What's for Dinner at Shore Dog Cafe in Richmond, VA

Dinner with Friends at Shore Dog Cafe in Richmond, VA

I stay pretty busy, as you know. But I always slow down to eat. Luckily, I get to call one of the hottest foodie destinations in the country home. When you live in Richmond, VA, you’re doing it wrong if you simply shove food in your mouth on the go all the time. There are so many talented chefs, restaurant owners, food bloggers and food lovers in RVA. There is always an affordable option for what you crave, as well.

I recently had a lunch meeting at Shore Dog Cafe. It’s conveniently located next to Sweetest Stitch‘s new boutique. The space is inspiring for a slow and thoughtful lunch meeting. The Lamplighter coffee I got to go was delicious. I was excited to find out the restaurant was beginning to serve dinner. I headed there for a night of brainstorming with local photographer Ashley Loth of Sound Snap Photography, my man and our friend/assistant/manager Eleanor. We all have several overlapping projects and ideas and needed some fuel to get the creative juices flowing.

We started off with a round of drinks, which included prosecco and local beer. Then came the apps: shrimp and grits, steak crostini, and the soup of the day. Each item was crafted with care and featured farm-to-table ingredients. We couldn’t wait to try more from the menu after that. We quickly polished off those plates and our drinks.

For dinner, I went with one of my favorite dishes to get anywhere: ravioli with stuffed with pumpkin and sage. It was topped with sauteed spinach and a light cream sauce. My dish was the perfect size and full of flavor. My dad would be proud, I cleaned the plate! Around the table, there was salmon, salad topped with chicken, and a NY Strip. Everyone was excited about their choices and finished off their entrees and second round of drinks.

By that time, our server was making us laugh and we had hatched a few new business ideas. We weren’t quite ready to leave, though, and opted for dessert. This is my favorite part. I discovered my new favorite sweet treat: an affogato, which is a shot of espresso poured over a few scoops of ice cream. Shoredog serves only Homestead Creamery ice cream, which is made with milk from local farms. I opted for the salted caramel flavor and was not disappointed. Isaac ordered a simple scoop of ice cream and Eleanor went for a prosecco over orange cream ice cream. There was something for everyone’s sweet tooth.