Last Updated on June 20, 2021 by Maggie McKneely
Headed to Northern Virginia’s wine country? Here’s the guide you need to the best restaurants in Purcellville, VA!
Best Restaurants in Purcellville, VA
Just one hour west of Washington, DC is a tiny town making a name for itself as the Gateway to Northern Virginia’s Wine Country. Purcellville is only 3-miles wide, but the fast-growing village is home to numerous craft breweries, one of the nation’s top distilleries, and a burgeoning food scene. And just outside the town limits are over a dozen award-winning wineries. Purcellville is the perfect place to base a wine-tasting or brewery-hopping adventure. That’s why I recently suggested it as one of the best day trips from DC!
But I would be remiss to send you to western Loudoun County without any foodie recommendations. Because this happens to be where I spend most of my time, I am intimately familiar with where to go for a good meal. So if you decide to venture west outside of the Capital Beltway, here’s your ultimate list of the best restaurants in Purcellville, VA.
Best Restaurants in Purcellville, VA
1. Magnolias at the Mill: $$$
Magnolias is housed in an elegantly renovated 18th-century mill, along the popular W&OD bike path. Polished dark wood floors and timber beams give the restaurant a cozy, welcoming feeling. This is the place in town where college students take their dates and businessmen host important lunch meetings. So if your weekend getaway calls for something a little upscale (but still approachable), Magnolias is the place you want to go.
The chef specializes in farm-to-table cuisine, sourcing from the many local farms in the Purcellville area. While Magnolias is known as, literally, the best restaurant in Purcellville, its wide-ranging menu can please all palates. Come for Three-Bean Chili or Filet Mignon, and select a local Virginia wine from their extensive list.
Dining room at Magnolias. Photo credit: Magnolias at the Mill
2. West End Wine Bar & Pub: $$-$$$
Named for its location on the edge of town in a 100-year old Victorian mansion, West End is Purcellville’s other higher-end restaurant. Known for their comfort food with a twist and their extensive wine list, West End is the perfect accompaniment to a wine-tasting weekend. Kick off the day with one of their delectable brunches, starring a Crab Cake Benedict paired with a Bloody Mary Bar. Or come for dinner and have one of their famous steaks expertly paired with a wine of the chef’s choosing.
Bloody Mary bar at West End
3. Anthony’s: $-$$
Anthony’s is the local Italian and Mediterranean restaurant, but it’s not your typical spaghetti and meatballs kind of place. The restaurant itself is casual, with plastic checkered tablecloths, and an outdoor patio with mismatched furniture. But don’t let that fool you – the food is excellent. The menu includes Italian staples (lasagna, manicotti, etc.) but goes beyond that by featuring dishes and ingredients from all across the Mediterranean region. My personal favorite is the Shrimp Santorini, shrimp sauteed with basil, feta, white wine, fresh tomatoes, and served over rice!
4. My Deli and Cafe: $
Despite the mundane name, and the fact that this is a literal hole in the wall with just a couple of tables and scattered chairs, My Deli and Cafe is hands down one of the best restaurants in Purcellville, VA. I loved this place before I actually visited Greece, and afterward, I realized that My Deli and Cafe has even BETTER Greek food than a lot of what we had over there (and that’s saying something!). The owner of My Deli and Cafe is actually from Greece, and his food shows it. I’m drooling just thinking about that Chicken Souvlaki.
An excellent Greek salad from My Deli & Cafe
5. Coach’s Corner: $-$$
Most people go to sports bars to watch games, and munch on mildly edible snacks while yelling at one of the many tvs in the room. But at Coach’s Corner, you can yell at said TV (or just watch quietly like a civilized person) and munch on a surprisingly excellent meal.
Choose one of their bar snacks, like the “Hogette” (a favorite of a Redskins player who lives in town), or a Crab Ball, deep fried jumbo lump crab. They also have an array of burger and sandwiches and salads to make every palate happy. My personal favorite is the Spring Training, a lighter option that’s topped with a delectable homemade pesto mayo! And don’t forget the sweet potato fries!
Warning though: service here is pretty slow. The food is worth it, but you’ll want to budget AT LEAST an hour for your meal here!
Spring Training sandwich
6. Casa Tequila: $-$$
If you’re feeling the need for a Mexican fix, you won’t be disappointed by Casa Tequila. The owner originally hails from El Salvador, and the menu brings the authentic flavors and traditions of his home country to Purcellville. The chips are freshly made, the refried beans have bacon in them, and the tequila list is as extensive as the restaurant’s name suggests. My favorite dish is the Farmer’s Breakfast, featuring delicious fried plantains, fresh eggs, avocado, and Mexican cheese.
Another favorite: fried ice cream!
7. Monk’s BBQ: $
Monk’s is probably the best BBQ joint in the region, and certainly one of the best restaurants in Purcellville, VA. Their brisket is smoked overnight and perfectly tender; their spare ribs are so flavorful they don’t need any sauce. But if you do want sauce, Monk’s serves up a dozen different homemade concoctions, with varying spices levels and flavor combinations. Their sides are just as amazing as their meats though – the baked beans are some of the best I’ve ever add, spiced up with spare rib tips. They also have custard stuffed cornbread (you read that right!) and collard greens cooked in vinegar and loaded with spices. If you weren’t already hungry from reading this post, you probably are now!
Brisket, cornbread, and coleslaw at Monk’s
Purcellville may be a tiny town, but there’s no shortage of options for hungry foodies! Make sure to add one (or several) of these places onto your Virginia wine country intinerary.
For more, check out this great site dedicated to eating local: Local Eats
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There looks to be a great selection for all tastes and for us as backpackers, for all budgets too! It’s great when you can still get top quality food at the lower end and in some lovely settings too.
Only 3 miles wide? WOW! I love farm-to-table type cuisine so Magnolias at the Mill has my attention. I personally am not a Bloody Mary fan, but that Bloody Mary bar at West End is super cool. I’ve never seen one before! Interesting you say that you’ve had better Greek food here in the US than in Greece. I felt that way too some while I was in Greece! I do love a good souvlaki!
Wow, tons of places to eat. My deli and Cafe sounds fantastic, my husband is greek and we love greek food and the price seems good. My favorite places are small hole in the walls…
We are hoping to head this way again next year so will definitely be checking out some of these mouthwatering options in Purcellville. That Shrimp Santorini has my name on it! I love that there is such variety in such a small area, everything from upmarket dining to a hole in the wall!
Magnolias at the Mill looks so warm and inviting, not to mention I love eating farm-to-table and knowing that my dinner is cruelty free and supporting local farmers! That Greek salad though… man oh man, get in my belly! The budget options look equally tasting and inviting… it really seems that Purcewille has something for everyone.
Love small towns! Thanks for putting this small town and its food scene on my radar. Exploring an area by its food is my favorite thing to do, along with discovery its history. Love the look of Magnolias and farm-to-table is always a good thing. How cool it is in an old mill!
Good to know about this small town known as the gateway to Nrthern Virginia’s Wine Country. The list of restaurant looks great. Being a vegetarian, would like to understand how is the vegan scene out there. Coache’s corner looks something of my kinda.
Ooh, I would love to try some fried ice cream! We’re currently in Mexico right now, and have fallen in love with Mexican food. I’ll have to make note of Casa Tequila if I’m ever in Virginia.
It is surprising how many options are in such a tiny town. I would start with farm food. And to be honest – Greek salad looks way better than the ones I had in actual Greece too.. 😀
That Shrimp Santorini sounds right up my alley! My mouth is watering from these photos and your descriptions. Great post!