Gillie’s Cuisine
153 College Ave, Blacksburg, VA, 24060
Gillie’s Cuisine Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Blacksburg for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Blacksburg for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Blacksburg for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
153 College Ave
Blacksburg, VA, 24060 - Phone (540) 961-2703
- Website https://www.gilliesrestaurant.net/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :7:00 am - 3:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Hipster
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Elisabeth S.
Get their potatoes all the time! Two of my friends and I came in Saturday morning around 10am and it was packed. The hostess told us that it would be a 20 min wait for a table but had a few open bar seats. Hungry for breakfast we said yes! Phew what luck! Next to us on the bar were a pile of fresh looking loaves of bread. Already excited to order and we didn't have to wait long to have our order taken despite the morning rush! As we waited for our food, I could peek into a bit of their kitchen where slices of bread were being dipped and grilled for their walnut banana french toast, eggs being cracked and sizzled, and potatoes tossing and turning in the frying pan! It took about 15-20 min to have our food arrive. One of my friends got the beautiful french toast, with a side of potatoes, my other friend got the poached eggs dish and I got the frittata. We all loved it! But in short, they have good service even when busy and have excellent potatoes!
(5)David B B.
I came with high hopes for Gillie's Cuisine, which was recommended both by Yelp and by locals. I give them all credit for providing hearty fare that draws meat eaters to a vegetarian(ish) restaurant. Alas, though I came twice, I was disappointed each time. The first time, I got the Greek pasta salad. No composed salad here--just an undistinguished (and soggy) amalgam of penne, spinach, and a creamy sauce. Undeterred, I returned for a late breakfast, ordering the spinach florentine with smoked salmon. This was a thin bed of raw spinach, followed by a soggy slice of (beefsteak?) tomato, and then a thin slice of buttered toast topped with smoked salmon, then two poached eggs and a garlicky cream sauce. The sauce was good. The tomato was out of place and of a lesser quality than I would expect at this time of year. It was fine, and I'd probably come here regularly if I lived in Blacksburg. I just didn't love it. Oh, well.
(3)Nancy H.
This is one of the better restaurants in Blacksburg. The brunch is outstanding - I especially like the banana walnut French toast and anything with potatoes. The fresh juices are great too. I always get a carrot Apple ginger juice for me and my son. At lunch, my favorite dishes are the tofu Reuben and blackened catfish sandwich. Both are really flavorful.
(4)Kartik S.
Unlikely to find a better veggie brunch place in the country , let alone Blacksburg. I was a regular for 5 years. The Gillies special and the fresh juices are a must have
(5)Andy S.
Got the south meets southwest catfish and goat cheese grits with a healthy dose of rocket. Add in the Devils backbone Azreal beer and i am delighted with the experience. Mu son had the Tofu reuben and it was inspired. I will say it was good enough that i forgot To take a picture until i was done...
(4)Nimal L.
Solid down to earth food that has simple ingredients. No meat restaurant. Hipster for the two decades I have been eating here. Great biscuits and breads. Breakfast is best followed by dinner.
(4)Ryan M.
I had lived in Blacksburg for about 4 years and I never once stepped inside of Gillie's. Personally, the whole appeal of "vegetarian" cuisine just never sounded appealing. I'm a steak and potatoes kind of guy down to the core. However, after not being in Blacksburg for nearly 7 years, I had the opportunity to visit over this past weekend, and my fiancee really wanted to give Gille's a shot for brunch, so we did. And I was really impressed. Although on the breakfast/brunch menu you won't find your typical breakfast staples of bacon and eggs or eggs and sausage, there are some alternative dishes available, and all sounded pretty decent. I went with the Red Earth dish, which is their seasoned potatoes at the bottom, topped with scrambled egg (or tofu if you want to go that route) and then topped with salsa (I believe this is home made) with a side of a thick piece of homemade bread. The potatoes were seasoned awesome, the eggs were nice and fluffy, and the salsa really added a nice kick to the entire dish. Overall, super impressed with Gillie's from my initial experience, and kind of kicking myself that I never enjoyed their offerings while I lived in Hokie Nation.
(4)Japa N.
Fantastic breakfast. Banana nut french toast is the way to go. Really good coffee as well.
(4)Robert W.
A well-located restaurant with nice wait staff. We had some very good pancakes and French toast while there. However I can't really buy into the hype. The food, service and venue were just okay.
(3)Joseph S.
I go here at least every other week for breakfast. It is such a great selection of healthy breakfast/lunch/ and dinner foods. My favorite items are the grits, potatoes, and Smoked Salmon! Great service there. Only sad part is that they always seem to run out of something there when we go for breakfast (Spinach, Mushrooms, grits last time :-( ...). But all and all, its the best breakfast in the VT area!
(5)K S.
This is an outstanding restaurant with unique dishes that's a good detour from the routine chain restaurants. Though I'm not a strict vegetarian, this restaurant is a testament that tasty recipes can be created devoid of meats. We went there for brunch on a cold winter Saturday and - as my picky eating kids proclaimed - had the best breakfast of our lives. The Belgian waffles with chocolate was outstanding, the French toast baguettes with blueberries were terrific and my red earth scrambled eggs on rosemary potatoes was completely awesome. Portions were big and the check was not! Bon appetite!
(5)Alexa B.
Love love love this place. First time coming to eat for brunch after hearing the best reviews from friends. I got the tofu scramble with fresh fruit and organic maple yogurt with granola. Sister got the Belgium waffle with chocolate chips. Everything was delicious and fresh
(5)Katy H.
Wow. The food was fast, tasty, original, well-created and is the reason I'll be going back. The staff were all polite, knowledgeable, friendly and efficient. The place was trendy but more than just a neat place to hang out. Go to Gillie's and you will not be disappointed. Especially if you order the veggie wrap with salmon. Just wow.
(5)Kirsten H.
What an incredible place! Intimate setting, and an amazing find for vegetarians or anyone who cares about eating right. Our server was exceptional - knew everything about everything on the menu, which really helped us make a decision. My son (14) was hesitant to try 'new' things - but scarfed down his chili cheese quesadilla without blinking. LOVE the red cabbage side. He loved the orange creme soda. This place is as old as the hills, but feels newer than almost anywhere I've ever dined. LOVE it.
(5)Mariam A.
This is truly a local gem - they use veggies from local farms and bread from a bakery around the corner. Nearly everything on the menu can be ordered vegan and/or gluten free. I had the supreme burrito and was not disappointed. The only reason I am not giving this establishment five stars is the amount of time I had to wait for my food to come out.
(4)Alexis G.
I stopped by Gillie's for breakfast while in Blacksburg for some business. I liked the variety of the breakfast menu, and it was tough to pick just one thing - so I had a few. I had half an order of the French Toast, and I was glad that I made that decision because half an order was still plenty of french toast for me. It wasn't the most amazing french toast I've ever had, but it was good. I also ordered some fruit on the side and I was a bit disappointed in the blueberries - they didn't seem fresh. The juicer was also broken so I wasn't able to taste the pear juice, but I was able to get some orange juice. I won't hold it against them that they don't have the best part of breakfast (bacon), but that definitely would have made it better. Bacon makes everything better. If you're okay with a bacon-less breakfast, check out Gillie's.
(3)Stephen N.
Love this place! Breakfast, lunch, dinner are all amazing. Consistently wonderful food!
(5)Jan S.
I had the quinoa and chick pea burger and the eggplant curry soup. Both were terrific. Staff was friendly and efficient. I will go again.
(5)Justin V.
So pretentious. Part of me wants to give 1 star just to offset all the hipster 5 star reviews. It was a very average place that I could be convinced of returning to, but not eager.
(3)T H.
We had dinner here, the food was excellent, including my wife's salmon with blackberry glaze, which she says was delicious. The service was not all that great however, the waitress was quite absent and spent most of her time standing behind the counter looking bored. She lost out on selling a few more drinks because of it, and I tipped accordingly. Happy she did not chase me down the street as some of the posts indicate!
(4)Devika A.
Banana walnut French toast! Super casual college type of brunch/ lunch place with cute environment. Brings in all types of people which makes for a nice ambiance. I also tried the biscuits, the salmon hash, and the eggs benedict over sourdough. All were great dishes because they are so flavorful. Highly recommended for those who are in search of a good, hearty gluten-free/ vegan menu!
(4)Amy Z.
Heard breakfast was great so we went for dinner and it was just OK. My sis liked her salmon & her fiance liked his salmon pasta dish, but my soba noodles were just OK. I'll try it again, but pick something else.
(3)Tara D.
Gillie's is THE brunch place in Blacksburg. However, you have to check out their lunch and dinner options if you have the chance; it's all amazing, and I'd argue that the dinner options are better. You will forget that this place is vegetarian/pescetarian, and don't let the hippie vibe turn you off. My dad is the biggest red meat eater and hippie-basher on the planet and very reluctantly entered the restaurant with me, but he was so impressed by their brunch that he suggested we come back for dinner on his next visit - and he was even more impressed by that (I believe he had some sort of shrimp alfredo dish). Gillie's often has local musical artists perform, and there's always art on the walls from someone in the area. Additionally, you'll find various objects -- a Darth Vader figure, a sewing machine, a cat clock, etc. I get the feeling that having at least one tattoo or some other unusual look is mandatory for employees; in any case, the employees are all interesting. One of them (I'm not sure if he still works there) squats down on the floor and gets comfy while taking your order. Bottom line: If you ask me where we should eat in Blacksburg, I will say Gillie's.
(4)Candace W.
If you are looking for brunch on a weekend in Blacksburg this is a great find. The menu is Vegetarian so not the place for you bacon lovers. After a 20 minute wait we took 3 seats at the bar. The food was delicious, the longtime owner was washing glasses and chitchatting with us while we waited for our food. This is a real mom and pop place with a son working in the kitchen. The French toast special was delicious. The two people I was dinning with both loved their meals as well. One had an omelette the other pancakes. It was worth the wait.
(4)Brian B.
One of the best breakfasts I've ever had. I live everything about this place. The vibe, the decor, the food, the service. Veggies never tasted so good! If it weren't for our commitment to eat some place new each time I come to Blacksburg I would have breakfast here every time I visit
(5)K K.
Not too shabby but they can step up some of their options. A lot of their food comes with scrambled eggs but there could be great options with over easy or boiled eggs. Not a huge fan of the potatoes here and the portions are huge.
(3)Alexandra E.
I truly love this restaurant- this being my second time going. The beet, carrot and apple juice was delicious, the omelets are fantastic and are packed with toppings, and the french toast is dense and moist. The service is impeccable- water comes with the menus and the food was out within 10 minutes. $32 for juice, tea, coffee, 2 ginormous omelets (served with the most amazing biscuits and potatoes), and french toast. Everything here is so fresh and the staff is happy and cheerful. Love you, Gillie's! PS- What is the their secret ingredient in the potatoes?!? The spice is delicious...
(4)Val W.
Went to Gillie's for lunch, though we were sad that we couldn't make it there for the delicious sounding Brunch! There were tons of options, pretty amazing considering the stereotype that Vegetarians have less options. The aura is awesome, the mismatched chairs are a staple of Gillie's that were around in 70's when my parents attended Virginia Tech. They loved the place, and it's still a great local spot today! I had a Pumpkin-Apple Bisque, which was the soup of the day, and being somewhat bland was the only disappointing item. The salad with apples and walnuts was AWESOME, the fresh wedge of bread awesome, and the coffee yummy. My friends go a quesadilla (lot's of options to go in these!) and the nachos, which also tasted amazing when I tried them (the chips are unique, maybe homemade?). Don't pass this place up, also was well heated on a chilly day!
(5)Nate H.
Ok coffee, decent tofu scramble...however it's the first time I've had tofu scramble where the tofu is in cubes vs actually scrambled. It tasted more like an Asian stir fry than the tofu scramble I am used to. The decor was nice and the food seemed to be of good quality.
(3)Jen L.
Would love to say the food is great...but after calling to make sure we could make breakfast, we showed up 25 minutes before the end of the breakfast shift and were told "sorry, we can't serve you". Of all the places we have been in Blacksburg, this is the first that had such horrible service and lack of small town congeniality. But, being we will be moving here and having guests every weekend for football games, luckily there are plenty of places where we can take our business. Sorry Gillie's you missed out on what could have been 4 years of loyal customers weekly.
(1)steve g.
I had the french toast here today. It was really good. It was made with a soft french baguette so it was a little bit different. Service was good too.
(5)Abe A.
Love this place. We are regulars for breakfast.
(5)Susan A.
Great brunch and equally delicious lunch/dinner menu! I love eating at vegetarian/vegan restaurants because there's no question of asking the waiter to run through every ingredient of a dish to make sure there is no meat in it. Gillie's food is fresh and hearty! I recommended it 100% to anyone who lives here or is visiting the area. The only reason I give it 4 stars is because they are always short-handed in staff. It's not only just during the busy times but I've noticed even when things are slow, each waiter is serving too many tables and always get something wrong or misses something.
(4)Taran G.
Simple food, done right. Very vegetarian friendly. I love the homemade black bean burgers. I have come here for years...I do wish the sides matched the sandwiches...maybe homemade chips?
(5)Sonia P.
Gillie's is definitely THE restaurant in Blacksburg that people flock to for brunch; it does get very crowded on the weekends (especially football game weekends) so I would advise to arrive early. Yes, it's vegetarian but I promise that you won't miss the meat at all! I'm a fan of the poached eggs florentine with smoked salmon for brunch but they also offer sweet options if that's your cup-of-tea. You MUST order their breakfast potatoes: they're so perfectly seasoned and addicting. However, their biscuits are really not great (sorry, I still love this place!). They offer great dinner items, too, and you feel really healthy after you leave. The South Meets Southwest (catfish with goat cheese grits/chipotle butter and arugula) was actually very light and satisfying. Service is casual and can be somewhat flaky but that's sort of the nature of this place; it's local and I think the staff isn't too concerned about turnover. There's live music on certain nights, too! Gillie's is an absolute gem in Blacksburg and a must whenever you're in town.
(4)Sean O.
I have friends that LOVE Gillies. I've been here six or seven times, mostly for breakfast or brunch. Service is not a highlight. Food is OK, but really variable (same thing ordered twice in 2 weeks came out very different). Location is good, assuming you're walking or have a University parking pass. Frankly, I prefer Waffle House, but you won't get groovy vegetarian food there.
(3)Sd T.
Yummy brunch place. They also have mimosa which is one of the best you can get. Cozy atmosphere with students as well as families and would definitely recommend it. Do check it out.
(4)Megan G.
Gillie's is one of the only places in the area to have exceptional vegetarian food. It's definitely out of the way for me, but when given the chance, I'll never hesitate to drive the 45 minutes for their brunch or dinner. I try to get something different every time (which is easy to do because of their wide variety of dishes), and I've yet to be disappointed. It's also a great music venue. I've been lucky enough to play here once and the staff was very accommodating and had great deals for bands. It was very easy to book and the pay reflected the fact that we had to play for 2 hours. Basically, I'll recommend this place to anyone and everyone because it's great and always a pleasant experience.
(5)Yuyu S.
Gillies - quintessential stop for college students, visiting parents and the hipsters that frequent this place. Gillies is a vegetarian restaurant that serves fish, although they are most notably known for their brunch. With freshly made biscuits, Tibetan prayer flags and shade grown coffee - the combination provides for a delicious brunch experience. The banana walnut french toast consists of hearty pieces of thick french toast drizzled in a caramelized banana glaze topped with sweet walnuts and bananas. The combination is impeccable. The chappie's choice is a mixture of fried potatoes with a strong flavor (I've always tasted curry powder in them) topped with scrambled eggs and white cheddar. For the prices ($8 or less), it's a great deal! The only problem I have with this place is the service, or lack thereof. The servers are often very inattentive and all over the place. That's what happens when the food has a great reputation - the service is lackluster. Still, if you're in Blacksburg, this is definitely a place to go. The food is delicious!
(4)Sophie Y.
Oh Gillie's, you've captured a part of my heart that I don't think I will ever get back. From your eclectic southern hipster charm to your fresh vegetarian dishes, I am completely smitten. I am glad that this was my last meal prior to leaving Blacksburg. We came on a weekday morning for breakfast and found the restaurant not busy in the slightest. The food was superb: Their freshly squeezed pear juice is unique and an absolute must for the morning, as are their made from scratch cheese biscuits. The salmon bruschetta was a blissful bite of dill cream cheese, smooth slightly salty salmon and sweet red peppers. My boyfriend had the specialty French toast which had more than plentiful bananas and walnuts as the name guarantees; I really enjoyed the fact that they have options for toast: honey wheat or French baguette and that the slices are not overdrenched in egg. I was extremely gleeful throughout the whole meal and I've found myself lusting for more since we left.
(5)Kevin M.
This is one of our favorite places for Sunday breakfast. We've been happy with all the dishes we've had so far... Frittata with veggies and balsamic vinaigrette, made to order omelets, buckwheat pancakes, french toast, and tofu scramble, yum! Why 4 stars? Although the wait staff have always been friendly to us, they are not always so friendly to customers.
(4)Paul C.
Ok first thing first... Yeah it say vegetarian, and the place is a bit hippy/trippy, but don't let it discourage you. This place has a line at the door for a reason. I am a rampant carnivore, with canines that get exercised regularly, so when I say that the scrambled eggs, potatoes, and buttermilk biscuits more than make up for the lack of red meat. The plate was the size of a frisbee, it was laden with fluffy scrambled eggs with white cheddar drizzle. It was crowned atop a bet of home fry potatoes with spices. Top that with coffee and a buttermilk biscuit. All that, times two for two, for less than twenty bucks. Go Hokies!
(4)Renee A.
This is a great place to eat if you are a fan of vegetarian or vegan meals. You don't have to be either to like the atmosphere and food. I have been there for lunch and dinner and can not wait to go for breakfast.
(5)Jay S.
Gillie's never let's me down. This is our go to for a feel good breakfast that will always please. Banana Walnut French Toast & Gillie's Potatoes are my go-to. But the specials will generally knock your socks off. My big tip... get up early (if you can), be at the door when it opens and don't wait in the cold with the throngs of others on the weekends...
(5)Chris M.
Good food, good atmosphere but coffee disappointing considering the efforts made towards such a forward thinking menu.
(3)Orr R.
Cleverly assembled vegetarian dishes with quality ingredients, including freshly baked breads. Great brunch options, both sweet and savory, good-looking dinner options (I've never actually eaten dinner here, though I've been here with friends as they ate during a live music performance). It's nice place to escape from the undergrads on a Friday night, as they host interesting and variable music acts.
(4)Stephanie C.
I know the reputation is for breakfast, but my husband and I decided to give dinner a shot and oh my lord it was delicious! All options are full of flavor and so filling. Tofu was cooked thoroughly but well marinated. Sauces weren't overpowering.
(5)Laura H.
As a dedicated omnivore, I don't go to many vegetarian restaurants, but we had a veggie friend in town so we decided to take one for the team. HOLY MOTHER OF GOD. Everything about this place is amazing. Unexpectedly delicious flavor combinations and perfectly prepared food. Fantastic service from friendly people. Great atmosphere. I loved everything and will be back, even without my vegetarian escort.
(5)Jessica L.
Hands down the best brunch in town! Their lunch and dinner isn't as phenomenal, however (I learned that pretty early on during my undergrad career dining here). Definitely expect a wait if you're going on a morning during the weekend! Depending on the amount of people in your party it can be anywhere from 20-40 minutes. Their best dishes are the Salmon Bruschetta, the Molettes, and the Spanish Frittata. If you come early enough, they might still have some of their delicious scratch-made biscuits left for you (they run out quickly)! Their potatoes that come with any of "Our Old Favorites" choices are also great, and if you decide to go for an omelet, don't worry - they don't skimp out on the fillings you choose! My boyfriend recently had their Tofu Scramble as well and he loved it. While you're paying your bill at the register, don't forget to snag some of the freshly-baked desserts at the counter baked from Bollos Cafe down the street! I've been a loyal Gillies fan for the past 5 years and haven't been disappointed. I hope you join the fanclub soon! :)
(4)Alexander C.
Atmosphere and Delicious Food Some people complain about the service here, but I haven't had any issues in the 4 years I've eaten here. I think their eclectic wait staff and decor are a nice touch for a vegetarian restaurant in a college town. There are MANY vegetarian options plus wine and beer selections. They have delicious breads and desserts from their sister coffee shop, Bollo's Bakery. I've had some of the most delicious salads, soups, and wraps I've had anywhere. The Nut Sure salad is DE-LICIOUS!!! And my favorite wrap there is the Peanut Tofu Wrap with a side of chips and salsa. Additionally, Gillie's features a rotating show of artists on the walls of their fine establishment. They also have live music weekly. It's a wonderful tie-in for a city so full of artists and musicians.
(4)Cydney W.
Their brunch is amazing. I got an omlette. My father got pancakes which were amazing. But be ready to face long wait times.
(4)Ali L.
Red Earth is a great breakfast here...salsa over eggs and their famous potatoes. Very tasty place, kind of holier-than-thou hipster, but whatever. They do not have bloody mary's or mimosas here, so expect to drink some of their yummy coffee or juice. They have specials which is also nice. This place is a veggie place. Meaning, there is no meat. Some reviewers talk about the fish but in my 11 years at Blacksburg I've never visited them when they offered fish, and I've eaten there a lot. Funny story, my friend once brought bacon in her purse so she could eat bacon with her breakfast. The waitstaff had a conniption. They were so dramatic and declared they would now have to "throw the plate away". Really? Then when she did not leave a large tip, the waiter chased her down the street, complaining. So the moral of the story is do not allow friends to BYOB (Bring your own bacon)???
(4)Ngoc P.
Yum Banana walnut French toast and fresh orange juice. My cup was chipped but the waiters were nice and would replace it right away
(3)James L.
I was turned off by this place when I found out It was a veggie joint, but I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was, I had the salmon hash during their brunch hours and I have to say it was pretty delicious. The service was really good the staff were very friendly and I will go back for more.
(4)Shirin D.
If you want to have bread soaked in oil, just order one of their vegeterian dishes. I have never had such a greasy meal before.
(2)Chloe R.
If you're into a laid back atmosphere, yet looking for a charming place to take your date out, this is the place. Guys, beware; most girls love it, because the menu's mainly vegetarian- or seafood- based. ::cough:: I'm in love with their menu. Brunch is definitely worth going for the food and the experience!
(4)Justin H.
Quinoa chick pea burger, Tofu Reuben and vegan chili were awesome! Amazing flavors and good, friendly service. Great lunch stop!!! A must visit!
(5)k h.
I really wanted some poached eggs, but it guess they stop serving breakfast relatively early for me (10, I think). Such a bummer since it seems like this place shines above all others in the brunch department. I decided on some pasta dish and it was okay. The garlic bread was hard as a rock. Good service if you don't mind hipsters. I would probably go back earlier and have something else.
(3)Joe D.
One of my all around favorites in Blacksburg! Nice, welcoming atmosphere, really hearty and healthy food that is usually really delicious! The brunch is my favorite in town, love the smoked salmon bruschetta, and the omelets and breakfast burritos are usually really yummy. The catfish sub is a winner, as is their red coleslaw with the nice hint of sesame oil. Just a comfy place that feels a lot like home cooking. Can get overly crowded for Sunday brunch...especially a pain when the students are all still around, but that's not their fault...a real treat in the summer though!
(4)Jacob C.
I went to Gillie's with my buddy when I was visiting him in Blacksburg recently. He suggested it as a good place to grab breakfast, and I'm so glad that he did. It has a cool college town vibe to it (including the mostly vegetarian and vegan inspired menu) and getting to sit outside on a beautiful Saturday morning is always a plus. There's no meat on the breakfast menu at Gillies, but for me that was no problem. I got the Red Earth, which was two scrambled eggs on a bed of potato's, topped with fresh salsa and served with an airy, homemade buttermilk biscuit. A filling meal to say the least, it was flavorful and fresh without being too much food. I can see how this place would be a popular joint with the Virginia Tech students when class is in session, an excellent array of interesting food at an affordable price tag that left me satisfied and ready to take on the day.
(4)Alida H.
I came here for breakfast with my room mates because I have heard so many good things about it, and was definitely not disappointed. I ordered the 850 Eldorado Omelet with spinach, artichoke and onion and one of room mates ordered the salmon bruschetta. We split both evenly amongst ourselves. The omelete was amazing! it was fluffy, flavorful, cooked to perfection, and whatever cheese they used was also melty and delicious. The biscuit was a little on the dry side that morning, but the potatoes were on point. I don't understand what made the potatoes so delicious... but they were like crack---addicting. The salmon bruschetta was also delicious. I definitely recommend it. The restaurant itself was VERY busy. It took a while for our orders to be taken because they were packed, and there were only two servers that also worked as bussers, but once we ordered, it did not take too long for the food to come out. (10-15 minutes?) All in all, it was a great experience, and I cannot wait to go back for that bruschetta!
(4)Charlotte G.
This was a great find! I was in town just for the night and came across this place - what a treat! I ate with three other people - and everyone enjoyed their meal. I had the Tofu Gado-Gado, which was delicious - tofu in a peanut sauce with thai basil, jasmine rice and veggies. Husband got the catfish and cheddar grits, which made him very happy. Our waitress was super nice and helpful, and we even chatted a bit with chefs behind the line. I love an open kitchen! Only thing is they close so early ! We shut down the place at barely 10 PM.
(4)Katie N.
My husband and I stopped here on the recommendation of a friend. We were in town on business and this was actually my first time visiting Blacksburg! I was so excited to try Gillies after my friend hyped it up, and it definitely lived up to all of my expectations! We came for breakfast and it was PACKED, but it didn't take long to get a table. I had a breakfast bowl with eggs, potatoes, salsa, and cheese. The salsa was a little too tomatoey and acidic for my taste, but I thought the potatoes were absolutely perfect. The biscuit that came with it was also amazing! It was huge and fluffy. My husband had an omelette, which I tried, and that was also delicious. If we ever make it back, I'll definitely have to try that!
(4)Joshua D.
Best breakfast in Blacksburg. No, best breakfast in southwestern Virginia! I dream of going back to Blacksburg and nomming here before a football game. Try the burrito.
(5)Pam G.
We stopped into Gillies for breakfast while visiting the Virginia Tech campus for freshman orientation and the food was delicious! The menu has some unusual options, not just your every day breakfast offerings, which was nice. I had the red earth, which is scrambled eggs over breakfast potatoes and covered in salsa. The biscuit that came with my eggs was outstanding. Light and fluffy and a mile high and the salsa on my eggs was obviously made fresh in house. Their breakfast potatoes are very good and our service was excellent. Another bonus, if you ask for hot sauce, it's sriracha! There was a LOT of salsa on my egss, but other than that, everything was great!
(4)Susan S.
I should have gone there earlier. I finally went to Gillie's the day I was leaving Blacksburg for breakfast. The place was completely PACKED so it's a very popular breakfast joint. It was also a construction zone when I went so somewhere like 1/4 of the seating couldn't be used. It was frustrating. There wasn't much communication as to how long the wait would be and there really wasn't anywhere to wait so it was strange. I didn't realize it was a vegan/vegetarian place until we got there. You definitely pay for that. The food was good. The belgian waffle was good. The stuffed french toast was good. Being a meatatarian, I just wish they had bacon or sausage, but certainly understand why they didn't. There were only two or so really small tables outside so the outdoor seating isn't much.
(3)Deborah H.
I have been repeatedly disappointed in this place. The quality of the food is up and down. Getting a hot cup of tea is a challenge. One time the sauce on my eggs tasted bottled. Another time the vegetable stir fry was way over done and salted. I have experienced so much better vegetarian food around the country so I have to say they would benefit from a relook at the food and a redo of many of their recipes.
(2)Stephanie S.
By far the best breakfast/brunch in all of Blacksburg. Reasonably priced and great quality food! Lunch is decent as well, but dinner is just okay. There's absolutely NOTHING wrong with Gillies, but while breakfast there is OUTSTANDING, the rest is just alright. Whatever they have there as a special is usually awesome. They cook with fresh ingredients and everything tastes great. They also have a large juicer and can make you a juice from fresh fruits (never frozen).
(4)Julia S.
I love Gillie's!! This is hands-down my favorite restaurant in Blacksburg for a nice meal. Their brunch is too good for words, but I've been to dinner once, too, and it was amazing as well! Such an interesting selection of dishes that vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike can enjoy. Just be warned: it takes a while to pick what you want from their extensive and mouth-watering menu :)
(5)Madeline H.
Gillie's is best known for their breakfast and live music. It is all vegetarian, but with some fish options. For breakfast, since I am not a huge egg person, I typically get the Salmon Bruschetta, which is very good. It still upsets my boyfriend that Gillies does not serve REAL maple syrup. Gillies skimps on a lot of the little details - such as jams in store-bought packets and "fresh squeezed orange juice" served cold (?). I think Gillies should really try to be almost completely locally sourced food, rather than just offering (currently) local spinach from Greenstar Farms. I am pretty sure most of their clientele would appreciate the shift and be happy to pay a bit more for a truly "local" experience. Service is hit or miss, some are great, some are off-putting. I am thankful to have Gillies though because there are not many other decent places within walking distance of campus! I just think they could do better. Favorites: Soups of the day, Salmon Bruschetta, and the Seitan Mushroom Burger
(4)HijabMan H.
A solid place to eat in BBurg. For breakfast, I recommend the Red Earth. For dinner, the catfish is nice, and today they had a special with seitan & penne -- called the Babylon.
(5)Olive O.
This gets a five star on some menu items but the service is bitchy sometimes. You have to be alert; you never know when PMS is in this joint. So, if you are tolerant of rudeness at random times and peace, love, and freedom at others...the food is awesome! Go for the whole wheat banana french toast or the Chappie''s! Oh...and don't ask for meat or you ask for them to bitch. Read the sign...vegetarian folks ;-)
(3)Robbie B.
Really good service, laid back place, often have live music. Food is consistently solid, girl loves the place for date nights. Good location.
(5)Jacob P.
Gillie's lunches are the best -- I *always* get a special. It's usually veg'd comfort food. Breakfasts are always busy, but also great. When I have visitors in B'burg, I take them to Gillie's.
(5)Brian S.
Uuhhhh like an orgy on my face. So good. B-burg is awesome sauce, and this place has some of that awesome sauce. I went here twice in one weekend.
(5)Emily W.
Everyone raves about Gillie's for breakfast, but I've only been for dinner, which I can only guess is just as great. This place is a gem for those with alternative diets, vegan and vegetarian dishes as well as seafood, but don't think for a second if you usually eat meat that you won't enjoy the food here! The restaurant even sells natural drinks and sodas, which you won't find many other places, and their desserts come from a local shop down the street.
(5)Amanda P.
O Gillie's, how I love thee. Gillie's has the best breakfast in Blacksburg, possibly in the entire NRV. One semester, I went there for breakfast every Monday after my 8 AM lecture. I usually had the Molletes and the iced herbal tea, but sometimes I switched it up and got the Gillie's Special with tofu instead of eggs. It was all delicious. They serve mostly vegetarian food, with some seafood, and you can substitute tofu and/or soy cheese to make many dishes vegan. There's brunch on the weekends, served til early afternoon. If you go during brunch, expect to wait for a table--sometimes we've waited up to an hour. Don't worry, it's worth it.
(5)Matthew B.
I feel like a regular at this point and yet this is my first time reviewing this fine establishment. Gillies has a fantastic breakfast/brunch menu that has never disappointed me, nor the out of towners that I have brought time and time again. The juevos racheros have become my go to seeing as I am a fan of spicy things, and it brings together many great simple flavors to become the perfect brunch dish. The only reason this isn't a 5 star rating for me is the lack of meat in house, and I know I know, if you don't like how we do things "Get the F out of here," but aside from that it is the go to breakfast/brunch place in Blacksburg.
(4)Sean T.
Whether you need to satisfy your breakfast cravings or just to stare at hipsters, Gillie's is the place to go. I always get the 850 Eldorado Omelette, which is sort of a weird menu item because it's really just a standard omelette with your choice of 3 fillings so I don't really know what it makes it an "850 Eldorado Omelette" as opposed to just, you know, an omelette, but it's a pretty kickass omelette so maybe that's why. Their dinners are actually really good too, and it's funny that people don't seem to go there as much for dinner as they do for breakfast. I love their blackberry-glazed salmon, and their stir-fries can be pretty decent as well. The service is usually a little "meh", but it just depends- I've had great servers and not-so-great ones (the not-so-great ones usually look a little stoned or coked out, so that might explain it). Either way, Blacksburg restaurant service is never something to write home about, so you get kinda used to it. Go to Gillie's. Get the omelette or salmon. Make friends with a hipster. The End.
(4)Mike F.
When we go to visit our daughter at Virginia Tech, this is always a must go to for breakfast. My favorite dish is the banana walnut French toast. I love this dish. It's reasonable priced with plenty to eat and always delicious. Everything is fresh. If you've never been here before, get up early or you'll have to wait for your turn to sit. After you eat, you'll know why and you feel like it was worth the wait. Enjoy!
(5)Micah P.
I've never been to an actual vegetarian establishment until Gillie's. I heard good things and have been wanting to check out their brunch, but I ended up going during dinner time. I had the Moroccan Seitan Napolean and the presentation was beautiful and it tasted delicious. The seitan looked just like meat and I really couldn't believe I was eating a vegetarian dish. I also had a little bit of the Mushroom Seitan burger and the flavor was very apparent. The staff is also nice, friendly, and very helpful with their recommendations.
(4)Lisa Y.
My family and I had brunch here a couple days ago when we went down to drop my sister off at Tech. I had never been to Gillies during my own four years as a student at Tech, so it wasn't even on my list of places to eat. We had originally planned on just going to iHop for a quick breakfast, but then I saw the great reviews Gillie's had on Yelp, so we decided to give it a try. Everyone was VERY happy with the food, service, and coffee. Although it was a Saturday morning, we luckily didn't have to wait too long for our party of 3 to be seated. My mom and sister each ordered an omelet with the breakfast potatoes. The omelet was absolutely amazing and the breakfast potatoes were super addictive. The biscuits that came with their meals, however, were so-so. I don't think I'd order them separately. I got the Spanish Frittata and it was AMAZING. The combination of feta, potatoes, black olives.. Mmmmm! Delicious! We also ordered a plate of pancakes (not realizing how huge the portions are). The pancakes were huge and very fluffy. I am definitely looking forward to going back when I go to visit my sister!
(4)JJ L.
First visit had scrambles eggs with cheese and fresh spinach. Very good! Plenty of fresh coffee. I'll be back!
(4)Hokie H.
Great breakfast and decent prices! Their specials on the weekends for brunch are the best, but you have to get there early especially on football weekends! Their service used to be mediocre, but it has gotten much better.
(5)Blake H.
BRUNCH! usually a long wait but totally worth it
(4)David S.
Had breakfast alone on a Sunday (11/3/2013) at 10:30AM. The place was jam packed, as usual, so I found one spot at the bar. The wait staff is extremely efficient, and professional. Gillie was seen in his trademark Moto Guzzi t-shirt working behind the bar - and moving at a high rate of speed. I quickly had my order taken, waited 7-8 minutes and it was served: a small order of French Toast baguettes, a couple of eggs over-medium, and a Soysauge biscuit (soy rather than pork). The biscuit itself was old and hard as a rock, but the soysauge pattie was great. The French Toast was also great, the two sourdough baguette slices with maple syrup were cooked perfectly and were properly chewy with a great flavor. The two eggs were a bit well done but they were tasty nonetheless. The coffee was good and the service was snappy. The atmosphere is positively alive with laughs and great conversations everywhere I looked. The biscuit? Eh, if it happens again, I'll personally hand it to Gillie.
(4)Peter K.
I was a guest for breakfast during the recent graduation at VT. Breakfast at Gillie's was an absolute nightmare. The food was a reflection of the dirty clothing that the servers wear and not one of the waitresses will bring their filthy and soiled menus any other way than under their sweaty armpits. Personal hygine is is not required for people that work there. The attitude of our server (name unknown) but rather obese, was just as bad and unappetizing as the food. What is wrong with the Blacksburg Health Department to allow such a dirty place to be in business. ?
(1)Yizhou E.
Had a blackened fish sandwich here that made the whole table jealous. Very good food, even for a carnivore like myself. Only thing is the prices are a bit high for me.
(3)Karl M.
I love this place for breakfast. The French toast with walnuts and bananas is amazing. The omelets are fantastic, and the potatoes are to die for. I never thought I'd be such a fan of a vegetarian restaurant, but Gillie's is awesome! Gillie's frequently has live music in the evenings and is a great place to chill out and relax.
(5)R C.
Who doesn't love Gillie's?? They have freshly squeezed apple juice and biscuits to die for!!
(5)raewyn c.
I took my sister in for breakfast this past weekend while visiting. I had heard such good things about Gillies but we were so disappointed. The eggs and French toast were okay and the potatoes very good. But the so called "fresh" salsa was clearly made with canned stewed tomatoes. It was so gross that I scraped it all off. The service was as appalling as my canned salsa. The waitresses were snippy, inattentive and ours literally threw creamer at us when we asked for it. I realize it's sort of a hippy hang out but maybe the waitresses should shave their underarms if they want to wear tank tops and handle food.
(2)Kim T.
I love this place. I used to go here all the time when I was a student but now I still try to stop by whenever I go through the area. They have awesome vegetarian cuisine and you don't have to be vegan or a vegetarian to enjoy it. It can get crowded and sometimes you will have to wait for a table but it's worth it.
(5)Laura C.
The food was good but after I paid for brunch the waitress came out blatantly asked in front of multiple friends If I meant to pay only 10%. I was completely Facebookstunned and didn't know how to respond. She then ushered me in and told me that I needed to double my tip which would make it 20%. I did not think that the service of taking an order and refilling coffee cups was worth 20% so i tipped as I saw fit. understand that waitresses make less than minimum wage but do NOT tell me how much I need to tip as tipping is something based on a level of service and worked performed and is at the discretion of the consumer.
(1)Andi M.
My husband and I did not have the best experience when we ventured to Gillie's for breakfast one football weekend. Although they were very busy, service was quite good. The coffee and freshly-made juices were also good, though we would have loved espresso as an option. The worst part was the food. My breakfast burrito was a sloppy mess - not enough eggs, too many beans, and just overall too wet. My husband's huevo rancheros was also poorly executed - served on a bed of tortilla chips rather than on toasted bread or something more appetizing. Also, I realize this is a vegetarian restaurant, but really, no soy sausage options? That's pretty ridiculous. We may give them another shot, since there are so few options for breakfast in Blacksburg. They just would not be our first choice by any means.
(2)Fay H.
Best veggie burger I've had in years on the best bread I've possibly ever had. I only wish they had French fries too.
(4)Alan H.
Feeling lazy. Bottom Line: Don't bother coming here unless it's for breakfast/brunch. Every time I come here I order an omelette (it's made with 3 whole eggs, and stuffed full of 3 choices of fillings or you could get one off the menu) and it comes loaded with a heaping pile of crunchy-on-the-outside, chewy-on-the-inside delicious hash browns and the largest biscuit I have ever had in my life (come early or they run out of biscuits and give you honey texas toast, the biscuit was huge, like about the size of a softball). All of that is about $8-9, a bargain if you consider how high-quality the ingredients that go into the food are and how wonderfully and exact it's prepared. Go there in the morning when you're hungover, the hash browns alone will cure you.
(4)Pete and Mel R.
I like the atmosphere here. Nothing fancy, just down to earth people serving vegetarian food. The quality of what you get here depends on when you go. Gillie's is known for it's brunch, which is pretty good, but you often wait a while unless you get there early. I personally like the french toast (made with baguette slices) or the molletes, which are baguette toasts topped with spicy beans, tomato, and melted cheese. Lunch and dinner are a little bit more hit-or-miss. You can get some pretty good entrees, but they're highly variable. The fish is generally pretty good, but a bit expensive. The one thing that is always consistently good is the beer selection. They have a wide-variety of local and imported beer, many of which are hard to find in other restaurants.
(3)Jenna C.
Gillie's (pronounced with a G not a J sound) is vegetarian with fish. I always find this to be an oxymoron. However, I am glad that Gillie's also does fish because it fits. I've mainly gone for breakfasts, but I know their lunches are also super yummy. Gillie's makes everything fresh so they remind you that your food might take some time to prepare. Also, they run out of the fresh squeezed orange juice pretty fast during a weekend morning. On top of that, it's a small place, so you might have to wait a little while for a table. Luckily, the food is usually worth waiting for. The food is fresh... most breakfast dishes are served with their form of potatoes (kind of spicy home fries that are super yummy) and a biscuit (much to my horror because I hate biscuits). I know people that would kill for the french toast (made with either baguette or whole grain bread) but I prefer their omelets. They are made with three eggs and automatically come with white cheddar on them. Yesterday, I had what sounds like a dangerous combination but turned out to be the best omelet I've ever eaten: feta, fresh spinach, artichoke hearts, and smoked salmon. They also own Bollo's coffee shop, around the corner, and the two share a bakery. This means you will often see a large tray full of freshly baked bread walking down the street between the two restaurants. I always think that's neat. If you're visiting Virginia Tech, walk the block from campus and go here for breakfast. It's worth it.
(4)Geoffrey K.
Follies is good and unique semi-vegetarian cuisine. I haven't been there in a couple of months but they've always had th best breakfast in town. Good biscuits, good yogurt or scrambled eggs, good potatoes but the coffee - not so much. This last is surprising since the same people own a nice coffee shop. Service is okay but variable. I've never had an insulting waitress though in all my 15 plus years of eating there. The reviewers who complain about insulting service and bad food must have a hidden agenda. Cleanliness is just fine. Believe me, I've seen way worse (Sycamore). The atmosphere is college liberal which is what you'd expect in Blacksburg at a veggie restaurant. Again, the peoplebwho didn't like this must have a hidden or neocon agenda. We don're need them though, do we? NO! So, very good breakfast served a relaxed pace. Dinner I've had here @ five times. It costs much Kremlin but has always been very good. It's been a few years so I can't rate them on it. Overall, four stars for very good food and the best biscuits in town. Price is good if you keep to simple fair such as the 122 with tofu.
(4)Chef B.
Pescatarian with vegan and gluten free available. Almost absolutely nothing local, rarely organic. Biscuits that could sink a battleship from the bakery around the corner which makes the most delicious garbanzo bean bread I have had yet (or at least they used to be-I got one the other day that couldn't sink a bath toy). Craft and local beer. Music for all kinds. Great service. Food can surprise and disappoint. You will find something you like. Three services. Minimal patio. Get to the bar stool early on the weekends to secure your post and your endless refill mug closet to coffee pot. One of only two places in town to get a beer at 7 am on a weekday and without a funny look. The smoked salmon baguette lost the canned roasted red peppers, but upgraded to actual chunks of freshly smoked fish instead of the boring old lox. Look to the specials board for enlightenment and entertainment. Ask your server if they like what you are thinking about ordering. Ask all of the staff. Go often, get to know them (they are good people), get to know the food (hit or miss), find what you like, and tip accordingly. Here's a tip: it's meatless. 2.5/5
(2)Kris C.
On a visit from California, I was excited to finally eat at the legendary Gillie's. My boyfriend, a Virginia Tech alum, frequented this restaurant on a weekly basis when he was a student and I had heard so much about it. Gillie's is a no-frills, casual vegetarian restaurant with reasonable prices, plenty of variety, and good food. We ate the nachos and the tofu reuben. The nachos consisted of a heaping plate of tortilla chips, melted cheese, black olives, black beans and kidney beans, tomatoes, red peppers, and sour cream. It is large enough to share, and makes a wonderful appetizer or meal. The tofu reuben was phenomenal- a marinated slice of tofu, sauerkraut, and russian dressing sandwiched between two slices of homemade rye bread. The sandwich is served with a red cabbage and carrot slaw, lightly dressed in a sesame oil. My boyfriend has eaten his fair share of tofu reubens, and he says that the one at Gillie's is simply the best. I can see why my boyfriend was a Gillie's regular while he was at Virginia Tech. We are headed back to California tomorrow, but already, I can't wait until we return to Virginia so we can eat at Gillie's again.
(5)Kylie G.
Best breakfast in all of Blacksburg, and a very non-vegetarian friendly menu for lunch and dinner. Great prices and even better food. Definitely my favorite restaurant in Blacksburg.
(5)Mike K.
Pros: Best breakfast in town, great dinner too. The Smoked Henderson is great. Biscuits are amazing in the morning, as are the grits. Best coffee I've ever had, maybe. Cons: Crowded, often long waits on weekend mornings. Service can be bad due to the volume of customers. Pro-tip: Seats at the bar are first-come first-serve and often receive more attention due to being right in the face of the staff. Conclusion: Breakfast at Gillie's is a staple of downtown Blacksburg and everyone should go at least once.
(5)Tina M.
Gillie's is a Blacksburg staple. It's casual and eclectic. Sometimes, the service is great. Sometimes, it's not so great. The food, however, is usually very, very good. Breakfast is fantastic and their little outside tables are great for people-watching. I love their flavored iced tea too!
(4)Annie C.
One of my favorite breakfasts!
(4)Abi T.
When I rushed in from the snow to Gillie's, I felt warmer instantly because the place was full of happy faces, delicious smells and friendly chatter. It was very crowded and every table was filled or just vacated. There were only two servers covering all the tables, the bar, the register and doing their own bussing, so service was slow, but they seemed to be keeping their chins up despite the rush. I was booked to play music, which is why I was there, and so I set up in the window by the front door. I think some bands might have a good time playing here, and a lot of the people seemed happy that there was music, but really, it's not conducive to really paying attention to song-lyrics. There is just too much talking and clinking of knives and forks and the sound from the kitchen carries all the way across the restaurant. But still I was grateful for the folks who made a point to sit up front, have a couple of drinks, listen to some songs and buy a CD. And for the tip envelopes right on each table. It was nice at the end of the night to find that all the diners had appreciated me! After the gig, I chose a bottle from the great beer selection and ordered Nori-crusted tofu with a soba noodle cake and wasabi aoili that was excelent. I think there was a vegetable with it, but I can't remember now. Super-yummy, though. The woman I was staying with suggested that Gillie's was the best place in town for breakfast, so we went back the next day. Again, only 2 servers rushing around the place and it took us quite a while to get coffee. But I ordered the Frittata with feta, artichoke hearts, spinach, potatoes, tomatoes and olives. I got an extra biscuit on the side, thinking eggs and veggies wouldn't be enough. I was expecting all those toppings to be cooking inside the eggs, but instead it was served almost like a pizza, with an omelette for the crust, melted jack cheese, and then fresh veggies all over the top. Soooo good. It was huge and definitely would have been enough to eat on it's own, so don't feel that you need to order toast. Everyone I ate with suggested other favorite dishes, so I hope I get to go back and sample something else next time!
(4)Jai D.
Not sure why this place always gets high marks. But I will say I've only been once and it was enough to never make me go back. I went for brunch one weekend. The table I was seated at was dirty. It did not get cleaned off. The place was no where near packed, but service was horrible. The waitress wouldn't refill my water. When she finally did, she gave me warm water from the tap. I had to ask for more ice, and she literally gave me one piece which melted instantly in the warm water. My silverware was dirty. I found a hair in my eggs which were cold. And the whole experience took about 1 hour and a half! I could never bring myself to go back to this place.
(1)W. L.
One of the best breakfast spots in Blacksburg. I usually go on Sunday mornings - which means you have to get there while people are still in church. After church is out, the line spills out onto College Avenue. I get the Chappie's Choice every time.
(4)John K.
Food was bland. I'd rather cook my own breakfast than eat their crap.
(2)Leigh S.
My husband and I stopped at Gillie's for breakfast while on a road trip. Before I come off as a whiny vegan, let me first say that I'm always grateful for restaurants that offer vegan options. We were really happy to see several breakfast options marked as "can be made animal free". I was immediately bummed to find out there wasn't a vegan grits option or pancake option (so damn easy to make vegan), but we pressed on. Husband ordered the tofu scramble with home fries and soy milk, and I got a veganized version of some other thing that ended up looking exactly like my husband's dish, but with just cubed tofu. What bummed me out was the only vegan bread they offered was dry, toasted baguette slices. It seems like if you're going to specifically tout yourself as having vegan options, at least keep some vegan margarine on hand so us vegans don't have to nibble on dry white bread. The tofu "scramble" (actually cubed, not scrambled, but I know this can be a regional thing) was pretty good all slathered in BBQ sauce. The home fries were absolutely perfect. Super greasy and really awesome. We were brought room temperature soy milk along with ice filled glasses. The server told us that they didn't have any soymilk in stock, so they stepped out to get us some. A nice gesture, but I wonder why no soymilk? Not enough vegans in this college town? The service was friendly, and our bellies were filled and ready for our 10 hour drive back home. If I lived locally, I probably wouldn't be a regular at Gillie's, but it was a nice place to get a vegan bite while traveling.
(3)Philip C.
Excellent experience! We went for dinner while in Blacksburg, VA the other night and enjoyed a wonderful dinner and excellent service. Amazing food. It was so good we went back the next morning for breakfast. We ate at the bar and the service again was excellent. Never had to ask for coffee or water. I love this place and look forward to going again when in town. My only suggestion....staff should smile a bit more! Highly recommended!
(5)Chris B.
Great vegetarian food at fair prices. I'm no vegetarian and I love this place. Their breakfast cannot be beat!
(4)Sal G.
Truly delicious vegetarian fare in a world where meat reigns supreme (the South). Went here simply because I was visiting VT, and every other place nearby was a 'bar and grill' or crappy sandwich chain (subway-types). Expected mediocre food, but was pleasantly surprised. The burger, which was a mushroom-seitan-grain patty, was awesome, and the perfect texture. The bun was really good too, a multi-grain one I assume, and was perfectly toasted, providing a great textural combination with the patty. Herbed mayo was on it, but I saw the salad dressings on the menu, and got a side of lemon-tahini, which I added to the sandwich. Also has a mixed green salad, which contained many fresh lettuces and veggies, and a bowl of the chickpea-squash (butternut?) soup, which was also good. Really nice to be able to order carrot juice, as I downed the whole thing while waiting for my food. This place is a godsend in the Virginia countryside, and a true gem for all the conscious eaters going to Tech. Granted most students are probably meat-and-potatoes eaters, but with more and more college kids going vegetarian, it's just really nice to have veggie food of this quality, out in Blacksburg, which to me seems like the middle of nowhere (no offense). I live in the Bay Area CA, the self proclaimed mecca of vegetarian eating, and this place could stand up against the best of them. If you are a Tech student, and at all concerned about healthy eating, go here. If not, go get some wings or other pub fare at one of the generic grills around the corner. Nice going, guys.
(4)Stacy G.
Loved it!! Big thumbs up, had an awesome breakfast while here from out of town.
(5)Misono A.
This is definitely THE breakfast/brunch place to go to in downtown Blacksburg. They serve up the best Belgian waffles, and (from what I hear) have some good egg dishes as well, but they are known to have a lot of vegetarian and vegan options within their menu. It's always warm and cozy inside Gillie's, so it is perfect for a comforting meal and escape on a frigid Blacksburg day. It is always packed, especially so on weekends, though, which is my only gripe about the place.
(3)Brandon D.
If you ever want to challenge your stomach in the early morning just get any one of their incredibly killer omelets. These beasts will fill you up and leave your wallet full!
(5)Eileen O.
This is the place to go if you need tasty, light food. Their pita pizzas are excellent in the afternoon. Try out their specials for dinner. I especially love their breakfast on the weekends. Specifically, the potatoes with cheese and banana honey wheat french toast.
(4)Chuck F.
This is *the* go-to place for breakfast in Blacksburg. On football weekends, the wait is over an hour and still growing... There are vegan options and they will vegan-ize almost anything on the menu. My wife & I stop here every time we visit my old stomping grounds, and it's not just for breakfast! It has a friendly, warm atmosphere with live music most weekend nights - though its not usually a band - usually a guy with a guitar or something similar. Very quite and apropos.
(5)Lauryl S.
Been here several times. Great stuff! It's great that they serve seafood, so I could take my parents there and everyone ordered something they wanted. The food is creative without a hint of "Hey, let's make wasabi parmigiano reggiano ice cream with sunflower sprout pesto and a drizzle of pickle juice reduction on a nest of tempura granola bars, and see if it's innovative enough to be cool!"
(5)Dongbo W.
I don't understand why everyone in town loves Gillie's. The food is OK, but that's only if the line cook in the back competent and paying attention. When I go to a restaurant regularly, I often end up getting a few favorite dishes a lot of the time. At Gillies one out of three times I will get the scrambled tofu. The last few times it was not eatable, once it was burnt and another time it was burnt and they decided to put three times as much sauce to cover up the burnt taste. It was terrible, but it seems to be dependent on who they have cooking in the kitchen. If the cook is good, the food doesn't take a hugely long time and the food is decent, but if the cook isn't your food will take forever (I've waited over an hour at lunch) and it will be bad. It's OK but nothing special.
(2)Josh F.
In the late 90s I started eating here at Gillie's so often that I eventually applied for a job. I stopped by at Gillies on a cross-country road trip about a year ago; I hadn't been there since 2003. I was pleased to see the service is just as spotty, and the food is just as good. A Blacksburg landmark. Breakfast is always a winner here. Breakfast/brunch is vegetarian (vegan options), and generally on the greasy comfort food side. Tofu can typically be substituted for eggs. Expect a long wait and chaotic service on weekends, as this place gets packed. My breakfast favorite is the red earth - eggs (or tofu) on potatoes with salsa. The quality of lunch depends on who is cooking, but there are always lots of options. The veggie chili is what got me hooked on Gillies, best in a fresh bread bowl made next door. Lunch usually has seafood options here and there. This is really the time of day when Gillies becomes a hangout. Dinner is laid back, nice music, and an expanded lunch menu plus specials. The cooks on dinner are usually quite good. There is usually a seafood option.
(5)Aaron W.
One thing is for sure, everything on your plate will be brown. Consistently mediocre, which is above average in Blacksburg.
(3)Yan W.
The food and atmosphere here were absolutely great. It was indeed all that the folks said it would be like. I had my first real "southern grits" here and it was surprisingly pleasant to eat... especially with a lot of butter!. I also had a spinach and cheese omellete that was very well prepared. My only grip is that the place was packed. It was Sunday morning brunch, so it was no surprise. So my party had to be wedged in the back.
(3)Jeremy H.
Best breakfast in Blacksburg ... hands down. I'm not a fan of the lunch and dinner simply because I still like a piece of meat with a meal, but the breakfast is top-notch. Haven't had a thing I wouldn't eat again, including the pancakes and Chappie's Choice (eggs with white cheddar and thick cut potatoes). The whole atmosphere is nice, really - lots of ambient noise, laughter and smells. Great little spot downtown.
(4)Alex D.
Gillies will always be something I remember when I think of Blacksburg. Their weekend brunches are a ritual to be shared each week. It's worth waiting 30 min for a table in the freezing cold in the middle of Blacksburg winters to get a seat in the funky-cozy chic hippie bustle of activity that are Gillie's brunches. I pretty much have the menu memorized, and I could blabber on forever, but you've gotta get the potatoes and a biscuit. 122 is a good deal. Have the Gillies Special, or Huevos Rancheros and you don't need to eat the rest of the day. Also, I always milk the free coffee refills, it's excellent (co-op, ethically sourced shade grown organic Honduran coffee to be exact). Dinner is excellent. If you need a place to take a date, this is the best place in Blacksburg. You'll be able to have a conversation, and the atmosphere is nice, casual and can be romantic. Don't worry about it being vegetarian if you're a meat eater, they also offer seafood. Gillies lunch is also an excellent option, though not quite fast enough to pop in between classes. Don't miss out on their valentines day special. You have to reserve it a few weeks in advance, but you'll be treated to a fixed-price menu of hands down the best food in Blacksburg.
(5)Tom W.
Great breakfast. Great food. Neat atmosphere. My fav for breakfast. Heard lunch and dinner is good also.
(5)Tim B.
Oh, Blacksburg... For such a quaint college town it is surprisingly void of quaint restaurants. Gillies may be the one exception. The food was yummy and inexpensive. My only complaint: The staff acted as if they had been feasting on quaaludes--glazed eyes and murmured responses. Literally next door to a vibrant college campus you would expect a pool of energetic employs to choose from, however this place remains a blackhole of enthusiasm. 4 starts for the food, however.
(4)Callie B.
Spanish Fritata rocks my world. Oh, my boyfriend loves the breakfast spicy burrito... if only bacon was vegitarian. Also, I'm a big fan of the smoke-freeness of the place and enough hippies to make me feel like I'm back in Colorado.
(5)J S.
Don't let the prices fool you, the servings are huge. Definitely some tasty breakfast items to be tried. We tried the pancakes and the French toast and were very satisfied. Don't expect to find bacon or sausage here, it's a vegetarian restaurant - if you didn't already know. Split an order of the breakfast potatoes, it's big enough for two people. For that matter, if you get the pancakes just get two, they are huge.
(4)Gene S.
I went to Blacksburg to see a buddy of mine who lives there and he recommended we go to Gillie's for brunch, well...after eating there I insisted on going back the next two mornings in a row! A great place for a veggie guy to have breakfast! I only wish we had a Gillie's up in Northern VA!!! Miss you guy's every morning!!! I'll be back soon!
(5)Laura M.
Gillie's is pretty cool. A number of pescetarian, vegetarian, and vegan choices are offered in this funky little restaurant where dried beans and steamy fern terraria form part of the decor. I tried my first helping of seitan here (the Moroccan seasoned entree) and found it to be a chewier, heartier meat substitute than tofu. Served with a cold local Virginia brew to cut the spiciness, it was just right for a summer dinner. Portion was a little small for this $12 meal, but it filled me up. Our server was friendly and recommended things for us to try, and I could get behind the place's politics (large posters on the wall advocating against the coming of a new Super Walmart).
(4)Kevin M.
This place is great, especially for breakfast. The crowds can be tough anytime (breakfast or when there is live music). Before moving to town, everyone told me that I had to go. Really the only pure vegetarian restaurant option in the Burg.
(4)Eric L.
Great place for breakfast! I'm not a vegetarian, but this offers a great alternative to the norm. Plus, the place is very quaint, and the service was excellent.
(4)Elizabeth M.
My husband found a mop string baked into a biscuit he was served at breakfast. Even the waitstaff was mortified...biting in and finding string sticking out. Gross, we all lost our appetites after that, as you can imagine. Aside from this, I thought the food was ok prior...but question the cleanliness of the kitchen and why no ice in my water? It is hard for us to eat here after such a disgusting experience.
(2)Linsey M.
NB: My ratings are scaled for Blacksburg. Five stars here is equivalent to about three stars in the San Francisco Bay Area. Ah, a little slice of Berkeley in Blacksburg. Gillie's serves vegetarian (and some fish) breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. It is probably the best restaurant in town, in terms of creative and tasty dishes. Breakfast is superb, and I have gained a new appreciation for large fluffy buttermilk biscuits that I slather with quality jam sneaked (snuck?) in from home. I almost always opt for Red Earth (~$5 in 2008): scrambled eggs intermixed with spicy red potatoes and topped with salsa. The eggs are never dry or clumpy, the potatoes are usually perfectly tender and crispy on the outside, and the spicing can vary from medium to salty. Other varieties such as Chappie's Choice (cheese but no salsa) are similarly excellent. The tofu scramble is another good breakfast option. It's an enormous pile of tofu baked in a barbecue-style sauce. Lunches are also very good. My standard is the tofu reuben, although the specials are usually imaginative and tasty, too. For a southern-style breakfast, Gillie's even outperforms a spot that the New York Times raved about in Charleston, SC.
(5)Mary L.
A vegetarian's dream! There is a variety of unique entrees and appetizers to choose from and they also offer seafood as well. The brunch here is legendary and all their food is made with the freshest ingredients so that you can taste the quality in every bite. They also cook using olive oil so you can expect your meal to be healthy as well. Good choice if you're up for trying something new.
(3)Aparna B.
i used to always come to gillie's and get a glass of fresh pear juice with a bit of lemon. the juices are definitely the highlight of the menu, the rest of which is hit or miss. the specials tend to be more imaginative and fun, but are also more pricey. gillie's is also one of the few places where i've eaten fake tuna done well (in a wrap as a lunch special). the restaurant gets super crowded for brunch on the weekends and can mean a fairly long wait for a table.
(4)