February 19, 2008
A Richmond couple yesterday had the standard conversation many local residents have about how shockingly high-priced French restaurant 1 North Belmont is, despite an outward appearance that suggests otherwise.
“I couldn’t believe it when my friend told me that it’s like $75 or a hundred bucks a plate,” Daniel Cox, a Museum District resident, told his wife as they as they passed the plain-looking, beige-colored restaurant, driving westbound on Ellwood Avenue to the nearby Blockbuster Video.
“I would have sworn that with a sign in front that has a frog prince on it, the place was a child’s daycare,” Cox said, echoing the thoughts of many local residents who are unaware that the lavish 1 North Belmont has earned the Wine Spectators Award of Excellence in 2006 and 2007. “Can’t believe it’s that expensive,” he repeated.
Cox said his wife, Catherine, was “bowled over” at the revelation of such exorbitant fare.
“That place?” Cox said she responded while pointing out the passenger-side window, eliciting the normal reaction to the 1 North Belmont plushness recognition. “You’ve got to be kidding me. It’s a restaurant? Shut up, seriously?”
For approximately 45 more overwhelming seconds, Cox said the couple discussed how they would maybe eat at the AAA-rated four-star restaurant on “an extremely special occasion,” and that neither had ever really tried French food that they could remember.
By the time the couple’s Nissan Pathfinder arrived at the Ellwood intersection at Nansemond Street, Cox said he could recall trying escargot when he was younger, “but that’s it.”
“I just can’t believe that place is so pricey, because it’s not like we hear a ton about it,” Cox said, while his wife, making an an everyday comment regarding the establishment, noted that the neighborhood around 1 North Belmont “isn’t really what you’d think” would contain the location of the city’s most-heralded eatery.
Moments later, the couple’s thoughts had drifted on to what movie to rent upon arrival at the video store, though less than a mile away two other city residents had just begun conversing over the astonishingly high prices at the restaurant, and how the place looks more like a book store or something.
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Hadn’t thought seriously about the Frog Prince but did think it looked a little – ummmmm – well “odd”. Child care facility indeed!
Hadn’t thought seriously about the Frog Prince but did think it looked a little – ummmmm – well “odd”. Child care facility indeed!
Hadn’t thought seriously about the Frog Prince but did think it looked a little – ummmmm – well “odd”. Child care facility indeed!
Hadn’t thought seriously about the Frog Prince but did think it looked a little – ummmmm – well “odd”. Child care facility indeed!
Hadn’t thought seriously about the Frog Prince but did think it looked a little – ummmmm – well “odd”. Child care facility indeed!
Hadn’t thought seriously about the Frog Prince but did think it looked a little – ummmmm – well “odd”. Child care facility indeed!
Hadn’t thought seriously about the Frog Prince but did think it looked a little – ummmmm – well “odd”. Child care facility indeed!
sooooo overrated……
I was just there tonight actually. You can get a large salad for $12 and there are three entrees for $35. It’s definitely not as expensive as this couple thinks. Also, wouldn’t you expect the BEST restaurant in the city to be among the most expensive?
it is the best place in richmond by far. these people who leave these silly comments have no idea what the place is all about and don’t belong there.
Anonymous,
I totally agree! What is even more amazing is that a reporter was in their car to capture everything that was said! How does TA get such stories????
silly people thinking its a day care. what a bunch of buffoons. its like this story was satire or something.
when has anything food related cost $100? Answer is never. Seriously, these people are talking from mere rumor or imagination. Even the $75 tag is ridiculous. Did the person who wrote this “article” oh I don’t know, do any “investigative journalism” or did their head hit the keyboard and they were done?
Average per plate including drinks there was abt $100. The fact that most people in richmond thought exactly what this article says about the resturant is why it whent under. Not entirely surprising.