POQUOSON — This little watering hole is an underrated, beautiful spot filled with all of the warmth of neighborly love. This spirit is felt in the various eateries throughout Poquoson, a town known for its fresh food and beautiful waterways.
This past Saturday, I ventured down to Poquoson to attend America Goes to War at the city’s partially open-air museum. Afterwards, my husband, children and I popped into Poquoson Diner, 480 Wythe Creek Blvd., for a little lunch.
Poquoson Diner has been an institution in the city for quite some time. Their menu is a cornucopia of American, Greek, Italian, breakfast, and seafood dishes to please anyone’s palate. Serving delicious breakfast all day, and having a variety of daily specials, as well as a wide ranging children’s menu, the options truly speak to the inclusivity of epicureal tastes of every person.
Walking in, it’s quite clear that this is a restaurant built on the philosophy that everyone knows your name. It also lacks in the pretentiousness found at other establishments. It’s clean, understated, and decorated with pictures and art created by locals. Poquoson residents take pride in their little city and nowhere is that more clear than in this diner.
The all-day breakfast is a huge bonus for its menu. With omelets, pancakes, eggs, and even the hard to find in our neck of the woods, scrapple, there are many options every day. My daughter ordered that day’s special, the Hawaiian waffle. The smell of coconut and vanilla wafted in the air while the colorful arrangement of bananas, strawberries, pineapple and kiwi, which adorned the waffle’s top, were delightful to look upon. My daughter raved about the bold, fruity flavors and the freshness of the waffle itself.
I took a little more of a traditional route and ordered a bacon cheeseburger. While you are not asked the ideal temperature of your burger, it was still juicy and the meat tasted very fresh. The cheese on the patty and crispy bacon added a touch of down-home, American flavor. The french fries lacked in salt, but made up for it in taste. Obviously cut and cooked in the restaurant, they were crispy and scrumptious.
My husband ordered the same dish that I did and my son ordered a grilled cheese off of the children’s menu. The portion size of his meal was plentiful, especially for being a kids’ menu item. My son is a very picky eater but he devoured the sandwich and described it as, “Yummy.”
While I can’t report on the seafood offerings, I have been told by several friends that it is fresh and flavorful; something that a restaurant can’t get wrong in a community of fishermen.
Poquoson Diner is a definite must-stop, open 7 days a week. There are menu items for every person with generous portions, good flavors, great prices and a welcoming atmosphere that makes you feel like one of the town’s residents.
After letting our lunch settle, we then headed to Bean’s Ice Cream, which has locations in both Poquoson at 475 Wythe Creek Rd., Ste. M., and Gloucester Point, at 2060 George Washington Memorial Highway.
Bean’s Ice Cream is a family business that was opened after owner Jenna Horning had a difficult time finding places that she felt comfortable to take her daughter, who has food allergies, to eat. She wanted a place where she could take her child for dipped ice cream with a guarantee of allergy disclosure and little risk of cross contamination. Thus, Bean’s Ice Cream was born. In the short time since its opening, Bean’s Ice Cream has become another institution in the Poquoson community.
Walking into the restaurant, you are immediately greeted by the delightful turquoise accent paint and a beautiful, colorful mural that spans the width of a wall. T-shirts are hung along the other side of the restaurant, available for customers to purchase.
The menu board shows the shop’s attention to detail and care for their customers’ health. Icons are used to let customers know which flavors and treats may contain certain allergens. My only disappointment was that there wasn’t really a selection for those of us who are lactose-intolerant or have a milk/dairy allergy.
That being said, Bean’s Ice Cream’s selection was beyond your typical scoop shop variety. Carrying Hershey’s Ice Cream, the restaurant delivers it’s cold selections in several different forms. My husband ordered a sundae, my daughter had a waffle cone, and my son ordered an ice cream sandwich, which was made in-store with his choice of ice cream delicately tucked between two fresh chocolate chip cookies. Bean’s Ice Cream also offers milkshakes, ice cream cakes, coffees, and hot chocolates.
For a quick dessert stop with allergy-friendly selections and a fun flair, I highly recommend Bean’s Ice Cream. Like the rest of Poquoson, it lacks in pretension and is full of the small-town feel that this city is known for.
There are many different locally-owned dining selections in Poquoson sure to meet every taste and occasion. Consider taking a trip down to Poquoson to visit it’s fun outdoor parks, open-air museum, its many events, and to dine at the locally-owned restaurants. At the end of the day, you will look forward to your next visit with the “Bull Islanders”!
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