Culs Courthouse Grille

A find that will bear returning again to as it is an old general store renovated into a good restaurant.  We had a very nice lunch.  The menu is surprisingly varied with barbeque pork, fried oysters, crabcakes as well as more standard fare.  The food was great and the staff and owner very friendly.  I recommend it highly!!

The Courthouse Grille is definitely a locals place, one of those where they'll know your name if you come back.  It's worth a stop to try out a few local beers and grab a bite to eat.  Highly recommend the Charles City Convict - grilled chicken, bacon, lettuce, tomato and cheese all rolled up in a toasted wrap - yum!!

I read the five other reviews here for this place, and my experience was almost exactly like "Virginia B".

The outside of this restaurant is quite nondescript. It looks like someone's house out in the country. You can drive right past it not knowing it was a restaurant/bar, unless you were looking for it.

According to their website (yes, they have one), "Cul's Courthouse Grille was established in 2009 in a renovated country store that was built in 1872. The heart-pine floors and original doors, down to the wavy glass panes, give the Grille a unique atmosphere."

It's located on Route 5, just a few blocks from the beginning of the Virginia Capital [bike] Trail, so a lot of cyclists stop in here after their 15-16 mile ride. I was with a group of 9 beginner cyclists when we came to this restaurant for lunch on a Sunday after our morning ride. It was very convenient because cyclists can park in the Visitor's Center lot across the street and can keep an eye on their bikes while they eat here.

I liked the rural, small town ambiance / feel of Culs, but the food was just "okay". Not bad, but not great. My chicken salad sandwich had too many onions and too much sauce. And the bread appeared to have been dipped in butter and "toasted" on a griddle. Too rich for my preferences. And by the time the sandwich arrived, the bread was hard and (as "Virginia B" mentioned in her review) the homemade potato chips were cold, somewhat stale and very salty.

Some in our group ordered the fried green tomatoes and said they were pretty good. I didn't try them, but I did try the butterbean hummus, which tasted more like butterbeans than hummus. It was interesting.

Most in our group ordered hamburgers, which I guess were pretty good, since I didn't hear anyone complain. The restaurant's full menu is available online (link above, below the address) and they have daily specials.

If I had it to do over, I'd probably order the soup & salad combo. Or just have a beer... or a simple dessert (brownie or big cookie). They have a cute little bar and some wood booths too. There are a couple of big screen TVs near the bar area showing sports.

Prices are reasonable... about $10 for lunch, including beverage. As noted by a couple reviewers here, the service is friendly, but quite slow -- even when it's not crowded -- so don't come here expecting a quick meal.