Esoteric: 2022 Virginia Beach Restaurant Week

Happy New Year, everyone! I know, I know. Saying “Happy New Year” this late into January is a hot topic, but I don’t care because this is my first blog post of 2022. I’ve been fairly lowkey with my dining out (because, you know, COVID), but I always have to treat myself during Virginia Beach Restaurant Week.

Virginia Beach Restaurant Week

The 2022 Virginia Beach Restaurant Week was initially scheduled to run from Jan. 17–23. Thanks to the snowstorm that hit just before the weekend, the Virginia Beach Restaurant Association (VBRA) and several of the participating restaurants agreed to extend their Restaurant Week menus through Jan. 30.

The list of participating restaurants featured a lot of familiar favorites. I challenged myself, this year, to only visit restaurants I’ve never been to before. Well, I failed that challenge immediately when I decided to go to Esoteric. But, in my defense, I had never been for Restaurant Week.

Esoteric

As I previously mentioned, I’ve been to Esoteric a few times. Most notably for their Beats, Beers and Brunch, which is precisely what it sounds like—brunch with a DJ and Esoteric’s on-tap beers.

Esoteric is one of my favorite restaurants in the ViBe Creative District. Housed in a historic, 1920s-era building, the restaurant’s minimalist space contrasts the array of flavors on the thoughtfully curated menu.

I’ve truly never had a bad meal at Esoteric, so it was a no-brainer when I saw they had a $15, two-course lunch option for Virginia Beach Restaurant Week.

While cocktails aren’t included in the Restaurant Week offerings, I needed a little midday pick-me-up. I’ve been on a kick with spicy cocktails, so I fixated on the Jalapeño Mule and the In My Bag.

I ultimately went with the In My Bag, a pepper-infused Tito’s Vodka cocktail with passionfruit, lime and lemon juice, and simple syrup. If I didn’t have to go back to work, I would’ve had three more. The sweetness of the passionfruit and simple syrup were just enough to tame, but not mute, the spicy kick in the vodka.

First Course

Remember when I said I wanted to challenge myself to try new things? I lied…again. As soon as I saw Pimento listed under the first-course options, my mind was made. Esoteric has some of the best pimento cheese ever. I could spend 45 minutes talking about it, but I won’t do that to y’all.

It’s not the goopy, overly processed stuff you find at some grocery stores. If I had to take a guess, I’d say Esoteric doesn’t use much or any mayo in their pimento cheese, giving it a firm but spreadable texture. I scooped up the tangy, bright orange dip with Esoteric’s house-made crackers. The pimento spread is perfect for sharing but, if you’re dining solo, just know that it will fill you up. Don’t forget to save room for your second course!

Second Course

During Restaurant Week, I strive to order menu items that aren’t on the restaurant’s regular menu. Esoteric’s Burrata Salad, Spicy Chicken Sammie and Black Bean Burger were second-course selections that are also fixtures on the regular menu. Fortunately, I was already leaning towards the Cubano sandwich.

Esoteric stays true to the essence of this toasted Cuban sandwich, starting with their juicy ginger ale braised pork shoulder. The sandwich gets a touch of the Commonwealth with some slices of Edwards ham. Top those meats off with Havarti cheese, homemade pickles and IPA honey mustard for a sweet and tangy finish. The sandwich is served on sourdough bread and pressed to perfection to combine all of those flavors.

I only got to eat half of my sandwich at the restaurant before I got too full. If you do need a box, pop the sandwich in an air fryer or broiler for just a few minutes when you get ready to enjoy it again to revive the crunch of the bread.

The Vibe

Other than the food and drinks, I love how bright and cozy Esoteric’s interior is. The front and rear windows let plenty of light into the space. As soon as I was seated at one of the wood tables, I whipped my book out to start reading while my food was being prepared. I could’ve spent hours at Esoteric reading and sipping that In My Bag cocktail.

My server, Brittany, was fantastic. She was able to answer the few questions I had without hesitation and even recommended I upgrade to the truffle fries as my sandwich’s side since that was her favorite order. She was so friendly and attentive, which is the kind of service that keeps people coming back.

The portions were the biggest surprise for me. Esoteric is always very generous, but some restaurants shrink their portion sizes during Restaurant Week. Not Esoteric. I got my whole order of Pimento and a full-sized sandwich, which made my $15, two-course meal an even better deal. I highly recommend you check out Esoteric both for Virginia Beach Restaurant Week and any other time of the year.

Esoteric is located at 501 Virginia Blvd. Suite A, Virginia Beach.