Clifton General Store

My wife had just run a 50 mile race and maybe anything would have tasted good, however, I had spent the day as pit crew, and needed a good sandwich and a cold beer.
This place had just FANTASTIC sandwiches and better than expected cold beer.
I would really consider driving the 2 hours, just to eat there again.
It was THAT good.

I grew up riding my pony to the Clifton General Store and buying candy. It’s morphed into a restaurant and in this case, change is good. Great brunch, friendly, cozy atmosphere. It’s not gourmet, but it’s tasty with a nice small town feel. Try the pretzel. Try the Clifton Mimosa.

I had the:
Tom’s Turkey Melt $ 9.99
Grilled American cheese on sourdough bread with warm turkey, bacon, fresh tomatoes and Russian dressing
It really was one of the most delicious sandwiches I have ever had! I also tried the fries, they were soo crunchy and yummy. The potato salad was not my favorite but I will def. go back for that sandwich! Waitress was wonderful!

Yes, the ambiance is nice and it’s a cute store that takes you back in time. However, that doesn’t mean the food will be good.
I ate at their dark, humid, fly infested back «dining room». I spent half of my time swatting the flies away and chose to stop eating part of my entrée after I saw flies landing on it a couple of times. Yes, there are doors and patio seating that allow the flies to enter. But that doesn’t make the flies any less annoying or unsanitary!!!
The waitress and other staff were nice and attentive.
Their sandwiches do not taste very good and lack flavor … Except for pepper — there is no shortage of that whatsoever.
If you read the reviews, you’ll learn that most of the great reviews are from the people that grew-​up on that food. I dunno, some locals love their hometown restaurants but the truth is that the food isn’t good and tastes like they use very cheap ingredients. I recommend trying another place before compromising on this deli.

Love, love, love! My boyfriend grew up stopping by here as a child heading out on road trips. It’s quaint, charming & has the BEST breakfast sandwich of anywhere around. The perfect, relaxed weekend breakfast spot. Take to go or eat on their outdoor patio.

Excellent burgers! There aren’t that many tables, but the food comes out fast and is generous and delicious. A little dark and noisy for the older folks who were in our group.

Maybe it’s an ambiance thing. I’ve heard so many great reviews of this place and its very cute with a old timely small town feel. But I’ve only eaten the food this first time yesterday. It was take out so maybe the charm was lost on me. Overall I gotta say I was disappointed. Got the Ruben which consisted of three miserly thin slices of corned beef. And generally meh. I would give it a second chance.

Went here for lunch today while exploring the romantic little town of Clifton, and this awesome eatery was a wonderfully pleasant surprise! The front of Clifton General store is a rustic store with candy and snacks — great for stopping by with the kids. The back is a clean and inviting restaurant/​café. I ordered the mac & cheese bites as appetizers and oh… my… gosh… so good. The tuna melt was also fantastic. The food was unique and perfect comfort food. And to make the experience memorable, our waitress was a delight — very personable and just the right amount of attentive service. Can’t wait to spend another relaxing Sunday here!

This is a cute store and attached restaurant in a quaint town. We got takeout and went to a vineyard a short drive down the street for a picnic. The specials were good and fresh. Wish it was closer to go back and have a sit down meal outside on the patio. There was a long line on a Saturday for lunch, so I imagine the rest of the menu is pretty good.

My favorite place to go when I am in Clifton, I never miss a chance to stop in and say hello. We used to go every Sunday after church when I was a kid. Great food and run by great people!

We LOVE Clifton Store/​Main Street Grill! Great bar food, salads, wraps. Simple stuff done simply fantastic! The Club and Rueben are favorites. Fries are superb, poblano bites and quesadilla delicious. Fresh made mozzarella and sometimes guacamole in season. The soups change often and are quite tasty. We’ve had just about everything on the menu, and have never been disappointed in over a year coming here. Staff is super friendly, owner Tom frequently making rounds of the tables. We come here every week or more often, great sitting outside almost year-​round watching the trains (they even provide a blanket for your legs when it’s chilly out!) They have a nice selection of draft beer… Starr Hill Amber, a local Virginia beer too! Get there early to catch a table.

Pros: Small town hospitality.
Cons: Beware of the hefty prices on local wine.

Great little hub to this tiny town. Standard menu of sandwiches and entrees. Very friendly staff. A good place to have drinks with friends in the afternoon.

I came here for a quick bite to eat for breakfast. While the menu isn’t extensive, the food is definitely good for the price. It may seem a little sketchy to have a restaurant inside of a convenience store, but it was actually nice! Since it was also nice outside, it was perfect for sitting out on the patio and enjoying the weather. The service was prompt — and the best part of the experience was definitely the server. He was incredibly nice and treated us like old friends! I would definitely recommend this if you are in the area.

You just gotta stop by this place. The Clifton General Store is part outdoor café, indoor grocery — and pub. If you are a Garrison Keillor fan, you will appreciate my suggesting parallels with Chatterbox Café here. Apparently, CGS has been around this historic town for 75 years. You can hear the trains clickety-​clack, people watch on weekends, and enjoy a good, basic American food menu (my friends and I had Reuben sandwiches and steak salad). Then you can wander around town and peruse antique and other shops, look at historic houses and churches, drive the roller-​coaster Fairfax Co. hills — and you will have experienced a great day out.