Located in downtown Christiansburg, with a front door around back and a side entrance almost hidden inside a smartly redesigned former Leggett store, Macado's in Christiansburg brings life to a forgotten downtown.

Thank goodness, the building did not become a parking lot.

With 16 locations, this regional chain of restaurants fosters a neighborly vibe in Christiansburg and has become a meeting place for friendly chats, weekly get-togethers and special occasions.

The walls sport memorabilia that music fans probably salivate over. It begs the question, "Where did all this stuff come from?"

No matter, it makes the place homier and when conversation stalls you can look at the walls and find something else to spark a memory and begin another conversation.

The cozy bar, numerous booths and mazelike dining area create an aura that encourages private conversations and doesn't stifle laughter.

Macado's has a menu that requires careful study. Appetizers, soups, salads and a few entrees are eclipsed by the selection of more than 60 sandwiches.

If one of those sandwiches doesn't have the combination of bread, meats, cheeses and condiments you want, you can build your own sandwich.

Sometimes the problem arises that the selection is so big that the kitchen forgets what goes on a given sandwich.

Numerous visits have yielded more than one occasion where the menu described one sandwich and the kitchen prepared something a little different. But when they get it right, the reviews are positive.

Turkey, Muenster cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayo on French bread (the Turkey Trot) is always a pleaser. Add bacon to those ingredients, put it on a croissant (the Babe Ruth), and you have a sandwich always described as delicious.

Ten types of bread, 10 types of meat, five cheeses, and an array of dressings and condiments make the number of sandwich permutations almost endless. The alphabetically listed sandwiches on the menu just make the choice a little easier.

Other high points on the menu include the Reuben with tender corned beef, the Molly Brown with three cheeses and portobello mushrooms, the Stallone with salami, pepperoni and ham on ciabatta bread, and Margie's Cashew Chicken Salad.

A low point on the menu is their hot dog. The bun is often tough (possibly microwaved) and the chili has big chunks of tomato not appropriate for a hot dog. The french fries served with the dog are nothing special; there are better fries to be found in lots of places.

Sandwiches are served with a bag of chips. A bag of chips that seems cheap compared to the cost of the menu items. Though the food is moderately priced, the bag of chips detracts from the experience.

The phrase "your choice of potato salad or cole slaw" is generally a ho-hum decision. These side dishes are never the reason to visit a restaurant and Macado's is no exception. Your mother on her worst day made better.

Macado's deserves praise for giving downtown Christiansburg a place to enjoy good food while gathering with friends in a warm and cozy place.

They hit more than they miss and work hard to live up to their motto, "Just to be there."