Fredericksburg Cheeseburger in Paradise

finzz2dlft · Post by **finzz2dlft** » March 14, 2004 9:02 pm

1more wrote:Yes he was the unofficial opening of CA and the cops had no idea how to deal with throng of Parrotheads. All later concerts there had strict rules on tailgating and alcohol.

"The throngs of Parrotheads!" I like the sound of that.

tallship38 · Post by **tallship38** » March 14, 2004 10:16 pm

the "unofficial" opening at the ca in richmond was beyond great. we actually saw our friend blow tequila out his nose!!!!!! (it was is first jb show)
but after that, they contain everyone in a SMALL beer garden. that sucks.
they don't get anyone there now. 3 years after the first jb show, people who live around there started to complain about the noise and the concerts. they wrote about the B52's show. which was canceled 2 days prior! hello! can we get a brain? but yet, they love rir speedway because the same people can charge $20 per car to park in thier yards. we all know how loud a race can be.

tallship38 · Post by **tallship38** » March 14, 2004 10:27 pm

finzz2dlft wrote:
1more wrote:Yes he was the unofficial opening of CA and the cops had no idea how to deal with throng of Parrotheads. All later concerts there had strict rules on tailgating and alcohol.
"The throngs of Parrotheads!" I like the sound of that.

if you like that one.........1 more and i just learned a new word today...........rectalinnear. hummmmmm.

phjrsaunt · Post by **phjrsaunt** » March 16, 2004 7:45 am

Pouring rain today, but I DON'T CARE! I'm taking off work early and taking me a ROAD TRIP!

keysdreamer · Post by **keysdreamer** » March 16, 2004 8:43 am

I attended the CiP charity event Saturday night in Fredericksburg. It was a great night and the YMCA raised $40,000 for a handicap accessible playground they are building.

JB did not show and was not expected. Word is his appearance will be around his concert date at Nissan, but who knows.

Only 120 general tickets were sold to the charity event. There were several VIP tables sold @ $2500.

The food and libations were great and the staff wonderful. Let's hope they keep it up. The lineup of bands for March and April is questionable.

Senator Pullman · Post by **Senator Pullman** » March 16, 2004 10:08 am

phjrsaunt wrote:Pouring rain today, but I DON'T CARE! I'm taking off work early and taking me a ROAD TRIP!

Have fun Auntie-- I already have to be in two places at one time tonight, wish I could make it up there.

phjrsaunt · Post by **phjrsaunt** » March 16, 2004 10:31 am

Senator Pullman wrote:
phjrsaunt wrote:Pouring rain today, but I DON'T CARE! I'm taking off work early and taking me a ROAD TRIP!
Have fun Auntie-- I already have to be in two places at one time tonight, wish I could make it up there.

]
I promise a full report in the morning...

finzz2dlft · Post by **finzz2dlft** » March 16, 2004 10:33 am

phjrsaunt wrote:Pouring rain today, but I DON'T CARE! I'm taking off work early and taking me a ROAD TRIP!

Have an awesome time!!!!!!

Starshine · Post by **Starshine** » March 17, 2004 5:48 am

Auntie & I had a grand time. I'll let Auntie give you the details!

finzz2dlft · Post by **finzz2dlft** » March 17, 2004 7:35 am

Can't wait to hear the details! Wish I could have been there!

phjrsaunt · Post by **phjrsaunt** » March 17, 2004 8:55 am

....as promised, my phull report

Starshine and I both left work at 1:00, so we could meet (not meat) at my house at 2:00, then be in Fredericksburg by 3:00, mill with the throngs and be ready for the grand opening at 4:00.

Weather: pouring rain and c-c-c-c-cold! Attire: Parrothead! Mood: VERY exciited. We made it up there in plenty of time. Parking lot wasn't exactly full...a few Parrotheads and a LOT of empty parking spaces. We chatted with the Parrotheads for a few, then went in search of a bathroom at Circuit City. Came back and a line was forming, so we jumped in. Second in line! Woo hoo! More people now, but nobody else in tropical shirts. They did a ribbon cutting and broke open a bottle of champagne, then let us in. We were the second people ever seated.

Decor: very tropical in general, with a few hints of Buffett. Music: again, generally tropical, with one in five songs being Buffett. I harassed the manager about not enough Buffett, by the way. We were seated, and our waiter's name was Frank. We asked if there was a Lola there, but there isn't. He was very nice and "got" what we meant when asking about Lola. They probably had waaay overstaffed for the grand opening, so we got awesome service. Food: In true Outback style, big portions, and very well prepared. Reasonably priced. Starshine had blackened tilapia and I had BBQ jerk ribs. We each had a variety of boatdrinks. VERY yummy. All decorated with fruit made to look like stuff (they took a little banana and put little sunglasses on it and made it look like the Hemisphere Dancer.)

I was kind of surprised that not more people "looked" like Parrotheads. Starshine and I were singing along to all the Buffett songs. Of course they played CIP several times..the wait staff all gets into it, singing and clapping and encouraging audience participation. Did I mention the drinks were very yummy?

Right after we were seated, this senior citizen couple was seated next to us. They seemed a bit bewildered by the whole specatacle. I don't know what they were expecting, but apparently they weren't expecting Auntie to break out into song. They got up and left. I didn't think my singing was THAT bad.

We bought a bunch of Tshirts and stuff (the Tshirts are cool, but they don't have the location on them like Hard Rock Cafe shirts do). We were both stuffed to the gills, and the band didn't start til 9:00 (it was only 5:30 then), so we rolled ourselves out to the truck and came home. OOPS, looks like a menu accidentally got shoved under my shirt, and made its way home with me. I know nussink!

We had a great time! I would definitely recommend this to a phriend!

Your pal,
Auntie

JeffinVA · Post by **JeffinVA** » March 17, 2004 10:25 am

Just read the last post from the second people seated in CIP.....I lucked out, my friend and I were the first. Really enjoyed talking with everybody in line even though it was freezing out there!! My friend flew up from Florida for the opening. Unfortunately, when he scheduled his flight the opening date was the 15th, so we had to eat and head to the airport for his return flight. At least they opened a half hour early and gave us more time.
Anyway, after getting sprayed with the Champagne, it was cool to be the first one through the door. The management and staff were great, the food was great, and the drinks were HUGE!!!! Have to recommend the chili lime flavored wings for an appetizer. Of course, it seemed the number one entree for the day was the "CheeseBurger in Paradise." Loved it. Much better than the cheeseburger at Margaritaville in Orlando or Key West. Really liked the atmosphere and hope the staff keeps up with the high energy level.
My only problem is that the place is less than a mile from my house....might as well sign my paycheck over to them now. Plan on making my daily happy hour stop there.
Fins up!!!!!
Jeff

PHShelley · Post by **PHShelley** » March 17, 2004 10:26 am

Hi guys...A few of us headed out to Fredricksburg to the opening after work. We didn't get there until 8:30PM. The atmosphere of the place must have changed after others got off work and started crowding in. The bar was pretty packed and there were quite a bit of PHs and tropical shirts flowing. We lucked out and got a couple of seats at the bar almost right away. The bartenders were great and of course we were obliged to order margaritas. They turned out very good despite the use of a mix.

The band started and played a Buffett tune about every 3-4 songs...other than that it was a mix of some country and southern rock. Certainly had the crowd entertained, singing along and dancing. About 30 minutes later we got a table and quickly got another round of margs and started salivating over the choices of burgers. I was even happier when I flipped through the "Bar Log" (It was made out like a large notebook and had quite an expansive choice of boat drinks. It also gave little tid bits about liquors and drinks and their origins. I was quite impressed. BEST OF ALL...Cruising through the beers...Lo and behold they carry RED STRIPE...Yippee! Not that I doubted Jimmy about that one...but it is always a thrill to find a place that sells your favorite, but rarely served beer.

The food was great...Cheeseburgers juicy and perfectly cooked...fries fantastic. Very yummy and worth the drive from DC all on its own. Hmmm...of course my diet hasn't allowed me a cheeseburger in the past month...A Big Mac would probably taste gourmet to me at this point! I must not have been imagining too much because on our way to work this morning my husband started talking about how good his burger was last night. Definitely not our typical need coffee, damned traffic, I don't want to go to work conversations we have.

We stayed through until the band ended around 11:30. The bar still had quite a bit of people in it. I didn't hear CIB once while we were there. Not that I missed it. Bless Jimmy, I love the song, but I've just heard it way too many times. Of course, I guess if there is anytime to hear it, it would be there and in concert.

Over all we were impressed with the food, prices and experience. It will be interesting to see if they are able to keep a steady crowd in there given its location. We were very glad that we headed out in the cold and took the drive to be there. We would definitely go back depending on the band playing and to hang on the outdoor cafe part during the summer for a good burger. And of course if Bubba was to stop by!

Auntie...the same problem seemed to happen to me too. I got to the car and geeze louise...a BAR LOG fell from under my coat!!!!

JeffinVA · Post by **JeffinVA** » March 17, 2004 10:32 am

I feel like a novice.....I didn't even think to "borrow" a menu and bar log to help plan my next meal. LOL

PHShelley · Post by **PHShelley** » March 17, 2004 10:36 am

Sounds like you will occupy enough time there to receive quite a few loaners in the near future!

phjrsaunt · Post by **phjrsaunt** » March 17, 2004 10:38 am

JeffinVA wrote:I feel like a novice.....I didn't even think to "borrow" a menu and bar log to help plan my next meal. LOL

Well DAMN SAM! We talked and I didn't even KNOW you were on BuffettNews! Starshine and I were standing in line behind those kids w/ homemade Buffett Tshirts (the one girl was getting razzed b/c her shark looked more like a pteradactyl). Wish we could have met and chatted!

JeffinVA · Post by **JeffinVA** » March 17, 2004 11:05 am

I give her an "A" for effort on her T-shirt....I was the one in the brown leather jacket that picked on her when she asked if anybody would have paid $7 for here shirt and I told her I would wear it if she gave me $7. Were you the one commenting on how crazy it was that they weren't playing more Buffett music?

_________________

JeffinVA · Post by **JeffinVA** » March 17, 2004 11:13 am

To respond to a few messages here.....
I don't think CIP will have any problems keeping a crowd in there. Even though Central Park has some sort of restaurant every 10 feet, every place is always packed, especially on the weekends. Do think that CIP will put a hurtin on Joe's Crab Shack though.
And yes.....I may just have to start me a collection of menu's and bar logs....lol.....might have to start this afternoon....of course I am supposed to be going to the gym after work which is right around the corner from CIP....wonder where I will ended up.

finzz2dlft · Post by **finzz2dlft** » March 17, 2004 11:26 am

My Dad works up in Fredericksburg, at Mary Washington Hospital. That is a huge hospital, with a huge staff. His opinion is that CIP will attract not only PHans, but the staff at the hospital, and other "working joes" in the area. They should help to keep the place in business for a looooooooooong time.

phjrsaunt · Post by **phjrsaunt** » March 17, 2004 11:35 am

JeffinVA wrote:I give her an "A" for effort on her T-shirt....I was the one in the brown leather jacket that picked on her when she asked if anybody would have paid $7 for here shirt and I told her I would wear it if she gave me $7. Were you the one commenting on how crazy it was that they weren't playing more Buffett music?

_________________

that would be me!

I grew up in Fredericksburg (Hartwood, to be exact)..we'll have to get together sometime!

BuffettNews.com

Fredericksburg Cheeseburger in Paradise

Loved CIP

OOPS.....

Re: OOPS.....