This is the perfect example of don't judge a book by its cover! We're 2.5 hours away from this small town, and closer to DC, yet the food is better here than most upscale restaurants in the capital. We came here to eat years ago after a glowing critic review and decided to come back this year for Mother's Day. The food and service was just as amazing as it was years before. Portions are on the smaller side but I don't mind because the food is exceptional (and it gives me an excuse to order more things from the menu) The restaurant is an actual shack but it gives off warm welcoming vibes. Service is very friendly and accommodating. We ordered the steak, the chicken, the Boursin and ramp toast, roasted oysters, the pimento cheese, the tuna crudo, and the cavatelli. Including dessert, this was just enough for three people. read more

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The Shack is indeed a tiny shack with ornately-displayed and gourmet-looking food that, except for dessert, does not deliver on flavor. read more

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Ok, well good, but did not live up to the hype. Menu was very limited with no pizza or the Shack burger people speak of. No bread service. No vegetables to speak of on the menu. Some items were too salty. Overall disappointing. read more

We heard great things about The Shack so expectations were high. We dined on a Sunday evening, after an active day so we were hungry. The bar was out of tequila and used up their last lime so hubby didn't get first choice cocktail. My old fashioned was okay. Small plate of slivered beets on sourdough with Boursin and shallot tartine was gloppy; half serving of pappardelle with smoked brisket was so salty that it was almost unpleasant. This coming from a salt lover! Entrees of poached rockfish and wagyu beef were good but not delicious. Overall a disappointing meal at premium price. read more

I took my Nephew for his birthday dinner. The food was so flavorful. We each had the four course tasting menus. We ordered different things so we could sample more things and we were not disappointed. Everything was delicious and We will definitely be back. Try it out if you are in Staunton. Make sure to make reservations. The place is small and so quaint read more

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It's literally a small shack, but that's part of the appeal. It feels like you're in your great-aunt's kitchen. I tried this spot based on the recommendation of a friend out in Bristol. I have the best friends. Their menu is small and interesting. They offer a variety of small plates, tapas-size pastas, veggies, a burger, and a handful of pizzas. The food is homemade and highlights the local growers and makers in the Appalachia. I note this because you can definitely tell. My meal: -- Ginger Margarita: strong with subtle spice -- Crispy Chicken Wings: sorghum and ginger vinegar, fermented leek ranch. The wings were crispy as described but I was expecting some breading; however, texture-wise, these were better than breaded wings. Some spice would've been a nice complement to the vinegar flavor. The ginger was missing in action. A little hot sauce (maybe Truff?) would've paired well. The ranch was top notch, so I was disappointed to see it missing (and one of the wings I started) when they packaged my leftovers. -- Ricotta Tortelloni: charred and smoked onion butter, sage, balsamic. Amazing. Perfectly al dente and fresh with subtle yet rich flavors. -- Farmer's Pie: I was in the mood for some pepperoni which can be added to any of their pizzas except tonight's special, the Farmer's Pie. Since the server talked it up so nicely and because specials are ephemeral, I ordered it without trepidation. It was so fresh and unique, topped with nettle pesto, flowers, veggies, and some cheeses. Fantastic. -- Black Walnut Gelato: a vanilla-based gelato. It wasn't as soft and creamy as gelato usually is, but I didn't mind. The walnuts are incorporated into the gelato so you won't find any pieces to actively chew. It gave the gelato such an interesting and complex flavor. I really enjoyed it and was sad I was too full to finish. I enjoyed the vibe overall, from the tunes, to the down-home decor, to the intimacy of the dining room. It's the perfect spot for a solo dinner or a date. read more

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Have been 4 times now, never disappointed. Do not let the name or the building dissuade you from going. Look online for the ever changing menu of fresh pasta and other favorites. Drinks are usually very good as well. Every one of the waiters has had extensive knowledge of the food on the menu for the night and happy to help you if asked. read more

We stopped in tonight after touring a nearby wedding venue and were so glad the venue owner recommended this to us. The Shack is a super cute little spot in Staunton. It's a perfect date night spot, nice dinner out with parents, etc. the decor and seating are simple but there's still a cool vibe to the place. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable and very attentive. Now for the food. YUM! I knew it would be good after reading the head chef had multiple James Beard Award nominations and after seeing the small menus. The menu changed (idk how often) but they do a few things so right. If we are ever back in the area we will return. Everything was very reasonably priced as well. read more

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Absolutely fantastic spot. Couldn't have asked for better food and service. The dishwasher quit the day before so our waitress was doing double duty. Would never have known unless we asked how things were going. Delicate pasta, and holy everything, the carrot dish was phenomenal. Blueberry cobbler. Unreal. If you put this place in DC it'd be 2x the price. Highly recommend. read more

Delicious food. Indoor and outdoor seating. Beautiful view. The wait can be long. Go early or during the week.

Destination meal. Have been looking forward to this reservation for weeks, read about it, talked about it , and now I've enjoyed it. Thursday night is the best night because it is the lowest volume of customers. The service was amazing. The food was fun, n tasty--it was definitely an event. read more

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The Shack is just wonderful. We had the tasting menu along with the wine pairings. William was an outstanding server and representative of The Shack. Professional and so informative. Dinner was phenomenal and worth every penny. We loved getting the full experience. Service and food was exquisite. I highly recommend for anyone in the Shenandoah Valley. Thanks Shack, we loved it! read more

The Shack - Caviar with onion dip and potato chips - New American Near Me - Staunton, Virginia

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My twin was visiting from Oregon and she LOVES food as much as I do (and is Yelp Elite Black). We were so excited to try this amazingly rated restaurant in Staunton and the creativity and beauty of the food did not disappoint us! Food (5/5): The menu changes weekly, so we were able to try some really great food. Attached is a pic of the menu and I've rated it, below: We did the 3 course ($55) meal, which was an appetizer or pasta + main + dessert. There was also an option to upgrade for $5 to replace the dessert option (we are both lactose and sugar sensitive). Starters: We tried the Raw Hamachi - with homemade chili crunch, pickled cherries, and fresh herbs. This was was actually so good that we not only ate it for appetizer, but we both replaced our Dessert course with another round! Both servers agreed with our smart choice! The hamachi (raw fish) was sweet and delicate, and then had the amazing homemade chili crunch with peanuts on top! It was literally the most delicious sashimi I have ever had. Pasta: Cornmeal Agnolotti - this was a homemade pasta pillow that was filled with Brebis (fresh sheep's milk cheese, produced similarly to a Chèvre). It was good, but not quite what I was expecting. Mains: The Hanger Steak was sous vide, which added an interesting texture. Pork Schnitzel - this was a large portion and the chicories was a clean, fresh complement to the lovely fried pork. Atmosphere/COVID-19 cleanliness(5/5): They were even more limited in their seating inside. They also had cute tables set up outside. The servers all wore masks. Service (5/5): Susan was the best waiter and was really attentive. Overall, a solid 5 star experience! Staunton is blessed to have a restaurant of this quality in this cute little town! read more

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We had a wonderful dinner at The Shack a few weeks ago! They have two seatings. We did the early seating with a 5 course tasting menu. We each ordered each option so that we could try everything. I did the wine pairing for us both to share, while my husband also ordered some local cider. The menu was very vegetable-forward- only one course had meat. But everything tasted fresh and clean but still interesting. Service was solid and our waiter was friendly. The place did get a little loud- if they could find some way to incorporate some sound dampening in the room, I think it would go a long way. The price was reasonable and I'd definitely recommend folks give this place a try for a special dinner! read more

The Shack - New American Near Me - Staunton, Virginia

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What a fantastic little restaurant!!! Ate there for the 1st time but will definitely be returning frequently- my new favorite spot! Food was excellent and the waitress kindly tipped us off on a wine special that was unbelievably good and a great value, plus she was a gem! read more

Unfortunately we had a pretty bad experience with the service here. The waitress told us that the 5 pasta sampler was $30, as it said on the menu, and only after we ordered, ate, and were ready to pay did she explain that because we got 5 pastas instead of 3 that it was $50. She never once mentioned the $50 price as she upsold us on the sampler. She unfortunately did a similar thing with the pre fixe deal, saying that the pre fixe was $40. Only as we were ordering did she say that the duck was +$10 extra. Luckily we caught that before we ordered! The food was good, but we left feeling deceived and upsold. No pasta is ever worth $50. read more

See photo for pricing $$$. Meal served in courses. Two options for each course. Unusual preparations and ingredients. Favorites are the duck and paper thin ham. Most fun was the roe topping on homemade spaghetti. Best bite was a sweet cube with 'golden milk' after the dessert plate. Only open on certain days for dinner. A refundable deposit is required for reservations. Dining room is a bit crowded and seating gets uncomfortable after awhile. Playful food adventure. Will return when the menu changes so I can be surprised all over again. Yes, I recommend. Great for a birthday, anniversary or special day. read more

The Shack - Pre- meal 'snack' BLT - New American Near Me - Staunton, Virginia

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The food here is incredible. I have had multiple dishes here and they have always been outstanding. The wine and drinks are amazing. The atmosphere is relaxed and fun. It's a small and cozy place. It's definitely one of the best restaurants in the area. read more

A remarkable, pilgrimage-worthy destination. Our visit was our first public meal after a year+ of pandemic-forced takeout and home cooking--and a bracing reminder of just how much pleasure and joy restaurants can put into the world. I missed it so much, and I'm grateful The Shack was the place that welcomed me back. We went for the full five courses and tried everything on the menu. It was all lovely. The standouts the night we were there: the leeks & ramps with roe (I arrived convinced I wasn't a fan of roe, and The Shack proved me wrong); the whole maitake paprikash (smoky and meaty); the kale gemelli with scallop borgata (supremely complex--bright, briny, and assertive); the roast duck (expertly cooked and sauced); and the caramelized cream cheese dessert (like the softest, subtlest cheesecake ever). The wine pairings were curious in all the right ways. And they did more than just enhance the flavors of their courses; they were a thrill to drink on their own. We liked the Linden Late Harvest dessert wine so much we swung by the winery the next day (also worth doing). The space is simple and spartan, and even more so with the thinned-out tables of C19 dining. But it gets a great sunset, and I appreciate how seriously The Shake takes C19 safety. And the service is so friendly, and so passionate about great food and wine, that the setting is kind of besides the point. I have no idea when I'll be in the area again, but The Shack's a fine excuse for ginning up another trip. read more

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Good things come in small packages! This tiny brick restaurant is big on flavor! Hubby and I were visiting the area and we were intrigued by this diminutive restaurant. We didn't have a reservation, but we were graciously accommodated. We were led to a cozy table near the back, well, to be honest every table here is cozy! All of the entrées looked amazing... while we pored over the thoughtfully planned Prix Fixe menu, we were poured some crisp Rosé. We decided on the 3 course meal... the chilled green tomato & cucumber soup with kumquat pico-pipicha was refreshing and surprising! One taste and it was like opening a present in your mouth! The kumquat addition was the bow on top!! Our other starter was the heirloom tomato & peach salad with an incredible basil vinegar dressing... an explosion of freshness!! For my entrée, I kept it simple, the cheddar burger with smoked onions but what made this burger special was the black garlic mayo.... delish... but no kissing tonight, lol!! And the shoestring fries were perfection! Hubby had the Roast striped bass with the puréed cauliflower, shishito peppers & mushroom dashi...doesn't that sound fabulous!! It was!! Every mouthful was like an awakening experience! All of the dishes are miraculously presented by the wizard chef chef behind the scenes!! The meals were so delectable we thought we couldn't eat another bite... we were wrong. The desserts were too tempting to resist. We chose the grilled peaches & cream with sorghum & sumac molasses with pecans and the rosemary & nectarine sorbet. Talk about cool! These desserts were absolutely the perfect finish to an awesome experience! This quaint spot may be small, but it's chef is larger than life! Such a creative and inspiring menu! We will remember this place for years to come! It's totally peachy keen!! (The restaurant is temporarily closed... maybe due to Covid, but we will be sure to visit again as soon as they open to keep this unique restaurant up and running!) read more

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I was too busy enjoying the food to grab photos if that says something. The amuse bouche was a great start - pot licker broth, crispy pie ears lettuce wraps, and pickled beats. All three were delish accompanied by one of the best old fashioned I've had in a long time. The rest of courses proved to be equally delish - especially the pasta which we added the truffle upgrade too - they were very generous with the truffles! We opted for the wine pairing with the meal - the wines paired wonderfully with the food with the exception of the pasta course which they quickly substituted out another wine for which was greatly appreciated. The atmosphere was intimate and cute - a great place for a date night. I'd definitely go back and I'm excited for the new concept they'll be opening nearby at a b&b where the tasting menu will move to. I'd highly recommend giving the shack a try. read more

My wife and I drove two hours and spent the night near Staunton because we wanted to try this place. The service was very good and the ambiance was what we expected - intimate and nothing fancy. For what we paid, every course should have been incredible. Sadly, they were not. First course: the apples were delicious. The peppers were pretty good. Second course: the bok choy was very bland with very little flavor. The Honey nut/orange/sardines was inedible. I suppose a sardine-lover might like it, but neither my wife nor I could eat it. It was way too fishy. Third course: the creste de gallo was interesting and very good. The whippoorwill peas were the highlight of this dish. Fourth course: The swordfish was fine but the hanger steak was great. The grapes made the hanger steak super interesting. Overall, we both agreed that, while we are glad we gave it a try, it is not a place we will try again. And, it was certainly not worth the cost. We have eaten at Michelin star restaurants where you expect to spend this much. Those experiences have been worth it since each course was incredible. Not so at the Shack. read more

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Wow, The Shack creates beautiful, unique, & flavorful dishes that will both excite and wow you! I decided to opt for the 4-course meal and was very impressed by the "dirty fried rice", "squid ink pasta" and "banana pudding". The dirty fried rice had so much flavor and the crispy texture was nice with the soft poached egg on top. The pasta was perfectly al dente and so delicious with the butter broth and peanuts. The banana pudding was basically a banana bread with banana ice cream, banana jam (amazingness), and vanilla pudding. I could have eaten 2 of these. One of the best desserts ever. I was less impressed by the duck sausage (not bad or anything... but the other dishes were so much better in comparison). I will definitely recommend The Shack to anyone who visits Staunton! read more

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We had high expectations and were extremely disappointed with our meal. We ordered the hasselback potato dish wish was not cooked thoroughly and didn't have the crispy ends as described by the waitress. The sauce was laking in flavor, I would compare it to spagetteos poured over a slightly raw sliced potato that was of poor quality (not moldy) but had alot of black spots. We also order the crudo fish appetizer which was very bland except for the flavor of the dill, chared tomatoe, and sauce. For the dinner we ordered the wagyu dish which was an extra cost. I have had wagyu, and my husband has made A5 wagyu and what we were served was definitely not wagu beef. It was actually the worse steak I ever had. It was med rare cook and was still the toughest cut I've ever had to cut, extremely chewy and also lacking in flavor. The side of tomato and chippolini onions were good but all of these things could be bested by a good home cook and a trip to Martins. The best part of the meal was the pizza. Though comming from NY it was OK. The crust was good and the technique was modern and looked appropriately appetizing. The problem was it seems like a decent deal, looks good on the plate but the quality and skill are lacking. The fact that the potato was raw and I got food poising yeah... I won't eat at any of his restaurants again. This was one of the worst meals I've ever had masquerading as high end cooking. The food looks amazing on social media but I feel like I've been catfished. read more

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A hidden gem in the valley housed in an humble looking building with 5 star caliber food! The chef, Ian Boden, is a local favorite and a James beard nominated chef! His food is delightfully creative and very focused on locally grown in season products. The menu changes weekly and always has inventive options. When we went in it was a flat fee for 3 or 4 courses for dinner. I love that because it let you sample the menu for a good price. The staff is super knowledgeable and friendly making for a great experience overall Favorite dishes that stand out: squid ink pasta- homemade pasta with great umami flavor and dehydrated scallops on top! The paw-paw dessert- I almost don't even have words. I had never heard of this fruit before and it was the perfect end to the meal. I have been many times and will absolutely be back read more

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One of the best restaurants we have ever been to. Each dish had such depth in flavors. Every item on each plate felt like so much love went into it. We would highly recommend visiting Staunton just to each at The Shack if you love food. We picked one item from each of the five courses. We will absolutely be back! read more

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If you eat here, you deserve to waste your money. For two people, the $280 and 3 hour meal consisted of peas, squash, sardines, and cheese. Felt fancy, but tasted maybe ok. This is a fine dining establishment for people that don't know what that means. Way too bright and we could hear everyone's conversation. Don't waste your time or money. read more

One of the most memorable meals I've had. Food was incredibly complex and tasteful. This place would match up to most Michelin restaurants. I really can't say enough. We did the 5 course meal twice to cover the entire menu. Menu changes according to available produce. Every dish is an explosion of flavors. I can't wait to come again. Definitely worth a trip down from DC or anywhere. What a surprise. read more

The Shack - New American Near Me - Staunton, Virginia

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What a great experience. Highly recommend. $70/$80 is such a reasonable prefixe for the level of service, personal attention, enthusiasm, creativity, and flavor. Would come again. I loved the mix of well-known, comforting selections and the unusual new. All of it is re-invented. The space IS very small. Please note that it is loud because of the small, dense area but very high energy and fun. Great date night but not "moody or romantic." Staff in particular make this supremely enjoyable - they are attentive and fun. We had to wait 10 minutes for a table as the previous reservation was running long, and they seated us outside and gave complimentary champagne for the wait. Really delightful and was made to feel special at every step. read more

I went here a year ago for my birthday. Such a fantastically delicious experience. Service was fantastic. The place is truly a lovable shack, but it's easily the best restaurant in the Staunton area. I have not been here since they rebranded but intend to go back again soon. I'm sure it's still epic. read more

I was looking for a fine dining restaurant to enjoy an anniversary dinner with my wife. I liked the reviews left previously and thought we would give this place a try. I like how the service is done in groupings rather than randomly as you arrive. The service was terrific. The food was only good. The chef displayed his artistry by preparing a wide variety of unusual food items. The wine pairing were terrific, and it was great to have such a variety of good wines. My only complaint is that I would rather have had the chef make us something that was good and then make it great, rather than take something you wouldn't normally eat and make it good. For what we paid, I would have loved a perfectly cooked filet, or Australian prawns, or lobster tail, or halibut etc. It is hard to get too excited about schmaltz leeks, twice baked kohlrabi, nduja, parsnip, or coppa. read more

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This Little gem, Is a tasting menu worthy of 2 Michelin stars, Service , pairings, and the swordfish was incredible- Worth every moment and bite read more

The shack is one of my all time favorite restaurants. I make the 2.5 hour drive from DC twice a year just to eat here. Every time is a magical experience with a ever changing menu. I have eaten burgers from New York to Japan but I have never had a burger better then the from the shack. My only complaint is there is only one shack and it's too far away from where I live. read more

The Shack - Water soaked in vinegar, salt, and other wonderful flavors I couldn't place. - New American Near Me - Staunton, Virginia

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My Husband took me here for my birthday dinner! He had made reservations ahead of time and they were ready for us! He has allergies and I always appreciate places that acknowledge that and ask in person to verify. I thought overall the service was really friendly and attentive (our table was wobbly and our waitress leveled it out for us. There was also someone walking around to refill water glasses quite frequently. My only complaint was that we had ordered dessert at the same time as we ordered our dinner but it seemed like they had forgotten. We had waited a while after finishing our entree and then the waitress came around to ask us what we had wanted for dessert even though we had already ordered it). The place is small but I didn't feel like it was tight/ hard to move around at all. Now, on to the food!! We did a 3 course Prix Fixe. For Starters, we ordered the Cured Yellowtail and Duck Wings. The Yellowtail was fresh and citrus-y from the calamansi though we couldn't taste the pecan oil. SC thought it would be great to have some texture in the dish. The duck was SOOO crispy and fatty= yummy! I loved the fresh cilantro and the texture from the garlic chip. The koji carrot hot sauce was a little too spicy for me but my husband liked it! For the entrees, we got the Pork Schnitzel and Roast Stripe Bass. The batter on the pork was perfect- crispy and stayed together instead of falling off the meat. The roasted kumquat was so good- it was like a gummy and added a sweet component to the dish. The radicchio also balanced the dish as a bitter component. SC did feel like the dish overall was a little heavy and could've benefited from more fresh elements. The crispy skin on the bass was perfect and the fish had a nice, clean flavor. I thought the spiced pumpkin butter was the star of the dish; it was sweet and paired really well with the fish. I also enjoyed the clean flavor of the roasted pumpkin. For dessert, SC ordered the banana pudding. It tasted as you would expect. The individual components didn't taste great by themselves (the miso was salty and the pudding/ cream was super bland) but as a whole, really came together. The ice cream was good and we loved the crunchy banana chips. I ordered the Bergamot Curd and man, was it good! I loved the tart curd with the bland cream, the crunch of the caramelized white chocolate (that tasted like grahams) and the addition of the bay was amazingggg. read more

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Wow what a culinary experience in a unexpected town. We heard it was a great place. A James Beard award winner is the chef and we had appetizers that were a mix of wonderful local ingredients. From the tartare to the pork belly it all was amazing. I will be back to visit this spectacular restaurant. Great atmosphere and the servers were fantastic and on point. The restaurant is located on in Staunton. Make reservations for this small spot that seats about 20. Very fresh and inventive food as well as fresh updates on standards like burgers and steak tartare. Amazing starter dish with scallops. Wine and beer list. great service. read more

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Of all the shake shacks I've been to, this one was by far the most expensive and had the worst food. The lemongrass dessert was good.

We love this place! Pricey for a casual dinner but great for a special occasion. We really enjoy trying some new ingredients every time we come, and the flavor combinations are always on point! read more

The Shack - New American Near Me - Staunton, Virginia

With a name like "The Shack," I was expecting this to be all burgers and beer. But it's actually very upscale! So wear something nice y'all. I know I only gave this place three stars, but I feel like perhaps we just ordered the wrong stuff or it was an off night. Everyone else seemed to really be enjoying their food. Had the coffee crusted pork with grits and roasted cabbage. The pork was mostly fat, it was pretty gross. There was more fat than meat. Also ordered the catfish, which was good, but there was a lot going on with flavors and it didn't quite tie together. It seemed like they went a little overboard with innovation. But everything was plated beautifully and the service was superb, even though we weren't dressed for the classiness. So while I didn't care for the dishes we ordered, it has a lot of potential and I'd order something more "basic" next time like a pasta dish or the burger. It seemed like everyone really liked those dishes. We had just showed up and there was patio seating available on a first come first serve basis, but otherwise, it's definitely a reservation place. Very small inside so book ahead. read more

Holy moley, this place was a complete and utter surprise to us. The name of the restaurant is absolutely misleading. In our search for dinner, we thought we were just going to find burgers, but while the building and decor is simple and unassuming (almost something you'd expect to have a crab boil in), the food is sheer fine dining. Reservations are recommended, but walk-ins are dependent on the volume for the night. The farm to table food is absolutely delicious. The staff is friendly and extremely professional. The menu is updated regularly. During our visit, we ordered the prix fixe. We ordered additional items, because everything looked so delicious and we had to try! Their fried chicken wings were insanely delicious. The breading was so light and crisp, the wings/drumsticks were large, and the sauce was just so tasty. Their signature Sorghum Hot Sauce can actually be purchased online via Amazon. For the pasta, we selected the Fennel Lemon Sardinian Gnocchi and the Turnip Greens Pierogi. While both tasty, I personally preferred the pierogi with it's slightly crisp exterior and tasty greens. For the main courses, we had the rabbit metballs and Duck & Pork sausage. The leather britches that accompanied the rabbit meatballs were bitter if tasted singularly; however, if you scooped a bit of the meatball, the britches, and the sauce, the flavors melded into a delightful blend that balanced all the stark flavors. For dessert, we were devastated that they were out of the pana cotta after watching all the tables before us enjoy theirs. It was that popular. However, we absolutely did not regret having the bourbon sorghum apple and pear fry pie. The thyme custard that accompanied it was such an exquisite touch. The fry pie was not overly sweet, it was just right. From start to finish, we were blown away. We'd love to check this place out again if we're ever in the Staunton area again. read more

Well worth the trip from DC. Intimate and inventive prix fixe menu on the weekend. There was absolutely nothing here that wasn't executed perfectly. My only regret was not getting the Cacio e Pepe, they extrude the pasta in house! read more

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