Oh my. We are new to the area and this restaurant was recommended to us by a co-worker. The building itself is adorable with stunning landscaping and cute decor inside. We arrived around 5pm. There were 7 of us, including a baby. We were some of the first patrons of the evening it seemed. We ordered drinks - 2 beers and the rest waters. When our server came with drinks we were ready to order everything. Since there were small children with us, we made sure to order an appetizer too. This was around 5:15 or so. As we waited, several other families came in, ordered, received their food and LEFT before we even got SALADS. Our drinks were always empty. By 6:45, our food came and we had to box it up. The Monte Cristo was so HARD, my mouth aches. Some of us got food that was COLD. One of kids ' chicken was tough and he couldn't even eat it. I made our anger clear with another server there who said she had been there for YEARS and "felt so bad since it was [our] first time." She also added that they had to tell the kitchen staff to fry our food fast because our server waited to put it into the system. We were home tonight at seven. A two-hour long ordeal?! With KIDS? No thank you. WHY put a brand new staff with a large party? We were never apologized to by anyone. We never saw a manager. Not even an offer of a free dessert. First impression? Terrible. Service? Horrible. Food? Meh Prices? Not great. Not many choices in this area, but I would NEVER recommend The Briar Patch. read more

We stopped at this restaurant on 2/21/16. It is located in an inviting country setting, the restaurant has traditional decor and the service was prompt. My wife reported that her hamburger was quite good. I was not as lucky. The crab cakes I ordered were dry and otherwise quite ordinary and lacking in any character. The Caesar salad I ordered had no resemblance to the real thing. It consisted of some limp lettuce leaves soaked in an oily sauce lacking any evidence of parmesan cheese, anchovies, or mustard. Why the chef chose to advertise it as a Caesar salad is a mystery. Prices were reasonable but the chef needs to figure out how to improve his dishes. read more

Two words: Derby Pie. Delicious and I know I will keep coming back for more. I do have to say though I have been coming here long before the two times it burnt down. Service is touch and go. I had one manager tell me not to ever order the shrimp pasta dish again because they don't devein their shrimp and then my gluten free grandmother gets hassled when asking for modified dishes and still she is a huge reason why they stay in business. Definitely need to improve on the customer loyalty and treatment. Other than that, really love the derby pie. Best dessert in the world!!! read more

The Briar Patch is very good restaurant,I think the catfish is the best,I also like their deserts but be careful with allergies.

I had the filet minion with smashed potatoes and a Caesar salad. I had it cooked medium. This was the best steak I have ever had. It was tender and extremely flavorful, melt in your mouth juicy. I can honestly say this was the best meal I have ever had. I am a very picky eater and I ate everything on the plate except for the piece of garnish lettuce and the small sliver of steak I gave to my husband. The look of pleasure on his face as he savored the small slice was payment enough for my generous gift of steak (it was generous, this meal was amazing). I am saddened that I live in CT and probably will never come here again because my sister in law was from the latest (last?) graduating class of Sweet Briar College. read more

Had a good time on their Saturday night karaoke. THE place to hang in Amherst, VA.

Visiting the in-laws and they wanted to take us here for its history. Overall, I wish I could give this place a 4.5 instead of a 4.0. We had hush puppies as the appetizers and they were pretty good. It came with honey and butter. My mother in law and I both got the chicken salad platter which came with chicken salad, bran muffin, tomatoes, fruit, potato salad (or cottage cheese). Surprisingly, it was all really good and tasted super fresh. I didn't want to stop eating it! My father in law got the philly cheese steak with sweet potato fries and finished it all. The reason for the 4.0 comes from my husbands meal. He had the flank steak salad. There were too many fried onions and not much lettuce. Overall he enjoyed it but wouldn't get I again. I would like to try more things on the large menu. Service was good for us but it wasn't crowded at all. Check it out! read more

This is our favorite restaurant in Amherst. We stop here every time we go to Roanoke from northern VA. We love the roasted red pepper and charred chicken soup!!! It is to die for read more

Friendly service, ample portions, tasty food. We came in looking for a warm, welcoming roadside family restaurant and we found it. Sweet potato fries were particularly good, as was the chili. The music was a bit too loud, and for some reason it was a bit cold/drafty where we were seated. I am sure we will be back! read more

The hostess was clueless and clearly a family member of the owner as she couldn't be bothered with helping us until the server arrived. The owner was with a contractor in the dining room paying more attention to the ventilation than her customers who clearly needed more attention than she was able to provide. The server had no sense of the totality of her station. She would carry a pitcher of water and ask the table next to ours if they wanted water while ignoring our empty glasses and walk back to the service station. She would present a plate to the table next to ours while not taking our empty plates back to the service station at the same time. It was maddening. The "Caesar Salad" had a vinaigrette dressing rather than a Caesar dressing. When something was said to the server, she looked completely clueless on a response surprised that someone would challenge the interpretation of this mess. Nothing about the food is authentic. What happened with my Caesar Salad is not unlike the review below talking about his Monte Cristo. It's like being in a small rural town in Virginia is explanation enough as to why something shouldn't be done right - I'm not buying that. A fried Shrimp/Scallop order was so bad, it was hard not to throw it up in my napkin when the server came by and asked how it was. So much iodine in the shrimp, it was hard to taste the shrimp and the scallops had so much ammonia, the aftertaste left you not sure whether to swallow or throw up. The server sarcastically said, 'you didn't like that either'. No I didn't. Not that it mattered one bit to the server or the owner. I could see the server commenting on the returned dish to the owner through the open kitchen door to no avail. Owner or manager didn't come out to apologize or talk to me or my guests. I was visiting a family member who lives less than two miles from this place and he flat out stated now I know why we don't visit this place more often. I kept biting my tongue not to be rude to his choice of restaurants. Perhaps we should have gone to "The Travelers" or "Vitos" after all. Quite frankly, I would have paid far less at "Hardees" across the street and have been much happier. The server presented the check and said, "I'm sorry you didn't like your lunch." So am I. Amherst, VA should save Sweet Briar College but not this restaurant. There was no Southern charm or hospitality in this restaurant. Nothing but indifference and an insincere apology all with a fake smile and food as inauthentic. read more

Let's face it - dining options in Amherst are limited. Very. Limited. But the Patch is a decent place for lunch or dinner (maybe not at peak dinner hours though). During a recent trip from Atlanta to NY and back, my boyfriend and I stopped in for a snack and a beer. There was only one craft brew available, which is unfortunate with Starr Hill being so close by! Not a lot of vegetarian options besides the veggie melt-over (even all the salads have meat) and appetizers. We knew going in that our options would be limited, which is why I said we went in for a "snack" :-) Ordered an appetizer sampler with jalapeno poppers in place of the potato skins, which turned out to be an excellent decision because the poppers were the best part of the dish! Everything else on it (onion rings, mozz sticks, mushrooms) was good, too. Jim the bartender was very friendly. read more

Great place for lunch or dinner. Reubens and fries are tasty. Chicken salad sandwich is awesome and sweet tea is refreshing. Try to stop here when in the area. read more

The Briar Patch is an amazing restaurant with a very relaxing atmosphere. Their lights are turned down a bit for a relaxing meal and there's little bits of artwork everywhere you look. The staff are very friendly and quick on their feet when it comes to service. They have a wonderful selection of wine and drinks for the whole family. The food is cooked fresh and tastes amazing. The portions are large so you definitely get your moneys worth on food as in you will probably need a boxer take some of your food home with you. Me and my family will continue to visit and enjoy the food at the Briar Patch. read more

It's been a little while, but Shari and I were not disappointed. The Scallops Mornay was awesome and the Makers on the rocks was just what the doctor ordered. The service was top notch and I promise not to overlook the Patch anymore. read more

Yum, I had the bacon, egg and cheese croissant. It was delicious the croissant was fresh and soft with a slight toasted crispness the eggs were so fluffy. My husband had bacon and eggs and was very happy. This being our first time at the Briar Patch we played it safe with our choices. Our table was in front of the kitchen pickup window, from what I could see coming out I was very impressed. We will make the hour drive back to Amherst just for dinner sometime. The pricing was a bit high but well worth it. read more

The food here is excellent! I can't believe the value for the quality of food you get! Recommend to all travelers seeking to avoid fast food .Everyone was very friendly. read more

Took a drive through the mountains & found this gem. My wife got the Skirt Steak. It was flavorful & had a nice bite from the balsamic. I got the California Club Wrap. It hit the spot. We tried the Bread Pudding for dessert (and we are very picky about bread pudding) It was one of the best we've ever had. All that & the wait staff was very friendly & attentive. read more

Genuine Americana. Great broccoli geese soup and sandwich and French toast. Nice Sunday brunch.

Good chicken and roasted pepper soup. Crab cakes were full of crab. The server ( & bartender) ,Katie, was inundated by an unexpected huge party, but was doing her best. Nice job Katie. read more

My wife had the soft-shelled crab special, a bit pricey for lunchtime, but prepared excellently. I had a chicken salad platter. Tasty fruit & some veggies on the side. Well-presented, and waitress Melissa was friendly, with just right attention to our ongoing needs. read more

Great place to eat. Great variety of comfort foods. I do miss that perfect Beef Stroganof that I enjoyed on my first visit several years ago. It was a daily special and I have yet, sadly, to come across it again. Regardless, there are plenty of delicious options to choose from. I pair appetizers with soups, salads and sides to make meals or I order entrees - either way, I love the preparations of all the dishes that I've had. I frequently drive between Lynchburg and Nelson County, if I have a jaunt planned, I fast until I get to Briar Patch Restaurant. read more

We love this place! The staff is so friendly, and the food is delish! The serving sizes are fantastic, and the price is right. Favorites include the Stuart's Crab Dip as an appetizer, the black and blue steak salad, the prime rib, the rib eye sandwich, and well, just about anything else! The Derby Pie is to die for. The only thing I'm not really wild about is their key lime parfait - it's "meh" at best. You MUST give this place a try! Yum!! read more

I've eaten at Briar Patch a few times each month since I moved to Amherst in March 1999. I can honestly say I've never had a bad meal, and the prices are great for the quality of food. read more

I've been there three times. I was trying to give the place a fair shake thinking that I was just having an odd bad experience. The food is very mediocre and the prices aren't. Be prepared to drop over $100 for a family of four. In my younger days, I cooked in a similar style restaurant. I don't mind the prices if you are delivered quality. Their menu describes their rib-eye as closely trimmed. I have served closely trimmed rib-eyes for years. For a 12 oz. steak here, there was about 5 oz. of fat that wasn't trimmed off of the end. One visit, we ordered filet mignon, butterflied and cooked medium. When they arrived, one was cooked med-rare, one very, very rare and one very well and dry. I know that nobody is perfect, but after three tries, I'm well done. Drive on another 15 minutes to Golden Corral. The food is better and half the price. read more

Prime Rib!! . I'm stuffed and I want 4 more. Also my wife and I eat a strict diet and they are very accommodating. We also had loaded broccoli which was to die for. Honestly everything I have ever had at this place, which is pretty much the whole menu, is amazing. read more

We had an enjoyable time at this restaurant today. We met another couple for a late lunch. The men both had the rib special with sweet potato fries and regular fries. The ladies enjoyed the chicken fajita salad and the chicken salad plate. Everything was delicious, and the waitress was very helpful in suggestions from the menu. We waited a little while before she offered to bring us our check which is why I am giving it four stars instead of five. We could've asked for the check earlier, but we were visiting and just kept waiting for her to bring it to us. We will be back! We did notice the one review where a customer said the waitress add an extra onto their tip on their bill, and admitted that she does at other times. We will be checking or credit card bill when it comes. But for now, they are innocent unless they are proven guilty. I would like to see a response from the management and replied to that earlier review. read more

Delicious! Great service! One of my fave places. I would rather eat here than just about anywhere.

Mashed potatoes are AMAZING! Great service, great atmosphere. I'm DEFINITELY coming back!

Our favorite Friday night dinner spot, food is consistently delicious! Ribeye steak is my husband's favorite. It has a warm tavern feel with a relaxing atmosphere. Popular local hangout especially at the bar with the famous Jim who always makes you feel,at home and serves up a great cocktail or cold beer! read more

On our way south from CT. We had a great lunch ... Salmon salad and fajita salad. Excellent service!

The atmosphere was great- cozy and casual. The prices were a little higher than I expected, but my salmon salad was well worth it! Unfortunately, there was a musician playing the night my friends and I visited, and it was terribly loud- we could hardly hear each other. And it was very monotonous music that none of us appreciated. Definitely worth a visit, but not on a Wednesday night. read more

Salads are excellent!! Menu is a bit overpriced. They have a band on Wednesday nights. Good atmosphere, but can be very loud. Servers are slow but food is good. Nice bar area. read more

We came here for dinner early on a Wednesday evening, just passing through but needing a break and something tasty. We found a high quality local restaurant with excellent, well-conceived and fresh items throughout the menu. I had a "black and bleu" salad: fresh greens, sprouts, tomato and cucumber, pecans and dried cranberries, topped by beautifully cooked 'blackened' tenderloin chunks, blue cheese crumbles, and crispy tender sweet spicy onion straws. Heavenly. One thing I'd change: the blackening spices were far too heavy on the salt and considering the other flavors, I'd just go with lighter salt and black pepper. My husband had a fine Reuben sandwich and loved his chosen side, fresh broccoli steamed but still bright. We shared a lovely creme brûlée--could have done without the whipped cream on top. They serve some local beers but as we were driving we didn't partake. Next time I hope! Oh yes--prices were very reasonable for such nice quality. Well done! read more