Gillies Provides A New Flavor Of Blacksburg

Having slept through breakfast for years I finally gave the meal a chance. A few friends joined me to eat at Gillies, a vegetarian restaurant in downtown Blacksburg rumored to have delicious breakfasts. We thankfully walked to Gillies because parking along College Avenue is definitely anything but favorable or easy. Luckily, it's within walking distance of campus.
Once we entered the restaurant, we realized our meals would be anything but ordinary. Gillies is decorated in a hippie-Bohemian mixed style. The ambiance was calming and relaxed with similar music that blended into the background so it wasn't too intruding. The atmosphere remained laid back, and apparently the cleaning service did too. Gillies, at a glance, seems fairly well kept, but crumbs on the table and floor did not go unnoticed by me or my friends.
We were seated quickly due to everyone tailgating for the game that day; the place was somewhat deserted. Our waitress accommodated us happily, but it seemed no one gave her a dress code. The servers dressed in slightly grungy, very dirty clothing. There were stains all over the waitress's and cashier's aprons which made the workers appear very unclean. Our server was very helpful and pleasant, but she took her time when delivering our drinks and food. Also, she placed our bill on the table soon after we began eating which made us feel rushed to finish.
Luckily, the food made up for the mediocre service and ambiance. I ordered French toast, a simple, common meal. I figured you can't go wrong with French toast, and I'm happy to say Gillies did provide me with fluffy, moist French toast. The toast came with whipped cream and strawberries on top, but the customer has other options in that area. However, the waitress didn't bring out any syrup for the toast, and she didn't check on us so I ate the dish slightly unsatisfied. The French toast did come out very warm and fresh. I definitely enjoyed the meal; it was full of flavor and the strawberries were some of the best I've ever tasted.
I queried my company asking what they thought of their meals. They all had ordered a plethora of dishes all with unusual names. Only one friend seemed to have a problem with his meal, but this was only for the fact that he didn't realize the restaurant was vegetarian, and he had wanted meat. Everyone else seemed to thoroughly enjoy their meals commenting on the unique flavors and combinations of the various dishes.
Overall, I would recommend Gillies to someone who wants some hearty, vegetarian meals and doesn't mind mediocre service. The restaurant is definitely in a great location for walkers and is very intriguing to customers walking by on the street. With reasonable prices, Gillies has definitely become a well-rounded, pleasing restaurant.