LYH Series: Food

October 6, 2022

We all know that Lynchburg is an ever growing mini-city, thanks to the influx of students and families brought in by Liberty University and Lynchburg University every year. Due to the growth, naturally there is no shortage of great restaurants, cozy coffee shops, and don’t fight me on this: fun things to do! You heard me, Lynchburg does have lots of fun activities. But the odds are that whether you’re a freshman still getting a feel for the town, or in your last years of grad school here at Liberty, you haven’t made it to each and every restaurant here in Lynchburg. Not to fret, though! I’m here to walk you through some of the yummiest and most funky food spots that you should definitely visit in Lynchburg. Let’s kick this off with breakfast, shall we?

When I say breakfast or brunch in Lynchburg, you probably think Waffle House or Cracker Barrel, but I’m here to let you in on a delicious secret: Market at Main. Located in downtown Lynchburg, this vibey diner is literally the Tardis from Doctor Who. Walking in, I thought for sure I went through a magical door because it is huge, y’all. They offer breakfast all day, which already earns two brownie points. Their lunch menu is also impressive, featuring super fun dish names and a vegan option that even I, a bonafide meat lover, would love to dig into. But let’s get back to breakfast – think southern cooking, but with some sophisticated options. They have multiple options that feature fried green tomatoes (the southerner in me is quaking), they have chicken and waffles, but they also have eggs benny! So, tack on an extra three brownie points for a grand total of five. My personal recommendation would be the stuffed French toast, which is basically a French toast sandwich containing sweet cream, fresh strawberries, and toasted pecans. I melted. It’s affordable enough at about $13-$15 per person, which I would pay any day for eggs benny.

Ready for lunch? I’ve heard incredible things about the Texas Inn, also located in downtown Lynchburg. If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably driven past it and thought, “that’s a little sketch.” In which case, shame on you. Our mothers taught us not to judge a book by its cover, and boy were they right! The Texas Inn also offers comfy southern cooking, but y’all… $6 and under for a burger?! In Lynchburg! Not even McDonalds is that cheap anymore. They have fun and unique burgers, hotdogs, sandwiches (also with fun dish names – I’m a sucker for silly names), award winning chili and ice cream floats. What more could you want?

For dinner, we have a few options. The Water Dog is good if you like hotdogs, oysters or football but it can get a little pricey. Alternatively, Waterstone Pizza is the place for gourmet vibes and great pizza and pasta but be prepared to spend upwards of $25 per person. My personal plug? La Cocina! Who doesn’t love a good food truck? Hot take: food truck food nine times outta ten will be better than restaurant food. In this case, La Cocina is super aesthetic and offers outdoor seating. Situated across from ALDI on Lakeside Drive, they have all your authentic Mexican food needs, and it’s an option other than La Carreta – if you feel targeted, you are. La Cocina is also pretty affordable at about $15 per person, but with big servings. You won’t be walking away hungry!

All this typing has me ready for dessert! Be honest, have you ever had a crepe? Like a real one? No? Well, head over to Batter Bar in downtown Lynchburg! Although they offer plenty of savory crepe options, let’s talk about the sweet. They have multiple options for sweet little rolled up crepes from Heaven itself, all including crunchy elements which I could not be more into. You’ll be spending less than $10 per person and do have the option to use gluten free batter for an additional $1.50. The only drawback is that Batter Bar closes every day in the early afternoon, but you know the saying: the early bird gets the worm.

Well folks, those are my recommendations for today! Whether you visit the spots mentioned here or just go somewhere new for the first time, I’m proud of you regardless and encourage that adventurous spirit. You really never know what you’ll find! Although I had the privilege of talking all about food today, be sure to keep an eye out for the rest of the LYH Series where we’ll be digging deeper into the best coffee and hiking spots around Lynchburg!

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