Was the exact pic I was looking for! Noooooo indeed. This place was an amazing gem so close to the upper quad for good specialty sandwiches. Guess there's always substation II....
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No no no. So wrong. Substation II is the local version (and better) of a subway. Sycamore is (was, sniff) the local version of a firehouse subs and way better, too.
I was living in Blacksburg when I was diagnosed with celiac. Not being able to eat at sycamore was the most depressing part of my adjustment to gluten free..
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Well damn... I don't even know what food there is to look forward to next time I'm in Blacksburg. There's always Homeplace but it's a journey to get out there.
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I had that when I flew up for the BC game and God was it good. But got lots of strange looks sitting in waiting area by myself and eating by myself. Then a group of kids dined and dashed.
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We used to call it Sick-of-Waiting Deli when it opened way out on south main when I was in school. It got better but I am more shocked that it has been so long since it opened. Get off my lawn!
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That's more my era. It was Sycamore Farms, and it was almost in Christiansburg.
On another note, I'm impressed that China Inn near Washington St is still in business, next to the dry cleaners where I have a funny story...
Took a pair of shorts that I got from Goodwill for a dollar there to be hemmed, and I asked them to take off 2 inches in the inseam. They interpreted me to ask for a 2 inch inseam.
After a bunch of back and forth with the counter lady, I walked out to the car, and then walked back into the cleaners wearing my new hotpants, and I told her that if she didn't give me my dollar that I spent on the shorts, I was going to hang out at the cleaners in my shorts. (the hanging of the out being quite literal in the moment)
I got my dollar back. #dontmesswithleonard
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China Inn is the only decent generic Chinese restaurant in town. Double dragon and the others are lousy. The next closest in quality is actually the deli section of Kroger.
None of these hold a candle to Peking in Wytheville though.
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Double Dragon is much better than China Inn. I have heard to many reports of workers cutting food on the floor of the China Inn kitchen to ever want to eat there.
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Hunan King was the best Chinese food in town with none of the others even close. China Inn has to be there solely for laundering money because there is no way that crappy food can sustain a business lol. China Kitchen was decent and cheap and also always had that little guy at the counter that talked 1000mph that was good for a laugh.
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Double Dragon was always my go to for Chinese takeout. But if there was a group of us we would generally make the trek to Hunan House out by 81 and put a hurt on their buffet.
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The food was good there back in my day. I put away many a House Triple Delight, until one fateful evening, Mr. Cockroach decided to hang out on our table.
My thoughts on cockroaches is if you see one during business hours there's 6 billion others living there.
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my roommate and i used to buy the 12/24 packs of mystery brand beers that were dirt cheap. we still don't know what we drank but were happy to know we could buy a lot with so little $$$. RIP Sycamore Deli...
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Went to the Clemson game two years ago and was flabbergasted at how chain restaurants had sprung up EVERYWHERE. Really didn't feel like that local hometown that it was when I was there. Hard for the local places to compete but it really sucks that Backstreets, Mike's, and now Sycamore (also RIP the Gobbler) have gone down with absolutely superior food. The business model of serve great food at a reasonable price is not what this generation appreciates...now get off my lawn
Also, is Abby's still kicking? That and the Gobbler were my jaaam senior and super senior years.
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This take is actually comical becuase millenials are also considered the "foodie" generation that has been blamed for killing chain restaurants because they are so much more inclined to eat local. The same chain restaurants that previous generations made so popular in the 80's and 90's (e.g., Olive Garden, Texas Road House, Hooters).
Hopefully somebody with some creativity takes over that great space and turns it into a really cool spot with unique and delicious food.
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The problem is that old people forget that they killed off restaurants too. Im not saying these shouldn't hsve been killed... Ponderosa, Perkins, Chi chis, Howard Johnsons, Steak and Ales
Every generation kills restaurants
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definitely has a reputation as a townie place. i'm not sure if they've redone it at all, but when I was around town, it also looked like the kind of place you go to under the assumption that there's a non-negligible chance you're ingesting traces of fecal matter and dry cleaning chemicals
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The Gobbler, aka "The Winchester" in my circle because we always wound up there, was in the old Pizza Hut building on Kabrich St near Heavener Hardware. RIP
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Well that sucks. Loved me some Meatball Mondays enough to where I'd sneak in a few on other days. It's too bad someone won't buy him out and continue it.
I never got the chance to go to the new location on Draper but I swear that place is cursed. Nothing ever really lasts in that space.
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I went to so many shows there during grad school. Does Blacksburg even have a good small venue any more? I guess Franks at 622 North still has some but that seems to be it.
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Played many gigs in that building over the years. No one can keep it going at that location very long for some reason. I won't miss loading in and out of those stairs after a long night.
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If you are ever in town for a Stepping Out over the summer Souvlaki is the place to go. All the Blacksburg local staples are in there getting their drink on. It is quite a sight.
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In hindsight, I don't know why I'm so shocked by this. I never even knew that they moved when they tore down the Turner St location to build that parking deck. How long has it been on the other side of campus? And more importantly, can I call dibs on that old Centipede machine? Please tell me that thing still exists.
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They had all sorts of super flavorful sandwich options on top of your normal sub shop offerings. You would find something to love there, trust me. I fell in love with the Churchill: open faced roast beef with melted cheese and horseradish...
Slightly off topic but a new brewery opened up recently in the industrial park area next to SAS builders just south of town. Excellent beer in my opinion. 100 times better than Rising Silo on Glade. Anyhow, while at the grand opening last week I heard that the same group is opening up another brewery/restaurant in the old Cooks Cleaners on Main Street. After tasting the beer selection, I'm excited to see what this place has to offer.
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When we tailgated next to Stanger St. in the Prices Fork lot we'd stop there to pick up a keg on our way to the tailgate and then packed a hand truck so we could go get a second one after kicking the first.
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I'm acquaintances with the owner's son. From what our mutual friends have told me, the owner is retiring by his own choosing. He's been pretty hands off and uninvolved in the day to day operations for the last half decade or so, and believes making any major changes would require him getting involved in the day-to-day, which he's not willing to do at this point in his life. My impression is that the situation is much closer to 'sailing off into the sunset' rather than being forced to close down.
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Comments
Damn that's sad, meatball Mondays were my jam. RIP
Was the exact pic I was looking for! Noooooo indeed. This place was an amazing gem so close to the upper quad for good specialty sandwiches. Guess there's always substation II....
Substation II is not a valid replacement! They are different and Sycamore deli is far superior!
No no no. So wrong. Substation II is the local version (and better) of a subway. Sycamore is (was, sniff) the local version of a firehouse subs and way better, too.
I was living in Blacksburg when I was diagnosed with celiac. Not being able to eat at sycamore was the most depressing part of my adjustment to gluten free..
Sub station is far more like jersey mikes than it is subway. Subway and sub station shouldn't be in the same sentence as one another.
Lol guess I should've put the /s next to the substation part
Roanoke Times Article
That stings. That place is so good I went back after food poisoning. Craft sandwich places are becoming a thing if the past.
I'm disappointed I haven't gotten around to trying all these places people love before they close.
Fond memories of working there, but ate enough for free when I did I have never wanted to pay for it.
Is Pita Pit still around?
Pita Vera? That's been closed and replaced with The Coop.
The place that was on College Ave by the Lyric? That was only open for about a year or so, circa 2002. So it's been closed for a very long time.
It was there from 2003 to 2007ish and I was surprised when I moved to California there was one where I lived.
There's one in Nashville too.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!
Bummer. My favorite chow spot on Turner.
Well damn... I don't even know what food there is to look forward to next time I'm in Blacksburg. There's always Homeplace but it's a journey to get out there.
Souvlaki survives...
I had that when I flew up for the BC game and God was it good. But got lots of strange looks sitting in waiting area by myself and eating by myself. Then a group of kids dined and dashed.
We used to call it Sick-of-Waiting Deli when it opened way out on south main when I was in school. It got better but I am more shocked that it has been so long since it opened. Get off my lawn!
Where was it on south main?
With all the new construction I honestly have no idea anymore. Probably a mile north of the Big Boy. Maybe the one I went to was named Sycamore Farms.
They moved it right next to She Sha
That's more my era. It was Sycamore Farms, and it was almost in Christiansburg.
On another note, I'm impressed that China Inn near Washington St is still in business, next to the dry cleaners where I have a funny story...
Took a pair of shorts that I got from Goodwill for a dollar there to be hemmed, and I asked them to take off 2 inches in the inseam. They interpreted me to ask for a 2 inch inseam.
After a bunch of back and forth with the counter lady, I walked out to the car, and then walked back into the cleaners wearing my new hotpants, and I told her that if she didn't give me my dollar that I spent on the shorts, I was going to hang out at the cleaners in my shorts. (the hanging of the out being quite literal in the moment)
I got my dollar back. #dontmesswithleonard
China Inn is the only decent generic Chinese restaurant in town. Double dragon and the others are lousy. The next closest in quality is actually the deli section of Kroger.
None of these hold a candle to Peking in Wytheville though.
Is that the one attached to the food lion?
No that's Chinese kitchen. China inn is over towards Draper and clay
Double Dragon is much better than China Inn. I have heard to many reports of workers cutting food on the floor of the China Inn kitchen to ever want to eat there.
Hunan King was the best Chinese food in town with none of the others even close. China Inn has to be there solely for laundering money because there is no way that crappy food can sustain a business lol. China Kitchen was decent and cheap and also always had that little guy at the counter that talked 1000mph that was good for a laugh.
Happy Wok is the only Chinese place in town that i have ever seen consistently busy with Chinese international students.
So, hate to throw a wrench in this discussion, but you're all (probably) wrong.
Double Dragon was always my go to for Chinese takeout. But if there was a group of us we would generally make the trek to Hunan House out by 81 and put a hurt on their buffet.
This Chinese Kitchen disrespect is an outrage. Dumplings cannot be beat.
Call and order whole menu
Chinese Kitchen was my preferred location for Chinese Food, and it never failed to satisfy me.
China inn is the best Chinese food in Blacksburg, fight me
The food was good there back in my day. I put away many a House Triple Delight, until one fateful evening, Mr. Cockroach decided to hang out on our table.
My thoughts on cockroaches is if you see one during business hours there's 6 billion others living there.
Wait where was big boy?
Across from the hospital, where El Mariachi is now.
Rip Tugboat Tuesdays
We bought no less than 200 kegs from them between 2000-2004. RIP 😢
Cheapest kegs in Blacksburg fam.
my roommate and i used to buy the 12/24 packs of mystery brand beers that were dirt cheap. we still don't know what we drank but were happy to know we could buy a lot with so little $$$. RIP Sycamore Deli...
Went to the Clemson game two years ago and was flabbergasted at how chain restaurants had sprung up EVERYWHERE. Really didn't feel like that local hometown that it was when I was there. Hard for the local places to compete but it really sucks that Backstreets, Mike's, and now Sycamore (also RIP the Gobbler) have gone down with absolutely superior food. The business model of serve great food at a reasonable price is not what this generation appreciates...now get off my lawn
Also, is Abby's still kicking? That and the Gobbler were my jaaam senior and super senior years.
blaming "this generation" for a restaurant owner effectively retiring, ok...
Generic assumption on my part.
This take is actually comical becuase millenials are also considered the "foodie" generation that has been blamed for killing chain restaurants because they are so much more inclined to eat local. The same chain restaurants that previous generations made so popular in the 80's and 90's (e.g., Olive Garden, Texas Road House, Hooters).
Hopefully somebody with some creativity takes over that great space and turns it into a really cool spot with unique and delicious food.
The problem is that old people forget that they killed off restaurants too. Im not saying these shouldn't hsve been killed... Ponderosa, Perkins, Chi chis, Howard Johnsons, Steak and Ales
Every generation kills restaurants
Steak and Ale in south richmond off Midlothian was my favorite place as a kid.
Abby's is very much a locals' spot. I don't think many students go there at all.
Personally was my favorite burger and fries in town. Also tough to beat their open faced roastbeef special on fridays.
definitely has a reputation as a townie place. i'm not sure if they've redone it at all, but when I was around town, it also looked like the kind of place you go to under the assumption that there's a non-negligible chance you're ingesting traces of fecal matter and dry cleaning chemicals
Gonna have to ask you not to give away the secret recipe in their burgers on here ever again.
Abby's is like a less conveniently located Underground Pub with worse food and slightly better customer service*
*this opinion is in no way influenced by recent ex-girlfriend liking that eatery better than anywhere else in Blacksburg, why do you ask?
You'd be surprised, Abby's fried chicken on Sundays after a 12 hour drinking bender was a banger
Where/what was the gobbler?
The Gobbler, aka "The Winchester" in my circle because we always wound up there, was in the old Pizza Hut building on Kabrich St near Heavener Hardware. RIP
On Kabrich next to the hardware store. Walkable from my apt at the time and had a $5 pizza buffet until 3am
Well that sucks. Loved me some Meatball Mondays enough to where I'd sneak in a few on other days. It's too bad someone won't buy him out and continue it.
I never got the chance to go to the new location on Draper but I swear that place is cursed. Nothing ever really lasts in that space.
I stopped going when they moved onto Draper. It was now harder to get to.
So people we need to refine a list of must eat places in the Blacksburg/Christiansburg and Roanoke areas for those of us who come up to visit.
I went to so many shows there during grad school. Does Blacksburg even have a good small venue any more? I guess Franks at 622 North still has some but that seems to be it.
Did you miss the comment on Souvlaki's?
Souvlaki's is a venue for shows?????????????????
shit
Username checks out
Did you get the memo?
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Damn character limits in these chat boxes....
Played many gigs in that building over the years. No one can keep it going at that location very long for some reason. I won't miss loading in and out of those stairs after a long night.
Whats next? Backstreets? Cooks cleaning? Hokaido Buffet? When will it end?!
Hokaido cut deep right there. They go after Souvlaki and i'll riot.
If you are ever in town for a Stepping Out over the summer Souvlaki is the place to go. All the Blacksburg local staples are in there getting their drink on. It is quite a sight.
Hands off Carol Lee!
Backstreets closed back in 2013. They tore down the building and built a Mellow Mushroom there.
In hindsight, I don't know why I'm so shocked by this. I never even knew that they moved when they tore down the Turner St location to build that parking deck. How long has it been on the other side of campus? And more importantly, can I call dibs on that old Centipede machine? Please tell me that thing still exists.
I never once ate here. I have no idea what I missed out on.
I thought people said the food was good? Mac and cheese on a sandwich ?
They had all sorts of super flavorful sandwich options on top of your normal sub shop offerings. You would find something to love there, trust me. I fell in love with the Churchill: open faced roast beef with melted cheese and horseradish...
Menu
Speaking of, did anyone check the box on everything on this menu? It's a macado's level challenge
That menu is crazy
Sniff Sniff, my wife and I went there on our 1st date, got it to go and had a picnic at the duck pond...
You should take your wife for a picnic
Sycamore closes and there's otters infesting the Duck Pond. 2019 is coming after all your precious memories
WHERE AM I SUPPOSED TO SALSA DANCE ON MY WEDNESDAYS NOW????
Slightly off topic but a new brewery opened up recently in the industrial park area next to SAS builders just south of town. Excellent beer in my opinion. 100 times better than Rising Silo on Glade. Anyhow, while at the grand opening last week I heard that the same group is opening up another brewery/restaurant in the old Cooks Cleaners on Main Street. After tasting the beer selection, I'm excited to see what this place has to offer.
When we tailgated next to Stanger St. in the Prices Fork lot we'd stop there to pick up a keg on our way to the tailgate and then packed a hand truck so we could go get a second one after kicking the first.
I'm acquaintances with the owner's son. From what our mutual friends have told me, the owner is retiring by his own choosing. He's been pretty hands off and uninvolved in the day to day operations for the last half decade or so, and believes making any major changes would require him getting involved in the day-to-day, which he's not willing to do at this point in his life. My impression is that the situation is much closer to 'sailing off into the sunset' rather than being forced to close down.