Maude & the Bear it was another unforgettable experience. As always, the service was exceptional--warm, attentive, and seamless. Every dish was as beautiful as it was delicious, and the combinations of flavors were imaginative in ways that continue to surprise us. Staunton is incredibly fortunate to have a chef of Ian's talent in our community. Thank you, Ian and Leslie, and the entire Maude & the Bear team, for the joy, creativity, and hospitality you bring to every meal. You have created something truly special, and we're grateful it's right here in Staunton. read more

See all

Interesting place, nice location. The food was good, but for the $500 price tag for two (including the wine pairing and tip) I'd like to be feel a litte more sated after a meal, not like I had a few appetizers and am now ready for dinner, which is exactly what I did when I got home. Not a place to go if you're hungry. I also have to say that the $100/$25 per glass additional pairing price is a little over the top. We also wondered about the choice and volume of music - the heavy metal had me cringing in empathy for the elderly guests, and I really dislike yelling through a conversation. I get it that hip chefs like loud music, but don't assume it enhances the dining experience in a place with zero sound absorption measures. Service was fine. read more

Recently read it was top 10 in NYT and we happened to be passing by for a weekend trip and was able to make a reservation several days in advance. Fix prix lunch menu and some good options. We added some extra donuts and coffee and enjoyed the small chef kitchen/restaurant style and great friendly service. read more

See all

I have been wanting to try this restaurant out since it was named as one of the top 50 restaurants in the US. I was worried that it wouldn't live up to the hype, but it did! This is a restaurant for foodies. The innovation and quality of the ingredients was impeccable. A meal of this caliber in any major city would be 2-3 times the price. And the service was spot on, knowledgeable and friendly. (We had a slew of different servers and quizzed each one on what we were eating) The chef's use of different preparation techniques and how he combined fresh, fermented and smoked vegetables was masterful. The pacing and presentation of each course was relaxed and understated which encouraged you to really appreciate the food. The restaurant is on the first floor of a home. When you walk in there is a small receiving room with a bar and lounge area and then patron seating is scattered throughout several other rooms. There is hip contemporary music playing, but not so loud and the artwork is upscale pieces from local artists available for purchase. (I wish they had a link to the wallpaper as well. I have since searched the internet for the wallpaper in the water-closet which was fabulous!) Keep in mind that VA generally does not contract with the Michelin guide, otherwise this restaurant would be a contender. If you are looking for a food experience that will inspire you to prepare and pair fresh, local ingredients differently, I highly recommend this restaurant. If you are looking for a gluttonous experience of fried or mass produced dishes, go somewhere else. read more

See all

Sunday brunch, party of 3: Varied choices that were mostly excellent, beautifully presented, and flavorful. Mushroom gnocchi, onion dip with trout roe were highlights. The space is pretty basic and slightly chilly but wasn't very busy so it was easy to hold a conversation. There were a couple of disappointments: duck/sweet potato "kugel" would have benefitted from a bit more contrast. It was rather mushy in texture and needed something to cut through the general sweetness. The lychee 75 cocktail was overly sweet but, upon request, the addition of some club soda helped somewhat. While the pre-dining questions brought up our alpha gal concern and the fact that we were celebrating a birthday, our server didn't seem to understand the restriction (brought soup with "bacon that hadn't been braised in milk") and no birthday wishes were expressed. Honestly, that's not a big deal - we can manage our own dietary restrictions and celebrations - but why bother asking? Course timing was a bit off, but we weren't in any hurry. Water refills were slow. Overall, we do intend to return for the dinner service, so it's a definite thumbs up. read more

Maude & the Bear - Yoghurt parfait - New American Near Me - Staunton, Virginia

See all

Loved! Loved! Loved it! Yes, it is worth all the attention it is getting after it has been written up in the NY Times! I looked everywhere to nominate Maude & the Bear for a Michelin Star restaurant to no avail. Maude & the Bear is located near downtown Staunton, in a Montgomery Ward kit house. The house was absolutely beautiful. Old mixed with new. A smart, upscale setting with hand painted murals on the walls. The staff were dressed very contemporary with jeans and white linen shirts and blouses buttoned to the top. They attended to our every need. When we arrived we were asked if we prefer still or sparkling water for the table. We chose sparkling. What a treat! And of course, we were treated with a plate of three different welcome appetizers. We had the 7 course meal and chose to have a couple of glasses of wine to pair with our meal. My two favorite courses were the Potato & Onion Ravioli, Sea Urchin, Aji Dolce and the main course of Pork, Rutabaga, and Peanuts. All of Chef Ian's courses blended in perfect harmony. The plating and culinary art expression were fabulous! I highly recommend Maude & the Bear. Book your table early or you will be disappointed! read more

See all

Maybe it was just not a great day or menu. However the cocktails were perfect And the service was impeccable. I believe the add ons have overshadowed the prefix courses. Likely intentionally.The tofu pudding as one of the courses was Lackluster and disappointing and the crunchy black rice was a potential Tooth cracker. The main of guinea hen seemed sous vide into mush and the sauce was overly sweet. The wagyu beef main for an additional $55 was not even remotely worth it. It also seemed sous vide to a gray piece of meat that tasted like a hamburger. I would have expected a nice sear on both sides to honor the cut and caliber of beef. Everything else was generally good but nothing out of this world. I've had excellent meals here but $500 later I was left wishing I had made reservations somewhere else. read more

I don't typically leave reviews because I feel it's an unfair platform for people with unknown taste levels. I also am not a fan of tasting menus to begin with as I find them irresponsibly pretentious. That being said, what I just ate at Maude and Bear was embarrassing for the price. The food was bland, overcooked, and over techniqued. The portions were, as expected, non existent - in fact the final entree, Guinea Hen, was a shared plate for 3 people which basically amounted to a bite and a half for each person. The best thing I ate was a Parker roll which was $12 for one (à la carte). Possibly an off night, but in my opinion, this place has been overly awarded and ego boosted by food critics. I spent $650 for three people and immediately went home and ate a full meal. The staff was nice, the drinks were good enough. This place should be ashamed. read more

There are no online menus. A deposit of $50 a person is required upon booking. There is no cancellation within 7 days of the actual reservation. Parking is limited at the restaurant; otherwise, street parking is utilized. The restaurant is in a small house. There is no atmosphere or ambience -- it is utilitarian in nature. We were there for a Sunday Brunch -- a 3-course meal that is $55 plus drinks. We had no idea about the menu since the restaurant does not publish it online. The options for each course are one of two items unless you want to pay an upcharge of $20 (per course). We had Brussel sprouts as course #1 (picture below). It was a small portion but okay. Course #2 was grits with gravy. Course #3 was a chicken fried beef steak with gravy and a potato frittata (description sounded much better than it was in reality). The food was warm but not hot. The potato frittata was cold in the center. None of the food was healthy or interesting. Service left a lot to be desired. There was a waiter that took the order and someone else delivered it. No one ever checked to see if the food was acceptable (such as the cold frittata in the middle). Someone else delivered the check and said that the waiter would be checking back with us (never happened). The total bill for brunch was $190. This included two 3 course meals, 2 drinks, tax and tip. We will not be returning. There are much better options than driving 3 hours round trip for a sub-par meal and service. read more

See all

Wonderful experience! Food, service, and ambiance all spectacular! Changing seasonal menu with potential add-ons.

Sat at the bar for the four course tasting menu since all the reservations were taken. Small bar with four seats, and we were the only two that stayed at the bar for our time there. This old house converted into a restaurant is nice but the lighting is way too bright.....like cafeteria bright. The food was meh....really nothing outstanding, or special. The drinks were really the best part of the meal. Just not a good value, or very exciting. read more

I will say this place is overrated. It is fine dining and the dishes are well composed, But, i left a 7 course tasting menu hungry. It's super pricey and the portions were insanely small for what you're getting. I mean, supposedly one of mains was short ribs, i swear to god​, It was mostly sauce with maybe an ounce of meat, maybe. It was $500 with wine and not worth it at all. read more

Maude & the Bear - New American Near Me - Staunton, Virginia

See all

Maude and the Bear was such a divine experience! My husband and I decided to treat ourselves for a night out. The restaurant was super accommodating with my dietary requirements (I do not eat red meat or pork). They were able to adjust dishes which I really appreciated. Our server was attentive and made great recommendations. My husband did the wine pairing with the 7 course meal and each wine was paired beautifully. The only complaint was they forgot one of my courses and by the time I received it, it was dessert time so the order got a bit mixed up. But it didn't take away from the lovely atmosphere and the hard work the staff clearly put forth. Overall, portions are that of fine dining and come with a price tag. But the experience was wonderful. read more

See all

Maude & the Bear is a new restaurant and inn in the old Montgomery Ward kit house. They offer seasonal tasting menus on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays with two seatings, in which you can choose from a 4- or a 7-course, or the Kitchen Table (in which there is only one seating per night). We went for the Kitchen Table, in which we tried: +Cahwanmushi, Hackelback Sturgeon +Silky Snapper, Turmeric, Citrus +Radish, Snap Peas, Lardo, Ramps +Carolina Shrimp Lahmacun +Asparagus, Crab, Cured Egg Yolk +Snapper Kuma, Spruce Chili Crunch +Sable, Broccolini, Delicious Sauce +Foie Gras, Brioche, Rhubarb +Pheasant Pierogi, Chanterelles, Spring Onions +American Wagyu, Burnt Onion +Smoked Caramel, Chocolate Strawberry An optional wine pairing available. There's also a bar/lounge area that has an a la carte menu in addition to the restaurant's regular tasting menu, but it's a first-come, first-serve basis. The restaurant is fresh, modern, and clean, and gives a cute intimate vibe in which is great for dates or small get-togethers. Staff were friendly. I'd be curious to see what their upcoming seasonal menu looks like. +tasting menus available +optional wine pairing +friendly service read more

The web site showed what looked like a filet mignon. I got ground duck that was given the sloppy joe treatment as a main course. The pescatarian in the group got a nice cut of sable as a main. Wish I had gotten that. For desert I got a deconstructed carrot cake. For the price I'm paying I want it constructed. If you say carrot cake you put a picture of what my mom made, with the cream cheese frosting, in my mind, so what you give me better be better. Excellent service. read more

Not Good. Servers repeatedly forgot basic services. Took 20 minutes on average between courses. Had some sort of server-per-dish disaster and then kept blaming each other for the other servers gaffs. Basics basics basics. Our table was next to the restroom so I had a lovely experience every time someone opened the restroom door. Food looked pretty but overall lacked flavor and originality. At the end of the night servers simply seemed to forget we were even there and were spraying down the tables around us, couldn't wait to get out of there. James Beard must be slipping as this is not even the best restaurant in Staunton and for the sky-high prices... We had exponentially better service and food at The Chop House and Zynodoa. read more

Phenom service - PHENOMMMM food and presentation. Was passing through the area on a cross country road trip - seems like you usually need a reservation but they fit me in as a solo person during the last seating (thank youuuuu) from start to finish everything exceeded expectations. Cocktails to dessert was so impressed every step of the way. If you're in the area go go go! read more

See all

We had a lovely long weekend here! The hosts are clearly dedicated to their guests in every way (from arrival to departure). Their focus on comfort and relaxation in the B&B is extraordinary - exceeded only by the exceptional and creative cuisine in the dining room at the hands of Chef Ian. His staff, too, is top notch. Matt, especially, is so well versed on the sourcing, the ingredients, and the various courses - and perfectly attentive to the table. We were lucky to have him at our table for breakfast and again as he preps in the kitchen for the evening service. There is a small bar in the reception area that was packed - obviously a "hot spot" for the local community. Since we had 3 days to enjoy the area, we received some excellent suggestions about what to see and where to have a casual, quick meal. We'll definitely be repeat customers to both the restaurant and the town! read more

We had the kitchen table with wine pairings. Over the span of 3.5 hours, we had 15+ dishes that were all smaller bites, but perfect as a tasting menu. The experience was amazing due to the service and chef, and every single course was fantastic and would be an 8-10 on any top level menu. Can't wait to go again! read more

A delightful experience from beginning to end . . . only suggestion would be to include some sound absorbing/deadening materials in the dining rooms to keep things a bit quieter. All of the staff were extremely warm, welcoming and professional without being at all stuffy. We went with the four course menu and added the cheese course. We also got an amuse bouche to start the meal and a mignardise at the end. All of the food was very good. We particularly liked the salad of farro and green chick peas and the copa with carrots and celery root puree but everything was terrific. We didn't opt for the wine parings but rather had a couple of wines by the glass. While the selection wasn't extensive, there were a number of excellent choices. We will definitely be back. read more

This restaurant has it all. The waitress was very knowledgeable of all the servings how they were prepared and the ingredients. We split a wine pairing, and it was plenty for both of us. The food started off great and continued at a high level. No need to tell you my recommendations has the menu constantly changes. Recommend this restaurant for all special occasions. read more

Highly creative and unique! Although very expensive it was an amazing indulgent evening of food and wine pairing. Sweet historical property with minimal parking but abundant street parking. The only downside was the noise. read more

We were excited to try Ian's new restaurant for Mother's Day. Service was great. Options for the menu were varied to cater to our meat and pescatarian tastes. Every course was INCREDIBLE! They use local produce and meat from the community farmers. Individual flowers on table were touching. Decor was tasteful and charming. It's a higher end restaurant, worth the price. read more

See all

The modern world is filled with formulas and stock recipes and warmed over mediocrity that we pass off as comfort. And it changes the expectations that we have for our lives. Honestly, this restaurant is expensive. It is not the kind of place that we at least can afford to enjoy every single week or every single month of the year. For us, I'm sure, it will always be the kind of place that we enjoy only on special occasions. But it will always be a place that is worth it. Everything there, from the first course to the last, from the creativity of the Chefs and the bartender to the sincerity of the staff was quite simply ... beautiful. Which is why Maude and the Bear stands apart. So rare in our modern, risk-averse world and so easily missed, it is an artistic experience of the highest order and one that you owe it to yourself to try. Talk to the staff, get to know them a little, and respectfully ask any question that you like. If you don't you will never know the depth of the experience that you missed but if you do, you will leave that place immeasurably richer than before you first walked through their door. read more

On the top of my top 10 meals ever. So many tasteful and delicious things on the tasting menu. Friendly staff and very knowledgeable with everything served on the tasting menu. Such a lovely setting in a house to make it feel so cosy and inviting. A must try for anybody in the area. read more

Last night was one of the best restaurant meal experiences I have ever had! Incredible service and incredible food. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!