What to Expect: House made Italian favorites, sophisticated setting, no detail overlooked
The Experience: Anyone in the restaurant business will tell you—starting your own, and keeping it afloat, is tough work. The locally-owned places come and go in the Hill City, but there are some with true staying power. Isabella’s, now in its 18th year, is one of them.
“Our first 9.5 years were on Old Forest Road, and we have spent 8.5 in the Boonsboro Shopping Center,” says owner Cheri Barauskas.
The restaurant’s incredible attention to detail is one big reason Lynchburg locals have been faithful—little touches such as artwork of the Virginia mountains by Dede Buhler throughout the dining area to the ingredients they use, many from local vendors such as Our Father’s Farm, Lynchburg Grows and Good Karma Tea.
What to Try: At lunch, you won’t be disappointed by Isabella’s house made soups and salads.
“The simplest, but most popular, is our house salad with mesclun greens, toasted pine nuts, reggiano cheese, and our balsamic dressing with sliced grilled chicken,” says Barauskas.
Known for its incredible Italian fare, Isabella’s also takes plenty of mid-day orders for their seasonal pressed paninis, classic dishes such as lasagna and chicken parmesan, and brick oven pizzas.
The Extras: Aside from their delicious food, Barauskas says they have other strengths that make them a great choice for business dining.
“We have ample shopping center parking, we take reservations, we offer a full-service experience, and we have private or more secluded dining areas,” she says.
Not to mention she believes the service and passion of the staff can’t be beat.
“We have a great group of talented employees who care about people and are proud of their work,” she explains.
“My husband and I work every day to better ourselves…
and hope to be here for many more years to come.”
