A Restaurant Guide for your New Year’s Resolutions
By: Olivia Carter
With the mashed potatoes, turkey legs, pie, and eggnog put away until next Christmas, many of us in the New Year are perhaps looking to make some dietary adjustments and trade out the gravy for fresh greens.
As Lynchburg grows, so are its dining options. Gone are the days of only chain-food restaurants. Today, our local cuisine scene is bursting with organic, vegan, vegetarian and nutrient-dense foods, much of which is sourced here in our region.
We, as diners, are looking for healthier foods and chefs behind the scenes are listening, continually testing the boundaries of incorporating intriguing and diverse menu items that are better for our overall health.
Millie’s Living Café
Millie’s Living Cafe in Wyndhurst offers a health-focused menu featuring vegan and organic options, including smoothies, fresh juices, and plant-based snacks. Located within Health Nut Nutrition at 1701 Enterprise Drive this cafe is popular for its dedication to high-quality, nutrient-rich ingredients that cater to various dietary needs, including vegan and gluten-free options. Their offerings emphasize whole, natural foods and the environment reflects a casual, cozy atmosphere ideal for breakfast, lunch or a quick healthy snack.
They also offer breakfast and lunch options such as warm oat bowls, wheat-free bagels, jackfruit sliders, and Tex-Mex tacos.
Millie’s Living Cafe also provides options for takeout, dine-in, and delivery and it’s a favorite for health-conscious locals and visitors looking to enjoy clean, organic fare in a relaxed setting.
Mother Nature’s Soul Food Vegan
Located at 616 5th Street, Mother Nature’s Soul Food Vegan is a distinctive vegan restaurant offering soul food-inspired plant-based dishes. Known for its comforting, home-cooked meals, the menu includes items like seitan ribs, vegan mac and cheese, collard greens, chick’n sandwiches, and even vegan interpretations of classic soul food sides such as mashed potatoes and yams.
Desserts, including sweet potato cake, are popular as well, and Sea Moss drinks are available for a nutrient boost.
Reviews from patrons say that the flavors are nostalgic and satisfying and many are happy to have a vegan dining option in Lynchburg. This one-of-a-kind eatery is not only vegan but is also alpha-gal–friendly.
Crisp
Crisp is a longstanding and popular salad and juice bar with locations in both downtown Lynchburg at 1124 Church Street and in Forest at 8013 Forest Road Suite A-01. It’s known for its health-focused and customizable menu and allows customers to build their own salads and wraps from a wide range of fresh ingredients.
Fresh toppings include sweet potatoes; multiple cheeses; proteins such as steak, chicken or shrimp; edamame, strawberries, and egg. The salad bar also offers homemade dressings. Their menu also includes fresh-pressed juices and seasonal gourmet soups, appealing to those seeking nutritious options and flexibility in meal choices.
Both locations operate with a quick-service, assembly-line style to accommodate the busy lunch crowd. Both locations are designed with a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere, making them a popular choice for health-conscious locals and visitors alike.
Hot & Cold Café
Owned by Uday and Timby Mukherjee, Hot & Cold Café is a unique downtown eatery that offers a fusion of Indian and Mediterranean cuisines. Located at 1206 Main Street, near the Lynchburg Community Market, the café is renowned for its variety of authentic dishes, including a mix of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options, making it accessible to diners with various dietary preferences.
Menu highlights include homemade bread, soups, gyros, and a variety of delicious desserts such as baklava. The café also serves Indian classics like lamb dishes in cream sauce, hummus with pita, and mango lassi, often prepared with a focus on fresh ingredients.
The restaurant has a reputation for its friendly, attentive service, with the owners frequently interacting with guests to ensure satisfaction with food choices and spice levels.
Al Ryan
Al Ryan Mediterranean Cuisine, located in downtown Lynchburg at 817 Main Street, is a popular spot for authentic Mediterranean food. Known for its cozy, tucked-away setting, Al Ryan serves a diverse menu featuring traditional Mediterranean dishes with fresh ingredients. The offerings include a variety of flavorful curries, meat and vegetarian plates, wraps, and desserts, making it a local favorite for both lunch and dinner.
The restaurant often receives praise for its attentive, personable service with owner Nayef Al-Shubaki often interacting warmly with guests.
The menu, which includes all food made-to-order, includes Greek salad, falafel, hummus, shawarma, and gyro wraps.
Inka Grill
Inka Grill, located in downtown Lynchburg at 912 Main Street, offers an authentic taste of Peruvian cuisine with a variety of traditional dishes,
such as ceviche, lomo saltado, and pollo a la brasa (Peruvian-style rotisserie chicken). This restaurant brings a unique cultural experience to the area, featuring a warm and welcoming atmosphere with decor that reflects Peruvian heritage. The grill offers a menu of unique flavors and dishes from seafood to chicken with styles and inspiration from Peru.
The restaurant’s menu is versatile, including vegan and vegetarian options, making it accessible to a wide range of dietary preferences. The food is known for being made fresh with quality ingredients, which contribute to the authenticity of the dishes.
Nautical Bowls
Nautical Bowls is a health-focused café that specializes in nutrient-packed, tropical-inspired bowls. The café offers a variety of açai, pitaya, and other superfood bowls, each loaded with fresh fruit, granola, and options for additional toppings. The Lynchburg location opened in 2023 on West Edge Way, near popular spots like Chipotle and First Watch on Timberlake Road. For those looking for refreshing, organic, and satisfying meal choices that prioritize whole foods and superfoods, this spot is perfect for both breakfast and light lunch options. Bowls are made all-natural with vitamins and are gluten-free, plant-based, soy-free, and dairy-free. They’re also beautifully presented with vibrant colors of blue, pinks and orange and topped with bananas, nuts, berries and coconut.
Milan Indian Cuisine
Milan Indian Cuisine, located at 2124 Wards Road, has been a staple in the area’s dining scene since 2003. Known for its authentic Indian flavors, it offers a mix of both meat and vegetarian dishes, providing options for a range of dietary preferences. Signature items include Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb Vindaloo, Tandoori Chicken and a selection of vegetarian curries. For those looking to try a variety of flavors, Milan features a popular lunch buffet with a rotating assortment of dishes, and à la carte dining is available for dinner. It offers both vegan and gluten-free options and uses no artificial flavors, coloring or ingredients in any dish and roasts and grinds its own spices as well as makes all chutneys and sauces in-house.
Milan’s ambiance and attentive service have earned it local awards and a reputation as one of the best Indian restaurants in the Lynchburg area.
Truss
Truss is a popular New American restaurant located at 2204 Bedford Avenue. Known for its focus on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, Truss offers an elevated dining experience featuring dishes crafted with care and creativity. Their menu includes a range of options across lunch, dinner, and brunch, with fan favorites like duck confit, grilled steak salad, whipped feta and pan-seared scallops. The dessert menu, which includes a chocolate torte and a refreshing citrus posset, complements the well-curated selection of entrées.
Chef Wray Warner curates the rotating menu with care as he intentionally selects local ingredients and seasonal flavors.
Tori Blue
Tori Blue, a new addition to the Lynchburg dining scene, is an upscale American restaurant with French influences, located inside the Bella Vista Hotel & Suites at 2900 Candlers Mountain Road. The ambiance is elegant, featuring deep blue and floral accents, providing a stylish setting for a unique dining experience. Chef Edwin Scholly, an award-winning chef with extensive international experience, leads the kitchen, creating dishes like whiskey barrel-aged steaks and refined seafood options that incorporate both local and seasonal ingredients.
Tori Blue’s menu emphasizes high-quality, expertly crafted meals, including vegetarian choices, such as a winter harvest salad and baked brie and is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday, with a popular brunch on Sundays. Their bar area also offers an extensive selection of fine wines and cocktails. The restaurant is designed to cater to both hotel guests and locals looking for a refined yet welcoming dining experience.
Dish
This cozy and warm establishment at 1120 Main St. is a popular, long-standing restaurant known for its modern American cuisine with Southern influences and ever-revolving daily specials using local ingredients. The laid-back eatery serves creative dishes made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. The menu offers many vegetarian options such as hummus, curry fried cauliflower with Indian chili sauce, roasted beets with herb chèvre and pesto as well as Brussels sprouts with goat cheese and honey chili flakes. Daily specials have included fish dishes, flank steak, broccoli rabe and various pasta dishes. The menu also includes a robust wine list.
Fuel Bar
Fuel Bar is a vibrant destination for health-conscious customers seeking refreshing, nutrient-packed smoothie bowls, fresh juices and protein-rich smoothies. Located at 1191 Venture Drive in Forest, Fuel Bar offers a wide selection of plant-based options, catering especially to fitness enthusiasts and those following specific diets such as gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan. Their menu is known for customizable items where customers can pick from a variety of fresh fruits, protein powders and superfood toppings, making it a versatile stop for a quick, energizing meal. With a focus on high-quality ingredients, Fuel Bar has established a reputation for promoting healthy, wholesome eating within the Lynchburg community. The bar is a popular spot for patrons looking to grab a post-workout smoothie or an on-the-go healthy meal alternative, appealing to those who want good nutrients and great taste. You can have both!
