The following restaurants and businesses both support the Buy Fresh Buy Local initiative and serve locally grown items when in season and available. Thus, the menus and specials change daily according to what vegetables, fruits and herbs are in season and available to the restaurant.
All but one are located in Staunton, VA and have varying hours according to what meals or product they focus on. Please call ahead or visit their websites for more information.
The Darjeeling Café
219 W. Beverley Street
Staunton, VA
540-213-0066
www.darjeelingcafe.com
The Darjeeling Café is owned and managed by Mary Beth Harris and is described by the Daily News Leader as a “cozy” tea house whose customers visit for “caffeine, lunch and live music.”
In addition to the restaurant fare, this business also offers catering, themed events, live music, and a Facebook presence.
The Darjeeling Café’s commitment to local foods extends even to the use of what herbs are utilized on-site. And, in addition to their ever-changing menu, the Café offers over 50 kinds of teas, over 40 different wines and over 30 different beers. In addition to all the offerings above, at least one vegan menu option is available each day.
Cranberry’s Grocery & Eatery
7 South New Street
Staunton, VA
540-885-4755
Cranberry’s Grocery & Eatery has been designated a “Virginia Green Destination” by the Virginia tourism board according to local Staunton paper, The Daily News Leader.
It has a significant Facebook presence by which it notifies fans and potential customers of the daily fare.
Reviews for Cranberry’s Grocery & Eatery are somewhat sketchy. Most all mention that the menu is more expensive than anticipated and several mention poor service issues, ranging from “snotty” to “inexcusable.”
Newtown Baking
960 West Beverly Street
Staunton, VA
540-885-3799
Newtown Baking, open since December 2006, has apparently scaled back operations from a combination bakery and restaurant. The bakery aspect, however, continues to garner absolute rave reviews for the quality, freshness and authenticity of their goods.
Stone Soup Books & Café
908 W. Main Street
Waynesboro, VA
540-943-0084
www.stonesoupbooks.net
Stone Soup Books & Café offers as much of a variety of products – books, music, food – as it does food, which includes homemade soups, salads, sandwiches and pastries.
Live music is featured each Friday night and outdoor seating is provided in temperate seasons.
Stone Soup has a significant Facebook presence which seems to concentrate more on the music than the food. Contacting the business directly via telephone or their particular website would provide more information on the day’s menu.
The Staunton Grocery & Farm to Fork Catering by The Staunton Grocery
105 W. Beverley Street
540-886-6880
www.stauntongrocery.com
The Staunton Grocery is the real deal: a winner of the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2008, OpenTable.com Diner’s Choice 2010 and Fodor’s Choice 2010 are among its awards.
Owner and chef Ian Boden has established supply agreements with over two dozen area farms in his effort to live, work and cook a commitment to his “farm-to-table” philosophy.
Evidently, the results of his philosophy are as successful to the palate as they are to the press. In addition to rave reviews by the general public, Boden and his Staunton Grocery have been featured in the WashingtonPost.com, Southern Living, Virginia Living, Charleston Daily Mail and In the Kitchen. Copies of all these articles are available on the Grocery’s website and new menu options are available there or on Facebook.
Zynodoa Restaurant
115 East Beverley Street
Staunton, VA
www.zynodoa.com
In larger cities, it would not be uncommon to list two outstanding and remarkable restaurants within the same area. For two such restaurants to prosper within a block of each other in a small city the size of Staunton is extraordinary.
The Zynodoa Restaurant is directed by Chef Michael Lund, the former executive sous chef at The Inn At Little Washington. Chef Lund’s stature in the culinary community is such that he assisted at a recent White House state dinner.
According to the Daily News Leader, Lund “cooks with style” and ever strives toward perfection. His personal style is also described as “inspired Southern Cuisine.”
Zynodoa’s reviews are uniformly positive, reporting outstanding service and “inventive” dishes. The cost for such food and service is not inexpensive, however, so be prepared to pay for all that luxury.
More information on Zynodoa’s cost and daily fare can be found on the restaurant website of the Facebook site.
Sources:
2010 Shenandoah Valley Buy Fresh Buy Local newsletter, Virginia Cooperative
Extension
www.buylocalvirginia.org
www.stonesoupbooks.net
www.darjeelingcafe.com
http://search.newsleader.com/sp?aff=1100&skin=&keywords=darjeeling%20cafe
http://www.superpages.com/yellowpages/C-Bakeries/S-VA/T-Staunton
www.stauntongrocery.com
http://www.stauntongrocery.com/ebr_article.htm
http://www.stauntongrocery.com/wp_article.htm
http://www.stauntongrocery.com/southern_living_article.htm
http://www.stauntongrocery.com/virginia_living_article.htm
http://www.stauntongrocery.com/daily_mail_article.htm
http://www.stauntongrocery.com/in_the_kitchen_article.htm
www.zynodoa.com
http://maps.google.com/maps/place?cid=31813002433501935&q=cranberry%27s+staunton&hl=en&gl=us&view=feature&mcsrc=detailed_reviews&num=10&start=0&ved=0CNgBELUF&sa=X&ei=kExsTJmbGonkygTHx-1x
