We came in on a very busy Sunday night for dinner and got the last table available. I'm not sure if…read morethey take reservations, but you might want to check before heading there as they're very popular. Service was decent. Menu is nice. The back page of the menu has the "street style" food. I got a few tacos; a carnitas, a chorizo, and a pollo. The tacos come with corn tortillas and those tortillas were very fresh and tasty, though they ripped easily. The meats inside were pretty flavorful, with the chorizo being my favorite. They also make a house jalapeno cream sauce, which was really good and they make a habanero sauce, which was very spicy, but not too flavorful. Overall... Dinner was really good. I can see why this place is so popular and why the reviews are so good. Definitely worth stopping in!

This is our go to Mexican restaurant in Roanoke. The food is fantastic. The service is great. The…read moreatmosphere is welcoming and everyone has fun. Mexican food at its finest!

This is probably our favorite restaurant in Roanoke. Delicious food and drinks, try the guava…read morejuice! The owners are so kind. We keep coming back and are never disappointed with the food. Also highly recommend trying the vinegar hot sauce, it's delicious and they sell it by the bottle!

Amazing!! Authentic and pure Puerto Rican food. I know because I am boricua and I can tell…read more Delicious and fresh. Is like tasting the island. My new favorite place.

From the outside, this restaurant tends to attract people to enter and try it out. And that is…read moreprecisely what I did today. I guess I was impressed with all the food picture posters taped to its front windows. I really had high expectations that I would enjoy it and its food. But there are times that no matter how much you try, you are disappointed. And this was one of those times. Inside, I was impressed with the restaurant's colorful and lively decor, especially its very creative bar design. The place was almost empty with only one family dining at one of the booths. The very hospitable and friendly owner welcomed me, took me to one of the booths and handed me a menu. To drink I ordered a Pineapple Soda. For appetizer I ordered a Beef Patty and Cornbread. And for my main entrée, I ordered from their Specialty section of the menu, The Caribbica Plantain Burger. Between the owner and his wife they served me the different items of my order. The Jamaican Pineapple Soft Drink came in a bottle. As was about to drink it from the bottle when the owner's wife brought me a glass with ice. As I was pouring the soda into the glass, I noticed that it didn't look too clean. Then they brought me a plate with the Beef Patty and a square piece of corn bread. The patty didn't look too fresh. Its dough had wrinkles, like if it was not served fresh but reheated in a microwave. The cornbread was somewhat tasteless. I didn't complain because I didn't want to hurt their feelings, since they were so nice people. The wife of the owner comes by and asked what I wanted on my burger, without telling me that there was an extra fee for some of the items she mentioned. I then notice that a young Asian couple that were dining there got up and went to the counter and spent some time there discussing before they walked out. When the Caribbica Plantain Burger arrived, the first thing I noticed was that it was served with chips, and not with seasonal fries like listed on the menu, and that the sweet fried plantains were not acting as buns like in the menu description. But it looked good so I went on to eat it. As I was eating it, I noticed it did have buns under the plantains, but they weren't that fresh and you could tell that the burger patty came from being frozen and had become dry in the process on unfreezing it. The plantains were the only good thing about this burger. But I didn't complain. I ate what I could, waited, and asked what they had for dessert. It was either Chocolate cake ot Coconut cake. They told me they had ran out of their Rum cake. So I ordered the Coconut cake. When the slice arrived, I noticed it looked a bit dry. Even the frosting was not soft. Like if it was sliced and sitting there for a long time. Then I tasted a piece and what a disappointment. It tasted like insecticide. I could not stand it anymore. I called over the lady server and explained why I would not eat this cake and returned it. The husband came by and asked if I wanted the Chocolate cake instead. I told him, No Thanks. When I walked over to the restroom to wash my hands, I passed by the kitchen and it didn't look very clean at all. Afterwards, I paid my bill, and when I got home, I noticed the following statement written on the bottom of the receipt: "ALL SALES ARE FINAL. No refunds. Same day exchanges with receipt may apply at management's discretion. By dining with us, guests agree to house policies." I definitely not recommend this restaurant at all, and consider it one of my worst dining experiences ever and a waste of my money.

Omg this place is amazing. The best red snapper outside of the Caribbean. Everything on the menu is…read moreso good.

The other day when I happened to be in downtown Roanoke, I decided to dine at the Inka Grill as a…read morefollow-up to my first visit. I love the decor of this restaurant. It's more modern and elegant than that of their first restaurant on Brambleton Ave. Although the service there is superb. When I arrived a young lady greeted me, took me to my table, gave me the menu and asked what I wanted to drink. After consulting with her on what they had, I asked for a mango drink. It was mighty good, like a mango juice served in a tall glass. For appetizer I order an Avocado Salad with Sea Salt. It was just slices of an avocado with salt on the side. It would have been better with some oil and vinegar as well. For ma main entrée I order.one of my favorites on their menu the Bistec a lo Pobre. This is basically a steak with a special rice, a fried egg, and fried ripe plantain. Inside of the special rice I asked for white rice and black beans. My server goes to the kitchen to see if this was possible, but comes back saying it would be a $2.95 extra to include the black beans. I told her to go ahead. When the food comes out she puts it on the table and leaves. I thought she went to get the black beans but they never arrive. The food looks great but when I cut the steak it was well done and I asked for medium rare. When she goes to bring something to another table I called her and tell her about the steak and the black beans that was missing. She offers to make me another steak but the piece of meat tooked so well and I was so hungry that I decided to eat it like that. She repeated that the black beans would be an extra charge. I told her I didn't mind. She finally brings me the black beans. The beans themselves were a bit hard and not as tasty. The ones I had at Panera Bread the other day were 100% better, but I pour them on top of the rice and eat them like this. For dessert I ordered a Passion Fruit Mousse. It was good but a bit dry and lacked sugar. I still enjoyed my meal but can't understand why they always overcook the steak when medium rare taste so much better. When I order it for delivery via Door Dash, most of the time it arrives well done as well. I still love the Peruvian cuisine of this restaurant, they should just train the new servers better so they can better communicate with the customers and chef. And I think the manager should have come out to at least apologize for the confusion. For this reason this time I'm only given them 4 stars.

While in downtown Roanoke, we decided to try this. The seating was immediate and we quickly…read morereceived our drinks and a small dish of cancha (fried corn) and Peruvian green sauce. We ordered the whole chicken with yucca and plantains and a side of black beans. The food was good and price was reasonable. With all of the choices in downtown, not sure I would make a special trip to eat there again. But if downtown and want to try a Peruvian meal, it is worth a visit. As I was reading the other reviews it reminded me that we, also, had to ask for the black beans after the rest of our food was brought to the table. They were good, nothing special.

This is a lovely family-owned restaurant located in Keagy Village, a relatively new and modern…read morestrip mall in Cave Spring, Virginia. Even though there are several Tacos Rojas around, each one is owned and operated by a different family member, with the same menu, but slightly different ambience and decor. What I liked about this restaurant was the modern yet simple exterior architectural design, and small but warm and cozy interior. Its location is also very beautiful, where from the back window you can see a beautiful landscape surrounded by mountains. A friend and I decided to go visit this restaurant for an early dinner the day after 5 de mayo and overall we weren't disappointed. We were fortunate enough to have been greeted and welcomed by the owner himself who was very friendly and kind. We sat at a table near the back of the restaurant and at the time were the only customers there. A basket of Tortilla Chips and Salsa was brought to our table and they were very fresh and delicious. My friend ordered a dish with two Chimichangas, one beef and one chicken, and I ordered the Carnitas Burrito. The food was very good and my burrito was humongous, although its temperature was somewhat lukewarm and this detracted from its flavor and rating for this restaurant. There is no reason for an empty restaurant to be be serving lukewarm food. For dessert we both had a slice of their Flan, which had the right consistency, flavor, and temperature. Overall this was a very clean and cozy restaurant, with a small bar, in a beautiful location, with an appropriate decor, serving quality Mexican food. If the manager listens to my constructive feedback and takes action, I would no hesitate in returning and highly recommending the restaurant for its food and great service.

My wife and I visited Taco Rojas for an early dinner. It was our first time there, and we were…read morethoroughly impressed. We ordered the Big Quesadillas, which were incredibly generous in size and bursting with flavor. The service was exceptional, and we left feeling grateful for the delicious meal and the friendly staff.

Doesn't matter what you order off the menu. It's delicious. Great staff. Absolutely consistent, you…read moreget what you order every time.

Word of mouth is still the best way to find out about new restaurants that have opened in the area…read more Just yesterday a friend of mine told me about this new Mexican restaurant that had just opened last Thursday. So this evening, I headed towards the restaurant to be one of the first ones to try it out and review it. After being awarded the NC Yelp Triad Squad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, celebrating their contributions and accomplishments throughout the year, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and businesses, and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Santa Lucia Mexican Restaurant, in Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example. The previous restaurant sign "El Toreo Mexican Restaurant" was still up. The new owners didn't even bother to cover it up. They just put a small vinyl banner sign under it that read "Santa Lucia Mexican Restaurant OPEN NOW!!!" Not too professional you would think, but the most important thing in a new restaurant is it's ambiance, its food, and its customer service. So I arrived to its parking lot in my Lexus and parked my car. The place was empty and I could see the employees looking out the glass door to see who just parked and was approaching the restaurant. It was me. When I walked in the Host gave me a warm greeting and asked me if I would prefer a booth or a table. I chose a booth. As he went away to call my sever while I looked at the menu, I also was observing the interior of the restaurant. It was clean and comfortable, with a minimalist decor. My server, Jasmin, a friendly Puerto Rican young lady, greeted me with a smile and asked me what I wanted to drink. I asked her if the bartender could make me a Virgen Mango Margarita. When it arrived it looked nice but tasted like water with mango flavor so I was not too impressed with their drinks. To eat I ordered a Fajitas Santa Lucia for one. While I waited I ate their chips with salsa. The chips were fresh and crispy and the salsa was just the right texture with the right ingredients. When the Fajitas Santa Lucia came out, they were sizzling hot, served on a sizzling hot skillet. They had grilled chicken strips, steak, chorizo and carnitas, along with green peppers and onions. On a separate plate, it had rice, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream and refried beans. I missed the pico de gallo that this dish is mostly served with in top of the line Mexican restaurants and the scoop of guacamole. But the Fajitas were made with quality meats, and with a green salsa that they brought me, everything tasted very good. For dessert I ordered a Xango with a scoop of Vanilla Ice cream. It looked somewhat good, but the batter was soggy. It tasted like it was pre-fried or cooked ahead of time. When I asked for a glass of iced water, the water tasted bad, just from having a sip. This is something I can't stand in a restaurant, and I sincerely recommended that they get a water filter. This new Mexican restaurant has potential of becoming a very good one. If the owner pays attention to my informal recommendations in this review and takes action to implement my suggestions. I truly wish he / she does, because one of its best assets are its friendly and hospitable employees.

Alexander's is located in the heart of downtown Roanoke. For my purposes I could not have asked…read morefor a better location. I had inquired with the restaurant a month or so in advance of my visit (I was concerned about the dress code) and they were spot on. I wore jeans and a buton down and was quite comfortable (and not out of place). It's a very nice restaurant, but it's certainly not "stuffy." Service was excellent. Food was phenomenal. Dinner started with some nice bread (and really good butter), and a salad came with my lamb ragu. It was all really good. The lamb was super rich and very flavorful. My only suggestion would be to serve the ragu over the polenta, and to add more vegetables. As it was, the dinner was "just enough;" I wasn't stuffed but I wasn's hungry, either. Really good dinner!

There are times when one encounters very special restaurants that can only be described as…read more"priceless." And every time one returns to dine there, it only serves to reinforce the perfect attachment that one has acquired from the very first time they dined there and had the pleasure of enjoying an extraordinary fine dining experience. After having been selected as number 4 of Yelp's Top 50 most prolific Elites of 2025, a year when I also was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Photographer of the Year Award at their Yelpies 2025 Award Ceremony, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, and where last year I was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Yelper of the Year Award, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to return to those special ones, that have made a difference in my life and highlight them, for the benefit of the public, so they too can have an opportunity to appreciate the qualities of a one-of-a-kind fine dining experience. And Alexander's, in the heart of Downtown Roanoke, is a perfect example. From the moment I arrived and walked through their door, I was greeted in such a way, by none other than Bjorn, the Dining Room Manager himself, that made me feel appreciated and immediately made me feel at home. Neither the coldness of the weather nor the accumulated snow could hinder me from my decision to dine here this evening. I was the first one to arrive after they opened their doors. Since the streets were still icy and filled with snow, I left my Lexus at home and took a Lyft to the restaurant, which was not far from my neighborhood, the Historic Old Southwest. Since it was a slow night due to the weather, the Dining Room Manager himself doubled as my server for the evening. To drink, we discussed my flavor liking for a Mocktail, and he came up with a special one, that ended up tasting amazing. To dine, I started with the Deconstructed cajunese california roll appetizer. It was amazingly delicious! Then I had a Salad vinaigrette, which was included with every entrée, and a French Baguette with a cube of butter. The baguette slices with butter were so fresh, soft in the inside and crispy on the outside, that they confirmed my view that the quality of a restaurant's bread and butter is a reflection of the quality of the restaurant and its cuisine. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and the quality of their food. As my main entrée, I had the Grilled filet of beef, sauce marchand de vin, cooked medium-rare. The filet was cooked to perfection, just as ordered, so tender, juicy, and flavorful. It was a culinary masterpiece from Chef and General Manager, Boni M. Webb, who graciously came out to greet me, and gave me an opportunity to personally celebrate her magnificent cuisine. She reminded me of my Japanese student who obtained the best grade in my Business class at the university where I taught. She was very humble and kind. As the Grand Finale dessert, on the advice of my server and general manager, I ordered their Glace au chocolat. It was wonderful. What an outstanding dining experience I once again had in this outstanding restaurant with a unique combination of exceptional food, atmosphere, and heartfelt service. I highly recommend it, and can't wait to return.

There are many top restaurants in this Star City of Roanoke and I can proudly say that this is one…read moreof my favorites. I have been a loyal customer since the first day it opened. And every time I return, I keep wanting to come back for more. Located on the 6th and 7th floors of the Center in the Square building, this restaurant provides an elegant yet relaxed ambiance in which to enjoy an exceptional dining experience. Today I made an early dinner reservation on my OpenTable app for 4:45PM, asking to be seated at the same table that I always seat at if it's available. After parking my pearl white Lexus at the Center in the Square Garage, conveniently located next to the building where the restaurant is located, I went through a connecting door and took the elevator to the 6th floor. Once inside the restaurant, two friendly young ladies greated me at the Host's station and one of them remembered which was my favorite table and took me there. Soon afterwards the manager saw me and gracefully came by to say hello and thank me for coming to dine there. I responded with: "It's always a pleasure to do so." Not long afterwards my server Sam, another friendly and very efficient young lady, came by to greet me and take my order. To drink I had a Bees Knees Mocktail. They make the best cocktails there. That's why the bar is always full. To dine I started off with a Steakhouse Wedge Salad, followed by a Shrimp Cocktail, and then by the main course: a Filet Mignon cooked medium-rare, with a Grilled Lobster Tail Steak Enhancement. I asked for everything to be spaced appropriately and my server made sure that they were. The Steakhouse Wedge Salad was delicious with bacon lardons, cherry tomatoes, red onions, gorgonzola, and with house-made buttermilk herb dressing. The Shrimp Cocktail was amazing. It had 1/2 Lb. of poached and chilled fresh Jumbo Shrimps with Cocktail sauce and a slice of lemon. And the main meal was extraordinary. The Filet Mignon was cooked medium-rare to perfection and the Lobster Tail enhancement was just the right size of tender lobster meat removed from the shell and served with a little bowl of melted butter. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and the high-quality food, well prepared. My server came by at the right moments to check on me, and the manager also came by my table to give me a visit and make sure all was to my satisfaction. For the Grand Finale I ordered the Bananas Fosters Beignets dessert: a fresh Croissant dough with Caramelized Bananas, served with vanilla ice-cream and Brown Sugar Caramel. Everything tasted amazingly delicious and I was able to enjoy an extraordinary dining experience. I highly recommend that you try this place out. Who knows, it might even become one of your favorite restaurants as well.

I really love this place and the views. At last dinner there, Grace was our server and she was…read morewonderful! I would definitely recommend going here. The food is delicious and well presented. They are also very attentive to the food and any special requests you may have. My 2 picky issues - had oysters on the half shell, they were sandier than they should be, and the "bread service", which is a paid item, I really don't get this trend, especially at such a high-end restaurant. Don't charge for your bread, it feels tacky and unnecessary, IMHO.