SM and I arrived at our 9:30 Hungry Mother reservation with fierce appetites and the grand anticipation of something already known to be wonderful.
We passed the charming bar with its handsome bartender on our way up the stairs to the main dining room. For most of the night we opted for the #99 cocktail, a bartender's choice based off a few parameters that you give - sweet, sour, fruity, spirits. I, of course, struggle with parameters but managed through the evening rather nicely. FYI, They make their own grenadine.
Right away we ordered the side of grits with ham and cheese to eat while we made most of the decisions for the night.
We settled on the following:
A peanut soup topped with fried pancetta and served with a lime for squeezing. Salty and smooth, this soup slid right down, slow spoonful after slow spoonful. They boil Virginia peanuts and offer them in the "To tide you over..." portion of the menu, but they are also used in this soup. Having had it before, I am pretty sure there was an understanding we'd be ordering the soup this time around too.
Catfish cakes with a sweet potato play on aioli and frisee were a tasty, not too heavy, fried plate . The fact that I enjoyed this stronger fish speaks volumes (I generally don't care for catfish).
We had a quietly titled mixed greens plate accented with golden beets and roasted, lightly spiced pecans. A Meyer lemon buttermilk dressing topped the salad, standing tall and refreshing.
Our main course was steak, medium rare, delicious, full of iron, confidently simple. Truth be told though, main courses are never my favorite thing. This was the only dish that let us get distracted by other things: conversations, tattoos, meyer lemon- buttermilk dressing, and decor.
As for dessert, 3 plates ended up on our table. I'll be honest, I thought SM and I would have seen more changes on dinner menu from the last time we went. However, the dessert menu had satisfyingly rotated.
We had another #99 cocktail that the bartender said would compliment the coconut cake and oh, how it did, delightfully! The cake was substantial with a light crumb. Topped with long coconut chips, the coconut flavor was unmissable but nothing overpowering or sickeningly sweet as it slowly took over your mouth.
The banana pudding tasted perfectly simple (I was accused of eating more than my share of this.). The flavor was fresh, which is all there is to hope for in anything titled, banana. Topped with as much whip cream as there was pudding and accentuated with graham crackers this dessert was full of a bliss.
The moonpies were exquisite examples of their little species and served with a tiny bowl of creme anglaise. If you have a sentimental attachment to these little guys absolutely order them. Otherwise, they won't necessarily change your mind about moonpies, whatever your opinion.
I wish that I could remember what my last #99 was. SM just said, something for dessert and over the top to sip will we finished the sweets and reflected on the meal. It truly delivered and was the perfect ending.
When describing everything at this Appalachian-french restaurant I wanted to end every sentence with "...and comforting." Yet, I shy away from saying this is a restaurant of comfort food. The term connotes a heavy feeling, a sedation. This was comfort food, new and invigorating.
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