Few things sum up the spirit of Blacksburg quite like Macado’s, which got voted best
restaurant in Blacksburg
for the fifth year in a row. The warm, eclectic atmosphere and wide selection
of food and drinks at affordable prices have made it one of the most popular
spots for Blacksburg
residents to relax, have a meal with family or just a drink and watch a game on
one of its many big-screen TVs.
The interior of Macado’s may look like
a maze upon first glance, but the twists and turns of the restaurant are one of
the things that keep patrons coming back. It seems as if it’s possible to eat
there multiple times and still not see every part of the restaurant.
“The split-level format of the
restaurant may seem complicated and unusual at first, but it just makes the
environment that much more exciting,” said junior biology major and former
Macado’s employee, Shannon Steinberg.
If the stairs don’t get you, however,
the décor certainly will. The walls are covered with everything from small
pictures to bicycles and canoes with even a giant ape protruding from one wall.
There is one thing besides its
labyrinthine interior and crammed walls that Macado’s is known for, and that’s
its impressively extensive menu. It folds out into almost a two-foot-long list
of everything from quesadillas to lasagna, covering both the front and back.
Most notable and popular, however, is the sandwich menu.
The list of sandwiches is the bulk of
the menu, and diners can’t get enough. The list contains more types of breads,
meats, cheeses and toppings than you would ever find on a fast food marquee.
With creative names ranging from historical figures, to United States
landmarks, to pop culture icons, the sandwiches are almost as fun to order as
they are to eat.
On the off chance, you don’t find
quite what you’re looking for, —which seems unlikely — they also have a “build
your own sandwich” feature, which prompts you to start with the bread and make
it just how you like it all the way to the dressings.
Steinberg believes the huge menu is
only one thing about Macado’s that keeps patrons coming back.
“I really like the laid-back
atmosphere, and the food is great but still really affordable,” she said. “It’s
also good to go to for watching games because of the insane amount of TVs.”
As far as working at Macado’s, she
also really appreciated the college atmosphere.
“Getting to work with lots of other
students like me was a good way to make friends with people I probably never
would have met otherwise,” she said.
After opening the first Macado’s in
1978, the restaurant quickly spread throughout Southwest
Virginia and into the surrounding states. General Manager of the
Blacksburg Macado’s, Jeff Neikirk, has been there almost 25 years and can’t
imagine being anywhere else.
“The people who work together here
really make it a special place and you grow fond of the people you work with,”
said Neikirk, who graduated from Tech in 1985 and worked at Macado’s as a
student to help pay for his education. He chose to stay in the area because he
loved the atmosphere in Blacksburg.
“I’ve got kids here. It’s a good place
to live and raise a family. The schools are good, it is a safe place, and
there’s so much to do. I love to fish, and the river is right here, so it seems
like you get the best of both worlds: a nice downtown area and the mountains
and river.”
He is very pleased about Macado’s
being voted Best Restaurant for the fifth year in a row, and attributes that to
the team of people who work every day to ensure that all patrons have the best
dining experience possible.
“I’m really happy about (the win), and
I think it is basically just a hreflection of the amount of work that all the
people who work here put into their jobs. This is one of the goals that we set
for ourselves every year, and it helps people to take a lot of pride in what
they do here every day,” Neikerk said.
There is definitely a reason that
Macado’s has been voted best restaurant five years in a row, and now is the
perfect opportunity for hungry Blacksburg
residents to find out why.
