Ah, the illustrious Purple Fiddle, the crown jewel of Thomas WV. Been here many times over the years. This place perfectly personifies the spirit of Thomas, WV, and maybe even a little bit of Davis mixed in there too. The building is historic with tons of character, located right at the end of the loop as if you can't exit town without paying homage. The inside has soooo much character and is decorated perfectly in a mad hatter style. We often stop here for ice cream during our wanderings of Wild Wonderful West Virginia but have been known to get food from time to time as well. I would say that everything is honestly priced. They aren't trying to get rich and they aren't trying to rip off the community, just serve it and make a living and keep the doors open. The food is on the cheaper side and the quality matches. I don't think they're after any Michelin stars but more interested in just feeding the people. Service is on par with the attitude of the building and blended well. Just enough at just the right time. You might have to swap a few chairs from one table to the next to find the right combination for your party as I think all of the chairs in there are different. They also serve the community by hosting music, up to 300 events per year according to their website. That's one of the only times I skipped the fiddle when I was passing through was when they had a band with a cover and we just wanted food. We wanted to sit down and eat but were told we had to pay if we stayed but could take the food to go or outside without the entrance fee. I think we just went over to Picnic instead which is also a great local spot! See you next summer fiddle! read more

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Purple Fiddle, Thomas, WV, Thurs, Dec 19. My husband and I were traveling through Davis/Thomas, WV on a Thursday afternoon in mid-December. It was rather off-season for both of these touristy towns, late for the summer's hikers in Blackwater Falls and other natural attractions and early for the winter skiers in Canaan Valley. Our daughter and SIL, who live in West Virginia, recommended Purple Fiddle. They had visited in the summer, when there was live music and a lively crowd. We went in for a late lunch, reaching around 2:15 pm. Upon entering, we found that we were the only patrons, but the hostess assured us that they were open. We asked some questions about the menu, and my husband asked about their schedule of bands in the winter months. (It's very active, especially on weekends, even in winter). Another couple came in a few minutes after us. FOOD. You order at the long counter where there is a chalkboard with the daily specials, plus traditional menus. My husband ordered one of the soups of the day, Creamy Tomato Basil Soup ($7.50) and a Homemade Chicken Salad Sandwich ($11.50). I ordered their Montreal Grilled Cheese Sandwich ($9.75). My husband characterized the soup (his rating: 4/5) as very good but not outstanding for his personal taste. It was served with a bag of oyster crackers. He would've preferred the soup to be thicker/more cream-based and to have more basil. His chicken salad sandwich (3.5/5), served on swirled marble rye bread, with tomato and lettuce, was also tasty -- but the bread overwhelmed the amount of chicken salad, and the rye bread fell apart along the swirls. It was served with ruffled potato chips and a pickle spear. My toasted Montreal Grilled Cheese (3/5) was also constructed on marble rye, and featured three cheeses (provolone, cheddar, and whipped cream cheese), tomato slices, and some onion. It was also served with ruffled potato chips and a pickle spear. My main issue with my sandwich was it was toasted 2-3 shades darker than I would've preferred, verging on being burnt. We also split a dessert, the Turtle Cheesecake ($8). (4.5/5). The cheesecake featured chocolate, caramel, and some crunchies on top. The taste and texture were excellent but the slice was small for the $8 price point. The presentation also could've been better. It looked like it came directly out of the cooling case, still wrapped with Saran Wrap and a toothpick. My husband also got a coffee ($2.25, 5/5), which was full-bodied, rich, hot, and had free refills. Overall, we rank the food as a 4/5. In all cases, it tasted fresh. It was also a good value. Our food totaled $41.58 (including $2.58 tax, but before tip). The menu is relatively small, and most of it features cold items (sandwiches, wraps, hummus plates, etc.); this is probably appropriate for a music venue. We also note that they offer a good selection of beers, which we did not want in the afternoon and while still having a lot of driving ahead of us. AMBIANCE. (4.5/5). Overall, we liked the vibe of the restaurant. There's a stage for music performers, tables for diners/patrons, a station with hard ice creams to be scooped, memorabilia to be purchased. We suspect that it will get lively and crowded when bands are performing. We'll have to come back to check it out. SERVICE. (4/5). The waitress took our order at the counter, delivered it to our table, and later cleared the table. She was efficient, but neither friendly nor unfriendly. She did talk a bit more with the other couple who seemed to be locals. We would return to this restaurant. read more

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Purple Fiddle was a lot of fun! We went with family members, and enjoyed the music, as well as the food. Staff were helpful with drink refills, and the restaurant was clean. We would return. read more

Purple Fiddle - Music at the Purple Fiddle - Music Venues Near Me - Thomas, West Virginia

The Purple Fiddle is your stop for an amazing lunch in Thomas, West Virginia. Everything is very fresh and the Roasted Turkey is delicious. The wrap was Fresh Roasted Turkey, Homemade Cranberry Sauce with walnuts, lettuce and cream cheese. The Salsa is homemade and the ice cream comes in several flavors to choose from. You will be happy that you stopped in to visit the Purple Fiddle. read more

Purple Fiddle - Fresh Roasted Turkey Wrap - Music Venues Near Me - Thomas, West Virginia

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I stopped by the Purple Fiddle while visiting the town of Thomas for the first time. I had read a lot of positive things about this place so I had to check it out. I got there about 30 min before a free band was about to play so it wasn't crowded however, once the band started the line backed up and seats were getting full. The atmosphere is quite nice with indoor and outdoor seating. I ordered the chicken salad sandwich that came with chips and a pickle. It was pretty tasty but it did take about 30 minutes to come out of the kitchen. The staff were friendly. They have a nice selection of ice cream and t-shirts you can purchase. I would go back if I'm ever in the area again. read more

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Local bar. Great beer list, fantastic live music, dancing and relaxing environment. Service is not bad. Some bands sell out, so worth buying tickets early. Not much seating. A great time, always. Highly recommended. read more

Purple Fiddle - Wilson Springs Hotel - Music Venues Near Me - Thomas, West Virginia

We stopped at the Purple Fiddle for lunch, and it turned out to be such a cool spot. The menu is on the lighter side, but the food is fresh and flavorful, and the atmosphere is relaxed and unique. We started with the house-made hummus, which had a nice little kick that really added to the flavor. For our meals, we tried the Italian sandwich, the turkey wrap, and the vegan corn chowder. My husband really enjoyed the Italian sandwich, and I thought the turkey wrap was excellent with plenty of turkey. The corn chowder was just okay, but everything else was great. Their beer selection is also solid. I had the Highground Brewery Oktoberfest and really enjoyed it. The live music added to the overall vibe and made the experience even cooler. Overall, this is a great place to grab a casual bite, enjoy good drinks, and listen to some fun live music in a laid-back atmosphere. read more

I've heard a lot about Purple Fiddle but never had the opportunity to make it out, until now. I didn't realize they do afternoon shows! Such a nice surprise. Lines can get long, so get there early. I ordered the turkey wrap, which came with chips and a pickle. Wrap was really good! Had cream cheese and a cranberry chutney, which was a nice balance or creamy and sweet. Food took a long time to come out after ordering which was my main disappointment. Looks like they might be understaffed. Otherwise a nice experience. read more

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I recommend this place for the music and drinks. I have not eaten here personally and can only go off what others have experienced so I will leave food review off this review. read more

First time visiting WV. Came here with a friend as soon as they open to grab lunch and staff wasn't friendly. It seemed like the guy working there hates his job. The food was okay, nothing special. Cool ambiance but other than that i didn't care much for the place read more

From out of town and just wanted to eat. But since there was a live music, that hadn't even started yet, I could only get it to go. Could you not let me sit down long enough to eat? Go somewhere else. read more

Horrible owner, food, and venue; a trifecta of atrociousness We were excited to visit this unique venue believing it to be a cornerstone of Thomas' arts and culture. We were excited to listen to live music on Sunday evening and enjoy the wild turkey wrap. We checked with the hostess earlier in the afternoon and were assured there would be no problem with our party of four getting tickets at the door. Well, when we got there about 30 minutes before the band's set, the nightmare began. We stood in line at the first register and paid our $20 per person cover charge. Next, we waited for 15-20 minutes in a second line to order and pay for our food. In the meantime, the enclosed restaurant area in front of the stage began to fill with other customers. There was not enough room to seat them all, so someone brought extra chairs out and filled all empty spaces in that area. My family and I went to sit in an outside patio area, with about twenty other displaced patrons. We were near enough to the stage not to mind; we could not see them, but we could hear them.... so it was not great, but we did not complain. Then, someone came out and began to shut the doors to the restaurant, so we could not hear the band. It was a mild evening, so this made no sense. I began to open them again, because there were plenty of people in the patio who had paid $20 each to listen to the band. Then, an irritating fellow began to argue and insist that we could listen to the band on the speakers; when I asked him who he was, he became overly aggressive and said, "I'm the owner!" I then reiterated that none of us paid to listen to music on speakers. He said that he would send the complaining customers over to me, cursed out my son and me, and retreated into the kitchen. Wow... I don't know what else to add. Except to say that the food came to us about 40-minutes later and was very poorly made, lacking some of the ingredients advertised. Also, I noticed that the exit to the patio, which is enclosed with a large metal fence, was chained and locked shut, and this was with an overcrowded bar. Overall, the place is dirty, lacks adequate staff, and is configured in a way that is unsafe. If you, or the county fire marshal, ever happen to find yourself unlucky enough to be at this venue, just speak with the "owner." Ask him if, after you pay your cover charge, he will force you to listen to music on a speaker as you are shuffled into overflow seating because he sold too many tickets. Also inquire about the low-quality food and the chained exit gate with the dog door leading to the street. The Purple Fiddle states that it strives "hard to meet everyone's tastes, both musically and gastronomically!" NOPE, not even close! read more

BEST LIVE MUSIC & BEER SELECTION in the area. The talent level they source is impressive for such a small town. The Purple Fiddle has been going strong for 20 years and the owner, John, has developed a deep and wide network of musicians and bands. Definitely the place to check out in the evenings if you're staying in Thomas or Davis. read more

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We came during a snowy day for lunch and were allowed to sit out on the patio with our puppy and dine. The service was good and prompt. The bar had several options for beers. Unfortunately, the menu was not our cravings or palette at that time. Would have liked to see a few more options that fall more into the category of bar food while drinking as opposed to healthy/natural options. read more

I can't rate the food because after waiting for over an hour for the two sandwiches we ordered, we gave up and walked out. Even pita bread and hummus that can easily be prepared in advance took at least half an hour to be delivered to some nearby patrons. I will never attempt to eat here again. Go to Elender's on the higher part of town, although it is only open for lunch Friday and Saturday, but it has nuch better food that was delivered in 15 minutes. read more

Food was good. Atmosphere is great. Drinks were strong! The service was good, but be mindful when you come during show hours you also pay for the band. Food and drinks priced well, merchandise was a little expensive. read more

We came for the music on Saturday night with the Mama Said String Band. Great venue for music. Recommend the Grateful Dead cocktail. read more

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My friends and I stopped in after hiking at nearby Swallows Falls State Park. I had heard good things about the Purple Fiddle from a friend who went to school in the area, and was looking forward to the experience. To our disappointment, the staff were very unfriendly and the drinks were subpar. Our food was tasty, the funky decor and historic setting were unique. We were heading to our next hiking destination shortly after the live performer went on stage, but she sounded quite good. The venue seems to offer a lot of great live music. read more

A hearty sandwich, great service... Then I think we met an angel at the Purple Fiddle today. Jessie saw my chilly pup and offered him a sweater her late pup had worn. Fit him perfectly, he was happy and toasty on the patio. She followed up with a collection of more sweaters looking for a good home. I offered to share with another family who had a dog of similar size (dang, didnt fit). Great food, hard working staff serving customers beautifully. Kindness and a touch of magic. What more can you ask of a community treasure? read more

Purple Fiddle - Music Venues Near Me - Thomas, West Virginia

What an amazing place! Just a fun, welcoming, and friendly atmosphere! The music was jamming. We only came for drinks and enjoyed their beer menu, mostly from local craft. The food seemed limited to sandwiches; but I cannot speak to their quality. It's clear the staff take great pride in this groovy little gem. read more

Purple Fiddle - Music Venues Near Me - Thomas, West Virginia

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I could probably spend every day just sitting inside or outside of this place sipping some cool beer I've never had before or a Pabst Blue Ribbon because it's hipster af and delicious and enjoying this place for what it is, Amazing! The people who work here are all cool cats and the people I have met here over the years when traveling through or visiting are too. The music I've listened to here has always been mellow and relaxing and the food which I mostly always get the same items; the hummus platter, the veggie wrap, chips and artichoke dip or a veggie burger and they are always great. Towns like this and places like this make my heart smile and should exist in more states across America. Thank you to the town of Thomas and Thank you Purple Fiddle for being cool as a cucumber on ice on a hot summer day. Much love, See ya soon enough... read more

Purple Fiddle - Hipster AF - Music Venues Near Me - Thomas, West Virginia

Great place to visit. They have quite a bit of live music here. Check their website for a line up. The foods always good and the staff helpful and kind. Don't skip the ice cream counter. read more

Purple Fiddle - Went to the Purple Fiddle to watch singer/song writer Davey O. Great music and food. - Music Venues Near Me - Thomas, West Virginia

Love listening to all the talented artists they invite to town. Lots of beer and tasty treats too. Davis is a special place to really get some unique and personal experiences. read more

We stopped in for a Saturday night show. Like other reviews, the space is very unique and almost seems to take you back in time. The menu is very basic, and a bit overpriced. They also didn't have what we initially wanted to order (spinach and artichoke dip) The cover to get in was $10 per person, which was surprising because there was barely anyone there. The band arrived on time but didn't start until 15 minutes after the show was supposed to start. They kind of just hung out with each other in the corner, drinking and talking. They were great once they got going, but the vibe of place just really put me to sleep, we ended up leaving super early. Like I had mentioned, there were only a handful of people there. Honestly this place wasn't really for us, it was very hipster and we would probably only come back for a free afternoon show. read more

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We did have a great time on the Saturday we popped in. We went just to eat but stayed for the music. We are glad we did but it started late. The food is ok. I was a little ill the next morning. Maybe the beer or the sandwich. The atmosphere was good. Friendly but read more

My small group visited on a late afternoon May Sunday with beautiful weather so we sat outside. We had sadly just missed the day's entertainment which we heard was very good. We didn't eat, only had a few beers. My friends are all IPA drinkers but I had an old favorite: PBR in a can. We sat for a couple hours and enjoyed our beers and on this day that was all we needed. Thomas and the Purple Fiddle are West Virginia treasures. read more

Purple Fiddle - PBR at Purple Fiddle. How good can it get ? - Music Venues Near Me - Thomas, West Virginia

Great ambience and amazing live bands and delicious cheese cakes for dessert Thank you very much for the nice time read more

Great place to get a beer and enjoy some very good music and company. Great selections of beer and owners/ staff are great. Small town charm at its best here. read more

The fiddle is always enjoyable. You always see a lot of friends and they share is great.

I've been coming here for years, discovering the wonderful towns of Davis and Thomas, WV. The vibe in the Fiddle is so warm and inviting. The clientele is a great range of people, and it makes everything so interesting and intimate. The food and drinks are great and plentiful. Stop by, and you'll be a fan for life! read more

I wish this venue were in my home city!! The talent that's on the schedule is incredible. I love a good funky, soulful or folk music kind of night in a laid-back venue. Purple Fiddle is what small venue dreams are made of and worth the drive to the middle-of-no-where. Make sure you come a little bit hungry. The artichoke dip we ordered was delicious. Plus they serve booze AND you can bring your young offspring along too! Warning: bring earplugs if you are one for protecting your hearing. Small venue means you can't escape the loudness. Thank you to the folks that opened this place up and brought life back to a small town. Thomas is truly an American gem. read more

Awesome venue- doesn't get much better than this to see some music! The people there for the music were also all so pleasant to be around. During the show, you can get drinks and they have a great cocktail, beer, and wine list. Their menu options are just a few small things so def hit up dinner before coming to the show! read more

Stopped by this place today after a hike in Douglas falls and it's a really great spot. We ordered the fiddle platter which was pita and dips. Everything was really fresh, they had live music which was nice and the service was really good. You have to order at the counter before you sit down and they were clearly understaffed in the kitchen but that's ok it's a great spot with good service. read more

Masks up! They have gluten free bread!!! No indoor dining but the outdoor space is fantastic! Friendly staff. There was a live band making an enjoyable experience. read more

Purple Fiddle - Music Venues Near Me - Thomas, West Virginia

The food menu should be called Hummus and sides. There is not a lot on the menu to begin with but all seems to be contingent on you loving hummus as much as the owner. The ice cream is great though. The live acts are better. The vibe inside is pretty great as well. So to summarize come for the music and drinks or maybe an ice cream cone. Eat somewhere else unless you have to have hummus. read more

Purple Fiddle - Music Venues Near Me - Thomas, West Virginia

Cool place. Lots of unique decorations and a decent sized stage for live entertainment. Large beer selection, small food menu. Not the place to go if you're looking for a hearty meal, the options are pretty light. The food was decent, but not what i was hoping for as we had been traveling and I was starving (but we were meeting family and this is their favorite spot). Lots of seating available. Very popular spot for local beer and live entertainment read more

We came here Saturday night for a show. There was a band, Radiator King, from NY that was in town and they had a $10 cover for the night. I enjoyed the band. It was cool because the first portion was rock/punk music, then the singer took over in the middle and played some acoustic stuff that was real good. You order food and drinks up at the counter and pay when you're done for the night. We were hungry, so we ordered their grilled cheese sandwich and some artichoke/asiago dip and chips. The dip was good. There were way more chips than there was dip though. The grilled cheese was okay. It was on rye bread with a couple kinds of cheese, to include cream cheese, along with peppers and onions. There were huge chunks of onions in the grilled cheese, so I had to take them out. It was just too much. And there was more cream cheese than stringy cheese, so the sandwich was real oozy. The dessert was delicious though. We both got a caramel brownie. I got mine with some vanilla icecream. It was so good! Chocolately and gooey in the right way. The drink selections were good. Lots of options to choose from. Beers, ciders, wines. The band stayed on for a long time. It was definitely worth the $10 to get in. There were a few people standing outside listening to the band because the place is nowhere near sound proof! The seats were kind of uncomfortable though. I sat on a chair and then switched over to a bench seat. I had ants in my pants the whole time and had to get up and move around after a while. I would recommend checking this place out if you're in town. It was the best place I went for nighttime entertainment when I was in the area! read more

We were excited to go here because we had heard lots of good things about this place. And the musician on the patio sounded great. Apparently our downfall was not being aware of the shortened COVID-related hours, as we arrived about 30 minutes before closing. The server told us that the manager had decided to close down the kitchen already, so all we could get were drinks and chips/salsa. Obviously we were disappointed but understanding. We had resigned ourselves to going to another restaurant after we had our beers but then waited more than 20 minutes before we headed to the counter to find out what had happened to our food. We had finished our drinks and decided that we would take the chips and salsa to go. The server turned around, grabbed the food that was sitting behind her to be delivered, and shoved them into a box. And the proceeded to tell us that we shouldn't have expected to get our food any quicker since they "are not a fast food restaurant". Cold chips and salsa in less than 20 minutes seemed pretty reasonable to me. Of course the kicker, besides her horribly rude attitude, was that what prompted me to check on our food in the first place was that she was presently taking a sandwich order from a couple that arrived 5 minutes before closing after refusing to take a food order from us previously. One of the worst dining/bar experiences ever, besides the time I got food positing. I waited a month to write this review so it is pretty toned down from what I was feeling that night. Thankfully we were able to get a meal at another restaurant that night. That server was very grateful for our patronage and was tipped very well. read more

If I had to make a list of my top 10 favorite places in the world (and I've been quite a few places), The Purple Fiddle would make that list. "...there is some essential dysfunction in this place..." (says a previous reviewer). It's true. THAT is why I love this place so much. It's what commercialized hipster wishes it was. The food is okay--it's sandwiches, hommus, and PB&Js. Solid. The beer list is a winner. They generally have good wines available too. Try the desserts. It is a mix of unhurried and kitschy antique united with a great sense of community between the Front Street businesses. I like that too. While here, I saw what appeared to be two works by Nathan Baker who is an owner of the White Room Art Gallery. (Go there too) I'm happy knowing a place like this exists, where the open hours signs have 5PM- ish on them. Regarding service, that's not where this place's charm comes from. That being said, I've never had an issue. It's not super fast. It's not highly responsive. But, it also doesn't demand much from you either...a beer is like...$3/$4. Not at happy hour. Like, all the time. It's fine. It can get warm inside because it gets packed. It can be a challenge to move around when it's crowded (that's a tautology, right?). No surprises here. I stayed at the hostel once too. It's $25/night. You get what you pay for. It's old and kind of dirty. But, it's charming and you can sit outside and hear the insects and the music. That's lovely. Last thing and best thing, MUSIC. They have it. Genres I adore too: singer-songwriter, folk, bluegrass, etc. When you come here, leave your pretension and hurry at the door. If you don't, you might not fit in. read more

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Good beer selection and lots of live music. Servers could be more friendly. I do want to try their food on next visit. read more