The 10 Best Local Restaurants In The Northern Neck Of Virginia

Combining a bistro, art gallery and café is The Art of Coffee in Montross. The Art of Coffee offers diners a full range of freshly baked breakfast fare from pastries, scones and muffins, all accompanied by their award-winning coffee. Larger dishes on their breakfast and lunch menu have artistically themed names and are packed with flavor, such as their American Artist No. 2 – which consists of eggs made to order, maple link or pork sausage patties with home fries, toast or a biscuit. Another favorite is the Impressionist Breakfast of scrambled eggs with fresh spinach, roasted red peppers, ham and feta cheese. Whilst enjoying these delicious dishes, diners can admire the local artwork hanging on the walls, including Virginia native water-colorist Amanda Lee.

Carried Away Cuisine is a charming catering café that has been on the Northern Neck culinary scene since 1980. The brainchild of Jackie Brown, Carried Away Cuisine started in her own small kitchen, with her and her partner’s homemade creations included in the Central Market in downtown Lancaster. Due to their burgeoning popularity, the pair opened a second market stand and promoted gourmet speciality foods. With her experience and customer base, Jackie established Carried Away Cuisine in 2001. While they offer catering, much of their delicious fare can be eaten in at their “shoppe.” The range of food available at the shoppe changes daily to reflect the seasonal availability of ingredients and to suit customer demand. There are salads, wrap sandwiches, homemade soups, quiches, entrées and dozens of desserts on offer. Carried Away Cuisine can also create dishes to suit any dietary request. Breakfast, brunch and lunch are complemented by the finest and freshest coffee from the Lexington Coffee Company, which is local to Virginia.

Hailed as one of the best places to eat in the Northern Neck area of Virginia, Nate’s Trick Dog Café is a small but charming café. Following the Great Fire of Irvington in 1917, much of the town was damaged or destroyed. A local resident however, found a statue of a sooty black dog in the Opera House. Taking it home, they named it a ‘trick dog’ as it did not require food or water but would follow commands to sit and stay. The dog is now the resident of its namesake café and visitors are invited to pet it. There is also plenty on the menu to suit any taste and appetite, from a coffee and cocoa braised pork shank to chorizo and spinach ravioli with a machaca sauce. Other popular choices include with buttermilk brined chicken thigh with sage stuffing waffles lathered in a sausage and caramelized onion gravy.

Tommy’s Seafood and Steaks is a stable and icon in Reedville. With a menu that features the best of Northern Neck cuisine, their NY strip steaks, sautéed veal liver and grilled marinated chicken breast are firm favourites. Their seafood is also popular, such as their jumbo lump crab cakes and their seafood platter of jumbo shrimp, scallops, oysters and crab. They also have vegetarian options such as baked brie with mango chutney. These dishes are accompanied by an extensive wine list that brings out the flavor of their dishes. The restaurant is housed in a restored market used in the 1800s, adding to its charm and historical presence. Open Thursday through Sunday between 5pm and 9pm after Labor Day, an evening at Tommy’s is a memorable night.