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    Essential Express

    2.5 (2 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

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    Garnett's Café - Smoked Salmon Plate

    Garnett's Café

    4.4(403 reviews)
    2.1 miThe Fan
    $

    Garnett's is a hidden gem in the heart of the Fan. I made the (very incorrect) assumption that I…read morewouldn't be able to eat here as someone with Celiac. I am soooo sad I missed years of delicious gluten free food! Gluten free sandwiches are prepared with GF bread using a separate toaster and appropriate safety procedures if you tell them it's an allergy or restriction. They also bring in GF pie and cake daily from a local bakery. Their food portions are generous while also being reasonably priced. They also offer the option of taking your meal in a borrowed picnic basket so you can have a picnic in the park across the street on nice days.

    A Richmond staple and hidden gem - I had been recommended this spot for a while, and wish it didn't…read moretake me so long to try this because this place is the best! Grabbing a sandwich here for a relaxing picnic at the park in-front is one of my favorite things to do :) --------------------------------- Food: various warm and cold sandwiches, the haberdasher is my go-to - it's a smoked salmon sandwich with benedictine spread/tomatoes, the bread to smoked salmon ratio is so good, and it comes with a side (I like the coleslaw or salad); we've also tried the big daddy which is quite a big sandwich (can be 2 meals) Recommendations: they have a $35 date night special Affordability: less than $20/meal which is great in this economy Ambiance: charming corner cafe that transports you back in time Service: good, they do get very busy and often run out of picnic baskets Good for: casual lunch, local eats

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    Garnett's Café
    Garnett's Café - Homemade Cake

    Homemade Cake

    Garnett's Café - Storefront

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    Storefront

    Buttermilk and Honey - It's a Wrap with Fries

    Buttermilk and Honey

    4.0(199 reviews)
    0.5 miDowntown
    $$

    I was pleasantly surprised after reading the reviews and coming in with lower expectations. To be…read moreclear, the 4 stars is based on the type of restaurant. It is fast casual - you order at the kiosk and grab a place to eat, listening for your number and/or text to alert you the food is ready. We arrived about 6pm on a Saturday night. It was busy and I grabbed one of the last two tables. It got very busy shortly after we placed our orders. The dining area is pretty big with plenty of bar seating around the windows. While we all ordered one after the other, our food didn't come out that way. Most of the food came out in about 25-30 minutes. The chicken was cooked perfectly. Juicy! Two people got tenders and three of us got sandwiches. The OG sandwich was very good, just messy! I ended up using a fork and knife bc it got too messy. The Mac and cheese was made with pimento cheese and was very good. My friend who got the fried green tomatoes said they were delicious and filling. Lots of goodies on top. Two friends enjoyed the collards. The only person who was underwhelmed was the person who got the Asian sandwich. Overall, if I wanted a good chicken sandwich and a Buttermilk and Honey was nearby, I'd place an order.

    Parking in downtown is usually a pain. We had to circle the block a few times to get a spot on…read moreThursday night around 19:45. We walked in to find the staff bustling, cooking, and prepping orders, and the smell of some delicious fried chicken in the air. I saw the kiosks and was not too thrilled with the Wawa experience, but we gave it a shot anyway, since fried chicken is one of our favorites. The process was simple and allowed us to add or remove anything we could want, so that was nice. While walking to find a seat, we saw a person panhandling in the dining area, but the staff promptly removed him from the premises. I ordered us the Pimento Cheese Balls for an appetizer, and I chose the Fried Chicken and French Toast as my entree because I always try the "chicken and waffles" at every establishment that offers it. My partner ordered the OG Chicken Sandwich without tomato, and it came with crinkle-cut fries. It was about $40. The chef proclaimed our order was ready in quick succession, maybe three orders behind the guests before us. We waited about ten minutes, maybe fifteen at most. We picked up the orders from the counter, and there was a mix-up on the syrup, but the chef promptly rectified the situation. He was a no-nonsense kind of guy; straight to the point. He seemed firm, yet kind. It was clear the day had been a busy one; he even told us as much, which was great to hear (busy = fantastic food). The French toast squares looked like rye or pumpernickel, and they emitted a sweet aroma, a delightful hit of cinnamon and brown sugar. I drizzled the caramel syrup on my chicken and toast, sliced a piece, and paired a bite of chicken with the toast. I closed my eyes to savor the flavors: the toast was crunchy and almost gooey (yet, not overly so), the chicken was crunchy, the sweet cinnamon-y flavors from the toast, the caramel from the syrup, and the tender, moist chicken were a match made in culinary art. I cannot sufficiently describe the French toast in a way that would do it justice; it was crunchy and semi-gooey, and all scrumptious. I can only say it was the single best French toast that I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Next, I tried the fried pimento cheese balls. Oh my. If you like mozzarella sticks, try these. I adored them: elevated fried cheese, for real. My partner enjoyed her sandwich as well; she ate everything except some of her fries. I saved half of my chicken and toast for today because I am like a treasure golem when it comes to delicious leftovers. I am going to air-fry the chicken and skillet-heat the toast back to its original goodness. I told the cooks that that was the best French toast that I have ever had, and I mean it. Do yourself a favor and try it if you're into French toast. This one is the GOAT. Side note: I spoke with the head chef outside, and he is from another branch (possibly Henrico?) to whip this location back into shape. Two words: "Nailed it."

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    Buttermilk and Honey - Inside

    Inside

    Buttermilk and Honey - Chicken Tenders + Fries

    Chicken Tenders + Fries

    Buttermilk and Honey - Wonderful place!!

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    Wonderful place!!

    Essential Express - convenience - Updated May 2026

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