SW Virginia Mountain Town is a Foodie Fantasy Getaway
Looking for new vacation destinations to fulfill a foodie fix? Abingdon, Virginia, should be on every bucket list, as the Best Small Town Food Scene in the Country (USA Today, 2019, 2020, 2021). Abingdon offers culinary adventures in a unique food scene rooted in mountain traditions and infused with local creativity. Here, the historic foodways of Appalachia and generations of handed-down recipes are intertwined with contemporary twists that make for mouthwatering experiences.
Any town boasting of more than 30 independently owned restaurants is notable, but consider that Abingdon’s total population is roughly 8,000. That means Abingdon has more restaurants per capita than San Francisco, New York or New Orleans according to real estate trend watchers at Trulia. In-season, locally-sourced produce and products, including mountain trout, stone ground grits, heirloom fruits and vegetables and pastured pork are featured on the menus of dozens of highly-rated restaurants. A craft brewery, cidery, and a “Napalachian” (Napa Valley meets Appalachia) winery, specialty stores and a certified farmers market add to Abingdon’s credentials.
Just two hours northeast of Asheville, North Carolina, and 10 minutes north of Bristol, Tennessee, between the soaring peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Great Appalachian Valley, Abingdon offers extraordinary views, active outdoor adventures and unique foodways that make for a first-rate Southwest Virginia mountain getaway.
Head to the Abingdon Visitors Center to plot a foodie path through the brick-lined sidewalks and historic architecture of Main Street and surrounds. Check for hours and menus that change with the seasons. Nearly all serve regional wines and beers, signature and seasonal craft cocktails, as well as made-on-site or local desserts.
Redefining Appalachian Cuisine
History plays a role in the look and menus of the town at The Tavern, the last colonial outpost on the Great Road to the frontier. Scots-Irish and German immigrants established their own cuisines around local availability; on the menu are Wienerschnitzel, Jaegerschnitzel, spaetzle and homemade pickled red cabbage alongside mountain rainbow trout and local produce. Here in one of Abingdon’s oldest buildings, many original furnishings remain, along with the ghosts of dignitaries and ordinaries who have visited since 1779.
Rain Executive Chef/Owner Ben Carroll works closely with area producers and frequents Abingdon’s farmers market. He develops “simple, thoughtful dishes that are creative, but still presented in a way that is familiar and approachable for the average diner.” Try the juicy chicken breast stuffed with apples, figs, onion, brie and apple cider jus, served with stone ground grits and broccolini.
In a rambling house with a fun atmosphere and artsy décor, Jack’s 128 Pecan serves self-proclaimed “unpretentious food” that receives raves from diners; an extensive menu of seafood choices, sandwiches and vegetables makes converts out of “rabbit food haters.”
Sisters American Grill at The Martha Washington Inn and Spa offers a luxurious, cozy and comforting experience with its rich colors, dark woods, tall booths, padded seating and fireplace. Among the offerings are a signature Southern Hummus (black-eyed pea based), deviled eggs and elegant main courses.
Bonefire Smoke House wins accolades for its perfectly smoked meats and Southern high-country sides like collards, White’s Mill grit cakes and cornbread fritters. Located in “The Hardware,” a turn-of-the-century hardware store, live regional music is offered every weekend.
Don’t miss two scenic drives through lush countryside to see the origins of the area’s bounty. Visit historic White’s Mill and Mercantile, where the preserved building and country store still stand and the same millstone from the 19th Century continues to grind grits.
Abingdon’s culinary scene is continually evolving, celebrating transplants who bring their tastes and heritage to the area. Nowhere is this more deliciously surprising than in The Pakalachian food truck, whose owners blended their cultures in marriage and in their favorite childhood foods. Pakistani cuisine meets traditional Appalachian in fried chicken tikka, fried green “tamater” pakoras, samosa pot pie and spicy okra sautee. (Check website for specials, events and locations.)
Sweets lovers rejoice in Abingdon’s bounty of bakeries, where Southern favorites are as popular as those baked by European transplants. Anthony’s Desserts is known for exquisite crème brulée and cheesecake.
To complete the culinary tour, visit Wolf Hills Brewing Co, an art and entertainment hub serving more than a dozen craft beers along with live music. Opening in 2020, The Spring House on Court Street is home to a collective of craft beverage makers: Tumbling Creek Cidery, Wolf Hills Coffee, and the native herbal teas of Appalachian Botanicals. Worth a short drive, Abingdon Vineyards is tucked into some of the most beautiful countryside in Southwest Virginia on the creek bank leading to Holston Lake, offering picnics, kayak rentals and live outdoor music.
If you go
Stop at the Southwest Virginia Cultural Center & Marketplace, a soaring glass, wood and stone visitor center and gathering place. Through interpretive exhibits, events, music performances and juried gallery, Southwest Virginia Cultural Center & Marketplace showcases the music, crafts, culture and outdoor attractions of the region.
These are only a few highlights of Abingdon’s dining scene. Foodies, families, all-you-can-eaters and comfort seekers can find their new favorites in Abingdon. Build a culinary itinerary around a getaway during the week or weekend, find the perfect accommodations and discover more things to do at www.VisitAbingdonVirginia.com.
Get fresh!
Looking for produce and products to give as gifts or to prepare in Abingdon’s many full-kitchen cottages and cabins? The certified, local producers-only Abingdon Farmers Market offers meats, seasonal produce, jams, horseradish, honey, eggs, molasses and other treats, as well as live music, artisan clothing, crafts and more. White’s Mill grits and moonshine jelly are displayed alongside treats and crafts from artisans who have made Abingdon their home. This market operates year-round; check the website for days and hours. Stroll over to the Abingdon Olive Oil Company for tastings, tips and tutoring on the distinctive flavors of olive oils and balsamic vinegars. Katbird’s Wine and Gourmet, Blue Hills Market and White Birch Juice Company offer delicious gifts, organic snacks and meals for takeout.
For many Abingdon visitors, a matinee or after-dinner performance at the jewel-box Barter Theatre is the main draw, 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 and musicals. The repertory “State Theatre of Virginia” survived and thrived, hosting world-class plays and nurturing regional playwrights today.
Get out! To counteract the calories with outdoor activity, walk along Main Street for a gentle climb up Courthouse Hill with window-shopping along the way. Moving up the exhilaration scale, bike the renowned Virginia Creeper Trail, one of the best rails-to-trails in the country. Through picturesque countryside and mountain drives, the outdoors beckon amateurs and experts with kayaking and hiking, horseback riding and rock climbing. Explore heart-soaring views, rushing waters and rugged terrain, including The Appalachian Trail, The Channels Natural Area, full of boulder mazes and other geological wonders and Grayson Highlands State Park, with its wild ponies. www.VisitAbingdonVirginia.com