Thursday, September 23, 2010

Harrisonburg, Virginia: The Uncovered Gem of the Food World?

When dining out, there are few things better than having your expectations exceeded. When your meal is settled in front of you and suddenly your senses are aroused and taste buds tingled, you can tell that you are in for a treat. From the first delectable bite to that feeling of wanting to prolong your last mouthful, having a professional whip up a dish for you can be quite a treat. Especially for a college student, dining out is a great change of pace; after studying and working all week, it can be just what the doctor ordered to re-charge for the weekend.

Harrisonburg, Virginia; not exactly a booming metropolis of Michelin Star restaurants, but a truly underestimated town full of terrific restaurants and untapped potential.

As a self proclaimed foodie, my goal is to show JMU students that just because you're living like a college student doesn't mean you need to eat like one. We all love to brag about JMU's high rank in the Princeton Review for on-campus food, and sometimes a quick pit-stop at e-hall will suffice to get you through your seemingly unending day of classes. But for those times that you don't just want, but need to break out of the JMU bubble, I am here to prove that there is more to the Harrisonburg dining scene than meets the eye.

I have taken on the quest to hit the hotspots and find the hidden gem's for all of JMU's foodies. Despite the range of your palette, I am going to challenge you to try different types food that you never considered (escargot anyone?) and highlight the most important aspects to consider when picking the perfect place to spend your precious eating time.

My goal is to persuade students to expand their horizons and take note of all the great restaurants this town has to offer. Using this guide, readers will be able to avoid the stress of researching a restaurant OR falling into a rut of going to the same place over and over.

As I visit each restaurant I will document and rate the entire experience based on a specific criterion.

Basic Information
  • Address

  • Hours

  • Cuisine

  • Link to Website
Atmosphere/Spirit

Price

  • $: Under $10.00

  • $$: $10.00-$20.00

  • $$$: $20.00 and up

Discovered Information

  • Best Dish on the Menu

  • Vegetarian Option

  • Budget Friendly Dishes

  • Specials/Deals

Classification

  • Date Night

  • Birthday Party or Large Group Outing

  • Quick Bite

  • Event Pairing

  • Parents

Transportation

  • Directions

  • How to get there if you don't have a car

Number of Star's (Out of 4) for the Overall Experience