Our Fabled Nest

I’ve said it before but as a southern girl raised in the foothills, I love good southern comfort foods. As a gluten free eater, comfy foods are hard to come by. Especially comfort foods like biscuits, pancakes, waffles and all of those other glorious carby wonders. For the most part, I can figure out a recipe and make something delicious but once in a while wouldn’t it be nice to order at a restaurant without fussing, measuring, mixing, baking and then hoping it comes out edible…. I’ll admit biscuits used to be hockey pucks a few years ago. Hubs loves most of everything I dish up and we live for pancakes on Saturday mornings. I was beyond tickled when he texted me earlier last week about a biscuit place that had legit gluten free biscuits!

No sooner than I saw the text, a google search later I was browsing their website. Ohmylanta!!! It is a whole gluten free restaurant! I texted back several blurbs, but we decided to make a morning date of it! There is a local mini golf place we have been dying to see and if you’re not there early- well it will be a long two hour wait. Another google search led to opening is 10am. Perfect! Stuff our faces with some gluten free deliciousness and then a round of mini golf! Simple things make life grand – I swear! I am a simple woman. Give me coffee, my kiddos, an adventure filled life and I am content!

First stop was breakfast. I know me. I need coffee and food relatively soon within waking or I will be crabby. It’s facts and I am happy I know my body well enough to not miss breakfast. 521 Biscuits and Waffles is a quaint little place. We found parking – hard to do with a Ram 2500 Diesel in downtown Richmond but for $8 for the whole day we found a parking lot near the mini golf. A short walk later, we arrived to a bustling cafe. I saw reviews about their scones so that was my first choice – a simple blueberry pecan scone. Other options were cranberry and lemon. These change daily so I can’t wait to go back and see what else they think of ! Hubs went with the classic blueberry waffle. I added a southern favorite – bacon egg and cheese biscuit and a large-as-you-have coffee…. at this point brain fog was setting in and I needed caffeine asap. Hubs then chose a sausage egg and cheese biscuit and a large coffee. We settled on an Orange Juice to share as well. As I am ordering the OJ, they quite literally start fresh pressing the oranges, right behind the counter! I love this place! Quaint, cozy and the best part??? Prices!!! Gluten free normally is an extra dollar to upwards of three or more depending on the establishment. Here? Nope!!! Normal food prices! For everything, we were only at $34.00 before taxes and tip. It gets better! As we are making our coffees at their coffee bar, the cashier came up and asked if we wanted cookies… I was like umm we can do both the chocolate chip pecan and chocolate chip. We asked how much – she says it’s on the house! How sweet is that?!

The food, here, amazing! I loved being able to choose practically anything on the menu. The scone was perfect – just how I like them – slightly sweet, dense with that bit of crumb. The chopped pecans and fresh blueberries were a lovely combination. Our biscuits were good. The bacon was thick cut, smokey, salty and just perfection. Add it to the egg and slice of cheddar on that fresh gluten free biscuit -it definitely reminded me of Bojangles but a healthier, less greasy – still just as delicious kind of way. The waffle was very “normal” buttery, sweet and the fresh berries popped -very good! Hub’s biscuit was just as delicious – the sausage was more kielbasa with a classic snap. Again, with the egg and cheese – you can’t go wrong with a classic! Now, those free cookies. Holy moly – sooo freakin’ good! They were identical to a regular cookie. I stopped midbite and questioned myself but then proceeded to happy dance in my chair and enjoy every bite! I loved the buttery pecan with the sweet chocolate chips. A combination I didn’t know I needed but am going to make it more reoccurring! And now, I have to make coffee and cookies a thing more often too- trust me – it’s a perfect match! All in all, this cafe is the perfect brunch spot for anyone lookin’ for a delicious well priced meal!

Located at: 521 East Main Street, Richmond, VA

Check out their website here: 521 RVA

We planned enough time to wander around Richmond for a few minutes while waiting for Fancy Mini Golf to open. We didn’t stray too far from there but the little we saw makes me love the city of Richmond even more! I love all of the graphics and murals around practically every turn! The architecture, and old buildings have a beautiful nostalgic vibe. Lovely for a Saturday morning stroll.

Finally! Highfalutin’ mini golf! Hotel Greene -sounds like a typical hotel, right? Well, no, not actually. Hotel Greene is a time machine, at least that’s how you feel when you enter the lobby. Walking in felt like a step back in time. A theme of the early nineteen hundreds greets you from the mail slots to the reception desk and even the hostesses are dressed as bell hops. Mini golf is not the only thing offered here. To the right of the lobby, there is a restaurant. Offerings of turkey clubs, meat and cheese plates along with sweets like a root beer float grace their lobby menu. Brunch is a weekend thing plus they have mini golf and menu packages. We were not interested in the food after stuffing ourselves with our prior breakfast. So, we placed our card on file and off we went to find the elusive mini golf. At only thirteen holes, this course is tricky. Immersive and intriguing, we kept oohing and ahhing over the littlest details! At first, it is disorienting because of the time loop distinction. I know it is mini golf but yet I feel like I should be seeing gentlemen in the easy chairs smoking cigars or hear a piano with Jo Stafford singing “When Fools Rush In”. Nothing was overlooked and the eye for detail is rather impeccable.

Located at: 508 east Frankin St, Richmond, VA

Check out their website here: Fancy Mini Golf

This date was amazing! Beautiful way to spend a gloomy Saturday morning! I can’t rave enough about the food – safe and delicious! We had a blast letting our inner child out to play! Fancy mini golf was a win all around! My heart was so happy with all of the old fashion fancy details and nostalgic they recreated!

Cheers to our next adventure!