May 2013 Rivah - The Rappahannock Record

If You Go
Sandpiper Reef
342 Misty Cove Road,
Hallieford, Mathews, VA
23109
725-3331
Open
Thursday-Saturday,
5-9 p.m.
Sunday, noon-8 p.m.
On the Menu
Sandwiches
Entrees
Kids Menu
Did you know?
The restaurant building
was once the dining hall
for a Baptist Bible Camp
for girls.
by Tom Hardin
When I was first offered
the job of “restaurant
reviewer” for the Rivah
Visitor’s Guide, I was very reluctant
to accept. You see, I’ve met
very few foods I don’t like. And
being from West Virginia, I’m big
(no pun intended) into fried food,
fast food and the all-you-can-eat
buffets. I used to think if I’m not
bursting at the seams, I didn’t get
my fair share at the Golden Corral.
Since moving to the more
sophisticated, genteel state of Virginia,
I have changed a few dietary
habits, hopefully for the better. Hot
dogs and pizza are still two of my
favorite foods, but I’ve acquired
somewhat of a taste for quality.
For example, I prefer Klondike ice
cream bars over the cheaper store
brands. In fact, I’ve been known to
eat a whole pint of Haagan Dazs ice
cream at one sitting, and then frantically
search the freezer for more.
For my restaurant review, I chose
Sandpiper Reef in Mathews County
because I heard it was really good.
My wife Bev and I had an excellent
meal there on a Saturday night and
even were treated to some relaxing
dinner music by David McKenney.
As I listened to Harry’s Chapin’s
“Cat’s in the Cradle,” I was confronted
with an extensive menu and
several tempting appetizers and specials.
Bev and I shared the seafood
bisque as an appetizer, but she got
very little. It was so good it left me
wanting to order another bowl. I
Rivah Fare
Review
Fine dining hidden from the beaten path
could have made a meal of this sweet
cream-based soup.
However, I still had other courses
to conquer that night.
Next came the dinner salad. Fresh
lettuce, onions, cucumbers, cherry
tomatoes and spicy croutons covered
with a sweet homemade raspberry
vinaigrette dressing had me licking
my bowl clean.
Next, the entree. Bev and I both
wanted the “Reef and Beef,” which
consisted of grilled seafood, beef tenderloin,
squash and onions over a bed
of rice. It was excellent.
Bev ordered that, and I ordered
an old healthy favorite of mine—the
fried seafood platter, which was, as
you might imagine, a variety of fresh
fried seafood.
Next time I will get it broiled. Not
because broiled is healthier, as my
waitress reminded me as I drained
my second beer, I just love seafood
dipped in melted butter.
Neither of us could finish our
dinner, so we got “doggie bags” of
leftovers to take home. I ate them
both the next night.
For dessert, we shared. We ordered
white chocolate cheesecake with
fresh whipped cream and strawberries.
Wow! Maybe the best thing we
had all night. I arm-wrestled Bev for
the final bite, not remembering she’d
been pumping iron.
As we were about to leave, I saw a
“king cut” of prime rib delivered to a
nearby table. I will return.
The restaurant
The Sandpiper Reef in Mathews
County is not easy to find. Turn off
two-lane Hallieford Road (Route
626) onto Godfrey Bay Road and
then onto Misti Cove Lane. There
are no billboards along the way
announcing it is “straight ahead.”
Rather, there are small tasteful signs
at every turn that lead diners to this
hidden gem.
“They really have to come find
us, and when they do they usually
come back,” said restaurant owner
Liz Scribe. “Obviously, we rely on
a lot of return customers.”
Liz has two bumper stickers she
gives to patrons. One reads “Away
From It All,” and the other reads
“Mathews’ Best Kept Secret.”
The restaurant building is a “plain
Jane.” It is a former dining hall for
an all-girls summer Baptist Bible
Camp that many locals may remember
attending. When I heard this,
I felt bad about not saying grace
before lunging into my food.
Adjacent to the restaurant is a red
barn that once served as the camp’s
activities center and now is the home
of The Court House Players.
The restaurant sits a stone’s throw
from Godfrey Bay on the Piankatank
River, and is surrounded by waterfront
cottages. These cottages were
once the sites of Bible Camp bunkhouses,
but when the camp closed in
the 1980s, the houses and lots were
sold as prime waterfront sites.
Sandpiper Reef was once named
Misti Cove Restaurant, but has been
Sandpiper Reef for several years,
including the eight years Liz has been
with it—the first three years as manager
and the last five years as owner.
“I’ve changed the restaurant into a
very casual, family place,” she said.
“I want people to come here, feel
comfortable and have fun.”
Flip-flops, t-shirts and shorts are
allowed, and even encouraged. During
warm weather, diners enjoy eating on
the large screened-in porch.
The menu is long. From soups,
salads, sandwiches, full-course blue
collar selections and more elaborate
fare, it’s all there—steaks, seafood,
chicken, and Italian.
A small bar with five stools sits
in the corner of the spacious dining
area. So spacious that the Sandpiper
Reef frequently hosts wedding receptions,
baby showers, family reunions
and other special events. The restaurant
is open to the public only four
days a week—Thursday through
Sunday. Liz also has a thriving catering
business.
Take it from me. Her food is
fresh, plentiful and top-of-the-line,
especially those homemade soups
and desserts. And the staff could not
be any more accommodating and
friendly.