THE 63 BEST Restaurants in Roanoke - With Menus, Reviews, Photos - Updated May 2024 (2024)

“Drinks are great and well priced. The seafood broils are tasty and my kid ate her weight in crab legs. I wish they had more grilled entree options, but we come back every time we're in town.”

“We decided to stop in Roanoke in the middle of a long road trip. Alexander’s ended up being a top highlight of our entire trip! From the service to the food, everything was top notch. The ambiance is sophisticated and relaxing with staff working as a team to make sure you enjoy every aspect of your visit. Every bite we took was delicious and you could tell was prepared with a high level of skill and passion. If you are in Roanoke, dinner at Alexander’s is a must!”

“Fortunato serves upscale Italian food in a pared down but trendy atmosphere. Yes, the semi/rustic style means diners either need to sit close together or shout to be heard. I was one of a weekday evening of a party of three all of whom love to try new food. Starting with the formaggi (cheese platter) to cannoli and semifreddo dessert, we were not disappointed. Each of us ordered a main dish. The vegetarian chose homemade pasta with a creamy cheese sauce; the meat eater, pork Milanese; and I, the roasted whole Branzino. I elelcted to trythis fish for comparison with similar dishes in a favorite Oriental restaurant. Fortunato’s Branzino preparation won hands down for me. The flesh was perfectly prepared - moist, tender, and almost falling off the bones. The side complimented the fish perfectly. I finished my cannoli accompanied by an espresso and a smile on my face.”

“We always have a Great Experience at Bernard's. Matt is Always so genuine he is an Amazing Server. We got our regular Butterscotch Banana pudding that is OMG delicious. We also got our regular order of BBQ wings they are so good also. We added Chicken and Dumplings this time and see we will definitely get it again, it is full of ingredients. Thank you to the Bernard Family.”

“My friend and I ate at the one in Roanoke last night, our server his name was Zack. I had never ate there before and i was impressed! I would definitely recommend and i will eat there again!”

“Beautiful Charcuterie and Red to accompany. Beautiful Performers today at Brunch. Excellent Service, remembered my beverage of choice. Beautiful Decor and we love the clothing line. Very Clean, Bright & Airy Atmosphere! Friendly Staff!”

“Great small bar to have an excellent co*cktail and great food.Stopped by for a drink and small bites. Have not been here before, pleasantly surprised.AtmosphereVery small inside, but a cozy feel. Full bar, and small tables, perfect for couples or small groups. Sat at the bar, ordered drinks and appetizers. The food is the same menu from Fortunato need door, a very good Italian kitchen and Neapolitan pizza restaurant. That was packed (Friday at 7pm), so if you don’t have reservations, this gets you the same.ServiceOutstanding! The young woman who was tending bar was excellent…knew everything about the menu, and was attentive yet not intrusive. Best part was when I asked is she could make a traditional daiquiri (shaken, neat in a coupe glass). This is a sticky point at most bars these days as most often the bartenders have no idea how to make something like this, even though it’s been around for years. However she said it was a favorite of hers, and served me a perfectly made, delicious daiquiri. Also made my wife an excellent old fashioned…well done!FoodWe ordered a couple antipasti off the menu, Lamb meatballs and Formaggi, both were amazing. The meatballs were delicious, spiced perfectly, in a tasty marinara and cheese sauce. The Formaggi was also delicious, 3 small cheese varieties, with bread, artichokes, and an amazing Mostarda, which is similar to a chutney but made with fruit, in this case we were informed, strawberries. Outstanding flavor to all our food, and the two appetizers were perfect for a light meal.Only very small down for us was the music was a bit loud, and sometimes a little too frantic. Yes, sigh…we are older, and always are aware of loud music! It wasn’t overwhelming, or we would have not stayed, but that would be our only small critique.Very much enjoyed our visit!Would I go back…absolutelyWould I recommend…most definitely”

“What a great addition to Roanoke. The lounge area is just perfect for a date night, and the little details like jazz on vinyl made it feel special. Staff were all very welcoming and pleasant, and service was excellent. co*cktails were great. We tried a special fixed menu that was Mediterranean themed. The small plates were all good -- imaginative flavors and the presentation is very "instagram worthy". The mac and cheese was great. I will say that the food itself tasted good but not out of this world, especially for the prices. There are better food options in Roanoke's fancier restaurants for a similar price. We also had seven small plates for the two of us and did not feel full at the end of the meal. However, we really enjoyed everything, and the atmosphere alone is worth it. We will definitely go again!”

“This place is delicious we came here for our 2 year anniversary!! They were so sweet to us. Had our table ready, super clean and classy atmosphere. Service was excellent!! We will be back.”

“What a neat place!!! The food was delicious, co*cktails were divine, and the staff was lovely. Definitely a more intimate seating space inside, but good seating at the bar and outside, as well. We loved being able to watch the kitchen staff expertly prepare our meal from our table, too! We can't wait to go back to sip on some more co*cktails and try some of the appetizers and desserts we didn't get to try because we were too full!”

“If you have allergies or dietary restrictions, you will be in *great* hands at River and Rail! I noted my long list of dietary needs when I made our reservation online, and when I arrived, our server Leah brought that up without prompting and offered an option for my main that would account for everything. It was clear they had done their research and given this some serious thought. When we looked at the options for smalls & desserts, Leah automatically knew what substitutions to make to accommodate my needs. Could not have asked for a better dining experience!Dietary restrictions: Whatever your dietary needs are (allium allergy, low FODMAP, gluten-free, dairy-free, etc.) they are able to customize your order to meet your needs.”

“I loved it , very friendly [people , great food , I am glad I tried them.I always tought their food would be similar to Mexican , it was not at all.one of my favorite restaurants to eat and enjoy.”

“This is definitely one of the best, if not THE best, brewery in Roanoke.Plenty of variety in a cozy atmosphere situated quite centrally to everything as well.I recommend starting your pub crawl here and migrate elsewhere after, either downtown or Grandin Village.Now, if you're still reading, let's get into the details of the beers.I started with their newly released Mtn View, named after the historic neighborhood where AFOG is located. This is a pre-prohibition style lager that was resurrected from an old recipe from the same era, with a corn grain base. It is ?.I also had the farmhouse saison, bc I'm a sucker for a good farmhouse ale and this one is top notch! You can taste the wild!Even the expectedly heavy, 8.5% Collusive Resistance comes across easy drinking and full of a variety of flavors.If you haven't been, go. If you're a regular, you know where the best beer in Roanoke is already.”

“Great spot for Peruvian fusion food. The linguine huancaina chicken was so good, highly recommended. The tostones and fried plantains were also amazing. Overall, AJ Fusion is a great dining experience.”

“One of our favorite restaurants! The staff is AMAZING and the food is always top shelf. We live in Greensboro NC and make the 2 hour trip because of the food. HIGHLY recommend Caribbica Soul. You won't be disappointed!”

“We throughly enjoyed our first visit to Lucky. The service was excellent and the food was exceptional too. We cleaned our plates. Prices were a little high but that will not stop us from returning”

“My husband and I made a reservation after Valentine’s Day to eat dinner here and made it a month in advance. This is an extremely elegant fine restaurant never requires a dress code of suit and tie or evening gown. This is definitely not a restaurant that you can wear blue jeans, boots, and a T-shirt to.Our dinner was $240 but that is to be expected for a fine dining restaurant inside of a Hilton Hotel.”

“We were a table of 10 tonight celebrating my son's 35th birthday. The food was great! We shared the cauliflower and pimento appetizers which were delicious! And then the smash burgers and ribeyes; WOW. The service was also great! Thanks all and we will be back!”

“Friday at noon - this place was packed! Lots of grab and go options, novelty treats/ grocery items, nice wine/beer section, as well as a kitchen in the back (not always open - be sure to double check before you go). Great menu options, both unique and traditional items, and always really tasty. Haven’t been mad at anything I’ve tried yet!”

“I haven't eaten at Shakers in several years. I was not disappointed today. The food was great, and our waitress was courteous, efficient and the prices were reasonable.”

“Nawab has amazing Indian food… everything is perfectly prepared with care and attention. The service is always excellent, they treat you like family and go above and beyond to make sure you leave full and happy. I will go for lunch with a friend or a romantic date… they make every occasion feel special.”

“Every time I come the staff is extremely friendly and the food is out of this world. A little cold for outdoor seating, so I just eat it in my car (I’m usually driving through and make a stop specifically for here). Fantastic options. I wish there was one in my city.”

“Average dive bar, however the staff is consistent been there for quite a while and I have been going there for it at least 9 years. On and off. And they're always super friendly this is my first review on them. Great prices.”

“Definitely won't be disappointed, this place is excellent, everything is good no jokes. The bass was stuffed & fila with spinach top with tomatoes. Strike black pepper and your set to go. Desert was the fruit pie enough for two or one pig yummy. Excellent honest waitress Ashleigh & Nygeel. Comfortable clean place and setting.”

“Fun Christmas flavors! I liked the snickerdoodle beer ? More quiet location than downtown breweries when I went. Beertender was very kind and knowledgeable.It’s by apartments in a plaza, so there was easy parking.”

“This is our favorite place for a special date night. The food is always AMAZING!!! We have never once had a bad meal or bad service. I highly recommend the ahi tuna with crawfish risotto.”

“Very quaint and rustic. Old charm and great service. The service is amazing and food is excellent. Their world-famous salad is fun, they bring. plate of lettuce and then the server has a plate that you choose all your toppings. A tableside salad bar. My Wienerschnitzel was nice and tender. The little Swedish meatballs were great. They even sear the kabobs at your table. Great wine selection. Excellent place, old fashion service, a must try.”

“Have passed by this place a few times while downtown, but never gone in and was not disappointed! It's larger inside than expected with three floors of seating and has a few larger tables for bigger parties. All the food we got was good and came out fast. It was around 2 pm on a Saturday when we went and wasn't overly busy. We particularly liked the seating at the top because we had a good view of the City Market Plaza. They had a few TVs playing bearing sporting events if that's your thing, and had both alcoholic and non-alcoholic choices. We ordered the Craft Ginger Beer and lemonade and the Ginger Beer was good without being too spicy while on the other hand the lemonade was very tart. A little added sugar balanced it out, but the note is for those who like it that way. Prices were fair. Spent about $27 with Appetizer (Price split between two), Drink, and Food. Will eat here again! Food ordered: Three Notch'd Nachos, Hatch Chile Burger, Peach and Chile Chicken Sandwich; Photos: @nokesidefoodie”

“The market location is convenient and spacious. The tap selection is good (about 12 different selections on at our time of visit) ranging from fruited sours to stouts and including hard seltzer. We tried the Colorshow (fruited sour with blueberries) and Wicked Garden (standard IPA) and were pleased with both.”

“Such a surprise while walking around downtown Roanoke. My wife and I wanted to grab a quick drink before lunch and were so surprised at the quality and variety of ?? beers (order a flight to taste more options), the space which is huge indoors and out, and the fun staff. They have tons of outdoor patio seating perfect for large groups or pets, they also have light snacking food, and tons of ♿ handicap accessible seating and restrooms.”

“4 of us thoroughly enjoyed our lunches here. My shrimp po'boy was delicious, and the plump shrimp plentiful. A very comprehensive menu, interesting specials, and an outstanding beer selection means we'll be back... whenever we visit our VA family!”

“The food was good and fast. The staff was friendly. One issue is if you get the combo meal that comes with 10% off game cards and use a coupon for free tickets it will not work together. Also the games seem like they are not awarding tickets after two 90 minute cards plus bonus 1000 tickets only had 2100 tickets. Overall nice place to take small kids.”

“Cool spot, great views, and delicious wines.You're welcome to bring your own food to consume while enjoying their wines as well.Outdoor and indoor seating, heated with space heaters near the fireplace.”

“we went for my husband's birthday dinner. great food and a nice wine selection. our server was very attentive and recommended the delicious trout dinner.and the restaurant treated us to our dessert!”

“John was a very good in seeing that we were happy with everything. I am here in the area temporarily but was recommended to check out this restaurant. I would recommend this place to my friends and family.”

“The food was delicious and authentic. We had the Carne Asada and the Sopa de Res and and we really like it. The place was clean and the waitress was friendly. I would definitely come back next time I'm in the area to try out other dishes. Highly recommended.”

“We had a grrrrrreat meal there Wednesday night! Our server "Rick" was awesome! But apparently he likes being called "William ". ? He was very efficient and whity! We'll ask for him next time for sure!”

“The place is up to date with what's good for you health wise. All fresh! Juice and smoothies are very tasty and the staff is very friendly! We'll definitely be back!”

“My wife and I had lunch there today and it was AMAZING! The service was great and the flavors in the food was sooo good!The Laughing Buddha Martini was excellent!”

“Great Thursday specials! I come from a state with some of the best sushi in the world, this was pretty dang good sushi. It's a good price all the time, but Thursdays are even better. The fish is fresh, the flavors are good, and nothing feels plain or bland, the service is great also. They have a side of the restaurant that is just sushi and a side for Teppanyaki. Both are great and if you want, you can also order sushi rolls on the Teppanyaki side.”

“Went in the afternoon at 230 not a lot of people there. The waiter was kind. The food was delicious delivered piping hot, and a lot of of. Enough to take home for a second meal. The restaurant was clean the music was good not to loud. The price was great for the amount of food and the quality of the food.”

“Nature's Outlet, Towne Square (formerly at Valley View Mall) - I have been a customer for well over a decade. Current store manager Michael has provided exemplary service, as well as has many other staff members over the years. When time permitted, Michael, Buck, Lee, Jordan, Megan, Meg (and others) have been willing to share their research with me concerning numerous subjects and supplements that might be helpful. They have even remembered to ask how a product worked for me.”

“Lovely people, amazing food! Small variety of beverages, but very big portions! The drinks aren’t why you come to a ramen shop lol Located in the Market building which is so so regarding atmosphere but very convenient while downtown. Best little ramen shop in ”

“Once you've had their ham nothing else is good enough! Drove 45 minutes one way so I would have it for Christmas dinner. Service is wonderful! Despite crowds and guest confusion, staff remains calm, cheerful and friendly! Clean and organized inside with displays and helpful signage. Thank you to everyone who works here!”

“Amazing eats!! Great beer flights teamed with a great selection of wine. Very fun atmosphere that doubles as romantic and let loose feeling. My only request would be to sub some of the barstools for regular seats. Otherwise, we will absolutely be back and had a great time.”

“Hands down the best time I had at a sports bar I've been in the last 7 years; 8 states and 11 cites. This place has it all!! Great tasting food!! Amazing friendly staff!! The owner really takes pride in his business and put in the effort to assure his customers have an amazing time here!! I living over 17 hours away from here will definitely recommend this place to anyone I know!!! Keep up the great work!!!”

“Such a beautiful relaxing place! So peaceful.The food is farm to table and absolutely mouth watering. So good for the gut and soul.The owner, waiter and server are wonderful and so helpful.We will be back!!”

“It was a good time. Came in with a group of 7. It did take a little while to get our drinks. But granted the bar area was pretty full. Food was pretty good. Our Server at times seemed to be more interested in watching the basketball game at the bar area then making sure we were truly taken care of. So slightly off-putting (I've waited tables for 12 years).”

“I've often traveled down Franklin Road and seen the sign of Kabuki Japanese Steak House and thought nothing of it, but little did I imagine that taking the Road up the hill to where it led would lead me to an amazing restaurant building and an extraordinary dining experience! After consulting with a Yelp Elite friend of mine about excellent Japanese Restaurants in the area, I decided to go with a friend and try this one out. As we drove up the hill leading to the restaurant, we first passed by a digital sign under a rooftop with the words: "Happy Birthday GIP." I thought to myself: What a wonderful and unique idea to greet guests who are having a special occasion like this. Then when we reached the top of the hill and saw the restaurant building structure; It was amazing! It looked like a combination of a mansion and a castle. Needless to say, we were very impressed with it. In front of the building it had a beautiful Japanese Mapple tree. My friend searched it on the Google cellphone, and that's how we found what kind of a tree it was. The entrance was an impressive large wooden doors with the name of the restaurant written in Japanese on a sign above the doors. Kabuki. My friend looked it up and it meant: "A traditional style of Japanese theater," As we entered the restaurant, it had a very impressive and amazing appearance with several glass exhibition cases full of Japanese momento items. There was also an area outside with a Japanese Garden and a small pond full of koi fishes. Next to it was the entrance to the bar. I went in to take a look and a photograph and someone who I think was the manager said hello and gave me a warm welcome. Then I went with my friend to the Host station and our Host/Waiter also gave us a warm welcome and took us to our table which already had some other people around it. In the middle of the table was a cooking platform surrounded by a counter table area where everyone ate. Then our Host/Waiter stood behind the table and took our order. This is the first photo I posted when checking in. From the menu he had given us after we sat down, I ordered the Filet Mignon and Scallops Hibachi, Filet cooked medium rare, and my friend ordered the Double Dragon Sushi Combination. It all came with a Japanese soup and salad and shrimp appetizer. Then the cook arrived and performed an expectacular show unloading the raw food on the cooking platform, playing with the cooking utensils, cooking the food, and finally, serving the food. We found out later that he was given a layout design chart where each of us was seated and what we had ordered. Now all that I can say is the quality of the food was top of the line, and it was cooked perfectly with Japanese butter and other ingredients that made it taste so good. It also came with Fried rice and the shrimp appetizer that was thrown in with our main meal. The amount for food we got was also plentiful. What an amazing dining experience! It all tasted so good that I didn't leave, not even a rice on the plate. We then paid for our bill, and our Host/Waiter gave us a warm thanks and goodbye. I would highly recommend this restaurant to everyone who wants to have an extraordinary dining experience like never before. I already have placed it on the top of my list of most favorite restaurants.”

“Went early on New Years Eve as a birthday gift for a relative. Being gluten intolerant I love how many menu options I have. The food is delicious, the servings way generous and their staff friendly and well trained.”

“The staff [hi Helen!] Is fantastic, the food is always top notch and the chocolate cake is a must have. A great place for a birthday or anniversary also has a full bar that is separate from the dining area if you just want to go for drinks.Parking: The lot is relatively small but depending on time of day you can usually find parking at the laundromat next door.”

“We had a good experience here. No wait and great service. My husband had a burger, and the patty had an unusual spice (garam marsala?). I had a Cuban that was good, but heavy on the mayonnaise. The fries were fresh and hot and the onion rings were yummy.Parking: The parking lot is in front of the restaurant, with dedicated handicap spots. It is the same level as the restaurant.”

“OMG. This was good. Staff member Taylor- outstanding. This was a huge half rack of ribs. The “side” salad was an entree anywhere else. Try the chili soup. I ate it with my fork it was so thick. Spiced just right.”

“Upon recommendation, we attended a dinner service on a Saturday night. We started with the wedge and caesar salads. The wedge was amazing but the caesar wasn’t that great. We then had the 10oz filet. It was the best steak we have ever had. The seasoning was amazing and it was cooked to perfection. We also had the Brussels sprouts and the mushrooms for sides. They were also amazing. The only thing that we thought needed improvement was the salad and the bread. Other than that it all was great. Will definitely return.”

“I loved it. I will visit again. Atmosphere was very calm and mellow. The staff were super nice and quick. The gentleman behind the sushi counter was extremely friendly and very helpful. I ordered the tornado roll as well as salmon and tuna sushi. Everything was very tasty and fresh. At Other establishments, I’ve encountered stale cold rice. My items were all served with fresh warm rice. It’s my new favorite sushi restaurant.”

“Not bad but being on a Monday when we visited they were out of a few items some in our party wanted. They are hit and miss with the bbq items. My rack of baby back ribs still had the membrane on back. That's a no-no for pork ribs. Otherwise everything else was OK.”

“Great little Asian restaurant. I liked the vibe they had going on inside and the food was awesome. I had crab wontons and the Angry Dragon rolls both of which were great. Will definitely return ?.”

“Invited 7 of my friends to eat and enjoy the special for Thursdays shrimp. This was phenomenal and also with great service from the bartenders Pea and Nuke. also include the other bartenders and managers and kitchen staff. This bar fixes the best drinks , Also try the Oyster Racefellow along with a choice of other seafood menu that is great. I highly recommend this place to all of my friends and I advertise the lunch menu that is awesome.”

“I got the chicken salad with roasted cashews which is always delicious. But they always forget to put the cashews on for some reason. ?But the main reason for the 2 stars for Food is that the lettuce was old and ruined the taste.Service was great!”

“We Absolutely Love coming to Smokey Bones. It's Absolutely Amazing. We Love our waitress Daphne, she's AWESOME. Love her Bubbly, Fiery personality! She's the BOMB! She even took a picture with one of my sons ?”

“I eat out 2-3 times a week for lunch. I like your chicken. When I buy the tenders and then ask for dipping sauce and they say they have to charge me, I get mad, for the next month I will bypass Hardee’s. Guess it’s your choice but I doubt I am alone.Parking: 460”

“I was very questionable while going through their security check, which was like going through a TSA checkpoint, but was pretty worth it as we had a good time. Now after reading some other reviews I see that they keep your information and record exactly who comes in, by the machine they scan your license into, guess that's their prerogative, but if you value your privacy, you may not want to come. Will say all the security guys were super friendly, just doing their jobs and getting everyone through as quickly as they could. Getting past, there was a $10 cover. The place is hugh with an upstairs and down. Downstairs was country, and upstairs was more a hip-hop dance club. DJ was downstairs once we entered. I don't think we realized there was a live band playing, when we came in, they were on a break. After about an hour or so, they came back out. I'm not sure who they were, but they really rocked the house they were super fun and sounded great. There's a large dance floor with a good sized stage for acts to play. It wasn't overly busy at first, and then it started to fill up. They have a number of different bars you can get drinks from when I went to two of them in the bartenders, who were always friendly and tried to get to you as quickly as they could. We ventured upstairs for a little bit to check out the scene, which was much busier upstairs at first, then downstairs. We had a really good time and no regrets by going. You definitely can have a lot of fun here. Looks like they'll put on some good shows, so it's a great place to catch up and coming country stars.”

“This is got to be one of the biggest burgers I have ever eaten it was really good I would really recommend it the double was enormous but the triple is out of this world, it's a little pricey but well wearth it”