The Briar Patch Restaurant — Restaurant in Amherst

We asked for recommendations on Facebook for places to eat in the Madison Heights/Amhurst area as we wanted to try something new and different! We live in Lynchburg and wanted to venture out a little bit. By far the majority of the responses said Briar Patch! We decided to head over early Saturday evening to beat the crowds and there were plenty of tables still available at 4:45pm. It had almost filled completely when we left at 5:45pm. We were seated promptly, and a lovely server named Sarah greeted us and told us about the menu and popular items. The menu is huge, something for everyone.

My husband decided on Pan Seared Chicken Livers, Mac and cheese and Greek salad. (See photos) It was all fantastic!!! Huge portions, cooked and seasoned perfectly. He was in heaven! I decided on Pasta Primavera with Parmesan cream sauce. It was delicious, and another huge portion. Thank goodness as I took 1/2 home for dinner tomorrow! Creamy, flavorful with fresh veggies!!! (The photo does not show all the gorgeous vegetables that were tucked under the creamy pasta!) For dessert we had Bread pudding with vanilla sauce and it may be the best I’ve ever had!!! Another large serving, I took 1/2 home for tomorrow! My husband had the Derby Pie with ice cream and he ate and loved every bite.

Our server Sarah was so precious, helpful, efficient and met every need before we could ask. Bravo!!! Will request her area when we return. The prices are VERY reasonable, worth every penny. Totally worth the drive from Lynchburg. 5 stars for...

The Briar Patch has been an Amherst feature, though re-done several times, for as long as I've been here, 25+ years. In its current incarnation it's a good restaurant, but not near as good food as was offered in previous years & not consistent. 1 time the scallops moray is scrumptious, another its soupy and lacks flavor. Their fried foods have slipped and are too greasy and the oil tastes old and unclean. The spicing of foods in general has slipped significantly and I'd call everything I've had there recently, "bland" & unmemorable.

The servers are generally very good at the table but someone isn't doing their side-work. The split seam tables allow liquids to fall between the cracks & today I discovered that the underside of the tables hasn't been cleaned in forever. There's a small, under the radar odor in the restaurant of mold or bacteria & I'm pretty sure the place, including under the tables, needs a good disenfecting cleaning.

There's few choices of places to go out to eat around here so I won't say I will never go back. But I'll not pay those prices for mediocre food or choose any item that is easily contaminated by micro organisms from the environment there. They REALLY need to have a staff clean the place day, develop their recipes and learn the...

My first trip to the Briar Patch Restaurant was with my middle son; who had been playing a baseball game at a nearby high school. I found it on Trip Advisor, but wasn't completely sold on going there. So we both agreed that we would do a drive-by; just to check it out. It was such a charming little restaurant with lovely curb appeal, that we did an immediate U-turn. They have a cozy little covered front porch; complete with rocking chairs, that reminds you of a family home. The vestibule is decorated with whimsical bunnies, tastly scattered across the check-in area. The restaurant is surprisingly large and the seats are quite comfortable. The food was delicious and reasonably priced. The wait staff were wonderful; which is a gem in and of itself. I was quite pleased. Since our first visit, I have been wanting to share this little find with my mother and daughter. Last evening, I convinced them to allow me to drive them out for supper. I found the food, atmosphere, and service to be just as impeccable as I had remembered it. My mother, daughter, youngest son and myself enjoyed a wonderful supper together, and I am certain that we will not only be back very soon, but continue to share it with family...