A Shenandoah Valley Tradition Since 1947

Staunton, Virginia

Located on Route 250 East of Staunton, at the junction of Interstates 64 and 81, Mrs. Rowe's has become a landmark for travelers. Locals are regulars too and proud of the restaurant's growing fame. This year, Mrs Rowe celebrated her 88th birthday and the history that is becoming legend. Her start in the business came in the late 1940's at "The Far Fame", a restaurant which featured recipes her mother created and prepared. When she married Willard Rowe in 1953, she brought her recipes with her to Staunton. Since 1947 he had run Perk's Barbecue, a roadhouse seating about 40 people and specializing in barbecue and steaks. Together he and Mrs Rowe renamed the business Rowe's Steakhouse, and, for the next twenty years, oversaw two expansions which increased capacity to 225. When Mr Rowe died in 1973, Mrs Rowe continued to run the restaurant with the assistance of her four children.

Thinking she might retire, Mrs Rowe turned, to her son, Mike DiGrassi and his sister Brenda Hathaway to run the restaurant in 1983. Although Mike manages the business, Mrs. Rowe still works five nights a week greeting people, testing food, and giving feedback to the kitchen. During apple season, Mrs. Rowe stays busy making apple dumplings; in the fall, she oversees the the preparation of traditional mincemeat. She also continues to experiment with new recipes, some of which make their way onto the menu beside recipes from 50 years ago.

The future looks bright for Mrs. Rowe's family-owned and operated Restaurant and Bakery. Open for three meals a day, seven days a week, Mrs. Rowe's draws people back with friendliness and great home cooking--spoon bread, sausage gravy, breakfast scrabble (or pond haus), real mashed potatoes, stuffed peppers, fruit pies, banana pudding, and other foods you might expect to find in your grandmother's kitchen. Mrs. Rowe's frozen entrees--available by the check-out counter--are also in great demand.

When Mrs. Rowe turned 85, every shift at the restaurant gave her a party and she loved it. The restaurant is an extension of her gracious hospitality, and she watches with pride as it grows and continues to serve the public a good helping of family tradition.
 

Come Meet Our Staff!

Aaron DiGrassie - Owner/Chef

Graduate of the New England Culinary Institute in 2000

Graduate of the Italian Culinary Institute in 2001

Sous Chef for the Ivy Inn in Charlottesville, VA 2001-2002

Head Chef Mrs. Rowe's Restaurant and Bakery in Staunton, VA 2002-2005

Currently Owner and Manager of Mrs. Rowe's Country Buffet in Mt. Crawford, VA

 

Susan Simmons

Assistant Cook at the Buckhorn Inn from 1979-1982

Manager of a dairy farm from 1982-1991

Graduate of Blue Ridge Community College in Animal Science in 1982

Graduate of Virginia Tech in Dairy Science in 1991

Assistant Cook at Evers Family Restaurant 1998-2007

Currently Assistant Cook at Mrs. Rowe's Catering in Staunton, VA

 

Peter Harrison