Inn at Little Washington – Washington, VA
If you’re in the Washington D.C. area, it’s well worth the drive to Washington, VA, in the Shenandoah Valley to this always excellent inn (and yes, you can and should stay the night) that serves New American cuisine influenced heavily by classic French preparation. For over 25 years, chef Patrick O’Connell has received numerous accolades and awards, and while the food transcends international borders, there are many nods to Southern hospitality, from the formal greeting on the front porch to the crab cakes served between rounds of friend green tomatoes. At the end of your meal, ask for Faira the (faux) cow, upon whose back is a selection of fine cheeses. Don’t bother doing the “insider thing” in asking for legendarily romantic table 66 in the terrace room overlooking the garden; O’Connell now insists that all the tables are number 66.