The Anvil Restaurant
1290 W Washington St, Harpers Ferry, WV, 25425
The Anvil Restaurant Menu
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Address :
1290 W Washington St
Harpers Ferry, WV, 25425 - Phone (304) 535-2582
- Website https://www.anvilrestaurant.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Katrina A.
We ate here tonight while celebrating our anniversary. We chose it because it had food options that appealed to me and to my somewhat picky husband. We got friendly service right away. We ordered the appetizer pepperoni pizza, French onion soup, ribeye, and prime rib special. The entrees came with salad and "chef's choice", which was mashed potatoes. --The pizza was delicious. Very, very cheesy and gooey, nice fresh hand shaped crust (we waited a little extra long for them to finish making the dough). The marinara was divine. --French onion soup was delicious. Almost too salty, but not quite, and I would have liked more onion pieces, but the broth was very good. Unfortunately, the good sorta stops there. My husband's prime rib was full of huge chunks of gooey fat, had no seasoned crust, and was so rare in places (despite being ordered medium rare) that several bites were inedible. My ribeye was overly salty (even though I like a well salted steak), and barely seared. It was medium rare as ordered but I think they just tapped it on the grill. The mashed potatoes, which we were told were "out of this world" by our server, looked promising. Red skins and chunks of potato mixed throughout, topped with parsley... But they fell flat. They were gooey instead of creamy. Almost gelatinous. They tasted like salt and nothing. Service was friendly but I waited a while for a water refill. The only salad dressing choices they have are balsamic vinaigrette or cruets of oil and vinegar, but the salads were tasty. The tables were sticky despite being wiped down as we sat. The atmosphere where we sat in the pub area was cute and rustic. Nice and quiet. The gambling room and paraphernalia was odd and brought the place down a bit, but I'm sure it makes them lots of money Two $24+ entrees, a soup, an appetizer, and a mixed drink (they didn't charge for my iced tea) came to $80 before tip. I wish we had stopped at soup and appetizers. We would have left happier.
(3)Nik G.
The anvil was very close to where we stayed and we wanted to try it for dinner. I went with my father and he wanted to order a drink. We were told that they had to check IDs (mind you, this is for my father) and I found that surprising and asked if it was a town policy because he did not look young! They said it was specifically for their restaurant and I let it slide because we were new to the town. Later on, there was another couple sat very close to us and was at hearing distance from me. While taking their drinks orders, I noticed that none of them were carded or asked to. While I don't want to judge, unfortunately the only difference I could see was that the couple next to us was white skinned while we were brown. We still tipped high for the hospitality and food (which was very very average). Wouldn't want to start another stereotype that we don't tip enough! I really hope that the card policy is true for the hotel and this was a misunderstanding but it definitely didn't make me feel comfortable. In terms of the food, only the shrimp starters was good. The chicken caprese was average.
(1)Jarrett N.
Hearty fare is what customers can expect to find at this roadside restaurant. I dined on the chicken cordon Bleu tonight. Accompanied by potato au gratin, it was a meal that stuffed me, yet I made room for chocolate molten cake for dessert. What the Anvil lacks in decor (the restaurant resembles your tacky aunt's home, complete with fake flowers and homespun country tables and chairs) it more than makes up for in service. Amanda, our waitress, proved her mettle, servicing my party of nine with a sweet, welcoming demeanor. She was efficient, organized, and focused. Future diners, tip her well. Although I can't say I was impressed with the Anvil it is a solid restaurant that offers slightly above average comfort food. Give it a try.
(3)Dale K.
Had our dinner out tonight had been driving forever & was looking forward to a great meal. The service was great the meal NOT!!! Steak was TOUGH & couldn't chew it not matter how you cut it! Our meal for two was $70.00 not including the 20% tip. Just sayin'! One star is to much credit! Depressing what you spend on a meal! Went away hungry
(1)Charlie B.
This restaurant was across the street from our bed and breakfast so we decided to check it out on a Friday night at around 7:30 pm. The bar was empty, and there were about 3 other couples in the dining area. Most restaurants close at 9pm in Harpers Ferry(also 9pm on Weekends), including The Anvil. I personally liked the ambiance of the old school bar/tavern like area. The dining area is pretty outdated and nothing to talk about. Food: The wings were pretty good, with the chicken dish being pretty underwhelming. My wife had the Tuna steak which she enjoyed. The potato and cheese side dishes were very tasty. Our waitress was also very friendly and accommodating. Be prepared to finish your meal at about 8:30 pm or you will feel like you are kindly being rushed out of the restaurant. Being a very small town with everything closing at 9pm, including the bars, make sure you schedule accordingly.
(3)Sandy U.
Hi, ate here last nite. Was dying for a crab cake. Was dissapointed after reading the good reviews on their crabcakes. They we're ok, more filler than expected, and the crab tasted old. Had a very strong/fishy taste. My friend is vegetarian, there was only one thing on the large menu that he could order. Pasta with tomatoes and garlic. It looked good but I didn't try it. Good note the service was inpecable we had a wonderful time. I would defiantly go again and try something else. Sat by the window, there is a closed off gaming room. Folks kept coming in and out. The cigarette smoke smell that came out each time the door was opened was overwhelmingly bad. Just an fyi.
(4)Kelly W.
We arrived around 830p on a weekend - Anvil was still open (a strong positive point for this review!), unlike other Harper's Ferry restaurants. You could tell staff wanted to close soon (despite the website saying they were open until 10). Sat in the bar area and appreciated the baseball games featured on their TVs. Fast service. Food just meh - I had an unremarkable, tasteless burger; my husband liked the chicken sandwich. French fries are the skinny frozen kind and were slightly underdone. 3 stars. Average food. An ok option for a Harper's Ferry meal.
(3)Dave L.
Even though The Anvil is not a super cheap Eating estAblishment, I personally and honestly think that the food and drink are still super good and delicious. The professional wait staff always friendly and helpful plus they always aim to please. super
(5)Karen B.
Best crab dip in the Mid-Atlantic, hands down. Also probably the only restaurant in Harpers Ferry that is open after dark and serves alcohol - unlike some others in town.
(4)Mike H.
This was the perfect place after a day of kayaking on the river. It's a good atmosphere and our waitress was great. There was a good choice of beer, and local beer, and the fresh tortillas chips were great. I ate a burger which was very good.
(5)Jeff K.
After glancing through the reviews already posted, I won't waste more time trying to be eloquent with a CIA degree'd opine on this operation....so let me just add to watch your change. When paying my bill the waitress kept some of the change for herself using the excuse they don't deal in "change" and round up - in their pockets' favor. In this case it was $1.21....asked for a mgr, a waiter came to the table trying to explain with the same poor "no change" excuse (what about the $1 bill?). Asked again for a manager, waiter says they asked him to take care of it.....now insisting that I speak to a mgr a person dressed and appearing to be a cook came out from the kitchen and agreed with my complaint. By that point I had had enough and departed; the waitress got the $1 as she did return the $.21. What a mess...
(1)Jack H.
Slow, disjointed service, odd menu -- our salad was obvious made days in advance and had wilted, mushy lettuce; our first round of beer was almost warm, our French fries were under cooked and the pasta was just ok. Not much too be positive about
(2)Jimma J.
I should have trusted my gut and the other negative reviews. I suppose that on a different day that maybe The Anvil could be good, but it must be one of those pay to eat well kind of places. This restaurant is so out of place in a town the truly lives simple. What is this place in an ancient building doing trying to be fancy? The menu reads like a hyped up downtown metropolis eatery and the prices are the same too. EVERYTHING on this menu is severely overpriced. Of course if you want the steak or fish dinner, you're paying typical prices of a non chain restaurant but after the selection of food that we had, I can already tell that the expensive entrees would be just as underwhelming as everything else we tried. The French onion soup was over salted and was probably bought from the store and how do you mess up steamed mussels and steamed shrimp? For the mussels, I understand trying to keep the integrity and genuine flavor of the mussels but the broth was begging for garlic, salt, white wine, anything that could work with the mussels. I would say that the mussels were screaming for flavor but they were so overcooked that they couldn't scream out. I turned to the shrimp for redemption, but I was let down once again. I kept finding more and more different spices and herbs on them that it seemed like they just threw the entire spice rack in with them. Lastly, the generic, store bought cocktail sauce. Im sorry to say that it's not worth the trip. I think The Anvil needs to rethink their identity and just reboot as something entirely new because this current format is not working.
(2)Paul R.
#comewalkawaywithme This is one confusing place. And not in a particularly good way. Confusion is good when you have a sense that even though you may not be in control, the people running the show are. Well, my best guess is either they aren't, or their sense of hospitality is entirely different from mine, which could be entirely true. *** As I walked into the place, I saw a pub, a manager-looking lady on her phone next to a dark, depressing bar, and a dining room behind it. No host stand; you had to walk back to the dining room to get that. No greetings, just a server who seemed rather disinterested in seating me. I feel like it shouldn't be my job to flag down someone whose job it is to be welcoming and who clearly doesn't have any tables actively dining. Oh well. The decor was a little disjointed: old timey bottles and collectors' plates just underneath a Jimmy Buffet Blvd. tin sign. Them floral curtains over the windows and Halloween decorations, already up. But the most confusing part of all was the menu. Most entrees over 20, most apps over 12, and bread service available by request only. I ordered a Caesar salad and crab cake sandwich, total cost, $20. What is being communicated by that price point is that the food being served here is more valuable than most of the high-end restaurants in a place like Philadelphia. Uh, no. Caesar salads do not live on shredded romaine and croutons alone. One tiny crab cake on a huge SYSCO-special roll seems a little out of proportion. Seasoning? Meh. We don't need that when we're just frying the $&1t out of things, right?! I'm sure there are people who will pay that price for an average dinner, but I won't in the future. And that's why the rating is lower because of pricing, service, and ambience.
(2)Cindy E.
My fiance and I stopped in for a quick drink or 2 and an appetizer on a Sunday after running part of the C&O Canal and doing some shopping in the historic town of Harper's Ferry. We didn't feel like any of the crowded touristy places down the hill, so we drove for a mile or 2 before we stumbled upon The Anvil. It was shortly after 5 pm and only had 2 other patrons that we could see. We took a seat at the bar and was greeted by I think the bartender. He gave us menus right away and asked what we would like to drink and informed us that happy hour had just started, $1 draft beers. SOLD! After a day of running in the hot sun $1 drafts was music to my ears. After looking at the menu, we ordered the steamed shrimp and the house made tortilla chips and salsa. The steamed shrimp was what you would expect and they were tasty, coated in Old Bay and served with a lemon slice and cocktail sauce. The house made chips and salsa were AWESOME! I was not expecting them to be as good as they were. Salted perfectly and the salsa was very flavorful and fresh. I could have eaten 2 whole ordered of those babies myself. But I refrained. So after a few beers and 2 appetizers, our bill came and was $24. SCORE! I will be back, and bring friends, next time after a day of kayaking on the water. Food, beverages, service, and pricing were all on point.
(4)Terri H.
What can I say? Townie bar/divey feel, but good food and friendly folks. Parking is either on the street, or in a lot across the street. Watch for the sink hole in the parking lot! They have it caution-taped and blocked, and I am sure they will be on that shortly. There were 5 of us, and it was a Thursday evening so the place was not that busy, and we did not need reservations. Our server was new, we were her third table but service was solid. The food was good. Really, really good. I had the portabella mushroom with cheese, tomatoes and pesto and the Maryland style crab soup. Both were flavorful and excellent. I had a bit of one of my friend's crab cakes... and they were very, very good, full of crab meat and not filler. Another friend had the shrimp and scallop crepes, and I had a bite of that too, and they were FANTASTIC. I know what I want to order my next visit! Prices were reasonable, and the portions were good. Definitely a place I will return to in Harpers Ferry my next visit!
(4)Heather S.
Cool period decorations at the casual restaurant with awesome home made tortilla chips!
(3)Spencer C.
Since we were in town on a romantic getaway, we were looking for a nicer place to eat one night, and given the lack of decent restaurants in Harper's Ferry, this is about it. The restaurant is divided into three sections - the bar/causal area in front, the more formal dining room in the middle, and an enclosed porch at the back. We showed up late on a Saturday evening and chose to sit on the back porch, which we had to ourselves. (There were a decent number of people in the other two areas.) Our server was a bit newer on the job and it showed, but was attentive and very friendly. I'm vegetarian and had checked to see that they had a few options available, which were decent, if not particularly memorable - except for the "Hippie" moniker given to the veggie sandwich and pasta. A lighthearted title, perhaps, but a subtle nod that a plant-based diet is far from mainstream in West Virginia. ;-) Nonetheless, both my wife and I were satisfied. The French Onion soup hit the spot as an appetizer (especially along with their perfectly warm and crisp rolls) and the potatoes au gratin that came with the entrees (as the "starch of the day") were fabulous. Probably the best part, to be honest. We pretty much shut down the restaurant since we arrived so late, but didn't feel rushed at all, even as the staff were cleaning up and closing down other parts of the restaurant. All in all, a good meal, nice ambiance and a decent value. (Our hotel had coupons for $5 off a second dinner entree, which you can also print yourself from the Anvil's website.)
(4)Emily C.
One of the wait staff mentioned that since they hired their new Italian chef, the quality of their Italian dishes had gone way up, and after ordering the specials (both Italian dishes), we say, "Bravo!" However, the rest of the main dishes were limited if you don't like seafood, like us. The place itself was not impressive, the decor and ambience felt rather mom and pop like, but our server, Christian, was excellent and the chicken masala (a great plate of fettuccine topped with buttery mushrooms and perfectly seared chicken) and the rustic sausage and peppers (a sweet heat and savory marinara linguine dish) were quite good. Side salads (that came with the entrees) were also good, but the homemade chips and salsa were lacking in crunch and flavor. Paid $42, before tip, for two entrees with salads, and an appetizer.
(3)John F.
First let me say that if I could give negative stars I would. The word restaurant or food and this place should never share the same sentence, paragraph, or universe! Pre-frozen pre packaged 'prime rib' had to be sent back because they don't know medium rare from well done was covered in a onion/beef type water which was the best thing about the meat. The potatoes were luke warm. The 'chicken cordonblu (yeah the spelling's wrong but it matches the thing presented!) The coffee creamer curdled. The 6oz Coke was a joke. The food came out in shifts (party of 8) - one person got his food as others were finishing. The waitress was very friendly but obviously overwhelmed with such a large group and another table of 3 in the dining area. The crab cakes? Good stuffing. The bill - 1 beer, 1 vodka on the rocks, 1 coke, 1 coffee, 1 salmon (with a 1/4 cup of soggy vegetables, 1 chicken & 1 'prime rib' - $100. Bottom line - going to the Exxon station between the rivers will provide you with better food than this place & won't rob your wallet.
(1)Elizabeth E.
Their homemade chips are good. The end. Food is mediocre and the prices are absolutely ridiculous. Nothing special about this place. Go pretty much anywhere else in Harpers Ferry.
(1)Angie D.
This is such a nice restaurant, lovely location in Harpers Ferry, and a menu that offers a wide variety that will suit everyone's taste buds. The prices are a little higher than what some may be used to in this area, but you are getting what you pay for in this case.
(4)Rey H.
-5 STARS Well 1st of all.... We did not even get to eat at this place due to getting rude service or better yet no service...we walked in on very slow Wednesday afternoon when there were only 2 tables in the restaurant...there were 5 of us so we asked if
(1)PJ O.
My WV trout with pecans/sauce was delicious! My crab cake was also very nice and tasty! My friend, who has a simple boring palate, wasn't amused with her dish. My food was 4 stars; Hers much less according to her. Service staff was ridiculously understaffed for dinner crowd. Our young waitress was still great despite being busy (and despite having grouchy bar tender/waitress boss snarling at her)
(3)Anon A.
My wife got crab cakes and enjoyed, I got WV rainbow trout, and unfortunately didn't read the description too clearly. It arrived breaded, slathered with maple syrup. That's right, like what you put on pancakes. Being a hardy eater I powered through it, but dessert fish is not something I can recommend, especially for $20. Homey atmosphere. Decent service. Good beer selection.
(3)Nancy D.
I was there for lunch and the food was just okay. The restaurant had a very stale odor and the ladies room seemed to have an odor and leaking toilet. I would never go back.
(2)S S.
Horrible. Let me first start by saying we were in no hurry. We were in HF to relax while my mom was in town for vacation. However... When we arrived, my mom went inside to alert the staff we would be sitting outside at one of the two patio tables since I had a small dog with me (leashed). We waited 15 minutes and nobody had come to greet us, take our drink orders, or give us a menu. A waiter came out to serve the other patio table and I stopped him and politely asked if he could send someone out to bring us waters and menus. We waited ANOTHER 15 minutes with absolutely NOBODY coming out to ask us a thing. Never in my life have I seen an eatery who doesn't bring you a menu, water, or take your drink order in 30 minutes. I've gone to trashy, packed college bars in my youth who give better service. We were repulsed and left after 30 minutes of politely waiting and two times asking for service. They were nearly empty, so it wasn't a lunch rush or where they were understaffed for such a time. 30 minutes with nothing is just unbelievable and unacceptable.
(1)Darrell L.
I have been here many times before and there are some things I like and some that are just terrible. Their French onion soup is great and so are their crab cakes. I did order a steak once and it was the worst that I have ever saw. It was the color of a pork chop and had no flavor. The server was great and offered me a different dish for free and that one was fine. I would say stick with seafood dishes if your going to eat here.
(3)Victoria Z.
The Anvil is full of that small town feel with the absolutely beautiful surroundings of Harpers Ferry. When you first enter there is a separate slot machine room to your left and you are in the "pub" section of the restaurant. That section was completely packed so were sat in another room which had a very grandmother's house feel to it. It was very frilly looking but had some interesting old newspaper prints framed upon the walls. There was another large room, which looked as if that's where they have the banquets. It would have been great if they had outdoor seating. Our server was exceptional, very friendly and helpful. We started with some freshly made corn chips and queso dip which was delicious. My boyfriend had the harvest chicken (chicken with sliced apples and caramelized onions) which he loved. I was in a cheeseburger mood and ended up pretty disappointed. It was a very thin, basic burger and the fries were nothing to call home about. We didn't stay for dessert, but I recall the selection being slim. I do remember there being key lime pie on the list, however, which I'd love to try. In the end the ambiance was great and I look forward to having something different on the menu.
(3)Hj W.
The prices are modest, so it's going to sound weird saying that the food was overpriced. It's overpriced for what you get, which is subpar food. Their crab cakes are actually very good, but for $10, the crab balls are a total rip off. Their brioche for their sandwiches isn't brioche. Their trout is just flash fried with no flavor. The main server gal was really nice and seemed flustered even though we were the only patrons in the restaurant, inexplicably running back and forth through a large, cavernous, outdated restaurant, most of which we weren't allowed to sit in, per the gruff man sitting in the main dining room. The waitress behind the bar rolled eyes at us when we made a request. She had the activity level of a slug and pretty much failed in every metric in terms of service. This is a restaurant that could have been an okay experience, but you get service worse than most McDonald's with food that just isn't that great.
(1)Jon D.
The ambiance was great, the service was slow (which was expected) and the food wasn't at all good. I had the vegetarian mushroom sandwich which tasted like it came nuked from Costco. Better options are to be had at the bottom of the hill at the tourists spots in Harper's Ferry. Next time I would hit them up and wait in line rather than pay for Anvil's overpriced mediocre food.
(2)Dorothy J.
We had the best dinner at the Anvil for my mom's birthday. We were visiting from NYC and our server (also from New York) was absolutely wonderful! He was friendly and had great advice on the food. He really knew his stuff. The food was great, especially the salads.
(5)Elissa B.
I ate here recently with my parents while staying in Harpers Ferry. I appreciated that they had a couple of non-meat options on the menu. Both my father and I ordered the hippie sandwich (a portobello mushroom sandwich with lettuce and tomato). We asked them to omit the secret sauce and perhaps it was dry and somewhat mediocre because of that. There were two other portobello dishes on the menu which seemed a bit much. My father also ordered a french onion soup which he said was better. My mother had the crab soup and crab balls which seemed to be to her liking. The service wasn't particularly charming but polite enough. I have had similar experiences in other establishments in West Virginia and rural Pennsylvania. I assume it's because I'm an out-of-towner asking for "weird" things (like stuff to be left off my order). There's a gambling room to the left of the entrance for those who are into that sort of thing.
(3)Maggie E.
The service was friendly, but I'm not sure I can say anything else all that positive. If the food was fresh it didn't taste that way, and everything tasted off (too fishy, too salty, tinny, etc.). I probably wouldn't even have written a review if I wasn't put off by the fact that we left hungry and paid D.C. prices for that experience.
(1)Rohan P.
The Anvil is...by far, ...THE best restaurant in Harper's Ferry. Ok, so it may be the only real restaurant in Harper's Ferry, but that doesn't make my statement any less accurate. Starving after a full day of tubing on the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, we were driivng into the town of Harpers Ferry for some grub. The Anvil stands out not only because it appears to be the only non-ice cream shop or convenience store in which to eat, but it is quite charming on the outside, and nice and homey on the inside. There are flat screen TVs tuned to ESPN, a full-service bar, and even a gambling room with Keno and slot machines caddy cornered up to the Anvil. You can access this from the bar area if you choose. We did not, but the people who did looked as if they were having a decent enough time. I ordered a delicious chicken sandwich with grilled onions and bleu cheese. It was served on a croissant and soooo good. My fellow tuber ordered the "Hippie Sandwich" which as far as I can tell was only for hippies because it replaced any normal sandwich meat with a nicely cooked portabello. Also very good. But the real treat was the happy hour special from 4-6 on Wednesdays through Saturdays, which we were fortunate enough to take part in. 50 cent Michelob Lite Drafts!! Wow, I was floored when I got the bill. I just assumed our beers would cost at least $20, ...not $3 for 6. Yes, I'm sure it helped that we were so hungry after paddling around all day. And yes, the cheap beers made me happy. But the food also made for a very good lunch, and if I'm ever in Harpers Ferry again, you can bet the Anvil is getting a visit.
(4)Jen P.
This place talked about seafood but the only seafood was crab meat in stuff. The food was horrible and overpriced for the size and quality. We will not come back or even think about giving it a second chance.
(1)Dc L.
This restaurant was a great find for two last minute visitors to Harpers Ferry. The wings were awesome and a good beers selection. Entrees were good as well. We're fans!
(4)Khue N.
this is a little country diner type establishment. the decor is country and tacky. prices are highly inflated because tons of tourists go through harper's ferry. i had the cheese burger and the maryland crab soup. the crab soup was ok--homemade--didn't have too much crab to speak of. the burger came out with lettuce that was all wilted (it wouldn't have killed them to use fresh lettuce) and the meat tasted OFF--like the patty had accidentally thawed and then spoiled, but then they refroze it and decided to cook it and serve it. GROSS. the only good thing about this place was the server who was nice and attentive. the chef here must be retarded though 'cause he doesn't know how to make a decent burger. don't come here--that is the only sensible piece of advice i can give.
(1)Andrew W.
The food was average at best but I will go back. Why? $87 for 2 including wine, soup, salad, main course 1 after-dinner drink and tip. Charming setting and nice atmosphere. Reasonable selection. BUT first the food: 1) French Onion soup was OK but used mozzarella or non-onion-soup cheese. Salad was a bunch of lettuce leaves with 2 slices of unpeeled cucumber and dressing on the side (BUT the good - at least they were baby greens and fresh from the market!, and the blue cheese dressing had a chunk of cheese in it!). Crab lump over pasta with white sauce tasted like the sauce was out of a package. Chicken with zucchini was healthy but lifeless and boring. Probably a better choice would have been the prime rib special but we do not eat beef. NEXT the service: Perhaps Renee at the bar had a bad day but she did not say hi or by, did not smile and while the service was not "bad" per se she sure did not make you want to come back. Our server Rachel was charming and nice BUT she put the cork back in the red wine bottle and wrapped it in a cloth the way you should for a chilled white wine - she did not know better. And while her service was wonderful through the main course our request for coffee a liqueur led to complications and with her two other tables of 10 and 4 meant that is was 30+ minutes before something drinkable (barely) arrived. NOT TO MENTION: Why put a paper table cover over a nice tablecloth? The silverware was dirty (we wiped rather than sending it back), and it seems that the bar does not properly re-seal their liquor bottles thus alcohol will evaporate. If you drink recommend beer, your own wine bottle OR drink something popular that will not have been left open for days. SO WHY COME BACK? The quaint airy dining area is charming (cross between farmhouse and upscale room if that is possible!) and the bar area is nice too. And Rachel really was nice even if not a DC-level service professional. Plus I live nearby and the prices are reasonable (many wines for under $20 although frankly the Pinot Noir was only fair!). So this is something of a schizo review but what can I say? Enjoy...
(3)Danielle F.
Pretty good, and I get the impression, pretty much the best available in the Harpers Ferry area. The restaurant is divided into two - the front is a cozy German-styled pub, and the back is a slightly stuffy, carnation pink table clothed sort of dining room. All of the food was pretty good, and the service was great. We started with the chips and queso (chips were clearly fried just that day), teh french onion soup, which was good, if a bit salty, the salmon with dill sauce, and a pretty decent pasta. Nothing spectacular, but everything was solid, and it was a nice place to grab a dinner in a small town.
(4)Kiki R.
Give it a pass. Our server was very nice but the food was uninspiring and maybe a little bit weird. We actually discussed walking out and going to McDonald's but chickened out and decided to order the chips and salsa and a pizza - two things that are pretty hard to mess up. They were both just sad and weird. The chips were fried that day but tasted like they'd shared oil with the fried crab balls. The pizza had that same oily taste. The decor hasn't been updated and possibly even cleaned since the 80's. It was cheap but we both have a food headache even three hours later.
(1)Anderson M.
I think we stopped here because it was the first restaurant we saw. Bad idea. There were plenty of cars down the street at the next location and one outside the anvil. That should have been a sign. The server was snarky and slow. Not once apologizing or giving some form of explanation as to why our food was taking forever. We had to get the check from another server. The whole process of ordering, eating and paying took a few hours. Eating took about 10 minutes. At no point were there more than 2 other tables in the restaurant. The food was subpar at best. Bland. I think there may only be a lemon-pepper seasoning and old bay in the kitchen. Definitely overpriced. But hey, they have slot machines! Oh right, we were looking to eat a decent meal, not gamble. So, nevermind.
(1)Rick A.
Food took forever to arrive. Chicken was tough and looked like it was leftovers. My wife's seafood dish was luke warm and they forgot the marinara, when they brought it out it was cold. People were nice but service was mediocre at best.
(1)Erin P.
Two words- pretty awful. Table sticky. Service atrocious. (It's always nice when the server rolls her eyes when you order!) Haven't gotten food OR WATER in the 20 minutes I've been here. also, repeated requests for said water were ignored. The server claimed she was slammed - there were FOUR TABLES. After reading the reviews, I was looking forward to stopping here for lunch. Unfortunately, I should have gone the extra 15 minutes into charles town.
(1)Matt K.
I have visited the Anvil many times over the years. The food is always excellent and I have always enjoyed the company. The Smith's do a great job!
(5)Julia M.
The Anvil is actually one of the better restaurants in the county and with far more character. I find it endlessly cool that it's been in business almost thirty years and in a hard-to-find spot. The atmosphere is truly charming, harkening back to an old European pub, but having character uniquely its own. Eat anything crab that they serve - crab sandwich, crab cakes, crab soup. It's all excellent. The salads are also good and the pizza fantastic. My husband- who is not a vegetarian- goes specifically for their veggie pizza and has never been disappointed. I've enjoyed every meal there. The service is good, as well- usually very prompt and pleasant, but they don't linger making random conversation, which I appreciate. The beer is also great- I love enjoying a cold Mountaineer Blonde Lager when I visit. Prices are good- I don't think we've ever spent over $45 for a meal including drinks and dessert. They also offer takeout for all their food, catering, and hosting larger parties. One thing I will caution: they have very specific hours that aren't great- closed Mondays and usually only open til 9 or 10 the rest of the time. The Anvil is and will remain a hometown favorite.
(4)Ju L.
Pros: Rustic interior design. Slot machines. Local brews available after 1300. Informative staff. Cons: European sized portions. Food was mediocre.
(3)Robert B.
As always, whenever I'm in West Virginia, I try to swing by the Anvil. The service is always excellent, and the food is top notch. It's a bit off the beaten path, yet not near the rest of the Harper's Ferry restaurants, so it's spared all of that problem. The place is cozy and perfect for business meetings or that romantic dinner. It's highly recommended.
(4)Tom K.
Get Out and Go Tours dined ay the Anvil as we usually do, and arranging for the group was easy, restaurant flexibility as our group was late was super, food tasty, and group price was in-budget. Renee and Ann have served us effectively over the years. Try it.
(5)Zee B.
This wasn't our first choice for dinner but we ended up here without knowing what to expect. It was dark and cozy, we sat in the bar. The menu is so...succinct. It didn't draw me in, entice me, capture my imagination--whatever. I set my expectations low and ordered the crab balls for an appetizer, Harvest Chicken for me, Prime Rib for husband. The crab balls were amazeballs!! Wow, they were just seasoned crabmeat, no filler, delicious and perfectly fried (not greasy). Made me wish I had ordered the crab cake entree. Salad was fine. Our wait time was reasonable, portions were generous. My Harvest Chicken was fantastic! Flavorful and rich, cooked in apple cider with apples and onions, served with mashed potatoes. Husband enjoyed his Prime Rib which was cooked to his preference (med. rare). I honestly haven't stopped thinking about that chicken dish, tried to find a similar recipe online. Overall--reasonably priced, good service and delicious food. I would definitely return!
(4)Marc R.
Good solid choice in Harper's Ferry. The pizza was a solid choice -- off the kids menu but big enough to share. Nice flavored sauce on that. The salads weren't bad. The food was tasty, atmosphere quaint, and service friendly. Prices were a bit high for the quality of the food, but... it is a bit of an oasis in a desert of food options in that area, probably.
(3)Bertha C.
Very friendly staff! Good food and ambience. A nice place to eat and drink in Harpers Ferry.
(4)Elise Y.
We had an enjoyable (albeit avoiding traffic motivated dinner) at the Anvil this weekend. By no means earth shattering but decent food in a nice setting. Crab balls were ok but had some filler. I had a flounder sandwich that was quite tasty and the derby pie was sugary goodness. Got the job done after a hot afternoon in Harper's Ferry.
(3)Michael O.
Terrible food! Crab cake dinner should not be called crab cakes at all, maybe 2 pieces of crab in both crab cakes, all filler and no flavor. Girlfriend got petite filet which could have passed for old shoe leather, totally not edible. Bad food and overpriced! Stay away!
(1)Janet F.
Very good! Everything was delicious!
(4)Heather L.
For the price, I expected better. The waitress was nice but didn't get our order right and we were one of two tables. The Reuben was great but the other sandwiches were very very small. I wanted more from this charming place.
(2)Leslie W.
My boyfriend and I ate here during a romantic get-away to Harper's Ferry, WV. We were just in town for the night and were looking for a slightly more upscale dining experience. The service was excellent. Our waitress was very sweet and helpful. Our food was great! The wine was good. The atmosphere was wonderful. We were there on a cold February night. Inside was candle-lit, warm, with a fire going. It was not too crowded but not empty.
(4)Renee P.
One word: Blah. The place is cute, but the food was not good. It wasn't 'bad', just super bland. We got Salmon, Harvest Chicken, and Chicken Picata. All 3 were less than good.
(2)David M.
So-so. Wasn't crowded but we had to wait about 8 minutes to be seated. My glass was dirty. Crab soup was pretty good, burger was so-so. I wouldn't go out of your way to come here.
(2)Sandy B.
I have for many years ate at the Anvil- it used to be good! For the first time, my food was horrible. The steak was tough, overcooked and tasteless. The baked potatoe- despite being sent back TWICE was undercooked in the micowave. No bread was served. 'Manager' would not face me. I will NEVER go back, and will be SURE to tell many, many folks whom I work with in the town- don't go there. They'll tell their friends and so on.. DO NOT EAT here. Go to Shepherdstown, or eat at La Mezzaluna. Avoid at all costs.
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