On Broad Street, across the parking lot from Sabai, you might see a little white unassuming building with sultry red tones radiating from the window — is it even open?
A step into the little alcove and a peek through the front door reveals curvy, retro wooden decor, a wall of albums and big speakers, and a spotlighted bar.
Have you stumbled into a portal to a trendy bar in Portland? Nope, you’re at Fanboy, Richmond’s new cocktail bar, global small-plate restaurant and listening lounge (2713 W. Broad St.)
Fanboy is the creation of Brandon Pearson, co-owner of Sabai, and a partner. The restaurant has undergone a massive renovation from its pre-pandemic identity as Temple Laotian restaurant with a sleek, modern vibe that stands out from Richmond’s many restaurants that draw on the historic nature of the city and buildings.
Cocktails take center stage, literally with the well-lit bar that contrasts with the moody red lighting. We started with the Onlyfans Martini, a riff on the classic Porn Star Martini ($14), featuring Haku vodka, Passoa passionfruit liquor, passion fruit puree, vanilla bean and prosecco foam. One taste of this tart, frothy and balanced cocktail had every other diner at my table ordering one.
Other standouts include a BBQ Old Fashioned ($14) made with bacon-fat-washed Old Forester bourbon and garnished with candied bacon in a smoked glass; a PSM (pumpkin spice martini, $14) featuring tequila, pumpkin puree, apple cider reduction, Grand Marnier, lime super juice, fall spices and coconut salted foam; and a Hot Champurrado featuring mezcal, Montenegro Amaro, Mexican chocolate, carob, toasted oat milk, cinnamon, vanilla, demerara sugar and masa harina, a corn flour that’s used to make a traditional Mexican beverage called atole. Four of the cocktails can be made without booze as well.
There’s also a selection of 50/50 shots — as the name implies, these libations are made by mixing two spirits, often one spirit and one amaro or two amaros, together. They can be downed like your traditional shot or sipped. We suggest you try the Ferrari ($9) that blends the famously bitter, herbaceous digestive Fernet Branca with the bitter, citrusy and spicy aperitif Campari. Somehow the contrasting ingredients combine to take the edge of each other, making for a citrusy, minty sip. Beer, wine, sake, sherry and vermouth are also available by the glass.
The food selection is small-plate heavy with a focus on house-made dishes and global flavors. Tikka Masala Dip ($15) is a showstopper. A ramekin split down the middle by a piece of fried garlic butter naan features creamy, comforting tomato curry with pulled chicken on one side and a cooling cucumber yogurt sauce on the other. The dish is served with more decadent fried garlic butter naan for dipping, and expect to fight with your table over who gets the last piece.
Lamb lollipops ($22) were cooked to a lovely medium and served with an aromatic cilantro-mint chutney. Burrata ($15) is a simple taste of fall with honey poached apples, pomegranate seeds, cider reduction, basil and crostini. The shrimp cocktail ($12) is an eye-catcher, served with dry ice for a smoky appearance.
If you’re looking for something heartier, choose from one of three sandwiches. The Mushroom “Cheesesteak” ($15) arrived piled high with savory sauteed maitake mushrooms and caramelized onions, then drizzled with three-cheese fondue and served on a soft Flour Garden Bakery torpedo roll.
The Fried Chicken Sandwich ($16) has already become the talk of the town with a tender, buttermilk-brined, fried chicken thigh topped with hot honey, Thai basil aioli and house-made dill pickles served on a pretzel bun.
And for an elevated spin on a classic, the Double Cheeseburger ($16) features smash-burger-style local Seven Hills beef topped with New School small-batch American cheese, caramelized onions, butter lettuce, tomatoes and a zesty “Fanboy” sauce, all served on a Flour Garden Bakery potato bun.
Fanboy also hosts disc jockeys on certain evenings. The restaurant/lounge is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to midnight, Fridays from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Reservations can be made at fanboyrichmond.com.
Richmond area restaurants that opened in 2023
Farm + Oak
Floris
Session
Nuevo Mexico #2 sign
Carytown Indian Cuisine
Wishbone Food Shop
Fanboy
Echelon Urban Wine Bar
Sincero
Dumpling & Noodle Cart
And Dim Sum
Bonchon
Juan More Taco
Maple Street Biscuit Company
Harry's At Hofheimer
Intermission Beer Co.
Hot Pot 757
Gold Lion Community Cafe
Honey Baked Bee
OMG OCPs
Gramophone
Basically Halal
Rams House Bar + Kitchen
Tequila Sunrise Mexican Kitchen & Cantina
Reviresco Coffee Co.
Red Hibachi & Beer
Torchy's Tacos Midlothian
Burtons Grill & Bar
Ellie's Hot Dogs & Ice Cream
Click A Wine Spot
Smashed RVA
Shake Shack
Luxe New American Bar & Grill
Slurp!
Slay Burgers
Mariscos Mazatlan
Eggs Up Grill
Seafood Palace VA
A Taste of Nostalgia
88 Street Food
Acacia Midtown
Odyssey
Lost Letter RVA
Stanley's
Hibachi House
Main St. Dragon
Nokoribi
Revel Market & Bar
Genova’s Pizza Station & Take Out Kitchen
Brick House Diner
Mayu Sushi & Thai
Boiling Crab Richmond
Torchy's Tacos
Raising Cane's
ChefSuite
BigWife's
La Fogata
Grit Coffee
The Brass Tap
Penny's Wine Shop
A.M. Kitchen Company
Verseau Bistro
Chic'n & Beer
Bar West
Sidecar Cocktail Lounge
Soul N’ Vinegar
Wong's Tacos
Elegant Cuizines
Rio Grande Tex-Mex Grill
Mi Casita Restaurant
Blue Cow Ice Cream Co.
Diablo Doughnuts RVA
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
Megan Marconyak has been devouring every fresh flavor she can find and capturing it in writing for over 15 years. Drool along with her dining adventures, and send her your #RVADine tips on Instagram, @MeganMarcoStyle.
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Fanboy, Richmond’s new cocktail bar, global small-plate restaurant and listening lounge at 2713 W. Broad St., features a wall of albums and big speakers. Fanboy hosts disc jockeys on certain evenings.
Fanboy has curvy, retro wooden decor and a spotlighted bar. The restaurant/lounge is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to midnight, Fridays from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m.
At Fanboy, cocktails take center stage, such as the Onlyfans Martini, a riff on the classic Porn Star Martini ($14), featuring Haku vodka, Passoa passionfruit liquor, passion fruit puree, vanilla bean and prosecco foam.