Our experience started out a little odd and progressed to service that was unexpectedly below par. We made a 5:30 reservation via the website and opentable. We arrived 15 minutes early and were told they could not seat us because they were waiting for the people before us at 5:15 to show up? But were told we could wait at the bar for the 15 minutes. We were actually seated a little before 5:30 so no big deal. Our waitstaff was knowledgeable and made a few recommendations. We ordered starters and entrees along with drinks. Our starters came out as expected and fairly quickly. From there we waited and waited for our entrees. About 45 minutes later and when others that came in after us received their entrees, a person that appeared to be the house manager came to our table and acknowledged our entrees were delayed and would be out shortly. About 10 minutes after that our entrees arrived via our original waitstaff, and she said this happens sometimes when the line gets backed up? We pointed out that several tables and folks that were sitting at the bar came in after us and were served far ahead of us. We were told they were sorry and would give us a dessert if we wanted one. It was odd that they never checked on us or updated us during the delay. It appeared they just forgot to follow up on a delay order or our order was not turned in? It was a shame that a restaurant like this would not keep up with their orders, their staff would not pay attention to the table, and that services/food would come out terribly late. The food was fine, but the service was below par, so we cannot recommend this restaurant. read more

We made reservations the night before and got a table for 7:15 pm, perfect. The space is simple and intimate. There are about four larger booths and smaller tables throughout. We were seated closer to the back by the kitchen. The restaurant specializes in local fare. We ordered beers from Basic City and Blue Mountain Brewery. The dinner menu was simple and offered fewer than ten options. The waitress noted they were out of the pork entree (bummer as it sounded wonderful) and shrimp. We opted for the following: - Rappahannock fried oysters - It was just okay. The breading overpowered the oysters. - Tuna - Hubs enjoyed it. The fish was sizable. He enjoyed the parsnip that accompanied the dish. - Flat iron - 10 ounces and I requested cooked to chef's recommendation. It came out rare and was very tender. Given the choice of horseradish or black pepper garlic sauce, I chose the latter. Unfortunately, it was tangy, so I didn't use the sauce which is fine as the steak had good flavor in itself. The steak came with mashed potatoes (nicely whipped) and broccoli (pan seared deliciousness). We skipped dessert as we were full. All total with three beers and excluding tip our tab was $99. read more

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Fair but far but extremely far from excellent. For example, we had to sit at the bar to which we agreed. I asked the bar tender what drink she would recommend to go with my meal...one of the beers or, if wine, which one, although I already had a few choices in mind. She came and plopped a glass of wine in front of me. IF she had said try this and tell me if you like it, I would have said no. I had already in my mind ruled it out this choice of hers. She SHOULD have offered me al tasting and asked if it met my approval. Dessert? Look at the picture..presentation? Far from out, just a glop of petty tasteless food. Restaurant if far overrated, especially for the prices. read more

Zynodoa - New American Near Me - Staunton, Virginia

We have eaten here twice a year (or more) on our semi-annual trip to New England from Arkansas. Our recent dining experience (6/14/25) was inferior to past experiences. We arrived in town much sooner than our 7:15 reservations. When I called asking for earlier seating (6:15) was told no. A few moments later my wife called again and received the same answer. We drove to another highly rated restaurant and told the walk-in wait time was 30 minutes. I called Zynodoa again and told "we have tables outside". Ahh&.$?#! Why wasn't I told this 30 minutes earlier during the first call???? We were seated outside when we arrived and saw 6 empty outdoor tables; we were at this moment (Saturday nite mind you!) the only diners seated outside! NOT very guest friendly. Corn bread appetizer was, once again, great - a must. Although our server Layla was a delight always wearing a smile the entrees were only mediocre. Likely will not returns; the $230 tab including tips was not the value we came to expect. read more

Hands down our favorite restaurant in Staunton!! It just never disappoints. We want to like the cornbread, but have found it's just not our favorite. But besides that we have never had anything we didn't love. read more

Excellent food! The atmosphere is perfect for a cozy date night or celebration. Service was friendly, super informative and helpful in making suggestions and navigating the menu. read more

Every time I've been there it's a full house & a reservation was needed. Guessing from the packed restaurant the food was good??!!! Atmosphere is all I know & it looked comfortable read more

I think this is the best restaurant in Staunton. Shout out to Sam behind the bar. She knows how to pair your food with to the right wine!

Service was pretty good. Very nice ambiance. My steak was sadly room temperature probably due to being pre cut and left out before serving. Side dishes were good. More pricy than competing local steakhouses that are arguably better. read more

Everything was amazing! We were new to town and stepped in to check it out. The staff was so welcoming, giving us a cocktail menu and dinner menu. We immediately decided, based on the exceptional decor, the cool vibe and the friendly staff, we need not look further for dinner. We text our friends to see if they wanted to join us. While waiting for them, we sat at the bar and had a wonderful glass of Sancerre and my husband, an IPA. The bartender was friendly and knowledgeable. Then, once our friends arrived, we moved to the booth they graciously saved for us. Our dinner was so good! Our friends split a bottle of champagne and we shared an amazing bottle of Bordeaux. Our server Layla could not have been cuter or more helpful and efficient! She helped make our night! My husband and I shared a New York steak, perfected done, and our friends had Caesar salads and crab cakes. We also shared the cornbread, which was delicious! For dessert we shared a yummy toasted coconut cream cake with coconut ice cream. All in all, we loved Zynodoa and our evening! Five stars! Excellent! read more

It's not often that I dine at restaurants at this price point, but best believe, Zynodoa made it entirely worthwhile. They checked all the boxes: ambiance, service, and of course, the food! I'm one that usually goes through the menu and has an idea of what I want beforehand. That didn't work here as the online menu was not accurate. I'm sure this is a place where the menu is constantly in flux. That being said, it wasn't hard to find an alternative. My risotto was perfectly creamy and flavorful and left me feeling fully nourished. They also offer a chef's tasting menu, which I'm sure is absolutely banger but too much seafood for me, personally. Rest assured, Zynodoa is the real deal and a memorable and comfortable dining experience. read more

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I had a pretty disappointing brunch here the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. Leaving 3 stars is probably a stretch, but I'm trying to be kind -- understanding the duress restaurants are under right now due to the pandemic. I just do not think management handled the issue as well as they could have (I'll explain). I was day tripping with my mom from Richmond and had noticed the great reviews for this establishment, so I reserved a table for two at 12:15 pm. Outdoor tables had already booked up, so I reserved a standard table inside. When we arrived, we were seated near the kitchen in the back. I ordered a cider cocktail and my mom asked about their tea selection. The server brought over a tea box, but my mom couldn't see into it, and not thinking about it reached to move it to eye level. The server yanked it back and said she couldn't touch it -- which I understand. It was just interesting though since I was watching all the kitchen staff work without masks on at the same time. I know they don't have to by law, but it still seems like a double standard to me and that incident could've been handled friendlier. For food, my mom ordered the French toast with bacon and I ordered the sausage gravy and biscuits and added the side of eggs. My mom's came out first and was melty, but she enjoyed it. Her bacon was cold, but she ate it anyway. My eggs came out hot, but my sausage gravy was lukewarm at best and turned cold very quickly, which wasn't an enjoyable way to eat it. I let the server know, because I wanted to handle it right then. The manager came right over to apologize and said she'd take it off the bill. I told her not to do that, and that I'd prefer it just be warmed up. She replied proudly that they don't own a microwave and she'd get them to make me some hot gravy. She then went to the kitchen and started helping to disperse dishes to others. After a while, she returned to let me know that the kitchen was simply too backed up to remake my dish and that they were taking it off my bill. So, basically - for brunch I had a side of eggs and some potatoes because other customers were more important than me. I walked out pretty dumbfounded by the experience. I'm glad others could have glowing experiences here, but as an out of towner, taking it off my bill didn't redeem the time I wasted having a meal here. I easily could have whipped up some eggs and potatoes at home. What a bummer. The cocktail was good at least. I do feel for them with Covid, but geesh - try to maybe not let guests leave hungry in the future. read more

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This place is fantastic! I read through the reviews and most reviews were high rated. First We sat at the bar Amanda was awesome!!! The bar is laid out strategically and Amanda was on her game informative, great recommendations, and engaging! Second Food was awesome! I think a place like this you have to be willing to spend a little extra and try things that sound good to you. We chose the following appetizers: Fried Oyster- a must have Cornbread - on the sweet side and was fabulous Crab fritter- very good for me my buddy loved them Main dishes: Two way pork- belly and shoulder over grits with different items that complemented well - must have dish Chicken - over rice with a broth -must have great flavors Desserts you can't go wrong! The chef does great with flavors! Try this place! read more

Great food! Love the farm to table ethic. Good drinks! Service was leisurely. Fun design. Decorated with local art that is for sale. Loved the brûléed corn bread! read more

This restaurant has been around for quite some time now and it never disappoints. Took a friend with me a few weeks ago because even though she lives in the area she does not eat out very often. Her first time, probably my sixth or seventh time, and everything was truly fabulous. you simply must start with the cornbread appetizer. There are no bad meals in this place though so order what you like and enjoy being treated like royalty! read more

After having a bad experience the Zynodoa management took the time to reach out to me. I will definitely give them another try, we very much appreciate the customer service and response! read more

Had a guest last evening. Little sister , the Vegan. In addition to one special accommodating a Vegan, their ever-so creative chef offered her or his own off-the menu creation. Not only accommodating, but listening to their clientele. Service was great. Food was 5 stars. My favorite restaurant in Staunton. read more

Fantastic. We came across this restaurant in a state of desperation having skipped lunch and were trying to avoid burger and fry joints nearby. We arrived exactly at 5 and there was a small line outside, the theater crowd with reservations. We were lucky to get right in and order quickly before the big groups. The tea cocktail was perfectly balanced and my husband had a lovely glass of pilot noir, the waiter had excellent recommendations. The black garlic salad was my husband's favorite and I loved the whipped ricotta with the beet salad. I had the fettuccine and added scallops that were impeccably seared. My husband had the pork duo and the pork belly was SO much better than dishes we've had at double the price point recently. read more

We ate at Zynodoa three separate times on a three-day visit to Staunton. The food is that good. And the tomahawk chop was out of this world! Throw in an inviting atmosphere and friendly, knowledgeable staff to round things out. My wife and I won't hesitate to recommend Zynodoa. Thanks to our server Molly for taking care of us at breakfast and dinner! read more

Zynodoa - Tomahawk chop - New American Near Me - Staunton, Virginia

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The only dining like it in Staunton. It was a chic, cozy and dim lit with some cool music and a lively crowd. Service was solid. read more

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We visited Zynodoa around 5:45pm on the Friday before Valentine's Day this year. We had a reservation and our table was ready upon our arrival. We were lucky enough to get seated at the window, where there is partially bench seating and partially chair seating. This area felt nice and spacious compared to some other tables closer towards the kitchen area from what I saw when headed to the restroom. We elected to both partake in their Chef's Tasting Menu and Wine Pairing. Fabulous choice as all 4 courses were good and made of local ingredients, when possible. Our favorites included the curried winter squash soup, pork belly risotto, and the profiteroles dessert. The main course (tenderloins) was okay but nothing special or different compared to most steak dishes - so the others were our favorites of the night. Due to the spacing of the courses, we ended up enjoying a lovely Valentine's Dinner over about 2.5 hours. Upon looking at the receipt after dinner, we did notice the menu pricing didn't match what we were actually charged per the receipt ($65 for the dinner and $30 for the wine pairing). That's about a $24 difference in total, which I normally would've inquired about; however, since it was a special occasion, I just let it go without saying anything. I did take off 1 star from my rating due to this, though. I would've gladly given them 5 stars had this not occurred. Overall, we had a wonderful experience, knowledgeable wait staff, and loved the food. We hope to be back in the future to celebrate another special occasion! read more

Zynodoa - Valentine's Day 2022 Chef's Tasting Menu - New American Near Me - Staunton, Virginia

Different flavors based on the season and ambiance was certainly chill vibe. Our servers both times were very versed and informed on pairings. read more

I was privileged to dine at Zynodoa last weekend. Everything was incredible from the start: the cocktails we had to the appetizers to dessert. We shared an order of the fried oysters and the blue crab fritters which were both superb (and I didn't even like oysters until these). I had the grilled Atlantic swordfish (pictured) and it was perfectly cooked, the sides were delicious. My boyfriend had the pork duo and raved about it. The cheese pumpkin cake was melt in your mouth yummy. Moist and flavorful. We were not disappointed; it was our first date and Zynodoa made it spectacular. Highly recommend if you are in Staunton, VA. read more

Zynodoa - Grilled Atlantic Salmon - New American Near Me - Staunton, Virginia

The food here is fantastic! The warm beet salad is the best salad I have ever had. It's a must try. The flavors mingle so well together. My pork dinner was incredible. The pork was juicy and the vegetables were delicious. It was the best sweet potato I have ever had. I'm a serious cook, I'm really impressed with how they prepared that sweet potato. That was the first time I had it that way. It was caramelized and just delicious. Those flavors complemented the pork perfectly. Paired it with a lovely white wine. They have a nice selection and the waiter is quite knowledgeable. I was impressed. The service was excellent and we were not rushed. This is probably the best restaurant in Stanton. read more

Some restaurants are just great with their food, service and ambiance and this place epitomizes it all in their setting. Been here a long time ago and was taken aback by how they were running their business. Really good, surely recommend. read more

Went for a birthday dinner. They made special menus for us. Food was delicious and plated very well.

Horrible service. I called to ask about the wait time and they said it would be a while inside but that the outside dining was first come, first served. They also said no one was outside currently. We walked the one block over to go get a table, there was one couple outside, the rest of the four tables were open. We asked to sit outside and the hostess said the earliest would be around 8:30, when I said I was told just a few minutes earlier over the phone that it was first come first serve, I was told someone was coming and using all of the remaining tables. I said again how I was told just a few minutes earlier it was first come first serve and the hostess grabbed another staff member who said that someone was coming at 6:15 (it was 5:50 at that point) and they could seat us outside at 7:30. It would have been too cold to sit outside at that point. We were trying to celebrate a birthday and were ready to pay quite a bit, but I guess they don't want our patronage. Word to the staff: don't lie to potential customers over the phone. read more

Service was great, ambiance was nice and quiet, but sadly the food was overrated and overpriced. Maybe I'm too picky, but when I go out to eat, I want food to be better than I can make it at home. We got several appetizers that had the same mayo-based sauce in every one of them in different forms. I just expected the "nicest" restaurant in Staunton to be more noteworthy. Menu didn't seem too unique. Biggest disappointment was the tomahawk my husband and I shared. Cook was fine, but there was no hard sear, and because of that, no lasting flavor. That was such a big disappointment! read more

This was our third time dining here while visiting Staunton over the last several years. The food was quite good except the skirt steak which was served essentially well done rather than medium as requested and was a bit tough. The server, whom we had experienced previously, was somewhat abrupt, not exactly rude, but definitely has an edge to him. We had cocktails, salads and entrees. I was considering enjoying a coffee after the meal however we were given our check before I could do so. I decided against it given his rushed attitude and was done with that kind of service. The atmosphere is nice, comfortable, enjoyable space. The service is the reason I am unlikely to dine here again. read more

Superb! Zynodoa delivered on all aspects: food quality, taste, presentation, atmosphere, wait staff, and music, so this is a must restaurant for foodies and refined taste. The porterhouse steak was outstanding, and it could feed two adults easily, with possibly a little leftover for take home, while the Achaval Ferrer Malbec wine was remarkably robust, and the booth seating provided a nice measure of privacy and quiet. Zynodoa is top of my Staunton restaurant list, guaranteed. read more

Amazing find in Staunton Virginia right in the middle of town this owner knows how to own a restaurant and run two 2 , at the same time blue point and this one where amazing restaurants the sat in the window very very safe covid19 Clean environment Ok You have to try the Tomahawk steak it is the best tamaques stake in the US and I've been to many steakhouses as CIA graduate The advertiser all the way through to the desert were amazing great price good quality fun time definitely definitely a place to go back to We ordered soup appetiser main course and dessert all were amazing.. read more

Zynodoa - Tomahawk ribeye 30 oz ounces of solid flavour - New American Near Me - Staunton, Virginia

We stopped here by pure chance and were surprised to find this gem of a place. We had some of the best food ever here - and I don't say that lightly! I love that they source food locally but clearly, the chefs also know what they are doing! Don't know when we'll be back but it's on our list of favorite places! read more

This could very well be on the top 3 best meals of my life!!! We made reservations for a Thursday night for our anniversary and it was amazing. Everything. I had the chef's menu and my husband ordered from the traditional menu. We indulged in the cornbread, scallops, steak, desserts. Every bite was divine. We visited Zynodoa while on a weekend getaway, and this restaurant alone is worth visiting Staunton for. read more

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It's a great choice for fine cuisine. The hostess was our server and she was great. We went pre show and the place was busy mid week

This is hands down one of the best place to eat in Staunton. It is a bit on the pricey side but totally worth it. The food, service and ambiance are all perfect! read more

Zynodoa - Housemade Spaghetti with Brown Butter Sage Cream - New American Near Me - Staunton, Virginia

My wife and I went in for Sunday lunch, and my were we pleased. Fantastic wine and food, great staff, and a wonderful ambience. It was brunch, and they had specials, one of which was Biscuits and Gravy, I had the crab cakes. Both were wonderful. They source their country ham locally, and it is superior. You definitely should stop in. read more

The tomahawk steak, chefs menu, fried oysters were amazing! The sides were a little small since the steak is for two, I feel sides should be for two. The only thing I didn't love was the olive oil cake dessert but the chocolate marshmallow tort with miso caramel and the dessert from chefs menu with blueberry mousse and macadamia nut crumble was phenomenal read more

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While in Staunton for a business trip, I found Zynodoa thanks to Yelp! Not only was the food phenomenal, but the service was amazing too! As a party of 1, I expected to be seated at the bar... but the hostess gave me my own table in the cute nook near the window (which was super comfortable by the way-- with lots of cushions and pillows)! My server was very helpful when it was time to order. He recommended a mocktail for me, which was delicious-- not too sweet and very refreshing. He then recommended a seasonal salad with peaches, the chicken (which is a specialty at the restaurant), and a panna cotta for dessert which was one of the best things I have ever tasted. Everything was wonderful and I made sure to thank my server for making excellent recommendations. Be sure to visit Zynodoa when you're in town... you won't regret it! read more

The best meal I've had an all of Virginia! Great service, extraordinary flavors amazing bar, I can't wait to come back.

This was a lovely dinner. It was by far the nicest meal that we have had on our cross country trip. We were fortunate that they had a last minute cancellation so they were able to seat us on a busy Saturday night. The place was hopping. The bar is pretty and busy. They have several booths and tables. The ambience is cozy and chic. The menu changes daily depending on what is available locally. It was hard to choose what to order. There are lots of good and tasty options; always a good sign. They have both a la carte and a reasonable tasting menu with wine pairings. We opted for a la carte because of my allergies and Larry's food preferences. Larry started with the beet salad and I had the fig and goat cheese salad with figs. Both were fresh and excellent. For entrees, we shared the swordfish and chicken. The swordfish was perfectly cooked. It came with a savory bread pudding of sorts with mushrooms. The chicken was brined and tender, and served with delicious grits. Desserts were good. We had a peach trifle with granola and a lemon and blueberry cake. I also enjoyed my Pedro Jimenez and presecco cocktail. Simon is a masterful and attentive server. He checked in st every course and totally understood my allergies. He was also just nice and a pleasure. What an asset to this place. I love this place. read more

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