The Inn At Willow Grove

Vintage Restaurant is beautiful and an intimate location for a celebration. Tapas Wednesdays is a great way to sample the variety of flavors on this very creative menu. A true Fine Dining experience in the heart of Virginia.

We were a party of 4. The food service was the worst I’ve experienced in years. Our appetizers arrived one hour after ordering. The entrees arrived 45 minutes later. After ordering we were later told that one of the entrée items was not available and a substitute (filet mignon) would be arriving instead. When our entrees finally arrived, the filet mignon was not a filet but a mass of fat and gristle… the knife would not cut through the «filet» and the meal was returned. Another entrée was not desired. Three folks enjoyed a nice meal while one did not. The one did not want to wait another hour or more for a single entrée.
Had the manager offered to provide one of our mid-​priced bottles of wines as complimentary this review would likely not be published. Instead, we received an apology, an excuse that they only had two cooks and they were busier than expected. A simple Happy Anniversary desert was brought to the table with a small scoop of sherbet and a small scoop of ice cream. Thanks for nothing!
If you’re seeking this kind of restaurant environment in the Northern Virginia area, there are much better options.

Terrible service. Small portions. Got there for the happy hour specials at 4:30 they told me they aren’t ready yet restaurant opens at 3! They didn’t have happy hour but gave me a lunch menu. So at 5pm oddly enough I was sitting there ordering off a lunch menu with limited selections and high prices. The food came and what a huge disappointment ! Tiny portions, avocado was my main dish it was tiny and so under ripe I couldn’t even eat it! Their web site says they use fresh local in season produce. Ok all the farms within a few miles of this place selling tomatoes in August and fresh produce the only veggie item was avocado from Peru! Really? Get a new chef. It seems like a young crowd worker he bar and restaurant and I assume a very amateur chef as well. There were other guests of the hotel sitting one table over from me having a drink and when they saw my food delivered to my table they immediately looked on Unilocal for another restaurant to go dine at that evening. Smart move as the food here was horrendous ! I ordered another dish as I was still hungry and the fish taco entrée came out with two small flour tortillas and two tiny pieces of fish between the 2! Oh my goodness really for $ 18 you have the nerve to serve this to me? By then I figured I’d just drink another glass of wine and call it a night. Well I was the the only table in the entire restaurant and no one came to wait on me for over 30 minutes! Ok no glass of wine! Seriously I dine out 3 – 5 times a week for work and 2 times socially and this was the worst service and food I’ve ever had! The décor is great but when the food and service is horrible who cares how cute the place looks! I will not recommend the restaurant if you stay at the lovely inn look elsewhere for food. Don’t let the fancy cook décor of the restaurant lure you in for anything other than a cocktail. And one drink that’s all you get since staff disappears to go mow the lawn or something on this huge property. Awful! 2 thumbs down huge disappointing dining lack –of-​an-​experience all around. Find another place to eat in the area lots of better choices !

I took my parents here for dinner to show them how wonderful Virginia’s farm-​to-​table cuisine is. Vintage did not disappoint. Impeccable service, food, wine, and ambience. Stacey was our server, and she was incredibly attentive and seemed to anticipate our every need. I have a gluten allergy, which is usually an issue, but the chef created remarkable dishes for me. The whole meal was spectacular, and I even got to take home some homemade cornbread and honey butter for breakfast tomorrow. My husband and I just found our new date-​night go to! Absolute perfection!

Beautiful place, tasty food. Service ranges from negligent to dismissive.
At brunch, a succession of young women announced that they would «help serve us». The wait between soup and main course was 45 minutes by the clock; one refill on water, none on bread.
Wednesday Samson, manager, dismissed a deaf patron’s request to turn the music down with, «It’s on an iPod, and we can’t control the volume,» a curious statement to make, since everyone knows that iPods have volume control.

Wow! My husband & I went to dinner here for the first time and were surprised at every turn. When walking up to the Inn it is a beautiful site to take in and see. Absolutely beautiful!
The interior is just as amazing and nicely appointed with art and furnishings. The extra touches with tiny candles in the windows, toasty fireplaces, soft lighting, and renovations still staying with the original colonial flare.
The staff, wait & mgr. were very friendly, well trained, & knowledgeable about food and wines.
The chef’s cooking was one of the best we have had in quite awhile & that is comparing to Inn at Little Washington but here without that price. The food had layers of delicious fresh tastes.
There is a separate bar room if you get there early and it looked very relaxing and well appointed.
We will be Back many times!

We thoroughly enjoyed our weekend getaway to this gorgeously appointed property. The staff attends to every need. From the welcome of cold prosecco, to turn down service accompanied by hot tea and a sweet treat… to morning french press and fresh hot beignets… wow! The rooms are quiet and beautifully decorated but not the least bit stuffy. Every amenity is thoughtfully provided. Many of the rooms/​suites are in nearby outbuildings providing privacy and seclusion. Perfect for some well deserved downtime and utter relaxation. We will return… this is the perfect spot for a weekend, weekday, or longer time to enjoy the scenery and tranquility the Orange area offers. And as good as the Inn is, the property’s Vintage restaurant is just as good… a wonderful offering in a wonderful setting!

One of the best restaurants that we have ever been to. We have been here several times. My family and I are vegan and we let them know that when we call in for the reservation and they are always very accommodating. The chef is amazing! He comes up with the most amazing vegan dishes we have ever had at a restaurant. It’s never just some kind of salad or vegetable plate. He always ask us if we want something in particular or if he can take liberty and whip up something for us. We always tell him to take liberty and he doesn’t disappoint. He’s told us that his wife is vegan so he has practice coming up with vegan dishes. They are always very willing to accommodating and make us feel welcomed. We’ve also been there with non-​vegan friends and they also loved the food. In my opinion this is not doubt a 5 star restaurant!

What a lovely response from such a sophisticated establishment.
I guess the restaurant is without flaw and me being the pion patron is either a fool or a flat out liar about my experience.
I’ve eaten at fantastic restaurants all over the country and in Europe, from hole in the walls to Micheline stand outs and I’m always greatly appreciative of restaurants that put forth delicious high quality cuisine.
Your restaurant was a disappointment. I stated clearly that it must of been an off day but that should lead you to look closer at your lunch staff not waste time attacking a patron that was just giving an honest assessment of an experience.
Don’t worry we won’t be returning, we’ll just shimmy our unsophisticated palettes over to Charlottesville next time we’re in town and leave your without error high end spot for folks without an opinion.

We stayed over Valentine’s Day this year and had an amazing time! The venue is absolutely beautiful and very romantic. We stayed in the Butler’s Cottage, and there were roses and chocolates when we arrived. We had a five course meal at the Vintage restaurant, and service was fantastic. The food was amazing!
We will definitely be going back!

I bookmarked this place a few months ago when we drove by on our way to Charlottesville. My beau had the great idea of stopping in for lunch when we were passing by again. Great idea — this place is fabulous.
So bust out your Birkin bags and Mikimotos, because there are a lot of them here. On a Saturday afternoon, we saw a few families stopping in, and a few rounds of ladies enjoying lunch in the countryside. The scene is historic, lush and beautiful.
The bread service outstanding — three options of fig bread, sourdough, and a milk loaf, service with local whipped butter and honey. For lunch, Bill and I both had the burger with the microgreen salad. Little J had the crab cakes and Little E got a large serving of the truffle mac and cheese. Not the most kid-​friendly menu, but we’re all about expanding horizons.
The décor of the restaurant would be my only criticism. It’s got a bit of an 80’s contemporary vibe — definitely not what you might expect from a beautiful old home in the country.
If you’re driving through the area, give them a try.

After reading some of the other reviews here on Unilocal I am surprised. I recently had dinner here and I would have to say it was one if not the best dining experiences I have ever had. We were a party of 6, and the staff handle us with great professionalism and prompt service. Delivering each course exactly on time. I hate it when restaurants bring the next course when you haven’t finished the previous one. 5 star service.
Now the restaurant itself, the seating is spacious and well laid out. The décor is sophisticated yet rustic which is perfect for this old plantation style house. Every thing has been remolded, someone invested a large amount of money into this place and it shows. Ambiance and décor 5 stars.
And finally the food, after all that is why you go to restaurants. Everyone in the party was pleased with their choices off the menu. I can say that everything I sampled was absolutely delicious. This is not your typical commercial cookie cutter dinning experience, so the prices are higher but they are justified.

This place was beyond my expectations awesome. The food was incredible and i am not one to say that easily. The french toast is heaven and poached eggs spot on. The kitchen is king! They hooked up the room with the balcony and we felt like downton abbey! The staff helped us find some local hiking trails and when we returned, our bed was turned down (say what now) AND ther was dessert waiting with tea. They were generous with bottles of water which was a nice touch. I could have slep on the heated floors of the bathroom! Slept like a dream on mega bed. Staff was very accomadating and polite. Oh, and their french press coffee? Be still my heart.
We cant wait to visit again!

Outstanding all the way around… Fantastic ambiance in the dining area, bar and upstairs. Service was perfect and very professional.
If it’s available the Venison is the best I’ve ever had.
We had a dinner for our firm here and I don’t think I’ve ever been cared for so well by the staff of any prior dining experience.
The drinks were all mixed perfectly and served quickly.
The location, ground and hotel are perfect for a visit.
We’ll be back!

Enjoyed our Christmas Eve dinner at the Willow Grove. A few points to ponder:
— the menu was available in full
— the bar ROCKED in ambiance
— our table of five had two servers in a private room
— Amy was AMAZING. Worked Christmas Eve dealing with us? :)
— the food was amazing.
— it wasn’t cheap as you get what you pay for — enough said
— Amy was very well versed on the menu and history of the Willow Grove Inn super knowledgable and savvy.
Ask me anything you want — we loved our experience.

Very beautiful décor with a lovely dining atmosphere. Food was artfully plated, creative, and had a pleasing flavor profile. We had had all tapas for dinner. The best were the asparagus and oyster mushroom au gratin, «French onion dip» sliders, frisee salad with butternut squash, blackened diver scallops, halibut taco, and beef tenderloin. The brown sugar-​roasted onion, fresh thyme and beluga lentils, carrot purée, and truffle butter was tasteless with not much texture. The spring water was very refreshing.
Staff is friendly and accommodating. They did not rush us or pressure us at all.

This place was incredible; arguably the nicest place my wife and I have ever stayed. She surprised me with reservations for our anniversary along with a couples massage. We arrived to check-​in and were upgraded (likely since we were staying on a non-​holiday Sunday night) to the butler suite. Our massage was amazing (my first) and was followed by the butler service to our cottage with an awaiting cheese & fruit platter. The cottage was wonderful with heated floors in the bathroom, a fireplace in the bedroom, and a deck with a beautiful view to enjoy our afternoon snack.
While we were at dinner at the German Restaurant in Madison, they turned down the bed for us and left tea, hot chocolate, and a sweet desert for us to enjoy. In the morning they brought us coffee and Beignets and gave us coupons for the local wineries.
The grounds are amazing, especially if you walk up the hill to the overlook of the Shenandoah Mountains. I would highly recommend this place as a wedding venue or a weekend getaway. The price is well worth the amazing service and accommodations.

My husband and I dined at Vintage, the inn’s restaurant. When we went it was ‘Gourmet Tapas Night,’ held every Wednesday. Since I’m so indecisive, we decided to order all 15: P The ‘Tempura-​fried shrimp and asparagus, lump crab, petite greens, white miso glaze’ was nice and crispy, and my favorite was the asparagus; the ‘Crab cake, garlic corn cookie, creamed corn’ was nicely deep-​fried and well-​seasoned; the ‘Soft polenta, roasted forest mushrooms, grilled zucchini’ was like a little porridge on your plate; the ‘Tossed baby spinach, orzo pasta, capers, Holland tomatoes, toasted pine nuts, parmesan cheese, blond balsamic vinaigrette’ was fresh, and I loved the the added orzo pasta touch; ‘Arugula, frisse, pomegranate, spiced pecans, fried okra, crispy parmesan, sweet beet vinaigrette’ was also a nice and fresh salad, and I dug those spicy pecans; the ‘Truffed mac n’ cheese, petite greens, ham and smoked chili drop biscuit’ — this was just okay; ‘Crab Mephistophales in potato skin, roasted corn, bechamel, egg, chopped parsley’ — this was my absolute favorite, with the nice little crab meat being stuffed in a potato; loved the cream sauce that enveloped it; ‘Lac Majune: Baked pita roll with ground pork, tomatoes, garlic, oregano, lemon, creamy cucumber and yogurt sauce, crumbled feta’ — this was okay, but I thought there was too much bread; ‘Halibut taco, jicima slaw, cilantro adobo, ancho aioli, dried corn’ — the adobo sauce was pretty darn tasty, and was necessary for the taco!; ‘Apple cider-​brined and corriander-​seared Atlantic salmon, celery risotto, baby spinach, mascarpone, dried apple;’ ‘Cast iron-​seared strip loin, baked and smashed parsley potatoes, sea salt, French bean, demi glacé’ — nice and juicy with a side of crispy beans; ‘Seared Ahi tuna, white bean and goat cheese mash, grilled radicchio, balsamic onion salad;’ ‘Roasted pork tenderloin, root vegetable purée, charred brussel sprouts, brown butter, hot scotch demi’ — I liked the brussel sprouts as it was nicely charred; ‘Seared duck breast, pepper-​crusted butternut squash, sauteed rapini, vanilla bean and pecan essence,’ and the ‘Vegetarian «State Fare» with Twin Oaks tofu corndog, spaghetti squash, potato funnel cake, sauteed spinach’ — the corn dog was cute, as it was a mini tofu dog; however, I wasn’t much of a fan of the taste. For dessert, we had the ‘Pear Brown Betty, crème fraîche ice cream, clear caramel’ and the ‘Crème Brulee o’ the Day’ (which consisted of milk chocolate chunks within the brulee) — the pears were nice and soft, and it seemed like an ‘upscale’ version of an oatmeal with fruit; the crème brûlée was nice, but it was a little difficult to cut the solid chunks of the chocolate bar within; this came with a side of raspberry purée. We were also served complimentary tray of desserts with a nice crispy chocolate chip cookie, a coffee cake, and a scoop of rum raisin ice cream (this was heavily doused with rum). It was safe to say that we left extra stuffed, and the overall experience was a nice one — the food was tasty, and my husband actually ordered another round of the Strip Loin and the Crab Cake! The inn itself is beautiful, and the waitstaff were very pleasant and extremely nice. Mr. Carlos, the manager, came by to see if everything was going well, and he was really sweet. A nice restaurant to stop by for dinner if you’re in the Orange area.
+‘Gourmet Tapas Night’ on Wednesdays

My review has two parts. First I will be reviewing the inn and second I will be reviewing the restaurant Vintage.
Part 1– The Inn
We stayed two nights in the suite and I appreciate the décor and design of the room. I believe this was the smallest room, but it was fine. The four piece washroom consisted of marble floors and a marble shower. The heated towel rack and floors were a nice touch. The mattress was very soft, and there were two TVs, one I the sitting room and one in the bedroom. We ordered the chocolate covered strawberries and cider for our arrival. They were highly generous and gave us near twenty strawberries, all perfectly coated with a touch of gold on each. In the morning we were treated to the beignets with coffee. My mother’s family is from Louisiana, so I feel I am a fair judge. They were very good and the staff made sure to ask what type of French pressed coffee we would prefer. This is especially crucial for my husband and I as we take it blonde and mild.
We had a pleasant stay, but I have a few suggestions for the staff. I think it would be a positive thing if there was a bottle opener and luggage rack left in the room, as we had to ask for these two items. Also, filing the ice bucket at turn down would be a nice touch. The bathroom door in the suite sticks and needs to be planed on top, as I got stuck in it and my husband had to force the door open. Lastly, I would encourage that there always be someone at the front desk. We were instructed to call the front with the time that we wanted our coffee service. The night before we called six to seven times with no answer at the main line. We did not get anyone that night and called in the morning to request the service. Overall, this was a relaxing weekend and we enjoyed out stay. By the way, the dessert at turn down was really something special.
Part 2– Vintage
My husband and I ate here for dinner, brunch, as well as in the pub. I will say that the staff really is willing to meet every request regardless of how small. When the waiter approached us for our drink order I asked if they had a blender, when he said no because the noise offended people, I congenially said I had thought so and asked him what they could do that was similar to a piña colada, as that was our favorite drink. 5 minutes later two pina coladas were brought to our table. Apparently, they had tried to crush ice by hand and found they did not like the texture of the ice, so they went into a closet with a blender that they pulled out from storage and ground ice to give us our favorite drink. That is dedication. :)
The food was prepared well and the selections did have a wide variety. The service was nice, though at times I could tell they were busy and we waited a tad longer. I had fish tacos with sea bass for one meal, gulf shrimp over arugula for another, and watermelon and jicama salad at brunch. My husband usually selected the meat and potatoes option.
Overall, the service was great and the food was nicely prepared. My only suggestion is that their menu was not entirely clear on some items. My husband order one dish that he thought was hot «steak and fries,» but was surprised to find out that it was cold (intentionally) and rare. Not at all what he had expected or what the menu led us to assume.
I would recommend both the Inn as well as the restaurant. Enjoy!

Our family had dinner here for Christmas Eve. Service was warm, knowledgable and professional. The food was outstanding with a very charmful setting. I would like to come back and stay the night to soak up more delicious food and nostagia.