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Berkeley Springs

Okay, not DC.  But this is a possible day-trip and for those who wander out there it is nice to know if there are any veggie friendly options.  There are, sort of.  A few things to know.  First, this is a tourist town.  It is pretty much shut down from Monday through Wednesday.  If you want to actually see many of the attractions (most of which were closed during my visit) go Friday or Saturday.  You can even check the online calendar to see if there are any special events, such as the Chocolate Festival I "just missed" (http://berkeleysprings.com/festivals/).  Second, there are really only about three blocks along the main drag (South Washington Street) and a block in either direction which one would want to wander around.  I can't imagine spending a week here.  Go for some window shopping and meals, a spa treatment, a soak in the waters at the State Park, then head home.  Make sure to gas up in Virginia as the gas tax here is "significant".  Third, this is West Virginia.  Food here is solid, hearty -- even the vegetarian options.  I skipped the traditional venues (Lot 12 Public House and The Country Inn) and headed for places which seemed better suited to my dietary needs.  For breakfast, I stopped at the Fairfax Coffee House.  This hipster spot had a lot to offer.  In addition to a solid menu they insist on no tips as they give a "living wage" to employees.  They also donate a portion of profits to various charities.  I got an egg and biscuit along with a Sigg's yogurt.  Prices were very reasonable and came in so low I was embarrassed to use a credit card.  That being said, the biscuit looked great but had a sharp aftertaste, which is typical with flour that isn't the most fresh.  Next time I go I will get the bagels, which looked great.  They also had vegan ice pops and a huge selection of coffees, teas and tisanes.  Next up was Tari's Cafe, a very upscale joint (expensive) with vegetarian options listed on the chef-driven menu.  I selected a green salad (a great collection of dark greens, fruit and handmade croutons with a house-made raspberry vinaigrette) and the fried green tomatoes with mac n' cheese.  The salad was impeccable and came with a gratis roll -- soft, warm and served with gently whipped butter which melted beautifully in the bread.  The main dish got a gasp from me.  The proportions of a Cheesecake Factory dish it was "too much" and ended up being two additional meals for me.  Tasty without knocking anything out of the park I enjoyed the fried green tomatoes but would have preferred a lighter coating.  There was so much breading that it almost overwhelmed the tomatoes.  For dessert, I couldn't say no to a peanut butter chocolate pie, but again, one or two bites of the super-rich concoction would have been fine.  The four layers (a rich crumbly layer, a thick chocolate layer, a fluffy peanut layer and a whipped topping) were amazing but I could feel my blood sugar rising with every bite.  The dessert came with a sprig of mint which not only clashed with the other flavors but overwhelmed in terms of smell.  Would I go there again?  Maybe, but there were a few other establishments of interest.  I didn't make it to the Mexican restaurant, Mi Ranchito, which had great smells wafting out into the street.  There is also Maria's Garden and Inn, which has sort-of Italian options but was closed and the Naked Olive Lounge which supposedly has some nice veggie appetizers and killer desserts (in addition to drinks, of course).  All-in-all, I could see another visit to this town, maybe during a fall festival.  At least I know there are places to eat after my massage!

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