Pollock Dining Room at Skyland
Experience regional farm-to-fork dining with breathtaking mountain and valley views, crowned by a famous signature dessert.
Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Blue hour photography, calmer galleries
Pollock Dining Room at Skyland
Highlights
Must-see attractions
Experience regional farm-to-fork dining with breathtaking mountain and valley views, crowned by a famous signature dessert.
"This is a must-see place just for the views alone. The food was excellent and our server was very attentive."
Secure a Window Table
Make reservations early for a window seat to maximize the stunning valley views.
Patience for the Kitchen
Expect wait times, especially during peak hours. Relax and enjoy the views while you wait.
Quick Facts
Cuisine
American
Price
$$$
Phone
(877) 847-1919
Address
400 Skyland Upper Loop Mile 42, Luray, VA 22835, USA
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Breathtaking Sunset Views
Dine with panoramic views of the valley and mountains, especially stunning at sunset.
Signature Mile-High Blackberry Ice Cream Pie
A legendary, "mountain-sized" dessert that's a must-try for its sweet, tart, and creamy perfection.
Rustic Ambiance with Farm-to-Fork Flavors
Enjoy regional specialties in a charming, rustic setting that offers a unique fine dining experience.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Menu
Most Popular Items
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Secure a Window Table
Make reservations early for a window seat to maximize the stunning valley views.
Patience for the Kitchen
Expect wait times, especially during peak hours. Relax and enjoy the views while you wait.
Ask for Recommendations
Servers can guide you to must-try dishes like shrimp and grits or the famous blackberry pie.
Dine During Sunset
Dinner service, especially during sunset, offers a particularly wonderful and memorable experience.
Tips
from all over the internet
Secure a Window Table
Make reservations early for a window seat to maximize the stunning valley views.
Patience for the Kitchen
Expect wait times, especially during peak hours. Relax and enjoy the views while you wait.
Ask for Recommendations
Servers can guide you to must-try dishes like shrimp and grits or the famous blackberry pie.
Dine During Sunset
Dinner service, especially during sunset, offers a particularly wonderful and memorable experience.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Pollock Dining Room at Skyland offers a unique dining experience with incredible mountain views, making it a popular spot within Shenandoah National Park. While the food is generally considered good, with standout dishes like the Blackberry Ice Cream Pie, some diners find the prices high for the quality and experience. Service can be efficient but sometimes rushed, and long wait times are common, especially during peak seasons.
"Tasty lunch quick bites with a wonderful view is a great combination. The service Abigail provided was top-notch. She made sure that our 4-legged friend was comfortable and made sure that our food came out right. Dinner service was also wonderful especially during sunset."
Edmund Punzalan
"We dined here several times during our stay, and overall, Pollock Dining Room delivers a solid experience—especially considering it’s inside a national park lodge. The food quality is surprisingly good, though prices are as high as you’d expect in a remote location like this. Wait times can be long: about 30 minutes to get seated and another 20 before food arrives, so be prepared to relax and take in the views.
Dinner here shines more than breakfast. The ribeye steak was well-cooked and juicy, paired with velvety mashed potatoes and perfectly tender broccolini. The Forest Pasta with grilled chicken was another standout—rich, flavorful, and not dry at all. The pimento cheese dip came with warm, soft pretzel bites that were addictive. For dessert, the vanilla ice cream and mango sorbet were both refreshing and creamy—truly satisfying.
Breakfast, on the other hand, felt less impressive. Portions are a bit on the smaller side and the offerings are fairly standard, nothing particularly memorable.
The dining room itself has a warm, rustic charm, with large windows that frame beautiful mountain views. During dinner, you can sometimes catch live music or spot the twinkling lights from Luray far below at dusk, adding to the ambiance."
Yunong Shi
"My husband’s steak was almost raw, they tried to correct the issue and replaced the steak with a worse cut and the next one was a little overdone but edible. His drink the cherry whiskey drink was sickly sweet. I had a wonderful experience which is why it’s 3 stars and not lower. The half chicken was delicious, the blackberry wine went well with it (a little sweeter than I usually drink but it was tasty), my husband and I both enjoyed the flourless chocolate tort. For the price I wouldn’t go back. There are plenty of options outside of the park that offer better quality food at similar or less prices."
Sarah Waring
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
The signature Mile-High Blackberry Ice Cream Pie is a must-try, along with regional specialties like shrimp and grits and ribeye steak.
Reservations are recommended, especially for securing a window table or outdoor seating, to avoid long wait times.
Sunset offers particularly spectacular views of the valley and mountains. Dinner service is often highlighted for this.
Yes, the atmosphere is generally described as family-friendly, with some sources mentioning live music in the taproom.
While not explicitly detailed in the provided data, the menu features pasta and salads which may be adaptable. It's best to inquire directly.
Wait times can be significant, often 30 minutes or more to be seated, and an additional wait for food. Visiting during off-peak hours can help.
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The Pollock Dining Room at Skyland serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, while the lodge's Mountain Taproom is a go-to spot for lighter fare, drinks, and evening entertainment. The New Market Taproom within Big Meadows Lodge is another great choice. The restaurant has an outdoor terrace and a menu of local beer, wine, and casual fare like nachos and pizza.
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At Big Meadows Lodge, Spottswood Dining Room serves up hearty comfort foods, like a meatloaf dinner and mushroom ravioli. A canine menu features pup-friendly dishes, including roasted chicken and carrots. The lodge also has a casual bar with local beers and wines called New Market Taproom.
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Speaking of evenings, don’t forget to make a reservation at the on-site Pollock Dining Room’s terrace if the weather is nice. Featuring breathtaking valley views, the scenery pairs perfectly with regionally inspired farm-to-table fare. Enjoy Black Eye Pea Chili, Campfire Trout or a Grilled Ribeye alongside local wine and beer selections or a cocktail.
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Close by the accommodations, the Dining Room and the Mountain Tap Room offer options that are unexpectedly sophisticated without being pretentious. You’ll not find foam-dusted anything here, but what you will find is a selection of local specialties and Southern staples that let you explore the typical foods of the region. Don’t miss your chance.
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Skyland’s Pollock Dining Room has a nice sit-down restaurant with lovely views, but they open at 12 for lunch, and there is often a line, so plan for that accordingly. There’s also a gas station in Big Meadows if you happen to blow out your tire and need someone to help you put on your spare (just theoretically).
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Mile-High Blackberry Ice Cream Pie — Enjoy the views and the food at Skyland Lodge’s Pollock Dining Room, after a hard hike in the backcountry of Shenandoah National Park. This pie has been called “mountain-sized,” “signature,” and “famous.” All the superlatives apply. (Check for season-opening dates.)
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Skyland’s Pollock Dining Room is a full service dining room serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Mountain Taproom features a lighter fare menu with beer, local wines, and nightly family-friendly entertainment. Grab 'n Go offers sandwiches, salads, pastries, snacks and drinks for meals to go.
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Skyland has a lovely restaurant called the Pollock Dining Room. This restaurant features farm-to-fork dishes and incredible views of the Shenandoah Valley. If you are dreaming of something sweet, the famous blackberry ice cream pie is available at this location.
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Tours are offered at Skyland Stables (Mile 42.5) from mid-April to mid-November. Riders must be at least 4 feet, 10 inches tall and weigh less than 250 pounds. For little ones (age 5 and under), wrangler-led pony rides are available.
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The Pollock Dining Room at Skyland is one of two dining options at the resort right at the heart of Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park, nestled at Skyline Drive’s highest elevation of 3,680 feet!
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The Big Meadows Lodge, Skyland, Lewis Mountain Cabins, and the Campgrounds were all open for overnight stays. The campgrounds are usually closed around November 1st and reopen in the spring.
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Skyland Lodge: (Mile 41.7) The Pollock Dining Room offers a full menu and great views of the Shenandoah Valley. The Mountain Taproom offers drinks and pub grub.
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Look for blackberry desserts at the Big Meadows Wayside, Big Meadows Lodge, Pollock Dining Room, and other eateries within Shenandoah National Park.
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With another day of adventure ahead, it’s important to fuel up with breakfast and the Pollock Dining Room is just the place to do it.
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The Blue Door Kitchen, Flint Hill, VA. ~ A charming restaurant open Thursday – Sunday. Reservations required – open for dinner only.
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