Pennsylvania to Louisiana- I-81 & I-59

Moving to New Orleans and taking suggestions for great places to eat along the way! We're taking 81 and 59 for a long portion of the trip!
 
Let two young foodies in on the good places to eat :-)

I assume you'll also be on sections of I-40, I-75 and I-24?
That takes you thru Roanoke, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Hattiesburg and Slidell and many other towns too numerous to mention.
Suggest you use the search function on here and enter these cities individually and you will pull up HUNDREDS of places with reviews, both Pro & Con.
You will not go hungry I assure you.
 I envy you. You're going from the great Middle European foods of Easten PA to the great Cajun/Creole foods of LA while eating some good Southern foods along the way.
You will be true connoisseurs of some of America's best eats! 

On your way S on I 81 you will have a lot of options for road food. You may just want to stop for a rest and a cold drink. The Naked Oyster is a great place for lunch/dinner at Winchester at Exit 313.
Naked Oyster @ 2444 Valley Avenue, Winchester, VA 540 - 678 - 0778.
http://www.thenakedoysterwinchester.com/
At Stephens City is Butcher Block BBQ @ Exit 264. Just down I 81 a few miles at New Market is Southern Kitchen serving outstanding country food for breakfast, lunch and dinner at Exit 264.
Butcher Block BBQ @ 131 Town Run Lane, Stephens City, VA 540 - 869 - 4141.
http://www.butcherblockbuffet.com/
Southern Kitchen @ 9576 South Congress St., New Market, VA 540 - 740 - 3514.
Harrisonburg has quite a few fine restaurants convenient to I 81. There are BBQ Ranch, Calley's Restaurant and Brewing Co. for good BBQ also, Dave's Downtown Tavern for good food and drinks, Donna Rosa for good Mexican, Jess' Quick Lunch, Joshua Wilton House Inn and Restaurant, Little Grill for breakfast, Local Chop and Grill House for fine dining, Smoking Pig BBQ and Village Inn.
BBQ Ranch @ 3311 N Valley Pike, Harrisonburg, VA 540 - 434 - 3296.
Cally's Restaurant and Brewing Co. @ 41 A Court Square, Harrisonburg, VA 540 - 434 - 8777.
http://www.callysbrewing.com/
Dave's Downtown Taverna @ 121 S. Main St., Harrisonburg, VA 540 - 564 - 1487.
http://www.davestaverna.com/
Dona Rosa @ 43 Linda Lane, Harrisonburg, VA 540 - 442 - 7672.
Jess' Quick Lunch @ 22 S. Main St., Harrisonburg, VA 540 434 - 8282.
Joshua Wilton House @ 412 South Main St., Harrisonburg, VA 540 - 434 - 4464.
http://joshuawilton.com/
Little Grill @ 621 North Main St., Harrisonburg, VA 540 - 434 - 3594.
http://littlegrillcollective.com/
Local Chop and Grill House @ 56 West Gay St., Harrisonburg, VA 540 - 801 - 0505.
http://www.localchops.com/
Smoking Pig @ 56 East Wolfe St., Harrisonburg, VA 540 - 433 - 3917.
The Village Inn @ 4979 South Valley Pike - S Main St., Harrisonburg, VA 540 - 434 - 7355.
http://www.thevillageinn.travel/
Staunton is just W of I 81 and a very nice town also. It's home to Mrs. Rowe's country food breakfast, lunch and dinner, Wright's Dairy Rite, Staunton Grocery for casual fine lunch/brunch/dinner and The Depot Grill.
Mrs. Rowe's Family Restaurant @ 74 Rowe Rd., Staunton, VA 540 - 886 - 1833.
http://www.mrsrowes.com/
Wright's Dairy Rite @ 346 Greenville Ave., Staunton, VA 540 - 886 - 0435.
http://www.dairy-rite.com/
Staunton Grocery @ 105 West Beverley Street, Staunton, VA 540 - 886 - 6880.
http://www.stauntongrocery.com/
The Depot Grill @ 42 Middlebrook Ave., Staunton, VA 540 - 885 - 7332.
http://www.depotgrille.com/
Lexington, VA has a number of good restaurants like Bistro on Main for lunch/dinner, Macado's for sandwiches, Sheridan Livery Inn and Restaurant for lunch/dinner, The Palms for lunch/dinner and drinks and Soutern Inn for fine dining lunch/dinner. Lexington is the home of VMI and W&L U. It's a beautiful town a few minutes W of I 81 and worth a visit.
Bistro on Main @ 8 North Main St., Lexington, VA 540 - 464 - 4888.
http://www.bistro-lexington.com/
Macado's @ 30 North Main St., Lexington, VA 540 - 464 - 8201.
http://www.macados.net/
Sheridan Livery Inn & Restaurant @ 35 North Main St., Lexington, VA 540 - 464 - 1887.
http://www.sheridanliveryinn.com/
The Palms Restaurant @ 101 West Nelson St., Lexington, VA 540 - 463 - 7911.
http://www.thepalmslexington.com/
Southern Inn Restaurant @ 37 South Main St., Lexington, VA 540 - 463 - 3612.
http://www.southerninn.com/
Home Place is a great restaurant several miles W of I 81 W of Roanoke at Exit 141 serving outstanding country food, good fried chicken and deserts in an old home. Just E of Lexington at Exit 188AB Frank's for the Memorie's  is a great place for good road food with great outdoor dining.
Home Place Restaurant @ 4968 Catawba Valley Dr., Catawba, VA 540 - 384 - 7252.
Frank's for the Memories BBQ @ 2117 Magnolia Ave., Buena Vista, VA 540 - 261 - 5553. 
http://www.franks4thememories.com/
Get off I 81 at Exit 150B and go E to Highway 11.  Turn left and go N a couple of miles to Pomegrante Restaurant for outstanding seafood and steaks for dinner. 
Pomegranate Restaurant @ 106 Stoney Battery Road, Troutville, VA 540 - 966 - 6052.
http://www.pomegranateva.com/
The best option on I 81 near Roanoke, VA if you are trying to make good road time is Three Little Pigs at Daleville at Exit 150 5 miles N of Roanoke, VA.  It's located in a small shopping center less than two minutes off W side of I 81 and serves great BBQ. It also has a very nice outdoor seating area and the menu includes sandwiches and salads for those who don't want BBQ. They also serve cold adult beverages. The shopping center has some very nice stores in case you are in need of road supplies. There are nice hotels on both sides of I 81 and a nice big truck stop to refuel and pick up road supplies. Three Little Pigs is a much better choice. Check it out next time you go by.
Three Lil Pigs BBQ @ 120 Kingston Dr., Daleville, VA 540 - 966 - 0165.
http://www.threelilpigsbbq.com/
Roanoke has quite a few nice restaurants but they are mostly in town. The restaurants near I 81 don't compare. If you should spend the night in Roanoke go check out these places for good road food. Blues BBQ, Fork in the Alley for pizza, burgers, sandwiches, Harbor Inn Seafood, Hollywood's Restaurant and Bakery for lunch/dinner, The Roanoker for breakfast and Wildwood Smokehouse BBQ.
Blues BBQ @ 107 Market Street SE, Roanoke, VA 540 - 344 - 5683.
http://bluesbbqco.com/
Fork in the Alley @ 2123 Crystal Spring Ave. SW, Roanoke, VA 540 - 982 - 3675.
http://forkinthealley.com/
Harbor Inn Seafood @ 7416 Williamson Rd., Roanoke, VA 540 - 563 - 0001.
Hollywood's Restaurant and Bakery @ 7770 Williamson Rd., Roanoke, VA 540 - 362 - 1812.
http://www.hollywoodsrest...s_Website/Welcome.html
The Roanoker Restaurant @ 2522 Colonial Avenue SW, Roanoke, VA 540 - 344 - 7746.
http://www.theroanokerres...t.com/pages/index.html
Wildwood Smokehouse @ 2041 Electric Road, Roanoke, VA 540 - 989 - 2100.
http://www.wildwoodsmokehouseva.com/
In Christiansburg just on down the road a piece is Dude's, Due South, Farm House and Summit. All are very good places to eat.
Dude's Drive In @ 1505 Roanoke St., Christiansburg, VA 540 - 382 - 7901.
Due South BBQ @1465 Roanoke St., Christiansburg, VA 540 - 381 - 2922.
http://www.duesouthbbq.com/
Farm House Food @ 285 Ridinger St., Christiansburg, VA 540 - 382 - 4253. .
http://www.thefarmhouseonline.com/
Summit Restaurant @ 95 College St., Christiansburg, VA 540 - 382 - 7218.
http://www.summitrestaurant.us/
In Fairlawn @ Exit 105 is Troy's Steaks and Pizza but it's 10 minutes or so W of I 81 and W of Radford in Fairlawn in town. Good place for road food.
Troy's Steaks, Subs and Pizza @ 7339 Peppers Ferry Boulevard, Fairlawn, VA 540 - 731 - 4611.
On I 81 in Wytheville, VA stop at Smokey's BBQ at Exit 70 or 73. Peking Chinese Restaurant is outstanding also. C J's Pizza is good if you have kids.
Smokey's BBQ @ 1090 East Main Street, Wytheville, VA 276 - 228 - 9014.
http://smokeysbbq.com/
Peking Chinese Restaurant @ 105 Malin Drive, Wytheville, VA 276 - 228 - 5515.
http://www.pekingva.com/
C J's Pizza @ 1025 West Lee Highway, Wytheville, VA 276 - 228 - 8448.
Harvest Table Restaurant at Exit 24 in Meadowview, VA is outstanding for lunch or dinner.
Harvest Table Restaurant @ 13180 Meadowview Square, Meadowview, VA 276 - 944 - 5142.  
http://www.meadowviewfarmersguild.com/
At Abingdon, VA there's some fine places. Have lunch at the House on Main and dine on the porch,. Have lunch or dinner at Peppermill or BBQ at Parks BBQ at Exit 17. Chick N Little is good country food and Ellis Soda Shop and Grill has good salads, soups, sandwiches, burgers and more with outdoor seating as well. Wildflower Bakery and Cafe is great for breakfast,lunch or dinner and it's close to I 81 at Exit 19. Your next stop is Wytheville, VA.
The House on Main @ 231 West Main St., Abingdon, VA 276 - 619 - 0039.
http://houseonmain.com/
Parks Mill BBQ @ 21405 Parks Mill Rd., Abingdon, VA 276 - 628 - 9191.
http://parksmill.com/
Peppermill Restaurant @ 967 West Main St., Abingdon, VA 276 - 623 - 0530.
http://www.thepeppermill.com/pmillhome.asp
Chick N Little @ 401 West Main St., Abingdon, VA 276 - 628 - 6690.
Ellis Soda Shoppe and Grill @ 217 West Main St., Abingdon, VA 276 - 623 - 8187.
http://www.ellissodashoppe.com/
Wild Flower Bakery and Cafe @ 24443 Lee Hwy., Abingdon, VA 276 - 676 - 4221.
If you have time to detour to Johnson City or Bluff City then Cootie Brown's and Ridgewood BBQ are good road stops.
Cootie Brown's @ 2715 North Roan St., Johnson City, TN 423 - 283 - 4723.
http://www.cootiebrowns.com/
Ridgewood BBQ @ 900 Elizabethton Hwy., Bluff City, TN 423 - 538 - 7543.
 
 

Littleman, you know places everywhere! Do you travel a ;ot? By the way, I graduated from Delta State. Go Okra!

Outside of Chattanooga..on the North side, I finally spotted a sign on those ubiquitous($10 word!) blue signs that said "City Diner", so I pulled off (I think it was exit 7) for breakfast.  Well worth it!  I haven't had sausage and biscuits in decades, but these were tastyy, served on luscious ($5 word!) pillows of dough, covered with a mild but tasty gravy. And the coffee was scrumptious! ($1 word)...My Bill was less than my words! And I had a side of potatoes to boot! ( Priceless!)

On the way back, i stayed south of the City in the Marriott and had an awful meal in (name deleted because it was so bad) but near the road up the mountain.  Be careful asking desk clerks for reccomendations!

Mbrookes.........I live about 5 minutes from DSU.  I have two sons that graduated from there.  Good luck.

I suggest you become a Roadfood Insider for only $19.95 and that gives you access to the new list of Every Restaurant ever reviewed on this site. It's fantastic and covers every state you'll be traveling through. Best $$$ you'll ever spend if youze guys are true foodies!
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Sounds like a good trip.
I concur with Wright's Dairy-Rite in Staunton. We really enjoyed out visit. Loved the Carolina Burger and the Dogzilla.
 
The Texas Tavern in Roanoke is a really cool place that's been open over 80 years.
http://bit.ly/mzw2mW
Just keep in mind Roanoke is a slight detour off 81. Maybe 10 - 15 minutes off 81.
 
Littleman gave you some nice ideas for Wytheville but I like this one.
http://bit.ly/kdzMGw
A really great hotdog place that hasn't evolved much since it opened like 80 years ago.
 
When you're cutting over to 59 at Chatanooga you might want to take a slight detour into South Pittsburg, Tn. There's a great little drive-in called the Dixie Freeze. Great food and deserts.
http://bit.ly/rt0Dpz
 
Past Birmingham is Tuscaloosa. Home of the University of Alabama and Rama Jama's.
http://bit.ly/pgNvT7
Great food across the board.
 
Have fun
DT
 
 
 
 

.Hello all ,
Have stayed at the Village Inn in Harrisonburg the past few yrs on ourr way down and back from Charlotte and the restaurant was excellent too .
One concern though , if you are stating there check the room prices .
Wanted to stay on a Fri night in Oct and the price was $189 plus tax over 200 bills .
If we stay the night before it was $60
Checked the web and found a chain hotel up the road for $65 same  friday night . That bothers me , triple the price . Dont give  me a story about events going on that weekend , will think twice about staying there again .
 
The food choices are excellent , really cant go wrong with the recomendations
Benzee