3 days ago2 min read

The Garrison: an Upscale Gem in Charming Downtown Pineville

The holiday season always puts us in the mood for a special meal, and this month’s restaurant review took us to The Garrison, an upscale gem in charming downtown Pineville. With Christmas lights lining the historic streets, Pineville has a small-town feel that’s perfect for this time of year. We met up with our friends Paul and Melissa for an evening of surprising menu items, specialty cocktails and even ghost stories!

The Garrison is located in a historic building dating back to 1890, nestled right next to Margaux’s Wine Lounge, both owned by Kevin Devanney. Devanney and other business owners have helped breathe new life into Pineville’s downtown where the streets used to be virtually empty. Fun fact: Pineville’s town limits are mostly filled with businesses and industrial spaces, making the revival of this area even more impressive.

Inside, The Garrison has a cozy but upscale aesthetic with its tall tiled ceilings and grand chandeliers. We sat downstairs by the bar right in the middle of all the action. Around 7pm things really picked up thanks to a bartender who clearly enjoyed making a performance of his cocktail-shaking skills. (Hey, it added some flair to the evening!)

Our server, Ayden, was fantastic. He’d tried nearly everything on the menu and gave us helpful recommendations, which led to some great choices:

Apps to Start: Two words: zucchini flowers. No seriously, this Roman appetizer is to die for. A young zucchini blossom is stuffed with cheese and lightly fried. You will thank me for this recommendation. I could have eaten an entire plate.
The Mains: I opted for the Scallops with Mushroom Risotto, and let me tell you, it was everything you’d hope for: rich, creamy, and savory. Melissa enjoyed her Chicken Pesto Gnocchi, and Paul went for the Owner’s Steak Sandwich. I teased him about ordering something so simple, but after a bite, I had to admit—he had made the best decision!