Rappahannock Grill

Food is good but the service is very slow. There does not appear to be any management onsite or at least not checking on the wait staff.

Stressful, chaotic and obscenely expensive. The waitstaff yelled at one another for beverages, amid the loud clanking of silverware coming from the kitchen in the back. The only things that helped pass the long time waiting to be served was watching an endless exercise infomercial on 2 TVs and watching other patrons, who were clearly out of patience from waiting to get served, file out of the restaurant. I did not see a manager at all during our visit. We had the grouper specials served with rice and steamed broccoli. There were no prices on the special board but it seemed like a good option. What was so special about the grouper special? They were $ 28 apiece. You read that right. For lunch. We are here almost every weekend and enjoy eating out but this place is off our list for good.

Steak fair — not flavorful. Service second rate — slow and not friendly. We’re not likely to return.

First time here. Food was great super hot fish & chips. Possible new waitress but she was eager to please.

We were recently in Kilmarnock, Virginia to attend the funeral of a close friend at Currie Funeral Home which is two blocks away from The Rappahannock Grill. We were hungry and looking for a place to eat in town and it seemed everything was closed after 8:00 PM.
We were a group of 35 – 40 people and the only place that was open was The Rappahannock Grill which the door sign said it closed at 8:00 PM.
The door was unlocked and we started filling up the restaurant.
After the initial shock the Staff jumped into action and set up all the tables and booths, brought out the Menus and took our drink orders.
Once drinks were served they took our appetizer orders and our food orders.
The Cook was Amazing as the food was coming out fast and hot and he even brought food to the tables. The Waitresses were very Courteous, Fast and Professional. The Owner was working double time at the Bar and working the floor. We ordered pretty much everything on the menu and enjoyed our food.
We are very Grateful for the awesome service to our family and friends at the drop off a hat. We will definitely visit again next time we’re in Kilmarnock, Virginia.
We wish you great success!

Although the food continues to be quite good since the change of ownership, the quality of service has declined, and the new owner has none of Eric’s attention to detail. I made reservations for November 23^rd for a birthday dinner and confirmed them that afternoon with Shannon. When my party arrived (on time) my reservation amounted to nothing more than an entry in the book. There was no reserved table, and neither Shannon nor Sal were the least bit apologetic. I returned last night, and the first words out of the waitress’s mouth were, «You wanna menu?» Under Eric’s ownership, she would have introduced herself and told about the night’s specials. Sal was behind the bar and could not have been bothered to visit guests and check on the quality of the experience. A little more effort on Sal’s part is in order. Unless he gets his act together, he will fail.

The restaurant is a delightful gem! The way it is laid out has booths up some small stairs, and separated by floor to ceiling partitions. There is also a long smoky window between the booths and those seated at tables on the main floor. It ensures privacy and is cozy.
The service was amazing… prompt, efficient, and friendly. They came by just enough to fill our every need and yet were not hounding us. The manager even came by to introduce himself and chat for a few minutes.
The menu is diverse – everything from chicken tenders, to burgers, salads, crab cake sandwich, soups, and even a kids menu. Everything was delicious. The chicken tenders were real chicken tenderloins and lightly breaded… not the freezer variety you find in most restaurants. The crab cake was fresh and perfect. The clam chowder was freshly made, fragrant, and yummy. The kids menu had our kids’ favorites. Even our toddler, who NEVER eats all of her food at restaurants, gobbled it up!
Perfect place for lunch! Thanks for a great meal!

Always a good meal. Really love this place. As far as food two words chocolate pie !!!

We are in town for a wedding. Service is good. We both got Caesar salad with tuna bites. Tuna is great, wish I had asked for dressing on the side. Nice atmosphere, we will be back after the wedding to hang out.

Delicious scallops. I wasn’t crazy about the grilled veggies and orzo. They were soaked in balsamic vinegar, too much for my taste. My mom and my husband had steaks which they said were grilled perfectly. Somewhat expensive – I wish a side salad was included, but overall, it was a good dining experience. The staff was excellent.

Just ate here.
Décor — Really basic. Nothing to write home about and they had some strange music playing in the background
Service — Our wait person was trying. I think they just need some training. Took our order but had no idea who ordered what entrée when they came out. Asked to «pass the plate» rather than taking the effort to walk around the table and serve it properly.
Food — Not great. Two of us ordered the special Cajun Pasta. The pasta was overcooked to the point that it was like paste. The andouille sausage was burned on one side.
We had one order of caesar salad with chicken. Almost inedible. The croutons were soaked in something that made them very soft. The chicken tasted as if it had been broiled twice — like it was cooked and then reheated when served. She crab soup was like a cream broth. If there was any crab in it it was waved over the top of the cup on the way out of the kitchen. One order of pork chops was supposed to come with a sage butter sauce. After it arrived and sat at the table for a few minutes, the wait person asked if we still wanted the butter because «the chef was just making some more».
We won’t be trying this one again

Ate here a month ago. Lunch time, no big crowd. Friendly staff, nice setting.
Bloody Marys were super hot with horse radish. Had a ceasar salad & added fish on top, it was just ok, the dressing tasted sort of anchovy bland… all I could really taste was the anchovy, no other flavors… fish was overcooked on top. Husband ordered a hamburger, also way overcooked. Just an ok place… nothing stellar.

First visit for dinner was good. Blackened salmon… Can’t complain. Went back for lunch and it was awful. My Caesar salad was gross to put it bluntly. The dressing was watery and made the lettuce soggy. The chicken on top was apparently cooked the night before and heated in the microwave. My friends and my meal had an overload of dried parsley flakes. Parsley is typically found as a garnish on pasta dishes it was weird to see it on a salad and a bbq sandwich with French fries. I guess it was trying to make it pretty? Just basically gave me a sign that someone in the kitchen is a rookie perhaps or just has no knowledge on prepping a proper meal or how to garnish one.

I had a really great experience at the Rappahannock grill today. I had been told their hamburgers were good, and I was really hankering for one. I walked in and was immediately greeted and seated. The atmosphere was that of a friendly restaurant/​sports bar with more of an inclination towards the restaurant side. The décor is attractive, and the daytime lighting is excellent, plus the attention paid by the waitstaff was superb.
We ordered one order of wings to share and two hamburgers, complete with cheddar cheese and bacon. The wings appeared shortly after ordering and were excellent.
The hamburgers followed and each plate had a generous compliment of french fries — it was a delightful sight to behold. The black Angus beef they use for their burgers is perfect, and the burger itself was cooked exactly as requested. The cheddar cheese was of outstanding quality and nicely melted, the bun was properly toasted, and after applying my favorite condiments, I dug in.
I’ll not be shopping for burgers elsewhere in Kilmarnock after this experience. I’ve tried them all, in both Irvington as well as Kilmarnock, and as a good friend of mine told me today, «the Rappahannock Grill makes the best hamburger in town».
I’ll second that.

Buffalo wings done right!!! Trust me folks, order them extra crispy, you will be in for a treat. Homemade blue cheese is creamy and stinky good.

Went for lunch. Good hot coffee. Very good service. Delicious chili & calamari with a wonderful dip. Had the chicken Ruben & pot roast sandwich with fries. All were hot & fresh! They have tequilla Tuesdays! Good place for home cooking.

We stopped here for lunch on our way to the Tides Inn– what a pleasant surprise! Not only was the food fantastic-​drinks as well! The staff was attentive and helpful
Knowing we would be arriving later than normal lunch service I called and the owner replied «when you get here we will serve you»!! We were so impressed we returned for dinner
Give this spot a try you will not be disappointed

I’ve eaten at the Rappahonock Grill four times since their recent opening. Now that staff and the kitchen are settling into a solid routine, I want to give you an idea of what to expect.
First of all, the space has seen a host of restaurants over the years. The prior interior has been brightened and freshened, yet retains the familiar connection to its salty lineage. The Bar is on the starboard side and runs half the length of the restaurant. A quick glance confirms a great top shelf liquor inventory… and a solid + rail offering.
The dining seating is mostly on the port side of the restaurant. Comfortable booths, tables and bar height tables.
Now about the food. Eric Griffin, Managing Partner, has extensive restaurant experience… including my favorite up-​scale chain, Morton’s. When I first read the menu, I was delighted to see the brevity of singular offerings: fish, shellfish, chicken, pork and beef.
The third visit was for dinner, I ordered a Beef Filet and (no kidding) it was as good as any I’ve had anywhere. Perfectly seared on the outside (would love to have their grill at home), and medium on the inside. Also, I had green beans as a side (unfortunately cutting carbs), but to my joy those were great too. Garlic, olive oil and pepper… and they were crispy!
The waitstaff was locally hired, but they were not untrained. I feel sure that their training was more than customary in other local restaurants.
The Rappahonock Grill is my favorite restaurant in Kilmarnock, and I think it will only improve. Open for lunch and dinner.
Only suggestion is that they should take American Express. Why? I’ve never seen a good restaurant survive over 3 years if they don’t take AMEX.
You will enjoy your visit to this fresh restaurant in Kilmarnock.

Stopped in for a cocktail and this place is quite lovely. Bar maid was so friendly and the owner also talked to us. We almost didn’t stop because it’s difficult to tell they are open, but we’re glad we did!