Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Fallon's: A family favorite
Larry Bly
Larry Bly runs an ad agency and does freelance writing in the Roanoke area.
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Fallon's Restaurant in Moneta is a family affair, and the Smith Family takes great pride in their relatively new venture. The place has been spiffied up and the bar has been improved vastly.
New on the menu: Fallon family favorites — and you can usually depend upon them being excellent. Top picks are the surf and turf (lobster tail accompanied by a choice of either petite filet or petite prime rib) or the fried oysters platter, which is nearly more than one person can eat.
The seafood offerings are just what you'd want from a lake-style restaurant: Alaskan crab legs, fried seafood platter, broiled seafood platter, shrimp scampi, blackened catfish (another popular item at my table), broiled or fried shrimp, scallops, stir-fry and scallops Milano (sea scallops in a cream sauce topped with melted mozzarella cheese).
More interested in chicken? Satisfy your craving with Kristin's Drunken Chicken: grilled chicken breast marinated in dark rum, lime, jalapeño and ginger. Now that truly sounds delicious, doesn't it? (But if you're on the wagon, you may wish to avoid this one.)
You also can choose from chicken mozzarella, chicken stir-fry and chicken vegetable Alfredo. The chicken Marsala is sautéed in Marsala wine sauce and served over pasta.
They serve extraordinary daily specials as well; and steak dishes galore. Side dishes are predictable: vegetable du jour, dinner salad, sautéed mushrooms and potatoes or fries. Fallon's also has full bar service and a nice selection of beers.
The family-run restaurant lives up to its name, too. The kids menu includes a catfish platter, chicken fingers, burgers, popcorn shrimp platter, grilled cheese sandwich or hot dog. I had no idea how important children's menu items were until I recently started dining with my godson. Kids will eat popcorn shrimp, but often that's as close to ocean-bearing foods as you'll get them.
For any age, you’ll find a full lineup of lunch items from soups to salads to sandwiches and everything in between, including specials. Lunch is available Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m; Sunday breakfast is 9 a.m.-noon. Dinner is served Wednesday through Saturday starting at 5 p.m.
Fallon’s Restaurant
1 mile north of Hales Ford Bridge
Route 122, Moneta Rd
Moneta, Va.
(540) 297-4562
