The Black Sheep Restaurant
Manassas / American / $$$
There’s ’90s rock on the stereo, and the people at the booth next to you are wearing shorts. But don’t let that deter you—just know that The Black Sheep Restaurant from Villagio Hospitality Group is more casual than its setting in a gorgeously reimagined historic barn might have you think.
The dining room is one of the most beautiful in NoVA—it resembles the fanciest farmhouse affairs you’ve seen in Martha Stewart Weddings, but likely with better food. And without the pretension. This is the kind of place where diners are as welcome to mow down a bodacious burger as they are to dine on cast-iron-seared scallops in sweet celeriac purée. In fact, it’s encouraged. The Black Sheep is a place to get comfortable and enjoy the good life, one juicy bite at a time.
See this: Thomasson Barn, built in 1929, has been renovated in a stunning feat that preserves its pastoral character but upgrades it with chandeliers and comfortable booths.
Eat this: Bacon Tower, American Kobe burger, homemade chocolate brownie
Service: The staff may wear rugged aprons that look like they belong at the farm, but they’re competent and eager to please in a way that shows they weren’t raised in a barn, they just work in one.
When to dine here: Atmosphere is of the utmost importance, but you want to keep things casual.
Feature image by Rey Lopez
This post originally appeared in our November 2021 issue’s Best Restaurants cover story. For more food reviews, subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
