Leading off is the Virginia Creek Settlement located in Bridgeport, California. Bridgeport is a town of about 600 located 8000 feet up in the Sierras. It dates back to frontier times and prospers primarily on the tourism seasons, with the epic ghost town Bodie being the main attraction.
The Settlement is one of the few restaurants located up here and I'd say it's safe to say it's the closest thing to a fine dining-type of establishment in a 10,000 mile radius. So here's what we've got:
New York Steak, a baked potato, and an entire garden of asparagus
Given the proximity of Bridgeport to absolutely nothing, the prices of the food are actually really fair. Whereas prices for gasoline are about a buck higher than the bigger metropolitan areas, the menu here is pretty constant.
The steak was good. Cooked well and tasted good. But what the hell is up with the all the asparagus? Seriously, why so much? Maybe they're trying to counter the lopsided fat portions with something healthy, even though most restaurants leave their veggies cooking in a pot of full-fat butter. But whatever.
Appetizer: beef vegetable soup
I gotta tell you - after 8 hours and 330+ miles on the road through the mountains and desert, this soup was amazingly delicious. Like whoa.
Garlic bread
The bread was also refreshing, like that feeling you get after stuffing your face at an all-you-can-eat buffet and before you realize you probably ate too much and then sit in a daze of intense intestinal cramping.
But overall a great place. Highly recommend if you happen to be snooping around the Sierras. The other thing is that even in the middle of nowhere you can find superb customer service. It's amazing how so many restaurants just don't get it, but you drive up the 395 into this tiny little isolated town and it seems like it's second nature. Really good restaurant.
Got some more good stuff that I've gotta catch up on. More coming soon!