7/7/2008

4/5 stars

Oooh. I wasn't expecting grilled pizza and tamales in the same place… And it works. The tamales are good (even though they're not pork). The formaggio pizza was quite good. The basil was a little dark, but I'm not sure it's quite in season here and now. Otherwise, really good. And the crust was perfectly grilled, thin, and crisp. Cheese was browned and flavorful. Plenty of good-looking choices on the menu besides the pizzas.

And my server was perfect, which is pretty surprising for an inexpensive place. Not hanging overhead and stopping by exactly at the right times.

Plus, a restaurant with free wi-fi?!? Handy for stopping in while the car's in service around the corner. Smaller and larger beers on tap, too.

Yelp tags: Restaurants

7/7/2008

4/5 stars

Pop Rock ice cream. No pop, but the flavor. I think the ice cream is made there. That, and a robot. Come on! How can this place not be cool.

It's almost too spacious inside; you can't see the robot and ice cream making area clearly from the door. But they're there, and it's cool. Robot. Seriously.

The folks were friendly, although on this day I think they were glad to have anyone come in and break the monotony. This ice cream place was the only cafe-like place open for the July 4th weekend.

And a robot. I love it.

Yelp tags: Coffee & Tea Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt

7/11/2008

5/5 stars

I just realized Christensen-Heller might be on yelp! These people are wonderful, amazing, talented, and great! The people who work here are *jewelers and artists* rather than salespeople. Ask to see their work and their favorite work, and be prepared to be taken on a journey through some beautiful areas.

The store is small, and you'll still want to spend all day looking and discussing. Excellent traditional pieces, astounding experimental pieces, and just plain great stuff. They never skimp on the components in the pieces, either.

They don't look down on small purchases, either. Anything supports them and the artists whose work they carry. Or take pieces to Christiansen-Heller for repair; their initial evaluations always have been accurate for my wife and I.

Yelp tags: Art Galleries Jewelry

7/15/2008

5/5 stars

Their care in selecting and reviewing the green coffee they carry is perfect for beginners and dabblers like me. Start here. They not only carry coffee but also host a ton of information on-line, actively participate in their coffee mailing list, and generally try to form a community around good coffee from tree to cup.

If you're nearby, you can pick up during limited hours. Saves on shipping and lets you meet (quickly; they're really busy) some great people.

The prices seem good, and the quality is superb. I've only had their pre-roasted coffee once (at their 10th anniversary party), but it was excellent.

And yes, I'm drinking coffee from their beans as I write this. An Ethiopian Golocha. Wonderfully rich on the City/Full City border. I nailed this one…

Yelp tags: Coffee & Tea

7/15/2008

4/5 stars

Comfortable, relaxed, and good. The gelato is made in-store. The staff is friendly and tolerant of people who stay quite a while. (Remember to at least buy refills every so often…) The muzak is annoying, but it seems to be the only thing coffee shops in this area will play.

Yelp tags: Coffee & Tea

7/30/2008

5/5 stars

At a special event (Local Foods Celebration for the Virginia Highlands Festival), they seated a full restaurant at the same time. The menu naturally was limited, but this situation is where you see the quality not only of the food but also the wait staff. There weren't many, but they were incredibly efficient. No one had to wait an overly long time for food, and drinks were kept full.

This is on top of the local food emphasis and high quality. Gazpacho with truly fresh vegetables. Meat you can almost meet. Good stuff.

Oh, and the candy orange slices you can find in the adjacent Meadowview Farmers' Guild (general store) are GREAT!

Yelp tags: American (Traditional)