19 Restaurants in Harrisonburg, VA That Never Disappoint

Whether you hail from the Harrisonburg, Virginia area, are visiting because of family, or have temporarily relocated to the area for the time being, it’s important you know the best places to grab a bite to eat. Food and home go hand-in-hand, so as long as you have good food to turn to, you will be able to fit in just about anywhere. We went ahead and put together this list of beloved restaurants in and around Harrisonburg, Virginia for visitors and longtime residents alike to benefit from. While the menus aren’t insanely diverse, there is a little something for everyone here. 

Many of the local restaurants and chains offer gift cards for customers to use and purchase for others. It could be a small hole-in-the-wall joint that grew popular by word of mouth, or it could be a nationally-recognized chain restaurant. No matter what kind of dining establishment you wish to check out, you can find all kinds of exciting gift card options right now at GiftYa. 

GiftYa operates pretty much like your standard gift card. You load an amount onto them, and then you have that amount to spend at the location the card is for. But instead of having to keep track of one of those clunky plastic gift cards from the 90s, the entire operation is handled digitally. So you can buy and send the gift card all wirelessly in just seconds. And then once the recipient has the gift card, there is no worry about them losing track of the balance. Since the card stays on their phone full time, the phone does all the math for them and keeps track of the balance.

But enough about how GiftYas work, let’s get to that list of great restaurants in Harrisonburg that you were looking for!

1. Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint

Great place in Harrisonburg for a hot meal and a cold beer

80 S Main St | Harrisonburg | jackbrownsjoint.com

Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint gets the number one spot on my list for a few reasons. First of all, their customer feedback is overwhelmingly positive. Which means they are delivering for customers every time they order. They aren’t just fantastic once in a while.

Another thing that brings them to the top of the list is that although they serve plenty of traditional American cuisine, they really specialize in burgers and beers. And I figure what’s more American than a hot burger and a cold beer? I think the accessibility of their menu makes them a great choice for anybody who is looking to have a couple of drinks on a night out, but still get to enjoy some incredible food while they are at it!

“Can't believe it took me so long to try this place, especially after attending JMU for 4 years. I've finally experienced the Brady Burger and I'm in love. I will eat one of these any day. Love the crisp of the chips mixed with the Mac. Delicious!” – Yelp Review

2. Ben’s Diner

Homemade, country-style meals that will warm up your heart 

Buy a Ben’s Diner gift card

Close by Harrisonburg is Woodstock, where Ben’s Diner is located. While it is fairly unassuming on the outside, you will find yourself quickly pleased with the assortment of homestyle cooking and classic American cuisine options available at Ben’s Diner. 

There are lots of scrumptious country-style meals on the menu at Ben’s Diner, so it’s hard to be disappointed with your choices. Whether you wish to enjoy a late breakfast or brunch with your family in the morning, need a convenient place to grab a quick lunch, or just want to go somewhere with low prices and quality bites, Ben’s Diner is a great place to visit. 

“They have the best hot roast beef sandwich! I have been coming here since I was little. Such great soul food!” – Yelp Review

You can purchase a Ben’s Diner gift card and send it to anyone in seconds with GiftYa!

3. Clementine Cafe

Great place for great food and live music

153 S Main St | Harrisonburg | clementinecafe.com

Clementine Cafe is fun because they serve a traditional menu of classic American entrees. But unlike the other restaurants on the list they feature plenty of live music and a lounge-style dining room, which really makes Clementine stand out as a unique spot to grab a bite to eat among other contemporary restaurants. There aren’t too many restaurants that feature a relaxing lounge-style atmosphere on top of having live musical performances. They are open from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM each day, so you can expect everything from brunch to dinner to be on the menu!

“We went to clementine multiple times and it's one of our favorite places to dine. Young or old, I think you will find the right food in their menu. The host was very accommodating to our requests and changes. We also enjoy the ambiance, decorations and even the restroom is so cool!” – Yelp Review

4. Rocktown Kitchen

Great restaurant for lunch or dinner in Harrisonburg

217 S Liberty St | Harrisonburg | rocktownkitchen.com

Rocktown Kitchen rounds out the top three on my list of best restaurants in Harrisonburg for a few reasons. First of all, they have a four and a half star rating with previous customers which means they deliver excellent food and service on a consistent basis. But additionally, I like Rocktown Kitchen because although they serve a full menu of classic American cuisine, they really specialize in salads and sandwiches. 

Which I think makes them readily accessible to most people. And if you have anybody with dietary restrictions like being vegetarian or vegan, then Rocktown Kitchen has them covered too with a wide variety of fresh salads. Overall I think Rocktown Kitchen makes for a great choice for anybody who is looking for a great meal at a fair price.

“What a great surprise in Harrisonburg. Quality menu and excellent service. This place is a gem.” – Yelp Review 

5. Jimmy Madison’s

Great southern-style dinner restaurant

121 S Main St | Harrisonburg | jimmymadisons.com

If you want to enjoy classic Southern style cuisine while you are in Harrisonburg then Jimmy Madison’s has you covered. They serve a wide variety of southern style meals in a more upscale and fashionable manner than you might get elsewhere. Trust me, this is going to be the fanciest plate of chicken and waffles you have ever had. And it continues that way across the board. 

They take everything from fried chicken to fried greens and really elevate it to another level making for an out of this world dining experience! So if you are looking for something familiar, but interesting and new all at the same time then definitely give Jimmy Madison’s a visit next time you are in Harrisonburg.

6. Benny’s

Some of the finest pizza slices in all of Virginia 

Purchase a Benny’s gift card

64 S Mason St | Harrisonburg | bennysva.com

Happen to find yourself in the Harrisonburg area of Virginia and craving really good slices of pizza like nobody’s business? Well you are certainly in luck, because Benny Sorrentino’s has all the delicious pizza you could ever ask for. 

This straightforward pizzeria doesn’t put on any frills for show–it’s all about the thin-crust pizza pies in a casual atmosphere. With fresh, hot slices of pizza filled with your favorite toppings and ice-cold beer to help wash it all down, Benny’s is the perfect hole-in-the-wall joint for folks who prefer to skip the pomp and circumstance of typical restaurant settings. Get your pizza, get comfortable in a booth, and chow down!

“Honestly didn't realize how big we ordered. LOL. It tasted really good. Although the crust was super thick and the pizza on the thin side, one slice is definitely plenty or half a slice if you eat the crust. The sauce had lots of flavor and cheese was good. The large was enormous and the price was good.” – Yelp Review

You can buy a Benny’s gift card when you follow the link!

7. Local Chop & Grill House

Best steakhouse you can find in Harrisonburg

56 W Gay St | Harrisonburg | localchops.com

If you are looking for your stereotypical “best restaurant” while you are in Harrisonburg then I’m guessing you are probably looking for a steakhouse. And if you are, then you are in luck because Local Chop & Grill House is the best steakhouse you can find in Harrisonburg. And like most modern steakhouses they also feature a full menu of traditional American style dinners in case steak isn’t what everybody in your dining party is in the mood for. But if steak is what everybody is in the mood for, then they are in for a real treat at Local Chop & Grill House.

“Nice atmosphere with delicious food and friendly staff. I've been twice, and it's by far one of my favorite restaurants in the Harrisonburg area. I definitely recommend the calamari for an appetizer. The ice cream (especially salted caramel) was also very good.” – Yelp Review 

8. Magpie Diner

Great place for breakfast and brunch in Harrisonburg

85 West Gay St | Harrisonburg | magpiediner.com

If you are looking for a great breakfast or brunch while you are in Harrisonburg, but want it to have more of a local flair then the Magpie Diner is going to be just the spot for you. They specialize in breakfast, brunch, bakery items, and coffee. But they serve their breakfast and brunch up with a southern style. Which means that you can get a more memorable experience than you would get somewhere that just serves the same old breakfast menu you are used to. It’s hard to really encapsulate their style so I highly recommend checking out their webpage and looking through the menu yourself to make sure it sounds like something you would enjoy!

“It definitely has 5 stars overall for a reason. Soft biscuits, good specialties and fantastic drinks. Great job to all the servers and speedy delivery of food. Also grab Will as your server if you can. GO DUKES!” – Yelp Review 

9. Pale Fire Brewing

Best brewery you can find around Harrisonburg

217 S Liberty St | Harrisonburg | palefirebrewing.com

Pale Fire Brewing is going to be the number one place in Harrisonburg if what you are looking for is great craft beer and good food. They stand out as the best brewery in the area for a few reasons. First of all they feature a large tap room indoors and a large patio conveniently located in downtown Harrisonburg for outdoor seating. They always have a cycle of at least ten beers on tap. And on top of the drinks they also specialize in all kinds of traditional pub food as well as pizza. 

They have an early happy hour from 3-5PM Monday through Friday. And on top of all of that, they also feature plenty of live events like live music and trivia competitions! So you can really get a great night out all from one location at Pale Fire Brewing!

“Great setting and roomy atmosphere. Excellent beer selections and indoor/outdoor seating! Kitchen opens at 4 so it's dinner only but the pizza selections looked amazing!” – Yelp Review 

10. Buffalo Wild Wings

Popular sports bar with a nearby location

Grab a Buffalo Wild Wings gift card 

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431 Gander Dr | Charlottesville | buffalowildwings.com

Buffalo Wild Wings makes a great choice for anybody whose idea of a nice night out at a restaurant involves plenty of cold beer, hot wings, and sports on multiple big screen tvs. If that sounds like a good night out to you then BWW is going to be just the spot for you in Harrisonburg. You can get all the sports bar classics like wings, burgers, and appetizers all served up with plenty of cold beer! And regardless of the time of year, you can expect the most important sporting events to be broadcast on one of the massive tvs they have around the dining room. 

“I like Jose good attitude good service and hard working he was great with kids and I am sitting in the part of the restaurant that is a bar!” – Yelp Review 

Get a Buffalo Wild Wings gift card for you or a friend by following the link! 

11. Ubon Thai Victorian Restaurant 

Stay for the night and enjoy an in-house meal too

Buy an Ubon Thai Victorian Restaurant gift card

515 W Frederick St | Staunton | ubonthaivictorian.com

If you want a truly unique experience while visiting Harrisonburg, then look no further than Ubon Thai Victorian Restaurant Inn. Imbued with elegance and charm, this timeless establishment transports visitors into a rich Victorian setting abundant with history and authentic Thai cuisine. 

A good, hot meal is not all Ubon has to offer. With four beautiful rooms available to guests for overnight stays, you can enhance your time in Harrisonburg by booking a room here rather than at a basic hotel. The tranquility and regal beauty of the building combined with succulent Thai food options will be certain to leave you feeling like royalty. 

“Dinner was from the menu, classic sides and dishes and very well made. The atmosphere of the space was quaint, between a restaurant and living room. The bedroom room was lovely, clean, and comfortable.” – Yelp Review 

Send someone a gift card for Ubon Thai Victorian Restaurant with the link!

12. Olive Garden

An Italian chain restaurant that is popular across the nation

Grab an Olive Garden gift card 

45 Burgess Rd | Harrisonburg | olivegarden.com

If you are looking for some Italian cuisine at an affordable price then it’s hard to go wrong with Olive Garden. For those of you who don’t know, Olive Garden is a chain of Italian restaurants that is popular all over the country. While it’s not going to be the absolute most authentic Italian food you can find anywhere, they do have plenty of pasta, salads, and breadsticks to keep the whole table happy.

“Great experience! Extremely clean, and super attentive staff. The lasagna fritta was SO good. My waitress Rebekah was so sweet, and got us everything we needed. She even made my grandchildren laugh and they even keep asking to go back to see her again! Thank you Rebekah! Thank you Olive Garden!” – Yelp Review

You can get an Olive Garden gift card by following the link right here!

13. Bella Luna Wood-Fired Pizza

Homemade food that is farm fresh

80 W Water St | Harrisonburg | bellalunawoodfired.com

Bella Luna Wood Fired Pizza  serves farm-fresh food that is hand-crafted. They serve woodfired pizza, handmade pasta, and amazing desserts. They offer a wide selection of beers from local brewers along with hard ciders on tap, and that comes on top of the hard ciders, wines, and artisan cocktails you can enjoy there. You can also enjoy meatballs, pesto verde, and soppressata. 

“Bella Luna was a delightfully delicious dinner. We had meatballs and salads to start our meal...meatballs were delicious and the salads were delicious as well. We ordered an arugula pizza- AMAZING! The service was top notch and the environment is cool. We will definitely be headed back!”– Yelp Review

14. O’Neill’s Grill

Fresh, homemade food in a comfortable setting

221 University Blvd | Harrisonburg | oneillsgrill.com

O’Neill’s Grill Restaurant & Bar serves fresh meals that are never frozen. They specialize in comfort food and brews. Their fresh meals are also made with local ingredients. This restaurant is most known for its cookie skillet dessert, so you’ll definitely be in for an amazing dessert, but they also make lots of amazing food. 

You can try their in-house smoked BBQ, grilled burgers, prime steaks, and one of 11 homemade sauces. The menu has options like fajitas, bacon mac and cheese, and Texas BBQ smoked beef. They also offer vegetarian and gluten free options, so whatever your diet, you are sure to have great options at O’Neill’s!

“First time here. Food was fresh, tasty, and temperature appropriate. Service staff was great as several people checked to make sure I had what I needed during my visit. I'll be back.”– Yelp Review

15. Capital Ale House

A fully stocked bar alongside a delicious menu

41 A Court Square | Harrisonburg | capitalalehouse.com

Capital Ale House is a bar and restaurant that is open late for late night revelers. This is where you go for a lively night out with a group of friends. They will even help you plan a party! Bring a group and pick out meals from the banquet menu. You get to choose a starter, an entree, and a dessert for everyone, and the choices include goat cheese salad, pan seared mahi mahi, and chocolate fudge cake. 

And if you come in for a regular night out, you get access to tons of great options on their daily menu like calamari, white chicken chili, tacos, and much more. They even offer great specials, one of which is the game day bundle that includes jumbo chicken wings, Bavarian pretzels with mustard, and your favorite draft beer. Aside from all of that, their bar draught list is incredibly long and you’ll get to try unique creations like hazelnut brown nectar, watermelon cider, and Duchesse chocolate cherry. 

“All I can say is wow!!!! The best chicken, shrimp and andouille pasta. Service was prompt and friendly on a busy Thursday night. Our party of 3, ordered the same dish and we left happy and talking about how good it was the next day.”– Yelp Review

16. Wood Grill Buffet

Homemade foods served buffet style in Harrisonburg

1711 Reservoir St | Harrisonburg | woodgrillbuffetva.com

Wood Grill Buffet has a long history of pleasing their customers, and if you visit, you’ll come to understand their reputation. They are a buffet that is known for a wide selection of foods and exceptional customer service. They even have an open cooking area right at the buffet where you can see your food being made right in front of you. 

The buffet is completely stocked with several delicious homemade foods. They have casseroles, fresh baked bread, country style vegetables, fruits, and salads. They also offer more high quality meats than any other buffet, and have a great selection of desserts that will be perfect to top your meal off with. 

“Very good meal, so much variety I doubt we saw it all. Many bars full of a huge variety. Highly recommend.”– Yelp Review

17. Vito’s Italian Kitchen

Casual Italian eatery with great food and craft beverages 

1047 Port Republic Rd | Harrisonburg | vitositaliankitchen.com

Vito’s Italian Kitchen is a casual family-friendly restaurant where people can get together to relax while enjoying some top notch Italian food. Vito’s menu offers classics like lasagna, chicken piccata, and chicken marsala alongside unique creations like cinnamon carbonara, Gianni’s baked rigatoni, and Gabby’s vodka sauce. 

They have a large menu that offers lots of options, and they serve their food in a comfy dining space that almost reminds you of a family kitchen. You will even have the option to build your own pizza! Simply decide on your size, your base, and your toppings, and you’ll be on your way to eating great pizza. 

“A lot of places are closed on Sunday in Harrisonburg, so we were thrilled to find Vitos when we were passing through town. Service is great, food is plentiful and good. We had rigatoni with sausage and mushrooms (yum!), veal piccata and salmon on spinach.”– Yelp Review

18. Outback Steakhouse

Get a taste of Australian-style steaks and other hearty picks

Purchase an Outback Steakhouse gift card

261 University Blvd | Harrisonburg | outback.com

When you’re traveling and away from home, it’s always comforting to dine in at a familiar spot that makes classic American fare just the way you like it. Outback Steakhouse somehow blends bold and invigorating with homely and hospitable, creating the ideal casual dining setting for patrons to relax and enjoy each other’s company. 

There are way too many unique, small-scale steakhouses spread throughout every corner of the globe–let alone the country–that visiting every single one is a pipe dream. However, that shouldn’t stop you from visiting this beloved Australian-themed, family-friendly chain restaurant the next time you get the chance. From their juicy prime steaks and fresh seafood dishes to deep-fried appetizers and housemade sides like dressed baked potatoes and steamed seasonal veggies, Outback Steakhouse has something for everybody on their menu.  

“Food, service and atmosphere is very nice. We enjoy meeting the bartenders and servers each time we visit. Have not experienced any issues in the many visits to the Outback in Harrisonburg. So many friendly faces.” – Yelp Review

Pick up an Outback Steakhouse gift card with GiftYa!

19. Kabuto Sushi and Teppanyaki 

Good sushi should always be readily available anywhere you go

Get a Kabuto Sushi gift card

1836 Abbey Rd | Charlottesville | kabutosushipantops

Alright, you got me–technically Kabuto Sushi and Teppanyaki is located in Charlottesville, not Harrisonburg. But it’s not too far of a drive away from the city that it deserves to be entirely overlooked, especially if sushi and Japanese restaurants are on your radar. 

Kabuto Sushi and Teppanyaki delivers fast service, high-quality sushi, and is always fairly priced. From veggie sushi rolls and hibachi selections to raw and cooked fish including tuna, salmon, yellowtail, and lobster, there’s a lot to unpack on the menu at Kabuto. Grab a small plate for a light lunch or fill up on as much sushi as you can possibly scarf down–the choice is yours!

“We love going to Kabuto! The hibachi is delicious and the service is always great!! The waitress knows our orders by heart and is always so friendly!” – Yelp Review

You can buy a Kabuto Sushi and Teppanyaki gift card with the link!

And there it is, you finally have it. A list of all the great restaurants you can find around the Harrisonburg area of Virginia. I hope you were able to find just what you were looking for on the list. I wasn’t able to get a ton of out there choices onto the list today, but I think I covered all the staples. Breakfast & brunch place? Check. Brewery? Check. Steakhouse? Check. Restaurants with a local flair? Check. Luckily the restaurant scene in Harrisonburg is a thriving one so I was still able to get most of the classic locations covered.