My son’s birthday almost always falls on Spring Break. Therefore, we have celebrated his birthday all over the world. Pretty cool for him! This year we were spending Spring Break at the Greenbrier in West Virginia. Since my son’s favorite food is pasta, I decided there was no better restaurant than The Forum. It is an Italian restaurant located right inside the Greenbrier. Perfect!
Just like everything else at The Greenbrier, it is very colorful inside. 🙂 After checking out the menu, we decided on Frito Misto for our Appetizer.
It was a delicious concoction of tender calamari, shrimp and squash, fried until golden brown and crispy and tossed with hot pepper rings and basil. The calamari was my favorite, along with these thinly sliced lemon pieces served on top. But the spicy tomato marinara and garlic aioli made the dish! Oh my goodness, I don’t know which one was better. The aioli would have kicked the marinara’s butt had it not been spicy. But it was, so it is a hard call. I just went from one to the other, so I could enjoy both evenly. Along with the Frito Misto, we had the usual bread that comes with the meal and the usual salad. Unusual, however, was what came served with the bread.
There was flavored olive oil, a tomato paste type thing and some of the yummiest butter ever. I don’t know what they put in the butter, but it was fantastic and unfortunately, I couldn’t get enough. I really liked this unusual addition to the bread plate. Now that I’m filled up on calamari and bread, it’s time for the entrees! 😉
My husband ordered one of the specials of the night. I don’t remember the name of the dish, but it is scallops with pancetta (and some other stuff)….darn it, I thought I had written it down somewhere, but I can’t find it! The scallops were perfect! The scallops crispy crust with a moist soft center went great with that yellow sauce. I only had one taste, but it seems like it was lemony. Anyway, sorry for the terrible description, but just know that it was fantastic!
My son, being the pasta lover that he is, ordered the Spaghetti Con Polpettine: meatballs made from ground veal, pork and beef served on top of spaghetti with San Marzano Tomato Sauce. He has had spaghetti at MANY restaurants and he really liked this one. I tasted the sauce and also thought it was quite tasty.
My daughter ordered the Spaghetti Alla Carbonara: spaghetti served with house made Pancetta Parmesan-Reggiano, enriched with egg, cream and butter. This is a rich dish! It tastes amazing, but always makes my stomach a little upset if I eat the whole thing. To be a teenager again and be able to eat whatever I wanted. This was one of the better Carbonara sauces that I have had. Delish!
Last but not least, I had the Gamberi Di Papa Antimo: Three large shrimp stuffed with crabmeat, oven baked and then served with angel hair pasta tossed with fresh tomatoes, torn basil and white wine garlic butter sauce. YUMMY! I cut the shrimp up and mixed it in with the pasta. I don’t know why I love angel hair pasta so much. Could be the name. 🙂 The sauce was not to heavy even though it had garlic butter. Overall, we were happy with the entrees. Now on to dessert!
We had to get the birthday boy some dessert! Cream brulee with berries and ice cream, served with some biscotti. The perfect creamy ending to a great meal! Another successful birthday celebrated. They are going by way to fast. 🙁
The waitress brought us this little surprise with the check. I guess that sweetens the blow of the bill! 🙂 My daughter loved the little macaroons and I loved the chocolate. The other things were just pure sugar and I think my husband ate them.What is the best thing you have been served in a restaurant that you didn’t order? You were just pleasantly surprised when it arrived?
To see what others are eating, check out peasandcrayons.com
What an amazing place. Seriously, not one of those meals look anything but delicious!
Happy Birthday to your son
<3
Thanks!
Happy Birthday to your son! I definitely have the Greenbrier on my list of places to visit. The food looks delicious. I've heard great things about all the fun things to do and the beautiful scenery. Now I know I can look forward to the food too!
I am about to do a ton of posts on it, so keep your eye out for those.
I've been wanting to go stay at the Greenbrier forever! Do you think it would be ok with little kids (5 and 3)? Happy Birthday to your son, that meal looks amazing!
Yes, I think little kids would love it. I will be posting on it, including the pool and toy store, coming up soon. You can see for yourself before even going. 🙂
Looks really yummy! I wish that I had a spring break. My son only gets a couple of days off for "spring break" I miss it :(. Happy birthday to your son!
Thanks!
So much delicious food! I hope you enjoyed yourself, and you son enjoyed himself too!
We had such a great time, thanks!
Holy delicious. I would have just taken that calamari for my main meal. Looks so good!
I'm a huge fan of spaghetti so that plate would be for me if I was there and those cookies… just perfect for a dessert 🙂 My mouth's watering right now!!
Your food posts always leave me hungry and cravings for what you've eaten. All the food looks delicious. I haven't been to West Virginia but would love to visit the Greenbrier. Looks like a great birthday celebration. Belated Happy Birthday to your son.
Thanks, Mary!
I love when restaurants bring little bites with the check. It's the perfect sweet end to a meal. 🙂
I've heard so many wonderful things about the Greenbrier but have never been. I think I've got to put it on the list!
I host a weekly party called "Oh, the PLACES I've been!" and would love to have you join. The link goes up at 7 pm EST on Thursday evenings.
– The Tablescaper
I will definitely do that. Thanks for the invite!
That's so fun that your son gets to celebrate his birthday in a different place each year! The best thing I've been served at a restaurant that I didn't order is usually some type of dessert or dessert cocktail. Always a delicious surprise!
Wow, everything looks so good!
I love pasta as well.
That just made me hungry 😉
What an awesome way of celebrating your son's birthday around the world. Certainly makes it more interesting!
Tell him I say congrats.
Great captures btw!
Thanks, Karla! It does make his birthday fun and interesting!
The scallops look amazing 🙂 First time I have heard of the Greenbrier – guess I need to venture out of the Midwest a bit more!
Ha! I will be doing LOTS of post about it coming up. So you will hear lots more!