Dish
213 W Washington St, Charles Town, WV, 25414
Dish Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Charles Town for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Charles Town for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Charles Town for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
213 W Washington St
Charles Town, WV, 25414 - Phone (304) 728-8464
- Website https://www.wvdish.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
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Tim C.
This is 4 stars on comparison to what's available. Hands down the best option in the town we could find. I got the pork chop which was good and wifey had the cod which was done well. Both dishes while good very well I felt were over salted. The service was friendly.
(4)Michelle A.
My husband had the best pasta bolognese of his life at this restaurant, last week. Our server was prompt and attentive, the restaurant itself is beautiful, and it smelled awesome when we walked in! Plus, I love their focus on local foods and fresh flavors So why not five stars? For me, the food was too salty. I started with the grits cakes, which were topped with greens and served with a bacon relish. They were interesting- pan fried crispy, a little too runny in the center... and salty, oh so salty. It was too bad, I felt like they needed less salt, maybe another few herbs... the flavors were flat. But at the time I thought it was just me... so I didn't send them back... But then I ordered the chicken for dinner, and had the same experience- the chicken was cooked nicely, served over potatoes and green beans... but so salty, like the chicken was still in the brine... I couldn't finish it. Still thought it was just me... until we were telling our server how much we loved the pasta bolognese (which was NOT too salty, it was perfectly flavored in a light wine sauce, at first you may think it's undersauced, and then you taste it and realize it's amazing and perfect), and he said "yeah, that's one of my favorite dishes, I like it because it's not too salty." BAM. So I wasn't the only one who had this experience. I just wish he had told me when I ordered the food that it was coming out salty... I would have gladly adjusted my order. We finished the meal with a chocolate chip creme brulee... which had too much chocolate for me, but the creme brulee portion was tasty and a nice ending to the meal. And not too salty. So, we'll definitely return to this restaurant, but we'll be far more careful with what we order...
(3)Kelly L.
A couple friends and I decided on this place while in Charles Town, after seeing the high ratings on Yelp. The place itself was nice inside, and the service was good. (My friend ordered a glass of prosecco, which they were out of, so they suggested and brought a generous sample of an alternative for her to try.) Our waitress was friendly and mostly attentive. The reason for 3 stars is because of the food. Cheddar Grit Cakes: I only had a taste, but the bite I had was amazing. I don't even like cheese. It was the bacon jam that really made the dish. Clams Casino: I didn't try it, but my friend said it was too salty (theme of the night). Margherita Flatbread Pizza: It was good, nothing spectacular. Pan-roasted cod w/ spring pea puree + wild mushrooms: The fish was cooked really well (good sear on the outside, flaked easily, tender on the inside), the pea puree was tasty, and the texture of the mushrooms was good, but the dish overall was extremely. salty. I didn't get a chance to tell the waitress how the food was when she came around briefly, and I didn't feel like looking for her. I was really hungry...It was just bearable enough to eat with bread (their starter bread is good - came out warm and soft) and lots of water. If I was in the area, I wouldn't be opposed to coming back and trying some of their other dishes. It's neat that their menu changes depending on the season, so I'd like to see what else they have to offer. Hopefully a better experience next time.
(3)Valerie K.
Great restaurant. Visited Charles Town yesterday and decided to try Dish. Was not disappointed. Had the best fish & chips I've had in a very long time. The beer batter was great with just a touch of spice and the fish was wonderful. The fries that were served were also great - a little crunch on the outside and soft on the inside. Reminded me of Thrashers fries. Service was very friendly and professional. Can't wait to share this gem with the rest of my family.
(5)Chelsea W.
A hidden gem! After spending the day in Harpers Ferry, we ventured to downtown Charles Town in search of dinner. This place was a pleasant surprise! Great food using locally source ingredients- you can tell everything was homemade down to the crackers served with the pimento cheese dip! Service was warm and friendly, and we walked away with bellies full! I recommend the cod and the lemon cheesecake!
(4)Desiree C.
I was so fortunate to have found this place while searching for a restaurant around the Charles Town hotel (Tuesday 2/3/15) My husband was here on business and I tagged along for a night. I stumbled upon Dish while searching "restaurant" on my iPhone map app. It wasn't one of the search results, but since I wasn't really happy with the results that came up (and was wanting to try something local, and not a chain) I zoomed in on Charles Town and started tapping on random places that had their own icons. Dish was the second one I tapped on, and when I saw how it had so many 4 & 5 star reviews, we decided to give it a try. The ambiance of the place is lovely and the food was terrific! We first ordered cocktails - a Cosmo for myself and a Long Island for my husband. Both were excellently made, and the waiter even brought over both shakers because there was some extra leftover. For appetizers we got the Cheddar Grit Cakes, which were out of this world! They come with bacon jam/chutney on top, which really is a nice combination. My husband almost cancelled his entree to just eat these! I also ordered the Mixed Greens Salad which was also wonderful. The home made bread is delicious. (We also appreciated that the butter was soft and not hard like we sometimes find at other places.) I ordered the Blackened Salmon for my entree while my husband got the Butter Poached Shrimp. Both were excellent and cooked to perfection! We didn't leave anything on our plates, and my hubby said that may have been the best dish he ever ate. We are from the northern Virginia/DC metro area, and we always appreciate and visit "farm to table" restaurants, so it was also nice to see that this restaurant uses local ingredients/local farmers & growers. We definitely plan on returning whenever we are back in Charles Town - 5 stars!!!!!
(5)Dawn C.
Terrible customer service. They wouldn't even seat us. It was more than an hour before they closed when we came and they said they were too busy to seat us. Very rude.
(1)Amanda H.
Dish is probably our favorite local spot! It's so hard to find fresh, local, healthy food at reasonable prices, but this place knocks it out of the park. We are always in love with the food, and tonight's server, Ryan, impressed us so much, I just had to leave a review! Ryan gracefully served the entire restaurant, patio, bar, and all for a Sunday evening dinner rush between 6:30 and 7:30. That guy needs a raise and a promotion. Great job, Ryan! We commend you, and we'll be back for sure!
(5)Randy M.
Horrible service and mediocre food. We ordered the cheese plate as an appetizer and it came out 30 minutes later. The "chutney" listed on the menu was strawberry preserves. I ordered the linguini and it was bland and cold.
(1)Anthony I.
Another great find thank to Yelp. Great beer selection and creative sandwiches. The fried chicken sandwich was real nice with some sirrachi mayo as the perfect hint of spice. A fantastic option and definitely worth checking out!
(4)Emily D.
My girlfriends took me here for dinner on the first night of my bachelorette party weekend. Our table was ready for us when we arrived and our server took great care of us throughout the evening. We ordered a number of great bottles of wine (a nice selection at reasonable prices) in addition to a few starters--hush puppies with siracha honey sauce, grit cakes, and pimiento cheese dip--all were fantastic. The entrees we ordered were also great--I got the pork chop that was seasoned really well and cooked perfectly. Really tender and delicious. The owner/manager made a point to come over to visit us at the end of the meal to check on how things went and even gave us a round of drinks on the house. The ambiance of the restaurant was really lovely and I would recommend it to a group like ours, a date night, or anyone looking for good food and service.
(5)Ashley R.
Great Food! My husband and I stayed at the Hillbrook Inn and ventured out for dinner. Nice ambiance. The restaurant was pretty quiet. The food was great - we ordered the hanger steak and salmon- however the service was a little slow. Would recommend though!
(3)L B.
Delicious local, seasonal food and always great, friendly service. We drive out of our way just to come here.
(5)Nadine F.
I'm guessing this is the best restaurant option if you're staying in or passing through Charles Town. For being in a historic-type very old building, the interior was surprisingly modern, though the air conditioning was either broken or not strong enough for such a large space in 95 degree heat. Our server was excellent, moderately chatty and willing to provide recommendations and opinions. My veggie quesadilla was excellent, and had sauteed, local veggies, like squash, instead of the normal quesadilla filling. I also loved their fries, which had a seasoning similar to curly fries and were crispy on the outside but soft on the inside. If I'm in Charles Town again, I will definitely go back to DISH.
(4)Brian D.
DISH has made a few changes recently that are great for the consumer and should help boost their business. They've just added a workday lunch menu (takeout or delivery only) consisting of several sandwiches that come with a homemade cookie and chips for 9 bucks or less. A pretty good deal although I won't be able to comment on the taste until after I try their lunch tomorrow. The other changes include kids eating free on weekdays, and introducing daily specials like $2 fish tacos and $5 margaritas on Wednesdays. That's right - ONLY TWO BUCKS FOR A FISH TACO!!! The tacos come with a huge piece of fried fish - almost too big - with an array of chopped veg topping including red cabbage, cucumber, and cilantro. The cucumber is different - never had that on a fish taco before, but it was good. My only critique: fish tacos for me need a fresh lime squeezed on them right before they are eaten. Luckily, there was a lime on the rim of my Margarita so I was set. For 2 bucks, I figured I would gorge on fish tacos like a mad man... But I could barely finish 3 - that's how big the fish portions are. The real story of the night was my wifes steak. Nothing earth shattering when you read the menu - just a sirloin with fries. However, my wife is picky - both in what she eats and how it is cooked. She ordered the steak rare - which soo many restaurants screw up - and it was PERFECT. My wife orders steak a lot, and she said this was the best steak she ever had. I tasted a piece, and I agree. Perfect seasoning, perfectly cooked, and a drizzle of goat cheese (I think) that just drove it over the top. I've eaten at the so called "upscale" steakhouse at the local casino (a meal which cost over 55 bucks for one before tax and tip), and this steak was better by far. Not to mention the fact that our total bill for 3 tacos, a steak dinner, AND 4 margaritas was under $50 before tax and tip. My wife hadn't even finished her steak before she said "we are coming here again for my birthday next week". Coming from a picky eater like her, that is high praise indeed. We will be back... often.
(5)Ranger A.
A gem in the rough. Whenever I'm in the area (which is pretty often as my employer has a training center nearby) I look forward to this wonderful restaurant.
(5)Liz B.
Try the cheddar grit cakes, hush puppies and salad with Brussels,,walnuts and blue cheese. I rarely get as far as the entree but the roast chicken with mash, the pork chop and the beautifully cooked cod are all reliably delicious. Friendly service and great wine by the glass. Fast becoming my favorite restaurant anywhere
(5)Max W.
I'm always struck by how empty this place is whenever I enter around lunch. Hopefully more people will try this place. I enjoy that they try to use local ingredients and I wish this trend would spread. Some of their portions are just massive so make sure you double check with your server!
(4)Joe L.
We were pleasantly surprised to find Dish while on a weekend getaway to the Harpers Ferry area. It was a chic space in a cute little Main Street area. They had some unique cocktail choices that we enjoyed. The cheddar grit cakes with bacon jam as an appetizer were amazing. I absolutely loved the lemon poppy creme brûlée for dessert as well. My husband loved his gingerbread creme brûlée as well. Our server did seem a bit nervous and under trained though. When asking about the wine list he responded by saying he was a beer drinker which was disappointing. Also throughout our experience he seemed so,me what flustered, but was friendly. We will definitely go back again and suggest you try it out.
(4)Allison L.
I have had this place bookmarked almost as long as I've had a Yelp account, and FINALLY went last weekend. We came for lunch, when there aren't nearly as many options as there are for dinner, so I kinda wish we'd come then. We both got the burger and fries, and our entree's were really good, but not super special in any way. The fries were fresh and hot and had lots of fresh herbs. The burgers were cooked to the temperature we both requested, but, mine was formed into and actual patty while my fiance's burger was kind of still in a meatball shape. His bun was also significantly charred, while mine was fine. The restaurant is substantially larger than it looks from the outside, and they were getting ready for a large group when we came in shortly after they opened on Saturday. I assumed the impending large group/them having just opened was the reason our food took a little longer than it should have. Overall though, the restaurant was cute, the food was good, our waitress and the other employees were encountered were really nice, so, I'd love to come back, but probably for dinner when there are more options. Somewhere else where there are more options, I'd probably be more inclined to give this place a 3 or 3.5, but in a sea of chain restaurants, fast food restaurants, casino restaurants, there are very few restaurants in the area that serve fresh, local ingredients, and that alone bumps this place up a bit.
(4)Kimmi N.
Charles Town is seriously lacking in restaurant options so Dish has been on my radar for our next visit. Due to a temperamental two year-old we were unable to dine in, but I called in advance and they said they did take-out. We ordered a burger and a chicken sandwich knowing that they would travel better than most other items. My husbands chicken sandwich with chipotle aioli and slaw was really good and clearly hand made. My burger was good with a nice patty of meat, but lacking the cheese I had ordered. My three star reflects the service (or lack of) that I expect, even while ordering for take-out. We entered the restaurant and were promptly greeted and had our order taken. After that point the individual never returned to us until the food was ready (which was about twenty minutes). Considering how quite things were, I would have expected to be offered water or something from the bar. I got up on two occasions to look at the beer taps and once to look for a dessert menu, but I wasn't acknowledged either time. I heard talk about some "must try" dessert and I really would have enjoyed adding to my meal but wasn't given the option. Service might be better for dine-in so I would try this restaurant again if I'm in town (sans two year-old).
(3)Janet P.
I was super excited to finally try this place out and on V-Day of all days with a jazz performer (especially with the 4 star reviews on here). Okay.. it was one guy strumming along on his acoustic guitar.. it was nice though and not loud but not exactly what I was expecting. First off, several food items they serve there they did not have by the time we got there a little after 8pm. I started off by ordering there cioppino app (this isn't an app you can share either, just FYI). Over 20 min later we got our 'cioppino' which honestly was just a bowl of marinara sauce with a piece of cod, 2 very overcooked shrimp, and 3 bad mussels in it... this is in no way, shape, or form cioppino by any means... they should have served it with some pasta noodles and treated it as if it were a spaghetti dish (cioppino doesn't even have marinara in it, as it's more of a medley of seafood ie. catch of the day, and has a wine sauce. I could complain more but you get the point). Lets not forget my dish was broke with a big crack..luckily it didn't break while I was eating, nor did I cut myself (you can see the pics of my meal here). About 20 minutes after that my duck breast entree arrived... it was okay but tasted like sliced turkey loaf and only part of the duck had sauce on it. There was just a TABLESPOON of the "parsnip puree" on the side, the "maple-sage" was just some fresh herb all over the plate, and under the duck had the "sweet potato-bacon hash" which was some burnt diced sweet potato, onion, unrecognizable bacon... it all ultimately looked like burnt raisins and I felt like the Cooks were trying to hide it under the duck (like if you don't see it... its not really burnt, lol). Needless to say my parents didn't care much for there meals either. The staff and everyone were friendly (for some reason only asking me how the food was so, my mom was glad they didn't ask her, lol) but the cooks in the kitchen left much to be desired. If all you wanted was a nice atmosphere, some sliced bread, and a glass of wine then this place may be for you... if you want a nice edible meal... don't go here. Also, this place isn't at all good food for Charles Town or where ever.. lets be real. They don't even have names for the dishes they serve, it only lists what they're suppose to consist of. We personally won't be coming back here or recommending it.
(2)Alex I.
Wondered upon this place driving through town- got good reviews so we decide to check it out. It all started when they didn't have the beer we wanted on the menu- or the second- or the third. We started off with an appetizer of margarita pizza which looked and tasted like a easy bake oven pizza the size of a small dinner plate for $11! I don't care if it's organic and local, if it tastes awful the. It's not worth it! After that we get some bread wrapped in a napkin, after opening we see three small pieces of bread just enough for the three of us to be unsatisfied. But to be fair it was pretty good. Moving on to the entree I decided on a burger, pretty safe bet right? My medium burger came to me well done in a bun that was even drier than the meat. Burger was okay tasting, nothing was worth the money nor did it live up to the quality that the fancy facade would make you believe it to be. Never again. Now to gamble away my money to make me forget this terrible decision with another terrible decision.
(2)Alan K.
To quote Samuel L. Jackson, "Mmm, that *is* a *tasty* burger!" Finally, a good burger at a place that serves more than just burgers! It seems like if you order a burger these days you end up with a giant, flavorless meat puck that is either so dry you need to drown it in condiments to prevent a miserable, hungry death by choking, or greasy enough to pomade the entire 1950s. The burger here was excellent: nice char, cooked medium-medium rare, juicy but not greasy, and not so giant you could feed the Duggars. I didn't need to add condiments at all and I also didn't feel like giving birth after eating it. I'm pretty sure most everything here, to include the burgers, is locally sourced and purchased from eco-friendly farms run by butterflies, but I don't care if they had to kill 1000 endangered sea turtles to make that burger, it was just such a relief to get one that tasted like something besides lettuce pickles tomatoes mayo mustard ketchup... The fries were also awesome, and the veggie quesadilla was very tasty. The waiter was friendly, fast, and gave good recommendations. I have the feeling everything you try here will br awesome. Definitely worth a try.
(4)Sarah K.
Have been here a few times over the last few years. Food is consistently good. Nice wine selection. Price is higher than many other places in town. If you are in a small group and its a slower night - it's a nice atmosphere. However, if you are there with a large group or its busy- be prepared.... It's very hard to carry on a conversation as the acoustics aren't very good in the place. It get noisy easily. I've had mixed results with service. However this last time it was good. Food came out at all at once for our group and service was prompt. Staff has always been friendly each time we have been there.
(3)Scott B.
Dark. Cute menu with local ingredients, but few choices. They were out of the ones I wanted, so we left.
(3)Rick P.
Roasted beet salad was ov the moon in Taste & freshness. Roasted red pepper was best I evr tasted. Bloody Mary too spivey even 4 me. Great serv & atmosphere
(5)Matthieu K.
Come on food snobs ... you have to grade on a sliding scale based upon locality. What's with all the lousy reviews? This is a locavore food joint in Charles Town WV. Be nice. Compared to the local choices - fast food or worse, this place rocks. Must see if you are in the area.
(5)Heather Q.
My boyfriend and I were visiting Charles Town this past weekend and decided to eat at Dish because it had good reviews. To our disappointment, it was not at all what we expected. First, they sat us at an awkward table that was right next to the kitchen entrance. It was a high traffic area and we constantly had both customers and servers walking past us. There were plenty of other open seats in the restaurant. We had the fries for an appetizer, which were good but nothing spectacular. My boyfriend ordered the salmon, which was cooked correctly but nothing to write home about. I ordered the Southern cheeseburger, which ended up being a mistake. In the first couple bites, I discovered three large pieces of gristle in the hamburger meat. I'm not very picky eater but finding this much gristle in my food was disgusting. We told the waitress (who was very nice) and she went and talked to the kitchen manager, who said gristle was "highly unusual" to find in the meat, but sometimes it is in there. I sucked it up and finished the rest of the burger, kind of expecting they would at least comp the appetizer, but that didn't happen. Overall, would definitely go someplace else next time. For the price & quality of the food, Dish was not worth it.
(2)Kim A.
The Kitchen's timing was way off. One entree came out before either appetizer. Then 10 mins later, both appetizers came out. Then 20 mins later the second entree came out. I couldn't beleive the waiter served it in that order and saw no problem with it. Every single dish severly needed salt to season-to-taste. Once I added salt, it was okay. Our dessert came out completely and visibly burnt, but I don't think the waiter cared since it was the end of the night. We returned the dessert, but still had to pay for it. Then finally, the icing on the cake, our bill was wrong and we were charged for entrees we didn't order. They fixed it, but it still was a sucky ending to a sucky experience.
(1)Sarah D.
We stopped for lunch at dish during my very first visit to West Virginia. I thought Charles Town was quaint and didn't have the highest expectations for the local restaurants. Dish's menu serves up local fare (music to a Californian's ears). All of the lunchtime salads and sandwiches looked great, but I settled on the apple, cranberry chutney, caramelized onion, and gorgonzola sandwich. It was so tasty. I got the salad as my side and it was simply dressed. I tried a coworker's fries and they were very good. Another colleague ordered the beet salad that had beautiful big rounds of beets. If I were ever back in Charles Town, I'd definitely be back.
(4)Mike S.
I went with party of 7, on a Wednesday night. The place was busy, but not crowded. This is a very loud restaurant, it was impossible for our entire table to participate in a single conversation. Service was poor. We never received a drink refill. Other tables were being served bread, our table had to ask for bread, the waitress was "snippy" when we asked. Which BTW was between the appetizer course and the entree course. The food was excellent. Good value for the money. Vegan: I asked if the chef could prepare a vegan meal, or if I should try a piece something together from the regular menu. He offered to prepare something for me. It was very good. I'll go here again, but not with more than 1 or 2 other people. They really should do something about the acoustics.
(3)Donald P.
Admittedly, saying I'm a fan of this place may be a stretch from where I live, but considering it's out in the middle of nowhere, I was rather impressed such a place existed. The interior was rather spartan yet nice and inviting. The lunch menu looked good, and we soon placed our order. When the dishes arrived, I think each of us were a tad disappointed. I applaud the concept of this restaurant which is all about locally sourced foods. The food was good, although I would have considered my burger a rather light lunch. The accompanying fries were atypically short cut. I think the average fry was an inch long. Great place to unwind, and definitely wouldn't mind coming again if I were in the area.
(3)Karl H.
By far your best choice in the area. Very good atmosphere, polite and professional staff and good, local ingredients. Respectable beers as well.
(5)Meridith M.
We love Dish! Have been there for lunch and dinner and recently they accomodated a large party that we had (~15) including kids under 10. They did a great job keeping everyone happy and everyone in our party raved about their meal and the general atmospere. The menu is full of local fun ingredients and they have a huge beer and wine list. This is one not to miss!
(5)Cheryl B.
A band was setting up to play as I walked in. I told the hostess that we had not seen each other in weeks and would like a chance to talk. The place is not huge, so she did the best that she could. The ambiance is pleasant and the server was welcoming. Received a "basket" of bread. It held 2 slices of chilled white bread w/ prepackaged spread. Interesting. We ordered an appetizer: asparagus with filo. We received 3 asparagus spears each with 3 small wraps of filo, spaced evenly along the spear. The dough was not papery, as filo, but rather doughy. Interesting but not inspired. I ordered chicken w jasmine rice & snap peas. The chicken was a leg of dark meat glazed w sauce. The sauce was fine. The chicken was not even close fine, dry and tough... dark meat. The jasmine rice was not good. I could just barely find the "jasmine" under a lot of other flavors that were layered on, and not in a good way. Sweetie had salmon w stuffing & a zucchini vegi mix. The salmon was covered w bbq sauce. The bbq sauce did not compliment. The stuffing was very sweet, too sweet. Between salmon, jasmine rice, & Zucchini is not in season... I am not sure what is supposed to have been locally sourced of our meal. Once the music started we could no longer hold a conversation over the volume - vocals/guitar/banjo - they did not need amplification in that space. If I had to guess there is 2,000 sq ft of dining room. I chatted with the manager, he could not hear me over the music, nor I him. We got the point across. He comped my meal and offered something else which I declined. We drank water w lemon. The bill was $$$ b4 tip for one appetizer and one dinner. This was my third visit and none have been "A-OK", so they are off our list.
(2)T J.
Stopped in at 3 PM for a late lunch. What a pleasant surprise! A huge, delicious black bean burger,small salad with some special hot sauce that I requested. Friendly and quick service. It's more far than a sandwich shop. Please add free Wi-Fi, Verizon only has extended coverage which choose up data.
(5)Laika W.
The duck was superb. This place could easily hold its own in DC. Most of the food is local and it's all fresh and inventively done. The best in Charles Town.
(5)Kim H.
We were just passing through Charles Town and found this place based on yelp reviews. The food was outstanding and the atmosphere was fun and eclectic. They had great a beer and wine selection and though the menu was limited, the food was very good. It's not getting 5 stars for 2 reasons: first, we ordered the cheese plate as an appetizer and, I'm not kidding, it had 4 tiny pieces of cheese on it. 11 dollars for 4 pieces of cheese? Thankfully this was not an omen of the size of our entrees to come. Second, my husband asked for green beans, which were on the menu elsewhere, instead of asparagus and he was told that they "couldn't do substitutions tonight." I would have given it a lower rating for these reasons, but this place really was a gem in the middle of nowhere West Virginia. So, you should definitely try it out but don't expect to make any changes to the menu and PLEASE don't order the cheese plate.
(4)Dee B.
First, thank you Yelp! Second, I wish more places like this existed. After spending some time in Harpers Ferry National Park, my friend and I made our way to Charles Town because I had read the rave reviews of Dish on Yelp. This is not the type of place you expect to find on a Main Street in a small town in West Virginia. Yet, here it is in all it's coolness, understated hipness and tastiness. We shared the salad which had corn and fingerling potatoes, along with some wonderful herbs, and I can easily say this is one of the tastiest salads I've ever had (and I didn't even use the buttermilk dressing!). My friend had the mozzarella and fried tomato panini, and I had the chicken BLT. Both came with an overly generous portion of fries. The fries were so incredibly delicious; of course, it turns out they are homemade. My sandwich was also wonderful. We didn't have room for desert, but the options (peach bread pudding!) sound fabulous. We lunched at an off time (about 2.30pm), and service could have been better, but it was good enough and either way it just couldn't detract from the food. I'm dying to go back for brunch.
(5)Lee H.
This restaurant was a pleasant surprise; an oasis of local, in season food in a California like atmosphere. Lemon ricotta fritters served on a bed of local greens with local strawberries, red onions and drizzled with homemade honey balsamic vinaigarette. The sweetness of the strawberries and the fritters married well with the onions and sharpness of the greens. My husband's locally grown beef hamburger made his list of favorites; and that says a lot coming from a hamburger aficionado that he is. The prices are reasonable, even by CA standards and that's for local, small batch farms and purveyors. Oh, and they have a Twitter page. Now normally that wouldn't surprise me to see here in the Bay Area, but little town West Virginia? That was a shock to see.
(5)Tony C.
This was my second trip in awhile to dish. I've known the owner, Doug Vaira, since photographing his wedding about 15 or so years ago. Still with a smile and a handshake, it's like coming home. The ambiance in dish has always been very welcoming. Classy appointments and lighting ensure few distractions from the food, sounds and overall experience. The menu is a quick take on the offerings, but there is plenty to chose from. And all of it is a well-blended experience. This is not a hamburger joint... it's a dining experience. We were with two friends who we needed to catch up with, so less intervening by the server was a plus. She got our drink order, appetizers and dinner order without being obtrusive. She checked on us a couple of times during dinner, filling drinks if needed. One thing, though... the table has a bottle of water on it. And it will fill four glasses. Since we had four glasses, I half-hoped that she would have returned with a new bottle of water. But that's my only complaint. I ordered the cornish game hen, which was accompanied with a spinach dish a starch, and a cranberry relish. The hen, while a tad tough, was very tasty when I took the time to mix my foods and enjoy the plate and not just the hen. And there was plenty to eat. Oh, I nearly forgot the seafood chowder appetizer. Gotta have it! Enough said! Coffee and dessert (s'mores cheesecake) were excellent. My wife had noticed that they were serving Black Dog coffee and asked the server which coffees were being served (regular and decaf) and she didn't know. BUT, she went back to the kitchen to find out (DogWatch Blend was the regular and Sumatra was the decaf). We are huge fans of Brian and Black Dog, so we were very happy when she went back to the kitchen to find out. With cocktails, appetizers, meal, dessert and coffee, the bill was less than $50 per person, and we were there for quite a while past the last morsel and drop just chatting. I should add that there was some soft jazz playing for a couple of hours while we were there. Classy touch... good music, and not too loud. This was on a Saturday evening, and it looked like they had additional entertainment lined up for later in the coming week. You won't be sorry about dining at dish. Enjoy!
(5)Alan Y.
On our way home from Winchester, VA, my wife and I stopped into Dish for New Year's Day brunch. The ambiance of the dining room was so soothing and pleasant. The lights were dimly lit and a 3-piece jazz ensemble played throughout our meal (with seemingly no break). I ordered the standard breakfast (eggs, biscuit, potatoes and sausage) and my wife had the omelet. Everything was really tasty. Try the coffee...that was also excellent. I expected lower prices being well outside of D.C. but I guess quality costs a little extra. I can't say that we will be back to Charles Town anytime soon but if we do, Dish will definitely be a stop we'll have to make again.
(4)Doug M.
Cool little bristro in Charles Town, WV. The atmosphere is decidedly not your typical WV hang-out... this place is very classy and upscale and yet relaxed at the same time. Recently dined alfresco on a Sunday afternoon on the shaded patio. My wife went goo-goo for the chilled Avocado soup, and we both enjoyed our gourmet sandwiches. A super-classy bar greets guests upon arrival. Booth seating is scattered along the walls of the long/narrow space. There's no question I will return again. Check-out there site for periodic special events: live music, wine tasting and even beer tasting.
(4)John P.
I come to Charles Town for work every few months and I have been to Dish twice. The first time (August 2011), I really enjoyed it and was set on going back. Well, I had a chance to go back last week and I wish I hadn't. There was a large tour group there, so I am not sure if the cook was stressed, but the food that came out was not very good. I had an open face chicken parm... the bread was rock-hard, the chicken was extremely over-done and the cheese was only half-melted. This would rank along with the worst chicken parms I have ever had. I don't send food back to the kitchen unless it is absolutely inedible... this was very close. There was no quality check on my food... at least not like the first time I went. I gave it an average rating based on the two visits. I will give it another shot as I loathe chain restaurants and the first time was so good. Hopefully they can get back to what it was like in August.
(3)Rob J.
We had a fantastic evening here during our spontaneous Valentine's Day. Although we arrived a bit before dinner was being served, we were greeted and took a place at the bar for some warm drinks. The Argentinean Malbec was hit as was the Irish Coffee. The staff was very friendly and added to the ambiance as we played a few rounds of Skip Bo. The Quiche appetizer with field greens was scrumptious, although we could have eaten two or three. We both ordered steak, myself the New York with Horseradish & Caper sauce cooked a perfect medium-rare, and my valentine the Hangers with the Peppercorn sauce. Both were tender and full of flavor. Surprisingly the balsamic vinegar on the brussels sprouts cut any bitterness I had anticipated. We ended the night with pineapple upside down cake and homemade cookies with ice cream with a nice glass of Ruby Port wine to top it off. This place was a great Yelp find - great food, friendly staff, and a comforting atmosphere.
(5)S H.
About 25% overpriced for the quality of food. Had dinner. Burger was cooked perfectly, but they forgot the toppings I ordered. However, it was so good, I did not notice until I had gone through almost half of it. Scallops were good.
(4)Cheryl M.
I've been to Dish on several occaisons and I've never left disappointed or hungry. I love that they use local sources for most of their food (shout out to Tudar Hall Farm!). I've had steaks, pasta, salads, and several desserts, and they have all been fantasitc. They had a special "whoopie pie" dessert back in December that was to die for. Steaks have always been cooked to order well. The cocktail menu, like the food menu, is seasonal and has too many options to choose from. The servers have always been pleasant and the owner quite frequently comes out to greet guests, especially if they have commented on Facebook about their experiences. All and all, I really have nothing bad to say about this place. It is a great place to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions.
(5)Eric B.
Ok, I've been here a few times now and LOVE this place! The food is AMAZING (props to Chef Amy)!!!! I love the look of the place, you feel welcome when you walk in the door! Doug has done a fantastic job here. I love the fact that they use fresh local ingredients in their menu. I think my favorite thing are the events like the Black Dog Coffee and Smooth Ambler Dinners. It is so good to see local businesses working together! Doug, you have hit a home run here!
(5)Kevin B.
Excellent food! Get the fries whatever you do. Good lord, get the fries.
(4)Kate M.
Unfortunately I wasn't too excited about my experience here. I think we overpaid for what we got. My food was okay - I ordered a wedge salad and it came out brown. I had a burger for my main course and it was fairly charred, though the sauce on it was great. My boyfriend had calamari and a jambalaya-like dish that were fairly good. Our server was great! The best part about this meal was the entertainment. In the front of the restaurant was a woman singing, very loudly, with recorded instrumental music. She sang literally all break-up songs. If that didn't set the mood enough, once she finished her set, she started it over again. It was hilarious.
(3)Racquel R.
I was traveling back from Luray, Virginia, very troubled by the general lack of good culinary options. I checked Yelp randomly and found this restaurant. I saw that the place served fresh, local, and gourmet cuisine, and my mouth was immediately watering. Well, I was not disappointed. The food was delicious, local, and fresh. The wait staff was first rate, and the interior was stylishly decorated. This restaurant is likely the best restaurant in a 50 mile radius. If you are stopping through town - or for that matter if you live in the area - this is absolutely a must. A particular treat was the pumpkin cheesecake. The roast duck with five spice I had was perfectly cooked, though I wasn't sure I liked five spice. Still, this was a wonderful experience. The menu changes regularly, so be sure to check out the different seasons!
(4)Bill P.
We had a great dinner here. The service wasn't extraordinary, but it was perfectly acceptable, and we did not experience any of the problems others have written about. For appetizers, I had the Prince Edward Island mussels sauteed in ale, basil, and garlic and served with bruschetta--they were delicious, well prepared, and plentiful. Rebecca had a small salad with bleu cheese and walnut vinaigrette, and it was fine. The only item not particularly distinguished was the bread; the waitress made a big deal of its being brought in fresh daily from a local bakery, but it was pedestrian. For entrees, Rebecca had the filet of beef with horseradish-caper butter and beet risotto, and I had the Duroc pork chops with hot cherry peppers, angel hair pasta, and broccoli rabe. The portions of both of our entrees were again generous, and both were excellent. For dessert, we had cappucino creme brulee and apple fritters, both good. This is a restaurant that specializes in fresh local ingredients creatively prepared. The setting is nice and relaxed, and we will certainly be back again if we are ever again in Charles Town.
(5)John G.
One word - bland. Started with parmesan and herb fries which were good if they were just called fries. The black bean and shrimp gumbo was spicy but the shrimp was mealy. The pork belly was bland. Pass it by and go to Shepardstown for a real meal.
(1)Betz B.
Nice locally owned & operated restaurant in downtown Charles Town. Good local farm fresh food and seasonal food and cocktail menu. Good choice if you are visiting the area.
(4)Brooke S.
This place is truly a gem. I've dined here on several occasions, and have always been impressed with the meal and service. The menu offers creative and delicious dishes that are made with local ingredients, and a new menu is created seasonally to allow for this. The bartender and servers provide excellent service, and always make me feel at home. This is a great place for Sunday brunch, especially on the gorgeous patio, or a evening out with friends or family. And PS- the desserts are AMAZING!
(5)Jamie R.
We've tried this place 5 different times with only 3 successes. After the first time, I kept thinking, "Maybe this time it will get better." I moved from DC to the area and this is the first fancy restaurant outside of leesburg we tried that was within 15 minutes of the house. I'm not being a snob on this. I really do have an vested interest in a nice restaurant so close to home succeeding because this area could use some fine dining. However, if they want to charge the prices they do and be taken seriously, the food can't be cold, the service slow &/or surly (namely the hostess is the surly one) and the music so loud you can't talk. #1: Went with my husband last summer for burgers and cocktails. Sat on the patio on a hot summer night. We were the only people out there but it was romantic and quiet. The waitress was nice but a little slow with refills. My burger came out overdone and my fries were cold. However, my husband's burger was hot and fresh and he liked it. #2: In November of last year, we called in a reservation for 8:30 for dinner with my parents. We showed up at 8:50 p.m. because it was snowing and took us longer to get there than expected. They said, "Oh we close at 9 and we already shut down the kitchen." We said, "Do you have any cold food like salads?" They said no. So we left and found another place to eat. #3: Last December, we took my mother in law out for dinner and got there at 7:00ish. We walked in without a reservation. We were the only table in the place but it took about 20 minutes to get our drink order placed and another 10 for the food to come. Food was slow that night as the bar was packed and the band was so loud that it was hard to hear (I'm only 34 and even I thought it was loud). Overall, the food was good. I got the scallops and a salad and everyone was pleased with their meal. However, it took us about 20 minutes to get our credit card back after we gave it to the waitress to pay the bill. #4: Finally this spring, we just wanted to get a quick burger and martini. Both of us waited so long for our drinks and food that dinner took well over an hour for the meal, even though we were one of two tables. #5: As we drove through town last this fall, we thought we'd give it one more shot on a whim. It was a Wednesday night I think and it was closed. No notice as to why. Just closed. We threw up our hands and went to Harpers Ferry instead. I really do hope they get their act together. It's a shame to have such a cute place be so flighty and unprofessional.
(3)Todd S.
Went there twice in one week. WOW, what a very cool place in an area that you would not immediately think would have such a cool bistro like this. I had the burger which was great and also a portobello sandwich which was equally as good. Try to sit out on the patio, its great.
(4)Monica M.
I had to stop here on my way out of Charlest Town. I am always interested in restaurants that utilize local ingredients. I ordered the mixed greens salad with roasted aparagus, mushrooms, and red onion. The salad was a little over-dressed but not too bad. The asparagus was not as crunchy as I prefer, but was very flavorfu. I also had a cup of the vegetarian soup special, roasted artichoke. I typically am not a fan of artichokes but knew I would need something to go along with my salad. The neat thing about the cup of soup is that there was dollop of pesto which eliminated the 'too much artichoke' flavor. The two complimented each other nicely. I came in during off hours so I was the only one in there for a little while. Service was great. If it's nice out, there is an outdoor patio in the back and both the wine and dinner menu looked yummy. For the price, this place was great for lunch.
(4)Stacie L.
We went for lunch and were still hungry when we left. Very small portions but overall good food just nothing overly exciting, but the menu changes so you never know. They seem like they're really into providing good food and trying out new things to old traditions. We had pizza, 2kids hamburgers and beer battered fish, and the bread pudding for dessert...My husbandsfish was really good, the pizza was nice, the kids burgers looked good, and the breadpudding had a good twist to it, really crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside but the rasberry drizzle and whipped cream toppings was a nice touch but I would have much more preferred the traditional sweet sauce.
(3)Teresa M.
My husband & I stayed at the beautiful Hillbrook Inn for a getaway and were told by owner Carissa to try out Dish-she said she loved it. We were so glad we did! beginning to end-perfect. Calamari app was crispy and went well with the aioli--I had the handmade pappardelle with rabbit ragout and winter vegs-so yummy and comforting,silky noodles, loved it. My husband prix fix hangar steak was awesome. 2 drinks each, app, entrees and dessert was a great value. Leah and Doug took good care of us. Keep doing what you're doing! We will be back! Thanks!
(5)Temple S.
Hands down the best restaurant we ate at in the Eastern Panhandle. We stayed in the area for several weeks and tried lots of places. This place made us feel like we were back in metropolitan area dining quality. It's a little pricey and definitely on the fine dining end of the local spectrum, but the food and service were outstanding.
(5)Chris E.
Last Sunday while visiting some friends in West Virginia, we stopped and had brunch at Dish. I didn't really expect anything great, just brunch. I had never heard of the place before. My first impressions walking in were that it was a very nice, clean looking, professional establishment. We were promptly seated. I ordered a coffee and was informed that the coffee they brew is made locally. They said that they really try to use local ingredients in their food. The coffee was hot, in a nice big cup, and was absolutely delicious! Better yet, they were very good about checking to make sure if I needed refills. Keeping my coffee cup refilled is one way to my heart. I ordered scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes, bacon, and a biscuit. An $8 entree, not too bad. Again, I didn't expect anything amazing. I had no idea that I was about to experience something very special. I have eaten somewhere in the range of 11,000 breakfasts throughout the course of my life. Believe me when I say that this breakfast at Dish is in the top 5 for "Best Breakfast Ever". I'm not even kidding. The scrambled eggs were not your standard fare. They were food-gasmic. Not only was the portion huge (allowing me more time to enjoy it) there were all sorts of different ingredients cooked into the eggs. I couldn't stop eating long enough to notice in detail, but i believe I detected chives and some other ingredients in there. I may have even picked up a nutty essence. I can't describe how great they were. The breakfast potatoes were also something special. Just full of flavor, this whole DISH was full of flavor. They were nice fat breakfast potato chips that tasted wonderful when paired with the eggs. Now as far as the bacon goes, I like my bacon crispy. This was not crispy bacon and so I skipped it for the most part. No big loss though, the rest of the plate was so amazing and the portion was so big that I didn't miss the bacon. The biscuit was not your average breakfast biscuit. It was so fresh and also so full of flavor not found in the typical Bob Evans biscuit. There were tiny bits of onion in it and though it sounds odd, believe me, IT WORKED. The other people I was with were all equally blown away by what they got and their dishes looked just as compelling. I live 3 hours from this place and I'm already looking forward to going back. UPDATE: 6/5/11: I discovered last weekend after a return trip to Charles Town that Dish NO LONGER SERVES BREAKFAST! What a waste of a good place! I haven't eaten there since, so the 5 stars stays, but I'll likely never go back if they have discontinued the breakfast. UPDATE: 6/23/12: Went back to West Virginia and Dish was closed for a special event. Disappointing!
(4)Jeanne P.
We ate here for lunch and thoroughly enjoyed both the beet salad and the grilled romaine salad. We also split an order of hamburger sliders with handcut French fries. The lunch menu is not very extensive and they were out of chicken since all their food is locally sourced. We are returning for dinner and look forward to sampling the more extensive dinner menu. Give this place your business if you live in the area since it seems to be having a hard time succeeding with all the national chains around.
(4)Zalt Ann Pepper P.
I've really tired to like this place and have actually eaten here 3 or 4 times. It's a 10 for Charles Town, WV & I'm glad to see someone locally trying something new. But in all honestly the food is just ok. Not a lot of care or originality is really taken in the prep of the food. They are close to somethIng really good just need to tweak the menu and ambiance, to bland for us.
(2)Hue G. R.
Wow, this place is neat!!!. Atmosphere is awesome and the place was jumping. Well presented menu. Service was efficient and friendly, fantastic in fact. On to the food: The place uses fresh local ingredients so due to availability the menu may be altered a bit from what is in the black and white. This is to be expected in a place that focuses on local, sustainable food. If you can't handle that, maybe cookie cutter chain restaurants are more your speed. Had the grilled shrimp, chicken liver mousse crepe, Tofu with Kimchi udon noodles, scallops, and a vegetarian dish that was not on the menu. Grilled shrimp were with Israeli cous cous, the cous cous was a bit bland but the shrimp were delicious. Perfectly cooked and properly seasoned. The chicken liver mousse was awesome and presented in a way I have never seen. The Tofu was tofu, but the kimchi udon noodles were incredible!!!!!!! I could have eaten them all day long. The scallops were delicious and cooked to perfection. The off menu item was delicious as well. The only Knock i can give the place is the flavorless Israeli Cous Cous and the fact that except for the shrimp every other dish was poorly seasoned. Not to fear they had the salt shaker right on the table. This is something I critique often because it is very noticeable to a food service professional. This place gets an A regardless. Wonderful wonderful wonderful, maybe a lot of people in CHarlestown have high blood pressure?
(4)Erin P.
to take a break from camp grub, we went to this gem of a restaurant. to be honest, the rest of the restaurants in the immediate area are a little sad (read: all i saw was fast food and crappy pubs). appetizers: the clams with black beans and bacon appetizer was so good, i could have made a meal out of it. skip the calamari (chewy and a little disappointing). the spicy sausage and artichoke meatballs were... interesting. the artichoke was tough and the texture was awful. so basically it was a weird texture with what felt like bits of hay. the flavor was good though, as well as the aoli. i went with the burger for my entree. avocado aoli was really tasty. my husband went with a chicken caesar salad. he loved it, and was refreshed to see the grilled romaine instead of a bowl of wilty lettuce with too much dressing. friends of ours went with the filet and a rainbow trout special. they were both pleased. for dessert, i went with the "free" chocolate blackberry cake - dairy and gluten free. it was more like a torte. the cocoa, blackberry, and walnut flavors were wonderful and the "cake" melted in your mouth. despite a couple of misses on the apps, this place is great. it definitely seems out of place. there was a jazz trio playing during dinner also. after a few nights of crappy camp food, i was in heaven. the dirty martinis didn't hurt either.
(3)Barbara B.
Had dinner on Saturday evening on my way to the races. I was surprised to find a nice restaurant so close to the racetrack. I had read the other reviews but need to disagree about the prices. Dinner entree prices were higher than expected and the choices were limited. My daughter and I decided to share three appetizers. The crab cake was tasty but the chicken quesadilla was very disappointing because it was mostly blackbeans. The wings were fine but not hot (temperature) enough. The kitchen remade then and we were offered a free dessert for our inconvenience. My husband had the mussels with linguine which he said were tasty but they were served in a cereal size bowl.
(3)John I.
Everything was very tasty, and the three filets we had at our table were all top quality cuts of meat. The bartender was skilled as well; check their mixed drink specials list upon arrival. There were only a few detractors to our visit. First, my daughter's order came out completely wrong; it was an entirely different menu selection. We didn't mention it because the food took an extremely long time to come (from the time we sat down to the time our food arrived, we hit exactly one hour), so we didn't bother requesting it to be fixed. Also, my daughter claimed there was hair in her food. It was too short to be hers most likely. The server was neither overly attentive nor unattentive, but we felt like the meal could have been moved along a bit faster. However, the use of local ingredients by a skilled chef made the meal worth repeating. (An aside, I would recommend that they better highlight the use of cilantro in the dishes in which it is an ingredient. A large part of the population has a chemical aversion to it, and it can ruin a meal quickly for those people (like me).
(4)Justine G.
The ambiance and decor of this place is lovely. If I were to rate the restaurant by looks and cleanliness alone, it would surely deserve a 5 star rating. The food, however, is not 5 star. The ingredients themselves were fresh and optimal, but it was in the execution that they failed to receive more than 3 stars, in my book. We selected a handful of appetizers for our dinner. Starting with the squash ravioli, we found them thick, undercooked, and served with a pasty béchamel that lacked in flavor. Our salad, made with arugula, bleu cheese and roasted cauliflower was underdressed and filled with mostly greens. We could barely tell there was bleu cheese in it. The "missing" bleu cheese showed up at the Wine shop 2 doors down that had a board out for free tastings. The sweet and sour Tofu over ramen noodles was just okay. The thick breading on the tofu, while a good texture, made it tough to eat with the noodles without having to hack into it to get it into bite sized pieces. A dip for the tofu would have been nice, as the noodles were seasoned well. Best of all was the flatbread pizza. Tasty toppings and a nice crunch to the crust. We had just about had enough of the place and were not interested in the mediocre offering of desserts. For some reason in the year and a half of living in the area, I did not look forward to going to this place. I decided to bite the bullet and give it a shot. We will probably not be back.
(3)Dave M.
Great food, fried eggplant, scallop dish, and the burger plate were all very good. The prices were very reasonable. The ambiance was very nice, except the art on the wall, most was "not very good" to put it nicely. Best option in the area!
(4)Kelley R.
Having been patrons of this business since it opened, I can say that until a recent dining experience things have always been consistently good. The past two weekends we had met friends for dinner, unfortunately yesterday was a big disappointment. After finishing our meal, we decided to order a few after dinner drinks. Note: (During dinner a large group of party goers began filtering into the main seating area). Our order was cancelled and we were essentially asked to leave due to the fact that the restaurant was now 'rented' to the party. We are disappointed that we were not made aware of this and it ruined an evening out with friends we had not seen in a long time.
(1)M S.
The BF and I are from the DC Metro area and were staying in a Charles Town BnB. We ate at Dish last night (Monday). DECOR: Sparse. A few art decorations on the wall, like a 26-year-olds idea of cool apartment wall decor. MOJITO: Bad. Tasted like gin, oddly. I could have made better myself. ARTICHOKE SOUP: not creamy or tasty enough.The cook had left some of the chewier/non-edible artichoke pieces in the soup that I ended up chewing like cud, before I--as politely as possible--spit them into a napkin. LONDON BROIL WITH RICE: meat not flavored well. unevenly cooked, some pieces were well, some medium rare. The rice was seasoned better. PORK CHOPS WITH RICE: overcooked to toughness, bland. Most of the cilantro rice was not cooked all the way, that is to say crunchy! SERVICE: ok. We would have appreciated one more check-up from her asking if we wanted a root beer refill. In all honestly, we didn't give them the opportunity to make it right. I urged my BF to complain about the rice, he refused. ONLY PLUS: live music. I'm not a food snob, I understand that the pickens are slim in WV, I didn't expect 5 star service, but I did expect proper seasoning and food that was cooked appropriately.
(2)Karen J.
OMG! They have a new fall menu and the quiche with petite is awesome! I also had the spicy sweet potato with sausage soup and it was scrumptious!
(4)Andrew M.
Surprisingly disappointing... We were looking forward to our dinner at Dish, based on the other stellar Yelp reviews. However, our dinner did not nearly match the price (over $100 for two). We had four appetizers/salads/soups, and two mains; at that point, we decided to cut our losses and skip dessert. If you like liver, though, I did think that the chicken livers with bacon was very tasty and the beet salad was good. Grilled romaine was ok, but not great. Squash soup was a bit runny; also ok, but not outstanding. Mains were ok; cornish hen mostly just tasted liked chicken and was not so memorable. Sides were certainly edible (probably even tasty) but not awesome. Service was good, but a little slow. We also had the flank steak; I thought it was fine, but my wife didn't much care for it. All in all... expensive for what it was. Atmosphere was nice and parking was easy to find.
(2)James O.
Truly, a Five Star dinning experience can be had at The Dish. Their Service was first rate, the ambiance charming, the atmosphere relaxed, the drinks stiff, and (most importantly) the dishes were extraordinary! One minor complaint... why is this place is the back woods of West Virginia... a hidden gem for the Mountaineer State. A meal like this was well worth the drive to Charles Town, WV from Washington, DC. Please consider Northern San Diego County if you ever decide to built restaurant number 2.
(5)Doug L.
Dish is our favorite restaurant within driving distance, and although Shepherdstown is closer, whenever we have a special occasion, it's off to Dish we go. Service is always friendly and the menu is always changing so we never have the same thing twice. Seafood is definitely a plus and my scallops at the last dinner were exceptional. Also when a duck dish is available, I jump at the opportunity. My other half has had terrific pork as well. We've yet to have a dish disappoint.
(5)The I.
My wife and I had lunch here for the first time today and we were both favorably impressed. We are from Northern Va. and chose Dish based on its yelp rating. We shared a caeser salad to start. It was very good. We both had the crab cake sandwich with french fries, both of which were excellent. My gin martini was well made and not overpriced. My wife's zinfandel wasn't that great, but she doesn't usually get zinfandel so it may be she just doesn't like that type of wine. The coffee was excellent for a restaurant: good flavor and strong enough. The young woman who was the server was excellent. We will definitely return to the Dish.
(4)Kevin L.
We try to get to Dish once a week and it keeps getting better. We love this place and the summer menu is awesome.
(5)David M.
Decor was nice. Doug was friendly. They ran out of bread for the table. Chicken curry soup was very good. Artichoke with risotto was OK. Top sirloin steak with spicy cilantro & pepper sauce along lemon potatoes was very good.
(4)Jes S.
Don't let the three stars fool you. Dish is by far the best restaurant in the Charles Town-Harpers Ferry-Ranson area. Even better than anything in Martinsburg, and better than any comparably priced restaurant in Shepherdstown. It's fresh and local, with seasonal menus and excellent, locally blended Black Dog coffee (only decent decaf I've ever had in my life, and I've lived on three continents). Service is great. The atmosphere strikes an unusual balance of classy and down-to-earth. The community-building events, classes, and shows make it a great gathering spot. The outdoor patio is lovely and very cool to gather on for their movie showings in good weather. It gets a three because there are multiple problems: Lunch is reasonably priced considering the menu, freshness, quality, etc. The dinner menu, on the other hand, is pretentious for the area, tries too hard to be gourmet "new cuisine" creative, and is accordingly way overpriced. It seems the chef takes her cues from Shepherdstown, whose main street gentrified into a yuppy DC Metro weekend getaway practically overnight--and lost much of its college town charm in the process. But back to Dish's dinner: It's not that the food is bad. In fact, it's quite good. It's just not worth the money--even in BFE Charles Town. Furthermore, Sunday brunch sucks. Even as a die-hard locavore, I cannot abide their locally raised sausages. They're tough and flavorless. I make better ones at home. The potatoes are unimaginative, bland, and not even done right by any traditional diner standard. The eggs are good, but for the price of their brunch, the fact that two-thirds of the plate is wholly unappetizing is unacceptable. Same with all the bread options: The servers rave about the bread from a "local" (Northern Virginia--hardly local) family bakery, but it's downright shameful. The truth is, they're doing the best they can with the bread because they don't have the kitchen space to bake bread in-house. Even though they just opened a bakery in the window front, they're still not doing bread. As someone who studied professional baking, and specialized in artisan bread, I think Dish's attempt to pass off its "make-do" sorry excuse for bread as consistent with its otherwise "gourmet", all-in-house menu is an insult to its customers' taste. The pretentiousness and price of the dinner menu I can accept as part of the owner's personal vision for the restaurant, but the bread issue is unforgivable. People who try to convince the public that sub-par food is superior food just because it's local and organic piss me off. Local, organic food should be inherently BETTER than non-local, non-organic food, not worse. And one last criticism: Their hours suck. But really, that's not their fault. If they stayed open any later in dead-ass Charles Town, they'd surely be empty 90% of the night. I do go here often for lunch, occasionally for drinks and appetizers with friends (the calamari are the best I've ever had--fantastic breading and dipping sauce), but I don't go for dinner unless invited by a sugar daddy. I never go for brunch anymore, and God forbid I should ever find myself starving with only a basket of Dish bread at hand. Still, if you ever find yourself in the Charles Town area (and as the casino grows, so do your chances of that...), Dish is by far your best option.
(3)todd m.
If you are in the Charles Town area and need a place for an awesome lunch, this is the place. It is not much more expensive than a Panera Bread type restaurant (about a dollar more), but it crushes them. My wife dragged me there and I had the rib eye steak sandwich. Wow!! Probably the best one I have ever had. If you are looking at yelp, your are looking for a place to go and this is it.
(5)Michael C.
As others have mentioned, Dish is a great place, it just doesn't seem to be worth the price (at least not yet). My family (2 adults and 4 kids ages 6-13) had a nice meal there recently. Soup of the day was an unusual sweet potato and lentil soup that reminded us of a sweet meatless chili - we liked it. The daily catch - salmon - was delicious, served very hot (as fish should be), had a nice subtle fruity-smokey glaze, and came with vanilla infused rice and string beans. My wife's scallops were also excellent if somewhat overly seasoned. The younger kids' burgers seemed very small - in fact portions at Dish in general are on the small side. For dessert we shared carrot-ginger cheesecake that was phenomenal and hot fudge brownies. Anyway, the bill for a cup of soup, 5 soft drinks, one glass of wine, four adult entrees, two kids meals, three desserts and a cup of coffee, including mandatory 18% tip and taxes came to $172....in Charles Town, WV.... The decor is modern and tasteful. A trio of young jazz musicians played in the front window although we couldn't hear them well, unfortunately, as we were seated about 2/3 back through the restaurant - adjacent to a very noisy ice machine. The service was not bad, but it wasn't $$$ good. We expected more attentiveness to, for example, clearing dishes in a timely manner. Bottom line - it's a great concept, but some rough edges need to be removed - close off the ice/drink room, get the servers to kick it up a notch, think about adjusting either prices (down) or portions (up). Finally, given that part of their focus is 'locaovore' it would make sense to try to better highlight where the local ingredients are sourced from each day.
(3)