2009.04.29
AAA lodging and dining ratings
Stephanie Klein-Davis/The Roanoke Times
Update: Eagle-eyed David pointed out that I failed to mention The Inn at Little Washington is the only 2009 Five Diamond restaurant in Virginia.
Dining and lodging ratings can be a little confusing, especially because it seems as if there are several different entities that award scores. The Michelin Guide seems to be the most highly prized rating in the dining world, but AAA (Triple A) also passes out honors each year.
For 2009, a handful of restaurants and hotels in Central and Western Virginia are being honored with four diamond awards. Only one place, The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, received the "prestigious" five diamond award. It is the 16th straight year the hotel has been awarded five diamonds.
Four diamonds go to:
Hotels:
The Berkeley Hotel, Richmond
The Boar's Head Inn, Charlottesville
The Homestead, Hot Springs
Keswick Hall at Monticello, Keswick (near Charlottesville)
The Martha Washington Inn and Spa, Abingdon
The Oaks Victorian Hotel, Christiansburg
The Wyndham Virginia Crossings Hotel and Conference Center, Glen Allen
Why can't Hotel Roanoke make this list?
Restaurants:
1 North Belmont, Richmond
The Dining Room at the Berkeley Hotel, Richmond
Fossett's at Keswisk Estate, Keswick
The Old Mill Room at The Boar's Head Inn, Charlottesville
I have only had the pleasure of dining at Fossett's. The photo above is of a corned beef hash with quail egg, which I enjoyed at brunch at Fossett's last year. It was just one tiny course in the brunch.
According to the AAA press release, they do physical, on-site evaluations that cover all of North America. The ratings are based on a set of guidelines that are made available to all of the establishments. I wonder if that really means that they visited all of the restaurants in our area?
Texas Tavern did not make this restaurant list? No Weiner Stand?
Comment by Nona Nelson — April 29, 2009 @ 11:27 am
I had the lunch buffet at The Boar's Head Inn in Charlottesville twice, both several years ago, and thought it was wonderful. (Also, the lunch version was an excellent value -- lots of choices but less expensive than dinner, and a good stop on a day trip.)
Comment by Erica Myatt — April 29, 2009 @ 12:51 pm
All jokes about the Tavern and the Weiner Stand aside, I have eaten at the Martha Washington Inn and at the Homestead and think they are both excellent.
Comment by Nona Nelson — April 29, 2009 @ 2:38 pm
Tires and food pretty much go hand in hand.
Martha Washington is big pimping. I enjoy eating there, not just the food, but the service makes it great. They all seem to enjoy their jobs, and that carries over into their service.
Comment by Rich — April 29, 2009 @ 3:16 pm
The Old Mill Room is beautiful - the service is imepeccable and only serves to enhance the dining experience there. I had an incredible duck dinner one evening. No complaints at all!
Comment by Amy — April 29, 2009 @ 8:12 pm
AAA ratings seem to be based on some very strange factors--compare, if you will,the Hotel Roanoke with other establishments that received the same ranking in the AAA Tourbook. The AAA listings are also far from complete for any given area.
I didn't see The Inn at Little Washington on the 4 Diamond list. Is this because you accidentally left them out, because AAA gave them a lower rating (which is ridiculous) or because they are one of the many establishments AAA neglects to rate?
Comment by David Farnham — April 30, 2009 @ 11:19 am