Queen City Bistro is a full-service, upscale, casual restaurant nestled in the heart of downtown Staunton, VA. Our bistro offers delectable Italian and Southern cuisine paired with a cozy ambiance. Perfect for both casual dining and special occasions, our event spaces cater to rehearsal dinners, holiday parties, and more. With impeccable service and a warm ambiance, Queen City Bistro invites you to savor the flavors of both Italy and the South in a charming setting. Experience our commitment to culinary excellence and hospitality at Queen City Bistro. Join us today!
Barbara Geisler
Staunton is a half way point on the drive to visit family, so we frequent the town several times a year. On this visit, we discovered the Queen City Bistro and are we glad that we did! We loved the ambiance. The greeter was super friendly. The waiter was quite attentive regarding a food allergy that I have. And the food was fabulous!
I ordered the mushroom ravioli in the pistachio cream sauce and the flavor was exceptional. I added the side order of roasted Brussel Sprouts and Carrots and found them cooked al dente, which was quite to my liking. And I felt that the portions were plentiful.
I chose a glass of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo to accompany my dinner and I could imagine that I was back in Tuscany enjoying a fabulous meal.
My husband was equally delighted with his Tuscan Salmon Entry.
I would suggest making a reservation, which is quite easy to do right from their website. Enjoy!
… moreJ. G.
The food and wait staff here are solid, and this is definitely a decent place for dinner with a significant other or your entire family. The pacing wasn’t great as the food came out a bit too fast and I specifically said I wanted the courses to come out spread apart, but other than that I enjoyed the experience here. The goat cheese fondue is rich, but flavorful, and the crab cake entree was pleasant also without too much breading. The green beans on the side were honestly some of the best I’ve ever had. They were also quickly running out of things, so if you have a later reservation, maybe have a backup dish when you order. Overall though, I liked this place and would come back.
… moreHerb Whisperer
We’re foodies — we discover good food wherever we go in the world, and we value both flavor and integrity in service. We chose this restaurant because of its 4.8 Google rating, and we wanted to share our real dining experience. Unfortunately, it fell short on both food and service.
Our waiter brought the wrong dish for my wife, and by the time her trout almondine arrived, my meal was already finished. The trout had no almond flavor or aroma — the crust was plain and greasy, dominated by butter rather than balance. The green beans were fibrous and undercooked, and the tomatoes tasted raw, lacking caramelization or seasoning.
My lamb shank, described as being served with a demi-glace, came in a thin tomato-based sauce that lacked the richness and depth of a true reduction. The meat itself was fair but not tender or flavorful.
When we mentioned our disappointment, the waiter acknowledged the mistake and reduced the fish price by half. While appreciated, the issue went beyond cost — the timing and execution had already disrupted the meal. No one from the kitchen or management came to apologize or check in.
A beautiful dining room can’t make up for inconsistency and inattentiveness. For travelers who value genuine care in both food and service, this stop sadly missed the mark.
We came because of the 4.8; we left feeling it deserved a 3. Perhaps we expected too much — or maybe, we simply expected what good food should be.
… moreJulia Russ
Absolutely incredible for events and large parties! We hosted our Christmas function here for our company and cannot wait to do it again next year! The space was perfect- it was nicely decorated and the layout was comfortable enough to move around. I was impressed not only by the amount of menu options, but the quality of the food. We had about 10 entree options for each person to choose from. Every entree came out correctly, at the right temperature, and at the same time- which is hard to do for a large party. Anna was extremely accommodating and made it a point to go above and beyond to make us feel at home. The price for an event is also extremely fair for the quality of the food and event space you will get. Queen City Bistro is THE BEST!!!
… moreJulia Rikard
Absolutely wonderful. The building is very cool. (Love the bar top). The food was FANTASTIC! Caponata Formaggio is to DIE for. My husband got the Tuscan Salmon that was delicious! We got a Root Beer Float (added rum) to share, that was very yummy. The service is exceptional! William was our server and he was fantastic! Attentive without being intrusive. Perfect combination for a waiter! Chef Tom is a very talented chef and we were delighted to meet him!
… moreJanice Gould
Our first time in Staunton was splendid because of Queen City Bistro! We arrived at Queen City Bistro at 1645 on 25 February and were delightfully greeted by Ashley. We had a lovely table for two and ordered two Dark Hallows while reviewing the menu. Food descriptions were detailed and our appetizer, meal, drinks and atmosphere was top notch across the board. The bonus was a live music ensemble that was gentle and allowed conversation. Hats off to Ashley and the Chef at Queen City Bistro!!
Patrick and Janice, Norfolk, VA
… moreJoshua Davis
Great wine list. Great food. Good people. Need to clean up the place a bit. Update the bathrooms. No weird wires and heaters up front. This place could be big. Unlimited potential.
… moreKendra Colman
Absolutely love this place! Even when it is busy, the service remains top-notch. Everyone is so friendly. The food is absolutely some of the best I’ve ever had and we’ve eaten through a good bit of the menu at this point. Bartender makes amazing drinks. This has quickly become our favorite date night spot and we are very excited to check out the Chef’s Table soon!
… moreGregg Beecher
Highly recommend the restaurant. Our waiters name was William and was very attentive the entire time we were there. Friendly always willing to help but not overbearing. Several drinks, wines, and beers to choose from.We ordered the lamb shank and the pasta special. drinks came out almost immediately, and food came out in a reasonable amount of time. Both were great. Ample portions, season perfectly cooked perfectly. We will be back.
… moreJulian Oquendo
This is a gorgeous place next on the Staunton strip. Very close to our Airbnb and Blackfriars theater. This was an excellent place to bring my in-laws, comfortable booths and diverse menu, including a variety of vegan and vegetarian options.
Ashley was great as a server, great recommendations. My family came to dine twice here.
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