I read the article on best restaurants in Northern Va magazine...Ashby Inn rated #1 in food and only minutes from my house, so we had to try it. Went for lunch on a Saturday. It is a quintessential Va inn in hunt country not far from Upperville. Go for a couple of the "snacks" to start...we had cod beignets and crab crackers...only a few bucks each and excellent (ever changing, we were told) The butternut squash soup with roasted hazlenuts and a spoon of creme fraiche...although it was not fully up to temp, it was the best I have ever had. We split an entree (extra charge) of the rockfish tempura...light and greaseless. If there are any left, get a bottle of the Linden Sauvignon Blanc...only 10 left when we were there but the best Va white we have had to date. Sommelier is very well versed and the GM (French chap) came from the Inn at Little Washington as wine director. This place beats up on L'Auberge Provencale in White Post.
If you have time, shoot up 50 a few more miles towards Winchester and go to the Locke Store in Millwood...excellent wine selection, homemade desserts/entrees salads(ideal for takeout and even better when its warm to picnic across the street adjacent to a working mill from the lates 1700's), VA meats and cheeses. (Get a bottle of Wizzie's tea)
Cheers!
