With a two-story sign located on the busiest rail line in the East, The Ironhorse is an undeniable landmark in Ashland, VA. Since 1993, The Ironhorse has provided fine food and drink to locals, travelers and destination diners in the heart of Ashland. As Ashland has appointed itself “center of the universe”, The Ironhorse serves as the “restaurant at the center of the universe” where you’re always “welcome back.” The Ironhorse presents a seasonally changing, market-driven menu that features hand-cut steaks and fresh regional seafood, as well as chef-inspired nightly specials. Lunch (11:30-2:30) and dinner (5:30-10:00) are served Monday thru Saturday – with a light fare menu continuously available all day. Sunday brunch is served from 10-2:30. A welcoming Bistro on one hand, an inviting neighborhood pub on the other; Ironhorse also offers a family-friendly, casual fare menu. Dining reservations gladly taken.
"We made reservations for Mother's Day Brunch after stopping by and having a great afternoon bite several months before. I like the restaurant being next to the railroad tracks, the outside tables and overall ambience. The menu food is very good but I was overall disappointed with the brunch selection for what they charged. On the buffet was sausage/bacon, scrambled eggs, cheesy grits, greens and green beans, waffles and chipped beef (I think) already spooned on toast. A carving table with beef (very good) and ham. Oysters on the half shell and spiced, chilled shrimp. A fruit table with melon and cantaloupes. All for $30.00. However, by 1230 they had run out of the soup, deserts and there was no bread/rolls offered."
Dined on 5/12/2013
Special Features: neighborhood gem, great for lunch
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"Loved sitting outside and watching the trains roll through town. Our guests really enjoyed the evening. We go to the Ironhorse three to four times a year. The food is always changing and always good. The bar is very nice too."
Dined on 5/11/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"Great place to get a wonderful meal while watching the trains roll through. Been going there for years and the food is consistently delicious and the staff is friendly and attentive. It's a true "Gem" in Hanover!"
Dined on 5/11/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for outdoor dining, scenic view, neighborhood gem, great for lunch, special occasion
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"We are normally city diners if we want to try the next best thing. We live equidistant to the city and Ashland, so it's about a 15-20 minute drive for us to get to Ashland's historic town where Ironhorse is located. We used the Open Table app to get a reservation at 6:45, and arrived slightly after that. They took us to our table, which was located at the back part of the fine dining area. While it was not bustling when we arrived at that time, the scene quickly filled with couples and families. The train went by during dinner, which was so fun to see and the food was wonderful. I had the marinated skirt steak, an iceberg salad (house-made dressing was fantastic) and pork morsels fried in duck fat - so indulgent and good. We'll be back!"
Dined on 5/04/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for outdoor dining, romantic, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"We've been to the Ironhorse many times and love it! For this visit, we brought my brother, who was visiting from San Diego. He's very well-traveled and dines out A LOT!! He was SO impressed with the restaurant, esp. the extensive wine list! The Ironhorse is now on his list of Richmond-area favorites!"
Dined on 5/04/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, notable wine list, romantic, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"I liked the convience of obtaining a reservation online. The Ironhorse has a great location in Ashland. Good parking off the street in the rear of the establishment. Perfect for anniverseries or date night. Try the specials, take your time and leave room for dessert. The portion sizes are generous and cooked to your specifications. Very good experience all around. My entire family had a good time."
Dined on 04/26/2013
2007
Special Features: notable wine list, special occasion
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"Good place to go for a pre-concert meal if you are going to Ashland Coffee and Tea. Fun to watch the trains go by. Entree menu was not very exciting, but apps and salads were more interesting."
Dined on 04/20/2013
2009
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"The entire experience was a delight! I was bringing my Dad their after a long train ride from New York. From the moment of placing my reservation through the delivery of 2 Ddelicious Meals to our Departure late at night everyone there helped make this a memorable meal/ Thank You"
Dined on 04/17/2013
2009
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"We got this amazing amuse gueule - a tomatoe-orange soup shooter - which was excellent; my scallops were a little soughy and definitely too sweet, though,and the quinoa pilaf not seasoned at all which was a little disappointing (esp. considering the price of $27); our waitress was excellent and the train watching while dining outside made up for it all though!"
Dined on 04/13/2013
2009
Special Features: good for groups, great for brunch, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, special occasion, scenic view, great for lunch
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"This is the third time we have been to this restaurant and the first time we have been disappointed. For starters the server did not mention the specials. I thought there might have been no specials, but overheard another server mention them. Second, many of the items shown on the web menu were not listed on the menu in the restaurant, including the one I had planned on ordering (Char) and the one that I had had on the prior visit (Crab Cakes). Third, the Garlic Knots had changed and appeared to have become a cheese plate with roasted garlic, cheese and toast points. My companion had the trout stuffed with crab and indicated it was very good. I had the scallops which had good flavor, but had an excessive amount of grit."
Dined on 04/06/2013
2006
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"Being a vegetarian, my choices were limited to one entree. I did have an excellent carrot soup with vanilla as a first course. My one choice was a vegetable rice dish. The rice was gummy, the vegetables tired and over cooked. Very few vegetables actually. It was saturated with soy sauce which made it way too salty. Not very good. Not sure I would repeat this restaurant for dinner. The music in the bar was excellent. My husband said his Mahi Mahi was very bland and uninteresting."
Dined on 04/06/2013
2012
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, neighborhood gem
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"The Ironhorse is always a fun outing for a special occasion. We had two different steak dinners which were both excellent. Great care was taken in the kitchen to prepare the meal. The staff was very attentive and on top of things for service.
My suggestions for the menu would be to carry a standard or signature beef option (filet, strip, sirloin) instead or in addition to the rotating entre. The menu is custom but I like a go-to standard steak every so often. The wine list is fun but it would be nice to have some the recent wino favorites (Caymus, Silver Oak, etc.) Better bread would be good thing also."
Dined on 04/02/2013
2007
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, special occasion, scenic view
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"Easter brunch was tasty at Ironhorse! My husband and I often eat at Ironhorse for special occasions, but had never done brunch here. It was very tasty, the buffet was kept fresh and had delicious high quality dishes. The menu was not overly extensive, but very well done."
Dined on 03/31/2013
2009
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for brunch, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion
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"Our party of four were there to celebrate a birthday. We had drinks at the bar while waiting for everyone. The staff were very friendly and the food was excellent, both the presentation, the taste and the quantities. The appetizer was a little slow coming out. The wine price seemed a little high. Overall experience was very good."
Dined on 03/29/2013
2013
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, notable wine list, special occasion
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"I've previously enjoyed a steak meal at the Iron Horse, however this brunch was lacking. All dishes were incredibly rich, even an omelette special, with arugula and lemon zest, which sounds great and refreshing, was soaked in butter and uncomfortably heavy and rich. I'm a big eater and could only take a few bites. All dishes at our table were similar, and really nothing to go back for, at least brunch."
Dined on 02/24/2013
2002
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"Ambiance is great and the food wonderful, especially the scallops. They were very busy and the service was excellent. Highly recommend trying this for dinner and music afterwords."
Dined on 02/15/2013
2010
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, great for brunch, neighborhood gem
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"Wonderful! Atmosphere with trains going by and menu selections were inviting to try foods I have never had before. The only complaint is the vegetables were unable to be cut even with a steak knife! Great evening and worth every penny. Will definitely be going back soon! Thinking of have having my wedding rehearsal dinner here- great area to enjoy friends and family."
Dined on 02/09/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, romantic
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"We picked this restaurant because we were staying at the Henry clay Inn, seeing a cool band (Caravan of Theives) at Ashland Coffee and Tea and wanted to do the "local" for dinner. The atmosphere was true to the community and name as it was located right next to the tracks and you could see and hear the trains. The food was very good and the waitstaff attentive. Should we find our way back to Ashland we will be looking to duplicate the experience."
Dined on 02/02/2013
2013
Special Features: neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"A good local restaurant for a special occasion--especially for train "buffs," since the main east coast line passes right outside the front windows. Service was good, if a bit slow. Wine by the glass was priced reasonably. Food was somewhat "hit or miss." For instance, my scallops were very well prepared, but one of our group's fried oysters did not taste fresh.
Dining Room is separate from the bar, which helps keep the noise level down. The bar area was crowded and the people seemed to be having a good time. If I were a local, it would be my "watering hole.""
Dined on 01/31/2013
2009
Special Features: fit for foodies, special occasion
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"The service was very good...I had the special which was a Ribeye with potatoes and greens...ordered medium...came out under medium rare...they did fix it correctly...small thin steak for 30.00...greens had a bitter taste...my friend had the pork chop...that was good and the sauce was very flavorful...ordered the potato soup...was good... not a fan of pureeing soups but it was flavorful..we then went to the other side which is the bar..nice band and service was good....overall nice and we will return...I was just disappointed in the food...I was expecting a better quality since its local and has "chefs" it was just fair...no wow factor and portions were very small for the price on both dishes...it was very smokey (from the kitchen) as well"
Dined on 01/26/2013
2013
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"We loved the Ironhorse. It has been a long time since having a dinner as nice as the one we had there. Everything was prepared to perfection from the soup special, salads, main courses, to desert. It is so nice to not eat at a chain restaurant, and to find a business with unique selections prepared perfectly and great service. Our waiter never rushed us but was attentive in a non intrusive way, which we loved. Watching the trains pass from our window table was an added bonus. I would highly recommend the Ironhorse to anyone."
Dined on 01/19/2013
2013
Special Features: good for groups, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion, scenic view
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