Some lunches are about more than food, and a grilled cheese at a real counter is one of them. Virginia still has a handful of spots where shakes are mixed to order and sandwiches come off a flat grill the old-fashioned way.
These four places stretch from Fredericksburg to Floyd, and each one keeps a slice of the past on the menu. Save this list for your next road trip and bring a friend who likes a good shake.
1. Goolrick’s, Fredericksburg, VA
Downtown Fredericksburg has plenty of history, and some of it comes with a straw. Goolrick’s sits at 901 Caroline Street as a historic diner and pharmacy, keeping its old soda fountain layout and short-order counter in place.
The menu stays simple on purpose. Expect lunch counter sandwiches like grilled cheese and bologna, plus classic milkshakes in flavors such as peach and strawberry.
Nobody comes here for a fancy plate. People come for a straightforward sandwich and a shake at a counter that has not chased trends, and that is exactly the charm.
Plan on roughly $10 to $20 per person. Hours run 11 AM to 7 PM Monday through Saturday and 11 AM to 4 PM on Sunday.
Thursday and Friday afternoons get busy, along with most of Saturday. Free street parking is available, though finding a spot on Caroline Street can take a lap or two.
2. Pop’s Ice Cream & Soda Bar, Roanoke, VA
Grilled cheese gets a gourmet upgrade on Memorial Avenue in Roanoke. Pop’s Ice Cream & Soda Bar pairs fresh grilled cheese sandwiches with homemade soups, cakes, and a long lineup of Homestead Creamery ice cream flavors.
The sodas are the real conversation starter. Each one is made to order the old way, with syrup and seltzer, and there are more than a dozen flavors to mix and match.
Milkshakes round out the classic side of the menu. If you want to go big, The Royal Banana Split is a signature pick.
The space is casual and kid-friendly, with counter seating and tables. It works for a solo lunch or a group outing, and takeout and delivery are options too.
Pop’s is closed Monday and Tuesday. It opens 11 AM to 9 PM Wednesday through Saturday and noon to 8 PM on Sunday, with Saturday afternoons drawing the biggest crowd.
3. Floyd Country Store, Floyd, VA
In a Blue Ridge town of fewer than 500 people, the Floyd Country Store serves as the main street anchor. It combines a restaurant, a classic soda fountain, and a country store with apparel, candy, and gifts under one roof.
Grilled cheese and tomato soup make a reliable lunch here. The country bowl, with collards, pinto beans, and cornbread, is another hearty choice.
Over at the fountain, the lineup includes specialty soda floats, milkshakes, malts, and sundaes. Old-school bottles like Nehi grape soda add to the throwback mood.
I’d plan a visit for a Friday or Saturday if possible. The store hosts live music and dancing on select days, which turns lunch into an afternoon.
Hours vary by day, so check before heading out. It is closed Monday, and Friday runs latest at 10 PM.
Free lot and street parking make arrival easy.
4. Wright’s Dairy-Rite, Staunton, VA
Picking up a vintage landline to order lunch is part of the fun at Wright’s Dairy-Rite. Booths come with 1960s and 70s era phones, so you can call in your order right from the table.
Prefer the counter or the car? Both work, since this Staunton drive-in offers counter service, drive-up ordering, and takeout.
Thick, creamy milkshakes are the headliner. Sandwiches including grilled cheese share the menu with burgers, chicken tenders, and fries.
Save room for homemade desserts like strawberry delight. A kids’ menu and high chairs make it easy for families.
Hours are 10 AM to 9 PM Monday through Saturday and 11 AM to 9 PM Sunday. Weekend afternoons and Friday evenings fill up, but parking is usually plentiful.
Enjoyed this story?
Add Fast Food Club as a preferred source to see more of our reporting on Google.