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    The Blacksburg Tavern

    4.5 (248 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 1 week ago

    The Blacksburg Tavern Photos

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    THE BLACKSBURG TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - The Blacksburg Tavern

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    Chili
    Ricardo R.

    You actually get to eat in the oldest house in Blacksburg from the late 1800s. All the walls have been painted by hand (murals) depicting that era. The service is friendly and attentive. We ordered a couple of cocktails that were good but were light. The food is simple but good. They could expand their menu or improve certain items, for example, the biscuits were really good, but were not served warm.

    The Hungry Hokie bowl
    Renee S.

    Enjoyed a lovely lunch on Mother's Day. We were greeted by Dan who is also the owner. He was very friendly and engaging and we were quickly led to our table. This restaurant is so charming. Beautiful murals painted on various walls and it is housed in an old house standing since 1892. They have options to either order your own entrees or order family style. We opted to each choose our own entrees. Everything we had was delicious. The biscuits and cornbread served with butter and Apple butter are so good. It feels like you are a guest in someone's home and they are preparing all the home style favorites. Service was friendly and efficient. I did ask if they served mimosas and was told no but we have wine by the server. I did not order a drink which led my husband to not order a beer. I thought they had a full bar so that was the only let down of the day. If you're a bourbon lover they have a lot of bourbon cocktail options. In conclusion, we really enjoyed our meals and Dan's enthusiasm can't be matched. Both of which will have us returning!

    Tanny D.

    I've been trying to go here for a long while, and I remember certain times I have tried, the wait times were a bit too long. However I was able to stop by last time I dropped off my sibling at VT. We got the fried chicken meal. I got the cornbread and my husband got the biscuit. That biscuit was so incredible. One of the best I've had in a while. The chicken was great and I was blown away by some of the "less popular" side dishes such as the succotash and green beans. Both were so tasty. The Mac and cheese was pretty good too. Finished off the meal with peach cobbler and ice cream which was not too sweet and a great way to finish the meal. The owner is very sweet and even came and talked to us. I loved the murals on the wall that I believe his grandma painted herself.

    Gretchen B.

    We attended a family reunion in Blacksburg and the Tavern was one of our venues. They were gracious to accommodate us all on a busy night. Food menu included meatloaf, fried chicken, chili, salads, brisket, and bisquits. Food was plentiful for the price and the service was good. Indoor and outdoor seating on a street filled with college kids from Virginia Tech.. Great atmosphere.

    One of the dining rooms near bar and front entrance.
    Ann S.

    Food was amazing. Very fresh and perfectly prepared. Service was great. They do not take reservations but they do have a small bar area where you can wait. It's a very charming old home that has deep history and beautiful murals on the wall. Very calm and relaxing atmosphere which is very different from the many college bars and fast food joints.

    Rowena C.

    This tavern is something special! Its unique personality,ambience and super nice staff make it a standout . Food was delicious freshly made and plentiful . Well recommended.

    Billy T.

    Eating here was one of the experiences I've ever had! I felt like I was sent back to 1850 when I walked in- old southern tunes were playing, everything was made of wood, and it just felt rustic. I came on a Sunday for lunch and it was very quiet. Service was quick and efficient and I ended up going with the brisket burger with apples. The food was great, with the exception being the cole slaw which I found too sweet. The brisket was some of the best I ever had though. Blacksburg Tavern isn't for everyone, but if you want an authentic southern experience, this is definitely the spot!

    Beef Brisket
    John M.

    Best chicken I have ever had.... The service was great and the large house location tied it all together.

    Mural painted by owners aunt.

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    2 months ago

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

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    11 months ago

    Incredible southern fried chicken! DELICIOUS! I can't wait to return! Also super friendly people! Thanks! Laura, Joe and Arden

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    11 months ago

    I enjoy this place. Lice the charm and story. Food is good but a little limited. Make sure you check the menu before you go.

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    2 years ago

    Excellent service; food good; lovely restored building; disabled entrance in back w some parking.

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    6 years ago

    Business owner information

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    Daniel R.

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    1 year ago

    Located in an older style house, atmosphere is nice. Owner was very welcoming and the meal was delicious! Served was attentive and prompt.

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    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - The Blacksburg Tavern

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    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.

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    Ocean Samurai

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    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.

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    El Rodeo - Chicken/Cheese Quesadilla.

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    3.5(84 reviews)
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    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

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    Lunch Menu

    Mellow Mushroom Blacksburg - Holy Shiitake Pizza

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    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

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    Outside / Exterior pic of restaurant, right on Main Street smack dab in downtown Blacksburg

    The Blacksburg Tavern - southern - Updated May 2026

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