One of Virginia’s former great seafood restaurants is now out of business with no hope of recovery. Lowery’s Seafood Restaurant in Tappahannock has closed its doors for good.
Years ago, I was headed to the Northern Neck and a fishing trip out of Lewisetta. A friend suggested that I stop in Tappahannock on my way and eat at Lowery’s if I was hungry. As it turned out, I went through town about 6 PM and stopped to check it out. I was most impressed. The seafood, the service, the atmosphere was just right. Delicious. I continued to eat there any time I had an opportunity, but the last time I went, it wasn’t up to snuff, and I was disappointed.
It takes a long time to establish a great restaurant, but not so long to tear it down. Poor management led to the fall of Lowery’s, though I’m sure the pandemic did not help matters.
Gordon Ramsey of the Food Channel fame even went to Lowery’s to try to help resurrect the failing restaurant, but without success.
The seafood industry was really hit hard last year. Many crabbers, commercial fishermen and oystermen who had been barely hanging on, quit the business as the restaurant market dried up, and now with fewer watermen and a limited supply, prices for seafood are through the roof.
I don’t know that we’ll ever have another seafood restaurant in Virginia anywhere near as good as way was Lowery’s Seafood Restaurant in Tappahannock, and that’s a shame.