Sometimes the least expected roads can take you to places that not even your wildest imagination…read morecan reach. This was the case this morning, when after coming out of my yearly physical examination, I decided to take the Yellow Mountain Road and have breakfast at Lucy Kat's Diner.
After being awarded the Yelp NC Triad Squad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, celebrating their contributions and accomplishments throughout the year, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and businesses, and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Lucy Kat's Diner, in Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example.
As I drove my Lexus up the narrow, curvy, road, I wondered if the destination would be worth the drive. But after I arrived and entered the diner, its nostalgic charm, and reason for its existence, captivated my soul.
The diner was almost full of steady customers who along with me, appreciated the welcoming atmosphere, tasty food, and fast and friendly service at reasonable prices.
It didn't take long for Kat, the owner of the diner, to recognize that I was new there, and come to give me a warm newcomer greeting, serve me a cup of coffee, and take my order. But before she did this, she answered my question of: "Where did the first name of the diner came from?" She quickly disclosed that Lucy was her beloved grandma, and that the restaurant came to be based on the dream her grandma Lucy shared with her of wanting one day to open a diner. In her honor, she did so.
The interior of the diner was very clean and organized, painted yellow, with hardwood floors, and full of roaster decorations. At first I sat in the dining room on the side because all the tables in the main dining room were taken. But as soon one got empty, I asked if she could move me there, for a better appreciation of the place and a greater connection to the diner and its customers.
When she was ready to take my order, I ordered from the Breakfast Specials, a number 5. It included a Pork Tenderloin, 2 fried eggs (mine, over-easy), a breakfast side (mine, hashbrowns), and a biscuit or toast (mine white toast). I also requested if she could add 2 strips of bacon and charge me extra for them. While my breakfast was being prepared by her assistant of almost 8 years, she made sure my cup of coffee was always full and that I had a glass of iced water on my table for me.
As she brought out my food order, everything looked perfect. The pork tenderloin was just the right size and thickness, breaded and fried. The over-easy eggs were cooked to perfection. And my white toast had butter spread all over them. The hashbrowns were also done well. And the bacon strips were meaty and cooked just right.
I highly recommend this diner for breakfast or lunch. It has a welcoming and friendly ambiance, good food at reasonable prices, and an amazing customer service. All things needed for an exceptional dining experience.