Iron Horse Restaurant

Anytime I am traveling I like to stay in small cities that are outside of the big city. We discovered this nice city of Ashland VA. Just spent one night there, but I also discover this very nice restaurant next to the tracks. We had the truffle fries as an app, I had the Beef Short ribs and my son had the burger. Along with a couple of handcrafted cocktails. Food was so good and drinks were spot on. Service was spectacular. It was a nice evening so we sat outside.

Very flavorful and delicious duck entrée served here. The taste was rare, unique and it tasted high quality. We grabbed dinner here on our way North. I would go again!

Visiting from out of state and so glad we chose to eat here. The service was amazing from start to finish, from the front door to dessert, everyone was attentive and exceptional. Our server Jonathan was knowledgeable and gave us information about all of the specials as well as his favorites. He was the best server we've had anywhere in a long time, so pleasant and just amazing. It was a little loud and decor wise I think they should really lean into the ironhorse theme, but it was overall fine. Love sitting by the windows and watching the trains go by, I think at least 5 of them passed through while we were there.

A perfect place for a special occasion, like Valentine's Day or, you know, any Wednesday night. Service was excellent & food was delicious!

2nd time stopping in at this lovely neighborhood gem. Food was great, husband had Scallops which were cooked perfectly and I tried their Pumpkin Ravioli. They were awesome! If your coming past Ashland VA on 95, it is worth stopping! Hannah was our waitress, very attentive to make everything just right! Can't wait to be going past again.

Iron Horse has been around as long as I could remember. It is a landmark in downtown Ashland. On a nice day, you can sit outside watching the trains go by. Food is very delicious, menu is seasonal. Watermelon Tomato Gazpacho was the special soup of the day. I was so happy that I have tried it; it was the best soup that I have every ordered it in a restaurant. It had so much flavor, Watermelon and Tomato balanced each other perfectly. I loved the soup so much, I ordered a bowl to take home. Shrimp Tempura was OK, nothing special. I have ordered Wally’s Meatloaf. It had very good flavor and they have used good quality meat for this dish. My son ordered the Chile Pecan Chicken, it was so tender. The waiter failed to inform us that the Chile Pecan Chicken was prepared from scratch and it will take longer than usual. I was wondering why it took a long time for our main entrees to arrive. I read about the cooking time from another review. The waiter was really friendly and helpful. He came and checked on us frequently. We all made alterations to our dishes, the waiter/restaurant accommodated the changes without any additional charges. I was impressed by their kind effort. I also ordered the Watermelon Mint Cooler, it was refreshing, nice and strong. Unfortunately they didn’t offer a lunch menu, so the lunch was more expensive than usual. But it was worth of being back there. The menu offers a good variety and prices are reasonable for dinner.

We enjoyed our visit on Dec 7 immensely. Our waiter Jonathan was fabulous and gave excellent service. We enjoyed puréed pumpkin squash soup, a chicken chowder and grilled chicken club with fries.

We sat in the bar area by the window to have an opportunity to see trains go by on the main street.

The restaurant has an old English pub feel with solid furniture and high ceilings.

My husband said the soup was so good he was transported to a time enjoying soup his grandmother made. He said “this soup is grandma quality soup”. I suppose it depends on your grandma if that is a compliment or not lol.

You can see the whole of Main Street and if you are lucky you will see a dressed up cyclist dancing to music on his bike- a well known local character!

This is the hidden gem of Ashland, VA! The most amazing fried oysters and if Derek is at the bar the best drinks you’ve ever had in your life! His mixology skills rival those in cities like NYC!! His espresso martini (with his homemade bitters) are the best in the Universe!! Trust me, I’ve done the research!! Give this place a try, and you can thank me later!!!

Great experience with excellent service and food. We all ordered the double burger and it didn't disappoint. Everything was cooked to our order. Kitchen did a good job getting everything out seeing they had a craft festival going in town. We will be going back for dinner soon.

delicious lunch with plenty of options for everyone! friendly and attentive staff. the grilled chicken club sandwich with truffle fries was scrumptious. the pecan pie was yummy! will definitely be back!

Server was more than accommodating with us adding an extra person to our party. He was very attentive; drinks never went dry. Able to watch a train go right by out the window. Great place!

Unique setting in a small town atmosphere! Watch the trains goes by while enjoying delicious menu offerings. Cozy bar and outdoor street side seating. Dinner entrees ranged from $15 to $30. Strongly recommended!

Cute small town downtown location.

Pleasantly surprised by the diverse menu . Chicken breast was cooked perfectly which can be tricky. Cocktail was subpar.

Live music and cozy bar a real plus. Good vibe in Friday night with a range of ages having a good time.

I had the salmon over risotto cauliflower rice and it was amazing! Nice and cool sitting area and the train even went by while dining. Highly recommend!

The food and atmosphere were great here. I had a great time and the band was excellent. I strongly recommend eating here, and then walking the sidewalks to see the shops in the area. This is in a great spot and the town is very nice. Staff at the restaurant were very helpful and friendly. Overall, this is a great experience and I recommend making the time to enjoy it.

Excellent dinner on a busy Friday. We really enjoyed our first time and will be back. Only place for improvement for us would be the sound. Kind of hard to hear with the acoustics and crowd, but not really a deal breaker.

It was our first time to Iron Horse Restaurant & the 3 of us enjoyed the food. The Wally Jones meatloaf came with whipped potatoes, Makers Mark whisky gravy & brussel sprouts. It was just what I wanted. The iceberg wedge salad was just right, blue cheese dressing, tomato, bacon, hard boiled egg & pickled red onion. Love the blue cheese. We also had a double cheeseburger & fries. It came with a choice of cheese (American, cheddar, Swiss, or Bleu cheese) lettuce, onion, pickle spear & fries. For dessert we tried the chocolate cake, pecan pie & with ice cream on the side.

Iron Horse is my favorite restaurant in Ashland! I've been going here on the regular for a few years and love everything, everytime. Tonight was a first for me trying the Bone in Veal Short Ribs over Creamy Polenta and Asparagus and it was AMAZING! I paired it with a glass of Dr. Loosen Riesling. I would definitely order this again and for the portion you get is great for it's price. Keep up the great work Rusty and all the Iron Horse staff!
Also, I'm addicted & have been addicted to the Meatloaf dinner for years now! It's my go to when I want an affordable comfort food & balanced meal! Please don't ever take meatloaf off the menu!

Always great atmosphere and great music! Excellent food too! Fun to watch the trains go by especially from the outdoor seating area.

This restaurant is amazing. Our server Mary was amazing. She kept my drink cup full. I ordered a burger and fries and it was definitely one of the better burger so I’ve had. I also love the atmosphere here.