“Dear Dining Detective,
My family is visiting from Arizona. They’re in town for the entire week of Thanksgiving. We don’t feel like cooking over the weekend, so we want to take our family out to dinner, someplace local. We have some young kids in our family, so it’s a pretty big group. I’m not sure where to take them. I hope you can help.”
– Anonymous, from Buena Vista
The Dining Detective is on the case!
We’re looking for a family-friendly restaurant that can accommodate a large group with a mix of children and adults. With the multitude of local eateries in the area, we want to look at locally-owned and operated restaurants. This is a great opportunity to put our best “food” forward and show what Rockbridge County has to offer.
The goal is to find a place where adults can relax with good food and a nice drink, big enough for the whole family, and include meal options for young kids. We also want to showcase the flavors that Rockbridge can offer. While there is certainly more than one place that fits the bill, The Dining Detective chose a local pizzeria as the answer to this family’s Thanksgiving weekend.
Salerno Woodfired Pizza and Tap House has a pizza for everyone. Whether you enjoy veggies on your pizza, a BBQ sauce base, or the classic plain cheese, there's a smorgasbord of choices! There is also the option to build your own pizza, so everyone can have just what they want.
Each pie is 12” and cut into 6 slices, served on a wooden peel. They’re made-to-order, cooked on the premises in a wood-burning pizza oven, so keep in mind that they may come out with some char. Their home-made vodka sauce is delicious and the Classic Americana pizza may seem basic but the flavor will please adults and children alike.
With such a vast menu, ordering a few pizzas for the table and sharing them with the family is a great way to try as many flavor combinations as possible. If you crave the meatiest pizza or you prefer to stick with veggie only, looking for something spicy or feeling a bit adventurous, pick a pie and share it with everyone at the table.
If you don’t feel like eating pizza, there are salads, sandwiches, and a build-your-own calzone. A little tip: the sandwiches come with a hearty helping of potato wedges.
While most kids’ favorite food is pizza, they have their own little menu if they’re not in the mood for it. They can choose spaghetti, chicken tenders, a grilled cheese sandwich, or a special pizzadilla. Sorry parents, no mac and cheese.
Their desserts are just as delicious as their entrees. The 'Bon Fire' dessert is a fun and crowd-pleasing answer to the question, "What if we had s'mores, but as a pizza?" It was so delicious, it was gone before this detective could snap a photo!
And if you need something to take the edge off at the end of a week of extended family, and you’re over 21, this place has you covered. Salerno has a beer wall which features local and regional craft beers and ciders. Once you open a tab, you can serve yourself and try as many flavors as you want. It’s the perfect solution for a hectic holiday weekend.
While there are many fantastic eateries in Lexington, Buena Vista, and Rockbridge County, this detective chose Salerno for the space, the variety of food, the drinks, and proximity to downtown Lexington.
If you have a dining mystery you need help solving, just ask the Dining Detective!
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