Garrison's Bar and Grill

 



 

This was not my first visit to Garrison’s Bar and Grill.  The last time I was there however, it was for brunch – and they don’t serve brunch anymore – so it’s been quite a few years.  I do remember that I enjoyed my last experience very much. 

Garrison’s is a quaint little restaurant tucked away in the Renaissance Place shopping center in the Great Neck area of Virginia Beach.  The restaurant is tastefully decorated and offers outdoor seating as well as indoor.

I made reservations and arrived at the determined time and was seated immediately.  Our drink orders were also taken immediately.  Garrison’s boasts an extensive wine list as well as several specialty cocktails.  I began the evening with an apple martini.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was so good that I had to order a second one!

For appetizers we ordered the warm crab dip and the sautéed shrimp.

 

 

 

The dip was served with warm pita bread and had a smooth and creamy texture.  It was a bit salty but overall palatable.  The shrimp were sautéed with chiles and were just the right amount of spicy and were prepared perfectly.

We chose to get the dinner specials for the evening:  salmon in a creamy caper sauce with spinach over pasta and grilled mahi topped with a mango salsa and seasoned rice and veggies.





 

First of all, the portion sizes were perfect.  I often shy away from pasta/seafood dishes because the plates are usually overflowing with pasta and I have to search for the seafood.  This dish was perfectly balanced and the flavor was delicate and delicious. 

The mahi was light and seasoned very well and the mango salsa was a lovely compliment to the fish. 

The only drawback was the amount of time we waited for the entrees to be served.  The appetizers were finished and we were on our second round of drinks before the meals were served.   After the food arrived our server asked if it was worth the wait, and we had to agree that it was.  Everything was outstanding.

The atmosphere was quiet and in my opinion perfect for a romantic date night.  Our reservations were for 6:30 pm and the restaurant had a few patrons but not too crowded.  However, when we were preparing to leave it seemed to be starting to fill up and I'm assuming it gets quite busy on a Friday night.

The prices are very reasonable and the service is friendly and inviting.  I would definitely return to Garrison’s for an evening out and would recommend it my friends/family.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers

I’ve visited Red Robin Gourmet Burgers countless numbers of times but this is my first review.  Why?  I have no idea.  Today probably wasn’t the best time to visit because I’m dieting.  However, my daughter is leaving in two days to go back to school and this is where she wanted to go.  So, I pushed the diet aside and agreed to oblige her.

Many people may think that it could be difficult to find healthy options at a burger joint.  And those people are probably right but I counted this as a treat meal and promised myself that I would get back on my plan first thing Monday.  No, seriously.

I started out the meal with the hummus plate (355 calories, 23g fat).  It came with baby carrots, cucumbers and chips.  Chips?  Why chips?  The veggies were crispy and delicious and the hummus was smooth and creamy.

For my entrée I ordered the southwest grilled chicken salad with the dressing on the side.  I love this salad because of the avocado, black beans and fried jalapenos.  Even though it’s a salad, it’s a pretty big one and without the dressing comes in at 711 calories and 35g fat.  In a salad.  That’s more fat grams than I normally consume in an entire day.  I’m not knocking the salad – I loved it and left nothing on the plate – except the dressing.

The kids, who are not dieting indulged in the gourmet burgers.  Why else would you go to a burger joint if you weren’t getting burgers?  My son ordered the banzai burger (973 calories, 55g fat).  The burger is marinated in teriyaki & topped with grilled pineapple, cheddar cheese, crisp lettuce, tomatoes and mayo. It looked great and he loved it.

My daughter, who is not that adventurous ordered her usual bacon cheeseburger without mayo (782 calories, 42g fat).

Both burgers came with steak fries and they both ordered the freckled strawberry lemonade.

I like Red Robin.  There are no surprises.  We were seated immediately and the server (Elizabeth) was great.  It was early on a Sunday evening and there was a pretty good crowd but that didn’t hinder our service at all.  When I go to Red Robin, this is the one that I turn to.  

757 Crave

If you are in the Virginia Beach area and in search of a relaxing place to have breakfast with beautiful views and great food, 757 Crave is definitely worth checking out.

757 Crave is a seasonal eatery that initially opened at the Marina Shores marina in 2011 and continues to be a popular spot among the Great Neck neighborhood and Virginia Beach at large. And for good reason.

I arrived Sunday morning just after 9:00 and the dining area was already half full, within thirty minutes, it was completely full. I was seated immediately and placed my order. The menu has many options and includes omelettes, eggs benedict , Belgian waffles and breakfast burritos. I decided on the Crave-licious Eggs Benny

It is described as two eggs over a baked savory creation of spinach, applewood bacon, onion, garlic and rustic cheese bread and topped with hollandaise. There was an option to add crabmeat for an additional $4 and I took advantage of it. Everything is better with crabmeat.

It didn’t take very long for my order to arrive. I was perfectly content to read my book and enjoy the beautiful day and the magnificent views. I think I got through two pages before my meal arrived.

The eggs were prepared perfectly and I thought the dish was delicious. The potatoes were tasty and naturally complimented the eggs benedict. It was a great meal. I was a little disappointed in the amount of crabmeat I received for the $4 upcharge – but I suppose it should be expected for fresh crabmeat.

According to the owner, the season will be coming to a close in October but there are plans to open a second location in Portsmouth that will be a year-round eatery. Which is good news for Crave fans, of which I am now one. Check them out on Facebook or better yet, just head on down there. Crave is open for breakfast and lunch six days a week and also serves dinner on Wednesday and Thursday. Check out the menu online.



2100 Marina Shores Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
(757) 376-4361


 

The Art of Chocolate - Virginia Chocolate Festival

This weekend I had the pleasure of attending Norfolk's first chocolate festival. There were many events including a Chocolate 101 class put on by the Culinary Institute of Virginia, a chocolate beer challenge and a bartender's challenge all featuring concoctions created with chocolate.

I spent my time at the main event -- The Chocoholic's Dream -- at the Scope Exhibition Hall on March 24, 2012. It is said that good chocolate gives a woman the exact same feeling that she has when she's in love. If that's true, well, I think I fell in love several times at the festival.

The event was well organized and entertaining. There were a variety of vendors, exhibits and demonstrations. Who knew you could do so many things with chocolate?

The first vendor I visited was The Royal Chocolate.

They were strategically situated close to the entrance which, in my opinion, was a good thing because my impression of their chocolate sort of set the stage for my entire experience. The first thing I tasted was a chocolate called Spicy Maya. The first bite was this delicious dark chocolate but the finish or the aftertaste was spicy. Very spicy. Deliciously spicy. I had never had anything like it. The dark chocolate is infused with pasilla chile, cayenne pepper and cinnamon. It was amazing and the woman who sold it to me suggested that it would pair perfectly with cabernet. I also purchased another bar called Firecracker which is dark chocolate with chipolte, salt and pop rocks. The Royal Chocolate is located in the Virginia Beach Town Center.

Some of the other vendors I visited were Trafton's Chocolates, where I purchased a box of truffles, Schakolad where I was able to dip a strawberry into a dark chocolate fountain for $2, and Harry and David where I got to taste milk chocolate truffles.

There were also several wine vendors participating at the festival. I found it fascinating that the lines were much longer at the wine tables than the chocolate tables. I enjoyed the wine that was infused with chocolate more than the actual chocolate wine. The chocolate wine looked like a YooHoo. Not my thing. Three Olives Vodka also provided samples of a chocolate vodka and cherry coke cocktail. Very tasty.

The Prince Michel Winery was also onsite and I tasted the Rapidian River Chocolate wine. This was a red blend infused with chocolate and it was something that I could actually see myself purchasing. Wine was not sold at the festival but it is available at Harris Teeter, Farm Fresh and Total Wine.

Overall, I believe that the first Chocolate Festival was a success. There was such a variety of vendors many of which you wouldn't expect to see: Barnes & Noble, Just Cupcakes and Twisted Sister and Planet Chiropractic (I thought that was weird). I had a great time and I look forward to next year's event.

Woody McGees Barstro

Woody McGees Barstro is located in the Holland Plaza Shopping Center on Holland Road in Virginia Beach. I discovered it on Urbanspoon when I was looking for a place to have brunch on the weekend. I read the reviews and every single one of them was positive. So I had to check it out.

Woody McGees is open seven days a week and serves breakfast/brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. We arrived at 10:30 but when we got there the sign on the door said “Open Daily 11:00 am - 2:00 am”. While waiting in the parking lot I saw a few people coming and going and then the “Open” light came on. So I was a little confused as to when the store actually opened and I couldn’t find anything on the website. Nonetheless, we went in and were seated immediately. The restaurant appears to be separated into two sections, smoking and non-smoking and can be accessed by two different entrances. The bar and televisions are located on the smoking side. We were seated in the non-smoking section.

I had previewed the menu beforehand so I knew exactly what I was going to order. The brunch menu features benedicts, omelets and classic favorites like breakfast burritos and Woody’s French toast. The French toast caught my eye immediately.






The three slices of Texas toast are topped with vanilla bean butter and are served with two scrambled eggs and maple smoked bacon. It was a lot of food but I felt the portion size was perfect. Probably because I had run five miles that morning and was starving. The meal was delicious.

We also ordered a classic ham and cheese omelet which was served with a large bowl of grits.





Also very filling and very tasty.

The atmosphere in Woody McGees was comfortable and the server was attentive. There weren’t many patrons in the restaurant that morning but for me, that was a plus. I enjoy eating a good meal in a peaceful environment where I don’t have to fight to have a conversation and I don’t have to wait for a table.

Overall, I felt the experience was a good one. Woody’s is easy to find on Holland Road, good parking, reasonable prices for brunch, great food and good service.

I would like to go back for dinner because the menu is so varied with sandwiches, burgers, steaks and seafood and an extensive wine list. But for now, I think I found the place where I’ll go for my Mother’s Day brunch.

Check out the website for their complete menu.



4356 Holland Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
(757) 222-6775www.woodymcgees.com

Cotton Southern Bistro

It was my 47th birthday and I was in desperate need of comfort food and I wasn't going to cook it for myself. After a little bit of research I found the Cotton Southern Bistro in Chesapeake. The reviews were mixed but one thing that really impressed me was that with every negative review on Urbanspoon, the owner responded and offered to make the situation right. He seemed to really care about his customer's satisfaction.

Cotton is located in a shopping center on Grassfield Parkway and the ride from Kempsville at dinner time was traffic filled but not unbearable. When we walked in I was surprised at how large the dining area was. There was plenty of seating and I noticed that there was also a separate bar area. We were seated immediately and our drink and appetizer order was taken.

The menu is filled with so many options but I was able to decide on the fried pickles as a starter.

The picture is deceving because there were twice as many pickles in the platter when it was brought to the table. I didn't think to snap the shot until we were almost finished. That's because they were so good. The pickle chips were lightly dusted and fried. Not at all heavy and the creole dipping sauce was a nice compliment but I could have eaten them by themselves.

Cotton serves nightly specials and on Monday we were treated to a pound of steamed shrimp for $7.99.

Seasoned with a generous amount of Old Bay and served with drawn butter and cocktail sauce.

As I said at the beginning of the review, I was in search of comfort food. What is more comforting than fried chicken and macaroni and cheese?

The chicken fried chicken is a breast fried perfectly and topped with country gravy. The chicken was so tender and so juicy and for me, it was the perfect portion size. The mac and cheese was also very good. Not as good as mine ... but still delicious.

The third entree for the evening was the Cotton signature dish, the Kentucky Hot Brown

This is an open-faced grilled turkey sandwich served with fries and smothered with brown gravy. And they aren't kidding when they say "smothered". The turkey was tender and the gravy was tasty but there was just so much of it, that it made the fries soggy and inedible.

The service at Cotton Southern Bistro was friendly. I was a little confused by the uniforms which were black and white striped shirts which made all the waitresses look like referees. I didn't get it but I suppose it's not for me to get. The unform had no bearing on the level of service which I thought was superb and the prices are reasonable as well with the average entree being about $15.

Check Cotton's website for nightly specials and they also advertise live entertainment.

I enjoyed our visit to Cotton Southern Bistro. I love to eat local and the next time I'm craving good comfort food I'll be sure to head back.

648 Grassfield Parkway
Suite 12
Chesapeake, VA 23322
(757) 609-3156
www.cottonsouthernbistro.com

Pulcinella

What's better than authentic Italian food? Authentic Italian food in my neighborhood!

I was so very excited to have discovered Pulcinella in the Kempsville neighborhood of Virginia Beach. I've been a resident for several years and I'm not sure why I didn't stumble upon this place sooner.

Pulcinella is conveniently located in the Kemps River shopping center in between Tropical Smoothie and Outback. It's a cozy, little place and very comfortable. I arrived shortly before 6:00 pm and almost every one of the twelve tables was occupied. Since I was dining alone I had to wait until one of the smaller tables became available. They provide outdoor seating but I was willing to wait for an indoor table. The wait was no more than fifteen minutes.

Once seated I ordered a glass of pinot noir and perused the menu. The menu contains a huge variety of pasta, chicken and veal dishes as well as many appetizers and salads. For such a small place I was surprised at how many different items were on the menu.

I decided on the veal sorrento.

The veal was thinly sliced and extremely tender and prepared with roasted red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes and mushrooms. For me, the portion size was perfect and the flavor was light and delicate. The side dish that I ordered was spinach which was sauteed in olive oil and garlic and dusted with grated parmesan cheese. It complimented the veal perfectly.

Of course, I had to have dessert so I ordered the chocolate mousse.

It was smooth and creamy and the perfect ending to a perfect meal.

The service was outstanding. When I received the check there was a note to leave the tip in cash. I'd never seen that before and it could have been awkward for someone who doesn't normally carry cash. Like myself. However, that day I did have cash with me so it all worked out.

Finding Pulcinella was the highlight of my week. The food was fantastic. I overheard the man at the next table say that he lived in Naples for thirteen years ... in my mind he knows good Italian food and the fact that he was sitting in Pulcinella's speaks volumes.

If you're in the neighborhood you should definitely check it out. Pulcinella is open seven days a week and you can view their entire menu on their website.

1255 Fordham Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23464
(757) 222-0081
www.pulcinellavb.strategicmarketsites.com/

Classic Diner

You ever wake up craving something specific? That happens to me sometimes too. This morning I got up and ran almost five miles and after showering and shampooing all I wanted was eggs and homefries. I could have easily gone into my kitchen and prepared them and I usually do but today I really wanted to hold a menu and have someone else do the cooking and serving.

My desination was the Broken Egg on Kempsville Road but when I pulled up the line was out the door. If I didn't have another appointment I probably would have waited because their food is really good. But I was starving and not in the mood to wait. I considered a few other places that I knew of but I didn't want to drive all the way to Great Neck for eggs and homefries. There had to be a place in Kempsville that wasn't a chain, where I could get a good breakfast and not wait half an hour to be seated.

Classic Diner.

Classic Diner is conveniently located in the Providence Square Shopping Center and I like the place. The service is always friendly and quick and the owners are just really nice people. This place is nothing fancy. Don't wait to be seated and don't look for a cloth napkin. It's a diner for goodness sake.

When I walked in all the booths were taken and all but two of the tables were filled and there were a few seats at the counter. They were extremely busy so I was glad to get a seat. I looked at the menu briefly even though I knew exactly what I wanted. I ordered a veggie omelette and homefries with wheat toast.

The omelette was loaded with spinach, onion, green pepper, tomato, mushroom and swiss cheese and the potatoes were perfect. It was so good just to come to an unassuming little place and get a good meal at a good price.

The customers never stopped coming in and by the time I left there was a wait to get a table.

Classic Diner is open seven days a week for breakfast and lunch.


1021 Providence Square Shopping Center
Virginia Beach, VA 23464
(757) 467-3000

Cobalt Grille - Monthly Wine Dinner

I have been to many wine tastings over the years. I've visited various vineyards, festivals and tastings hosted by different restaurants. There are generally no real surprises. You go, you taste, you buy. Simple.

What attracted me to the Cobalt Grille wine dinner was that the tasting was centered around a specific wine region and the wines were carefully paired with food. The spotlight is definitely on the wine, but the meal that accompanies is well thought out and executed quite nicely.

The August wine dinner took us to the Napa Valley where I got to sample Sauvingon Blanc, Chardonnay, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvingon and Zinfandel.

The first course was a plate of seared scallops with roasted silver queen corn and tomato salad with a sun dried tomato aioli. This course was served with the 2008 Sawyers Cellars Sauvignon Blanc. Sauvignon Blanc is my favorite white wine and I was delighted when it hit the table. It was light and fruity but not sweet.

The second course was pan fried branzini over spinach salad with a saffron broth. It was served with the 2008 Smith-Madrone Chardonnay. I never order Chardonnay. It is just too acidic for my tastes. I sipped it alone and as expected, I didn't like it. However, when I took a bite of the branzini and then sipped the wine ... perfection! It really was amazing to me how palatable the wine was with the fish.

The third course was a wild mushroom and goat cheese tart, served with an arugula balsamic reduction. It was served with the 2009 Novy Family Winery Syrah. For me, this wine was the star of the evening. It was full and rich and delicious and I enjoyed it with the tart but could also sip it alone.

The main course was a roasted beef filet, apple wood smoked bacon braised cabbage, Provence roasted potatoes, red wine bordelaise sauce. The meal was absolutely fantastic. The filet was cooked to a perfect medium temperature and the cabbage was like nothing I had ever tasted. It was served with the 2004 Smith-Madrone Cabernet Sauvignon. Typically, I am not a fan of cabernet and the Smith-Madrone did nothing to change my mind. It was a huge, robust wine that was just too much for me.

For dessert we were presented with a lovely chocolate cheesecake with local figs and pistachios. It was paired perfectly with the 2009 August Briggs "Old Vines" Zinfandel. The zin was my second favorite of the evening. It was rich and aromatic and not too sweet but was lovely with the dessert.

The Cobalt Grille monthly wine dinner was a delight. The service was wonderful and each course was brought out professionally and efficiently. There was not a lot of waiting and I was lucky enough to be seated with the wine host, so I got plenty of details about the event and about what I was drinking. He was an excellent host.

The price for the dinner is $90 per person and for my money, it was well worth it. You also have the opportunity to purchase any of the wines served that evening. The next dinner is scheduled for September 29th and I would highly recommend it.


1624 Laskin Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
(757) 333-3334
www.cobaltgrille.com

Burtons Grill

I love Burtons Grill so I thought it was about time to update my 2009 review.

After a few hours of shopping on Friday I was in the mood for seafood and I thought Burtons would be a good choice. Their menu is quite varied and I'm sure that Burtons can accommodate whatever it is that you are looking for, whether it be a sandwich, burger, steak or seafood.

The atmosphere in Burtons is comfortable and family friendly but it would also be perfect for a special date night. When we arrived without a reservation we were greeted with a smile and seated immediately. One of the things that I love about Burtons' menu is that the specials are listed right inside the menu and they consist of an appetizer, entree, drink and their special 100th wine. I don't have to wait for the server to explain the specials but they are on hand in the event that I have any questions.

I started the meal with the drink special which was an apple martini. The rim was sugar coated and the drink smelled like apple pie. It was wonderful.

As an appetizer I ordered the she-crab soup.

It was warm and delicious and filled with big lumps of crab. It was not overly seasoned and the flavors of the crab and sherry really came through.

As an entree I ordered the shrimp and lobster pasta

Burtons is not stingy when it comes to portion sizes. The shrimp in this dish were huge and they were cooked perfectly. The lobster was plentiful, sweet and tender. The dish also had tomatoes, snap peas -- which added a beautiful pop of color and a very mild sauce.

We also ordered the shrimp and grits

I've had shrimp and grits in quite a few places around town but never like this. There were five jumbo shrimp served atop a grit cake. The sauce included andouille sausage, corn and green peppers. All those flavors combined were fabulous. The grit cake tasted good but it was a little heavy. Next time I'll know not to order an app if I want to finish this dish.

Our server, Adam was very helpful and attentive. He knew the menu and made many good suggestions. The service was great.

Dining at Burtons is always a good choice. Their menu always includes fresh and local items prepared to perfection. The prices are on the high end, but it is so worth it. If you haven't been to Burtons lately you really need to check it out.

741 First Colonial Road

Virginia Beach, VA 23451

(757) 422-8970

www.burtonsgrill.com