Hidden in the least expected of places I discovered this little gem of local Café. A Café like no…read moreother that I have ever seen before; as unique and valuable as every single diamond. Owned and operated by Sue and Vivian, two lovely and very talented ladies with wonderful personalities, it is located inside of the Antiques & Collectibles Shop "Buy The Season," in Salem, Virginia. I arrived around lunch time in my pearl white Lexus and was able to quickly find a parking space in one of the spaces in front of the extremely large Antiques, Collectibles, Gift, Home Decor, and Furniture Shop. And if this wasn't enough, we can also include "Café." The Café is located in the right corner of the building with its own windows with homemade, red, checkered curtains, and vinyl banner that reads: "Apperson Café / Hot Dogs * Baked Goods." There is also another sign that reads: "Lunch Specials." As I entered through the main front door of the building, I received a friendly greeting from the people running the Antiques Shop. Then as I walked towards the Café the ambiance began to feel warm and cozy, just like those one-of-a-kind, local cafés. I was very impressed by all the homemade menu signs they had up and with one in particular that read: "Happiness is Homemade." The long, glass display case, was full of all kinds of homemade cookies and other desserts. They had sourdough bread loaves made by a group of Mennonites. And basically they had an American home-style cuisine menu, spearheaded by Special Hot Dogs, with other items such as BBQ Pork, Chili, Grilled Cheese, Chicken Salad, Tuna Salad, and homemade soup, among other things. Something very popular are their homemade donuts made from a special recipe given to them by a Mennonite friend. They make these Fridays and Saturdays only, and they are so popular that they always sell out early. I ordered a Chili Hot Dog combo with a glass of homemade lemonade, and chips. The Hot Dog came with toasted buns and were very wide and firm. One of the best Hot Dogs that I have ever tasted. The Hot Dog provider happened to be there at the moment, but they didn't want to reveal the brand name of the Hot Dog, I guess to maintain the exclusivity at their Café. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and the quality of their food. Their homemade lemonade was also amazingly delicious and refreshing. They had a station with condiments that you could put on your hot dogs, as well as with macaroni and potato salad. Everything was so good: the cozy ambiance, the hospitable and friendly owners, and the freshly made food, that together made for a delightful dining experience and the desire to want to come back.

I'm not much on waiting in line but, it was well worth it! Everything was delicious! Staff was…read moregreat.

My friend and I were looking for a place to have dessert in Christiansburg, Virginia, so we did a…read moreYelp search and what we found was an amazing place to enjoy some wonderful ice-cream, prepared by a team of friendly staff with excellent customer service. After being awarded the Triad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, 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 uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And this Cold Stone Creamery located in Christianberg, Virginia is the perfect example. When we arrived I was impressed by the cleanliness of the place and the well organized it was with lots of colorful informational posters with many photos of the ice-cream being sold there. Two friendly young ladies and a young man gave us a warm welcome and answered all the questions we had about the store and its ice-cream products. You could immediately tell they enjoyed working there. After reviewing all the ice-creams and posters of the different creations that could be made, I ended up ordering from their Signature Creations Menu, the Peanut Butter Cup Perfection served inside a Waffle Bowl. My friend ordered one of the same. It was interesting to watch the servers preparing the ice-cream creations on top of a frozen granite stone as they mixed customer-selected mix-ins (in our case, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Peanut Butter, and Fudge in with Chocolate Ice Cream) crafting personalized works of art before being served. When we finally received the final product and sat down to enjoy their ice-cream creations, it was one of the creamiest ice-cream that I have ever tasted. Later I found out that Cold Stone's ice cream is made on the premises every day, and is categorized as "super premium" by industry standards--meaning it contains 12% to 14% butterfat, which gives it a uniquely creamy texture that sets it apart. We enjoyed eating our ice-creams at one of their round tables with comfortable chairs in their relaxing environment. In front of us was a large freezer display case featuring Cold Stone Ice Cream Cakes. I imagined how good they must be. Before we Left I downloaded the Cold Stone app and joined the My Cold Stone Club Rewards. At home I sent them a copy of my receipt and they were able to credit points to my account for this visit. So I was able to experience for myself that even their Corporate Office is very efficient and Customer Service oriented. I highly recommend this Ice Cream shop to all those reading my review and invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review. Cold Stone Creamery Ice Cream is in a class by itself and as a fan of Ice Cream, I can testify to this.

Just amazing flavor.. ate until I got a Brian freeze, waited for it to go away, then kept eating…read more Friendly and cooperative employees, 10/10

This is a pretty decent sandwich shop. You grab a bag when you walk in and write your choices on…read morethe bag with a provided marker (be sure to sniff it). Sandwich was good. Only complaint is the guacamole was slathered all over it and it squeezed out of the sandwich onto the wrapper when they wrapped it. People were nice, place was clean.

I have always really loved this place. Everyone is super sweet and really care about their…read morecustomers. The subs are really yummy and fully customizable to have what you what on it. Overall a really good experience and I recommend going if you haven't.

I eat at lots and lots of Subways... this is a really good one…read more Clean dining room, friendly staff and sandwiches tasted great. I also liked the seating area in the front of the store for a more relaxed atmosphere rather than a table. The location is solid by many hotels and other dining options.

At this Subway, the staff is more concerned about processing online orders as they come in and…read moreignoring customers standing and waiting at the counter in front of them. Today, I stood there with three other people and watched 7 sandwiches being made. I was never acknowledged, then I was told I would have to wait while another online order was processed for a customer who wasn't in the store. This is not the first time online invisible customers were more important that people who walked in the door. Enough is enough....close the dining room, close the counter, run a drive through!!!!

Didn't get anything fancy, just a bagel and shmear, and it was really good! The service was very…read morefriendly and welcoming. For Rocky Mount - this is a 5/5! Super cute atmosphere, good prices. Compared to the "best bagel of of my life" - this is a 2.5/5. Most places load up the shmear (almost too much to my liking) and I feel they sort of under did it here. All in all though, it's a cute breakfast stop and I would absolutely come back again to try out more of their menu!

My favorite is the French toast bagel. If you haven't tried it and you like French toast, you…read moreshould try that bagel. It is awesome.

I have not been to a McAllister in forever! But I've always liked and when I saw wanted to try…read more No issues with parking by the building and the area was clean. Upon walking in on a Saturday afternoon it was surprisingly dead. The dining room was clean. Service is by counter and was friendly. I got a veggie with side of cup of chili. My order came out within 10 minutes, or so. Everything was really good! Definitely recommend checking them out.

Sometimes during these cold Winter nights one feels like staying home and ordering out food…read moredelivery. While on DoorDash the other night I felt like having a sandwich, so I looked under the Sandwiches category and McAlister Deli came up. This called to mind one time they had in their menu one of the most delicious sandwiches that I have ever had at a deli: The Cuban Sandwich 12". It had tangy Pulled Pork, Black Forest Ham, and Swiss Cheese with Yellow Mustard and Pickles served on a Toasted Baguette. It was so good that every time I ordered out, I kept on ordering this sandwich at McAlister Deli. Then all of a sudden one day when I went to their website at DoorDash I noticed it was missing from the menu there. I contacted the restaurant manager to inquire as to why it was missing. She agreed with me that this was one of their most delicious sandwiches, but told me that sometimes Corporate changes the menu and removes some items, and that in the future they can also bring it back. So I thanked her for her feedback and told her to look at her records and see all the times that I had purchased this sandwich from their Deli, since actions speak louder than words. I then contacted their corporate office to inquire as well and they gave me the same answer. So I had to resign myself to be without that sandwich anymore and stay just with the memories of how good it had tasted when I was fortunate enough to have tried it. Tonight, when I was looking for sandwich places to order a sandwich delivered. I said to myself (since I'm a person of high Hope), let me look at the McAlister Deli site and see if by any chance (although many of times I had repeated this action with no results) they had brought it back. After all, in this Holiday Season anything is possible for those who believe. And you wouldn't guess what happened next. Right there, in their menu, was my favorite sandwich, that I had wished for for so long. Needless to say, I went and ordered it right away through DoorDash without even thinking to go to their website and ordering it from there like I used to. As I waited, I thought of how some things in life are priceless, without being expensive. And how maybe a simple request from one person can make a big difference in an important decision as if to bring it back. But for whatever reason it was back, and once again, McAlister Deli's became one of my favorites restaurants because of this. I followed the progression of the DoorDasher through their app until "headed your way." Then very soon the doorbell rang and the DoorDasher delivered my sandwich, which arrived well-wrapped and in perfect condition. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the quality of McAlister food. Needless to say that when I've eaten at their restaurant they have had friendly and welcoming employees who have provided me with excellent customer service, in a clean and cozy environment. The Cuban Sandwich 12" was amazingly delicious, just like always. The combination of all of its fresh ingredients and the baguette made it delicious. The only thing missing was that it wasn't toasted. As you all know, part of the secret of a successful Cuban Sandwich is this. Which involves using a sandwich press or a heavy skillet to compress and grill the sandwich until the bread is crispy and the cheese is melted. It's a distinctive step that gives the sandwich its signature crust and is essential to what makes it a true Cuban sandwich. I truly hope that when the management of the restaurant reads this review, they take steps to see that this doesn't happen again. And knowing them, I'm sure it won't. Because this is the attention to detail that makes the big difference.

This is the Jimmy John's Sandwich Shop & Gourmet Subs located on 18 Campbell Ave SE in Downtown…read moreRoanoke, right across from the Orvis store. Somehow, whenever I feel like eating a delicious Sub, in a clean place with a warm ambiance, made and served by friendly and knowledgeable staff, I end up here. Whether I come alone or accompanied by a friend or two, I love this place. It is full of motivational sayings on the walls. I like to sit at one of the elevated booths facing the large front window and watch the people walk by on the sidewalk and at the Orvis store across the street. On this occasion I had the Favorite Combo with the #9, Italian Night Club, Regular Chips, and a Medium Cherry Coke. Not that many places carry Cherry Coke, but I'm glad this is one that does. Their French bread is baked fresh throughout the day, and never served more than four hours old. It is a signature item at Jimmy John's, and often called "Jimmy bread." The Italian Night Sub contained hand-sliced salami, capocollo and smoked ham, topped with Hellmann's® mayo, fresh-sliced lettuce, onions, oil & vinegar and oregano-basil. I also asked them to include tomatoes and pickles in mine. The very efficient staff consisting of a young lady and a young gentleman did an excellent job in taking my order and preparing my Sub. It was ready in a jiffy! And then I sat down and enjoyed it. I highly recommend this amazing Jimmy John's for when you want to have an extraordinary dining experience at a reasonable price.

I have been here when they are slow and when they are slammed and in between. Timeka and her…read morecoworker knock it out the park with a personal touch everytime!! Quick, thorough service with a smile is hard to find

As far as chain burgers go, I find Five Guys enjoyable. My wife and I like to get dinner at the…read moreTanglewood Mall location whenever we are on that side of town. As for service, it is comforting seeing some of the same friendly staff working when we visit. They always have our food ready in a timely manner. The atmosphere is comfortable and clean. My only complaint is the cost. They've always been a little pricey, but it feels like they go up with each visit. The way my wife and I cut this down is by having one of us get a combo and the other just a burger. Drinks are unlimited with the Coca-Cola Freestyle machine and the fries portions are huge. Some might find their fries overly salty, but I'm a fan of well seasoned spuds. Despite the high prices, I will continue to treat myself at Five Guys in Roanoke, VA.

"A really good hamburger is one of life's simplest pleasures." Since 1986 Five Guys have been…read moreproviding pleasure to the American people and beyond. And the secret to their success is found in these two simple words: quality and consistency. After being awarded the NC Triad Yelp 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 Five Guys in Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example. Previously I'd heard a lot about Five Guys and their wonderful hamburgers and fries. And today I finally decided to go to Tanglewood Mall, where we have our Five Guys here in Roanoke, Virginia, and give them a try. I went in with high expectations and I came out in love with the place after they far exceeded my highest of expectations! A family-business born from the answer to a simple question a couple of parents decided to ask their sons: "Do you want to go to college or start a business?" And thriving from the "Yes" answer to the question, onwards. When I arrived at Five Guys today I wasn't aware of their history or background. All I knew through word of mouth was that they made good burgers and fries, and that they were expensive. From the time I walked in the door, I was impressed with the restaurant's cleanliness and simplicity of design with the colors white and red standing out as well as their solid wood tables and chairs. The music being played set the tone to the beginning of the dining experience. There were boxes of peanuts with little paper bowls so you can take some peanuts to your table and munch while your food was being prepared. On the wall there was a sign saying where the potatoes used to make your fries today came from. What also stood out were enlarged quotes from different sources all around the restaurant along with articles pinned to the wall about Five Guys and the reason for its success. When it was my turn to order, a friendly African-American lady, Mashenka, greeted me with a smile and warm welcome. She mentioned the Classic Combo that they had, and I ordered that but upgraded it to a Bacon Cheeseburger, with fries and a drink. And of course, I asked for lots of free toppings. Besides this I also ordered a Bacon Cheese Dog. I had seen a picture of it and was attracted by how they serve it cut in half inside a hot dog bun. While I waited I went to the very innovative drink machine and made myself a Cherry Dr Pepper. Then I went to watch how the cheerful employees cooked and prepared the burgers, dogs, and fries. Later while doing my research I found out that their burger meat is fresh and never frozen and their special burger buns are freshly made daily from their recipe in a local bakery and brought in. After picking up my order, I brought the bag to the table and opened it up. The burger and hot dog were wrapped in aluminum foil to keep them warm. The fries came in a bag of its own that was overloaded and there was a whole lot more fries spilled inside the large bag where everything came in. What a relief that besides the fries being so good, cut fresh in-house daily, I also got more than what I expected. Later I found out in my research that they do this intentionally as part of their Core Business Philosophy. The company believes that providing an overwhelming portion of fries is essential to their success and key to customer satisfaction. The feeling of getting more than what you paid for is intended to win over repeat customers. The burger was so fresh and juicy, cooked to perfection, with lots of fresh toppings on top. The bun was fresh and soft with a special taste to it that reminded me of the buns I used to eat with my hot dog after winning a Little League game. And the all beef hot dogs were also quality dogs. Wow, what an extraordinary dining experience having this All-American meal in a friendly environment. I highly recommend this restaurant and look forward to returning many times. Some say it's pricey, I say it's priceless!