Karri here, freshly back from finally trying Bon Temps, the Creole-Caribbean restaurant that opened earlier this year in Bon Air.
Why it matters: While the bistro doesn’t have a “True Blood” theme (which feels like a missed opportunity, tbh), it’s serving up delicious cuisine, making it worthy of a trip.
State of play: Bon Temps opened in February in a little Food Lion-anchored strip mall on Buford Road.
- The restaurant is from Randy and Christine Boodram, who grew up on the Caribbean island of Trinidad, per Richmond Magazine.
- The couple brought Trinidadian cuisine to Richmond, first with their food truck, La Bete, and now with their brick-and-mortar.
On the menu: Handhelds like Po’boys and chicken or creole shrimp tacos ($15-$18) and entrees like shrimp ‘n’ grits, stewed oxtail and fish en papillote ($30-$40).
- Appetizers include pimento cheese beignets and Cantonese pepper shrimp ($12-$18).
- And the cocktail list is gloriously Caribbean-inspired with options like the soursop colada, frozen paloma and a lychee martini ($15-$18).
Zoom in: My dining pal and I shared the cheese beignets and ordered the fish en papillote and shrimp ‘n’ grits.
- The shrimp is served head-on — “a bold move for Chesterfield,” my friend noted, but I’m a city-dweller, so I peeled them off and moved on.
- Both dishes were delicious, packing flavor, a twinge of spice and a hint of sweetness.
The vibe: Laid back, inviting and clearly developing a stable of regulars who packed the bar…