I planned an afternoon and overnight stop in historic Staunton, Virginia on my way to vacation in PA. There are so many options in this lovely town but I made a reservation at Zynodoa because I have been on a farm-to-table kick lately. The servers and hosts were all lovely, interacting with both the guests and each other professionally and amicably. My server Sarah gave me as much attention as anyone else, even though I was the only person dining alone. I ordered the tomato and burrata appetizer. I am not a big raw tomato eater but I knew if these were truly farm-to-table, they would taste good, and they did. The flavor felt like a combination of sunshine and a warm hug! The cheese tasted like a sweet kiss. The portion was substantial, and there was balsamic reduction and a generous amount of coarse pesto. I ate the whole thing! For the main course I ordered the flat iron steak. Because I was traveling and didn't want leftovers, I asked the server for a smaller portion than listed, but either I wasn't clear or it wasn't an option--It's okay, though. I ordered the steak medium rare but it was a shade above rare; again, okay. Sides were good but I added salt. The meal was a bit pricey but probably fair given that it was sourced locally. I agree with some of the other reviewers that the chef is heavy handed on the sauces, which may not be everyone's cup of tea. Oh, I ordered the pinot noir and it was good, smooth, balanced. Overall impression of Zynodoa was it felt like visiting the home of a friend with a garden who loves to cook and share with her friends. The portions were generous and the seasoning was substantial. I highly recommend to anyone visiting Staunton. read more

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An excellent and inventive restaurant in Staunton that punches way above its weight. My wife and I traveled to Staunton recently and were advised to try Zynodoa. The cocktail and mocktails were flavorful and well priced. Our waiter was great. Very knowledgeable about the menu, town and ingredients. We started with the Chicken Liver pate. This was well prepared, although I hate when a restaurant provides an odd number of toasts for two people. We asked for an extra piece and thought it was funny that they gave us exactly one. FYI- it comes with several accoutrements which were tasty, but the mustard was really the most satisfying. My wife had the brisket, which I would call a must have. Fantastic Asian spices, fried rice ball and Kimchi. Just an explosion of flavors. I was glad she shared. (This is uncommon) I had the pork chop and it was really pretty. Unfortunately, it lacked flavor and I had to carve off the fat which made up about 1/3rd of the chop. The bone was the other third...so it turned out to be a thick but modest cut. That said, it was on a lovely bed of mash and some of the best blue and white carrots I ever had. We finished with the carrot cake. (All of the desserts are made onsite.) which we learned was gluten free. Honestly if it was marked GF I wouldn't have ordered it. Anyway, when it arrived I thought we received the wrong thing. It looked like a decorative cliff bar. Once we took a bite we were blown away by the flavors and texture. It was delicious. Such a great experience. We were near the kitchen, so we got to see the head chef get orders out. There were some highs and lows, but the overall experience was really nice. read more

Zynodoa - Chicken liver pate - New American Near Me - Staunton, Virginia

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My wife and I were driving to North Carolina and wanted a halfway stop, so we chose Staunton, Virginia based on a restaurant for dinner. Zynodoa was our choice. Good call! We stopped in Thursday February 5, 2026. The cozy space, complete with a locally painted on the wall, gives it a warm, welcoming feel. In speaking with the matrade we learned the name of the restaurant comes from the Native American word that has become Shenandoah. After 20 years in business it's clear this place has deep local roots. The staff was friendly and attentive. Kyle, our waiter, did a great job and worked seamlessly with his teammates to make the experience memorable. We started with cocktails -- my wife had the Sage Advice and I had a classic Manhattan. Proper cocktails for sure! The crème brûléed cornbread and sweet potato bisque were standout starters. Probably could have stopped eating after those starters...For mains, my wife loved the pork loin and I enjoyed the pan-seared trout. We finished with the banana mousse, which was absolutely amazing! Great food, great service, great atmosphere. Highly recommend if you're passing through Staunton. definitely worth the stop. read more

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Went for dinner with a friend, our reserved table wasn't quite ready and we sat at the bar and were largely ignored for 5-7 minutes. Finally, our drinks were taken by the bar tender and before we could get them we were seated. The drinks were never put in or she just flat ignored us. (We both saw her write the order down.) Our server finally had to re order them, we had now been there 22 minutes with no cocktails. Absurd. Anyway, our server Jerrod was great but everything else was subpar. I've made better scallops in my sleep and the presentation was an absolute train wreck, looked like it had been thrown on the floor and then scooped back up. The charcuterie plate was decent and the locally sourced cheeses were great, especially that Brie. But this place is overrated, at best. I can't recommend it for the price. Pretentious, overpriced and quite boring, not to mention unprofessional. read more

My friend and I came here for dinner Saturday night. They book up fast for reservations so recommend reserving in advance. We didn't have reservations but we were able to sit at the bar. It's a small restaurant so probably why they book up fast but it's nice inside. The bar is nice too. Staff were friendly. We did the crème brûlée cornbread for starters and then I got the ribs which were amazing. They came with fried rice which was good too. My friend got the beet salad, scallops, brussel sprouts, and spaghetti dish. All was delicious as well. read more

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The service was excellent, everyone we interacted with was friendly and knowledgeable. The scallops were the best thing I've ever tasted, they were unbelievably tender. Everything about this place was delightful! read more

My friend and I were celebrating my early birthday and drove into town for for a late dinner. I was excited to try food made with ingredients from some of the purveyors on their menu, especially from Polyface Farm and Anson Mills. Service was great and the ambiance was nice. Perfect for a date night. It was surprisingly busy yet still felt private. Beef tartare ($14): This looked less raw (?) than I was used to and seemed a bit more on the chewy side. Yummy anyway. Baby carrot salad ($14): Simple but good. With the portion size, salad seems like a strong word. Slow roasted chicken ($28) with a side of roasted garlic mashed potatoes ($5) and grits ($5): The chicken curry was good with a nice level of spice. I just wish there'd been more rice. The garlic mashed potatoes were delicious and the grits were cooked perfectly. Pumpkin panna cotta ($9): The unshelled (?) pumpkin seeds were so tough to chew. I wish they hadn't topped the dish at all. Nice pumpkin spice panna cotta, although I think the texture was more like flan/mousse. read more

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My wife and I recently went here to celebrate our 40th anniversary. The entire staff could not have been warmer or more helpful. I ordered the brisket and it absolutely melted in my mouth. We have some good brisket here in Richmond, but I think this one was even better. The atmosphere is nice. There are big roomie booths that evoke a kind of chophouse feeling. They have a great selection of beers and cocktails Morgan, our server was very attentive and could not have been nicer. We've already made reservations for our return. read more

Zynodoa - Brisket and scallops. - New American Near Me - Staunton, Virginia

Farm to table experience with extremely fresh and delicious food. Did not like management style was extremely unprofessional towards staff. Very intimate place and can be expensive with wine and cocktails. Great place to celebrate special occasions or date night. read more

Super service. Our waiter was one of the purveyors of farm to table food that the restaurant uses, in his case, the delicious mushrooms! He gave us great advice including steering us to the gazpacho. To die for... Beautiful venue, our second visit there and loved it again. read more

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It's amazing. Just go. Where else are you going to get brulee'd cornbread?????? The scallops were also great, and so was the beet salad. Fresh food just tastes better. read more

Great place! My husband and I are new to Staunton and wanted to celebrate his birthday with a good cocktail and a cigar at the nearby lounge. Unfortunately, the cigar lounge was closed (need to update hours) but we went on to the cocktail spot - Zyndoa - I'm a Yelper - I've found it pretty reliable. We didn't have reservations and they had recently opened for dinner. So although we didn't have reservations we were able to take a spot at the near empty bar. After about 1/2 hr.,I could see why they asked if we had reservations because it quickly filled up. The bar was well stocked with whiskeys, scotch and bourbons - my whiskey drinking conisour hubby says they had a wide range to suit everyone's tastes. After ordering a couple cocktails- which were VERY good! The bartender told us they did 3 or 5 1oz. Pour tasting flights of the guests choosing. My husband loved this and selected a few and the very knowledgeable bartender gave a few Virginia recommendations. Great service, excellent drinks and recommendations. The spot was modern without being pretentious and very clean. Next time we will come for food as well! Thanks for making my hubby's birthday fun and special. read more

Zynodoa - A fairly rare one! - New American Near Me - Staunton, Virginia

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We had a lovely brunch at Zynodoa for our last morning in Staunton. The service was great, our waiter was very friendly and attentive. The restaurant was not too crowded and had ample seating - both indoor and outdoor. I ordered an espresso martini, which was delicious. My partner and I also split the garlic caesar - which was amazing! I got the steak and eggs, cooked medium rare, which was definitely the highlight of my meal. The only reason I'm giving it 4 starts instead of 5 is because the sausage gravy my partner got, while it had good flavor, was way too salty - which was a bit of a let down. read more

Zynodoa - 7 Hills Steak & Eggs - New American Near Me - Staunton, Virginia

The Fish was amazing, but Fettuccini was very Olive Garden quality but a little more andante. The portion was too little for $26. The service was great, Morgan was a great host and very pleasant to talk to. The ambiance was good and pleasant too. read more

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Incredible service, incredible food, and incredible overall ambiance in such an unassuming swanky little spot. The starters included this brûléed cornbread which was moist perfection, followed by some delicious fried oysters and a fig/Burrata salad. The star starter was these fried potatoes with caviar on top. The entrees are where this restaurant shines. A 55oz cowboy ribeye with compound butter was to die for (with a bit too much gristle than I'm comfortable with). My recommendation is to get it medium instead of the chef recommended medium-rare. Finally, the pork duo had me on my knees! The best crispy pork belly with some sweet pulled pork over bacon collards and grits put me on my a$$ for real. If you're in Staunton, get your butt to Zynodoa, you won't be sorry! read more

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Still an amazing experience! Cheese board, Caesar Salad, 44oz tomahawk, and panna cotta for dessert. All were fresh, delicious, and satisfying! read more

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It's with sadness I write this Zynodoa review, having hesitated through at least four meals there since the installment of the not-so "new" chef last fall. Chef Laura came over from Duner's in Ivy outside Charlottesville. Our once tried-and-true favorite, consistently very good to excellent restaurant we've enjoyed for over 12 years, Zynodoa is now hit-or-miss. Chef Laura lacks the finesse, the sense of proportion, the deftness of every chef preceding her. And bewilderingly, Pork and Pork Belly features large on the menu. Okay, pork is a cheap and dirty meat alternative possibly a necessity of rising inflation, but I should not have to ask that pork belly be removed from my Caesar salad. I was indignant, not at a fine restaurant like Zynodoa. Across the way at the Depot, sure. Laura likes sauces. Not delicate French sauces, my experience. She uses a heavy hand. As at Duner's, the star ingredient swims in sauce, such as my Brussel sprouts. I'm a vegetarian, and my last meal, Farmer's Skillet Trio something, was glop. In addition, the Brussel sprouts were then doused with a surfeit of red pepper jelly. I can't even remember the second of the trio, because I could not eat it. Bewilderingly, the third was Spinach/Feta/Bean spanakopita. Nothing complimented the other though sounded good on paper. While my husband's beef kabobs were excellent, the best meal, he said. A friend who was there in January heard the table next to her say they were never coming back after trying to chew on a piece of gristle, the second or third kitchen replacement. The friend thought the food was over salted while I had to ask for more salt. The consistent excellence we took for granted is a thing of the past, I'm afraid. My husband and I now are choosing to dine elsewhere, whereas in the past, Zynodoa was always the obvious choice. Fortunately, the Lemon Olive Cake, Cornbread Brûlée, and Beet Salad remain and are still very good, so is the bread. I can only hope this recent downward trajectory is temporary, but I'm afraid it's only as temporary as the "new" Duner's chef. read more

Came by this spot for an early dinner before a show at the Shakespeare Playhouse later in the evening. We reserved a table since it was eight of us. The server was very friendly even asking as the start of the meal if we we had plans that evening, so he could gauge how quickly dinner was needed. We started with the Polyface Farm Chicken Liver Parfait, Bruleed Cast Iron Cornbread, and a few salads to share. The chicken liver was very good and a great choice to share. The cornbread was tasty but more of a dessert since it was very sweet and flambe. I ordered the Autumn Olive Farm Pork Duo. DELICIOUS! The grits and collared greens were the perfect pair with the pork. It was a mix of pulled pork and pork belly. It was a well balanced dish, I was very happy with my order. We opted not ordering dessert so we wouldn't be too full before we headed to the show. It was a great experience overall! read more

Zynodoa - Autumn Olive Farm Pork Duo - New American Near Me - Staunton, Virginia

Very good food and too notch service. Nice little gem hidden in a little town. Love the true farm to table concept. We need more of a this in restaurants. read more

Schweety and I have been coming to Zynodoa for YEARS! I cannot believe that I've never given them a thumbs up! When visiting the area, whether we are looking for a splurge (tasting menu is amazing), a bite at the bar or just sharing a few menu options with a glass of wine, we always leave happy. One of the best "farm to table" type restaurants that you will find anywhere! Staff is always competent and friendly and the atmosphere is lovely. Keep up the good work :) read more

Super place. Outstanding oyster appetizer. Great cozy atmosphere Awesome Manhattan. We can't wait to go back. read more

Food was excellent. We had the cornbread, chicken liver pate, farro risotto, scallops, mushrooms, and chocolate torte. Nothing disappointed, though the cornbread was too sweet for me as an appetizer. Better for breakfast the next day! The scallops were magnificent as were the mushrooms. The service was fantastic. We didn't know this was a fancier place while driving through Staunton. So, we had our baby with us, which could have been met with some sneers and eye rolls. But the entire staff from the host to the cooks were friendly, accommodating, and very kind to all of us. If we are ever back through here, we'll definitely stop by. read more

Zynodoa - Scallops, mushrooms - New American Near Me - Staunton, Virginia

We have been coming to Staunton and bringing friends to enjoy, a matinee at the Blackfriars, a night at Hotel 24 and dinner at Zynodoa for years. That trifecta has become our favorite ritual that make us love this place. That's why this review is hard to write. Last night on a Saturday night at 8 o'clock the dining room at Zynodoa was half empty, that was a first and honestly it made us sad. What we still love: the ambience, the wonderful local staff, the wine list, and the cornbread, one of the few delicious holdovers from the previous chef. What's changed is the menu, and unfortunately, not for the better. The new chef seems more interested in being different than being good. The choices were so limited for us that we found ourselves settling rather than choosing. The gazpacho was a, confusing mix of herbs and cream nothing bright or clean about it, and my husband, who usually loves gazpacho, was really disappointed in the disjointed flavors. The mussels were cooked perfectly, but were buried under such a heavy chorizo sauce you couldn't taste them. The bone-in pork chop arrived raw in the center and had more fat than meat. One of our friends ordered the garden harvest vegetarian entree, and she was disappointed not only in the empanada, but felt like she could not identify any of the various vegetables. And the oyster mushrooms were so aggressively salted and peppered that the delicious oyster mushroom flavor completely disappeared. That one really got to me. Oyster mushrooms are wonderful. Leave them alone! However: the beet salad was divine and delicious! The yellow beets, fresh arugula, pickled shallots, whipped goat cheese, toasted slivered almonds and sumac-cinnamon vinaigrette was a creative, balanced and delicious combo. The kitchen clearly has ability. It's just not showing up where it needs to. Another one of our friends enjoyed his Polyface Farms boneless fried chicken. I didn't try it but since we are in the South, maybe we should have all ordered that. We're not giving up on Staunton or on Zynodoa. But we really hope someone in the kitchen is paying attention, because the empty tables on a Saturday night are telling you something. We want to love our dinners here again read more

Absolutely incredible!!! You won't be disappointed. From the service to the menu your tastebuds will love you after an evening here. Excellent for a date night. read more

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Great food and good service. Food is always consistent. The restaurant can be loud but always a good vibe. Good wine selection. I like that many ingredients are locally sourced and fresh. Really can't go wrong! read more

An upscale full service restaurant in Staunton not far from the Blackfriars. Great ambiance, comfy and private booth seating, and delicious dishes. We came in for lunch. Waiter warned us they only serve brunch items. Still not too shabby (limited choices but inventive spins on breakfast items such as steak and egg, see my photos). The whole place is calm and comfortable. Good, low noise level for chatting. We also came on another occasion for dinner, and the dinner menu was much bigger of course. Both dinner and lunch are great. read more

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Beautiful space, great food, awesome service. We went to a private event and it was great. The staff was friendly and accommodating. I ordered the ceasar salad which was nice but the beef cheeks were the winner in the appetizer section as were the scallops for the main course. Tried the apple dessert (would've been nice if it were warm) and German chocolate cake. I heard the Panna cotta was also good. read more

Zynodoa - Ceasar salad with corn bread croutons - New American Near Me - Staunton, Virginia

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Fantastic service, food and drinks. From the Hostess to the Server everyone was friendly and kind. The cocktails were excellent. The Roseda Farms NY strip was perfectly cooked, with a char on the outside. The chicken and dumplings were flavorful. The potato croquettes were fantastic. This restaurant did not disappoint. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

We have lived in Staunton for many years and just recently tried Zynodoa. It's really a new favorite from the relaxed atmosphere to the delicious menu options. Each visit has been wonderful and very welcoming. Our service at the bar for dinner was nothing short of perfect and the manager Kemper is always on top of his game. read more

5 out of 5! I went with the Cesar salad and pork duo...outstanding! Generous portion for both dishes and the collard greens...oh weee! My friend had the Chesapeake rock fish and butternut squash soup and was on cloud nine. Great food + great customer service= even better experience! read more

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We visited Staunton after a long hiatus and were very happy to see that Zynodoa was still there. We had brunch, which I had never had before. We thought everything we had was top notch, including the coffee, but must give a special shout out to the potato and sunchoke soup. It was a perfect balance of different flavors and textures. Our waitress was attentive , fun to talk to, and spot on in her service. It's still the place to go for fine dining. read more

We ate here for our anniversary, and every single staff person we interacted with was so kind and friendly. Our waiter, Kemper, was attentive and did a phenomenal job chatting with us about local attractions and getting to know us, and also giving us time to eat without interruption. We found out at the end of the meal that the mushrooms in my partner's dish had come from his farm, which was incredible. I ordered the chicken and dumplings, and it was peppery and herby and the dumplings were melt-in-your-mouth pillowy soft. My partner ordered the fried soft shell crab, which was a symphony of flavors on a bed of mushrooms, spinach, pearl onions and island pea puree, all seasoned to utter perfection. Our starter was the bruleed cornbread, which is the best cornbread I've ever had. We ended with the chocolate torte, which we split and it was the perfect decadent end to the meal. As of May 10, 2025, there are currently no peanuts used in the restaurant, and the only other nut product in the kitchen was almonds due to their awareness of how prevalent nut allergies are. There was a street musician playing the violin the entire evening and the ambiance was perfect for dining outside. read more

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Atmosphere was nice. I liked the rock shrimp. The tomahawk steak was pretty good. Not the best I've had, but had good flavor. read more

Zynodoa - Tomahawk steak, 32oz. - New American Near Me - Staunton, Virginia

Tasting menus is even better than ever. We come here yearly and it always is 5 star. Service is also stellar, and our server and the manager kept returning to see if everything was perfect. Lovely ambiance with tall booths to give you privacy and a backlit bar, which is eye-catching. And the food? Oh my, is it good. Beautiful, perfectly seasoned. And very new and inventive. Best hallibit I ever had: moist yet crispy on a bed of sautéed sweet corn, chopped asparagus, peas, cooked sweet turnips, and cooked radishes. Heavenly! See my phone of the gorgeous food. Excellent bar program. Only slip up was the shrimp and grits could have used a bigger portion of grits to counter the spicy tomato sauce. I can't wait to try the next new menu read more

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Stopped by Staunton on the way home for breakfast/brunch. Not a lot open around 10:30. We settled on this place to check out. It's decor is nice. It is a bit dim inside, which I thought is a better ambiance for dinner. I wasn't sure how'd it be for a brunch. There are a few seatings up at the front window that allows for a brighter seating option. Our server, Layla, was very friendly and quick with getting us our water and menus. Many of the items sounded like good options. I decided on the Steak and Eggs. Husband wasn't too hungry so got the Fried Oysters with a side of bacon. The skirt steak was prepared medium rare, as I requested, with some finishing salt sprinkled over it. I requested the sauce on the side as I generally don't like sauces on my steak. It was served atop the buttery eggs and some potato squares lightly seasoned with old bay. The portion was good for a breakfast/brunch. I was happy with my dish. Husband liked his oysters and said they were fresh and lightly battered, which he liked. There was a bit of a briney flavor, but he probably would have preferred a bit more brininess. It was served over a sauce seasoned with celery salt and a bit of old bay seasoning. It was tasty. He enjoyed the thicker cut bacon cooked crispy. The portion was good for him as he was saving room for coffee and dessert afterwards. But it probably wouldn't be filling on its own otherwise. It was a satisfying meal and we were happy with Layla's friendliness. It looked liked all the food is locally sourced. We will definitely be back when in the area. read more

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Drove from Atlanta to visit Mom in Monterey. Nothing open (on Mondays) in our neck of the woods so I chose Staunton and this highly rated place. We all loved the ambiance and service but the food was hit or miss. The lemon drops and cosmo were hits but my gin and tonic was lame. The carrot soup was outstanding and the Caesar salad was unusual but good. The cornbread appetizer (though pretty) was dry and either over cooked or old. The pasta was a winner but the roasted carrots and potatoes that came with the flatiron steak was terribly undercooked. The dish that was the biggest disaster was the one paying (myself) the pulled pork. It was so sweet, I thought it was a dessert, and the grits were cold in parts. We should've sent most of it back but the birthday "girl" aka Mom was mostly enjoying her meal. The handmade chocolates were amazing and highly recommended . 5 mixed drinks and all the food came to $50/person. I hope this review leads to some changes in the kitchen so we will give them another shot. read more

Zynodoa - Pulled Pork, collards, and grits and golden raisins! Too sweet and grits were partially cold. - New American Near Me - Staunton, Virginia

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We came for our anniversary and were greeted with special menus for our day as well as complimentary champagne. Our host and waiter were phenomenal - attentive, kind, and knowledgeable. We started out with a delicious Korean-inspired short rib and asparagus salad. Both delicious, fresh ingredients and came out quickly. For entrees, we got the tenderloin atop mashed potatoes and broccolini, as well as the pork belly on top of grits and collard greens - the flavor profiles were phenomenal. An incredible fusion of styles and we loved their farm to table promise, which ensured all ingredients were fresh. The ambience was romantic and we got to sit in a corner booth overlooking beautiful downtown Staunton. I recommend this place for anyone looking for a wonderful dinner to accompany a day in Staunton! read more

Zynodoa - Autumn Olive Farm Pork Duo, Burner's Beef Tenderloin - New American Near Me - Staunton, Virginia

I had their carrot cake French toast and it was amazing. To say it was decadent would be the understatement of the century. It was literally carrot cake made into French toast with Cinnabon style frosting and maple syrup. I had my leg amputated to spite the diabetes .... then I slapped wilford brimley in the mustache to make it official. Additionally, our service was excellent and the ambiance was nice. read more

This restaurant - its manager, chef and hostess/waitress are true heroines. Even with six inches of snow on the ground, they managed not only to open, but also to provide an amazing experience. The food was incredible. The service was impeccable. We were staying in a nearby hotel and, to our knowledge, no other restaurants were open. After wading through the snow, we were welcomed into a warm and inviting atmosphere. My husband and I recommend this restaurant highly! read more

Our waiter was great! We had a great time! The food was excellent except my NY strip was cold due to point that they sliced it for presentation! It was cooked perfectly, but excruciating cold! I told the waiter it was won't except it was cold. He offered to take it back, but after waiting over 30 minutes for it, I just didn't want to wait! I also didn't like the excuse the waiter gave me! The issue is that it sat in the window too long! No one was monitoring the time once the steak was slice! The window of the temperature of this delicate main course was tempered by the lack of execution! I expected better, but didn't have the patience to wait for a mulligan! I also noticed that most of the dish was cold ! The old hot dish was the corn bread! It was delicious! The oysters and okra is a great combo but some of the oysters were very small. They also forgot our side of Edwards sausage for $8 two links Cooked very normal. Not really impressive but good! I love this place and everyone was great! I did get a constant upscale by the waiter and noticed he tried to under-sale the table next to us! lol! We have had his service before at other establishments! He is wonderful and very knowledgeable! I was just disappointed about the steak! It's just not the standards I expected! My back was away from the kitchen and I don't think anyone was watching the food as it came from the kitchen. Great seat for two right at the window! Ambiance is fashionable! read more

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