Ramakin’s, 818 W. Broad St.
Students have few choices for breakfast at 2 a.m. when leaving a bar or the
library. But a new restaurant at the intersection of Laurel and Broad streets is
serving up hash browns, eggs and grits from 9 a.m. until 3 a.m. daily.
Ramakin’s, located where Taqueria Loco used to be at 818 W. Broad St., offers
unusual and classic sandwiches, soups, salads, vegetarian options and even
gluten-free, corn-based pancakes.
The venue offers a range of liquors, cocktails, beers, sodas, ice tea and coffee
with a happy hour from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Brenda Berson, a VCU graduate now working for VCU’s in-house advertising
department, dined at Ramakin’s for the first time last Monday evening. She was
pleasantly surprised by the low breakfast prices and was grateful to have an
eatery close to campus featuring breakfast all the time.
“821 (Café) stops serving breakfast at 5 p.m. and Fourth Street Diner is so
far away,” she said. “I like the location, intimacy and food options here. I had a
breakfast platter with coffee, eggs, sausage and toast. And it was delicious.”
Fourteen barstools line the windows and bar, making Ramakin’s a good place
to grab a snack, eat lunch alone or stop by for drinks with friends.
Unlike many other drinking holes in Richmond, the dining atmosphere is
casual with good lighting and non-intrusive music that permits conversation
with the waitress or other patrons.
After M. Javed Rajput’s first restaurant success – a pizza place in Shockoe
Bottom called Jay’s Pizza Place – he decided to open Ramakin’s.
As a former student, he saw a need to create a safe haven for students to hang out.
He enlisted the help of Maurice “Rice” Lewis, bartender and manager, and server
Diana Subkangulova, who helped open and now helps run the restaurant.
The three are a team, said Rajput, and though they came up with the restaurant
name as a play on words with VCU’s mascot, the ram, to cater to students, the
three want to extend the business to everyone. Lewis said the name also refers
to the little soufflé cup that is common for holding condiments like mayonnaise
in restaurants.
“It’s just a cute little name,” Rajput said.
Although the restaurant is still new and lacks some basic staples, such as cream
for coffee or a plastic-bound menu, the food is good, coffee is fresh and hot, the
service is stellar, and Rajput plans many additions to the menu, including Philly
cheesesteaks and quesadillas.
Other plans include gaining a permit from the city for patio dinning behind
the restaurant, a delivery driver for to-go orders, live music events and dining
specials. Ramakin’s has already joined fellow independent restaurants, such as
Nara and Sticky Rice, by hosting occasional music events and karaoke.
Prices range from $1 to $20 and portions are more than adequate, which is
perfect for students, or anyone, looking to eat heartily on a tight budget.