Snow White Grill

Back in the mid 20th century, the diminutive Snow White Grill on Loudon Street served thousands of mini-hamburgers in bustling downtown Winchester. Nowadays, Loudon Street is closed to cars and has become a pedestrian mall dotted with families, couples walking hand-in-hand, mothers pushing strollers, and kids running about the revitalized downtown.

Rick and Jan Childs took over Snow White Grill, where the mini-burger remains a signature item. The Childs have added breakfast sandwiches, pork BBQ in a tomato-based sauce, and cheesesteak subs.

Fresh ground beef, made into tiny patties on a vintage machine in the basement, is transformed into a mini-burger—plus fried onions, cheese, and pickles—on the restaurant’s small griddle. Two burgers make a fine meal, unless you’re keen on tasting other items. Noteworthy are the chili dog with a squiggle of mustard, pork BBQ mounded with fresh slaw, and homey chicken salad. Red birch beer is our go-to choice from the soda fountain, and creamy milkshakes are served alongside the silver beaker in which they were mixed. We prefer tater tots over French fries whenever possible, and they’ll even smother them with gooey cheese for an extra forty cents. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Snow White Grill is an important stop on Virginia’s Roadfood trail.