The evening ended with racial slurs and police cars. Needless to say, we were so thankful to return to The Ville. Everything we complain about this town paled after our night in Staunton.
Let me start from the beginning. A friend is directing a play in Staunton and a group of us (seven total) decided to head over the mountain to check it out. We met up at Zynodoa, a hip looking restaurant on the main street in downtown Staunton. The decor was Maya-esque - cool stone, sleek fixtures, even the same light fixtures over the bar. The menu was impressive despite the use of every word related to sauce: couli, aioli, demi-glace, reduction, emulsion, essence, puré, confit. True, there are differences between those words, but have you ever seen a menu with every single one on it? They also had sweetbreads on the menu and I’m pretty sure the fine folks of Staunton aren’t ordering too much of that entrée (Cville’s lack of appreciation for sweetbreads was one reason cited when one local Frenchman got out of the lunch business, so even the sophisticates here aren’t fond of them).
Anyway, we ordered drinks and food. The drinks came in large glasses and they were so weak, the alcohol could barely be tasted. We were a little disappointed, but were still excited for the main event. An hour later when our food came, we were in shock. “Pizza” was actually a piece of flat bread with oil, a shaving or two of cheese, and three or four slices of tomato on it. The portion sizes on the steak and salmon were pretty small (reminded me of commercial where the couple at an exclusive restaurant gets their food and remarks “It’s elf food”). Don’t you love being hungry after you finish your dinner?
We were in another world…the restaurant was packed. People were actually enjoying themselves. We were laughing, but more at the absurdity of this place. Are the nice people on the other side of the mountain experiencing the culinary equivalent of the emperor’s new clothes? Is the swank decor and interesting menu clouding their judgment? This place would not fly in Charlottesville.
Oh! I almost forgot about the racial slurs and the police cars. The play addressed racism and ended with a passionate aside by the main character during which he tossed out words I’ve never heard in person. Pretty shocking, but it was a good show. And the police cars…well, Staunton must either have the most anal police force around or loads of drunk drivers because we saw at least five people pulled over between downtown and the ramp onto the highway. It was an uneasy drive.
You know, I’ve been harsh on here a few times and I’m starting to think that I need to keep my mouth shut and stick to the fun stuff. We have a pretty sweet deal in this city.
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Tagged as: Bars, Central Virginia, Cocktails, Restaurants, Restaurants/Bars, Reviews
Duner’s has been serving sweetbreads every night since 1983 with great success. Ivy is tres hip.
I went to the Baja Bean in Staunton once. “Lots of people constantly looking to start fights” was the atmoshere. The town made me happy to leave.
That is too bad. I went to Zynodoa a few months ago and totally enjoyed my meal. I also go to the Baja Bean pretty regularly and the staff there is really great and the people have always been very nice. I had always thought how nice it was that that place seems to be able to attract a mixed crowd and everyone has a good time.
BTW, I neglected to use the feature that would only show the first paragraph or two on the front page with a link for those who want to continue reading. So sorry for taking up so much space on the front page!
What did you have? Did you have any mixed drinks or did you stick to beer and wine? As you can probably imagine, we switched to beer and wine after the first round of drinks came.
I should add that I’m not critical of the service at all. It was great. I’m critical of the food. Close to $100 was spent on two bowls of soup, the lavash pizza, a mouthful of duck (literally), two beers, and two mixed drinks.
Hard to remember now. Only had wine and thought their list was good. tuna tartar(sp?) which was good. Had 3 or 4 things between two people and enjoyed them all. Don’t really do mixed drinks so I’m not a good judge of that. Thought it as a perfectly respectable place.
Thanks, Upstart. I am going to edit this– I’ll insert a “Continue Reading” and, if the inspiration strikes in the next two minutes, a picture. What play did you see? It doesn’t say, and I’d like it to be named. Well written, as always!
On MLK Day, I was hoping to take a day trip to Lexington and stop in Staunton JUST to go to Zynadoa. I suspect I still will very soon.
My recommendation to restaurants (Thor thinks I should be charging for opinions like this) is to be as transparent as possible about a long wait for food. When I was a server, I did well because I would say I’ve been “triple-sat” (not in those words) or that the kitchen has just received six tables’ orders at once. The menu at the Blue Mountain Brewery actually has it in words– that it’s a one-person kitchen and food may take a while. It’s well worth it. The OXOs and the Zocalos and the Cassises, in my experience, have your meal perfectly timed. If you can’t do that, don’t fake it.
siany, you were probably drunkie.
Aftonio, I just approved your comment. How do you prepare your sweetbreads? I love Duner’s. Best way I ever had sweetbreads was in a spicy peanut sauce– for my birthday, I asked to be taken to this restaurant in San Diego JUST for that dish. Spectacular. I love offal but the mental thing and the price keep me from ordering it a lot. Needless to say, no one asked for a taste.
Nope. one glass of wine. I prefer to be safe in my own bath tub before getting ripped.
Aside from that Mr. Lincoln, how was the play?
The valley is a mysterious & conservative place, but any of that stuff could have happened in Cville. We have tons of cops for a town our size, always have, we’re a tourist/college town, and that’s how it is. We’ve had some pretty odd restaurants stay full up after disturbing foreign object stories appeared in C-Ville Weekly the week before. We have stomach ache Mexican and Chinese restaurants that get great business. Well, I’m having trouble making this argument. I can’t think of a restaurant like the one you mention exactly but I feel like I have been there, a town in the midwest…
Anyway when in the Great Valley of Virginia, also visit these fine establishments:
Wright’s Dairy Rite - Staunton, 346 Greenville Ave (Rt. 11), ten zillion flavors of milk shakes, hamburgers, bbq, juke box, etc.
The Little Grill - H’burg, a worker owned diner cooperative, 621 N Main St. (Rt. 11), like the Blue Moon *should* be in my little dumb opinion.
Or bring your own dang food and eat it in your room at the Stonewall Jackson hotel, muttering non-racial epithets to yourself…
or just stay on Rt. 11 and go all the way to New Orleans… or Canada.
The play was “This is How it Goes” and it was put on by Ampersand Arts. Here’s their blog. I thught it was very well done. The actors were fantastic, particularly the two male leads.
Lilith, we need to split an order of sweetbreads. I want to try them, but worry that I won’t like ‘em and will have wasted a good amount of pocket change in the bargain. Cheap restaurants do not serve sweetbreads.
I should have added “Thank goodness” after that last comment.
Thanks! Colfer, not right now, but later, I’d like to turn your comment into a post. I just had Google-map Staunton because I thought Rte 11 was a typo for Rte 81, but no!
Sian, how was last night’s tasting?
The valley has stuff we don’t have, it’s like a foreign country, that’s what I mean.
@13: I’d be happy to!
@14: Oh, the possibilities. (CRINGE.)
Lilith, that rant only has a few informative parts to it, but do as you will. I might be able to add some narrative, but I really want to step outside right now. I love sunshine in the winter, and I ain’t bringing my laptop.
The tasting was great! We have moved a large stack out of the middle of the floor so, it was still really busy but folks could move.
Had some fun stuff. Molly Dooker white, Viognier, an Austrian Zweigelt Novemberlese. We also had a Barley Wine, which is a favorite beer style for me.
yo siany you bring wine now to Lynchburg. We miss you.
Sian, that was a really good move! I love your tastings, and it has everything to do with the fact that the wines are often priced at something I would buy and the pours are generous. It’s slightly frustrating to taste all $20+ in California. “Yes, this IS wonderful. You can stop trying to sell it to me, though, because I will be leaving with your overstocked merlot.”
Colfer, go outside, have fun. Email me some more at cvillainlilith@gmail.com at your leisure.
FYI, Lilith, if you wanted to add a picture, the blog I linked to has two publicity posters on it. The restaurant’s website doesn’t have anything that could be used. I wish I had snapped a picture of the pizza. It would have been funny to see the reaction, especially since pizza brings up some passionate opinions around here.
Tee! We try to keep it real. Now I should probably go back to work at our wonderful wine shop or I’ll wind up rotating stock at World Market!
Caroline, I have gotten a lecture from yer bro already. We’ll see what we can do.
Mkt. Street just gets better every year, the character of the place is seasoning like a Virginia oak barrel.
So I tried to get my friend to buy this stuff at Mkt. St., a sparking Beaujolais (first Google link I found! Katie come on back!):
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14482293/page/2/
called FRV 100 but somehow she noticed the alcohol content was only 7.5%. That’s a plus really.
That stuff is prutty dang tasty.
Ah, so refreshing to once again come across another arrogant, Cville-centric post–as if we Stauntonians are a bunch of provincial, unsophisticated bumpkins with no cultural or culinary awareness…I should mention here that prior to moving to Staunton, my husband and I (from CA originally) had your reaction to your beloved Cville, which, by the way, is really just a college town!
We are self-described “foodies” who have eaten at restaurants all over the world and have enjoyed every one of our meals at Zynadoa, drinks included. Sorry to hear your experience was unpleasant, but I suggest you engage in a slightly more thoughtful analysis of your experiences before posting such a condescending and unfair assessment of an entire town.
@27 AB- YOU ARE IN MORTAL DANGER! Deety-boy will call you names! Criticizing C’Ville is considered a crime in these parts. Admitting that you have been outside the borders of Virginia (god forbid you’ve been “all over the world”) will get you branded an elitist snob, especially if you suggest that there might be some good restaurants elsewhere.
I vote with you. C’Ville is nothing more than a cheap college town putting on airs. The food and drink scene IS improving lately, but it’s still rather dismal compared to about 1000 other locales. Staunton ain’t half bad. The food there is no worse than typical C’Ville fare, and I’ve found the people there to be generally friendly and fun, fewer Muffy-types and trust-fund babies, more poser-free than the average Charlottesville crowd. Upstart should give the other side of the hill another chance.
@27 AB I like Staunton and Zynadoa and you are more then welcome to call cville on it’s navel gazing ways. I hope you will excuse Jay Latete (don’t want to give him big head) for he failed to read this last line in your post.
He is guilty of the doing the very thing that you so correctly take issue with. I will continue to visit this charming, welcoming city and recommend all the same to all other cvillains
@28, 29–Glad to hear I’m not the only one who has found Staunton to be a charming and inviting place; it offers a lot more than many give it credit for (which explains my earlier outrage). I do get frustrated with the Cville-centrism I’ve experienced and appreciate hearing more enlightened perspectives. BTW, the “all over the world” in my earlier rant does sound a tad snooty–I’l put it down to the righteous rage of the moment :)…but I am truly glad to hear there are Cville folks out there who journey over the mountain with open minds!
i love going to staunton because it has cracker barrel and dunkin donuts and the woodrow wilson library.