Verde: Fresh Food To Go
April 30, 2009 - 11:49 am
By Kamen Gordon
Verde opened their doors for business in the Summit of West Broad shopping center about a month ago. They are tucked around the side of the building, opposite Panera and just across the entrance road from Chipotle. Looking for something a little different, we gave the promise of fresh food a chance. Verde feels a little bit like a city deli (in a good way), with it’s glass food cases and drink cases, but it also has a touch of lounge thrown in. They have a swanky lounge area and some additional seating, so even though their tag line is ” Fresh Food To Go,” you don’t have to eat in the car if you have no where “to go”.
On the first visit I had the Chicken Pesto Panini and my wife chose the Curry Chicken Salad in a wrap. All sandwiches come with a bag of chips and unlike your standard Subway fare, you have your choice from a much more interesting selection. I definitely suggest trying Stacy’s Pita Chips if you have never had them. I like the Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips. The Curry Chicken Salad was really tasty and indeed fresh. The Pesto Chicken Panini was definitely good. So good, in fact, that I had another for dinner later that week. I really like the bread they use for their panini sandwiches. There were flax seeds baked into the bread and, unlike many places that offer panini sandwiches, even after being heated the bread remained soft and enjoyable.
Something unique and unexpected about Verde is that they also offer wine and beer. Stop by on a Wednesday or Friday night for their free wine tasting. I am not much of a wine connoisseur, but I did notice that they carry Toscolo Chianti, which is not very easy to find in Richmond and is one of my favorites. You’re also getting a very good deal on it at $12.99 a bottle. Verde offers you a chance at getting some wisely chosen wine at a reasonable price. They also have a small, but very decent selection of single beers.
I think Verde is a welcome addition to the Short Pump area offering a healthy and fresh alternative to the norm everyone is used to.
UPDATE: Verde Fresh Food has their website up. Check it out at www.verdefreshfood.com
Thanks for the article! I think I just found my new fav. lunch spot! I also had the chicken pesto panini and it is AMAZING! Not to mention they deliver, so now my whole office can enjoy it!
Does verde have a website?
Ate there for lunch, and will definately be going back, great grilled pear and goatcheese salad, and a fantastic organic wine selection. Good vibe and an owner with great wine knowledge….will be back.
Great lunch spot, its a swanky deli with an outstanding wine selection and great food. I really enjoyed the pasta salad with sundried tomato and pinenuts. Will be back for the Fri. night wine tasting.
Love this place! I’ve been 3 times in one week. The grilled pear salad is A-MAZING!! Also really like the grilled veggie panini and the chicken pesto panini. I just wish they had a sign out on broad so other people could find them. Keep spreading the word for them!
I would like to see a copy of the menu.
I would like to see a menu.
I could not agree more! I absolutely love this place. My husband & I have been twice for dinner. Both times we went on Friday nights & enjoyed the free wine tastings. The wine was so great that we ended up buying a bottle both times. I’ve had the chicken pesto panini & the Italian panini. Both were outstanding. Very fresh and perfectly made. The service is very friendly and accommodating. The last time we went we took a friend who was visiting from Roanoke. We had the bottle of wine that we bought with dinner & she was very impressed with Verde too. I would definitely recommend Verde to anyone!!