Mekong

Style: Vietnamese
My rating: 3 stars

Website: http://mekongisforbeerlovers.com/

Likes: Great beer selection, easy parking

Dislikes: Food has gone downhill and bland

We easily found parking in the front of the store, but it was visible that there was parking behind the strip of stores the restaurant resides in. Upon walking in, we were seated easily and the waitress brought us menus. No one brought us a beer menu, so we had to ask for it. The waiter brought us only one, so Brad and I had to try and read its small print sideways. That was a little frustrating and I ended up ordering an Allagash White just because it was easier than scouring the list.

We started with steamed pork dumplings and a pork spring roll. The spring roll was a little bland, but the pork dumplings had a great ginger sauce to pair. 

My husband ordered a soup bowl, with seafood and udon noodles in a chicken broth.  He enjoyed it!

I ordered a rice dish with egg, chicken, pork, and shrimp. I immediately had plate envy of my husband’s soup. The rice looked bland and uneventful. However, the flavors were there when I ate it. 

Overall, I feel that food was all right, but I can get better Vietnamese elsewhere in town. Mekong has become more of a place to order a beer, and they are overlooking their food. It’s sad that the service behind the beer service was so poor.

Deep Run Roadhouse

Style: Barbeque

My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

Website: http://deeprunroadhouse.vpweb.com/default.html

Likes: Amazingly tasty BBQ, Low-key, Draft and Bottled Craft Beer

Dislikes: I can’t think of any other than what it may do to my waistline

I haven’t posted in some time since I have been working on following my trainer’s diet. The diet has been going well since I have been sticking to it, but I am going to try to start altering it to make it my own.

In the meantime, I am celebrating my husband Brad’s birthday this weekend. I asked him if there was a restaurant he wanted to eat at. The usuals were turned down. Cheesecake Factory is too busy. We already have decent beer at home so we turned down Capital Ale House. We have already binged on awesome Thai food at our local joint called Pad Thai. It was time to find a new place.

That is when Brad thought back to a few weeks ago when I brought home brisket leftovers from Deep Run Roadhouse, when my grandmother took me a few weeks ago. I had snagged a takeout menu on my way out, and Brad had his eye on a special burrito called The Train Wreck. Well, it turns out that the Train Wreck was destined to be his birthday dinner.

Deep Run Roadhouse is in a small strip mall about ten minutes from Short Pump Mall on Gayton rd. It has a clean, comfortable feel inside with minimal décor. The menu inside is written on a large chalkboard against the wall. All orders are placed at a register. To go orders wait at a bar up against the window until ready We ate at the restaurant and were given a number to take to the table. The meal was brought to us very quickly.

The Train Wreck burrito is epic. It is about the same size as a burrito from Chipotle, but about twice as heavy. That is because this thing is DENSE. Inside of this unassuming flour tortilla is your choice of meat with a smattering of mac and cheese, cowboy beans, cornbread, onions, and jalapenos. Brad had this with brisket. I had three bites and each one screamed EAT MORE.

I had the two meat plate with brisket and pulled chicken. Both meats were barbequed well with plenty of juicy meat and house sauce. I added more sauce at the table because it had a nice sweetness that did not overpower the meat. This is the best brisket I have had in Virginia so far. It has a nice smoky crisped outside and a tender pink inside.

Surprisingly, the side dish drew my attention the most. They have jalapeno mac and cheese. I repeat. Jalapeno. Macaroni. With cheese. It was thick and cream, with that deep gooey cheese taste with the spice of jalapenos to tickle the tongue. I actually took my finger around the rim of my plastic serving dish to lick up the last remains in public. Then I did it again with Brad's.

Jalapeno Mac and Cheese, I will return for more of you. Soon.

Sorry, personal trainer. My diet has now met its own Train Wreck. 

Kuba Kuba

Style: Cuban
My Rating: 4/5 stars

Website:  http://www.kubakuba.info/index.html

Likes: There are things to look at all over, large portion size

Dislikes: Driving there and finding parking

Imagine this scene:

Me: What do you want to do today?

Husband: I don’t know.

Me: Would you like to go out for dinner?

Husband: Sure

Me: Where would you like to go?

Husband: I don’t know. <Pause> Wherever you want is fine with me.

Me: I don’t know.

The summer bucket list is helpful for dealing with the situation of no one making a decision. The perfect solution is a look at the Bucket List of ideas that you already want to do.

Therefore, today we went to Kuba Kuba. We have been there before, but it had been about five years and we were due for a visit.

We entered the restaurant at 3:00 pm to the sound of Cuban music with birds in the background. We really like going at off hours for busy restaurants, this way we get a table immediately and feel free to look around at the restaurant freely. Boy is there stuff look at here. There are murals along the borders of the wall, shelves of dishes, a stuffed fish, photographs, and beer bottles just to name a few items.

Plus, I love the décor of the tables and chairs. The chairs are a mish mosh of different styles, and the tabletops have a Latin American print on them as in the picture below.

It is the food that brings us back though. Although the prices are a little steep, we get our money’s worth. My husband ordered the Paella Valenciana. When it was first presented, I was struck by the amount of mussels that were in this dish. The rice had a smokiness with a mild taste of the sea. In addition to mussels, the dish also had clams, shrimp, and chorizo. Even my husband couldn’t finish the entire dish.

I ordered Arroz con Pollo since I am not a big fan of shellfish. It came with two sizeable chicken breasts, most likely about six ounces a piece. I ate one at the restaurant, and had to take the other home. However, the pollo was not the star of this dish. The rice had such a vibrant flavor, each bite packed with a different taste depending on what combination of vegetables were included. There were roasted red peppers, pieces of asparagus, capers, and peas to name a few.

Both of the dishes came with two grilled slices of Cuban bread, that had absorbed flavors from the rice within the bowl.

Overall, it was an excellent and successful venture. We have enough leftovers for another entire meal.

821 Cafe

Style: Cafe/ Diner
My Rating: 4/5 stars

Website: http://www.821caferva.com/ 

Likes: Eclectic and artsy atmosphere, classic menu items and ones with a twist, Sriracha on every table, parking downtown near VCU was not difficult due to roadside space, baskets on the table had creamer so I didn’t have to keep asking for me

Dislikes: Although neat, the one large table in the middle of the room provides for awkward situations

A fire engine screams by the restaurant on my quiet weekday visit, and my friend Greg walks in just as it goes by. As the siren echoes through the restaurant, he shakes his head as I say, “Way to make an entrance.”

Café 821 is a perfect place for us to catch up on our summer adventures. Greg had just spent time at a saxophone “camp” at the Eastman School of Music and I had spent the holiday with my in-laws plus my own grandmother. We had a lot to talk about.

We feel comfortable to talk in the atmosphere with its artistic touches, calm color palette, and retro tables adorned with fiesta ware.  The staff is friendly and patient as we stay there for a while. I even took a portrait picture of Greg for my photography class. Poor guy. 

With just a quick glance of the menu, I see at least five dishes that I am excited to try. Neither Greg nor I can decide on something sweet or savory, so we each get a different item and split it between the both of us.

I order the savory Bacon and Brie Omelet with grilled onions and spinach. It comes loaded with a side of crispy rosemary home fries, fruit salad, and four triangles of rye toast. The elastic cheese holds the onions and spinach together. The bacon is present, but does not seem like a feature of the dish as it is overpowered by the rest of the filling. The name is misleading. 

Greg’s choice of the Nutella French Toast is the best dish.  It comes beautifully arranged in a pinwheel, with slices of bananas on top with sprinkles with powdered sugar. The slices of toast have been sliced in half and spread with Nutella and something crunchy, quite possible hazel nuts! Therefore, each bite has a sweet complexity of Nutella, maple syrup, and bananas. It is out of this world!

DipDogs

Style: Fast Food
My Rating: 4/5 stars

Website: http://www.dipdogs.net/ 

Likes: Well established atmosphere of being around since 1953, Cute water bottles that say “God DipDogs?”

Dislikes: It’s definitely not healthy, no special dip for onion rings

For years, my husband has said that when we go to his parents’ house, he is going to take me to The Dip Dog. One time we went, and it was closed because it was the 4th of July. Another time we tried to go and it was closed for renovations.

Then, we gave up for a while. 

This year, I played it smart. I told my husband to call and see if they would be open. Since he talks about The DipDog frequently, I really wanted to experience this part of the younger years I was absent for. 

On this trip his parents’ house, I also brought my grandmother, Gigi. Gigi loves and adventure, so we piled into the car and drove half an hour to The DipDog, which happens to be just off of interstate I-81. 

I thought it was going to be a little roadside stand, and I was wrong. Instead, it is a small complex with a huge parking lot, a building where food is ordered, a building that is a gift shop, and a building that has tables where the greasy food can be enjoyed and consumed.

It also had a really cool retro sign that stood in front, saying that the DipDog was established in 1953. Johnny, my husband’s dad, then told me a story about how he used to bring his dates to eat here. Johnny is now in his 60’s and has been married for over forty years. Clearly, the DipDog is a local, deep routed tradition.

A DipDog is a local, very pink hotdog that is battered in a thin batter and is deep fried. It is similar to a corn dog, but the batter is not as thick. Then, they slather them in yellow mustard and pile them into a pyramid within a classic paper carton. We also ordered onion rings that were piled into a brown paper bag. Clearly, it is super low key. 

But it was one of the tastiest deep fried concoctions I have ever eaten and it made for some great memories with my grandma and my husband's family. 

Sub Rosa Bakery

Style: Bakery

My Rating: 5/5 stars

Website: http://www.subrosabakery.com/

Likes: Rustic feel, sturdy wooden boards and stoneware pottery used to plate items, best coffee I have ever had, wood fired oven

Dislikes: Someone stole the tips out of the jar when we were there

There is nothing better than starting a day off having breakfast with friends. When the breakfast turns out to be a wood fired pastry, the best gets an extreme upgrade.

Two of my fellow vacationing teacher friends gladly helped me cross this excursion off of my bucket list for this summer. We met at Sub Rosa Bakery for brunch, and were charmed by the calming rustic environment and earnest smell of baking bread floating around us.

I ordered the Manchego and Fig Croissant, a sweet treat with savory undertones. Although the pastry had a burnt looking quality to it, the soft and flaky croissant had a buttery taste that I haven’t had since I visited bakeries in New York. The taste is what matters to me.  In addition, I had an amazing cup of dark roasted coffee to compliment my breakfast. They have their own signature Sub Rosa blend, created by Lamplighter coffee down the street, which had nutty and chocolate undertones.

My friends also tried the Chilled Turnip and Dill Soup. The smooth soup had a clean finish with a soft dill taste, which was not overpowering. It was served in these adorable stoneware bowls on top of bread boards.

I was so impressed with our experience that I took two different pastries home with me under the assumption that I would give them to my husband who had been at work. They managed to stay intact until his arrival, but I definitely took a few bites once my husband began his snack. One was a Salami and Gruyere Croissant, savory with the addicting meat and cheese combination.  The other was the Pain au Chbuckocolat, filled with a deep and bitter chocolate. 

This was a most successful summer bucket list excursion, and I look forward to returning to this bakery soon. 

Buz and Ned's BBQ

Style: Barbeque
My Rating: 3/5 Stars

Website: http://buzandneds.com/ 

Likes: Southern Industrial Décor, Huge cool ceiling fan in the dining room, availability of craft beer, good blues background music

Dislikes: Small portions, availability of sandwiches and ribs only, price is expensive for what is served, only one type of house sauce, sides were dry- including coleslaw and macaroni and cheese!

I went through food withdrawal moving to the South from New York. I missed things like bagels, Italian Rainbow cookies, and knish. However, quality barbeque has always been an easy cure to my ailment. I love to go to Red, Hot, and Blue in Williamsburg, and delve into pulled chicken and choose which sauce I want to put on it. Then, I like picking a different sauce for my brisket, and a third for my sausage. 
I had heard such wonderful things about Buz and Ned’s in Richmond. When they opened a rather large place on Broad st., I became determined to try it out. People around town seemed to adore their BBQ, and I felt like I was missing out. 

When my husband and I pulled up to the restaurant in the middle of the afternoon, I was impressed by the décor. It was chic southern industrial look, with rusted oil can sculptures and a chicken with a Spanish sign. The restaurant continued with an enthusiastic low key feel when we walked through the door and were greeted with same blues and banjo music. 

When we went to order from the chalkboard menu, we were instantly disappointed. Where is the loose meat? Do they have sausage? What about bone-in meat that is not a rack of ribs? There was only a choice of ribs or sandwiches. 

I ordered a sandwich, thinking I could take the meat off of the bun. However, when my chicken and pork combo came out, there was such little meat on the bun that I felt compelled to eat the entire thing so I had something to fill my stomach. They only had one sauce, which I felt tasted fine, but my husband thought had too much vinegar. I will admit that the meat was very tasty as it was, with a nice flavor due to the smoking process. However, the hush puppies were nothing out of the ordinary, and the onion rings had a tasty beer batter, but no dipping sauce to complement. As a result, I felt myself drinking a lot of water because the meal was so dry.

My husband ordered the pork and beef combo with macaroni and cheese and the potato salad. The macaroni was not creamy, but baked dry and chewy. It came with two sandwiches, each with the same amount of meat that mine had. However, the price for the meat and the mediocre sides seemed a few dollars higher than I would have paid for it.

Overall, Buz and Neds is a fun place to go for an overpriced beer and a bbq sandwich. It has a great atmosphere and friendly service. However, if I am truly hungry for bbq, I am going to go elsewhere. 

Juleps

Style: Southern, Fine Dining
Website: http://juleps.net/ 

My Rating: 5/5 stars

Likes: Extremely professional service, the sophisticated atmosphere, the amazing food, they take reservations, free valet parking, they put out Groupons and LivingSocial deals

Dislikes: It is so expensive (and deservedly so), location is in a sketchy area

When my husband and I go to Juleps, it is a big deal. The place is expensive, so we wait and scope out Groupons and LivingSocial deals so we can eat here without breaking the bank too much. Too much is the key word. 

One of my favorite appetizers here is the pork belly. It is like eating a thick cut of bacon that melts in my mouth because it is so soft and tender.

I also tried a fried oyster. I ate a raw oyster once, and had never eaten one again since it tasted like ocean snot. However, this oyster was crunchy decadence. 

My husband ordered the NY Strip Steak, which was easily one of the best steaks I have had. It was cooked to a perfect medium rare as ordered, with a nice sear to add texture and extra flavor. A celery root mashed potato accompanied the steak, adding an addictive combination of flavors that were new and exciting.

I ordered the duck breast with cherry jus. The duck was tender, with juices running to mix with the cherry jus. It was a huge treat.

But the biggest treat was bananas foster. The waiter wheels a cart out to the table and spends a solid few minutes preparing tableside flaming bananas. It is quite a show, with flames feet in the air laced with the smell of bourbon. Then, the bananas are laid with vanilla pound cake and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. This is currently my fondest dessert memory at a restaurant.

Lark Bake Shoppe and Cafe

Style: Bake Shoppe
My Rating: 5/5 Stars

Website: Lark's Facebook Page

Likes: Oh so tasty food, close proximity, friendly, welcoming environment, local business

Dislikes: Their tasty food is fattening, as it should be

When my husband and I moved to Mechanicsville, the search was on to find new places to eat out. It is one of our hobbies, just in case it was not already apparent. With our alternating schedules due to Brad’s job, we needed to find places to have breakfast when he got home from work. Therefore, every time we ran an errand, our eyes were on the lookout for grub.

One morning we went to drop his uniforms off at the cleaners. Pulling out of the shopping center, Brad noticed a sign on the edge of one of the buildings. It said, “Lark Bake Shoppe and Café.” Anytime something alludes to cake, frosting, or coffee, my husband is fully attentive.

We like to “google” places before we try them. This is a learned response from many different tourist trap places we ate at while living in Williamsburg. We discovered Lark’s Facebook Page, and found that it is updated pretty much on a daily basis. They advertise what they have, what flavors they have, their hours, and special events. The community had rave reviews. Our simple conclusion was that we had to go.

When walking into Lark, I get so excited because the atmosphere in here screams happy. I never want to leave. They have pretty colored walls, tasty pastries in the bakery case to look at, and super cheerful music that I undoubtedly sing along to every time to Brad’s dismay. They have chalkboard tables with chalk next to them so there is entertainment. Plus, the owners, bakers, and service staff are the sweetest and kindest people. They take a moment and ask how you are and recognize faces. It is local business at its best. 

We come here at least three times a month now, usually on a Saturday when they have Cinnamon Rolls because they are Brad’s favorite. We usually get a pastry each, and occasionally go back for one more… or two. They serve Carytown Coffee to go with their excellent pastries. I love that they support other local businesses. Plus, the coffee is outstanding.

The bottom line about Lark, is that the baked goods are awesome. It is often difficult to decide to try something new because I instantly make new favorites frequently. My particular favorite right now is the lemon loaf, which is a lemon poke pound cake with a sugary lemon glaze. It is dense and full of lemon flavor, with just enough sweetness to keep my cheeks from puckering.

My husband loves their cinnamon rolls. They are soft and gooey, coated with a thick slab of icing that they heat right there upon demand. Sometimes, they even give him an extra slather. The picture below is the cinnamon roll, but I couldn’t take the picture quick enough before my husband devoured the first half.

I also love scones because they go so well with coffee. Many scones fall short because they opt for too much density and become dry. In reverse, they go to moist and become more like cake. Lark’s scones are the perfect dense texture without losing moisture. They have a slightly harder top that has been glazed with different flavors depending on the order. I love the cinnamon chip scone, the lemon blueberry scone, and the pumpkin scone, which is pictured below.

Some of the other tasty treats we have enjoyed here are the cherry turnover and the nutella croissant. Both a pictured below. It is fun to come with someone, that way you can try a bite of theirs!

Lark also offers services, such as cake and cupcake orders. Once we ate a turtle cupcake with a dulce de leche filling that was Out. Of. This. World. I look forward to having something to celebrate so we can place a bigger order one day.

Ginger Red

Style: Chinese
My Rating: 4.5/5

Website: http://gingerred.com/

Likes: Large portion sizes, very friendly staff and willing to recommend items, pleasant decor

Dislikes: The building is hard to find behind another strip mall

I love good Chinese food. When there is a plate full of meat that is thickly tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce surrounded by crisp vegetables and rice, I am all in. That is exactly what we had at Ginger Red.

This is the first restaurant I have reviewed since we moved to Mechanicsville, VA. We have not been eating out as much because I am trying to eat healthier and we are saving up to buy something to decorate the walls in our very bare apartment. However, every once in a while, there is a need to splurge!

Walking in, we were greeted very quickly with bright smiles and bright red walls. The restaurant was very crisp and clean and we were seated in a corner with lots of windows with sunlight streaming in. There were blinds, but they were not needed.

Our server was one of the nicest wait staff we have ever had. She was sweet with a gentle innocence and eagerness to help out. When we told her we were new to the area, she told us about some of the specials they have on different days of the week. Wednesdays are half of sushi! This makes me excited for future visits. 

Brad ordered the classic Happy Family dish. This was presented with so much fun and flare! It came out on a sizzling skillet and was plated on a cast iron plate in front of us. The vegetables, including the snap peas and baby corn, were crispy and flavorful. Brad was excited because the dish was cheaper than most Chinese restaurants, even cheaper than “the cheap take out places.” The portion size was also larger than the cheaper places.

I ordered the Szechuan Pork, consisting of stir fried pork and vegetables in a sauce that was perfectly balanced with sweet and spicy notes. It tasted fresh and flavor exploded over my taste buds. The portion was so large, that I only ate half of it. I think it is nice having a second helping for the next day. 

Ginger Red, we will be coming back to you for sure. I can’t wait to try more!

Good-Bye Ichiban, Restaurant Review

Style: Asian
My Rating: 4.5/5

Website: http://www.ichibannewtown.com/

Likes: Different Asian Varieties, Best Sushi in Williamsburg, Gorgeous Asian Themed Décor, the best All-You-Can-Eat Maki Lunch

Dislikes: Can be a little pricey, Service is sometimes slow

Brad and I have been going to Ichiban since it has opened up in New Town a few years ago. When you first walk in to this restaurant, the décor strikes you as elegant and calming. It has an Asian feel with pagoda door frames underneath a rose glass ceiling. It is simply stunning.

Once we are seated and have overcome the stunning décor, we sit down to order. There are so many different choices. They have a small amount of Thai dishes, some Chinese, and others Japanese. In my opinion, their most impressive menu section is their sushi. They have cooked, uncooked, sashimi, nigri, seaweed wrappers, soy bean wrappers, and so much more! Even better, they have a maki lunch during the weekdays, and you can get all you can eat sushi from a pretty decent variety. See the menu below.

When we walked into the restaurant this evening, we had a bittersweet notion that this was to be our last time before we moved. Since it was the last time, we ordered our favorites and had some large portions. I ended up taking home half of a meal.

We started out getting one roll of sushi each. Brad ordered the Godzilla roll, which is a deep fried roll with salmon and tuna inside. It is cut to six pieces and topped with fish roe, spicy creamy sauce and scallions with special tammy sauce on the side.

I ordered a Phoenix roll, which has shredded crabmeat with Japanese mayonnaise, avocado, and rice then deep fried.

As a main course, Brad ordered the House Special Duck. We have found that this entrée is tastier than the Kow Loon Duck, and it is also less expensive. We like this dish because the duck is quite savory, and the sauce is spooned over the textured and deep fried crust. The vegetables that are served with it compliment the taste of the duck and are always crisp without being overly crunchy.

I ordered the Mu Shu Beef. I always thought it was odd that they offer this in beef or chicken, but not pork. Anyhow, I love this dish. The texture of the vegetables provide a slight crisp to the beef and the plum sauce to spoon over it gives it a sweet, tangy taste that tickles the tongue when the pancake wrap has been bitten into.

We did not order the Firecracker Beef at Ichiban tonight, but this also one of our favorites.

Although I praise this restaurant, the customer needs to be patient. The service is often slow, especially when sushi is ordered. It is fine when there is time to kill, but this is definitely not a restaurant to go to if you are trying to grab a bite quickly before a movie, the theater being next door.