Lowery's Seafood - TAPPAHANNOCK

We noticed the Ramsay team's presence last weekend, and as big fans of the chef, we decided to give the restaurant a shot after the initial excitement had settled down. Upon entering the newly renovated section (they haven't completed the entire dining area yet), we were pleasantly surprised at how fresh and updated it looked. The host was very friendly and allowed us to browse the new limited menu before seating us. We were placed in an older part of the dining room, but that was fine. After we ordered, the waitress brought out something called spoon bread, which is essentially a small bowl of soft, flavorful cornbread with a hint of eggs. It was delicious and disappeared quickly! For our appetizer, we had cheese fries that were battered and covered in a delicious cheese sauce with a generous amount of real bacon bits. The portion was just right—not too much to spoil the main course. One of my biggest pet peeves with appetizers is that they can be either too large and wasteful or too small, leaving me hungry for the main course. Fortunately, this time they hit the nail on the head. I ordered the seafood pasta while my fiancé opted for the NY Strip steak. Her steak was exceptional—cooked perfectly to her liking and tender. Although she requested Worcestershire sauce, it wasn't necessary. My pasta had a delightful buttery flavor with a unique hint of garlic, and the amount of seafood was just right; I felt balanced between the pasta and the seafood. We finished our meal with bread pudding and an amazing slice of peanut butter pie topped with real peanuts. We noticed several local groups come in, look at the menu, and then leave. Lowery's has been a staple in Tappahannock since the 1920s, and I guess some locals are resistant to change. However, as the community ages, a thriving business cannot rely solely on catering to those craving heavy, fried foods. Progress is essential, and unless we want to turn into just another rural ghost town with a McDonald's and a mediocre Italian place, we need to embrace change. I commend the owners for taking this initiative. My only minor complaints were that the seafood pasta used corkscrew pasta, which made it a bit tricky to eat with a fork—I would suggest linguine instead—and that the baked potato was slightly undercooked. Other than those two points, it was a fantastic dining experience!

The buffet is outstanding! I’ve tried the fried chicken, which is undeniably finger-lickin' good. The burgers are amazing, and the spoon bread is absolutely heavenly! Lowery's serves genuine comfort food with generous portions, and the desserts are so delicious that you’ll want more than one! The Boston cream pie is a particular favorite of ours. We’ve also always enjoyed excellent service here; the owner even stopped by our table to ensure we were enjoying our meal. It’s these personal touches that have contributed to their success for over 75 years, making it a beloved landmark in Tappahannock. We like to make a full day of it—stop by Lowery's for a great meal and then explore the numerous antique shops in the area before taking a scenic drive by the waterfront. Give it a try; you won’t regret it! Happy dining!

The restaurant has closed, and there is a "For Sale" sign displayed on the marquee. Hopefully, a new establishment will take over this prime location. It appeared to have good business on Sundays after church.

Upon arrival the Captains Grill was flooding and they had trash cans collecting the water. The servers were great. The food was NOT!! We came in Saturday January 18, 2020 5:30 for dinner. Mozzarella sticks were good. Spoon bread Luke warm and crusty in spots. The hush puppies were hard as a brick with no flavor. The chicken special with pepPers and onions was like shoe leather. The flounder dinner was huge aNd could feed two peopLe, but hard on the bottom. Slaw was runny and the fries cold. Cheeseburger not so great. I grew up going to our river cabin on the Rappahanock and stopping at Lowry's was a Treat. No more!! We will not return. We drove from Chesapeake Va expecting Greatness after Gordon Ramsey blew through, but they did not pay attention to the lessons he was trying to teach. Come back Gordon and kick some arse!!!!

We came in for lunch and ordered the crab cake dish and an apple pie with ice cream for dessert. Dinner rolls came out and they were soft and buttery, not my favorite kind of bread. The salad that came out was dried as though it was left out. The crab cake was mehh... It was so soggy, the outer shell had a crisp to it but after forking it, it was mushy. I was looking forward to it but ah well. The apple pie was the only good thing I had there.