Who are the people behind Queen City Bistro?
Arianna
John
Miriam
Julian
How did Queen City Bistro Start?
Queen City Bistro started as a dream of John Allen and his wife Arianna Allen-Hawkes, who each came up through the ranks of the restaurant scene of Charlottesville, Va. Between them they have served thousands of guests, and worked hundreds, possibly thousands of events. Leveraging their experience in hospitality and restaurant management, they decided to start a restaurant and begin a grand adventure for both them and their family, Miriam, Julian, and now little Benjamin. For months they hunted for the perfect location - a place where the menu and staff would become the heartbeat of a house of welcome for any who would come. They could think of no place better than Beverley Street in Staunton, VA.
This vision came to life with the help of many committed, generous, collaborative friendships that had been formed over years in the industry. Help came from all sides as he and his wife Arianna worked to manifest their dream, aiding in everything from pulling bent nails to building cocktails. As they worked, the joy of that vision shone like a beacon for newcomers - now called friends, colleagues, and honored guests.
Mission & Values
QCB was founded with the mission of offering unique presentations of Southern and Italian comfort food with unmatched hospitality. The heart of the experience is the ancient Greek philosophy of Xenia, known as “guest-friendship.” This practice is the alchemy of transforming strangers into friends through mutual generosity. We strive for this with a warm welcome for every guest, ensuring they feel valued and respected from the moment they enter to the moment they leave.
Situated in a building with a century of history in the heart of Staunton, QCB occupies a space that has seen various incarnations. 23 Beverley was a confectionery, a men’s clothing store, various eateries, and most memorably as Emilio’s Italian Restaurant. We celebrate this history as we create the next chapter, from reclaiming vintage materials to reimagining traditional dishes. It is our great privilege to revive the spirit of Italian cuisine, curating a space where guests feel at home whether in tuxedos or flip-flops.
Our Team
QCB is a testament to the dedicated efforts of many individuals. Events Manager Anna Lien spent pre-opening building with us, and continues to work daily to optimize QCB for both guests and employees. Chef Tom Hughes brings his passion and creativity to our menu, continually transforming and elevating each plate. Emilio’s alumni –Will, Ashley, and Cary– provide valuable insight and intimate knowledge of our guests’ expectations.
Trip and Justice work diligently to refine our top-notch bar program. Calvin, Pete, and Steve help make the delicious hot food spring out of the kitchen, and Dianna greets folks at the door like they are entering her own home.
Special thanks and deep gratitude to all our friends and family, and especially Olivia, Campbell, Wond, Thomas, Ed, and Adam for their unwavering support.
As a quick aside, I— John, want to add on a personal note that none of this would have been possible without the love, support, and hard work put in by my wife Arianna. Raising children is never easy, and the amount of effort it took to mastermind the renovations and decorations with two children, one of them a newborn, was a difficult feat. She has been my touchstone and a rock for our family. Since opening we have now welcomed another addition to the family, little Benjamin. This has further added to my respect and admiration for the hard work she does behind the scenes so that I can be here to ensure your experience when you dine. This is all to say while you may not see her working when the restaurant is in operation frequently, she has laid the groundwork for much of the ambiance you enjoy during your visit.
Chris Reagan (back) helps install reclaimed flooring upstairs!
Cary displaying our Porkbelly Special. As a side note, though John and Cary look very similar, they are not related!
Chef Tom displays Chicken Cacciatore the week before we opened!
Wond getting the bar ready the day before we open!
Anna and Arianna suited up for woodworking and staining during the renovation.
Kyle and Calvin from Central Virginia Chemical, our first vendor, fixing our dishwasher on Day 2 of occupying the space!
Our supervisor Julian was present through the whole process, making sure things were being done up to his standards. The kitchen was decided early on as the best place for a nap.
Our Story: Updated
Since we opened our doors in the beginning of March 2024, a year and a half later we have served over 35,000 meals and 40,000 beverages to happy guests. We’ve developed ties to our community, working with and hosting events for the American Shakespeare Center, the Woodrow Wilson Museum, Mary Baldwin, Augusta County Schools, and Daikin. Furthermore, each month we have strived to make our food even better, make the execution of each dish faster, and to set our staff up for success by making things simpler.
On the family side, we welcomed little Benjamin Cooper Allen into our home on January 25th, 2025. Julian, who was a newborn when we first signed the lease, is now a full toddler and speaking small sentences while doing constant acrobatics. Miriam has started 6th grade and become a huge help at home, showing serious responsibility towards her role of being a good big sister. In June and July of 2025 we moved from Charlottesville to Fishersville to be closer to the restaurant and further engaged in the community we love. The kids and dog now have a yard big enough where they can roam freely far from city traffic.
Our staff has had some changes over the last year but most faces remain unchanged. Our Chef Tom and his wife, our host Dianna, bought their first house in Staunton and are enjoying the fun and challenges that homeownership entails, and adopted a wonderful pup named Barkley. Our dear friend and manager here at Queen City Bistro, Anna Lien, married my brother Campbell, and I am proud to call her part owner and sister in law.
The restaurant has changed too. We’ve continued to improve our space, from adding additional air conditioning to amazing lights and curtains through the space. On Tuesday’s we have half off wine bottle specials, and on Wednesday we have live jazz. We’ve instituted our late night hours on Friday and Saturday to try and help revive the night life downtown by offering tasty bites and cocktails with a cozy vibe up until 1AM. Each week we try to get just a little better, and we couldn’t be more proud of where we are today.
Now we just wish the future would hurry up and get here, because we can’t wait to see what it has in store.
At Queen City Bistro, we invite you to be part of our story. Whether you're here for a casual meal or special celebration, we are honored to have you. If you enjoy your time with us, please share your experience or take a moment to rate us on Google or Yelp. Help us improve and complete the cycle of Xenia. Your act of guiding strangers helps new guests find a kind welcome and a great meal. By sharing your experience, you contribute to the tradition of guest-friendship, giving us the chance to enrich the lives of future patrons.
With warmest regards,