Loose Leaf Notes

-The following first appeared in The Floyd Press on February 22, 2018.

Kelley and Logan Tiebout are happy to be back in Floyd. For two years, the owners of the Parkway Grille commuted to Hillsville to run their successful Hardware Grille. Last May, there was a fire at the Hillsville restaurant and it closed due to smoke damage.

The couple explained that grease on kitchen towels after being in a hot dryer caused their locally-laundered laundry to combust spontaneously overnight.   A friend heard the fire alert on a scanner, and the Tiebouts were awakened early in the morning by knocks on the door of their Floyd home. By the time they arrived at the restaurant, the fire department was there.

A community fundraiser at Dogtown Roadhouse was held to help the couple, parents of 4-year old Emory, get back on their feet.  Everything was on track for a re-opening date and a planned Thank-you Party for supporters when they learned that the building was being sold.“It was probably a blessing in disguise.  It was an intense few months, but it got us back to Floyd, and the community is excited for us to be here,” said Logan, a Floyd County native.

Kelly, who grew up in Patrick County, explained how they approached Margie Reddit, owner of The Harvest Moon Food Store, about the empty space on top of the store.  Reddit had never eaten at the Hardware Grille, but her friends had, and they had nothing but good things to say.  Reddit had a good feeling, Kelly said, and she leased them the upstairs, which most recently was home to The Artists Table restaurant.

“We’ve been busy and stay busy, even this time of year,” Logan said.  “We went from about five employees to about 20, and we’ll be hiring another in the spring,” said Kelley, who spoke highly of the restaurant’s staff.

The dining room at the Grille is light and spacious with a separate sports bar area.  But the kitchen was originally built to serve a café menu and the restaurant doesn’t have enough food storage space.  The Tiebouts are looking to expand.

There is outdoor deck seating in the front of the building and a grille outside in the back, where the Tiebouts hope to host cookouts with bands.   They’ve already hosted a comedy club act, a Moroccan night with Rose of the Winds’ Jody Franko and a multi-course Valentine Wine and Dine event. There is light jazz guitar on weekends and a Murder Mystery dinner theater coming up in March.

The setting of the restaurant is beautiful, but the food is probably what brings people back, which could be described as Southern-inspired American cuisine with some Asian fusion and a gourmet flair.  There is an extensive beer, wine and mixed drinks list to choose from.  Desserts and bread are baked on site by pastry chef Ann Christian.    

Logan, the cook, has been in the restaurant business for 15 years and Kelley has for 10+.   Now that the restaurant is in Floyd, they have more options for incorporating locally-sourced food in their menu.  They get buffalo in Riner and beef from Willis.  Their shrimp and grits – pan-seared shrimp with peppers, onions and tomato, cherrywood smoked ham and andouille sausage over stone-ground cheddar grits in cream sauce – is a current popular favorite.

Sunday Brunch Buffet at the Parkway Grille has been getting rave reviews and good turnouts.  It’s also reasonably priced.  Along with a spread of everything breakfast and beyond, the crepe station (serving savory and berry sweet crepes) and Bloody Mary’s are among the brunch favorites, Logan reported.

Note:   The Parkway Grille can be reached at (540) 745- 4470. Hours are Wednesday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Thursday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. – Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. __________Our World Tuesday