Local Middleburg diners know well that The Black Coffee Bistro is a fine restaurant, not a coffee shop. If the name confuses first-timers, it was inspired by an Ella Fitzgerald blues standard that starts out:

I'm feeling mighty lonesome
Haven't slept a wink
I walk the floor and watch the door
And in between I drink
Black coffee

Chef Bryan Kimmet and co-owner/wife Annie serve contemporary regional American cuisine in their bright, comfortable restaurant. The artwork on the walls changes frequently, and is provided by the Byrne Gallery just down the street. The atmosphere is a perfect setting for the restaurant's unique and delicious food.

Bryan combines local herbs and greens with mushrooms and produce from across the country. Coffee is custom roasted and the tea service is real loose tea served in real china. For those who like something different, Black Coffee Bistro includes dishes made with game from the Broken Arrow Ranch in Texas. Many dishes change monthly, so you will find new tastes to explore. Many of the wines are hard to find "boutique" labels, selected to match the current dishes. (Note: You can order the Sanford Pinot Noir made famous in the movie "Sideways".)

"We serve "First Plate" dishes," said Bryan. "First plates are a larger portion than an appetizer; many customers order them with a soup or salad for their entire meal."

"We have a really wonderful staff that provides great service and always strive to exceed our customers' expectations," says Annie. The restaurant is truly a family business, in addition to Bryan and Annie, 19 year-old son Adam was a regular staff member until he recently started a new job. Regular customers have watched daughters Sophie and Emma grow.

Bryan says, "I grew up in Annapolis, and after Annie and I tired of working in cities, we've achieved our dream of running our own restaurant. It's great to live in a historic town surrounded by beautiful countryside." Adds Annie, "We've traveled around the world and are really happy have found a place to raise our daughters in a beautiful town filled with wonderful friends and great customers."