Croaker's Spot is a soul food seafood budget eat in Manchester, Richmond.
Croaker's Spot on Hull runs a generous fried-fish plate at under fifteen dollars. Black-owned soul-food and seafood across the river since the 1990s.
Must order: Fried whiting plate under fifteen dollars.
Tip: Lunch portions on the fish plates are the price-line; dinner adds a couple of dollars.
Address: 1020 Hull Street, Richmond, VA 23224
Sally Bell's Kitchen has sold box lunches since 1924 for less than fifteen dollars. House-made sandwiches, cupcakes and deviled eggs daily on West Broad.
Order: Box lunch for under fifteen dollars.
Tip: Order ahead by phone for pick-up; the line snaps to the corner at lunch hour.
ZZQ in Scott's Addition runs Texas brisket sandwiches under twenty dollars. Counter-service barbecue, mezcal on the side, until sold out daily.
Order: Brisket sandwich with one side for under twenty dollars.
Tip: The counter sells by weight; a quarter pound of brisket with a side hits the budget line.
Mama J's runs a lunch plate of fried catfish, collard greens and mac for under fifteen dollars. Velma Johnson's Jackson Ward soul food standby.
Order: Fried catfish lunch plate for under fifteen dollars.
Tip: Lunch hour runs cheaper than dinner; the Sunday plate-special is the local entry.
Perly's pastrami sandwich at the counter sits at the city's classic Jewish deli line. House-cured meats, latkes and matzo ball soup, daily until 3 pm.
Order: Pastrami sandwich for under fifteen dollars at the counter.
Tip: Order at the counter for cheaper-than-table pricing.
Joe's Inn on Shields in the Fan has poured drinks and served Italian-Greek-American food since 1952. Spaghetti a la Joe at under twelve dollars per plate.
Order: Spaghetti a la Joe for under twelve dollars.
Tip: Half-portions on most pasta plates run several dollars cheaper.
Ed Vasaio's 8 1/2 on Strawberry serves Italian pizza, pasta and sandwiches at takeout pricing. Slices, sandwiches and whole pies under fifteen dollars.
Order: Slice and side for under ten dollars.
Tip: Cash discount on whole-pie takeout; slices priced as the cheapest sit-down in the Fan.
