"I noticed the disorganized service right away when I was seated at the bar, which prompted me to shorten my order. I decided on two Chambord champagne drinks, a páté appetizer, a baguette, a black coffee, a shot of Kahlúa, and a slice of carrot cake. The páté was remarkably smooth and delicious, while the carrot cake was fresh and flavorful. The bartender mentioned that the bakery next door supplies their baguettes and desserts, which seems to be a smart and mutually beneficial partnership.
**The Details**
I arrived in Front Royal early for an evening activity on Friday, October 22. Unfamiliar with the local dining scene, I stumbled upon ViNoVa Tapas Wine Bar while scoping out options across the street. It was about 6:00 PM, the restaurant had good curb appeal, and I noticed that it wasn’t crowded.
Seated at a small bar directly across from the kitchen, I ordered a Kir Royal. I sensed trouble when the bartender/server admitted he wasn’t familiar with the drink. While I appreciated his honesty, it did lower my expectations as I walked him through the straightforward recipe. To my surprise, the bar was out of crème de cassis, but I spotted Chambord and opted for that instead, mixed with Prosecco. Close enough. The overall staff seemed overwhelmed and not well-coordinated.
The situation with the drink order set the tone for my food selections. I asked for hummus, only to be informed that it was available solely on the lunch menu and during lunch hours. I then learned they were out of scallops. In the end, I ordered the páté appetizer, which turned out to be delicious—smooth and rich in flavor. I also ordered a baguette as a side, which was very good. I was surprised to find pita bread on the plate with the páté. I had no indication that pita was part of the dish when I ordered and chose the baguette specifically. The appetizer also came with cornichon pickles and Pommery mustard. With so much bread in front of me, I only ended up eating the baguette. While I enjoy the mustard, the páté and baguette were excellent on their own. For me, pita bread is typically associated with hummus and falafel sandwiches, while rustic bread, toast, or crackers pair better with páté.
Despite the disorganized service, my limited selections were enough to fuel me for my evening plans. I appreciated the low lighting in the restaurant. As I was there, the place began to fill up, clearly a popular local spot. It struck me that many of the customers who came in were regulars, all in good spirits and enjoying their time at the restaurant."
