RECENT COMMENTS
Joel Cabot on Power Outage on the Hill
Eric S. Huffstutler on What is up with the Church Hill Post Office?
Eric S. Huffstutler on What is up with the Church Hill Post Office?
Yvette Cannon on What is up with the Church Hill Post Office?
crd on Power Outage on the Hill
Acappella gets reviewed
05/31/2007 6:54 AM by John M
Acappella gets 3 stars in Acappella’s food hits right notes, a review by the RTD.
I thought I would bring this back up as I was feeling a bit blue and reminiscent thinking how much i miss the German food that Acappella’s served up. For those who don’t know, it was where the current Patrick henry restaurant is now which we personally, boycott due to the lack of food quality and the rude service during lunch hours.
Acappella rocked and we need another good German food restaurant which I don’t think Richmond has?
I always got the Schweinschnitzel which was the boneless pork cutlets breaded and sautéed in butter with apples, onion, and melted bleu cheese topping. Pair that up with authentic red cabbage and potato pancakes and you had something to eat for under $20.
Here was their menu:
http://www.usdiners.com/cgi-bin/menupreview?State=VA&ID=10871
I remember when I was in college back in the 80’s, Mr. Patrick Henry’s was a great destination restaurant, and there was a bed and breakfast upstairs. And the basement was a destination for playing darts. I haven’t been in that building since Acappella closed. What’s it like these days? I never hear anything about it.
Eric, have you not been to Metzger yet?
http://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/enter-deutschland/Content?oid=2130675
We always called it the “little bar”… I guess the Hill Cafe and Poe’s were the big bars on the hill.
Clay Street… Haven’t been yet but looking at the interior and the menus just doesn’t interest me. There isn’t a cozy atmosphere like in the basement use to be at Acappella with the burning fireplace, low lights, and retro music. And the menu is limited as well as to their own admission of being German “inspired” as opposed to true fare. I still miss the Schweinschnitzel.
Jon, that is the catch. Patrick Henry when it first opened after Acappella closed was going to be a legitimate restaurant but soon switched to more bar than food. In fact during a lunch visit the staff tried to move people eating upstairs rather than eat down in the pit as we always did. Problem is upstairs doesn’t have the same atmosphere and is too brightly lighted. And getting served is very slow.
Just want to chime in here and say that while I never ate at Acapella’s, I’ve had some great meals and excellent times at Patrick Henry’s under the current management. The service is great, food is really good and reasonably priced, and they have great beer on tap. And the back deck is a fantastic place to eat outside on a nice day! Have you eaten there for brunch on the weekend? I’m just offering an alternative opinion here as I think the place is great.
I even booked one of their front rooms for an all day business meeting and attendees loved it. Beautiful historic room, good food and service, and it was extremely affordable. I understand the B&B is reopening sometime soon as well.
I love Patrick Henry’s. I think the food is good and it really is the best little bar. I was not impressed with the food at Acapellas. I would love to see a good german restaurant, though. But don’t change Patrick Henry’s!! It is perfect the way it is.
Eric is there a restaurant on the Hill you haven’t complained about?
@Alex:
funny how Eric saves his harshest reviews for those places into which he has never actually set foot 😉
Alex, probably not and to be fair, my comments are mainly based on surface observations. But then again architecture and design, menus, and service quality reviews go into play when a newcomer investigates establishments. They have to be appealing to the eye first to draw in customers and only then can their food be judged. I have certain expectations when it comes to dining. I lean more towards formal settings and traditional foods.
I am with one person above when it comes to not hearing anything about the restaurant. Have they won any awards or gotten any accolades? Just curious.
I am sure the food is good at Metzger’s but it is more of a “trendy” place for hipsters which I am far from it. I represent an older generation and maybe I am living a bit in the past and resist change… yet I am comfortable with my convictions.
It’s so nice to read good things about the current Patrick Henry’s. I have some wonderful memories of that place. I just looked at the menu on line, and it looks really good. We’ll have to check it out again!
Patrick Henry’s is perfect the way it is. Great beer on tap, friendly bartenders, and always accommodating when I’m irritating and want to change my sandwich to a wrap. Burger Night is legit, too.
Lovely Acapellas was my first date with my future husband. But PH is a personal favorite – even with all the new fantastic restaurants sprouting up – Metzger’s, Union Market, et cetera.
Eric, have you tried green eggs and ham?
I’m with you Mandy C. Acappella’s has a special place in my heart too and I enjoyed the coziness of being able to eat a full meal downstairs with the fireplace going, lights low or off with only ambient lamp lights, and the old 1930s’ – 1940s music playing or the eclectic mix from different eras and genres. We had favorite waiters and the service was fast and the food fresh and hot. But as the ownership was changing there was a complete change and we were even treated so rudely once we walked out never to return. But friends wanted to try PH for lunch and not once but twice the service again was coarse, slow, and the food not so good along with small portions. Then the incident with the staff wanting the downstairs cleared of “diners” and forced them upstairs to eat which they did not want. It ruined the experience. I am not sure if lunch versus dinner makes a difference but it has always been lunch that the problems arise?
Eric,
Your persistent commentary (on the local food establishments that you’ve never tried) is just so ridiculous to me. Are you just a stodgy fella sitting around pining for the underwhelming dining experience of eating “traditional” German fare in a dark, dingy basement while staring at a burning Duraflame log, and spewing: “I lean more towards formal settings…”?
Dear older, wiser neighbor, please don’t knock it until you try it (the food that is…)