The Main Dining Room

I’ve been here once for dinner and twice for their breakfast. I would give the dinner a 3 and the breakfast a 5 – it’s quite yummy and lovely. Like other reviewers have said, definitely check out the breakfast buffet and pass on the main meal. Plus, the natural sunlight is so beautiful in the mornings. Definitely ask to sit to the left!
Side story: while having breakfast one morning, I said to my boyfriend how I wished they had plain cream cheese (I had only seen strawberry and chives out). Within a minute or so, a waiter swooped by with my own plain cream cheese plate. Still have no idea how he heard me! But very nice just the same.

I’m torn awarding stars on this one.
Hubby and I spent two nights at The Greenbrier, and we had dinner here one night and breakfast one morning.
Is it beautiful? Yes, the entire Greenbrier is beautiful in the most grand way imaginable, and the restaurant is impressive. If all you want to do is see it, there are no walls on two sides, so if you are visiting and just want to walk thru and take some photos, you could do that.
Dinner with two salads, two entrees, two iced teas (no alcohol at dinner) and two desserts was around $ 220… so be prepared. Our ceasar salads were very nice, and I had an excellent Salmon, ever-​s-​slightly crisp on the outside but tender inside… served with an excellent Bernaise sauce topped with lobster and plated with asparagus over rice. Very well done.
Hubby had the filet, again exceptionally good… one of the better steaks «like butter» he shared anywhere… including the steakhouse on property.
I enjoyed a good, but not as great as the entrée, bread pudding… and hubby had a chocolate soufflé that was very nice.
For breakfast the next morning, we ordered off the menu because we had eaten everything I just described at 9 PM the night before. I had a really nice waffle topped with fruit and whipped cream sided by bacon, and hubby had pancakes with peaches and sided with the bacon but he also ordered the artisan sausage just to see how it was. I personally liked the bacon better, the sausage was very plump and clearly hand done, just not a flavor I was wowed about.
Each of us had coffee with breakfast, and our tab was around $ 44 I believe.
Of note… yes, the Greenbrier automatically applies a 20% gratuity on your bill. Our service was good throughout, but I just don’t like this in principle. I also wonder how many guests don’t notice and fill in an additional tip.
The Greenbrier also adds a 6% Historic Preservation Fee as well on your tab. Their property is lovely and the grounds are amazing… but in my opinion when you are paying their rates for room nights and meals… that should be more than enough to not have so many fees added on «nickle and diming you» as my Dad used to say.
Were both meals good? Yes, I would say so. Was this dinner now the proud honoree to be the most expensive meal we have ever had in one night? Yes, at $ 220 it is. Would I say this was in turn the best meal we’ve ever eaten out? No, I’d have to say not. But you are paying for the ambiance and being there, I understand. I’m glad we went, and I’m glad we had a meal there, but we won’t be in a hurry to return.
So thus back to my Unilocal rating scale… A-​OK? Well, clearly it was better than that. But to say I’m a fan? That’s a little strong. So if I could, I’d say 3.5 stars… but I’m going to down to the 3 because of all the fees.

Breakfast Buffet– many cold items. Cold tea. Uninspired buffet offerings. Unless you like sausage.
Breakfast surf and turf– asked for medium filet got rare, asked them to cook slightly more and the chef overcooked it to spite me. They forgot to put the asparagus on at first. Inattentive wait staff. Automatic 20% tip leaves 0 incentive to do a good job. We really wanted this to be better as it’s a unique place to have a meal.

I expected better for the price. $ 75 for dinner for one. eek! $ 38 for breakfast for one… ouch! Breakfast was fantastic, but dinner was only so-​so.
I agree with another reviewer that the dress code is sporadically enforced. Some clarification by management is needed.
Bottom line is go for the breakfast but steer clear for lunch and dinner.

I really want to give The Main Dining Room five stars. It’s held high in the memories of my older relatives. But I just can’t. Here’s why:
Granted, we only enjoyed breakfast. The food was quite good and deserving of at least four stars. It was the service that dips to three. We consistently felt rushed, as though the next table of guests was more appetizing to our waitresses than were we.
Also, I found the dress code confounding. One morning, I was turned away for wearing a nice pair of jeans and a buttoned-​up shirt. Rightfully so, the «no denim» rule was clearly outlined and I just didn’t read carefully enough. What’s confounding, however, is that a group of three waltzed in behind me wearing extraordinarily casual clothes (the first sported a pair of cutoff camouflaged shorts, the second workout attire, and the third a ripped t-​shirt). While I don’t want to come across as a bitter snob, I’d encourage management to create a more consistent policy.
In any event, the food is delightful and I’d recommend you carefully read — and abide by – the dress code.

Pricy dinner at the Greenbrier Resort. The bill came up $ 190 for appetizer, salad, steak, vegetarian entrée, a glass of wine, a cocktail, and 2 desserts. Sort of a bust for the price. My crab and grapefruit appetizer was honestly a bit gross. I couldn’t even get my husband to try it. Husband’s fudge cake dessert was just ok.
Tip: Jacket and tie required but the concierge can loan you a tie if you’ve forgotten one.
Bottom line: expected better for the price