As a native Floridian, there comes a point every late fall when we have that first cold snap and I think, “Well, here we go again. I’m going to be a little bit chilly until spring.” So if you’re like me and long for a place to feel warm and cozy and enjoy a good meal by the fire, we’ve got you covered.
There are a number of restaurants in Fredericksburg with outside fire pits, but far fewer with working indoor fireplaces. Here are a few of the top spots in Fredericksburg where you can settle in by the fire and enjoy delicious food and maybe a warming drink on a cold winter day:
The Alpine Chef, 200 Lafayette Blvd.
Those looking for winter ambiance would have a hard time finding a better spot than The Alpine Chef. Walking into the restauratnt, lin Fredericksburg’s historic former train station, feels a bit like stepping into the past. The interior’s dark wood beams are brightened by twinkle lights strung around the restaurant, and the staff has gone all out with the holiday decorations, from hanging ornaments to nutcrackers over the mantle. There are a variety of seating areas, but the room with the fireplace feels a bit like the den of a European lodge with its roaring fire and drawings of the old train station floor plans adorning the walls. The result is pure Old World charm, paired with attentive service and softly playing music.
Having never been to The Alpine Chef before, one pleasant surprise was the range of price points on the menu. While the restaurant certainly looks and feels like a fine dining experience, there are a variety of sandwiches and salads priced well under $20.
Dining next to the roaring fire at The Alpine Chef is a nice way to spend a winter evening.
For my first schnitzel experience, I tried the chicken schnitzel, and it did not disappoint. The breading was perfection — crunchy and flavorful, pairing beautifully with the rich and creamy paprika sauce. It was big enough for two people to split, especially with the added sides; we had the warm and vinegary German potato salad and red cabbage.
The star of the show, aside from the splendor of the room and the sound of a train passing by, was the homemade Black Forest cake. If you’re expecting an overly sweet, canned-cherry dessert, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. This tasted like something your grandmother might have made. Decadent, made in-house (like all of their desserts) and accompanied by homemade whipped cream, it’s the perfect winter dessert and it’s easy to see why it’s the restaurant’s most popular offering.
Adventurous diners should consider ordering from their seasonal wild game menu, which runs from fall through early winter, and features a selection of seasonal dishes from rabbit to wild boar to duck.
And if you stop by on a Monday, there’s an added bonus: a free pretzel. We sampled the larger, shareable pretzel, and to say it was the largest pretzel we’d ever seen would be an understatement. Prepared by a German baker, it was paired with some of the tastiest spicy brown mustard I’ve ever tried and a homemade cheese sauce.
Tapa Rio, 1101 Sophia St.
Tapa Rio has the best of both worlds: an inviting back patio overlooking the river when the weather’s warm, and a seat by the fire when the weather turns cold. The restaurant features tasteful decor that doesn’t overpower or detract from the art by local artists adorning the walls.
This visit, I wanted to try something different. I ordered the insalata cavolo: a bed of shaved black kale and rocket (known as arugula in the U.S.), topped with a creamy citrus dressing and shaved Manchego cheese. It was the perfect salad for a winter evening. We also tried the cavolfiore: charred cauliflower drizzled with smoked honey and toasted hazelnuts, served alongside whipped, seasoned goat cheese. I was already a fan of cauliflower, but the crispy edges contrasted with the smoky honey and the cool tang of the goat cheese elevates the vegetable to something extraordinary. Trust me and try it. You won’t be disappointed.
Enjoy views of the Rappahannock River while staying toasty at Tapa Rio.
For an entree, we debated between one of the pasta dishes or the fire-roasted ribeye, but ultimately decided that on a cold winter night, pizza was the right call. We went with the caprese, which is admittedly not particularly wintery, but the combination of flavorful tomatoes, mozzarella pearls and balsamic drizzle was hard to resist. Tapa Rio’s marinara sauce shined, with just the right balance of sweetness and a hint of smoky flavor.
The biggest challenge with Tapa Rio is deciding what to order. Do you want a long, grazing meal? Or a more traditional entrée? Do you go veggie-forward with salads and roasted vegetables, or lean into something heartier?
The brilliance of Tapa Rio is that everything somehow works together, no matter which direction you choose.
Firebirds, One Towne Centre Blvd.
Though we typically focus on locally owned eateries, there actually aren’t many restaurants in the area with working indoor fireplaces. Firebirds, located in The Village at Towne Center, stands out not only for its visible wood-fired grill in the main dining room, but also for an additional fireplace in the bar area.
While you can see the open flames of the grill from most seats in the restaurant, I recommend grabbing a table in the bar area by the fireplace. In addition to traditional bar seating, there are high-top tables seating two or four, and some are outfitted with cozy pillows. The bar area is first come, first served, but it’s rare to encounter much of a wait.
What’s particularly fun at Firebirds — and perhaps not surprising given the name — is that so many menu items are cooked over a wood-fired grill. Here, fire isn’t just for ambiance; it’s central to the flavor of the food.
That starts with the cocktails. The seasonal Burning Bushel is an old fashioned featuring Sazerac rye whiskey and Fireball Blazin’ Apple, finished with a dried apple slice and a smoking cinnamon stick garnish. Unlike smoked old fashioneds, the cinnamon adds fragrance without overpowering the drink, and the apple enhances rather than masks the whiskey’s bitterness.
Another recommendation for a winter cocktail at Firebirds is the Holiday Margarita.
If you’re looking for a cocktail available year-round, the Double Black Diamond Martini is one of the top sellers and is dangerously smooth with its pineapple vodka.
The fireplace at Firebirds certainly puts out some serious heat. On a cold, blustery day, the interior felt genuinely warm, with one diner remarking as she sat down, “I can feel the heat!” Children are welcome in the bar area, as well, making it a comfortable option for families. While the fireplace itself is gas, the stacked logs nearby give it the glow of a wood-burning hearth.
For appetizers, you can’t go wrong with the lobster spinach queso — warm, velvety, and perfectly shareable, with just enough kick from the pepper jack and a subtle lobster flavor. The wood-grilled chimichurri shrimp was another standout, with perfectly cooked shrimp and a bright, herbaceous sauce. The accompanying charred corn salsa was excellent — and, as a pro tip, pairs well with the queso chips.
From the winter specials, available through the end of January, we sampled the wood-grilled peppercorn-crusted sirloin, topped with onion rings and served with a loaded baked potato. The steak was cooked perfectly, and the accompanying au jus mingled with the melting butter to create a rich, savory sauce. Even the baked potato showed care, its skin crisped with oil and salt rather than left as an afterthought.
The wood-grilled salmon, topped with Key lime butter, is the most popular dish on the menu, and it’s easy to see why. Like everything else, it arrived perfectly cooked, with crispy edges, tender flesh, and a grilled lemon on the side that added just the right brightness. To my surprise, I learned that the salmon actually arrives at the restaurant whole and is butchered in house, a detail that shows the restaurant’s attention to freshness.
Dessert is worth saving room for. We tried the crème brûlée cheesecake, a slice of New York-style cheesecake topped with a brûléed sugar crust. Even for someone not typically drawn to crème brûlée, this was a standout — balanced, not overly charred and absolutely worth ordering again.
Whether you’re drawn to The Alpine Chef’s Old World warmth, the relaxed fireside atmosphere at Tapa Rio or Firebirds’ unmistakable glow of open flame and grill, these are just some of the places that make winter feel less like something to endure and more like something to settle into.
Order something warm, take your time and let someone else tend the fire.
