�Fire up the ol� Chevy, Nelly ... we�re commencin� to
set out on a road trip. We�re gonna hunt across Virginny for places a feller
can gas up and chow down!�
Decades ago, it was not uncommon to find some
uncommonly good food at a roadside gas station. The question I set out to
answer on this adventure was, �Can you still fill your gas tank and enjoy
something better than a �hot pocket� in one stop?� As you travel across
Virginia, consider these three combination gas station/restaurants for some
good grub on the go.
Tuggle�s Gap Restaurant
At milepost 165.2 on the Blue Ridge Parkway sits
Tuggles Gap, a restaurant, motel, and gas station that is a popular stop for
Parkway travelers. In fact, Tuggle�s Gap owner Cheri Baker can stand in the
restaurant�s front door and overlook the scenic byway. Cheri serves
breakfast all day, as well as lunch and dinner. Along with local favorites,
she also offers some Southwestern entrees. Since I rarely have an
opportunity to try Southwest food, I thought I would sample her enchilada. I
found that with this dish, as it is with French food, the sauce makes all
the difference. Cheri�s Southwest sauce was full of flavor and bold without
being overly spicy. And before leaving, be sure to try her Tuggle�s Gap
Chocolate Pie. 3351 Parkway Ln. S, Floyd, VA 24091, (540) 745-3402.
Nottoway Restaurant
Nottoway Restaurant is located at exit 39 off
Interstate 85 between Petersburg and South Hill. Nottoway is another
combination gas station, motel, and restaurant. It has been a tradition with
my family for over 30 years to stop at this long-lived establishment when
traveling I-85. We always seem to arrange our travel time to include a lunch
or dinner at Nottoway�s. Over the years the meals have been consistently
good. At our last visit, I had a country ham steak, while my wife and
grandkids feasted on Nottoway�s well-known Southern fried chicken. Another
dish I often get, and rarely find elsewhere, is the grilled, chopped veal
with brown country gravy. Also acting as magnets to pull travelers off the
interstate are Nottoway�s fantastic yeast rolls and their chocolate meringue
pie. Nottoway Restaurant is truly a blue-plate legend. 20316 Boydton Plank
Rd., Warfield, VA 23889, (804) 478-7875.
Sting-Ray�s Restaurant
Now, having traversed almost the entire state of
Virginia, my last combination gas station and restaurant is Sting-Ray�s,
which is located near the north end of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and
Cape Charles on the Eastern Shore. And while my backside is a bit
road-weary, the destination is well worth the trip.
Sting-Ray�s is one of those seafood restaurants where
local fishermen bring their catch right up to the back door, so you know it
doesn�t come any fresher! Combine fresh seafood with the natural cooking
talents of Mary �Mac� Ray, Sting-Ray�s remarkable 74-year-old cook, and you
know you are in for an awesome treat.
Sting-Ray�s manager, Russell Moore, recommended the
Virginia Crab Imperial, which was seasoned with Smithfield country ham. I
also ordered a couple of sweet potato biscuits with country ham. As side
dishes, I had sweet potatoes, stewed tomatoes, and collard greens. My wife,
a native of Virginia and a true collards expert, pronounced them
exceptional.
I asked Russell the secret of his success. His reply:
�While we get a lot of summer traffic from vacation travelers, it�s the
support and patronage of our local customers that keeps us going. They know
good seafood, so, if we�re not good, they�re not going to come. Second, the
people from the �shore� have been hit hard by the recession. Because of
this, we try to keep all our entrees below $10.99.� Open for breakfast,
lunch and dinner. 26507 Lankford Hwy., Cape Charles, VA 23310, (757)
331-1541.
My on-site taste research proves that there are still
some gas stations in Virginia where you can find really good food. And, just
like years ago, kudos to these restaurants for maintaining a strong
connection with the community. Be of good cheer, bon app�tit and let me know
about your favorite �vittles� palace at [email protected].
