Zynodoa Restaurant in Staunton - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

This was a delightful experience all-around. This is an excellent farm-to-table restaurant. We were there as it opened so we had the place to ourselves for a short time, but it quickly filled. Meals were delicious and we had dessert which is rare for us. I could’ve had a few more blackberry smashes, that’s how good they were. Will be back.

What a find while on our way to Frankfort, KY. Amanda the bartender said that Zynodoa has been in business about 18 years but it looked new. Wonderful small menu with great choices. Sat at the bar and had starters. Gazpacho was to die for. Looking forward to another visit.

Layla was amazing. This place has the best food and drinks. The atmosphere is also very fun. This is a staple every time we come to town.

The food was delicious and service was spot on. A really nice evening at a great restaurant.

Small plates, high prices, and great food.

Really great restaurant, the food was excellent and the staff were all very friendly and attentive. We did their chefs tasting menu and finished every bite off of our plates.

Best meal of the weekend. Exceptional service, food, drinks, and wine. It is truly an outstanding experience. There were four of us. Each had a different entree. All of us were overwhelmed by the flavor, creativity, and plating. Very attentive service by a waiter who was knowledgeable about the menu and proud the food. The bartender made several delicious drinks. A couple of us were impressed by the wine available. This restaurant is worth making a special trip to revisit.

Really great meal from start to finish. Highlights were the smoked fish dip, rock shrimp, gazpacho, and ny strip. Wonderful service also. Already looking forward to our next visit!

Best steak in town! Staff is wonderful! Still the best steak in town, maybe all of VA!

Gourmet meals with excellent presentation and imaginative combinations of flavors. Staff polished and courteous.

We had a pleasant dinner here, sitting outside on a warm evening in June. The device was awesome and very attentive. The warm bread basket kicked things off with a tasty start. Entrees were perfect, we had scallops and skirt steak. Didn't stay for dessert. A tad pricey but worth it.

What a beautiful dining experience. Comfortable seating, fabulous service and delicious food. We chose the tasting menu with the wine paring and it was a delight. Interesting tastes and textures through the meal and the chocolate cake was a delicious surprise.

Loved the concept but the execution was awful. The steak was supposed to be medium well but it was more like medium rare. I will say they offered to take it back but at that point it had already been in an hour since we sat down that the food came out, so we were starving. The steak also was a small portion covered mostly in fat. The steak and side of potatoes were drenched in salt (I like salty food, but this was excess salt). The cornbread was average. And the risotto was a poor excuse of a risotto. I will say the service was friendly. But unfortunately that doesn’t make up for the awful food. Disappointed and will not be coming back.

Was in Staunton and was looking for a place that could handle my food restrictions. Zynodoa fulfilled all my needs and then some. Service was EXCELLENT- comparable to Michelin star restaurants. I had the tasting menu with a dessert substitution. The star of the meal was the cucumber with cucumber consommé- well balanced and perfectly seasoned. The scallops in the 2nd course were also nicely done and the flourless chocolate tort for dessert was sinfully rich. The only disappointment was the Wagyu steak entree. It came medium as I ordered but was so tough I could barely chew it. I think their meat purveyor pulled a fast one on them. Am going back again tonight because my overall experience was upscale.

Possibly one of the tastiest steaks I have ever had. Great food. great service. Thank you

We were a group of seven and they rearranged the tables into a square so we could all talk rather than the usual long rectangle where talking to the people at the far end of the table is impossible. Food was excellent. Steak tartare was perfectly (un)cooked. :-) Scallops were superb. Drinks also. We'll be back.

Good foodie scene, we did a bunch of small plates. But the highlight was the Bruleed Cornbread.

Swanky restaurant, even had some nice gluten-free options 9–21

My wife and I ended up here late afternoon to get out of a rain storm. We had drinks and appetizers, not a full meal. This place is probably as close to an up-scale restaurant as you will find in Staunton, but we were a bit disappointed. First of all, the interior of the restaurant seemed very dark in the interior. We sat near the window, which was more pleasant. My wife ordered oysters that she found watery. I had a very good cauliflower soup and a Caesar salad which I didn't like at all. It was made with salad greens rather than Romaine and that just didn't work. Very dry and tasteless. The dinner menu looked interesting and maybe that would provide a different experience. In addition, while our server was terrific, the food took a very long time to arrive.

We've been three times over two years and unfortunately the most recent was disappointing. The restaurant seems to have a model that does not include bus people or expeditors, so the waiters do it all. This might work if there were enough servers, but there weren't and consequently ours was way too busy and our drinks sat on the bar and didn't arrive until they weren't cold anymore. The cornbread croutons in the caesar salad were notable but otherwise the dressing was limp and the salad was just ok. On the scale of al dente, the risotto scored on the opposite side at soupy (I see why they served it with a spoon). Also, they seem to have jammed more tables in the back between the kitchen and server station in order to squeeze in more customers, and it's just loud and uncomfortable. We saw a seasonal dessert go by but it wasn't listed on the menu. Upon asking, we were told it was only for the tasting menu. Well, ok, but overall, we ended up feeling like we were treated as second-class citizens. I will say that the steak was quite good as well as the accompanying broccolini and mashed potatoes, and we do appreciate the local sourcing, but probably won't be back.

Sometimes you have a meal that is so good, each plate so well thought out, that you simply have a sense of "bien etre" afterwords. Zynodoa is a place where you can have one of these meals. From my perspective, the food is competitively priced. The pricing is of a good restaurant - $25-$40 for the entrees - but the dishes are close to gastronomic in design. My wife and I went all out - a chef's menu, beef tartar, deserts, coffees - and the bill was much lower than I would expect to pay for such a meal. Everything was fantastic. The food and service was so good that we did not want the evening to end. Alas it had to eventually, but I look forward to my next time when I am in town. P.S. To Zynodoa - please keep your prices so reasonable :)!

Really great experience all around!!! Highly recommend going there!!!

The atmosphere was great. My husband had a huge lovely brunch item. I ordered a salad which should have been entree size ( 18.00) but came out the size of a side salad. I ordered a protein on it as well which put it up towards 27.00. The salad was average at best and the portion was completely wrong. Drinks were good. Service ok. Mentioned the size of salad to server who admitted she understood but didn’t follow up or offer service recovery solution. As much as enjoyed the cute atmosphere I prob won’t op to spend here.

My friend and I decided to visit Staunton for the weekend on a whim. This particular restaurant was highly rated and did not disappoint! Sam was fantastic and timing was perfect. When eating a good meal out the server’s timing is everything. Don’t bug me, don’t ignore, come to the table when appropriate. I will be back. And, I’ll ask for Sam.

My 2 or 3 time here and it lived up to my expectations. I had the fixed menu with the wine paring and it was scrumptious.

Food was outstanding. I had the fixed menu with wine pairing. Portions were small so I didn't feel stuffed. Service was friendly and attentive. Beautiful restaurant.

Definitely try their tomahawk steak. Worth a try!

Absolutely loved this place. Went with my parents for their 25th anniversary and they gave us special menus that said "Happy 25th anniversary" which my parents really loved. Our waitress was extremely friendly, I wish i could remember their name. The cornbread is to die for. They're also very accommodating to dietary needs. They checked several times with the guy next to us to make sure they prepared his meal correctly. Very friendly and worth the price.

I had dinner there a couple weeks ago & they were busy, I had the grilled swordfish, it was delicious!😊, I also had the asparagus soup AND cheesecake mousse for dessert and incredible meal so very enjoyable. I told the owner/manager that they were busy but when I looked around it was like feeling & watching & seeing a “synchronicity” like a machine where every facet, every single part & piece of the machine were all working together as one for the sole purpose of serving the public, & the owner/manager works together with staff waiting tables, etc., so there’s no separation, it’s like a family & they make you feel like you’re home where you can relax. Jessica’s husband is the chef & I would put this restaurant with staff up against any $400/meal restaurant any day of the week, their hospitality and service & quality of food is outstanding and they simply stand alone, I’ve dined at some of the best restaurants in the country, both East & West Coast, North & South, & Zynodoa is like none other in my book, their quality stands alone. I have some food allergies & simply tell them and they’ve always been very accommodating.

Large bar for eating. Lovely place on the main drag in the cute town of Staunton where you can browse cute shops. Brussel sprout app delicious and scallops with fettucini very good special. Don't miss the Butterscotch pudding (yum!!).

My husband and I came here for our anniversary and absolutely loved it. I had the risotto with scallops and my husband had the bbq pork and they were both fantastic. Great ambiance, very friendly staff and attentive service. This is definitely one of our go-to places.

Really neat little place with a fantastic menu and cocktails.

What a lovely find passing through on our way to Asheville. The food was superb. We had the cheese plate, the tartare (not traditional but terrific), the etoufee and the risotto. All were terrific. The cocktail we had, the Beverly Beau is like an old fashioned and manhattan combined. Our server, Caitlin, was extraordinary. Beyond friendly and accommodating. We were so well taken care of! Highly recommend!

Had a fantastic birthday meal here! They offer outdoor dining on the weekends in pleasant weather the ambiance, service, and food were all outstanding. Everything tasted so fresh and flavorful! I had the swordfish, which was perfectly cooked and on this occasion served with mushrooms, turnips, broccoli, and whipped feta. My husband also enjoyed his pork duo entree and added scallops to the meal, which were his favorite part of all. My personal favorite part was the incredible butterscotch panna cotta I had for dessert! T I also really enjoyed their signature mocktail. I love when restaurants offer interesting non-alcoholic drinks for adults! Since I know the menu changes often, I can't wait to come back in the future!

Absolutely stunning meal. Our reservations were on time. The food was great and our sever was wonderful. I can't say enough good things about this place!

Jessica the manager goes out of her way to make all welcome! We enjoyed a wonderful dinner. Everything on the menu looked outstanding so it was hard to chose. Loved the etouffee, risotto, and cream of carrot soup. Katelynn our server recommended adding the scallops to the risotto and that was a good call. For dessert we enjoyed the panna cotta and sticky pudding. We had a 5;30 reservation so that we could see the Shakespeare play at 7:30 . All worked great!

The staff was exceptionally friendly and the food was some of best I ever enjoyed!!

Every detail of the dining experience was just right. - welcoming hostess, beautiful design, superb wait staff and memorable and creative menu. Do you think we liked this restaurant? We loved it. The only thing we found wrong with this restaurant was that it wasn’t located around the corner from our home in Philadelphia.

Food was absolutely fantastic with service to match. Highly recommend. A big thank you to Amanda and the entire Zymodoa team!

Tried lots of food tonight and wasn’t disappointed at all with a single dish. I wish I could remember the servers name, she had humor and was attentive to our table, all you can ask for in a server. I personally ordered the Chefs tasting menu which is listed below minus the strawberry short cake. 👌🏽 will be back

Fantastic farm to table food here at Zynodoa. The staff were really friendly and the whole menu looked good. We were there for an early dinner and I really liked the wine selection and my husband liked the steak offerings and was tempted by the chef’s tasting menu. I ended up ordering the mushroom bolognese fettuccine and it was salty, creamy, and divine. Everything you’d want from a white sauce with homemade noodles. My only regret was not coming back for brunch the next day!

I took my bestie here for her 40th birthday, and all I can do is continue to dream of the memory of the best steak I have ever put in my mouth. As we waited for a table, we were seated briefly at the bar where I enjoyed a tea harmony, and she had a spring fling - both cocktails were flawless. Our server Daniel was phenomenal. Warm, welcoming, accommodating, and with impeccable suggestions, he made our dinner feel truly like an event to remember. Neither of us noticed any of the other patrons in the restaurant despite my recall that it was very deservedly busy. The restaurant took the time to print a Happy Birthday message on my besties menu and rounded the meal by placing a birthday candle in her chosen desert, the butterscotch pot de creme. We split the bruleed cast iron corn bread, an artisan cheese tray (I do not even like blue cheese, and the one on this tray was delicious!), an order of their crispy fried brussel sprouts, and a tomahawk steak that was so unbelievably delicious and perfectly cooked that if I had to choose only one thing to eat for the rest of my life it would be that steak. I also had a slice of their humming bird cake for desert - which is probably the only thing I would do differently, as by far, it was the least worth mentioning out of a dinner I am still dreaming of. Additionally, being proud supporters of sustainable sourcing and low wasting the restaurant happily wrapped the picked clean tomahawk bone for me to bring home to make a stock with. I will most definitely return again, and until then, I'm eating at this restaurant in my dreams.

Very friendly,kind, old fashion delicious!, Beef tartare was ok, Brussel sprouts were awesome!

Admirable concept. Good atmosphere. Approximately terrible food. The waitress, after prompting by me, took our drink orders but ignored my 16 yr old daughter. We wanted the cheese spread but it was no longer available tonight. I ordered a New York Strip and it was sliced in 5 pieces which did not resemble or taste like steak with lots of fat it was more like pork rinds. The waitress then got our desert order wrong and I was happy to pay and move along. I searched for fine dining and against Chilis I guess this compared but as to being real fine dining they have a lot to learn. I eat at many fine dining restaurants, this one should not resolve when searching for fine.

Relaxing atmosphere with a long bar if you prefer. Reservations must through OpenTable. Brussel sprout appetizer was really great. Mushroom soup with coconut milk was not our favorite. The scallops were seared nicely and served with fettuccine that was delicious. The butter scotch dessert is not to be missed. It’s a very convenient location if you’re staying at Hotel 24, which is one block away from the Woodrow Wilson library. take time to walk the downtown area, which has some very interesting shops.

I don’t know what I LOVED more; the food, the service, or the music. It was one of the best, if not THE best, breakfast I’ve ever had. The Afternoon Nap was life changing and each bite was better than the last. And please, Dear God, please get the crème brûlée cornbread. What a wonderful place!!!

Excellent menu, food is always superb. Underrated bourbon collection also.

A gem and a favorite for sure. Tonight there were 7 anniversaries and 6 birthday celebrations, so it's clearly a nice place to enjoy yourself and break the monotony of your typical restaurant. They are farm to table and even go as far as telling you the farm from which ingredient was sourced. They used the freshest ingredients and have a chef's tasting menu that changes almost daily, which points to the creativity of the chef and staff. The server we had, Kemper, was incredibly knowledgeable about the restaurant and the food in general. They even featured mushrooms from his own farm, Fae and Fauna, and I love that!!! I've never been to a restaurant where I enjoyed every single dish, especially on a tasting menu, but this whole experience blew me away. We will be back for sure! Be sure to make a reservation, it's necessary to get a spot. I should have taken more pictures but I was just too into the meal. This one is the hangar steak with Kemper's oyster mushrooms. And the other is my husband's pork duo on the main menu and I will say I've never had pork belly that tender, yet crispy and mouth watering before.

There were a lot of things we loved about this restaurant and then some things that have room for improvement. Our waitress was very nice and welcoming. The restaurant atmosphere itself was great. Now let’s talk drink and food. My cocktail was okay. Had a weird aftertaste. Now the corn bread was out of this world. We took that to go because we couldn’t possible eat it all on top of the four course pre-fix meal we chose. The sweet potato soup with scallions was warm and delicious. The scallops in the goat cheese risotto were cooked to perfection although the portion of rice to protein was off. The hanger steak is where we had some problems. We asked that it was cooked medium-rare however the inside of my steak was purple and very raw. Thankfully they were able to cook it a few minutes more without any fuss. Unfortunately the cut of meat was very very tough. The mushrooms that were paired with it were tasty but also slightly undercooked and chewy. We also ordered a side of collard greens and mashed potatoes. These sides were very flavorful. The beer infused oat cake had good flavor but it was extremely dense. The Irish cream on top was very creamy and delicious however.

This place was great! It’s a small restaurant so try and get a reservation if you can plan ahead. The food was good and the service is excellent. Their menu is constantly changing and evolving. I got the brussel sprouts, fettuccini, and dark chocolate torte. All were great. I went back for a second time and got the risotto with scallops added on. Very taste and a much larger portion of risotto than the fettuccini was. A pricier place, but definitely worth checking out if you are in town.

If you don't have any dietary restrictions, this place looks great. My mom got the wine pairing chef tasting courses which looked delicious. Unfortunately my experience was not as great considering my only option was a steak. I did enjoy it but a bit disappointed in the options for the sides. Also, the cider was VERY vinegary. They let me send that back for a different cocktail but that was also a bit disappointing. For a high budget experience, I would like a few more options.

A must try in Staunton Va. the cornbread was amazingly sweet and savory in one bite. My husband enjoyed his perfectly cooked tender steak and my swordfish was fresh and juicy served with very flavorful mushrooms.

Love this place, had a couple issues because we have complicated issues due to allergies, no complaints from the staff. Exceptionally accommodating, rapid and attentive service. If I could give these guys 90 stars, I would.

Stopped in for drinks, the 2 cocktails I had were great. Didn't opt for the food, it smelled good though, and I feel like maybe I missed out on the ribeye. Overall, very nice place. I enjoyed the atmosphere, and prices seemed fair. I'd visit again.

Oh, how I love thee, let me count the ways. Every time we come to Blackfriars, we make sure to have at least one fine meal here. Each one is memorable, cleverly devised, excellently prepared. The chef has a practiced and highly skilled hand with his choices. Chef has my loyalty and admiration. This time, we came for our anniversary and were greeted with complimentary glasses of champagne. Thoughtful touch. The scallops atop a seasonal risotto…Ah! Outstanding. Clever additions made the difference between good and excellent. My husband, a steak enthusiast, was quite pleased with his filet. He did a full tasting menu and was thrilled. You should also make a reservation every time you get get a chance.

Lovely setting, top shelf bourbon/whiskey selection. Forever changing menu that never disappoints.

Very good service, The Beef Tartare and the Tomahawk Steak was fantastic.

Exceptional experience. They made our anniversary dinner very special. Our waiter Daniel was very knowledgeable about the food and drink. Small place with a great atmosphere. Highly recommend.

Good drinks, excellent corn bread, but uninspired and greasy food. Cocktails were solid, interesting flavors and execution. mostly focused on quality bottles and interesting combinations rather than home made ingredients or exotic techniques. Great if you’re in the mood for the classics, or spin on classics, but don’t expect cold distilled Amari based drinks here, clarified cocktails, or far washed options. Corn bread was one of the best I’ve eaten, just wish I had ordered it for dessert rather than an app. The food menu was small, which is generally a plus on my books, but uninspired and felt out of place. There was a pasta, a risotto, BBQ pork, a sword fish dish, and various cuts of steak. I know they use local ingredients but I expected more locally inspired dishes. I had the pasta and while the locally sourced sausage was incredible, the pasta was really unappetizing with grease pooling at the bottom of the plate. Wife had the sword fish, and it was dry with the same overly greasy sides. Overall I would come back for drinks and corn bread, but the food menu gave me some Nashvilles 5th & Taylor flashbacks, which prompted me to stop eating after the half way mark from fear of feeling sick for the rest of the day.

The food was excellent. So was the service. It was quite busy but we were well attended to. Overall it was a wonderful experience.

Everything my wife and I ordered was outstanding, with one exception..... the skirt steak I ordered was lacking in that skirt steak flavor that you get when grilled. I would still, highly recommend this restaurant to family and friends.

Good food and great cocktails. Server Sam was excellent!

Ambience was very cozy and our waiter was very helpful in answering any questions about the menu. Food was delicious.

The food and service were terrific. Highly recommended!

I had this incredible pasta and my husband and son had New York Strips. We started with the cornbread. All of it was delicious! Perfectly cooked and service was excellent.

My wife and I consider Zynodoa one of the top restaurants we’ve ever visited. That’s why we keep coming back.

Really nice meal with excellent service. Will definitely be back.

Fantastic meal! Service is outstanding and attentive. Our server was incredibly knowledgeable and engaging and made remarkable drink recommendations. Yes, it is more expensive than some restaurants in the area, but you are getting a high quality overall experience that truly is worth it.

Not sure if it was the kitchen or a waitress who wasn't on top of her game - our food had good flavor but it wasn't hot, texture seemed like it was sitting somewhere for awhile before we got it.

We had an amazing waiter and I wrote a review on the card that came with our bill. He was witty , knowledgeable and helpful. He made our dining experience wonderful .

The appetizer was good but our entrees not so much.

In my opinion, one of the best dining experiences in town. We visit Staunton frequently to attend plays at the Blackfriars, and those evenings typically start with dinners at Zynodoa. If I have one complaint, I'd love to see the menu switched up more often. As a pescatarian, my entree options at Zynodoa are typically fairly limited and this usually means risotto or gnocchi if there isn't a fish dish I can eat. That gets boring. Otherwise, nice atmosphere and very attentive service.

Expensive, but excellent. A special occasion restaurant, and food is special.

Pretty expensive but the food is awesome. Our waitress was very friendly

Loves the service and the menu. It was delicious! Daniel is incredible and took great care of us

We absolutely loved it! Fabulous brunch, awesome homemade cornbread, great service and ambiance. Highly recommended!

Excellent food! Inventive mix of flavors and great service.

The restaurant was amazing! My sweetheart and I decided on valentines dinner at the establishment, and it didn’t disappoint. Our server, Molly, was very courteous and vivacious! We really enjoyed the locally sourced food aspect and the ambiance really set a lovely mood. We decided on the tomahawk steak, and it was a taste of heaven in every bite. I highly recommend the cornbread also!

We enjoyed our meal very much! Would’ve liked a table setting instead of booth to get into and out of, but very nice! We’ll be back for sure!

We absolutely loved it! Fabulous brunch, awesome homemade cornbread, great service and ambiance. Highly recommended!

A fresh and local dining experience that is always incredible. I travel 6 hours for this place. It’s just that good.

We’ve eaten at Zynodoa for 15 years. Comfortable neighborhood feel with fine dining, top notch bartenders, attentive and knowledgeable wait staff. Many of the staff have been there over a decade. Always a pleasure

Great meal and the coffee was exceptional after the meal.

We had high expectations for our lunch on Sunday. Unfortunately, they only offer a limited brunch menu, which is not posted on their website. We ordered a Cornbread Skillet and Eggs Benedict. A few minutes into our brunch we were told they were out of hollandaise sauce. For a short menu, lacking an essential ingredient for a popular dish is disappointing. We had to change our order for Shrimp and Grits and Crab Fritters. It was good, but not one of our best restaurant visits as we expected.

Chef was a bit heavy on the salt Sunday. Otherwise the food and service were both outstanding.

Greatest brunch around-as always. Cannot wait to get back.

Amazing restaurant. We had the chef's menu and tasting parings. It has to be one of the best dining experiences I have ever had. Thoughtfully designed meals and a pairings with local ingredients. What more can you ask for?!?

Fantastic dining experience. Best Tomahawk Ribeye I’ve had in years.

Zyn is always a good place for a quiet dinner for two or a nice group outing.

Nice farm to table restaurant. Service was great.

Well prepared, modern food with a local/Southern focus. Dishes tend to be fairly rich, but tasty and nicely-composed.

Fulsomely described food that both of us in our party of two found to be superficially complex in appearance but lacking in any memorable flavor. Nice people, pretty room, generous cocktails, very disappointing food.

We had guests from Richmond and we all had delicious meals and drinks. They were impressed by the quality of the food and the lovely atmosphere

Zynodoa was wonderful. The Chef's tasting menu was a delight and well worth the money. My husband and I loved everything!

Half of my steak was fat, mashed potatoes and cauliflower were great, cornbread was alright the side order of bread was really hard, took an hour and 10 minutes for the food to come out, were there for an hour and 45 minutes, our waitress was nice but only came to us about 3 times over the whole dinner, could've spent my $100 better somewhere else

Ordered for the first time and greatly enjoyed the tasting menu, lobster gnocchi were excellent.

As someone passing through, this was a great find! Great Barrier Reef, Great and Creative foods, and wonderful service. Can’t wait to come back!

Carefully prepared,delicious food across the board. Top notch service and obviously a very well run kitchen and overall operation. We will be back!

Great farm to table restaurant and ambiance. Definitely going back.

Chef’s tasting menu was fantastic. Every course was delicious.