Set amongst the charming setting of Clifton, Virginia,
Trummer's On Main is among the region's most outstanding dining experiences. Victoria and Stefan Trummer became the first New York restaurateurs to open a dining destination in Clifton. Located on Main Street in a historic town born out of the Civil War, Trummer's On Main is the creation of the husband and wife team, combining "small town charm with fabulous food and attentive service generally found in big food cities."
I treated my parents here for dinner to celebrate Mother's Day. We were seated on the top floor (taking an elevator up) in the more quiet dining room that was full of bright light. The chef, Jon Cropf, helms from Charleston, South Carolina and brings fine dining, artistic cuisine with a slight nod to the south. We were given a
pallate cleanser made with orange cider to begin, and a
Skillet Cornbread made with Geechie Boy grit flour served with honey butter and raspberry jam. It was fresh and lighter than traditional corn bread.
To start, I chose the
Chilled Asparagus Soup with spring peas and lemon. It was cool and refreshing, with a creamy texture.
Keith had the
Soft-Shell Crab with a Spring succotash of corn and tomatoes. The crab was lightly breaded and fried, and overall this dish was filling.
My mother started with the
Artisan Lettuce - a simple salad with pickled ramps, pecorino, and toasted bread crumbs. My father didn't see a starter he liked, but opted for a side of
Truffle Fries to nibble on with his beer before the main entree. They were a bit too greasy for his liking.
For my main dish, I chose the
Icelandic Cod served with sorghum and quinoa, asparagus, and drizzled with a lemony sunchoke milk studded with grapefruit segments. The fish was cooked perfectly, the quinoa was filling, and the asparagus and grapefruit added bright bites to the dish.
Keith ordered the
Large Plate of Whiffletree Farm Pork. The loin and shoulder was served with cannelloni bean mash with tomatoes and yellow wax beans. It was cooked nicely and had great flavor. From the menu: "Whiffletree is an 82 acre organic farm located in Warrenton, VA that has been owned and operated by Michael & Terry Straight since 2009. The animals at Whiffletree Farm enjoy a free range, grass-fed life style, and are raised on a non-gmo diet free of chemicals & antibiotics. The pigs at Whiffletree are raised in the woods of the farm and have a happy, stress-free life. Because of that, the flavor of the pork remains uncompromised. Here at Trummer’s we are receiving a whole hog every week and Chef Jon Cropf will be preparing a different part of it every day. Hail to the Hog!"
My mother ordered the
44 Farms N.Y. Strip that came with roasted potatoes and kale. The meat was tender and the potatoes were plentiful.
My father loved the
Shrimp & Grits that he ordered. Topped with a Cajun tasso ham, stewed peppers & onions, in a lobster cream sauce, this dish was decadent and full of creole flavors.
We were too full to order dessert, though some interesting dishes caught our eye. Nevertheless, we had an enjoyable meal at Trummer's on Main - a hidden gem in a sweet town within Northern Virginia.
Total Rating:
4.15
Food: 4, Price: 4, Service: 5, Ambience: 4.5, Accessibility: 4
