Brandon MacConnell and Brad Slemaker: Bar West

Eat It, Virginia!

Cocodrilo opened to much fanfare on Richmond's Grove Avenue in March 2022. The restaurant had a Latin America-inspired menu created by Lemaire alum Chef Brad Slemaker, Shagbark alum Chef Brandon MacConnell, and River City Roll owner Rob Long and a huge open-flame grill Less than a year later, the chefs remain, the grill remains, but Cocodrilo is no more. In its place, the restaurant owners will open Bar West.

"We were proud of the food we were putting out and I think that the reviews for the cuisine at Cocodrilo speak for themselves and none of that changes. The culinary staff is not changing at all," Long said on the most recent Eat It, Virginia podcast.

So why the drastic change less than a year after opening?

The team behind Bar West (the restaurant space formerly known as Cocodrilo) shares their story with Scott and Robey on this week's Eat It, Virginia!

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