When you come to the Richmond area for The 50th, you'll have to eat. Whether it's during the Rally itself or on your way into or out of town, Perly's in downtown Richmond is worth a stop. A word to the wise - get there before traditional mealtimes, as tables go quickly and the locals know all about this place! The upside is Perly's does a brisk take-out business, so if you can't eat in, you can always grab your meal to go.
Roadfood called Perly's one of the best places in the area to eat, saying, "The staff here serves meals with enthusiastic good cheer."
Perly's is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, then open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 AM until 3 PM, making it the perfect breakfast, brunch or lunch stop. Set your GPS to take you to 111 E Grace St, Richmond VA 23219, and don't forget you can order your take-out meal ahead of time through their website, orderperlysrichmond.com.
I find Perly's a regular stop, and I love to order ahead or at the counter for take-out. My go-to for breakfast or lunch is the Shapiro Schnitzel; its bread-and-butter pickled cauliflower topping is out of this world. Paired with an order of Schlubby fries for the group (it's a LOT of fries!) - minus the Russian dressing, of course, because ketchup is the devil - it's a fistful of a hard-to-beat meal. You could also go for the garlic & dill fries; a smaller batch, but tasty nonetheless.
When you've finished your meal from Perly's, head NNE and visit the Maggie L Walker National Historic Site, or go straight north and head to the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia. The Virginia State Capitol complex and Virginia Executive Mansion aren't far to the SSE, and you can take in some Civil War history at the nearby White House of the Confederacy, which is part of the multi-location American Civil War Museum. Head even deeper SSE into the city, venturing into the area known as Shockhoe Bottom and take in the Poe Museum (celebrating over 100 years since its founding as the Poe Memorial Association) or the Virginia Holocaust Museum.
Perly's is walking distance from two iconic Richmond inns, Quirk Hotel and The Jefferson, the city's longest-running five-star hotel. The Graduate (popular with people visiting VCU) isn't far off, and there are locations of the Holiday Inn Express, Marriott, Hilton and Hampton Inn & Suites nearby as well. (See Google Maps location information.)