Rappahannock Pizza Kitchen (RPK) — Restaurant in Luray

Super cute and cozy little restaurant!! Located just a ~30-minute drive away from the main entrance to Shenandoah National Park, Rappahannock Pizza Kitchen is a great pitstop right before (or after) a good hike. The wooden rafters and log-cabin-esque walls give the entire place a rustic, cozy vibe, and they share the space with a little convenience store that's perfect for any last-minute necessities or picnic supplies.

The wood-fired pizza is lovely, with a not-too-thick-not-too-thin and slightly charred crust, a generous helping of sauce, and a solid layer of cheese / whatever toppings you request. They do have a few sauceless pizzas, so read the menu carefully before you order! The staff is super friendly and will probably warn you, but still worth taking a look. I typically order their classic margherita, which is delightful -- the pop of freshness from the basil really elevates the overall pizza. You can occasionally get unlucky and get an overcooked pizza, which happened during my second visit here; the crust was a bit too dry and overly charred, but the pizza was still tasty. My pizza during my last visit was totally fine, as were all the pizzas I saw around us during this lunch-time stop, so I assume it was a one-off fluke.

Their starters are also all quite tasty! I've tried their burrata and brussels sprouts, both of which are delightful. The burrata comes with a huge serving of hot, melty burrata and delicious tomato mixture. It's paired with their bread, which is soft and pillowy on the inside, with a lovely charred exterior that holds up well to the cheese. It does feel a little bit silly to get bread and cheese right before eating more pizza (aka bread and cheese), but it's very good and absolutely worth a try. The sprouts are also tasty -- I love a good warm salad, and it has a great sweet and savory flavour profile from the balsamic glaze and grated parmesan. The toasted almonds are also a wonderful added crunch! I did find some of the brussels sprouts a little bit too big, which meant a few were a tiny bit undercooked in the center and hard to eat (although I also have a small mouth, so it could be a me problem), but the overall dish was...

I'm only giving 3 stars because I like the idea of this place...food, bar, general store and outdoor seating; all in one place. It is a great concept! However, I did not really enjoy the food or beer selection. I ordered a pepperoni pizza and homemade fettuccini alfredo.

There was a lack of toppings on the pizza but the worst part was how chewy the crust was...I had to stop trying to eat the crust because my jaw was sore. I'm not sure if it was too done or what the problem was...hard to tell on wood fired pizza. It didn't look burned. I was excited to try the homemade fettuccini noodles; even though it was $16 for just pasta...$8 extra to add protein or any veggies!! I was surprised at the lack of portion size for the money, barely an adult serving. The sauce was flavorless and runny. The noodles were ok but with the lack of flavor, not worth the money. My 6 year old ate the small portion by himself...

Everything was served in to-go containers, whether you were eating there or not. So that means pizza boxes and aluminum pasta containers for everything! Needless to say, their trash was overflowing in both the dumpsters and trash cans when we were there. But also, this seemed a bit wasteful. The pizza box boasted "eco-friendly" because you could use it as plates but I think more could be done to reduce waste at this establishment.

The general store was lovely and had a few local goods as well as your staple grocery items. I do wish they had a few more wines and beers from VA. They almost completely lacked any beer options that weren't pilsner and pale ale.

The separate full bar confused me...I wasn't sure if I could order a cocktail to take to the back porch or if I had to sit in the bar area. It was busy so I couldn't ask anyone.

Overall, I love the idea of this place but I would not return here before trying other...

After a long hike on Old Rag, we stumbled into Rappahannock Pizza Kitchen expecting just a quick bite — instead, we found one of the best meals we’ve had in a while. Coming from NYC and having tried countless Italian restaurants (many charging $50+ per person), I didn’t expect a small-town pizzeria to completely blow me away.

The margherita pizza with mushrooms was phenomenal — not your textbook Neapolitan with airy crust, but something more rustic and satisfying. The crust had the perfect char and chew, the cheese melted beautifully, the mushrooms were silky, and the fresh basil was deeply fragrant. It’s the kind of pizza you can’t stop eating. The meatballs were clearly house-made: tender, flavorful, paired with a tomato sauce so sweet and tomato-y. The arrabbiata pasta was hand-cut, with just the right heat and a creamy kick — simple but so well executed.

But the real surprise was the Beale’s Gold Lager. I don’t even like beer usually, but this was extraordinary — light, fruity, clean, slightly sweet with zero bitterness, and a refreshingly smooth aftertaste. It didn’t have the heaviness or gluten-forward finish that turns me off most beers. It was so good, I finished the whole glass and wished I had another.

And then there’s the service. In NYC, service can be polished but impersonal. Here, it’s the real deal — warm, genuine smiles, no pretense, just people who are happy to see you and proud of what they serve. The open kitchen, high ceilings, and reclaimed wood give the space a cozy yet airy charm that matches the vibe perfectly.

And the prices are incredibly reasonable. A margherita pizza in NYC runs $18–22; here, it’s $10–13 — and better. We devoured every last bite. No...