Believe it or not, there is a restaurant at Smith Mountain Lake named Napoli Cowboy. Really! As weird as it sounds, it’s a great place to eat.
Nancy and I were searching for a nice restaurant for our anniversary dinner and were disappointed that the Blackwater Cafe was closed on Sundays. We had never eaten there, but it came highly recommended. But we came across a place called Napoli Cowboy, we ate there, and it was a first-class experience.
The name is derived from Napoli – Italian for Naples – and Cowboy to reflect the Dallas roots of the owner, Ray Wilson. It’s Cowboy Italian, if you will.
Napoli Cowboy is located in an old brick building that once served as a general store with a pizza oven in the rear. They made really good pizzas, but now the totally refurbished restaurant under new ownership serves the finest in steaks and seafood with a distinct Italian flair.
Nancy and I each ordered a Cowboy Ribeye – both well marbled and cooked perfectly. Nancy had a bowl of Clam Chowder for an appetizer that nearly filled her up. She said it was as good as she’s ever had and Nancy orders that dish whenever it’s available. I was impressed with the zucchini and yellow squash served as the vegetable, often an afterthought. But this was served fresh and crisp, nicely seasoned and sliced super thin. The bread was also good and the Crème Brule for dessert rivaled Basnight’s in Nags Head. The service was excellent, the prices were reasonable, and I would make it a point to eat there whenever I’m at the lake again.
The address 6674 Burnt Chimney Road, open Thursday through Monday year-round. A menu is available online at napolicowboy.com. Reservations are recommended, where Italy and America come together in a fine dining experience. Call 540-238-2142.