Perly's. The Benny Goodman is fan-fucking-tastic.

Ariana Kabob & Nineveh Restaurant. Both places offer fresh, delicious, & inexpensive food that packs a hell of a lot of flavor. I have yet to order something from either location that wasn't fantastic.

Pho Tay Do. Bring cash, get the Goi Du Du (papaya salad) as an app, & don't skimp on the Thai basil or fish sauce. 🤤

Pupatella, Scoop, & a Miyazaki film. 🤙

• Avgolomeno Soup (Greek on Cary)

• Chin, Nam, Gau, Gan, Sach Pho (Pho Tay Do)

• Menudo de Res (El Chido)

• Arroz Caldo (My Kitchen)

Join Lindsey's List on Facebook. You'll find tons of apartment listings daily from all around the city.

I haven't been in a few years. That's disappointing to hear if true.

Pho Tay Do -->

• Appetizer - Goi Du Du

• Entree - Pho (Chin, Nam, Gau, Gan, Sach) or Bun Bo Hue

• Beverage - Ca Phe Sua Da

OR

Chez Max -->

• Appetizer - Foie Gras or Moules à la Mariniére

• Entree - Filet Mignon Angus Noir

• Beverage - Cab Sauv

Thanks. 😊

Their website isn't up yet. What menu items do you remember?

Moore St. Cafe has cheap, delicious, & consistently solid diner food + large portion sizes. They also have inexpensive mimosa pitchers that you can get housed on if you aren't careful. The owner & his staff are friendly & deliver solid service -- a big perk in my book. They even have Kuba Kuba's house hot sauce if you ask for it (tasty and pairs well with brekkie). Enjoy!

Taquiera Habanero. Cheap, delicious, reliable, & authentic. What more can you ask for?

(i) How queer friendly is it and how large is the community? Do locals welcome us?

RVA is a left-leaning, open-minded city for the most part.

(ii) How accepting are locals to people who are from different parts of the country/world?

RVA is open to all cultures, but as you can see in the comments a lot of locals get irrationally angry when people from NOVA move down here. Fuck 'em.

(iii) Is the grapevine strong there? Do people keep to themselves or are they open?

Your ability to make friends in RVA will primarily be based on how willing you are to make an effort and put yourself out there. Locals can be cliquey and judgmental.

(iv) How diverse is the food culture? Is there middle eastern food, pho, greek, etc.?

The food scene here isn't quite as diverse as what you're likely used to in NOVA/DC, but it's still surprisingly strong when you consider the size of the city. DM me if you want any recommendations!

(v) How good is the internet there? How often are there outages?

The internet here is fine. The standard providers that you'd expect to find in NOVA are present in RVA.

Heard. Thanks. 😊

Unfortunately they're booked.

I did check Metzger. I did not check the others. On it. 🤙

I went to Hotel Greene last night and had a blast. They offer a Thursday Date Night spesh. It costs $55 for two people & includes two plates, two drinks, and one round of mini golf per person. 🤙

My stepfather saw the shooting happen. A young male got shot twice in the chest and bled out in the parking lot. The shooter hopped into a car with a few other people and sped away.

You ought to check out Ariana Kabob. They have the best kabobs in the area - fresh, flavorful, well-seasoned, and worth every penny. The lamb shank and beef kobidah are my personal favorites, and make sure you get their chickpeas as a side dish. They're out of this world.

Kitchen 33 reminds me of Moore St. Cafe. It's delicious, inexpensive, and consistent - just with a bit more southern flair.

Solid spots in and around Short Pump --

• Peter Chang's (best Chinese food in RVA - esp. if you appreciate spicy food)

• Canastas (incredibly flavorful Peruvian chicken with massive portions)

• Taquiero Habanero (no frills hole-in-the-wall with the best tacos in the West End)

• La Vita E'Bella (tasty, inexpensive Italian with massive portions)

• Sandano's (best subs in the West End + beach fries!)

• Boychiks (tasty, inexpensive, no frills Jewish diner)

• El Cap (tasty, inexpensive Tex Mex with massive portions, cheap margs, and tasty white sauce)

• Niveneh (delicious, authentic Iraqi food with killer kebabs, falafel, & baked goods)

• Mantu Market (high quality, delicious, & authentic Afghan food with great produce, baked goods, etc.)

• E-Loteria (flavorful, delicious Mexican street food with killer quesabirria tacos, elote, & churro sundaes)

Akida has my favorite sushi in RVA. I used to go a couple of times a month when I lived on Monument. They have a budget-friendly dine in dinner special that includes an appetizer, a regular roll, and a specialty roll all for ~16.99. I can't say enough about the quality and freshness of their fish either.

You have to try their lamb shank the next time you go. The seasoning is on point, and the meat is so tender that you could slide it off the bone with a single shake.