the green room — Restaurant in Staunton

Ergonomic: that's what flashed through my mind on my third or fourth visit. And on further reflection, it's still the best word I can come up with to encompass the experience of the green room. Functional yet very comfortable, no frills yet plenty of accommodation...ergonomic.

The blonde wood, the exposed brick wall, the clean lines everywhere, should give the interior an atmosphere somewhere between industrial, Spartan, and IKEA. But somehow, the green room has more personality and warmth than that. Maybe it's the retro bulbs and indirect lighting giving a nice glow to the interior. Maybe it's the lived-in tidiness of the open kitchen. Maybe it's the living room-style seating areas near the windows. Maybe it's the most comfortable bar stools I've ever experienced, I'm not sure. But what might in other new establishments appear to be incomplete or work-in-progress, in the green room it seems appropriate. Sure, the walls might look better filled with art, but they don't suffer for currently being more bare. Nothing plush, nothing lacking, fitting with what you need in the moment; ergonomic.

This continues to the service and the staff. It's a family-run business and makes no bones about it, but everyone here knows the finer points of service and how to comport themselves before the public. (This is a business with a theater lineage, after all.) Everyone is genuine and attentive, but not obsequious (like some other new service staff in the area). And as the menu currently says, "our kitchen is small | our staff is small | our business is small [...] thank you for your patience". You'll occasionally have to wait to catch someone's eye or have a dish finished, but it's apparent in the open format space that your wait isn't due to lack of drive or attentiveness. And anyways, that's how the establishment bills itself, as a place to relax and refresh; if you're looking to scoot in and out for a very quick bite, this isn't what you want right now (though to be fair, nowhere downtown really accommodates that, currently). But, if you want to step into a retreat from the touristy aspects of town, or escape the library for studying, or enjoy some small plates before the theater, or just want to meet up in a non-smoking late night location, they've got you covered here.

The food and beverage selection is deceptively unassuming. It might be tempting to dismiss any labels and brands you don't recognize as some Millennial/hipster showiness, but the reasonable prices don't support that mindset. Similarly the menu items, which might seem simple or which might elicit an, "I could do that at home," response. On tasting, I've had to accept that, first, I haven't done it at home; and second, if I had, I wouldn't have had such well- chosen ingredients. That's why the labels and brands might not be familiar: because the owners have sought out the best tasting and best quality ingredients they could at a low enough price point to keep their menu affordable and accessible. And if you feel like you would make these treats at home if you had those ingredients, you might find them among the retail shelves on the back wall.

The green room doesn't have hard liquor, but it doesn't need it. The selection of wine, beer, and cordials (and non-alcoholic offerings) covers a pretty wide palate, and anyway, you won't be coming here if you wanted to get messed up and to paint the town red. The green room doesn't offer big entrees, but it doesn't need it. There are plenty of full-scale restaurants on the strip, the green room doesn't need that competition. What the green room needs, though, is some time to wear in. Not time to improve or fix problems, but time to settle and get that lived-in feel. The best theatrical green rooms I've been in demonstrate the same attention to neatness, and care for those visiting, as the green room does. This green room just needs that lived-in character that only comes from use by people who value it as place to pause and relax for a moment. I expect the green room will live more than long enough to...

I am a Staunton resident and frequent visitor to Green Room. I like the place. Decor is modern and pleasant. Serivce is friendly and welcoming. There is are interesting and well planned wine and craft beer selection. The snack plates and baguettes are tasty. (My favorite is the pate baguette one of the best sandwiches I have ever eaten.) I particularly enjoy week-end visits when my friends and I can take advantage of the outdoor seating on Beverley Street. I have only one problem: the five-dollar corkage charge on bottles of wine I order. It's not the five bucks I mind; it's the unpleasant jolt when I get the check. I could understand if you were charging corkage on bottles brought in from outside, but not on bottles you sell. You don't charge extra for beer or wine by the glass, and my usually generous tip pays for the service. If the charge is for opening the bottle and washing the glasses, just include it in the price of the wine. If you are selling the bottle unopened for take-out, give a five-dollar discount. Your competition, Yelping Dog, down the street doesn't charge corkage on their bottles. Don't spoil your customers' otherwise-great experience with an unexpected and slightly unpleasant little...

If I could rate 0 stars, I would. This place is TRASH! I came here with my parents tonight and my 1 year old daughter. I had one glass of wine but was tending to my daughter the whole entire time. I asked a server with red hair for a glass of wine from my parents table inside. I thought she would come back, she didn’t. She served everyone around me and completely ignored me. I ended up having to flag her down and I said can I buy a glass of wine? She said “Not right now” I said why? She said because you’ve been overserved. I completely broke down. I am outside with my daughter trying to keep my daughter occupied so my parents can enjoy their wine and friends. This woman insinuated I was drunk because she said “I slurred my words” I am a speech therapist and am a mother first. I was also there with my parents.

I am absolutely appalled by this establishment’s judgment. Don’t go here. This was such a horrible experience and to assume a young mom was drunk with her child was insane...