Hometown Eats: Wolf’s Den Billiards

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - One of the best things about Hometown Eats is finding a place that serves food and fun.

They have both at a spot in Roanoke and you don’t even need to be good at pool to enjoy. We’re racking ‘em at Wolf’s Den Billiards for this week’s Hometown Eats!

“Oh, it’s a pool hall. They think they’ll come in and see three or four tables,” said owner Kory Wolford.

Ever walk into a place expecting one thing and you get something totally different? And I’m talking about the good kind of different. Welcome to Wolf’s Den Billiards next to Food Lion on Hollins Road in Roanoke.

“We have 21 tables, a full pro shop, full kitchen, bar, and great staff,” said Wolford.

Owner Kory Wolford knows pool.

“Pool has been in my family for 20 some years so it’s been a blessing. We’ve been all over the world,” said Wolford.

But Kory and his wife Trena wanted to share their love of pool to Southwest Virginia and break the stigma the game has developed over the years.

“Pool over the years has gotten a real bad image. It’s the hustlers, the people you don’t want to be associated with, but pool is a beautiful game,” said Wolford.

Good or bad, there’s a table for any skill level.

“We have people come an hour and a half from West Virginia, they come from Harrisonburg, all the way down into Pulaski County. The furthest we’ve had is the Philippines but that’s when we have our pro tournament called ‘The Battle of the Bull’ which is the who’s who of all professional tournaments. They come in for a $45,000 prize purse,” said Wolford.

If you’re looking to get serious though, Kory can hook you up.

“We are the only place in Southwest Virginia that has a full pro shop. Probably over 1,000 cues in there for sale ranging from $80 to $6,000. Billiard clothing, accessories, cases, chalk. It’s a small shop but it’s got a lot of stuff in there,” said Wolford.

They even offer league play Sunday through Thursday, but at some point during all the games of 8-ball, your stomach might start rumbling..

“You know pool players, fat boys, we like to eat,” joked Wolford.

“Double cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise. It’s right what any fat boy needs, I’m telling you. It’s straight up delicious,” added regular customer Mark.

“My wife didn’t come here for a really long time and finally I talked her into coming down one time and eating. She probably eats here more than I do now,” said regular customer David.

“Anybody that comes in and they look at the fat boy and say, ‘Hey what do you recommend?’ The first thing out of my mouth is the Kentucky Colonel. It’s a fried chicken sandwich. We hand bread our own chicken with American cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion and mayonnaise,” said Wolford.

He continued, “We do smash burgers. Patty them out into three-ounce balls then smash them flat as a flitter and we do one that’s called The Big Bad Wolf which is all the good pork and hamburger all together. You’ll be seeing that one in a minute.”

“The Piggy Mac. I suggest getting a like four or five jalapenos to mix up in it, makes it delicious,” said Wolford. “The staple I pride myself, 20 years being in this business, is the wings we do. Kory Sauce which is my personal sauce.”

Then on Fridays, for the price of lunch you can play pool for free from 11 to 5.

“Come by on Fridays. Play pool for free and eat lunch with Teddy,” said Trena.

“If you’re not wanting that franchise-y frozen off the truck type stuff, I would come here,” added David.

But the thing Kory and Trena might be best known for is helping people. Whether it’s raising tens of thousands of dollars for Toys for Tots, naming certain dishes after their regulars.

“We have the Corky which is our big hamburger steak with mushroom, gravy, and onions named after Corky McCormick. He’s a regular. He’s the one that pretty much said I want this, this, and this so we made him his special,” said Kory.

And then honoring those regulars once they pass away.

“Over the years we’ve been very fortunate to have a good livelihood, and we have a great pool community that supports people in so many different ways,” said Kory.

Wolf’s Den Billiards, a hometown eat that’s a two for one combo.

Wolf’s Den Billiards is located at 4822 Hollins Rd, Roanoke, VA 24019 and is open Monday through Thursday 4pm to midnight, Friday and Saturday 11am to 1am, and Sunday noon to midnight.