We tried a new Charlottesville restaurant last weekend – Mockingbird in Belmont, specializing in Southern Cuisine. I would give them 4 stars on some dishes and no stars on others. For an appetizer we ordered a Strip of Pork Belly on a Bed of Greens. It was fantastic. The pork was crispy fried, and the sauce and greens were outstanding. Also, for an appetizer, I ordered Fried Okra which was not … [Read more...]

When I was in college, McDonald’s hamburgers were 15c each. On a Sunday afternoon, I’d order 4, get a coke and some French fries and get change back from a dollar bill. Times have changed. Today (though prices vary from store to store) a Big Mac, Large Coke and Large Fries will set you back about $12.50. Add a buck and a quarter for Meal’s Tax and the total is now $14. If you are feeding a … [Read more...]

A few years ago, as we were heading down I-95 on our way to Topsail Beach, NC, Nancy and I pulled off at the Dorches exit on Rt. 43 toward Rocky Mount. Our destination was Smith’s Red & White, one of the world’s great grocery stores. Smith’s packages many of their foods and vegetables and makes their own sausages and other delectable dishes. We loaded up with some groceries to take to the … [Read more...]

I’ve never been to the Mediterranean, but I have eaten some of their exquisite foods. Last week, in fact, we dined at Smyrna Restaurant on West Main Street which specializes in Mediterranean-Aegean dishes. It was outstanding. The service, first of all, was impeccable. Our server carefully explained the menu and made recommendations. His suggestions were spot on. Our water glasses were kept … [Read more...]

Should your travels take you through Lewisburg, WV (at the intersection of Rt. 219 and I-64) and if you’re hungry, you are in luck. The friendly little town is full of great restaurants and at the top of the list is Food and Friends at 878 Washington St. (Main St.). The restaurant has a cozy atmosphere and an imposing menu. We ate there for lunch, and I was torn what to order. I ended up with … [Read more...]

What is it about Gordonsville and Orange? These small towns feature big-time restaurants, and the Spoon & Spindle in Downtown Orange is at the top of the list. We dined there on Valentine’s Day with Greg and Leah Leffler and enjoyed their special Five Course Tastings Menu and left wondering, “When can we come again?” Chef Zach Andrews outdid himself with a banquet of unique tastes and sauces. … [Read more...]

Our daughter, Laura, treated us to a wonderful experience at Ten Sushi, a Modern Japanese-style Tapas Restaurant on the Downtown Mall and it was delightful. When I think of Sushi, I think of raw fish. Some I can eat but generally I’d rather have my fish cooked. At Ten Sushi, you can have it both ways, and everything I ate was delicious. The Tapas-style restaurant is a place to bring friends … [Read more...]

  A group of us decided to bring in the New Year with a visit to Sakura Japanese Steak and Seafood house in the Hollymead Shopping Center. It was a fun experience, but pricey. Then again, almost all restaurants have achieved the “pricey” tag since Covid and Biden-omics combined to leave their mark. I have eaten at a number of Japanese steak houses, and they are pretty much all alike … [Read more...]

We decided to pick up a couple subs and dine in our car before last week’s Pentatonix Concert (which was sensational, by the way. They did all their great Christmas hits.) So, where to go? Who has the best subs in town? We enjoy Vocelli’s and - believe it or not – WaWa makes some great subs. But for my money, I’ll take a foot long Subway sub over all the rest. Subway – the chain … [Read more...]

The Outback was once our go-to restaurant. It was just around the corner, and in minutes after we made the decision not to cook at home, we were sitting at the bar or a table and scanning the menu. Then, Outback moved to a much larger location further down Rt. 29 and they were severely understaffed for a while and the service and quality suffered. But they have recovered nicely. For my birthday … [Read more...]