You really don’t feel like cooking tonight. You want to eat out at a place with some ethnic flair, but where do you go? Should you go to a place you frequent or try some place new? If you try some place new, how can you possibly navigate the menu like a pro? Whether you’re a local wanting to branch out or just calling Spotsylvania home for the weekend, let us guide you to taste the globe.
A Hankering for Himalayan Fare
Recently opened and receiving rave reviews, Himalayan Heritage Restaurant brings the best of Nepali and Indian dishes to Spotsylvania. There is a signature dish for everyone on their expansive menu (including vegetarian, non-vegetarian, halal meat, low oil, low salt, and low-calorie offerings) prepared to your personal preference of spiciness. Try the Pork Sekuwa, Nepali style grilled marinated pork for an appetizer, followed by Tandoori Chicken or Lamb Vindaloo. Do not forget a side order of warm Naan bread or Papadoms (thin lentil crisps with tamarind sauce)! Menus change daily so you’ll never get in a rut of ordering the same thing. And, if you have a craving for a particular dish, just let the staff know in advance and they will be happy to prepare it for you.
Craving Chinese
Since 1989 (one of the oldest restaurants in the region, operated by the same contiguous owners!), Dragon Inn is a local staple serving a variety of Chinese dishes. Order a house specialty like Orange Beef with crispy beef tenderloin stir-fried in a spicy orange sauce or the Fortune Combination with stir-fried beef, jumbo shrimp, sea scallops, roasted pork, chicken, broccoli, and snow-peas. Korean options are also available upon request.
Must-Try Mexican Flavors
When your tastes take you South of the Border, you have to eat at El Patron. Everything – from the chips and tortillas to seasoning blends – is made in-house. Likely anything with Latin flare you have been craving is on the menu. Sip on a refreshing margarita as you decide between something traditional like the Patron Quesadilla filled with grilled chicken, steak, shrimp, onions, peppers, and tomatoes or something more adventurous like Fajitas Veracruz with steak, chicken, and chorizo topped with pineapple slices served in a pineapple shell. The Patron Dip, made with locally famous cheese sauce and beans, ground beef, and pico de gallo or an order of guacamole made tableside are must-have meal starters.
Searching for Surf Specialties
When you’re in the mood for fresh seafood and made-from-scratch hushpuppies, look no further than Fish N’ Grill Restaurant. Enjoy a Crab Cake Burger served on a brioche bun with homemade tartar sauce and signature fries. For a feast, try the Captain’s Platter, complete with two pieces of fish, one crab cake, six pieces of shrimp, four ounces of scallops and oysters, four hushpuppies, and two side dishes. Talk about a true bounty of the sea!
Quelling the Need for Comfort Food
For the ultimate comfort food, head to Gourmeltz, a ‘90s themed bar where everything is made from scratch and the classic grilled cheese sandwich is taken up boundless notches. Bite into the Bourbon Buffalo Chicken Melt stuffed with pickled red onions, hand-made mozzarella sticks, provolone, and grilled cheese. For an elevated grilled cheese reminiscent of your childhood, the Inside-Out 5 Cheese Grilled Cheese that has Asiago, Parmesan, and Romano cheese on the outside plus your choice of five cheeses on the inside is a cheese lover’s dream! Cocktails (think anything from a Grape Gatorade to a Smoked Old Fashioned) as well as a generous offering of seventeen on-tap beers are also available.
Authentic Italian That’s Amore
For authentic Italian food, check out Itavie. Known for its picturesque vitrine of desserts and homemade gelato, you’ll likely have a hard time choosing just one treat from the case (the choice between their New York Cheesecake and Strawberry Crunch Cake is never easy). Your selection of gelato may be even tougher as sixteen different flavors from Caffe Mocha to Frutti Di Bosco are offered and change regularly.
Getting Your Cup of Joe On
For that perfect pick-me-up, 25◦-30◦ Espresso Coffee Roasters has curated artisan coffee beans from all over the world from women-owned, fair-trade coffee farms. Sip on the Columbian blend, with notes of dark chocolate, dark cherry, and cashews or the Ethiopian blend with notes of strawberry, blueberry, and graham cracker. If you order a café drink like a latte or espresso, the house-made syrups will make your experience heavenly! Before you leave, grab a bag to brew at home, too.
An Epicurean Epicenter in Spotsylvania, Virginia
The next time you’re in the mood for a meal that expands your cultural horizons, check out one of these recommended spots. While the dishes above are a delicious starting point, do not be surprised if you incorporate one (or all!) of these restaurants into your eat-out rotation with what seems like endless offerings to enjoy!