Riverfront Restaurant

Food was good, but not fantastic. The building is very interesting and the renovations are very well done. I had a stir fry that was quite good. It did take a while to get our food. I thought the prices were reasonable.

Great stop for lunch. It’s great to be able to find a hamburger steak that has been seasoned throughout. Service was very good.

Very slow service for lunch. Waiting over 45 mins for food to arrive. Food was just north of disgusting once we finally received it.

Thought this place was going to be wonderful since all the locals were there. Guess there’s nowhere else for them to go. Food here was not good at all. Glazed chicken was not glazed at all, just some sauce poured over it. Sides were tasteless. Baked potato was microwaved and was still cold in the center. Would choose fast food over this place.

A short drive off I-​81 into downtown Chilhowie… more easily found using a GPS than by dead-​reckoning headed into town. The outside (lot) entrance of the Riverfront is attractively arranged with live plants in huge urns. The interior is pretty well kept and clean.
The Riverfront Restaurant appears to be a local favorite with a busy lunchtime for a Wednesday at noon. While we were there, four people were already seated when we arrived and about eight more came in shortly after we arrived. Specials of the day are posted on a chalkboard as you enter, and there is a large menu of selections pretty much like American diner fare. On the way in there is a dessert display case with several tempting pies and cakes. I do not know if ALL are home made, but hopefully so.
We were offered menus shortly after being seated by a friendly hostess… our server had another young lady in training. Both were cheerful and attentive to our requests.
I had a one of the daily specials: Mountain Meatloaf with two sides, and my wife had the Fried Whitefish with two sides. Our meals were served in about 10 – 15 minutes. I would not say either was fantastic, but both were good. I had expected Mountain Meatloaf to be more different than it was. I had expected better for some reason… including expecting the meatloaf topped by some sauce regionally inspired instead of «just» ketchup. My wife said that the fish was a little dry, but it was a good-​sized (4x6x½ breaded fillet) portion (and she did eat most of it). If it had been unacceptable, she would have left most of it.
I’m not sure that I would venture that far off I-​81 that close to Abingdon again. We could have had lunch in Abingdon and departed later in the day… and if headed toward Abingdon, I’d definitely continue on in and dine there next time.
Travelers on I-​81 between Wytheville and Abingdon will encounter many fast food choices along the interstate & few family restaurants… several restaurants listed on travel information sites ARE NO LONGER OPEN even though sites do not reflect this reality. Obviously not everyone who has gone to a closed restaurant bothers to update travel information websites. I try to update information about closed locations when I personally attempt to patronize them and discover that they are closed. FWIW… a cell phone call to a restaurant is a quick way to check whether a restaurant is still in business.

Yes they WERE busy, but waiting 15 minutes and never even being acknowledged is not acceptable! Wish I could tell you how the food was.

Convenient stop off of 81S to break up a day of driving. I’m on a bit of a health kick and was pleasantly surprised to have my choice of 7 different salads! I chose an Oriental Chicken Salad. Grilled chicken drizzled with a sesame dressing on a bed of mixed greens with cucumbers, tomatoes, cashews, cranberries and lo mein noodles (which I opted out of). Very friendly, attentive staff. Lots of regulars saying hello to each other. Most went for the buffet. Updated & clean restrooms. Extensive menu for those not interested in a buffet. Will stop by on next road trip.

— very friendly service… helpful waitstaff
— older demographic in here on a sunday afternoon
— decent buffet for 11.99. solid bang for your buck
— fairly large menu to order off of, as well… you can order just about whatever you want here, as far as american food goes
— i’m a fan of their peanut butter pie (included in buffet)…very light and airy, with s solid graham cracker crust… just like grandma used to make
— good spot to stop and take a breather while driving from knoxville to morgantown