By Maddie Ball

Goatocado, a modern, petite, and urban restaurant, is located on West Main Street in the Carytown/Fan area. The second you walk in, you can smell the aroma of spices coming from the kitchen and can hear the 80s music in the background. Goatocado is a fun and vibrant restaurant that also features a food truck that travels all over the Richmond area. 

Walking up to the door, I immediately admired their style. Outside, there were picnic tables and plenty of sitting space on the front patio: a great place to sit in the spring or summer. The outdoor area even has a cover, so you won’t be blazed by the sun. When walking in, you can immediately see the whole restaurant in one glance. The sun shines through the large windows, making even the inside feel even more bright. The many colors inside, such as the blue-tiled counter and the green Goatocado signs, helps make the restaurant feel lively. The kitchen is visible from anywhere in the restaurant, and you can see the chefs cook every aspect of the meal. The small tables and their proximity to one another make it feel intimate. It has a retro feel with the music and decorations, but the furniture makes it feel more modern.

Their menu is minimal, with two ramen dishes and four different bowls. Goatocado may be difficult for picky eaters to enjoy anything, because it is so different than the basic chain restaurants that offer more options. On a recent visit, Grace Marchetti (‘21) chose the Mexican Ramen, knowing that she is a picky eater. She states that “it was too spicy, with too many different ingredients that did not go together.”

The Mexican Ramen has many different ingredients, such as spicy chipotle peppers in the broth, seared vegetables, sweet corn, adobo black beans, slow-roasted tomatoes, and chopped cilantro. It is a very healthy group of foods, but for some the combination of all the ingredients can be overwhelming.

I decided to try the Californian bowl with a mac n’ cheese base and chicken. It had beans, corn, apple, gouda, chipotle-pineapple dressing, and avocado. These ingredients were challenging to enjoy altogether because of their many different flavors. Some bites were savory, and some bites were sweet. Taylor Thornley Keeney from Style Weekly, however, believes that the Californian bowl’s “flavors blend well.” For me, I was undecided on how I felt about such a wide variety of flavors. I enjoyed it for a bit but ultimately decided the flavors were too overwhelming, and I didn’t want to finish it. 

After we ordered, the food came out within minutes, which is great for those who are looking for a quick meal. Goatocado is relatively affordable; $12.95 for a bowl with chicken and a water isn’t outrageously expensive. If you are looking for an affordable, quick, healthy meal, this would be the place to come, as long as you are not a finicky eater.                                 

If the ingredients and creative food combinations appeal to your taste, then you would love Goatocado. Or if you are trying to find a health food restaurant, this would be the one to try. The primary appeal of this restaurant is location and healthy options.

The one part of the meal I did enjoy was the avocado. The avocado is the best part of the entire meal. You receive about half an avocado, and it is so fresh. It is finely chopped and placed on the side of the bowl, but it is so creamy that you know that it has not been just sitting in the kitchen for days. Instead, it was probably brought in fresh that day. It was definitely the best part of my experience.