Element
206 S Royal Ave, Front Royal, VA, 22630
Element Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Front Royal for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Front Royal for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Front Royal for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
206 S Royal Ave
Front Royal, VA, 22630 - Phone (540) 636-9293
- Website https://www.jsgourmet.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Rathore V.
3.5 stars actually. Good food,not as big a portion you would expect, a bit overpriced, but we knew that before going. I had the Pan Roasted Chicken with Mashed Potatoes and Au Jus-above average. I think we got the chocolate coconut cake-excellent.
(3)Bill E.
Element is our favorite dining out spot in Front Royal. We relocated to the area in 2005 from Oakton, VA. The lack of dining other than fast food was one of our regrets. We discovered Element shortly after it opened a couple of years ago. It has been a favorite ever since. We have been stopping in after Saturday church services for a while now. The food is exceptional.....finding this level of quality food and service in Front Royal is like getting a speed cam ticket dismissed by the DC Department of motor vehicles. The dining room reminds you of an old storefront that has been modestly refurbished. There is only a small unisex bathroom that opens directly into the middle of the dining space. Tables are tightly arranged so you can absorb the neighboring conversations if you don't have one of your own. Draft beer and wine by the glass are available and fairly prices. A great wine list for reasonable bottles. You won't find better eats in an intimate setting in Front Royal.
(5)Brent E.
Great food on an ever-changing menu and friendly staff.
(5)Beth B.
We eat here at least once a week, so it must be good! Element brings a touch of gourmet dining to Northern VA expats in Front Royal. We usually have lunch during the week and the specials are always fantastic. Soups are also a must for soup lovers. My favorites are the special sandwiches. They featured a spicy tuna salad sandwich that was to die for. If you find yourself in Front Royal and you want a really wonderful lunch for a good price, stop by Element. You'll love it.
(5)John F.
We visited Front Royal over Valentine's Day weekend. Element's was recommended to us by a cookware shop owner on Main St. The service was excellent. We're vegetarians, which usually is a problem. The chef was very accomodating to make a delicious pasta entree with mushroom. The green salads were excellent as was the vegetable quesadellia. The wines by the glass were also very good. We would highly recommend Element to all.
(4)Mario D.
My date and I were looking for a good spot for lunch near the North Entrance to Skyline Drive, in Front Royal. So we turned to yelp and Element popped up. What we read sounded positive, so we made the drive out from the DC area. There is limited street parking out in front but there is a gravel lot around back. I was able to get in the side door with my wheelchair (there were a few steps at the front door). I had inquired about restroom accessibility before arriving, and learned that I might now be able to get in to the restrooms due to the fact that they are less than 36 inches wide. But I was willing to forego this for the sake of the food, and I'm happy I did. Upon entering, my date and I were greeted by the charming host/server, Andrew, who took great care to make sure we were comfortable. He got us something to drink right away and after giving us time to get settled he willingly discussed some of the menu options and answered all of the questions we possibly had. For brunch, the two versions of Eggs Benedict sounded good as described (one version included a catfish filet, as I recall), but we opted for the sandwiches off the Cafe Lunch menu which many had yelped about previously. We each had a hearty cup of the soup of the day (we each went with the Tomato Crab Dill soup; the other option was a Carrot Coconut concoction). The soup was excellent, with just the right amount of tomato and dill and plenty of nice lump crabmeat. My date went with the cup of soup combined with half sandwich (a steal at $9), the West Duck (House-Roasted Turkey Breast topped with Muenster Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, and Burgundy Poppy Seed Mayonnaise on house-made French Roll). I went with one of the special sandwiches of the day, the Appalachian Panini (nice and warm panino, with turkey breast, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and cheddar -- which replaced Swiss, at my request). Fresh ingredients were evident in both of the sandwiches, and the overall packages were wonderfully tasty. After the meal, we went into the adjoining wine shop (J's Gourmet) and my date was thrilled to randomly find a bottle of a nice Alsatian Riesling that she had been searching for at a couple of DC wine stores. The chef owner was shuttling from the kitchen to his office, but was VERY nice and stopped to talk to us and see if we had enjoyed our meal (we had...immensely). So, from the pleasant people to the comfy/rustic space to the fresh, fantastic food, Element left us two foodies happy and ready for a nice drive on Skyline.
(5)Frank W.
Good and tasty quality food. Lot's of sandwiches on the menu.
(3)Jane T.
Quaint restaurant with interesting, fresh and very good food. I would agree with everyone's descriptions and highly recommend this restaurant. My only reservations being that the bathroom needs to be fixed and cleaned and the staff could be friendlier.
(4)Steve M.
My wife and I had the pleasure of dining at the Element Restaurant. For a vegetarian she was thrilled to find this wonderful restaurant via Yelp. The service is great and the menu creates a fun dining experience regardless of your taste. I highly recommend the Blackened Pork Chops, seasoned and cooked to perfection. Our meal at the Element was far and away the best dining we had on our bike trip over Skyline Drive and on to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Try the Element you will NOT be disappointed.
(5)Cindy R.
A great place for dinner or lunch, staff is wonderful! The menu fantastic! A great place to eat!
(5)Simon H.
Our reservation was for 7:00 pm. At 7:40 we were still waiting for a table. In the meantime we discovered that the rest room had no toilet paper (we had to ask for it) and the bread and olive oil were served without napkins. (Wipe your hands on your clothes, I guess. ). After 40 minutes waiting we started to put on our coats but were persuaded -- for the fourth time-- that a table was being readied. Finally we were seated and ordered our entrees immediately. Then we waited for another FORTY MINUTES! So a 7:00 reservation was served at twenty to 9. At this point I was seriously considering my ONE STAR rating on YELP. Then the food came. The scallops I ordered were absolutely delicious. Really. Spectacular. So a 5 star for food plus a 1 star for service averages out to 3. Conclusion: The food at Element Is wonderful but eat before you go.
(3)Cyndee H.
We tried this restaurant on a whim after walking out of another establishment for lack of service...so glad we ended up here. The food was outstanding, the wines were perfectly paired, and the service was top notch. I love that everything was freshly prepared. My wife's squab was so delicious she ended up sucking the bones like she was finishing off a plate of chicken wings. Such a wonderful meal! Definitely a place to try! For the quality of the food and service, well worth the price if you're a foodie like us.
(5)Penny C.
This place is phenomenal! Chicken tortilla soup was so delicious. And the bread! They make it here. You don't even need to dip it in the oil. To be honest I came here a year or so ago and they were really busy and we waited for like 15 minutes or so without seeing anyone and left. To my past self-that was a huge mistake and I'm so glad that I came back. If you ever come here and wait a little longer than you usually would, be patient. The food is amazing. Also, our waiter was very personable and nice. Wonderful dining experience.
(5)Chuck and Cindy W.
So, some friends asked us to join them here for dinner. I regret agreeing. The waiter, (David?) who finally waited on us after ignoring us to wait on other tables, had the audacity to tell me to chill when I asked him who was waiting on us. He had a horrible, condescending attitude, and slammed my glass of water down on the table. I will say that I thought the food was very good, but the attitude I received turned me against this place. I am a Front Royal native and I will never come back to this place. Terrible service. James took over for the waiter who just sat with certain folks and never did his job.
(1)Ron P.
We had an excellent dinner here with our group of 7 seated in our own area. The staff and service were excellent, as was the food. The scallops in a carmelized sauce were awesome, and perfectly cooked. The wine choices were many, good, and reasonable, and the staff well versed in helping select wine. I would definitely love to return.
(5)Sal G.
We saw some positive reviews on yelp so we stopped in for lunch we were not disappointed I had a Ruben which was delicious and my wife had a ham and cheese melts which she also liked very much. They really don't cater to kids and don't have a children's menu which was a bit of a bummer however they did make a ham and cheese sandwich on a roll for my daughter and she loved it. All in all it was a great spot for lunch as we headed out south on the Skyline Drive will stop again if we pass by this way.
(4)Adam O.
Stopped in on a recent weeknight for a work trip out to the Northern Virginia area. Awesome little spot. Really great little selection of wines with some intriguing Virginia specialties. Had a couple glasses of the Meritage (blend of malbec and franc - shockingly tasty). Food was mostly great. Strawberry salad to start was interesting with the addition of pineapple and cranberries but the saltiness/earthiness that the cheddar would have brought may have been more distinct had there been more than a dusting on the plate. Also, not sure about the pineapple, perhaps one fruit too many for a leaf salad. Entree was flat out tasty. In fact, one of the best I've had all year in the form of a braised to perfection lamb shank sitting on polenta and roasted root veg. Seasoned and cooked to perfection. Flawless. Had the bourbon bread pudding for dessert and as an avid bread pudding maker myslef, quite good. All in all, excellent place to eat and a place to search out if you're in a 25 sq. mile area. Top it with prices that would be 50-75% higher in DC and you've got a big winner.
(4)Hj W.
Still a very nice place in Front Royal with an eclectic food menu. My group of friends ordered a wide range of food from their pan-roasted chicken (always a good choice) to the quail, Chilean sea bass (that they correctly label 'toothfish' on the receipt), and other items. Portion size seems to have gone down slightly. I remember the chicken dish being a little more hefty. Wine was very reasonable. I feel like the mark up has inched up but still high quality wines for pretty good prices. Bread pudding was to die for. I make pretty good bread pudding. The bread pudding served was sublime. My bread pudding, in contrast, now feels like cold lumpy soggy french toast after that experience. Still overall a very good deal and something of a steal in terms of food quality.
(5)Jesse V.
I love that the menu changes regularly. The other night we went here for my birthday. I had the Korean Beef Bowl = freaking awesome! So, so good. They had Dark and Stormy's on their cocktail list that night, something you don't often see, I had one and they were right on the money. Delicious. Main course was two quails over a bed of duck and potato hash. Great dish, cooked perfectly, perhaps a little over salted. Dessert was a Mexican Chocolate Cake, it was rich and spicy. Great time, once again at the Element.
(4)Bora P.
Very nice restaurant. Staff is very friendly and the food was phenomenal. I had the salmon with vegetables and peach crisp for dessert. Highly recommended.
(5)Isaac H.
Wow what a jewel in a small town. My business colleague and I were very impressed! I had the New York and my colleague had the stuffed pork loin. We sat at the bar and had a great chat with David (our waiter and bar tender) We both thought he was the owner with his attention to making our experience first class. If you are in the area do not miss this spot for dinner! Loved it all.
(5)dwayne t.
We decided to try Element after reading the reviews on Yelp and the reviews were spot on. We both started with the caesar salad and split an order of mussels w/ white wine butter sauce; excellent call again. The salads both had a respectable salad to dressing ratio to allow for flavor without the dressing being overpowering. The mussels and bread were almost a meal in and of themselves. Mmmm mmmm!!! I had the Horseradish Beef Mignonettes w/ red potatoes and green beans and my date had the roasted quail w/ mushrooms and penne. I had a taste of both and had nothing ill to report, although I think I'd have rathered the quali presentation be less....rustic. Nevertheless, I readily recommend both for the flavor as well as portion. All the way around, the meal was delicious, but keep in mind the dining room is not too large. If there is a wine event the afternoon of your visit, there may be an wait even for an early dinner.
(4)V T.
We only had lunch but the food and service could be very indicative of dinner as well. In short, food was simply excellent. The tomato crab soup was delicious, filled with crab meat. Sandwiches were nothing fancy but the home made bread made them taste better. We also loved the beautiful decor of the small place. The wine selection looked really good, perhaps acquired to cater to the fancier meals upstairs in Apartment 2G which we will definitely try the next time we're back in the area.
(5)Heather U.
I think it would be a cold day in Hell before I can rate Element with anything less than 5 stars. The food is always fantastic and I love the beer and wine selections. It's been over 9 months since my last visit, but I did want to comment with the hopes that someone at Element reads these reviews and may glean a bit of insight. Generally, the service is personal and spot-on. However, my last visit (it's been awhile, to be honest) our server was maybe 18 years-old and had not a clue about the menu. Any time I asked her a question about food, wine, or cocktails, she had to run back to ask someone. She also was not old enough to serve alcohol, so we had to wait for the bartender to have time to serve us. She also guessed (incorrectly) at which cheese what which on the cheese plate. I can honestly say, after working my early 20's in fine-dining establishments throughout California and DC, I have both sympathy for her situation and and total offense that my $300 meal was served by someone who did not know a single details about the menu. This was a complete anomaly of an experience for me at Element, and though I've not been back since, I can only assume it is not an on-going issue. We will be celebrating the birth of baby #2 in a few weeks at Element. So we shall see if this is a persistent concern, or a one night situation.
(5)David C.
Fantastic food -- really unexpected. Can't say enough nice things about the staff. During our dinner they acknowledged that the kitchen was running a little slow and comped our dessert. Class acts! We'll be back.
(5)Serena B.
Hubby and I had a nice lunch here on our way camping last weekend. The space is a bit small, but they really do a lot with it and have a nice menu. The lunch menu contains mostly sandwiches, with a soup and salad option too. I had the curry chicken salad, which was a decent portion, served with chips and a pickle. There was only one server and he was working his butt off making sure all of us diners had everything we needed. The prices are very reasonable too and it was an enjoyable experience overall.
(4)Bryce d.
Excellent food. Recommended. Nicely-balanced, robust flavors. Creative dishes. Bonus points for warm, freshly-baked bread, off the charts delicious, potentially addictive. A jewel in Front Royal.
(4)Kristy M.
Small quaint place but don't be deceived by location. We visited the amazing Skyline Caverns and came here for lunch on a Saturday with our two elementary age children. Right way the server mentioned what they have to kids (Quesadilla or grilled cheese, my youngest ordered quesadilla with turkey and it was huge and delicious) Their half sandwich, salad combo is phenomenal and well worth the $9. Yes, $9! You won't find those prices with that quality of food anywhere in the city. The food is amazing. They make everything from scratch, even their bread. And that come through in the wonderful flavor and freshness. Dessert was amazing as well. All from scratch, we shared the carmel cheesecake, mexican cheescake, and cherry berry crisp..you won't regret any. Their cheescake was my favorite, my son said the flourless mexican chocolate cake was his! Great friendly service. All staff was knowledgeable and so kind!
(5)Bob F.
Located in what appears to be a converted old house ,this very small restaurant steps up with very good food even though the menu is limited.All four in our party enjoyed each course and the accompanying wines.Everything was reasonably priced and the lack of ambiance was more than offset by the quality of the food and preparation.
(4)Dante S.
Stopped by on our drive from Virginia to D.C. for a quick bite to eat. Was craving a fish sandwich of some sort but wasn't on the menu our waiter offered to special order us a salmon baguette with a dijonnase sauce which was delicious. Thank you for satisfying these foodies.
(5)Chip S.
Very quaint boutique restaurant. Attentive service, extensive beer list and a full wine store. The food was well prepared and the presentation was done right. Highly recommend this place.
(5)Dave D.
Wonderful quiet little place. Great value. Professional, attentive, personal customer service. If you are looking for an alternative to the chain resturants, this is a great choice.
(4)Megan J.
Four wine stops and nap later, I'm ready to eat something to keep me quite steady; I'd read about Element and was ready to commit to a hearty meal, perhaps spaghetti. We barely made if before closing time, but our waiter Andrew said it was fine. Pasta with zucchini and shrimps and on the beers they don't skimp, though the mignonettes were simply divine. Element delivers in cozy fashion: small tables and food cooked with passion. Short menu, but enough to not make choosing too tough and a friendly vibe - this is a great spot to crash in.
(4)Nancy D.
My husband and I had a wonderful meal here. I had scallops and he had steak. There were both outstanding! What a find. If I am ever in Front Royal again, you will see me at Element for dinner.
(5)Kate S.
would eat here 500 times over and give it five stars every time. The quail is fabulous!!! The steak was perfect and tender and we only wish we'd had room for the desserts neighboring tables gobbled down!
(5)Katie Y.
The beauty of going through Front Royal to enter Skyline Drive is that you have options of places for a meal before camping. Element is a sweet little restaurant in Front Royal that promises to fill you up with decent but unpretentious meals. This may sound snooty, but in DC I would rate this as a 3 star experience (especially since things like beer still retain DC prices in spite of being well out of the urban area). However, in terms of competition in Front Royal, Element is going to be the best bet, hands down. We had lunch here a few weeks ago. The mister got a Reuben and I had a half sandwich/half soup meal (Royal Ave sandwich and Tomato Crab Dill soup), and we shared a dessert. Service was from a young lady too young to serve us our beers, and while she was sweet, she was very "green" in terms of taking care of clients. There was a lot of flagging down when we needed things, and at one point we just got up and helped ourselves to a set of silverware that never came. The food was good, though, and it hit the spot. The restaurant advertises that they try to source local foods, which made me extra happy (and compelled me to eat here). It's a small cozy place, perfect for groups of 2-4. They do have a nice variety of beer (bottled and a few draughts).
(4)Patricia D.
Delicious! Great service,too. Todd took care of serving the entire restaurant, which he did with kindness, an attitude of service and great speed! He gladly took back my scallops for more thorough cooking, then brought out a new plate of perfectly prepared scallops. I asked him to surprise me with a dessert drink, so he concocted a yummy espresso martini to end the meal. We also learned that he created the fabulous key lime pie with mango coulis. A truly lovely meal , lovely evening.
(5)Sher D.
Maybe it was because it was prom night and the kids all looked so beautiful for their pictures. When they went off to their restaurant, we adults headed to Element, which we'd found on Yelp that afternoon. The website said they didn't take reservations...but they do. We were greeted warmly nonetheless and given the table in the window for our party of four in honor of my daughter's birthday that day. There was funny banter with the maitre d' while the table was prepared--and the wine snob among us checked out the wines in the next room and loved the selections and the prices, which he said were excellent. We each got something different for dinner--mine was the vegetarian selection and theirs ranged from beef to seafood--and we each raved about our choices and wouldn't share, it was that good x 4. I like that it's a small restaurant and the service is excellent. I feel a bit of concern that all these glowing reviews will make it too crowded but this restaurant deserves the attention. And I will make reservations the next time!
(5)Ethan B.
I ended up at Element for a special occasion dinner because of the crazy storm this past Friday wiping out the power at the other restaurant we were planning on going too. Needless to say it was a little disappointing having to drive around searching for an open restaurant but stumbling upon Element was great! The decor was a little lacking; ok so it was alot lacking. There were these weird placemat things that looked like they came from someone great great grandmother's house and had been used for many many years. It was also pretty dark inside and could have been brightened up and modernized a bit. Anyways, the food was ah-maz-ing. I had the pan-roasted chicken with mashed potatoes and I am fairly certain it was some of the best chicken I have ever ordered out. The mashed potatoes were amazing and there was also a side of spinach which was perfectly cooked and amazing with the buttery potatoes and sauce over the chicken. I can't stop thinking about it! We also had the fish tacos as an appetizer which were good but the fish was chopped up a bit to much for me but the flavor was still very good. All the food came out super hot with steam off of it which I really appreciate because think about it, when was the last time you ate out and had hot (not warm) food? I would certainly come back to Element to try out the rest of the menu!
(4)Philip M.
Great food and atmosphere in a quiet, little VA town! A must visit for anyone passing through Front Royal.
(5)Krissy B.
I was excited to try this place because of all the good reviews. After sitting at our table waiting for service for 25 minutes we left. Way to long to wait for drinks and someone to take our order. The place looked steady but not packed by any means. Really disappointed.
(2)Drew M.
This place was delightful. We had a very nice lunch - the food was good and the service was excellent. I will most certainly go back when in the area.
(4)Allan D.
Great food. You'll never be disappointed. Specials are always very good. High quality ingredients prepared and assembled with pride. If you're not from the area, this is a very safe stop. The only complaint I've ever overheard has been from having to wait for service/food on a night where things aren't clicking. But I've never heard any complaints about the food. So if you want great food that is subject to occasional "slow cooking," come here. If you want garbage food that comes out exactly as expected, when expected, then head to the nearest chain restaurant. Oh, and when it comes to dessert, this is one of the few places that I'll ever say "yes please."
(5)Charmaine R.
Stopped here based on the reviews. It did not dissapoint. Excellent food and nice wine list. Also, restaurants like this one with a seasonal menu have a special place in my heart. It's a small restaurant so it's best for couples or small groups. I saw 3-4 ladies enjoying martinis across the room. But definately don't bring your whole family with the jogging stroller! Hubby's pork loin dinner was cooked just right - I didn't like the polenta (too much butter). But I REALLY liked my curried veggies over basmati rice. You know when your food is pippin' hot and you see the delicious steam rise above? Yeah - it was like that.
(4)Keri M.
Looking for a good restaurant in Front Royal, I scanned the Yelp ratings, and discovered Element. It lived up to the ratings. The food was most excellent. I started with GT's Tomato Caprese Salad, a slight variant on the mozzarella and tomato salads from my old NY stomping grounds. The portion was huge; multiple slices of ripe, fresh red tomato along with some halved grape tomatoes, accompanied by several small mozzarella balls intersperced with fresh basil, dredged in balsamic. Light and delicious; if the cheese had been a typical slice, it would've been way too heavy. The main course of choice was the blus cheese crusted mignonettes of beef, with fresh green beans and roasted potatoes. The beef was orded medium, and delivered thusly....perfect. The blue cheese was like a crumble atop the beef, and very flavorful. The potatoes were to die for, and the beans absolutely fresh. Bread was brought at the beginning, a nice warm loaf of some kind of lightly seeded variety, along with an olive oil spice dip. Not heavy and very tasty. I ordered a glass of Rappahannock Chardonnay and, despite being a Virginia vintage, it was actually quite flavorful. All in all, a very good meal. I will be going back again.
(5)Jack R.
Outstanding! There's no other way to describe this place. The food is perfectly prepared, and there is always a varied assortment of beer ready to please your palate. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. Element rivals the best food you will find in NYC, San Francisco, and Boston (all places I have lived and worked). This is by far, the best bite in Front Royal! Don't miss the opportunity if you are only travelling through this area.
(5)Amanda F.
Pros: Food is fresh and handmade. The atmosphere is casual and cosy. Good quality selection of beer and wine. Fajita Steak Salad was very tasty. Focaccia bread offered with dinner is a great way to kick off the meal. Cons: Draft beer is $7, which is a bit high for Front Royal even for a quality brew. The chicken on my salad was dry and bland. The fish tacos are VERY simple, bland and without texture. Seating is a bit tight, some places you feel like you are too close to other guests. Summary: I would return. Would like to try the desserts, they looked tasty. I love that the ingredients are whole foods, that is hard to find in a small town.
(3)Rob G.
Excellent service; prompt and thoughtful. Immediately brought extra of their amazing home made fresh bread as soon as we said it was delicious. My brothers and my dad ordered different dishes and all loved what we got. Wine is pretty inexpensive too compared with mo co prices which was a nice treat.
(5)Erin L.
Element is a 4.5 star restaurant - and one of the BEST you'll find in this area!! Dinner was charming and the cocktails were as good as the food. I licked my dessert plate clean. If in the area, GO. Read my full review, with photos, here! eattalk.net/2012/08/post…
(5)Joe P.
We loved this place. A great small restaurant in downtown Front Royal. Excellent tomato crab soup and chutney chicken salad.
(5)N B.
We stopped here based on the Yelp recommendations. Excellent food, good service, and quaint, homey atmosphere. They don't have a kids' menu, but they are kid friendly and can adapt their dishes for kids. The crab and corn chowder was our favorite, but the salmon and quail were quite good. Make sure that you like dijon mustard if you get the salmon. We enjoyed it, but it is strong. We would absolutely go back - what a nice place to have an excellent dinner!
(5)Patrick L.
Very good. I wouldn't have thought up pumpkin butter salmon on my own-however it was very good. Great little atmosphere with friendly staff. I would definitely go back again!
(5)Josh S.
Unexpected and great find. Extremely welcoming, good for kids, and excellent food. Sandwiches and chili were great. Wine bar / shop in same attached building for pairing with food.
(4)Adrian C.
Great place for dessert! Excelent menu!
(4)Shirley L.
A little gem in a small town. I never expected a restaurant of this quality in this small town. We are from DC and NYC, on our way to do some hiking and stopped by for lunch. This place is small, intimate. The lunch menu is small but the items are fantastic. My boyfriend and I are both vegetarians and what we had (sandwiches and soups) are just perfect. It is usually harder to do vegetarian right but the sandwiches are very flavorful (they make their own bread and spreads.. yum).
(4)Reyna A.
Driving through Front Royal on the way down to Roanoke and had a fantastic dinner at Element, thanks to the recommendations of other Yelpers. Just as others wrote, Element is a hidden gem. It's a cozy little sit-down place, with a small but diverse menu. We had the pan-fried chicken and mashed potatoes, and the Korean rice bowl special. Both were out of this world amazing, and a deal especially by DC standards. The owner/waiter/bartender for the night was very friendly. We'll definitely come back to try the prix fixe restaurant upstairs.
(4)Dominic L.
There isn't a fixed menu but we tried the beef and black bean quesadillas, the grouper, and the shrimp. The first was good, but not great. The other two, however, were fantastic! The grouper was the best I had and I liked the squash they served with it. The shrimp with rice and veggies in coconut sauce was really good. I definitely recommend this place. Delicious food and our waiter was friendly and helpful with suggestions as well.
(5)Sue F.
Stopped in here to kill some time. We had 7pm reservations upstairs at Apartment 2g, but due to the disconnect between when shops in town close and when Apt. 2g opens, we had to kill some time (hmm....I hope this is not strategic on the part of the owners). Anyways, stopped into Element for wine (bought a bottle which we brought upstairs with us) and the Greek appetizer. It was wonderful!! Most people there were eating dinner and my friend and I decided going back for a dinner at Element was a must. So for the wine and Greek appetizer plate, they get 5 stars!
(5)Keith B.
Wow. Great Lunch Spot. Sandwiches are super fresh & made with care. They bake their own bread and it shows. Prices were a great value, especially for the quality of food you receive.
(5)Kevin W.
Food and ambiance were excellent; scallops were delectable and chicken was cooked perfectly. This was one of the best meals we have had in a long time. Even our son who can be fussy at times thoroughly enjoyed his meal. And this was all at a very decent price.
(5)Alaina F.
I live in Front Royal and have frequented this establishment for years. I have eaten at Element and Apartment 2g, their fine dining establishment open only for multi-course meals. Element boasts a large selection of beer and wines that are sure to please any palate. The bread, available upon request, is a rosemary focaccia bread served with gourmet olive oil and balsamic vinegar. All foodies know this is the best way to start your meal - with a fresh piece of fragrant bread. Their selection of appetizers and entrees changes seasonally, as should any sustainable restaurant. Though the entrees and produce change, there are always beef, chicken, fish, and seafood options. Each is created by head chef David Gedney, a true culinary artist. His use of flavors, textures, and spices are unparalleled. Although it can sometimes take a bit longer than a corporate restaurant to receive your food, the wait is WELL worth it. EVERYTHING on the menu is prepared fresh to order - nothing is frozen. I think some forget that fresh food can't just be microwaved and served like frozen food can. Don't leave Element without trying one of Chef Stacy's famous homemade desserts. She creates these from scratch daily and uses seasonal ingredients when available to create masterpieces. The desserts are rich and decadent - even if you aren't celebrating a special occasion when you enter, you will feel like you have when dessert arrives. Each is beautifully plated with fresh ingredients like mint, chocolate, raspberry sauce, and my favorite, a lattice made of honey or caramel. Element is the best choice for fine dining at a reasonable price in Front Royal, VA. It is my #1 recommendation to out-of-towners, family, friends, and the first place we think of when eating out. Thank you David and Stacy for bringing a piece of foodie heaven to our small little town! We are so lucky to have restaurateurs like you showcasing how beautiful and delicious food should be!
(5)Tony J.
We were touring the Front Royal area during lunch so we ended up coming here, since it was highly rated on Yelp. We arrived here on the Memorial Day Saturday for lunch. The restaurant is located in a small rather shabby house along the main Royal Ave. We drove by the place and turned around to park in the rear dirt parking lot. The rear of the building was also shabby and the rear deck dinning was obviously closed. We entered through the front door. The place was not crowded so my party of 4 were seated on the left side facing the front window. The menu was limited to mostly sandwiches. They claimed to bake their own bread products for all their sandwiches so we all ordered sandwiches. We were all not impressed by the bread quality or the sandwiches. Our server seemed to be the owner or related to the owner, since she served our table as well as tended to the bar service. They do have draft beer on tap here, which was a positive. Her service of our table was adequate. Our sandwiches were not so impressive and one of our pickles had a dead bug on it. See my pic. When we left the place was packed with people so maybe we just had a bad experience. I was surprised with the Yelp rating. I probably would not return here.
(2)Matthew F.
Great little place. Second time customer; stopped here for a soup and sandwich lunch the first time and dinner this time. Great dinner and very casual. The chef came out and gave free samples of the blackberry crisp because so many customers were asking about it. While that was great I still went with the excellent bread pudding. Need I say more?
(5)Skylar S.
My reviews consistently touch on two things, food and service. Food usually trumps service on the star level with the exception of this particular review.... We were sat down at 7:15 after a short 10-15min wait in the lounge area(it was a Saturday night in the hopping city of Front Royal) which was pretty quickly in my opinion. Waiter/Host was friendly and accommodating while we were waiting in the lobby area. When we were seated, we were approached by what my buddy Russell described as a "handsome gentleman", who was friendly and quickly took our drink, appetizer, as well as dinner order at that time(7:15ish). We didn't receive our drinks right away as it appeared the staff was a little overwhelmed. In their defense, it seemed busy for a smaller restaurant. I mean, basically capacity on what I would imagine to be their busiest night of the week..... It was literally close to 15 min before we received beverages, and nearly and hour before appetizers arrived! We had just finished a 9.2 mile hike, and even at this point had not complained once even though we were famished. When the appetizers came, they were huge portions, and pretty delicious. I ordered the spicy bulgogi tacos, and they were a bit dry, but very flavorful. The tortillas were cold, so not as pliable as a soft taco should be. The rest of the appetizers, although I did not partake of them, looked good and very large. Thank God they were large, because we wouldn't see our dinners for another full hour and fifteen min or so. At about the one hour, I kindly but obviously frustratingly asked when our entrees would arrive. The waiter basically shrugged us off stating he was sorry but they had a "seven top" and it was slowing service. He also mentioned they only had one cook. I personally felt like I wasn't valued as a "three top". I don't even think we heard an apology at that point, but I can't be sure....When the runner brought our food he basically very apoplectic, and used the words "I know this sucked bad". This made me feel a little better. Food was OK, but not spectacular. I was so hungry, it may not have actually been OK, but for review purposes, everything was cooked, and the meal was hot when it hit the table. We scarfed everything down in about 10 min. We wanted to order dessert, but it was way too risky as we wanted to get to bed by midnight. We finally left the restaurant at 9:50PM. Close to three hours later. I would try this place again on another night, as I think it has potential for a good review, but not today. PS. No discounts were offered, and we tipped a full 20%.
(3)Jiin S.
I remember coming here twice, but I can recall more clearly the second time I came with my parents! We were on our way home from Luray Caverns/Skyline Drive, and needed a quick bite to eat. We came across this cute restaurant and had sandwiches, soup, and dessert. The staff was super friendly and you could tell that there were both regulars and out-of-towners in the restaurant. Regardless, the staff made sure everyone felt welcome! Their dessert selection was amazing. I remember wanting everything, but I opted for the pavlova. It was SO spot on. Definitely one of my favorite desserts. The tomato crab dill soup was also pretty good, but nothing out of the ordinary!
(5)Bethany E.
Best meal I have ever had in The cutest town I've ever seen! Everything phenomenal from the warm bread, Korean tacos, quesadillas, steak entree to the trio of desserts - OMG think I might move here just for them, not too far from RI!
(5)Rachel R.
Stop what you are doing and go to Element right now. Now. We happened upon this little spot en route from Rhode Island to Tennessee, and there is a strong possibility that our next trip will be to Front Royal for the sole purpose of eating here three times a day for a week. All of the staff were fantastic, and the food was crazy good. I had the quesadilla, which turned regular cheese and spinach into a flavor masterpiece. Yum....
(5)Neelam P.
Stopped in here for lunch before getting onto the Skyline Dr. Vegetarian sandwiches were ok, not great. Book Lover's Special - was not a fan of the bread because it was too hard. While biting into this sandwich the fillings fell out because the bread was so hard. Shenandoah Ranger - the bread was delicious, but the rest of the sandwich was just OK. The cream cheese was a bit overwhelming. I wish the menu had more healthy vegetarian sandwich options.
(3)A A.
This is a cool little cozy place that had a great wait staff. The food was tasty, fresh, and satisfying. Until I found hair in it. I had already started on it and wanted to finish because it was good, and when I told the waitress about the hair she didn't offer to get me another one, a discount, a free drink, nothing! She just took the food away and left me alone after that. She only reappeared long enough to bring me the check. Maybe she was embarrassed? But what about me? Now I don't have any food! I'm still hungry! P.S. Parking is hard to find, you have to pull into a little gravel drive that's not marked to the left of the restaurant and park in the rear.
(3)Joseph M.
Really great food. Loved it. Went there for a date night with my wife and we had a great time.
(4)Johnny A.
On recommendation from the hotel concierge i stopped by this place before I flew to south Carolina last Wednesday because I'm always looking for new restaurants to try when on the road. I love Element :) i ordered the pan roasted chicken. The entre came with garlic mashed potatoes and sauteed spinach. Probably one of the best roasted chickens and garlic mashed potatoes I've had in a long time. Reminded me of Mario' s in Astoria Queens - just made perfectly. Im not a dessert kind of person. But i decided to try the chocolate mousse pavlova - amazing. It's a meringue that is filled and topped with chocolate mousse, strawberry coulis, chocolate and caramel sauce. Yes the food here is excellent. The staff and service are friendly and fast. I even met the owners on my way out and they were very very nice and appreciative that I came in on a referal. The decor and vibe really fit the personality of this place. If you're in the area I highly and definitely recommend Element. You won't be disappointed. You'll Be pleasantly surprised ;)
(5)Whoy G.
Actually 3 1/2 stars...Korean tacos were excellent...meat well cooked and tender...pickled veggies and sauce very tasty...would have had them and the wedge salad if I had known...passed on the salad and had beef, red potatoes which were good but not up to the tacos in tastiness...wife had the scallops and a cheese polenta which she loved...then we split the pineapple vanilla caramel cake which was very light and quite tasty...very happy with the meal...only complaint is the old fashioned drink was $13.50 a pop...in center city phila I expect that kind of price...but not in Podunk va(no offense!). We are here till Sunday...probable will come back...
(3)Steven P.
Decided not to stop at the Roy Rogers for late lunch. Yelp! Pointed here. Great call. The tomato crab bisque was to die for. The curry chicken salad divine. Nice vibe. Great price.
(5)Kerri P.
Great lunch spot in Front Royal. I loved the curry chicken salad and the tomato crab soup. The atmosphere was charming and the service was attentive. I would definitely recommend!
(5)Stacey L.
We are local and eat at Element often- it is a small piece of gastro heaven which can be rare in rural areas. The bread comes out warm with a wonderful herbed dipping blend, There are usually several seasonal specialties that are simply amazing, as well as some standard favorites (love the quesadilla appetizer). The wait staff is super friendly and accommodating. Things to know in advance- this is a small restaurant and food is cooked to order. Come ready to have a leisurely time enjoying wine and your company. Also- save room for desserts they are worth every calorie!
(5)G C.
The food was excellent. The ingredients are high quality, good portions and superb taste. The service equally compared to the food. The waitress/bartender was very attentive and cares mostly about customer satisfaction. The restaurant is a bit run down but clean. We drove 15 min off of our route and were absolutely satisfied with the decision.
(5)Emily C.
I visited this restaurant for a date a few weeks ago, that turned out to be a terrific night (in part, due to our experience here.) It was a slow night so we had our choice of seating. To start off, we ordered a bottle of wine, which was immediately brought out, along with a chiller. Their house made bread hit our table next, and I cannot explain with words how delicious it was. We love a place that provides so much house made, fresh, and local food! My date ordered the medallions and I just HAD to try the scallops. The medallions came out large and perfectly cooked and seasoned. However, I have to say I won (not by much) with the scallops dish in front of me. They were seasoned and cooked perfectly, and I swear there had to have been some secret about them that made them taste so delectable. The sous Chef, Turner, came out, personally, to be sure our food was to our liking. Talk about five star service! We decided we could afford some room in our stomachs for some desert, but mainly because they had crème bru le on the menu. The deserts were also house made and came with the most beautiful presentation. One of the best crème bru le's I have had (and it's my favorite..) We don't live that close, but I know I will be asking to make a trip out to Front Royal to try this place again.
(5)Melissa P.
Excellent service on a Tuesday night. The wine special was delicious: Yali Sauvignon Blanc. The homemade focaccia bread was amazing, especially when dipped into the white wine garlic sauce after we devoured the fantastic mussels. I ordered salmon which was really good, & my husband had the chicken which he described as fantastic. For dessert, we topped it off with a melange of 3 options: the mocha pave, cheesecake & the berry crisp. Wonderful!!!!
(4)Rick R.
I yelped Element in Front Royal and it had good reviews so I tried it out. I love this place. We started with bulgogi tacos which were seasoned perfectly Korean but the best part was the succulent beef that was cooked perfectly and melted in your mouth. Then present all that in an appetizer in a flour tortilla? It was a very nice fusion dish. The wine selection was extensive although I just wanted a couple glasses of cab and they were great. We had the cheese plate served on a grey slate shingle--another nice presentation. We ordered 3 entrees. The scallops, quail and the chicken. EVERYTHING was excellent and I highly recommend Element.
(5)Yolit Y.
Black chocolate stout bear and a Ruben sandwich for lunch was great here,very tasty and cosy place!
(5)Kimberly H.
We love this place, our favorite meal is the quail, and they have a wonderful dessert tasting on the menu, where you can get small bites of several different desserts. John P. is a fantastic bar tender/ wine steward and always picks the best bottle for us. Highly recommended. Dark, romantic and very cozy and warm atmosphere. Chef Gedney is amazing.
(5)Valerie S.
Delicious and charming! Be sure to try the Tomato crab soup. Will definitely be returning.
(5)Robin B.
Found Element via a Yelp search while driving on vacation toward the Shenandoah National Park. Interior is quaint and charming. Service very friendly and efficient. Menu is comprised chiefly of sandwiches with two larger meat entrees as an alternative. They also offer their house tomato crab dill soup and a daily special soup. I'm ordinarily hard to please when it comes to ordering meals but EVERY sandwich in their menu sounded wonderful because of the interesting combinations and high quality ingredients used, and all on house baked bread. My husband and I began with the house tomato crab dill soup. It was slightly sweet but with a great zippy tang and terrific texture from the crab and tomato puree. My husband chisel a sandwich made with roast beef, brie, lettuce, tomato, and a horseradish sauce. It was served warm and it was delicious. Excellent quality roast beef was used on the sandwich. I ordered the "Book Lovers Special" (or something to that affect) which was a vegetarian sandwich made with cucumber, tomato, lettuce, avocado, roasted res peppers, a slice of provoke cheese, and an onion tomato spread, all between a house baked herb roll that arrived still warm from the oven. It was SO GOOD. Again, top notch ingredients in ideal proportion. Wish we had an Element near home in Philadelphia!
(4)J. F.
I don't think i can quite go 5 stars on this place (consider this 4 1/2 stars), at least not based on my one visit so far, but it was a very good meal and a very pleasant surprise to find in Front Royal. The service was perhaps a little on the slow side but very personal and courteous. The wine and beer lists were very respectable by DC standards so I would doubt you would find better in Front Royal. They were also quite amenable to requests to modify menu dishes to accommodate our diets.
(4)Aaron M.
Great place in Front Royal! Every time I'm in town I always carve out an evening at Element. The food is wonderful and The conversation is excellent. You won't be disappointed!
(5)Ilene M.
Lunch was excellent with prompt and efficient service. A very unexpected gem in Front Royal!
(5)Dan B.
We stopped off while riding our motorcycle. Fantastic sandwiches, great soup, strong tasty iced tea. Best food in Front Royal.
(5)Ted M.
Very nice food in an unexpected place. We were traveling home from a getaway and looked for Yelp reviews. Elements came up high and gosh yes, Yelpers are right once again. My blue cheese crusted mignonettes were good and my wife's Sherpa's bowl of curried veggies over basmati rice was perfectly seasoned and cooked just right. Our son's roasted chicken was very moist with a lite gravy. The waiter was good. Nice treat if you are passing through Front Royal, VA!
(4)Marc H.
For a small town restaurant, this place is really good. The space is about as small as the menu. Literally, there are four entrees on the menu and about 6 appetizers. While the menu is extremely limited, it all seems to go together very well. I had the oil poached steak with mushroom oyster noodles and the gf had braised beef over penne. Both were mighty fine, and I think the noodles that came with my steak might have been the best noodles I've ever had in my entire life. If I could order a gallon jug of it I would. On the downside, I ordered my steak med-rare and it definitely came out medium, closer to med-well. Oh well. The gf's braised beef was delicious... super tender with a ton of flavor. They have a great wine list and the shiraz-grenache glass they offered was very very nice and highly recommended. Overall this is a cute little place that would make a perfect date spot if you're visiting from out of town to hit Skyline Drive and the Shenanadoahs
(4)Kristian S.
Totally unexpected for a small town. Loved my dinner here-- an argula salad with pecorino and watermelon, and a pasta dish with shrimp and perfectly cooked sea scallops. The servings were on the large side (I prefer a smaller size, so I can leave room for dessert!), but the salad was perfect when shared. Very, very nice wine selection. Had a nice CA zinfandel for $27/bottle. Service was not 100% polished, but on a packed Friday evening with so few servers, I can't even make a legitimate complaint about that. Great place!
(4)Tommy H.
Visited Element last night for the first time and it was without a doubt the best meal and dining experience we have had in quite a while. Highly recommend for a plethora of reasons. Most importantly the meal itself. Give it a shot you will not be disappointed.
(4)Anne S.
We found Element on Yelp as we were traveling our frequent route on I 81 between NY and NC. We loved it! The service was great, as was the wine and the food. We had a mixed green salad with fresh watermelon and cantaloupe and a thai lobster salad to begin and they were both delicious and plentiful. Our entrees were Weiner Schnitzel and Jerk Vegetables in a Carnival Squash. These were fresh and light and flavorful. Then there was the Mocha Pave and espresso - amazing!!!! Our only complaint was that the entrees came out too quickly. Overall, a fantastic dining experience that we will be sure to enjoy as often as possible!
(4)michael w.
My wife and I are fans. We love the fact that we have a cozy nook of a getaway within walking distance of our house to go to that is consistent and reliable. Atmosphere is cozy, service is satisfactory, clientelle are friendly, menu is short, meaning that they have a focused menu; it fluctuates, but if you want a gob of choices you will be dissappointed. I have not identified any must haves there yet that I can remember; but the food is always satisfactory. They do early bird specials that are a good deal, otherwise for a couple figure under a hundred for the usual trimmings. If you are anti-social, you may not care for the seating, very intimate. One thing to note, they do not take reservations. Thanks for being there for us Element!
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