Dave's: Simple fare, made to order

I dropped into Dave's Bar and Grill last week for a quick worklunch.

Despite the fact that Dave's has been around only a week or so,it seemed to be doing a good job getting started. I expected to beeating alone and was pleasantly surprised to see quite a few dinerssharing the place for lunch.

It took a moment for our server to get us situated in a boothalong one of the bright green and pink striped walls. She waspolite and made sure to answer our questions.

I settled on a pork chop meal from the dinner menu of steaks,wings, chicken and shrimp. My friend ordered a barbecue sandwichwith a side of fries from the lunch menu.

After a few minutes, probably just enough time to saute twoboneless pork chops, our food arrived and we started in.

My chops were cooked well, though they were just a little thinnerthan I'd expected. The meat was tender enough to cut with a butterknife and lightly seasoned, with very attractive browning.

I had only a single bite of the barbecue, but I enjoyed it. Thepork was very finely shredded, and the sauce was balanced verywell. The thick slaw made a great condiment and had a good,homemade flavor.

The sides are pretty standard fare for a grill-style restaurant.

The fries were a little weak and needed doctoring with ketchup.The green beans had the feel of canned beans but were seasonednicely with big pieces of freshly cooked bacon. The pintos had apleasant, delicate flavor that I have not yet placed. I enjoyedcrumbling my large, corner-cut crust of cornbread over the beans tosop up the juices.

Dave's has the pricing and taste of a great "greasy spoon"without the grease. The food is cooked to order, the portions justright, and the seasoning light and balanced.

The restaurant occupies a location that I have always seen aspotentially problematic -- the corner of Merrimac Road and U.S. 460Business in Christiansburg.

Although the spot has a few access issues, there is little to no competition for a great working lunch anywhere between Blacksburgand Christiansburg.

The menu seems to be food that the owner, Dave, enjoys cooking,which is always a good recipe for quality. The prices are quitelow, and the place is very intimate.

There are still a few newbie bugs to work out, but the potentialis there for something nice.

Dave's Bar and Grill

Address: 50 Merrimac Road, Christiansburg, VA 24073

Phone number: 552-0511

Cuisine: Grill

Prices: Lunch $2.50-$6, dinner $6-$12, sides $1.40-$2.50

Hours: 6 a.m.-midnight daily

Delivery: Yes

Reservations: Yes

Payment methods: Cash and check

Kid-friendly: Yes

Alcohol: ABC pending

Patio seating: Seasonal

Parking: Limited

Wireless Internet: No

Vegetarian dishes: No

Live music: Yes

RESTAURANT REVIEWS David Gray is a post-doctorate researcher atVirginia Tech who loves to cook, loves to eat and loves to tellpeople about his food experiences. Have your own restaurant reviewto share? Then visit plateup.roanoke.com to find the restaurant andrate it. Also at PlateUp: More Roanoke Times restaurant reviews.