Serving Up Delicious Dishes at Avery Point

"I'm not one who loves to be in the kitchen cooking," says Diane Prevary. "I can do it, but I don't love it."

Luckily for her, she doesn't have to! Since moving to Avery Point, an Erickson Senior Living community in Short Pump, Va., Diane has savored delicious dishes made with the freshest ingredients by expert chefs. 

"My son has asked me if I've ever turned the stove on," she says, with a laugh. "The dining experience has been one of the pluses of moving here. The food is excellent! I can get well-balanced meals, and I don't have to worry about planning them."

And because menus at Avery Point's on-campus restaurants feature a variety of local favorites, modern takes on classic dishes, and innovative fare, there's always something new to try.

Something for everyone

The Creek Cafe is a fast-casual restaurant featuring a diverse menu of soups, salads, sandwiches, pizzas, flatbreads, and grill items. Menus change based on resident feedback and seasonal availability, but recent entrees have included grilled orange roughy, grilled pork chop, butter chicken, and Thai chili salmon.  

The Point, a full-service fine dining restaurant, serves a variety of chef-prepared steaks, seafood, and pasta dishes. With items like chilled peach and mango soup, beef pastitsio, cornflake-crusted chicken, and red lentil dahl, this venue highlights the creativity of the community's chefs. 

Fireside Restaurant bridges the gap between fast-casual and fine dining in a beautifully appointed space. It features homestyle classics such as barbecue ribs as well as elevated entrees like trout almandine and shrimp ceviche. 

Magnolia's Bar is the place to be during happy hour! From karaoke and weekly theme nights to bingo and "bar takeovers," there's always something fun going on. Residents can enjoy bar snacks like pretzels and nuts as well as drink options catered to their preferences.

By using the My Erickson app, residents can make reservations, preview daily specials, and check nutrition information for each meal--even before getting to the restaurant!

Powerful partnership

To ensure residents enjoy high-quality meals at each of these unique eateries, Dining Services Director Chas Stetson and his team partner with the Resident Advisory Council's (RAC) dining committee. 

"We want to know how we're doing!" says Stetson, with a smile. "We also make sure to listen to residents' wants and needs." 

"Dining Services' management and staff is wonderful to work with," notes Diane, RAC liaison to the dining committee. "They make every effort to accommodate a variety of dietary needs, preferences, and allergies."

Following recent feedback from the committee, the team has added resident-requested dishes to each restaurant menu.

"They sent us a list of things they would like to see on our menu and items they've enjoyed but haven't seen in a while," Stetson says. "We're happy to meet those requests."

Now, diners are enjoying beef Wellington, lamb chops, and spaghetti and meatballs--all plated beautifully. 

"I truly believe that you eat with your eyes first, so we make sure that meals are aesthetically pleasing as well as delicious," notes Stetson. 

Sense of community

The restaurants also offer local favorites and special dinners. 

"Virginia is the gateway to the South, so we offer dishes such as fried green tomatoes, but then we put a spin on it and top them with jumbo lump crabmeat," explains Stetson. "A third of the Chesapeake Bay is in Virginia, so we offer a lot of crab cakes or lump crab meat as an add-on for steak and chicken. We do a fair amount of barbecue, too, as it's king in the South."

He adds, "We prepare four special meals a year, including a Seder meal for Passover and a Juneteenth event."

Social atmosphere

Diane, a self-proclaimed extrovert, believes the social atmosphere in each of the restaurants is the perfect accompaniment to her delicious dinners.

"People meet others by inviting new residents to eat with them," she says. "I also treat family and friends to dinner here because it's a way of entertaining them. I'm never disappointed!"

Invest in your future self at Avery Point. From top-notch amenities to affordable, maintenance-free apartment homes, you are sure to live your retirement to the fullest. Request more information today!