The restaurant reviews, “foodie” story lines, and magazine recommendations say it all! We invite all “foodies” to stay with us and enjoy a culinary tour of nearby Staunton, VA.
Baltimore Magazine calls Staunton a “Foodie Find”.
Southern Living details a “must-try delicacy” and tells the story of a hometown ice cream rivalry.
Internet foodie site EATER tells the story of Big-city chefs moving to small-town Staunton.
Tasting Table lists Staunton among the 9 best small towns for food in the U.S.
The Washington Post mentions a restaurant here as “destination dining” in Staunton.
The Virginia Tourism Office lists Staunton as one of fifteen Foodie Towns to try in the “old Dominion”.
With all of these accolades, you know you will find wonderful restaurants serving the freshest food in this small town setting. Here are some of the great new restaurants in Shenandoah Valley’s Staunton.
The Shack is being praised by a number of food critics and culinary publications. The founding editor of New York magazine’s food blog Grub Street called The Shack the “incredible restaurant in the middle of nowhere that nobody knows about”. The restaurant is small (just 400 square feet) and seats only 16 guests. What it lacks in space, it makes up for in the flavors of its inventive tasting menu. The menu changes seasonally and is based on availability of fresh vegetables and fruits from the area. Some of the dishes have included green butter lettuce soup, pea-tender gnocchi, and the sweetest of sweetbreads. The chef/owner is Ian Boden who was schooled by some of the best chefs in New York and became a nominee for a regional James Beard Award.
For a taste of “inspired southern cuisine” make a dinner reservation at Zynodoa Restaurant. The accolades for Zynodoa have been mounting up from a great variety publications and critics. Washingtonian Magazine, Philadelphia Magazine, USA Today, Money Magazine, Forbes, Fodors, and Southern Living have all applauded this chic farm-to-table dining establishment. The menu changes daily based upon what is available from local farmers. Sample some of the creative appetizers such as Bruleed Cast Iron Cornbread or Crispy Glazed Broccoli. Southern Living Magazine recommends the Buffalo Creek Smothered Pork Roast with caramelized Shen-Valley apples and cider onions as a “must-try delicacy”. Executive chef James Harris is a culinary artist and adds pizzazz to the foodie scene in Staunton.
The newest additions to the foodie scene include a French café and bakery, Réunion Bakery and Espresso, a southern barbecue restaurant called The Valley Smokehouse, and a taco/burrito place called Chicano Boy Taco, a small restaurant featuring the flavors of Salvador (Gloria’s Pupuseria).
In the quaint small town of Staunton you can get a taste of France, feel the soul vibes of a warm Caribbean Island, experience some good ole southern-style barbeque, try Salvadoran food, and enjoy farm-to-table haut cuisine at several restaurants. This sounds like a tasty tour of world cuisine and we did not even mention the fantastic breakfasts to start your day here at Steeles Tavern Manor Bed & Breakfast!
