What's on the menu? Let's start with the tea. Flavors such as mango, peach and raspberry tea are among the offerings. Honestly, the mango offering was a pleasant surprise to see on a southern establishment's menu. Maybe it is the result of an influx of people of Latin descent moving in non traditional locations in the south. My dining companion a local southerner loved the raspberry tea.
Appetizers are hearty in portions. The buffalo shrimp come in a generous portion size and they are not overly spicy. The portobello mushroom sandwich is divine
brimming with flavor of fresh tomatoes, onions, balsamic vinegar, and spinach. The ribs and cornbread is a winning dish as well. The cornbread is moist the and the coleslaw is devoid of mayo and leaving one to concentrate on the flavor and crispness. The crab dip is delicious and we were especially impressed that all of the dish are not salty. They are seasoned well though.
The Spotswood salad looks a mountain of healthy decadence filled with carmelized almonds, cucumbers, spinach carrots and crowned with alpha sprouts.
(Destiny is our friendly server)
As for the meat and potatoes dish, the steak is atop mashed pototoes. Juices from the steak ooze down the potatoes. The meal is complimented with crisp asparagus.
Desserts- The menu has southern staples such as red velvet and four coconut cake. However, we sampled the chocolate amaretto pie, key lime pie and cheesecake. The Chocolate amaretto pie is a rich chocolate meant to be paired with coffee and long chats. The key lime pie is delightful. The cheesecake is good but does not have wow factor.
Atmosphere: Fresh carnations on the tables, wooden tables, artwork on the walks. It is casual. It has an artsy and rustic feel. No more than a mile away from Old Dominion University.
