Next month, the Pomegranate Restaurant re-opens in Troutville, and it’s bringing a taste of the Mediterranean.
Last March, when Governor Northam made the statewide restriction in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Pomegranate owner Diana Dixon decided to close the doors and offered take-out orders exclusively. Then, circumstances forced Dixon to close the restaurant entirely.
“The restaurant was offering to-gos, and then we had a fire,” Dixon said. “I had to close down for a while. The compressor of the newest piece of equipment in the building caught on fire, so I had to get everything out of the building.”
Last fall, Dixon opened a food trailer once she got some of her equipment back. A little while later, the dining room opened to limited seating, but, ultimately, Dixon decided to close the restaurant at the end of last year due to increasing obstacles.
On June 3, the restaurant will open its doors to the public for the first time since Christmas. The soft re-opening will feature limited hours on Thursday through Sunday. Then, on June 17, Pomegranate presents the “grand opening.”
“Since the pandemic, I’ve managed to move tables at least six feet apart and can disinfect all the tables,” Dixon mentioned. “I have hand sanitizer everywhere, and the outside seating has the same measures in place. Seating at the bar will limit seating for fewer people.”
Pomegranate offers new, Mediterranean-inspired dishes to its menu. While regular guests can enjoy the steak and seafood options the restaurant has traditionally presented, Dixon’s new kitchen staff adds more fresh vegetables, healthy choices, and vegetarian and vegan dishes.
“We just did a catering job for officials in downtown Roanoke,” Dixon mentioned. “They were very complimentary of everything we did for them.”
Dixon is hopeful that the re-opening will be successful. She’s cut back on the hours. Pomegranate will be open four days a week—three evenings for dinner (Thursday through Saturday) from 4-8 p.m. and then on Sundays from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
“I haven’t done this for a long time—I’m going to offer Sunday brunch,” Dixon added. “When I first opened in 2008, that was tough because we were doing more of a buffet. Our new brunch will not be a buffet because that’s no longer our style.”
Following the soft opening on June 3, two weeks later on June 17, Pomegranate’s grand re-opening will feature live music for the entire weekend and featured food specials.
For more information on the return of Pomegranate Restaurant, visit the website pomegranateva.com.
