Diners at the new Absolutely Delicious Bar and Grill on Pollard Street in downtown Vinton say
that name pretty much sums up the food that owner Teresa Thacker serves – thick “Smash
Burgers,” mega-thick fried bologna sandwiches, Jesse Jones beef hot dogs, homemade potato
soup (made daily), and much more. A specialty is the “family bundles” of burgers or hot dogs,
which include multiple hot dogs or huge Smash Burgers, with waffle fries and drinks.
Pictured left to right are owner Teresa Thacker, her son Justin Thacker, employee Lauren Stump,
and cook Dillon Colgan.
The restaurant opened memorably on the night of the Vinton Christmas Parade on Dec. 5, 2024.
Thacker says they sold 200 cups of cocoa to the crowds lining the streets that extremely frigid
night and introduced themselves to the Town of Vinton.
The location was most recently home to Farmburguesa Restaurant and before that the legendary
Angelo’s Mexican restaurant, in business from 1987 to 2017. Many locals recall owner Angelo
Linares impressively making really fresh ground beef starting with just a large knife and a large
cut of beef – methodically mincing it into hamburger.
Building on Pollard Street in downtown Vinton
Thacker, originally from Franklin County, has lived in Vinton since 2014. She owned and
operated the Rock of Ages hair salon for 11 years. It is now known as VIP Hair Studio Vinton
and is located above the restaurant.
Looking for more property in Vinton, she bought the building at 303 South Pollard Street (next
door to the Vinton Municipal Building) in 2017 from the Linares family when Angelo and Elvia
Linares, owners of the Mexican restaurant since 1987, lost their lives in a car crash.
Co-owners are her sons Justin and Jacob Thacker (both William Byrd graduates), who work at
the restaurant. (Another son lives in Colorado; her daughter and two grandsons live in
Greensboro.)
Dillon Colgan is the full-time cook; Lauren Stump and a couple of other part-time employees
round out the staff.
The small cozy restaurant seats 14 customers, who can watch as their meal is being prepared
right in front of them. Thacker says her emphasis is on “fresh” ingredients from beef to produce,
soup, and sides.
Absolutely Delicious has been very successful, even in a winter opening, with a steady stream of
customers who can eat in or take out. Thacker says she has been working 12-hour days, six days
a week, to get the new restaurant up and running. Not many renovations were needed prior to
their opening other than extensive cleaning.
One new addition is the wall TV, which has been so popular that Justin has plans for adding a
sports package for big events like boxing matches and other sports-related entertainment.
Absolutely Delicious is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed on
Sunday. Thacker is planning to extend night hours once they settle in.
You may order online at https://order.toasttab.com/online/absolutely-delicious-303-s-pollard-st,
call 540-566-3747, or order through Door Dash.
Absolutely Delicious Bar and Grill will be participating in Vinton’s Winter Restaurant Week
from Feb. 23-March 2. The special deal offer will be the “family hot dog bundle” which includes
eight hot dogs, four bags of sea salt chips, four large drinks, 8 ounces of hot dog chili, 8 ounces
of cole slaw, and 4 ouncs of diced onions, along with condiments.
