This was a rare gem! A gem that we really enjoyed. Our hostess was the best. She quickly seated us…read moreand told us about the "Tuesday Half Price the Entire Menu" day. Our group had been studying the menu prior to our arrival. We enjoyed nearly every cocktail on the menu along with one of their "special shots in an animal head shot glass". There was a little "show" with almost every drink. Even though we had already eaten, we couldn't resist sampling a few snacks. Each snack was unique. The baked potato skins had a spinach artichoke topping and the dumplings had a cayenne dust. The mini pizza was just ok. The service was the highlight of our experience. Our server was always there to make sure we had everything we needed. We hope to visit again when we are in town.

I wanted to share feedback regarding our recent dining experience to celebrate my son's graduation…read morewith family and friends as it was unfortunately very disappointing -- especially considering the price point and expectations presented for your restaurant and event reservations. First, the menu was extremely limited for both food and drinks. While the cocktails were enjoyable, the food quality and portions did not come close to justifying the $300+ we spent. We ordered the shrimp and wagyu skewers expecting thoughtfully prepared dishes. Instead, the shrimp appeared comparable to pre-made shrimp cocktail shrimp placed on a stick rather than freshly grilled seafood. The wagyu skewer lacked the quality and presentation expected from a fine dining establishment and honestly tasted more like beef stroganoff without noodles. I also ordered the lobster bisque, which was served lukewarm and tasted as though it came from a can. The Caesar salad with smoked trout was acceptable, but the trout resembled salmon more than smoked trout, and the dressing tasted bottled rather than house-made. What made the experience more frustrating was the lack of transparency regarding the menu prior to the event reservation. For a restaurant that strictly enforces reservations and cancellation fees, customers reasonably expect a much higher level of quality, preparation, and overall dining experience. Our server was kind, attentive, and did their best throughout the evening, so I truly appreciate their effort. However, much of the remaining staff appeared stressed, overwhelmed, and unwelcoming, which added to the uncomfortable atmosphere. Overall, the experience felt far from the fine dining experience being advertised. The drinks were honestly the only standout part of the evening. I also have to mention that the food we received looked nothing like the photos posted online and in Google reviews. It genuinely made us wonder if there was an issue in the kitchen this evening, because the quality and execution were nowhere near what was being represented publicly. I sincerely hope this feedback is taken constructively because there is a significant disconnect between the pricing, expectations, and actual dining experience being delivered.

Thursday night we were able to walk in without reservations around 5:30pm. Service was slow but the…read morefood was exceptional. My husband ordered his dinner from the "Starters" and I ordered from the "Main courses". Our meals came out at different times and so we watched each other eat. Suggestion: make sure you tell your server to bring it ALL out at the same time IF you order from different areas of the menu. Not all servers are seasonal servers.

Pasta excellent Fish overcooked…read moreSaw great reviewsso tried it Debating if i will go back, probably not

Of your then owner off this pace not your best employee letting no one in This place could be so…read moremuch better Ok well found out getting in only 2 bartenders barely able to keep up This has to be the worst run bar in blacksburg

Found them on Yelp while looking for a place open past 10pm. We wanted a full meal and this place…read moredelivered. Staff: awesome service! Kudos to the main guy taking our order and bringing it to our table. He was the all around order taker, drink maker and very patient guy. Food: Bar food at its finest, and I say this with all appreciation. The fries are the best we have had in a long time. Perfectly seasoned and fried fresh and a huge basket. Most of our group ordered the generous portions of French dip. We also got the pirogies with house made onion dip. His cocktails were yummy and a nice heavy pour. Ambiance: straight up bar atmosphere complete with a front room dart area. Bathrooms are clean, tables are high tops with lots of seating. Would be nice to have more lighting but hey it's a pub. Crowd looks local and a bit older than the average college demographic. We will definitely be back.

Great food and atmosphere! Food was seasoned well and hot. Will definitely return again!read more

Phenomenal all around. Historic building renovated very nicely and historic art on the walls give…read moreit a unique southern feel. The menu is also very southern and tough to choose what get, but the fried chicken was amazing, pimento Mac n cheese was amazing, homemade biscuit/apple butter was amazing, Cole slaw best ever. Friendly service. I was to return for the meatloaf and ham. Amazing !! Well done.

We can't say enough of this place. We had a wonderful visit for Sunday brunch. Ty (bartender and…read morehost) was excellent and very friendly. This was our first time here celebrating our son's birthday. I got the chicken biscuit which was excellent. The chicken and waffles were really good to. This really could be for two people. The drinks were excellent. We will definitely come back to try their lunch/dinner menu.

It was ok. Service was a bit slow and not as attentive as I would like. The steak was okay a bit on…read morethe fatty side and the broccolini was sparse. It looked like portion sizes varied by person. We were seated upstairs in the private section so it was very peaceful. Downstairs and outside was pretty packed.

Just had dinner here. Been wanting to go for a while and was not disappointed at all. Appetizers…read moreand sandwiches were amazing. The wine choices incredible!

Why did it take me 3 years to find you?! Had a great dinner with my daughter. The wine and drink…read moreflights are plentiful and varied. We were lucky that Casandra ( head of wines) was available to guide us through options and answer questions. We have been curious to find wines without all the additives and got an education on the latest sustainable trends. Left with a Malbec that was delicious and I did not think I liked Malbecs til I met this one! Hopeful we can get in for our daughter's upcoming graduation. The whole family will enjoy this place. I had potato/leek soup and thoroughly enjoyed the dip app. The hummus creamy and flavorful and the whipped feta with hot money unique. My daughter's salad was large and the greens plentiful. Hope to try the grilled cheese with tapenade on my next visit.

The price here is an amazing value for what we thought was a really good Japanese meal…read more The sashimi Deluxe was a work of art, and really good variety of sushi. The fried rice that came with the chicken katsu don was great, smokey and flavorful from the hibachi. The unagi don comes in a nice wooden box with a lot of fish and tamago. The chicken katsu was even better than the typical katsu found at Japanese restaurants. Overall I would highly recommend Ocean Samurai, it was a great value and really great food.

Travel for Blacksburg! Ocean Samurai has quickly become one of my absolute favorites. It's rare to…read morefind a place that balances quality, creativity, and community the way they do. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere is warm and inviting -- not too flashy, just thoughtfully designed with a clean, modern aesthetic. It's the kind of place where you can just as easily bring your family for a quiet dinner or meet up with friends for a casual night out. The sushi here is consistently fresh and beautifully presented. I'm not someone who's easily impressed by rolls -- but Ocean Samurai's signature rolls are something else. You can tell they put real care into each dish, both in flavor and presentation. Even the rice is seasoned just right, which says a lot. I also appreciate the range of options for folks who don't eat raw fish -- their bento boxes, hibachi, and cooked items are just as good. One of the things I really love is how they've made an effort to connect with the community. It's clear they care about the people who live here, not just the students. The staffs are friendly and down-to-earth, and they always greet returning guests like family. I've had several conversations with the owners and it's obvious they're passionate about what they do. Whether it's a lunch break during the work week or a relaxing dinner on the weekend, Ocean Samurai is the kind of place that makes you proud to support a local business. I hope it stays for a long time.

I rarely eat food after 9pm, but you make exceptions for places like this. My top-tier chum who…read moreliterally went to the school of hospitality (down the street at VA Tech!) and I came by here this past Tuesday night after a few other potential dinner spots fell through - the week after graduation is not the best for college town restaurant reliability. This was one of the few businesses with a kitchen still open, and had the distinction of being the only restaurant she'd actually been to when she was in college here over 20 years ago. Certainly a testament to the power of Mexican food and the young pups who will eat it any hour of the day and night. Unlike her last visit, El Rodeo apparently isn't as dark and divey as it used to be. A shame in my view, but it is what it is. The walls are painted a bright white, and if you didn't have the menus and margaritas roaming around, it could have hosted any genre of cuisine. There was an outdoor dining area that was pretty hopping but we opted for indoors and were immediately seated in a spacious booth with views of giant TVs showing a wild Cavs/Knicks playoff game. I wasn't obscenely hungry so I avoided eye contact with the burritos and instead went for a chicken/cheese quesadilla and a large glass of water. The quesadilla showed up within a few minutes and honestly really hit the spot. It was SUPER cheesy (in terms of flavor, not quantity, which I liked - I'm all about an ingredient equilibrium with my food), and I loved the crispness of the tortilla. The chicken was nicely shredded and seasoned, and it was generous portion to the point where I was only able to eat about half of it. The rest came back to the hotel with us to be consumed at a later time. The service was excellent. The turnaround time of the food was insanely quick, and the only noticeable delay was when our waiter understandably needed to attend to a wild 21st birthday celebration at a nearby table. Happy Birthday to her, and I hope the margaritas treated her well. College town restaurants kind of are what they are - it's not really the land of bougie gastropubs but rather affordable tasty shizzle that you might impulsively eat in the middle of the night. Solid recommend.

I got the Arroz Con Pollo, along with a Jumbo Pina Colada Margarita…read more This dish isn't a traditional Mexican dish - it's actually more Caribbean - but due to the massive demand for it in the South, it's a staple of menus here but not really found anywhere else in the US - that's why I had to make sure to get it while I was here as I hadn't had it before and I know this place is known for it This food was absolutely fantastic The dish came with a TON of grilled chicken pieces on rice, along with a lot of vegetables, and a cheese-like dip Starting with the chicken, it was really good, and as I mentioned, there was a lot of it it was also soft and not quite juicy - but definitely not overcooked/dry either. it was really satisfying to bite into it wasn't super well seasoned - but there was enough that it was detectable the rice itself was pretty nice and well-flavored. it wasn't anything too special but it served as a solid base for the rest of the toppings the vegetables were pretty fantastic - and served as a great complement to the chicken. I was especially a big fan of the grilled onions and the peppers, as these were cooked really well. however, the tomatoes weren't great. charging extra for these was a little strange, but I didn't mind it what really brings the dish overall together and takes it to another level is the cheese dip that mixes throughout everything if this was too cheesy - it would ruin the entire dish by making it practically inedible if it didn't have a strong flavor, the entire dish would basically feel plain however, this was just perfect. It had a hint of cheese, but most surprisingly, it had a bunch of other flavors in there too that created a sauce that coated every part of the dish and significantly increased the flavor of everything it touched this resulted in the overall meal having a comforting, deep flavor profile that was really, really good The margarita was also decent - it was super sugary and you couldn't taste the alcohol that much, but it was enjoyable to drink For the price, this was a pretty great deal. When adding the vegetables onto the ACP, it came out to around 15 dollars, and this was a really nice portion size given that price. The jumbo margarita was also a really large drink for around 9 dollars

Excellent food. Lots of beverage choices, including a huge selection of draft beer…read more Everything is cooked to order so it definitely takes a little longer to get your food but completely worth it.

I've had this pizza before, and I thought it was really fantastic, so I was pretty excited to try…read moreit again Most of the pizza was pretty similar to the last time I've had it. This starts with the olive oil and garlic base - which I prefer over the traditional red sauce base for pizzas When going with this option, the pizza gets an oily, buttery, flavor that tastes really good - with an additional garlic flavor I did think it could be thicker - as the pizza did seem to be a bit on the thinner side. All three of the cheeses tasted pretty good but maybe there could've been more of it Moving on to the toppings, my favorite part by far was the mushrooms. These were just fantastic - cooked well, combined great with the olive oil base, and were really soft and juicy. The rest of the toppings weren't super noticeable, however, as I didn't taste the onions/chives that much I do have to mention how good the garlic aioli swirl was - it just adds that slight extra bit of oil/garlic flavor but only in certain spots The part that strongly disappointed me here was the crust When I've had the pizza before - it's been fantastic - but this time it was incredibly chewy and barely even edible. My jaw was in pain from chewing after finishing the crust on my very first slice. If not for this being the case in every slice of the pizza I had, I would've given this a really high score, but the crust being so bad drags this down overall significantly. Not sure what happened in this case - but I somewhat considered sending the pizza back due to it For the price, this won't beat national chains like Dominos, and I do think (certain) options at Dominos are better, but compared to other foods it's still a good enough price for a full meal

Great local spot. The person who gave the 2 star review should come back. The location has moved to…read morenot far from where it was when he went-but solved what he was having issues with. PLUS..they have more liquor options and cocktails than back in 2018. Pegs whiskey is my favorite!

With Franklin County being the capital of moonshine, it's pretty cool to have a craft distillery…read morewith such rich history in the area! The cocktails are made with traditional spirits like sugar shine and flavored brandy and my personal favorite is their twist on a margarita. The atmosphere feels very authentic as well, like a vintage farmhouse. You are made to feel like family by the staff and if you stop by on Wednesday nights, they have a bluegrass jam session from 7-9pm.