Driving from PA to Bristol, TN (along Rt. 81)

[BRI328]

We will be traveling from Philly to Bristol, TN in November (along RT. 81) Any suggestions for fine dining, bistro's, trendy cafes..etc. would be appreciated. (Italian, French, Southern)
Thanks.

[eimac]

It's at the end of your trip, but Abingdon Va ( exits 17-13 from 81) has several places you might try. The Wildflour Bakery serves lunch and dinner - plus it's a wonderful bakery. The Starving Artist does salads and sandwiches. Across from the Barter Theater is an outdoor cafe ( not sure what the weather in November will be like) which is nice for lunch. All are a quick ride from an exit or places to go back to once you are in Bristol.

[shallots]

We've driven that route many times. Lunch is usually near Charlottesville.
Two suggestions.
Just off the interstate, south of Staunton, is a German Restaurant that is a slow leasurely lunch. Sometimes service is too slow. But we've enjoyed it many times.
(If you leave Philadelphia really, really late, we've enjoyed some reasonably priced lunchs at the Hotel Hershey on the patio overlooking the city. It may be closed by November, but I think it's a good way to appreciate that grand hotel without spending a fortune.)
We usually plan a stop at Charlottesville and go to Michey Tavern for lunch. It's a buffet, all you care to eat with fried chicken, shredded bbq pork, green beans, slaw (blah as most slaw), baby beets, and a cooked tomato dish that I love. As well as biscuits and cornbread.
Not exactly cutting edge or trendy, but the building and the proximity to Monticello and Ashlawn do give a good feeling of history.

[mockturtle]

I'm a Bristol native and I'm afraid you'll need to stuff yourself on the way down, probably. eimac is right that Abingdon's probably your best bet overall - there was once a restaurant called the Swiss Inn in Glade Spring just north of Abingdon (you'll see the motor lodge from I-81) that was wonderful but it apparently couldn't survive. If you're in a position to cook trout, White's Mill is an historic grist mill and trout farm not far from there. At least I think it's still open. The locals seem to love Alison's - it's been hit or miss for me. You may be able to find reasonably priced Lodge cookware at Dixie Pottery across the street.

The Troutdale Dining Room in Bristol touts itself as five-star restaurant. Where those stars come from I can't say but the Wine Spectator apparently liked them. I haven't had the opportunity to try it (let's just say my parents aren't chowhound members) so I can't offer any personal opinions, but I'd like to try it.

If you're interested in acclaimed BBQ, try Ridgewood on old 19E, going toward Elizabethon from Bluff City.

http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=446

A short order place I'm nostalgic about is the only remaining Blue Circle. I'm visiting next week and plan on seeing how accurate my memories are.

http://www.gotricities.com/content/ar...

If you're on State Street and want lunch, you could do worse than KP Duty.

Be aware that wine is not sold in grocery stores and I don't know of any stores that sell wine that aren't liquor stores, aka "package stores." Other than The Troutdale, check with the restaurant ahead of time on alcohol policies. You'll be out of luck on Sundays, I think.

Let me see if I can get some links here.

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Troutdale Dining Room
412 6th St, Bristol, TN 37620

Ridgewood Barbecue
900 Elizabethton Hwy, Bluff City, TN 37618

Alison's Restaurant
1220 W Main St, Abingdon, VA 24210

Blue Circle
333 Bluff City Hwy, Bristol, TN 37620

K P Duty Gourmet Shoppe & Cafe
520 State St, Bristol, TN 37620