Few have done more to help put Star City on the culinary map than veteran chef and restaurateur Jeff Farmer. He launched and helmed Italian standout Fortunato; legendary fine-dinery Lucky Restaurant; and the Scandinavian-style Stock Bistro & Bar. Never one to sit still for long, Farmer has once again shifted directions to open a new, self-described “fine-diving” concept with longtime co-conspirator and mixologist Cas Moser.
Show Pony sits in the happening, historic Grandin Village neighborhood. The intimate shotgun room is lined with unassuming wooden tables and a lengthy,
no-frills bar. It features hip touches like a small, static-tuned, 1970s knob television, mid-century crystal chandeliers, vintage punk posters, and a red push-button telephone.
Menus change often and are anchored in deliciously upscale comfort foods, like a Reuben sandwich made with Smoke in Chimneys rainbow trout on locally baked rye bread. Drinks specials bring budget-friendly options, like a $10 Old Fashioned.
“The goal here was to create a true neighborhood restaurant where people can come hang out after work, unwind, and have a great meal that won’t break the bank,” says Farmer.
This article originally appeared in the Best of Virginia 2026 issue.
