As is the Richmond way, a new restaurant with familiar names attached is slammed from opening day. In the case of C & M Galley Kitchen, which almost certainly will be called just Galley, the owners are well established restaurateurs — Manny Mendez of Kuba Kuba and Chris DiLauro of Bacchus.

They get an assist from their friends Johnny and Constantine Giavos, whose fingerprints are all over the restaurant: huge portions, family prices, happy-hour come-ons (draft beers are $3), just slightly offbeat menu choices, a Fan-style atmosphere with wooden booths, a small bar and a churning crowd.

Galley, at 2805 Hathaway Road in the Stratford Hills Shopping Center, has pastas, paellas, fish tacos, burgers, barbecue and sandwiches, and chalkboard specials from $7 to about $22. It's open daily for dinner with lunch coming soon. 323-1117.

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Midnight soiree: Always in a celebratory mood, owner Paul Heitz and the folks at Amour Wine Bistro will hold a beaujolais nouveau party Wednesday, Nov. 14, starting at 11:30 p.m., and will uncork the wine at midnight. It's a French tradition to open this wine after the third Thursday in November. The following evening, a four-course dinner with duck rillettes and lamb will be paired with beaujolais wines; reservations are online at amourwinebistro.com. 3129 W. Cary St. 353-4020.

Cuban revolution: Jeff Johnson is the new executive chef at Havana '59, fresh from a private-chef stint in the Caribbean. He'll introduce a fall menu Nov. 12 with grilled morcilla sausage, trout stuffed with serrano ham, wood-grilled chicken with passion-fruit mojo, and roasted root vegetables. Dinner and bar from 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 16 N. 17th St. 780-2822. havana59.net.

Bulked up: Good Foods Grocery has grown in the Stony Point Shopping Center and now has the city's largest bulk foods selection plus spices, natural foods and abundant produce. Chef Michael King is overseeing both stores' delis and cafes, serving sandwiches, juices and other healthy fare weekdays. Some of the salad dressings, sandwiches and peasant bowls are reminders of King's role as vegetarian chef and owner of Grace Place and later Relish. goodfoodsgrocery.com.

Store raising: A specialty market coming to Manchester plans to sell farm produce, prepared foods from local restaurants, sundries, art and other items daily. A crowd-funding campaign at indiegogo.com is in progress for the Atlas Exchange at 721 E. Fourth St. atlasmanchester.com.

Meat-free feast: A three-course vegan dinner with members of the Vegetarian Society of Richmond comes to Pho Saigon on Tuesday, Nov. 13, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 plus tip; reserve a spot at 344-4356 or at vegetarianrichmond.org.

Tastes like the holidays: Two events coming to Kitchen Thyme include a Jewish soul food cooking class with barbecue frontman Buz Grossberg on Nov. 28, and a cookie exchange with Mise en Place on Dec. 14, 6-8 p.m. Get details at kitchenthymerva.com or 396-2665.

Incoming eateries: In addition to a batch of restaurants poised to open just before the holidays, these new spots are in the works: Saison, in the former Marshall Street Café; the Viceroy, in the former Café Diem; Lemon Cuisine of India, in the former Byram's Lobster House; Culinard's Kitchen on Cary Street in the former Dora's Brazilian Grill; and Urban Farmhouse, with a second location in Midlothian.