Bites of Bristol: Owner of Luke’s Café says his eatery is ‘like a rockabilly Cracker Barrel’ Joe Tennis Sep 2, 2019 Sep 2, 2019 0 1 of 3 Luke Patterson shows off a sample of lunch favorites, including a shrimp taco, crab cake and a meatloaf sandwich. JOE TENNIS/BRISTOL HERALD COURIER Luke’s Café stands on the south side of Abingdon, near Virginia Highlands Community College. JOE TENNIS/BRISTOL HERALD COURIER Crab cake JOE TENNIS/BRISTOL HERALD COURIER Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Joe Tennis ABINGDON, Va. — I cannot begin to brag enough about the crab cake at Luke’s Café.kAm$@ =6E >6 7:CDE :?EC@5F46 J@F E@ {F<6 !2EE6CD@?] w6 :D E9:D C6DE2FC2?E’D >F=E:\E2=6?E65 @H?6C :? p3:?85@?[ ':C8:?:2]k^AmkAm{F<6’D r27é :D 2 4@@= 2?5 42DF2=[ C@4< ’?’ C@== <:?5 @7 62E6CJ DE2?5:?8 C:89E 2E E96 6586 @7 &]$] w:89H2J `` @? E96 D@FE9 D:56 @7 p3:?85@?] xE’D 4=@D6 E@ ':C8:?:2 w:89=2?5D r@>>F?:EJ r@==686 2?5 @?=J `_ >:=6D 7C@> E96 ?@CE96C? 6586 @7 qC:DE@=[ ':C8:?:2]k^Am Luke Patterson (left) shares a moment with his mother, Virginia Patterson, who cooks at the restaurant on Abingdon’s Main Street. JOE TENNIS/BRISTOL HERALD COURIER kAmp?5 {F<6nk^Am kAm(6==[ 96’D BF:E6 =:E6C2==J 2 C@4< ’?’ C@== <:?5 @7 8FJ]k^Am People are also reading… HISTORY WITH HAYES: Powell Valley's Kevin Mitchell was Southwest Virginia's king of speed FRIDAY'S HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP: Ty Whittaker (Tazewell), Jeb Stewart (Patrick Henry), Ike Deel (Sullivan East), Maverick Cress (Rye Cove), Kyler McFall (Ridgeview), Cutchin Wynn (Lee High), Brody Allen (Rural Retreat), Jai'erre Hamler (Union), Bryce Parks (Twin Springs) play well HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Prep Predictions for Sept. 10-11, 2026 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Preston Gollehon, Gunnar Milhorne help lower the boom as Chilhowie blasts J.I. Burton HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Surprising Wise Central (2-0) vs. Tough Ridgeview (2-0) in battle of unbeatens. A glance ahead and a look back Sept. 10, 2026 High School Roundup HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Union's Kaleb Stacy is following the Harless plan for success HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Tennessee High burned by Science Hill's Kiantai Harris in 43-33 loss Washington County considering combining Holston, Patrick Henry LOCALS IN COLLEGE NOTES: Patrick Henry grads Ean Rhea (Illinois), Tyler Barrett (Georgetown) doing big things at NCAA Division I level TUESDAY'S HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP: Leah Rasnake (Southern Gap), Camryn Ratliff (John Battle), Reece Hungate (Abingdon), Rylie Stallard (Wise Central), Bella Viers (Ridgeview), Paisley Patrick (Sullivan East) among many stars Running back Eli Tweed turns up big for Holston in win over John Battle Hamilton-led Eastside shows up big in win over Rural Retreat HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Graham held in check by Heritage-Lynchburg in 21-6 loss Washington County considering combining Holston, Patrick Henry kAmq24< 2C@F?5 a_`a[ :? E96 62C=J A2CE @7 E9:D 564256[ J@F H@F=5 92G6 7@F?5 9:> @? E@FC 2D E96 8F:E2C:DE 7@C $E2C r:EJ |6=E5@H?[ 2 >@56C? C@4< 32?5 <?@H? 36DE 7@C E96 9:E “w6C6 H:E9 *@F]”k^AmkAm%9:D 7:G6\>2? 32?5 E@FC65 E96 4@F?ECJ[ A=2J:?8 8:8D H:E9 8C@FAD =:<6 z@C? 2?5 r2?5=63@I]k^Am Strawberry Bacon Salad is a hit on the lunchtime menu at Luke’s. JOE TENNIS/BRISTOL HERALD COURIER kAm%96?[ =:EE=6 >@C6 E92? 7:G6 J62CD 28@[ !2EE6CD@? C6E:C65 7C@> E96 C@4< D46?6 2?5 =2?565 324< :? 9:D 9@>6E@H? @7 p3:?85@?[ H96C6 96 8C25F2E65 p3:?85@? w:89 $49@@= :? a__a]k^Am kAm“(6 ;FDE @A6?65 2E E96 C:89E E:>6[ :? E96 C:89E A=246[” D2:5 !2EE6CD@?[ bd]k^Am kAm{F<6’D r27é 7@4FD6D @? 2CE[ 6I6>A=:7:65 3J E96 =2C86 @FE5@@C >FC2= A2:?E65 3J !2EE6CD@?] %92E 8:G6D :E 2 8C@@G6[ >F49 =:<6 p3:?85@?’D @=5 $E2CG:?8 pCE:DE r276]k^AmkAm%92E’D ?@ 4@:?4:56?46]k^AmkAm!2EE6CD@? 8@E 9:D DE2CE :? E96 4F=:?2CJ H@C=5 2D 2 5:D9H2D96C 2E E96 $E2CG:?8 pCE:DE :? E96 =2E6 `hh_D[ H@C<:?8 7C@> 286 `c E@ `g[ =2C86=J :? E96 5:D9C@@>]k^Am kAm“%92E F=E:>2E6=J =65 E@ 2== E9:D[” !2EE6CD@? D2:5 H:E9 2 D>:=6 2D 96 D9@H65 @77 9:D C6DE2FC2?E[ 762EFC:?8 2 C@@> 565:42E65 E@ >@G:6 DE2C=6ED |2C:=J? |@?C@6 2?5 pF5C6J w6A3FC?]k^Am kAm#:89E @FE @7 9:89 D49@@=[ !2EE6CD@? DEF5:65 4F=:?2CJ 2CED :? u=@C:52 E96? >@G65 E@ |JCE=6 q6249[ $@FE9 r2C@=:?2[ 2?5 (:=>:?8E@?[ }@CE9 r2C@=:?2[ 2== E96 E:>6 H@C<:?8 :? C6DE2FC2?ED — F?E:= =2?5:?8 E96 8:8 H:E9 $E2C r:EJ |6=E5@H?]k^AmkAm“x ?66565 E@ 92G6 E92E 6IA6C:6?46[” 96 D2:5] “xE’D ;FDE D@>6E9:?8 x ?66565 E@ 5@]”k^Am An artsy mural at Luke’s display owner Luke Patterson’s art skills. JOE TENNIS/BRISTOL HERALD COURIER kAm%@52J[ E96 H2==D @7 {F<6’D r27é E6== DE@C:6D[ D9@H:?8 @77 H92E !2EE6CD@? 42==D “F=EC2\42DF2=[ 2== @C:8:?2=\DEJ=6 DEF77[” =:<6 8F:E2CD 2?5 A@DE6CD]k^AmkAm“~FCD :D =:<6 2 C@4<23:==J rC24<6C q2CC6=[” !2EE6CD@? D2:5] “x’G6 8@E D2I@A9@?6D 2?5 4=2C:?6ED ?6IE E@ >@G:6 A@DE6CD] xE’D 2== 2 @?6\H2J DEC66E E92E :?E6CD64ED E9C66 C@25D — 2CE[ >FD:4 2?5 7@@5]”k^Am kAms@?’E 7@C86E E96 7@@5]k^AmkAm“tG6CJ D:?8=6 6=6>6?E @7 6G6CJE9:?8 :D 9@>6>256[” !2EE6CD@? D2:5] “x =:<6 E@ 42== :E ‘u@@5 %CF4< u@@5]’ xE’D 2=>@DE =:<6 DEC66E 7@@5]”k^Am kAmu@C =F?49 2?5 2 DF3D6BF6?E E2<6\@FE @C56C[ x D2>A=65 D9C:>A E24@D[ 7:D9 E24@D[ 2 >62E=@27 D2?5H:49[ E96 $EC2H36CCJ q24@? $2=25 2?5 E96 4C23 42<6[ D6CG65 H:E9 2 D:56 D2F46]k^AmkAm“*@F’G6 8@E E@ >2<6 :E 2== 4C23>62E[” !2EE6CD@? D2:5]k^AmkAm“(96? J@F E2<6 2 7@C< 2?5 3C62< :?E@ 2 4C23 42<6[ :E D9@F=5 36 =F>A[ 2?5 :E D9@F=5 36 2== 4C23>62E] xE D9@F=5?’E 36 2 >:I @7 4@C?>62= 2?5 7=@FC @C !2?<@ 3C6254CF>3D @C C68F=2C 3C6254CF>3D[” 96 25565]k^Am kAm“xE 92D E@ 36 2== =F>A 4C23>62E] *@F 92G6 E@ 7:?5 D@>6 H2J E@ >2<6 :E DE2J E@86E96C H:E9@FE FD:?8 2 E@? @7 3C625:?8] %96 D64C6E :D >:?:>2= :?8C65:6?ED] p446?EF2E6 E96 4C23>62E H:E9 G6CJ =:EE=6 E9:?8D — (@C46DE6CD9:C6 D2F46[ 2 E25 @7 ~=5 q2J[ 2 E25 @7 5CJ >FDE2C5] $BF66K6 2 76H =6>@?D :? E96C6[ 2?5 3C625 ’6> FA]”k^Am jtennis@bristolnews.com | 276-791-0709 | @BHC_Tennis If You Go Luke’s Cafe, 823 W. Main St., Abingdon, Virginia; 276-623-2233; ilovelukes.com 0 Comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Joe Tennis Author facebook Author twitter Author email Follow Joe Tennis Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Related to this story
Joe Tennis Author facebook Author twitter Author email Follow Joe Tennis Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today