A busy afternoon schedule sent Nancy and me out to eat on Monday evening. She suggested “The Loud Place” (Texas Roadhouse) and I agreed. I was thinking about one of their burgers. I had one on my first visit there and it was very good. But when I scanned the menu, I saw Fried Catfish. Somehow that sounded right, so I ordered it. Fried Catfish is either really good or really bad. It … [Read more...]

  About a year ago,  Buffalo Wild Wings opened a restaurant on Rt. 29 just around the corner from our house. I have eaten at their stores before but considered them more of a Sports Bar than a serious restaurant. But sometimes Nancy and I get a craving for wings – most  often on a Sunday night after a hectic weekend. Our last couple experiences with take-out wings weren’t the … [Read more...]

  Went to a movie last weekend – “Little Women”. My wife owes me big time, maybe two war movies. Normally when we go to the movies, we make an evening of it, often stopping in at Travinia’s, the restaurant right beside the theater. Except there is no more Travinia’s. They closed this past fall. So I had suggested Carmello’s Ristorante Italiano in the Steinmart (Twentyninth Place) … [Read more...]

Dallas is a little far for a Central Virginian to travel for a dinner out, but if you did, you wouldn’t regret it if the restaurant was Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen. Each January, Nancy and I attend the Lighting Show at the Dallas Trade Mart and each year, we “Uber” our way out to Pappadeaux on Oak Lawn for what is always a wonderful dining experience. Pappadeaux is based in Louisiana, but has … [Read more...]

  There is a new restaurant in town, in Crozet actually, and according to my golf buddy, Kevin Mann, it is worth a visit. Normally, I don’t do restaurant reviews on secondhand information, but Kevin is most reliable. Only once has he tried to putt my ball on the green since it was closer to the hole. Other than that, he is pretty solid. Kevin said that he ended up in Crozet at dinner … [Read more...]

  If you enjoy authentic Mexican – not Americanized Mexican such as Taco Bell – stop by El Milagro in Ruckersville. It’s the real deal. Until recently, El Milagro (which means “miracle” in Spanish) was located in a drive-in  (a former Wendy’s location) located across from Blue Ridge Café on Rt. 29 North. However, the owner of the property decided to put it up for sale, so El Milagro … [Read more...]

  We had tried the Texas Roadhouse before. It was really loud and noisy, but I thought their food and prices were good. Nancy had a problem when our server didn’t clean off the table after we finished and we hadn’t been back. Last week, in the mood for a steak but not a fancy restaurant, my bride of 51 years said, “Let’s try that loud place again.” And so we did, and I will say right … [Read more...]

  Coming back from Urbanna and the Oyster Festival last Monday, we passed by Diggs Seafood in West Point and didn’t stop. Nancy and I had to get back to work and were pressed for time and it broke my heart. I have an unwritten rule: If I ever pass through West Point, I simply must stop and pick up some Deviled Crabs to see if they were as delectable as I remember and they always … [Read more...]

  A group of us went out to eat last Saturday and decided on the Timberwood Tap Room near Wegman’s in the Fifth Street Station Shopping Center. I has eaten at Timberwood Grill near Forest Lakes, but not across town. Scanning the menu, I decided on a sandwich rather than a heavy entrée. All the sandwiches at Timberwood Grill have been good, and the menus looked much the same. So I went … [Read more...]

  We were heading back to Cville after a round of golf at The Homestead when I convinced my Golfing Amigos to stop at Mrs. Rowe’s for dinner. It had been years since I last ate at what is has become an institution in Staunton and I wanted to see if it was as good as I remembered. It was. Mrs. Rowe’s is the epitome of a comfort food restaurant. That’s pretty much all they do. The … [Read more...]