Collegiate Times

While Blacksburg has changed over the years to accommodate the contemporary lifestyle of students who hail from various backgrounds, several restaurants still represent the southern culture that has been largely overshadowed.

Joe’s Diner, located at 221 N. Main St., exemplifies the image of a typical southern diner, with black and white checkered flooring and a long bar with red bar stools.

When I stepped into Joe’s Diner and left behind the somewhat contemporary feel of downtown Main Street, I felt as if I had stepped into a different world.

The restaurant has wooden swinging doors that lead to the bathroom and kitchen, which look like they were taken out of a saloon. The booming country music and the colorless still pictures of older times only serve to enhance the diner’s unique atmosphere.

As I grew up in a rather urban area, the restaurant’s southern atmosphere was shocking at first. However, once I settled in and was greeted by the friendly waiters, the restaurant felt warm and homey.

When I sat down to survey the menu, I noticed the variety of items offered for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The addition of a la carte items like cereal or a short stack of pancakes heightened the flexibility of ordering options. That way I could choose a meal more customized to my mood.  

I was enticed by options like the breakfast burrito, the southern style omelet, the short stack of pancakes and the breakfast sandwiches. All of these were about $5 or less, a reasonable price for many college students.

Based on its esteemed popularity and the reasonable price of about $3, I decided to order the breakfast sandwich, customized with turkey, egg and cheese on toast.

As I waited for my food, the various plaques hanging above the bar area caught my eye. Some of the plaques read, “Best
late night food,” while others read “Best Breakfast” — two popular accolades Joe’s has received several times in recent years.    

Although I was already immersed in the popular breakfast experience, I couldn’t help but imagine the diner coming to life at night with college students exiting the bars and moving the party to the old-fashioned diner.

My food arrived after a short wait, calming my stomach and soothing my appetite.

As I took my first bite, my mouth encountered the crunchy, buttery outside of my sandwich, fittingly complemented by the warm, savory filling. The sandwich had a good combination of flavors and was the perfect portion for my medium-sized morning appetite.

While I was content with the portion size of my meal, it countered the previous notion I had about southern-style food.
I was expecting to be full to the point where just standing up and walking out of the restaurant seemed like an exercise within itself.

Still, Joe’s offers an assortment of options to satisfy any appetite. The restaurant caters not only to fans of typical, southern meals, but also to the diverse Virginia Tech population that comes from many culinary backgrounds.

Despite the negative stereotypes I previously held toward the food, my experience at Joe’s was rather enjoyable.

The menu lent itself to different options for those, like me, who may not be a huge fan of typical country-style entrees.

The atmosphere was welcoming, the employees were friendly and helpful, and the meal was enjoyable.

Joe’s truly sets itself apart from the competition for people who are looking for the nostalgic diner experience, as there is no other place like it in the area.

A version of this article appeared in the Nov 16 issue of the Collegiate Times.