I know there are government cutbacks, but I think they could completely fund the Shenandoah…read moreNational Park, for what they charge here, for soggy fries and tiny fat burger balls, that are nothing close to a smash burger. Also...these places have to take the tip option off...if you are not refilling my drink, you are not getting a tip.

Stopped by for a bite during my drive through Shenandoah National Park. My friend and I ordered…read moredishes to share. We got the flat bread and strawberry chicken salad. Both dishes were absolutely delicious! We could taste the freshness. We cleaned our plates. Someone recommended the blackberry ice cream pie so I wanted to try that, but I saw blackberry cobbler and knew I had to try that too. We ordered both desserts to share. The blackberry ice cream pie was good but that cobbler stole the show. Warm cobbler with vanilla ice cream... to die for! We both loved that much more than the pie. So good. Our waitress, Ashley, was friendly, funny, and attentive. The atmosphere of the dining room was just okay. The patio looked like it had a beautiful view but we ate inside in fear of being bothered by bugs. All in all, I would come back for the delicious food and that blackberry cobbler.

We at dinner here while staying at the Big Meadows Lodge. The setting was what you might expect for…read morea lodge. It was a nice open space. The food was average comfort food but given there weren't many other options around, it was good. My daughter ordered the Wild Mushroom Bolognese which she said was good. The sauce was different as it was more like chunky toppings. My husband ordered the Big Meadows Burger. It looked like it had been sitting for a while. I ordered the Sweet Tea-Smoked Chicken. It comes with mashed sweet potatoes and collard greens. The chicken didn't seem to have a whole lot of meat on it. It was mostly the bones of the chicken. The sweet potatoes were very sweet. My husband and daughter split a Blackberry Cobbler. The said it was good but would have liked more of the pastry shell. They said the ice cream was the best part of it. The server did a nice job serving and checking on us.

We ate here three times. The two stars are for location, which is wonderful if you're staying in…read moreShenandoah National Park, and for the good waitresses we had our first day in the park. Our first night there, my daughter and I split mushroom ravioli, which came with five ravioli drowned in cream sauce, thankfully with lots of mushrooms. The flavor was pretty good, but for the price I would not order it again. Worse were the hush puppies. Five small, mediocre pieces for $10 are nowhere near worth it. Our waitress was friendly and efficient, but the cost for so-so food was a let down. For breakfast the next morning, the hostess was MIA so a random person from the lodge's staff seated us. It took over ten minutes to get waited on and another 25 minutes for coffee and water to be delivered to the table. The coffee was full of grounds (as was the refill!) and only half full. I had to go ask someone for cream and sugar because none was delivered even though it was requested when ordered. It was upwards of 45 minutes when our food finally arrived. I ordered French toast with fruit on top and my daughter ordered a short stack of pancakes. I had to go get butter and syrup because it didn't get delivered with the food either. Both dishes came out too cold to melt butter. I would not order French toast here again, as the bread was from a cheap loaf from the grocery store. The fruit on top was good with the exception of the overripe, mushy blueberries. Our waitress took no responsibility, blaming the kitchen for the back up, though they obviously have nothing to do with the serving of water, coffee, cream, sugar, and syrup. She said she had 12 tables and said she brought the food as soon as it was done and didn't know why it was cold. The pancakes we ordered the day before were on the table within five minutes and were hot. I'm just saying. To solidify the poor score, a boy at the table next to us knocked a glass off the table and we were shocked to see his dad come back with a broom and dust pan and sweep it up himself. I don't even know what to say about that, other than, what would have happened if he'd cut himself? So, while I do recommend Big Meadows Lodge as a wonderful place to stay, for dining I recommend Pollock Dining Room at Skyland Resort, which had exceptional service, large portions, and phenomenal food for about the same price.

We couldn't have found a better place to eat after a strenuous day hiking Old Rag. Looking for…read moresomething vegan friendly, we stumbled onto Off The Grid and were also pleasantly surprised to see they have EV charging. Bonus points there! I got the falafel sandwich which really hit the spot. My partner got their cauliflower crust pizza. Also so delicious! The food was amazing. The cafe itself was so cute and quaint and the servers were all so sweet and hyped us up after we shared why we came in looking all disheveled. If you need the perfect place to grab a bit to refuel and replenish after a day of hiking in Shenandoah, look no further!

Love this spot. Local fresh made meals with low key charm. It's one of my favs for breakfast/…read morebrunch. Outside seating is awesome when the weather is nice right by a small creek. Additional parking on the side as it can fill up quickly.

I went into dinner at The Inn at Little Washington with very high expectations. I've been fortunate…read moreenough to dine at multiple Michelin two and three-star restaurants around the country, so I'm familiar with what that level of dining can deliver--and, more importantly, what I believe the experience should feel like. There were certainly some excellent moments. The egg course was fantastic, the caviar addition to the lobster was a great touch, and the lamb was one of the strongest courses of the evening. The cheese service was also outstanding and probably one of the highlights of the entire meal. The service, setting and attention to detail are all what you would expect from an establishment with this much history and reputation. Unfortunately, the meal was ultimately undermined by the wine pairing. The reserve wine pairing was disappointing. We paid $750 per person for the wine pairing, which consisted of just four very small pours. At that price, I expected an extraordinary lineup of wines--rare, compelling bottles that elevated the food and made the pairing an integral part of the experience. Instead, the wines struck me as fairly mediocre, and the tiny pours made the value particularly difficult to understand. The pours were about 1.5 - 2 ounce pours of wines that are readily available online and some even available at discount wine sites. The first wine was sweet and a $65 retail wine, second was a mid-level Sauvignon blanc, followed by a mid-level Chardonnay. The pours were about 1.5-2 ounces so you barely received a taste of the wine. The last wine was very good but the pour was even smaller. For 1,500, my wife and I could have had a top tier bottle of wine. They should feel embarrassed about this offering. The wine pairing pours equalled about 1/2 - 3/4 bottle of wine for the two of us. Having experienced multiple Michelin star restaurants, this is where The Inn at Little Washington fell short for me. At the very highest level of dining, I'm not simply looking for good food. I'm looking for an experience that feels exceptional from beginning to end. The ingredients, creativity, portions, wine program, pacing and overall sense of occasion should all come together in a way that makes the moment feel magical. There were many times during the meal where we had no wine and no food. This has never happened at any of my experiences at other Michelin restaurants. There are plenty of diners who absolutely love the Inn, and I can understand why. There are also reviews from other guests who have praised the food, service and overall experience while others have questioned the value and portion sizes. That divide is understandable. The restaurant clearly has its devoted following, but my experience left me on the more critical side. To be clear, this isn't a bad restaurant. Far from it. The egg, caviar-enhanced lobster, lamb and cheese service were all excellent, and the Inn remains an impressive destination with exceptional service and a beautiful setting. But when you've dined at multiple Michelin star restaurants, you develop a pretty good sense of what separates a very good restaurant from an extraordinary one. For me, The Inn at Little Washington didn't deliver the level of food, wine or value that I've experienced at other three-star establishments. Three stars from me. The food has moments of brilliance, but at the reserve wine pairing was simply too difficult to overlook. And considering the restaurant's recent fall from three Michelin stars to two, I think the downgrade is understandable.

A must try at least once. Wonderful experience, would definitely be doing back. Makes you feel that…read moreyou are in a different era in a different place.

Honest hands down the best burger and fried chicken I've ever had in my entire life. I would drive…read more5 hours just to have dinner here. The views are also impeccable. Fantastic service as well. 20 out of 5 stars.

Blue Rock made our first wedding anniversary an experience we will cherish forever. From the moment…read morewe arrived, it was clear that every detail had been thoughtfully planned with care and intention. Head Chef Aaron curated a beautiful five-course menu for us in advance, and every single course was exceptional. The flavors were perfectly balanced, creative, and comforting all at once -- each dish flowed seamlessly into the next and left us genuinely impressed. It was one of those meals where you pause, smile, and truly savor every bite. Pastry Chef Ebony not only created a custom anniversary cake for us -- which was absolutely delicious -- but she was also our server for the evening. Her attentiveness, warmth, and genuine care made our night feel even more special. She anticipated every need and added such a personal touch to the entire experience. We were also deeply touched by the personalized menu designed for our celebration, which read, "Happy Anniversary -- cheers to one." That simple yet thoughtful gesture meant so much to us. Sous Chef Diego and the entire team contributed to an atmosphere that felt warm, intimate, and welcoming. The ambiance was beautiful and private, and the complimentary sparkling wine was the perfect way to celebrate such an important milestone. This was our first anniversary -- the beginning of many more to come -- and Blue Rock made sure it was unforgettable. Every detail, every flavor, and every gesture reflected genuine care. We cannot recommend this place enough and are already looking forward to returning.

***08/31/2026 UPDATE*** We have visited Patty O's Cafe…read moreseveral times, but our last visit left us quite disappointed because the cleanliness of the place was lacking this time. The floor definitely needed attention; I'd recommend at least sweep it every day, and they should dust off the backs of their beautiful wooden chairs. To top it all off, flies were bothering us the whole time, even though we were inside with the doors and windows closed. Paying a premium would be acceptable if the food, service, ambiance, and every detail of the restaurant were in sync, but unfortunately, they were not. *I must emphasize that the service was extraordinary, as always.*

Tight seating on popular nights. The staff is very helpful and well trained. Food was well prepared…read moreand tasty, high quality ingredients. Just visit during less busy times.

Serving American classics with high quality and great hospitality…read more Sandwiched between two floors of antique malls, Jack's was the perfect stop in the day to get some no-frills nourishment. Their breakfast is incredibly generous and made with ingredients that were fresh, clean, and meticulous in detail. The design of their menu is just so promising with unique twists that are not unheard of, but just an elevated touch when it comes to American diner food as a whole. Things like truffle infused hollandaise, fried green tomato BLT, pairing balsamic with goat cheese, a blackened pork, even mushrooms on the breakfast menu all hint that people developing their menu are confident in their skills in offering something more when it comes to breakfast plates and sandwiches. Their homemade aiolis (highly recommend their pesto aioli) and hot sauce tie any dish together-- breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Things made to this quality are not to be unremarked. Came in with friends so we can try everything on their menu, and we were pleasantly surprised on all fronts. Presentation, ingredients, preparation all elements that made our meals great and were evident across all dishes ranging from protein to carb. Details like toasted bread with already spread with butter, perfectly poached eggs, and brioche as the bun of choice were things we peeped. We would have left satisfied if these details weren't accounted for, but we were so impressed this became a revisit during our short vacation. Their space is greatly spacious, with an open drinks station so its just not pretentious. There is even a section in the front to pick up goods made by local artisans. This is a great place to dine in, no notes.

Cool little spot with restaurant and shop. Ordered at counter and got chicken salad croissant with…read moreParmesan fries. Sandwich was large and very tasty with unique flavor. Parm fries were pretty good too.

Really appreciated their expansive GF menu. Prices are high…read morebut quality is good. Service is attentive.

Food and service was great! Burger was juicy, the chicken parm was tasty. Server was super nice and…read morevery prompt, we never had to wait on anything. Restaurant itself was clean and comfortable. We'll definitely stop in again!

Would love to give them 5 stars but honestly staff was a weird with us, will be back though for the…read moreBison steak alone though, it was soooooo good. 100% worth a second chance which we hope to go back this year (March 2025, last year was when we visited for first time!) The wine was delicious and the property is absolutely stunning both inside and out. Not sure if they were just having an off day or they thought we weren't gonna spend any $ there due to us having dogs/ not being dressed up at all but if it wasn't for the food/drinks/ aesthetics and we think was one of the managers coming to say hi to us I would have probably left less stars. - SpicyAivy

Truly cannot recommend Early Mountain enough! It is one of the most beautiful wineries I've…read morevisited- the tasting room reminds me of Crimson Lane or Barboursville- and definitely one of the more upscale options of the wide range of Virginia wineries. The wines are excellent and there are several tasting options you can choose- I believe there was a red flight, a white flight, and a "signature" option that had both. You also have the option to build your own flight, which I always love. The 2024 rosé is a standout, we picked up several bottles to bring home. We could not believe how good the food was- it was worth a trip in its own right! It's on the pricier side but it is clear why, the plates wouldn't be out of place at a fine dining restaurant. We also had the kindest server, Chelsie, who made our experience so special and memorable! She stopped by to chat several times, gave us great recommendations, and she could not have been nicer to me and my friends. We were lucky enough to attend our dear friends' wedding here and it was a spectacular wedding venue. The space is just beautiful and the catering was incredible- some of the best wedding food we've had by far. We liked it so much we came back to visit the tasting room the next day :) This is a perfect stop on the way to Charlottesville from the DMV and a gorgeous place to spend an afternoon.