Pop's Ice Cream & Soda Bar — Restaurant in Roanoke

Hey there! I just had the most amazing experience at Pop's Ice Cream and Soda Bar in Salem, Virginia. This little gem is a must-visit if you're in the area!

First things first, the staff at Pop's is absolutely fantastic!

Now, for the star of the show – the ice cream! Oh boy, it was heavenly. Pop's offers a mouthwatering variety of flavors that will make your taste buds dance with joy. Whether you're a fan of classic vanilla, indulgent chocolate, or adventurous concoctions like Dragon’s Tooth or Coconut Fudge, they have something for everyone. The quality of the ice cream is top-notch, and the flavors are rich and creamy.

What surprised me the most was the affordability of the ice cream at Pop's. You'd expect such deliciousness to come at a steep price, but nope! The prices were incredibly reasonable, and I couldn't believe the value for money. It's rare to find a place that offers such high-quality ice cream at such wallet-friendly prices.

Pop's has definitely nailed the authentic diner vibe, complete with retro decor and comfy seating. It's the kind of place where you can relax, enjoy your ice cream, and soak in the nostalgic ambiance. It truly takes you back in time and adds to the overall charm of the experience.

Don't just take my word for it, though. Pop's has garnered rave reviews from other customers too. It's clear that Pop's has created a loyal fan base, and I'm proud to be a part of it now.

If you find yourself in Salem, Virginia, do yourself a favor and visit Pop's Ice Cream and Soda Bar. You'll be greeted by friendly faces, delectable ice cream at incredibly affordable prices, and be transported to a bygone era with the authentic diner atmosphere. Trust me, it's an experience you don't...

So extremely disappointed! We were visiting from out of town and wanted to get some local sweet cuisine. We narrowed our choices to Pop's, Blue Cow, and the Salem Ice Cream Parlor. Without any local people to ask, we based our decision on their Google profile. The photos made it look like a really quirky, fun place with huge portions and "5 star" ice cream, bakery and desserts. Their home page showed they were open, that employees would be wearing masks and requested customers to wear masks. This suggests that dine in was available. When we arrived, we found a very dimly lit, curb side entry with very active bars as neighbors. A door with a pass through was what greeted us. The interior was dark, boxes of products were strewn about on counters and a ring bell for service sign was posted on the door. We ordered a Tin roof sundae and an orange freeze. The sundae was served in a kid size paper bowl. The ice cream was filled with so many ice crystals it was like eating a cup of ice cubes and they completely forgot to put any chocolate sauce in the sundae. The orange freeze was a 10 Oz. cup of crushed ice with ONE slice of fresh orange and a cherry. (It was supposed to be like a smoothie.) To add insult to injury, we were required to pre pay and provide a tip before we received our order. This whole experience left a very "sour" taste to our...

I've really enjoyed finding this place, and being able to get an actual egg cream outside of Boston/Chicago/NY. The egg cream wasn't served how I'm used to, but still frothy and delicious and every place does it a little different. From talking to one of the owners (who are super nice) Steven, apparently it's been there for almost 20 years -- they took it over two years ago because they loved it and didn't want to see it go.

The menu is simple, but delicious -- ice cream, milkshakes, egg creams, malts, floats, sodas a few soups and souped-up grilled cheeses. It's usually a tomato bisque plus a soup of the day, and the grilled cheeses are loaded up and made on a retro sandwich press. The actual ice cream comes from a local creamery, and may be more than one (lemon crunch is homestead I believe?). The milkshakes are a favorite: three full scoops and fresh milk.

Seating can be a little tough for a larger group (soda bar seating plus a few smaller booths), and the seasoned popcorn served with the sandwiches isn't for me (I believe it had a ranch seasoning?) but others I've been with have really enjoyed it and I can understand how the tang offsets the grilled cheese sandwiches etc. It's the kind of place that can be taken for...