Whether you’re a local resident or just calling Spotsylvania home for the weekend and you want to eat out at a place with some ethnic flair, let us guide you to taste the globe.
A Hankering for Himalayan Fare
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 Asian
Since 1989 (one of the oldest restaurants in the region, operated by the same contiguous owners!), Dragon Inn has been 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. Craving a warm bowl of noodle soup? You will find the best pho in town at the family-owned Pho Saigon Restaurant. Established in the mid-80s, Pho Saigon serves up a diverse menu of Vietnamese cuisines from traditional pho and rice platters to flavorful entrees of green curry, basil, and garlic, mushroom delight and Saigon crepes all with your choice of protein and veggies. Ready for some fusion, Asian Diner is just the place for you where the chef will cook up a variety of Asian-fusion dishes including red, green, and yellow curries, Szechuan, Wood-Grilled Teriyaki, Ginger and Basil, and Crispy Whole Fried Fish. And, for an appetizer, be sure to try their handmade sushi rolls or roti canai. For a unique dining experience, visit Gogi Go Korean BBQ where you will find prime quality ingredients to cook in the authentic Korean style on your own tabletop grill with fresh flavors that liven up the taste buds and satisfy the palate all served with the traditional banchan including kimchis, scallion pancakes, and soups.
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 the 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. On-the-go? You can hit the drive-thru at Carnitas Michoacan Mexican Grill for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, where you can chase the authentic flavors of Mexico from a fantastic breakfast burrito, traditional Mexican sweet, or delicious specialties like Quesabirria Tacos, El Paisa or Carne Asada with all the fixings.
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. Looking for low-country style, Fatty's Taphouse Seafood and Grill offers up fried fish and assorted seafood baskets and the famous steam-pots with your choice of snow crab legs, shrimp, clams, oysters, and mussels served with corn, red potatoes, sausage, and choice of side. Talk about a true bounty of the sea!
Quelling the Need for Comfort Food
In the mood for 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. Craving some southern comfort and soul food, stop into Hope Heroes Southern Kitchen where buying a bowl is giving a bowl (3-5% of profits are donated to providing meals at no cost to those in need). Try the popular Sweet Tea Braised Brisket with Hoppin' John and dirty rice or have a classic comfort dish like Chicken-N-Waffles, Shrimp-N-Grits, or Bone-In Port Chops with a side of braised collards or mustards and Mac-N-Cheese all served with their famous Hope Cakes (corn cakes). And, don't forget the Banana Pudding for dessert!
Authentic Italian That’s Amore
For authentic Italian food, check out Itavie New Your Grill and Bakery. Itavie has daily lunch and dinner specials and serves up traditional pizza, lasagna, or spaghetti and meatballs as well as chef and fresh-from-the-garden inspired dishes like Fried Green Tomatoes, Strawberry and Prosciutto Salad, Nonna's Giardino Pasta, and Manhattan Beef Wellington over Red-Skin Mashed Potatoes with a Mushroom and Brown Butter Sauce, Grilled Halibut topped with Lump Crab Meat served with French Green Beans or Blackened Shrimp and Asparagus over Pasta. 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 Lemon-Berry Marscapone 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. Also capturing the taste of Italy, the Amato family has been serving Spotsylvania since 2002 at Angela's Italian Restaurant with favorites such as Pork Ossobuco, slow-roasted pork served over risotto in a creamy mushroom sauce, or select Pappardelle Mari e Monti with lobster tail, shrimp and crab meat topped with a homemade pumpkin sauce.
Getting Your Cup of Joe...& More
Head to Affogato to savor the flavors of Europe with their specialty Balkan-style pastries, premium coffee and indulgent ice cream. Whether it be a savory panini, an organic oatmeal, a recovery smoothie or a large sundae with all of the toppings, there is something delicious at Affogato for any time of the day. Don't miss their signature Affogato - the perfect collision of rich, bold espresso with sweet, creamy vanilla ice cream.
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 spots. While the dishes 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! Spotsy has a spot for you!