I took this trip back in August when I helped my Mom move. I wasn't very good at always having my camera handy but did take some photos of the food we ate.
Frost Cafe-Culpeper, VA
This place has been reviewed several times online and I'm a sucker for old diners so we had to stop. It was about 90 degrees out and about 50 degrees inside this place. I had to order hot food since it was so chilly inside the place. I had the fish fry which I regretted ordering after it came. Coming from Buffalo, NY where we have beer battered fish, I was expecting something similar. It was not, and was possibly a commercial breaded-frozen fish. Oh well, because the bread pudding made up for it! It was dense, rich, and not too sweet. It was a real treat for me since there are not many places that serve it here.
Hillside Family Restaurant-Burkeville, VA
We stayed at the Comfort Inn and this appeared to be the only restaurant in town and it was walking distance to the hotel on a rainy night. The owner was a very funny and nice man and joked with us while we waited. They served breakfast all day so of course I had to get french toast. It was nothing special but at 8pm and no other choices I was happy. I also had a slice of applesauce cake since I had never heard of it before. It was dense, slightly moist, and topped with a shortening based frosting and mini chocolate chips. The cake was pretty good but the frosting was not my thing.
Back at the hotel... they had a resident cat who belonged to the hotel owner. He was fat, and not that interested in us and lived in the front lobby area.
Greenville, NC- Farmers Market
From afar we could hear this loud popping noise and I saw people walking around with ice cream... I ventured over to find a man making ice cream from a tractor! He served chocolate and vanilla piled high in small bowls for $3, I think. It was delicious and creamy. Who doesn't love homemade ice cream on a hot NC day?
My mother decided to buy a house in Grifton so while we were looking at a few places we stopped at Andy's. I do not eat fast food at home but regional chains when you are on vacation can be fun to stop at. This particular location was packed (it was one of maybe 2 restaurants in town) and it has a cutesy 50's diner theme. I had never heard of Andy's before but they served milkshakes and my Aunt insisted on taking us. The chocolate shake was thick and creamy and quite good surprisingly. I wouldn't go back to one but it was a fun experience.
Flea Market Empanada's
That pretty much says it all! These were flaky, light, and stuffed with an apple filling. I thought they were delicious, and again, we don't have too many places to get homemade empanada's back home.
Finally, Paiges Grille-Greenville, NC
I forgot to take my camera inside. It is a classic diner style with tables and counter with stools. When I asked about the pancake batter the cook came to the table to talk with us. Normally I would feel a little shorted when I was told the pancakes were made from a dry mix bought at a store. But they had a flavor so different, almost like an almond or blueberry taste. I went to the store that night and bought a bag of it-Atkinsons Buttermilk Pancake mix, apparently an old NC milling company. The ladies say a lot of people comment on the pancakes and they can't change to homemade now.
