Gertie's

Such a fun, historic place run by a wonderful, caring couple. I arrived late afternoon after a grueling day on the bicycle, looking forward to a nice meal. Unfortunately, sick children required an early closure. I had plenty of food and started making my meal when the owners drove by and apologized profusely for the emergency closure. I noted I had plenty of food and thanked them. They went above and beyond, providing me with a Gatorade, water and a tasty coffee cake. They also let me use the restroom. I was happy to hear they opened at 6:30 AM, so I enjoyed a great espresso drink and a nice breakfast sandwich. I was able to camp in the pavilion behind the restaurant and access the strong restaurant WiFi.

I love this little Diner!!! The food is fantastic! But to be fair I've only eaten breakfast but I would vouch for all of their food if I go according to breakfast. Their pancakes are so fluffy and huge! And let's not forget absolutely delicious! It's a small place and every time I've gone there I've had to wait for seating but the wait was not too long and so worth it! They have a nice little gift shop in the back you can check out while you wait (homemade soaps and lotions, t-shirts, local honey, cards, leather items and other locally made crafts are featured). The service is great with a feeling of warmth and welcome. Not a good place for wheelchair. It's fun to read the walls as people from all over have signed their names and some have even claimed their love for each other. Gertie's is definitely a great place to sit down and have a home cooked meal. You will not be disappointed and you'll leave with a full satisfied tummy.

Just found this place and it is so good! The Cowboy burger and the Firecracker burger were amazing! Then I had I the sweet potato waffle fries - best I have ever had! I could not stop eating them! We will be back!!

Gertie's is a delightful local fixture serving well-crafted burgers and fries. Their service is always friendly and down-home. We were there on New Years Eve around lunchtime, and it was busy--we had to wait probably 30 minutes before we were seated. But they kindly allowed us to order while waiting, which sped up the process when we actually got seats. The special thing about Gerties is all the signatures covering the walls and ceiling. There's always room for one more, so I highly recommend stopping in and adding your own! One thing to note: the atmosphere is rather smoky, and you'll exit smelling like a fried onion ring. But that's a small price to pay for the experience.

I don’t do usually do this, but this restaurant warrants 5 stars across all categories. Wow…so happy we stumbled in this place. One of the best burgers we’ve ever had…I’d say #1!!! The portion, the freshness…absolutely delicious. Also had the BLT and it’s was very, very tasty. Both came with French fries which were also fresh and crispy with a wonderfully soft middle. Delicious desserts are also offered…we tried the apple cobbler with ice cream!!! Delicious!!! And lastly, the service was fantastic. Our server was super friendly and very pleasant.

We recently visited Gertie’s and had a bit of a mixed experience. The food itself was great—fresh and flavorful, definitely worth trying. However, the service left something to be desired. It was very hot inside the restaurant, which made it a bit uncomfortable. Our food took about an hour to arrive at our table, even though there were only about eight customers in the restaurant after we were seated. We also had to ask for drink refills, as they weren’t offered automatically. We overheard staff telling new customers there was an hour wait, which seemed odd given how empty the place was. Overall, Gertie’s has a lot of potential with its tasty food, but the service and atmosphere could use some improvement.

On our way camping, my cousin’s husband took us off the highway, through some winding roads, to find this gem! Before we arrived he said, this place got a 4.9/5, so let’s see. I must say that it deserves a 5/5. From the door, the place felt like home, cozy, familiar, warm. I was surrounded by sentiments, dates, names, places written all over the walls, which felt personal. Service was amazing, and the FOOD!!! Omgggggg.. The cherry on top, I got to sign my name on their wall to show I was there! Worth driving (6) hours from Jersey.. Thank You and Blessings

We went out of our way from 81 south to go to Gertie's cause of the reviews and pictures and boy did It DELIVER. The service is fast and respectful, quiet eating area, food does take a little time to prepare if you're used to inner city pace. But it was delicious!!! Make sure you get the Ruben tho, it was amazing!

The food as well as the atmosphere certainly did not disappoint! The staff, as well the as patrons, were extremely hospitable. The food was fantastic and their signature sauce was spot on. Highly recommended

Really cool, small space. Very friendly, you can tell it's a staple in the area with staff & customers greeting each other by name. A simple holler breakfast with some biscuits & gravy on the side. Decided to load up early in the day . Tasty, stick to your bones breakfast. So good. Only complaint is the bacon wasn't very crispy but good nonetheless. (Didn't order it crispy so...) Really impressed with the warmth of the place and the people. Recommended getting off the beaten path to check out this gem.

New owners have made many changes in their operations. Enjoyed eating here for years and still enjoy the food, service and ambiance.

I have wanted to try Gertie's since a friend in Richmond told me about it. I was out hiking in the area this morning and stopped by for a sandwich after the hike. Nice, clean little place run by a young couple who were very nice. There is quite a bit of seating for such a small place, but I imagine this little gem is packed on the weekends especially. People have written notes all over the walls in there. It has that sort of vibe, so if you are going to Vesuvius for fine dining, move on.... I ordered an Italian sub to go so I could take it up on the parkway. They were not busy since it was before noon on Thursday when I showed up. I was offered all the options on my sub so it was a really custom build! Really good sub, good value. Loaded with meat, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, oil and vinegar, some mayo. I will bring a friend or two the next time for a couple beers and a meal. You cannot go wrong with Gertie's, even though it is the only place to eat in the area. I am looking forward to trying it again soon. Great hike, great little restaurant, great trip back to Waynesboro on the Parkway.

Great service and steak and cheese was outstanding! Onion rings yummy!!!! Hope to see them again!

Best Burgers around! The meat they use is fresh and they will Cook your burger as you would like! Owners are super friendly Small spot but delicious!! You can even write on the wall if you can find a space! Highly recommend

Very cute spot in a beautiful area, with good food, a freezer full of local meat and a cute little gift shop. I wish I'd bought some soap, as they had unusual scents.

Epic food! Very small place but the people are amazing and the food is unreal! This place needs to be on a TV show, it's that good!

Yelp has done it again! Perfect stop off 81 for some gooood food. Friendly service. Family biz. Worth the 3 miles.

Wonderful little restaurant not far off the highway. Hospitality and service second to none; Food local/authentic and delicious.

Stopped in today with my momma who lives nearby to look at the cute little decorative gourds inside. We didn't eat but the menu looked good and it's larger with more seating inside than it looks. The staff were really friendly and they had some cool items for sale around the back across from the kitchen like local honey, maple syrup, snacks and drinks, and outdoor-themed goodies like mugs and cups and practical things like scarves and cutlery and matches. It's kinda in the middle of nowhere so if you're here you either live here or you're passing through but it's a small gem off the beaten path for sure.

Gertie's is a must stop place to eat! Found this place by chance and it was the best find. The place is a gem of a find. The waitress was super friendly and quick to take our order and bring drinks. The food was spectacular, wife ordered the cheese steak sub with fries I got the chicken BLT sandwich with onion rings. Both sandwiches were massive and so delicious. We also got fried pickles which was basically a jar worth of pickles served fried and fresh! The special sauce was so good too. The ambiance was perfect, the restaurant looks small from the outside but has plenty of seating, the coolest thing is they allow you to sign the walls and put your initials up. I would recommend gertie's everyday of the week to people.

Our take-out meal before sitting around the campfire on this cool and starry evening. We both opted for this totally loaded BLT and chips. Calling in our order before 7PM was a snap. This quaint little place was busy, friendly and warm. The BLT was packed full with (guess what) - Bacon, Lettuce & Juicy Tomato. With the perfect touch of mayo, salt & pepper. Great little place!

Food was great, had the Gertie burger and the special sauce burger. It's a small place so know there could be a wait for your food but it was worth it as the food was fantastic and service was pleasant and attentive.

Food was really good. We had the burger! The company and service was even better! It was by accident we found this cute place and can't wait to go back next year!

Excellent food! Awesome atmosphere! Great service! Well worth the few extra minutes off the interstate.

Best onion rings and cheeseburger I've had in a loooong time!! Service was friendly and attentive. Stop in for a bite-you won't be disappointed!

Such a good find off the beaten trail. I stopped here on the way back to Staunton and am glad I did. The menu is simple but I ordered the grilled chicken BLT and it was delicious. I used 4 napkins-it was that good. The fries were extra crispy and hot. I heard the meat cleaver from the kitchen and know next time I will order the BBQ. I was offered fresh baked blackberry cobbler but didn't have any room left. There were lots of locals and it is the kind of place where they know your name if you are a regular. I definitely will go back.

This is sort of long, scroll to the bottom for the quick summary. When everything is good, where do you start. Let's start with walking in the front door. The aroma of a someone who loves what they do in the kitchen will be your first greeting, quickly followed by a warm smile and friendly hello. Local art on the walls and locally made crafts will capture your gaze until you also notice that people enjoy signing the walls and ceiling - and you should too (markers are indeed provided for just this). Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day which makes Gertie's my best friend. The potatoes are crispy and fun but the real show stealer are Jake's cakes (pancakes) which defy logic. They are large, yet fluffy, never dry, full of flavor, and yet even have that slight crisp that only thin pancakes ever seem to have. I say to you, what dark magic is this?!? Oh... you've arrived on a Saturday? Well count your blessings and pat yourself on the back because on Saturday they have fresh made sausage gravy and biscuits while they last! Lunch / dinner. Oh man. The burgers are a level of juicy that slaps your tastebuds and says "enjoy it baby"! The same goes for the cheesesteaks. Love them both. But don't forget dessert, they've always got something tasty. In summary, Gertie's isn't the fancy spot with a new way of making food where $100 gets you 4 bites of whatever. It's the local spot where everything is done better than expected, is at a very fair price, and the only thing better than the food are the joyful people that welcome you in every time. It's one of my favorite spots in Virginia and I hope it becomes yours as well.

Looking for a diamond-in-the-rough hole-in-the-wall that's off-the-beaten-path plus a few other cliches? Gertie's could be the place for you. When sojourners in a strange land, our family usually prefers the character of local dining establishments over the bland and boring sameness of restaurant chains. Yelp reviews plus GPS led us to Gertie's, although there were a few moments when our GPS connection was spotty and I wondered if we'd wander the rural roads of Virginia forever. This restaurant appears small from the outside... and even smaller from the inside. Everything is quaint and country and homey, and an interesting mix of casual and almost-too-casual. At the time we were there, the patrons appeared to be an almost 50/50 mix of travelers and locals. Though it was 11:45, we were told they were only serving breakfast. Disappointing, as my brood wanted lunch, but we aren't the types to complain. My home fries were EXACTLY the way I like them: precooked potatoes that have then been sliced and deep fried. My only complaint is that I would have liked a few more. We didn't leave hungry, but we're a family of hearty eaters and the portions could have been a wee bit larger. The service was excellent: both friendly and quick. To get to the restroom you must walk through a storeroom, which was a bit dingy and a little disconcerting. The single restroom was, however, pretty clean. As others have stated, customers are encouraged to write (names, cities, dates, etc.) on the walls. It was fun to read all the graffiti! If you're traveling through the area and looking for a different dining experience, you'll get it at Gertie's!

My husband and I stumbled upon Gertie's while searching for food after a long hike at Crabtree Falls. The little hole in a wall diner was absolutely adorable. I cannot emphasize that enough. The staff was welcoming and friendly when we entered. We were recommended the Reuben sandwich special and it did not disappoint. The corned beef was sliced and chopped so perfect that it melted in your mouth. The homemade thousand island dressing was the chefs kiss. Gertie's sells homemade apple butter with proceeds benefiting the local fire department, local raw honey and maple syrup. Be sure to check out Gertie's traveling gnomes (handmade) as well. They are adorable. We are so happy we decided to stop in for a quick bite. This place should be on Diners, Drive-ins and dives!!

Really fun and yummy place not far off the interstate. The chicken cheese steak and the fries were amazing.

The food all tasted so great and the portions were just right. I got the chicken cheesesteak. You can really load up a lot of yummy toppings like grilled onions and banana peppers. The cheese fries were hearty and tasty. The sweet potatoes had a nice crunch.

Hot Italian Sub Cheeseburgers When initially parking, we weren't quite sure what to expect. Once inside, it is small, but very clean. For an early Saturday afternoon, there were only two tables and a booth left. We were promptly greeted and given the menus. I had a cheeseburger and my wife had a hot Italian sub, with an appetizer of cheese fries. The fries were really good and it was real cheddar cheese that covered crisp French fries. We had just finished the appetizer when our meals came out, so the timing was excellent. My cheeseburger was cooked the way I asked and all the toppings were fresh. My wife enjoyed her sub and brought half of it home to enjoy later in the day. We were offered dessert, but didn't have room - maybe next time as they are house-made. All in all, we would recommend Gertie's! Not much atmosphere, but the food, service, and prices outweigh having fancy surroundings!

Such great food! Service was also good, everyone was super friendly. Worth the mile off the highway.

If it wasn't for my wife finding this place on Yelp, we would have driven right on by. Man am I glad we didn't. I had a burger and onion rings and my wife had the pulled pork with homemade potato chips. Great burger and my wife loved the pulled pork. I stole half her chips. We will definitely will come back her the next time we are down this way. Don't forget to sign the guest

A proper hole in the wall gem in an interstate valley of chains and gas stations. A must if you hike Crabtree Falls or just don't feel like cooking

Food is delicious!! If you go in on a Saturday morning they have biscuits and gravy . This is a hole in the wall with great people working there.

Found this off the beaten path gem today on a road trip from TN back home to NJ, using the iExit app. Not much to look at from the outside, but it's what's on the inside that counts. Staff & customers super friendly. Food was A+ and I could have spent hours checking out the writing on the walls. I urge anyone and everyone to take the time to stop and give this place their undivided attention. PS the Whoopie pies they sell at the counter are delicious.

Stopped in for some BLT's and fries. So friendly and down to earth! Sandwiches were top quality ingredients and the owners were so nice. We even wrote our names on the wall. Definitely a must stop for lunch!

Best kept secret along rt 11!! The food is absolutely great! And the owners are even better!!

This is a diamond in the rough! A great young couple owns this and the food is great! I had the chicken cheese steak! Best I have ever had!!! If you are ever near Vesuvius, VA, this is a must stop for breakfast/lunch/dinner!!

If there was a sixth star I'd give it to them. No exaggeration THE BEST pancakes I've ever had. I think they may have ruined pancakes for me. I don't want them from anywhere else. They were fluffy and perfect.

We popped in after a hike at Saint Mary's Wilderness. Everyone working there was friendly and hospitable. The prices were great and the food was delicious. I had the chicken tenders, served with fries and Cole slaw, and my husband had a grilled chicken salad. We grabbed a couple of ice cream sandwiches for dessert. They have a nice variety of cold bottled beverages and some cute mugs, thermoses, handmade soaps, etc. Will definitely visit again!

We stopped in today on our way to crabtree falls and we were in for a treat!! We were greeted by a nice couple with a beautiful baby!! The young man was working to help and everyone was so nice it felt like home. The food was Amazing! We ordered subs fries hotdogs and wing dings and were super happy with our food. Definitely will be going back this is a must stop place for food! They also had a neat little store with local items and markers for you to write on the wall, our son loved that!! If owners read this thank you so much!! And appreciate bringing hotdogs outside to picnic tables for us!!

Go here. Eat BBQ. Be happy. Keep driving. That's all you need to know about Gertie's. Super nice people. Great, great pulled pork BBQ. Price is right, too.

My husband and I stopped here on a whim. I was looking for somewhere to eat lunch and found this place. I've passed this place several time and didn't realize what I was missing! I had the hot Italian sub, it was the best I've ever had. My husband had the 1/2lb burger and he said it was delicious. Our lunch was extremely reasonable and certainly worth every penny. A young couple now owns this place, so be sure to stop by if you're anywhere near the area and help out a small business! You won't regret it!

We read great reviews and though it took us off the Highway a bit, it was well worth it! Small with not a lot of tables, but intentionally decorated to give a cozy country feel. Waitress was welcoming and gave us a history of the place. We had the grilled chicken salad and fish & chips with Cole slaw. Special recipe in the flour for the fish - nice! The fries were among the best we'e ever had, and the Cole slaw was sweet and good. The place was decorated with the signatures of patrons for many years on the walls and even the ceiling! We highly recommend the place for good food and atmosphere.

Great burger on our way through scenic Virginia on our motorcycle. Also noticed local beef being sold on our way out. Will definitely be back for that

Stopped here on our way home to Chattanooga for a quick bite. The owner was so kind and conversational, the food is SO GOOD!! (I got a burger, 10/10). They have all kinds of little goodies you can buy, I bought 3 jams and my boyfriend bought some cuts of beef they have from a local farm. Overall amazing experience and refreshing for a long drive.

Saw this little gem on Yelp driving home to Pennsy. Saw they had great sandwiches and well as a Philly native love me a good sandwich. It was four miles off the road but we were rewarded with rural landscapes and a wonderfully mellow lunch. I can't handle fast food anymore a d crave those little hole in the wall type places. Service was friendly and helpful. They also sell local products and host a farmers market on Saturdays. My husband had a hot Italian sun with a great roll and local produce tomato and lettuce. My son had a chicken cheesesteak that would rival those in our hometown. I got the Friday fish fry special but was really interested in the bbq. The coffee was excellent and they served wine and beers besides sofas. All was fresh, hot and delicious. The fries were great too. Bought some honey and black raspberry jam. I'd love to have breakfast there next time!

Spent the weekend locally. Dropped in for breakfast. The nice owners greated us and made us feel like family. Food was terrific. They will do well! Went back for great live entertainment on Sat. night. Don't miss this treat if you're anywhere near them. Mike, Karen, Bill, Dona

The vibe in this little family-run place is so Mayberry. You feel like a member of the family when you walk in. The young couple who run (along with their 3-month baby, Levi) are super friendly. The menu is limited but it's very good. Biscuits and gravy was the special, so we shared that along with two eggs and strips of bacon. Excellent. It is a 5-mile detour from the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the road winds, but it is a lovely drive. Worth the side trip!

We drove a few miles off the beaten path while driving from TN to MD because no one in our group wanted fast food. Gertie's is a small but welcoming restaurant. We opted for carryout due to COVID but otherwise I would've dined in. They have daily specials, a nice sized menu, and a small gift shop too. We ordered the chicken fried steak, an Italian sub, shrimp po boy and shrimp platter. The total was $52. Everyone enjoyed the meal, the only exception is that the po boy didn't have any hint of Cajun seasoning. The staff is friendly and quick, I would go back. P.S. beautiful creek-lined ride WITH waterfall to Gertie's.

My husband and I were looking for a quick lunch when we stayed at Steeles Tavern Manor. Gertie's is a good, down to earth place! I had the cheeseburger and my husband had the bologna burger! So good, the owners were super friendly!

Excellent Food in a beautiful little village. The Cheesesteak is phenomenal. The candied jalepeno's are fabulous. Friendly folks.

This place is AMAZING! You would love this place if you went there. They make great food, quick service, they have a fantastic little restaurant with great options! Personally my favorite thing on the menu is the MAC N' CHEESE BURGER, It was SO GOOD!

Delicious and very kind people working there. I had a burger and fries. Burger was good but would have been next level with a little seasoning and by buttering and toasting bun! Fries were amazing! So good! $2.50 is a little steep to add 2 slices of bacon to a burger but it was all so good that I didn't mind!

The best stop on a road trip you can take. The greatest bbq pulled pork I've ever had. Some of the kindest restaurant owners I've ever met.