleville)
Little Green Hive, a woman-owned and family-operated coffee shop and smoothie Bar has been earning rave reviews in Roanoke for quite some time, so they decided to spread the joy by opening a location in Daleville. They’ve got a huge selection of raw juices, smoothies, smoothie bowls, coffee, and tea-based bevvies that will have the whole family buzzing. (Get it, buzzing? Hive? We’ll be here all week…)
Image: the Grind
The Grind (Bluefield)
Another one for the coffee drinkers! The Grind is located smack-dab next to the Appalachian trail in picturesque Bluefield. It’s owned by a couple of nearby Bluefield College students and football players, so it’s got deep ties to the community. Their mission is to share the great craft roasts of the Appalachians to the public–at an affordable price. You can shop coffee on their online store, or stop in for breakfast or lunch and take a bag to-go!
Tidewater
Image: Fox Tail Wine Bar
Fox Tail Wine Bar (Hampton)
There’s nothing like a glass of wine to go with some top-quality eats, and Fox Tail Wine Bar is here to serve up both! They opened their doors in 2020, and they’ve been making waves in the Hampton area ever since. Their food is seriously next level–they do their own butchery, pickling, fermentation, and curing all in house!
Image: Syd’s Fishpig Cafe
Syd’s FishPig Cafe (Norfolk)
We’ve been fan’s of “Cowboy Syd” and his famous sauces for some time now, so we were so excited when he opened Syd’s FishPig Café in Norfolk’s Selden Market earlier this year. It’s home cooked southern food, with a french twist! Plus, the seafood is fresh and the specials are always changing with the seasons. That’s a double yum!
Image: Tin Cup Kitchen and Oyster Bar
Tin Cup Kitchen + Oyster Bar (Virginia Beach)
Brand new beachside restaurant, coming in hot! Tin Cup Kitchen & Oyster Bar is a part of the new Delta beach front hotel in Virginia Beach, and they are a welcome addition to the VB food community. They source their pork, oysters, and produce from area farmers to provide a total coastal VA dining experience!
Northern Virginia
Image: @arlington.dining on Instagram
Preservation Biscuit Co. (Falls Church)
Y’all know that we’re firm believers in the healing power of biscuits, so including this top-notch biscuit joint in this article was a no-brainer. Chef Jonathan Coombs, a retired army vet, decided to dip his toes in the biscuit game with Preservation Biscuit Co, which opened in Falls Church this past spring, and we’re so glad he did! They’ve got savory biscuit sammies and desserts, which means you can grab a biscuit for breakfast, lunch, and dessert (aka a perfect day of eating.)
Image: Ruthies all Day
Ruthies All Day (Arlington)
Ruthie’s All Day is a cheeky vintage neighborhood restaurant and it’s here to save the day from humdrum dining. Ruthie’s opened this year in the historic Arlington Heights neighborhood in a renovated chocolate factory, so they’re serving some major atmosphere in addition to yummy food. Their chef-driven, yet unpretentious take on the traditional “meat and three” is earning them some rave reviews in NoVA and beyond!
Image: Stracci Pizza
Stracci Pizza (Alexandria)
Roman-style pizza isn’t as well known as it’s traditional Neapolitan cousin, but not for long! Stracci Pizza in Alexandria opened their brick-and-mortar earlier this year with a mission to change minds and hearts with their fabulous Roman pies. They’re made with a thicker textured dough, which gives them some structure for a bevy of killer toppings, including their house-made stracciatella cheese. Chef Tom has a passion for pizza, and you can taste it in every pie!
It takes some major guts to open a restaurant or expand to a new location during a pandemic, and we think these chefs and restauranteurs deserve some serious foodie love for their efforts. These past two years have been hard on the food industry, so now’s the time to get out there and support local Virginia restaurants. Your stomach and your soul will thank you.
Did we forget someone? If you’ve got a restaurant you think should be on the list, please fill out this form and let us know!
