Sometimes it’s worth going to a restaurant for the scenery alone. If the food is good, that’s a bonus. Such is the case at Graves Mountain Lodge where the scenery is breathtaking and the food fabulous.
Graves Mountain has a storied history. Captain Thomas Graves sailed the “Mary and Margaret” to Jamestown in 1608, and served as a representative in the Virginia Assembly at Jamestown in 1619.
In 1852, Paschal Graves opened an “ordinary”, an inn along the Blue Ridge Turnpike on the land that is now part of the Shenandoah National Park. The Graves ordinary was a natural spotting point for travelers making the 70-mile journey between Gordonsville and New Market. Around 1857, the Graves family moved to a new location in Syria, which is where the farm is today.
In April of 1965, Graves Mountain Lodge was open to the public.
Today, Graves Mountain offers lodging and all sorts of entertainment, but the food is where it’s at. It’s well worth the forty-five minute drive from Charlottesville to Syria for a Sunday dinner of Southern Fried Chicken. Unlike some other restaurants, Graves does not cook their chicken hours in advance. They keep a couple deep fryers going behind the kitchen and the chicken is always fresh and hot – and delicious.
Meals are served family style, except for buffets on Saturday dinner and Sunday lunch and dinner. And all meals are “all you can eat.”
Here’s what you can expect.
Sunday Buffets – 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. and 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Price varies
Monday Dinner – Pot Luck $19.50 – $43.50
Tuesday Dinner – Catfish and Country Ham $23.95
Wednesday – Pot Luck $19.50 – $43.50 (except Seafood Buffet every second Wednesday of each month $35.95)
Thursday – Roast Beef $23.95
Friday – Rainbow Trout $27.95
Saturday – Rib-eye Steak $29.95
Sunday Lunch – Fried Chicken $18.95
Sunday Dinner – Fried Chicken and Country Ham $21.95
Next time you are really hungry, take a ride to Graves Mountain Lodge and enjoy both the food and incredible beauty of Madison County and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
For more information, go towww.gravesmountain.com.
