Meh. Poor service. Food was okay - bread was cold, hush puppies were mediocre, entrees were okay. Nothing too impressive. Maybe just an off night. read more

I've dined here on many occasions and it's never disappointed. The food is ridiculous and the ambiance is casual and comfortable. It's not an "in and out" kind of place, so come prepared to enjoy some time with your table. Love love love this place. read more

Excellent food, cool vibe. They are open to accommodating dietary needs, too! You just have to take on the responsibility of articulating those needs beforehand. I get the feeling they have a broad collection of servers, from very seasoned to quite new and it's a bummer to see reviews drop because some of front of house is struggling as they develop a reliable team. You can get a preview of the kitchen through a window inside and let me tell you those chefs are busting their asses to get food out efficiently and it seems unfair to their teamwork and efforts when there is not necessarily a lack of communication so much as comprehension and following through in order to help the cogs of the machine run more smoothly. If you can find some patience for the less experienced workers, the Executive Chef, Mary Ellen, seems like an incredibly special woman who looks out for her employees and wouldn't want guests to leave with a misunderstanding. I encourage you to take the time to visit Alma Bea and approach the dining experience with a little more compassion. read more

Went for a take out the food was awesome, and the service was def a 10, I owe myself a sit down meal, looks like great atmosphere and great time for a sit down meal. read more

So I am typing this as I sit here with my wife and youngest son. I am finding myself being overcome with a sense of sadness knowing that with every bite, this amazing meal draws closer to its end. The food is simply amazing. The staff is fantastic and conversational even on a busy night. I'd been to this place in its previous iteration as a bar and restaurant and find the current set up almost unrecognizable in comparison, so clean, so nice, truly a beautiful building with its exposed timber construction. All of this said, this is food my father cooked, and it's better than what he would make. You cannot possibly regret a trip here. read more

ALMA BEA IS THE BEST. Alma Bea is PRECISELY what Shepherdstown needs. This town can be quick to judge new spots and paint them in a negative light, but we always prefer check them out first-hand. Our first trip there? Incredible food, amazing drinks, and the bartender suggested a new drink (the Betty White) that we liked so much, we immediately sent some to friends at another table. 2nd trip: My wife and I, and family. 2 kids and 2 older folks among them...one with a broken leg and a wheelchair. We had a reservation because of the wheelchair, and they seated us right away. Our server was prompt and attentive, and again...the food? The very reason for being there? It spoke for itself. It would have delicious absolutely anywhere, but here? The ambience...The artwork on the walls, the lamps above the bar, the blinking lights when a train goes by, the classic fire king and cast iron dish ware, even the chairs and tables. No details missed, so you know...the most important detail? The food? You know it's going to be right. Every visit since has been an improvement. We absolutely adore this place, and it's such a relief to finally have a spot...with warm people, killer food, and an inviting atmosphere, right here in town...right around the corner. They nailed it. If you still have doubts? Stop by, walk in, make a left...and buy a pot pie out of their freezer full of pre-made meals. Take it home and try it for yourself. Just try it. You'll see. read more

Our experience was such a disappointment. Esthetically the place is marvelous. That's where the positive comments end. Sunday is apparently brunch only. The only egg option is quiche. I ordered the quiche which was over cooked on the outside and barely tepid on the inside. It came with soup that had so much sodium in it I wondered if someone accidentally spilled salt into it. Our table of three waited just under an hour for our meals. The water bottles look frosted on the outside but the water was tepid. The texture of the French Toast was undercooked. The sweet tea tasted old. And they were out of sweet potato fries even though they are only open for three hours. To top it off there was an out of tune piano singer who had the volume way too high. It was impossible to carry a conversation. I have to wonder if the people who left 5 star reviews were even in the same place I was. Will not return or recommend. read more

I've eaten at Alma Bea twice and the food was amazing both times. We had hush puppies, prime rib, mac and cheese, Appalachian chop salad and rockfish. Everything was well prepared and delicious. Dessert was equally delightful. We had the pawpaw poundcake and hot honey ice cream; I'd never tasted pawpaw before and loved the floral flavor of the fruit. We live in northern VA and are already planning a day trip back to Shepherdstown primarily so we can dine at Alma Bea. read more

Food was great, service was bad. Waited nearly an hour for food after waiting almost 20 for drinks. Was hard watching tables that came in after us getting drinks and food. Waitress ignored our table to the point I had to walk in her path to ask her if she could get an eta on our food. We will eat their food again because it is delicious but we'll eat it as takeaway because of the service this time and previous. read more

I've heard good things about this restaurant, visited for the first time, sept 22. It was brunch with a party of six. It was not a busy as I'd heard it could be. Most of my group were pleased with their choices, one said 'so so'. I ordered the pancakes, and out came a plate of three nice-sized cakes. First thing I noticed was that they were just a little warmer than room temperature. Then, trying for a first bite, I couldn't get my fork through the top pancake. I lifted the cake with the fork and found that it was burned black on the bottom. If the waitress had come around to check on our food she could have made the situation right, but she never came. The other two cakes were not burned, but they were very dry, and the amount of maple syrup that came on the plate was very small and no match for the dry pancakes. It wasn't until the waitress came with the check that I was able to point out the problem. To their credit, they did not charge me for my food. read more

I attended a 40th birthday celebration and we chose off the menu. Light Music was in the background as I entered the parking lot and the style of music remained as I walked in on the late side. The waitress approached me and I asked what the favorite foods are. "The crab cake". It was wonderful! Full of crab and very little filler. It came on a soft bun with a great sauce, a tomato, wonderfully done sliced potatoes and a small salad all on the same plate. Their items (main meals) on the menu generally start at about $25 but well worth the splurge. They have creative appetizers as well, including shrimp and vegetarian items. People even complimented the drinks, including a non alcoholic lemonade, especially for the kids! We ended the celebration with a tasty chocolate cake and light chocolate frosting! Yum! It was also a very roomy restaurant where this party of about 30 could be placed in a separate area and have plenty of room to move about. The place is also handicap accessible with a ramp. It was a wonderful evening! read more

Highly recommend! The cocktails, food, desserts, and service were incredible. This place is beautiful and the staff is so friendly. Super fun environment for family or friends we will return! Recommend making a reservation, though we got lucky and didn't have to wait. This place fills up fast! read more

We chose this place to gather on the eve of my mother's funeral, on a Saturday night, and called ahead. We were unexpectedly hit with a $20 additional charge PER PERSON, although we were out on the porch, having drinks and appetizers. We only found this out because our guests mentioned it after they paid their bill. It was very embarrassing for us. My warning to you is if you have a group, make sure you have a written contract beforehand, stipulating any extra charges. Also, this place is not prepared for groups of people standing and having drinks, so do not choose this place for that sort of gathering. The waiter was terrific, the food and drinks were not objectionable, but dealing with the owner afterwards was very much so. read more

Wanting to get away for Christmas, we did an overnight at the Bavarian Inn Christmas Eve, and made a reservation at Alma Bea's...what a wonderful experience! Service was impeccable, interior decor just so warm and inviting of what we suppose was an industrial bldg related to the adjacent rail tracks, and the amazingly creative and uniquely seasoned dishes on the menu were all just fantastic! Wish they had a true website vice only FB, as I'd really enjoy learning more about the "flavors and heritage of Appalachia", menus, etc. Additionally, staff sensed our main course was taking longer than expected, so we were served 2 incredible appetizers gratis, which was not necessary at all! They also wished us a Happy Holiday by again gifting us with a loaf of their home baked pumpkin white chocolate bread, which was amazing! Although not terribly far from where we live, we will most assuredly be making plans to return to Alma Bea's in the near future. Highly recommended!! read more

Very good restaurant for the area! The drinks and dessert were fantastic! I had the brisket with Mac and cheese & mashed potatoes which was very tasty. I recommend making reservations in advance to get a table! read more

Good food and drinks! The old fashioned is terrific. The staff is very friendly and i recommend getting dessert as well! We will definitely be back soon. read more

Absolutely amazing meal that was the highlight of the trip for several of us. We came for lunch and we're very impressed, would love the chance to try their dinner menu as well. read more

What a hidden gem! If you're going to Antietam battle field and want a nice sit down lunch.... Amazing. I had the quiche with morels and ramps... Excellent. Then the Appalachian salad as the starter was perfect. Just the right amount of dressing my sister had the half smoked chicken. That was cooked to perfection. The corn bread was great too. Worth going out of your way!!!! Peg and Linda, Pittsburgh pa read more

The best place in the area. Quality food at a great price for what you get. Absolutely, delicious!!

This was our second time having dinner here the food was great both times the people there are friendly we will definitely come back.

My wife and I had our wedding reception hosted at Alma Bea and they were absolutely amazing! The food was absolutely fantastic, the hosts were quick to swap between meals, and the staff was on point with their service. Would reccomend to anyone for regular meals or hosted events! read more

A great spot! We will definitely be sure to go here again when we re-visit this area. Staff is very friendly from the moment you walk in. Great cocktails, delicious food, unique menu, very well priced. Highly recommend the Appalachian salad. Also got the prime rib and chicken pot pie. All fantastic. read more

My husband and I went to Alma Bea for a late dinner on a Friday night. We started with their old fashioned which was delicious, pepperoni roll starter, crab cakes and fried green tomatoes, and the smoked chicken flat bread. Everything was exceptional. The pepperoni roll was cooked perfectly and had whole pepperoni sticks inside. The crab cake was very little filler, well seasoned, and the fried green tomatoes were crispy and well paired with the rémoulade! The flat bread wasn't your ordinary flat bread but was gourmet with mushrooms and Brie topped with fresh arugula. Every course was well thought out!! The service was great, the atmosphere and decor was unique and cohesive. I love the chicken wire in glass dividers that called back to when the space was the feed store Southern States and the ceramic vases on the tables with fresh flowers. This is hands down the best place to eat in town right now! Keep doing what you're doing and keeping that menu fresh! We will definitely be back!! read more

For the second time in as many weeks, we tried Alma Bea and have to say that we're excited to make our 3rd visit. They're located in the old Town Run space in Shepherdstown and have a very well put together 'Tapa-lachain' menu that is far from ordinary. I love the ambiance of the building, situated just off of an active train crossing in what must have been an old freight transfer. It feels very much like the river arts district in Asheville with a hipster sort of vibe. Starting with the drinks menu, it isn't vast, but well selected to include local taps, canned craft beer, wines and some nice bourbon choices, more than just the standards and some reasonably priced. They do a good job with cocktails and even take the time to add smoke if desired. Before our meal, we were served complimentary breads - corn, biscuit, pepperoni baguette - w/pimento cheese. For our small plate we had crawfish hush puppies and old bay aioli - one of the most unique takes on hush puppies that I think I've had. For our large plates we had the rockfish and the brisket. The fish was served with corn succotash and spaetzle. The brisket had the perfect amount of smoke and was well paired with greens and smoked cheddar mashed potatoes. I love the uniqueness of this place and all of the unexpected food combinations on the menu. If you're looking for a change, this is highly recommended, these guys definitely have a passion for creating unique food combinations. read more

Alma Bea - Smoked Brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Shepherdstown, West Virginia

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The food was delicious. The appetizers were so so. However, we waited more than 2 hours to get our food AFTER we we had ordered. No compensation was provided for this ridiculous wait. This was my second visit. read more

First off . . . Don't let the rustic exterior scare you off. Once you're past the gravel parking and somewhat unattractive exterior (it looks like an old warehouse), you will open the door to a beautiful space. And, the smell coming from their smoker is amazing. We did enjoy their covered patio (in the rain), even though we were really tempted to stay inside due to the above. We started by sharing the Appalachian Chop Salad which was really interesting and tasty. Next, we shared the Mountain Spaetzle which was also really, really good. Finally, she had the Smoked Prime Rib and I had the Smoked Brisket. The smoke in the Prime Rib was subtle, just enough to add additional flavor. I cut the Brisket with my fork, it was that tender and loaded with flavor. This will definitely be a go-to for us going forward. BTW - great pics on their Yelp page. read more

Went in here on Saturday night and everything was amazing!! Ordered the hot cider cocktail, my boyfriend and sister both had the Betty white. Strong cocktails that still taste amazing. Started with the pepperoni roll for an appetizer, my boyfriend had the half roast chicken while I had the chicken pot pie. Everything was delicious and freshly made. They keep you happy with a bread basket for the table as well as excellent service. Chelsea was checking on us all night and gave great recommendations. Wonderful addition to shepherdstown. read more

Ok people, this restaurant is LEGIT! We had catfish sliders, bacon wrapped pork tenderloin, an extra side of their spaetzle. Then we had the Tabasco pie and PB pie for desert. The staff and restaurant atmosphere was second to none. Wow, perfect for Shepherdstown. read more

Leveled up homespun Appalachian goodness! Specialty soups apps, mains, and cocktails too.

Excellent food, beautiful restaurant and attentive, friendly staff. This restaurant is a real gem, and the prices are very reasonable. We'll definitely be back! read more

A wonderfully quirky spot; great vibe. The owners did a fantastic job redecorating the interior, which had been a kind of tired, grotty spot previously. But now--oh my, it's rather elegant--without being pretentious. And the menu! We stopped in for a couple drinks and appetizer and stayed for dinner. The Ram burger appetizer with bacon and quail egg on a brioche bun--delicious. Followed by the trout and rockfish. Portions were perfect -- not too overwhelming, not too scant. And the sauce on the trout was exquisite. We plan to make Alma Bea our go-to stop for Friday night dinner. Just a lovely place, with a gracious staff and a modest but impressive menu. read more

Alma Bea is the perfect mix of a casual atmosphere with truly great food. The menu rotates on a regular basis and it's clear that a great deal of thought goes into what to include each week. It's not often that you find a place where there are more interesting things on the menu than you can try in one sitting, but this is one of those places. From the mix of southern and Appalachian inspired dishes to a really fun cocktail menu (try the Betty White and the Old Fashioned), this isn't just another restaurant, this is somewhere special. read more