My wife and I had a reservation for dinner after a cold morning biking the Virginia Creeper Trail, and were anticipating this meal all day. The reservation list was full so it was to be our first in restaurant meal since Covid hit locally in March. We settled in our table but my wife (who is immune compromised) felt uncomfortable. We asked if we could move outside to the balcony, though it was chilly outside. The hostess was very accommodating and set us up in the balcony with a heater. We were soon joined by another couple. The food was excellent, we split an escargot appetizer, she had the grouper special and I the crab cakes. The food was great but what made it memorable was their willingness to accommodate our request. We highly recommend! read more

My wife and I have a tradition of introducing our out of town guests to The Tavern. We are never disappointed and always look forward to dinner with friends surrounded by the unique and inviting atmosphere. The next four weeks we have friends arriving from as far away as Utah and as near as Nashville. Each of these will be introduced to the delights of The Tavern, and I suppose we'll be forced to escort them in case they may need help with the menu. :) read more

Great food historic setting. Try oysters Rockefeller they are really pretty good. Specials are always worth a try. Plus the owners are genuine people. read more

Do not miss this place if you are passing through Abingdon. This little Tavern is really an amazing piece of history. The food is excellent. My steak was delicious and was cooked perfectly. The salad dressing was obviously homemade and was so unique. Everything was top notch including the food, service, and atmosphere. Be ready to take a hit to the wallet but it is worth it. I would recommend this place for a special occasion. read more

Food was good, unfortunately the experience was sorely lacking. Although there were dozens of open tables they stuck us out on the deck. It would have been tolerable if the waiter didn't continually turned the propane heater down and fail to turn it up when he left. I mentioned it to him and he promptly did it again. The real problem was we were neglected all night. Took 20 minutes to get a beer and 30 minutes after we were dry to get a second. 45 minutes between bread and salad, another 45 until the entree. When we asked for a to go box and a check it was 20 minutes until he returned. He acted mad when I asked if we could just go direct to the bar and pay. He asked why and I said I didn't want to wait for him to find his way back to us Over two hours of shivering for a $120 meal on a Thursday night. I gave them two stars because the food was reasonably good. read more

Loved this restaurant and the history surrounding the building. Felt like I stepped back in time or to jolly olde England! And all the modern amenities like wonderful entrees and service! Our waitress showed us cool things about the building and told us some of the history. Rack of lamb was delicious and I loved the garlic-parm salad dressing. My husband had the weinersnitshel however it's spelled, and it was great. Don't pass this one up especially if you're a history buff or interested in architecture. read more

I had a most delightful experience here. The building and atmosphere is incredible. Max (this adorable German man) greets you and sweeps the floor with elegance. The food is unique and offers a delicious and unique pallet. The beer selection is wonderful, just wonderful. I have sat outside but each level of the place offers a unique atmosphere. I absolutely love this little gem in Abington and I'm so fortunate I got the opportunity to visit. I was very pleased with the entire experience. Yeaaah!! read more

We are visiting the area and the historic charm and menu of this restaurant enticed us to drive 30 minutes for takeout. We ordered the Chicken and mushroom risotto and the jambalaya. The "Jambalaya" was offensive to my Cajun heritage. The rice was undercooked. The entire dish was slathered in some kind of tomato sauce and there were all kinds of veggies that should never be in anything parading as jambalaya (Especially corn and zucchini). The rice in the mushroom risotto was also undercooked. It tasted like the casserole your aunt that doesn't cook brings to thanksgiving and no one touches. It was severely lacking flavor and especially under salted. The chicken on top was also flavorless, albeit moist. The menu described it as topped with bacon jam, but crumbled sweet bacon hardly counts as "jam" (maybe google that word?). I'll be making mushroom risotto tonight to satisfy my craving and I am considering bringing some to the cook so he or she can taste the difference. Overall, it was severely disappointing especially for the price tag. 1/10, will not recommend. read more

The food has been much reviewed and in my opinion is very good a solid 4 stars. I want the focus of this review to be on our server Dwayne or maybe it's Duane?? At any rate, I eat out for business more than I eat at home by factor of 10 Without a doubt Dwayne is one of the best servers ever any where on any day. Called me by name, treated me and our whole group like royalty, ever request was instantly met and he anticipated our needs too. Good job Sir this is what serious service looks like!! read more

Pricey, but worth it. This is a place you really have to "experience" to appreciate. The 200 year-old building, slanty floors, gregarious owner---you just have to try it. It's something special. Food is great, too. Oh and one more thing-- the tax was calculated correctly. read more

Quite possibly the best meal we've had if a very long time!! Service was outstanding as was the salmon appetizer, oysters Rockefeller and the stuffed filet! Highly recommend!! read more

Quite honestly, one of the best places I have been in in a long, long time - and here's why: 1. The oldest bar west of the Blue Ridge. Think about it. Go west and you will not find an older bar in the entire freakin county. Amazing. 2. Beautiful , authentic, aged antique gorgeousness - big rooms, all with a fireplace, old floors, some stone, simply furnished and ornamented, lovely bar down stairs, good eating rooms upstairs. Nice little snug bar on the ground floor. Fireplaces a-go-go. 3. You drink in the history as you sit there - original tavern, confederate hospital during the civil war, private house, renovated, bought in 94 by current owner Max Hermann, USAF Retired. Max is German so the beer is good and the food is awesome. 4. Good selection of draft beers - spaten, spaten optimator, warsteiner, an unfiltered German witbier, magic hat - one minor quibble was that the most local beer they had was from Vermont- come on Max - get some local beer in ! 5. Staff are fantastic. Did I mention the food is all German and really good. My colleague had hunters' schitnzel and I had the veal kind- the former was a bit rich, mine was perfect. Oysters Rockefeller - none available on the half shell - probably just as well given how far we are from the sea. A beautiful inn in a pleasant little town way off the beaten track ( note - way the hell off- this place is a 6 hour drive from DC - this place is closer to Atlanta than DC and is further west than Detroit). read more

This is one of them fancy eatin' places in quaint Abingdon. We had dinner here prior to heading over to the Barter Theater. The building was cozy, very old and you had to watch your head passing through doorways . The bar looked like a great place for a cocktail, but we went straight upstairs to the back balcony. It was a great place to sit as the thunderstorms rolled in. We had some perfectly made martinis, followed by an app (I can't remember anymore what it was) and salads. There was a sign outside warning of 2 hour dinners, and we were more than ready to kick back and kill those 2 hours with a leisurely dinner. We had an early 5:30 reservation, and arrived even earlier than that, so I think they mistook us for early bird retirees. As we were still working on our salads, the main course arrived. That's a huge no-no in my book. And I let the waitress know that. We were feeling rushed, which might be an odd complaint as I see other reviews here complaining that service was too slow. She did adjust after I said something and the pace for the remainder of the meal was fine, but really, you should know not to bring out the next course before the current one is finished. We both had the Weinerschnitzel. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. Dry and over cooked and the side of cabbage was a bit of a disappointment. The spaetzle was very good. We shared a glass of port for dessert which was good and reasonably priced. The owner was working the crowd through out dinne. Initially he was laying a Good Ol' Boy accent pretty thick on one table, and when I said something about him not sounding German he started sounding like Arnold Schwarzenegger (yeah, I know Arnold is Austrian). I have no idea how he really talks. He was German, but also a retired career USAF officer. The back outside patio looked nice, but it was supposed to rain, and the t-storms did in fact come through while we were there, so the balcony was the next best thing. It looked like they were having a small kudzu problem along one of the walls. We'll definitely be back in the area for another vacation. Abingdon had plenty to offer. I'm not sure we'll be stopping in here though, it wasn't quite as nice as we were expecting. read more

If you're going to eat one nice meal while in, or traveling through Abingdon, Virginia, this would be the spot to target. Right on Abingdon's historic Main Street, near the Martha Washington Inn, this gem of a tavern-slash-restaurant is the oldest building in town, dating from 1779. Not surprisingly, the interior is spartan, the old worn wood floors lean here and there, the doors are now slightly crooked as the years of life have settled this building more solidly into its foundation. We dined upstairs, beside a window overlooking Main Street. It was dreamy... I actually fell in love with the odd warp and wane of the wooden stairs, the way the crooked doors look against the roof eaves, and the odd old tables and chairs. Ours was perched beneath some old cobwebs, which I found endearing, and refreshing. The prices here are not, however, historic. That is, you pay modern day prices for modern day food and booze, but the selection is varied and the quality of the appetizers, bread, entrees, and dessert is outstanding. I had spicy jambalaya - which featured a liberal amount of spice that I found quite satisfactory. GT had prime rib. The "small" was quite large, actually, and being west coasters we ordered it rare (as newlyweds with families from opposite coasts, we've discovered that east coasters like their meat well done, and west coasters like their meat bloody rare). Mmmmmmmmmmmmm. Bloody fine steak, that! For finishers our eyes glazed over when the key lime pie arrived. GT said it's the best key lime pie he's ever eaten. I said Mmmmmmmmmm, pie. After dinner, on our way out the door, we pit-stopped at the bar, where a few gregarious folk were talking politics with the bartender. We had a nice, rousing banter going there for a while, over a pint. Not unlike the 1770s, I say! FYI: Virginia is still tobacco country. If you don't like the smoke, get out of the Tavern (i.e., go upstairs to the non-smoking part of the restaurant). read more

Ate there on a Thursday night as part of a business trip. The food and service were outstanding. The table had the house select appetizer platter and everything on it was excellent. I sampled the baked Brie, shrimp cocktail and stuffed mushrooms.. All were delicious. For dinner I had the stuffed filet with a vegetable medley and it was awesome. The filet was extremely tender and prepared just right. Great meal. Will come back if I'm ever in the area again. read more

I spent a year working in the area and lived in Abingdon. I bet I was at the Tavern close to a hundred times. I've been all over the menu from appetizers to deserts and everything in between. You will not find a finer dining establishment around and it all starts with the Owner. As good as the restaurant is, the owner Max is an even better person. Do youself a favor and stop at The Tavern. read more

Charming historic restaurant that has served as far more than a restaurant in this location since 1779. I enjoyed the crab crakes with a delicious remoulade, while my colleagues had jambalaya and a German dish I'm sure to mangle if I try to spell it. They both loved it While the food was quite good, the ambience is what wins. I can imagine on s wintry night, the fireside seating and warming brandy would be quite a comfort. Service was friendly and not hovering. I would come back again. read more

So.... My girlfriend a coworker and his wife drove over an hour from Boone to check out this Tavern that the coworker and his wife had been to several times over the years. They had us so excited to try a German / Austrian restaurant, that the drive did not seem like an issue. Then we got to The Tavern and were mishandled by the three folks at the front desk. They rudely explained to us that we will have to wait 45-60 minutes for a table. We were ok with the wait. The front desk staff went on to explain that they are very busy and that we will definitely be the last guests allowed to get in before kitchen closes at 9. Restaurant closes at 10, hmm. Then, after an hour of waiting, 915, we were told the kitchen has closed and there is no way to get the kitchen to take on another table. The front desk blamed us for not reminding them we were waiting, even thought the waiting area is at front desk....no more than 5-6 feet wide and deep from desk. Never been treated that way. Do not understand three people acting this way together. Disappointing. read more

I absolutely love this restuarant! The ambiance, food and service is always amazing. The owner is always welcoming and the staff attentive and friendly. I loved the Chicken Saltimbocca which is no longer on the menu, but now the lamb is my new favorite. I have invited family and friends to join me in the experience over the years and everyone has loved their meals. You really can't go wrong. I do, however, encourage you to try the Brie Appetizer. The prices are high, but worth every cent. read more

Excellent food my husband had the New York strip, cooked to perfection. I had the wienerschnitzel. Both were great.

We were visiting Abingdon and saltville for the weekend and decided to try this restaurant. I was a bit hesitant from previous reviews I'd read saying that servers ignored tables and that the food was extremely slow to arrive or subpar vs price point. We had an excellent experience. The restaurant itself is beautiful, nestled in a gorgeous historic house. Our server was very attentive and pleasant. The food was delicious. We ordered the onion soup (a must- one of the best I have ever had); then the trout and the duck. Both were excellent. I highly recommend this restaurant, the ambiance and the food are top notch. If we had to be picky, the only comment we would make is that the old fashioned wasn't served traditionally. read more

Very disappointed. Traveling through town and decided on The Tavern based on high reviews. I'm giving one star so people can get a better sense of the experience. The historic ambiance and service was nice (although that's expected at this price point)but we came for the food. I ordered the $42 porterhouse special, rare. It was not rare, but how could it be when it was less than 1/2" thick? Also, overloaded with heat, and although the plating was pretty, why would you put a cold corn salad on top of a hot steak? I asked my father how he liked his Weiner Schnitzel and he said, "If I look really close, I think I can see some meat." As I said, not from the area, but my guess would be that this restaurant is capitalizing on the tourist crowd. Restaurants need to be about food and food quality, not hype. read more

I had the Peppercorn Encrusted Duck. It was exceptional. It is also a historic building which has tremendous potential but they have definitely concentrated of the food instead of the building so I can't complain about that. read more

The Tavern - Delicious Peppercorn Encrusted Duck - American Near Me - Abingdon, Virginia

We were a party of five with a reservation. The restaurant wasn't overly busy, but there were a fair amount of people there for a weekday night. We were seated on the porch, one flight up. At first it wasn't so bad because the temps were bearable that evening and there was a slight breeze. BUT, when our dinner arrived so did the FLIES!! They dive bombed our plates!! And if that wasn't bad enough, someone sitting on the patio below began to chain smoke! As we walked through the dining room to go downstairs, it was nearly empty. Our dinner would have been so much nicer indoors. Why oh, why did they seat us out there without first warning us about the pests?? Why on earth didn't they give us a choice?? The food was okay but we ate it quickly because of the flies, so who knows. The waitress said the desserts were made fresh each day at The Tavern, but we discovered they were actually from Anthony's bakery on Main St. No mistake about it!! Sorry to say, the atmosphere of the restaurant was terrible. There was a sloppiness throughout and the service was slow. The wait staff and the young man who greeted us when we walked in were all dressed like they were going to wash their car. Not what we would expect from the highest priced restaurant in Abingdon. The Tavern has slipped. We were embarrassed to take guests out for dinner only to swat flies and rush through dessert under cigarette smoke clouds. We won't be back. read more

Really nice local spot in Abingdon....a little historical charm with our dinner. While the service could probably have been a little faster, our server was wonderful and responded to every wish at her best. Steak, filet, scallops all quite good. My one request would be a wider wine list. read more

Stumbled on this little historical gem on our way to the Barter Theater and glad we did. Great ambiance! Service from Ashley was superb, appetizer Grilled Scallops over Creamy Grits topped with gremolata and tossed peppercorn buerre blanc was amazing. We shared a German dish #3... delicious and very generous portions! read more

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So great to visit for dinner! Our large group got a separate room on the second floor and it was great! Some legend stories come from this room too. The oldest tavern in VA! The owner, Max, socialized with our group and told some great stories. We even got a tour of the attic from Josh! Great personalized service just for our group. Oh and check out the love letter table. So interesting to read a few letters! Over all it was a great experience and the food was fantastic. read more

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Can't believe I have to rate it this low! I wish for 2.5 stars but because of the good bar service I went with 3 rather than 2. We tried for reservations for E&H homecoming weekend but were told they were booked. I spent MANY evenings here when I was in undergrad at E&H and the memories were waiting around for me. That part was great. Also, the bartender had an engaging personality and served up some excellent drinks. We spent 2 evenings having cocktails here before supper elsewhere but on the 2nd evening we were told a spot had opened up and we took it. I really wish we had kept our reservation elsewhere. The food may have been OK under all the heavy sauce and salty spices. WHY WOULD ANYONE DO THAT TO A NICE STEAK?! Salads were wilting and boring. Bland and heavy are the best adjectives for the overall food experience. The service was OK - but not on par with the prices which have skyrocketed, even considering inflation. We'll visit again for drinks before going somewhere else for supper - I recommend you do the same. read more

I attended a rehersal dinner here 3/28 for an out-of-town wedding. The food was authentic German cuisine. My brother was skeptical about how good a certain dish would be, but upon being greeted by the German owner he immediately changed his meal and was not disappointed. The food was incredibly rich and I couldn't finish my meal, and the house salad dressing (garlic parmesean) is TO DIE FOR. My German beer loving family was in heaven due to the draught selection. The Revolutionary vibe was wonderful. It wasn't overdone and there were just enough modern touches to make me feel like I wasn't in a strange re-enactment. The building was beautiful. Shout out to our server, Dwayne. That man was BUSY but was completely charming the whole time. The only reason I took a star away is because he was running around like crazy, and I think for a dinner of this size he really should have had some back-up. His service was fantastic, but as someone who currently works in the service industry I know how hard it is to keep up with busy guests alone. read more

Excellent food! The food is fresh, and the steaks are prepared to perfection. The only complaint is that the baked potatoes weren't "fluffy", I recommend the sautéed veggies instead. The service is good, and the atmosphere (in a charming historic building) is worth the trip itself. read more

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Quality, well-prepared food, in an amazing historic environment. One of my favorite places to dine.

Love going to the Tavern when visiting Abingdon. Great historic location, rustic interior, attentive service and diverse menu. Appetizer: Brie with honey and toasted almonds was great. Entree was Filet mignon stuffed with Gorgonzola, spinach and bacon with plum sauce.. Meat was perfectly cooked and stuffing was delicious. However the plum sauce almost ruined the dish; way too sweet, way too much sauce...very overwhelming. A drizzle would have been sufficient. I'll be back but won't order that again. read more

If you come to Abingdon, this restaurant needs to be at the top of your list. The history and atmosphere is very unique and the food is great. It is wonderful to be able to drink unique German beers, a nice break from the craft beer scene. read more

Wonderful place. Great food and service. I loved the scallops au gratin. Oldest historical building in Abingdon. read more

The Tavern - American Near Me - Abingdon, Virginia

I was not happy with the service we received at The Tavern! As senior citizens, why would anyone, looking at my friend and myself, think we could walk up all the steps that where there. We were not asked if the upstairs would be o.k. We were given a menu , our waitress never indicated to us that, they had specials. After looking at the prices of the food, we decided upon the Tavern Onion Soup and a Caesar Salad and for a drink, we had ice tea. After receiving what we ordered, we heard another waitress helping another patron and given them the SPECIALS OF THE DAY! (This was never indicated to us!) The bill was outrageous, I have never seen as many taxes that were applied to the bill. The soup was excellent but the salad had TOO MUCH cheese on it! Don't think I will patronize THE TAVERN again!!! read more

Perfect dinner before the Barter Theatre. In winter, the fireplace warmed up our table. Four of us ordered a variety of dishes. All from vegetarian to meat lovers were satisfied and happy. German food, and other delicious options. read more

I would rate our experience as excellent! The food was perfect, and the service was great. Thank you Dwayne for your extra special care! Can't wait to go back! read more

Went here a few nights ago and had the duck. I didn't see it coming but it was probably in my top 10 meals I've ever eaten and easily the best meal I've had in SWVA. I hadn't been since I was a kid and the colonial charm still hits. It's a unique place and the food matches the vibe. read more

Delicious meal! Every bite was outstanding. Not sure what we liked best. We had every course. The Caesar Salad was crisp and fresh, the Tavern onion soup was wonderful! The filet - one of the best I ever had, but that's not all. I ordered surf and turf with lobster and the lobster was amazing too. If you can dine at The Tavern, do yourself a favor-go! The food is outstanding and so is the service. read more

My favorite restaurant in town! The food is Amazing!! The owner/Chef Max is Awesome!! The atmosphere has History like none other!! Tight space if you're a big group (big groups like ten or more might wanna try "Rain" also in town.) amazing overall and mostly a very friendly staff- been there lots, but once had a waiter that was super slow and I thought lazy, you should be fine I don't think he's there anymore. read more