Reviews

Richmond Magazine — August 2002 15th Annual Best & Worst: Most underrated restaurant "After more than two years of quietly serving up quality, this intimate Fan restaurant takes the top-dog position in the underrated category. This summer, check out the Creole bowtie pasta, served with your choice of shrimp or two kinds of sausage. Choose from daily specials that include seafood dishes, a vegetarian plate and Max's carnivore special — a meat-lovers' offering named after owner Barry Pruitt's dog."

Citysearch for Richmond — (undated) The Scene "Step down into this renovated shoebox-sized Fan restaurant for an evening of casual simplicity. Warm wooden booths, crisp white walls with oversize oil paintings sooth instead of overwhelm. Having the owner on premises at all times makes a difference. He sets the tone for superb, friendly service and provides that extra touch of attention that draws an appreciative professional crowd. The Food "Simplicity reigns. Penne pasta has four different versions and a big salad can be beefed up with shrimp, chicken or grilled sirloin. Nightly seafood specials and a vegetarian plate of the day are hits with regulars. The tamarind sauce on the smoked London Broil is anything but boring and the sides of mashed potatoes or macaroni and cheese add a comforting touch. Desserts are made in-house--bread pudding arrived steaming hot and surrounded by a pool of caramel sauce with a jagged wedge of homemade Peanut Brittle jutting from the top."

Richmond Times-Dispatch — December 20, 2001 "Restaurants have always periodically supported causes and held fund drives, but this year's restaurant efforts to support relief efforts after the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were exceptional." … "And a delightful local spin on the efforts was the contribution of the Fan's White Dog Restaurant & Pub, named after a dog, which gave 10 percent of its food sales for a week to the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation."

Restaurant.com — (undated) "Elegant without being pushy the White Dog has the right focus: The food, the atmosphere and the service. Why else would anyone eat out? The White Dog has the right focus: great food, atmosphere, and service make it the perfect place to meet for a drink or quiet conversation. The atmosphere is complemented by acoustic jazz intelligently DJ'd by the owner/bartender. This is just one of the characteristics that makes the experience at the White Dog feel like an elegant and upscale dinner party. The restaurant features an American regional menu enhanced by international accents, along with daily specials and inventive seafood specials. The menu is vast and eclectic, and a huge wine selection offers the perfect finishing touch. Notable menu selections include the Shrimp Linguine (with spinach, Portobello mushrooms, red onions and tomatoes, tossed in garlic and olive oil,) Grilled Pork Chops with Red Wine Tomato Sauce (served with vegetable and choice of potatoes or today’s side,) Black Angus New York Strip (with roasted garlic gravy, topped with gorgonzola cheese) and the Spicy Orange Shrimp and Vegetables (served over somen noodles). All this is served in a charming and casual pub atmosphere featuring paintings by the owner’s wife, Richmond based artist Roslyn. Subtle strains of Diana Krall, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and other great jazz vocalists enhance the dining experience. The restaurant is named for the owner’s dog, Max, an alumnus of the SPCA. The White Dog donates proceeds several times a year to the SPCA The National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, and other charities. No matter what the occasion calls for or your appetite demands, the friendly and professional staff at the White Dog looks forward to serving you soon."

Style Weekly — April 17, 2001 2001 Best of Richmond Food & Drink: Best New Restaurant "The White Dog is tiny. So it's kind of surprising that the basement restaurant received enough attention to make No. 1 in this category. Barry Pruitt and his wife, Roslyn, began serving dinner here on the corner of Main and Stafford streets in March 2000. "Named after Pruitt's dog Max, the White Dog makes for an intimate destination, a place to hear jazz over a bottle of red, in a dark, candlelit booth. Pruitt thinks they've done well because of the menu, too, which sticks with real restaurant food, as opposed to bar food. "It's entrees, not sandwiches, basically that's what it comes down to," Pruit says. Lamb chops instead of nachos."

RichmondGuide.com — (undated) "THE WHITE DOG voted “Best New Restaurant” in 2001. This warm and intimate Fan restaurant features an American regional menu enhanced by international accents and augmented by daily specials including two inventive seafood specials and a “Vegetarian Plate of the Day.” The food is the focus here. The full bar features ten draft beers and a well-chosen wine list. All this served in a charming and casual Pub atmosphere featuring paintings by the owner’s wife."

Punchline — June 29, 2000 "On the corner of Stafford and Main, across from a raucous watering hole, is a veritable haven called The White Dog. Although situated in an area that can boast at least two restaurants per block, the White Dog manages to set itself apart from the rest by serving an energetic mix of food and at least ten beers on tap." … "Filled with cozy booths, some that are ultra-private and only seat two, it's a good place to relax with a handful of friends." … "The menu is amazingly brief, but even though they offer under ten entrees (not including specials), they more than compensate with variety." … "The entrees were just as special as they claimed to be. The Salmon ($18) served in Pastry and topped with a Balsamic Reduction was delicious, but it could not compare to the Sea Bass ($17) which came with a Black Sesame Crust over Red Thai Slaw and was topped with a Ginger and Orange Glaze."

Style Weekly — May 30, 2000 "With its brief but varied menu, the new White Dog has a good chance for a long walk." … "The space, down a couple of steps from the sidewalk, looks freshly decorated, though it's still small and intimate, with tables in nooks, crannies and a back room." … The main courses number only a dozen but they cover a lot of territory for a variety of appetites."