Blue Moon dessert, The Landing Blue Moon dessert, The Landing
Barbecue at Moosie’s
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner –Find it All at Smith Mountain Lake
By AMY HANEK
Blue-green waves lap lazily against a dock. Tropical breezes blow in from the South, swaying tree branches along a nearby shore. Children of all ages gather around a school of hungry fish, feeding them their leftovers.
With this backdrop, you might assume I am away on vacation. Instead, I am dining out along the shores of our local vacation destination, Smith Mountain Lake.
So, grab your sunglasses, hat and sunscreen and join me for breakfast, lunch and dinner along the lake.
Breakfast – Harrison’s
Mornings along Smith Mountain Lake can be particularly serene. Placid, liquid glass rises to meet a mountainous shore, birds coast lazily from tree to tree and french toast and eggs are cooked to order.
Previously Camper’s Paradise, Harrison’s was completely renovated and reopened in May 2007.
When I came in for breakfast, I quickly chose the Classic French Toast and was thrilled with the meals arriving just as quickly, within 10 minutes.
The French toast had just the right balance of a crispy outside and soft and fluffy inside. Also included on the plate were sausage patties and fresh fruit including pineapple, grapes, strawberries and melon.
My husband ordered the Farmer’s Breakfast. And. surprisingly, he filled up. This meal included two eggs, bacon, grits, a buttermilk biscuit and fresh tomato slices.
I couldn’t resist trying half of his biscuit. I can confirm it tasted as good as it looked – buttery and flaky. His soft scrambled eggs were cooked just the way he likes them (not an easy feat), and the grits were scooped onto the plate like a scoop of mashed potatoes. I am used to seeing this Southern side dish in a bowl and with a looser consistency but have been told by a few locals that grits should look like this. My husband agreed.
Other bonuses:
Harrison’s serves a superb lunch and dinner too. Menu items range from a Chicken Panini served with a basil mayonnaise for lunch, to two different sized cuts of Harrison’s Signature Prime Rib for dinner.
This place also boasts an awesome bar, with a handmade bamboo ceiling and flat screen TV. You can enjoy a quiet drink during the week and even find live music on special weekends.
The location of this restaurant is particularly beautiful. The restaurant lies on an inlet off the main “thruway” of the lake. Diners who arrive by water will fine plenty of open docks for parking.
To enjoy the ambience of this lagoon-like setting, guests can dine al fresco or inside near one of the large picture windows. I like this option as the weather here can change from warm to hot or dry to rainy on any given day.
My kids love greeting the big Moose at the entrance of Moosie’s. My husband and I enjoy the large menu inside at the table.
The atmosphere here is always casual. Moosie’s is a favorite place for many locals to enjoy one of their favorite overstuffed sandwiches. I haven’t found a favorite yet, but only because there are so many to choose from. With a menu that offers more than 30 different sandwiches alone, this can be a happy conundrum for any patron.
The last time I ate here, I asked our waitress for her opinion on the sandwiches. She confirmed my suspicion that the reuben could be considered the most popular menu item (it is good). I had already had this though and wanted to try something different. She suggested the barbecue sandwich.
Just a short while later my sandwich arrived, and I was a little surprised. This warm kaiser roll was not just filled with a hefty amount of pulled barbecue pork, but topped with melted Cheddar cheese and coleslaw – that’s right, coleslaw. The creativity in this sandwich was not only unexpected, but delicious, too. Every bite tasted like a picnic.
My husband tried the special that day, pot roast with carrots and mashed potatoes. It was the last chilly day of spring, so this really hit the spot for him. He also tried the French onion soup. He did not share with me but informed me it all tasted very traditional and that he was pleased.
Other bonuses:
Prices are very affordable here at Moosie’s. With just one menu for lunch and dinner, prices range from only $2.50 to $8.95.
When I asked about the dinner specials, Tricia Southard, the manager, informed me that during the weekend they will offer smoked chicken and ribs this summer. A full rack of ribs will be $19.95 and a half rack will be $12.95.
My favorite part of Moosie’s is its location. Planted right in the middle of Bridgewater Plaza, you can find three tiers of shopping, dining and fun. When with the kids, we will usually hit the arcade, the ice cream parlor and even enjoy a little live music at Mangos on the deck below. With a large marina here as well, you can rent a boat or dock one of your own.
When dining at The Landing, you don’t have to dress up, but you should know that the food will be dressed for you.
The Landing, owned by Bruno and Tiffany Silva, is at Bernard’s Landing and serves some of the most beautiful and divine food in the region.
My husband and I arrived in the middle of the week, around 7 p.m. and were shocked to see that we had the entire restaurant to ourselves. We wondered where everyone was. As the sun began to sink closer to the horizon, golfers returning from a busy day on the greens and a few more quiet couples enjoying a mid-week treat joined us.
Looking over the menu, I was torn between so many different choices. Prices range from $10 for an appetizer to $39 for the larger portion of the Pittsburgh Filet. My husband and I decided we had to try the Surf & Turf appetizer for $18. We knew we had ordered the right dish to begin our meal when it arrived to the table. In a long boat-shaped dish were sliced Ahi Tuna and grilled Kobe Beef. My tongue rejoiced as I ate each delicious bite and fought my husband for the last piece of tuna. The beef and tuna were cooked just right – medium rare.
For dinner, I decided on the Soy Glazed Cod for $24. Served in a bowl, the cod is pan seared and served atop mashed potatoes in a broth with wild mushrooms and arugula. I was surprised with the sweet and sour flavors in the broth and the contrasting textures in each delectable bite.
My husband ordered the Pittsburgh Filet and thoroughly enjoyed it. The filet had been cooked just right. His favorite item on the plate had to be the Cherry Grappa Sauce. He felt this sauce really captured the essence of the dish, delivering a home run.
At the end of the meal I, regrettably, did not have room for dessert.
The dessert that really caught my eye was described as a “Blue Moon Beer Ice Cream served with a warm Orange Zest Cake with a Shot of Blue Moon.” For those of you unaware of this beer, you would be surprised to find it has an orange flavor to it – explaining the orange zest cake served alongside.
I will be returning soon, if only to indulge in this dessert.
Other bonuses:
When leaving the fine-dining décor in the restaurant, my husband and I checked out the bar next door. We found a comfortable space filled with locals enjoying quiet conversation and drinks. You can order anything off the dining room menu in the bar. Additionally, a “small-bites” menu is offered as well. You can also expect to find live music here during the weekends.
I would also recommend many more eateries at Smith Mountain Lake. The Pointe at Mariner’s Landing, Chopsticks at Bridgewater Plaza, Fallon’s and The Blackwater Café, to name a few.
Remember, as the sun rises with the temperature this summer, don’t turn up the a/c and eat leftover potato salad right out of the bowl. Roll down the windows and hit the road – for the day or even the weekend – to Smith Mountain Lake. You shouldn’t have to drive far to find the paradise you crave in a meal.
Harrison’s
1336 Campers Paradise Trail
Moneta, VA 24121
(540) 297-3444
Moosie’s
16 Bridgewater Plaza
Moneta, VA 24121
(540) 721-5255
The Landing at Bernard’s Landing
773 Ashmeade Rd.
Moneta, VA 24121
(540) 721-3028