On New Years Eve, my significant other and I found ourselves at Mezzanine [1] for dinner after walking through Carytown. Mezzanine, located at 3433 W. Cary Street, offers food prepared with fresh ingredients from local farmers and fisherman. As a result of this, their menu is constantly changing to reflect the available ingredients. After hearing good reviews of the restaurant, I was looking forward to trying it.

Walking into Mezzanine, the restaurant was crowded but there was plenty of available seating on the enclosed, heated, non-smoking patio. The wait staff was attentive and promptly took drink and food orders. Due to the use of fresh, local ingredients, the menu changes frequently based on what is available. Therefore, instead of using menus, Mezzanine has large chalkboard posted throughout the restaurant with the menu written on them. I found that the menu was easy to read from where I was seated.

I ordered the Fried Oyster and Spinach Salad with Roasted Tomatoes and Bacon Vinaigrette. Being a native Virginian with extensive experience eating seafood, I had high expectations for the oysters. Mezzanine far exceeded those expectations. The salad was served with eight large crispy, but light, oysters on a bed of fresh spinach. The oysters were cooked to perfection and the tomatoes and vinaigrette complemented their flavor. My dining companion was equally pleased with his pork chop served over orzo with a side of braised greens.

I look forward to dining at Mezzanine again to see what new dishes they create from local, fresh ingredients.