Shoemakers — Restaurant in Lynchburg

I was a regular here for years and hadn't been in a while so I was really looking forward to the dinner. I read the menu, was excited about the options, and believed that the night was going to be nice.

We started at the bar and had a great experience. The bartender was knowledgeable and welcoming and made great cocktails. Then we entered the dining room.....

Our server was extremely rude from the moment she approached our table. She never brought bread or even introduced herself. She acted as if we were a burden to her existence. It was truly stank.

We ordered a $80 bottle of 2017 Châteauneuf-du-Pape and she brought out the wrong year (which can make a difference in both taste and price), so we asked her to please switch it out for a different one. She became even more rude and went to get the manager (which was not necessary, we didn't ask to speak to him, we simply changed our wine choice), and that was another unpleasant experience. We were made aware that the menu was old and that's why the wine was wrong . . . a paper menu is old!?...easy fix you'd think. The manager explained that the wine we were going to get in place of the one we ordered was actually more expensive. People order particular wines for different reasons, some of which have nothing to do with price but rather nostalgia for that particular vintage. The attitude was outrageous.

Then the food came. I ordered the "Torchon of Foie Gras and Rhubarb Tart Tatin with Frisee and Peaches" because I love foie gras, and peaches are just now becoming ripe; it sounded perfect. They brought out butter lettuce, cherry tomatoes, sysco or US Foods pre-made tartlets with coins of foie gras on top, and then decided to go back to the late '90s and drizzled it with balsamic glaze. The only thing decent on that plate was the foie gras. Those poor force-fed geese died to end up on a plate that looked like a 1997 cooking class demo. It was ridiculous. I guess the food menu was also old and not updated because I did not see peaches or frisee.

Then the entrees came. My friend ordered the "Duck Breast Black Cherry, Brandy, Roasted Red Bell, Grit Cake" which we were all excited to taste. What came to the table was poorly cooked duck (no crisp in the skin and the fat hadn't rendered enough), and a ugly brown sauce with .....wait for it..... bright red maraschino cherries! It looked like a kid threw up a chocolate sundae with extra cherries on a piece of meat. It was hilarious, yet extremely disappointing. My veal entree was okay, but the salted ramps were so salty we couldn't eat them. I left my phone in the car, otherwise the photos would have been a treat to share.

Then we had the worst dessert I have ever had in my entire life. The "Strawberry Delight Pastry" tasted like and looked like it had been in the fridge so long that the strawberries underneath had turned grey and tasted off, the sponge cake was worse that an Little Debbie cake.

I miss the top tier service and quality of food from years past.

If you go, just stay at the bar,...

Shoemakers is a phenomenal restaurant! Before diving into the food review, I must acknowledge the cleanliness of the establishment, which is accompanied by a cozy atmosphere that truly sets the mood for a fine dining experience. The service I experienced was impeccable, with zero complaints. I always felt welcomed and comfortable. The staff, despite their potential tiredness, were all smiles, polite, and constantly on the move.

Their cocktail selection is extensive and impressive. With so many enticing options, it was a bit overwhelming. However, our bartender, Cassidy, was incredibly helpful, friendly, and patient in assisting me with selecting the perfect beverage. She truly hit the mark with the refreshing "The Fluvana": a delightful blend of Hendrick's Gin, muddled cucumber, basil, lime, sea salt, and black pepper. If that doesn't suit your taste, rest assured there are at least 10 other fantastic options, not to mention their extensive premium wine selection.

For starters, we were served the Charred Octopus (accompanied by smoky chorizo salafi mousse and sauce vierge), which was absolutely delightful. The octopus was expertly prepared, tender, and not at all rubbery or tough. Even those who are usually hesitant about trying octopus would love this dish. The Shoemakers Crab Cakes, served with cucumber relish and Meyer lemon aioli, were mouthwatering and decadent. A perfect choice for crab cake enthusiasts seeking a rich and savory dish. Last but not least, the Ratatouille was a fan favorite, bursting with sweet and savory flavors. It's an excellent option for vegetarians, and the Grilled French baguette fleur del sel that accompanies it transforms the dish into a delightful finger food option.

The main courses consisted of Duck Breasts (served with Saunders plum puree and celeriac choucroute) and Slow Cooked Lamb Shank (accompanied by Lyonnaise mashed potatoes, wild honest, and glazed carrots). These two dishes were absolute showstoppers! The meat was tender, juicy, and packed with incredible flavors. It was perfectly cooked, never cold or undercooked. I may not have the vocabulary of a renowned food critic, but what I can convey is that every dish felt satisfying and exceeded expectations. From start to finish, everything was succulent, fresh, and superb, including one of the best cheesecakes I have ever tasted. In fact, it's the best cheesecake I've had in any restaurant. Shoemakers serves a deconstructed Goat Cheesecake that is simply wow! The crust is delicious, the blueberries are delightful, and the texture of the cheesecake itself is fluffy and melts in your mouth.

Shoemakers is an excellent establishment in Lynchburg, VA that I highly recommend to both locals and tourists. You'll experience top-notch service and be welcomed into a charming ambiance that will leave you raving to friends, family, and even strangers. What more could one ask for? I'll definitely be making another visit...

Before reading, please note that we spent $400 on 3 entrees, drinks, and appetizers and $100 on a tip for a total of $500 at this restaurant. AND, oddly enough, that’s NOT the complaint. In fact, I also have no complaints about the food or the cocktails, which were delicious, so kudos to the chef and Cassidy, the bartender. She was unbelievably delightful. Cassidy gets 5+ stars for saving my birthday dinner. Now for the complaint, which almost ruined my birthday celebration. We were seated in a booth where the spotlight was situated right in our eyes. We asked for the light to be dimmed and they said okay. We waited and waited for the server to come by. When she finally did she acted like we were an inconvenience. No greeting. No happy birthday (we noted this in our reservation). She stared at us. We told her we had asked the lights to be dimmed. She retorted, they don’t dim. We asked if we could move to the booth next to us where the lighting was a little better. She said sure and walked away, mildly annoyed. No help moving our drinks, etc. No drink order. Nothing. She walked away. After another long wait for her to come back, we went to the bar to get our own drinks. The bartender, Cassidy, was incredibly engaging and nice. She apologized profusely that we had to wait too long. I looked through the window to the kitchen and saw our server leaning back watching the food window and listening to our conversation. Not picking anything up, not helping anything. Simply staring the entire time we were at the bar which was about 10 minutes. We went back to the table and my brother said the server had appeared and said, while leaning on the booth, “So, you want drinks.” He said “ not anymore, my sister is at the bar getting them.” She said, “yeah, I know she’s at the bar” and proceeded to walk away. No, do you want an appetizer to start, no, how can I help you, nothing. Just walked away. When I heard this I went back to the bar and asked Cassidy if we could move to a table in the bar so she could serve us. The server appeared out of nowhere and told her it was fine. She would give us to her, like it was her decision. She was listening to the conversations even though she was skipping actual tableside service. I had actually told Cassidy that if she couldn’t serve us in the bar, then we would have no choice but to leave. The Manager never came by, never addressed our problem. Based on this and our initial server, this would have been a zero star experience. With prices high it’s assumed staff is top notch. They are not. Except for Cassidy. Cassidy was wonderful. Incredible actually. Unless you sit at the bar when Cassidy’s working, skip this place. This would have been a 5/5 star rating based on Cassidy’s great attitude and service, and the chef’s...