The 3S's

Its not like some restaurants around need validation; but continuing on the recent national press RVA (dining) has been getting, the WaPo had this piece on 3 outliers of the restaurant scene,  calling them "surprising, seasonal and sophisticated".
Being a huge fan of Tom Sietsema (the WaPo food critic), I wanted to share, with a minor dissent on the "surprising". In summary:
Dutch & Company - ★★½
The Roosevelt - ★★
Rappahannock - ★★

Also, a quick thanks for his usual quantitative evaluation of the sound levels. 
Dutch &  Company - 80 dB
The Roosevelt -77 dB

Rappahannock -80 dB
(at these levels, one "must speak with a raised voice". )

Roasted chicken

Easily the best roast chicken we've had anywhere. @ Zuni Café SF.

This legendary recipe is peppered over the interwebs. We like this version @ the smitten kitchen blog adapted from the ZC book.

Pancetta Rorschach

Projections from the Belmont Butchery!