El Maguey

Truly the best burger and fries I've ever had!!! Service was great, clean conditions. Worth every…read morecalorie!

WHAT A GREAT BURGER!!! Kept seeing the hype on the northern Virginia foodies fb group and it did…read morenot disappoint. It was jam packed but the line moves quickly and they give you a number to find you once you place your order. Onion rings were delicious! Hand cut fries better then five guys, that burger my oh my so so good!! My fiance liked the chicken sandwich more then the burger I mean everything we had was just so good and worth the hour drive

Twix ice cream

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Outside

C&C Frozen Treats

4.4(105 reviews)

•$

Great Italian Ice with funky decor ( jukebox and Elvis photos) . Will definitely return next time…read morein town

I really enjoyed the ice cream at C&C in part because it was very creamy. The parlor has somewhat…read moreof that old fashion feel with the decor. Also, an ice store is very much needed on Main Street so it is a great addition. Service was just ok as the scooper had an attitude and apparently did not want to work that day. Otherwise I would give C&C five stars.

Fun bench out front

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Melania's Gourmet

4.6(41 reviews)

This place is truly a hidden gem! Who would expect to find a European-style bakery right in the…read moreheart of Front Royal? They have a great selection of pastries and sweets, and the coffee is surprisingly good too. You can tell they're really serious about making a good cup of coffee. Definitely coming back and 100% recommended! P.S. They're dog-friendly too, with plenty of patio seating, which is always a big plus!

Stopped by Melania's Gourmet in Front Royal before heading to the National Park and wow - what a…read moretreat!. First of all, Front Royal is such a cute town, and this place fit right in. I got an iced Turkish rose pistachio latte (less sweet since the flavor combination sounded pretty indulgent) and it was absolutely incredible. It came with cream on top and was honestly one of the best coffee drinks I've had in a long time. I also grabbed an almond croissant, and it may have been the best one I've ever had. Exactly what I needed on a tough hike. The inside feels like a cozy living room with tons of live plants and so many cute little corners to sit and relax. Everything was spotless, the staff were super friendly, and the whole place just had such a welcoming vibe. This added a serious "umph" to our hiking day. Highly recommend if you're in the area! Wish I could give this place more than 5 stars!

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Down Home Comfort Bakery

4.5(66 reviews)

Stopped in to grab a muffin for our toddler. The staff was very friendly and even warmed the muffin…read moreup for us. The blueberry muffin was definitely toddler approved. Nice quick stop with welcoming service.

This hidden gem is right Main Street in Front Royal. Nestled in a building that has a brewery, we…read morestopped in after enjoy some lunch and beer. The wonders were very generous and helpful. They offer local drinks, preserves, jams, desserts of all sorts, and homemade sauces. Honestly, it was really hard to choose something to try. The owners spent a few minutes with us goin over their menu and everything looked SO good. We settled on the Strawberry Shortcake and the owner's own concoction the Nutty Professor. The short cake was ALL homemade (the sauce, whipped cream, and sponge cake). The cake was very light and refreshing and not too sweet. This was HANDS down the best Strawberry shortcake I've ever had. We ate the entire thing in the car. The nutty professor is very unique and SO good. It's very rich but is a cross between a peanut cup and a snickers combined. It's very good but only take a couple of bites at a time We will definitely be back if we are ever in the area. A must try if you're local or visiting!

Coffee menu

Strawberry Shortcake

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Down Home Comfort Bakery

The Apple House

4.0(651 reviews)

4.7 mi

Cute little shop and restaurant with apple cider donuts…read more They have some outdoor seating and indoor seating. The food is classic breakfast and diner food. There is a long line to order food but there is also a second check out line that moves faster if you're just buying drinks and donuts. Lots of cute stuff around outside to look at too. Friendly staff.

This has been on my radar for a while to do after a hike and I finally made it! My boyfriend and I…read morecame during the weekend for a late dinner. There was plenty of parking. I agree with others that it's somewhat set up like a Cracker Barrel - a combination of store and restaurant. There are three areas you can eat - outside on the patio, on the bar side (tons of seating of different variety- bench, seats, and couches), and the non-bar side (seating is less and a bit more tight). There's lots of interesting decor and history here. It seems like a nice place to hang out during the colder months when the fireplace gets going. Ordering was super quick and you don't have to sit on the side you ordered from. Just let them know where you will be at and they will come find you (listen for your number). I had the apple cider and I was pleasantly surprised. All the Apple cider I have had is non-alcoholic and I thought that was what I was drinking until my boyfriend set me straight. It was so yummy and I couldn't taste the alcohol at all (my kind of drink)! The ID check should have clued me in...but I thought it was because my boyfriend also ordered an alcoholic drink. My boyfriend ordered the Mushroom Swiss Burger with Mac & Cheese while I had the Brisket Grilled Cheese with Bacon Ranch Potato Salad. We also ordered a dozen Apple Butter. Everything tasted good and there was a decent amount of brisket in my sandwich. Even that I recommend letting some pieces with the bbq sauce mix in with the potato salad. It makes it even better! The donuts were good too, but I recommend taking them home and popping them into the microwave for a bit. Then put a scoop of coffee almond ice cream on it. All in all, I definitely wouldn't mind coming back here again after a hike.

As we were there for breakfast, we didn't try the Pub, but it did look VERY nice.

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Cute pig looking smoker outside

Main Street Daily Grind

3.9(129 reviews)

•$

I really enjoyed their Mac n cheese.. I'm not a huge fan of Mac n cheese and rarely orders it, but…read moretheirs taste so good..

Stopped in on a cool and cloudy Monday morning in May, and enjoyed my latte. Nice space, only a few…read morepatrons at the nice, soothing folk music playing. The thing that put me off was the aggressive signage everywhere prohibiting this and that. No pets, restrooms for customers only, tables reserved for 2 or more customers, no outside food, etc. I'm sympathetic to business owners trying to prevent customers from taking advantage in various ways, but these kinds of things set an unwelcoming tone that annoys me. If you don't show a little confidence that your customers are good people, they will feel your judgment.

Inside

Caprese Salad

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B&L Kustard

3.3(17 reviews)

0.2 mi

•$

B&L Custard is a welcome change from the normal ice cream and frozen yogurt joints that you may be…read moreused to. They are located nearby to the highly rated Spelunker's in Front Royal. Well...one evening we decided to try the custard at both establishments, back to back, and rate them. My girl and I both agreed that the custard at B&L had a better taste and consistency. Certainly a very unofficial test, but both of us were adamant that B&L's custard was superior. So...if you want one of Spelunker's famous burgers and fries, absolutely go there...but stop at B&L for your custard dessert fix. And it is never so incredibly crowded there that you can't get on the lot, as it is at Spelunker's.

Had to stop in the visitor's center in Front Royal to find the custard my wife and I so needed late…read morein the afternoon after hours of driving through the mountains. They pointed us here just off 522 near the historic district. The parking is a little funky here and hard to describe. I can see chaos ensuing on a typical warm summer evening but we were here well before dusk and the only ones at that. The server was friendly and talkative as we approached the bright white trailer to place our order. We each got a cone, mine vanilla and my wife's swirl. She surprisingly didn't get her's dipped in chocolate. Pro tip: the small size is plenty big for most mortals. Our custard was satisfying and definitely hit the spot. They have some picnic tables and umbrellas to sit and enjoy your frozen delights while people watching others trying to get in and out of the narrow one way parking lot. Lastly, you might need some patience turning left out of there to get back to 522 but after a nice cone or shake you should be plenty chill to make it easy.

Small size is big enough when ordering.

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Wicked storm brewing and the customers are sticking it out!

DL Campus Coffee & Ice Cream on Main

4.8(34 reviews)

The coffee shop is a really cute place to get some work done. We ordered a matcha and chai tea with…read morepistachio milk. We asked for less sugar, and it was nice that they were able to customize it. We also ordered some ice cream, which was also pretty good. The shop was a little cold and there was pretty loud Christian music playing on the tv so that can make it hard to work there. Overall though, this was a solid place to sit down with a wide variety of drink and snack options -- they even have food like fries and sandwiches based on what I heard other people order.

We stopped here on our way back to DC from Shenandoah. Very spacious and LOTS of options for your…read morecaffeinated heart's desire. I opted for my go-to hazelnut latte and my boyfriend had a mocha. Both were pretty good. It was a Sunday morning, not too terribly busy. The cashier and barista were friendly and our drinks were made fast. They were great pick-me-ups for our drive home.

DL Campus Coffee & Ice Cream on Main - A tasty Club sandwich with crispy bacon for the win. This is only half. A cozy spot for lunch and a Vanilla Cinnamon Frappe.

A tasty Club sandwich with crispy bacon for the win. This is only half. A cozy spot for lunch and a Vanilla Cinnamon Frappe.

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5 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Manuel G.

0

2

0

2 years ago

So today, july 14 this place i stop by with my family, and their first question was how manny ppl, and is 20 their answer was ya can't bcus tables is up to 4 ppl x table he suggested not been polite u guys can go to the other restaurant where all ya family can seat all together bcus here you guys cant.. 1-the service or whoever is incharge at this time wasn't polite and disrespectful 2- i have never get this type of service on any of the restaurants i have visited in the DMV 3- this place need to work on the way the treat the ppl In my opinion i not recommend this place and the management will need take actions, of it and replace the person who was or who said that.. this is unprofessional,disrespectful. And clearly if u work for costumer service he don't deserve to be placed on taking care of costumers. Management should contact me in order to explained details of this whole situation but my coment and my opinion should be taken action read more

Amy D.

0

1

0

10 years ago

Delicious, affordable, authentic Mexican food!! So happy to have found this little Mexican jewel. Food was hot, plates even hotter. We are fairly new to the area, I'm from TX and a little hard-to-please when it comes to Mexican, not just anything will do! But, this is the place we will return to for great Mexican food, so happy I nearly cried! read more

Larry C.

0

1

0

9 years ago

My wife and I enjoyed friendly service and excellent food. We had the fajita for two and it came quickly and was delicious. We certainly highly recommend their Mexican food. read more

Marigrace D.

0

1

0

10 years ago

The atmosphere was friendly, the food came out very fast,the food was excellent and well priced, the service was perfect and management was more then welcoming. read more

bonnie p.

85

8

4

8 years ago

Great dinner, great service, great prices, great atmosphere. One of our favorite family restaurants

El Maguey - mexican - Updated September 2026

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Los Potrillos

3.9

(175 reviews)

Good food, good service, and plenty of parking. The food was very hot and the steak in the…read morequesadilla was much higher quality than most Mexican restaurants.

I was disappointed in my recent visit to Los Potrillos. This was one of my favorite spots to stop…read moreon road trips... but it's gone downhill and fast. For starters, the bathroom had 1.5/2 broken toilets and the floor was flooded with mystery liquid... I could barely make it to the sink without almost slipping. It also smelt horrible and the bathroom was legitimately falling apart. Now onto the service... it took them 30 minutes to take our order (and it wasn't that crowded). The server was not friendly either. However, since they were out of guac she did give us free queso which was very nice. The chips and salsa were excellent, as was the Mexican rice. My $15 grilled chicken quesadilla on the other hand... was sub par and small (see photos). The grilled chicken itself was somewhat stiff. Some pieces had only chicken... others only cheese. This was discomforting. Where is the fusion of flavors? Anyways, this is not the restaurant that I remember.

Mi Ranchito

4.4

(7 reviews)

WHAT A FIND! Tucked next to a gas station on Route 11 in Stephens City, this little gem ("since…read more2019") has a pleasant interior with nice murals and both tables and booths. We had tostados -- an appetizer that makes a nice light lunch -- and a "chicken salad" that is really a generous wreath of chicken strips (unbreaded) glazed with taste sauce and sprinkled with queso fresco. A bargain! Can't wait to go back...

While it's often talked about like a Mexican restaurant, it didn't really feel like one once there…read morethe menu and focus seemed much more centered around pupusas than traditional Mexican. I ended up getting a burrito. The food itself was okay, but nothing that really stood out. The burrito came with rice and beans, which honestly were probably the best part of the meal. Everything else was definitely edible, just lacking that flavor punch you usually expect when you're craving Mexican food. Cleanliness was another downside. The space didn't feel very well kept, which made the overall experience less enjoyable. The biggest issue, though, was the service. The woman working there was nice, but we barely saw her at all. On top of that, the wait time was rough it took over 50 minutes for our food to come out, which felt excessive for what we ordered. Overall, it wasn't terrible, but between the long wait, cleanliness issues, and the food not really living up to expectations, it's hard to say I'd go out of my way to come back.

Taqueria Guadalajara

4.5

(575 reviews)

Taqueria Guadalajara has a bit of a tucked away location just on the outskirts of Winchester,…read morewhich gives it that standalone, local spot feel. While having its own building is a plus, parking can quickly become a headache during busy hours, so timing your visit makes a difference. Walking in, there wasn't a host present, which made the entrance feel a little unorganized at first. However, a server quickly stepped in and pointed us in the right direction. From there, the experience improved the service was genuinely friendly and attentive, which helped set a positive tone for the meal. The burrito was the highlight. It came out well prepared with solid flavor throughout, even though it didn't include any sides. Normally, that might feel like something is missing, but the taste was good enough to carry the dish on its own. Pricing leans a bit on the higher side, which is something to keep in mind, especially given the lack of extras. Overall, Taqueria Guadalajara delivers where it matters most good flavor and friendly service even if it has a few logistical hiccups like parking and the initial lack of greeting. It's the kind of place that leaves you debating between a 4 and a 5, but the quality of the food ultimately pushes it into 5-star territory

Returned for the first time in a while, and it was the most crowded I've ever seen the place…read more Strongly recommend they consider some pads on the ceiling to absorb the sound, or maybe a carpet, but our table of three was shouting to hear each other on a Tuesday night. Salsa continues to be delicious (albeit punishing the next day), and of my three tacos, carnitas was the only one to write home about. Pescado was fishy (not in the good way), and the al pastor was, again, just okay. Pointed out my chipped water glass to the server, who was apologetic and promptly replaced it. Best tacos in the area continue to be Los Altos de Jalisco in Winchester. I said what I said.

El Centro

3.4

(221 reviews)

My husband and I stopped in Winchester to stay the night and have dinner on the way up to NYC…read more(we're moving from Atlanta.) I accidentally left my sunglasses there. My sunglasses were custom ordered by my mom and brother for my 30th birthday. El centro staff looked all over for them and did not find them- but found them later and made sure to track my number down and let me know. Then they went above and beyond to ship them back to me. FABULOUS customer service. FABULOUS atmosphere. WONDERFUL service and DELICIOUS food. Truly what more could you want?! 10/10!! Also queso, salsa, chips, flavored margaritas, and tacos were EXACTLY what we needed otw to NYC. Delicious. All wonderful.

Went to El Centro Mexicano with my husband and kids, and unfortunately it was a very upsetting…read moreexperience. We ordered chicken nachos and a choridip. The chicken nachos were dry, but that quickly became the least of our concerns. My 9-year-old daughter found a chip with a tiny roach on it. It was absolutely unacceptable and disturbing. A server (who wasn't even ours) was very apologetic and immediately notified the manager on duty--a young man. Shockingly, he dismissed it and said it was "nothing," and never came over to our table to apologize. The server did agree that we should not be charged, which we appreciated, but the lack of accountability from management made the situation even worse. My daughter was so shaken that she cried and even threw up afterward.

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