Taking a trip down into Virginia’s Wine Country is a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle of D.C. without having to travel too far or spend an inordinate amount of money. You can get there and back in a day, but with so much scenery and serenity to soak up you should take a few days to enjoy it all. No matter how long you decide to stay, one stop you should definitely make is Magnolias at the Mill restaurant in Purcellville.

Magnolia is settled in an old mill (hence the name) and serves American comfort food in an upscale style. As soon as we entered the restaurant we were in awe with the entire ambiance. The high wooden beam ceilings and hardwood floors showed off the country side while the open kitchen, huge wine fridge and cloth covered tables made it seem more fine dining in an unpretentious way. After being seated we were promptly greeted by our server, who although seemed busy took time to go through the specials of the day as well as beer and wine suggestions. Magnolias has an extensive beer list (most of them on tap) and wine list that offers flights. Beer flights are $6.50 for a choice of any three draft beers and wine flights are $13 for any three choices of wines by the glass. Two people opted for beer flights while the other two were excited to see a few reasonably priced bubbly options and went with a bottle of Cava for $20.

We spent a good 15-20 minutes salivating over the appetizer selections before picking out five of them. The Fried Green Tomatoes with Goat Cheese and Pistachio Relish was a table favorite, even for the one who claimed not to like tomatoes. The two soups, Tomato with Smoked Gouda and Cream of Mushroom with Dill, were devoured quickly. It was one of those moments when you knew you would burn your tongue, but it was so delicious that you couldn’t wait for it to cool. The creamy consistency and seasoning was perfect on both. The Peppered Scallops with Creamed Sweet Corn and Red Wine Reduction had that beautifully crisp sear and the sweetness of the corn and scallops really complimented each other well. Our least favorite of the selections was the Crisp Asiago Polenta with Tomato-Mushroom Ragout and Pecorino, which was presented well but was terribly under seasoned.

Photo from the Magnolias at the Mill web site

After taking a little breather and ordering some more tasty beverages, we were ready to continue. We ordered two of the daily specials -- Tuna with Candied Ginger, Haricots Vert and Roasted Potatoes and Seared Rack of Lamb with Mint Demi-Glace, Swiss Chard and Orzo. The tuna was simple and delicious, however it was slightly overcooked. The lamb was cooked to an exquisite medium rare and was clearly the star of the night. The other two items, which were from the regular menu, included Fettuccini with Sirloin Tips, Asparagus in a Pesto Tomato Sauce with Ricotta and Pan-Seared Pancetta Wrapped Pork, Cheddar Grits and an Apple Cider Pommery Mustard Sauce. The fettuccini was a scrumptious and hearty dish and the pork was so juicy and tender that it melted in your mouth. We savored every last bite and stuffed ourselves so much that we did not have an inch of room to spare for dessert. Although I was tempted to go run a few laps just to make a little more space for some chocolate-espresso mousse.

What we loved so much about this restaurant was that it was such a pleasant surprise. We went in not knowing what to expect but came out with fabulous food and service at a much lower price than what we’re used to paying. Between 4 people we accumulated 4 beer flights, 2 regular drafts, 1 bottle of wine, 2 wine flights, 5 appetizers, 4 entrées, and 2 large bottles of water (we don’t recommend the tap water) and it all came out to about $65/per person including tax but before tip. If you’re ever out that far in Virginia, make this stop on the top of your list.

Magnolias at the Mill
198 N 21st St
Purcellville, VA 20132
(Mapquest here)