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The
Restaurant Guide for Nelson County & Wintergreen
Resort
Kim Chappell is a
graduate from the Realtor Institute and is an
agent with Wintergreen Resort Premier
Properties, the official real estate office of
Wintergreen Resort. Kim also lists and sells
property in beautiful Nelson County. Contact
Kim Chappell at
kim@ExperienceNelsonCounty.com or
434-238-2430. The Free Daily Blog is posted on
both
www.ExperienceNelsonCounty.com and
www.ExperienceWintergreen.com
Dining in Nelson
County
Nelson County has a wide variety of dining
options. Everything from Mexican to Thai to
BBQ to Southern comfort food. Welcome to my
Nelson County Dining Guide for 2009. The below
restaurants are in alphabetical order. The
descriptions of the menu are personal
observations.
Ambrosia Bakery & Deli
2192 Rockfish Valley Hwy Nellysford, VA 22958
(434) 361-9661
Sandwiches, amazing desserts, hot entrees.
Also serving breakfast with coffee. A few
tables but most business is to-go. Call ahead
to order cakes & pies and for catering.
Basic Necessities
2226 Rockfish Valley Hwy Nellysford, VA 22958
(434) 361-1766
European gourmet menu and a large wine &
cheese selection. Special Sunday brunch menu.
Our favorite is the Basic Necessities salad.
Blue Ridge Pig
2198 Rockfish Valley Hwy Nellysford, VA 22958
(434) 361-1170
Voted one of Virginia’s best stops for BBQ.
Look for the pink pig on Rt. 151. The beans and
potato salad are also great.
Chen’s
73 Calohill Dr., Lovingston, VA 22949 (434)
263-8865
Chinese food to-go with fast service. They
have all your favorites.
Chirios Pizza
Highway 151 Nellysford, VA 22920 (434) 361-9188
Unique pizza, sandwiches and ice cream to
dine-in or take-out. If you are a vegetarian,
you need to try their veggie pizza. We enjoy
the hot sub sandwiches.
Copper Mine
Wintergreen Resort (434) 325-8090
Located behind the Mountain Inn on
Wintergreen mountain. Open for breakfast seven
days a week, serving popular holiday brunches.
Dinner includes a high-end steak and seafood
menu.
D’Ambola Restaurant
9278 Rockfish Valley Hwy Afton, VA 22920 (540)
456-4556
Italian menu of pasta and Northern dishes,
plus prime rib and weekly specials. Seasonal
outdoor dining.
Devils Grill
Wintergreen Resort (434) 325-8100
Located at the Devil’s Knob Golf Course on
Wintergreen mountain. Outdoor seasonal dining.
Lunch including sandwiches and entrée salads.
Dinner includes many seafood entrees.
Devil’s Backbone Brewery
Beech Grove (434) 361-1001
Not just a micro-brewery. Devil’s Backbone
is open for lunch and dinner daily with a menu
with everything from hot wings to a Cowboy
Steak.
The Dogwood
2461 Rockfish Valley Hwy, Nellysford, VA (434)
361-1700
Southern comfort food plus sandwiches, steaks
and salads. Seasonal outdoor dining.
The Edge
Wintergreen Resort (434) 325-8080
Behind the Mountain Inn on Wintergreen
mountain. The place to get a burger on the
mountain. Also, nachos, entrée salads and
interesting entrees. Open for lunch and dinner
daily.
The Fountain Room at The Mark Addy Inn
56 Rodes Farm Dr., Nellysford, VA 22958 (434)
361-1101
Varied menu in a beautiful atmosphere. Often
with live music. You do not have to stay at the
Inn to dine here. Give them a call for details.
Lovingston Cafe
165 Front St Lovingston, VA 22949 (434) 263-8000
The place to get a burger in Lovingston.
Also, a wide menu of sandwiches, entrée salads,
pasta and entrees. Seasonal outdoor dining on
their large patio.
Rapunzel’s Coffee & Books
924 Front St., Lovingston, VA 22949 (434)
263-6660
Gourmet coffee drinks, snacks and desserts.
Often have live music at night. WiFi available.
Stoney Creek Bar & Grill
1354 Stoney Crk W Nellysford, VA 22958 (434)
361-0054
Located at the Stoney Creek Golf Course.
Seasonal outdoor dining with great views.
Salads, sandwiches and special entrees for
dinner including steak. The Cobb Salad is very
popular.
Thai Saim Restaurant
4137 Tye Brook Hwy Arrington, VA 22922 (434)
263-7938
Thai food to-go. Fans drive for miles to
visit this take-out restaurant. They have all
of your Thai favorites. One of our favorite
“to-go” restaurants in Nelson.
Thai Mex 2
2815 Rockfish Valley Hwy Nellysford, VA 22958
(434) 361-1400
Two restaurants in one place. Half the menu
is Mexican and half is Thai. They have all of
your favorites on both menus. One of the only
places in Nelson to get tacos.
Vineyard Coffee House
27 Chapel Hollow Rd, Afton, VA 22920 (434)
361-1692
Gourmet sandwiches and salads in a cozy
atmosphere. On Friday, pair the menu with
Flying Fox wines. Seasonal outdoor dining with
great view of mountains.
Vito’s Italian Restaurant
8181 Thomas Nelson Hwy Lovingston, VA 22949
(434) 263-8688
Also now in Nellysford, near Wintergreen
Resort.
Wintergreen
Restaurants Win National Award
Congratulations to the
Copper Mine & Devil’s Grill in Wintergreen
Resort. Each year the Wine Spectator
magazine presents Awards of Excellence to
restaurants who offer extraordinary wine
programs. Wintergreen is proud to have been
recognized for the wine lists at both The Copper
Mine and Devil’s Grill.
The Copper Mine matches the
steakhouse menu with big cabernets, burgundies
and Bordeaux. Devil’s Grill offers a more
eclectic selection using boutique wineries.
The other star at the
Copper Mine is the steakhouse menu. The
restaurant serves USDA Prime Aged Beef. Less
than 2% of the beef produced in the US meets
this standard.
We love dining outside on
the patio at the Devil’s Grill. There is still
time this season to dine on the patio.
Now is the time to make a
reservation for dinner at either the Copper Mine
or Devil’s Grill. When you visit, look for the
Wine Spectator award. Congratulations!
The Restaurant Guide Part 1
For dinner in Wintergreen Resort, be sure to
make reservations. Did you know that you can
make reservations a few weeks in advance? So,
if you know you are coming to the resort, go
ahead and book some dinner reservations.
The Copper Mine: Wintergreen’s steak house.
434-325-8090
Devil’s Grill: Open on Friday and Saturday
Nights: 434-325-8100
Stoney Creek: See Description Below:
434-325-8110
Yes! Stoney Creek Bar & Grill (located in
Nellysford and Stoney Creek at Wintergreen) IS
OPEN on Friday and Saturday nights. There is a
special menu available and a great salad bar.
Call them for more info. (This restaurant will
be open with additional hours as the weather
warms. I will post those hours as things
change)
The Edge: This restaurant is always great for a
burger, salad, nachos and full-entrees. But,
they don’t take reservations
Outside of the Resort
Black Rock Market:
Don’t forget that they have sandwiches and pizza
to go. (also a nice wine and beer selection)
This market is actually in the resort, next to
the Laurelwood condos, but is not managed by the
resort.
NEW:
The Dogwood Restaurant has opened in Nellysford!
We have been dining in the original Dogwood in
Amherst County for years and are excited that
the Dogwood II has opened in Nellysford.
Currently, the restaurant is only open for
lunch and dinner. This is a home-cooking
restaurant that will be popular and fits a
needed niche in the community.
BBQ To Go:
The Blue Ridge Pig in Nellysford has been
written up in The Washington Post and many
magazines as some of the best BBQ in Virginia.
Stop by and pick up some and dine at home. Call
ahead and place an order: 434-361-1170
Basic Necessities in
Nellysford:
Open for lunch and dinner, but I suggest making
reservations for dinner. They also have a great
international wine and cheese selection.
Reservations: 434-361-1766.
Ambrosia in Nellysford:
Is OPEN with the new owners. Great sandwiches,
salads and desserts to go for lunch. Order a
whole cheesecake or pie for the weekend. Place
an Order: 434-361-9661
Great Local Pizza:
If you are interested in a great local pizza,
call Chirios Pizza in Nellysford at
434-361-9188. They even have a limited delivery
area. Our favorite is the vegetarian pizza. If
you have a vegetarian in your family, this makes
a great treat.
Worth The Drive:
The locals take a short drive to enhance the
dining selection.
-
The new, hot restaurant is the Blue Mountain
Brewery in Afton. It’s a lot more than just
a micro-brewery with a wood-fired pizza
oven, sandwiches and salads. The beer
selection is great and the atmosphere fun.
Call 540-456-8400 for details.
-
Lovingston, VA:
Check out The Lovingston Café
(434-263-8000) for interesting entrees and
some great burgers and our favorite,
Vitos Italian Restaurant.
(434-263-8688) They have great pizza and
pasta that are value-priced.
-
Thai Food in Piney River:
If you love Thai food, then this is the best
we have ever eaten. Thai Siam Take-Out
is a little hard to find. Email Kim
Chappell for details on finding this great
spot for Thai food.
-
Waynesboro:
Locals go to Waysnesboro to dine in chain
restaurants. Everything is there from fast
food to unique restaurants such as South
River Grill.
Groceries:
Where do the locals go for groceries? Many of
you may have stopped by the IBA in Nellysford in
past years and were disappointed. They are
under new management and the shelves are now
stocked. I will say that this is a store to
just pick up the basics. Most locals to
Wintergreen go to Waynesboro for their
shopping. Waynesboro now has some "metro
shopping", even with a new Target. The grocery
store of choice is Martins. (almost like Ukrops
out of Richmond) Let us know if you need
directions to Waynesboro
Dining Outdoors in
Nelson County
New Options: We are always
looking for new dining options in rural Nelson
County. 2008 has provided a few new options that
are exciting.
The Blue Mountain
Brewery: We dropped by a few days ago and
their outdoor patio was bustling with guests.
Their menu includes sandwiches, salads and a
great cheese and meat board. And, of course,
their great micro-brew. There are large tables
available for dining with friends and a
traditional bar inside. Nice views from the
outdoor patio. The Blue Mountain Brewery is
located in Afton on Rt. 151.
The Dogwood Restaurant:
This restaurant opened in Nellysford this past
Winter, but has added many outdoor tables.
Enjoy the wrap-around porch or tables near their
large koi pond. Currently, the restaurant is
open for lunch and dinner with a menu that
includes sandwiches, salads and entrees. There
are also some Southern- comfort food items such
as pinto beans with corn bread. Rumors say that
this restaurant will soon open for breakfast.
We will let you know when it does offer a
breakfast menu.
Nelson County Traditions:
There are some great restaurants in Nelson
County that have been a tradition for years.
The Blue Ridge Pig:
Often mentioned in the Washington Post travel
section and the Washingtonian Magazine as a
place to stop for some of the best Bar-B-Q in
Virginia, and we agree. The Blue Ridge Pig is
also in Nellysford and offers a few outdoor
tables. In addition to the Q, make sure to try
the potatoes.
The Lovingston Café:
This restaurant is located in the heart of
Nelson County in Lovingston. It has the largest
outdoor patio in the county and is a great place
to meet family and friends or to plan a group
dinner. Our favorites on the menu include a
great hamburger and some entrée salads. (There
are also several hot entrees and daily specials)
Outside Dining in
Wintergreen Resort
One of our favorite places
to dine outdoors is the Stoney Creek Bar &
Grill. Their deck boasts some of the best
views in the valley. Plus, they have both a
sunny deck and a covered porch. Currently the
Stoney Creek Bar & Grill is open every day for
lunch and dinner is served on Friday and
Saturday nights. Extended hours will start in
May.
While on Wintergreen
Mountain, the Devil’s Grill is our
favorite place to dine outside. Their patio is
a great place to sit with friends for a relaxing
lunch or dinner. The patio is shaded and offers
great views of the Devil’s Knob Golf Course. We
also enjoy the menu and cant wait to see this
year’s late Spring and Summer menu.
The Copper Mine deck
is a great place to enjoy the weekend brunch
buffet. Reservations are still available for
their famous Mother’s Day Brunch.
On weekends and on
holidays, the resort grills hamburgers and
hotdogs on the Blue Ridge Terrace Grill.
Nothing is better than a grilled hamburger for
Memorial Day or July 4th.
Monocan Lake will open over
Memorial Weekend and everyone enjoys grilling
and eating outside at the many picnic tables.
Another favorite is eating
outside on the many condo and home decks with
amazing views. If you would like to rent a
condo with a view, be sure to ask for a “view
condo” while renting through Wintergreen
Resort.
A Picnic Basket from
Ambrosia Bakery & Deli
Recently, I have been
writing stories about “Shop Local” and Nelson
County Wine Tours. I have been receiving many
questions about winery tours, and one question
that I receive often is about wine tours and
food. Many of our wineries promote the idea of
bringing your own picnic to pair with their
wine. Well, Ambrosia Bakery & Deli is one place
to stop in Nelson County before you start your
winery tour.
Ambrosia Bakery and Deli is
located in Nellysford, VA at 2192 Rockfish
Valley Highway and can be reached at
434-361-9661. The menu has business hours from
8AM-5PM, Wednesday-Sunday. Sherry mentioned
that the doors usually open at 7AM for those
getting an early start. I also want to point
out that Ambrosia is open on Sundays. You can
even stop by early Sunday morning to pick up
pastries and hot breakfast sandwiches. Also
coffee from Greenberry. (This answers another
question that I often get…”where can I eat on
Sundays”) Most of the Ambrosia business is
take-out, but there are two tables inside for
dining. Look for the signs and the dark purple
shop in the shopping area.
Bring your own picnic
basket, and Sherry can quickly fill it with a
variety of items:
Gourmet cheese and a
selection of crackers and fresh bread for your
winery tour
Salads to include Caesar,
Greek, Spinach and Salmon Salad
Dips and Spreads to include
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus, Spinach-Artichoke,
Sun-dried Tomato Dip and several others
Mediterranean Pasta Salad
and Tabouli
A large selection of custom
sandwiches like The Nelson, The Neptune, The
Apollo and the Ambrosia. The Nelson has roast
beef, smoked turkey, honey ham, cheddar cheese,
lettuce, tomato, red onion w/horseradish mustard
on a sub roll. There are also vegetarian
sandwiches.
Home-made soups and Quiche
Ambrosia is now serving a
wider selection of hot entrée items such as
homemade meatloaf, mac & cheese and lasagna.
All of these items can be packed for easy
carry-out.
Ambrosia is far more than
beautiful desserts. I have to mention the
desserts and sweets though. They are amazing.
Here’s just a brief list of items: French
pastry, scones, croissants, brownies, baklava,
cookie bars, cannoli, cheesecake by the slice or
whole, tarts, cookies, cakes and pies by the
slice or whole.
If you are hosting a
celebration or special event, talk with Sherry
about catering options. I have purchased party
trays from Ambrosia for my real estate
business. It is a fast solution to your party
needs and everyone loves to see a party tray
from Ambrosia Bakery & Deli.
Fried Chicken for a
Crowd in Nelson County
If you are planning a large
picnic or event in Nelson County, and you need
to feed a crowd…order some local-made fried
chicken. Southerners have always enjoyed fried
chicken for summer picnics. Nelson County has a
few places to pick up enough southern fried
chicken to feed that crowd. You do need to
order in advance though. Our family has fed up
to sixty people from these local
establishments.
In Lovingston, stop by and
order your chicken from the Chicken Coop. They
are located at 40 Front Street in Lovingston.
(434-263-7818) Yes, there is also a gas station
at the same location, but the Chicken Coop does
have a pick-up window and a few tables inside.
If you don’t need to plan a large event or
party, stop by the Chicken Coop for breakfast or
lunch. They serve a hot breakfast and their
chicken for lunch with many side dishes.
Over in Nellysford, stop by
Graves Grocery. Yes, they also have a gas
station which is a theme. Graves Grocery is
located at 1779 Rockfish Valley Highway (Rt.
151), 434-361-2504. Graves Grocery can also fix
enough fried chicken to feed a crowd. I also
want to mention that we think that they have
some of the best biscuits in the county. Crowds
line up for the breakfast biscuits. You need to
try their sausage biscuit. They also have good
coffee and a breakfast platter. Of course, you
can order the fried chicken with lots of
biscuits.
I think that Nelson County
Gas Station Food could be a story…
Also in Nellysford is the
Blue Ridge Grocery. You can also pre-order
fried chicken for a crowd from the grocery.
Recently, a fellow real estate agent served
their chicken at a real estate open house with
rave reviews.
Brunch Scene
Yes, there is a very active
Sunday Brunch Scene in Nelson County.
Here are just a few of the choices available in
Wintergreen Resort and in Nelson County.
The Copper Mine in
Wintergreen Resort has a breakfast buffet on
both Saturday and Sunday mornings. The buffet
has many options from eggs to pancakes or French
toast. There is always fresh fruit, pastries
and a selection of juices. For special
occasions, the Copper Mine hosts a large buffet
with carving stations, an omelet station and a
waffle station. The holiday buffets have become
very popular, especially the Mother’s Day
brunch. Keep an eye on the web site at
www.WintergreenResort.com for updates on the
Copper Mine and special menus.
Also in Wintergreen Resort,
the Stoney Creek Bar & Grill has a special
Sunday Brunch menu. This is a seasonal
restaurant in the resort, so check the web site
when making plans. During the Summer and Fall,
you can even dine outside on the covered porch
or on the sun deck. The views are wonderful as
you look out over the Stoney Creek golf course
and towards the mountains.
Another popular Sunday
Brunch is at Basic Necessities in Nellysford.
We went last Sunday, and had a great time.
There is a special menu that also includes a
wonderful mimosa, with a re-fill. There was
live harp music. I even found a gluten free
option. Basic Necessities is located between
the Blue Ridge Pig and the hardware store on Rt.
151 in Nellysford. They have a great wine
selection including international wines. There
are some gourmet grocery items including a
cheese selection. After brunch, pick up a free
items to-go.
The Mark Addy in Nelson
County often hosts a Sunday Brunch. Call
434-361-1101 for details. The Mark Addy is a
Bed & Breakfast that often has special menus and
even live music.
Nelson County wineries
often have special Sunday brunch menus for
holiday weekends. Pick up a Nelson County Life
(free) Magazine for details on a monthly basis.
Vitos Italian
Restaurant Opens in Nellysford
It has been a long wait for
locals who love Vitos Italian Restaurant in
Lovingston, VA. Many of us have been driving to
the other side of the county for a long time to
visit that location of Vitos. We have been
watching construction on the new location in
Nellysford in anticipation of the opening. (Nellysford
is about 8 miles from the entrance to
Wintergreen’s mountain resort and is on Rt. 151)
Get ready for some great
pizza, calzones, salads and pasta. Plus, the
new Nellysford location will have an expanded
wine selection. Our family favorite is the
pepperoni pizza and all the pasta dishes. You
can dine in or get your order to-go.
The new restaurant will
also have an expanded menu of pizza options
including Sicilian Crust Pizza and lots of
gourmet pizza toppings. Yum!
There will be 10 types of
beer on tap, including some local brews. |
