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Your Dining Guide to Southwest Virginia, Part 1

Blue Ridge Highlands, Craft Beer, Culinary, Food, Oysters, Travel Ideas, Wine / by

Southwest Virginia is known for its mountainous terrain and scenic rural landscapes, but due to the rolling pastures and bucolic farmland, you’ll find that fresh produce and locally sourced ingredients are always on the table at restaurants in Southwest Virginia. Containing 18 counties and dozens of hidden foodie gems, Southwest Virginia is a massive graphic area too big to cover in one article, so don’t miss Part 2 of the Southwest Virginia Dining Guide.

—FOR BREAKFAST—

white birch juice and food restaurant abingdon

White Birch Food & Juice Bar, Abingdon—Locally focused juice bar serving cold-pressed juices, healthy juice shots, and craft smoothies along with healthy menus for breakfast, lunch, brunch, and dinner.

Mojo’s Trailside Café & Coffee House, Damascus—Coffee shop in Damascus, a small community directly on the Appalachian Trail, that offers gourmet coffee drinks, smoothies, small plates, and sweet treats.

Gillies Restaurant, Blacksburg—Restaurant near Virginia Tech campus serving traditional breakfast fare like pancakes and scrambles as well as Southwestern dishes like the breakfast burrito or lighter breakfast items including granolas and yogurts.

More Breakfast Places:

—FOR BRUNCH—

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Draper Mercantile Restaurant, Draper—Restaurant at the historic Draper Mercantile Trading Co. Sunday brunch made from scratch using local, organic ingredients whenever possible.

622 North, Blacksburg—Restaurant, wine lounge, and bar in a beautifully renovated Victorian home in Blacksburg’s historic Downtown District. Saturday & Sunday brunch with dishes like the Pancake Club Sandwich, Kentucky Hot Brown made with French toast, and Chicken & Waffles.

More Brunch Restaurants:

—FOR LUNCH—Burger Bar

Burger Bar, Bristol—Classic diner in Downtown Bristol that has been crafting fresh, juicy burgers since 1942. Also known for their homemade milkshakes.

Wolfe’s BBQ, Marion—Barbecue restaurant serving sliced brisket, ribs, chopped pork, and smoked chicken paired with classic Southern sides including homemade coleslaw, mac & cheese, fried okra, collard greens, and hushpuppies.

Al’s on First, Pulaski—Casual dining spot on the first floor of the Jackson Park Inn. Menu focuses on Southern charm and homestyle cooking.

More Lunch Locations:

—FOR DINNER—

The Palisades Restaurant

Palisades Restaurant, Eggleston—Contemporary Southern restaurant located in the former Pyne’s General Story, a historic landmark building. Source most of their meats, fish, and produce from nearby purveyors in the New River Valley, providing fresh fare whiles supporting local businesses. 

Graze on Main, Wytheville—Eclectic restaurant in the Bolling Wilson Hotel that focuses on classic fare with a Southern twist. Casual but elegant dining option in Wytheville.

Harvest Table Restaurant, Meadowview—Creative menu utilizing seasonal ingredients from local sources to serve healthy dishes. Pasture-raised meats, seafood responsibly harvest from the Virginia & North Carolina shores, and produce grown on their own Harvest Table Farm. On-site store carries foods and goods from local farmers and artisans.

More Dinner Destinations:

—FOR DESSERT—

Blackbird Bakery

Blackbird Bakery, Bristol—24-hour bakery (Closed Sundays) in Downtown Bristol known for their wide array of homemade pastries, desserts, and specialty beverages.

More Dessert Spots:

—FOR COCKTAILS—Sister's American Grill at the Martha Washington

Sisters at the Martha, Abingdon—Restaurant & classic bar in the lower level of the Martha Washington Inn in Downtown Abingdon.

The Speakeasy, Marion—Restaurant & bar in the historic General Francis Marion Hotel crafting specialty cocktails.

Rain, Abingdon—Modern restaurant and bar that highlights local ingredients. Serves classic cocktails with a twist.

More Cocktail Bars:

—FOR LOCAL CRAFT BREWS—

wolf hills brewing abingdon

Wolf Hills Brewing Company, Abingdon—Award-winning craft brewery in historic Abingdon that brews a wide selection of craft beers, including lagers, ales, pilsners, porters, wheats, IPAs, and more.

Creek Bottom Brewery, Galax—Small-batch brewery, restaurant, and craft beer market that produces six year-round craft beers and multiple seasonal ales.

More Craft Breweries:

—FOR WINE LOVERS—Iron Heart Winery at Fariss Farms

Iron Heart Winery, Allisonia—Family-owned farm, winery, and overnight retreat nestled in the Appalachian Mountains. Currently producing Vidal Blanc, Riesling, Rose, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, and Chambourcin wines.

The Chateau Morrisette Winery, Floyd—Pet-friendly winery in the Blue Ridge Mountains open seven days a week for tastings April-December and Friday through Sunday January-March. Try The Black Dog, a popular red wine blend at the winery.

Stanburn Winery, Stuart—Southwestern Virginia winery that produces Chardonnay, Traminette, Cabernet Franc, and several other varietals. Several wines have won bronze and silver medals in the Virginia’s Governor’s Cup.

More Wine Locales:

Visit these restaurants, breweries, wineries, and more in Southwest Virginia, and find more awesome food experiences around the Commonwealth to eat & drink what you love in Virginia!

More Foodie Inspiration for Virginia Destinations:

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I think this needs to be renamed to I81 corridor near swva. You completely missed far SWVA. Norton, St Paul, Wise. Mountain Rose vineyard for wine. How about try to promote places out and away from the interstate, they need it more than the ones right off of it.

  2. Nothing in far southwest (Norton, Wise, Pound)??? Crooked Road BBQ is absolutely the best for lunch dinner and dessert

  3. How about the Wooden Pickle, in Marion? I see you promoted many other places in Marion, all owned by the same individual, seems a bit suspicious.