Rough Draft Roadtrip, Day 1: Philadelphia to Staunton, Virgina

Created on Monday, 11 October 2010 03:41

Published on Monday, 11 October 2010 03:41

Written by Randy Garbin

First day on the road, got out of the house by about 9 A.M. Perfect weather, got into the upper 70s.

Arrived in Winchester, Virginia about 1 o’clock and immediatel found the walking district. Somehow, I missed this during my last visit earlier this year. I drove all over the city, but completely passed by the closed off downtown street, within which Winchester has maintained a healthy cultural district. Some promising looking restaurants and not a few coffee shops. Roadside fanatics will love the Snow White Grill, but don’t get there on Sundays when it stays closed for the whole day.

Because I stumbled upon the downtown district, the Triangle Diner would have to wait a bit longer, but when I got there, I didn’t find much outwardly different than what I found last spring. Thanks to their Facebook postings, I know that the owners have made many improvements to the building, but they still hang a banner on the encompassing fence that announces a 2009 opening. No word yet from the owners.

Going south from the Triangle finally put me into untrodden territory. The vistas along Route 11 change little in character going south from Carlisle, Pennsylvania all the way south to Staunton. The road seems to perfectly bisect the valley, and on this crisp autumn day, presents quite a panorama.

Family Drive-​in Theater looked healthy and still open as did the Southern Kitchen in New Market, a HoJo’s-like place that has great potential — at least aesthetically.

The plan to stop for dinner at the L&S Diner got sidelined when I saw the neon sign for the Bar B-​Q Ranch. What looked like a vintage drive-​in restaurant that no longer offers curb service has seen its glory fade over the years, probably starting when I-​81 rolled down the valley, but the owners still maintain an interior with ample Dixie charm. Sadly, I really didn’t think the food lived up to the promise. I saw “Bar-​B-​Q,” not barbecue, and sometimes the distinction makes all the difference. On the menu, you can get the “Bar B-​Q,” which is a simple pulled pork sandwich mixed with sauce. Lots of sauce. Enough to make it into a mildly-​spicy mush that tasted fine, but hardly compares to what I’d consider the real deal. The Ranch serves it with hush puppies and French fries — both of which likely came from their freezer and and put there by the local Sysco delivery guy. Good service and cozy atmosphere almost makes this destination-​worthy and Roadside-​Approved, but I have to say it comes up short.

Harrisonburg obviously benefits from having James Madison University in its midst, but the L & S Diner gives southbound drivers a positive first impression. Sadly, it closes early on Sunday, so I must wait god-​knows-​how-​much-​longer to sit at the counter. We featured the L & S in our Minors and Diners issue back in 1996.

Perhaps a good reader can fill us in on the status of George’s Sandwich Shop in downtown Harrisonburg. Great sign. Great front, but something seems to have gone very, very wrong with the space. It still seems to have all its restaurant fixtures, but someone has filled it with a lot of, well, junk.

By the time I reached Staunton, I had lost all the good light. This city is home to the first and only diner built by Triad Modular. Originally known as Shorty’s, it became a Five Guys Burgers and Fries franchise sometime in the past ten years, which gutted its interior. Staunton, however, has plenty of other attractions, including Wright’s Dairy Rite, just around the corner from the Big Watering Can sitting at the city’s gateway. As great as having real curb service is, Staunton also has the most active downtown I’ve seen so far on this trip. Boutique-​y and loaded with cafes and Sunday night foot traffic, the city warrants its own exploration. But not this trip.

Lodging tonight is one of those big name chains which I won’t name, but I can credit them for their program that helps to save landmarks. You’ll figure it out.