Relaxed, Southern-style fare with a coastal flair
January-February 2026
by Peggy Hyland, Contributing Columnist
A reader recommendation sent me to Bridgewater Bar & Grill in Clarksville, Va., a casual, family-owned eatery along Buggs Island Lake. If driving through the picturesque countryside does not float your boat, you can arrive by actual boat. The local dock is just a few feet away from the restaurant.
The friendly service impressed us from the moment we arrived. The brisk lunch crowd was a promising sign that we were in for a delicious meal. Our server was incredibly knowledgeable and enthusiastically endorsed our choices.
My companion opted for the chili, one of the restaurant’s most popular items from its rotating selection of daily specials. It was meaty, with a generous amount of sharp cheddar. The spices were the perfect blend of deep warmth without being too hot.
I chose the crab and corn chowder. It was chunky, creamy and rich. The potatoes, green onions and corn with cracked black pepper perfectly rounded out the chowder without overpowering the heavenly crab.
With all the incredible options on the menu, we were not starved for choice. We decided to split a crab cake, which blew us both away. It had glorious chunks of lump crab and just enough fillers to hold it together. The exterior was crisp, the interior was silky and there was the proper amount of Old Bay to make my heart sing.
My friend chose Tank’s Pimento Burger, a half-pound burger with house-made pimento cheese, bacon and jalapeños braised in honey and beer. The jalapeños were slightly sweet, with a slow heat. The burger was perfectly juicy, and the pimento cheese was an incredible creamy delight.
My love of catfish drew me to the New Orleans blackened catfish. It featured two blackened catfish fillets topped with grilled shrimp and served over Parmesan mashed potatoes. The fish was exquisitely flaky and impeccably seasoned with a balanced blend of spices. The tang of the Parmesan complemented the potatoes, and the shrimp were cooked just right. The burst tomatoes were an absolute triumph, and I would happily chow down on a bowl of them on their own.
The dessert options are a mix of some made in-house, others from a local bakery, and some from the suppliers. Even the ones from elsewhere had special in-house touches. The crème brûlée topping on the cheesecake is a house specialty, as is the strawberry sauce on the side.
Having grown up along coastal waterways, I am continually amazed at the incredible seafood available in Virginia’s inland and mountain towns. Bridgewater Bar & Grill absolutely surpassed all my expectations.
Bridgewater Bar & Grill
201 Virginia Ave., Clarksville, VA 23927
Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m.,
Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.,
Sunday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
434-362-2222
Bridgewaterbargrill.com