Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 2, 1995 TAG: 9507050004
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
Owners: Jim and Jan Politis
Location: 4041 Riner Road (Virginia 8)
Phone: 381-9764, (800) 382-9764
Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Saturday
Mission: To let people know that buffalo meat is available in the New River Valley and that it is a healthy alternative to other types of meat. Buffalo meat is lower in fat and cholesterol than chicken and turkey, Jan Politis said. The bison are raised on the Politis farm without growth compounds or hormones.
Products and services: The restaurant offers grilled buffalo burgers and buffalo barbecue, as well as steaks, roast and ground meat. Other items include buffalo jerky, summer sausage and spiced snack sticks. The gift shop offers hides, skulls, figurines, cards, cookbooks and T-shirts.
Costs: Combination quarter-pound buffalo burger, home-cut fries and a drink is $5, including tax; individual quarter-pound burger is $3; buffalo barbecue sandwich is $2; buffalo barbecue is $8 per pound.
Owners' Biography: Jan and Jim Politis have been raising buffalo on their Montgomery County farm for a year and a half. They decided to open their restaurant and store in Riner to provide an outlet for their products. Now it's doing more business than the farm. They moved from Knoxville, Tenn., in 1992, after selling an electronics distributorship they operated there. Jan's mother was born in the house in which the couple are now living, and it was built by Jan's great-grandfather.
by CNB