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Nice outdoor patio. Friendly service. Took a little while to get our food, not sure why. I would say the food was good, but not exceptional. I would say go here for the ambience, but I have to wonder if there's not any a place with higher food quality.
Great spot in the middle of Winchester. It was a perfect day for brunch on the patio. We were quick to be seated and the waitress was fast to approach our table. Attentive, cordial, and professional. The food was delicious and it came out quickly.
It really upsets me when a restaurant does not have a women's bathroom. This place had 2 bathrooms but anybody could go in either one, which is disgusting. This is not a gas station in the middle of no where! For goodness sake, have a woman's restroom!!! For this reason alone we will not return. Even still, the food was not good. I got the Chesapeak bay catfish and they burned it. The breading was burned and dry. They gave a very small portion of tartar sauce... which I had to flag down the waitress for. The brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes with gravy were decent. Hubby got the meatloaf and it was good. Corn bread and cocktail were ok. The waitress was MIA the entire meal. Nope.... skip this place.
Delicious Southern style comfort food right in the heart of Downtown Winchester. I've never had a bad experience at Water Street. I adore their Chicken Fritters and the sauces they have available. The side options are also fantastic. The outside seating (weather permitting) gives som great vibes as you can people-watch the walking mall and no matter how busy, the service is always on point. Also one of the best beer selections at any restaurant downtown.
A lovely location on the downtown Winchester walking mall with an outdoor patio. It was chilly today, so we opted to sit indoors. They don't take reservations so be prepared for a wait during busy hours. We were able to get right in and sat at a booth in the front window. Such a great view and amazing service to match. They have a nice selection of beers rotating on tap. I ordered the Chicken Fritters entree which comes with two sides. The chicken was excellent - moist inside and crispy on the outside. Perfection. My sides were a side salad and country green beans which were very good as well. Overall a really solid southern cooking restaurant, will def be back!
Ambiance was good. Food was good. Did take a while to get it brought to table but it was worth the wait and very hot. The fried Catfish was unevenly cooked. The this end was well done the thick end wasn't done enough. Would have been better butterflies to make and even slice. The batter was seasoned. The okra could have used some salt.. thevcorn bread was sweet and good. The cheddar grits was perfect and hot. Thick without being to thick. The shrimp and grits was delightful.
TLDR: Favorite brunch place in Winchester. This is my favorited place to get brunch & lunch. I bring people here all the time to see the alcohol wall and to try their amazing chicken & hush puppies. During beautiful days, Water Street is PACKED & there is a wait time. You can add yourself to their waitlist to get a call when you're next in line. On really busy days, I'll put my name on the list, walk down to the Hideaway Cafe or Espresso Bar & Cafe, grab a coffee, and wait for the text saying my table is ready. It's a "seat yourself" establishment. Parking is always difficult since it's city parking, but you'll find something. Paid meters ($0.75 per hour for red-label meters and $0.50 per hour for blue-label meters) during the week (M - F 9am - 6pm) & free on weekends. There are parking garages, but they're more expensive than the street (obviously). Food (4/5): The food is always so delicious. Love the Sweet Corn Hush Puppies ($8 app), Chicken & Waffle ($17 entree), Sunday Fried Chicken Sandwich ($14 entree), Orange Crush, Ruby Red Crush, and the Blackberry Lemonade! Fav sauce: Georgia Gold. I've been coming here for years, and I can't say I've ever had something I hated. Though I CAN say that the portions are slowly getting smaller and smaller. The Chicken & Waffle is now at 1/4 a Belgium Waffle. The menu says you get a Belgian Waffle, don't let them trick you. It's the IDEA of a Belgian Waffle in the form & texture of an Eggo frozen waffle. Service (3/5): Ok, service is hectic. It's a "seat yourself" establishment. It takes time for someone to come to your table, and when they do, ORDER. If you're inside, don't expect the server to come back soon OR once your food has been delivered. SOMETIMES you get a quick "everything ok?" from your server in passing, but don't expect it because they're always so packed, and they have to keep moving. You won't be getting a water refill if you're inside. Outside is a different story. Outside, it's a lot more laid back and you see your server more often. You can order more drinks & more sides & apps. The vibes are very different. Sit inside or outside based on your mood: hyper (inside) or relaxed (outside). Ambiance (4/5): Water Street used to have CANS and BOTTLES of beer, cider, seltzers, and wine on all the available wall space. It was amazing how wide a selection they had. But now, it's 1 wall half full. I'm not sure what happened or if they moved it or is bringing it back, but that was disappointing to see. They have a can chiller though, it doesn't make up for the missing alcohol wall, but it's really fast.
We had brunch there on 1/26/2025. My wife had the chicken and waffles. Chicken was crispy and tender. Delicious. Waffle was very good but she found the shape and size to be odd but nonetheless very tasty. I had the country fried steak with roasted potatoes and sunny side up eggs. I would not order this again. The steak itself was crispy and tender. The sausage gravy was tasty. Eggs were cooked perfectly. The oven roasted potatoes were disappointing. They didn't seem to be made from fresh potatoes. They had a weird texture. If I go back, I will not order the oven roasted potatoes. Our server initially brought me the wrong order. I informed them of their mistake and they brought me the correct order in a few minutes.
Reviews are largely positive. People highlight the flavorful comfort food, friendly attentive service, a welcoming ambiance, and a wide drink selection.
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2 months ago
I came in today to try some specials and get a burger. The deviled eggs on the special were delightful and so were the cheese curds. I ordered the Lucy burger, and it was perfect. A lot of burgers around here are either way too thick or too thin. These were just right, like a double quarter pounder (the gold standard for patty thickness argue with a wall). The service was quick and the waitress was very helpful and complemented my girlfriend on her bag. read more
1 month ago
This was the absolute worst catfish I've ever had in my life. As someone who lives in DC and has a vast variety of restaurant options with catfish in the area, this was very disappointing to try on my trip to Winchester. The catfish was soggy and bland. The catfish also had a gray color to it under the breading. The so called "crispy" brussel sprouts were burnt and tasted horrible. The best item I ate was the tater tots which is why they didn't make it into the crime scene photo. They absolutely butchered my food. Do not recommend at all. ***24hr update: It's been 24 hours since dining at this establishment and I've had diarrhea since. Please save yourself from the disastrous decision of eating here. read more
Really enjoyed our brunch here for our pals birthday today! The spot is right smack dab in the middle of downtown Winchester, surrounded by some cute local shopping boutiques. The indoor seating was on the small side but the ac was great! A lot of local beer to choose from to make your own six pack to go too! Also, outdoor seating with umbrellas. No "full" bar so some drink options weren't available- like a martini for example. We ordered off the brunch menu and most of our plates were left totally empty. Honorable mention to the chicken and waffles, just the right about of succulent chicken and crunchy exterior. My French toast was very yummy too. Portions are larger which is nice. Our peach Bellini carafe afforded a few of us a glass with our meal. The crispy brussels cane highly recommended but they were a little charred for my taste. Service was prompt and courteous. A great brunch spot through and through! read more
Nice outdoor patio. Friendly service. Took a little while to get our food, not sure why. I would say the food was good, but not exceptional. I would say go here for the ambience, but I have to wonder if there's not any a place with higher food quality. read more
Great spot in the middle of Winchester. It was a perfect day for brunch on the patio. We were quick to be seated and the waitress was fast to approach our table. Attentive, cordial, and professional. The food was delicious and it came out quickly. read more
It really upsets me when a restaurant does not have a women's bathroom. This place had 2 bathrooms but anybody could go in either one, which is disgusting. This is not a gas station in the middle of no where! For goodness sake, have a woman's restroom!!! For this reason alone we will not return. Even still, the food was not good. I got the Chesapeak bay catfish and they burned it. The breading was burned and dry. They gave a very small portion of tartar sauce... which I had to flag down the waitress for. The brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes with gravy were decent. Hubby got the meatloaf and it was good. Corn bread and cocktail were ok. The waitress was MIA the entire meal. Nope.... skip this place. read more
3 days ago
Delicious Southern style comfort food right in the heart of Downtown Winchester. I've never had a bad experience at Water Street. I adore their Chicken Fritters and the sauces they have available. The side options are also fantastic. The outside seating (weather permitting) gives som great vibes as you can people-watch the walking mall and no matter how busy, the service is always on point. Also one of the best beer selections at any restaurant downtown. read more
8 months ago
A lovely location on the downtown Winchester walking mall with an outdoor patio. It was chilly today, so we opted to sit indoors. They don't take reservations so be prepared for a wait during busy hours. We were able to get right in and sat at a booth in the front window. Such a great view and amazing service to match. They have a nice selection of beers rotating on tap. I ordered the Chicken Fritters entree which comes with two sides. The chicken was excellent - moist inside and crispy on the outside. Perfection. My sides were a side salad and country green beans which were very good as well. Overall a really solid southern cooking restaurant, will def be back! read more
6 months ago
Ambiance was good. Food was good. Did take a while to get it brought to table but it was worth the wait and very hot. The fried Catfish was unevenly cooked. The this end was well done the thick end wasn't done enough. Would have been better butterflies to make and even slice. The batter was seasoned. The okra could have used some salt.. thevcorn bread was sweet and good. The cheddar grits was perfect and hot. Thick without being to thick. The shrimp and grits was delightful. read more
11 days ago
2 months ago
1 month ago
2 months ago
2 years ago
TLDR: Favorite brunch place in Winchester. This is my favorited place to get brunch & lunch. I bring people here all the time to see the alcohol wall and to try their amazing chicken & hush puppies. During beautiful days, Water Street is PACKED & there is a wait time. You can add yourself to their waitlist to get a call when you're next in line. On really busy days, I'll put my name on the list, walk down to the Hideaway Cafe or Espresso Bar & Cafe, grab a coffee, and wait for the text saying my table is ready. It's a "seat yourself" establishment. Parking is always difficult since it's city parking, but you'll find something. Paid meters ($0.75 per hour for red-label meters and $0.50 per hour for blue-label meters) during the week (M - F 9am - 6pm) & free on weekends. There are parking garages, but they're more expensive than the street (obviously). Food (4/5): The food is always so delicious. Love the Sweet Corn Hush Puppies ($8 app), Chicken & Waffle ($17 entree), Sunday Fried Chicken Sandwich ($14 entree), Orange Crush, Ruby Red Crush, and the Blackberry Lemonade! Fav sauce: Georgia Gold. I've been coming here for years, and I can't say I've ever had something I hated. Though I CAN say that the portions are slowly getting smaller and smaller. The Chicken & Waffle is now at 1/4 a Belgium Waffle. The menu says you get a Belgian Waffle, don't let them trick you. It's the IDEA of a Belgian Waffle in the form & texture of an Eggo frozen waffle. Service (3/5): Ok, service is hectic. It's a "seat yourself" establishment. It takes time for someone to come to your table, and when they do, ORDER. If you're inside, don't expect the server to come back soon OR once your food has been delivered. SOMETIMES you get a quick "everything ok?" from your server in passing, but don't expect it because they're always so packed, and they have to keep moving. You won't be getting a water refill if you're inside. Outside is a different story. Outside, it's a lot more laid back and you see your server more often. You can order more drinks & more sides & apps. The vibes are very different. Sit inside or outside based on your mood: hyper (inside) or relaxed (outside). Ambiance (4/5): Water Street used to have CANS and BOTTLES of beer, cider, seltzers, and wine on all the available wall space. It was amazing how wide a selection they had. But now, it's 1 wall half full. I'm not sure what happened or if they moved it or is bringing it back, but that was disappointing to see. They have a can chiller though, it doesn't make up for the missing alcohol wall, but it's really fast. read more
3 months ago
We had brunch there on 1/26/2025. My wife had the chicken and waffles. Chicken was crispy and tender. Delicious. Waffle was very good but she found the shape and size to be odd but nonetheless very tasty. I had the country fried steak with roasted potatoes and sunny side up eggs. I would not order this again. The steak itself was crispy and tender. The sausage gravy was tasty. Eggs were cooked perfectly. The oven roasted potatoes were disappointing. They didn't seem to be made from fresh potatoes. They had a weird texture. If I go back, I will not order the oven roasted potatoes. Our server initially brought me the wrong order. I informed them of their mistake and they brought me the correct order in a few minutes. read more
We tried the Ruben & Chicken Salad sandwiches, both were huge portions and delicious. I really liked the side salad with poppy dressing. I enjoyed that they only sell vintage styled sodas and they have them on display on the walls. read more
4 months ago
5 months ago
2 months ago
10 months ago
I had chicken with waffle and eggs as side. Quality of food is very good. Service is excellent. Menu has quite a bit of great choices. Lots of great side dishes. read more
2 years ago
We love visiting Winchester! Food: Cobb salad was soooo good. Huge, fresh salad with freshly grilled chicken (actually on a grill). Best Reuben sandwich I think we've ever tasted (lean corned beef and not overly buttered). Corn bread gets two thumbs up from hubs (who I particular about cornbread). Drinks: margarita was perfect, salty and not sweet. Hubs old fashion was a bit too sweet for our taste, so that's my only ding. Service: Friendly, quick Such a quaint homestyle restaurant that doesn't skimp on portions, is clean and the menu is superb! Can't wait to visit again! read more
More like a 4.5. Ambience was a 5, with its location on Winchester's Loudon street/ traditional downtown walking mall. Food was a 4.5, with excellent crab cakes and a decent shrimp cocktail, accompanied by an excellent local beer. The chocolate dessert torte was out of this world! Service was also very good. A new favorite! read more
3 months ago
3 months ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
A great option for lunch in Winchester. We had fried green tomatoes as an appetizer. I had catfish with brussels sprouts and green beans, with some cornbread. It was all very good. The place was very busy, and our server didn't check in with us as often as we would have liked (she did apologize for being MIA). I would go back though. I didn't have any alcohol but they had Bourbon County Stout on draft! Quite unusual. Cramped space but homey at the same time. read more
Visited this restaurant again when coming to town to visit friends. Our first visit was excellent. This visit was meh. We were seated right away (party of 5) in the back room with another party of maybe 12 people. It was so loud in there we couldn't hear each other. The acoustics were terrible low and really hampered my ability to enjoy myself. The food was also meh. My husband had meatloaf and I had a crab cake meal. The crab cake was tasty but it was less crab and more breading. Not what I was wanting for what I paid. The meatloaf was dense and not very flavorful. The PB pie was nothing special though tastes good. It was like one you buy from the frozen food section. Frankly disappointing this go and not sure we'll go back. The server was great though. Kept us refilled on drinks and was attentive. read more
We stopped here for brunch on our trip to Winchester. It's a cute, historic cafe with good-sized portions and a homey bar. You can have a drink there or buy a mixed six of beer or wine with a host of selections from local wineries and breweries. Whenever I travel south, I need to get some grits and biscuits. Water Street had both along with a special daily quiche. I had the crab quiche, which was fluffy and cheesy and perfect for a light brunch. I'm not sure if this can be validated or not, but our tour guide at the Patsy Cline museum also said the original restaurant had been owned by Patsy's mother, if you want to add it to your tour of Winchester. read more
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