What’s good in the NRV

New River Valley restaurant reviews are generally published every other Thursday in The Burgs. If you haven’t seen the latest reviews and are looking for a place to dine in the NRV, check out this roundup.

Brunch at 622 North

622 N. Main St., Blacksburg
951-1022 or 951-1033
622north.com

Review published Aug. 2

Earlier this year, 622 North began serving brunch on Saturday and Sunday mornings. The rather nontraditional menu includes a pancake club, breakfast pizza and fried trout, in addition to the usual mix of omelets, eggs and pancakes.

A plate of fresh fruit ($7) was large and fresh. This is a good place to begin lunch with some hair of the dog; they offer “more-mosas” (a mimosa with a shot of vodka) and a bright, peppery bloody tomatillo, in addition to other cocktails.

Green eggs and ham ($8.50) with scrambled eggs, spinach and cream cheese atop fried ham was nicely cooked and slightly exotic in flavor, although it was a bit heavy on the cheese. Shrimp and grits ($9) were quite unlike the standard. This featured a savory corn pudding and an ample side of chorizo.

A warm and friendly staff helps to ensure that weekend mornings can be started right.

— David Gray

Floyd Country Store

206 S. Locust St., Floyd
540-745-4563
www.floydcountrystore.com

Review published Sept. 13

On the same block of Locust Street as Woolly Jumper Yarns and the Floyd Barber Shop sits the colorful and entertaining Floyd Country Store, a 100-year-old spot with good food, local musicians and a cornucopia of items for sale.

On a busy day, customers may have to stand in line to order from menu boards mounted above the counter. After a short wait, diners pick up their food and find their own table.

Down-home pinto beans served with a slice of cornbread ($4.75) were a little soupy but had nice flavor imparted by ham. The savory cornbread was crispy on the bottom and was a real treat.

The quiche of the day ($6.95) was made with spinach, tomato and mushrooms. A side salad ($2.95) was incredibly fresh.

The barbecue sandwich ($6.25) was a bit pricey because it didn’t come with anything other than a pickle, and the side of coleslaw ($1.25) was small. The barbecue was tender, but it needed the sweet, thick sauce to moisten it.

A slice of apple pie ($3.50) had very flavorful filling, but the crust was soggy.

A highlight for some diners at the Floyd Country Store might be the selection of craft bottled soft drinks. Others will enjoy eating to the sound of local musicians.

— Christie Wayne and Charlie Whitescarver

Brewin’ Around

1026-A Clement St., Radford
540-838-2111
www.brewinaround.net

Review published Nov. 8

Brewin’ Around could be the model for a modern coffee shop. It features big windows, clean tables, cool wall art and beans roasted locally at Honduras Coffee Company in Stuart.

Drinks at the shop are offered in the straightforward sizes of small, medium and large. A medium is $1.70, while a latte is $3.60 and a caramel macchiato is $4.30. Coffee is served in French presses after the morning rush and can be accompanied by a bagel, croissant sandwich ($3.50) or pastries.

It seemed odd at first that Brewin’ Around also serves bottled beer, but because it is open into the evening , it makes sense.

At lunch, the smoked turkey bistro panini and horseradish Reuben panini ($7 each) were of a generous size. The smoked turkey was nothing special, but the Reuben with pastrami, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese was tangy and enjoyable.

A mother earth panini ($7) with grilled vegetable relish, hummus and Muenster cheese was wonderful, but the real star of this place is the carb-free, gluten-free personal pizza ($7) on crust made from egg and cheese.

Paninis are served with chips or pasta salad, but we recommend the pasta salad, which is made with feta cheese, chopped olives, tomato, onion and green peppers in a light dressing.

A freshly baked chocolate chip cookie ($3) is the perfect way to end the meal.

— Christie Wayne and Charlie Whitescarver

Toscana Italiano

501 E. Main St., Radford
540-731-3201
Toscanaitalianos.com

Review published Oct. 11

The dining space at Toscana Italiano is tiny, but the selection is big and everything is made to order. The menu features appetizers, burgers, salads, calzones, sandwiches, gyros, pizza and more.

The deconstructed bruschetta ($5.49) featured toasted bread, balsamic vinegar, oil and tomatoes. The trick was putting it all together, but it was fun to dip, spread and munch.

Homemade lasagna ($8.99) was drenched in a little too much of the tasty tomato sauce, and the same presentation left the breading on the eggplant Parmigiana ($8.99) soggy. The garlic bread served with both dishes was perfect for sopping up extra sauce.

Shrimp scampi ($9.99) turned out to be a bowl of linguine with only a few shrimp and a thin white sauce that was not thick enough to stick to the pasta. But for lunch, the 8-inch cheesesteak special ($5.50) and small white pizza ($7.99) made us happy.

Not in the mood for Italian fare? Try the Louisiana burger ($6.99) with provolone cheese, mushrooms, onions and blue cheese or the steak gyro ($5.99), which melted in our mouths.

— Christie Wayne and Charlie Whitescarver

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