seafood

Tuesday’s Treats #87

/ The WheatandTares

Capital Grill

Location: Washington, D.C.


This place has a lot of class and prestige, even if it did seem a bit pretentious that day. The waiter we had was really nice, and the food was delicious. However, I do wish there was a bit more of it, especially for the prices paid.

We went here, because we follow TripAdvisor pretty close while in a new city, and this stays in the top 5 of 2,000+ restaurants. (Yes, that’s not a typo; it’s 2,000!šŸ˜³šŸ˜œ) Because of such high ratings, maybe I was expecting a bit more than we received, but honestly, I enjoyed a few other restaurants in the area a little better than this one. However, we didn’t get a bad meal. It just seemed a bit more pretentious than it needed to be, and the total bill seemed a bit high for the amount of food on the plate.

The sea bass and kids’ steak were delicious, and the steak sandwich was tasty. The lobster roll was better than fair, but I have had better. The fries were absolutely amazing. We had dessert back at the room; so, I can’t speak to that.

If you’re in D.C., it’s worth a try, as so many love it. Here’s their website to check out the menu and location.

Tuesday’s Treats #83

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The Hamilton

Location: Washington, D.C.



This place has a great atmosphere, great staff and incredible food. If you’re in the D.C. area, it’s definitely a go-to. There’s lots of seating options, as they have a bar area, restaurant and upstairs area with live music.

The grilled cheese is AMAZING. Don’t be fooled. This is not your normal kids grilled cheese. The burgers are good as the other dishes. My apologies for not having the actual names of the plates. I couldn’t pull up the complete menu on the website, but you’ll just have to trust me that hey have a lot of great choices!

I hope you will check them out here and enjoy your meal! šŸ˜Š

Tuesday’s Treats #81

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The Oceanaire Seafood Room

Location: Washington D.C.



This place is all about atmosphere AND delicious seafood. We had been site seeing all day in DC when a friend recommended this restaurant to us. We were famished and almost back to our hotel; so, we decided to give it a try. Upon entering, the manager was on the phone and made us wait for a minute; then, he tried to be a little pretentious, asking if we had reservations and telling our oldest to remove his hat. We just brushed past his behavior, removed the hat and allowed the hostess to seat us. The waitress was more than accommodating, and we quickly realized that what we thought to be true was: expensive restaurant, pretentious manager, great staff and incredibly good food.

We ordered the 16 oz NY strip, blackened halibut, a Caesar salad, truffle whipped potatoes, hashbrowns a’la Oceanaire, and a kid’s cheeseburger with fries. Oh. My. Goodness! Everything was absolutely amazing!! This meal would be ranked in the top ten of our all time favorites. Because the sides and the steak were in such large proportions, we actually split this meal between three people (2 adults and a teen son), and even our youngest son enjoyed some steak, too. Now, I do realize it was shareable, because we had two starches as well, which are very filling; however, it was a large size meal.


As if the meal wasn’t enough, we decided to get dessert, too. The cheesecake was out of this world with a raspberry sauce and berries on top. The “warm cookies and milk” are a definite winner, and the key lime pie was good but maybe not one of my favorites. However, my husband and I both might very well be considered kind of a “key lime pie snob.” The crust was yummy, but there wasn’t enough of it. The whip cream on top was amazing, and it was definitely homemade, but the pie itself was just a little too light and fluffy for my liking.

One of the things I love about their menu is the “simply prepared” items, of which the halibut was one. These items are listed alone with no sides, and you get to decide the side, as well as, the way you’d like it prepared. They do have chef specialties and other items from which to choose. Oh, they also bring out a little tray of fresh veggies to begin (carrots, cucumbers, pickle and radishes) and fresh baked bread and butter. A great way to start off a wonderful meal!

I didn’t realize until going to the website they have so many locations. We will definitely be looking them up when we are in different states, too!

Tuesday’s Treats #77

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The Depot Grill

Location: Staunton, VA

This place is so cool! It’s rated high on Trip Advisor and for good reason! The atmosphere is great, and the food is absolutely amazing. Let’s talk about atmosphere first. Situated in the old freight depot of Staunton Station, this place definitely has character. The hardwoods look original and the booths are made out of old church pews recovered from an old church, and the 40 foot bar is said to be recovered from an old hotel. Character, character and more character.

We sat in a back corner and enjoyed a great meal served to us by a friendly and informational waiter. He knew his stuff about the food, the restaurant and the town.

Now, let’s talk about the food. Oh. My. Word! It was lunchtime, but we ordered off the dinner menu and ate like kings! They had these Steak Sizzlers, which come out on a skillet, piled high with roasted new potatoes, onions, steak and mushrooms…oh, and if you like, shrimp, too. It’s so much food piled up in one place, it’s hard to finish the whole thing. However, we chose to multiply this by adding an appetizer of potato skins and queso and chips, which both were delicious!

Then, we added a dessert…or two…or three.Ā šŸ˜‚Ā The pecan pie was my favorite. Oh, WOW! The boys each had a slice of chocolate cake and a brownie with ice cream, while my husband had a little of all three. We love all three yummy desserts, and it was hard for them to choose their favorite chocolate treat….

Sorry for the half cake pic below…youngest son was devouring it! LOL!

If you’re in the Staunton area, this is a must. Oh, and hopefully, you’ll get the same waiter we did, and he can tell you all about the cool little town. (I’m sorry, I can’t remember his name!) There’s a glass blowing factory, a cool bridge going over the tracks to a little park, and The American Shakespeare Center Blackfriars Playhouse. I could write a blog just about this awesome little place, but today it’s all about food…so….

Here’s the website for the menu and more information. Enjoy!

Tuesday’s Treats #76

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Snapper’s

Location: Key Largo, FL

This place is great! Casual dining on the bay with a beautiful view and incredible food. We went for lunch, and in our party of seven, we had the gator bites, fish tacos, blackened mahi sandwich, blackened hogfish, grilled chicken salad, and chicken fingers. Everything was absolutely delicious!

The gator bites were some of the best we’ve ever had. The blackened hogfish was amazing, some of the best fish we’ve tasted while in the Keys. The blackened mani sandwich was beyond incredible with the grilled cheese and wheat berry bread. It was like the ultimate grilled cheese! … I do apologize for only having half the sandwich in the above pic. I was halfway finished when I realized I hadn’t gotten a photo! Knowing now how good it is, I suppose, we can all be thankful I stopped long enough to get the shot. Lol! šŸ˜‚

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w, the desserts are definitely worth the extra room saved in your belly…if you're able! The key lime pie is delicious with the right amount of tart and sweetness, layered atop the yummy graham cracker crust. The brownie sundae is delicious; although, they could put a tad more brownie and a tad less ice cream. The chocolate truffle pie is out of this world!

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ope you will take time to check it out next time your in the Keys. Here's their site for location, menu items, etc. It is SO good!! … PS. Being home from The Keys just over a week, I am surely missing this place! Just going through and editing this post makes me want to catch the next flight to have lunch at Snapper’s tomorrow! šŸ˜‰<<
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Tuesday’s Treats #75

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Ray’s at Killer Creek

Location: Alpharetta, GA

This place is absolutely AMAZING, and I really could let the pictures speak for themselves. The atmosphere is incredible, and the food is off the charts! We have been several times, and everything has always been delicious. Now, our favorite of these “sister” restaurants is Ray’s In The City, but if you live north of Atlanta, as we do, Ray’s at Killer Creek is a nice substitute. The traffic isn’t half as bad, and the parking is a breeze. The atmosphere of each is different and very unique to its own, but the menues are very similar; so, you know what to expect. 

Some of our favorites are the BBQ shrimp appetizer, the Shrimp and Grits, the blackened Black Grouper and the Prailine Basket for the dessert. Oh. My. Word! It’s making my mouth water just thinking about it! 

There’s not enough good things I can say about this place, and I don’t want to just keep repeating myself; so, go give them a try and find out for yourself. šŸ˜‰ Here’s the website for you to check out the menu and the various locations.  

Tuesday’s Treats #69

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Holston’s Kitchen

Location: Sevierville, Tn



This is the place to get incredible steaks while you are in the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge/Sevierville area. There are many great choices on the menu, and quite the variety from fried chicken to pasta to fajitas, but the steaks are probably my favorite. They are seasoned just right and cooked to perfection. The atmosphere is really cool, and the staff is always helpful and courteous. 

If you’re in Tn to visit Dollywood, the music theaters or the Great Smokies, be sure to add this to your “must visit” list for a great lunch or dinner. Oh, they apparently have a brunch on Saturday’s as well. šŸ˜‰

 Check out the menu here. 

Tuesday’s Treats #54

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Bourbon Street Grille

Location: Dahlonega, Georgia

We love Bourbon Street! You definitely need to get there early if you’d like a good seat, because the place is rather small, and the good seats are pretty limited. It is located right on the Square in Dahlonega, and on a nice day, you can sit on the balcony and enjoy the sights and sounds of town. 

We have eaten here a ton of times, and we’ve never had a bad meal; however, we do have our favorites. I love their shrimp and grits. It is served, in what looks like a small bowl, but let me tell you, it is filling. They serve it with a jalapeƱo cornbread muffin, and I usually get a salad before hand. The shrimp are cooked just right, and the grits are nice and creamy. There is a little bell pepper “chutney/relish” that is served on top, and honestly, the first time it was served, I wasn’t sure I would like it. However, it is very tasty and a nice addition to the dish. 

Their burgers are delicious and so are the fried. You can tell the burgers are hand pattied and not frozen and the fried are fresh cut and fried in clean oil. Some people don’t care about all that, but it sure makes for a more delicious meal. 

One time, recently, they had a daily special of blackened swordfish with asparagus and mashed potatoes. The swordfish was incredible! We’re not a fan of asparagus, but that was the only side with the potatoes; so, it sat lonely upon the plate as all the rest was gobbled up. We look for that special now whenever we go!

Next time you’re in the little mountain town of Dahlonega, be sure to stop by Bourbon Street. I don’t honk you’ll be disappointed. You can find their locations and menu items here. 

Tuesday’s Treats #51

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Maggie’s Galley

Location: Waynesville, NC

This is a great little seafood restaurant in Waynesville, NC. Who would have thought it? The atmosphere is completely nautical. The staff is friendly, and the place is clean. It is locally owned, and they seem to really care about their customers. 

Now, I have to throw out a little disclaimer here. If you haven’t read my story, you may not know I am originally from the Gulf Coast; so, my opinion of seafood can be a little picky when I’m inland, but this place is pretty good for not being on the coast. If I were on the coast, it definitely wouldn’t be my first pick; however, when you’re inland, it is what it is. They have a good variety, and everything we’ve had tastes pretty fresh.  

The onion petals were a nice start. My husband got the steak, and he loved it. My son got the fish and chips, and it was so so. He didn’t really care for it, as it seemed to be more like catfish. My grandmother got the special of the day (above pic), but I am sorry, I don’t remember what it was. It’s been a little while since our visit, and I forgot to write it down. It was a grilled fish with a creamy, almost hollandaise type, sauce. The sauce was a little heavy, but it was tasty. I ordered the High Country Shrimp over blackened grit cakes. The dish had a good flavor, but it was so soupy. The hush puppies are yummy, and the cheesecake is divine! 

You’ll have to check this place out for yourself, but I’ve added some pics for you to see. You can check out their menu here, too.  

Tuesday’s Treats #47

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Sullivan’s Downtown

Location: Maryville, Tn

We love, love, love Sullivan’s! The atmosphere is great. The staff is always inviting, and the food is incredible. We haven’t had an item yet that we don’t like. One of the cool things about this restaurant is it used to be the old JC Penney’s building, and at the tile at the front door has the JCP tile. The interior is really neat.

Okay, so if you’ve read many of my Tuesday’s Treats, you know I love desserts, and this place has an INCREDIBLE key lime pie! It’s got a thick graham crust and just the right key lime flavor. I’m not crazy about all the whip cream on top, but I just like key lime pies with less toppings. šŸ˜‰ It is delicious!

The shrimp and grits, called Shrimp Charleston, are absolutely scrumptious! The shrimp are seasoned and cooked just right with just a little bit of a kick. The grits are so creamy and delicious. These are some of my favorite!

The Northshore Salad, full of feta, cranberries and candied pecans on a bed of spinach is delicious. The fried green tomatoes are just as incredible. I don’t even like tomatoes, but these little items are a tasty delight, AND they are set upon a bed of those creamy, scrumptious grits. I’m not a huge fan of balsamic vinagrette; however, this mixture of grits, fried green tomatoes, feta and vinagrette is like a party in your mouth! Yum!

If you are in the Maryville area, you don’t want to miss this wonderful restaurant. You can check out more on their website. They have two locations, one in Maryville and one in Knoxville. I’ve been told the Knoxville location is just as good.

When you get done, and if you don’t get too filled from your wonderful dinner, you’ll want to walk down the street for another delightful treat at the Capitol Coffee Shop in the old Capitol Theater. That’s a really cool venue, too; however, that will be for another post. šŸ˜‰