Dining Dominican Style at "Mi Tierra"

Bachata music playing just loud enough to make you lean in to talk to your fellow diners, that unmistakable rapid fire Caribbean dialect coming from the kitchen and neighboring tables, and the slamming of heavy cast iron pots and pans. Patrons at this special little restaurant right in the heart of Virginia Beach are gladly awaiting their meals while the members of this family run business create the traditional Dominican dishes that prove to be both delicious and authentic. Mi Tierra specializes in that unique Dominican cuisine that can only be prepared by a skilled kitchen such as can be found in the actual Dominican Republic, New York City or Miami. In fact, this family landed in Virginia Beach straight from the Dominican Republic via New York. Junior Garcia, formerly a public school teacher for six years and a teacher at the Bronx's John F. Kennedy High School of which I am an alumna, heads the business on any given day.

We are greeted pleasantly and enthusiastically and escorted to our table. On this day, I have brought the whole family out as to get a real feel for the place, kids and all. Service is quick, and the servers are polite and attentive. I order pollo al horno (rotisserie chicken) with yellow rice and beans.  My husband is a little more daring this evening and orders the pollo ajillo (garlic chicken).  Both meals arrive hot and the rotisserie chicken is just perfectly roasted, no funny slimy chicken skin like I have experienced at other eateries.  The garlic chicken is juicy and loaded with flavor. The rice is a perfect consistency and the beans are ideal for drizzling all over the huge mound of yellow rice I have molded like a small mountain on my plate. The side salad is perfectly crisp and cold, with ripe juicy tomato slices and plenty of crispy cucumbers. My husband quickly drenches his in vinegar and oil; I use the condiments sparingly in order to truly enjoy the coolness of my salad. There is a lot of food.  In fact, halfway through I take a break.   I had hoped to save room for dessert, but oh well. And the kids are surprisingly well-behaved; I think this place has just enough of a lively environment to keep them distracted and they refrain from their usual antics. I overhear Garcia describing the Dominican cuisine to fellow diners at a nearby table.  "A little more seasoned than traditional Puerto Rican dishes, but not as spicy as Cuban food," he said. My baby girl eats all of her rice; my big 4-year-old devours the chicken, both kinds. I'd say that is a definite mark of approval!

The meals are reasonably priced, and we are handed some heavy stock flyers on the way out that feature Mi Tierra on one side, and Tropicana's Lounge on the other (a recent joint marketing strategy for both businesses). Mi Tierra is located at 138 S. Boggs Ave right off of Bonney Road in Virginia Beach. Open everyday except Wednesday, and from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m., they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner at any time of day, and currently they are running an advertised lunchtime special for $5.95 - $6.50.  They also deliver locally. Truly an enjoyable experience, you don't get any realer than Mi Tierra!

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