Restaurants in Hollins

Energetic live music pulsates across the spacious quarters of Growler’s American Grill and Venue—once known as Awful Arthur’s Towers—as barkeeps fill mugs and growlers with local pale and brown ales, porters, and a slew of bottled favorites. Platefuls of hearty American and Southern favorites, from meatloaf sandwiches to fish 'n' chips, energize diners to take the stage for a round of karaoke, with the background music supplied by a DJ, live band, or brownnosing date.

A bubble slowly makes its way to the liquid’s surface, bursting as the hot air within escapes from the pot of soup. Near the stove, a brigade of cubed brownies cools on a rack awaiting its grand entrance into Cafe on Franklin’s dining area. The eatery’s kitchen bustles each day as chefs prepare meals for the lunch rush: wraps, specialty salads, and sandwiches that include a portobello burger and turkey Reuben. Cafe on Franklin also caters events with hot lunches and trays piled high with meat and cheese, like the bed of the princess who could famously feel a pea through 40 layers of cold cuts, thereby earning the right to open her own delicatessen.

Sicilian and New York-style pizzas—topped with a choice of more than 15 toppings such as sausage, bacon, and pineapple—headline the culinary show at Frank’s Place, but chefs complement the Italian staples with other food from around the globe. Beyond calzones and baked ziti, the kitchen team prepares tortillas, rice dishes, burgers, and hot dogs. It’s not just their Mexican, Italian, and American foods that draw in visitors; the casual, family-friendly neighborhood eatery proffers a big-screen TV, a pool table, and arcade games—entertainment more reliable than teaching a hen and her chicks not to put their wings on the table.

Beyond its unpretentious decor and unassuming exterior, Crab Creek serves up a slew of fresh seafood specialties. Cooks toss Diablo shrimp in a vodka-tomato-cream sauce and mix Caribbean shrimp with andouille sausage, salsa, and spices. Diners can dig into housemade crab cakes or enjoy fresh catfish, tilapia, or salmon served pan-fried, broiled, blackened, or grilled. According to the Roanoke Times, a fireplace warms guests as the waitstaff bustles about, "brimming with friendly service."

Though nestled within a quiet stretch of trees that thickly border the shores of Smith Mountain Lake, Waller’s boisterously entertains its guests with live music, events, and an eclectic collection of eats. The menu starts out with a Mexican flair—quesadillas and nachos bulked up with BBQ chicken and pork—but quickly casts a wider net to include Angus chuck burgers and buffalo-chicken sandwiches. Boar’s Head meats insulate a selection of wraps from overzealous lake breezes, and French translations of italian paninis speak to palates through monte cristos sprinkled in confectioners sugar and croque-monsieurs blanketed with provolone.

Several nights a week, live entertainment thrills the crowd as they nosh in the dining room or out on the dockside patio. Former band frontman Brent Clineville emcees karaoke on Wednesdays, amateur musicians take the stage for open-mic night on Thursdays, and the weekends host a rotating selection of live bands.

The chefs at Bull Branch marry local and international ingredients in a menu of salads, shareable tapas, and entrees that strikes a balance between succinct and eclectic. Served in a intimately lit Bohemian setting that The Washington Post describes as "that perfect blend of casual and sophisticated, elegant and honky-tonk," dishes such as hummus, curries, and pulled pork harness the flavors of the Mediterranean and Middle East, Southeast Asia, and down-home America. Occasional live music in the evenings complements the pan-continental cuisine, as does a serving staff of UN delegates who, upon request, sprinkle borders of salt and pepper to delineate your entree and sides.