A new beginning for a community staple
My husband and I have been going to the Sycamore restaurant in Martinsburg, WV since they opened. Located at 1959 Golf Course Road, the first time we stepped through the doors we couldn’t get enough! One of the first things that struck me was the beautiful view of not only a driving range, but also the mountains in the distance. We enjoyed the food so much that we couldn’t stop talking about it to our friends and family, who also became fans once they tried it out. I joke that the manager, who always greets us with a welcoming smile, has watched our son grow up over the past year. We really go that often! So, when we were invited to the Sycamore to try out their menu, we were more than excited.
The golf, the views, and the vibes.
The Sycamore is situated on a golf course. The building used to serve as the club house. Although the golf course isn’t currently operational, it is being revitalized and the driving range is open to the public. The restaurant itself has three different sections, including a lounge, a dining area, and a covered patio. From the patio and the windows inside, you see a stunning view of the driving range. Beyond that, you can see the Shenandoah Valley. It really sets the stage for a special dining experience. Although the different areas allow for a different dining experience (for example, the lounge may feel more casual), the spaces are cohesive and are seamless transitions into one another. On a warm spring or cool summer evening, I can’t think of many things more relaxing than sitting on the Sycamore patio with a drink, enjoying the greenery in the background and the mountains in the distance.
Cocktails, Appetizers, Entrees, and Desserts.
The food and drinks at the Sycamore are unmatched. I can honestly say that I have enjoyed every item I’ve tasted. On this most recent trip, we were able to try the Blueberry Lavender Margarita and the weekly feature, which was a Key Lime Martini. I am always drawn to margaritas, and this was a perfect blend of flavors. The lavender was very subtle and paired well with the blueberry, tequila, and fresh lime juice. Martinis, on the other hand, aren’t normally something I would order. However, the Key Lime Martini was exceptional. It truly tasted like a key lime pie. If you don’t prefer sweet drinks, this one may not be for you, but the Sycamore has a full bar and offers other drinks, like the Sycamore Old Fashioned. I also want to highlight the fact that they Sycamore offers fun mocktails, as well. I have tried them in the past and they are refreshing and fun! They are perfect for kids and adults. Their current offerings include a Blueberry Lavender Lemonade and a Strawberry Mojito.
Regarding the appetizers, we were able to try many! We tasted the Nashville Chicken and Watermelon, the Sycamore Wings, Parmesan Hand-Cut Fries, Chicharrons, and the Fried Green Tomatoes. The most unique item was the Nashville Chicken and Watermelon, which were skewers comprised of watermelon soaked in sugar, spicy fried chicken bites, fresh basil, and sourced honeycomb. It’s one of their most popular appetizers and it was easy to see why it’s a favorite. The different flavors paired perfectly together. You could taste the heat of the chicken, but it was cooled by the watermelon. The honey wasn’t overly sweet, and the basil also paired well. The wings were crispy and glazed well, the fries were paired with a garlic ketchup that elevated the dish, and the chicharrons, paired with a chipotle aioli, were still crackling as they came out. My favorite appetizer was hands down the Fried Green Tomatoes, paired with a pimento cheese dip. These items may be southern staples, but they were done right at the Sycamore. The tomatoes were fried to perfection and the pimento cheese dip was good enough to eat on its own! Together, its truly “chef’s kiss”.
We also were lucky enough to try several of the entrees, including the Pork Taco Pibil Plate, Pollo Ricado, Shrimp and Chorizo Grits, Smoked Brisket Plate, and the Black Angus Burger. The pork tacos come unassembled with 3 tortillas and include smoked pork butt, cilantro lime rice, black beans, corn pico, lime crema, and pickled onions. Each ingredient is packed with flavor and when combined, make an incredible taco. My favorite entrée was the Pollo Ricado, which included a fried chicken thigh with cilantro lime rice, elote, a secret chef sauce, and crema. I have never had this dish before, but it blew me away. It was so flavorful and just worked so well together. This is the dish I would order repeatedly! The Shrimp and Chorizo Grits was also top tier – a perfect blend of chorizo, roasted red pepper grits, and cotija cheese. The shrimp were seasoned and grilled to perfection. The Smoked Brisket Plate came with macaroni and cheese and green beans almondine. If you like barbecue, this is the dish for you! And finally, the Black Angus Burger is one of the best burgers in the area. The meat is a mix of short rib and ground beef and may just be the reason these burgers are over the top. Each dish was truly so unique and flavorful.
Another special thing about the Sycamore is that they offer gluten-free and vegetarian options. They will even provide you with a different menu for your convenience. When talking to the manager, the goal is to ensure each guests feels comfortable, no matter their preferences or dietary restrictions. I think this really sets Sycamore apart.
Last but not least, we tried several of the desserts, including the Crème Brulee Cheesecake, Bread Pudding, Chocolate Mousse, and Apple Dumpling Spring Rolls. The cheesecake and dumplings, which came with a caramel dipping sauce, were delicious, but the mousse and bread pudding were my favorite desserts. The mousse was rich, creamy, and chocolaty, while the bread pudding was served with vanilla ice cream and was warm and cozy. The first thing I thought of when trying it was French toast.
Every single item we tried from drinks to desserts was delightful.
You know I like my chicken fried…
Meet the Sycamore’s premiere chef, Chef Josh Prichard. We had the chance to sit down with him and get to him and understand his passion for cooking. He’s been cooking for about 30 years and even worked with the Zac Brown Band for about 7 years. He was able to travel the country with them, preparing locally sourced meals in different cities. Chef has cooked in all 50 states but Alaska, something that is still on his list to do.
His approach to the Sycamore’s menu is distinctive. He created a menu with unique dishes that you won’t be able to find in any restaurant in any city. He described it like this, “I want you to come here and get something you can’t get anywhere else. I try to be unique with the main dishes. For example, wings. We don’t have a buffalo wing. You can get a buffalo wing anywhere. So, I made a unique glaze for that. And that’s the approach I took towards each dish that I created. Since day one I’ve tried to make unique items that just stand out.”
Chef also discussed his preference for simple and unique flavors, which got us curious about the Latin dishes on the menu. He’s travelled abroad and feels comfortable cooking Latin American food. The first Latin dish he created for the menu was the fish taco, which was well-received. So, he branched out and created the other Latin dishes that are currently on the menu, as well. He did remind us that the menu changes seasonally, and we can’t wait to not only visit the Sycamore again for these dishes, but also see what new and exciting items Chef comes up with!
When we asked Chef what he wanted the community to know about the Sycamore, he replied, “Know that we care about what we do, and I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t love cooking. I try and inspire that in all our staff. We want to put out quality products and good food. Even if we missed the mark, we want to know about it and fix it for you, so you have the confidence and faith in us to come back.”
Celebrate good times, c’mon!
The Sycamore is the perfect venue to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, date night, or family dinner. In fact, my husband and I have already celebrated each of those things there. So, if you are in the mood to try some food and drinks that you can’t find anywhere else, while experiencing a casual, relaxing environment with incredible views, consider giving the Sycamore a try! Maybe even hit some golf balls on the driving range before you sit down for lunch or dinner.
Conclusion
The Sycamore has been one of our favorite restaurants since it opened. They have always welcomed us with open arms and provided us with some of our favorite food and drink items out there. We really can’t say enough positive things about this place and love that a place in the community is being revitalized in such a classy and exceptional way.
I love the Sycamore – good food and great atmosphere!!