Colin D.
Yelp
Great food shack located behind the Pen Druid brewery that serves amazing food including a tasting menu for two that doesn't disappoint.
This was an amazing surprise hit from our last trip to Sperryville. The day after we had our tasting menu at Three Blacksmiths we went for a long (9-mile) hike up cedar run canyon and back down white oak canyon and came to hang out at Pen Druid. We also decided to try the Sumac tasting menu for two. It's not cheap at $135 + gratuity + tax coming to like $170, but man was it good. Also the setting sitting at picnic tables with a sweeping view of the Shenandoah combined with red winged blackbirds and tree swallows flying around can't be beat.
The tasting menu just kept coming. The sardines and french fries take on fish and chips was yummy and salty in the right ways, but wasn't the star of the meal. The hamasa crudo (yellowtail amberjack sushi) was spectacular and something I would have been excited about at any sushi restaurant, but maybe a bit better with the toppings of rhubarb and sorrel foam. The duck stuffed cabbage with a rich sauce and toasted peanuts was even better than it sounded. The bread service didn't disappoint with nicely toasted bread served with green garlic butter and some sliced fatty ham. It didn't stand out, but also kept up with the meal. The strawberries and vidalia onions were the sleeper hit of the meal and just word with the bitter and strong onion flavors flowing nicely into the sweet strawberries carried even better by the flowers, herbs, and sweet berry sauce.
Dessert was a strawberry tres leches cake, which was moist and sweet without being overpowering or drenched.
The service was fast and friendly. It took 10-15 minutes for them to yell our name across the open field and then we could come and get everything but dessert, which they had ready for us at just the right time after we ate.
Even better, you can pair it with whatever beer you like from Pen Druid, which is fantastic since they have a great selection of saisons and lighter beers perfect for pairing. We got the Spontaneous Vidal bottle and poured it. The white wine and grape must notes over a farmhouse ale just paired beautifully throughout.