Definitely need a reservation if you're wanting to eat at The Palisades (and make it before the day-of). With a reservation, you are promptly seated, we didn't have a reservation this time and had to wait 30-40 minutes for a table for 4.
The Restaurant is darling! And any place that has "grits of the day" is good in my book! I didn't think I could love an appetizer more than the Pear wears Brie that I had last time but the spicy shrimp took the cake. So delicious!
Everyone at our table had a different dish - and earned the clean plate award! We tried the rock fish, quail, pork chop (chili rubbed with peach chutney) and scallops (with blueberry & lime!). The sides are just as delectable as the entrees. Save room for dessert though - they have ice cream of the day, various mousses and a mouth-watering flourless chocolate cake.
Even though this place is just outside of Blacksburg, you won't find it overrun with drunken college kids. It's well worth the long ride out to eggleston to savor what this place has to offer. Everything about the palisades is charming. Enjoy!
I was pretty much blown away with this place. Â To get to it is quite a trek and it's truly in the middle of nowhere, but once you finally get there it is well worth the journey on those windng back roads.
The restaurant itself is an old brick building that looks like it used to be a store.  When you walk in, it has an old time country feel but don't let that fool you!  This is not your run of the mill country eatery.  As soon as I looked at the menu I was pretty amazed with the unique and eclectic offerings.  There is a pretty extensive beer and wine menu as well (no liquor served  here, FYI). Â
There were really good looking appetizers so we had to get one. Â We started out with the spicy shrimp. Â At a lot of places you will find menu items that are advertised as "spicy" when they really aren't, but this was! Â And it was great! Â As far as main courses, there was quail, trout, pork chops, steak, chicken, you name it. Â My wife got the pork chop which came with sweet potatoes. I was fortunate enough to swoop in for a bite and it was really outstanding. Â I got the daily special which was rockfish with a tomatillo sauce on top. Â I got it served with the grits of the day. Â Wow, it was just an awesome flavor combination. Â We had to do the dessert thing as well and got a flourless chocolate cake. Â It was really rich and downright excellent.
I would highly recommend making a reservation here. Â We went on a Friday and did not have reservations and had quite a wait on our hands. Â And once you get all the way out there, you have no other options so you're committed! Â
I must say, after living in Blacksburg for 4 years during college and coming back to visit regularly over the past 10 years, this is the BEST restaurant I have found in the area. Â Just give it a shot, okay?
This was definitely one of the highlights my "summer vacation" in and around Blacksburg, VA - I had a contract engineering gig in Narrows at the Celanese plant. Â I unfortunately did not get to take my wife here, rather I went with three friends from the plant for the first and only time. Â Be prepared, the trip can be exciting, the roads are interesting at best. Â The location is an old hardware store and you may miss it if your not careful. Â The service was great, the interior was nice and the food was very good. Â It was a very great eating experience. Â Cheers and eat up.
Review Source:Palisades is a beautifully renovated dining establishment that used to be a general store. Â It's rustic yet modern without being too trendy and it attracts customers of all ages. Â I've been twice for dinner and had great experiences both times. Â Menu changes seasonally; I've had a delicious pick-three cheese platter with Brie, Manchego, and Gouda, a perfectly cooked-medium-rare ribeye with chipotle butter, trout with seafood sauce, the best garlic mashed potatoes EVER, and pork with rosemary and apples (a little too heavy on the rosemary but still good). Â Never had the pizzas here but I hear great things and they have a specially designed pizza oven that you can see from the bar so you know it's gotta be good!
One little con: I had one of my first dates here with my sweetie and the table for 2 was sooooo long; we could barely reach across the table and we had to speak more loudly than normal to hear each other. Â Nevertheless, it was still a successful date! :)
I'd definitely recommend making a trip out to Eggleston if you're in the Southwest VA area - great food, good prices, attentive service, unique venue, and live music on certain days; what more could you ask for?!
One of the nicest restaurants in the area and it's worth the 30 minute drive from Blacksburg. Â I have been a few times and enjoyed my food both time. Â However, from reading reviews on here and talking with others they do seem to have some trouble dealing with large crowds. Â I would go early in the week or call ahead to see if they are busy.
Review Source:Hey, Â ** 1/2 stars
Wife and I enjoyed the drive up the scenic road more than the meal. Â Its not hard to find just 2 turns off US 460 and a few miles up a winding road.
We shared a pear & brie quesadilla, Â The appetizer was fair and did not have enough of the cheese.
She had the trout which was tasty, although she did not like the green cucumber sauce on the fish. Â I tasted it and the fish was fine. Â
My Asian BBQ was more like a brisket or short ribs with a bit of soy added to the gravy. Â I enjoyed it once it came back from being heated up, Â It was not hot enough when first brought to our table. Â The sides of a polenta w/ corn pieces was interesting, the Asian slaw was not a hit w/ me or my wife.
Best part was the strawberry cobbler w/ fresh vanilla ice cream for desert.
Service was slow, skimpy potions, atmosphere was casual. Â
Suggest the oven pizza they looked the best.
You can practically hear the Deliverance banjos playing before you almost give up finding your way to the ghost town of Eggelston, VA. Then you spy the facade of the old general store. Once you open the front door, your fears quickly melt away as you realize that you are indeed someplace special. This meal turned out to be the highlight of my brief visit to southwestern Virginia.
Found this place here on Yelp. Couldn't get them to answer the phone to make a reservation. Nevertheless, we made the 50+ mile trek for a slightly early Saturday night dinner. Very cool preserved space overlooking the railroad tracks near the New River. Lively, casual yet elegant atmosphere. Nice beer selection. Awesome owner and super friendly, helpful staff. Really loved the live classic jazz music. Loved the whole wheat pizza dough. Filet looked great. Kids rib eye was a bit overdone. Very classy experience overall.
NB: Make sure you have plenty of gas in your car before you leave. Last gas is in nearby Newport, VA.
We had driven by looking for the restaurant on a previous occasion just to see if we could find it...a bit out of the way is not an exaggeration. Â We had been told by a friend that the pizza was amazing so we stopped on the way home to Princeton from Blacksburg because one of us was craving some pizza. Â So glad we stopped. Â We got there just as they were opening for the evening so had no reservations but no wait either. Â The staff is welcoming and just great! Â We were thanked at least four time for coming by and eating with them. Â And Tuesday at 4:30 is a good time to find a seat. Â After our waiter brought us a small ceramic pitcher of iced water (excellent idea) he gave us a rundown on the specials of the day. Â Craving the pizza we took him up on the pizza of the day. Â It was sausage and red onion with cheddar and mozzarella cheese and we chose the honey wheat crust. Â While sipping on our drinks waiting for the pizza our waiter appeared with two small shot glasses saying the chef had prepared an amuse bouche of a banana mint smoothie, compliments of the chef. Â It was a wonderful surprise and a tasty little treat. Â The banana smacked you in the nose but the taste was a wonderful blend of banana and mint and a few other things we tried to figure out but were not very successful. Â Our pizza arrived and it was good. Â A nice slightly spiced sausage not overly cheesed on a wheat crust. Â Very enjoyable. Â We then decided we wanted a bite or two of something sweet so we split one of the specials an orange meringue tart. Â We really didn't know what to expect but what we received was the best part of the meal. Â A small tart that was composed of a buttery crispy pie dough cup filled with a wonder orange curd topped with fresh whipped meringue slightly browned on top with a small swirl of a raspberry puree on the side. Â The puree kept the whole thing from being over the top sweet but all combined was the perfect blend of flavors. Â I would go back just for that but I can't wait to try the Sunday brunch everyone raves about. Â If the food is just half as good as what we had today we will be pleased.
Review Source:The food is good if you go on a night expected to be busy. Consider calling for reservations on a Friday or Saturday night because they often have live music and this place can book out or be very full. Too far of a drive from town to chance that. Also, make sure you KNOW where the restaurant is because one wrong turn or a missed turn and you just might find yourself at the river or who knows where.
No draft beer; but great selection of bottles and wine. Food is overall excellent.
Their brunch is also excellent, but I've never seen anyone out there for brunch. Every time I go, it's just me and whomever I'm with. Not sure why that is, but if you get a chance to try, they run it buffet style and it is excellent!!
Truly one of the best meals and experiences at a dining establishment I've ever had. Â I would recommend this restaurant without a heartbeat and guarantee you'll leave fully satisfied.
Within the last few weeks I've eaten here for brunch and dinner. Â Dinner was lovely - it was my first time at the Palisades and the hardware store turned restaurant had a great feel and ambience. Â The restaurant retains the qualities of the rustic countryside and is so inviting. With colorful lighting, hardwood floors and antiques lining the walls, it really draws you in. There was also live music on my visit that added a great homey touch.
The food was fantastic - for starters we ordered the pear wears brie. Â Slices of seasonal pear and brie in a flour tortilla with homemade tomato jam was excellent! For dinner I had the airline chicken - garlic roasted chicken with roasted onion jam, fontina cheese grits and broccolini. Â My companion had the seasonal pizza - ground lamb with arugula drizzled with yogurt sauce on top of a homemade crust. Â The chicken was so tender and juicy, yet full of garlicky goodness at the same time. Â I really loved the cheese grits, they were the perfect creamy and cheesy complement to the chicken. Â My companion loved his pizza as the lamb spices were offset nicely with the cool yogurt sauce. Â
For dessert we received a complimentary strawberry cobbler since it was a birthday dinner. The cobbler was in a small ramekin, all strawberry and hardly any filling which I love. It was served with creme fraiche and graham cracker dust. So fresh and the perfect end to the meal.
The dining experience was one of the best I've ever had - the service was attentive, enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the menu. Â The food was local and made with care and the ambience was so fitting. Â The Palisades was a meal I will remember for a long time!
The menu featured a collection of traditional buffet items but the quality of these items was excellent. The menu included: cocktail shrimp, eggs with spinach and feta or chorizo and bell pepper, cheese grits, sausage, bacon, strawberry rhubarb pancakes, sweet potato biscuits, sausage gravy, and much more. I could go on and on about all the different things I tried that tasted great but a few of the highlights for me were the strawberry rhubarb pancakes, cheese grits, roasted vegetables, and biscuits & gravy.
Actually, the biscuits & gravy were probably the best I've ever had. The biscuits were baked to perfection, a fluffy golden brown texture and a delicious sweetness. This sweetness combined with the peppery flavor of the sausage gravy was good enough to have me contemplating licking the plate.
The fluffy pancakes with the tart flavor of the strawberry rhubarb was also the epitome of a brunch item.
I also don't think I'd ever tasted sausage like what was served at Palisades Restaurant. It's from locally raised pork and it was unbelievably tender and flavorful. I've never had sausage patties so tender that they crumbled into pieces when I cut it with a fork! I'm not complaining - it was awesome.
There is so much about Palisades Restaurant that makes it a great restaurant. The layout of the tables and the decorations, the friendly service, the quality of the food, the value, the attention to detail...everything else I can think of.
This place is a lot of fun. Â We went here recently during our trip to Pearisburg and came on a Saturday night for dinner. Â We had reservations and were seated within 10 minutes of arriving. Â The owner is super friendly and the place was lively and fun. Â There was a guy playing some live music, which was at the perfect volume - loud enough to hear and enjoy, but not so loud that we had to yell to be heard. Â The beer selection was excellent and the staff was as well. Unfortunately, my trout was not. Â Kinda bland, pretty boring, but at least not overcooked. Â The sides were pretty yummy tho. Â The pizza was delicious too. Â If I'm ever back in the area, I'll definitely be back and will try something else.
Review Source:"A diamond in the rough." Â That's how I would describe The Palisades Restaurant in Eggleston, VA. Â Situated along the New River, 30 minutes from Blacksburg, Eggleston is nothing but a post office, a few houses, a church, and the finest dining in Giles county and possibly the New River Valley. Â Mary and I found this delectable treat this summer after a few recommendations from friends and the desire for something new.
Let me begin by describing our first experience with The Palisades. Â We entered the old hardware store in which the restaurant is situated to find a packed house. Â We gave our name to the hostess (who after a few visits we realized was the owner) and went to sit outside to wait in the outdoor patio. Â We were greeted by a a server who asked us if we would like a drink while we waited. Â Of course we partook. Â During our wait, a cat, who is known only to the locals as The Mayor kept us company while we drank our beverages. Â After a 15 minute wait we were seated by the hostess and made our orders with the server. Â The server brought us the Pear Wears Brie for an appetizer, and honestly Mary and I should have gotten an order each because the grilled tortilla-wrapped pear and brie was out of this world. Â For our entrees we both got fish. Â Mine was a local Rainbow trout dish (Amazingly fresh!) and Mary's was an Atlantic caught wild salmon, which I must say was incredibly light and delicate with a buttery mouth feel. Â The service we received during our dinner was very kind and comforting, as if we were sitting down to dinner with family and close relatives.
During our dinner we discovered the Sunday brunch and we have been ensnared in this feast ever since. Â Every Sunday, The Palisades hosts a brunch that feels more like a house warming than a bought and paid for buffet. Â Mary especially enjoys the Eggs Benedict and the grits-of-the-day, while I usually fill my plate with the potato pancakes, chicken legs and steamed veggies. Â I think its important to note that Mary believes her dad's Eggs Benedict are the best she has ever eaten, well, The Palisades as become a close contender for that spot! Â Also, the complimentary Mimosa helps make the experience that much more amazing.
I would be doing The Palisades a disservice if I didn't mention the high level of hospitality exhibited during every visit. Â Every server we have had has been friendly and professional with a dash of realism. Â You feel like you know these people and Shaena, the owner, makes it a duty to visit with every customer at some point during the meal. Â Also, there is a lot to be said for someone who remembers who you are every time you return to their restaurant.
Last thing, attached to the restaurant is a wonderful little gift store, featuring local artisans and businesses. Â They have a few wines and beers, as well as jewelry, wood carvings and books about the history of the area and Virginia culture. Â Mary and I have gotten a few Christmas presents for people at the store.
Because of the amazing experiences Mary and I have had at The Palisades, we plan to have our rehearsal dinner for our wedding at The Palisades, and share this "diamond in the rough" with our families and close friends.
The food is excellent, and the setting is unique. Sunday brunch, a buffet, is outstanding. The most memorable of today's choices included delicate and crumbly sweet potato biscuits, fluffy potato pancakes, a silky smooth fritatta, rich Monterey jack jalapeno grits, and a flourless chocolate minicake. The cuisine is Southern-inspired, and the preparations are top notch with appealing flavors, textures, and ingredients.
Service is not quite up to par with the food. For example, we received small glasses of water that were never refilled, and the server's attempt at friendly banter was awkward.
The restaurant is in an elegantly refurbished store that is one of only a handful of buildings in Eggleston, a tiny hamlet along the New River, about 30 minutes from Blacksburg. The incongruity of having big-city food in such an out-of-the-way location adds to the intrigue.
This is just a completely epic place. There are no other words to describe it. But I'm going to try...
We had just finished hiking Cascade Falls and were heading up to WV. I found The Palisades just scrolling the area on Yelp and I'm SO happy I did. We arrived at about 8 on a Friday night with no reservation. Oops. Let me mention that there is NO town in Eggleston. It's just this one restaurant. We drove for miles in either direction without even finding a gas station. But they manage to draw in people from hours away-- the couple sitting next to us on the front yard/patio had driven from Blacksburg and seemed like they made the trip all the time.
We pulled up in shock... the entire spillover parking lot is full. A large bouncer-looking man led us up the hill and tried to find us a spot... we ended up wedging in and hoping we wouldn't get in anyone's way. How is it possible that there are 40+ cars parked for patrons inside the small restaurant in the middle of nowhere??
So we put in our names... 30-45 minute wait. Fine. We step into the adjoining gift shop, full of crafts by locals (and not just boring spoon rests... there was some really great stuff). A woman emerged from the back and handed us wine menus. Sweet! We sat on the patio and with some $3 pinot gris.
Kind of an aside, but as we were sitting there, a cat came running up and just chilled with everyone. She rubbed every leg, totally sucking up and looking for food. The woman from the gift shop explained that her owners down the road don't take care of her so she hangs out outside the restaurant-- and that she was having some type of mouth sore so they had made her a vet appointment and were going to take her in. Not the family that owns her... the employees of the restaurant. There was also an elderly dog laying out in the gift shop which I assumed belonged to them, but it turned out to be another neighbor who just leaves the dog outside and doesn't care for it. So the employees look out for her, give her shelter, and try to keep her as comfortable as possible. It was so nice talking to her about the animals... it really showed how much she cared.
Aaanyways, I had finished my wine and was just browsing the gift shop when the hostess ran up and apologized for the wait. I hadn't even noticed-- I was just hanging out. But she insisted repeatedly on sending over an appetizer, and when I told her we were fine she exclaimed "brie and pear quesadilla!" to which I thought for a second and nodded. Just as we took our first bites of the quesadilla, the hostess came back over to bring us to our table.
We ordered the strawberry and goat cheese salad (yum) and the rainbow trout (very yum). The meal went pretty quickly... I'm sure they were trying to close up for the night and still had a full house at around 10pm. The slightly pushy waitress came over and rattled off dessert options, which usually bugs me, but the first thing she said was "house-made mint cookies and creme ice cream" to which M interrupted her, nodded, and smiled. The ice cream was very good, but not very minty.
As we left, I thought about what a crazy experience it had been. If you're looking for the ultimate local, friendly, throwback restaurant.. look no further. I hope we have another opportunity to come back.
The the Blacksburg & Giles Co area of SWVA this is as good as it gets for a dinning experience. Â Yes it is a bit of a drive but it is worth it. Â Go early, drive slow and take in the view from the car and the restaurant. Â
The food is excellent, always a chef selection grit and the things I have had or seen come to our table have all been met with rave reviews. Â
A couple of my favorites: Â
Mother of Pearl Salad (fried oyster)
Spicy Shrimp
Venison Entree
Home Made Ice Cream
Go down here if you like to eat good food.
If you're looking for a place with great atmosphere, great local music, and a very tasty farm-to-table menu, The Palisades is THE place! Â We've been here a few times and haven't been disappointed yet. Â The last time we went was New Year's Eve. Â The food was incredible. Â The music was amazing. Â Always a place we consider when we dine out.
Expect to pay a little more than you would at a bland chain restaurant but the food does not disappoint.
Local. Seasonal. Guilt-free. What else can you ask for?!
Particularly enjoyed my side of Parmesan grits! Â We don't get grits up North!
Other than that, an all-round good experience, with good, fresh food. Â I ordered a rainbow trout. Â For $16.50, I was expecting a full, head-to-tail fish, so I was disappointed when a plain ole' filet arrived. Â The filet, itself, was nothing special. Â But its accompanying Parmesan grits and mixed vegetables were exceptionally good. Â It's not often a side of mixed vegetables is just carefully and perfectly, I believe, roasted. Â I began with the "Pear Wears Brie" which is quesadilla in format. Â Nice idea. Â But the brie gets a little lost in the tortilla. Â The diced spring onion, favorably, punches it up a bit.
The ambiance is a refinished general store. Â A big, open space lined with floor-to-ceiling shelving. Â Trendy, in a cool, fallen-by-the-wayside Appalachian town.
Food 7 + ambiance 7 + value 5 + service 5 = overall 6.5 /10 (good)
First of all the place is as cute as can be on the inside. We were seated in the back corner which was nice for date night. They had a little band playing and they were really good without making the place too noisy.
For apps we had the asparagus puffs and bison and mushroom soup. Both were awesome. For entree I had ahi tuna special with veggies and grits of the day. Grits were not as exciting as I hoped, but tuna was perfect! Boyfriend also really liked his meal though I can't remember what he got.
Great food, really great service, all around lovely evening.
Palisades Restaurant is my favorite while in the New River Valley! Although its location is a bit of drive on back roads, it is a beautiful location and a nice escape! They serve dinner daily (I think they are closed on Mondays in the wintertime) and brunch on Sundays. Their pizza is amazing. All of the entrees are so well thought of and are always memorable meals.
On Thursdays, you can go for a Wines of the World event and try 3 wines paired with 3 ideal dishes for $18.95... they also typically do other kinds of tastings too. I love to go and do that!
Also, their ice creams are AMAZING... some of the best I have ever had. Try the pomegranate chocolate chip. You really get the sense of exploration by a fantastic chef (and owner) while still having constants on the menu (like pizza). The owner, Shaena, always circulates during dinner and personally talks to the guests. The atmosphere is very cozy and relaxed at Palisades. They also have a huge upstairs which can be rented out for events, and occasionally have live music on their stage at the front. A great place to visit for a special occasion or just for a dinner out.
Great atmosphere, great food. A little hard to get to, but worth the drive for a unique restaurant. The pricing was reasonable for a more contemporary menu. The service was a bit slower than I would prefer, but not terrible. The pizza I had was great and my friend who had the rainbow trout said it was fantastic. We were told they had a brunch menu, so i'm excited to see what that has!
Review Source:A group of friends and I visited the Palisades on a snowy night in late December 2010. A couple of them had visited before and had nothing but good things to say about the place. Intrigued by the concept of fine dining in tiny Eggleston, VA, I decided to get the group together for a end of semester celebratory meal.
It ended up being a fantastic choice. We began the meal with a complementary appetizer of house-made hummus and pita chips. The waitress explained that they were kind of backed up in the kitchen, and this delicious dip was a perfect way to stave off our hunger for a few minutes. We followed this up with a fantastic artichoke and red pepper dip. For the entree I got the local trout with a side of squash and cheddar red pepper grits. The entree was absolutely perfect, from the delicate treatment of the fish (trout filets are easy to overcook and this one came out perfect) to the lightly seasoned veggies, all balanced with a healthy serving of grits. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Everyone else was perfectly satisfied with their meals, which included an incredibly fresh salad of wild greens and a perfectly cooked (med-rare) locally raised grass-fed strip steak.
The setting of the place is very complementary to the rustic-meets-gourmet cuisine served here. The restaurant is located in an old hardware store, respectfully restored. A lot of "period" items like old toys and mason jars line the shelves on the walls, but they are much more charming than the normally distracting "crap on the wall" treatment at some other restaurants. A blue-grass/old timey band was playing skillfully in the front and the music was loud enough to hear it but soft enough to maintain normal conversation. The crowd seemed like a healthy mix of locals, university students, and urban refugee yuppie types... all happily coexisting in my new favorite restaurant in SW VA.
The owner/manager took a few minutes to talk to us personally about our meal as well. She seems very involved and duly proud of their operations. It's nice to be able to put a face on your dining experience; her sweet and sincere demeanor paralleled the overall meal perfectly.
My one tiny complaint: how about a few more choices on the beer menu? The handful of micro-brews offered was surprising considering the caliber of the food menu.
Let me start by saying that my rating is missing a star due to the location of the restaurant. Narrow, windy roads in the country part of southwest Virginia is very aggravating. And in our case, we got lost -- for an hour!
Although the location was a drag, we managed to find the restaurant. It was definitely something unexpected.
The old general store building that the restaurant calls home is perfect for the contemporary menu that Palisades offers. Contrast is good. The rustic feel invites you in with open arms. The interior decor is simple and unsophisticated. It reminded me of my grandparents' house on a Sunday morning -- cozy and very accommodating.
We were there for the brunch menu. As we sat and observed our surroundings, we were greeted with FREE MIMOSAS! During Sunday, are you kidding me?! Keep 'em comin'! From the chorizo-cheddar frittatas to their herb-crusted trout, they were all to die for. I think the only thing I didn't taste was the salad. In my defense, I was trying to make room for everything and for their dessert. With our cheesecake, a cup of the organic Guatamalan coffee beans roasted locally paired the closing remarks of my brunch experience. The Lover stuck with his diet drink.
The service was excellent. And most importantly, the price doesn't require you to give up an arm and a leg. Did I mention that the ingredients are locally raised, grown, and made? Even better.
The Lover and I will definitely have to revisit for dinner service. Can't wait!
Let me start by saying that I am absolutely in love with the restaurant---from the owner's father who greeted us, the local guitarist who was playing a brand of rock meets bluegrass, and the gorgeous setting---everything from my perspective was just perfect.
Yes, this restaurant is in the middle of nowhere, and that's precisely why I liked it. The service was impossibly friendly, and the food/drink selection was on par with some of the better restaurants I've been to in DC/SF.
My boyfriend and I stopped by here after hiking around Mountain Lake for an early dinner. Needless to say we were a bit under dressed but at no point did anyone make us feel uncomfortable about our attire.
Starving---we nearly ordered half the menu (and a bottle of wine) and every dish that came out got better and better.
The local white that we got was deliciously crisp yet smooth, and a steal at only $18/bottle.
We, like Larissa, also ordered the brie quesadilla with apples, and the peach, bacon, and feta salad. Both were mindblowingly delicious.
After a glass of wine to clear the palette, our main courses arrived.
The bf got the cranberry stuffed porkchop and I got the chipotle butter locally raised strip steak. My steak was great, except the chipotle butter was a little spicy for my taste. Trent's porkchop on the other hand was to die for delicious.
At this point we're stuffed---trying to wash down the meal with the last few glasses of wine, when the dessert menu arrives.
I'm not normally a desert person---but the fact that all the deserts were homemade piqued my interest. We decided to split the blueberry cheesecake, and my God....are we glad that we did. This may have been the best cheesecake I have ever had in my life. Creamy, deliciously rich, and the sweet slightly bitter taste of blueberries makes my mouth water just thinking about it.
Needless to say, when the opportunity to head south of the Mason Dixon into SW Virginia arises again, I will definitely be back.
If you like windy country roads take a trip to this restaurant nestled in the heart of the NRV. Driving there in the dark is a bit scary and you miss the beautiful scenery, but the warm feeling when you walk in the restaurant makes up for it. I love the brick walls and the embroidered napkins.
We had the pear and brie quesadilla and the peach, bacon and feta cheese salad to start. Our appetizers took a bit longer than usual because the kitchen was slammed, but they apologized and then the rest of our food came out quickly. The quesadilla was good, but  I wish the brie had been melted more. I think my bf enjoyed his salad.
Our entrees arrived rather fast, and my bf had the local herb-crusted rainbow trout and I had the cajun NY strip steak. The garlic mashed potatoes were loaded with big garlic cloves, which were a bit strong but definitely flavorful.
The pizzas looked good, but did not get to try. The chef/owner (Shaena Muldoon) came out and asked us how our meals were - and immediately saw that my steak was slightly overcooked (asked for medium, prefer medium-mediumrare) on the ends and apologized. When was the last time the chef who cooked your food came out to check on it in person? She was really nice and actually used to live in Dupont -- so we chatted about that.
For dessert we had homemade chocolate-marshmallow ice cream and lemon meringue pie. We enjoyed the desserts a lot!
Overall, a nice little meal with some local ingredients and some comforting country care. I would definitely recommend it if you're visiting the NRV and want something beyond the usual chain restaurant. The best part for those coming from DC -- the entire meal was just about $60 total! That was two three-course meals, 2 soft drinks and coffee. You can't even get a restaurant week deal to beat that. Great service, good food and awesome price.
Decided to do another review, since we've gone back several more times now.
This place just keeps getting better. Â The pizzas are all fantastic (I still recommend their gluten-free crust over their flour crust - there's honey and other good stuff mixed in - and several friends have recommended the bread pudding and pork chops. Â
Definitely give this place a try. Â Went there last night, a Wednesday, and 90% of the tables were full by 7pm. Â Let's be honest - there aren't many restaurants in Eggleston VA that are full on a Wednesday night ... unless they're really exceptional.
What a hidden gem! Â A beautiful drive through the woods and across the river leads you to this renovated general store where you can still hear the railroad cars rumble by.
I had the trout - it was delicious. Â Cooked to perfection and so very fresh. Â They carry local wines and beers which is wonderful.
If you are going on a busy Blacksburg weekend (such as graduation), make reservations ahead of time. Â Actually, try to make reservations anyway. Â This seems to be the kind of place that gets a little shaken up if they get "in the weeds" so be nice and let them know ahead of time your comin' 'round their way.
You drive up this crazy pretty country mountain road, leading up along the New River. Â You think, WTF there's no restaurant up here. Â Oh, there is, and its BIZOOOMB (explosion noise in background).
The restaurant is in a very old general store, overlooking the railroad tracks along the river. Â A quintessential country scene. Â
As for the food, they use mostly local ingredients. Â Local brews and wines. Â Food was delicious. Â Best pork chop I've ever had. Â The appetizers were delicious too. Â There was a big group of us so I tried a variety of stuff, pear brie quesadiLLa's were rad. Â Only negative is that everything was a bit too salty for my taste
Service was great too, we got there almost a half hour before our reservation on a busy day (VT graduation) and they were happy to seat up right away. Â Glasses remained full, and everyone in our group of 8 thoroughly enjoyed.
UPDATE 2/12/12
I'd been avoiding returning to the Palisades, because I had been underwhelmed by the food last time. But since The Bank (which I'd been planning to go to) was (temporarily?) closed, I thought I'd give this another try as a treat for an out-of-town guest.
The awesome ride over, which I think is the best part of the whole experience, scared the willies out of my flat-land visitor. Takes all kinds, I guess.
Since the place doesn't take reservations for under 6 people, we tried to get there fairly early, but the place was already just about full. We were offered the choice of a table right a way that was fairly close to the door, or waiting 15 minutes. Since it was 18 degrees outside with a knife-edged wind blowing in the door, we opted to wait at the bar until a warmer table came open. We really appreciated being given the choice!
I broke down and tried the strip steak again, and I was very glad I did. It was dry-aged Giles beef (rather than dry beef), juicy, perfectly-cooked, and very satisfying. Yay! The vegetable of the day was rapini--one of my favorites--cooked to beautiful bright green. I'd forgotten about the disappointment of the mashed potatoes from last time, but now they were great. My only wish was for more rapini.
Before the entree, we splurged on an order of bacon-wrapped jumbo shrimp (jumbo shrimp are definitely not local, but what the heck) and a bowl of the soup of the day: kale, onion, and chorizo. I could't detect actual pieces of chorizo, but the soup was great anyway. We had originally planned to take it with us, but ended up eating it all up.
We were too full for dessert, so I can't report on whether that's improved as well. Maybe next time!
My previous post:from 2010:
For anyone who wants to shake off the chains (restaurants) it's worth the beautiful drive into Giles County in any season. Â This family-run restaurant takes pride in offering locally-raised food in a historic building, and to me, is one of the reasons to be in the New River Valley.
While I enjoy the place, the setting, and the people, I've had better food. The mashed potatoes were ok, but I could not detect the garlic that was supposed to be in them. I wouldn't have minded, but they seemed to have been seasoned instead with allspice or nutmeg...not the right taste for potatoes. I'd suggest sticking with real butter, salt and pepper, and maybe cream, and skip the spices.
We ordered NY strip steaks and asked for them medium-rare, but they had been cooked past that point. I assume they were grass-fed beef, which, being very lean, is much better for us and for the cow, but doesn't make for a very interesting steak. Â I think next time (and I will come again) I will opt for the pizza, which is highly recommended.
The "almond" cheesecake that we had for dessert was disappointing. It had an odd, artificial flavor, it lacked the pasty texture that characterizes a good New York-style cheesecake, and the crust was bland. Â Also, the desserts seemed to have been plated long before and kept refrigerated, which resulted in unpleasantly cold, clammy plates and desserts, and was detrimental to the flavor.
The Palisades is our favorite restaurant in this area. Â The food and atmosphere are perfect. Â The menu changes periodically and there are always fabulous specials. Â Our favorite dish is the rosemary encrusted pork chop- it is amazing. Â We have never had a bad meal here, and the Sunday brunch is great, too! Â We have ordered the pizza and there are a number of veggie options and very affordable wine options.
The owner takes time to visit with folks as they are eating and often there is live local music. Â It is worth the beautiful country drive. Â We have been back many times and will continue.
This is a gem of a restaurant, not thirty minutes from Blacksburg. The setting is perfect, in a sleepy forgotten town on the banks of the New River. The owner Shaena is warm and approachable and has a lovely story of how she started this little eatery in an old general store, do ask her to retell it...
The food here is well made and offers an fine dining experience with an authentic Appalachian flair. She has a wood oven for pizzas and also delicious oven roasted items. We got the shrimp appetizer which came with a deliciously spicy sauce. For my main course I got a grilled pork dish which I was quite happy with. Over all, I am somewhat reminded of Oddfellas in Floyd, just in a great country location. The offer music on weekends, but at tasteful volume, where you can carry on your conversation without discomfort.
It is just nice to have another unique and authentic dining experience in the area. Do try them out!
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