Feather Bone Provisions & Assembly — Restaurant in Blacksburg

We have eaten here probably half a dozen times in the past 3 or so months and I really have come to appreciate this place. It is definitely the best food in the area. I would not call it cheap but the portions are so generous that there is actually quite a bit of value. The food is great. No pretension but not basic fare either, just really good. Interesting enough to entice you back and reasonably priced enough to be affordable for more than a rare night out. The pork chop is one of the best I have had, and I fancy myself a bit of a pork chop expert. Staff is very friendly and seem really invested. I don't love the 20% service charge, but I more or less understand the logic behind it, and frankly am so thankful to have a place we can eat in the area and not be reminded of the food desolation we face everyday, I am happy to pay it. I was talking with the bartender (maybe owner?) last time I was there and he told me he hand harvested the Autumn Olive berries used in one of their cocktails. Usually I would find this kind of tale at a restaurant to be a synthetic, self aggrandizing, media-edited, wanna be influencer ad-op, but I had asked him where he got the berries. This was not on the menu, not the first thing out of his mouth when he came by to ask how we were. I am sure I would never have known if I had not asked. I suspect that the rest of the staff were not even aware of this. I really believe this guy was just walking his dog, tried a bit of local (if invasive) produce and realized he could do something cool with it and went and did it. I don't know, maybe I'm a sucker but I was really charmed and took the bait hook, line and sinker. Also, the cocktail was good. We should reward...

Food was decent, a little different but good. I absolutely do not understand the “service charge” model of 20% of your total when the only “service” is someone bringing your food to the table. Customer goes to the counter to order and buses his/her own table. Heard the cookies were amazing so after we finished, I ordered 2 orders of those but then she came out to explain they were out, so got those refunded. Apparently, you get charged a service fee for cookies as well. Why? They sell tshirts so I wonder if there’s a service charge for retail items also. The 20% service charge concept is definitely getting out of hand, especially when service is mostly mine here. Or, please be more forthcoming about how you distribute this extra charge to your staff. Since there’s no guarantee that service fees will go to staff, customers deserve to know why they’re being charged extra to clean their own table.

Edit: next visit I had the absolute best cheeseburger i’d had in a long time. Kids and fast food have mostly turned me away from anything resembling a fast food menu item, but the burger was an absolute correct choice on this visit. Sooo delicious, juicy, done just right. 10/10 would order it again. Also, I’m getting used to bussing my own table, EVEN THOUGH I KNOW I DON’T HAVE TO. We definitely...

went here about a month ago, everything was sooooo good. best spicy chicken sandwich i’ve EVER had, not too spicy with the warm Szechuan flavor, perfectly crispy but not over-breaded, pickles were fresh, herby ranch-ish sauce was delicious. we got the fries as an appetizer so we subbed dressed greens with our sandwiches expecting something simple but they were dressed in this lemony dressing and had fresh veg and roasted pepitas(?) on top so it felt more like a side salad (we were pleasantly surprised). the fries are crispy and salty, which is how i like them. we had the cheesy cauliflower too (not pictured) and the cheese to cauliflower ratio was perfect, the cauliflower wasn’t drowning in cheese or overcooked and the brown butter breadcrumbs were a lovely touch. our drinks were also perfect! not too sweet. likely coming here again soon. one of my favorites in the bburg area and the quality of the food and service...