24 Crows: Road-worthy
24 Crows, the eatery-in-an-artgallery in Flint Hill, made it onto “Splendid Table” contributors Jane and Michael Stern’s radar not long ago – and not surprising, considering the first- rate sandwiches, lunch entrees and desserts that go up on the chalkboard every Wednesday through Sunday and then come out of Vinnie Deluise and Heidi Morf’s kitchen.
Stern visited, and last month wrote a glowing review – and threw in some of the sort of photos that just make you hungry – for the website Roadfood.com, in which he said:
“Don't let the apparent modesty of 24 Crows fool you. There are masters in this kitchen, and while it is basically a sandwich shop (and really interesting art and craft gallery), it is run with the care and expertise of a four-star restaurant. ‘I suggest you put a sweater or hat on a table, just to claim it,’ suggests the host [that would be Deluise] when we walk in, advising us that the dozen or so seats indoors and on the front porch get occupied very quickly at lunchtime. He explains to us how service works (order, eat, pay), precisely describes dishes about which we have questions, and generally makes us feel right at home the way a welcoming maitre d' might do.”
Stern had especially good things to say about 24 Crows “club trout” and chicken sandwiches, and Heidi’s homemade ice cream, “reason enough to make a pilgrimage to 24 Crows.”
As the pilgrimage is just a short drive for those of us lucky enough to live here, keep a couple of things in mind: They’re open just 8:30 to 5 Wednesday through Saturday (and 9 to 4 Sunday) at 650 Zachary Taylor Hwy., and lunch is served just 11:30 to 2:30. Before and after that, there’s good coffee and excellent scones and other pastries (though more likely before, since the baked goods don’t last long). Oh and there’s an unmatched selection of arts, crafts and unique items kind of hanging all around you if you’re lucky enough to get one of those tables at lunch.
(In a separate Roadfood.com post made during the same trip, Stern also raved about Rudy’s Pizza, which itself happily claims to make “the best pizza in Sperryville,” a place where no one else makes pizza. But Stern said Rudy’s pizza would be a contender for first place in a much wider geographical area.)