I was visiting family last week from out of state and we stopped by here, must say I'm impressed with the actions of the cashier, I witnessed a very rude guy literally throw money at the cashier, the cashier laid his change on the counter, the guys girlfriend came in and started mouthing off, the cashier didn't say a word and just walked away, wow, good job holding onto their temper! Awards for good customer service when my turn to pay came.

They have everything you need at a park store and gift shop, however, there isnt to many items moving off those shelves with that pricing plan. Diner food is okay. Convenient if ur camping nearby.

The Big Meadows Wayside building has had some improvements, but they seem to be levying the cost to their diner clientele. The Reuben sandwich was $13, which, okay, still a bit expensive for no table service and it being served on a paper plate. That potato salad (literally two bites/two tbsp of potato salad) was $2.50. It was SO disappointing. My lunch cost almost $20. I was by myself - imagine a family of five. For lunch. After that experience, I grabbed a bag of chips from the Wayside store and brought water in with me, then just ordered a sandwich. I wasn’t the only one. I saw numerous families eating chips from the wayside store and waiting for their sandwich order. I mean, if I wanted to pay lodge food prices, I could just go to the lodge to eat where they wait on me. As usual, the employees were friendly and knowledgeable, which I appreciate. I really miss the affordable menu that came with table service and food on real dinner plates, with real cups and flatware. I think this single use plasticware/paper plate business doesn’t jive with the shift to move away from one use plastics and paper products. For an affordable menu (with French fries!) go to the Loft Wayside diner in the south district. I had a bean burger, fries and a soda for right at $13 - the cost of just one sandwich from Big Meadows’ Wayside diner. I will really miss the times where I just come to camp, but still walk over to the diner (or lodge) for almost every meal. They’ve out-priced me, which is super sad.

The grill was okay. Nothing to rave about. Got a vegan burger that was suppose to come with house chips. The chips got lost somewhere. Just a lonely burger. All the tables were dirty at 3pm. I don't know why they sell such large cardinals. Lol They are the Ohio state bird.

We have always loved the Big Meadows Wayside. The remolding is very nice and clean. But very sad that in the remolding they seem to have taken away the great food of the fried chicken, mash potatoes. etc. and the personal touch of the waitress. We always enjoyed the atmosphere. Now it is like a fast food restaurant with no personal touch. I am a descendant of the families that was forced off the mountain. The food should reflect the history of the Shenandoah National Park families. People come to Big Meadow Wayside to get away and to have a different experience from everyday life. My family and I left very disappoint. We love the Shenandoah National Park. I hope Big Meadows Wayside will be transform to what it use to be, warm, personable, and with a great experience. Wendy Colvin

Poor selection of groceries. One rotten apple. The woman at the counter appeared to not want to be there. Could he a great facility. Stickers were exhorbitant. Wouldn't recommend.

The best thing I can say about this place is that the food is edible. However it is low quality, tasteless and left me feeling a bit sick afterwards. It's also overpriced as you might expect for the only dining option for miles. However we were further ripped off: The person working at the counter overcharged us and when this was pointed out to her she replied "ok" instead of correcting her error and then only filled out dishes 3/4 perhaps out of spite or apathy. Avoid if possible.

Very disappointed in the way the my boyfriend and I was treated today in the gift shop today, I wanted a bottle of wine from the area because I collect wine and had the young man ring it up, my boyfriend even went to get the price for him, we paid with cash, my boyfriend had his hand out for the change and the boy threw the change down on the counter, my boyfriend and to grab it before it fell on floor and he walked away fast, I thought he was going to get something…..but never came back, I was soo stocked……never bag our stuff…. we did it ourselves…. Very rude

3 stars because I liked the gift shop. 0 starts for the cafe — couldn’t even make the coffee hot yet it costs more than Starbucks.

Skyline Drive is an epic ride through the Blue Ridge Mountains. The views are stunning, and there are numerous hiking trails. Big Meadows Wayside is the perfect spot to stop and grab something to drink. There is a small restaurant with an excellent menu selection. The gift store has some nice stuff to look at, and the convenience store is stocked well.

Visitor Center and convenience shop near Big Meadows Lodge. Good supply of snacks, drinks (including wine), clothing and other items you might need while camping out. The Visitor Center tells the history of Shenandoah NPS via an interactive walk-through exhibit. Park Rangers are also on-hand to answer questions. The gift shop has a nice selection of books, shirts and other souvenir knick knacks. There is also a gas station here.

Nice gift shop. They have snacks, drinks, ice and other camping items. They do sell a lot of items from ornaments to magnets, shirts and hats. They also have a pressed penny machine.

A regular after hike stop for Blackberry ice cream! The best!! Other food and drink items are available to purchase. There is a giftshop as well with everything, including shirts, hats, souvenirs, drink containers, stuffed animals, and various snacks.

Big Meadows wayside. Gas with great prices, not crazy markups. Smash burger and beyond burger were both great! Fries are mix of a chip and fluffy fry, were really good. Save room for cup of homemade pie and a scoop of ice cream. Right across from Big Meadows great views, lots of parking. Next door to visitor center. Further back there is a campground and hotel.

Driving Skyline Drive s a long haul. This is a perfect stopping point. Gas station doesn’t have crazy marked up prices, large clean bathrooms, visitors center had a short video to watch in the air conditioning, and some great trails all stem from this area. They also have a fantastic breakfast and lunch spot to stop in for food. I was SHOCKED at the quality of food here. It was genuinely delicious and so fresh. Definitely a great stop to refuel both your car and yourself.

Such a welcome treat after a waterfall trail hike on a hot day. Enjoyed my meal a lot but highlight was the peach ice cream and blueberry cobbler. Good gift and supply store too.

Gross cafeteria grade food, surly waitstaff

Great find. Didn't realize it has a restaurant inside. Everyone there was friendly and helpful.

Simple and cozy, cant wait to see the renovations!

Getting much needed renovation in 2019

Very friendly place, nice location

Friendly staff and good for quick grabs of things lost or forgotten while camping. Don't forget to check out the bear sighting book.

Alway love it there. Ever better they are fixing it up.

It was kind of dusty and in need of a good cleaning.

If you are out and about and need some lunch or a snack, this is the place to stop. NOTE: When we went in 2017, there were no vegan options and very limited vegetarian options.

Good coffee and hiker breakfast

Aramark used to run this when they had the contract with Shenandoah National Park. Delaware North got the contract a few years ago and it hasn't been the same since. I don't mind the remodel as it makes more sense to have the restaurant facing the meadow as opposed to the parking lot, but the food isn't what it used to be. You could actually get a real, home-cooked meal a few years ago. Now it's garbage. Also, we went camping there over Fourth of July weekend and the restaurant was closed the entire time....during a HOLIDAY WEEKEND. The store has the basic necessities and the gift shop hasn't seemed to change much. It's the restaurant that's the big disappointment. As you can tell from the other reviews, I'm not alone.

Serves microwaveable food that is placed next to a microwave to be used by hikers, but you’ll get asked to leave if your food is out of the package ? Honestly overpriced and the old lady here was SO rude. Glad I paid $35 to be treated poorly by the staff here. They’re NOT friendly to thru-hikers. Do not waste your time or money.

I would have liked to give this stop 5 stars as they pretty much have everything you need but on the last night of our stay in the area, we stopped to grab a couple of things 20 minutes until closing. The lady at the register was very very rude, would not take cash bc she had said the register was all cleared out that they were closing in the most condescending way. Mind you.. it was 20 minutes until 7. Shutting off all lights and rushing people out of the store.(On a SATURDAY) If you close at 7, close at 7! No need to be aggravated or passive aggressive.

This used to be such a warm, down-to-earth, restaurant. You could order eggs, toast, pancakes, etc. for breakfast. Now you can't "order" anything. It's all boiled down to a short few items that you cannot change/modify. Very cold and impersonal experience now. It's a shame.

Nice gift shop and camping supplies. Dining area could use some cleaning. There was food droppings all over the floor and the tables are not wiped between patrons. But, the Smash burgers were great!

Wow! What a great stop along Skyline! The gas was a reasonable price, there were lots of snacks and souvenirs to choose from, not to mention the great grill with tasty food! We had smash burgers and they were spot on! The blackberry ice cream was a treat.

Beautiful

While it's changed a lot from Covid, it's still for good food and a friendly staff.

The fried chicken is excellent, topped only by their FAMOUS blackberry cobbler!

Grill is closed due to Covid, but was able to get gas, milkshake and other drinks and cold sandwich for a short little picnic with my hiking buddy.

Disappointed in the updated wayside. Once a must visit when we come to this park, no longer. The atmosphere was once a friendly, table service restaurant with "home made" goodness. Now it's an inefficient counter service, not inexpensive, food establishment with careless food prep and seemingly indifferent staff. Expect a line to order and people without meals saving tables. I am sure they will make more money than before, just not mine.

Great place to stop if your alittle forgetful and need something small while your out on the trails.

This year, July 2020, We stayed at the Big Meadows Lodge. - We were quite disappointed that none of the soda machines were working. - This wayside has bailed us out every year we come to skyline drive to hike. - We also gas up here on every trip and I am sure it's the only place to get gas unless you drive off one of the exits. - I heard that dine-in section has been discontinued. - All the food at the wayside is basically carry-out now. - I only wished they were open until 6 PM. - Closing at 5 PM. is a bit early.

Everything is so beautiful!!! The mountains views are amazing!

The gift shop and staff were friendly. As far as food, not a lot to choose from that is ready made if day traveling. (Barbq, hot dog or fried chicken) If camping, they had necessities that could be needed and come in handy.

The meadow is beautiful right now. Had a good meal on the deck at Big Meadows Lodge.

Great stop along the skyline drive. We did not eat in the restaurant, but instead completed our picnic with drinks and snacks from the store. The area is very nice, the building clean, and you can walk the meadows opposite from the wayside (other side of the road). Sunsets are very nice from here. Well stocked, and includes a gift shop. Plenty of parking and has a gas station. Recommend stopping by to eat or have a picnic at least once while in the park and enjoy the walk in the meadows.

Has one way lines and require face masks. Sanitizer is offered and if ordering food it was quick for pickup.

Not what it used to be. Remodel was not an improvement, liked the old facility set-up better. Delaware North doesn't seem concerned with preserving original or "outdoors" feel of the NPS facilities they manage, go for what's cheap and easy. Was better when run directly by NPS.

Renovation is nice, but I miss the old fashioned dining area. The menu is limited due to the pandemic, but the fried chicken is still available and is served hot and tasty.

Nice travel and info spot

Good view

Long wait times -45 mts for us- during peak fall colors.

We attended the Charlottesville Astronomers Club set up on a summer evening. They set up ther telescopes and permit people to view the heavenly bodies that are starting that night. It was really very nice to be in the company of these learned people and view the moon and planets with their expertise at hand. The lodge is close so you can come early and have dinner while you await the darkness. Just visit online to check operating hours for the lodge, otherwise just show up for planet viewing.

The ladies in this shop are so helpful!

So so

Been coming up here better then 50 years, and still not tired of it.

You got rid of the ineffective waitresses. Now get rid of the old, unpleasant cashier.

Renovations weren't done yet when I was last there. Friends tell me that renovations are now complete and it's pretty nice.

Breakfast at the Big Meadows

Presentation is good at least. Food came out quick and looked nice. However, it was cold (ordered a hot Ruben) and overpriced. Cost me $12 for this not good sandwich.

Nice stop along skyline drive for bathrooms snacks gas and souveniours. Staff was not very friendly but maybe it was just too early for her lol

(Translated by Google) Great for refueling on Skyline Drive (Original) Super pour se ravitailler sur la Skyline Drive

Been going here for almost 30 years; people are friendly, sure is well stocked, lots of gifts/toys/games, and they just refurbished the dining area. Haven't eaten with the new menu yet but I'm sure it is great