Selba opened on Cary Street (between Stafford and Davis) sometime last Fall, and after reading about it, I was eager to try it out. I drooled over the menus that they posted on their website, and as you would expect, was thrilled to see that Selba offers vegan/vegetarian/healthy cuisine! Yet somehow, despite really wanting to try this place out, it wasn't as easy to convince some of my friends to go there. Finally, one Saturday in January, my friend Amy and I decided we were going to try out the brunch...but we didn't do our homework and arrived at the restaurant only to discover that it was closed until dinnertime...then we realized that they only serve brunch on Sundays. Talk about setting ourselves up for disappointment! We were so bummed, and both of us already had Sunday plans the next day, so we would have to postpone our inaugural Selba experience even longer.
Well, my friend & former mentor, Van and his wife Clara Ann came to visit me this past weekend. I wanted them to get a taste of some of the best cuisine that Richmond has to offer, and despite having never actually been to Selba yet, I just had a feeling that it would be a solid choice. Bingo! :)
When we arrived, the host escorted us through the large and welcoming main dining room (complete with a grand piano), past the sleek bar and a nifty semi-private dining area, to the garden room. My friends and I were seated and immediately began admiring the abundance of greenery, the sunshine streaming through the large windows, and the tiffany lamps overhead. We hadn't even ordered anything yet, and this place had already won me over!
We ordered two coffees and an iced tea. Oddly enough, our server brought a glass of iced tea without any ice (lukewarm tea, anyone?), but that was just a small hiccup, which he promptly corrected. I thought the coffee had a great flavor (and to prove it, I drank at least 3 cups) and am curious whether the coffee they serve comes from one of the local coffee roasters. I'm guessing yes, but will have to make a note to inquire about this the next time I dine there (which will be soon!).
Having practically memorized the menu before we arrived, I had already decided that I was going to order the Tofu Scramble (although the lemon ricotta pancakes were also calling my name...oh well, those will be next on my list!).
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| Selba Tofu Scramble |
When this delightful mixture of tofu, peppers, spinach, red onion, fresh herbs, and Indian spices with a side of herb-roasted potatoes and a sweet potato biscuit was placed in front of me, I was like a lion ready to devour a hyena! Okay, wait...that's pretty over the top, even for me (I blame it on the fact that Mom and I just saw The Lion King when it came to RVA a few weeks ago, and I was just listening to the soundtrack the other night, so I apparently still have lions on the brain). Anyway, let's just say that I was ready to tackle some tasty-looking food!
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| Because one picture just wasn't enough! :) |
The verdict? Everything tasted just as delicious as it looked! The main dish was seasoned with a perfect blend of Indian spices, and the spinach complemented the tofu and other veggies quite nicely. Both of my friends even branched out and tasted the tofu and they also liked it! The potatoes were flavorful and tender, and the sweet potato biscuit was fluffy and slightly sweet, but not overly so. Yum-sauce! :)
My friends ordered Shrimp n' Grits and the Selba Benedict (with chipotle hollandaise), respectively. I momentarily invaded their personal space in order to snap a quick photo of each entree with my phone...haha. Thanks for being good sports about that, Van and Clara Ann!
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| Selba Shrimp n' Grits |
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| Selba Benedict |
In addition to our entrees, we all shared a side of fresh fruit, which was a mixture of sliced bananas, pineapple chunks, strawberries, etc. Super fresh and ripe...and delish, just like everything else.
Is your mouth watering yet? It should be, but if not, check out Selba's menus here, and I bet you'll be ready to jump in the car and hightail it over to my new fave restaurant. (My apologies to those of you who don't live in Richmond, or to anyone who happens to be reading this outside of the restaurant's normal business hours, hehe).
In my book, dining out is all about the overall experience. Obviously, the quality of the food is a key factor, however, in my opinion, delicious food served in an environment that lacks ambiance makes for a less-than-ideal dining experience. Selba gets high marks from me for delicious cuisine, a classy yet laid back atmosphere, friendly staff, and a menu that offers something that should appeal to everyone. I also love that Selba supports local farmers and puts an emphasis on using fresh, locally grown/produced ingredients. Another plus is that the portion sizes are large enough that I couldn't finish my meal, so I had leftovers to take home. They will make for a yummy breakfast tomorrow morning before heading to work! Oh, and the icing on the cake is that Selba has a parking lot (anyone who lives in or visits the Fan knows how rare it is to find any establishment that has off-street parking)!
I absolutely cannot wait to dine at Selba again! Now that I know how awesome their brunch is, I'm looking forward to coming back for dinner! I hear that sometimes they have live jazz music on Friday evenings...ahhhh I'm such a sucker for live jazz. So friends, who wants to join me for Friday dinner at Selba? :)
Thanks for reading, and thank you Selba for a top notch dining experience that ranks as one of the best I've had during the two years that I've lived here! Truly a gem in the Fan! Keep the fantastic food coming and I'll keep coming back (and bringing friends)!
