The end of the year is usually a slow time for Richmond restaurants.

Locals are overstuffed from the holidays and, aside of catching up with old friends at a favorite bar or spending New Year's Eve on the town, we tend to ignore our local dining scene.

I know I did. I went on vacation for the holidays, clocked out of covering local restaurants and fully expected everything to be the exact same when I returned.

Er, not.

In the span of 10 short days, the length of my holiday, Richmond lost three very good restaurants. Actually, it was all in the span of New Year's Eve. Jan. 1 marked the closing date for 1 North Belmont, Bottega Bistro and Verde Fresh Food.

Very sad indeed, especially when added to my list 'Dish' post 'Dish: In Memoriam' that listed most (it turns out a missed a few) of the restaurants that closed in '09.

When added all together, Richmond lost just about 30 restaurants in 2009. Thirty restaurants, Richmond! That's if my math is right, which it probably isn't.

2009 kicked off with the closing of Karsen's and Relish and we kept on going through New Year's Eve. If Jan. '09 opened with two restaurant closings and '10 started with three … well that doesn't bode well for our local dining scene.

I've said it once and I'll say it again, get out there and support your local restaurants, Richmond, otherwise you might not have any left to support.