Undercover Diner Visits Benjamin's

Every month, two of my girlfriends and I pick a different local restaurant to dine at. It’s a fun opportunity to check out the various eateries in the Lynchburg region as well as catch up with my pals.

This month we decided on Benjamin’s in Forest at 14900 Forest Rd, Forest, VA 24551 www.cowsandcrabs.com . I have always loved this place because even though Forest continues to grow, Benjamin’s has always remained the same as it’s somewhat of a “hole-in-the-wall.”

We didn’t make a reservation so inside was full already by 6 p.m. on a Thursday but, honestly, even though it was a chilly evening, we enjoyed sitting on the enclosed deck with heaters.

I opted for a lighter fare, ordering a half pound of “Steamed Peel-n-Eat Shrimp” with melted butter instead of cocktail sauce. I am a sucker for peel-n-eat shrimp and have very high standards. So far, no establishment has beat Mango’s in Smith Mountain Lake, but these came close. They were large and well-seasoned and, admittedly, I ate two before I remembered to take a photo.

My friends both got burgers, which were huge, and they both took the leftovers home.

Service from our waitress was quick and friendly.

I’ll definitely be returning now that the weather is warming up to hear live music!