Vault & Cellar — Restaurant in Middletown

I visited on a Friday evening to experience a sampling of food about which I read in online and other reviews. The building sits in the middle of the main street in a small town called Middletown. The service matches the woody warmth of this seemingly converted home. The friendly staff told me they have a great deal of input regarding the decor such as plates and wall art, and I really appreciate the community feel of this establishment. Service was cordially friendly throughout with a couple of servers checking with me on how my meal was progressing. Food arrived at appropriate times throughout my two hours there.

The menu incorporates food tastes familiar to Virginia, so part of the menu had nut garnishes which I avoided for allergy reasons. I gladly settled on the corn fritter appetizer followed by a shaved brussel sprout salad followed by a venison tenderloin entree finishing with biscuits as an intermezzo and the cinnamon apple crisp. The aperol spritz I ordered was another g the more balanced versions I have tasted and shared this compliment with the cheerful barkeep. The corn fritters are a generous portion and appealing color that arrived warm with a fresh tasting salsa. The fritters themselves had a delightful flavor from the combination of the onions and corn. A great way to begin to be sure. The salad had a delicate texture and reserved flavor that made eating my vegetables quite enjoyable, especially after the richness of the fritters. The tenderloin even if the portion looked quite measured was cooked to a perfect medium rare and went well with the vegetables. I found whatever element whether cheese or something else to clash with the meat, and I did not quite understand the apple butter component while delicious on its own being a part of this dish instead of something more like a nice red wine reduction. Still enjoyable to be sure. The biscuits were cake-y in texture and a little more dense than that to which I am accustomed. The butter helps smooth the taste though. Finally the apple crisp had a delicate, ever so smooth texture with perfectly cooked apples and a rewarding cinnamon tuille cookie to end.

The total bill came to an amount around $85 excluding tax and tip. I can see how this place could be a destination eatery in western Virginia and pull interested foodies from surrounding metro areas. My experience was quite rewarding from the food, service, and ambiance, and I could certainly see myself returning in the future when in the...

Plate Lickin’ Delicious! Don’t miss this dining experience! Order from the seasonal daily special menu! During our visit to Middletown, we were lucky to make reservations and enjoy the exceptional culinary experience at Vault and Cellar. During 3 unique services, the wait staff treated us like royalty, we feasted on fresh, inventive dishes and sipped crafted drinks.

Day 1: Drinks and appetizers in the evening! The bar was a perfect place to unwind and watch the mixology show. (Very tasty! Very Beautiful drinks!) The bourbon tasting flights pair perfectly with the Application Egg Rolls and the special of the day Chicharrones. (Get two orders to try both sauces- you will not regret it!)

Day 2: Full-service dinner! WOW! Take your time to savor everything! To maximize our tasting menu, we shared our plates family style. Our favorites were the sweet potato gnocchi with goat cheese, long meadow duck with fennel, and the best venison with risotto dish we have ever tasted. Each dish had its own sauce reductions and were beautifully paired with fresh seasonal herbs and vegetables. For dessert, don’t miss out on the unique creamy house made ice creams- the flavor combinations will make your taste buds explode! The perfect ending- order a specialty bourbon/cocktail and sip it on the outside patio under the stars.

Day 3: Sunday Brunch is a special treat! To maximize our tasting menu, we shared our plates family style. We began with apple cider mimosas and the sausage and egg spring rolls with hollandaise sauce. The breakfast Shot Tray: We cannot remember what it was called (picture attached- show it to your waitress- you need this!): maple bourbon, orange juice and bacon, Scotch-Irish egg, and Irish coffee. Our morning favorites were the sweet potato and chorizo hash, shrimp and blue corn grits, apple French toast, corn bread, and wild boar sausage and biscuits. The perfect ending- order a specialty cocktail and relax. Yes- you will need a nap, but it is worth it!

Beware of the ghost ‘George’ who lives in...

Vault & Cellar hosted my wedding brunch this past week and every single bit of it was AMAZING. Not only did they host it for us last minute (our original wedding got canceled and we decided to stay locally), they were so kind and patient. We weren't the best communicators thanks to stress (and then I got a sinus infection) but Kari and her team were incredible. The table was beautifully decorated with their gorgeous plates and small vases of colorful flowers. The food is some of the BEST I've had. The drinks were amazing and their head bartender Cami created a signature drink that was a mix of my husband and I's favorite drinks (I was so bummed to be sick because it was really great but I couldn't finish it). They also created the most beautiful wedding cake I've ever seen. It was a chiffon cake with a lime curd filling and buttercream frosting and it was both delicious and gorgeous. They let us take the extra pieces home and my whole family loved eating it the next day. They also printed personalized menus with our names and I snagged one to keep hold of (SORRY). All in all, I could keep raving about just how perfect it was. If you're looking for a private event, this is the place to reach out to!

On another note, I've gone for both brunch and dinner and hands down this is my favorite place in the area. I spent a decade in D.C. and it was a bit of a shock to move to the Shenandoah Valley but Vault & Cellar is better than any brunch spot I went to in D.C.. Their collard greens, wild boar sausage gravy and biscuits, shrimp and grits, and their brunch burger are all amazing and I'm sitting here wishing they were open so I could go eat there now.

TLDR: Amazing wedding reception. Amazing brunches. Amazing dinner. Amazing drinks. Don't miss out on...