Tucked inside the historic Dinsmore Inn on Main Street, Farm Bell Kitchen delivers traditional Southern flavors and a comforting, inviting atmosphere. With a modern rustic coffee bar and a brunch menu full of alluring options, it’s a great spot for a nice meal with friends, parents or someone special.
Owner Ryan Hubbard founded Farm Bell in 2018 with the idea of spreading Southern hospitality through both flavor and feel. While on a solo road trip down the Virginia backroads, an antique farm bell caught his eye — one that was once used to call in farmers for a meal. Today, that very bell stands outside the restaurant, a mark of the restaurant's concept and charm.
Farm Bell Kitchen is located just a 10-minute walk from central Grounds. The restaurant is open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Sunday and serves up an impressive range of brunch options, from classic buttermilk pancakes to a variety of egg dishes.
I optimistically made a reservation for a 9 a.m. Friday brunch through their website — ambitious, considering I haven’t willingly woken up that early since high school. Naturally, that was pushed back to 9:30 a.m., then 10 a.m., changed with a few quick taps on the website — almost too easily, as if it had been waiting for me to cave. When we finally arrived at the restaurant, we were promptly escorted to one of the three dining rooms, which we learned can be booked for private events.
The dining room had an elegant yet cozy vibe, with natural light spilling in from the windows onto the wooden tables, complemented by the added warmth of the ceiling’s centerpiece — a grand, golden chandelier. Each table held a small pot of two roses, adding a classic, charming touch. The ambience struck the perfect balance of chatter, laughter and rhythmic folk music, which my friends and I agreed was at the perfect volume — soft enough to leave space for conversation, but present enough to cultivate a sense of comfort.
Paintings of cows and animals adorned the walls. My friend, who’s from the small, rural town of Catharpin, Va., commented that they reminded her of being back home. While I’m not from a rural area, I could still feel that warm, familiar atmosphere. It was the type of place that made me feel more like a guest than a diner — to the point where I half-expected a room key to come with the check.
After a quick scan of the menu, my friends and I were ready to order our drinks. I went for a hot latte for $4.50, one friend chose an orange juice for $5 and the other opted for an iced coffee at $3.50. I got my latte with simple syrup, and it was creamy, rich and filling — just what I needed to wake up. Meanwhile, my friend with the orange juice was caught off guard by how tiny it was. While she admitted it was refreshing and tasted like freshly squeezed oranges, she couldn’t help but feel a little ripped off for the price. As for the iced coffee, my other friend found it to be pretty standard — nothing too special. The portion size, however, earned her seal of approval, especially in comparison to a certain orange juice that disappeared in a few sips.
Soon after placing our drink orders, we ordered our dishes, which arrived within 15 minutes — just enough time for our conversations and appetites to pick up. I selected the $12 Choose Your Own Adventures pancakes, which came with three buttermilk pancakes and a range of options for toppings. I opted for the house-made hazelnut topping over the other options of strawberry white chocolate and peaches and cream toppings. I appreciated how inventive these options were, as opposed to the typical nutella or maple syrup. As soon as I saw my dish, I was captivated. A pillowy, golden stack sat before me – dusted with powdered sugar, drizzled with hazelnut sauce and dolloped with a swirl of whipped cream. It looked so delicious, I nearly snatched the plate out of the waiter’s hands.
The pancakes themselves tasted heavenly — thick, fluffy and filling. The whipped cream was smooth and cloud-like, its flavor interlacing seamlessly with the velvety chocolateness of the hazelnut drizzle. Little hazelnuts were scattered across the pancake, embedded within and around the drizzle and cream, deepening and sharpening the blend of flavors. This dish was excellent — my only critique is that I wished that there was more of the hazelnut topping. Since there was only enough to cover the first pancake in the stack, the rest of the pancakes lacked chocolateness, which disappointed my sweet tooth a little. Nonetheless, though this dish was a bit pricey at $12, its great taste made it worth it.
At our table, there was a good mix of dishes. One friend got the Steak Bowl, which was priced at $18. She said the steak was tender and juicy, and she really enjoyed the sauce, with the home fries and peppers adding a nice contrast and depth to the dish. Her description was so enticing it made me want to try it next time. She also noted that the fried egg was cooked exactly how she asked — well done and thoroughly.
Another friend ordered two sides — over-easy local farm eggs and a buttermilk pancake. She also enjoyed her meal, mentioning she could tell the restaurant didn’t use pancake mix. I agreed with her — the batter had a texture that felt authentic and fresh. My last friend went with the $15 Avocado Toast, which she ordered with a scrambled egg, describing it as good but nothing exceptional.
Overall, my friends and I had a great dining experience at Farm Bell Kitchen. Everyone loved the vibe of the restaurant, and it was a much-needed break from the dining halls. However, given its slightly higher prices, I’d recommend it for the University’s Family Weekend or as a comforting first date spot. While the O’Hill omelette station is tough to beat, Farm Bell Kitchen definitely stepped up to the plate and proved to be the perfect brunch spot.
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