Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Chip & Jo's

    4.4 (97 reviews)
    InexpensiveSouthern, American
    Closed 6:00 am - 7:00 pm

    Chip & Jo's Photos

    Business Info

    CHIP & JO'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Quiet
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Chip & Jo's

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Angel W.

    Food was excellent, my scrambled eggs were perfect, bacon was nice and crisp without being over done, and their biscuits and pancakes were light and fluffy!! Our service was quick and attentive! Not a fancy place but a great find for a quality country style breakfast!

    Simply, yet amazing little restaurant.
    Manuel M.

    From the outside of this restaurant one could never tell what one would find inside. The restaurant's front, building structure, and outside sign couldn't have been simpler. The humble brick structure painted white, looked more like a house than a business, and just had a pole with a simple sign and another one on the left corner of the building with the American Flag flying high. I arrived there one early Wednesday morning for breakfast, for the first time ever. The restaurant, located in a humble area of Salem, Virginia, didn't stand out as nothing special, yet the one lane parking lot in front of it was full of cars. I learned a long time ago never to judge a book by it's cover, So I quickly opened the door and went it, and as I did so, a was amazed of what I found inside. The place was clean and nicely painted and decorated tastefully. It had beautiful hardwood floors and was well lit. The furniture consisted of some booths as well as tables and chairs. It had a main dining room with a small second one on the side. The main one had a counter with high chairs and behind a window that led to the kitchen. A sign near the entrance read: "Please Seat Yourself." It didn't take long for a waitress to warmly greet me and ask me to seat wherever I liked. I sat in the first booth, with a view of the entire restaurant, and it didn't take long for the waitress to come by with the menu and asked me what I wanted to drink. As she went to get the coffee I was impressed by the simple yet modern design of the fully laminated and extensive menu, including a great variety of almost all the items one could think of for a wonderful breakfast. I ordered the Two Grilled Pork Chop Breakfast with two fried eggs over easy, homefries, and white toast with butter. As I waited I noticed how full the place was and more people who looked like repeat customers kept coming in as others finished and left. All the time, my waitress kept coming by to check on me and refill my coffee cup. Rarely have I experience this kind of customer service that made one feel at home. The breakfast came out at a reasonable time and everything was amazingly delicious. I felt like having something sweet to end this wonderful breakfast and asked my waitress for suggestions. She immediately complied reciting a variety of enticing items and I ended ordering the Churro Cake. What an amazing choice that I picked. You have to look at my photographs to be able to appreciate this one of a kind dessert. I highly recommend this place to everyone reading my review. For the wonderful and relaxed ambiance, for the enormous variety of items in the menu, for the comfortable seating, for the quality of the food and the way it was cooked, and above all, for the extraordinary customer service, that led to an amazing dining experience.

    pov
    Ray F.

    Stopped by this traditional style diner for breakfast a few times now, usually early in the other morning. The ladies that run the morning shift are all kind, friendly and cordial. The interior is Americana, like having a meal at a friends. Three eggs over medium, bacon and a biscuit with a side of grits, with a cup of coffee. The eggs cooked perfectly, the bacon crispy and the biscuit flaky and tender baked delicious. The grits, with a little butter and s&p, worked and were a good add to my meal. 4 Stars a good choice for breakfast, recommended 01010

    Sausage and egg biscuit with a side of fried apples.
    Anna P.

    Delicious local place for breakfast. Great prompt service on an early Saturday morning. Friendly, welcoming wait staff. Delicious food. Fresh squeezed orange juice. Tons of options. Super filling. Seemed kid friendly -- there were lots of kids and families there. Booth, table or counter seating.

    Steak, poached eggs, hashbrowns, biscuits

    See all

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    23 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Otty T.
    95
    48
    16

    2 months ago

    Just traveling and found this place . Food was delicious and the service was quick and place was packed .

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 2

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Food was excellent service was also great the food was so good I got a to go order. Cake was amazing coconut and carrot

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Worth the wait. Great delicious breakfast options. Will be back to try lunch specials.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Big boy breakfast hits the spot. Best breakfast in Salem. I wish it were open on Sunday though

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    They been around town for years.Friendly.cozy.clean.easy parking.versatile menu.Cost friendly.ALL THE DISHES I ATE AWESOME.BIG O PANCAKES.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Anna P.
    1
    150
    179

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Felix
    0
    12
    0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tim M.
    36
    6
    7

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Gil W.
    0
    30
    0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sue L.
    0
    17
    0

    1 year ago

    Clean, cute little diner. Service was very friendly and quick. Yummy pancakes and delicious biscuits.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Great atmosphere and even better service. Nice little spot with lots of locals. We were from out of town but were treated like family.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of alan P.
    34
    143
    13

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Chip & Jo's

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Southern 236 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Pancake House

    Pancake House

    3.7
    (58 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $

    Pancakes are considered "As American as Apple Pie." Particularly the fluffy buttermilk variety, are…read moredeeply embedded in the American breakfast tradition. And diners have become synonymous with "a place for everyone," connected to the nostalgic idea of America. Put the two together and you have The Pancake House in Salem, Virginia. After having been selected as number 4 of Yelp's Top 50 most prolific Elites of 2025, a year when I also was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Photographer of the Year Award at their Yelpies 2025 Award Ceremony, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, and where last year I was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Yelper of the Year Award, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and businesses, and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And "The Pancake House" in Salem, Virginia, is a perfect example. This restaurant that opened its doors in the mid 1950's, not only has survived through the years, but has kept the ionic American breakfast tradition alive and well, as I discovered today when after having driven by it many times in my pearl white Lexus, I decided to stop by for an early breakfast, and give it a try. Located on Apperson Drive next to the Lee-Hi Lanes Bowling Center, in Salem, Virginia, The Pancake House is a long-standing diner, known for its, friendly, old-fashioned atmosphere, and classic American comfort food, serving breakfast and lunch daily. What impressed me the most when I entered the restaurant was its cleanliness and old charm yet with comfortable new furniture and decor in the traditional diner style. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and the quality of their food. As I entered and sat at one of the booths, I was greeted by one of their friendly servers, given a menu, and asked what I wanted to drink. I ordered a cup of coffee, which tasted very good. And for food I ordered the Pork Loin breakfast with two fried eggs over-medium, and buttered white toast. As well as two pancakes. My server did an excellent job explaining the terminology of how eggs were cooked there. The ambiance was so relaxed and friendly that I felt welcomed and totally at home. I sat in the main dining room just in front of where the kitchen was located behind a large window where the food was delivered to the servers to take to the customers. The quality of the food was superb, cooked just right. The eggs were fresh and tasty, the pork loins were generous size and cooked to perfection. And even the toast were crispy on the outside and soft in the inside. The pancakes were huge size and nice and fluffy. My server made the appropriate rounds to check on me and provide coffee refills. She also provided me with a glass of iced water without me having to ask for it. Their clientele were people of all ages and all walks of life. Since they open at six in the early morning on weekdays, the time is very convenient for customers to have breakfast early and go on their day. I highly recommend this place for an extraordinary breakfast dining experience and plan to return real soon to try out some other items on their menu.

    Aesthetic: Traditional, relaxed diner with an array of breakfast items and combos…read more My Favorites: The corned beef hash, well done! Experience: This spot was poppin. I could tell it's a local favorite when we walked in on a Thursday morning, and it was packed. We ordered eggs, corned beef hash, and a side of pancakes. I was surprised the corned beef hash outshined the pancakes, it was so delicious. Order it extra crispy!

    Photos
    Pancake House
    Pancake House
    My pearl white Lexus parked in the parking lot with the Pancake House sign in the background.

    See all

    My pearl white Lexus parked in the parking lot with the Pancake House sign in the background.
    Uncle D’s

    Uncle D’s

    4.7
    (12 reviews)
    2.7 mi

    There are times that you discover restaurants that you wish you had known since they first opened…read more You really feel at home in its clean and laid back environment. They treat you like if you're part of their family. And their food is like the one Gradma used make when you were growing up. What better compliment can you give a restaurant! After being awarded the Triad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Uncle D's Take Out, in Roanoke, Virginia, is the perfect example. And it's not just for Take Out anymore. Word of mouth is still the most effective way of making your business known. And in this day and age of modern technology a review in the form of words and photographs is as effective or even better. As I was searching on my cellphone for a place to eat, Uncle D's caught my attention. Mostly positive reviews and very captivating photographs of their food. Yet the words Take Out and very few photos of the interior of this restaurant somewhat detracted from the desire to go visit it. Yet in the past I've found that oftentimes restaurants with high take-out orders are also the ones who have a high level of in-house customer followers. So I decided to go dine in and what I uncovered by experience was amazing news: Uncle D's is not just for Take Out anymore. Dining in is a wonderful experience in and of itself, alone or with family and friends. Located in a contemporary looking strip mall across from the Oak Grove Plaza Shopping Center, where popular restaurants like Wildwood Smokehouse and Highlander Pizza are located, you can find Uncle D's next to The UPS Store. Parking was very conveniently located and as I walked to the restaurant their sign high above spoke quality in its design and in the food of which it represented. Inside I found a nice size, clean and colorful little restaurant with Golf items decorating its walls, reflecting the importance that golf played in the owner's life and the love that he has for this sport he has now placed in this restaurant. I was greated by a friendly gentleman with a warm welcome that immediately made me feel at home. He talked to me about the restaurant and it's most popular items in the menu of which I had on the table where I was seated. A really nice and friendly lady, who was the cook, looked at me from out of the kitchen with one of those looks that only grandmas know to give in anticipation of watching you eat her food that she had prepared with much love. I ordered their Grandma's Pot Roast with a side house salad with Ranch dressing, mashed potatoes with gravy, and added a side of Fiesta Corn. To drink a picked a can of Coke which I drank with one of those straws that bend for the convenience. The food was served in a reasonable time. The salad was made with fresh ingredients, was a nice size, and tasted wonderful with the Ranch salad dressing. The Pot Roast was amazingly delicious, soft, moist, and very full of flavor. The amount was more than enough to fill me up. I could go on and on but a picture is worth a thousand words. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of it all. For dessert I has a slice of their Coconut Cream Pie which was also very good. If you're ever in the mood for good hometown Southern Comfort food, I highly recommend that you visit this restaurant with family and friends. For the full dining experience is definitely worth while. And experience that I will never forget.

    Accurate menu pictures, turkey and pot roast were amazing, not a bad price either. They DO have…read moreseats inside btw

    Photos
    The Family of the Cook gives her a surprise Birthday Party, bringing her a Birthday Cake.
    The Family of the Cook gives her a surprise Birthday Party, bringing her a Birthday Cake.
    A picture is worth a thousand words.
    A picture is worth a thousand words.
    The entrance to the kitchen.

    See all

    The entrance to the kitchen.
    Garcia's Bistro

    Garcia's Bistro

    4.5
    (64 reviews)
    2.6 mi

    For a moment there, Garcia's Bistro had its regular customers heartbroken at the news that it had…read more"closed down permanently," but fortunately, not long after, the beloved spot pulled off a miraculous comeback, returning to the neighborhood better than ever before. This popular family-owned restaurant is well known for its blend of Mexican and American cuisine, welcoming atmosphere and excellent service. It's amazingly designed menu has a very creative selection of entrées, like none that I've ever seen before in any restaurant. Its flavorful food is served in generous portions, by cooks dressed in black professional attire, that together wirh its elegant presentation, help create that unique "bistro" experience in a warm and friendly atmosphere with a diner-like feel. As soon as I found out the good news that the place had opened once again, I had to be one of the first ones to go visit and dine there. It seems that the two partners had split up. One stayed running this restaurant and the other chose to remain with their food truck. The only changes that I noticed were that some of the signs in front of the building were torn down and temporary homemade ones were put up. They had changed their business logo although their name remained the same, with the addition of the numbers 581. They already had menus with the new logo printed out, and their cooks remained the same, maintaining their elegant black professional attire. I was warmly greeted by a friendly lady employee as soon as I walked in. She remembered me from the last time I had dined there, and immediately detected my happy feelings of seeing the restaurant opened again. After being seated at one of the booths, she took my order. I had a Coke to drink, the Cancun Shrimp Chorizo Dip with Tortilla Chips as appetizer, and the California Burrito with added Chorizo as my main entrée. It was all very well presented and amazingly delicious, as always. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and the high-quality of their food. The server did an excellent job checking on me to see if everything was of my liking and to see if I needed anything, including a softdrink refill. All the customers that came in expressed great joy at the re-opening of this well-liked restaurants. For dessert I had a slice of their Coconut Cake. It was amazing. At the end the owner who had stayed with the restaurant arrived and I expressed my gratitude and well wishes for the restaurant's future success. I highly recommend this Bistro to all. If I lived closer, I would be here dining more than once a week. It's that good!

    Went there one time and the inside really needs to be updated…read moreThe food was not that great Covington is in need of good restaurants

    Photos
    Staff at Garcia
    Staff at Garcia
    Garcia's Bistro
    Garcia's Bistro

    See all

    Bernard's

    Bernard's

    4.6
    (359 reviews)
    6.1 mi
    $$

    we came here for lunch. The ambiance is cozy and upscale. Service was friendly and prompt. Food was…read moreamazing! Had sandwiches and the Frickles. Do not pass up a chance to eat here. Great place. Would eat here again when in town!

    I have eaten at some of the best restaurants in the world, but in none have I had such a wonderful…read moredining experience like I always do at Bernard's Gastropub & Eatery. After having been selected as number 4 of Yelp's Top 50 most prolific Elites of 2025, a year when I also was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Photographer of the Year Award at their Yelpies 2025 Award Ceremony, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, and where last year I was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Yelper of the Year Award, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to return to those special ones, that have made a difference in my life and highlight them, for the benefit of the public, so they too can have an opportunity to appreciate the qualities of a one-of-a-kind fine dining experience. And Bernard's Gastropub & Eatery in Downtown Roanoke, is a perfect example. Bernard's was born out of the love of two culinary aficionados turned professionals that in someway have managed to create a restaurant with an environment that transmits this intimate love to the hearts of their customers through the attention to detail in its extraordinary customer service and amazing culinary masterpieces. Today, I felt like dining at this restaurant, which I admire for its consistency in always far exceeding my high expectations of what a fine-dining restaurant should be all about. Not knowing if they would have a table for me at this late time on a Saturday early evening, I drove in my pearl white Lexus to the nearest private parking lot and gave them a call to inquire as if they could give me a reservation for the next ten minutes. A gentleman, who later I found out was named Matthew, and would be my server, answered the phone with a very polite and welcoming voice; answering my question of what was the special dish of the day and to come on down, that my reservation was assured. As soon as I arrived to the small, very elegant foyer in front of the Host's station, he came out to greet me and instantly recognized who I was. My only request was that he give me a low table because at my age seating at a high table was a bit uncomfortable. He went back to see what he could find and ended setting me up with what I consider one of the best tables of the house, and I was so appreciative of his last minute accommodation. The menu was already setup on my table. He poured water from a special bottle into my water glass and asked if I wanted something else to drink. I asked for a Mocktail and since he also was a bartender, he prepared me one of the best mocktails I've ever had. To dine, I started out with their Mussels Carbonara appetizer, which came in a bacon parmesan cream sauce that was simply amazing, and served with toast points. As my main entrée I had the Dinner Special of the Night, the Seafood Trio. It had a delicious, giant size crab cake in the middle, scallops, and shrimps, with parmesan risotto sautéed heirloom tomato, spinach, and nice size asparagus, with a burre blanc sauce. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the high-quality of their food and magnificent ambiance of the place. Everything was so delicious that only one word could ever describe them: priceless! For dessert I had their very famous Butterscotch Banana Pudding, which the chef makes at the moment ordered. It looked spectacular and tasted amazingly delicious: a culinary work of art. What a great way for the Gran Finale of an extraordinary dining experience!

    Photos
    The Host's station.
    The Host's station.
    Close-up of the Filet & Scallops Special of the Day.
    Close-up of the Filet & Scallops Special of the Day.
    Poached pear martini

    See all

    Poached pear martini
    Famous Toastery Keagy Village

    Famous Toastery Keagy Village

    4.2
    (151 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$

    Y'all...this is the sweetest place with the kindest and most attentive staff. My belly is full with…read moregood food and my coffee is hot and delicious. If you don't eat here (and often), what are you even doing? The music is fun and from my generation too (Gen X). I'm at least 30 years older than most of the staff here and I couldn't have been taken care of better. I'm not gonna name names because multiple people came to my table to check on me so all this is a collaborative effort and a lesson in good customer service. BRAVO!!!

    First time and was extremely impressed with the menu and bites. The service was the weaker link,…read morebut still a strong 4 stars in my book and will look forward to returning with now having a Roanoke connection. The business is just outside of Roanoke in a nicer strip. Parking may be challenging on brunch weekends, however my weekday visit no problem. Our party of three was greeted and seated immediately with menus. The vibe feels First Watch chain, but all good. They do have a bar which sets them apart from other brunch joints. I assume Famous Toastery is also chain, how big no idea. Everything presented nicely and was clean. Even the men's room was spotless. The menu was strong with lots of variety. You can find anything you're looking for on any type of diet. They do offer a healthier, protein forward section. Our waitress was good upfront, but then fizzled out with sharing bar duties and was absent. I dialed in on a loaded omelette. Included a side of roasted veggies and sourdough bread with black coffee. My wife a breakfast sandwich and my son chocolate chip pancakes with scrambled eggs. Food pushed out quick, like within 15 minutes. Everything was served hot and yummy. My omelette was packed with flavor, the roasted veggies were fresh and cooked up perfectly. Even the coffee was tasty. The manager dropped by to say hello which made us feel special and secured a strong 4 stars. I look forward to returning later this Summer.

    Photos
    Dining room
    Dining room
    Close-up of the Huevos Rancheros breakfast.
    Close-up of the Huevos Rancheros breakfast.
    Close-up of the Huevos Rancheros breakfast.

    See all

    Close-up of the Huevos Rancheros breakfast.
    Mac & Bobs

    Mac & Bobs

    3.5
    (341 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    Relied on Yelp for restaurants and decided on Mac & Bobs. Popular local place and Sam took good…read morecare of us. We beat the college crowd getting there before 6PM. My Caesar salad was very good as was my chicken parm. My wife opted for Tai chicken bowl( nice little kick). Both portions were good sized. Plenty of alcohol options so we choice beers and wine with our entrees. Going forward, we shall make this a regular stop on our way North.

    Place is cute inside, it's spacey and there's a dining area + a bar area. It is incredibly loud if…read moreyou go past 7pm so be mindful of that (lots of college kids including myself + friend groups watching the games). It also gets busy quick! If there's one thing this place can't mess up it's some chicken tenders. They are a staple here. I think they are ridiculously priced, but they are also ridiculously good. The honey mustard is a must with them. I have not been really impressed by the other menu items I've tried, I've gotten a calzone in the past and the fish and chips and they were both average. Service is always 50/50, either someone who is super attentive or someone who will ignore you and never refill your glass for the majority of the time you're there. Overall this place is kind of average, it's $$ for what it is but it's fun with friends. 100% recommend those tenders though.

    Photos
    All the walls were covered with framed photographs.
    All the walls were covered with framed photographs.
    A spoonful of the Ultimate Chocolate Cake getting ready to be tasted and savored.
    A spoonful of the Ultimate Chocolate Cake getting ready to be tasted and savored.
    The outside patio bar.

    See all

    The outside patio bar.
    The River and Rail

    The River and Rail

    4.3
    (326 reviews)
    6.2 mi
    $$$

    This year I chose this restaurant above all others to celebrate my birthday, and I wasn't…read moredisappointed. It highly went beyond the highest of my expectations, and delivered an extraordinary dining experience. After making an appointment for five o'clock and mentioning that I would be celebrating my birthday there on that day, I wondered how it would be, for everytime I have dined there, their attention to detail has been superb, and their cuisine has been exquisite. The day finally arrived and I was standing by the door at five minutes to the hour. Inside I could see through their large front windows the movement of all the staff getting ready for the opening of the restaurant. At exactly five o'clock, the hostess approached and opened the door for me to enter. She warmly greeted me and apologized for not being able to give me the table I requested because they needed it to unite with other tables for a large group they would be having. But they had prepared another one in front of the open kitchen for me, where I would be able to observe the Chef and other cooks preparing my food. It was definitely to my satisfaction, and when she took me there I was very impressed with the small detail on the table of a Happy Birthday card from the restaurant signed by everyone there and suspended by a little stand. Things like that are priceless in my eyes. Shortly afterwards, my friendly and efficient server Ivy, came by, wished me a Happy Birthday and took my order. To drink I had my favorite Mocktail there, the Butterfly Kisses. As appetizer I ordered the Oyster Wraps. And for my main entrée, the Hanger Steak, my favorite item in their menu and that of all the other restaurants around the area. My server did an excellent job of bringing out my ordered items in a well-paced manner. I noticed the small but significant detail that the chef had of serving me a slightly larger amount of Hanger Steak than the usual, and this meant more to me than any of the other complimentary desserts which are given in most other restaurants on your birthday. The Hanger Steak was so delicious. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and the high-quality of their food. Also to read my former review where I explain what a Hanger Steak is all about. For the Grand Finale of my Birthday meal I had their Panna Cotta dessert deliver with a burning birthday candle on top, another wonderful detail that many restaurants leave out now-a-days yet is so meaningful to many of us. This was truly a memorable dining experience. One that I will always remember and cherish dearly.

    While The River and Rail has many things going for it: great location, adorable atmosphere, fancy…read moreand delicious cocktails and delicious food, one thing they don't have going for them is their ability to stay true to their operating hours. My friend and I walked in at 9 o'clock EXACTLY on a Thursday night to have a drink. The sign on the door said they were open until 10:00. There were 4 or 5 tables seated, enjoying dinner and cocktails. 5 or 6 people at the bar. There was no one to start with at the actual hostess stand and servers saw us standing at the door but did not approach us even though there was an hour left on their operating time. So we walked directly to the bar and sat down. We had just eaten at Fork in the Alley so all we wanted was one drink and we figured an hour was plenty of time to get that done. The first thing the bartender said to us was "The kitchen is closed." Not "hello" or "Hey what can I get you?" but the kitchen is closed. I said "oh I'm sorry I thought you closed at 10:00." He said "well, that's up for debate we were actually discussing that right now. We're basically closed but you can have a drink because it's not like the rest of these people are going anywhere." What do you mean that's up for discussion? Your hours say you're open till 10 o'clock, it's 9 o'clock I have an hour to eat and have drinks! The other bartender, or perhaps he was only a bar back, gave us a very disapproving look. I get it, I work in the food service industry. I'm a server at a 4 diamond restaurant, and I hate when people walk in minutes before we close and want to sit down. But if we post that we're open until 10 and you walk in at 9:45 I'm going to serve you and treat you like anyone else that walked in at 6:00 because it's your tips that pay my bills and put food on my table. It's definitely not the hourly wage I get from my employer! And as a server I never walk into a restaurant with less than 30 minutes to close. And it's more like an hour if I'm looking to eat a meal. I know you want to go home. When it's the end of the night and I'm at work, so do I! But there's an hour left and I wanted one drink. That's it! We continued to get disappointed looks from a few other employees even though we weren't the last people in the place. I told my friend (it's 9:45 at this point) that we obviously need to go since servers are standing around looking at us like we've got the plague. We paid our bill and promptly left. Two couples still at the bar. It's 9:59 right now as I'm writing this at home (you're still technically open btw) but I left feeling like I had stayed hours past your closing time. It's a real shame because we really enjoyed our drinks! They were super yummy! And I'm always getting asked by guests where's a good place for a late night cocktail and I used to recommend The River and Rail right along with Lucky's because we had a shuttle that would take guests out, but after tonight I won't be doing that anymore. Because there's nothing worse than feeling unwelcome at a restaurant that is still open.

    Photos
    The kitchen and server picking up some meals.
    The kitchen and server picking up some meals.
    The River and Rail
    The River and Rail

    See all

    Due South BBQ

    Due South BBQ

    3.9
    (44 reviews)
    2.4 mi

    Food was delicious. Enough for 6+ people. I ordered the HAVE IT ALL. I ordered take out. When I…read moreopened the bag, everything was placed , just as the server described. Will recommend and eat here again.

    Reasantly Due South Pit-Cooked BBQ was added to the "Most Loved" status on DoorDash, so today I…read moredecided to stay in and have someone bring me something tasty from a restaurant that since my first visit I have considered the best BBQ spot in Southwest Virginia. I invite you to read my first review of this restaurant and view my photographs accompanying it, which was one of my reviews that influenced in my selection as number 4 of Yelp's Top 50 most prolific Elites of 2025. As a DoorDash VIP customer, I pulled up Due South BBQ in their app and as I did so I still could remember the amazing taste of their BBQ food from when I visited them for the very first time on January 28, 2025 with a good friend of mine and gave them a 5 Star review. I decided to order the Big Slop which included a Jumbo Pulled Pork Sandwich with three sides and three hushpuppies. As my three sides I chose Mac & Cheese, Coleslaw, and Fried Okra. And for the two sauces I picked the Sweet Red and the Alabama White. I submitted my order with my DoorDasher tip included and waited for the delivery. Not long after the order arrived at the estimated time with a friendly DoorDasher who delivered it intact and still hot. It came inside one of those ordinary plastic bags with the words Thank you on it, with the receipt attached. I opened the bag in my kitchen and the food came in two see-through plastic containers. One with all the food and a small separate one with the bun on the side as I had asked for. Everything looked so fresh and delicious. Including the three cylindrical shaped hushpuppies. I got one of my plastic forks and placed some of the pulled pork on the bun with the sweet red sauce and still had some pork left to eat with the other items which were served in generous portions. Everything was amazingly delicious. Rare are the restaurants that can deliver their food and it arrive in a similar state as in the restaurant. Although I still prefer eating at the restaurant for its warm and cozy ambiance. Once again I highly recommend this BBQ restaurant and I'm sure that if you try it out the food will win you over and their amazing service will make you want to return back for more.

    Photos
    A view of the three dining areas of the restaurant.
    A view of the three dining areas of the restaurant.
    Close-up of a fork holding a piece of the moist and juicy Pulled Pork.
    Close-up of a fork holding a piece of the moist and juicy Pulled Pork.
    The Hushpuppy

    See all

    The Hushpuppy

    Chip & Jo's - southern - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...