Readers rave about cheap eats outside of Roanoke

[mahatmakanejeeves]

CASEY: Readers rave about cheap eats outside of town

Tom Carr of Roanoke asked for recommendations for home-style cheap eats. Readers responded, with so many recommendations it'll take at least two columns to cover them. Here's the first.

By Dan Casey [e-mail] 981-3423 14 hrs ago

The next time you’re hungry for some old-timey diner-style food, you might want to steer your car toward Buchanan, get off Interstate 81 at exit 162, and head north of town. ... Half a mile up U.S. 11 on the right stands a nondescript restaurant that’s been in business since the 1950s. The current owner is 57 and she’s worked there 40 years. She bought it 21 years ago. ... Her name is Debbie Painter and her place is the North Star Restaurant.

I learned about the North Star from readers, after Tuesday’s column solicited suggestions for mom-and-pop eateries that serve inexpensive, delicious fare. No fewer than 13 sang its praises. Wednesday morning, the place was jammed.

In all, I received scores of emailed recommendations for many different restaurants. Most came from people around here — but one was from Costa Rica and another was from Kentucky. It soon became clear a single follow-up column could not do justice to a subject people feel so passionately about. ... So I divided them into two categories, “Greater Roanoke” and “Beyond.” Today, we’ll deal with “Beyond.” And in terms of the number of people who cited it, The North Star tops the list.
....

So there you go — eight mom-and-pop places with hearty, rib-sticking meals, all recommended by multiple readers. Stay tuned for Sunday’s column, in which we’ll focus on good and cheap eats in the greater Roanoke Valley.

[underpants]

1. See! There just HAD to be something worthwhile in Buchanan