Restaurants in Mechanicsville

Poe’s Pub’s exterior takes on the unassuming air of a country house with its white-washed brick and steep, green-gray roof. Inside, wooden booths and walls littered with photos duly conjure up a vibe of something welcoming and familiar, unlike Windex in a briefcase. The restaurant’s bar tempts thirsty throats with Irish libations, from Guinness to Tullamore Dew. Friday fish fries can make for a pleasant precursor to games of darts, and a calendar of live performances enlivens Poe’s with the sounds of local musicians. As a further enticement, Poe’s also has Sunday brunches on an outdoor patio, unless someone puts four walls and a roof over it.

The culinary savants at Helen's Restaurant have been loading plates with international comfort fare since the restaurant first opened its doors in 1935. Today, much of the original décor has survived Earth's upgrade from black and white to technicolor, creating a retro ambiance in which waiters serve meals made with organic and local ingredients whenever possible. Chefs draw from a blend of American and European influences to craft the menu's seafood, pork, and steak items, which diners can nibble in vintage wood booths or at intimate tables beneath the soft glow of a neon sign. Throughout meals, bartenders top glasses with a rotating selection of potables.

At Don Pepe Mexican Restaurant, an expansive menu of fajitas, burritos, and steaks illustrates the breadth and depth of the Mexican culinary tradition. Nachos in 10 varieties greet diners with juicy morsels of chicken or beef and a crunch that could wake a jet-lagged Rip Van Winkle. Enchiladas team up with tacos or tamales to form hearty combos, or go solo to showcase classic Mexican ingredients such as poblano peppers and green tomatillos. Quesadillas can be stuffed with vegetarian-friendly fillings, such as mushrooms, or meaty delights, such as house-made chorizo. To round out meals, xangos come with a dusting of cinnamon sugar that impresses sweet teeth as much as a coating of edible diamonds.

The menu at Strange Matter has plenty of meaty offerings, but chef Paul Webb prefers to focus on vegan food. Diners averse to animal products can munch on mango donut holes, house-made lentil burgers, and even vegan grilled-cheese sandwiches. Visit Strange Matter’s graffiti-decorated space during the day, and you’ll feast amid the blips and bleeps of an arcade stocked with classic games including Space Invaders, and Street Fighter II, where players see how hard they can punch a cobblestone road. At night, the restaurant transforms into a music venue for indie acts such as Jeff the Brotherhood and Titus Andronicus.

The pub has long served as the epicenter of Ireland’s social life—a place where friendships are made and stories are shared over foamy pints of beer. Finn McCool's Irish Pub positions itself firmly within this tradition of communality, inviting guests to bond while eating fish ‘n’ chips or clinking glasses of Guinness at a hardwood bar that spans the length of the room.

The convivial atmosphere isn’t the only aspect of Finn McCool's that recalls the old country. Traditional Irish staples such as shepherd’s pie, corned beef, and bangers and mash fill the pub’s menu. Savory scents waft through the air as guests throw darts, play billiards, and soak in the sunshine on the outdoor patio. A lineup of flat-screen TVs hums with the sounds of the day’s sporting events, which guests can wager their pots of gold or leprechaun manservants on at the pub’s Colonial Downs betting hub. :m]]