Dot's Back Inn: A small neighborhood diner that is not too far from the speedway. They calle themselves at "destination diner" and it's certainly worth the trip. Great friendly service and an amazing menu make this one of the best restaurants on the NASCAR tour. The name "Dot" is for a waitress who waited on tables for nearly 50 year, she worked hard but never had the opportunity to own her own restaurant.
Dot’s was featured on “Diner’s, Drive-In’s and Dive’s” where specialties like Chicken MacArther (sautéed strips of chicken break, artichokes, garlic, wine and pasta baked with feta cheese) and Sailor Sandwich (Knockwurst, pastrami and swiss grilled on rye) were showcased.
Address: 4030 MacArthur Ave., Richmond, VA 23227
Phone: (804) 266-3167
Hours: Monday-Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – Midnight (possibly later)
Sunday: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Sally Bell’s Kitchen: A good rule when selecting restaurants is that if it’s been around for 86 years, chances are it may be good. And if, like Sally Bell’s Kitchen, it serves meal uniquely like they were presented more than 50 years ago then it deserves a mention. Beyond the meals, it’s also a full-scale bakery.
Box lunches are still the style at Sally Bell’s where a choice of 11 sandwiches is available, such as: pimento cheese, cream cheese and olive, Smithfield ham, or chicken/egg salad. Included is a cup of potato or macaroni salad, one-half deviled egg, cheese wafer and a homemade cupcake. All are served in cardboard boxes lined with waxed paper.
Address: 708 Grace Street, Richmond, VA 23220
Phone: (804) 644-2838
Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
River City Diner: With three locations across the city, the River City Diner has a long history of serving great “diner” food for years. An extensive menu includes breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as bar service and a kid’s menu.
Of interested is the Rochester Garbage Plate which is: grilled hot dogs, chili, baked beans, home fries, cole slaw and potato salad, all piled high and covered with cheddar cheese. Or, if it’s early in the day why not try a bacon cheeseburger omelet for breakfast? And if that’s not enough, end the meal with a milkshake, voted “Richmond’s Favorite Milkshake”.
Address: 3 locations in Richmond
Hours: 7:30 a.m. -- Close
The Village Café: This college-area (Virginia Commonwealth University) restaurant seem to either get “panned” or “praised” when reading reviews and diner’s comments. Yet, everyone seems to find it a place worth hitting when in Richmond. This from a diner Rebecca on
www.Yelp.com sums up the comments:
“The Village is a strange place. Practically, it has many unattractive features. The music is often played too loudly, you can't leave without reeking of smoke, the wait staff is notorious for being delinquent, and to top it all off the food is not amazing. However, it's one of those niche restaurants that has a loyal following and is almost kind of admired for all of the said bad qualities.”
The Village Café was featured on Diner’s, Drive-Ins and Dives. Three things everyone seems to agree on are: a wide-ranging menu, the quantity of the food is HUGE (like the 15 inch calzones), and the milkshakes are “out of this world”.
Address: 1001 W. Grace St., Richmond, VA 23220
Phone: (804) 353-8204
Hours: Nearly 24 Hours a Day