109 Best Restaurants in Virginia, USA

Soaring ceilings, a woodsy lakeside location, and a koi pond make this one of the most striking dining rooms in the area. Executive chef Bertrand Chemel's introduction to cooking began with an apprenticeship at a French bakery, and his flair for rising dough shows. The playful cuisine continually surprises with a five-course tasting menu that changes monthly. Diners can also order à la carte. 

Saws, pitchforks, ox yokes, and the like hang on the barn walls, but the wood tables are lacquered, and the napkins are linen. Specialties include slow-roasted prime rib; baby-back Danish pork ribs barbecued with a sauce of peach preserves and Southern Comfort; and shrimp Dijon. An ample wine list offers a wide variety of domestic and imported choices. After dinner try one their specialty coffees including Tennessee Mud with Jack Daniels or Franciscan Coffee. A children's menu is available.

This former church near the historic business district has been drawing customers for a long time, and not without reason. It has cathedral ceilings and large windows, making for an airy and dramatic dining experience. You can sit upstairs, in the large choir loft, or in the main part of the church downstairs. Beside the bar just inside the entrance is an informal sort of "diner" area, but with the whole menu to choose from. Regular appetizers include artichoke dip and crab-stuffed mushrooms. There's a dinner special every weeknight, such as lobster, prime rib, and wild game (wild boar or alligator, for example). Vegetarian fare is also offered.

This classic raw bar is consistently busy thanks to a nice mix of locals and visitors. No doubt it's because the oysters, clams, and lobster rolls are incredibly fresh, and the wine list is great. The restaurant also offers several daily specials highlighting local and seasonal ingredients, as well as fantastic soups, salads, and small plates. The rooftop dining area is superb.

A 90-minute drive from the District takes you past hills and farms to the English-style country manor that is the site of this well-regarded hotel restaurant. The service matches the setting, and diners can choose items from two menus: Gastronauts (contemporary endeavors) or Good Earth (vegetarian), both of which have dishes that rotate daily. Wine pairings are offered for an additional price. Desserts are fanciful, and the smart cheese selections are overseen by a maître de fromage. There’s also a new, more casual restaurant, Patty O’s Café and Bakery, across the street.

The inn also offers 23 sumptuous guest rooms created by Joyce Evans, a London stage and set designer.

Authentic, friendly, and local, the Kabob Palace is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The chicken, lamb, and spicy beef kabobs are cooked to perfection and best dipped in chutney sauce and chased with a bite of naan. The sides vary, but rice and chickpeas are usually favorites.

Tucked away in the small town of White Post is a slice of Provence in a historic inn. L'Auberge Provencale is the epicurean getaway of choice for Washingtonians, and it's true that Chef Alain Borel has been on the gourmand radar for years. Borel and his wife Celeste grow their own herbs, vegetables, and fruit, and source their other sustainable foods locally from the bounty of the Valley. L'Auberge features not only an excellent list of French vintages, but many of Virginia's top wines as well. Reserve way ahead of time for the authentic Provencale five-course prix-fixe dinner ($90 per person).

Named after Etienne Lemaire, Maître d'Hôtel to Thomas Jefferson from 1794 until the end of his presidency, this is no ordinary hotel eatery. Today the farm-to-table menu features updated regional Southern cuisine, with small plates and entrées that feature Virginia ham and sausage, and regional meats and fishes. Try the filet mignon burger, available in the lounge (which offers excellent specials on small plates during happy hour), washed down with one of more than 200 wines or craft beers.

The depth of Mason Social's seasonal menu has made it a hit since its opening in 2015. Adventurous eaters will relish options like the marrow burger while those happier with more traditional staples will be delighted with the fried green tomatoes or pan-seared rockfish. A mix of signature and classic cocktails provides plenty of boozy drinks to choose from.

With vaulted ceilings and hardwood floors, the Trellis is an airy and pleasant place. The imaginative lunch and dinner menus change with the seasons. A good wine list complements such dishes as homemade sweet red pepper soup, beef tenderloin with cabernet sauce, and grilled market fish. The seafood entrées are particularly good, and many patrons wouldn't leave without ordering the rich Death by Chocolate, the restaurant's signature dessert. There's also great people-watching from the terrace.

Be sure to make reservations because foodies flock here for a taste of its award-winning Modern American cuisine. Vermilion favors locally sourced, sustainable ingredients, though quality trumps local here, so you may find Parisian gnocchi alongside Maryland crab croquettes on this mid-Atlantic menu. Don't miss the fantastic homemade pasta, bread, and desserts.

The last freestanding restaurant on the beach not inside a hotel, this aqua-painted clapboard building houses a family-owned seafood grill. Inside, the ocher walls heighten the sun rays penetrating the ceiling-to-floor windows. Awnings shade the outdoor patio where live musicians perform in season. A local menu favorite is the Crab Ripper, a crab-cake sandwich topped with mozzarella and crisp bacon. A fried seafood sampler, fish and steak platters, steamed fish, appetizers, salads, burgers, and other sandwiches fill out the menu. Banquet facilities are available, and the Beach Nut Gift Shop is also on the premises. It is home to the original "Orange Crush," an alcoholic drink made with fresh-squeezed oranges, vodka, Triple Sec, and Sprite—the drink of locals. The website also has a webcam, great for people-watching and checking out the weather. Valet parking saves the hassle of difficult-to-find parking.

The first thing you notice, whether you’re sitting outside on the breezy dock or inside in the window-filled dining space, are the spectacular Potomac River views. But what sets Ada’s apart is the fact that most of the dishes touch the grill before leaving the open kitchen—so you have wood-fired steaks and smoked swordfish, but also singed gem lettuce and charcoal-burned brioche. The combination promises an unforgettable meal. The name is an homage to 19^th-century mathematician Ada Lovelace.

The cool name is rather appropriate—if you weren't hungry before entering this cozy place, you will be after the enticing smells reach you. A rich-looking dining room outfitted with plush leather couches and stone walls makes you want to linger. Breakfast burritos and Belgian waffles are nice ways to start the day. Or end it with Southern caramelized barbecued shrimp over a mound of grits, and snack on fondue. You can even order a colorful cake if you're celebrating a special occasion.

If there's a recipe for a perfect country inn restaurant, chef Jonathan Martin and sommelier Stephen Elhafdi have it. Head about an hour west of D.C. into Virginia hunt country, and your reward is extraordinary comfort food. À la carte menu items—like thyme-roasted pork with sweet potato purée or pan-seared chicken breast with mushrooms and lentils—are made with fresh local ingredients and presented in an intimate setting. You can order à la carte or indulge in the chef's tasting menu, both of which change seasonally. The inn also offers ten rooms, some with fireplaces and all with made-to-order country breakfast.

Lebanese specialties are featured at this casual restaurant in Ghent, which also has a Mediterranean food store. Indoor dining is on granite tables under the original tin ceiling and exposed air ducts. Outdoors, the terra-cotta patio has umbrellas. Order healthy Mediterranean food including kibbi, seasoned beef and bulgur patties; stuffed grape leaves; and meat kebab with grilled vegetables and side dishes. The hummus is a standout. Vegan and vegetarian selections are noted on the menu, which includes appetizers, wraps, pizza, and kebabs.

Shipping containers floating atop the Potomac River comprise this Spanish-inspired tapas restaurant in Old Town. The lunch and dinner menus feature small plates: patatas bravas, ham croquetas, and Spanish octopus salad. You can also savor meats and cheeses from Greece and Spain, miniature sandwiches, and more. The summery drink menu features ciders, beers, and wine—though order the stone fruit sangria to put you in a beachy kind of mood. The indoor wine bar is nice especially in winter.

One of the most reliable seafood spots around, Berret's is in Merchants Square. Upscale but casual, the restaurant lights crackling fires during colder months and opens up its pleasant outdoor patio when it's warm. Entrées and appetizers employ fresh Chesapeake Bay seafood. It's usually a sure bet to try any of the nightly specials of fresh fish, which often include perfectly prepared flounder. The she-crab soup, a house favorite, blends crabmeat, cream, and crab roe with just a hint of sherry. Virginia wines and beers are featured.

In an 1833 storefront that served as a general store, buttermilk-color walls display local art. Copper chandeliers and original heart-of-pine floors lend a warm glow; when the weather's fine, tables are brought out onto the sidewalk for al fresco dining. The menu changes with the seasons and features modern American cuisine with a Southern accent, including fresh fish and wild game. The award-winning wine list features the most diverse, multicultural varietal selections in the Fredericksburg region.

You may have to wait in line at this locally owned establishment (which has three locations), especially at breakfast, but locals swear these are the best bagels south of the Big Apple. In true New York style, bagels are boiled before being baked, and all 10 varieties are true water bagels made with no fats or preservatives. Lunchtime is also popular, and the low prices appeal to both students and visitors. There are also locations at 505 Preston Avenue and 1609 University Avenue.

Ever eaten gator bites or buffalo crawfish? Be sure and try them at Boudreaux's. What started as a project in business marketing for a pair of Virginia Tech students is now an established part of Blacksburg's downtown. The canopied rooftop is a particularly relaxing place to enjoy jambalaya or Cajun catfish, and they serve brunch on both Saturday and Sunday. Live bands often perform in the evening.

With a huge salad bar and a large, ever-changing assortment of good, hot pizzas, this is a great place to stop for a late dinner Friday or Saturday. Every day, this pizza place also offers an all-you-can-eat pizza and salad lunch buffet for $9.25. Upstairs, the authentic sports bar is loaded with interesting memorabilia, heavy on hockey—the personable owner used to play in the NHL. Catch every game you can imagine on their 16 TVs.

Don't let the exterior fool you: behind the boarded-up storefront on which an illuminated Pepsi sign hangs, is an exemplary restaurant. The formal dining room upstairs, the lively bistro downstairs, and the cozy mezzanine in between share a French-influenced menu that has Pacific Rim and American Southwest touches. The heated patio and urban terrace are also lovely dining spaces during fall and spring. For a starter, try the panfried sweetbread medallions; entrées include steak chinoise with fresh ginger, tamari, and scallion cream sauce. The chefs source their products from local markets and farms, so the menu changes seasonally, and the wine list is 300 labels strong. For night owls, they offer a late night menu of appetizers, soups, salads, and sandwiches.

Grab a seat outside of Can Can and people-watch in the heart of Carytown while enjoying French comfort food at affordable prices. From the croque monsieur to steak frites, to a simple croissant and café au lait, this restaurant has the cuisine and feel of a Parisian brasserie.

High on a hill with a spectacular sunset view, this lively restaurant has French, Italian, Spanish, and Brazilian dishes. Sit in the Olinda Room with its wall of windows. Try the porco reacheado (pork tenderloin stuffed with spinach and feta cheese) or the moqueca mineira (shrimp, clams, and whitefish in a Brazilian sauce). Brazilian radio often accompanies the meal. If you love chicken, try the sautéed version with pineapple and papaya. Carlos is also open for lunch on weekdays.

Located at the Hilton Resort, Catch 31 is one of the nicest restaurants on the strip. Order the signature seafood towers that include lobster, crab legs, mussels, and shrimp, made for sharing. Sit outside for atmosphere; the setting is terrific, next to Neptune's statue, with fire pits, palm trees, and great people-watching. In summer it gets even better with live music at lunch and in the evenings.

A gathering place and watering hole near the Virginia Tech campus, this storefront restaurant serves eclectic, inexpensive dishes. Try the Greek spaghetti with sautéed feta, garlic, and olives, or the "Mac Daddy": a single large meatball in marinara sauce and Parmesan. They also offer an extensive list of domestic and imported beers, and local bands perform here often. You can also purchase their craft beers to take home.