I was roaming around the Grandin village area of Roanoke and found Pop's ice cream next to Gianni's restaurant. Perfect for dessert or late dinner. Spoiler alert: I ended up getting 2 pints of ice cream for dinner. The price was pretty good, as far as ice cream goes. $8 per carton and that wasn't that bad actually. I arrived here around 5:30pm on a Thursday afternoon. I had just finished my late lunch at Gianni's restaurant next door and needed to find dinner before heading to my airbnb for the night. I didn't want to walk 0.25 miles from my Airbnb to Grandin Avenue later that night, so I just decided to have ice cream for dinner. It worked out very favorably for me actually. I probably spent about 20 minutes here. The ambiance was interesting and felt like a 60's diner. There wasn't much going on at the time, but it was good to be here to be shopping for ice cream. There was a large selection of ice cream that was scratched onto the board in the store. Plenty of flavors but I ended up getting Oreo and chocolate, which was quite heavenly. The restaurant itself was small but clean. Like a 60's diner that kept things true to form. The service was quick and simple while being typical and friendly. I definitely enjoyed and would recommend coming here if you enjoy authentic ice cream in the Roanoke area. For the most part though, the experience here was uneventful. It would be cool if my travels permit me to return here in the future. But for now, I was glad to have come here and experienced the ice cream. I enjoyed the chocolate more than the Oreo, but both were delicious and quite enjoyable. It put a smile on my face for sure. The overall experience here at POP's ice cream in Grandin Village, Roanoke Virginia was very good and made my stomach happy. Although I could have eaten my ice cream at the restaurant, it was close to sunset and wanted to be at my Airbnb for the night before I get lost. It was cool to talk to the dude behind the counter for a couple of minutes before trying to decide what flavors I wanted that day. Just felt a little interesting there, the vibe and the ambiance being there on a random Thursday afternoon being a tourist. It wasn't a long experience here, since ice cream typically is a fast transaction. The flavors change regularly, since they write the flavors on a large chalk board and it seems like it's easy to change at any given time. I love the chocolate of course. Oops. I forgotten that they do have other offerings like actual food items, which I could have bought for dinner, but I was focused on the ice cream, which is very authentic and made in house everyday. If my future travels permit me to return to Roanoke, I will be back to sample other offerings here at Pop's and also try out other flavors of the authentic ice cream that the locals have raved for. Kind of feels like this place is popular with kids and people who love their ice cream. I just happened to come during the slower period, as March isn't usually the time of year to have ice cream in Virginia. For the most part though, my tastebuds wanted the chocolate ice cream for dessert and I was happy to have it on my short trip to Roanoke. Definitely recommended if you are passing through or vacationing in Roanoke, like how I was. POP's Ice Cream and Soda shop is located at 1916 Memorial Ave SW in the Grandin Village district of Roanoke, Virginia. They accept major credit cards as well as cash. As far as parking goes, it is very limited. Your best bet is to find street parking where you can find it nearby in the residential areas and walk on over. It's a walkable neighborhood and doesn't seem like they get a lot of vehicular traffic on any given day. If you enjoy public transportation in the city of Roanoke, you can ride routes 65 or 71 and walk on over after getting off the bus. I got here by walking from the 3rd street bus station, which was 2 miles away. Way to build up that appetite, I guess. The prices here are good and competitive. Supporting local businesses is where it's at here. There's always uber and Lyft if you desire comfort and convenience at your fingertips. If you are here in Roanoke and want to enjoy delicious and authentic ice cream, consider coming over here and enjoy. There's also other things they can offer to enjoy too, but make sure you ask for a menu or else you will miss out on the other stuff Pop's has on their menu. You will not regret it I promise. 5.0 stars for the overall experience. Support local! A+ read more

Walked in on a rainy afternoon right at opening, I have been wanting to try Pop's for a while and the opportunity presented itself for my visit. Pop's has been a part of the neighborhood for almost two decades now. The proprietor greeted us walking in and was setting up for his day. The interior is a time warp back to when things were simplier, more relaxed and just a better way of life, like when sodas were fountain drinks made by hand. Grilled cheese is the thing here, along with hand drawn fountain drinks, crafted ice cream sundaes, a variety of cones, with a tomato bisque and a daily soup. There are hard menus (old school) and a daily broad overhead behind the register. We both opted for the board special grilled cheese, it was a great choice and then a cup of each, the tomato bisque and the potato soup as the daily special. I had a cream soda with my meal and it was like a step back in time, made fresh with the good ice and a fresh head of cream. Its an ice cream shop, how can you not have ice cream after a good lunch? So, after my healthy meal what better than a hot fudge sundae to balance it all out! This is a really rich dessert and so tasty, vanilla ice cream on top of a big fudge brownie, fresh whipped cream, fudge sauce and topped with a cherry, classic. A cool retro vibe, excellent grilled cheese sandwich options, tomato soup always and a huge selection of fountain drinks, sundaes and ice cream combinations. Well worth a stop. 4.5 Stars - rounded up for our gracious host, recommended and I will be back 01051 read more

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There is magic in Pop's Ice Cream & Soda Bar. It brings back a wonderful nostalgic experience in the contemporary times of today. Located in the heart of the Grandin Village neighborhood, the beautifully renovated front of this little old business, with two bay windows, and a solid entrance surrounded by an arch of large stones with a green door. And if this doesn't get your attention, it also has a bright yellow flag with a smiley face hanging from a flag pole on the right side of the building. This is a place, like the menu hints, to enjoy quality time with family and friends, and make memories of the good old days. The outside might look like the specially designed fantasy buildings at Disney World, but as one enters through the front door, you encounter a place in a different time. The decor realistically resembles an Ice Cream and Soda Bar of yesteryear. And the ambiance is friendly and relaxing, especially with the welcoming warm nature of the people who run the place. As I was standing behind the counter in front of a large blackboard with a list of all the ice cream flavors available written in colorful chalk, the server on the other side took my order. Of course I ordered a Banana Split which I haven't had in years but which I used to enjoy so much in my youth. They used to be made with vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream. But I ordered the Royal Banana Split, substituting the traditional ice cream flavors with Mint Chip, Rum Raisin, and Strawberry Cheesecake. They gave me a glass of iced water and had me sit down at the table of my choice. I sat down at the first booth. When they brought me the Banana Split it looked wonderful. A dessert work of art! It also tasted delicious. A picture is worth a thousand words. I urge you to review the photographs I posted with this review and highly recommend that you come visit this place with family or friends, and enjoy a nostalgic dining experience of yesterday, today. read more

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This wonderful place hit it out of the park. It kept getting better and better! The sodas were delish! The melts were tasty! The staff told me there were free refills (great service!) And tons of comics to read and for sale! I guess it's good I don't live too close, as I'd be here all the time! Thank you Pops! read more

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Updating my previous review of Pop's bc this last visit was super legit. This is like an old school soda fountain with a bar you can eat at and cute little booths around against the walls. It's pretty clean and the restrooms were well-kept. Parking is street or in a lot nearby. They serve local Homestead creamery ice cream and I LOVE Homestead creamery ice cream - it's so thick and decadent. Not as easy to get in Virginia Beach so I always want it when I'm in town. The gals behind the counter were very sweet and one in particular was happy and friendly and loved sharing suggestions and ideas for flavors for a two flavor sundae. In the end, I went with cookies and cream and vanilla with fudge, whipped cream, nuts and a cherry. Old skool. It was out quickly and it was served in a banana split bowl - so it was easier to eat and was equally spread which I liked more than the little small sundae bowls of last time. My dad absolutely loved it and it was really good and a huge portion for the $7 price. Win! Love this part of town as well and looked at the food options this time around and saw they have about 7 grilled cheese flavors so we'll come back to try those next time as my husband loves grilled cheese. read more

Pop's Ice Cream & Soda Bar - Create Your Own Ice Cream Sundae - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

I spent my Sunday afternoon with girlfriends eating fabulous grilled cheese and ice cream at Pops my favorite ice cream shop and Café (happily they have gluten-free bread and ice cream cones for me ) .then we went to our best thrift store and the co-op for farm fresh groceries and it was a lovely day indeed .. find joy in your corner of the world whenever you can read more

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Visiting Roanoke this weekend and stopped here for lunch. I love it. This is an old-timey soda/ice cream shop that also serves grilled cheese. The grilled cheese is amazing and quite big and filling for a grilled cheese. I got a popper (jalapeño cream cheese and cheddar) and it was delicious and so was the popcorn. And it was quite filling. But they have many other varieties too. And I got a soda, an old-timey seltzer with lemon, lime, and orange syrup (with real cane sugar, not corn syrup.) And it was so good too even if it was a disgusting green color. I don't care how it looks. I care how it tastes. And it tastes amazing. So filling I barely had room for ice cream. I had the s'mores sundae with toasted marshmallow and graham crackers. It was amazing. And staff are super friendly too, all of them. Counter and booth seating. Paid parking in back ($5 for two hours) or you can park a block away at the farmer's market for free. Just don't park in the reserved co-op spaces. read more

A lot of character to this place. And we had the sweetest server. She was very nice and patiently explained all the flavors to us. The ice cream was good and prices were fair. read more

Cute shop, friendly service, yummy ice cream! Love the quaintness and family feel inside.

This place is so cute and cozy, I love the ambience and the icecream is top tier!! Highly recommend

They are open with pick up at the window/door. An easy order ahead process and can pick the time for the order to be ready. Save the metal straw to use next time! read more

Thought I would be disappointed because they don't serve any sandwiches with meat and I was quit hungry for a melt. I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED!! I had the Swiss melt and it was phenomenal. The mustard mixed with all of the other flavors on this sourdough sandwich just kick the taste of this meal up to a whole new level. The artichoke hearts and avocado with the Swiss cheese blended perfectly. Being a recently diagnosed diabetic I could not partake of the sweets offered but the sandwich and soup selection I would highly recommend. read more

Pop's Ice Cream & Soda Bar - The Swiss melt. - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

Delicious food and retro fun ! The menu is simplistic (only a few categories to order from) but easy to navigate. Employees are always very welcoming and service is quick. Don't miss the house tomato soup to pair with your grilled cheese ! read more

Came here for the highly touted tomato soup. Got a grilled cheese and cola to go with it and was not disappointed. The popcorn on the side with the sandwich is a neat idea and it was fun to add it to my soup for crunch. The tomato soup was one of the best I've had in a restaurant. It reminded me a lot of one of my homemade recipes, and that was great. The cola was well mixed and tasty. Decor was fun...I loved the rotary phone on the counter. Staff was very friendly...smiling and laughing with people. Place got crowded fast so go early. read more

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Food was great! And the ice cream was awesome, but the customer service is terrible. It felt like the lady behind the counter made it feel like we weren't welcome to order items. Over hearing her talk about her opinions about customers outloud to other customers at the counter was honestly repulsive. Wouldn't recommend for the customer service. read more

If I lived in the area, I would probably be a frequent customer of Pop's. I was traveling through the area, and wanted something sweet after my lunch. I was glad I found Pop's and what a super cool area it is in. The inside is nostalgic. I decided to try the Blackberry Swirl Ice Cream. It was delicious and had an interesting tartness to it. I probably should have tried more items, but I had just eaten lunch so I didn't order as I normally would have. The service was great. A new employee was being trained and it was fun that I was their first customer. Parking wasn't an issue - I parked on the street in front of the shop. PS - sorry for the bad pics, I started eating my ice cream and the photos were an afterthought. Not my best food photos. read more

Pop's Ice Cream & Soda Bar - Blackberry Swirl Ice Cream (half eaten) - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

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Neat little spot to enjoy a little old school comfort food. Was disappointed we had to order from a window but I feel this was a COVID related change. The basic grilled cheese sandwich on sourdough bread was nice and gooey... the popcorn on the side was a nice change of pace. Root beer float was tasty! read more

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If the service was better, I would have given this place 5 stars. We waited awkwardly at the counter for what felt like 5 minutes before being acknowledged by either the person behind the counter or the person waiting tables. Luckily, there's lots to look at in this cute retro-style diner while waiting. As for the ice cream, WOW! I tried the sundae on special, which had butter pecan ice cream, orange whipped cream, and a drizzle of honey. I look forward to going back for the ice cream, but hope for more welcoming service next time. read more

Pop's Ice Cream & Soda Bar - Special sundae with butter pecan ice cream, orange whipped cream, and honey - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

Pop's is located between Grandin Theatre and Taaza Indian near the intersection of Memorial and Grandin Rd SW. It's tiny and is easy to miss. Look for a stream of people coming and going out of a tiny building. + Ambiance is nostalgic soda shop / diner with a laminate L shape bar with stools (~7) and 8 - 10 booths/tables. Everything is small sized...dining room, kitchen, counter, stools, booths, chairs...before jumbo sizing became a norm. ++ Ice cream is made on premise with local Homestead Creamery ingredients! They had 16 flavors on the board. I sampled a couple and chose coconut that had smooth, crisp clean taste! They served a 4oz scoop in an old fashioned pedestal glass sundae dish! It may be considered small by some but was enough for me. They have sugar, waffle, cake and GF cones. Also, they offer a big menu of sundaes, shakes, ice cream sodas (seltzer) and sandwiches and soups. + Service is fast casual style. Line up at the far end of the bar to order and pay. Then your order will be served to you. There were 2 people behind the counter and 1 waiting tables and all were fast and very friendly! + Price is throw back too. My single scoop was only $2.49 before tip. Additional scoops are only $1 each. Sundaes and sodas are a bit more. = Parking is street only but you could walk over after your lunch / dinner or shopping. Next time, I want to try an ice cream soda with seltzer water or a banana split with hot fudge. read more

Pop's Ice Cream & Soda Bar - Homestead Creamery milk used - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

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Pops has been serving the best ice cream, soda and grilled cheeses in the world for over fifteen years. Just walking up to the front door, one can't help but appreciate the charm and creative funk this place emits. You can take your family and friends there for lunch, or you can go there for dinner. With the best grilled cheese menu you have ever experienced, there is something for everyone. Or you can just go there for dessert. They make all their soda and ice cream treats by hand using classic equipment from days of old. Or if you're feeling crazy, try Pop's for lunch and then have dessert. Or... hear me out, take your family and friends to Pop's for dinner AND dessert! read more

Pop's Ice Cream & Soda Bar - Sun, style, and the best smile you ever did see. - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

I like this place a lot - it is old school, has some great sandwich options and a million combinations of house-made sodas and ice creams floats. The bread is great and the side popcorn is a nice touch. I love how many options there are. Overall I find the pricing to be too high for the casual atmosphere and general nature of grilled cheese sandwiches. The staff was casual, not especially friendly when I was there though. I would come here for lunch on occasion but definitely not all the time because of the pricing. read more

Pop's Ice Cream & Soda Bar - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

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I love Pop's. It's amazing! Just order at the register like all the 100000 signs there tell you to do. Thank you Pop's read more

I love it when you feel like your stepping back in time when you enter an eatery with so much rich history and local fandom! Everyone and their mother seems to love this place, and now I know why! Your welcomed with a smile and a warm greeting upon entry...but somehow I felt welcome prior to entry with all the wonderful Classic outdoor designs, decor, mixed with the gorgeous old world brick from the buildings that have been there for ever so long. It's simple, just take your order to the front....though the menu is extensive and does have its specials of the day and soups of the day (love that) it won't take you too long to spot what you want most, and then just take your order to the wonderful staff at the front (which I am sure would graciously give you a taste test if your torn between two types of homemade ice creams). We enjoyed your basic but wonderfully flavorful grilled cheese sandwich with a cup of tomato bisque soup, and homemade pumpkin ice cream (yep I am one of those seasonal fall favorites people). The soup was perfect, and the ice cream was as rich as my fav gelato place in Richmond, VA....oh and don't forget to get a little adventurous and grab a board game to play while your enjoying the food and company. I think what I liked most about this place was I felt at home....and I didn't even have to prepare it or do the cleanup afterwards....oh the best of both worlds :) read more

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Ok... I do not know where to start I walked into this fantastic family friendly place and I felt like I was family from second one.. the first thing is the decor is something out of the 50s it's fantastic!!!!! They have a old time phone both in the corner that's fun . Let me talk about the ice cream.. WOW on all fronts from milkshakes to Sundaes Then the gender neutral bathrooms make girls like me feel like I am just human. Thank you for your kindness and fantastic food. I will be here again next time I am in town ! Don't take my word for it come try this local place out for yourself. read more

A hidden gem that was well worth our trip detour. The soda fountain is a quaint journey into the local mom & pop eateries of yester year. The decor is fun and mixed in with some nice pop culture nods. The ice cream is sourced from a local dairy farm and is FABULOUS! It reminds me of the ice cream my uncle used to make at home. The location also features a regular menu, we however only purchased ice cream. The sandwiches did look delicious as several went out while we were seated at the counter. The shop features table and counter seating. We had a cookies n' cream malted milkshake, a cookies n' cream sundae, and then a two scoop cone on a waffle cone. Everything was fabulous and the service was very good. I would recommend this location to anyone in the area, and even those not so close, it deserves the detour. read more

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Pop's serves Homestead Creamery ice cream, which from my experience in southwest Virginia, is the best ice cream around. Chocolate ice cream is my favorite. However, since I was having a hot fudge sundae, I opted for vanilla. It was a great choice. There was just enough hot fudge on the sundae. Some places overdo it, and I tend to end up feeling sick from it. Besides the sundae, I also had the three cheese grilled cheese sandwich. It was good, but that hot fudge sundae was definitely the highlight. The atmosphere at Pop's was interesting. Scottish music (think bagpipes) was playing, which seemed odd, but somehow it worked. Service was okay: nothing to write home about, but not bad either. If you want to enjoy some excellent ice cream in a quirky atmosphere, give Pop's a try. read more

Pops ice cream has long. Been a staple of Grandin Village. It's like walking back into time. Fantastic ice cream amazing soups and the staff is super friendly and professional. It's a must do in Grandin Village. The inside looks like a 1950s malt shop and it is super Qwaint. read more

We enjoyed delicious ice cream floats - with sodas made in store! Very friendly staff as well, helped us come up with fun float combinations. I recommend the lemon ice cream and strawberry soda! read more

Pop's Ice Cream & Soda Bar - Lemon ice cream with strawberry soda, and blackberry swirl ice cream with black raspberry soda - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

Touchdown!!! From the charming old-timey decor and music to killer ice cream, this place mesmerized me with one visit. And the service? The staff came around and offered a glass of water when she didn't have to, but of course, we appreciated and need it! The banana and mint chocolate flavors were both knockouts. Banana was rich and creamy but with a natural taste, and the mint chocolate had these huge chocolate chips and, thank god, the ice cream was not green! We both tried waffle cone, and it was a good size fit for the generous scoop, and was nice and crispy. There's limited street parking outside but fills up quickly, so you might need to street park elsewhere and walk a couple blocks. But it's worth it - totally worth it! read more

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Massively delicious grilled cheese sandwiches and ice cream (standout favorites thus far include Almond Mocha, Dragon's Tooth, Peanut Butter Cup, O'Loclainn's Toffee, Pistachio Almond, and Lemon Meltaway...but I still have 3 more flavors to try!). The service is always fantastic. The smiley face spuds are adorable, and my only 'eh' is that the popcorn always tastes stale and saltless to me (but that may be personal preference). I eat here monthly and there's still so many soda fountain items to try! I highly recommend the Swiss Melt and the Southwestern. read more

GREAT grilled cheese -- in about a dozen different styles. Fantastic shakes. Board games to play while you wait or when you're finished. Homey. Comfortable. Delicious. read more

Pop's Ice Cream & Soda Bar - left half of storefront... little blurry and tilted cuz 'twas a drive-by... - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

A really fun place for family and friends. Such a wonderful idea and great use of old nostalgic equipment and place. Does have some food but not much. Mostly an ice cream place just like the names says read more

Always a treat to come here, the perfect place for a quick bite of something sweet or a little bit cheesy (grilled cheese). What a unique combination of items they had to offer: grilled cheeses, popcorn, craft soda, ice cream, and most importantly...board games! The vibe is cute, friendly, retro, and welcoming. The ice cream and soda is nothing short of absolutely refreshing and the grilled cheese sandwiches are gooey, loaded, and most importantly cheesy! I recommend the Greek or BLT style sandwiches but I have not tried many other as I plan on doing so next time. Don't come here hungry, these aren't all star portions here, just a sandwich with some popcorn and one smile shaped french fry potato cut out. That being said, everything was just as delicious as it looked and sounded when I read it on the menu. Can't wait to come back in the future. read more

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Stopped in today, with our two year old grandson, ice cream was delicious and service was both prompt and courteous. Would recommend any time you are in the Grandin Village area. read more

Tons of indulgences ranging from jalapeño poppers grilled cheese to tomato bisque to a plethora of ice cream options. There's something for everyone here. read more

My kids enjoyed their ice cream, I didn't think it was anything to write home about. When we walked in the person (maybe the owner??) working barely looked at us and didn't say a word. Not very friendly and kind of awkward. read more

This place is probably one of the coolest Ice cream & Soda Pop places I have ever been. Delicious ice cream, good music, fun diner feel to it! Great for the whole family. Plenty of flavor options, dessert options, and food as well. read more

Pop's Ice Cream & Soda Bar - Peanut butter Oreo milkshake, chocolate milkshake. YUM! - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

I still have mixed feelings about Pop's .... Probably a great place to go with preschoolers who enjoy small sundaes, crappy grilled cheese sandwiches and stale tater tots. I don't understand why this business does not market itself completely towards preschoolers and toddlers.. I frankly cannot imagine an adult with any taste eating any of their food. If they had decorated the place for a preschool clientele I at least would have had a clue what to expect. Bring your the kids and plan on filling up yourselves somewhere else. read more

This is a five star review for a place where the food isn't five stars (but is still pretty good!!) but the culture of the place is. Let me explain. Pop's is small and intimate, with an atmosphere reminiscent of old-fashioned ice cream parlors. There's both booth and table seating, though I prefer the intimate booths (they can fit up to 4, but are totally comfortable with 2!) You order up front, but they'll take your food/drinks to your table. Service is usually stellar, though as with most places, it can be hard to get a server's attention when it gets busy. I love coming here for dates or with a group of friends - aside from the food, there's plenty of games to play together, as well as specialty nights (like a vinyl night with old-school records, or a night dedicated to playing Go). While I usually hate places that explicitly say this, the menu does ask you to put away your cell phone or laptop and get to know the person sitting in front of you, but I don't find it as condescending here for some reason. Speaking of the menu, the main thing to order here is grilled cheese, and there's plenty of specialty ones (and usually a daily special on the board!) My faves are the Southwestern and the Greek, and all the sandwiches come with popcorn and a smiley potato (like the ones you used to get in school). From experience, don't order the ones that have too many toppings, it makes it hard for the cheese properly melt. Overall the sandwiches aren't stunning/groundbreaking, but they're good at satisfying a craving. There's also housemade sodas, which I highly recommend, and there's also an option for ice cream sodas! I usually hate root beer floats, but I drank a good amount of my fiancé's. Definitely save room for dessert!! Pop's stocks ice cream from Homestead Creamery (aka the best ice cream), which you can order plain, for a sundae, or for a milkshake. I always go for the classic cookies and cream milkshake and never regret it (usually I want another one even when I'm super full). Overall, Pop's is historic and worth going to, even if it's a bit of a drive to get there and parking can be a pain. It's really such a fun and vintage place to go to, and you can hit up the Grandin Theatre before/after for the full vintage date experience. read more

Pop's Ice Cream & Soda Bar - grilled cheeses + carebear uno - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

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Mouth watering desserts. the people are always friendly and very helpful totally recommend