The 5 Best Locally Sourced Restaurants In Abingdon, Virginia

Foresta, Abingdon Nominated in USA Today for Best New Restaurant

We recently had the opportunity to try out the delicious creations of the chef at the brand new Foresta in Abingdon, VA and I am happy to report that I was BLOWN AWAY!

This brand new upscale Mediterranian restaurant will not disappoint you. The enchanted forest-themed restaurant boasts local artwork and a unique mix of fairy tail dining. From the greenery-covered walls to the cleverly named drinks, the whole experience is only surpassed by the quality and taste of the food.

We started our meal with some amazing cocktails, named after your favorite novels with enchanted forests, such as this perfectly concocted potion known as The Magician’s Nephew, a novel in the C.S. Lewis Narnia series.

Later, I finished off my meal with a more tropically inspired, but just as cute and delicious Island in the Sun cocktail.

Now, let’s talk about the food! The chef served us up so many delicious options and the owner, Zane, kept us and other guests regaled with stories from his days as a “spirit wizard” in Nashville. The chef’s “Grandma’s Meatball” appetizer was exactly what you’d expect from a home-cooked meal made by grandma.

The 8oz Filet Mignon from Georgian southern farms melts in your mouth, and Wild caught Arctic Scallops were as fresh as if they’d been brought in from the ocean this afternoon.

If you want to enjoy a fresh, fun, and a little bit of fantasy in your next meal, trust me when I tell you that Foresta in Abingdon, VA is the place to be.

The Peppermill Restaurant, located on Main street, in Abingdon, VA is the perfect romantic date night restaurant after taking in a play at Barter Theatre.

The fresh food and historic quaint atmosphere keeps locals and visitors coming back time and again.

The food selection in this Abingdon Virginia restaurant ranges from quesadillas and pasta to steaks and seafood.

If you want a more casual atmosphere to take the kids, we recommend enjoying a burger or a fried green tomato BLT at lunch.

The mushroom soup is a must-have for lunch or dinner!

Our family has only recently discovered 128 Pecan located in downtown Abingdon, but I can quickly tell you without a doubt it is one of the best restaurants in Abingdon, Virginia.

The menu says, “It’s a very open atmosphere with a hey, how are ya today kind of attitude” and we can 100% affirm this to be true!

Check out the 128 Pecan Menu but do not let the small size fool you! The food at 128 Pecan is on par with some of the best food I have ever had. If you enjoy the food scene in Charleston, South Carolina, you will love 128 Pecan.

I was amazed that I could have a crab cake in the hills of Appalachia better than any crab cake I’ve ever enjoyed on the coast!

If seafood isn’t your thing, the steaks and burgers are equally delicious.

Insider tip: We dined during the recent romaine lettuce recall so we had a Ceasar salad prepared with loose greens instead. Oh, my word!!

We now order it that way every time.

If you are coming off the Creeper trail, don’t miss a stop at 128 Pecan. You will not regret it.

Rain Restaurant is still a staple “go-to” for us on our date nights.

Can you tell we frequent Abingdon a lot when we are sans kids?

Considering it’s a town that feels like something from an 18th-century Charles Dickens novel, can you blame me?

But, I digress. To be fair, we have dined at Rain Restaurant with kids and with other couples and found the atmosphere perfectly suitable for all parties.

In the warmer seasons, a table outside is quite lovely and often a bit quieter than inside.

Here's the link to the Rain Restaurant Menu if you want to go check them out! My favorite go-to when dining at Rain Restaurant is the Buffalo Crawfish and 10 oz. blackened ribeye. My husband has enjoyed the filet and the uniquely stuffed chicken breast with apple, fig, onion & brie cheese.

The best thing about Rain Restaurant is its commitment to fresh locally grown food and the support that provides.

Proudly displayed on the home page of their website are the names of the local and regional farmers that supply their food. Bravo, Rain Restaurant, well done!

Okay history lovers, this one’s for you! The Tavern is located in Abingdon’s oldest building. In fact, having been constructed in 1779 it is one of the oldest building west of the Blue Ridge.

As I am sure you have guessed by it’s name, it began as a tavern as well as an overnight inn for the stagecoach travelers through the area.

King Louis Philippe of France, Henry Clay, and President Andrew Jackson are among the list of famous visitors throughout The Tavern’s history.

However, the building has also been used as a post office, bank, bakery, general store, cabinet shop, barber shop, and was even used as a hospital during the civil war caring for both Confederate and Union wounded soldiers.

There are rumors that The Tavern restaurant is haunted and it is listed among the haunted sites in Abingdon, VA if you believe such things.

Now, as to the food. Besides being famous for its history, The Tavern in Abingdon, VA is known for its steaks and spirits.

The bulk of the dinner menu consists of steak, but you will also find duck, chicken, scallops, crab cakes, and trout.

They have a fine list of wines and as you would expect, beers, including my favorite Oktoberfest by Spaten.

Here's The Tavern's Menu if you want to check it out!

Reservations are absolutely recommended year round and allow at least 2 hours for dinner.

If you plan on dining before or after a Barter theatre performance, you may wish to allow even more time, but the experience will be worth it.

I can’t say that Mr. Ramsay would or wouldn’t dine at these more casual places to eat in Abingdon, VA, but our family sure can’t imagine the Abingdon food scene without them.

Luke's Cafe

Luke’s Cafe is the first truly family-friendly and FUN restaurant on our list of the best Abingdon Virginia restaurants. One thing that has struck me the most when visiting Luke’s is how accommodating they have often been with our food allergies.

One of the reasons my family prefers local family-owned restaurants when we travel, besides the fact that they always have better food, is that they are most often much more accommodating to our food allergy needs than bigger box chain stores.

Luke’s has always gone out of its way to accommodate my son and daughter and ensure they have safely prepared DELICIOUS food.

They don’t have to settle for a grilled cheese (though a grilled cheese at Luke’s is not like any other grilled cheese) or a corn dog in order to have a safe meal and I really appreciate that!

Okay, so what do they serve? As you can imagine, being a cafe they have soups, sandwiches, burgers, and fries. All of which are fresh and delicious.

They also have excellent fish tacos, meatloaf, crab cakes, Mahi Mahi, and so much more. There is something for everyone. Here's their menu so you can see it for yourself.

I can’t leave the discussion on Luke’s without mentioning the fun atmosphere. Luke’s is the melting together of the two passions of its owner, Lukas Patterson: fresh food and rock-n-roll! 

The walls of the restaurant are lined with old LP albums, guitars, and rock-n-roll memorabilia. The black and white check floor and rock-n-roll complete the rocking diner feel making Luke’s a perfect casual family restaurant in Abingdon.

JJ's Restaurant & Sports Bar

JJ’s Restaurant & Sports Bar is just what you think: a casual place for good food and fun times. Don’t expect just the typical bar fare, however.

JJ’s food is just a notch above the rest with specials often announced on their Facebook page.

Milano's Italian Cuisine

Milano’s serves up authentic Italian cuisine with all the family favorites. Milano’s menu includes pizza, subs, calzones, as well as some seriously scrumptious desserts like NY-style cheesecake and the Italian classic, Tira Mi Su.

As you can see, Abingdon, Virginia restaurants do not disappoint.

If you love fresh and locally sourced food with a touch of a quaint atmosphere, make time for dinner at one of these delectable restaurants in Abingdon, Virginia.