So Close Yet So Beautiful — A Weekend in VA: Authentic German Food

Sixteen years ago, I joined a summer program in Richmond, and this trip was a nostalgic throwback. To be honest, apart from the main tourist streets, the James River, the VCU area, and the Confederate White House, not much left an impression. The downtown feels a bit quiet now, but one thing about the South remains true: the food is noticeably better! This German restaurant was a Reddit find I bookmarked immediately. I never really understood why people have such a soft spot for German cuisine… but having it once in a while is truly satisfying! Maybe it’s because those classic dishes are hearty (and full of flavor 😋). 🍴 Cafe Rustika You can tell it’s authentic just by looking at the bar! We tried Kolsch and Bitburger — and somehow I still remembered how to say “Bitte ein Bit!” 😂 — must be muscle memory. Strangely, they didn’t have any imported German white wines. We ordered: Sauerbraten (German pot roast) — tender, tangy, incredible Schnitzel with mushroom sauce — crispy, juicy, no words needed I originally thought I didn’t want heavy meat in the heat… but the moment the food arrived, I changed my mind 😅 Sides: red cabbage and pickles — so refreshing! I loved it so much I made my own pickled red cabbage when I got home. Their desserts — especially the Black Forest cake — look impressive, each like a mini mountain 🍰. Save room if you have a sweet tooth! 📍 414 E Main St, Richmond, VA 23219, United States Before dinner, we visited the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA). Surprisingly, it has the world’s third-largest collection of Fabergé eggs! Not as extravagant as St. Petersburg’s, but rare to see in North America. We also strolled through the Maymont Italian Garden — the garden and lawn are gorgeous 🌳🌷. Unfortunately, I was already overheating (I accidentally picked the two hottest days in late July for the trip 🥵). I was completely drained, but on a nice day, you could easily spend the whole afternoon there! #HiddenGem #RestaurantRecs #DMVFood #GermanCuisine #RichmondVA