Best Dining Bets at Hunter’s Head Tavern | Eater DC

"A cozy fireside meal in the tiny town of Upperville makes this English pub–style spot worth a quick detour, blending laid-back charm with the kind of careful sourcing you expect from a farm-to-table restaurant. After a recent menu revamp (bring back the impeccable onion rings and textbook wedge salad!), the generously filled French dip on sturdy bread remains my go-to. Chicken pot pie gets a distinct tarragon kick, with puff pastry adding a light textural contrast, and you actually taste the cod in the lightly fried fish and chips—ask for malt vinegar. Don’t skip the crusty bread they bring at the beginning, and save some for dipping into anything stew-like. The bar is convivial and usually less crowded than the dining room, with a fire often going in both; saddle up and ladle yourself a complimentary, well-spiced serving of a Virginia delicacy: boiled peanuts. If the bar’s packed, the patio stays comfortable thanks to robust heat lamps. When in doubt, order something with meat—the restaurant is affiliated with Ayrshire Farm, which has a great reputation for its meat products in the D.C. area—and you can even pick up a 15-pound box and add it to your check on the way out." - Missy Frederick