Briar Patch Restaurant

Two words: Derby Pie. Delicious and I know I will keep coming back for more. I do have to say though I have been coming here long before the two times it burnt down. Service is touch and go. I had one manager tell me not to ever order the shrimp pasta dish again because they don’t devein their shrimp and then my gluten free grandmother gets hassled when asking for modified dishes and still she is a huge reason why they stay in business. Definitely need to improve on the customer loyalty and treatment. Other than that, really love the derby pie. Best dessert in the world!!!

We came here for dinner early on a Wednesday evening, just passing through but needing a break and something tasty. We found a high quality local restaurant with excellent, well-​conceived and fresh items throughout the menu. I had a «black and bleu» salad: fresh greens, sprouts, tomato and cucumber, pecans and dried cranberries, topped by beautifully cooked ‘blackened’ tenderloin chunks, blue cheese crumbles, and crispy tender sweet spicy onion straws. Heavenly. One thing I’d change: the blackening spices were far too heavy on the salt and considering the other flavors, I’d just go with lighter salt and black pepper. My husband had a fine Reuben sandwich and loved his chosen side, fresh broccoli steamed but still bright. We shared a lovely crème brûlée – could have done without the whipped cream on top. They serve some local beers but as we were driving we didn’t partake. Next time I hope! Oh yes – prices were very reasonable for such nice quality. Well done!

Genuine Americana. Great broccoli geese soup and sandwich and French toast. Nice Sunday brunch.

I had the Reuben sandwich and it was great. Very friendly and great service at this local restaurant. I will definitely go back if I’m in the area.

The hostess was clueless and clearly a family member of the owner as she couldn’t be bothered with helping us until the server arrived.
The owner was with a contractor in the dining room paying more attention to the ventilation than her customers who clearly needed more attention than she was able to provide.
The server had no sense of the totality of her station. She would carry a pitcher of water and ask the table next to ours if they wanted water while ignoring our empty glasses and walk back to the service station. She would present a plate to the table next to ours while not taking our empty plates back to the service station at the same time. It was maddening.
The «Caesar Salad» had a vinaigrette dressing rather than a Caesar dressing. When something was said to the server, she looked completely clueless on a response surprised that someone would challenge the interpretation of this mess.
Nothing about the food is authentic. What happened with my Caesar Salad is not unlike the review below talking about his Monte Cristo. It’s like being in a small rural town in Virginia is explanation enough as to why something shouldn’t be done right — I’m not buying that.
A fried Shrimp/​Scallop order was so bad, it was hard not to throw it up in my napkin when the server came by and asked how it was. So much iodine in the shrimp, it was hard to taste the shrimp and the scallops had so much ammonia, the aftertaste left you not sure whether to swallow or throw up.
The server sarcastically said, ‘you didn’t like that either’. No I didn’t. Not that it mattered one bit to the server or the owner.
I could see the server commenting on the returned dish to the owner through the open kitchen door to no avail. Owner or manager didn’t come out to apologize or talk to me or my guests.
I was visiting a family member who lives less than two miles from this place and he flat out stated now I know why we don’t visit this place more often. I kept biting my tongue not to be rude to his choice of restaurants. Perhaps we should have gone to «The Travelers» or «Vitos» after all. Quite frankly, I would have paid far less at «Hardees» across the street and have been much happier.
The server presented the check and said, «I’m sorry you didn’t like your lunch.» So am I.
Amherst, VA should save Sweet Briar College but not this restaurant.
There was no Southern charm or hospitality in this restaurant. Nothing but indifference and an insincere apology all with a fake smile and food as inauthentic.

Great prime rib and seafood platter. But the dessert was well worth the trip breme brûlée and bread pudding were the best.

I had the filet minion with smashed potatoes and a Caesar salad. I had it cooked medium. This was the best steak I have ever had. It was tender and extremely flavorful, melt in your mouth juicy. I can honestly say this was the best meal I have ever had. I am a very picky eater and I ate everything on the plate except for the piece of garnish lettuce and the small sliver of steak I gave to my husband. The look of pleasure on his face as he savored the small slice was payment enough for my generous gift of steak (it was generous, this meal was amazing). I am saddened that I live in CT and probably will never come here again because my sister in law was from the latest (last?) graduating class of Sweet Briar College.

We dined here after 1PM on a Sunday and, of course, it was crowded with the after-​church crowd. They are only open three or four hours on Sunday. If you have a group of five or more, be sure to call ahead for reservations. The restaurant is situated in what looks like a home, but it is spacious inside if a bit over equipped with tables. It was a bit difficult to get around. We waited nearly a half hour. There is a full bar on one side and the tables in there look inviting. The overall feeling is «rustic country.»
The menu is extensive with a good selection of seafood. While several reviewers have mentioned that the prices were reasonable, I found them a bit high for the area and the quality of the food. Aside from sandwiches few entrees were under $ 10 and many were up in the area of $ 18.
I had a mushroom etc omelet which was about on a level with Denny’s or IHOP. My companions had a number of different items, the most ebullient compliments coming from the lady who ordered chicken livers in mushroom gravy.
I had planned to order a «Monte Cristo sandwich» until the server clarified that it was just an ordinary sandwich and not deep fried as a Monte Cristo should be. The waitress said the cook was aware that it wasn’t an authentic Monte Cristo, but of course it was OK, because, in typical Virginia style, she smiled and said «Ah’m sorry ’bout that» which always makes everything better and supposedly precludes the necessity for any further explanation.
Otherwise, everything about this local restaurant is the average you’d expect for the genre. It was nice, but I would not drive ten miles from Lynchburg to have dinner there.

The food here is excellent! I can’t believe the value for the quality of food you get! Recommend to all travelers seeking to avoid fast food. Everyone was very friendly.

Kind of a rustic, family style restaurant with good food. I had the Hokie sub, which was very good. The fries were crispy, and cooked perfect. Also had the chili, which was awesome. They put onion, tomato, banana peppers and cheese on top of the chili… very good. Service was okay, and the prices weren’t bad. Worth a stop if you’re in the area.

This is a first for me and my fiancée. The ambiance is great, and the food is fantastic. I had a pork bbq sandwich, while my fiancée had a calamari. The calamari was a little bit soggy but it still taste fine. If you are visiting the area, you should check this place.

Great place for lunch or dinner. Reubens and fries are tasty. Chicken salad sandwich is awesome and sweet tea is refreshing. Try to stop here when in the area.

Yum, I had the bacon, egg and cheese croissant. It was delicious the croissant was fresh and soft with a slight toasted crispness the eggs were so fluffy. My husband had bacon and eggs and was very happy. This being our first time at the Briar Patch we played it safe with our choices. Our table was in front of the kitchen pickup window, from what I could see coming out I was very impressed. We will make the hour drive back to Amherst just for dinner sometime. The pricing was a bit high but well worth it.

It’s been a little while, but Shari and I were not disappointed. The Scallops Mornay was awesome and the Makers on the rocks was just what the doctor ordered. The service was top notch and I promise not to overlook the Patch anymore.

I’ve never had any bad food here. I have gotten lunch here several times and appetizers. I’ve had the wings, the smokehouse burger, and the black and blue burger. I’m not a fan of their fries or the potato skins. The cheese on the potato just doesn’t appeal to me but all of the other items mentioned tasted good. I have to piggy back what Shep said as he was referring to the prime rib. Don’t ask me how I want my burger cooked and I say medium and it comes out well done. The take-​out service is friendly and relatively quick, I order over the phone. They have a lunch combo of pick a half of a club or chicken salad sandwich and a house, spinach, or Caesar salad or soup of the day or chili for $ 7, I think its a good deal. We usually frequent here during the summer after workouts and drink sweet tea.

On our way south from CT. We had a great lunch … Salmon salad and fajita salad. Excellent service!

Excellent salads, great friendly service and clean restaurant. Highly recommend for very good, reasonably priced meals.

Slim pickings in Amherst but Briar Patch is a perfectly nice place for a Sunday lunch.
I was in town visiting my aunt and uncle and we came here Sunday brunch. Aunt had the chicken salad plate (her favorite). Uncle had the crab cake (his favorite). I had the grilled salmon salad. My salmon was nicely grilled and served over a very generous portion of greens (almost too large to finish) and tossed with a nice honey mustard dressing. My lunch was a good choice.
The restaurant has been in business since the 1940s and seems to do a pretty brisk business. The menu has the basics does not try to do a lot of fancy stuff. It knows is customer base and works hard to keep them happy.

Let’s face it — dining options in Amherst are limited. Very. Limited. But the Patch is a decent place for lunch or dinner (maybe not at peak dinner hours though). During a recent trip from Atlanta to NY and back, my boyfriend and I stopped in for a snack and a beer. There was only one craft brew available, which is unfortunate with Starr Hill being so close by! Not a lot of vegetarian options besides the veggie melt-​over (even all the salads have meat) and appetizers. We knew going in that our options would be limited, which is why I said we went in for a «snack» :-)
Ordered an appetizer sampler with jalapeño poppers in place of the potato skins, which turned out to be an excellent decision because the poppers were the best part of the dish! Everything else on it (onion rings, mozz sticks, mushrooms) was good, too. Jim the bartender was very friendly.

Came here with my fiancé on a Saturday night while in town for the weekend. the parking lot was full and we had to park on the street, along with 5 other cars, so we thought it would take forever to get a table, but it wasn’t too busy in there. i’m not sure where all those cars came from.
i got a salad which was good and ordered the crabcakes with green beans and sweet potato fries. the fries were amazing! crabcakes were good and didn’t have much filler. i don’t remember what justin ordered, but he said it was good. afterward, there was a little folk band playing so we stuck around the bar for a bit to listen. the smell from the dishwasher in the kitchen was really strong and not the best bar environment, but it was overall a good night. we’d head back there again if we’re in town.