Here’s to New Noshing in Washington County, VA
Six restaurants to try in Washington County's expanded menu of options.
The dining scene in Washington County has never been more interesting. Established locally owned restaurants continue to be beloved and supported, and several new eateries have opened in just the past year, offering the kind of diverse selections that you’d expect to find in a larger city.
Restaurateurs are eyeing locations throughout Washington County – from county seat Abingdon to quiet Damascus – and satisfying the palates of locals and visitors alike. Among the newest restaurants are Damascus Diner, 7 Trails Grill, Papa Tom’s Cantina, Mojo’s Trailside Cafe & Coffee House, Greeko’s Grill & Café and Mamma Mia.
These new dining options offer a range of cuisines such as fajitas, blackberry jam grilled cheese, chai latte, souvlaki, pizza, mac-&-cheeseburgers and manicotti. Read below to find out where to taste these local favorites!
In This Article
7 Trails Grill
338 Douglas Dr., Damascus
Ever since it opened last year, 7 Trails Grill, in Damascus on U.S. Highway 58, has been a popular casual option among hikers and locals who want to dine in town. The Grill offers seating in the restaurant and on its wide all-season porch with views of the Virginia Creeper Trail and the Appalachian Trail. The menu includes items such as Mile-Marker Pizza, as well as burgers, steak, pasta and pulled-pork platters.
Mamma Mia
134 Wall St. NW, Abingdon
In the Abingdon Historic District, Mamma Mia is family-friendly and is modeled after Italian restaurants in New York City. The Wall Street restaurant has built a strong base of customers since it opened in 2017 with an authentic Italian menu created from fresh ingredients and featuring dishes such as Luigi Ravioli, Luigi Manicotti and the meatless Moungia Eggplant Parmigiana, as well as other entrees, pizza, calzones, stromboli, salads and specialty European-inspired desserts, and also burgers and sandwiches.
Papa Tom’s Cantina
924 E. Main St., Abingdon
Papa Tom’s Cantina opened in 2018 on East Main Street in Abingdon with outdoor patio seating, a funky atmosphere and a wide range of menu items and prices. Customer favorites include made-to-order guacamole, Southwestern-style burgers, fajitas, Southwestern-style shrimp and grits, and a large selection of taco meals such as Hawaiian beef tacos, shrimp tacos and duck tacos. For dessert, there’s tres leches cake, churros and plaintains Foster.
Damascus Diner
109 S. Shady Ave., Damascus
Ralph Wilson opened Damascus Diner in 2018 – a year after he opened the nearby Dragonfly Inn bed and breakfast.
“After running the inn the first year and seeing the need for a good restaurant that caters to locals, I purchased the former Hey Joe’s and renovated,†Wilson says. “The locals are my meat and potatoes, and the tourists are the gravy.”
Some restaurants cater to one meal, but Damascus Diner is a popular place at every mealtime. The restaurant offers a wide menu that includes breakfast items, meatloaf sandwiches, entrees such as steaks, pork loin and Appalachian chicken parmesan, and lemon berry mascarpone cake, raspberry chocolate cake and cheesecake for dessert.
Mojo’s Trailside Cafe & Coffee
331 Douglas Dr., Damascus
Beside the Virginia Creeper Trail in Damascus, Mojo’s has become popular among locals and hikers. The laid-back restaurant serves contemporary-style breakfast, lunch and dinner and gourmet coffees, smoothies, desserts and pastries, and is consistently voted among the top eateries by local residents since it opened a couple years ago. Owner John Seymore, who has more than 20 years’ experience as a chef, also offers gluten-free options and catering, and seeks out fresh ingredients and international coffee beans.
Greeko’s Grill & Cafe
217 W. Main St., Abingdon
Greeko’s opened in Abingdon in 2018 and serves made-from-scratch baked and grilled Greek dishes such as spanakopita and souvlaki, and Mediterranean wraps, pitas, salads and soups as well as burgers and pasta. The family-friendly restaurant has pictures of Mediterranean scenes adorning the walls and a kids’ menu.
