The team at Longoven announced the expansion of their restaurant group with Lost Letter, a fresh concept taking over half of their lauded tasting menu space in the Scott’s Addition neighborhood of Richmond, Virginia. Opening tonight, Lost Letter is an easy Italian restaurant created by Owners Andrew Manning (Executive Chef), Megan Fitzroy Phelan (Executive Pastry Chef), and Patrick Phelan (General Manager). Located in the front dining room of Longoven, Lost Letter’s soft, candlelit atmosphere evokes a feeling of spending time in a rustic Italian home with a cozy banquette for intimate seating and warm drapery hung from the windows; on the year-round patio, guests are transported to the hillsides of Piemonte, surrounded by lush greenery.
Chef Andrew Manning lived and cooked abroad in Alba, Italy for over a decade— it’s this deep experience and knowledge of Italian cuisine that he brings to Lost Letter’s market-driven menu. In true Italian fashion, the menu will change frequently based on availability and seasonality, but it will always feature fresh pastas, roasted meats, and a variety of vegetable sides. Highlights from the opening menu include antipasti like Vitello Tonnato (Salt Roasted Beef, Tuna, Lemon, Caper), daily fresh pasta like Tajarin al Ragu (Knife-cut Tajarin Pasta with Piedmontese Ragu), main dishes such as Coniglio alla Langarola (Braised Rabbit with Mushroom and Parsley), and contorni, including Polenta al Forno and Carote al Burro e Salvia (Roasted Carrots with Sage).
After dinner, guests can enjoy Executive Pastry Chef Megan Fitzroy Phelan’s career standouts like a signature layered tiramisu and a triple-layer spumoni ice cream cake inspired by her much-celebrated dessert at Parm in New York City. At the bar, Jas Singh has created a focused cocktail menu showcasing amari-centric and classic Italian spirits, which complement the robust list of Italian wines thoughtfully selected by Sommelier Grayum Vickers.
Lost Letter is open Wednesday through Sunday for dinner service.
