RICHMOND
1. WPA BAKERY cakes for days
Grab a window seat at this bakery housed in a turn-of-the-century building in the heart of Church Hill North Historic District, and dig into your favorite dessert. A slice of their Elvis cake (banana cake with peanut butter icing) always hits the spot, but don’t skip their signature canelés—caramelized crêpe batter rolled into snack-sized tubes of goodness. TRY: Elvis Cake, Canalés
2. EARLY BIRD BISCUIT CO. & BAKERY blissfully buttery biscuits
At Early Bird, you’ll find their standard biscuit is a masterpiece and their ever-changing daily flavor is a creative twist on the expected flaky buttermilk biscuit. TRY: Flaky Buttermilk Biscuit with Jam, Biscuit with Pimiento Cheese and Bacon, Housemade Pop-Tarts
3. THE ROOSEVELT a new take on Southern
The Roosevelt celebrates traditional Southern dishes and expected flavors, adding contemporary twists to bring them into the present. Their pimiento cheese snack comes served with pork rinds, and the pork chop is served with a fennel and nectarine salad with poblano vinaigrette. TRY: Pimiento Cheese with Ranch Pork Rinds, Smoked Chicken Wings, Berkshire Pork Chop au Poivre
4. SHAGBARK tastes of Virginia
Take a bite of any dish Shagbark serves, and you’ll find yourself transported to a different region of Virginia. The cider-braised pork belly takes you to the Shenandoah Valley, while the clam chowder puts you on the Eastern Shore. TRY: Shagbark Charcuterie Plate, Oysters on the Half Shell
