Dine With History
at the Wayside Inn
By Eve Carr
Some of the most interesting dining experiences happen by chance. One Saturday we were in the Shenandoah Valley looking for a place to eat lunch. Fast food, of course, was an option, but we always like to dine at local, unique restaurants if we can. Then I saw a sign that said Wayside Inn.
“I’ve read about this in a really old dining guide,” I told my husband, "and I’ve always wanted to go there.”
“Well let’s go,” he said, and, before long, we were on Main Street in Middletown, Virginia about to enjoy the early American ambiance of the famous Wayside Inn.
This charming restaurant, which used to be known as Wilkerson’s Tavern, opened in 1797, and was a popular stagecoach stop and relay station where people could get fresh horses. The history of the Wayside says that during the Civil War, soldiers from both sides were served. It must have been interesting to have dined there at that time.
After the Civil War, the tavern was purchased by a Jacob Larrick, and was renamed Larrick’s Hotel and he ran it until the early 1900’s when Samuel Rhodes purchased the property, added to it, and gave it its present name, The Wayside Inn. In recent years, despite a devastating fire in 1985, Leo Bernstein, a Washington, D. C. financier and antique collector, purchased the Inn and has been enthusiastically restoring it to its present 18th century atmosphere.
Here we found true Southern hospitality as charming hostess Miss Gretchen offered us our choice of tables. We selected a cozy table for two by the window overlooking Main Street. The window has received so many coats of paint over the years that surely it could not have been opened, and a small table lamp that looked like a candle added a quaint charm. We loved the fact that our table was old and worn, because it let us feel the past and the numerous diners who sat here before us, enjoying the tradition of eating here.
As we sat, we imagined stagecoaches pulling up, with the Inn staff running out to help travelers carry in their suitcases. After having a bumpy ride in a cold, drafty stage coach, it must have been most pleasant to come into the warm inside, smell the aroma of Oak burning in the fireplace, and sit down to a hot, home cooked meal.
When we learned that travelers have been coming to the Inn since 1797, we really felt as if we were part of history. And the Colonial architecture and setting definitely added to the charm. By dining here, we felt as if we were becoming a part of the great hospitality tradition of Virginia. While we were surrounded by the past, we enjoyed the elegance of today, and the service was pleasant and professional.
The food was in keeping with the era -- American, but not stylishly modern. I had Miss Irene’s Famous Crab Cakes, which came with French fries that were perfectly done, tender, yet crisp, with catsup and tartar sauce elegantly served in small side dishes.
I’m not much of a meat loaf eater, but it would have been interesting to have tried Miss Irene’s Famous Meatloaf. “Miss Irene created this famous dish many years ago,” the menu reads, “but left her recipe for all her friends to enjoy.”
In addition, there are modern conference facilities and rooms, gardens, terraces and patios that would make a fairy-tale setting for a wedding or reception. Make reservations, and you can also stay in one of their 22 elegantly appointed guest rooms, surrounded by antiques such as French armoires and Windsor chairs, yet with modern amenities. We were told that there are even stories of ghosts who inhabit the Inn, especially Room 23, where a little girl named Annie is said to have resided.
One of the best parts about the Wayside Inn is that is near so many wonderful attractions in the Shenandoah Valley, including such classics as Shenandoah National Park, Skyline Drive and the Great Strasburg Antique Emporium. And the Wayside Theater is just up the street from the Inn.
The Wayside Inn is located at 7783 Main Street in Middletown, Virginia, and is a member of the Historic Hotels of America, of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. From Washington, D.C., take I-66 west to I-81, go north on I-81 to Middletown exit (#302) and follow signs to the Inn. For more information, call toll-free at 877-869-1797 or visit www.waysideofva.com.
About the Author:
Eve Carr is a full-time food and travel writer and photographer who absolutely enjoys sharing with others her knowledge of food, wine and restaurants that she discovers on her national and international travel.
Article coutesy of Suite101.com.
