Fredericksburg's food scene has been busy while you weren't looking. Fourteen new spots have popped up across the city, Stafford, and Spotsylvania: smoothies, Korean BBQ, French pastries, charcuterie, and everything in between. Consider this your permission slip to make a very long to-try list.

Burg Charcuterie (703 Caroline St, downtown) What began as custom boards for local gatherings is now a downtown wine and charcuterie lounge with a dog-friendly patio. Come for grazing boards, cups, and cones, and stay for the Wine-Down Wednesday bottle deals and happy hour. They also do catering, a mobile charcuterie trailer, and hands-on workshops.

Elephant's Nest Thai & Sushi Bar (1 Towne Centre Blvd, Suite 5150, at the Village at Spotsylvania Towne Centre, next to X-Golf) Thai curries, noodle bowls, and fried rice on one side, a full sushi bar on the other. Open daily 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., with a weekday lunch menu running until 2:30.

KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot (1791 Carl D. Silver Pkwy, Central Park) All-you-can-eat, cook-it-yourself Korean BBQ and hot pot where you run the grill, pick your broth, and build your plate from nearly 100 options. Made for groups, celebrations, and anyone who likes being in charge of dinner. Open until 10:30 most nights.

Paris Baguette (1859 Carl D. Silver Pkwy, Central Park) The French-Korean bakery café landed in Central Park this summer under local owner Jason Park. Go for the pain au chocolat, the raspberry fruit bite, or the sugar mochi donut, plus Lavazza coffee and grab-and-go sandwiches and salads. Open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Robles Kitchen (1201 Emancipation Hwy, across from UMW) A full-service Mexican cantina with an international streak: tacos and chili rellenos alongside burgers, pastas, and salads. House-made salsas, fresh ceviche, and a cocktail list where the Paloma gets a lot of love. Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, with a full bar.

Stockyards Restaurant & Bar (407 William St, downtown) Downtown's new country-western hall, all 10,000 square feet of it. Black Angus steaks, a weekend Buckin' Brunch with a Bloody Mary bar, a 100-bottle bourbon selection, live music, line dancing, and a mechanical bull named Buck Norris. Equal parts dinner and night out.

Water & Barley (529 Caroline St, downtown) The handcrafted-bagel favorite from the Spotsylvania Farmers Market finally has a downtown storefront. Grab a bacon-egg-and-cheese on an everything bagel and settle the great bagel debate for yourself. Morning hours, and they have been known to sell out, so go early.

Zadran's Kitchen (104 Wolfe St, downtown) Refugee-owned and led by Chef Humayun Zadran, who ran restaurants in Kabul before landing here. Upscale Afghan plates built around the seasons: Qabeli Palaw, braised lamb, beef kofta, and a roasted-beet borani worth the trip. Reservations recommended. Dinner Wednesday through Saturday, plus a Sunday brunch.

Bora Bora Smoothie Cafe (296 Garrisonville Rd, North Stafford) Smoothies, acai and pitaya bowls, and croffles (that is a croissant-waffle hybrid), plus crepes, milkshakes, coffee, and Dubai-chocolate treats. A bright, sweet stop that has been racking up near-perfect ratings.

Mezeh Mediterranean Grill (815 Wonder Rd, Suite 100, Embrey Mill Town Center) Build-your-own Mediterranean bowls, wraps, and salads made from scratch daily, with thoughtfully sourced proteins and a rewards app for regulars. Fast, fresh, and built for a weekday lunch. Opened July 1.

TrioShot Cafe (263 Garrisonville Rd, Suite 106) A boutique community coffee shop with specialty coffee, pastries, sandwiches, smoothies, waffles, crepes, and ice cream, plus a community library and a regular event calendar. Built to be a gathering place, not just a coffee run.

Turning Point (827 Wonder Rd, Building 8, Embrey Mill Town Center) The award-winning breakfast, brunch, and lunch chain's first-ever Virginia location. Creative, seasonal daytime plates and premium regional coffee in a homey space. Open daily 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., so keep this one in mind for mornings and midday only.

Crab O'Clock (4714 Mine Rd) All-you-can-eat seafood boil with snow crab legs, shrimp, lobster tails, and crawfish, tossed in signature seasonings and served up in a bag, plus a full bar and Southern-style sides. Bring the whole table, since the AYCE asks everyone to join in, and plan around the 90-minute window.

Sweet Meira (10418 Courthouse Rd) A European street-food sweet spot with Greek loukoumades (donuts), Belgian waffles, French crepes and toast, plus savory skewers and charcoal steaks, ice cream, and milkshakes. Open late, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. most days.