Grub Scout: Brimming with character, Mechanicsville spot also boasts fabulous food

I generally have some idea of what to expect from a restaurant when I stop in to check it out for the first time. But in the case of 501 Arthur, I was flying in virtually as blind as a bat. I had only a name and an address, which, in this case, just happen to be the same thing.

The Grub Spouse and I arrived at the semi-restored 1930s-era building — which is in the Mechanicsville neighborhood — at dusk, taking note of the old fire hall sitting directly across the side street. We let the springy screen door clap shut behind us as we entered to discover a dimly lit dining room that was brimming with character.

A hodgepodge of paintings and three-dimensional art pieces are placed liberally on the walls and shelves, while strips of colorful tapestries hang bowed from the ceiling. An old piano sits against one wall, looking as if it hasn’t made anything but jangly noises since the ‘60s. The floors look to be the original wood, untouched by a sander or stain brush. Everything else is a hodgepodge of randomness, from the tables and chairs to the plates and glasses, and everything conspires to make you feel as if you’ve stepped into an eatery that might have once claimed Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix as loyal patrons.

The patronage was as eclectic as the surroundings, ranging from a laptop-absorbed young bohemian to a middle-aged couple to a pair of police officers taking a break from the beat.

The Spouse and I acclimated ourselves to the limited dinner menu, starting off with an order of laffe — Armenian cracker bread topped with Gorgonzola and Parmesan cheeses, roasted red peppers and artichoke hearts. The snack is similar to Italian bruschetta, except the cracker bread is thinner and crispier. We thought it was a wonderful start, but the fresh, warm bread our server brought out next was actually even better. In fact, I would go back to 501 Arthur again just to experience the bread.

But I digress. Entrees include fettuccini Alfredo with chicken or shrimp, steak of the day and pasta primavera. I decided to try the Greek chicken with artichoke hearts (can’t get enough of ‘em!), black olives and roasted red peppers, served in wine sauce over pasta. The Spouse got the grilled pork loin prepared with rosemary potatoes in a mushroom sherry cream sauce.

Each meal came with soup or salad, so we split our coverage by having The Spouse get tomato basil soup, while I got the house salad in strawberry vinaigrette dressing. The generous bowl of soup was just superb, appropriately hot and striking a fine balance between tomato and herb flavors.

The entrees, both accompanied by a seasoned, stir-fried vegetable medley, picked up where the earlier courses’ ovations had left off and closed the deal for both of us. From the savory meats to the pasta/potato bases to the pungently yummy wine sauces, this meal managed to creep into the echelons of my recent restaurant memories.

Throughout our time there, a lone musician provided pleasantly unobtrusive renditions of mellow-rock classics courtesy of his acoustic guitar. We couldn’t stop marveling at what a treasure we had found, despite the fact that we had never seen it coming.

501 Arthur has only been serving dinner for a few weeks and had only been open since late last year. Our server said most of their business had come through word-of-mouth, but I think this is one restaurant that’s been kept secret for way too long.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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