This review dates all the way back to my first visit in October of 2014. I fully intended to write a review after that visit, only to come down with a bad case of writer's block. Fortunately, I saved my notes on what I ordered:
CONFIT CHICKEN: This dish consisted of an entire leg, slowly cooked in the oven with chicken fat, and then finished in a cast iron pan before it was plated. Supporting ingredients included a VA apple puree, sauteed kale, smoked vidalia onions, and Dave and Dee's organic oyster mushrooms from Sedley, VA.
The meat from the leg was tender and moist, housed in a delectably crispy skin. The puree, onions, kale, and mushrooms combined with the chicken beautifully to form a symphony of robust flavors that came together with oneness and depth. It was profoundly delicious and left me in a state of gastric bliss.
My next visit was in May of 2015, during which I sampled one of their pork belly dishes:
PORK BELLY: With charred carrots, pickled shtiakes, smoked peanuts, kumquats, and fish sauce vinaigrette.
This was one of the best pork belly dishes I ever tasted, sumptuous and delicious. All of the ingredients came together exquisitely.
I returned again in September of 2015 and ordered the following;
SCALLOPS: With charred onions, caramelized peaches, smoked peanuts, rice grits, and fish sauce vinaigrette.
The scallops were melt in your mouth delicious.They combined beautifully with the medley of the rice grits, onions, peaches, and peanuts to produce an explosion of delightful flavors.
After completing this meal, I ordered one of their famous bugers to take home for my dessert. It was described on their menu as follows:
BURGER: Double Patty, Griddled Onion, Pickled Lettuce, Jalapeno, American Cheese, Roasted Shallot Mayo, Big Marty Bun.
I was skeptical at first, as I overheard a diner ordering their burger cooked medium rare during my previous visit, only to be told that all of their burgers are "cooked to the same temperature."
When it comes to burgers, I like mine medium rare. In addition, I don't like American cheese and mayo on my burger, and so I ordered it accordingly without them.
I only intended to take a couple of bites when I came home. Wow! Was I ever wrong. The very first bite blew me away, so much so that I ate the whole thing, sending me into a food coma. The burger was incredibly juicy and delicious.
What really sent their burger over the top for me was their pickled lettuce. It made me forget all about the burger not being cooked medium rare. You can't argue with taste. Lesson learned. Never get too locked in to your personal food biases.
After three visits, I still had not written a review. I was determined to do so after my next visit, which took place earlier this week.
This was also my first visit following their recent expansion, which now allows them to seat a total of 28 people. They can also now accommodate reservations for 6 or more people with a 24-hour notice.
I ordered the following:
UNI: Maine Sea Urchin, Grilled Avocado, Nduja, Lemon Salt.
This was my first time trying a sea urchin, and it was a revelation of tastes that I thoroughly enjoyed. It also set the stage for the entree I ordered next:
MEDITERRANEAN SEA BASS: With Benton's Bacon, VA Apple, Brussel Sprouts, and Charred Leek Puree.
I love a whole fish dish, and this was the best one I've had since the crispy whole catfish I enjoyed at the Lotus of Siam in Las Vegas over ten years ago. The fish meat was tender, flaky, and delicious. The skin and the bones added extra depths and dimensions of flavor.
The brussel sprouts were crunchy and delicious, and I loved the puree that came with it. I took some of the fish to take home, including the head, which I enjoyed for a great breakfast snack the next morning.
Chef Stephen Marsh also treated me to a sample appetizer between courses, which was a beautiful slice of toast with pimento cheese and country ham. It was intensely flavorful and delicious.
Dining at the counter facing their open kitchen is a sight to behold as their chefs showcase their talents. Watching them at work is poetry, passion, and precision in motion.
The service and hospitality of their entire staff has been extraordinarly friendly and accommodating. I must start coming here more often. Every visit so far has been nothing short of a five-star dining experience. read more