Restaurant Redux 'Round Roanoke

Ma Vinegar recently paid a visit, and between this long weekend and a two-restaurant Tuesday, Miss Vinegar began to long for the chance to stay home and cook. However, she can hardly ignore her reviewing after having been out to eat five times in as many days, so here are three of them in a nutshell:

Red Palace
Valley View and Tanglewood Mall areas, Roanoke, VA

The best Chinese buffet in the area, bar none. Critics who complain that it is too expensive should fill their mouths with the excellent crab Rangoon or salt-and-pepper shrimp and practice the gentle art of shutting up.
Overall: **** (four stars out of five)


Cracker Barrel
off Rte. 11, Roanoke/Cloverdale, VA

Cracker Barrel, like the KFC buffet, provides Miss Vinegar with an invaluable service--namely, country vegetables without the three-hour cooking time in her own home. Miss Vinegar's hands-down favorite here is the chicken 'n' dumplins, along with the fried okra and some Tabasco sauce. If you can get there in time to avoid the long lines, always a staple on the road or anytime you miss your grandmother.
Overall: *** 1/2 (three point five stars out of five)

Moosie's
Bridgewater Plaza, Smith Mountain Lake, VA

Miss Vinegar has a special soft spot for Smith Mountain Lake, and one that increases the more the area tries to pretend it's a real beach town. It isn't, bless its little heart, but a stroll around the wooden walkways of Bridgewater Plaza and a soulful gaze at the sparkling lake water will almost convince.
The lake can also be seen to advantage from the heavily-windowed dining room at Moosie's, a bar-and-grill type restaurant with a good if low-key ambience, great sandwiches, and the only personal-size nachos Miss Vinegar has found in the area.
Overall: *** (three stars out of five)