a slice of greek paradise in richmond, virginia

My hometown, Mechanicsville, Virginia, isn't known for many things.

We have an abundance of Civil War battlefields and antique shops. The centre of town is marked by a windmill, which all directions are given based on. Our famous people include Patrick Henry ('give me liberty, or give me death!') and Jason Mraz ('I want you to have it all!').

Three years ago, Mechanicsville got another claim to fame: More Than Greek, a small family-owned Greek restaurant a mere five minutes from my house.

In January, Yelp and Food & Wine named More Than Greek one of the 100 best places to eat in the United States. (#55 to be exact). In fact, it is the only Virginia restaurant to make the list.

Here are some pictures from my most recent visit:

Immediately after we sat down, the owner delivered us complimentary Baklava.

The restaurant is covered head-to-toe in Mediterranean blue.

I love the centrepiece. I recognise those flower/leaf/arrow graphics from Everyday Tuesday!

Everytime I come here, I make sure to order the tzatziki appetiser. It's a must have.

I have to be honest: I ordered a grilled cheese from the kids menu. However, this is not your standard grilled cheese. I don't regret ordering it for a second. Also in the picture is my mother's Greek salad.

My mom's avgolemono (a traditional Greek lemon, chicken and orzo soup). She described it as 'very good', which means 'exceptional' in her language.

A more secluded and calm corner of the restaurant.

One of the two dessert display cases.

If you can brave the heat and humidity, outdoor seating is also available.

More Than Greek is located on 8161 Atlee Road.

Follow them on Instagram at @morethangreekhanover.

Make sure to stay updated by joining my mailing list and following @booksandbrie on Instagram!

—Milly xx