I remember the first time I was introduced to this slang. I thought we were going to meet near a place where animals meet to drink water in the wild. This was where we were supposed to meet for the last class in one of my Graduate School courses. Yet after inquiring some more, I discovered that "Watering Hole" is a slang for a bar, pub, or other social gathering spot where people go to drink and socialize.
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 The Watering Hole in Roanoke, Virginia, is the perfect example.
Located in Market Square North, a shopping center with a mix of retail and restaurants options, plus ample parking, in the Hollins area of Williamson Road, The Watering Hole Bar and Grill was established in 2010 as a gathering spot to meet with friends and enjoy comfort food with bar drinks, spending the time chatting and at times listening to live music in this rustic clubby space. If you explore their website first, the emphasis on its food could be deceiving. I arrived at the place on a weekend evening expecting to find the restaurant full and yet it was the bar that was full with baby boomer age customers drinking and enjoying chatting with each other. There was only one table with a family with two daughters having dinner. I looked around for a Host table with someone to take you to be seated at your table, but there was no one to be found. So I went and asked the husband of the only full table, and he told me that the server who is mostly at the bar had told them to seat at any table, and they were waiting for her to bring them the menu and take their order. So after hearing this, and still not seeing anyone showing up to greet me, I went and sat at a table. The decor of the place were some antique items decorating the walls. Up front it had a small open stage which later I found it was used sometimes for live music performances, Karaoke, or for a DJ to play music. In the back there were two pool tables. Which after a while, the DJ and the person who arrived with him to help setup, were the ones playing pool.
A friendly young lady finally showed up and greeted me when she saw me, asking what I wanted to drink. When asked for non-alcoholic drinks, no mention of Mocktails, only that they had Pepsi products. I ordered a Dr Pepper, which she brought after some time with the menu. After studying the menu and waiting her to come back, another lady came to take my order with a smile. I ordered the Bang Bang Shrimp as appetizer and the Chicken Platter with a salad and fries as the two sides. Only one option of salad dressing was presented to me. When the food finally arrived, the shrimps were extremely small and not too fresh. The two chicken breasts were skinny and dry inside, and not plumpy and juicy inside as I'm used to having in my favorite Bars and Grills. After I finished eating I just asked for the bill and decided to have dessert elsewhere. I really wished that the food would have been better because the place was very cozy, though unorganized, and the servers were very friendly, and if you read the owner's message in their website, they have an excellent idea for a restaurant of this type. Where they are weak is in the execution. read more