Maria and Mike Oseguera recently launched Lucca Enoteca Pizzeria on East Grace Street. Photos by Michael Thompson.
Two new arrivals to the downtown and VCU restaurant scenes are up and running.
Lucca Enoteca Pizzeria opened Jan. 8 at 525 E. Grace St. on the ground floor of the Berry Burk building near CenterStage. It replaces the 525 at The Berry Burk, which closed in 2014.
The new Italian restaurant is owned by Mike and Maria Oseguera, who also own Maya Mexican Grill and Tequileria in Short Pump. Lucca Enoteca is open only for dinner service for now but will eventually add lunch.
Mike Oseguera said the opening has gone well and has been helped by the number of restaurants along East Grace Street.
“We’re trying to establish the brand and market it to the area,” he said. “I think the restaurant row that’s come up there has become very exciting.”
Paulo Benavides
That stretch of East Grace Street is now home Pop’s Market, Julep’s, Rappahannock, Perly’s and Pasture. At least two other restaurants are in the works in the surrounding blocks.
J.A. Heisler did the construction on the space, and Johannas Design Group was the architect.
Diners might notice that Lucca is currently using white tablecloths, but Oseguera has plans to get rid of them once new tables come in.
“I definitely would want to be more toward somewhere you could stop in after work,” he said.
Further west in the heart of VCU, another new restaurant is looking to cater to diners in search of a bite after class.
Hibachi Box opened Jan. 4 at 411 N. Harrison St. in an old Stuffy’s sub shop underneath Edo’s Squid.
Hibachi Box serves fast-casual Japanese fare for lunch and dinner. It is owned by Paulo and Nelson Benavides, brothers who also own Pepe’s at 9550 Midlothian Turnpike.
Paulo Benavides said it took some time transitioning the space from a full-service restaurant to a fast-casual spot.
“The goal is simplicity,” he said. “We had everything pretty standardized. We’ve been making food super quick.”
The Benavides brothers did much of the build-out and design of Hibachi Box themselves. Integrity Construction did some of the construction, and artist Curtis Lane did some of the interior art.
Hibachi Box’s nearby competition includes Christian’s Pizza, Lapple and Shawarma Shack.
Benavides said he hopes to continue the momentum of Hibachi’s opening.
“We’re trying to build on word of mouth,” he said. “We’d like to be level-headed and humble about the place.”
Maria and Mike Oseguera recently launched Lucca Enoteca Pizzeria on East Grace Street. Photos by Michael Thompson.
Two new arrivals to the downtown and VCU restaurant scenes are up and running.
Lucca Enoteca Pizzeria opened Jan. 8 at 525 E. Grace St. on the ground floor of the Berry Burk building near CenterStage. It replaces the 525 at The Berry Burk, which closed in 2014.
The new Italian restaurant is owned by Mike and Maria Oseguera, who also own Maya Mexican Grill and Tequileria in Short Pump. Lucca Enoteca is open only for dinner service for now but will eventually add lunch.
Mike Oseguera said the opening has gone well and has been helped by the number of restaurants along East Grace Street.
“We’re trying to establish the brand and market it to the area,” he said. “I think the restaurant row that’s come up there has become very exciting.”
Paulo Benavides
That stretch of East Grace Street is now home Pop’s Market, Julep’s, Rappahannock, Perly’s and Pasture. At least two other restaurants are in the works in the surrounding blocks.
J.A. Heisler did the construction on the space, and Johannas Design Group was the architect.
Diners might notice that Lucca is currently using white tablecloths, but Oseguera has plans to get rid of them once new tables come in.
“I definitely would want to be more toward somewhere you could stop in after work,” he said.
Further west in the heart of VCU, another new restaurant is looking to cater to diners in search of a bite after class.
Hibachi Box opened Jan. 4 at 411 N. Harrison St. in an old Stuffy’s sub shop underneath Edo’s Squid.
Hibachi Box serves fast-casual Japanese fare for lunch and dinner. It is owned by Paulo and Nelson Benavides, brothers who also own Pepe’s at 9550 Midlothian Turnpike.
Paulo Benavides said it took some time transitioning the space from a full-service restaurant to a fast-casual spot.
“The goal is simplicity,” he said. “We had everything pretty standardized. We’ve been making food super quick.”
The Benavides brothers did much of the build-out and design of Hibachi Box themselves. Integrity Construction did some of the construction, and artist Curtis Lane did some of the interior art.
Hibachi Box’s nearby competition includes Christian’s Pizza, Lapple and Shawarma Shack.
Benavides said he hopes to continue the momentum of Hibachi’s opening.
“We’re trying to build on word of mouth,” he said. “We’d like to be level-headed and humble about the place.”