Went here on a date night in Staunton, the restaurant was busy but our food was just ok. Would go back to listen to jazz at bar but it looked like they were using those seats for meals as well. read more

Out of towners. We looked on Yelp at a number of possibilities and were about to walk in here (standing at the front looking at the menu on display) when a couple called out "it's great" and compared this restaurant to some of the other higher-priced places in the neighborhood. They were so enthusiastic that they didn't leave until we walked inside. They really like this place! We got two appetizers to try - mixed green side salad with homemade balsamic dressing, and Rustic hummus plate. Salad - I don't know why they call it side salad. It's very big. And it was fresh, with a tasty dressing. Hummus plate - a large portion of hummus, with olives, roasted garlic, mushroom and artichokes with crackers. It's a tasty hummus, but I'm not sure that the garbanzo chili-crisp topping on the hummus added to the dish. I really liked the roasted garlic. (The garlic is very flavorful and delicate - you may not want to order this if you are sharing on a first date!) For entrees, I got the Tuscan Salmon and my partner got the Braised Lamb. Salmon - the salmon was well prepared, with a char on the outside, but soft meat inside. I think it could have used a tiny bit of seasoning. I asked for the sauce on the side. The sauce is a sun-dried-tomato cream sauce. It's very good. The Rustic mashed potatoes with capers were less than "ok". The white coating on the potatoes had no flavor and seemed to be basically a plain milk-base. Even with the capers, the mashed potatoes were bland, like potatoes coated with milk. They needed seasoning. The brussel sprouts were in general very hard and chewy. They had a nice flavor, but the hardness/chewiness was annoying. There was a lot of potential with the sides (they looked great), but both the potatoes and brussel sprouts were disappointing. Lamb - excellent. Well prepared, tasty and the carrots were flavorful. My partner noted that their brussel sprouts also were hard and chewy, but not to the same extent as mine. The service was mixed. On the plus side, our appetizers and entrees came out at appropriate times (we finished one and the other came shortly after), but, on the negative side, our water glasses were empty a couple of times and it took a while to get them filled. (The issue with the hard/chewy brussel sprouts heightened our need for water, plus, we just drink a lot of water.). Honestly, as the evening went on, I felt less and less welcome there and I really can't understand why. The restaurant was less than half full during our meal. I just don't get it. Before tip (and I did tip 20 percent), we spent $100, and I'm overall disappointed. read more

Great dinner! Ashley took great care of us. We tried the Meatball Trio, the Fried Green Tomato Panzanella and the Mushroom Ravioli. All were well prepared, flavorful and nicely presented. Recommend coming on Wed night for the live music. read more

See all

Overall experience was positive. Excellent FOH staff. They were having live music when we visited and the host was very good about offering seating away from the night's entertainment. Add to that attentive, knowledgeable, and discreet waitstaff (I'm lookin at you, Trip!), and this is a service win-win-win. Now to menu. We ordered the three meatball app; rigatoni bolognese, and the eggplant caponata mains. Let's review. The app was nice. Well made and well seasoned meatballs served atop three sauces: pesto, marinara, and a mustard based barbecue sauce. The star amongst the sauces was the pesto. Lovely. Perfect balance of garlic and basil, olive oil and Romano. I didn't mind the marinara, tho I found it a little bright. The mustard-based sauce felt out of place and was very mustard-forward so as to be generally experienced as, well, whole grain mustard. But I did keep coming back to that pesto. Entrees are well presented and tasty. My dinner companion was quite happy with the flavours on the bolognese, but we were both a little surprised as to portion size. For $28, the plate felt a little light. BUT, the dish was on point and the flavours are solid. The eggplant caponata was excellent. That's the headline. My quibble is that it's described as having a tomato molé (FASCINATING!!) as the base, but the actual sauce on the plate is about as far from a molé--or play on a molé--as pesto is from mustard barbecue. While I get that the recipe calls for chocolate, that's not what makes a proper molé. Spices, dog. Roasted peppers. Come on, man. You can't throw chocolate at a tomato sauce and call it a molé. That said, it's a solid entree and I really enjoyed it. All in all we had a really positive experience and enjoyed the evening. I'll definitely return and tour the rest of the menu. Even though I do find the menu prices on the high side, the service excellence and overall kitchen quality makes me want to come back. read more

Ok spot! I recommend the meatballs trio. They were tasty. Tried a local beer that was ok. Crab cake appetizer has 2 mini crabcakes. Service was good. Cheesecake was tasty and the highlight of my meal. read more

A gem in Staunton. Italian/Southern fusion presented beautifully. Server Cary was professional and amusing. Brussel sprouts hash with bacon as an appetizer, eggplant caponata, and crab cakes. All delicious Nice cocktails also and a.decent bunch of wines also read more

I was looking for dinner options for a Saturday evening in Staunton. I saw Queen Street Bistro focused on local foods and took reservations and made quick day of resy. I'm glad I did as when we entered there was a sign at the door noting they couldn't accommodate walk ins until after 8 pm. We were seated in the booths downstairs, which was something I asked for in the reservation due to mobility issues for a member of my party. The place was quite busy, so it took a minute for our drink orders. After that the food came out within reason. - The sweet potato gnocchi only had four pieces, which was a disappointing for an appetizer. It was soft on the inside and a slight crisp on the outside. - My mom orders the ribs and thoroughly enjoyed them as they had a hint of sweetness and overall good flavor. - Wahoo was delicious. While it was potato crusted, it was quite light allowing for the fish flavor to come through - My sister ordered the vegan pasta dish and noted it was cold. I tried a bowtie noodle and it was indeed cold. We sent it back and it came out warm. Good spot to check out. Wasn't a perfect evening given they were quite crowded. I'd try again if in the area. read more

Queen City Bistro - Wahoo - Italian Near Me - Staunton, Virginia

We loved the atmosphere and the food! I was delighted by the many GF options. Our server, Ashley, was great! We will return when we are back in town. read more

great food. fast and friendly service. william is an asset to your establishment! read more

Highly recommend the restaurant. Noise level was excellent. Our waiters name was William and was very attentive the entire time we were there. Friendly always willing to help but not overbearing. Several drinks, wines, and beers to choose from.We ordered the lamb shank and the pasta special. drinks came out almost immediately, and food came out in a reasonable amount of time. Both were great. Ample portions, season perfectly cooked perfectly. We will be back. read more

Service was excellent and the food was even better. Cary, our server was awesome.................!

Food, service and atmosphere were top notch!! Looking forward to trying everything else on their menu because I'm sure it's just as good or better than the dishes we had and those were amazing. Certainly no disappointments at this new restaurant! read more

See all

Food 5 stars, unique fusion restaurant with delicious unique dishes. Nice to try different food as opposed to those restaurants that serve you heated sysco food Prices 2.5 stars, average prices for are Atmosphere cozy 5 star digs, nice bar Service 5 stars professional and attentive read more

We loved this place the minute we walked in, warm & inviting. The menu is interesting & thoughtful. The food was outstanding!! Even the sides were especially well prepared & delicious. Our server, William, was pleasantly attentive, and knowledgeable about the food. Our whole experience was excellent, we will return! read more

Very nice bistro with excellent service. The food is top notch, with a fantastic bar. Cozy without being crowded, comfortable seating. Highly recommended. read more

Just an excellent experience all around. Mushroom ravioli brought back so many memories of classic restaurants past. Served by Willam R, whose expert service and attention made us feel like royalty. Well appointed, the lighting was just right. Overall quite impressed with this restaurant and happy to have it in our town! read more

We come here often (but this is our first review) and the service is excellent. All the servers go above and beyond in their customer service - Ashley and Will are amazing. The bartender's skill is unmatched and the signature line of cocktails never disappoint. The food is always wonderful and the ambiance harkens back to the L'Italia days while also succeeding in forging its own identity. It's nod to the past while looking forward is what keeps us coming through the doors. We look forward to returning each and every time. read more

I was there with a bus group. Took them forever to serve the salad. they knew how many people and what time we were coming. being a super organizer myself. want to pass on a tip. If they had passed out all the salads and had the two types of dressing on the tables for people to put on themselves it would have taken a fraction of the time. The waitress had to keep going to her notes to see who ordered what dressing. read more

I happen to be in Staunton for work and decided to try Queen City Bistro. The food was delicious and creatively prepared. I had crispy eggplant with Gorgonzola cheese, vegetables, and pasta layered in a very unique way. My cocktail was called "A Grey Affair", a creative and delicious concoction of vodka, grand marnier, hint of lavender and a few other additions. There are several other bourbon, mezcal, and rye offerings. I highly recommend, you won't be disappointed. read more

Queen City Bistro - Eggplant, Gorgonzola, vegetables, pasta - Italian Near Me - Staunton, Virginia

As we are both award-winning Chefs of 35 years, we were interested in this restaurant. We reviewed 225+ restaurants and had high hopes. We had a pleasant experience with the bartender and host. As walk-ins we expected some wait time and were seated upstairs after 50 minutes (acceptable). The ambience was a mixed bag and decor could better reflect the season (some Fall, Spring flowers & greenery). A good chunk of the ceiling above our walkway needed some proper drywall & paint, but tables were set decent. We could tell the service staff were short-handed as our server had many tables to attend. Soup with roasted red peppers, zucchini & parm/Asiago was excellent. However we waited quite awhile for the Salmon with a very delicate sun-dried tomato sauce was prepared well, but needed a bit more s&p and maybe fresh herbs to supplement the flavor. The Brussels sprouts and potatoes were lukewarm and crunchy raw (not al dente) but needed some light blanching before salamander browning, and seasoned more. It was just okay meal, and with some simple changes, better staffing and timeliness up the restaurant's quality. Yes, us Chefs are harder to please, but we like to be constructive and I would want the same in any of the restaurant had opened. Best of luck read more

Wonderful atmosphere, wine list extensive and the food divine!! 5 stars in my book for Historic Staunton Virginia!! Must visit !!! read more

Queen City Bistro - Bacon wrapped beef tenderloin delish!! - Italian Near Me - Staunton, Virginia

Great food. We went for brunch. Good portions. Not too much for a brunch. The crab cake biscuit was great. Spinach dip was really good also. Sat outside with our dog on a beautiful afternoon. Service was a tad slow, but they were busy with people in town for a festival. Definitely will try again for dinner. read more

Queen City Bistro - Brunch menu - Italian Near Me - Staunton, Virginia

My husband and I went to Queen City Bistro for our 31st wedding anniversary. We were really looking forward to it, and were very disappointed. The crabcake appetizer tasted like slightly soggy breading and not much else. They were served over what looked like frozen soup vegetables without any flavoring. There was a sauce with it that we weren't fond of. I got the haddock, which was just OK. My husband got the salmon. Both were mediocre - they tasted like there were no spices, not even salt & pepper. We had heard great things about Queen City, and it wasn't cheap. We like to support local businesses, so I hope that they can improve. To end on a positive note, I did enjoy the chardonnay, and our waitress was great! The staff was friendly in general. read more

It's not easy to find a place to eat in downtown Staunton after 9:00 pm. We found ourselves at Queen City Bistro at 9:05 and could not have had a more personalized, exceptional experience. Our waitress, Tripp, was amazing! She took great care of us (and our dog). John (the owner/chef) visited our table and was very engaging. Our meal was delicious!! Highly recommend the braised short ribs (a uniquely wonderful flavor) AND the meatballs (from the after 9 menu with a little kick!) Relaxing atmosphere inside and out. We'll be back!! read more

The food was good, nothing to write home about. The service was ok, the restaurant seemed understaffed the evening we visited and our waiter seemed to be hosting the entire upstairs - leading to ok service, not bad but just ok. The downstairs has better ambiance than if you get seated upstairs - way too bright. read more

The food was absolutely excellent, the warm your soul kind. Atmosphere was very welcoming with attentive and friendly staff. The wild "boar"becue was delicious and is a must. read more

We went here on Saturday evening and everything we went to order they were out of. Had decided what we would have before we even arrived and unable to get any of it. They were super busy and could not even get a water refill. Ended up getting a salad which was good but not what I wanted. Just felt they should have been more prepared. read more

We had dinner there with a group. I was very disappointed in the Cherry Chicken Marsala. The chicken - legs and wings - was well beyond crispy. The crust was thick and hard, barely able to be cut with a knife. And no hint of the Marsala wine. I checked a half a dozen recipes and all use boneless chicken breasts or cutlets and lightly brown the meat first. If they want to keep this on the menu they need to rename and/or make it clear that it is bone in legs & wings. read more

Our office enjoyed a delicious and festive Christmas dinner at QCB and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a private event space for a corporate event or otherwise. All of our employees raved about the preparation of the food and drinks. The space was cozy and well-decorated and we truly felt accommodated and cared for. This is a small business that you can tell prides itself on the quality of their service and dishes. We made a number of inquiries to restaurants for parties and I can tell you this one stood out in their flexibility and hospitality. Highly recommended!!! read more

Service was very attentive to food allergies, and the menu listed all food allergies clearly as well. The food was excellent and the meatball trio was sublime. Each bite was luscious. The suggested wine ( a Barbera) also was excellent. The "Vibe" was very casual and relaxed. Noise level also was a pleasant background buzz on a busy Friday evening but did not make conversation at all difficult. read more

I started coming here right after they open I've had nothing but excellent food every meal and every dessert the service is fantastic and The hospitality is amazing. I recommend you try it. This is one of the best in town. Norman read more

We enjoyed everything about this place. Would recommend. Nice menu and service. Short stay in town and would return.

This is a very popular establishment that I was lucky enough to discover on a Friday afternoon just as the street was being closed for pedestrians. We didn't have reservations and the restaurant was booked for early seating for the Black Fryer Theatre. We were early enough for happy hour and the bar had not filled up yet so our party of four commandeered at corner seats and had fabulous, food and service. I cannot wait to return, probably will attend the theater as well. read more

Queen City Bistro is jewel in the crown that is historic Staunton. Fried Green Panzanella - lovely crispness to the tomatoes and oh my Crab Cake - Perfect light fry of ample, flavorful crab and balanced accompaniment. Arugula Salad hit the spot with a peppery arugula and the refreshing oranges and vinaigrette. Eggplant Caponata had thick, crispy eggplant wedges, a salty & creamy gorgonzola cheese layer and such a tasty al dente root veggie accompaniment. So happy with these choices; not a miss in the bunch. Ashley was polite, friendly, efficient and added to my great experience here. I was so thrilled with the epic swing entertainment the evening I was there. The blend of modern and historic atmosphere rounded out my enjoyment of this place. I would highly recommend and with good fortune I will return and again. read more

Read reviews and decided let's try it. 4 of us on Sunday at 11:15. Not crowded. Waitress very nice and service was fine. Two of us ordered the breakfast bowl, one sausage gravy entree and last was the breakfast platter. We all ordered eggs over easy as no poached eggs available. Servings were extremely small. The bowls were extremely skimpy and served on a plate basically. All 8 eggs were overcooked, the whites were brown and crispy from being fried in hot oil. Very disappointing. No need to go back. Def will try somewhere else in Staunton next visit. read more

Had dinner here last night with a group of 8 and they were incredibly accommodating to our group! The food was amazing- my favorites were the Meatball Trio appetizer and the Fettuccini Carbonara. My husband had the NY Strip steak and it was cooked PERFECTLY! I also had the Beverley Garden cocktail and my husband had the Venetian Manhattan- both were wonderful. One member of our group wanted an off-menu cocktail and the bartender (did not catch his name) was super helpful in customizing a drink for her. Our server, Ashley, was so lovely and kind to our group and we had a blast! Will definitely be returning often! read more

Great food, super service. Nice menu choices. Prices reasonable. Would go again. They do take reservations.

Nice place to eat. Menu seemed limited, food was just ok. Service was great, even on a busy day.0

Everything was great. Delicious food. Service was spot on and the atmosphere was perfect.

We had a group of about 20 women who were in town for a leadership institute. QCB was very accommodating with a private space upstairs. Great service. Delicious food. Easy to have a conversation (not too loud). John provided a limited menu since it was such a large group. A bit pricey but worth every penny. Thanks, QCB, for a great experience! read more