I’m glad to see Stone’s Cafeteria in Christiansburg mentioned. Stone’s came to my attention in the Sterns’ 1999 book, EAT YOUR WAY ACROSS THE U.S.A. As I’m in nearby Blackburg for a week every summer, I welcomed a chance to enjoy authentic southern style cafeteria food and wasn’t disappointed. My first visit to Stone’s was August 2001 and my second visit followed a year later. Lord’s will, I’ll have lunch with them again next August.

Stone’s has been around a long time and the orange seating reminds me of a simpler time. There are a lot of choices at lunch, all pretty tempting, and on my first visit, I just had five vegetable dishes, some gravy and cornbread. On my last visit I had some delicious breaded pork chops and four or five vegetables. Everything I’ve tried has ranged from quiet good to wonderful. The food here is indeed comfort food, very well seasoned and nicely prepared. Stone’s seems committed to making everything tasty. It’s food is fixed pretty much like it’s always been fixed by the farm families in The Great Valley. I suspect Earl Hammer’s family in SPENCER’S MOUNTAIN cooked and enjoyed many of these very dishes.

I’ve not tried Stone’s desserts as self-service soft-serve ice cream comes free with meals. The staff is mighty friendly and makes one feel completely at home. For the non-cafeteria diner, burgers and such can be ordered from a menu.

Stone’s is just the ticket for we Roadfood types and very conveinent for I-81 travelers. I hope they’ll always be there for another good meal.

Go to http://www2.roanoke.com/entertainment/food/ and check out this link to a restaurant reviewer for the local Roanoke newspaper. His reviews of Mrs. Rowe’s in Staunton and Stone’s Cafeteria in Christiansburg are right on, so he must know something.

Whenever I visit Roanoke nowadays, I try to have breakfast at The Roanoker. Frankly, I haven’t found a better breakfast anywhere. My last breakfast there included country ham and red-eye gravy, biscuits, and perfectly prepared eggs. Their homemade biscuits are delicious, and everything served is made with care.

Service is friendly and terrific in an atmosphere that’s attractive and comfortable. It’s a perfect place to take friends or family out for breakfast. If I lived around Roanoke, I’d try to visit every Saturday morning for a late breakfast.

I learned about The Roanoker from the 1999 edition of ROADFOOD.
Unfortuanately, I haven’t tried lunch or dinner there, but hope to some day.

JimInKy