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    The Shack

    4.3 (171 reviews)
    PriceyNew American
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    The Shack Photos

    Business Info

    THE SHACK ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Shack

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    Valerie N.

    I took my Nephew for his birthday dinner. The food was so flavorful. We each had the four course tasting menus. We ordered different things so we could sample more things and we were not disappointed. Everything was delicious and We will definitely be back. Try it out if you are in Staunton. Make sure to make reservations. The place is small and so quaint

    Food menu
    Ry L.

    It's literally a small shack, but that's part of the appeal. It feels like you're in your great-aunt's kitchen. I tried this spot based on the recommendation of a friend out in Bristol. I have the best friends. Their menu is small and interesting. They offer a variety of small plates, tapas-size pastas, veggies, a burger, and a handful of pizzas. The food is homemade and highlights the local growers and makers in the Appalachia. I note this because you can definitely tell. My meal: -- Ginger Margarita: strong with subtle spice -- Crispy Chicken Wings: sorghum and ginger vinegar, fermented leek ranch. The wings were crispy as described but I was expecting some breading; however, texture-wise, these were better than breaded wings. Some spice would've been a nice complement to the vinegar flavor. The ginger was missing in action. A little hot sauce (maybe Truff?) would've paired well. The ranch was top notch, so I was disappointed to see it missing (and one of the wings I started) when they packaged my leftovers. -- Ricotta Tortelloni: charred and smoked onion butter, sage, balsamic. Amazing. Perfectly al dente and fresh with subtle yet rich flavors. -- Farmer's Pie: I was in the mood for some pepperoni which can be added to any of their pizzas except tonight's special, the Farmer's Pie. Since the server talked it up so nicely and because specials are ephemeral, I ordered it without trepidation. It was so fresh and unique, topped with nettle pesto, flowers, veggies, and some cheeses. Fantastic. -- Black Walnut Gelato: a vanilla-based gelato. It wasn't as soft and creamy as gelato usually is, but I didn't mind. The walnuts are incorporated into the gelato so you won't find any pieces to actively chew. It gave the gelato such an interesting and complex flavor. I really enjoyed it and was sad I was too full to finish. I enjoyed the vibe overall, from the tunes, to the down-home decor, to the intimacy of the dining room. It's the perfect spot for a solo dinner or a date.

    Salt Beets
    Becca H.

    We stopped in tonight after touring a nearby wedding venue and were so glad the venue owner recommended this to us. The Shack is a super cute little spot in Staunton. It's a perfect date night spot, nice dinner out with parents, etc. the decor and seating are simple but there's still a cool vibe to the place. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable and very attentive. Now for the food. YUM! I knew it would be good after reading the head chef had multiple James Beard Award nominations and after seeing the small menus. The menu changed (idk how often) but they do a few things so right. If we are ever back in the area we will return. Everything was very reasonably priced as well.

    Amuse bouche Apple tart
    M M.

    Destination meal. Have been looking forward to this reservation for weeks, read about it, talked about it , and now I've enjoyed it. Thursday night is the best night because it is the lowest volume of customers. The service was amazing. The food was fun, n tasty--it was definitely an event.

    This weekly's menu.
    Carol D.

    My twin was visiting from Oregon and she LOVES food as much as I do (and is Yelp Elite Black). We were so excited to try this amazingly rated restaurant in Staunton and the creativity and beauty of the food did not disappoint us! Food (5/5): The menu changes weekly, so we were able to try some really great food. Attached is a pic of the menu and I've rated it, below: We did the 3 course ($55) meal, which was an appetizer or pasta + main + dessert. There was also an option to upgrade for $5 to replace the dessert option (we are both lactose and sugar sensitive). Starters: We tried the Raw Hamachi - with homemade chili crunch, pickled cherries, and fresh herbs. This was was actually so good that we not only ate it for appetizer, but we both replaced our Dessert course with another round! Both servers agreed with our smart choice! The hamachi (raw fish) was sweet and delicate, and then had the amazing homemade chili crunch with peanuts on top! It was literally the most delicious sashimi I have ever had. Pasta: Cornmeal Agnolotti - this was a homemade pasta pillow that was filled with Brebis (fresh sheep's milk cheese, produced similarly to a Chèvre). It was good, but not quite what I was expecting. Mains: The Hanger Steak was sous vide, which added an interesting texture. Pork Schnitzel - this was a large portion and the chicories was a clean, fresh complement to the lovely fried pork. Atmosphere/COVID-19 cleanliness(5/5): They were even more limited in their seating inside. They also had cute tables set up outside. The servers all wore masks. Service (5/5): Susan was the best waiter and was really attentive. Overall, a solid 5 star experience! Staunton is blessed to have a restaurant of this quality in this cute little town!

    Caviar with onion dip and potato chips
    Julie K.

    The Shack is just wonderful. We had the tasting menu along with the wine pairings. William was an outstanding server and representative of The Shack. Professional and so informative. Dinner was phenomenal and worth every penny. We loved getting the full experience. Service and food was exquisite. I highly recommend for anyone in the Shenandoah Valley. Thanks Shack, we loved it!

    Lisa S.

    We had a wonderful dinner at The Shack a few weeks ago! They have two seatings. We did the early seating with a 5 course tasting menu. We each ordered each option so that we could try everything. I did the wine pairing for us both to share, while my husband also ordered some local cider. The menu was very vegetable-forward- only one course had meat. But everything tasted fresh and clean but still interesting. Service was solid and our waiter was friendly. The place did get a little loud- if they could find some way to incorporate some sound dampening in the room, I think it would go a long way. The price was reasonable and I'd definitely recommend folks give this place a try for a special dinner!

    Pre- meal 'snack' BLT
    Joyce C.

    See photo for pricing $$$. Meal served in courses. Two options for each course. Unusual preparations and ingredients. Favorites are the duck and paper thin ham. Most fun was the roe topping on homemade spaghetti. Best bite was a sweet cube with 'golden milk' after the dessert plate. Only open on certain days for dinner. A refundable deposit is required for reservations. Dining room is a bit crowded and seating gets uncomfortable after awhile. Playful food adventure. Will return when the menu changes so I can be surprised all over again. Yes, I recommend. Great for a birthday, anniversary or special day.

    Leeks and ramps with roe
    bryan s.

    A remarkable, pilgrimage-worthy destination. Our visit was our first public meal after a year+ of pandemic-forced takeout and home cooking--and a bracing reminder of just how much pleasure and joy restaurants can put into the world. I missed it so much, and I'm grateful The Shack was the place that welcomed me back. We went for the full five courses and tried everything on the menu. It was all lovely. The standouts the night we were there: the leeks & ramps with roe (I arrived convinced I wasn't a fan of roe, and The Shack proved me wrong); the whole maitake paprikash (smoky and meaty); the kale gemelli with scallop borgata (supremely complex--bright, briny, and assertive); the roast duck (expertly cooked and sauced); and the caramelized cream cheese dessert (like the softest, subtlest cheesecake ever). The wine pairings were curious in all the right ways. And they did more than just enhance the flavors of their courses; they were a thrill to drink on their own. We liked the Linden Late Harvest dessert wine so much we swung by the winery the next day (also worth doing). The space is simple and spartan, and even more so with the thinned-out tables of C19 dining. But it gets a great sunset, and I appreciate how seriously The Shake takes C19 safety. And the service is so friendly, and so passionate about great food and wine, that the setting is kind of besides the point. I have no idea when I'll be in the area again, but The Shack's a fine excuse for ginning up another trip.

    Maria T.

    Good things come in small packages! This tiny brick restaurant is big on flavor! Hubby and I were visiting the area and we were intrigued by this diminutive restaurant. We didn't have a reservation, but we were graciously accommodated. We were led to a cozy table near the back, well, to be honest every table here is cozy! All of the entrées looked amazing... while we pored over the thoughtfully planned Prix Fixe menu, we were poured some crisp Rosé. We decided on the 3 course meal... the chilled green tomato & cucumber soup with kumquat pico-pipicha was refreshing and surprising! One taste and it was like opening a present in your mouth! The kumquat addition was the bow on top!! Our other starter was the heirloom tomato & peach salad with an incredible basil vinegar dressing... an explosion of freshness!! For my entrée, I kept it simple, the cheddar burger with smoked onions but what made this burger special was the black garlic mayo.... delish... but no kissing tonight, lol!! And the shoestring fries were perfection! Hubby had the Roast striped bass with the puréed cauliflower, shishito peppers & mushroom dashi...doesn't that sound fabulous!! It was!! Every mouthful was like an awakening experience! All of the dishes are miraculously presented by the wizard chef chef behind the scenes!! The meals were so delectable we thought we couldn't eat another bite... we were wrong. The desserts were too tempting to resist. We chose the grilled peaches & cream with sorghum & sumac molasses with pecans and the rosemary & nectarine sorbet. Talk about cool! These desserts were absolutely the perfect finish to an awesome experience! This quaint spot may be small, but it's chef is larger than life! Such a creative and inspiring menu! We will remember this place for years to come! It's totally peachy keen!! (The restaurant is temporarily closed... maybe due to Covid, but we will be sure to visit again as soon as they open to keep this unique restaurant up and running!)

    a sign hanging from the side of a building

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    5 years ago

    I'm just so happy. The food is indescribable. Stop looking at the pictures you can find on yelp and just go there.

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    The shack is fine...very cool and delicious meals but I don't think it is worth the high price tag.

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    Ask the Community - The Shack

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    Zynodoa

    Zynodoa

    4.3
    (428 reviews)
    0.2 mi
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    My wife and I were driving to North Carolina and wanted a halfway stop, so we chose Staunton,…read moreVirginia based on a restaurant for dinner. Zynodoa was our choice. Good call! We stopped in Thursday February 5, 2026. The cozy space, complete with a locally painted on the wall, gives it a warm, welcoming feel. In speaking with the matrade we learned the name of the restaurant comes from the Native American word that has become Shenandoah. After 20 years in business it's clear this place has deep local roots. The staff was friendly and attentive. Kyle, our waiter, did a great job and worked seamlessly with his teammates to make the experience memorable. We started with cocktails -- my wife had the Sage Advice and I had a classic Manhattan. Proper cocktails for sure! The crème brûléed cornbread and sweet potato bisque were standout starters. Probably could have stopped eating after those starters...For mains, my wife loved the pork loin and I enjoyed the pan-seared trout. We finished with the banana mousse, which was absolutely amazing! Great food, great service, great atmosphere. Highly recommend if you're passing through Staunton. definitely worth the stop.

    An excellent and inventive restaurant in Staunton that punches way above its weight. My wife and I…read moretraveled to Staunton recently and were advised to try Zynodoa. The cocktail and mocktails were flavorful and well priced. Our waiter was great. Very knowledgeable about the menu, town and ingredients. We started with the Chicken Liver pate. This was well prepared, although I hate when a restaurant provides an odd number of toasts for two people. We asked for an extra piece and thought it was funny that they gave us exactly one. FYI- it comes with several accoutrements which were tasty, but the mustard was really the most satisfying. My wife had the brisket, which I would call a must have. Fantastic Asian spices, fried rice ball and Kimchi. Just an explosion of flavors. I was glad she shared. (This is uncommon) I had the pork chop and it was really pretty. Unfortunately, it lacked flavor and I had to carve off the fat which made up about 1/3rd of the chop. The bone was the other third...so it turned out to be a thick but modest cut. That said, it was on a lovely bed of mash and some of the best blue and white carrots I ever had. We finished with the carrot cake. (All of the desserts are made onsite.) which we learned was gluten free. Honestly if it was marked GF I wouldn't have ordered it. Anyway, when it arrived I thought we received the wrong thing. It looked like a decorative cliff bar. Once we took a bite we were blown away by the flavors and texture. It was delicious. Such a great experience. We were near the kitchen, so we got to see the head chef get orders out. There were some highs and lows, but the overall experience was really nice.

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    The Mill Street Grill

    The Mill Street Grill

    4.4
    (687 reviews)
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    We had a really good experience at The Mill Street Grill. We ordered the prime rib, steamed…read moremussels, and the barbecue platter. Everything was good, and the portions were generous. The prime rib was cooked well, the mussels were flavorful, and the barbecue platter had a good variety. The service was great--fast, courteous, and attentive without making us feel rushed. The restaurant was clean and had a nice atmosphere. It felt lively and energetic, but it was not too loud to have a conversation. Overall, this was a solid dinner and a place I would recommend when visiting Staunton. I would definitely eat here again.

    My partner and I came for dinner last night (a Tuesday). We arrived around 5:45 pm and were…read morepromptly seated. The restaurant was not very busy, but there was a pleasant vibe. The inside reminds me of a Chili's or Ruby Tuesday, but a bit darker. I think it's a nice atmosphere, appropriate for date night, a group, a family, etc. Our server (who has worked here for 3 years) was friendly and efficient. To start, we ordered a bowl of yesterday's soup special (She crab) and a small order of boiled shrimp. The soup was excellent, creamy, and with small pieces of crab throughout. The shrimp (six in the small order) were prepared well and came with a tangy cocktail sauce. The server brought over a loaf of their complimentary bread, which is actually three breads together in a single loaf. The bread was good (I preferred the dark loaf part) and came with a peach butter. We were told that the butters change periodically. The butter had pieces of peach in it (!) and we enjoyed the novelty. Our server mentioned that they also have a pistachio butter and maple butter. Yum. I ordered a salad with the balsamic vinaigrette dressing on the side. The salad itself was good - fresh, with crisp lettuce, tomato, cucumber, apple, almond pieces, etc. Then there was the dressing. Although I mixed the salad dressing in the cup before tasting it, when I did taste it, it was almost all oil with no discernible vinegar or other flavor. I kept stirring and tasting and nothing. So I abandoned the dressing. For entrees, my partner ordered the charbroiled salmon in herb butter with a side of broccoli. The salmon was prepared well and very tasty. I ordered the mahi-mahi, with the sun-dried tomato butter sauce on the side. The mahi-mahi was well prepared and tasty on its own. Honestly, I tasted the sun-dried tomato butter sauce and it was essentially whipped butter. I didn't think it added anything to the entree so I didn't use it. The potato came with butter and sour cream on the side. The potato was very good. Although we were full and not planning on dessert, the server came over with small cups of peppermint ice cream, calling it a "palate cleanser." It was very good and a nice touch. Other than the salad dressing and the sauce for the fish, it was an excellent meal in a nice atmosphere with good service. When we were leaving at around 7:00 pm, the line was out the door.

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    Steak & Crab Cake
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    The Depot Grille

    The Depot Grille

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    We were in town so we decided to try out The Depot Grille which was recommended by our hotel. I…read moreordered the fettuccine middlebrook and my boyfriend ordered the prime rib. The service was excellent!! However, the food lacked seasoning. Additionally, the Alfredo had a weird sweet taste and tasted like it was straight out of the jar. I also had a pound of Parmesan cheese on my Caesar salad which, I suppose some people can appreciate. However, there was SO much left over, I felt bad wasting it. Anywho, 10/10 for customer service. 5/10 for service. The ambiance was cool. However, definitely has a small town feel. 7/10 for vibes.

    Literally stumbled upon this restaurant at the tail end of a train riding road-trip…read more 2 Chessies outside...the restaurant is in an old freight station and beautiful inside. To the left is a large seating area that I didn't know was there until I went to the restroom. The bar is stunning. We were served by Jennifer. We shared artichoke dip; hubby had the lump crab cake sandwich with a side of coleslaw which he demolished, and I had the Toosday salad--delicious and a huge portion, with fresh pieces of apple, pecan, feta cheese and well prepared grill chicken. Had both the poppyseed and raspberry vinaigrette dressings which complimented the salad. Leftovers for me and no dessert. Great train area as well for train buffs.

    Photos
    Stained glass
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    Chicken wings served with buffalo, BBQ, bourbon sauce, or dry rub.
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    Second Draft

    Second Draft

    4.0
    (8 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    This bistro is inside of the main building of the Blackburn Inn and conference center. Very small…read more Nice ambiance, friendly and efficient service. Lousy house blend coffee and mediocre food. If you are staying at this hotel, I would not recommend buying a breakfast voucher that is offered you at the time of online pre-registration and check in ($35 for two people, includes tax but excludes tips). Either eat outside ( plenty of choices nearby) or go a la cart. We went for a combo breakfast. Bacon was meaty and not crisp and quite salty, eggs were good. Croissants were not part of the voucher and you have to pay extra if you order, same goes for cappuccino or latte ( with a voucher you get only a house blend) . I don't think we will be coming back . One time experience was good enough. But if you are a cappuccino & croissant for breakfast type of person, this is a good place for you. Just stay away from artificially flavored juices

    This small cafe is located in the historic Blackburn Inn. It is located on the enclosed side porch,…read moreso the location is sunny and cheerful. The menu is small, but everything we ate was prepared fresh on ordering and was made well. It is open for breakfast from 7-10am. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable about Staunton. Our server, Amber was amazing and made us feel so welcome!

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    House blend coffee (terrible) and cranberry juice
    House blend coffee (terrible) and cranberry juice
    Nice sunny dining
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    The Shack - newamerican - Updated June 2026

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