Chef Andy Howell Leaving Café Rustica

Andy Howell is out of Café Rustica, but he’s not done with Richmond dining. Not yet, anyway.

By: Karri Peifer | Richmond.com
Published: March 29, 2011

If you know Richmond dining then you know Chef Andy Howell.

For years the restaurateur has been opening some of the area’s hottest restaurants in some of the … well, strangest parts of town.

He did it with Zeus Gallery Café in the Museum District; then Portabella in downtown Petersburg, Avenue 805 off of Broad in the Fan, and then most recently with Cafe Rustica in downtown Richmond.

Howell opened Rustica just over three years ago on East Main Street, nestled right next to nothing and just around the corner from boarded-up nothing.

It only took Richmonders a few days and a couple of dozen trips around the block to find the place, and they were immediately hooked on Howell’s affordable take on European comfort food.

But now Richmonders are going to have to track down Howell again because the chef famous for establishing-and-moving is officially out of Café Rustica.

Don’t worry Rustica-lovers, the restaurant is still open, and will continue to be so. Howell sold his interest to partners Michelle Turner and Sam George, and he’ll hang around for another few weeks until a replacement chef can be secured, but he’s already decided on his next venture.

Next up: a noodle bar in Manchester District.

That’s right; the man famous for opening Italian-influenced restaurants in pre-transition neighborhoods is getting ready to open an Asian-influenced one in one of the hippest areas in town.

And that’s not the only surprise. This time Howell has partnered with Chef Bill Foster (former of Zed Café, Acacia, Rustica and Boathouse, to name a few) and it’s Foster who will be running the kitchen.

"[It was] mostly Bill’s idea, he’s been infatuated with the Noodle Bar concept. He’s going to do most of the cooking, and I’m going to do the front of the house," Howell said, though he’s quick to add that he’ll still be in the kitchen from time-to-time.

An exact location hasn’t been set yet, but Howell is hoping for a mid-June opening, wherever it might be. In the meantime, you can swing by Café Rustica and say goodbye to the man himself.

If you want a sample of what to expect, you can check out Momofuku in New York.