Small-Town Restaurants in Virginia [Paperback]

Joanne M. Anderson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2004

Among the 240 restaurants in nearly 150 small towns in Virginia in this new edition are nearly 100 new entries. The author visited each establishment anonymously and paid for all meals to ensure objectivity. Each entry includes location, telephone number, hours, price range, and information about the restaurant, its atmosphere, and food.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Author Joanne M. Anderson admits to an ongoing love affair_with small towns and restaurants, that is. "Small towns because they're, well, small," she says. "Restaurants because they have evolved from mere places to satisfy hunger to centers of social activity and entertainment."

Small-Town Restaurants in Virginia is Anderson's guide to 240 restaurants in nearly 150 small towns from Abingdon in the Blue Ridge to Leesburg near Washington, D.C., from Monterey on the western edge of the Shenandoah Valley to Williamsburg and Chincoteague in the east.

Readers will find food and service to strike their fancy whether they're inclined toward five-diamond restaurants, down-home drive-ins or anything in between. Those who favor a superb winery combined with a great restaurant might try Chteau Morrisette on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Others who like fine food served by waitresses in period costume will enjoy the Olde Mudd Tavern in Thornburg. Folks who want home-style cooking in an antique-filled setting can't go wrong with Granny B's in Appomattox, while those out for a retro mood shouldn't miss the Pink Cadillac in Greenville. There's also dining around the world at the lovely Swiss Inn in Glade Spring. And that's just the beginning.

For each restaurant, Anderson provides basic information like price range, meals served and style of cuisine, then follows it with a write-up touching on local history, the restaurant's atmosphere and decor and the variety of foods served_everything readers will need to make a selection. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Joanne Anderson and her husband own and operate Clay Corner Inn in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 270 pages
• Publisher: John F. Blair Publisher; 2nd edition (May 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895872994
• ISBN-13: 978-0895872999
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 7.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,485,751 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Call Ahead First, March 31, 2004

By 

Molly (Fairfax, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Small-Town Restaurants in Virginia (Paperback)

Though a fun book to refer to, I would advise anyone to call ahead to make sure the restaurant still exists. In the 1998 edition there were several restaurants that had closed down, so I was eager to see what the newest edition contains. As I reviewed the new edition's table of contents, I noticed that some of these same closed restaurants were still listed (for example, Fiddler's Green in The Plains has been gone for years, and in it's place is Just Breakfast/Just Lunch. Magpie's in Middleburg has also closed; Maxwells has replaced it); I'm surprised the editors did not make quick phone calls prior to reprinting to see if restaurants were still operating. Also, I was interested in the quality of the restaurants that were listed; I noticed that quirky, fun, local restaurants were sometimes bypassed in favor of a restaurant that lacks atmosphere or appears trendy. That said, I still found the 1998 edition loads of fun, and take it with me whenever I go on Virginia road trips. I'm also looking forward do the 2000 edition.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Virginia eats worth seeking out, March 29, 2000

By 

Gary J Saunders (Surfside Beach, SC (USA)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Small-Town Restaurants in Virginia (Paperback)

As a fan of small town eateries, I applaud the author of this valuable guide to the Old Dominion. Highly rated!

5.0 out of 5 stars Great guide to exploring Virginia's small-town dining., November 28, 2005

By 

calvinnme - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Small-Town Restaurants in Virginia (Paperback)

This guide is fantastic for navigating your way through the many wonderful small restaurants that are hidden away throughout Virginia. It is too bad that updates to this book are not made more often since restaurants open, close, rename, or relocate so frequently. Virginia is a beautiful state, and a great way to top off a drive through its scenic countryside is with a visit to one of the great restaurants recommended by this guide. I have tried several new places solely based on this book's recommendations and I have never been disappointed. The book divides Virginia into five regions and then lists stellar restaurants for various towns in each of those regions. The guide tells you about the style, cost, atmosphere, etc. so that you will not be unpleasantly surprised. The guide even lists the special dishes for which particular restaurants are noted. One note of caution- some of the restaurants, particularly in the northern Virginia section, are not at all in rural areas. For example, Chantilly and Herndon are in the midst of very congested suburban areas. If you are already there you might as well try the recommended restaurants, but don't travel to these places expecting a dose of small town charm any greater than you would expect to receive in northern New Jersey.