In Rockbridge County, Va. residents are abuzz with the news of Gertie’s Country Store’s win in our Foodie Tour of the Blue Ridge Parkway contest. Was it the infused pulled pork that left you salivating for more? Here, we revisit Gertie’s and take a look at four more restaurants in the county that are sure to tickle your taste buds with flavorful dishes.
GERTIE’S COUNTRY STORE
The pulled pork sandwiches remain the popular menu selection at Gertie’s. Same goes for the salted herring breakfast. But there’s plenty more on the menu to choose from.
This country store/restaurant in Vesuvius offers homemade potato salad and coleslaw to go along with the barbecue, as well as pork tenderloin biscuits for breakfasat and burgers for lunch or dinner. For a little nostalgia, Coke is still served in the company’s signature glass bottles.
Diners are encouraged to sign the “vertical guestbook,” (signatures cover the walls and ceiling).
540-377-9313
HOUSE MOUNTAIN INN
Fine dining and cozy accommodations combine at House Mountain Inn in Lexington, a 15,000-square-foot rustic cabin set on a 1,000-acre preserve.
Each morning, the inn serves breakfast they call “mountain fancy.” The menu consists of eggs benedict, omelets, buttermilk waffles and flavored pancakes (pumpkin for fall).
Dinner, available to guests of the inn as well as the public, is served in the Robert E. Lee Dining Room. Diners have the option to choose three-course meals (appetizer, entreé and dessert) from the regularly updated menu.
540-464-4004, housemountaininn.com
CAFÉ MICHEL
French chef Michel Galand of Café Michel brings a taste of Europe to Lexington. In addition to his daily specials, the menu features appetizers such as escargot with garlic and shallots, and entreés including filet mignon with béarnaise sauce and chicken marsala over cappellini pasta.
Among dessert selections is Chef Michel’s spin on créme bruleé, with different flavors offered each evening.
540-464-4119, michelcafe.com
RED HEN
Using only seasonal and local ingredients for its dishes, Red Hen, located in downtown Lexington, is a unique farm-to-table restaurant.
The majority of the food comes from Rockbridge County and herbs are grown on the turf roof garden of the restaurant, named for the children’s book “The Little Red Hen.”
Menu items change each day according to seasonal availability, but fresh produce and meat are always on hand. Samples of previous selections include fried grouper tacos and braised lamb over polenta and oyster mushrooms.
540-464-4401, redhenlex.com
NIKO’S GRILLE
Greek fare is the specialty at Niko’s Grille in Lexington. But American staples (burgers and steak) appear along with the Mediterranean menu items as well.
Here, breakfast is served all day, and includes a Greek omelette with feta cheese and tomatoes, as well as pancakes, country ham, eggs and biscuits. Other Greek items are available for lunch or dinner, such as gyros, moussaka (layers of potatoes, eggplant and ground chuck with Bechamel sauce), shish kabobs or spanakopita (spinach, onion and Feta cheese stuffed in filo dough).
540-464-9499, nikosgrille-cafe.com
Parkway Pleasures
For picturesque scenery, hit the Blue Ridge Parkway in Rockbridge County. Access the scenic road from Va. 56, U.S. 60, Va. 130 or U.S. 501. Here are some must-see stops:
HIGHEST OVERLOOK: Yankee Horse at MP 35 sits at 3,140 feet above sea level.
TRAILS: Six walking/hiking trails range from easy to moderate. Need to stretch your legs? Boston Knob (MP 38.8) is an easy .10 mile in length. For a longer trek, Whetstone Ridge Trail (MP 29) runs 12 miles, with the majority along the spine of the ridge.
More to See and Do
After you dine at one of the fine restaurants in Rockbridge County, stay awhile and check out other attractions in the area.
WINE & BEER: Two wineries (Lexington Valley Vineyard and Rockbridge Vineyard) and two craft breweries (Devils Backbone Outpost Brewery and Blue Lab Brewing Company) are open for tours and tastes.
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE: Canoeing and kayaking, fishing, geocaching, horse-drawn carriage tours, sporting-clay shooting and even llama trekking are just some of the recreational opportunities.
TOP ATTRACTIONS: Natural Bridge, Virginia Safari Park, the Virginia Horse Center, Boxerwood Nature Center & Woodland Garden, Foamhenge and more are ideal for family outings.
