Hey, have you heard? We’re supposed to see a return of real winter this year. For those of us who like snow and cold, that’s good news. For normal people, not so much. On those cold, winter nights to what comfort food do you turn? Everyone has their comfort foods. But for the adults in our audience, we may be looking for a comfort drink. We went in search of some of the more comforting drink ideas to help take the chill off. Not only did I get to try some great adult beverages, but I got to meet some of the nicest, warmest folks in the restaurant business.
Mr. Pepe Mexican Restaurant
Genito location: 10902 Hull Street Road; 804-276-1154
Woodlake location: 7020 Woodlake Commons Loop; 804-818-5953 MrPepeMexicanRestaurant.us
For a delicious, authentic Mexican meal in a family-friendly atmosphere, you’ll be delighted with your meal regardless of which of the two Mr. Pepe’s you visit.
However, the Woodlake location is larger and offers a much more expansive bar area. Hector Ortega, the GM in Woodlake, has spent most of his adult life in the hospitality industry and is a firm believer in offering exceptional, personalized customer service. “We want every guest to feel special,” he says. “We want them to know we care about them.” Assistant manager Onan O’Neal reflects the same regard for each guest. Onan, who can often be found behind the bar, prepared not just one, but two cocktails that will warm you from within.
For winter warmth, Hector says there’s nothing better than a shot of tequila, however, if you want a little more flavor with your tequila, he and Onan offer some great recipes for a variety of margaritas. For my visit, Onan prepared both the Tropical Margarita and the Teremana Margarita, The Tropical’s lovely green color comes from the inclusion of Crème de Menthe, but that liqueur doesn’t overwhelm the flavor of the drink. The Teremana’s primary ingredients are Teremana tequila and pink lemonade. Both drinks were excellent.
Annie Ruth’s Wine Bar and Bistro
6161 Harbourside Centre Loop; 804-639-9940; AnnieRuthsWine.com
It’s funny that one of the, warmest little dining/drinking spots in the entire county is run by one of the coolest guys in the business. For a place that’s so sophisticated and classy, Annie Ruth’s owner, Curtis Perry, is a very down-to-earth, fun guy. I’m not saying he’s not classy, but he’s certainly no snobbish stuffed shirt. Curtis spent most of his professional life working in Fortune 500 companies, with many of those years in insurance sales. But, he says, “I got to a point that I did not like corporate America.”
So, he dropped out and dropped in to a small dessert-centric restaurant in the Brandermill/Woodlake area known at the time, as The Desserterie.
Since purchasing the cozy eatery, Curtis has changed its name to Annie Ruth’s, in honor of his mother, He shifted the menu to focus more on classic American fare, such as shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, salmon, steaks, and burgers. In addition to serving lunch and dinner, Annie Ruth’s Saturday and Sunday brunch have proven to be very popular with the locals.
As for the perfect drink for a cold winter night, Curtis says he and his fiancée Kyia Byrd debated as to which drink to feature. They decided upon their very popular boozy cocktail featuring soft serve ice cream. During the week of my visit, the soft-serve treat featured orange-vodka. “It reminds you of the orange dreamsicle you had as a kid,” he says. “Our goal was to give you a blast from the past.” And what can be more warming than recalling fond memories?
I relived my past with this fantastic treat. I could almost hear the music that came from the ice cream truck luring us kids out onto the streets with our nickels in hand. Only thing is, Mr. Ice Cream Truck Man of yesteryear didn’t have any vodka on him. Or, if he did, he didn’t share it with us. Summer, spring, winter or fall, this drink has it all.
The Grill at Waterford
13548 Waterford Place (in the Village at Waterford);
804-763-0555; TheGrillAtWaterford.com
One of the warmest restaurants in the area – literally – is the Grill at Waterford. “Our fireplace keeps the restaurant warm even on the coldest nights,” says Sara Atkinson, the owner of the Grill. Sara had operated restaurants in the city earlier in her life. However, by 2008, she tells me, “My youngest one (Jake) was graduating from high school. My husband had passed away. And I decided I wanted to get back into the business.” That was the origins of this popular Midlothian dining spot. Today, Jake continues to work alongside his mother in operating the Grill.
Sara says, “I had always wanted to have a Fan-style restaurant in the Southside.” If you’re familiar with the small, intimate neighborhood restaurants in Richmond’s Fan District, then you will know what type of place Sarah had in mind. The Grill at Waterford fits the bill perfectly. On the night of my visit, the place was filled with regulars. Everyone truly seemed to know everyone else.
As for the menu, Sara says she wanted to provide a little something for everyone. If you want seafood, you might opt for the shrimp and grits or the delicious crab cakes. If you’re in the mood for Italian, try the Tuscany Chicken or the Grill Seafood Scampi. For good Southern fare, you’ll find meatloaf, chicken pot pie, and much more.
Sara says she likes everything on the menu, including the liver and onions, which is so popular, she tells me that folks come in just for that dish.
On a cold winter night, pull up a seat by the fire and enjoy (as I did) the Café Van Gogh, which features Van Gogh Double Espresso Vodka, Baileys Irish Cream, and coffee. The whipped topping is the icing on the cake, so to speak. If it sounds delicious, take my word for it. It is – perfect for a cold winter night. Sara recommended I try the mini crab cakes with the drink. They were wonderful – small but very tasty.
When the temperatures start to dip, head on over to The Grill at Waterford. As Sara says, “Even if you’re not a regular, you’ll be made to feel like one.”