Wood Fired Oven (VA) - General/Restaurant Review/Recommendation

If you're looking for an authentic wood fire oven cooked Italian pizza recipe and on the East coast, "Wood Fired Oven" in Grottoes, Virginia is the place to be!

The drive through the valleys and mountain roads is immaculate and no one road there gets you the same view twice and driving to Grottoes in the evening is just spell binding. Speaking of spell binding, the food at Wood Fired Oven will have you going back again and again and again! All their recipes are homemade and you can appreciate them in any dish you order. 

Believe me when I say that there isn't a dish on their menu that disappoints and having gone back so many times kudos to their consistency in the kitchen because that's always concerning when it comes to either a restaurant with a large menu or a restaurant that tends to have a lot of recipes with various sauces. Well this place is delicious to the core!

If you're just wanting a big ass pizza that has the dough perfectly made to only be perfectly cooked no matter the toppings, then you are going to be in for a huge treat eating your pizza here. There is honestly so many ways I can provide kudos to this place and they aren't some fancy location or place, its environment is comfortable yet cozy in the cold and refreshing in the heat. Then their hole in the wall location allows for a family friendly atmosphere which is always appreciated. OH and one of the best parts is that they provide you deliciously homemade and fluffy garlic rolls-to die for! Moving on though...

My personal favorites there are the Lemon Chicken Piccata (that's the image of my plate above), their Chicken Alfredo, the kids spaghetti and meatballs (by far NOT a kids portion but awesome nonetheless), and their create your own pizza of thin crust with mushroom, chicken, pineapple, with marinara sauce. Yup always arrive with a much grown appetite and always leave deliciously satisfied! My kids would sometimes have the leftovers but otherwise I always finished my food. 

https://www.woodfiredovenitalian.com/

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman 

Flemings - Restaurant Review

If you are wanting a delicious experience, great environment, nice ambiance, a feeling like a million bucks, great service, and the ability to try it anywhere in the nation this is a restaurant for you. They label themselves as a steakhouse and wine bar, however at the location we've gone to and enjoyed I honestly have enjoyed more their seafood dishes more! My personal review of this establishment is based off of the location in Plano, TX in the Shops of Legacy area; so I don't know about the other locations around the nation, I can only speak on behalf of this one.

The first time I went was with my sister for her birthday and we had my oldest (who was very little walking at the time) and I was already pregnant with my youngest. It was the Christmas season and the lobby entrance of the restaurant was beautifully decorated. Not only at this first visit but all others thereafter they always have a nice display for selfies and any group photos that may be desired to be taken; honestly a cool setup they have for before and/or after your meal. Moving on! So I'm not being biased by my oldest has always been well behaved and I make sure she's not one of those snot nosed brats running all around the table or restaurant with parents that always like to say "oh they're just kids being kids!" Needless to say even my knowing how well behaved my kiddo was I was still self conscious because a place that looked this nice made me wonder how the environment and ambiance was going to be, at least towards my kids. The world is cruel and likes to generalize so I was dreading how they might treat us thinking that my kid was like all the other snot nosed kids of the world...The waiter was so patient and even tried carrying conversation with my oldest (who really was just starting to use complete words), truly a calm and delicious meal!

With how lovely the entire evening was of course we returned! We've now gone about five times now and let me tell you! The consistency of their food prep, cooking, and meals are impressionable. Their flavors and menu items are all deliciously satisfying and an experience in themselves. Family members of mine have ordered some of their steak menu items but as I mentioned earlier, I have continually been deliciously satisfied and impressed with their seafood items! Below are the pictures of the items that are my favorites! 😁

I can't express enough how delicious this place is, but don't take my word for it and try it yourself! 😉 whether for an intimate dinner for two, traveling or work and wanting to eat at their bar lounge area, or a special family dinner - they won't disappoint https://www.flemingssteakhouse.com/locations#location-overlay

Here we have the crab cakes as an appetizer:

The next three images are of their seafood tower, mouthwatering delicious and oh so fresh!

This is my personal favorite as an entree, their chilean sea bass!

Their chocolate lava cake

Their cream brûlée

 

Let me tell you that I have been happily pleased and impressed with how phenomenal the staff is from the hostess down to the busboys! Hands down a 5-star feel with reasonable prices for the quality of food and all of their menu items from appetizers and drinks to their desserts and after drinks. More importantly, they are always wonderful, patient, and understanding of my little kiddos every time I bring them in. So to all at the Plano, TX location a HUGE thank you for how you have treated myself and my family at your establishment! Continue that wonderful feel and service! 

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman 

J Petal - Restaurant Review

If you're traveling north and going through JMU university city (aka Harrisonburg, Virginia) then you need to put this on the stop for you!

(This is not my image but used after googling “J-Petal”. My pictures from being here are on the blog's instagram page "truthbetoldlifeblog".)

What seems to be a simple family owned restaurant with your typical rolled up ice cream flare that's taking America by storm everywhere, is definitely more than meets the eye! You see we've come to know the owners and their family, who is about 98% of the staff - well it was once upon a time they may have changed that recently but I'm not sure, but regardless that's not the focus of this post. As I was saying, with coming to know the owners well you get to see firsthand how they run their business as well as seeing the quality of what they put into not only their business but their products. Not only are they delicious but the options are unique! The options are not overbearing for someone who is indecisive and yet there is just enough options for someone who comes in craving one thing but contemplating another. Ok before I confuse you with what I'm trying to get at, let me break it down. 

This wonderful place started off with their marketing and go to being the rolled up ice cream, then they ventured into not only the delicious ice cream and toppings but the crepe side of deliciousness! So when cold season rears it's pretty chilly weather, this place has people covered with not only sweet crepes but a twist on seafood and even breakfast style and flavor crepes! Oh but they didn't stop there! By early spring of 2019 we noticed that they were reconfiguring their kitchen area towards the far back area of their entrance meanwhile they had added some delicious drinks to their menu. Granted if they served it with liquor it would've been even more of a delicious surprise, but thankfully their flavors and mixed drinks of flavors and fresh fruits didn't even need the additional boost of liquor. Their mixed drinks were of milkshakes and mixed teas then into some fizzed drinks, etc. All leading into the best thing that could happen to someone, especially someone who loves food as much as I do! They finished their in-house kitchen reconfiguration to surprise all with the poke bowls! I know it may seem that it's a lot for an establishment to do, to become such a versatile one stop shop for a variety of deliciousness, but that's exactly what they did and I was thrilled to see their success when it happened-I'm hoping it continues that way for them! 

The quality of their raw fishes and fresh ingredients never disappointed, their portions/serving sizes were perfect for whatever you're appetite, their lunch specials were becoming legend, AND to top if off inside the environment was so relaxed and chill that it fast becomes your go to spot everyday...from their comfy lounge like open area of couches with tables to the games they provided to those who stayed a while, and warm family that owned it. 

Believe me when I say I wish more of the these locations were this delicious and consistent on their deliciousness while also serving quality with spoonfuls of flavor!

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman