SS Eats: Encantada

I don't even know where to start.  I was totally blown away by my experience here!  Encantada is foodie paradise for real - if you live within driving distance and haven't visited yet, you're seriously missing out. Everything from decor to flavor is on point, and by "on point," I mean ridiculously amazing.

They partner up with local ranchers and farmers to offer the freshest products possible on the daily so their dishes reflect what's in season.  They choose their animal proteins carefully (those who have been raised humanely with a GMO free diet) and offer a "starring" role to veggies, grains and fruits! Many dishes are gluten free + vegan friendly so your vegetarian friends will have PLENTY to choose from.  

Anywho, for today's lunch, my bf and I got fresh juice to start.  He ordered Carrot Top (carrots, apple, ginger, lemon) and I went with Mean Green (kale, cucumber, kiwi, ginger, apple, parsley).  Both drinks were tasty + refreshing, AND they came with cute straws (!!!)  What can I say? I'm a sucker for presentation, and Encantada does NOT disappoint when it comes to aesthetic.  Everything looks as good as it tastes!

We got the following apps to start:  Deviled Turnips (think faux eggs w/ smoked paprika), Mussels (with herbs, butter, and pesto toast), and Buffalo Cauliflower (with pickles, drizzled with vegan ranch).  Each dish was nomtastic, but my fave was, hands down, the cauliflower.

Just look at all that deliciousness!  I seriously need to go back and get my fix STAT.  

For entrees, Robby and I got three dishes and shared.  We ordered the Roasted Portobello Mushroom burger, the Grilled Cheese sandwich, and the Grains & Greens salad.  Everything was (unsurprisingly) amazing!  

The salad was a giant mix of greens, farro, quinoa, tomatoes, goat cheese, and sliced pears topped with a light apple cider vinaigrette.  It was the perfect flavor combination, and as you can see, the serving size was ginormous!

A closer look at our mushroom burger.  These photos just don't do it justice!  It came stacked high with several portobellos, zucchini, and tomato with fontina cheese oozing out of the sides.  Everything was cooked to perfection!  If you're a fan of vegetarian sandwiches (or even if you're not), you NEED to try this dish out for yourself.  Trust me, your tastebuds will thank you!

Last but certainly not least, we're going to talk about my FAVE dish from today's meal: their asiago, gruyere, and cheddar grilled cheese with tomato and zucchini.  Words can't even express how amazingly nomtastic this sandwich was.  Each bite was gooey magic, and the accompanying sweet potato fries were incredible.  They were super crispy and had a barbecue-y taste to them, which I loved!

We finished our meal off with their chocolate cake, and it was the perfect ending to a truly spectacular meal.  I can't wait to go back and try their vegan carrot cake!  Anywho, if you guys are looking to try a new restaurant in the DMV, head on over ASAP.  Take a few hours out of your day to explore the American Visionary Art Museum and grab lunch afterwards.  You're welcome in advance!

A huge thanks to Encantada for hosting us!