In the Heart of Dixie: A Year in Review in Petersburg

Unlike the Crater, Petersburg seems to be on the rise and dining is leading the way. As Style Weekly noted last week, Petersburg is the home to another culinary upstart with the opening of Old Towne Marketplace in Historic Petersburg. This past weekend I had the chance to stop by for a quick visit, and the friendly owners were more than eager to share their wares and assist. For those of you who know Old Towne, this is great news since it means not always having to schlep to Richmond to purchase good meats and cheeses.

Another, re-newed, addition to the Petersburg area is the Dixie Diner which is on the corner of Bank and Sycamore, also in the heart of Old Towne. The Dixie Diner is a bit of a remix replacing the Old Dixie Restaurant that really evoked a real sense of being in Dixie- and not in a good way. We stopped in Sunday for a late brunch and all around it was nice experience. The sweet tea was awesome and the biscuits were a nice balance of flaky and buttery. My omelette was somewhat over-done being that it was slightly rubbery. But, this is a problem that can be worked out over time. Look Dixie is basic diner food, but for those in Peterburg, it's great just to have another option to enjoy on a Sunday afternoon.

As for the old favorites, if you haven't been to Petersburg in a while, don't just stick with the new shinies like Wabi Sabi, The Bistro at Market and Grove, or even Andrade's. Try an oldie but goodie that I absolutely adore for the incredibly friendly waitstaff and food that is reminiscent of a time when Greek/Italian diners served quality meals at reasonable prices. The place I like for that type of experience is Alexander's on Bank St. in Old Towne. It's not swanky or posh, but the service is always polite and the Kota Plate (Imagine a more flavorful Chicken Cacciatore with raisins and served over rice) is just good comfort food. And, when you're done, you must try the baklava. It's caused quite a hefty dry cleaning bill in my home, long story- let's just say there was honey everywhere, but it was all worth it.

As Petersburg continues to transform itself into a quirky southern outpost, keep an eye out for new places to visit. Something new seems to sprout up every week, and the people are nothing short of fascinating.

So, as another year comes to a close, think back fondly on your dining memories and let your heart be merry and light.

Merry Christmas and Happy Eating!