We’ve eaten out a half dozen or so times since Covid shut down our way of life, but it’s a little ironic. A restaurant these days is one of the safest places in the world. They do this 6-foot thing to an extreme and everything is routinely sterilized, including the wait staff. Well, not really, but they wear masks and gloves that would keep any germ at bay, and they are extremely conscientious … [Read more...]

I stopped by Harris Teeter last week to pick up a melon and as I passed by the seafood section, I saw that they had Red Argentine Shrimp, so I quickly bought a pound and a half. I first ran into these delicious prawns a couple years back – also at Harris Teeter. These, I believe, are the best tasting shrimp on the planet. They taste an awful lot like lobster, but not as strong, They also have a … [Read more...]

There is a number of great places to get a hamburger in Charlottesville, but one of the best (and often overlooked) spots is Martin’s Grill at Forest Lakes. They are known for their hamburgers and they have them all the way from a single burger to a Quadzilla with 4 patties, and all cooked on a stove top grill. My understanding is that Ryan Martin,  the founder of Martin’s grill, once worked … [Read more...]

One by one, they are dropping like flies. Restaurants, that is. They have been deemed non-essential by our Nanny State with Spartan restrictions. and many are going out of business. One of the latest is the Wendy’s restaurant on what used to be 29 North across from Fashion Square Mall. That was before VDOT and the Never-by Passers created the 29 North Tunnel that effectively cut Wendy’s, Hardy’s … [Read more...]

They closed our Long John Silver’s here in Charlottesville about 7 or 8 years ago and Nancy and I have been in mourning ever since. Long John’s was often our go-to place on Sunday night when we wanted something fast and tasty and didn’t want to cook. Often, we couldn’t decide between their chicken and their fish, so we ordered a big combo. By the time we finished off multiple pieces of fried fish … [Read more...]

Deerfield, Virginia. Population 132 people, 60 cows, 15 sheep and two dozen chickens. Deerfield is a sleepy little own in Augusta County on Deerfield Valley Road, Rt. 629, which connects West Augusta on Rt. 250 and the Goshen area on Rt. 39. There’s no a lot of traffic through Goshen. No reason to be there. Deerfield consists of a handful of farms, some old plantation homes, a post office, a … [Read more...]

Got an e-mail from my pal Sherman Shifflett about a good place to get a bite to eat. It’s called Luv’N Oven and it’s in Scottsville. “The food I ordered was darned good,” he said. “I got the chicken breast, mashed potatoes, pinto beans and rolls. The coconut cake was very good. Ava ordered a BLT and it was good,  too.” Luv N Oven is a locally owned diner-type store front restaurant in … [Read more...]

For years, The Outback Steakhouse in Charlottesville’s Albemarle Square was our go-to restaurant. The service with rare exception was excellent and the food consistently good. More often than not, we skipped the waiting with the buzzer in your pocket deal (there was always a waiting line) and squeezed in at the bar. The bartender was Charlottesville’s finest. He was quick with drinks and water and … [Read more...]

  If you find yourself in Urbanna after 4 PM and you’re hungry, and if you’d like to sit and relax and soak in some spectacular scenery and enjoy a fine dining experience, head down to Urbanna Creek and visit Portside Grill. We have been coming to Urbanna for nearly 15 years, generally to the Oyster Festival in November, but this year we slipped away for a long weekend to enjoy a little … [Read more...]

  We have not had dinner guests other than immediate family since it became popular to wear face masks to Lowe’s and Kroger’s. We have eaten out a time or two, with no noticeable effects, so we decided to live on the edge – to invite another couple to dinner. Even though the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors recommend virtual dinners, where you stay at home and watch the other … [Read more...]