Valley Smokehouse — Restaurant in Staunton

My husband and I ate here on Friday night. We arrived at about 430 and we’re seated right away. My husband ordered the all you can eat crab legs and I ordered the crab legs and shrimp basket. The crab legs were almost impossible to open and very small and not cooked properly and little to no taste. The shrimp was chewy although it tasted fine. we were given refills on our drinks but all of the dirty cups were left behind as well as the side dishes were not taken up nor were the baskets that the crab legs came out in so trying to maneuver yourself at a table full of dirty dishes and have a pleasant dining experience wasn’tGoing to happen. My husband was brought the first ‘refill’ ,as they called it, on his bucket of crab legs. it consisted of three claws. He asked for another shortly there after and the wait was pretty significant. We ended up being at the table from 4:15 PM until about 6:00 PM the last 30 minutes we were there we were not approached for any refills on drinks or crab legs. in total my husband got three refills on his crab legs each refill had 3 to 4 clusters in it. We finally, after 30 minutes of waiting for the next refill, decided to leave. the table was full napkins, cups, huge plates full of shells by this time. You couldn’t enjoy your meal at that point and it was clear that they were putting a limit on the all you could eat special by avoiding our table. After the unpleasant dining experience we were then given a bill for over $130 this doesn’t include a tip. keep in mind I did not get the all you could eat special. I had approximately eight chewy shrimp and three clusters of crab legs in my meal (I also had two sides I should add but that’s it. ) my husband came to eat crab legs and he left hungry. The atmosphere is tacky also but who cares about that if the food is good. Bad food, bad atmosphere, bad service and we paid for every bit of it unfortunately. We will never go back. I have a hard time understanding how they’ve been able to stay open as long as they have. Don’t go it’s a waste of your time...

I've got to be honest here, this place has some high notes as well as some low points. The atmosphere is just one big room with no flow whatsoever. This could be fine for a BBQ joint, but it is very obvious that it isn't working here. Customers were being sat out of order, tables were uncleaned as the line formed out the door. Our waitress was trying to run the show and serve our table. It wasn't working. Things were missed and forgotten, and other waitstaff questioned her when she tried to manage. It was apparent to me no one was managing the front of the house. Now the food... Wasn't bad, wasn't great. I do my own BBQ at home and I was not impressed with what we were served. The reviews from locals hyped this place up much more than it deserves. Greasy oysters on a bare plate. Brisket cut too thick is greasy and chewy on the sandwich. The prime rib looked good, but I'm not a gambling man. The fried foods tasted great, but we're swimming in grease. No sauce with the oysters, no time for details. I know this sounds like a heavy criticism, but as someone who dreams of owning his own restaurant some day, these are suggestions for improvement. I want business to succeed here in the valley, so I hope that this place can achieve that. After our experience on a normal evening I can't imagine being bothered to come back for the crab or other specials. Have someone manage the front, a waitress doing both is stretched too thin to do either effectively. Fix your food, a gob of brisket on a bun doesn't impress me. A tailored sandwich with neat cuts of meat does. Build some flow into this place, again it's just one big room. The bar area and restrooms are all the way on the other side, there shouldn't be tables in the middle of the traffic for that. Probably this biggest mood killer was trying to eat in a shuffling crowd with our waitress waiting for a chance to cross over to us. Huge crowds by the door got mixed up and folks were skipped over. I would have left, honestly....

You want a dainty carb concious hip arisan fare dinner? Then look elsewhere. Here at Valley Smokehouse, dinner is served up hot and a half pound at a time. It's easy to see why this out of the way pop up eatery has quickly gained a fanatical diehard clientele of repeat diners in less than a year... Great food, the friendliest people, and shrimp and crab legs that would make even the skinniest kid on the block a believer. The restaurant boasts a full house and jammed dining area so reservations are recommended, but if youre willing to be patient, the reward is the type of meal people remember all their life. The food is hot, delicious, and the portions are for the modern American appetite. Meats and sides come at ya a half pound at a time. This is good southern redneck style Sunday picnic comfort food at its best. Once you get over the Richard petty shirts and uncouth beer bellied clientele, you might just have a damn good dinner. It just ain't dainty or quick. It is guaranteed to leave you with spicy buttery fingers and stains on your shirt... But you'll be back. Prepare to feast on crab legs so authentic and rich you'll swear your seaside. Don't forget to loosen your belt after tackling this kind of American fare- a true rarity in today's diet trendy fast food- the smokehouse is the collosus of what American...