Galley restaurant in Stratford Hills to open Monday
Richmond Magazine.com has news that made my mouth water.
C&M Galley Kitchen, the new venture by Manny Mendez and Chris DiLauro is set to open Monday in Stratford Hills “whether we’re ready or not,” says Mendez, who is also a partner in Kuba Kuba, while DiLauro owns Bacchus.
The restaurant is at 2805 Hathaway Road, formerly home to the Stratford Grill, which had been around since the late 1950s, Mendez says.
DiLauro, who lives down the street from there, noticed a “for rent” sign in the window and inquired about it, then talked to restaurateur Johnny Giavos, who put him in touch with Mendez. “Next thing you know, Chris and I are partners,” says Mendez, adding that Giavos is their “not-so-silent partner — and friend.”
Great news.
I can’t wait!!!
Yay! Looking forward to it.
They’ve got 12 taps for craft beer. Huzzah!
Two of my favorite people in the world, Chris & Manny, moving to the neighborhood. I could not be happier about this.
yippee!!!
Super excited to check this place out! With this kind of culinary talent it is sure to be fantastic. Promise to blog when I get there.
Hoping there will be good daily happy hour specials
awwwfullll service and rude!!! and cold food tonight! It took them 90 minutes to make a grilled cheese for my son!
[...] is some info from Hills and Heights which was originally from Richmond Magazine. Share this:Like this:LikeBe the first to like [...]
Has anyone one been yet?
I went last night for a couple of drinks and appetizer. Great space, very resonably priced menu. Top priced item was ~$15 (excluding the specials which were $20). The food looked good coming out of the kitchen. Obviously working through kinks on the 1st night (taps weren’t terribly cold, and there seemed to be a pressure issue on the taps as the first pour was very foamy). Definitely will give it a try later. My favorite part was when a guy strolled in and asked for a Coors Light. The bartender politely said, “I’m sorry sir, we don’t have Coors Light.” The man angrily huffed, “I see, trying to keep us red necks out of this place.” Then he walked next door to Rock Falls :)
Feels like a great addition to the shopping center and area.
Do not judge the Galley during the first few weeks. Shakeout takes time. Peter Chang was awful for the first month, until they resolved service issues. By Christmas, we’re looking forward to great things, which we need desperately in this neighborhood.
I am thrilled so far!
From my Yelp review:
“Extremely pleased with Galley, the newest restaurant in the Stratford Hills area. Offerring a diverse menu – there is something here to please everyone. Subs, salads, burgers, pasta, paella – and yes, cuban roast pork and cuban sandwiches. I’ve been only once- opening night no less, and am extremely pleased. One might expect snafus on the very first (extremely busy)night – but our experience was flawless. Staff were graceful and professional. The atmosphere is warm and lively. Prices are affordable but nothing feels “cheap”. I can’t wait to return many times.
We had – chicken and seafood paella, and fish tacos with a side of onion rings. Both delicious. Paella was flavorful with lots of shrimp and mussels, and a roasted half breast of chicken. Fish tacos had grilled mahi mahi and guacamole with Oaxacan hot sauce, served with black beans and brown rice. If you need more spice on anything, the ubiquitous bottles of beloved Sriracha sauce grace the tables.”
I hope this is the start of a renaissance for the Stratford hills shopping center. Now I wish for: Crossroads to open a satellite coffee house up there :)
Went with a group last night too, the food was delish and the atmosphere is very laid back, the prices were very reasonable too! I agree, there are always a few kinks when a place first opens, but I will be back for sure. Can’t wait to try some lunch items and of course brunch…hmm maybe this weekend.
I had a great experience @ Galley. Staff and kitchen kept up well considering the onslaught. Food was great and very reasonably priced, and I am picky. YAY! am so excited to have this great new place in the hood. And it is cute. Our waitress Erin was great!
Love it! Got the duck, it was amazing! Service was wonderful and reasonably fast for how crazy busy it was! So happy.
Went to Galley on 10/23 and loved it! Got the duck prosciutto sub with the apple coleslaw — FANTASTIC. Loved the selection of craft beers on tap too. So glad to have them in the ‘hood!
My family had a great experience there last night. I recommend it.
So no Coors Light…. any other reviews of the beer menu?
Ate there tonight. Excellent. Try it We have a fan restaurant in Stratford Hills. Outside seating and very good food.
Hey Dave,
The beer list is great if you dig microbrews. They have about 8-12 drafts and a healthy bottle list with lots of VA breweries like Williamsburg alewerks, Devil’s Backbone, Wild Wolf and of course local faves, Hardywood. They also had a couple of Allagash and Ommegang choices as well. Beerheads will be pleased.
So happy to have a new neighborhood restaurant!
I tried to google this for a phone number/ menu with no luck. Do they have a happy hour? Are they only open for dinner? I look forward to trying it out in the bear future:)
Meh…I’ll give them another try later but my Lentil burger tasted like horse feed and my dates Pesto Chicken was bland as hell according to her. (I’m vegetarian.) Manny was cooking so I dunno if it was just an off thing but it wasn’t very good but reasonably priced and far superior to most selections on southbank.
Based upon our first visit on Sunday I would give it 9/10 for ambience, 8/10 for service and 5/10 for food. We ordered the pork entree (which is the same as Kuba Kuba minus the plantains) and thought the pork was ok but the rice and beans were bland. Manny was cooking so I’m not sure why it was not up to Kuba Kuba standards. Also got the B.A.L.P. sandwich and thought it lacked flavor and was way too “bready”. Definitely give it another chance in a couple weeks because I loved the layout and bar, but they need to step up their game food wise.
Atmosphere- good, wait staff – decent, food- missed the mark a bit. Under seasoned and vegetarian options we sampled were lacking. The Lentil burger was a total miss, bland and terrible bread. Decent beer menu. Expected a lot more from the food from theses guys and hope it gets better. If they are reading this …please step up your game for the large number of south side vegetarians (yes there are many of us here). I live within walking distance so i will be try again and happy to see they have breakfast offerings as well.
I agree with Keith and Willis, I’d like to see more vegetarian/vegan options and even some vegetarian specials. I had the lentil burger on opening night and mine was good but the two other veggie meals I had could have used a little more spice. Maybe add some garlic to the vegetarian paella? The avocado and roasted red pepper sandwich was good but also would be better with a little more spice, maybe a spicy sauce on it would work. I’d love to see some items with tofu, tempeh or jackfruit. It would also be good if they added tostones to the menu too sometime:)
Are you open for luch?
We loved the atmosphere and beer but the food was awful…I mean really tasteless. It tasted like a microwave meal and wasn’t prompt. We were hoping for a great stomping grounds here, no dice
Sorry to hear about your experience, Riley. I went recently for lunch. Each at my table of 4 ordered different meals, and all thoroughly enjoyed it. Service was very timely for the business hour lunch.
The Galley is not a Class A restaurant. But it is a solid B. I go about once a week, and I would not do that if it were not good food, good service and a reasonable price.
Riley, I’d definitely give it another try. I love their enormous salads and you can’t go wrong with their pressed cuban. Everything I’ve had has always been really fresh, you must have hit it on an off night.
Wow. Beer is my thing and they let me taste before I ordered (as I can never remember what I like) with no attitude! The food was incredible. I got half of the cuban, a taste of the Paella which is huge and delicious, and one of the fish tacos. Heaven! Service-Great attitudes and the place was hopping! I’ll come all the way from the far west end and go back often.
This was our 2ed trip to the GALLEY after a dismal 1st visit I persuaded my wife to try it again – give them a chance — big mistake! We walked in on a Friday night, 20 min wait you can try to stand at the bar, 50 min later no table for two, we ordered calamari at the bar, waited another 30 min then a small table outside came up. Went outside after I paid for the drinks and calamari at the bar — still hadn’t arrived by the time the waitress came out — we ordered dinner, myself an item off the all day breakfast and my wife the NY Strip — my dinner came – 20 min later a totally different waitress show up with a dinner with some type of steak on it covers with a white sauce, potatoes and my wife’s worse nightmare Brussels sprouts. They tried to sell her on this dish – the one she ordered was taken to another table and this one was the one left behind. My wife said no – we asked what could be done quickly and a chicken sandwich was ordered. I finished my dinner, slowly drank my drink — no chicken sandwich – no managers, no owners nobody – so I went to the wait station and said I’m done, let me have the tab we are leaving —- finally an owner came up and said he would take the steak off the check – great – we never got a steak at all – my wife hasn’t eaten – then he got defensive and angry and said take the chicken sandwich with you– no we are leaving let me have the check we have been here for almost two hours now – he walked away and said no charge – he should have said more but seems to be a little hot headed. I put fifty bucks on the counter for my breakfast food ( 9pm) and two beers and left. I’m not a hypocrite I will pay (over pay) but I will tell the story – there are too any good places to eat in Richmond – don’t go near this place — my wife got a chick-fil-a salad for when we got home – the peach shake helped – do not support a place like this –
I’d like to take your review seriously, but i havent had a bad experience yet there. Until i do i will continue to go and support them.
You really should go during a slower time, i don’t touch the place on busy/packed nights.
I was there on Friday night with 4 friends. EVERYONE was happy with their food, their drinks and the service. This is our 3rd visit and we will continue to go there.
I go about once ever 2-3 weeks, for lunch, and have never been unsatisfied. Sorry for the bad experience the gentleman had.