A cherry Coke with extra Maraschino cherries, please.
Rosie the Riveter meets Lana Del Rey meets diner-Americana at Dot’s Back Inn, a nostalgic restaurant in the Bellevue neighborhood. Dot’s is more than just a burger and beer-slinging joint, though.
It’s familial, and it’s rooted in a feisty, go-getter history shaped by generations of Richmond women with a knack for hard work — and a little earned sass.
We spoke with McKenzie Bryant, Dot’s general manager and daughter of the current owner, Jimmy Tsamouras, about the restaurant’s legacy, future, and emotional impact on the neighborhood.
Richmond riveters: Dot and Cookie
Dot’s Back Inn was founded in 1990 by Cookie Giannini, who named the restaurant in homage to her Aunt Dot.
Severina “Dot” Chiocca Murray came from an Italian-American family involved in the Richmond restaurant industry. She started working in the business around the 1940s and spent upward of 50 years waiting tables at local eateries.
“From the stories I’ve heard, she was a cheeky lady,” says Bryant. “You knew what you would get when you walked in and Dot was there with a pot of coffee. She would keep people on their toes because she wasn’t afraid to stand up and say what she meant. Cookie is the same way.”
Dot dazzled the Richmond restaurant scene in her time, but never had the chance to own her own place. Now, her nickname is painted on the white brick facade, and a snippet of her story is included in every menu.
The local joint quickly earned a reputation for give-it-right-back-to-ya servers. “That’s how it’s always been, and that’s a large part of keeping it true to Dot and the idea of this quintessential Richmond server,” says Bryant.
In 2007, Cookie sold the establishment to Tsamouras — an esteemed local chef and close family friend. “Carrying on the tradition that Cookie put in place is so important, and it’s what the neighborhood depends on,” says Bryant.
Aside from some uplifting menu and venue enhancements, not much has changed — and that’s what locals love most.
A neighborhood “safe space”
You’re sure to cross paths with some regulars at Dot’s — maybe you’ll wind up one, too.
“Everybody knows everybody for better or for worse. There’s not many places these days where you walk in, and the bartender has your drink before you even sit down,” says Bryant.
“I’ve been told by multiple people that [Dot’s is] their safe space, and if that’s the environment we can foster for people, especially as a place opened and run by women — it’s just so important.”
Dot’s Back Inn has always valued its staff and community as family. Pictured (right) are Janet Rollins and Faye Rose, two former long-term servers with roaring personalities. | Photo via Dot’s Back Inn
While the Bellevue neighborhood goes back generations, it’s seeing an influx of newer families each year. The restaurant plans to keep evolving its menu to accommodate more vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options — on top of its traditional burger-slinging menu.
The next time you need a comfort meal — or a comfort drink — head to Dot’s, and now you know just what to expect.
Dot’s starter pack:
- An open-air patio and inside seating
- A row of old-school barstools, likely occupied by several regulars
- String lights, pin-up art, cherry decor, etc.
- A few Guy Fieri cameos (We’ll get to that in a second.)
- A newspaper page headlined “My Life as Rosie the Riveter” framed in the bathroom
- A montage of black and white photos above wooden booths (See any familiar faces?)
- A sign reading: “If you’re drinking to forget, please pay in advance.”
- A mosaic of coloring pages made by kids and other patrons
About the Guy Fieri cameos. Dot’s has been featured not once, but twice, on “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives,” and locals can totally see why.
Fieri made his first pit stop at Dot’s shortly after Tsamouras assumed ownership in 2007 — here’s the two together. | Photo via Dot’s Back Inn
