hot spot: lamplighter coffee roasters, rva

hey you guys! so i've been going to richmond semi-often to visit one of my friends. and almost every time i've gone, since my first time visiting, i've absolutely had to stop at this cafe, lamplighters. it's amazing. pictured above, is my go-to order. i've been three times so far and it just gets better and better every time and i don't even know how that's possible you guys.

i always get a sandwich called the "apple bottom." this sandwich is made with turkey, brie, sliced apples, arugula, and horseradish honey mustard all stuffed between some toasted ciabatta bread. heavenly. i've always liked the turkey and apple combination because at panera i went through a phase where i would always want the roasted turkey, apple, and cheddar sandwich. i will say that lamplighter definitely has them beat.

anyways, i should probably introduce you guys to the star of the show. them greens. yes, friends, if you thought i was mainly salivating over the sandwich, you thought wrong. if you thought that i come back and plan to go back every time i visit for the sandwich, then bingo, you're wrong again. the absolute icon of this restaurant is the side dish called the "hippie greens." it's kale and collard greens in a tangy vinaigrette-like broth with a slight kick. and you're probably wondering how greens could pack so much flavor that i get excited to drive two hours for them. i couldn't tell you but what i can tell you is that they are doing it right at lamplighters.

i feel like it's totally unfair to mention anything after my whole spiel about the greens, but i had some strawberry lemonade each time i went too. it's one of those fresh, quasi-pulpy ones but it was pretty good even though it didn't make the cut for the picture. but bottom-line, i can't wait to go back to lamplighters. maybe one day i will try a new sandwich but i will never go and not get the hippie greens. and i 100% recommend lamplighters and if it wasn't already obvious enough, i recommend the hippie greens too.