Lunch in Harrisonburg VA : Top 11 Restaurants & Cafes
Harrisonburg, nestled in beautiful Shenandoah Valley of VA, is close to my heart. It’s where my sister graduated college and also where I spent countless nights with bffs in my college years. Over the years I’ve explored lots of restaurants, so I put them together into a guide of the best local restaurants for lunch in Harrisonburg VA – perfect for anyone visiting James Madison University (JMU) or driving through the area.
#1 Restaurant For Lunch in Harrisonburg VA : Jimmy Madisons
Jimmy Madisons is your place for a delicious barbecue lunch in Harrisonburg VA. It’s a full-service restaurant serving comfort food in downtown Harrisonburg with a cool wood beamed interior and plenty of space for big groups if you need it.
Some menu favorites to try are the Brussel sprouts and pimento cheese appetizers, brisket nachos, of course the smoked meats like brisket and pulled pork, and last but not least – the whiskey flight if you’re feeling like a party during lunch. 😉 Along those lines, they also have fresh handcrafted cocktails.
Magpie Diner
Magpie Diner started as a 1950’s gas station and now has a modern diner feel, and with an in-restaurant bakery. It’s understandably a very popular lunch and weekend brunch spot, with indoor and outdoor, dog-friendly seating.
Try the freshly baked French toast, biscuits and gravy or the Southern Poutine which is crispy breakfast potatoes topped with local Baker’s Farm sausage gravy and a fried egg. My mouth is watering writing this!
Rocktown Kitchen
Rocktown Kitchen is a farm to table restaurant with an indoor main dining room and outdoor patio, serving up southern specialties with fresh ingredients. It’s known to be one of the town’s best restaurants overall, and certainly one of the best lunch in Harrisonburg VA.
The lunch menu isn’t huge – it mainly consists of appetizers, soup and sandwiches, but it’s guaranteed that anything you get will on their seasonal menu be fresh and delicious. A few of the most popular menu items include the pesto chicken salad and the burrata appetizer. YUM!
Bella Luna : Best Italian Lunch In Harrisonburg VA
Bella Luna is the classiest lunch option on my list, although it’s still plenty casual and welcoming. Here you’ll find the wood-fired pizza, which is the best pizza in town! Located in the historic Livery Building downtown.
Some menu items to try are the fingerling potatoes (similar to potatoes bravas) and the meatball appetizers, and the sausage pizza. Yummmmm. If you’re picky about how burnt your crust is, specify how you like it because I’ve noticed sometimes the crust comes out a little too burnt.
If you’re in the mood for a cocktail or glass of wine, Bella Luna has plenty to choose from. One of the times I visited I was pregnant and literally minutes after I was talking to my husband about how I wished more restaurants had a bigger mocktail menu, we were handed a full menu of mocktails using ____ 0 proof spirits. The mojito I had was delicious!
A Bowl of Good
A Bowl of Good is a great place for those looking for a healthy but delicious breakfast or lunch in Harrisonburg VA. This is a really unique little restaurant, offering fresh, great food in the form of bowls of comfort foods, of all different nationalities. They have hot bowls, like the Out of Africa bowl, a cold bowl, or a breakfast bowl. Explore the unique menu here.
Local Chop & Grill House
Local Chop & Grill House serves American cuisine in a beautiful setting, and supports local artists, family farms and vendors to bring you a creative and complete experience in Harrisonburg. Here you can try fresh dishes of high quality steaks, or elevated menu favorites like the duck or scallops, for a bit of a fancier lunch.
Billy Jacks
Billy Jacks is known for being one of the best if not the best brunch spot in town, which puts it at the top of my list for the best lunch in Harrisonburg VA. The food is amazing, the staff is friendly and attentive and it’s for sure a Harrisonburg staple. The atmosphere is also really fun and unique, with high ceilings and multiple spaces to dine.
If you’re a chicken nugget kind of person do NOT leave here without trying the famous sticky nugs! Other menu highlights are the sliders and chicken and waffles. But really all the food is good. They even have a raw bar if you’re a seafood person.
Keep in mind Billy Jacks is a college bar. While it usually isn’t TOO rowdy during lunch, it may not be the best spot for those looking for peace and quiet. Personally I love the atmosphere and wouldn’t have it any other way, especially because the food and service are always excellent regardless!
Grilled Cheese Mania
Grilled Cheese Mania is THE lunch place for anyone who is obsessed with cheese as I am and a local favorite. It’s counter service, so also a great choice if you need a quick lunch or are a solo traveler like I often am.
I’ve found that a lot of grilled cheese places are overrated during my travels but this one is great. The menu has lots of different melt-style sandwiches plus some sides and things of that nature.
During my visit I got a Johnny Boy, which is essentially a delicious breakfast sandwich with a side of tomato soup. I couldn’t resist also trying the tomato soup with Mac n cheese on top (brilliant idea) and what a great choice that was. Both items were fresh, cheesy and DELICIOUS. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!
There isn’t too many places to sit here but there are a few spots inside and lots of outdoor seating with and without shade. There’s also great service from their friendly staff. Highly recommend for any cheese lovers out there like me.
Pale Fire Brewing Co : Best Lunch In Harrisonburg VA For Craft Beer
With Harrisonburg being a popular destination for upcoming and current college students & their families, there’s of course going to be some great beer. There’s no better place for great craft beer than Pale Fire Brewing Co., and as an added bonus – they have delicious food too!
The food menu includes Detroit-style pizza and other Italian favorites like subs and pepperoni rolls.
Along with a wide selection of local microbrews and craft beers, they also offer hard ciders by Sage Bird. It’s also the perfect place for live music on Friday or Saturday nights.
Jack Browns Harrisonburg
Jack Browns is a quite famous spot in Downtown Harrisonburg and for sure its best burger joint. If you’re a fan of creative burgers, this is your place for lunch in Harrisonburg VA. Your taste buds will leave happy!
I still remember while I was in college when Jack Browns opened – it was a big deal. Every time I would visit my friends at JMU, which was at least once a month, we would either attempt to OR actually make it to eat here, specifically for the mac n’ cheese burger.
Now, it’s still a beloved spot in Harrisonburg for both students and visitors! P.S. try their fried Oreos or sweet potato fries on the side.
The Little Grill
The Little Grill is one of Harrisonburg’s best breakfast spots, and in turn a great place for brunch or lunch in Harrisonburg VA.
Come here for friendly service and fresh, creative meals like fluffy pancakes of all sorts of flavors, like the blueberry cheesecake pancakes with cream cheese whipped into the batter, or the tall stack of cinnamon roll cakes.
Lauren Kessel
Lauren Kessel is the author of this blog post and the creator of the Inspired Backpacker travel blog. She is a passionate digital nomad, with the mission to make slow travel a more accessible way of life for everyone. Lauren believes travel is an important means of education and more importantly, a way for people of different cultures to come together and understand each other better. She has a BS in Tourism and has planned countless domestic and international trips for herself, her family and friends, having visited over 12 countries and 30 states so far.
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