dinamo

821 W Cary St, Richmond, VA

I like a spot that is understated structurally, but when it comes to the ingredients and execution, it's phenomenal. When a menu is very simple, I'm intrigued, because it tells me that everything was thoughtfully selected and that the kitchen has a certain rhythm in how they prepare the dishes.

Dinamo is the food snob's answer to Edo's. Edo's is tucked away in a neat location, upstairs of an unassuming building. Dinamo is also tucked away, mixed into the college scene that envelops this part of Cary Street. I absolutely love gnocchi and was thrilled when I saw that the sauce for this dish was ramp-forward (perfect for spring). We also got a massive beet/fennel salad, topped with feta. There are a number of good options for Italian in Richmond, and I would rank Dinamo pretty high on the list. The service was great, as all staff maintained a polite yet chill aura. It fills up rather quickly inside, and when we arrived, there was already a line waiting for the doors to open. The best way to top off a date night is with dessert, and the mini cannolis were a literal treat. There was not a bad dish, so go get your fix.