Relish Restaurant and Wine Bar

Relish is always a treat - what a gem for those of us in the Northern Neck! From their great cocktail menu to extensive wine list, all of their beverages pair excellently with their diverse food menu featuring tons of local ingredients. One of our favorites? The pot pie! And the pork chop! Any any of the seafood dishes. (Ok, so maybe we have a few favorites…) Relish also features some amazing local desserts — the banana pudding cheesecake is to die for, and we love being able to wash it down with a decaf coffee (an underrated option to round out a great meal).

This restaurant is on the higher-end on the northern neck, but absolutely DELICIOUS food. Everything tastes fresh and home cooked, and it is one of my favorite places to eat. Get the cheesecakes and pies, they are baked by the staff and are devine. A bit pricey, but worth every penny. Wide selection of wines and drinks too. If eating later, they are sometimes sold out of items. It also gets very busy and service can get slow, but everyone is so sweet and friendly that it doesnt even matter. Hard working staff and great food — it cannot get better than that!

From the outside, you would never guessed that Relish is a gourmet restaurant with one of kind meals. The food was impressive but expensive. They have a good selection of cocktails and beer. I would recommend you make a reservation before your visit. They seemed to be pretty busy. I ordered the Braised Beef Cheeks since I never had it before and never seen it served elsewhere. I was so happy with my decision. The meat was cooked nice and tender. My husband and my sister in-law ordered the Local Rockfish. It was prepared well with beautiful presentation, but they both didn’t feel full after the meal. My brother in-law ordered the Lump Local Crab Cakes, he devoured the plate so quickly I didn’t even get to taste the Crab Cake. Relish serves gourmet food without feeling pretentious. Nice friendly local people eat there and work there. I would definitely visit again.

My favorite place in the Northern Neck!!! We recently bought land here and have been exploring the area and the food options were sad. And then we found relish and I was so happy! A real restaurant with a real chef and amazing food!!!! Everything was prepared and cooked to perfection. I had the scallops and they were melt-in-your-mouth incredible. Then tipped it off with a dessert that you won't want to miss. I had the banana cheesecake which sounds kinda iffy. But let me say it was light, refreshing and I wanted to lick my plate. 😂 Parking was easy, lots of spots but it gets busy at dinner time and we were lucky and able to get a seat but we snagged the last table. So definitely make reservations if you planning on eating here.

This restaurant is classy, down to earth, ridiculously delicious and creative. And such lovely hospitality. I feel so lucky to have stumbled upon it. Comfort food is usually so heavy but this place does it right and you’ll leave feeling very satiated but not overindulged. I was feeling a little blue today and this dinner completely turned my day around and now I feel really happy. Cannot wait to visit again.

Sofa King Good! This place is phenomenal! Everything was off the charts. Shrimp & Grits, so good. Pork chop, forget about it. Dessert, haven't had it yet but let's assume sublime. I forgot to take photos, sorry. I'll add one of my wife's decimated plate, she seldom finishes an entire meal Recommend!

This place rules for a lot of reasons. I may very well be biased, because the owner and proprietor was one of my first bosses as a teenager, and one of the best that I've ever had, but just walk with me here. The food is pricey, but worth every penny. The recipes are delicious, the menu rotates with a lot of seasonal specials and regional favorites, the space is open and inviting, the service comes with a smile. There's not a lot to be critical about. I particularly had the Shrimp and Grits, and my wife had the Rockfish special. Both were a delight. Particularly the grits, which any good southerner knows is the bedrock of the dish. We will be back very soon, and I hope you will go and support this excellent eatery.

Unless you don’t eat dairy, folks should be legally required to get the pimento spread appetizer — in a whole menu of fantastic stuff, my gracious is that addictive! Also: one of the best key lime pies I’ve ever had, and I’ve had a ton. Powerful tang, but it builds slowly, and with just the right level of sweet to offset.

Having eaten at some of the best restaraunts nationwide, Relish would give them a run for their money. The service, food, and drinks were perfection. This would be worth adding Warsaw, VA to your list of towns to visit just so you can try Relish. The creativity of the menu and the presentation is so impressive! Our server Judi was also fantastic, so ask for her!

Nice place, friendly staff, good food! Love going on Wednesday night when Miss Pearline is shucking oysters.

This restaurant is probably the only "upscale" restaurant within 30 miles. It is right in downtown Warsaw and we have driven by it many times. Their hours are funky, only open a few days a week so be sure to check before you make a stop. They do except reservations, so that is a good idea. On to the food! We went here with some friends of ours and it was a very busy evening. The wait staff was stretched, but they did a great job of keeping up with the pace. They had a lot of oyster specials, so we started off with a dozen fried oysters. I'm sorry we were unable to provide a picture, but they went pretty fast! For the main course, two of us had fish tacos, one had the yellowfin tuna special, and one had the tuna tartare as a meal. All were very good. In addition to the food, they have quite a list of wines and creative cocktails. It is a little bit pricey given where you are, but if you were looking for a nice evening out with some pretty good food, you should give Relish a try.

Decent food but priced beyond the quality and the area. There aren't many options in the area, but in a bigger town this place couldn't exist as it is.

A wonderful Northern Neck upper scale restaurant. Menu is diverse, but reflects the local community of seafood and farm. People are friendly and the atmosphere is relaxed.

Relish always impresses me with every dish being prepared perfectly. We started with the fried oysters appetizer with a remoulade sauce. My wife had shrimp and grits while I had the pork chop with baked sweet potato and mixed greens side salad. We tried a bite of each dish. Everything perfectly prepared. We always say we need to go there more often. It is the best food within an hour drive

Absolutely loved this place! I have food allergies and they seemed knowledgeable. Super friendly staff!! Unique atmosphere with old timey downtown feel!

This place is such a hidden gem. We ended up here two nights in a row, it's that good. The restaurant is nicely decorated, cozy and just has a welcoming feel. The staff is amazing. Everyone we met was extremely friendly. Yasmeen was our server and also bartender. She makes the best cocktails! I had the shrimp and grits and my husband had the scallops. Both cooked perfectly. The second night I had the mussels and he had the sliders. Both perfect! For dessert I had the cheesecake and by far the best cheesecake I have ever had. If you happen to be in this town or passing through, stop here for a meal! And say hi to the wonderful Yasmeen

The ambience was very nice. The service was friendly and very efficient. we started with the fried oysters which was a very nice plate. They were crispy and served with a flavorful remoulade sauce and slightly pickled strips of red bell pepper. Our table had the chicken pot pie which was said to be tasty but it's more like a creamy soup with a piece of baked puff pastry set to the side on top (which is fine). The shrimp and grits had a lot of grits, but not many shrimp which were not very big especially for the price. The scallop dish was flavorful and says it comes with succotash but I only found some corn in the grits under the four scallops. They were a medium size, nicely browned. There were three thin pieces of asparagus that were very crunchy. The meatloaf was very good, but there were about 15 peas and 4 tiny baby carrots with good mashed potatoes and gravy. For the prices, I would expect there to be more vegetables to accompany the entrées and larger shrimp and scallops. It also would be a nice touch to have fresh rolls or good warm bread for the table. We had three desserts. The apple pie was extremely small for nine dollars. The crust was pale and soft and there wasn't much flavor overall. It was accompanied by a vanilla ice cream which was good. The chocolate torte which is flourless had a good dark chocolate, was very small which may be OK because of its richness, but it could use a little more "fluff" on the plate. The Cheesecake was a good size and looks nice but I didn't get any feedback from the one that ate it. I'm sure we will try this restaurant again because it is one of the nicest ones we have seen in northern neck. But when prices are close to those of the Tides Inn, they need to step up their game on the details and offerings on each plate a little bit. I would suggest that they have at least one seasonal dessert that is made in-house and is served warm, such as a pear cranberry pandowdy or crisp with ice cream. It will probably be the best seller, quick to make, and cost-effective.

We like Relish a lot! This was our second visit. The rockfish was great and my wife's sliders were very tasty. I have one suggestion...the ambiance is a little cavernous....one big room . It would be nice to separate the bar from the dining room with screens or partial wall or even some plants....I think the bar patrons might also like the "cozyness" factor...just sayin'...

southern modern comfort food- best dining experience in the northern neck- hand crafted cocktails made by the ladies of relish- each meal is built by carol the creator and owner!

Relish never disappoints! We live in DC but bought a house on the water nearby and recently discovered this little gem. We are big foodies and we're used to being spoiled with incredible cuisine in the city, but Relish impresses us every time! The shrimp & grits, seafood linguine, and meatloaf have been some top favorites. The oysters relish are amazing. The cheesecakes by Kelly are mouthwatering. Everything is so, so good. Kudos, Carol & team!

Absolutely delicious and the presentation was awesome! We thought we would miss the food and dining in DC but have found so many wonderful restaurants close to Colonial Beach! We had the crab tower for an appetizer with delicious wine. I had the shrimp & grits and my husband had the fall pasta special! We saved room for dessert and had the amazing chocolate torte. We will definitely be back!

We stopped in by chance while on vacation and boy are we glad that we did! The food was fresh and delish and the staff were super friendly. I had the shrimp and grits with bacon and asiago cheese and it was dreamy, creamy and so good. My daughter had a deconstructed pot pie with a puff pastry in the middle of the plate. It was homey and comforting. My husband enjoyed rockfish cooked to perfection. Two tips: the place is busy so eat early/late or make a reservation. We were on the early side so we did not have to wait. Some of the chairs are more comfortable than others. Our metal chairs could've used a cushion.

We have been eating at this restaurant since they opened and the food is good. The portions are not huge but definitely satisfying. Tonight, however, was a total disaster. We had 7:30 reservations and it's currently 9:55 and we just left. We ordered appetizers and drinks at 7:40ish and didn't see a scrap of food until 8:40. (The drinks came around 8:20. )Apparently they expanded and have a banquet hall adjacent to the restaurant and clearly prioritized the people there. It doesn't matter how nice the servers are- you can't leave people waiting for one hour before bringing anything to eat.

Peeked in the window the night before going to their oyster night, loved the look. When my husband and I went the following evening we had a fabulous time: service, ambience, food, drink all excellent and beyond by so very far the "dining" experience we'd had across the street the previous night. Raves for this place all around. And reasonable, too. Inventive, tasty, nicely presented, a sense of humor even. Wish that instead of a 10 hour drive from home that I could walk there. Every week.

A friend of mine was worried that I was going to visit Relish because she's friends with the owner. She knows that I am a food snob and can be critical of fine dining restaurants. My friend was afraid I would not only be critical of portion size but she wasn't sure how I would react to the food. Well portion size is definitely not a problem for the Relish and not only was our food 5 stars in flavor and originality but presentation was beautiful. We started with their version of Oysters Relish (Rockefeller) and they were awesome. My wife had a salad and was happy. My wife had the Fresh Seared Tuna and it was off the charts. It was over a bed of white rice with Wasabi, ginger, mangoes along with some other ingredients that made me wish I had gotten it. However I was not to be disappointed with my Linguine and Louisiana Crayfish. Everything was great and we couldn't of made a better choice.

The food, the drinks and even the quaint elegance was a 10 in my book. My friends and I were vacationing this past week to celebrate my fourth anniversary with my beautiful husband. I found this place via Yelp and made the reservation. There wasn't a single thing that hit the table that was not on point. Our drinks were stellar. I tried the seasonal Strawberry Passion. We each got something different for dinner and apps. By the end of the dinner, we had passed around each other's plates and begging for the chef to take a bow. She had outdid herself. I want to take more people back to this area and Relish is one of the primary reasons. Thanks for a wonderful meal.

So sad. I drove all the way here and had a reservation and after being seated when I asked about what happened to the menu that was posted on their Facebook page and why was I given something different. She said vendor issues. Then told only oysters relish is on Thursday's now. Then she said there would be no more Kelly's Cheesecakes! Then I just decided to order dessert to eat and just go but then was told there is no Key Lime pie! 11 hours of it being posted and no updates? This has made me very sad. I love changing menus and I know there are some consistent items on there but this right here has given me great doubts.

What a pleasant surprise ! Having been in Tappahannock throughout the week, we decided to spread our wings and head across the Rivah for dinner. "Relish" looked interesting, so the pick. Menu was most intriguing and our choices were super. My wife had a mix of appetizers and I had a Lump Crab and pasta shell dish with a very light and delicately flavored sauce like none I have ever eaten. The service was very good and the place was full of happy people, from those dining to the staff. Try it, you will like it. Herb Aman

Relish is a very underrated restaurant in the nnk. The new renovations have done wonders and it has become much more spacious. The servers provide excellent service and are quick about getting your food to the table, it's always hot! The quality of the food is excellent and it is absolutely delicious! I definitely recommend trying the prime burger sliders, the bacon jam and pimento cheese make for the perfect ratio of flavor profiles. They have a very extensive wine selection and the servers are apt to giving a good suggestion to go with your meal. It's perfect for date night and would be a great place to take your S/O for Anniversaries, Birthday's, or Valentine's Day!!

Always astounding. The food is always exceptional and delicious. The waitstaff have all worked there for years. A gem in a food desert. Pricey but worth it.

The gem on the Northern Neck! Food, atmosphere, and service is outstanding!!! Love Date night on Thursdays. Recommended to have reservations.

Omg I am so glad we discovered this place! I noticed it driving out to a piece of land I am listing in the Northern Neck. This time we were driving past, returning from dropping the kid off at Girl Scout Camp. This is worth driving all the way from Richmond, just for this! Besides the drive is lovely anyway. There was so much yummy stuff on the menu it was difficult to choose. We finally arrived at the mini oyster po buys as an appetizer, which was messy but delicious. I thoroughly enjoyed the crab orrechette. It was delicate and wonderful! Brian loved the Louisiana crawfish linguini. It was a little on the spicy side. Highly recommend!! Ok we've come back one year later-same Camp. Thank you Girl Scouts for giving us another opportunity to stop! This time we devoured the Oysters Relish, which is their delicious variation of Oysters Rockefeller. Lots of bacon and cheese. Extra yum! I am in love with their cocktail the Pink Ta Ta. It's has some liquor that is x rated. What's not to love? Brian enjoyed the fish tacos and I almost licked the plate after "relishing" (couldn't resist) the yellowfin tuna with pineapple salsa. It has a little wasabi and pickled ginger so it had a wonderful kick to it. We topped it off with the Banana pudding Cheesecake. If only we lived closer!

Man, Relish was quite the treat! It was my first time in the area and we made reservations for dinner here for a friend's bachelorette! We had 10 girls and they were super accommodating to us! For dinner I ordered the "Crab on crab on crab", it was delicious! If you like crab, this is what you should get. I asked our server for the most picked item on the menu and he mentioned this one. We had absolutely zero complaints at our table as everyone enjoyed their food as well as the space. Next time I am in the area, I'll be stopping back in!

Always delicious! Carol is an amazing chef and is always circulating around the front of the house to make sure everyone has a great experience. Local seafood and produce are the stars of the menu, but don't miss out on the specialty cocktails and house made desserts.

What a wonderful dinner! First the staff was attentive and taking the necessary COVID precautions. Started with a bottle of wine and the crab tower, both were excellent. Our entrees came out quickly and both were superb - crab on crab on crab and surf and turf. Steak was prepared perfectly. Lump crab meat was large and without shells. Finished up with dark chocolate tart and raspberry/blueberry cheesecake. Typically don't get desert but the appetizers and entrees were so good we had to give it a shot. We were not disappointed. This is our new go to spot in the Northern Neck. Highly recommend!

Wow wow wow! While vacationing, my husband and I ate dinner here on a Friday night. Reservations are a must! The staff was great and the food was some of the best we've ever had. We ordered the chicken and waffles and blue cheese crostini for appetizers. They did not disappoint. For dinner we had the scallops in curry sauce and crab on crab on crab. All of the food was outstanding and it's a must try!!!!!

(4.25) ~ Very good Overall food & Service. Definitely the Best restaurant In the Area. Highly recommend For fellow Foodies;). My one recommendation would be to populate their Wine list with Virginia wines to go along with the "Local" theme. DRINKS: ** Coffee = (4) very good...comes from a local roaster in Richmond too;) ** Sweet Tea = (4) very good ** Water(tap) = (4) very good FOOD: ** Banana Cream Cheesecake = (4.5) Very Good! It's lighter than a traditional cheesecake. ** "Relish" Chicken Pot Pie = (4.25) Very good ** Local Catfish Bites = (4) very good

I have been a few times now so I thought I would update my review. The service is always slow here. That is consistent. Don't go when you are in a hurry. Food is always very good. Last night we tried the fried green tomatoes and they were very good. I highly recommend them. One of our favorite apps so far. Crab on Crab on Crab was my entree. Third or top layer of crab was not my favorite....Lump crab was tasty but served cold on layers of hot soft shell crab and crab cake and jasmine rice. All delicious but odd to have cold lump crab on top. Overall very good though. Steak Masala Fettucini was delicious and oysters on grits were a usual good choice this evening. Too full for dessert as usual. We will be back I am sure.

We went for dinner on a girls weekend and had an amazing time. Great food, atmosphere and service. Judy was perfect.

We had a party of seven and made reservations ahead of time. Hint: make reservations. Relish is very popular and tables fill up fast. We were greeted warmly and our table was ready upon arrival. We had the fried green tomatoes, oysters and catfish bites for starters. All were absolutely scrumptious! Our entrees were the Cobia, the crab on crab on crab, NY strip, and fish tacos. In a word, the food is amazing. The presentation, portion and seasonings were 5 star. I liked the fact that they serve local veggies and seafood We now have a new regular restaurant.

We stopped here one Sunday night for dinner after what seemed to be a long weekend at the River. We'd heard great things about the place, and decided the short dive was worth it this time. We did make a reservation, and good thing we did, as the place was packed! The food was great. 5 Stars. I had the rock fish, and it was perfectly cooked. I would certainly order it again. The others at the table certainly enjoyed their meal as well. My only complaint is that it did take over an hour to get our food. The servers were extremely busy (actually running in the restaurant). I'm not sure if they were understaffed or what, but it did bring it down a star. Overall, I'll be back. I want to try the local salami they serve, as well as some of their extensive wine list.

What an amazing little gem to find! Dinner was incredible. Steak was cooked perfectly, everything was fresh, great wine list available, and the best part- dessert! The banana cream cheesecake was out of this world!! We were visiting from out of state, but this would be a weekly visit if we lived in the area. Super friendly staff as well.

Local seafood and produce used in delicious creations by Carol Mead Smith. Some classics, like crab cakes and fish and chips, and some inventive twists, like locally-sourced bison sliders and oyster po' boy crostini. Don't miss the house cocktail creations, using seasonal and local ingredients and house-made syrups. The space is airy and the large windows let in lots of light. Folks come from all around the Northern Neck and beyond, so be sure to make reservations for weekend nights.

It's listed online as one of the top ten vegan places in Farnham VA, someone had to specifically do this on purpose. We perused the menu online before going and when we got there none of what was posted online was on the menu...talk about false advertising! I tell them "I'm vegan" and ask what's available, "do they know what vegan is back there?" they tell me "oh the cook knows what vegan is, we can put something nice together for you" I decided to ask if they could just give me some of the side dishes that were vegetable dishes for an appetizer, meanwhile I order a mixed green salad sans the ham and cheese and I got greens and apple slices, I guess they only know how to take away stuff and didn't think to replace those things with other vegetables to make the salad somewhat appetizing. Then a woman hands me a plate of cold raw cut up veggie sticks and slices like I'm some kind of rabbit, these veggies would of at least been good in my salad since I got the stripped down version. I said, "I asked for side dishes? Don't you have any that are vegetables? Something cooked?" I mean after all I came to a restaurant Not the produce aisle at the grocery store. They then bring me out some roasted Brussels sprouts and I eat a couple and see these red bits in the dish ...BACON! There was this fat manager walking around giving me dirty looks every time she walked by. I had the orecchiette for my main course and after they took the non-vegan items out I was left with tomatoes and olives no flavor of any kind. No effort in giving a crap if the vegan meal is good or appetizing for this top ten, they were just one step away from handing me a head of lettuce. I wouldn't call this the top ten vegan places nor would I even suggest you aggravate yourself if you are one of the ten percent of the U.S. population that is vegan. When you can go to Burger King or KFC and get a vegan meal and this place is trying to pass themselves off as a top ten local choice for vegans, this is pretty pathetic! Go to google if you have no clue what to cook. They had red peppers, onions, obviously Brussels sprouts maybe only covered in bacon...but they had vegetables they could of cooked and others they could of added to my salad. Some of the people I was with said maybe I could if given them a better idea of what to serve me but I'm not the one who posted this place as a great vegan place abd if I have to tell they how to cook something and what to put in it I might as well stay home and cook it myself! I will say the bartender was very sweet and I could see she felt bad for the kitchens stupid mistakes.

Hadn't had Catfish in years, but decided to give the Fish Tacos a try. The pictures don't do them justice. Very delicious & unique. Thanks for a great meal. I'll definitely be back!

As the reviews state - service is a bit slow, but it's the country... You shouldn't be in a hurry :) We started off with to fantastic cocktails, both perfectly extra cold. We had the baked oysters with gouda and spinach to start and they were incredible! I had the rosemary infused meat loaf which I don't know if I would get anything else - it was great! My wife had the bone in pork chop that had a bit too much burnt taste. The wine was very reasonably priced by the bottle. The only reason not 5 stars is if I'm comparing this too other incredible places it's not there, but for the country it's 10 stars! Not cheap, but a very nice place to visit if around Warsaw.

I was in the area for training and happened upon this outstanding restaurant. The food was exceptional. Start with the oyster relish and you won't be disappointed! Enjoy!

If you are traveling through or live near Warsaw, Virginia, you need to stop and eat at Relish Cafe and Restaurant. Food is fantastic...all locally sourced, prepared with care, and served in a warm, friendly atmosphere. Upscale entrees, tasty appetizers with a great wine selection. Our table enjoyed lamb shanks, steaks, and crab. All were excellent! Highly recommend.

We stopped by and they had Miss Pearline to shuck your oysters. We had Oysters Relish and it was delicious! Ayo our waiter was amazing! We come here often and we are never disappointed.

Wonderful experience. Fun and cozy atmosphere and food awesome. Wonderful place to spend a special occasion.

I frequently pass by here, but mostly during their off hours. A few days ago I delivered a rider to a local doctor's appointment and had an hour or so before returning to pick her up. Relish is just up the street, so I took the opportunity to have dinner. They had half an hour before opening but did not turn me away. I was rewarded with a great welcome from the owner, Carol Smith, and her attentive staff. The fish tacos were well worth the wait! The fish had been freshly caught that day. You can be sure that I will be back, next time with friends, to experience other offerings from their daily changing menu. And hopefully sooner rather than later!

The tastiest and most diverse menu in the Northern Neck! We went here today for their Mother's Day brunch. Both hubby and I got the NY strip steak salad with chimichurri sauce, and loved it. My mom got the shrimp and grits with bacon jam and wanted to have the same exact meal over again once she finished. For dessert we ordered four desserts for the table and shared them (key lime pie, lemon cream pie, strawberry layer cake, and chocolate tort). It was hard to pick a favorite out of those four excellent choices but the lemon cream totally wowed (they were all perfect in my opinion).

I would strongly suggest NOT meeting a blind date at Relish. Be sure you are in good company for dinner because you will be spending some quality time with them. Thankfully I came with family and we enjoyed the hour and twenty minutes we waited for our food together. The service was inattentive and the prices were astronomical. However, the food was tasty and unique. Unexpected and interesting flavor combinations, beautiful displays, but maybe not so worthwhile for the cost. Oddly enough, the pimento cheese was my favorite part of the meal.

Just go! The food is an elevation of comfort food with fine dining touches. Go alone, with a group, for date night or pasta night...

We went on a random Wednesday night in the off season for our anniversary. It happened to be Oyster Night and we enjoyed freshly shucked VA oysters on the half shell. The food was excellent, the drinks were fantastic as was the service. We would absolutely return!

Every time we go, everything is perfect. Wonderful wine selection, great service and welcoming ambiance. Must try if in the area.

I really enjoy this place. My son and his wife took me out here for my birthday a few years back and It was very nice. My husband and I go all the time for dinner now.

Best dinner date option in the wider area. Food and atmosphere is classy and trendy.