Three Blacksmiths

This review will be short, as many others have written lengthy reviews and I have little to add. The food was beyond delicious, from the bread to the dessert and everything between. The service was warm and attentive without feeling overbearing. The space was smartly arranged, intimate without being crowded. In short: go online, make the next reservation that's available (might be many months for a weekend slot), drive to Sperryville, and have an incredible meal. You will not regret it.

We've returned to this gem for the 6th time. It was just as remarkable as the first time. This family run establishment is perfection. They homemade breads and butters are indulgent and their passion for local ingredients and thoughtful sourcing speaks to their dedication for delicious food. With this meal, my favorite dish was the sunchoke soup, then wagyu ravioli, but I'd eat more of everything. We also tried both wine pairings and they both complimented the food well and enhanced the experience.

From the incredible food to the amazing service and atmosphere…this was one of the best dinners we’ve ever shared together!

The Three Blacksmiths is my top choice for dining in the DMV area. Securing a reservation here is quite challenging; my husband and I were on the waitlist for nearly three years before finally being able to book a table. The meals were not only beautifully presented but also incredibly delicious. The experience featured a five-course menu, all freshly prepared and decadent, showcasing unique flavors that are hard to replicate at home. The wine pairings were also thoughtfully chosen. When compared to other high-end culinary experiences, such as Minibar, Pineapple and Pearls, and the Inn at Little Washington, the price point here is very reasonable. Every aspect of the meal preparation and execution was excellent. We received a copy of the menu to keep, which was a nice touch since they change it every week or so. With only 20 seats available, the service was exceptional. For instance, when I dropped my napkin, I received a new one within 10 seconds. Their attentiveness truly stood out. This place is highly recommended.

This place has created such an amazing dinner experience. Everything was presented with perfection. The description of each dish and pairing drink (we got one alcoholic and one zero proof) was so interesting, especially since a lot of the ingredients are locally harvested. It was truly a delight. Take your time, talk, enjoy the whole experience, one bite at a time.

The Three Blacksmiths was a beautiful and unexpected surprise! Far from the hustle and bustle of the city, there aren't even street lights in the town! The 3B is warm and inviting with an open dining area that feels cozy but not too crowded. The small team of chefs and servers flowed throughout the service and the Chef and owner made sure to spend time at every table. The food was delightful with some surprises here and there. Like any tasting menu, expect to spend hours savoring your experience. We went home with full tummies and smiles on our faces with the hopes of going back to visit again soon.

We looked forward to our dinner at Three Blacksmiths for more than four months, which is how long the wait for a Friday reservation was at the time. The five-course meal was NOT worth the wait or the steep price. It was one of the worst meals I have ever eaten! Tasteless shrimp, undercooked rubbery pork. Terrible! We couldn’t eat most of what was served, including dessert! The best thing on the table was the bread and specialty butter. A $1300+ tab should have gotten us more than a couple of bread baskets. The service was good, but the amount of time between courses seemed overly long to us. If you want to overpay and be completely underwhelmed by a meal that leaves you craving a burger and fries afterward, book your reservation at Three Blacksmiths now.

We dined here for the third time last night and had a fantastic time. Everything about this restaurant is awesome. It has a warm, intimate atmosphere. The service is excellent and the food and drinks are outstanding. Some of my favorite dishes of all time have been from here. We opted for the reserve wine pairing and each one went wonderfully with the course it was served with. Well worth the 1.5 hour drive to get here. Thank you for another amazing night!

This was the best meal of my life. I am almost 53, a foodie married to a former restaurant owner, so I don't make this statement lightly. You are welcomed as old friends from the moment you walk in through the beautiful entrance. The food was incredible- frankly I expected that given the price. What I didn't expect was how much they went out of their way to accommodate my wheat allergy. I just figured I'd have to skip a few things - the joy upon learning I could enjoy the evening with my friends almost brought me to tears. Each course was superb and perfectly paired with the wine flight. It was such a pleasure talking with staff and watching their culinary magic happen in the open kitchen. Just when I thought it couldn't possibly get any better, they sent us home with cookies. Mine, again, made so I could eat it. Thank you Blacksmiths for an evening we will always remember!

It's hard for me to remember a restaurant experience I have enjoyed as much as Three Blacksmiths- it truly was one of the most memorable meals I have ever had. I've seen others describe it like you are attending a dinner party held by friends and that is exactly the feeling I got from it. The ambiance is warm and welcoming from the minute you step in. It's an intimate space that only seats about 20 people, and the kitchen is fully open, so you are able to see every course being prepared. The music was a surprisingly memorable part of the meal to me- I learned later there is a great Three Blacksmiths playlist on Spotify! The menu changes weekly and includes five courses with a couple of other small surprises. The website says to plan for about four hours for the meal, and I found that to be accurate- we arrived for the 7 pm seating (a few minutes early to enjoy a cocktail) and left around 10:45. Each course felt thoughtful and like it truly took advantage of the best ingredients that were available that week. Even courses that used ingredients I don't typically love (beet and gorgonzola for one, monkfish for another) were enjoyable to me. I don't think it's possible to be disappointed by your meal here. I also really appreciated that the restaurant was not stingy with their bread service and served as much bread and butter as you wanted- definitely not the norm from other fine dining experiences we've had and was such a pleasant surprise. As the DD for the night, I opted for the zero proof pairing, which I believe was $70. This is an experience I would recommend to anyone regardless of whether you drink alcohol or not. It included five cocktail-type drinks that were as excellent as any cocktail you would have in DC, and I really appreciated that every drink paired perfectly with the course it was served with and incorporated similar or complementary ingredients to each course. The drinks were all very different, too, so it was nice to have a new experience for each course. I felt that each one added a new dimension to its paired course. I also tried some of my husband's wine pairing, which was also impressive, and it was fun to see the different things that the paired wine brought out from each course vs. the zero proof drink. The friendliness of the entire Three Blacksmiths team really made our night- every single person working in the kitchen came out at one point or another and was happy to talk about the food and drink pairings with us. Their warmth made the entire night that much more enjoyable. Overall, we found our experience to be more than worth the price and the trip to Sperryville. We are already hoping to come back and are excited to experience different courses next time! Can't recommend this enough for a special occasion (or even just a nice weekend away)- we have tried similarly priced fine dining experiences in the DMV and this was by far our favorite, and one of the only ones that really felt worth the price. Separately, I am disappointed to see the one star reviews from people passing through that clearly are not familiar with the restaurant. The restaurant's policies are not unreasonable and these reviews do not seem fair.

We celebrated our anniversary here and couldn't have been more pleased. The restaurant is intimate, with a cozy atmosphere and an open kitchen that adds to the experience. There's only one seating each night at 7:00 PM, which makes it feel even more special. From start to finish, we had a fantastic time. The food was excellent, and the staff went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and cared for. We left already excited to return with friends and family--it's a place we can't wait to share with others.

Very pricey modern American restaurant with a single seating tasting menu that lives up to the hype and the expectations of the price tag. My wife and I have wanted to come here for years and we're in Sperryville a lot, but this place is not kid friendly (both in that the single-seating meal runs from 7-10p and the setting and expectations aren't set up for kids) and we're always here with our kids. We finally had the chance to go while Grandma was watching the kids and it was a lot of fun. Even then, getting a reservation can be hard to impassible, so plan ahead. The entire meal is a delight. You start sitting down with champagne and a per-dinner cocktail if you want (we got zero-proof Negronis, which were fantastic) while you can look over the spacious room with exposed wood and beams everywhere as well as a view of the kitchen where the small army 4-6 people prepare food for the ~20 diners that are there any given night. For each course, the one of the chefs will come explain the entire course as well as any wine pairings that come with it. While it's standard to do this for tasting menus, it's easy to forget how much it amps up the experience and lets you really pay attention to the food and what's going on. The actual courses definitely lived up to the hype. The appetizer of an oyster, puff pastry and deviled quail egg set the bar high to start with three very different things, but each was impressive. The deviled quail egg is probably the best deviled egg I've ever had and is still in my mind despite being "only" a deviled egg. The bluefin tuna (basically sushi) topped with avocado was the star of the night in my mind. It was just amazing in the way that tuna sashimi is at it's best and paired with just a hint of herbs and avocado nailed it. The soup (basically minestrone) was actually a bit of a letdown--it was both a bit too salty and not particularly inspired set of vegetables. The ravioli and guinea fowl ballotine brought things back up a notch with just phenomenal earthy notes in the raviolis and an all-around great main course of delicate, well-seasoned poultry. The dessert was light with a crunchy meringue over ice-cream-like semifreddo. All together the courses were enough to take me from slightly hungry to well-fed without being overly stuffed, which is always hit-and-miss with tasting menus like this. If the portion sizes are too big, you wind up stuffed before you're done and if they're too small, you leave hungry. The wine pairing was also very good, but my suggestion is to get the reserve wines. It's $35-45 more for the reserve wines depending on the if you get short pours or full pours, but well worth it--especially given how small an amount of money it is compared to the overall meal. My wife and I got one set of short pours of the house wines and one set of short pours of the reserve wines. The house wines were good--arguably very good--but simply disappointing compared to the reserve wines which were phenomenal. I really liked the option to have short pours (2-3 oz) vs. full pours (about 4 oz) because, frankly, drinking effectively a full bottle of wine myself (6 courses * 4 oz) is just more than I can drink in a night without feeling like crap.

Stopped in the other week, finally after securing a reservation (back in August hah). Cute, intimate space, overall had an enjoyable meal and the service was wonderful, but the food didn't blow us away, and like others have said, the timing of the courses can run long with periods of waiting. A good meal but for me not worth the amount of planning involved. The meal was 5 courses (dessert included), with a trio of amuse bouche to start and a palate cleanser before dessert, + bread service (which fills you up), and take home cookies. The focaccia is awesome, and we also had some wonderful wines (and the bubbles to start were delicious). They have 3 options for cocktails (one NA) on tap, the bees knees was decent. For the food, I thought it was a little busy - lots of components in each course which were a bit distracting, where I thought they could focus on key ingredients and highlight those instead. It's a small operation - maybe 5 or 6 people. John and Sara were wonderful, but given the number of staff they were running everything which I think slowed down course pacing overall a bit (20-25 minutes between courses). The setting is very nice and cozy so it didn't feel exceptionally slow, but still would prefer to move at a faster speed (I do a lot of these extended tastings with my husband and we really don't have all that much to talk about at this point lol). Everything is served at the same time, so some dishes might not reach you at optimal temp. For this number of courses, the meal ended up just over 3 hours for us and we were more than ready to leave and stretch our legs (and were the first table to leave). Only one seating at 7pm and we wrapped up a little after 10.

Incredible experience! Top notch! Thank you for the special evening! Definitely a meal and an evening to remember!

I'll keep this short and sweet. Jake, Sara and the entire Three Blacksmith's team is amazing. The restaurant has a perfect warm ambiance. Their hospitality and service is second to none. And, of course, the food (and drink) is the best part. Their success is well-deserved. If you haven't been, don't hesitate ... get a booking and experience it for yourself.

We dined here recently and it was a sublime experience. The space is amazing and the ambiance, decor and lighting are all exceptional, warm and inviting. The staff is very pleasant and provided just the right degree of information and attentiveness. There are about seven tables and the night we dined there were approximately 20 people. The meal starts at 7pm and everyone is served simultaneously. Every dish and wine pairing was extraordinary. It's a menu tasting and portions are in accordance with that experience except for the bread service which is plentiful and tasty. The only real drawback we experienced was, because all dishes are prepared simultaneously, it takes some time while they're all on the prep counter, which resulted in the temperatures being lukewarm warm instead of hot. Otherwise, the entire experience was very enjoyable highly recommended.

fabulous experience from start to finish. Cozy restaurant and a warm welcome from the owners. Course after course was delicious and imaginative. We also purchased the wine pairing option and would highly recommend.

5 stars for sure, was worth the wait. Service and food is impeccable. Owners came to the table at least a dozen times. Absolutely worth it.

On our second visit to Sperryville from Arlington, Va, we noticed the sign for Three Blacksmiths and presumed it was a restaurant. There is limited signage so my wife walked in to enquire as to hours, fare, etc. She was met by a very rude person who only, very condescendingly, told her they were a reservation only establishment. No phone number, invitation to come later or anything else. First impressions really do make a difference!

Absolutely superb meal and experience from start to finish. Welcoming, knowledgeable owners and staff offer just the perfect blend of unobtrusive but exceptional attention to every detail making guests feel comfortable and extremely well taken care while never being over the top or stuffy. The food is exciting, exquisitely balanced and unexpected flavors and beautifully plated, inviting you to experience every element. The timing of each dish allows for time to sit and enjoy instead of feeling rushed through, and the music and restaurant volume are perfect. The restaurant itself is simply stunning, with the same attention to small details that are in every dish and the service that accompanies them. Will be returning at every opportunity to enjoy this creative team's genius for the change of seasons in beautiful Sperryville. An outstanding restaurant at the top of their game in every way.

Maybe the food is good, who knows. Stopped by as I wasn't familiar with the area/place. If you want a dose of pretentiousness with a side of you don't belong here snobbery, this is the place for you. Enjoy!...

Wow. Incredible experience from start to finish. I have been dying to come here since 2019 and was so grateful to finally have the chance to. Everyone that comes here says the same as it is nearly impossible to get a reservation! The interior of the restaurant is so cute, cozy and feels like you're dining at someone's home. I love the open kitchen concept and loved being seated right where I could watch them prepare each course. The service was impeccable and paced perfectly. You will spend three hours here for dinner and it will go by seamlessly. The food was presented beautifully and small portions, but not underwhelming by any means. You will leave full but not grossly stuffed. Each dish was rich with flavor and they give you bread refills throughout the meal. The bread is baked fresh daily and comes out nice and warm! If I ever have the opportunity to come back here I definitely will. Worth the trek and one of the top 5 dining experiences I've ever had. Huge kudos to the owners for creating something so magical!

Oh, Three Blacksmiths - thank you for making my (early) birthday celebration so special and so wonderful! The hubs and I were supposed to experience this restaurant in Sperryville back in May for our anniversary, but due to the uncertain times, we had to reschedule; luckily, we didn't have to go through the online booking route, as it's super hard to score a table here with their limited seating! I loved how this place is so cozy and so intimate - the rustic farm-chic look with super comfortable leather armchairs, the lit candles, and the open kitchen - so nice! The restaurant was also decorated for the holiday season, my favorite being the pinecone! John & Diane, the owners of the restaurant, greeted us warmly - such a wonderful welcome! I thought we had the best table, situated right by the window - yay! I loved how both John and Diane took turns connecting with each and every guest and checked-in on us throughout the night - no separate waitstaff here! They were so personable and so much fun! Have a purse or a bag? No worries - there's a cute fur-topped purse stand for you, that's set next to your table. Adorable!!! The menu is set, and changes weekly with the local farmers and foragers they work with - everything is farm-to-table and super fresh and delicious. Our menu consisted of an amuse bouche ( a trio of a quinoa chip with pana cotta, Huckleberry oyster, casino-style, and a gougère with cheese from Galax, with truffles); Chesapeake Bay Rockfish (with murasaki sweet potato, gai lan, ravigote, and amara kale; this was one of my favorites - the rockfish was delicate and flaky, and I loved the delicious murasaki sweet potato puree that complemented this yummy fish); a Sunnyside Kabocha Soup (with spiced crème fraiche, pickled maitake, and duck skin chicharrón; a soothing, but tangy, creamy soup); Whippoorwill Farm Pork Manti (with tatsoi, cashew, and curried coconut broth; the manti was SO flavorful! These pockets of filled with delicious ground pork); a lettuce wrap with duck and some fermented kimchi; Joyce Farm Hearth Grilled Ribeye (with roasted garlic soubise, mustard greens, pommes puree, and Whippoorwill baby carrots; the ribeye was perfectly grilled and seasoned; I absolutely loved the baby carrots - so delicious!); and, a Valrhona Soufflé Cheese Cake (with caramelized white chocolate, candied blood orange, tellicherry pepper crumble, and crème fraiche ice cream; those candied blood orange droplets were SO GOOD - this was such a great finisher, with the creaminess from the ice cream and the cheesecake and the perfect citrus notes from the blood oranges!). Chef Jeff, Chef DJ, and Chef Gabe were so great! Thank you! We were presented with a glass(es) of champagne as well as housebaked pumpkin rye bread with a duo of pickled beet butter and house butter, topped with salt from West Virginia. Honestly, this warm bread with the right amount of crisp on the edges, was just so addicting! John was so gracious enough to keep 'refilling' and even gave us a small sliced loaf to-go afterwards! What a treat! We were also gifted a bag filled with activated charcoal meringue cookies and even a signed birthday card - WOW! Such a relaxing and a beautiful evening - this restaurant is such a gem! Definitely a great spot for a date night, to celebrate special occasions, or to have a nice outing with close friends. There is no dress code, but most seem to be in business casual; plenty of parking in their private lot. +John & Diane and Chefs Jeff, DJ, and Gabe! +set seasonal farm-to-table menu +make online reservations in advance!

We had dinner last night and couldn't have had a better time. The service was excellent, the ambience amazing, and the fixed menu cuisine was as good as it gets. It's a small place, only seating 20 people, so reservations are required and also hard to get. If you get the opportunity to go, do it!

We had a wonderful meal at the Three Blacksmiths. The reservation wait is worth it. Of course Covid made our wait longer. In addition to wonderful food the staff is very friendly and professional. Each course is brought out and details of ingredients and where they are from is provided. If you've requested it, a different wine is paired with each course. Since they only serve 20 people a night, there is no problem with social distancing. And the table is yours for the night.

The best. It's like food theater. Prepare to stay for hours, and enjoy every second of it. We've been a few times and it's been a flawless and impressive dining experience every time. We highly recommend getting a reservation as soon as possible.

My wife and I tried for literally years to get reservations here. We were absolutely thrilled when we were able to get in on our anniversary weekend. The food was good, some courses were a bit disappointing. The servers were very attentive. The only thing we didn't enjoy was the length of time between courses. There were times when we sat for 20-30 minutes with no food and empty wine glasses. We arrived at 7:00 and left at 10:30. Way too long for the number of courses.

Get on their waitlist now! BEST DINING EXPERIENCE OF OUR LIVES even surpassing Inn at Little Washington and Joel Robuchon restaurants in New York and Paris!! The amazing Addeo couple who orchestrate this make you feel like a welcome guest in their home. The venue is small, warm, and inviting with custom touches like the blacksmith-themed anvil with your name at the table. The staff is perfectly (just enough) attentive and knowledgeable. The food is almost indescribable except to say that it every bite is a party in your mouth. Bread is served on hot stones to keep it warm. Watching the cooking and plating magic is engrossingly entertaining. The wine pairing was perfection with detailed descriptions of the taste profiles and origins of the uncommon wines. Hats off to Sara, Jake and their staff for making this an exceptionally special evening that we won't forget. Cannot wait to return.

We enjoy visiting Little Washington and Sperryville. The area is filled with fabulous restaurants. Our recent dinner at 3 Blacksmiths was spectacular on all levels. Get on their website and secure a reservation and/or add yourself to the wait-list. You will be thrilled that you did.

A few friends and I went to Three Blacksmiths for a Saturday night out, and overall, I thought it was a pretty good restaurant. Of course, it was a huge hike for DC folks and I wasn't blown away by the dishes as I was expecting to be. My friend secured the reservation about eight months in advance, but we were told that they have added another day worth of seating and they don't make you get up at the early hours of the morning to reserve a spot. That's always going to be a pet peeve of being a somewhat casual restaurant where the reservations are near impossible to get. All the food is pre-decided, but oddly, the amuse at the beginning and the dessert were my favorite dishes. Generally, that's not an amazing sign. The steamed corvina fish that started the meal was probably my least favorite. A huge hunk of meat that didn't seem to be seasoned. The quail was the best entree in terms of flavor and balance. The wine pairing is a bit haphazard -- there is a large and small pairing, which generally I would understand as the large being a wine with every course and the small only having wine with three courses. However here, a "large" is a full pour of all the wines and the "small" is a half pour of all the wines. That being said, some of the pairings were not successful, and one pairing was a cocktail that completely overpowered the dish. This may have affected my overall enjoyment of the food. Service was very friendly, and the two married chefs were very personable and clearly took pride in their offerings. It was kind of hit or miss with the other waiters, because sometimes dishes were just put in front of us without explanation, which doesn't do the food service nor does it really help us understand the intricate dishes. Dishes were not exactly cleared correctly, and certainly not at a Michelin level, if that ultimately is what they aspire to. Overall, Sperryville is a trek to get to if you are in the DC metro area. The town itself is very quaint, and the alpine vibes in the restaurant are fun.

The new owners were awesome. Very friendly, engaging and informative They didn't miss a beat. More of an Italian and southern accent. Still the best place to have a meal. It's an experience!

We had an amazing meal here start to finish. Worth the wait and deserving of at least two Michelin stars. If they're visiting the Inn, they should be visiting the Blacksmiths!!

We have been to Three Blacksmiths 3 times and each time is a unique and personal experience. It's only 6-7 tables. They do their best to accommodate any preferences. I brought a friend that is vegan and they were clear they could not do vegan only vegetarian. Which she was willing to accept. They however did their best to make the meal vegan even making her an olive oil spread instead of butter. (She however wanted to home made bitter..;-). Don't hesitate to try it.

My husband and I have been huge fans of both John and Diane MacPherson since they owned the Foster Harris House, so when they sold it, we were sad, but excited for them to pursue their dream of owning a restaurant in Sperryville. We have been to Three Blacksmiths twice since it opened, and have our third reservation scheduled for early next year (since the Washington Post review, they book up fast)! If you like fine dining experiences with delicious food and personalized service, then Three Blacksmiths is for you. Three Blacksmiths is located in a small building in Sperryville - lots of wood and wood tones - it has a truly homey feel while also being upscale. When you arrive, you're either greeted with a glass of champagne or a cocktail. On this particular visit, it was a glass of champagne. We were then given some "snacks" to start - I honestly don't remember what the other two snacks were, but I really enjoyed the shishito pepper (and I'm not a pepper fan). Next, we had the Chesapeake bay rockfish. This came with mushrooms and a delicious broth. The next course, the curried apple butterkin soup, was probably my favorite course - the depth of flavors of this dish were incredible, and since it was a cold night, a cup of soup can't be beat! I will say, there was a liquor pairing with this course (instead of wine) - I think I would have preferred wine. I prefer wine in general, but I appreciate their attempt to mix it up for those who may not want all wine - I just didn't think that this pairing did all it could have for the soup. Next was the Appalachian gnocchi, which was prepared beautifully. The cocoa and sumac crusted beef tenderloin was a beautiful medium rare. The dessert, the sticky toffee pudding (bar) with ice cream and sweet potato sauce - stole the show. I'm not a fan of rye whiskey, so we did ask for an alternative pairing. We also got a decaf french press coffee. Oh, and how could I forget - there is also fresh bread with house-made butters. Throughout the meal, you're visited by John, Diane, and their chefs who explain each course in detail as well as the pairings. You can tell that they take great pride in their work and truly care about their customers - and it shows on the plate. 5 stars all around.

I'll get my one complaint out early. It's a far drive. I live in Northern Virginia and it's an hour and twenty minutes each way. And while I'll complain about it, that won't stop me from going again. And again. And again. There are not enough superlatives to describe the atmosphere, the people, the food, and the service. They advertise that the place seats 16 -- but in a pinch, they can do up to 20. There were 19 people when we dined there last night. It's a prix fixe tasting menu with ingredients sourced as locally -- i.e. farm to table -- as possible. Last night's menu: Amuse Bouche of Turnip with Butter, some of the best cornbread I've ever had in a small pool of honey, and rice cracker with mushroom mousse; Tea Dusted Arctic Char, Rutabaga Puree, Blood Orange Sauce; Sweet Potato and Pear Soup, Splash of Bourbon; Fennel and Sheep Milk Ricotta Pansotti (a type of Ravioli), Candied Pecans, Spinach, Parmesan; Rappahannock Honey Glazed Pigeon, Tartiflette (a Potato Gratin of sorts with cream and Gruyere), Charred Honey Carrots, Savory Granole, Rosemary Port Sauce; Pumpkin S'Mores, Caramelized Apple, House Made Graham Cracker, Wood Ice Cream. All I can say is WOW. Two of us got the wine/cocktail pairings. They complemented each dish perfectly. I am a wino -- and I had never heard of any of the wines they poured. And the staff made you feel like family -- just as if they had invited you into their home for dinner. Run -- I say again RUN -- do not mosey -- to this restaurant. You will not be disappointed.

An amazing evening. The detail of every service was over the top. The food and wine pairing was perfect and delicious.

Every course was delicious and it was impossible to decide which was a favorite. Impeccable service and subtly refined decor. Cannot wait to return!

Amazing experience, great service phenomenally crafted foods. Will definitely be coming back!

Had been very excited to experience this restaurant. Lovely place, beautifully decorated. Service good but the dinner is very drawn out, in our opinion unnecessarily so. (3.5 hours). Some of the food was terrific, some not so. One clam dish was spectacular. All the food needed to be served on hot plates, it was lukewarm, which was not great and irritating especially on a cold night.

I had the pleasure of dining for the first time at Three Blacksmith recently. To say it was an finely orchestrated event is an understatement. The experience was out of this world. It's like a mini-Noma tucked away in the Shenandoah Valley. The owners John & Diane have something very special going on. I can't wait to return. I just hope I can snag a reservation.

Believe the hype. This will rank in the top 5 of dining experiences you've ever had. There's a reason the seats are booked months in advance within minutes of release of availability. Amazing food, beautiful space, spectacular service. Just go, you won't regret it.

We had the absolute pleasure of dining at 3 Blacksmiths last week. It was the best meal I have eaten, both in taste and presentation, with the added huge bonus of meeting all the staff and the owners over the course of the evening. The personal attention to diners makes you feel you are at a dinner party (where unfortunately the hosts can't sit down but are totally attentive and charming). There are six or seven tables (depending on group sizes) and one seating, ample candlelight in a charming dining room with plenty of space between tables. Sara, one of the owners, had reached out ahead of time to see if there were any celebrations or dietary restrictions. We were greeted by a happy anniversary note and then a card at the end of dinner. Over the evening there were a few more surprise courses than listed on the menu (photographed below). I missed taking pictures of multiple courses because I was so excited to dive in! Every bite was truly delicious, and all the combinations were so well matched and provided little surprises of texture or taste as well as beauty. We both opted for the zero proof pairing as we had never done that before and I would more than happily forgo wine and do that again--the "mocktails" were perfectly matched to the course. For example the meyer lemon and thyme "Meyer Lemon Drop" was the perfect pairing for the scallop crudo course. Each drink perfectly complemented and brought another level of interest to the food itself and I can't imagine wine being able to do it so well. Given a choice, it brought more to the meal than a wine pairing, however delightful (and other guests having the wine pairing seemed very delighted!). We savored each bite and ate slowly, the entire experience of the meal was more than 3 hours, we enjoyed watching the staff prepare and assemble the courses with the open kitchen (remarkably quiet). The "amuses bouche" trio was mackerel and a gourgere and a stuffed arancini --all so good, all different but complimentary!). The Scallops were magical looking and divine tasting. The black kale and beans were warming and delicious, we had two kinds of bread (focaccia and rye sesame pecan (divine) and two delectable kinds of butter, a salted one and a butter with persimmon. The ravioli were delicate and divine and the frisee greens added a gentle bite and contrast. The Pekin duck was the best duck I have tasted. The meat tender and flavorful and moist and the fat perfectly cooked and full of smoky flavor. The Mont Blanc dessert was delightful. It looks like a ski slope of meringue (browned with a torch) then a meringue bowl for the chestnut filling with candied nuts. A candied violet added a touch of color. Perfect finish to our dinner (also with a wonderful cardamon thai tea mocktail). I was inspired to want to learn more about making zero proof pairings myself when I cook for company! We can't wait to go back! The staff were delightful as I said and I was chatting with Sara about cookbooks and she not only brought one out for me to see but followed up the next day with favorite cookbooks of all the staff. What a wonderful personal and sincere touch. Reservations are pretty full 200 days out but we found a table available 3 weeks out and they have a cancellation list. I can't recommend 3 Blacksmiths highly enough. I truly can't wait to return. The combination of food, drink and hospitality has never been matched!

I'm not sure I can convey in words how wonderful this restaurant is. The food is superb, the wine pairings perfect,the surroundings beautiful and warm, the service gracious. The hosts could not be more charming. This was our second visit, and it equaled the marvel of the first. An unforgettable dining experience.

I dined with Three Blacksmiths a few days ago. We all did the wine/cocktail pairing which was fabulous. Each course was full of flavor and prepared with detail. I was nervous that something may be served that I wouldn't eat, no worries, everything was amazing! I hate that we have to make reservations so far in advance because I definitely want to go back...sooner rather than later! I will be recommending to friends!

The Three Blacksmiths is located in the quaint rural town of Sperryville VA offering a menu à prix fixe consisting of five courses with some surprises included. As you enter the restaurant you will feel like you're somewhere in Europe. The space feels warm and inviting between the exposed wooden rafters and the clean lines which bridges the modern and contemporary touches. We were immediately greeted by Diane MacPherson who also introduced us to her husband and chef John MacPherson. Diane showed us to our table which had our names written on a place card sitting on a miniature anvil. The table was bedecked with a hurricane lamp with a taper candle along with a little salt cellar that looked like a stump and a spoon. Each place setting had a linen napkin with the evening's menu tucked in it. After sitting down John offered us a flute of 2015 Saint-Hilaire Brut. What really caught my attention was a little shearling covered stool where you could rest your purse. Looking around the space you see iron sconces and a pretty chandelier located near the center of the dining area which is a nod to the name Blacksmiths. The final thing that was set onto the table is a solid copper bar emblazoned with the restaurant's logo where the silverware would rest. Diane explained that the silverware would be replaced between each course. The first surprise consisted of a Potato puff with caviar, compressed melon, Asian pear wrapped in turnip and dusted with house smoked paprika. The Potato puff with the caviar had a nice refreshing pop of flavor and brininess coming from the caviar. The compressed melon was served on a skewer, what we did not expect was the juiciness of the melon. The Asian pear rounded out the three and was crisp with a smokiness coming from the house made paprika. The first course consisted of the Ember Butter Poached Monkfish with whippoorwill edamame, koji butter, and trout roe which was paired with a glass of Domaine Eugène Carrel Roussette. The monkfish had a tender texture and light flavor which was picked up from the koji butter. The edamame is sourced from the local Whipporwill farms when eaten together with the monkfish provided some texture and layered on with a pop of salinity from the trout roe. The wine in the pairing had a floral, honeyed aroma with hints of stone fruits. Chef John brought out a geode slice that had squash butter and a house made butter with a sprinkle of salt on it. It was served alongside a bread box that contained heated stones and several slices of hearty bread. He returned to the table with an Alvear Blanc cocktail containing Ximénez sherry and French vermouth with a lemon twist. What immediately captured my attention was the citrus scent that wafted from the cocktail, the sherry and vermouth were perfectly balanced. The second course of Thornton River Orchard Smoked Sweet Potato Soup with crispy greens and ginger brown butter. The sweet potato was not cloying in the least bit and the ginger brown butter provided a good contrast. I liked the crispy green which turned out to be a crisp sweet potato leaf to add texture to the soup. The coziness of the space provided a view of the chef and all of the kitchen staff assembling each plate with meticulous precision. Presentation of the many dishes and the brief explanation of each was a delight since a lot of care is taken to source the ingredients that is put together for this dining experience. The third course consisted of Lamb Manti with lamb saddle brodo, Calabrian chili oil, and fennel. Diane explained that the Calabrian chili oil would provide it with flavor but not the heat that most would associate with chilis. The best part of this dish was the brodo (bone broth) which was seasoned perfectly, and if I had the option, I would have eaten this dish for the rest of the evening. The wine pairing for this set was a 2017 Domaine Badoz Trousseau which was a nice deep full bodied red. The next course was the Barbecued Pork Shoulder with whippoorwill beets, charred lettuces, and turnip soubise which was paired with a 2015 Barboursville Octagon Virginia Blend. The pork was tender with the beets and concord grape giving the dish a savory and sweet flavor with the Octagon red balancing out the flavors. In between the courses was a nice treat that had sweet and savory items on it, my favorite being the fresh honeycomb. The final course served was Waterpenny Pumpkin Gateau with a pepita praline, caramelized apples, and wood smoke infused ice cream which was paired with Thornton River Orchard Hot Toddy with Copper Fox Whiskey. I adored the smokiness that you get from the ice cream and is a highlight for the dessert course. To finish out the evening was the traditional french press coffee which came with a timer to know when to plunge then serve it. Diane and John provided us with a parting gift of a "charcoal" anise flavored meringues. This experience is the epitome of fine dining, I highly recommend it! Thank you John and Diane!

This was one of the best dining experiences I've ever enjoyed... The food is pure artistry and John & Diane are the consummate hosts! The venue is stunning... we LOVE timber framing and John did an outstanding job recreating this space into a stunning timber framed and beautiful dining room! The attention to detail was excellent; from the tables and the little "3BS" stamped copper blocks that hold the flatware to the wallpaper in the restroom and how it was lined up perfectly to match each sheet. This level of attention to detail is very evident in the food they prepare and serve as well. From hot rocks in a bread box to keep your table bread warm to the amount of painstaking testing and experimentation John and his crew does on each dish to perfect it before serving their guests. Each dish was created with amazing creativity and clearly from scratch with as many local ingredients as possible. In all, we enjoyed 7 courses and left feeling satisfied, not over-stuffed. The pairings were perfectly selected and something we definitely enjoyed, with the vermouth being brilliant, simple and astonishing! We thoroughly enjoyed our experience and are most definitely going to return!

1st time we dined there last night...what a wonderful dining experience! Food was delicious, service was excellent, ambiance incredible! I can't wait to return again!! We celebrated my friends and husband's birthday last night.

New ownership / chef (aug 2021) and very very disappointing. What a contraste with the previous owners John and Diane MacPherson. The new owner Jake is very friendly but I don''t believe he is interested by cooking. The 2 hours we stayed in the restaurant, he didn't spend 1 minute in the kitchen. The food was prepared by the 3 Chef assistants and under John direction, they're were the best in the world. Now they are on their own. So sad.

This place is my favorite! It's food is incredible and the service is paramount. Just hard to get reservations, but worth waiting months for! A place and experience like none other.

My husband and I dined at Three Blacksmiths during the holiday season and I can't recommend it enough. We both enjoy fine dining and experiencing new restaurants and food. Three Blacksmiths stood out from the rest and made for a memorable dining experience. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting. We were immediately met with a warm welcome upon walking in. The interior decor reminded me of being in a beautiful log cabin that you've had for years. My husband and I admired their design choices stating how we'd like certain things in our future home. There are only a few tables in the entire place (when they could easily fit more) that creates a more personalized experience. You feel like you are the only people there. They even give you a mini stool for your purse/items to sit beside you! Each food course was delicious and unique. It is obvious the time, thought, and care that went into planning the meal. I agree with another reviewer, you can tell they take pride in their work. Diane and John - Thank you for your hospitality! We absolutely plan to return. For those who have to travel far, book a local BnB to make a weekend out of it. That is what we will do next time.

We enjoyed another lovely evening at Three Blacksmiths on May 28, 2022. Jake, Sara and their team provided a delightful experience - delicious and inventive dishes made with locally sourced ingredients that are treated with deft technique and restrained elegance, presented with unobtrusive and gracious skill in a beautiful and tasteful setting. This is my definition of the perfect restaurant experience.

Our meal at the Three Blacksmiths was dining at its finest. The dining room only seats 16 people, so although we dined with a large group, the experience was intimate and cozy. The dining room and open kitchen are beautiful. Diane is a wonderful and warm host. The food was fresh and impeccably crafted and the wine pairing complimented the dishes perfectly. Dining at the Three Blacksmiths encompasses more than just phenomenal food; the team ensures you have a thoughtful and rich experience from start to finish. Thank you for a wonderful night and congratulations on this incredible new restaurant!

I scheduled a date night with my husband here and we were not disappointed. From the lovely cozy dining room with open kitchen to the friendliness of the staff who addressed our needs in reality without even asking made the night memorable. The food portions are not large but because of the number of servings and the flavors by the end of the night I actually was full. My favorite from the night was sweet potato and pear soup paired with Dolin Blanc on ice with a twist.

The food is creative and beautifully presented, the wines are interesting and all good, the service is friendly and efficient, the decor and lighting are pleasant, and the tables are well spaced. Thus, a delightful and unusual dining experience. One drawback: the music channel is poorly chosen for fine dining, and much too loud. Because of the volume I couldn't make out how the servers described each wine and course, although I did appreciate their wearing masks, and conversation with our unmasked dinner companions was a strain. At a meal served at a pace stretching over 3 1/2 hours, conversation is the most important part. We look forward to going back, but only for two.

By far the most unique dining experience we have ever encountered. Highest quality customer welcoming and culinary inventions that show you food has so many dimensions. Artistry in presentation and personal chef service enhances the evening. This is in center of Sperryville on Main Street. It has parking and accessible. It requires reservations for a one seating of 16-18 people total for the evening. It's like personal invitation to the Chefs table on board ship for just these guests. The six course menu was an exploration of genius culinary arts using local foods and produce from areas farmers and producers. We will be back as they change the menu weekly based on seasonal fare available. You will be amazed by John and Diane and their chefs Ethan and Conner. Advance bookings require at least two plus weeks in advance. Only open for dinner 7-10+ pm Thursday-Saturday.

Came here for my birthday celebration. The service was amazing. The food was delicious. Every dish was flavorful and fresh.

A perfect dinner and evening! Fresh locally sourced produce and provisions had our guests sighing at the end of every course "perfection". The ambiance of the new space feels like an elegant country inn in Europe with the imaginative cuisine of Scandinavia's Noma. Everything is in earth tones and blues and the candlelight makes all your guests look attractive! The focus is on the food and it's delicious. The hospitality starts the minute one arrives with a glass of bubbly and a warm greeting from our host and hostess who also happen to be the chef and the manager! Simply a beautiful evening and memorable feast!!