Five hundred years ago, the native peoples of the New River Valley survived by hunting the herds of wild American buffalo, or bison, that freely roamed the hills and valleys of this beautiful, mountainous region.  They not only filled their stomachs, but warmed their bodies using all parts of these majestic creatures.  When the first settlers arrived in the 1600’s, the buffalo were still plentiful, and as they looked toward the horizon, they saw the peak that would one day bear the name of these iconic animals.  Though Buffalo Mountain no longer hears the wild hoofbeats of its namesake, it certainly hears the heartbeats of those who love the mountain and the valley community of Floyd County, Virginia.
In the year 2021, society and circumstances have significantly changed.  However, the people of the New River Valley can still find full bellies and warm company provided by the bison who live and roam there.  Instead of being hunted while running wild, the buffalo are now lovingly farmed and skillfully prepared by Connie Hale and Carla George, co-owners of Buffalo & More Restaurant, located at 4041 Riner Road, in the village of Riner; just across the Floyd County line into Montgomery on Route Eight.

With a background in restaurants and restaurant management, Connie Hale eventually found that she wanted to set off on her own.  What she didn’t want, however, was to run just any middle-of-the-road type eatery.  She wanted something unique.  Something niche.  She wanted to own and run a restaurant that served food you couldn’t get anywhere else.
At the 4041 Riner Road location, Jim Politis was already running Brush Creek Buffalo.  Brush Creek sold bison meat, and they had a small grill, but it wasn’t a full-service restaurant.  Since Jim was looking to get out of the restaurant business, it was the perfect time, and perfect concept, for Connie Hale.
Hale and George took over the location, made some changes, and opened the full-service restaurant, Buffalo & More, on September 16 of 2008.
For the first year, they sourced the buffalo from the farm already being run by Jim Politis.  In 2009, however, Politis wanted to retire from bison farming, too.  Rather than finding another source, Hale and George decided to farm their own beasties.
Carla George already had a strong background in farming, as her family had a farm with a history of raising cattle.  With Hale’s thumb firmly on the pulse of the restaurant, George turned her focus toward farming the buffalo that would become the restaurant’s new source for the meat.  The duo leased a farm, then headed off to Greenville Tennessee with cattle trailers to transfer thirty-five head of buffalo to their new home.  It took several trips, but the buffalo settled quickly and smoothly.  The herd did magnificently and have been producing as many as fifteen new baby bison each year.
George carefully watches over the herd, making sure they are safe and healthy.  In addition to grazing, the herd are given seasonally produced treats to enjoy, like pumpkins grown just down the road.  The good feeding and care contribute to making bison a healthier alternative to beef, frequently shown to be lower in unhealthy fats and cholesterol.  “Healthy and happy animals make healthy food!” says George.
Hale tells us that there are many differences between farming cattle and farming bison.  “They’re smarter than cattle, and more herd-based.  They like to stay together and are more protective of the herd than cattle are.  They are also better foragers.  You can put more of them on a small piece of land.”
Since 2008, Hale and George have offered delicious, home cooked meals made from the fresh bison meat.  The array of buffalo-based offerings is impressive: smoked brisket, buffalo burgers, hot dogs, chili, steaks, and roasts.  This is indeed a locally based, farm-to-table style restaurant!
True to the “and More” part of the name, they also offer regionally sourced chicken, as well as shrimp from the North Carolina coast.
For a sweet ending to a delicious meal, Ms. Hale’s mother, Reba, often stocks the cases with her handmade desserts, ranging from apricot nectar cake, to cream cheese brownies, to cobblers, and everything in between.
Locals and visitors alike recognize this quality, too!  Some customers visit weekly or even more often to enjoy a hearty meal.  Buffalo & More also hosts products from other local businesses, such as honey, pepper jelly, and hot peppers.
In 2014, Buffalo and More was also been recognized by The Food Lovers Guide to Virginia as one of the “30 places to eat in Virginia before you die”.
This year has been especially challenging for Hale and George, as the Covid-19 pandemic forced creative thinking and a quick change in operations.  “The community has been very supportive of us during this time,” said Hale, “which has kept us going through some difficult challenges.  We were able to keep the doors open with our take-out menu and upgrade our outside seating with heaters and other comforts that have been welcomed by many of our friends and neighbors”.
Looking forward to a time when life returns to normal, Hale and George hope to open a new, larger location for the restaurant.  They are also looking forward to reimplementing their catering business, as well as their mobile food truck, both of which were curtailed by the pandemic.
For locals and visitors to the Riner and Floyd County areas, a stop at Buffalo & More is a must; not only will you enjoy amazing food, but you will also be supporting a local business.  The best of all, however, is you will feel connected to the centuries-gone, original inhabitants of the area by taking nourishment from the same iconic American creatures that sustained their existence — the buffalo.

Buffalo & More • 540-381-9764
Connie Hale and Carla George
4041 Riner Road, Riner, VA, US 24149
www.facebook.com/BuffaloAndMore/