I've visited Brookside Restaurant twice now - once for lunch on a weekday, and once for breakfast on a Saturday morning... Lunch: I ordered their meatloaf special - which comes with two sides. I chose mashed potatoes and corn. The food came out in about 10 minutes. The meatloaf was tasty - however, only the ends of it were hot. The center of the meatloaf was actually cold. The corn was terrible. It was chewy - I have no idea how you get corn to that texture. The masked potatoes were basic - but at least well executed and they were hot. No gravy was served with the mashed potatoes. I was in a bit of a hurry - so I did not ask them to "re-heat" the remaining center of meatloaf - and the corn was not redeemable. Breakfast: I went with their sausage gravy over a biscuit, eggs, breakfast potatoes and bacon, plus coffee. Everything was delicious - except for the breakfast potatoes. They were bland and at room temperature. I don't know how the potatoes were actually prepared - but texture-wise they tasted like someone had cut potatoes into cubes, boiled them, and then set them on a plate. The potatoes desperately needed some char/crispiness added to them, as well as some seasoning. I had wolfed down all of my breakfast - except for the potatoes - when my server came by to check on me. She asked how things were - and I relayed that everything was good - except for the potatoes. She offered to take the potatoes back and have the kitchen heat them up and add some char/crispiness to them. I declined - as at that point I was full. The successful components of my breakfast dragged up my overall rating to 3. I probably would have gone as high as 4 stars if the potatoes were better. The Men's restroom needs to be renovated and cleaned. Service was good - not sure if I would come back here after two substandard food-quality experiences. #BrooksideRestaurant read more

Brookside Restaurant - a view of the dining room - American Near Me - Luray, Virginia

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Have always driven past this place when in Luray and finally decided to stop in for lunch after exploring the caverns. We were seated right away and told about the buffet. It looked good but we decided to go with some burgers and fries. It took a little while for the food to come out, but it was pretty good. My only critique would be that the fries could have been a little crispier. Overall the prices were very reasonable and it was a cute little place. read more

Brookside Restaurant - Burger and Fries - American Near Me - Luray, Virginia

Roadside kitchen outside Luray, Virginia, since 1925. Down home southern cooking to match the knotty pine walls and ceiling. Obviously dated, but with enough charm to make it fit our mood from our first night in Blue Ridge country. We're sure not in Philly any more, Todo! Service was decent from the silver haired ladies in white. We had Chopped Sirloin with brown gravy, Mushrooms and Onions (side of crisp fries), and this evening's Meatloaf Special with Mashed and Cole Slaw (same gravy on the side). They were both pleasantly tasty choices, if not outstanding. On the other hand, I was talked into a slice of their homemade Peanut Butter Pie, served chilled and with a little whipped cream and chocolate drip over the top. Damned fine dessert! Not bad for a first run at dinner in deep countryside. Only thing better would have been a platter of Southern Fried Chicken, but not on the menu this night. At Brookside, the atmosphere is a big part of the show. 3.5 STARS read more

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Brookside caught our eye on our way into the park. On the drive back we decided to stop in for dinner. Great burger and salad. My friend ordered chicken fried steak and said it was divine. If you're looking for comfort food this is the spot. Ps: the carrot cake was delish read more

Brookside Restaurant - Outside - American Near Me - Luray, Virginia

The food is decent but honestly not at all worth the stress we felt the entire time due to all the rules listed. They are really not family friendly here which personally is extremely odd being so close to the yogi bear campground. It felt like my kids weren't allowed to breath or we would get kicked out. Won't be back because of this. read more

Cute place! pLittle pace in the side of the road! A perfect lunch spot. Salad bar was good-chicken salad very tasty. Grilled cheese and soup were great too. Ladies were friendly. Be careful though-extra lemon is 10 cents a slice! read more

Brookside Restaurant - Soups, salads, burgers, and more! - American Near Me - Luray, Virginia

We stopped here for breakfast on our way home and was not disappointed. It's small and homey, but the food was good and the service was great! read more

Solid diner food and extremely friendly staff. Went for breakfast - definitely recommend the biscuits. They were worth the trip. Coffee wasn't much to write home about but eggs cooked to order and bacon was nicely cooked. Would go back to try the pancakes which looked delicious. read more

Where to begin! Amazing experience, cute little restaurant that has a buffet but the plates are big enough to enjoy just one. Martha made the experience the best. She was sweet and funny plus quick and attentive. We hope to come back soon just to be able to have Martha as our server again. Also pancakes melt in your mouth! Love it, you must try it. read more

Brookside Restaurant - Fried House Special Breakfast - American Near Me - Luray, Virginia

We came here for breakfast and had the breakfast buffet. It was amazing!!!! I tried everything but the apples and loved it all. I was too full to try the apple fritter. Definitely going to be back before we head home. The biscuit and gravy was amazing especially the French toast sticks too! The staff was super friendly , on top of thing and overall amazing. If you're in the area give this place a try! read more

Buffet was pretty good. I liked that there was a salad bar, but the greens were a little sad. I loved the stuff shells. The rolls were very dark and dry. Great sweet tea and chocolate pudding. Overall a cute place with friendly staff and the buffet was a decent call for the price. read more

this was a fun place to grab dinner after a long day of cruising skyline drive and hiking. the food was a bit overpriced for what it was, but we don't mind spending money for the experience either. my husband got the special, it was pork chops and onions in some sort of sauce that was pretty good. i got the buffet so i could try a little bit of everything- lasagna, fried chicken, fried shrimp, and lots of other great sides (chili and mac n cheese were my favorites). the salad bar is great, and dessert is a must read more

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Food on buffet was a little dry and just mediocre. The salad bar was very good! Should have ordered off the menu, may have had better luck. Service was great! Restaurant is very dated but appeared to be clean. Probably wouldn't come back again. read more

Outstanding fried catfish and great country atmosphere. Always friendly and ready to go above and beyond.

Hidden gem. Beer was cold. Chicken Fried Steak was tasty as were the veggies. People were pleasant. Little piece of country cooking right up the road from Yogi's JELLYSTONE. Just go. read more

This is a nice family restaurant if you feel like your own camp food isn't enough anymore! We visited Brookside and had a lovely time eating what felt like home cooked food. The waitress really catered to my two boys by making sure they got sippy cups and even putting some chips aside so the kids actually ate their dinner. It was a nice touch! I had the rainbow trout with green beans and coleslaw. The trout was juicy and went well with the provided sauce. My hubby had the rib eye steak and upgraded to a chili baked potato - that was a good decision and it was so tasty and comforting on the rainy day. The best part - dessert!! My pumpkins pie was delicious but the chocolate pudding pie (my husband..making good meal decisions for us!) was so so worth every calorie. I highly recommend it! Last, but not least, the restaurant does have some rules for young children - like not yelling or talking in a loud voice. It was hilarious to see my kids get scolded for being too loud. The teacher's pet in me wanted to say "Told you so." Brookside Restaurant is a must try in Luray! read more

Very welcoming staff and great service. We visited on a Wednesday night and opted for the buffet. The cold buffet table was above average and all the salads and fixings were excellent and very fresh. The hot buffet table was limited, we had looked before we opted for it, so we weren't surprised or at all disappointed, the fried chicken was hot, fresh and delicious. The meatloaf good as was the macaroni and cheese veggies and potatoes. The stuffed shells were the only disappointing offering. A small little place that also offers cabins for rent. read more

Good food and great fried chicken!! They are very friendly in the restaurant. They are only open certain times snd mostly later in the week along with weekend. They have a all you can eat bar. They have gloves for you to use to get your food off of the bar. They also have a good menu. Stop by when you are up by Skyline. read more

Just like Mom would make. If you want a friendly, and I mean friendly, place to stop to eat, look no further. This place is the best. Our waitress helped us make some choices, my BLT on toasted bread was such a great choice. Sweet potato fries with honey butter to dip in. yum. Our waitress was funny, attentive, welcoming and prompt with hot delicious food. I cant say what I enjoyed more, the awesome food or the awesome waitress. Dont pass this one by. Its a great meal in a place that will make you feel like family. And get a look at the pretty peacocks in the parking lot. What a surprise. Also worth noting: clean restrooms. lots of parking space easy to get into with a ramp on one side of the door nice layout if you need to move tables for more people we will be back again read more

Quaint place with decent priced food. Staff were really great and the brook behind the restaurant was neat. Also a large birdcage in the back with large peacocks. read more

After traveling most of the morning and immediately touring Luray Caverns, DreamBoat and I were famished. We took a quick look at the Luray Cavern Cafe menu board and said "Blargh" in unison. So we hopped in the car to further explore the area hoping to find a quick, good bite to eat. Lo and behold, we stumbled upon Brookside Restaurant. There is nothing fancy about Brookside. There is a grouping of cabins, a tiny general store of some sort, the restaurant and a few outbuildings all set beside the main road leading to the National Park. We like to try the local eateries rather than the chains, so we stopped in. It was a good decision. Upon entering, we were transported to the fine dining restaurants of small town America circa 1985 complete with wood paneling. The main dining area included a tiny full-service bar, a small lunch buffet, and a banquet room set toward the back. That's not meant to be offensive. It was clean, comfortable and staffed with the happiest and most helpful waitress we've had in quite some time. The menu had multiple options reminiscent of your typical diner and/or American family restaurant. I selected a Reuben without the Devil's Condiment laden sauce along with fries. DreamBoat ordered a pork sandwich with onion rings. Yum! The sandwiches arrived in good time and were tasty. My fries were excellent. There are times when I want seasoned fries or the wedges. But there are other times when I want to taste potato without a bunch of frilly extras. These hit the mark. The potatoes were fried in clean oil (that's right, they didn't taste like last night's fried chicken or the morning's hash browns) and only very lightly salted. They needed no ketchup. They were perfect just as they were. DreamBoat devoured his sandwich and onion rings (yes, he did offer me one) and then finished the part of my sandwich and fries that I couldn't. We were VERY happy with our meal and the service was impeccable. I really wish I could recall our waitress' name. Afterward, we meandered toward some squawking noises beside the parking lot and found three peacocks in a peacock house. They were fun to watch as they spread their beautiful feathers and preened around. If you're in Luray and want a good, no-frills meal, stop by Brookside Restaurant. You won't be disappointed. read more

I had a chicken fried steak. It was very good. Breading was perfect light & crispy. Service was good . Old school vibe inside.

On a recent trip to Shenandoah Caverns, we decided on the way back home to stop for an early dinner. Not many options out this way, although we passed at least 3 restaurants which had gone out of business. Brookside didn't have the greatest ratings on Yelp, but we decided to try it anyway. Good choice. We had an appetizer of onion rings, which were very good. I had the Brookside burger & fries, which was outstanding. My wife had the grilled chicken sandwich, which was pretty basic. The place is kind of rustic, and the service was okay. I would recommend you give it a try if you're spending a day out this way. read more

Very disappointed with Brookside! The picture was taken after putting jelly on my toast and moving the potatoes aside, looking for the rest of the eggs!! The home style potato's looked like they would taste good- but another disappointing surprise- they were awful! The waitress did ask if she could put the potatoes in the deep fryer- which did not sound appealing. I gave it two stars based only on the friendly service. Food is a solid one. read more

Brookside Restaurant - Brookside special - American Near Me - Luray, Virginia

Visiting Luray and feeling nostalgic from of previous visit 16 years ago so we of course went back to Brookside for Lunch so disappointing. 4 meals 4 fails, tasted like microwaved leftovers. Dinks never refilled ( I asked for more twice ) and practically had to tackle the waitress for napkins. Maybe we just hit them on an off day but when you are a tourist town and your services and food are that Bad on a Saturday I'm not sure how you stay in business. We will not be returning the next time we are in town. read more

If this review was for service alone, I would rate it a five star. Unfortunately, the food falls far below expectation of a mom and pop roadside restaurant. The Tuna Platter was too salty and the vegetables had some black spots. Nothing exciting, but location worthy for the Shenandoah National Park. read more

Good service and great hamburgers! Great stop before entering the park. Always a good sign when the locals are eating.

Went here for breakfast had the egg omelets with potatoes and butter waffle, biscuit. restaurant has breakfast buffet to choose from, which has various breakfast option. Tried to to go there early to avoid morning crowd. read more

This was the worst meal I have ever eaten in a restaurant. I had broiled chicken. It was a frozen breast that was thawed. Full of fat and utterly devoid of taste. The green bean s were clearly from a can and equally as tasteless. Horrible. read more

Hearty country comfort food with a smile. Not fancy, maybe a bit kitschy, but sometimes you want good authentic home style cooking that's not an interstate chain restaurant approximation. Started with the house salad which was nothing special, but huge with homemade blue cheese dressing for only $2.50. I tried the hot turkey sandwich and couldn't have been happier with it. Clearly roasted "in-house" turkey (i.e. not deli meat) moist turkey sitting on fresh baked sourdough toast and covered in gravy as was the mashed potatoes. Finished my meal with fresh made cherry pie with a buttery flakey crust topped with whipped cream. After finishing a respectable Reuben with fries, my wife -- a peanut butter pie aficionado -- absolutely loved her dessert as well. Brookside Restaurant embodies everything about homey country cooking that is unpretentious and just good. I'll find more excuses to wander down this way in the future. read more

Brookside Restaurant - Hot turkey sandwich with mashed potatoes. - American Near Me - Luray, Virginia

Breakfast is worth the 6 miles drive down the road from Luray Caverns. Nice people put out a buffet variety. No fruit though. Easy return. read more

COVID protocols followed expertly and with a smile. Super friendly service, great prices, good food for breakfast. Service a little slow, but we enjoyed our conversation and the interactions with other diners. Worth a repeat stop! read more

First visit 26 Sep 1959 on Honeymoon. Stayed in cabin south of Luray on S. Branch of river for 18 years in summer with all our 4 children. Last visit 26 Sep 2019 to celebrate our for 60 Anniversary. Good Lord willing, wil be back for our 65th and 70th. Treated us like it was our second home over all these years. read more

Food is decent, service was excruciatingly slow, but very kind. Our server basically told us to get breakfast buffet this morning because the kitchen was backed up, then didn't come back to see us until we flagged down another server to get our check. If you're not in a hurry this probably wouldn't bother you though. Seriously she was so nice I felt bad for being annoyed. read more

Brookside Restaurant - Menu - American Near Me - Luray, Virginia

Ok, here's the scoop. I was here for breakfast. They have a menu and a "buffet" . They use different foods for each. I got the buffet, wife purchased French toast meal. My plate ( buffet) consisted of bacon, sausage, eggs and French toast. Eggs were powdered, bacon was extremely salty (inedible) and French toast(sticks) was from Murray's .The sausage was frozen but was edible. A$10 meal which was all from a store. Probably cost $4 for what I could eat. Wife's plate consisted of homemade French toast, and thick cut bacon. The bacon tasted good along with the French toast. We asked for maple syrup and receive Aunt Jemima. Coffee was good, orange juice was from concentrated . This is a diner. Everything offered should be fresh and homemade. Look where the location is! If I wanted store bought taste I would have went to Mcdonalds . Do not get the buffet !!! Order from the menu, and good luck !! read more

Brookside Restaurant - Can you guess what bacon was from the buffet?? Drastic difference in taste . Why would a diner use different bacon ?? Smh - American Near Me - Luray, Virginia

Had breakfast here as we were passing through on a road trip. Coffee was good, which is a good start. My wife ordered the egg scramble (three eggs, ham, and potatoes scrambled together). I ordered two scrambled eggs, with sausage patties and home fried potatoes. Everything was prompt, hot, and delicious. For the money, it was a filling meal in a quaint little mountain restaurant. I'd easily start my day here again if I were in the area. read more

We have lived in Luray for 14 years and never been. I wish it didn't take us 14 yrs to try this place. Old style diner setting, very clean. Awesome wait staff! Good food! We will be going back. I was so tired of the crap restaurant choices and now we found a good one. Must try! We ordered off the menu and didn't try the salad bar that they have. Will have to try it next time. read more

I came here when I was a child with my family and had such good memories from years ago. Definitely not the same food when I was there as I remember. we had the specials which was chicken salad on a croissant and fish and chips. The chicken salad was terrible it was salty and tasted old and my croissant was so tiny and it was very stale. He had fish and chips which were from Gordon's , French fries were pretty good and the coleslaw was also. We had chili on the side which was OK and are used to which was good. Staff was very friendly as usual. Just disappointed with their quality of food. Don't think I'll be back there again. read more

We really enjoyed our overnight stay at Brookside. The restaurant was great as was our little cozy cabin. My husband had the peanut butter pie for dessert. And it was delicious We shared Rockfish fingers, very good. Breakfast the next day was just as good. The breakfast buffet had a taste of everything and most made 2 trips. You can also order from a menu. The grits were real country grits not watery nasty ones. Make sure to go out back and see the peacocks! We will definitely go back. It's close enough for a day trip. And shopping on Main Street in Luray is a must! read more

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This is a cool little restaurant, they have 9 cabins on the property for rent. Their food is so good, simple comfort food done really well. I wanted to buy a whole peach cobbler but there wasn't enough time for it to be prepared before our departure Friday. They have peacocks on the property and lots of peacock decorations, very unique. While there I taught my how to twirl his pasta . My mother had the chicken fried steak while I, being the liver fan I am, had the beef liver and fried chicken livers. The chicken livers were the better of the two, I've never had them cooked so perfectly tender and juicy. Rebecca, our server, was was absolutely amazing. If I ever return to Luray I will definitely be back. read more