Saturday, February 16, 2013
On Monday, February 11, 2013, I had lunch at La Flor Blanca, a Hispanic restaurant at 1709-C Berryville Pike, Route 7 East. A large sign painted on the outside wall read "Salvadorian Food" inside another sign indicated that Guatemalan food is also available. The place serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and is open daily from 9:30 AM to 9:30 PM. The phone number is 540-667-2652.
The menu's headings included Sopas/Soups, Mariscos/Seafood/, Amuerzos y Cenas/Lunch and Dinner, and Salvadorian Pupusas. I ordered chile relleño, a stuffed green pepper. It included arroz y frijoles (rice and beans), a salad with a piece of lime, and two small tortillas, warmed, on a small plate.
The Flor Blanca's green pepper had more stuffing than either of the chile relleño orders I had been served in the last two Hispanic restaurants I had visited. My beverage was a Mexican Coke, made with sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup; it came in a 12-ounce glass bottle. I was given a straw two inches too short to drink it with.
All of the other patrons were Hispanic, including a number of carry-out customers who had apparently phoned in their orders. The place is small, with an L-shaped seating area, with no ethnic trappings except a wide-screen TV tuned to a Hispanic channel. There are seven tables; each has four chairs, despite some of the tables being smaller. Flor Blanca is Spanish for “White Flower”, and each table had a vase with an artificial white flower.
Flor Blanca does not accept charge cards; a notice on the counter emphasizes their cash-only policy. Jose, my server, told me that they had been in business for two years, replacing a pizza operation; my research showed that it was probably Giro's. Two other businesses share the building at 1709 Berryville Pike.
Suite A has an Exxon station and convenience store, and Suite B, next door, houses Delicias Mexicanas. I thought it unusual for two Hispanic restaurants to be located next to each other. I'll have to check out the Mexican restaurant the next time I eat out.
— Perry Crabill