Smell that heavenly aroma of roast beef? It was only 10 a.m. when I arrived at The Mooring Restaurant in Kinsale, Virginia, but the 78-pound steamship round had already been in the oven for four hours. The Monday night special is a delicious steamship round sandwich with one side for only $1.00. Sound unbelievable? Read on!

     Jay Genest was asked by his boss to ride down to the Northern Neck and check out a restaurant ad in a local trade magazine. One look and he was sold! Jay instantly fell in love with the Neck, and told his boss to take a look. The Mooring Restaurant hasn’t been the same since! Jay had spent nine years working for Joe Patonetz, owner of Brittany’s Restaurant in Woodbridge. In May of 1999, the two purchased The Mooring and became business partners. They did their homework carefully talking with local businesses to learn more about the people of the Northern Neck. They are grateful for the guidance and assistance provided by Marty Miller, owner of Port Kinsale Marina. Without his vast knowledge of the area and his cooperative support, their job would have been a lot more difficult. 

     He has provided The Mooring with eleven slips for their boating customers who may “dock and dine” for the day without paying a fee. The Port Kinsale Marina has facilities for campers, a pool, The Skip Jack Inn (with a complementary 1/2 bottle of wine), cottage for rent, as well as complete marina service.
Jay told me,“We are new in the area, and we want to make The Mooring one of the nicest restaurants in the Northern Neck. We gear it so people can come in and spend $5 or $20. The food we serve is really good, and we want folks to know we are here year round. We aren’t closing for the winter as most restaurants do.” 
The community has been very supportive. They have wonderful customers who enjoy the casual atmosphere. Jay tries to get around to each table personally to assure himself that everyone is satisfied with the food and service. Lots of their regulars go around the room saying hello to their friends. Since they opened they have never had a problem with any of their customers. They want to listen to your suggestions because they not only work here, they live here too.

     Recently a couple got married across the harbor outside The Skip Jack Inn. Then they sailed to the reception at The Mooring and sailed off on their honeymoon with cans tied to the back of their sailboat. The Mooring can create special occasions for you and your guests. They have just completed their new winter menu featuring Oysters a la Mooring and Chili a la Mooring. Jay tries to buy as much local produce and seafood as he can. It is easier to deal with local people, it improves the quality and freshness of the food, and it also helps the community. They purchase from seventy to one hundred pounds of crab meat a week and from eighty to one hundred sixty pounds of steamship round.

     Andrew Fearce, their chef, came down from Brittany’s on a temporary basis. He, too, fell in love and moved to the Neck. He enjoys experimenting with recipes and here in the Neck he is in his element. Knowing a restaurant is judged by its crab cakes, he perfected his no-filler crab cake at 4 o’clock one morning. Since he is cooking for both the Court of Kinsale sports bar and the dining room, he can create to his heart’s content. 
The Mooring provides casual dining with a flair. They can offer you a sit-down meal with your choice of filet mignon stuffed with crab imperial or a buffet. The restaurant can accommodate up to one hundred people—sixty in the dining room and the overflow in the more casual sports bar.

     Linda Genest, Jay’s wife, puts in many twenty-hour days. Sixty or seventy boaters recently participated in a boating weekend. Jay “imported” extra hands from Brittany’s in Woodbridge to handle the crowd. Joe and Jay provided housing for about thirty extra staff members for the big weekend. The Mooring has excellent servers who aim to please their customers. Helen Petzner is the bartender, Joyce Moore, Teresa Nothey, Kristin Keyser, Misty Chaney are all valued team employees.Gloria Jackson and Joe McClowskey assist Chef Fearce in the kitchen. Joe Russell and Patti Gray lend a helping hand on the weekends
Jay said, “Two things we have to offer are good service and good food. If we don’t have them, we are out of business!” The Mooring’s Court of Kinsale sports bar has Direct TV and the unique interactive nTn sports trivia game which allows their customers to compete with sports enthusiasts across the country (please ask Jay how to play). 

     Being a retired Fire Department Captain from Arlington County in Northern Virginia, Jay wanted to help out the local Kinsale Fire Department. He and Joe organized a Pig and Oyster Roast Benefit in October. Joe donated a Moon Bounce and Dunk Tank, Jay donated the band and Robbie, the D.J., donated his services for the event. The proceeds will soon be presented to the Kinsale Fire Department. This will become an annual event on the third Saturday in October. With more preparation time, Jay hopes to raise even more at next year’s event. Joe is also actively assisting his community up in Occoquan. 
T
     hey built a lovely deck overlooking the marina which presently seats twenty-five; they hope to triple its size later. A tiki bar and a playground for children are also being planned.  Bands every Saturday lure the baby boomer generation to The Mooring. Come check them out and enjoy a delightful evening of dining and relaxation with your friends.
 

Here are their specialties:
Monday Night: Steamship Round Sandwich plus one side--$1.00;
Thursday Night: Wings only $.10 each; 
Friday Night: Prime Rib, 10 oz. $10.95 and 16 oz. $15.95; 
Sunday Brunch: $10.95 (10 a.m. til 2 p.m.)
HOURS: Monday & Thursday 4 p.m. til Midnight
Closed Tuesday & Wednesday
Friday & Saturday 11 a.m. til Midnight
Sunday 10 a.m. til 10 p.m.

See our ad located in the Northern Neck Shopping section of ChesapeakeStyle.com

© 2000. Nancy W. Vickers All rights reserved.