New Southern fare made from regional, seasonal ingredients served in a warm, contemporary space.
C Violaris
Unique place at the beatifull town of Ashland. Good spot by the train station and across from Secretariat. Had an outside table on a beatiful afternoon with plenty of trains passing by and great live music in the area. Service was average, slow. Food was really good. Beer was nicely chilled.
… moreThomas Jordan
First visit to Iron Horse Restaurant. Generally speaking my wife thought it was a good night out on a Wednesday night.
My wife had the Meat Loaf and Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans Dinner.
I had the Chicken and Mashed Potatoes, and Asparagus Dinner. (I had to ask for a sharp knife to cut the chicken.)
We loved the low light atmosphere of the dining area; and the 19th (or 20th) Century atmosphere of the bar.
(NOTE: You may need to use your smartphone flashlight during nighttime dining.
Very pleasant server.
Reasonable prices.
Good venue for couples, families and small groups.
tjrva
P. S.
A nearby small/medium size group had one very boisterous fellow. He possibly may be hearing impaired and didn’t realize how he disturbed the general calm of the dining room.
… moreLocal guide, KC
Iron Horse Restaurant in Ashland is one of our absolute favorite spots, and we always make a reservation when we go—it’s popular for a reason. You can still walk in or even self-serve at the bar if you prefer something more casual, which is a nice option. They often have live music as well, though the specific nights can vary, adding a fun and lively touch to the atmosphere.
The food is consistently delicious and more on the upscale side, making it a must-visit for a special night out in a small-town setting. Just keep in mind that if they’re running a specialty menu, like on Valentine’s Day or other holidays, the wait for food can run a bit longer, but it’s always worth it. Parking can be a challenge since the restaurant sits right on the corner and close to the tracks. There’s no convenient parking right at the entrance, so expect to walk a bit. The good news is you can drop off anyone who can’t walk far before you circle back to find a spot. Despite the parking situation, Iron Horse is absolutely worth the visit. The ambiance is great year-round, and it’s especially beautiful during Christmas. For anyone looking for an elevated dining experience in the heart of a charming small town, this place is a must-stop.
… moreStacey Vann
I rarely write reviews, but my recent experience here was quite unpleasant. I’ve eaten here 2 years ago with no problems at all. Last night, we had an early evening reservation and were immediately seated. They were short on menus with only a few other tables seated, but we were able to get one for the table within reasonable time. What caused the most discomfort was the temperature in the restaurant: in early February with temps about 25 degrees outside, the ceiling fans were on (and I’m sure there was good reason for this), but I was freezing with a sweater on and felt air blowing right on me. When I asked our waitress if my husband and I could be moved, or if the fan could be turned down, I was told that all tables would eventually be full, but she would see about the fans. Well, the fans were not seen to, so I wore my winter jacket for the remainder of our time, with the waitress saying nothing about it.
Our food (chicken, salmon, chocolate cake) was decent. With a shellfish allergy there were only 2 appetizer options (and we were told the truffle fries get cross-contaminated with pans) so we avoided an appetizer completely. The drink menu wasn’t updated from the holidays yet, so the martini I got (which I was told would be similar) was definitely not.
It did get busier as we were there, but I would’ve gladly taken any other table or a bar seat just to feel comfortable. We had a $100 gift card to spend and made a reservation, so I hoped for a nice birthday meal out. We got the decent food, but not the good atmosphere.
… morePam Kintzer
We went the night before Valentine’s Day. Big mistake! They had a limited menu that featured very few items that appealed to me. We had gone on New Year’s Eve and they had fried oysters and creamy crab soup. Both were delicious. This time I ordered the crab soup and it was watery with very little crab. I ordered a salad that had very little dressing. The simple meal was not cheap and I didn’t enjoy it. I’ve been a patron of the Iron Jorse for years but I won’t be going back any time soon.
… moreRenee E.
Unfortunately The Iron Horse has finally prompted us to leave a poor review tonight. We’ve been here multiple times over the past 4 years, and the main entrees have disappointed a bit more with each time we come. Tonight both of us ordered the New York strip, but we’re informed upfront tonight they were serving Ribeyes. Poor cut of beef, flavorless, no charred edges but had the standard fake grill marks. Not sure how it really was prepared, but it wasn’t truly grilled. Green beans were good, but we each literally got 8 beans on the plate. The old fashioneds used to be the best! The last 2 times they didn’t come with the usual dark premium cherry, and again, no cherry tonight in a $14 drink. Same experienced bartender that’s always here, but are they cutting costs?? The limited menu never changes, which is fine if you are delivering consistently each time. But this Iron Horse has rusted, sadly we will never return.
… moreАльона Романова
The food was absolutely delicious — especially the roast, which was cooked to perfection. The wine paired beautifully with the meal, and the service was warm and attentive. What really stood out was the unique atmosphere — cozy, stylish, and full of character. Definitely a place worth visiting if you’re in the city.
… moreAM Koch
We traveled down from NJ for Ashland Train Day two weekends ago. We had been here before while passing through on our way to Florida last summer, so naturally we wanted to eat here again. And once again they did not disappoint for dinner! I was all set to order a burger and then our server mentioned one of the specials was filet mignon with garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus and I was sold. (And the roasted beet salad that I got was so delicious I’ve been trying to replicate it ever since we got home!) I also had the strawberry mojito which was deliciously refreshing. Our server was super attentive and polite and made sure we all had what we needed and were happy with everything. The next day was Train Day so of course downtown was packed. We had a choice between food trucks or The Iron Horse for lunch, it was slightly later than normal lunch time so we took our chances and put our name in for our group of 6. They told us 30 minutes which was fine, we watched passing trains and less than 20 minutes later they called us that a table was ready. We noticed a more limited menu for lunch but our server explained that they do that purposely for this particular event so that things can get made and out of the kitchen quickly and efficiently, and it made 100% sense then. And once again everything our party had was delicious. I got the caprese club for lunch, and another strawberry mojito. Even on a super busy day, the kitchen was on point! They were cranking meals out left and right, communicating, in sync, etc. (Our table was near the kitchen so we really did have a front row seat for the action.) We finished up at the tail end of the lunch rush and heard either the head chef or manager in the kitchen praising his staff on a service well done. The Iron Horse will absolutely be our go-to restaurant every time we are in Ashland, which will be frequently either passing through to go to Florida, or coming back again for Train Day!
… moreRupa Bandyopadhyay
I went there on Ashlabd train day with plenty of skepticism. They do not have large selection, only one page front and back including the back page only for drinks. Which I actually liked. I had Iron Horse Pan Seared Scallop with mashed Cauliflower
My friend had Pan Roasted Scottish Salmon w Risotto. Both came out super tasty.
I had Stawbwrry Mojito and my friend ordered Jalapeño Margarita. Both of them were amazing.
If I ever go back, that will be for Jalapino Margarita which I had only a few sip only. It was not from frozen margarita, which I often taste in many places.
Service was great!
On top of everything, it is just besides the train track, a nice place to have food and watch the trains coming and going. Good for the kids, good for the Richmonders to show off the visitors, guests from other cities.
I would suggest to book place ahead to seat out side or to get windowview.
… moreMichael L. French
We came here for Father’s Day on Sunday around 11:30. When we walked in we were immediately asked if we had a reservation and when we said no, the employee walked away without stating anything and came back a few minutes later. (I noticed this happened to several others while we were there.) So make a reservation if you want to eat here.
The Brunch food was ok but the portions were smaller than average. Most entrees came with 2 pieces of bacon which for the price isn’t enough.
The biggest disappointment was the service. While the waiter was cordial and fulfilled our requests when finally coming to the table, he didn’t go out of his way to make us feel welcome as it was our first time visiting.
This restaurant has so much potential with a beautiful view of the tracks but the inside is dark and in need of some TLC.
… more