Restaurant Reviews
A friend and I recently visited a fairly new restaurant in the Northside called The Mill. It is located on MacArthur Avenue. We were seated fairly quickly and we found the the atmosphere pleasant.
We started with the hummus plate ($7), which was nicely presented and came with feta, red onions, pepperoncinis, cucumbers and tomatoes, and was served with warm flatbread. It was delicious and fresh—a great combination of veggies and feta, great for the eyes and the palate. Cheryl ordered the Oyster Po’ Boy ($9) and I ordered the Bellevue BLT ($7). We were served in a friendly and timely manner and the atmosphere was pleasant. There were quite a few people in the place, which I take as a testament to their food and service. The Po’ Boy came with breaded fried oysters, country Virginia ham, lettuce, tomato, ciabatta bread, and a spicy Cajun remoulade. Cheryl thought that the fried oysters paired with the Virgina ham, fresh tomato and lettuce and the “just-right” spiciness of the Cajun remoulade provided the ‘perfect bite’. She also thought that the crisp ciabatta bread was soft in the midde but crisp on the outside and “housed” the Po’ Boy ingredients perfectly. She also thought the fresh made potato chips were fresh and tasty. She also ordered a Wittekerke Belgian Witbier, which she found light and refreshing. They did have an interesting selection of canned beer.
When my BLT came it was nicely presented and came with a potato pancake. The BLT came with hearty, thick-cut bacon, gouda cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayo on a focaccia bread. It was filling and the portion was generous—I ate it all but probably could have taken some home and still been full. I found it to be a nice variation on a Virginia classic. The potato cake was smooth in texture, ‘oniony’ in a good way, not crisp but had a delicious flavor and filling.
After the entrees we decided on coffee and to spilt dessert, which ended up being a piece of key lime pie. The coffee was warm and flavorful and they offered to refill on occasion. The key lime pie was wonderful (a personal favorite) and not an ounce was left over.
Overall, I’d say the experience was an above average one in terms of the food and service, the prices were reasonable and I’d definitely go again. We did have one small snafu with the waitress charging the wrong thing to my card, which was disappointing, but she corrected it in a timely manner and it was no major ordeal.
The Mill is located at 4023 MacArthur Avenue, Richmond Virginia 23227. Their phone number is (804) 716-1196 Give them a try some time. For more information, go to their website at http://themillrva.com/
Rick Puckett
(Resident Food Critic ; ) )
Harrison Body Works, Inc.
Review of Stella's Restaurant
My restaurant partner Cheryl and I recently went to Stella’s for dinner. We called for reservations and when I arrived and gave them the name, they were willing to seat me immediately. I was a little early, but after Cheryl joined me, we were quickly seated at a table.
The place was tastefully decorated, nicely lit, and had a warm, inviting ambience. We were there before 6:00pm so, although there were already people there, the place wasn’t jam packed. When we looked at the menu, it was immediately apparent that authentic American Greek was the theme.
We each ordered a glass of cabernet sauvignon wine and we decided on splitting the Spanikopita appetizer. They first brought out some fresh bread and olive oil. Cheryl didn’t indulge in it, but I found it to be fresh and wonderful. I’m told they bake it fresh every day. It sure tasted like it. Then came the spanikopita. Wow! I know some of you will think I’m exaggerating when I say this but, it was as if the flavors were from heaven. It was literally mouth-watering, melt-in-your-mouth, succulently delicious. Mmm mmm mmm!! It was so fresh and wonderfully spiced! I’m telling you, this singular experience—should it be that of other patrons, would be enough to bring any of us back again and again.
The wine was a good choice also, and although I’m no wine connoisseur, it was smooth to my palate and better than some other varieties I’ve had. We ordered the “Classic” Greek salad ($9) without the onion, and it came with Romaine lettuce, cucumber, kalamata olives, pepperoncini, feta and vinaigrette. It was more than enough for the two of us and it was good, fresh and thoroughly enjoyable, although I personally would have liked a few more pepperoncinis.
When the entrées came out, they were beautifully prepared and nicely presented. My Moussaka ($14) was, EXCELLENT. Moussaka is layers of sautéed eggplant, aromatic ground beef, baked with béchamel and topped with grated cheese. There was, if I’ve got it right, a subtle hint of paprika which was pleasant to the nose. It also came with a Rosemary garnish, which was a nice touch. Unfortunately, I was quite full by this time and ate only a bit of the dish. I took the rest home and ate it for the better part of another meal. And it was just as good the second time around. Cheryl had the pan seared Salmon ($19) and elected to have the Horta ($6) instead of another side. She indicated that the Salmon was seared to perfection and excellent. Horta (for those of us who don’t know) is dandelion greens sauteed with extra virgin olive oil, roasted garlic and fresh lemon and she thought they were wonderful paired with the Salmon, cooked perfectly and that the olive oil complimented the taste of the greens. YUM! she wrote.
We didn’t get dessert, but if the other items are any indication, the desserts would have been wonderful. By the time we left, the place was packed with people waiting for tables. Yes, if my night was indicative of a typical night at Stella’s, then Stella has certainly built a loyal following in Richmond and deservedly so. I would highly recommend Stella’s to anyone who isn’t already a fan—if there are any left! Stella’s is located at 1012 Lafayette Street, Richmond, Virginia, 23221, not far from the intersection of Malvern and Monument. Given the popularity of the place, I would recommend getting a reservation before going, although they do accept walk-ins. Their phone number is (804) 358-2011 and their web address is www.stellasrichmond.com
