Restaurants Form Downtown Dining Alliance; 5 New Dining Establishments to Open

HARRISONBURG —Taste of Downtown, the biannual restaurant showcase, is here again.  From August 18th through the 20th, downtown restaurants will create and offer multi-course meals that show off their culinary creativity; from Ethiopian spreads to Greek samplers to all-American cuisine.  These menus offer a wide choice of budget-friendly dining options in every setting from fine dining to burger-bar.

“Originally we had nine participating restaurants, and in one year, the event has grown to twelve restaurants” says promotions manager, Alexis Morehouse.  “With four new restaurants ready to open in the coming months, we expect to see Taste of Downtown become a significant regional event over the next few years”.

Encouraged by the success of Taste of Downtown, restaurant owners of downtown Harrisonburg united to form the Downtown Dining Alliance.  This group, led by Dave Miller of Dave’s Downtown Taverna, Jeremiah Jenkins of Clementine and Sean Pugh of the Joshua Wilton House, plans to address common concerns and work together on advertising initiatives to support the dining industry within the historic downtown district.  “We are encouraged that the restaurant owners work collaboratively to promote downtown as a dining destination” stated Eddie Bumbaugh, executive director of Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance, “This effort goes beyond common competitive thinking, and allows independent restaurant owners to benefit by working together”.

Menus and event details for Taste of Downtown can be found at www.downtownharrsionburg.org.

Taste of Downtown is here again. From August 18 through 20, downtown restaurants will offer multi-course meals that show off their culinary creativity, from Ethiopian spreads to Greek samplers to all-American cuisine. These menus offer a wide choice of budget-friendly dining options in every setting from fine dining to burger-bar.

“Originally we had nine participating restaurants, and in one year, the event has grown to twelve restaurants” says promotions manager Alexis Morehouse.  “With five new restaurants ready to open in the coming months [Beyond, Pennybacker's, Union Station, Local Grill and Chop House and Carribean restaurant Arepera Las Chamas] we expect to see Taste of Downtown become a significant regional event over the next few years.”

Taste of Downtown Returns August 18-20

See why downtown has earned the nickname “Restaurant Row.” Come one day (or all three!) for amazing meals at wallet-friendly prices. View the menu and prices below.

Downtown Dominates DNR “Best of the Valley” Awards

Once again, Daily News-Record readers have shown their overwhelming support of downtown Harrisonburg shops, restaurants and other businesses with their votes in the annual “Best of the Valley” survey. Running away with the most honors is Clementine with EIGHT awards, including best renovation and best place to be seen. Harrisonburg Farmers’ Market made its first appearance on the list as the best place to take visitors, likely aided by its new location under the Turner pavilion constructed since the last poll.

Some favorites, like the Little Grill Collective, James McHone Jewelry, and Jess’ Quick Lunch, retained their titles as best vegetarian/breakfast, jeweler, and cheap eats, respectively, while the Artful Dodger showed its expanding versatility by winning the best dancing and best karaoke titles. Downtown services also got a shout out on this year’s list, with the Studio winning best salon and the Beauty Spa taking best day spa. Congratulations to other downtown businesses listed below – 16 in total!

Similar to last year, downtown as a whole won both accolades and criticism, with voters choosing downtown revitalization as the best use of taxpayer money and listing downtown among their favorite part of Harrisonburg, while displaying a lack of fondness for our new blue and yellow wayfinding signs as their least favorite part about the ‘burg.

DNR’s “Best of the Valley” Winners: Downtown Highlights

Cheap Eats
Jess’ Quick Lunch

Vegetarian
The Little Grill Collective

French fries
Dave’s

Late-night eats
Dave’s

Coffee
Shank’s

Drink specials
Clementine Café

Best atmosphere
Clementine Café

Place to take your family
Clementine Café

Place to be seen
Clementine Café

Place to sit and read
Earth and Tea Café

Outdoor dining
Dave’s

Place to blow your diet
Kline’s Dairy Bar

Place to take a date
Clementine Café

Downtown restaurant
Clementine Café

Best appetizers
Clementine Café

Best breakfast
The Little Grill Collective

Salon
The Studio

Day Spa
The Beauty Spa

Wine shop
Downtown Wine & Gourmet

Jeweler
James McHone

Best dancing
Artful Dodger

Best entertainment value
Court Square Theater

Best cheap date
Kline’s Dairy Bar

Karaoke
Artful Dodger

Museum
Harrisonburg Children’s Museum

Best place to take visitors
Harrisonburg Farmer’s Market

Best renovation
Clementine Café

Best use of taxpayer money
Downtown revitalization

Best way to spend a Saturday morning
Farmer’s market (Dayton, Shenandoah and Harrisonburg)

Best place to propose
Joshua Wilton House

Dave’s Downtown Taverna To Serve One-Millionth Customer

Fourteen years ago, Dave’s Taverna opened in downtown Harrisonburg. Since then, the popular restaurant purchased and renovated a larger building in 2002 to accommodate its growing business.  After their move, they continued expansion in 2006 to their rooftop with the taratsa where customers can enjoy a full menu and bar under the stars.  Now named Dave’s Downtown Taverna, the restaurant is credited with starting the momentum for the downtown revitalization trend.  The restaurant, keeping a tally of all of their customers from day one, is now expecting to serve their one-millionth customer in the coming week.

Owners, David and Julie Miller started in the kitchen and personally cooked and waited on many of these nearly one million diners. “We’ve seen lots of faces at Dave’s,” says Dave Miller, “students, families, downtown workers, tourists – every kind of customer.” Over the years Dave’s has built a loyal following with its distinctive Greek-style menu and lively atmosphere. Now the business, 100 employees strong is a local institution.

Eddie Bumbaugh, executive director of Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance says, “I’m old enough to remember when McDonald’s announced its one-millionth customer, and they had locations all over the country. So for a restaurant in downtown Harrisonburg to reach that number is very impressive.”

In addition to presenting the one-millionth customer with a $500 gift certificate to Dave’s Downtown Taverna, the Millers plan to alert local media and throw a celebration. It’s expected to happen sometime within the next 10 days.

“Taste of Downtown” Offers Major Discounts to Favorite Restaurants

THE week to eat out is next Tuesday through Thursday, August 12-14.  The first-ever “Taste of Downtown”  showcases Harrisonburg’s favorite restaurants with reduced prices on prix fixe dinners.  Complete menus are available at downtownharrisonburg.org.

All these great dinners are offered only in the evening and no reservations are required (unless otherwise noted). Please note that taxes and tips are not included.

The Artful Dodger
Choose one of three summer special entrées, dessert and signature cocktail. ($15)

Blue Nile Ethiopian Cuisine
Entrée, dessert, and one alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage. ($15)

Cally’s Restaurant and Brewing Co.
Sampler meal of appetizer, entrée items, desserts, and microbrews. ($25)

Clementine
“Chef select” appetizer, entrée, and glass of wine. ($20)

Dave’s Downtown Taverna
Salad, Greek sampler entrée, and dessert. ($14.75)

Downtown 56
Appetizer, entrée, and dessert. (Vegetarian option $27.56, regular menu $42.56)

Finnigan’s Cove
Seafood appetizer and entrée with dessert. ($19.99)

Joshua Wilton House
3-course meal featuring locally-grown produce and glass of wine. (reservations requested; $35)

Mrs. Hardesty’s Tea Room
(3:00 to 5:00pm only)
Afternoon Tea. ($10)

For more information, contact Alexis at 540.432.8922, or alexism@harrisonburgva.gov

Valley 4th Volunteers Needed

Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance is looking for volunteers to help make our Valley 4th celebration a success. Volunteers are needed to help assist with clean up, tear down, work at the information booth, help with the beer garden (Dave’s Downtown Taverna donates a portion of the proceeds to HDR), assist with the parade, and more. If you or anyone you know has a few hours to donate to help make this July 4th the best yet, please contact Kris Ludwig in our office at krisl@harrisonburgva.gov or 540.432.8922.

Eightyone Readers Heap Praise on Downtown Restaurants (March 2008)

Dear Eddie: Why are downtown Harrisonburg restaurants so popular?

EB: The simple answer is because local people and tourists like what the downtown restaurants have to offer. Our restaurants have unique menus, interesting architecture, great service, local ownership and outstanding food. Eightyone magazine readers rated The Joshua Wilton House – the Best Fine Dining, Downtown 56 – tied for Best Rookie, The Little Grill Collective – the Best Breakfast, Cally’s Restaurant & Brewing Co. – the Best Bar, Earth & Tea Cafe – the Best Cozy Cafe, The Artful Dodger – the Best Coffee Shop, Dave’s Downtown Taverna – the Best French Fries, Jess’ Lunch – the Best Hot Dog, L&S Diner – the Best Diner, Shank’s Bakery – the Best Bakery, and Downtown Wine & Gourmet – the Best Wine Shop. Several restaurants received multiple awards (not mentioned here). The competition included the remainder of Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Augusta County, Waynesboro and Staunton. Congratulations to the winners!