Tastebuds American Bistro, Richmond

Originally founded as a catering business, Tastebuds American Bistro has blossomed into a 40-seat restaurant brimming with contemporary and creative dishes. Menus revolve around seasonal produce: recent autumnal dinners have featured roasted squash and brussels sprouts alongside truffle-scented mac and cheese, as well as a raisin-and-pumpkin-seed salsa ladled over pan-seared jumbo scallops. The kitchen also greets every Sunday with creative brunches of potato cakes and smoked salmon, and hosts five- to six-course wine tasting dinners that focus on the wines, cuisines, and naval ensigns of individual countries.