More than 30 independent restaurants make this scenic Southwest Virginia mountain town a dining destination
ABINGDON, VIRGINIA–JUNE 2022–For the fourth year in a row, Abingdon, Virginia, has been designated “Best Small Town Food Scene” by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Just two hours northeast of Asheville, North Carolina, and 10 minutes north of Bristol, Tennessee, in the scenic mountains of Southwest Virginia, Abingdon has a fantastic collection of more than 30 local, independent eateries. This artsy town of 8,000 residents has more restaurants per capita than New York, San Francisco, and even New Orleans, making this destination a foodie’s dream, Following are just a few of the gems.
Fine dining experience
Rain (283 East Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia 24210; 276-739-2331) is a local favorite that has an extensive menu and art-filled atmosphere. From soups, seafood and steaks to distinctive drinks and desserts, the choices are creative and yummy. Indoor and outdoor seating is available.
The Tavern (222 East Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia 24210; 276-628-1118) is a tradition here. Located in one of Abingdon’s oldest buildings (built in 1779), it pays homage to the Scots-Irish and German immigrants who settled here. On the menu are schnitzels, spaetzle and homemade pickled red cabbage alongside mountain trout, steaks and local produce. The Tavern has a fascinating atmosphere, both indoors and in its courtyard. Its diverse menu, coupled with an extensive beer and wine list and full bar, make for an excellent dining experience. Reservations are recommended.
Foresta (190 East Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia 24210; 276-206-8490) has added variety and upscale flair to Abingdon’s food scene with a creative and ever-changing Italian/Mediterranean menu and an ethereal forest-like atmosphere. Reservations are the best way to ensure a spot at the table here.
Sisters American Grill (150 West Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia 24210; 276-628-3161) is an award-winning restaurant and lounge offering both casual and formal dining. Sisters offers seasonal menus including steaks, seafood, sandwiches, and more.
Bone Fire Smokehouse & Musictorium (260 West Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia 24210; 276-623-0037) is popular for both outstanding food and amazing music. Located in an old hardware store, Bone Fire serves slow-smoked meats with “Southern high-country sides” and is an excellent venue for original music from local and regional artists.
Delightful lunch experience
At Jack’s 128 Pecan (128 Pecan Street SE, Abingdon, Virginia 24210; 276-698-3159), diners choose from a menu of popular sandwiches with unique twists, special dinner entrees and house-made desserts, all in a friendly, quirky atmosphere.
Luke’s Café (823 West Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia 34210; 276-623-2233) features unique salads, burgers, sandwiches and a full dinner menu, all with an artistic flair. Fresh food and an art-and-music-inspired setting combine an outstanding dining experience with a casual atmosphere.
More culinary credentials
Abingdon’s chefs incorporate in-season, locally sourced produce and products. Mountain trout, stone ground grits, heirloom fruits and vegetables, sustainably raised chicken and beef as well as pastured pork are featured on the menus. A craft brewery, cidery, and a “Napalachian” (Napa Valley meets Appalachia) winery, specialty stores and a year-round, certified farmers market add to the culinary credentials. Abingdon’s food scene is continually evolving, celebrating locals and transplants who bring their tastes and heritage, including bakers who display Southern favorites alongside European specialties. Nowhere is this more deliciously surprising than in The Pakalachian food truck, whose owners blended their Pakistani and Appalachian cultures in marriage and in their favorite foods: fried chicken tikka, fried green “tamater” pakoras, samosa pot pie and spicy okra sauté.
According to Tonya Triplett, Director of Economic Development & Tourism, “The artistic, cultural and historic charm of Abingdon attracts extraordinary culinary talent and a huge foodie following. Our resident chefs put so much passion, creativity and enthusiasm into their restaurants and their creations that they’ve developed a large, loyal fan base of locals and visitors alike.”
If you go
Located in Southwest Virginia between the soaring peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Great Appalachian Valley, Abingdon has been described as one of the coolest small towns in the country because of its extraordinary scenery, active outdoor adventure and unique foodways. With its enthusiastic drive for historic preservation and passion for the contemporary, Abingdon is a town that’s easy to love. Within the 20-block Historic District on tree-lined, brick sidewalks are re-purposed Federal, Victorian and Colonial architectural gems filled with art galleries, working artist cooperatives, distinctive shops and independently-owned restaurants.
An Abingdon landmark, the Martha Washington Inn and Spa (150 West Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia 24210; 276-628-3161) offers 61 guest rooms and suites, fine and casual dining and a variety of activities to ensure a memorable stay. It is a member of Historic Hotels of America and has both a Mobil Travel Guide’s Four-Star Award and a AAA Four-Diamond Award.
The jewel-box Barter Theatre on Main Street is a main attraction, and even this icon is an enduring tribute to the region’s agricultural bounty. During The Great Depression, The Barter began by literally trading ham for Hamlet and produce for popular plays. The repertory “State Theatre of Virginia” survived and thrived, hosting world-class entertainment and nurturing regional playwrights today. Just off Main Street is the bucket-list, Hall of Fame Virginia Creeper Trail (Abingdon Trailhead, 300 Green Spring Road, Abingdon, Virginia 24210). This 34-mile, multi-use trail passes through breathtaking forested mountain landscapes and crosses nearly 50 wooden trestles along the way. www.VisitAbingdonVirginia.com
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