Iron Horse
100 S Railroad Ave, Ashland, VA, 23005
Iron Horse Menu
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Starters
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Soups
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Salads
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Entrees
Healthy Meal suggestions for Iron Horse
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Starters
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Soups
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Salads
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Entrees
Visit below restaurant in Ashland for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Ashland for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
100 S Railroad Ave
Ashland, VA, 23005 - Phone (804) 752-6410
- Website https://www.ironhorserestaurant.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Julie T.
I have been here a few times now and found out by driving by. I love the interior and the atmosphere. The food is good too and the staff are friendly (Gene is great at the bar). I like that they have live music too. :) That said, I just saw the other reviewer (BH) noted the burgers...I need to try this next time I'm there. lol.
(4)Thomas G.
My first time at the restuarant. We came in around 8:15p on a Friday night and were warmly greeted. Food was average at this price point, but not memorable. The restaurant had a nice atmosphere, but it took the kitchen over an hour to serve us. Definitely not worth the wait. Probably would not return and certainly not on a Randolph Macon family weekend. The kitchen was either understaffed or overwhelmed... perhaps both.
(2)David T.
I guess I expected a wider selection on the menu. Decent service, great staff. Unfortunately, their menu has been dictated by the locals.
(2)Meghan C.
We stopped into Iron horse, on a fluke. It was late at night, and we wanted a local resturant (non chain food). We had a group of 5 barrell in at 10 PM this past month into the regular resturant side. The food was amazing- what a gem! We had the special of sweet potato gnocci and we each ordered a different item from the menu, ranging from salmon to scallops to steak. All were cooked to perfection, and we were pleasantly surprised.
(4)Stephen H.
My friend and I enjoyed brunch here last weekend...quite a surprise given its location. I had the Eggs Benedict, which was laid out on a pastry crust rather than toast. It was hands down delectable. The service was also good. My only recommendation is that they provide a drinks list with the brunch menu...I probably would have chosen a more creative drink than iced tea if I felt like asking the waiter to run down the list.
(5)Keith D.
Very high prices and the chef just looked at me when I told him that the hot dish was cold when it got to me. Had a bit of an attitude. Stick to the bar and the music.
(2)Baca N.
Our waiter was personable and we received good service but the omelet special was overcooked/burnt and dry. The shrimp skewer special was only 4 small shrimp and token vegetables, far from a satisfying meal. Waffles were served at room temperature, chicken was over cooked and eggs to order were not as order. A very poor meal at a ridiculous price. Takes reservations but we wouldn't.
(1)Jessica L.
I've been here twice and I have mixed feelings about the place. On the one hand, it's great that there's finally a "nice" restaurant in Ashland for dates and special occasions. Ashland has plenty of good places to eat, but most of them are casual in the extreme. Ironhorse has two sides - the more expensive, fancy restaurant side; and the casual bar side. I've only patronized the latter so I can't speak to the actual restaurant (although I've heard it described by some locals as "stuffy"). The bar side offers live music on weekend nights, a definite plus. The beer and wine selections are decent and reasonably priced but not extensive. (A word of warning - beers from the Legend microbrewery come in huge bottles - maybe 22 oz? - but there's nothing to indicate that on the menu.) The food is decent but nothing to brag about. If you're a vegetarian you might want to stay away because the choices are extremely limited. Even the salads have meat in them. And if you order a salad I recommend asking for the dressing on the side - they seem to like to drown them here. I've had the fish dinner both times I've been here. Once was salmon, once was trout. Both were good but over-salted. (Starting to see a theme in my reviews?) The side dishes were much better. They also offer pizza, burgers, sandwiches, appetizers, meatloaf, and other dinner specials. All-in-all, a fun place to go for a beer and music on a weekend, but I don't think I'll be a regular.
(3)Tina C.
Great local place to eat, burger was great. My husband had the Cuban and could not stop raving about it. Just don't ask the waiter to make a mixed drink, he'll ask YOU what goes in it. Other than that, great little place next to the railroad tracks. Too bad My son missed it!
(4)Katie K.
Passing through and needed a bite. Loved the music, wonderful food (especially appetizers), and the trains rolling by!
(5)Michelle C.
Ate here on a Friday night. The place was busy but our server was attentive. I started with the PEI mussels. Sam had the meatballs. The broth was great and the small size portion was generous. The meatballs came out only warm. We sent them back and they were flavorful hot. We also got the warm spinach salad and the market salad. Both were fresh. We got the flourless chocolate cake to go and it was devoured later that night. On Fridays after 9 there's music in the bar and it makes it hard to hear normal speaking voices in the dining room.
(4)Hugh J.
We dine here often and highly recommend it. Rusty, the Chef does a great job with all areas of the menu. The soups are always great. Many of the accompaniments are hand made by the chef. Try this spot for lunch, Brunch or dinner you will not be disappointed. The bar has a cool casual menu plus you can order from the fine dinning menu. Enjoy!!!!!
(5)Melissa D.
This restaurant was wonderful. My husband took me for my birthday and I really enjoyed the food. We had crab cakes and they were outstanding. The service was Class A. Everyone was very nice. I would go again for sure.
(5)Mortalist N.
It's a nice place, bring a date and have dinner. I did not like my spontaneous drop in for a quick bite, but dinner looked relaxing. The staff was on their feet, they forgot my salad, but who really wants to eat salad we all just order it to feel healthy. I didn't order off the nightly specials and I regretted it. Ordered a veal ribs that I could cut with a fork and I anticipated ribs I could tear with my teeth. The yellow tail with Robert sauce was what I wanted. I will go again.
(4)Christie C.
We were in a rush so I didn't get to really get a full experience. The server was kind enough to make room for me and my boyfriend to join my family, who was already dining. They were so courteous and the place is absolutely stunning. Besides being in an adorable town, the scenery is great (including the train tracks that split the town). Parking was easy because it was right next to the restaurant. I will most definitely be returning!
(5)Danielle G.
Holy YUM, Batman! After seeing a couple mediocre reviews, I was worried that we'd be let down, but this place left us with multiple WOWs! Iron Horse is quite a bit higher end than other Ashland dining options, and has the food and the prices to reflect that. My husband and I went there for dinner on a Friday night, and though busy, the service was wonderful. I can't say the meal was quick, but you can't rush greatness, and for that we were willing to wait a bit! Our waitress was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable. The service couldn't have been better. For starters, we ordered the sweet potato gnocchi and a cup of baked potato & turnip soup. Both were flavorful and delicious, with unique flavors and beautiful presentation. I ordered the stuffed acorn squash with pumpkin risotto, with tasty, varying fall flavors, and I was sold! It was a tremendously tasty vegetarian dream! My husband had a 14 oz. ribeye with whipped potatoes, and he said the steak was extremely flavorful and cooked perfectly. To close out the night, we ended with a pistachio cheesecake (odd, I know, but delicious!) and a piece of pecan pie, which was served warm and adorned with playful drizzles of caramel and chocolate sauce. Like I said - HOLY YUM! The only thing we didn't like about the Iron Horse was the bill. I'm not going to lie - we ended up paying over $100 (including a generous tip), but for food that good, every once in a while it's okay! It was worth it, and the next time we feel in need of a little decadence, we'll be back!
(5)Tom M.
Great place along the railroad in small town Ashland. Quiet and comfortable and a bit old looking it was perfect for lunch on a Friday afternoon. There was a beautiful bar and with an apparent stage it's obvious they must have music and entertainment on some nights. It's old and not real elegant but the food was exquisite. I had the the potato soup and with leaks tasted like mashed potatoes in a soup! Hard to describe but fantastic. The chicken salad on wheat with a tomato cucumber Italian salad was the light yet delicious meal I wanted. The chicken was pulled and was mouthwatering!! I highly rate this for food, ambiance, and service and only not a 5 because it was a bit old looking.
(4)Tonya C.
Everything was so good! From the starter to dessert! I cannot get over how amazing everything was! And the service was top notch. If I'm ever in the area again, I will be revisiting.
(5)Eric B.
When we were coming back from the beach and staying overnight at the Hampton hotel they recommend the iron horse restaurant. Boy was that a mistake ! When we asked for a table for 10 the hostess made us feel uncomfortable and acted like she didn't want our business
(1)Howard J.
Went here for a wedding rehearsal dinner this weekend and it was such a nice surprise. The food is excellent, the staff are attentive and quick moving. I would reccomend the crab cakes there is absolutely no filler which is rare outside of Maryland. I would most definitely return.
(5)Larry M.
Our families wanted to thank you and you staff for giving us such a memorable New Years Eve dinner last night. Your staff was very welcoming and attentive, my 91 year old mother particularly appreciated the care given to her. The food was delicious! Thank you for helping our families celebrate 2014 together last night. Happy 2015! The Millers The McGees The Dardens And the Kleins Sent from my iPhone
(5)Mark G.
So the last time we were here was in 2011. It was superb, and I gave it 4 stars. Not so much this time. First of all, the staff is EXCELLENT. This is why it is so hard to give such a horrible review. We walked in, and the place smelled like food..I know, it's an eating establishment....but not normal food, like grease, and there was a light haze of smoke. To the point I was like, should we call the FD to get this place checked out? ( am a Career Firefighter). I ordered steak, wife ordered pecan encrusted chicken. My steak was not very good, and it was mostly fat. I had with it maybe 5 scalloped potatoes, and cold green beans. My wife's chicken was so salty, it tasted like they poured an entire container of Morton's salt in it. We ended up laying a whopping 87 bucks for our dinner. No alcohol included. Huge punch in the face paying this much for a crappy dinner. I'm not sure if they were having an off night or what, but to have 2 dinners that sucked at the same time, leads me to believe it is the cook, or cooking staff, or something. My wife finished just half of her chicken, and our waitress asked if we wanted a box. Normally we take our food with us, but we did not this time. She asked if there was anything wrong with it and we're like, no, we're good. We're not the type to complain and send food back...ever see the movie "Waiting" with Ryan Reynolds? yeah, that's why. After we got home, our clothes reeked of grease, had to take showers. It may have been an off night - I really hope so...but wow. Maybe we'll try again at a later date, but not any time soon. We like to keep things local, but we should've gone to Short Pump and went to BoneFish, where we always have a great experience. Good luck.
(1)Carol B.
Lovely place next to the tracks. White table cloths are a nice touch. Everything is fresh and beautifully served. The asparagus soup was wonderful. The shrimp and grits were perfect. Steak was also cooked perfectly and tender. Nice wines and bar. A little expensive but worth it. The staff was prompt and helpful.
(4)Alice B.
Awesomeness! Great atmosphere, great service, the food is incredible! White bean purée with roasted garlic, fried oysters omg! The best!
(5)Susanna K.
Everything was delicious! I had the mussels and the duck... Great service and nice staff!!! Thank you for such an awesome dinner, had a great time at a nice location.
(5)Peggy S.
Girls lunch! Amazing food! Everything was perfect. Shrimp and grits were perfectly cooked, creamy and flavorful. Leisurely service, time to linger and enjoy . Very attentive. Cant wait to go back. Portions were just right. Not so huge I needed a to go box. But just right! I highly recommend this wonderful place. The specials and home made soups sounded so tempting. Prices are reasonable for the quality of the meal. Everyone was so very friendly, that was just icing on an already perfect cake.
(5)T T.
Good but rubin was a bit small and stringy. Shrimp and grits was very different but tasty and could have been warmer.
(4)Julie W.
Found Ironhorse, thanks to Yelp, as we were traveling through the area. Loved the warm greeting, like seeing a long lost friend, from the hostess. Service was quick and friendly, although I believe I may have offended our waitress when I cut short her explanation of the specials by indicating my dislike for blue cheese. Hats off to her as she remained professional, caring for us properly throughout our time there. My husband had the shark and loved it. I had the pot roast which had amazing flavor, but had to be sent back as it was not hot. The second plate was better, but certainly not hot as you might expect a piece of roast to be. The roast was accompanied by a wonderfully flavored gravy, but the portion was skimpy. Even when I asked for more, I was given a ramikin 1/2 full. Also plated with the beef, potatoes and gravy was a terrific beet dish. While I was waiting for my dinner to come back, I was treated to a small portion of the pumpkin soup, which was excellent. I wish I could give the rave reviews I have read from so many others, but not this time. Likely this was just an off night. When in the area, we will try Ironhorse again.
(3)Nancy J.
Wonderful salmon and steak. Service with Evan was awesome. Fried green tomatoes a treat with yummy sauce. Bourbon pecan pie scrumptious. Coffee was excellent. Just a little pricey.
(5)Mike C.
The best restaurant in Virginia. The chef is creative with selections. Very innovative ideas, beautifully presented. Traveling between New York and Florida, I make a point of spending the night just have dinner hear. This guy should be working in a restaurant in NYC
(5)Sherry J.
If you are traveling on 95 near Richmond, you won't be disappointed with this little hidden gem of a restaurant. The menu is not huge, but there is something for everyone. And the food....what can I say. I had the sirloin sous vide with chimichurri sauce. My family had the cinnamon duck, risotto stuffed squash, and a bacon cheeseburger. All were succulent...extremely flavorful...well presented. Plus the allure of being right on the train tracks gave it a throwback feel that is reminiscent of a time gone by. A super cool place that had live music late on Saturday night. Definitely a 5-star yelp experience. I only gave 4 because they didn't ran out of my first choice (tequila lime lobster risotto) and then ran out of chimichurri too. In their defense, it was a busy Saturday and in the middle of a wicked storm. With that having been said, however, I would not hesitate to make the drive down to eat there again. You will love it!
(4)Derek B.
When I walked inside, the hostess told me "Welcome Back." I have never been here before, but the attentiveness was nice. The menu choices are very limited, much like most fine dining establishments. I ordered the 10oz. Sirloin, which set me back about 24 dollars. Luckily, they do let you substitute sides, so I changed the asparagus for mashed potatoes. The steak melts in your mouth, even cooked medium well, but the flavor lacked in boldness. As for the potatoes, they tasted like they came out of a box, but were prepared well.
(4)Michael R.
I wanted to post an update here, as low and behold after two years, my wife and I ended up living in Ashland, the place we'd visited these many months ago. We've eaten at the Iron Horse a couple of time since living here, but it was our recent experience trying something new that led to this update (in a good way)! My parents were visiting in town, and as a way to treat them, we'd decided to do Brunch at the Iron Horse. Brunch is pretty popular there, as we arrived shortly after they opened on Sunday, and within half an hour I'd say most of the tables were full. They offer a menu of some standards, as well as some southern specialties (like Chicken and Waffles, which my wife got). The only detractor from this whole experience was the service; it wasn't quite up to the standard we'd become used to here. Our server let us know that she was fairly new here, which could have something with it, but between ordering and our entree, we waited longer than several tables I'd noticed were seated after us. Not sure if it was a breakdown in communication in the kitchen or what, but wanted to note it here. The food however was totally worth the wait. I had the Huevos Rancheros, which came sunny-side up in these delightful mini taco salad shells with a savory blend of pinto beans and a spicy chorizo that paired very well with the richness of the runny egg yokes. This was served with a creamy guacamole that was made with a good splash of lime juice which gave it a citricy brightness. The waffles in my wife's chicken and waffles were Belgian style, and light and fluffy, and served with a pair of boneless fried chicken breasts. They served this with what I'll call "pancake syrup" (or what my wife more disparagingly calls "fake" maple syrup - she's a yankee, so if it ain't from a maple tree, it's not real to her), coming from a southern family, this was total comfort food at it's greatest. Their price point is a bit high for Brunch, but it's worth a nice splurge once and a while. It was a nice alternative to seeing a different side of the Iron Horse in town.
(4)Karen F.
What a treat! My husband and I went here last Monday and ordered their omlette. We asked for an addition to the omlette and they obliged with a smile. I have to say, the omlette was the tastiest and most perfectly cooked I've ever had. The service was exceptional and the atmosphere was relaxing and inviting. We will be back very soon.
(5)John B.
Found this place accidentally during my travels. Stopped in for lunch and I was not disappointed. Next time I'm in the area I'll definitely be stopping by. Staff was friendly and fast too.
(5)Griselle G.
Tonight we felt like trying someplace new, and ended up at the Iron Horse. The service was second to none! For appetizer, I had the lobster bisque, and my husband the cedar salad. The bisque was fantastic. For entree I had the scallops crepes - very nice. The problem we found is the the restaurant ran out of the night's special and my husband had to change his meal. To finish the evening, we shared a creme brûlée. Just fantastic! Subtle vanilla flavor, perfect creamy texture. They deserve 4.5 stars! I deducted the 0.5 just because we didn't get to try the night's special, but the service was extraordinary, definitely will visit again!
(4)Debbie L.
Probably more of a 3.5 out of 5, but there's no option for that. This is a place you go to relax and not be in a hurry. At least that must be what they tell their wait staff, because service here can be sloooooow. At least that's been my experience the few times I've been. Good brunch menu. Enjoyed the chicken and waffles, french toast, bloody mary, etc. They have a smaller dinner menu with fancier, more expensive items. I'll personally only ever go back for brunch (but I appreciate the simpler things in life, so feel free to try them out for lunch/dinner yourself to judge). Nice location in downtown Ashland. Very quaint. Trains go by on the tracks about 12 feet from the door, which provides a nice atmosphere; you only see the trains, don't hear or feel them, so they must have good soundproofing.
(3)Angelena A.
Bar was amazing... But over priced! $25 for a martini and a shot ?? Staff was great and food really good, but we had to wait over 45 minutes for our entrees and then they were cold, cold duck is not ok. So needless to say my husband didn't get to eat and I settled for cold filet. After asking for the manager we were reimbursed the duck, but my husband had to leave, after over an hour and a half, hungry. Over $100 ( yes that includes the reimbursed duck) later we left disappointed. The Ironhorse has so much potential and is at such a great location, is a let down the food doesn't live up.
(3)R B.
OUTSTANDING!!!! If you are in the area, this is the place to eat, period. I have been here twice and both meals have been fantastic. My sincere Compliments to the amazing staff!
(5)Tim L.
Great food. I love their steaks here. My daughter likes to watch the trains go past and you get a great view from your table.
(5)Sarah B.
Stopped in here on a drive from DC down to Norfolk. What a pleasant discovery. Food was good- stick to the bones type of meal. Our server was delightful (young blonde woman, don't recall her name as it's been over a month), the restaurant was nice. I would eat here again.
(5)Janet C.
We stopped here for dinner and left with a drink of water which the hostess gave us. NO waiter ever came to our table for over 20 minutes and the place was NOT packed. Dishes were $20+ and no kids menu. At these prices you would think they would be falling all over us. After the table next to us had waitstaff come and go several times without a single inquiry if we had been helped, we left.
(1)Ellen F.
Don't miss this gem. The food the drinks the service the decor are all top notch. Even the locals who were there. We had a great time and recommend that you don't miss it in your travels or daily haunts.
(5)Becky L.
I'm glad I didn't rush through this menu, and waited to hear the specials. The pleasant green eyed waitress told me about the gazpacho, quinoa salad, and egg salad, bacon, lettuce and tomato wrap. I was so satisfied I topped it off with their classic coconut cream pie, not leaving a crumb!
(5)Ally S.
HOLY COW WORST SERVICE EVER 05/18/14 DINER FROM RICHMOND * allysinger * 1 review This was one if the worst dining experiences we have ever had. The only redeeming quality was that the food was great. My boyfriend has owned and run numerous restaurants and we consider ourselves foodies... I had been here once before with my Dad and had a great meal sitting outside with good service. My boyfriend and I decided to come here for my birthday dinner and made reservations in advance. Even with our reservations, they put us in the smallest shared booth in the place so we politely asked if we could wait for a seat outside. Once we got sat we didn't not see ANYONE for twenty minutes. The service staffed looked swamped and tables were clearly not being served in a timely fashion.My bf actually had to get up and go get someone to help us. When our server arrived he wasn't very apologetic and was pretty awkward with us. Then, a couple ridiculous things happened. Our food arrived rather quickly after we ordered, and was yummy. We ordered appetizers, two salads, two entrees and a bottle of wine. Our sever first asked us if we wanted freshly ground black pepper on our salads. We said yes and he came back 7 minutes later when we were almost done with our salads and yet he ground it anyway on my few bites of lettuce left. Then he asked us - "are the anchovies salty?" We both didn't even know what to say or why he was using us that. Then, simultaneously, he left another table's DIRTY DISHES on our table, and when he realized it later he mumbled to himself "shouldn't have done that", which I found funny. The reason why he had set those dirty dishes on our table in the first place was because he was clearing our places as our entrees were being served and he realized we didn't have any utensils (he had just taken them and stacked our dirty dishes). He said "oh shoot you need fresh utensils" and then he ACTUALLY PULLED OUT OUR DIRTY FORKS FROM THE STACK OF OUR DIRTY DISHES AND HANDED THEM BACK TO US (like held them out for us to grab!). When we just looked at them like are you kidding? We don't even know whose fork is whose, he said "what, you guys scared of cooties?". I couldn't even contain myself. and FINALLY we timed how long it took him to bring the check after we asked. It took him 18 minutes. It was quite literally UNBELIEVABLE. On the other hand, the salads, crab/shrimp tots, my salmon and my bf's veal brisket were WONDERFUL and very tasty. We will not be returning. It did create some great laughs and a good story
(1)Mary C.
My family and I had a wonderful experience here. The service was friendly and thorough, our food was delicious and timely. I would love to go back, keep doing the good stuff!
(5)Marc E.
Had a great time with my wife in our 11 year anniversary here!!!! Great atmosphere and staff. Classy but not uptight. Food was excellent. Definitely will be going back soon!
(4)J W.
Four of us were visiting the area and were eager to try a local restaurant w/historic charm. We read some of the mixed reviews and almost didn't make reservations but decided to try for ourselves. Sadly, it lived up to some of the warnings. We expected a historic building ... But what we found was old, unkept and dingy. Some Target-like sliding glass door heavy drapes separated the 2 sections of the dining room in no obvious pattern. Table setting was sparse ... 4 bread plates stacked and 4 settings of silverware wrapped in a napkin sat on top of them and 4 empty water glasses ...and a sheet of paper covering the table cloth . That was it! Being from MD we're used to that when you're ordering crabs but not in a restaurant where entrees are primarily in the $25-38 range. The menu was decent but tended on the heavy side for summer. A special -18 oz strip - was chewy and my scallops were ok but nothing special and were on the small side for the price w/too much sauce. Veggy ravioli got a better review from our dining companion and our 4th got a soup and appetizer (fried green tomatoes) which she liked. Wine menu was decent and the recommendation from the server was ok The real problem was the service. Perhaps our server was new, and being a former server myself I always try to make allowances. That said, t wasn't busy (actually very few tables for a Saturday night dinner at 8pm) but there were long period were he was simply MIA. At one point, when we were waiting for dinner plates to be cleared and to hear about desserts, we had to discretely call over to a busser at another table and ask if he could find our server..... It was a long time and no one even looked like they were coming to clear the table. Was there a manager/owner in the house?! The restaurant had string and bread on the floors and the bathrooms weren't the cleanest. If the owner wants to continue to charge the prices they do (or to stay in business!), everyone in our party agreed they needed to find or train some career servers and def train their bussers to provide the service you'd expect to receive w/ the check
(2)Sheryl B.
We went here the first time a decade ago on our first date. We are not local. We remembered the limited menu and the cheesecake wasn't worth the calories. Fast forward 10 years coming home late from a family event. We got off the exit, Yelped and searched for a restaurant open at 9pm. We recognized the name and being the mushy couple we are, gave it another try. The menu is diverse in the way there is one entree per type meat, pasta or fish so about 8 entrees including a special. Even though it's not his fav, my husband and I were fighting over our appetizer, the fried green tomatoes with crab meat. Good crusty bread. We shared the market-priced crab cakes, apple slaw and asparagus (see photos). Absolutely wonderful. The Caesar salad was great even if they didn't rip it into bite-sized pieces. The creme brûlée was up there with the best we have had (we love Bonefish's chocolate creme brûlée on the specials menu). Service was pleasant and prompt with a waiter who could recite a bible length version of specials in detail. Suffice it to say, we enjoyed it more than we thought we would. We're headed this way more in the next year so we probably will try it again when we pass by, in less than 10 years! As an added note, they have a different "bar menu" vs the fancier "dining room menu". They also have an interesting looking brunch menu.
(4)Stephen M.
We sat outside and there was a nice breeze. The food was excellent as I had the meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans. Good service and waiter as friendly. I would return and recommend it.
(4)Robert H.
My company accidentally chose this company after having spoken with a gentleman by the name of Charles who is no longer employed by the restaurant. We were told by this ex employee that they were set up to be able to do a private seminar on both Monday and Wednesday evening. After arriving at the restaurant I immediately found that they are not in fact set up for seminar situation. I this time we'd already spent several thousand dollars in mail to invite the people to a seminar and could not turn back. Upon the current management being confronted with this situation, they had no recommendations available. We ended up having to do our presentation both Monday and Wednesday night in the back dining area next to the kitchen where we heard nothing but pots and pans rattling around all night long. Besides the kitchen staff, of course then there were the patrons passing by our group as well as the servers going between the kitchen and their tables. And to top everything off we heard the wonderful roar of a train passing by us only a few feet away from the front doors of the restaurant on two separate occasions both nights. And if that wasn't bad enough the portion sizes were slim to none. Compared to most restaurants that I've ever done business with over the past six years while working in a different city every week 51 weeks a year, we had the portion sizes that are fit for a child. The only difference is that we paid a lot more then a child's portion. Long and short is, if you're looking to do a seminar where you need a private room and you want decent sized portions where your guests will not finish them inside of five minutes due to their small size, do come to this restaurant!
(1)Katelyn A.
Love the Iron Horse! It's a family favorite. Seriously, even our child enjoys eating here. The food is great, the staff is friendly and takes time to remember you and the location and decor are great. There's a bar side and a white tablecloth side, so I'll split my review into two parts. White Tablecloth Side We've had excellent servers on both sides. I mean, REALLY, awesome. We were served by Karen on one of our recent visits and she was great at giving us some wine recommendations. The menu changes seasonal to reflect local flavors and available produce. All of the food is great, if not good. The worst complaint I've ever had about my meal was that it was delicious - just not as mind bogglingly awesome as my husband's or guest's. Whether you like to try an adventurous special (Hello, Mako Shark) or a classic standby (the pot roast rocks), I've never had anything disappoint. We love taking out of town family and friends here when they visit and all have been impressed. It's a perfect date night place and you can definitely come to eat in your favorite red dress or suit, but you still feel comfortable if you wanna grab a bite in jeans. Families with kids are welcomed, as well. Our son loves it! But it's not totally perfect! The kitchen is visible from the tablecloth side at certain angles, which is not a problem for me, but the smokiness (depending on what they're cooking) can travel a bit. It's not terrible by any stretch of the imagination, but occasionally noticeable, but it won't ruin your clothes or your evening. Bar side Great beers on tap and friendly bar tenders. We stopped in on Train Day when the place was HOPPING and the bar tender took time to go over the options and let us have a sample of a newer brew they had in. It's a mark of a great restaurant when the staff takes a moment to provide great customer service even when things are slammed. The food is also great, but much more casual and a lot lighter on the wallet. But reasonable prices don't mean they skimp on quality! The quesadillas are AWESOME and the sandwiches are great. Love the meatloaf, as well. Definitely a fun and relaxed vibe for lunch, dinner or drinks. Be forewarned though, the tables are seat yourself and they fill up quick! You can, however, request a bar menu if you find yourself on the tablecloth side. The view You may think it could be a hassle having trains come through about 2 or 3 times per meal, but it's really not. It's fun, kids love it and it's not that obtrusive. Plus how could you have a restaurant called the Iron Horse without the appropriate scenery? Wine Great selection, some things are a little pricey, but they have high and low cost options. Staff These men and women do a fine job and really impress. Even novice servers who may not know the ropes as well are extremely courteous and pay attention to detail. Cons Honestly? Not many. Once or twice we've had some just ok stuff, but it's usually a reliable place to have great food and service. The smokiness is negligible, but you may notice it. Oh and recently they've been out of wines that we were hoping for, but they make fair recommendations to alternatives. Pro tip: Always try the soup and/or salad. While their entrees are fabulous, their soups and salads have amazing nuance and are usually incredible.
(5)Andrea B.
Found this place on Yelp. I'm from Richmond but live in DC and wanted to meet my son, daughter in law and grandson somewhere for brunch. So glad we picked this place! I had the grilled chicken salad, the chicken was the best I have had in a while. The others had the omelets and 1 had chicken and waffles. We mentioned it was my daughter in laws bday and Jeffery brought out the flour less brownie with a candle :) Everyone seemed happy! Our waiter Jeffery was delightful and fun! He is "my new best friend"!! My husband and I want to go back and spend the night so we can experience the dinner, bands and such late ;) I heard some people complaining about the trains that passed right by us but I thought it was cool & my grandson loved it!! I was not happy to see the kid placing pennies on the track in front of us so the train would run over them!! I thought that was illegal much less dangerous if they had shot out into the crowd of people eating! Can't wait to go back! Jeffery said he wants to braid my hair lol
(4)Kevin M.
Yum! The shared ribeye was great, the shared salad was split before presentation, the water was filled without asking, and our waitress, Karen, was awesome. As the trains went down the track, i thought... "ya'll are missing it... enjoy your cooler meals, or shrink wrapped stuff." we'll be back, i'm sure!
(4)Dorene R.
Meet some old friends here for lunch. The general ambiance of the main street this restaurant is on is unique because main street is a railroad with trains coming by a few times every hour. We ate on the more casual "bar" side of the restaurant and all had delicious sandwiches with sides of good potato salad. The decor had lots of dark heavy old fashioned wood and felt cozy..nothing too fancy. I think this would be a great place to bring kids because they would be entertained waiting for the next train to come roaring by.
(4)Kit O.
Made a point of going back to this place again as we travelled through the Richmond area and had another wonderful experience! I would describe it as a high end gastropub - it's in a lovely old building with crisp white table linen and sparkling glassware. They have a nice selection of local craft brews, a good wine list and wonderful food. We sampled an oyster bread pudding which was incredible - so light and delicious - but everything we ate was fabulous. The staff are superb. Our bartender, Mark was absolutely wonderful - knowledgable, professional and fun. Altogether a delight! We will be back next time we're in the area!
(5)Greg C.
Whenever I'm in Ashland (The Center of the Universe), I always stop for dinner at the Ironhorse. It's the ideal place to eat whenever I'm making my way to Richmond (or points south) from Baltimore. Just off 95! I recommend the scallops! And, if you're lucky, you'll have Karen as your server and she'll select a nice Pinot to wash them down. The place is pleasant (you even get the nostalgic rumble of a passing train), the service is polite and speedy, and the Internet connection will let you write a positive Yelp review before you leave!
(5)B H.
My family and I travel through Ashland a few times a year as we go back and fourth to visit Family. Its always a convenient stop for us, and after finding the Iron Horse a few years ago we always plan our trip around stopping for a great meal which helps break our trip up. They have an eclectic menu that ranges from good'ol bar food, to fine dining. Guests have a choice to sit in their Bar/Lounge area where if you are lucky, you may be able to catch a live local band - or - if you are looking for a more relaxed experience, they have a more formal dining area. The Service has always been great, friendly wait-staff is fun &enjoyable to talk with. They make great recommendations and are well versed on their menu and specials. I usually opt for their Burgers which are gourmet in their quality. My wife enjoys their featured specials and their appetizers and their salads are delicious. Ambiance is a huge plus for this establishment, quaint, historic, very relaxing place to visit. Lastly, Iron Horse is in the historic part of Ashland, an area that offers a completely different experience than Cracker Barrel,Pizza Hut, and Gas Plazas around the Ashland I-95 HWY exit. If you are looking for a cool experience & awesome food, take the time and venture a few extra minutes west on England St (HW 54), cross over the railroad tracks and look to the left. Iron Horse is well worth the extra 2 mile drive.
(5)Jennifer S.
While in Richmond for a tournament, we went to Ironhorse, and had a fantastic meal while sitting outside and enjoying the sounds of live music from across the street and watching the trains occasionally pass by. Salads were standout - very fresh and delicious. I had the quinoa cakes as an entree, and would highly recommend them. Since the salads and dinners were so good, we kept going and got dessert too, and both the coconut custard pie and the chocolate peanut butter pie were excellent. Service was friendly and attentive. I plan to go back when back in town. Couldn't have had a better experience.
(5)Rick G.
While passing through Ashland on the way back home from Richmond, right on the railroad tracks we discovered this appropriately named eatery! Like a modern day saloon, it oozes of 'come have a cold beer here'! I did, and ended up having a late lunch too. This expansive, wood hued, big windowed modern day saloon is somewhat like walking back in time. Staff and bartender were immediately attentive and the place gives you ample choices of seating - from near window, at or near the bar, or in cozier and darker back areas! Although their menu I found to be extremely limited in selection, what we did see, appeared interesting. You'll note, that apparently the really good stuff on their menu is only served after 5 pm! Despite that, my wife ordered the BBQ sandwich platter, which was fair to good, and I got the New York Minute Steak with Fries & Greens, along with Yuengling - I must say, the steak was very good. I wouldn't mind stopping in again when in the area. Recommended!
(3)Donald W.
I have loved trains since childhood. Any restaurant where I can see three trains (and one fire engine!) in such a short time starts off on my good side. We went to the Easter Brunch at which the menu offerings were slightly disappointing, yet with an acceptable variety. My soup was a cup of "Carrot and Ginger" with no mention on the menu of the meat within. My cup contained a generous and pleasing portion of crabmeat. I enjoy nearly everything that comes from water, but I wondered about people who might have allergies to water- and sea-based products. I'm thinking that this extra ingredient should probably have been disclosed on the menu. We ordered one "Market Salad" ($6.00), but it never came. The waiter apparently forgot to bring it. I have often puzzled about why managers and other employees who see a table sitting a long time without food don't wonder why? Uh....we're waiting for our salad over here! It's not my job to remind the wait-staff about my order. Anyway, they graciously deducted the cost of the salad when I paid out. My entree was a petite filet mignon with some cambazola deviled eggs, Hollandaise sauce, and potato slices. The steak was cooked beyond my request for medium rare (show me the pink if not red!), but it was tasty and I did not return it. Our waiter was good with the young child with us and I appreciate that. We usually prefer to get the child's food out first, and quickly, but this did not happen. It was brought with our adult entrees. Prices for this brunch were very acceptable. My filet entree was US$16.00 This was my first visit to Ironhorse in a long time. I definitely recommend you give it a try. I cannot award 4 or 5 stars on this one visit, but I want to go there again for a "second opinion".
(3)Patrick C.
Interesting place right next to the railroad tracks downtown. I had a Cuban sandwich and it was OUTSTANDING! Friendly helpful staff for this out of towner was appreciated,
(4)John S.
Probably the best Ashland has to offer but mediocrity is the standard here with food, cleanliness and service..
(2)gordon c.
The Good: great location, great oatmeal tap beer, great desserts, The bad: both our entrees were tepid, not hot ( swordfish and pasta) Pasta too salty and bland, the swordfish thin and dried out. Service: Jeffrey was hard pressed to smile. He was impersonal, and hiding Lol We are very friendly and outgoing, but we could not engage Jeffrey. Very SLOW service, and the place was empty. We told Jeff we were very disappointed with the dinners, but he could care less. We told him we were not directing our comments at him, but the chef. We will not return, prices too steep for what you do not get. Its a shame, because the location is cute!
(1)Jeff W.
The place is decent. Bar is fun. Where they fall short is that it is one of those places where the chef tries to be too clever.. Using trendy ingredients in sometimes very unnecessary combinations. I wish the kitchen would focus more on making there food actually taste good, vs making it sound "cool" on the menu. I try to stick to the simple things on the menu here, as the fancy stuff really misses the mark frequently.
(3)Paul W.
Update: Just got a note from the owner who reminded me that he's upgraded the staff, which he has. I've been back many times since my last review. I think the staff does a solid job, they all have good tableside presence, and the service is well-timed. They've also allowed a bigger menu in the bar area, which has obviously been a big hit. In fact, the white table cloth side of the restaurant is seeing less business it seems to me as the bar side has boomed. I think this may be a bit of the recession talking - even if people HAVE more money, they may not want to spend it quite as often on a more formal experience. At the Iron Horse, luckily they can have great food and a casual ambience. Finally, the last time my wife and I visited, they had a really nice jazz trio (bass, guitar, trombone), all Ashland locals, and all quite good. It was a pleasure. The Iron Horse is our go-to place in Ashland. As the Michelin guide says, Ca vaut la visite.
(4)Elizabeth H.
Sandwiches were good and it was fun sitting by the window and seeing the trains go by. The crab sandwich patty was about the size of a small plum for $11. Sadly, the service was lackadaisical and it was not busy at all. Seemed like the place was being run by hungover college students. Not sure I would go back.
(3)David E.
My wife and I love eating at The IronHorse. Everything that we have ever tried on the menu has been terrific. Our meal last week consisted of the pecan crusted chicken (my dish) and the seared scallops (wife) and we both could not have been happier with our choices. The mussels are also phenomenal as other people have mentioned! It is slightly above average from a cost perspective but the food and the atmosphere of this Ashland restaurant is certainly worth it.
(5)David H.
This place is two restaurants in one: the cheaper bar menu and the pricy dinner menu. The former is good; affordable and pleasing. The latter is kind of trading on the fact that it's "the" nicer dinner spot in town. food quality is fair to good, but could and should be cheaper. No doubt, though: servers are nice folks and I've had many good meals there.
(4)Gretchen B.
I have been to this restaurant 5 times in the past year - and last week as my boyfriend proposed! 3 times on fancy side, twice on bar side. The service is not as good on the bar side but the food is just as good. Great place to go on a nice date or listen to music and be casual on the bar side. Mussells are AMAZING!!! Creme brulee also AMAZING. Great ambiance - with train going by and candles on tables...I would try this place out! Reservation is a good idea on the fancy side...this would be a GREAT location for a rehearsal dinner as well..
(4)Tom W.
We had a great time at the Ironhorse. Karen was our server and she made sure that our evening was perfect. Food and wine were great. Karen really knew her wine and what would compliment both our meal and our dessert. We would definitely go back there again and recommend it to anyone interested in fine dining and being "spoiled".
(5)Kathy C.
My husband and I went to Ironhorse the other night. We live right in town and walked over there. We don't go here a lot because it's kind of pricey but decided to splurge and have enjoyed the food there before. I ordered the wedge salad and the crab-stuffed trout. The salad was good but I wanted some fresh ground pepper and our waiter never came back to offer it. I saw the pepper mill sitting in an area not too far away but didn't want to just go grab it and help myself. The trout had a lot of bones in it to be considered filleted and it was served over some quinoa that was majorly lacking in seasoning. Green beans were on the plate and they were very crunchy. I like a crisp green bean but these were barely cooked. And they needed some kind of butter or something on them. They do not put any salt or pepper on the tables. I understand that in a fine dining establishment but the dish was truly lacking in seasoning. My husband got the chilled cucumber soup which was tasty. He also got the ribeye for his entree. We typically love that cut of steak but it looked like a lot more fat than meat on the plate when he was finished and it was not overly tender either. Ribeyes are usually very tasty and tender. All in all a disappointing evening. With no drinks our bill was $77 before tip. I'm sure we'll try it again but this was not the evening we had expected.
(2)Laura C.
I had never been to Ashland before, but I loved it and will go back. Had lunch with friends at the iron horse and can't wait to go back there too. Had the burger, cooked perfect to medium rare, and the fries were fabulous. Service was great and I can't wait to go back to enjoy the bar and music. My friend had the salmon with green tea noodles and loved it and my other friend had the chicken salad sandwich and said it was the best she'd had. Can't wait to go back and work my way down the menu :)
(4)s s.
My parents treated my boyfriend and me to dinner here a few weeks ago. He and I live in DC and consider ourselves to be foodies. Ironhorse was the best "fancy" restaurant I have been to in months, maybe even a year...? This restaurant is truly a gem. It is on the pricier side, but absolutely worth it for the attention and care of the staff, quality and craft of the food. And you do also receive generous portions. We ordered the roasted butternut squash, sirloin, oysters, and various glasses of wine. Everything was amazing. I plan on making more trips down to Ashland to enjoy some wonderful food... You should too!
(5)Lisa C.
Okay so I was a bit skeptical after some of the reviews, we were stopping for the night and we dont do chains. The Ironhorse was great!! Waitstaff was friendly helpful amd attentive. Both of us had a night special ;brasied lamb shank which was awesome. The waiter selected a very nice malbec for me to compliment the dish.
(4)Logan M.
I went to Ironhorse last night were we hosted a rehearsal dinner for a family wedding. We had a fairly large group, but the service was amazing and food was delicious! My fiance had the strip steak and I had the sweet potato gnocchi. So good I would order it again!
(5)Alice D.
The Ironhorse has become my favorite restaurant in southern Virginia after visiting it recently. Their fries with truffle oil and shaved parmesan cheese are worthy of the best restaurants in DC or NY (mmmmhhh.... Nothing I can say would make it justice, one just has to TASTE IT!). The entrees are fabulous and the pumpkin and orange soup laced with cream is to dream of (even as I write about it, it makes my mouth water!). The burger with blue cheese that came on an (excellent) pretzell roll was out of this world! I mean "totally YUM" does not begin to describe it, it really was several steps above from just a "great hamburger". For desert, my friend's fave is their very fine creme brulee but my favorite is the chocolate pave with raspberry sauce--you can really taste the raspberry contrasting with the chocolate and the cake melts in your mouth... really gooood! The ambience of the place is very fun with its grand windows offering a nice view of the main crossroads in town and of course the very picturesque sight of passing trains whenever they go by (but it's not too much and not at all disruptive!). The restaurant also has a more formal and elegant section, nice outdoor seating, and a small stage for music nights. In addition to all this, service is great--Jeffrey is fantastic. He is attentive, cordial, funny, but proper at the same time. He kept refilling our (good) ice teas. He made good recommendations, and offered good observations about the menu. The menu was all very appealing, with a good variety of options and it turned out ALL SUPERB. There seems to be a truly good and dedicated director behind the scenes for all of this to come together in one place.. The restaurant certainly has a cool uniqueness in its ambience but also the servers are out of the ordinary and the food is so truly awesome. I just kept marveling at those fries with truffle oil and shaved parmesan cheese... I could have had a whole tub of them and still ask for more! That's how amazing they are... I think they show the hand of a great chef. All the food was out of the ordinary in its execution, flavor, subtle combinations. Though our favorite of what we had may have been the soup and the fries, well, the burger too (:) the other things were also carefully designed and crafted. Finally, the whole little charmer of a town that is Ashland, VA makes for a special place for this restaurant. There are nice little shops nearby (a used books store, a fun "upcycled" antiques store (maybe two), an old-fashion grocery store, and other things, and of course one could go by train there to make it a real fancy outing!). I wholeheartedly recommend it.
(5)Gary N.
I came here two years ago and haven't been returned, so I'll do an update later this month. The main reason I never returned was that the server was so unmannerly. My dining partner and I were seated at a Four-Top near the window as the restaurant was nearly empty. After fetching our drinks, the server, a woman in the outfield of her life, told us we needed to move to a two person table near the wall. We were given no reason for the move, but we moved to the smaller table anyway. Then she ushered in two customers who appeared to be her personal friends. She catered to them through the rest of our meal as I sat and fumed. Unfortunately, I can't remember anything about the meal. This adventure as well as the speed trap on Route #1 directly North of the main intersection leading to downtown Ashland has kept me away from area, but I really like this little town. I'll return and write an update to see how things have changed.
(2)Shortcake S.
PEI Mussels and cauliflower soup w/ truffle oil were amazing.
(4)Stephen R.
Been to Ironhorse many times, usually a decent place to eat and have a drink. However, the last two times I have been the customer service has been absolutely terrible. The first time our waiter refused to split the bill for us, telling us it was impossible to split the cost of the drinks that we had all ordered individually. Needless to say, when we told him that we could not pay he figured out a way to divide the check. On another occasion I tried to grab a table and the same waiter told us that they were all booked up for the rest of the night. When we inquired as to whether we could eat at the bar or outside he refused to acknowledge us. While we were leaving he followed us out and proceeded to verbally taunt us, all the way to the front door. It was like getting kicked out of a bar. Every other waiter has always been kind and helpful, but I do not think I will ever return to Ironhorse, nor can I recommend it to anyone.
(1)Sophie W.
So this was my first visit to Ashland...Upon entering the small town I noticed several flags prominently displayed reading "Welcome to Ashland, The Center of the Universe." I was unaware that Ashland is the center of the universe, but now I know and knowing is half the battle. All I could think as a I drove past each flag was that someone has a high opinion of themselves. I met a friend at the Ironhorse for brunch on Sunday. I got a Belgian Wafle with bacon and was suprised to receive a small side of potatoes topped with caramelized onions on my plate. Everything was covered in maple syrup, but I thought it was all pretty good. My friend tried to order the salmon, but they were out so she got a salad instead. It looked pretty good. I guess I thought the food was a little pricey for what it was, but it was pretty tastey. The restaurant didn't have a lot of seating so we had to sit outside. Normally I wouldn't mind sitting outside, but it was a little chilly and we had to relocate because of the incessant chirping of the birds. That and we were afraid of the birds pooping on us. I had to excuse myself to use the restroom. When I reached the single bathroom I noticed there was no toliet paper. So I came out and notified a staff member that there was no tp in the bathroom. He went back and told someone and I proceeded to wait for about 5 minutes. Now I am very pregnant and didn't care to wait for 10 minutes while someone tracked down toliet paper. So I mentioned the missing tp to another staff member. Finally a gentlemen came out and replaced it. Needless to say I found it a little irritating.
(3)