In a bit of pre-Christmas festivities that screamed out for Egyptian and Mexican, my family spent an afternoon seeing the Mummy exhibit at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and then headed over to Cary Street for a late lunch/early dinner at Nacho Mama’s. We wanted a unique experience, one that both boys would like, and something we hadn’t tried. We were not disappointed.
Carytown has always had that eclectic feel. We were certainly not disappointed with the festive atmosphere at Nacho Mama’s. Because they’re located in an old house the restaurant is a mixture of old town Richmond and bright festive Mexican décor. It has a funky, playful side and is a great location for post meal window shopping a few days before Christmas.
Nacho Mama’s has been a staple on Cary Street since they opened over 15 years ago. Established at 3449 W. Cary Street in September of 1996, Nacho Mama’s has been the recipient of many awards including Best Margarita in Richmond, Best Patio and Best Carytown Restaurant.
Since we were there late afternoon, we didn’t have to wait for a table. But of course, like most locations in Carytown that changes later in the day and evening. We were escorted to a table in the upstairs room where we could dine in comfort and watch what was happening on Cary Street.
In a celebratory mood, the adults in the crowd took at look at the bar menu first. I went standard with a Dos Equis, but my wife and older son went straight to the margaritas. My wife opted for the Raspberry, and my college-aged son went with the VCU Margarita, which is a mango flavored frozen margarita with blueberry liquor that swirls up through the glass. My son thought it was good, but wasn’t a fond of the blueberry flavor. It did however inspire a young gentleman at the next table to order one in celebration of his 21st birthday. But don’t stop with those flavors. There are many more margaritas to choose from. Some patrons say that’s the best thing Nacho Mama’s has to offer. I may have to go back just to check that out.
Chips and salsa are standard fare at Mexican restaurants and Nacho Mama’s does not disappoint. While the salsa was not overly impressive the queso was an amazing blend of flavors. We ordered a second round of chips to go with ours. Our afternoon was pretty casual, but we were still in search of a meal. Still, I could see many a fine hour spent there with the chips and queso accompanied by a margarita of choice.
The menu at Nacho Mama’s is a blend of Tex Mex, Cuban, Caribbean, Californian and American. So there’s plenty to choose from. And that includes your standard burger for the not so adventurous among you.
The younger son went with an a al carte choice of three tacos, pork, chicken and beef. After filling up on chips and queso, he couldn’t eat them all but happily took one home for lunch the next day. My wife chose a combo and older son went with the enchiladas. He liked them, but was not a fan of the salsa verde.
I was well pleased with the Arroz con Pollo which is season chicken sliced and served over a bed of Spanish rice then topped with queso and pico de gallo.
Nacho Mama’s has lots of special events to draw you in, including Monday’s when beverages are $3 all day long.
I don’t know that I’d put Nacho Mama’s on the list of the best Tex Mex/Mexican food I’ve ever had. But the food was great and the atmosphere even better.
Tags: American, Californian, Caribbean, Carytown, Cuban, Nacho Mama's, restaurants, Richmond, tex mex
Since we went to the Capital Ale House for an office luncheon the best we could do was to stare in awe at the menu. And that was just for the beer.
The downtown location carries 53 beers on tap. That’s not a misprint. There’s a huge selection of ales, pilsners, stouts, porters and more with selections from around the world. In addition all Capital Ale House locations carry two cask-conditioned “real” ales as well as over 250 bottled beers. If you’re a beer fan, you’ll always find something new to try.
If you’ve got a bucket list, trying all the beers at Capital Ale House might be a challenge to undertake. But I’d recommend you start soon. And keep in mind that Wednesday is “Virginia Beer Day” where you can support, and try the beers from, local breweries.
Our lunch was at the original location in Downtown Richmond. Capital Ale House sits in a 108-year-old building. Enjoy the bar in the front room. Larger groups like ours can dine in the back. Seasonally enjoy the Beer Garden. And a separate lower level gaming area has four dart boards and other games. It’s a great place to join your co-workers or friends after work. Right on Main Street, the downtown location is close to the Capital, the Carpenter Center, Tredegar and Brown’s Island.
In addition to the Downtown location there are locations in Innsbrook, Midlothian and Fredericksburg. A new location will open soon in Harrisonburg.
While the beer selections are awesome, beer doesn’t fit into most office luncheons so let’s talk a little about the menu. If you want a fine dining experience, then perhaps Capital Ale House shouldn’t be your choice. But for casual, pub type dining, the food is great. Remember, this is a bar, an Ale House, not a restaurant. So expect a more traditional bar type menu.
Most folks around our table opted for a burger or sandwich and there are many choices. The Ale House Burger is standard fare. All burgers at the Capital Ale House are Certified Angus Beef and are cooked to order. Most burgers come with Belgian style frites served with flavored mayonnaise.
I opted for the soup of the day and a salad. The soup was white bean and ham. I asked for a cup but was told they only had “small” bowls. Truth be told, the bowl was far from small and most days I would’ve been happy to skip the salad. But I’m glad I didn’t. I chose the Apple and Bleu Salad, which is mixed greens, bleu cheese and spiced walnuts dressed with balsamic vinaigrette. It was an excellent choice.
If you do opt to go there for dinner there’s a good selection of steak and poultry as well as seafood and pasta. But, like I said, keep in mind this is a bar and their specialty is beer. That’s not to say you won’t enjoy the food selections. If you’re out for a good time with friends, and a few brews, you’ll be pleased with your choices. If you want a fine culinary experience, then perhaps after the brews, you head down to Shockoe Bottom for a different dining selection.
Capital Ale House doesn’t have a traditional happy hour. But each day of the week there are specific specials. In addition to Wednesday being Virginia Beer Day, you can enjoy Burger Night on Monday where select burgers are available for $2.00 with the purchase of a beverage. Tuesday is “Steal the Glass Night” beginning at 4:00 p.m. While supplies last you can order a beer from the featured brewery and take home the special glassware.
For a casual good food, good brews type of experience, Capital Ale House is a great choice.
Tags: Ale, beer, beer fan, beer garden, beer selections, bottled beers, breweries, Brewery, capital ale house, carpenter center, Casual, casual pub, Dining, downtown, Eating, eatinginrichmond, food, Main Street, pilsners, porters, real ales, Richmond, stouts, tredegar, virginia beer
