Vegan-friendly
Lacto
Ovo
American
Beer/Wine
Fusion
Non-veg
Serves meat, vegan options available. Vegetarian cuisine and fish. Has seitan and tempeh dishes, multi-grain pancakes, tofu reuben, Moroccan seitan napoleon, freshly squeezed juices, and more. Open Wed-Fri 7:00am-3:00pm, Wed-Thu 5:00pm-9:00pm, Fri-Sat 5:00pm-9:30pm, Sat-Sun 8:00am-2:00pm.
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153 College Ave, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA, 24060
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Last update on 11 May 2022 by Guest
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26 Reviews
First Review by maliciouskami
patobando16
Points +29
A haven in blacksburf - Edit
Healthy high quality veg food many vegan options and usually lots of vegan specialty items if you’re lucky and come on the right day. They run out too so good luck. But if you’re lucky then you’re in for a super treat they get creative sometimes.
Read morePros: High quality
Guest
frank_VT
Points +33
Cool place with vegan options - Edit
Hip, cool spot in a good location downtown. Handful of labelled vegan options for dinner/lunch and also brunch, entire menu is "pescetarian."
Read morePros: Good location , Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Guest
Kaymaxxie
Points +25
A vegan must - Edit
I mean…it’s a must for any vegan or vegetarian in the area for sure. The menu specifies clearly if it’s vegan, vegetarian and gluten free. Wholesome ingredients and options for anyone trying to eat locally sourced food!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2022-01-21
Guest
ElissaBVegan
Points +2980
Very Vegan Friendly - Edit
We enjoyed a delicious lunch at Gillie's. I had the peanut tofu wrap and my husband had the Tofu Gado Gado. Both were yummy. It's a great place to stop for lunch when driving down Route 81.
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options , Good location, not far from Route 81, Tasty food
Guest
emperdue
Points +1041
A must try - Edit
This is a must try place if you’re in the Blacksburg area. It’s right in downtown just off of the VT campus. All vegetarian, but most everything can also be made vegan or gluten free and the menu is clearly marked. The food is also amazing, so it’s a great place to bring non-veg friends and family and get them hooked 😉 prices are not bad at all either and amount of food is plenty
Read morePros: All veg menu , Can be made vegan or gluten free , Great portions and price
Guest
mnhin
Points +28
Won't eat here again - Edit
The food was okay (not the best I've had) and the staff wasn't very friendly. I really wish I would have eaten somewhere else.
Read moreCons: Unfriendly staff
Guest
DaveWalls
Points +84
Try the vegan crabcake sandwich! - Edit
The began crabcake sandwich was one of the best meals I've had in a long time. There was an option on condiments; I liked the vegan tartar sauce. The fried potatoes were very good. I think fries was the other option. I'll make it a point to eat here when I visit Blacksburg.
Read morePros: Taste , Atmosphere
Cons: Wish restaurant was 100 percent vegan
Guest
aspentychonievich
Points +58
Great spot! - Edit
Several vegan options. We loved the tofu scramble and the breakfast burrito. No vegan cheeses or avocado, but overall very delicious and accommodating.
Read morePros: Several vegan options , Tasty food
Cons: No vegan cheeses for substitution
Guest
evep
Points +50
Lots of options - Edit
Gillie’s is primarily vegetarian, but all of those veg meals have several vegan substitutes like tofu scramble, vegan cheese, and vegan potatoes (which are AMAZING). I had the potatoes, which again, are great and I confirmed they aren’t cooked in butter; and the buckwheat pancakes with maple syrup (no vegan butter option but they have fruit you can purchase too). I really enjoyed it all and had it with a coffee and oatmilk. I’ll definitely be back!
Read morePros: Lots of vegan substitutes/options , Oatmilk for coffee with breakfast, Not too expensive! ~$7-$15 for breakfast
Guest
varsha.chari
Points +26
Pleasantly Surprised!! - Edit
The whole experience was great:)
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options , Great food , Great service
Guest
bethmarsico
Points +98
Love the food! - Edit
The tempeh with broccoli is amazing! Wish the portions were a bit bigger for the price you’re paying, but food is excellent.
Read moreGuest
jillianlabonte
Points +164
Good Pancakes - Edit
Stopped here on a road trip! Pleased with the vegan buckwheat pancakes. Personally I was disappointed by the seasoning of their signature potatoes. Also I forgot to ask if the chocolate chips had milk in them but if not the only topping is syrup. GF options available too.
Read morePros: A couple vegan breakfast options , Overall nice staff, Vegan dessert on the specials board
Cons: Waiter inconvenienced “veganizing” food when busy, Only tofu substitution for egg, No VG toppings for pancakes
Guest
dasa2010
Points +28
Great local (V) restaurant - Edit
I had the vegan Basil Pesto and it was amazing. Definitely worth a try.
Read morePros: Several vegan options, Friendly staff, Amazing food
Guest
LauraMorse
Points +41
Great Options - Edit
It's nice to go to a place where you have a choice! Gillies is the place for vegans and omnivores alike. I think they only served seafood when it comes to meat.
Read morePros: lots of vegan options
Cons: a little grungy
Guest
PrinceVegan
Points +70
Pescatarian with many vegan options - Edit
Charming restaurant conveniently located in downtown Blacksburg. Many veg/vegan options. Delicious fresh food. Friendly but slow service. We were there in the summer, so it wasn't fully staffed since Va Tech was not in session which I'm sure affected the service. Still highly recommend if you're in the area or driving RTE 81 and need a pit stop.
Read morePros: menu selections , value
Cons: service inattentive/slow
Guest
KathlynnLewis
Points +28
very good brunch - Edit
This is a favorite spot of mine for brunch with friends. The menu is very clearly labeled and possible substitutions to make something vegan or gluten free are clearly listed.
Read morePros: good service, clearly labeled vegan options, many vegan options
Cons: serves fish
Guest
veganin2014
Points +133
Great food and prices! - Edit
Went to Sunday brunch with my non-vegan family and it was so good. Always know its a good spot when there is a wait but the wait was not bad.
Read moreTofu Scramble with bbq sauce was delicious - and my companions raved about the potatoes.
Very friendly staff and I mean all of them not just our waiter!
Def returning and I think my non-vegan niece will be there more often since she lives there!
I would give it a 5 if I could!
Pros: Good Food, Reasonable prices
Guest
Roger in PA
Points +317
Well worth the detour off I-81! - Edit
Gillie's was a truly refreshing and delicious stop on a 12-hour drive from Pennsylvania to Asheville, well worth the 20-mile round-trip excursion off of I-81. Very pleasant atmosphere in the outdoor seating area on a street with almost no car traffic but bustling with students and other college-town residents on foot. Great selection of regional microbrews to start off. Excellent attentive service by two tag-teaming waiters. Interesting and imaginative vegan dishes. I wanted to try the Moroccan seitan Napoleon but they were out of it, so I had the gado-gado, in which they accommodatingly substituted seitan for tofu for me. Nicely prepared and presented. The peanut sauce was very good, but would have been even better with more tamari in the recipe. My husband had the fresh basil pesto on penne and vegetables, which was outstanding, and that's saying something coming from someone (me) who's been making homemade pesto from home-grown basil for 20 years. An hour at Gillie's helped make a 12-hour drive much more bearable. I'd give five cows if I could, but they're disqualified by the salmon and catfish on the menu.
Read morePros: Imaginative vegan dishes, Outstanding friendly service, Very pleasant atmosphere
Rawgaila
Thanks for your review. We will be traveling from South Jersey to Banner Elk in the fall, and was looking for a vegan/raw place to stop. So, this will be our place to stop for some good food...thanks again. We love Cranberry's Grocery & Eatery in Staunton, VA...but wanted to get closer to NC before stopping.
Read moreGuest
vibes
Points +86
COLLEGE TOWN ...worth finding! - Edit
Gillies is famous here. They do breakfast and lunches. The food is awesome. The service ok, but busy.
Read moreHardest thing is finding it even though it is on college avenue!
LOVE IT wish I lived closer.
Pros: vegan options, vegetarian options, open for breakfast
Cons: location! good/bad, super busy
Guest
Eliza13
Points +90
Excellent restaurant - Edit
We were driving through Virginia and wanted some healthy food, so we drove the extra distance to Gillies, as it sounded like a nice place. It was a very good experience. The stir fry had lots of vegetable and tempe, and a delicious thai sauce with rice. There were lots of gluten free, vegetarian, and vegan options. We also had a clam chowder, that had lots of flavor and also vegetables.
Read moreThe only cons were there was music playing over the speakers, and the servers were not the friendliest, but were efficient. Limited outside seating.
Pros: Great food, healthy, large selection
Cons: servers not the friendliest, a little noisy
Guest
soopernish
Points +53
A good meal with entertainment - Edit
Good, hearty food with a number of vegan options, and there's typically a vegan daily special, soup, and dessert. Huge portions. They don't usually have organic food, but they do serve food from local farms from time to time.
Read moreThere is often live entertainment at night, and there is some outdoor seating available. The atmosphere is friendly. There is a reasonably good variety of beers and wines.
Gillie's is known for its brunch, which is served Saturdays and Sundays (and some holidays) from 8 AM - 2 PM. Be forewarned: Gillie's has a tiny kitchen, and when it is busy in the restaurant, food can take awhile to come out.
Updated from previous review on Friday May 06, 2011
Pros: Excellent value, Daily vegan & vegetarian specials, Fun atmosphere
Cons: Long wait and chaos when busy
Guest
HealthNut27
Points +32
Decent, but not the best - Edit
I took my husband here last year and he ordered one thing but after waiting (what seemed forever) they brought a different dish. Even though vegan friendly- eggs and dairy are in most of the menu items. It serves its purpose in a college town but having been to veg restaurants around the world, not the best service or food.
Read morePros: Veg-friendly
Cons: Poor service, Lacto-ovo based menu
Guest
MBecker
Points +58
Sub-par Ovo-Lacto Vegetarian - Edit
I have eaten at Gillies twice, about 12 months apart, while dropping my brother off in Blacksburg for college, and both times have been excited about the idea of eating at 'THE vegetarian restaurant in town!', and both times have been utterly disappointed.
Read moreThe first time, I noticed a lack of vegan options (including no desserts), but finally made my choice (a vegetable and peanut saute dish) and received a dish that was passable in quality and creativity, but which I definitely could have made myself (and better) at home.
The next time, I was fuming by the time I left. I know I'm a bit sensitive, but as a long-time vegan, when I go to a vegetarian restaurant, I EXPECT to be catered to. This is how vegetarian restaurants should work. Except, we happened to go to the place on a Saturday, which meant that only 'brunch' food was available until later in the day. Brunch food means, I found out, eggs. Eggs, cheese, toast, biscuits, and non-vegan pancakes, waffles and french toast. A special vegetarian brunch menu, indeed. Little icons noted that all egg dishes could be veganised by subbing in tofu for $1 more. Literally, the only vegan option available, on the entire menu, was tofu--either with potatoes and toast, in a non-vegan (honey and dairy-based) wrap, or as 'scrambled tofu'. With mounting frustration, I ordered the scrambled tofu, which turned out to be hard, fried cubes of tofu (such as you might have with *any* vegetarian dish), covered in barbecue sauce. This does not qualify as 'scrambled tofu' in my book.
On top of my irritation with the heavily ovo-lacto bias of this vegetarian restaurant, I was also again impressed by the considerable lack of any imagination when preparing the menu or items. There was literally NO ingenuity required in their brunch selection at all; you could probably do better at an IHOP even (!!!)--and still end up with the same high fructose corn syrup 'jellies' as your table's centerpiece. Gillies adds nothing special to these options. Why it's important that it's a 'vegetarian' brunch is beyond me, since pancakes &c are generally vegetarian.
Bottom line: if you want decent ovo-lacto vegetarian food in Blacksburg and aren't willing to venture on Virginia Tech's campus (where it apparently has award-winning food), come on over. If you're vegan or an amateur or aspiring chef yourself, I wouldn't get yourself too excited or your hopes too far up.
Pros: Generous portions, Friendly staff, Decent prices (~$7 brunch)
Cons: Not very vegan-friendly, Unimaginative menu
Guest
audrey
Points +40
not bad - Edit
It was an all around pretty good meal. We had a breakfast there on a Saturday. We got a table right away, but the service was slow. Everyone liked their food. Portions are big (I shoulda gone with two pancakes instead of the standard three).
Read morePros: good food, friendly, close to campus
Cons: slow service, big portions
Guest
emeraldeyes180
Points +49
Nice Selection ... - Edit
Travelling through VA and decieded to stop in Blacksburg (College Town) and pull out Happy Cow :) We were hoping for the best! Ended up at Gillies - I ordered the "Chappies Choice" (Scrambled eggs and white cheddar topped home fries) and my boyfriend ordered the Tofu Scamble (BBQ version here ...)
Read moreService was okay, little slow - food was good and portions were plentiful. We both bad 1/2 of our plates left and left very full and satisfied. Although we came during breakfast there was a solid selection of choices. Many options to choose from.
Pros: nice atsmosphere, large menu, large portions
Cons: slower service
Guest
maliciouskami
Points +188
Vegan options--beware - Edit
Service notoriously sucks here. Also, I don't know what is so "vegetarian" about seafood. I'm pretty sure every biology 101 teaches that fish are living beings that feel pain.
Read moreLots of items can be made vegan on the menu. Beware, though. I asked for a soycheese pizza and got real cheese--with no apology or sympathy in the least for such an offensive and dangerous mistake. Who needs a knockoff of a cruel product anyway, I guess.
It's nice to have a vegetarian restaurant in town that brings the diet and lifestyle to the mainstream, but I think they could be a little more welcoming and understanding to real vegetarians and vegans. Also, confusing the public with seafood and promoting fish, shellfish, etc as objects that apparently are no different than vegetables--is just plain irresponsible.
Pros: vegan options, great location, large and changing menu
Cons: bad staff, insensitive to vegan requirements, promoting seafood as vegetarian
dharmabum
I think the fish is a healthy meat alternative for people who aren't vegetarian or vegan. People who usually may not eat at a vegetarian restaurant can feel more comfortable at Gillie's..and maybe give vegetarianism a try.
Read moreStop being such a little [censored], you're making the rest of us look bad.
Guest
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