Tucked away along Catawba Valley Drive in a charming 1907 farmhouse, The Homeplace in Catawba, Virginia has become one of the most talked-about restaurants in the entire state. People drive for hours just to get a seat at this family-style Southern restaurant, and the wait is almost always worth it.
With heaping platters of fried chicken, homemade biscuits, and classic sides served right to your table, it feels less like dining out and more like Sunday supper at grandma’s house. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a longtime fan, here are 13 reasons why fried chicken lovers across Virginia simply cannot stop raving about The Homeplace.
The Legendary Fried Chicken That Started It All
Some dishes just have a way of stopping conversation at the table — and the fried chicken at The Homeplace is exactly that kind of food. Reviewers consistently call it the standout favorite, with one family of 12 declaring it the highlight of their entire Memorial Day weekend trip to the Roanoke area.
The chicken arrives golden, crispy on the outside, and impressively juicy on the inside — especially impressive for pieces that can easily dry out during cooking. One guest noted it was “amazingly juicy” for a cut that typically struggles to stay moist.
When the fryers broke down one evening, guests were genuinely disappointed — proof of just how central this dish is to the whole experience. If you visit The Homeplace for only one reason, let it be this chicken.
It earns every bit of its legendary reputation.
A Historic 1907 Farmhouse Setting Unlike Any Other
Walking up to The Homeplace feels like stepping back in time. The restaurant is housed in a beautiful 1907 farmhouse that gives the whole experience a warmth and authenticity that no modern dining room could replicate.
The setting alone is worth the drive through the Virginia countryside.
Guests waiting for a table can relax on the front porch, swing in the gazebos, or simply soak in the peaceful rural scenery. One reviewer described it as “a nicer place to wait” they could not imagine.
That says a lot about how special the environment feels even before you sit down to eat.
The property also features Highland Cows — sometimes called “Coo Cows” — that guests love watching while they wait. Multiple reviewers mentioned the farm setting as a genuine bonus, adding a memorable and charming layer to the overall dining adventure.
Family-Style Dining That Brings People Together
There is something genuinely special about a restaurant that serves food the way your family does at home — big bowls passed around the table, everyone helping themselves, no one going hungry. That is exactly the spirit behind The Homeplace’s family-style dining model.
You choose one, two, or three meats, and then the kitchen sends out generous portions of sides like mashed potatoes, green beans, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, corn, and homemade biscuits. Bowls get refilled as you eat, keeping the table full and the mood relaxed.
One reviewer summed it up perfectly: “The family-style, all-you-can-eat experience where food continues being brought to the table until you are full is something unique that very few restaurants successfully accomplish anymore.” For groups of friends, families, or anyone craving a communal meal, this format makes every visit feel like a celebration.
Homemade Biscuits Worth Every Single Bite
Ask almost any regular at The Homeplace what they dream about between visits, and biscuits will come up fast. These are not the kind of biscuits you pull from a can — they arrive warm, fluffy, and golden, with just the right amount of butter baked right in.
Paired with the house apple butter, they become something close to magical. One reviewer specifically called out the biscuits as one of only two items that taste truly homemade and excellent, saying they alone made the wait worthwhile.
Another guest mentioned asking specifically for a fresh batch after noticing another table received theirs first.
The biscuits set the tone for the whole meal — simple, honest, and made with care. If you arrive hungry, the moment that basket hits your table, you will understand exactly why people keep coming back to this little farmhouse in Catawba.
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy That Taste Like Home
Mashed potatoes might sound simple, but getting them right is an art form — and The Homeplace has clearly mastered it. Multiple reviewers singled out the mashed potatoes and gravy as a personal favorite, with one guest saying it was the dish they enjoyed the most out of everything on the table.
The semi-lumpy texture is intentional and appreciated. It signals that these are real, made-from-scratch potatoes, not something reconstituted from a box.
Topped with a warm, savory gravy, they are the kind of comfort food that feels like a hug on a plate.
One reviewer was so enthusiastic about this dish that they mentioned it specifically by name as their top pick, even ahead of the meats. When a side dish earns that kind of praise, you know the kitchen is doing something right.
Do not skip these when you visit.
Three Meats to Choose From — All Crowd Favorites
One of the most fun decisions you will make at The Homeplace is choosing your meats. The menu offers fried chicken, Virginia country ham, and roast beef — each one a classic of Southern cooking and each one beloved by loyal regulars.
The fried chicken tends to steal the spotlight, but do not overlook the others. The country ham brings a salty, smoky depth that pairs beautifully with the buttery biscuits.
The roast beef, meanwhile, has its own fans — one reviewer specifically called it out as a favorite that kept them coming back even when other dishes fell short of expectations.
Choosing all three is absolutely an option, and many guests go that route without regret. The variety keeps the meal exciting from start to finish, making sure everyone at the table finds something they love.
It is Southern abundance done right.
The Wait List System That Changed Everything
For years, getting a table at The Homeplace meant showing up, adding your name to a physical list, and then waiting — sometimes for hours. That experience, while charming in its own way, could be a real challenge for families driving long distances.
The new owners have smartly updated the process.
Guests can now join the waitlist directly through the restaurant’s website before they even leave home. One longtime fan drove 45 minutes to the restaurant and found their table ready the moment they arrived, thanks to the online system.
They called it the best change of the reopening.
An electronic notification system has also replaced the old outdoor speaker setup for most guests. These upgrades make the experience feel more modern without losing any of the old-school Southern charm.
For anyone who avoided The Homeplace because of long waits, now is the perfect time to give it another try.
Warm, Friendly Staff Who Make You Feel at Home
Great food matters, but the people serving it can make or break a dining experience. At The Homeplace, the staff has earned their own fan following.
Reviewers regularly mention servers by name — Tammy, LeighAnn, and Addy all received glowing shoutouts in recent reviews.
One guest described LeighAnn as having “boundless energy with the desire to please,” checking back countless times throughout the meal. Another reviewer was touched by how staff greeted and said goodbye to every guest, even those not assigned to their section, even during the busiest rushes.
Addy, a server on her very first day on the job, was described as outstanding — pleasant, attentive, and friendly from the start. When a restaurant can produce that kind of warmth from a brand-new team member, it says everything about the culture being built at The Homeplace.
Service here feels genuinely personal.
A Porch and Property Perfect for the Wait
Waiting for a table at most restaurants means staring at your phone in a cramped lobby. At The Homeplace, the wait is practically part of the attraction.
The sprawling farmhouse property gives guests plenty of space to spread out and enjoy themselves while their name moves up the list.
The front porch is lined with swings and rocking chairs, perfect for soaking in the fresh mountain air of the Catawba Valley. Lawn games like cornhole are set up for guests who want to stay active.
One reviewer mentioned enjoying a game with their spouse, calling it just like old times.
Then there are the Highland Cows — shaggy, lovable, and endlessly entertaining for kids and adults alike. Multiple guests specifically mentioned the cattle as a highlight of the visit.
When your wait time becomes a fond memory in itself, you know the restaurant has done something truly special.
Reopening After COVID With the Same Soul Intact
When The Homeplace closed during the COVID era, it felt like losing a piece of Virginia’s dining heritage. For many families, this restaurant had been a beloved tradition for decades — a place tied to birthdays, reunions, and ordinary Sunday evenings made extraordinary.
The closure left a real hole in the community.
The reopening under new ownership in 2025 brought an outpouring of emotion from loyal fans. One reviewer admitted being “mortified” when it closed and “overjoyed” at the news of its return.
Another described the resurrection as long overdue, noting that the original menu and recipes had been preserved.
“Almost nothing has changed,” wrote one returning regular — and that was meant as the highest possible compliment. The new owners have clearly understood what made The Homeplace matter to so many people.
Keeping that spirit alive while modernizing a few operations is no small achievement.
Homemade Desserts That Seal the Deal
After a meal this generous, you might think dessert is out of the question. Think again.
The Homeplace offers homemade desserts for a small additional charge, and guests who skip them often leave with a touch of regret when they hear what others ordered.
Banana pudding has emerged as a particular fan favorite since the reopening. One longtime visitor who had been coming for decades wrote that they had no memory of the restaurant ever offering banana pudding before — and called it absolutely outstanding.
That kind of pleasant surprise is what keeps people talking long after the meal ends.
Dessert at The Homeplace is not a grand production — it is simple, honest, and made with real ingredients. After heaping plates of chicken, biscuits, and sides, a bowl of something sweet and homemade feels like the perfect final note to a truly memorable Southern meal.
A Destination for Appalachian Trail Hikers and Road-Trippers
The Homeplace sits in a part of Virginia that draws outdoor adventurers from across the East Coast. The Appalachian Trail runs nearby, and Dragon’s Tooth — one of the most popular hikes in the region — is just a short drive away.
Hungry hikers have discovered that this farmhouse restaurant is the perfect reward after a long day on the trail.
One reviewer, currently thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, stopped in and declared it the best food they had eaten on the entire journey so far. That is high praise from someone eating their way across multiple states.
The all-you-can-eat format is practically designed for people who have burned thousands of calories on a mountain.
Road-trippers passing through the Roanoke area have also caught on. The combination of scenic countryside, a legendary meal, and that cozy farmhouse atmosphere makes The Homeplace a worthy detour from any travel route through western Virginia.
Why This Unassuming Spot Has Earned Its Cult Following
Cult followings are not built overnight. They are earned through years of consistency, community, and a genuine sense of place.
The Homeplace has all three in abundance, and its 4.8-star rating across over a thousand reviews tells the story of a restaurant that has deeply connected with the people it serves.
What makes it stand out is not flash or novelty — it is the opposite. This is a place that serves honest food in a beautiful old house, treats every guest like a neighbor, and asks nothing more of you than to sit down, eat well, and enjoy the company around you.
Guests drive from across Virginia and beyond, some making it an annual tradition, others visiting for the first time and immediately planning their return. At 4968 Catawba Valley Drive, something quietly extraordinary has taken root.
And once you experience it for yourself, you will completely understand why no one can stop talking about it.
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