So close yet so beautiful—weekend trip to VA

It’s been 16 years since I joined a summer program in Richmond. This trip was like a nostalgic throwback. Honestly, besides the main tourist streets, the James River, the area around VCU, and the White House of the Confederacy, most memories had faded. The downtown felt a bit quiet, but one thing about the South—the food is noticeably better! 😋 This German restaurant was a Reddit find—saved it immediately. Though I never really understood why people have such a soft spot for German cuisine… having it once in a while is seriously satisfying! Probably because their classic mains are hearty (and full of flavor 😉). 🍴 Café Rustika Just look at the bar—you know it’s the real deal 🍻 Tried Kölsch and Bitburger Surprised I still remembered “Bitte ein Bit!”—like muscle memory kicking in 💪 A bit strange that they didn’t have any imported German white wines though 😕 Ordered Sauerbraten (marinated pot roast) and Schnitzel with mushroom sauce Absolutely speechless—so delicious! Earlier we were saying how it’s too hot for heavy meat… but the moment the dishes arrived, we changed our minds 😅 Sides: red cabbage and pickles—so refreshing! I even started pickling my own red cabbage after coming home 🥬 Their desserts—especially the Black Forest cake—look insane. Each one is a mini mountain 🍰 If you have a sweet tooth, don’t miss out! 📍 414 E Main St, Richmond, VA 23219, United States Before dinner, we visited the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA). Turns out they have the third-largest Fabergé egg collection in the world! Not as extravagant as St. Petersburg’s, but rare to see in North America 🥚✨ Also strolled through Maymont’s Italian Garden—the gardens and lawn were gorgeous. Too bad I was nearly heatstroked (picked the two hottest days in late July like a genius 🥵). Would’ve loved to spend the whole afternoon there in nicer weather! #HiddenGemRestaurant #RestaurantRecs #DMVfood #OasisInFoodDesert #Foodie #GlobalEats #OffTheBeatenPathEats #VirginiaFood #Richmond