The Virginia Piedmont offers the ultimate
in good taste! From locally grown produce served in the finest
restaurants to award-winning wines, you’ll see why our reputation as a culinary mecca
continues to grow. From classic, family-owned diners to four-star
experiences known the world over, there’s a restaurant to
tempt every palate. Thomas Jefferson’s lifelong passion
was to produce wine in Virginia to rival the finest vintages of
Europe. His dream lives on today in the exceptional vineyards and
wineries of the Piedmont. The area is also home to two very
unique distilleries certain to raise your spirits! What
are you hungry for? Whatever it is, you’ll find it here!
Diners and Delis
photo credit: Lori Sorrentino |
If
a quick bite is all you need, satisfy your hunger and step back
in time at classic restaurants like Culpeper’s Baby Jim’s
Snack Bar or Frost Café or Warrenton’s Frost Diner
a historic silver diner. For a truly unique experience,
stop in at Amissville’s Epicurious Cow for the best in
conventional and organic foods or Rae’s in Sperryville,
for gourmet sandwiches down-home burgers, salads and some of
the best soups on the planet. Jimmie’s Market on Main Street
in Warrenton uses the freshest meats for their delicious sandwiches,
and don’t miss the local favorite The Farmer’s Wife
in Remington, where you can enjoy delicious deli classics, buy
fresh homemade breads, pies and other baked goods, as well as
bulk organic foods and snacks. For great barbecue, ribs,
hamburgers and a mountain of fries the whole family will enjoy,
try the Pig-N-Steak in Madison. Also in Madison, savor delicious
sandwiches at the Piedmont Deli and great local cuisine in a
casual atmosphere at the Mountaineer Café. In Orange,
the Lunch Box Grill or Jean’s Café offer simple
and good food.
For more information:
Casual and Ethnic Fare
For a delicious meal in a
relaxed setting, the region’s casual
restaurants and cafes are just what you’re looking for. Culpeper
offers a culinary trip around the world. Some of the best Mexican,
Thai, Japanese, Peruvian, Italian, and casual American dining are
found right here. In the Town of Washington, enjoy good 'ole southern
hospitality and down-home cooking at The Country Café. In
Flint Hill, the Griffin Tavern welcomes you with excellent food
and European beers on tap and in Upperville, the Hunter’s
Head Tavern offers a wide range of beers on tap and good food.
Graves Mountain Lodge in Syria provides abundant portions of home-cooked
food in a casual setting at the foot of the mountains. In Warrenton,
try the Italian/Mediterranean fare at Café Torino or enjoy
live music and the cozy atmosphere of Molly’s Irish Pub.
If you have a taste for the Far East, check out Faang Thai Restaurant & Bar.
At Mojitos and Tapas you’ll feel like you’re eating
in a colorful Cuban courtyard, and just down the road is another
local Mexican favorite, El Agave. In Orange, the Great Wall serves
traditional Chinese dishes and Mario’s Pizzeria and Restaurant
dishes up pizza and other tasty basic food.
For casual dining:
Elegant and European Cuisine
photo credit: Inn at Little Washington |
Some of the finest restaurants in the world lie in these foothills.
Do not miss the chance to experience dining at its finest, where
a meal becomes a memory that will last a lifetime.
Known the world over, The Inn at Little Washington has become an
international culinary shrine. Chef Patrick O'Connell's approach
to cooking, while paying homage to the tenets of Classical French
Cuisine, reflects a belief in "the cuisine of today" — healthy,
eclectic, imaginative, unrestricted by ethnic boundaries and always
growing. The Inn is the first establishment in the Mobil Travel
Guide's history to receive five stars for its restaurant and its
accommodations, the first inn ever to receive AAA's highest accolade,
the five Diamond Award, for both food and accommodations and the
recipient of five James Beard Awards.
photo credit: Orange County Tourism and Visitors Bureau |
Other
exceptional restaurants are scattered throughout The Virginia Piedmont,
surrounded by the fertile fields that provide many of their freshest
ingredients. In Culpeper, Foti’s, It’s
About Thyme, Lucio, Hazel River, and the Inn at Kelly’s Ford
offer the finest cuisine and warm hospitality. Diners at the Flint
Hill Public House will enjoy entrées featuring seasonal
and regional foods, simply cooked and brilliantly accented. Sperryville’s
Thornton River Grille serves up light lunches on the way to the
trails and elegant dinners in a casual, comfortable atmosphere. In
Madison, the Bavarian Chef’s outstanding German cooking attracts
patrons from all over the region, or enjoy a sumptuous 5-course
meal at the historic Inn at Meander Plantation. In Orange,
after you’ve sipped your fill at the Barboursville Winery,
be sure to sit down to a delicious meal at their restaurant Palladios
or try Pomme in Gordonsville for a gourmet dining experience. The
Rail Stop restaurant, tucked away in an old train depot in the
quaint town of The Plains in Fauquier County, is a long-standing
favorite. Girasole, also located in The Plains, offers delicious
rustic Italian fare. In Old Town Warrenton, enjoy a gourmet
meal paired with your preferred wine from the extensive wine bar
at Iron Bridge Wine Company. For elegant American cuisine,
The Crescendo Bistro sets the tone for an intimate dinner on Main
Street in Old Town Warrenton, and just a block away in an old train
depot is Claire’s at the Depot.
Links:
Coffee, Tea and Sweet Treats
There’s always room for something
sweet or a smooth cup o’joe.
Wherever you find yourself in the region, you won’t have
to look far to find delicious treats! In Sperryville, Central Coffee
Roasters you can enjoy a freshly brewed cup made from Arabica beans
from small farms and co-operatives throughout the world's coffee
belt. Raven’s Nest in Culpeper is a great place for freshly
baked pastry and beverage as you take a break from shopping. Have
a tea party and shop for antiques at Crest Hill Antiques & Tea
Room in The Plains or at Culpeper’s Tea, Lace and Roses,
where you can even dress up in their feather boas and hats! In
Madison, Yoder’s Country Food Market bakes breads, pastries
and other treats, and Mom’s Apple Pie can satisfy your sweet
tooth with homemade sweets and coffee on Main Street in Warrenton.
Sometimes a nice cold ice cream cone is what you need and Double
D’s
Ice Cream Parlor in Orange or Carousel Frozen Treats in Warrenton
will definitely leave you satisfied.
Links:
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