OTT-Lynchburg: Rivermont Pizza

One of my favorite places back home is Rivermont Pizza, it is downstairs from a place I spent many a day in my teen years, I even bartended there when it was still part of "trotters" now it is the basement part of Mangia, but a completely separate restaurant. 

It is some of the best pizza you will eat and they have a small store in the back where you can buy single beers or ciders. A lot of them are hard to find and smaller craft beers.

largest bowl of chili known to man

pistachio pesto pizza

one of the many beers they sell

OTT: Richmond- Tazza Kitchen

For my foodies in Richmond, I have a new place for you guys to check out; Tazza Kitchen. We were in Richmond for my sissy in law's birthday and while the eats in Downtown Richmond are a plenty, we ventured out towards Short Pump for dinner the second night. They only opened last Wednesday and we left quite impressed. 

I loved the ambiance but not as much as I loved their white pizza. Oh. my. word. People. 

Prosciutto pizza with arugula.

 a perfectly made mojito

and as a {self proclaimed} bourbonista I am more than pleased to say the my Manhattan was pretty much close to perfect. As you already know I normally prefer my bourbon neat, but this way(if done correctly) can please my palate nicely.

I definitely recommend hitting this spot up. You can tell the owners are proud of the product they are putting out and since we had absolutely nothing left on our plates, I can say they have a pretty good reason to be pleased. If only I hadn't forgotten to take pictures of our small plates;)

Raleigh: Vinos Finos

This is one of my favorite places in Raleigh, it's a small wine and tapas cafe with copious amounts of wine. I love the ambiance, the people who work there are so friendly and the tapas is delicious. 

It's located in Layfeyette Village, which is a must visit if you're ever in North Raleigh. And it is perfect for date night, a large gathering or especially...a girls night out!

Here is what their website has to say about their establishment

Welcome to the best wine bar in Raleigh, NC…

…where savory food, great wine, and warm, friendly people mix together to make the perfect concoction. We’re a South American Wine bar and tapas bar that boasts an excellent wine accompanyment menu featuring meat & cheese platters, empanadas, desserts, served in an intimate environment with soft leather chairs. Come in and join us!

The wall of wine. Getting thirsty?

There is plenty of room. There are tables or comfy leather seats that you can just sink into over a shared glass of wine. There is a small bar you can pull up to, or when the weather is nice, you can grab a table outside.

We ordered a plethora of small plates and none of  them disappointed.

Look at all this food! The bacon wrapped dates. Oh. My. word.

I loved the barrel table we sat at and the corks under the glass table and the lights undeneath it. I really want to make one for our house. Anybody? Somebody? 

The only gripe(if you want to even call it a gripe) was the creme brulee. Let's just say I found it...wanting. 

But for the most part, we love this place and I would highly recommend it. They can accommodate large groups or an intimate dinner. 

linking up with Thirsty Thursday

On The Town: Raleigh Wine Shop

One of the fabulous things about living in this area is the close proximity to so many wineries and breweries. But when a day trip isn't in the plan, there are a plethora of Wine Cafes/Shops to get your fix in. 

One of our favorites is the Raleigh Wine shop in Downtown on Glenwood. Such a great location and I love the look and feel when I walk in. Open floor plan, lots of light and all the wines are labeled and stocked according to their region or country. 

Here is what their website has to say

The Raleigh Wine Shop welcomes both wine novice and connoisseur alike with a bright, inviting atmosphere. We feature hand-picked wines for everyday drinking as well as special occasions, with a focus on what we feel are ‘honest’ wines that accurately convey the grapes that they’re made from and where those grapes were grown. Above all, these are the wines that we think deliver the goods for your hard-earned money.

They offer free tasting on Saturdays and frequently host events. Next week is a 5 course dinner and wine pairing 'A Taste of Terroir: The Loire Valley– A Food & Wine Event. The prices are really reasonable and the food options sound fantastic. They also host and annual corktoberfest, with lots of German wines and a variety of beers. 

Then there is this lovely fact

They have plenty of wines to buy by the bottle or if you have a lazy afternoon or an open night, take in the wine station and grab a taste or a glass, the choice (and control) is all yours. 

Or there is the small fact that, no big deal, they deliver! Say what?!

Get here people. Get here.

To see any future events they may be hosting, click here.

Linking up With Thirsty Thursday and The Party Don't Start