В Пенхуке открылся семейный ресторан с легендарными панкейками и ретро-оборудованием

Hometown Eats: Sandy’s at Lumpkins Sandy’s at Lumpkins is located at 503 Pruitt Dr, Penhook, VA 24137 PENHOOK, Va. (WDBJ) - There’s no school like the old school and at Lumpkin’s Marina in Franklin County, you’ll find an old school family diner. Sandy’s at Lumpkins has been serving some of the biggest pancakes on Smith Mountain Lake since 2005, but they almost never happened. We’ll tell you about it in this week’s Hometown Eats! “I want it to be good, and I want everybody to leave full,” said Sandy’s at Lumpkins owner Sandy Collins. One look at the size of these pancakes and you know that motto is true. Welcome to Sandy’s at Lumpkins Marina in Penhook. “It’s little but we can get a lot of food out on it,” said Sandy. Owner Sandy Collins is talking about this old school cook top that was installed at this Smith Mountain Lake snack bar in the 1960s. “There’s probably none left like it and it still works and that’s a blessing,” said Sandy. As for Sandy, she moved into this old building about 20 years ago and never left. “I had another little restaurant and then I just needed a change, and this came available, so I came on over and I’ve been here since,” said Sandy. A lot of that has to do with the classic family vibe around this joint. Complete with an old mechanical horse that just costs a dime to ride. “It’s quiet and peaceful, the scenery is beautiful and we’re right here at the base of the mountain,” said regular customer Angela Johnson. “I have a wonderful cliental, we really do and I thank God above for bringing me here,” said Sandy. But people don’t just come for the lake views, Sandy and her little grill are pumping out top-notch breakfast and lunch. Her grandmother taught her how to make homemade biscuits when she was just nine years old, but granny didn’t have much faith in little Sandy. “She used to say that I would never be able to learn how to cook,” joked Sandy. Harsh, but it motivated Sandy. She never gave up and eventually changed grandma’s mind with some potato salad. “She said that is so good, I thought you would never be able to cook. Now she’s in heaven and I think Granny I wonder what you would say now,” said Sandy. And granny’s not the only one who knows Sandy can cook. “It was the best cheeseburger I’ve ever had in my life, and then everybody was try the pancakes so I tried the pancake and it was the best pancake I’ve ever had in my life,” said Johnson. The now legendary pancakes almost never happened. It’s all thanks to a picky customer when Sandy was first starting out. “At my other restaurant I made them because I ran out of mix and one of my customers said they were a little dry and that kind of aggravated me so I said the next ones are not going to be dry. That’s how I came up with my recipe,” explained Sandy. As for the size? Remember she wants you to leave full, and that old flat top can only handle two at a time. “We have a challenge if you eat three in 30 minutes, they’re free and you get your picture on the wall,” said Sandy. If you’re thinking, “no problem,” let me reel you back in. In 19 years, these are the only people to ever finish it. If you can’t tackle that stack, you can always go for her homemade biscuits, she bakes several pans a day. She served mine with a slab of country ham and sausage gravy. Just like breakfast, lunch is also homemade, from pimento cheese to the hand pattied burgers. “A lot of homemade desserts. We have blondies today,” said Sandy. But the best part for Sandy isn’t all the food she’s sending out the door; it’s the conversations and time spent with those she loves. “I get to be with my family and like I said I have met some wonderful people,” said Sandy. Sandy’s at Lumpkins, a hometown eat anchored around feeding you like family. Sandy’s at Lumpkins is located at 503 Pruitt Dr, Penhook, VA 24137 and is open Wednesday through Sunday 8am to 2pm. They plan to close toward the end of September and reopen next season in March or April. Copyright 2026 WDBJ. All rights reserved.