The story
The Inn at Little Washington, at 309 Middle Street in Front Royal, Virginia, is an American and French restaurant that holds a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating for 2026.
Forbes Travel Guide calls this the most beautiful kitchen in the world, and the design explains why. The whole room is organized around two chef's tables, with brass fixtures and plenty of windows. Guests who book one can watch the team assemble multi-course dinners. Hand-painted Portuguese tile, bronze fixtures and an imported stone fireplace fill out the view.
Dinner here is a tasting menu, offered at six or 10 courses. Forbes notes that it runs long, and that this is intended. The pace suits a cellar that earned a Wine Spectator Grand Award back in 1995. The listing also notes vegetarian and gluten-free options.
The dining room is formal, and the service matches. Then the cheese arrives on a cart shaped like a cow, which tells you the kitchen doesn't take itself too seriously. The Blue Ridge Mountains are out of sight from the tables. Instead, the windows look over a colorful garden and a koi pond.
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Meals get made in what we think is the most beautiful kitchen in the world. Designed completely around the two chef’s tables, the restaurant’s epicenter is stunning with its brass fixtures and plethora of windows.Though boredom isn’t even an option during your dinner, you should know that it is extremely drawn out — as it should be. The menu features six- and 10-course tasting menus, designed to be savored with every bite.As soon as you see the dining room, you will completely understand the formality, but take another look at the cheese cart and you’ll grasp the quirkiness. Sure you are getting that Five-Star dining experience, but you’ll also be served cheese from a cart shaped like a cow.While you can’t see the Blue Ridge Mountains from your dinner table, you can look out over the colorful garden and koi pond at this Five-Star restaurant.For design types who want a different kind of view, book one of the two chef’s tables located inside the huge, state-of-the-art kitchen. Not only can you watch the culinary team prepare multi-course dinners, but you’ll also get to take in the grand design details such as hand-painted Portuguese tile, grand bronze fixtures and an imported stone fireplace.
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