Sometimes you find great food in strange places. A few years back, my wife Nancy and I stumbled upon such a place – Nick’s Family Style Spaghetti and Steak House in West Point.
We had a couple days to get away and we wanted to be somewhere on or near salt water without the long drive to the Eastern Shore or Virginia Beach. The closest place to Charlottesville appeared to be West Point, about 30 miles south of Richmond, so we booked a room at the local hotel and had ourselves a great time. We caught a few fish in the York River, saw some of the local sights and dined in style.
The first night, we drove to Gwynn’s Island and ate at The Sandpiper. On the second night, we looked for a place closer to West Point. About 6 miles east of West Point on Rt. 33 (actually located in Shacklefords), we came upon Nick’s. It had been recommended by a friend as a great place to eat and the family-style restaurant truly lived up to expectations.
Though a genuine Italian eatery, the special that evening at Nick’s was a Jumbo Seafood Platter, so I passed on the Veal Parmesan and ordered the seafood, hoping it would turn out well. Boy, did it ever. The flounder, shrimp, crab cakes, and scallops were all delicious, cooked perfectly and I could barely finish my dish. Nancy had an equally enjoyable experience. I didn’t get the steak, but my friend says it Nick’s is a great place for a slab of meat – T-bones, rib eyes, filets and the like.
The restaurant was totally unpretentious, but the servers were polite, friendly and very attentive.
Nick’s is one of those diamonds in the rough for those who seek out great places to dine.
If you travel through West Point on the way to the Middle Peninsula, or if you don’t mind veering off I-64 about 15 miles, Nick’s is worth a visit.
For more information, call them at (804) 785-6300.