Queen City Bistro

The food and wait staff here are solid, and this is definitely a decent place for dinner with a significant other or your entire family. The pacing wasn't great as the food came out a bit too fast and I specifically said I wanted the courses to come out spread apart, but other than that I enjoyed the experience here. The goat cheese fondue is rich, but flavorful, and the crab cake entree was pleasant also without too much breading. The green beans on the side were honestly some of the best I've ever had. They were also quickly running out of things, so if you have a later reservation, maybe have a backup dish when you order. Overall though, I liked this place and would come back.

We’re foodies — we discover good food wherever we go in the world, and we value both flavor and integrity in service. We chose this restaurant because of its 4.8 Google rating, and we wanted to share our real dining experience. Unfortunately, it fell short on both food and service. Our waiter brought the wrong dish for my wife, and by the time her trout almondine arrived, my meal was already finished. The trout had no almond flavor or aroma — the crust was plain and greasy, dominated by butter rather than balance. The green beans were fibrous and undercooked, and the tomatoes tasted raw, lacking caramelization or seasoning. My lamb shank, described as being served with a demi-glace, came in a thin tomato-based sauce that lacked the richness and depth of a true reduction. The meat itself was fair but not tender or flavorful. When we mentioned our disappointment, the waiter acknowledged the mistake and reduced the fish price by half. While appreciated, the issue went beyond cost — the timing and execution had already disrupted the meal. No one from the kitchen or management came to apologize or check in. A beautiful dining room can’t make up for inconsistency and inattentiveness. For travelers who value genuine care in both food and service, this stop sadly missed the mark. We came because of the 4.8; we left feeling it deserved a 3. Perhaps we expected too much — or maybe, we simply expected what good food should be.

Absolutely incredible for events and large parties! We hosted our Christmas function here for our company and cannot wait to do it again next year! The space was perfect- it was nicely decorated and the layout was comfortable enough to move around. I was impressed not only by the amount of menu options, but the quality of the food. We had about 10 entree options for each person to choose from. Every entree came out correctly, at the right temperature, and at the same time- which is hard to do for a large party. Anna was extremely accommodating and made it a point to go above and beyond to make us feel at home. The price for an event is also extremely fair for the quality of the food and event space you will get. Queen City Bistro is THE BEST!!!

Highly recommend the restaurant. Our waiters name was William and was very attentive the entire time we were there. Friendly always willing to help but not overbearing. Several drinks, wines, and beers to choose from.We ordered the lamb shank and the pasta special. drinks came out almost immediately, and food came out in a reasonable amount of time. Both were great. Ample portions, season perfectly cooked perfectly. We will be back.

Absolutely wonderful. The building is very cool. (Love the bar top). The food was FANTASTIC! Caponata Formaggio is to DIE for. My husband got the Tuscan Salmon that was delicious! We got a Root Beer Float (added rum) to share, that was very yummy. The service is exceptional! William was our server and he was fantastic! Attentive without being intrusive. Perfect combination for a waiter! Chef Tom is a very talented chef and we were delighted to meet him!

What is it about Staunton, VA, that has attracted so many good restaurants? They close Beverly St on the weekends for outdoor dining and have block to block dining experiences that are exceptional. Queen City Bistro was as advertised. The service and the food, and the drinks, and the decor, made for an experience to remember. The cocktails were first class, the wine list and beer selection was above par, the menu could please everyone. The gnocchi Brunswick stew was a hearty meal; the short ribs were excellent.

Perfection! Our server, Trip, was amazing! We celebrated our birthdays here and the food was excellent, the wines divine and the service was impeccable! Bravo Queen City Bistro!

Cosy atmosphere for anniversary dinner! Not too loud but close quarters. Small menu which included more appetizers than main courses. Cost was a bit high but for event diner well spent and expected. Would go back.

Food 5 stars, unique fusion restaurant with delicious unique dishes. Nice to try different food as opposed to those restaurants that serve you heated sysco food Prices 2.5 stars, average prices for are Atmosphere cozy 5 star digs, nice bar Service 5 stars professional and attentive

Overall experience was positive. Excellent FOH staff. They were having live music when we visited and the host was very good about offering seating away from the night's entertainment. Add to that attentive, knowledgeable, and discreet waitstaff (I'm lookin at you, Trip!), and this is a service win-win-win. Now to menu. We ordered the three meatball app; rigatoni bolognese, and the eggplant caponata mains. Let's review. The app was nice. Well made and well seasoned meatballs served atop three sauces: pesto, marinara, and a mustard based barbecue sauce. The star amongst the sauces was the pesto. Lovely. Perfect balance of garlic and basil, olive oil and Romano. I didn't mind the marinara, tho I found it a little bright. The mustard-based sauce felt out of place and was very mustard-forward so as to be generally experienced as, well, whole grain mustard. But I did keep coming back to that pesto. Entrees are well presented and tasty. My dinner companion was quite happy with the flavours on the bolognese, but we were both a little surprised as to portion size. For $28, the plate felt a little light. BUT, the dish was on point and the flavours are solid. The eggplant caponata was excellent. That's the headline. My quibble is that it's described as having a tomato molé (FASCINATING!!) as the base, but the actual sauce on the plate is about as far from a molé--or play on a molé--as pesto is from mustard barbecue. While I get that the recipe calls for chocolate, that's not what makes a proper molé. Spices, dog. Roasted peppers. Come on, man. You can't throw chocolate at a tomato sauce and call it a molé. That said, it's a solid entree and I really enjoyed it. All in all we had a really positive experience and enjoyed the evening. I'll definitely return and tour the rest of the menu. Even though I do find the menu prices on the high side, the service excellence and overall kitchen quality makes me want to come back.

Ok spot! I recommend the meatballs trio. They were tasty. Tried a local beer that was ok. Crab cake appetizer has 2 mini crabcakes. Service was good. Cheesecake was tasty and the highlight of my meal.

Highly recommend the restaurant. Noise level was excellent. Our waiters name was William and was very attentive the entire time we were there. Friendly always willing to help but not overbearing. Several drinks, wines, and beers to choose from.We ordered the lamb shank and the pasta special. drinks came out almost immediately, and food came out in a reasonable amount of time. Both were great. Ample portions, season perfectly cooked perfectly. We will be back.

I was looking for dinner options for a Saturday evening in Staunton. I saw Queen Street Bistro focused on local foods and took reservations and made quick day of resy. I'm glad I did as when we entered there was a sign at the door noting they couldn't accommodate walk ins until after 8 pm. We were seated in the booths downstairs, which was something I asked for in the reservation due to mobility issues for a member of my party. The place was quite busy, so it took a minute for our drink orders. After that the food came out within reason. - The sweet potato gnocchi only had four pieces, which was a disappointing for an appetizer. It was soft on the inside and a slight crisp on the outside. - My mom orders the ribs and thoroughly enjoyed them as they had a hint of sweetness and overall good flavor. - Wahoo was delicious. While it was potato crusted, it was quite light allowing for the fish flavor to come through - My sister ordered the vegan pasta dish and noted it was cold. I tried a bowtie noodle and it was indeed cold. We sent it back and it came out warm. Good spot to check out. Wasn't a perfect evening given they were quite crowded. I'd try again if in the area.

Very nice bistro with excellent service. The food is top notch, with a fantastic bar. Cozy without being crowded, comfortable seating. Highly recommended.

Food, service and atmosphere were top notch!! Looking forward to trying everything else on their menu because I'm sure it's just as good or better than the dishes we had and those were amazing. Certainly no disappointments at this new restaurant!

I happen to be in Staunton for work and decided to try Queen City Bistro. The food was delicious and creatively prepared. I had crispy eggplant with Gorgonzola cheese, vegetables, and pasta layered in a very unique way. My cocktail was called "A Grey Affair", a creative and delicious concoction of vodka, grand marnier, hint of lavender and a few other additions. There are several other bourbon, mezcal, and rye offerings. I highly recommend, you won't be disappointed.

Wonderful atmosphere, wine list extensive and the food divine!! 5 stars in my book for Historic Staunton Virginia!! Must visit !!!

Great food. We went for brunch. Good portions. Not too much for a brunch. The crab cake biscuit was great. Spinach dip was really good also. Sat outside with our dog on a beautiful afternoon. Service was a tad slow, but they were busy with people in town for a festival. Definitely will try again for dinner.

The food was absolutely excellent, the warm your soul kind. Atmosphere was very welcoming with attentive and friendly staff. The wild "boar"becue was delicious and is a must.

The food was good, nothing to write home about. The service was ok, the restaurant seemed understaffed the evening we visited and our waiter seemed to be hosting the entire upstairs - leading to ok service, not bad but just ok. The downstairs has better ambiance than if you get seated upstairs - way too bright.

It's not easy to find a place to eat in downtown Staunton after 9:00 pm. We found ourselves at Queen City Bistro at 9:05 and could not have had a more personalized, exceptional experience. Our waitress, Tripp, was amazing! She took great care of us (and our dog). John (the owner/chef) visited our table and was very engaging. Our meal was delicious!! Highly recommend the braised short ribs (a uniquely wonderful flavor) AND the meatballs (from the after 9 menu with a little kick!) Relaxing atmosphere inside and out. We'll be back!!

We went here on Saturday evening and everything we went to order they were out of. Had decided what we would have before we even arrived and unable to get any of it. They were super busy and could not even get a water refill. Ended up getting a salad which was good but not what I wanted. Just felt they should have been more prepared.

Our office enjoyed a delicious and festive Christmas dinner at QCB and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a private event space for a corporate event or otherwise. All of our employees raved about the preparation of the food and drinks. The space was cozy and well-decorated and we truly felt accommodated and cared for. This is a small business that you can tell prides itself on the quality of their service and dishes. We made a number of inquiries to restaurants for parties and I can tell you this one stood out in their flexibility and hospitality. Highly recommended!!!

We had dinner there with a group. I was very disappointed in the Cherry Chicken Marsala. The chicken - legs and wings - was well beyond crispy. The crust was thick and hard, barely able to be cut with a knife. And no hint of the Marsala wine. I checked a half a dozen recipes and all use boneless chicken breasts or cutlets and lightly brown the meat first. If they want to keep this on the menu they need to rename and/or make it clear that it is bone in legs & wings.

Service was very attentive to food allergies, and the menu listed all food allergies clearly as well. The food was excellent and the meatball trio was sublime. Each bite was luscious. The suggested wine ( a Barbera) also was excellent. The "Vibe" was very casual and relaxed. Noise level also was a pleasant background buzz on a busy Friday evening but did not make conversation at all difficult.

I started coming here right after they open I've had nothing but excellent food every meal and every dessert the service is fantastic and The hospitality is amazing. I recommend you try it. This is one of the best in town. Norman

Queen City Bistro is jewel in the crown that is historic Staunton. Fried Green Panzanella - lovely crispness to the tomatoes and oh my Crab Cake - Perfect light fry of ample, flavorful crab and balanced accompaniment. Arugula Salad hit the spot with a peppery arugula and the refreshing oranges and vinaigrette. Eggplant Caponata had thick, crispy eggplant wedges, a salty & creamy gorgonzola cheese layer and such a tasty al dente root veggie accompaniment. So happy with these choices; not a miss in the bunch. Ashley was polite, friendly, efficient and added to my great experience here. I was so thrilled with the epic swing entertainment the evening I was there. The blend of modern and historic atmosphere rounded out my enjoyment of this place. I would highly recommend and with good fortune I will return and again.

We enjoyed everything about this place. Would recommend. Nice menu and service. Short stay in town and would return.

This is a very popular establishment that I was lucky enough to discover on a Friday afternoon just as the street was being closed for pedestrians. We didn't have reservations and the restaurant was booked for early seating for the Black Fryer Theatre. We were early enough for happy hour and the bar had not filled up yet so our party of four commandeered at corner seats and had fabulous, food and service. I cannot wait to return, probably will attend the theater as well.

Read reviews and decided let's try it. 4 of us on Sunday at 11:15. Not crowded. Waitress very nice and service was fine. Two of us ordered the breakfast bowl, one sausage gravy entree and last was the breakfast platter. We all ordered eggs over easy as no poached eggs available. Servings were extremely small. The bowls were extremely skimpy and served on a plate basically. All 8 eggs were overcooked, the whites were brown and crispy from being fried in hot oil. Very disappointing. No need to go back. Def will try somewhere else in Staunton next visit.

Great food, super service. Nice menu choices. Prices reasonable. Would go again. They do take reservations.

Nice place to eat. Menu seemed limited, food was just ok. Service was great, even on a busy day.0

Everything was great. Delicious food. Service was spot on and the atmosphere was perfect.

We had a group of about 20 women who were in town for a leadership institute. QCB was very accommodating with a private space upstairs. Great service. Delicious food. Easy to have a conversation (not too loud). John provided a limited menu since it was such a large group. A bit pricey but worth every penny. Thanks, QCB, for a great experience!

Had dinner here last night with a group of 8 and they were incredibly accommodating to our group! The food was amazing- my favorites were the Meatball Trio appetizer and the Fettuccini Carbonara. My husband had the NY Strip steak and it was cooked PERFECTLY! I also had the Beverley Garden cocktail and my husband had the Venetian Manhattan- both were wonderful. One member of our group wanted an off-menu cocktail and the bartender (did not catch his name) was super helpful in customizing a drink for her. Our server, Ashley, was so lovely and kind to our group and we had a blast! Will definitely be returning often!

Fantastic meal. Friendly, attentive, helpful service. We had two different fish dishes, both flawlessly executed. Fresh, bright flavors. On the night we visited, booked out until 8p - and deservedly so. A new favorite for Staunton - does not disappoint.

We wanted a nice meal but not too heavy since we were eating late. Found QCB walking the Main Street of Staunton - menu looked great so we tried it. Service was attentive and friendly. Ambiance was relaxed and quiet - other places in area could be called noisy and not relaxing at all. We did just appetizers: crabcake (excellent), Tufo di Spinaci dip (fabulous), and fried green panzanella (tomatoes) very different. Would go back since several entrees sounded so good!

Queen City Bistro offers a menu for everyone you're dining with. The flavors are exceptional. The presentation is excellent. The staff will make you feel like their family. This is a must try!!!!

Excellent meal in a relaxed but upscale setting. Trout almondine was the best I have ever had, and my parents both had the tenderloin which they loved. We started our meal with goat cheese fondue which was yummy. Also. Great service, wonderful looking dessert menu which we could not take advantage of because we were stuffed after the main meal. Will definitely be returning!

Food and cocktails were excellent. Service is lacking. Had to hail server/bartender and owner.

Best salmon in town, great staff and beautiful environment. The owner and Exec chef are grand fellas

The service, food, wine and atmosphere at Queen City Bistro were fantastic! We will definitely return when we are in the area again. It was the best meal we had during our week long vacation. The artichoke stuffed mushrooms, arugula goat cheese appetizers were both delicious. I had mushroom ravioli entree (loved it) and my husband had the fettuccine carbonara. We had lavender panacotta and the cheesecake for dessert. I especially enjoyed the cheesecake.

This is a phenomenal restaurant that I highly recommend. Try the Cosmos and Venician Manhattans by Jon W. The mushroom ravioli and salmon dishes were superb!