I have eaten at some of the best restaurants in the world, but in none have I had such a wonderful dining experience like I always do at Bernard's Gastropub & Eatery. 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 Bernard's Gastropub & Eatery in Downtown Roanoke, is a perfect example. Bernard's was born out of the love of two culinary aficionados turned professionals that in someway have managed to create a restaurant with an environment that transmits this intimate love to the hearts of their customers through the attention to detail in its extraordinary customer service and amazing culinary masterpieces. Today, I felt like dining at this restaurant, which I admire for its consistency in always far exceeding my high expectations of what a fine-dining restaurant should be all about. Not knowing if they would have a table for me at this late time on a Saturday early evening, I drove in my pearl white Lexus to the nearest private parking lot and gave them a call to inquire as if they could give me a reservation for the next ten minutes. A gentleman, who later I found out was named Matthew, and would be my server, answered the phone with a very polite and welcoming voice; answering my question of what was the special dish of the day and to come on down, that my reservation was assured. As soon as I arrived to the small, very elegant foyer in front of the Host's station, he came out to greet me and instantly recognized who I was. My only request was that he give me a low table because at my age seating at a high table was a bit uncomfortable. He went back to see what he could find and ended setting me up with what I consider one of the best tables of the house, and I was so appreciative of his last minute accommodation. The menu was already setup on my table. He poured water from a special bottle into my water glass and asked if I wanted something else to drink. I asked for a Mocktail and since he also was a bartender, he prepared me one of the best mocktails I've ever had. To dine, I started out with their Mussels Carbonara appetizer, which came in a bacon parmesan cream sauce that was simply amazing, and served with toast points. As my main entrée I had the Dinner Special of the Night, the Seafood Trio. It had a delicious, giant size crab cake in the middle, scallops, and shrimps, with parmesan risotto sautéed heirloom tomato, spinach, and nice size asparagus, with a burre blanc sauce. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the high-quality of their food and magnificent ambiance of the place. Everything was so delicious that only one word could ever describe them: priceless! For dessert I had their very famous Butterscotch Banana Pudding, which the chef makes at the moment ordered. It looked spectacular and tasted amazingly delicious: a culinary work of art. What a great way for the Gran Finale of an extraordinary dining experience! read more

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Salty Salty They have potential to be good. But they use the same seasoning on fries - and French Onion Soup. Sub par food expensive. Not worth it. read more

What a great gastropub. I stoped in for lunch. The decor is great. It was cold outside, but the interior Christmas decor and music warmed me right up. The service was excellent. Great recommendations and appropriately attentive. I ordered the warm spinach salad: delicious and large. The dressing was amazing. I had the Steakhouse Burger. A great burger!!! Thank you. read more

Bernard's - Steakhouse Burger with side of Asparagus. - New American Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

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Hidden gem in Downtown Roanoke! Small restaurant with a bar and tv in the back section. Friendly staff that greet you with a smile . Must try's are the fried pickles and mussels for starters. The portions are big so consider sharing. I ordered the Cottage pie and loved it . The Hamburger with cheese with a side of fries and the shrimp with grits are also great and definitely worth trying.This restaurant has one of the tastiest menus all around ! Worth a visit! read more

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Love this place. Passing through and hungry so we relied on our Yelp app to get us to a great place to eat. This place did not disappoint. Appetizer of freckles was delicious which is fresh, fried pickles with a delicious homemade sauce. Portions are huge. Our main course was grilled chicken house salads which included perfectly cut vegetables such as heirloom tomatoes. Delicious dressings which seemed to be housemate. Bonus-bathrooms are decorated beautifully and super clean. Highly recommend. read more

I came here with a work group. We did not have reservations and ended up at the bar. It's a quaint cozy place with local vibes. You can see the open kitchen while sitting at the bar so beware your clothing may smell like a kitchen when you leave. Our food was ok. The French onion soup was a little bland and made w croutons not sliced bread. Three of us had Irishmen (Reuben) and the corned beef was thick sliced. Typically I prefer mine shaved. The thousand island dressing comes in the side, not on top which I think takes away from the melted flavors of the sandwich. Very nice staff. Not on my top list for places, but definitely not bad. read more

Bernard's - The Irishman Sandwich - New American Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

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The chicken and dumpling soup is out of this world. It was real chicken swimming in a soup of creamy delicious broth clearly homemade topped with little pillows of goodness. The burger and risotto was also great, but it was really the soup that made the experience for me. That, and the team. They were so kind and we had the best time telling ghost stories and they told me all about Roanoke as it was my first time here. Great experience and I wish I got the bartenders names but they were both wonderful as was the owner Lindsay. Definitely recommend if you want a cozy at home vibe over a delicious food. read more

Bernard's - New American Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

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Truth be told, I am very stingy with my 5 star reviews (no really, check my record!). The ambiance is upscale pub. We went with the popular dishes - cottage pie and bourbon salmon. My salmon was a tad sweet for me and I'd have preferred it a cooked a tiny bit less, but still very flavorful and not dry. My husband enjoyed the cottage pie and it was a generous portion as promised. Jimmy our waiter was super friendly and accommodating. I appreciated the fact that the patio was open in November and could accommodate our dog, which pushed me from 4 to 5 stars! read more

Bernard's - Bourbon salmon and cottage pie - New American Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

Had the best service with Jimmy! We brought our two very hungry/cranky kids and he was very sweet and quick to get our order in. The food was absolutely delicious; we loved the frickles! Can't wait to eat here again. read more

Bernard's holds a very close place to my heart! From the first time I visited I knew this would be one of my favorite restaurants, owned and operated by the chef it has an elegant feel with a personal touch. I have never been disappointed by the dishes and find any and every excuse to invite my friends and family when they are in town. You can't go wrong with their mussels carbonara, the salmon, wings, or crab cakes. On a day where a martini and a Caesar salad are calling my name this is the the place I answer that calling. I love the servers and the optional patio seating. This place is a gem so they're busy on the weekends but usually bar seating is available, Oh and how could I forget their Banana pudding is one of the most magnificent takes on the classic dish. All and all this is one of the best restaurants in Virginia and I say this as a promise you will love it!!! read more

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This place looks fantastic, unfortunately I won't be able to rate the food. Just stopped in there for a late lunch, about 3pm. Sign on the door said see bartender for seating, so I went to the bar...and waited...and waited...and waited. Nobody seemed to want to help. The staff were in the back, talking to each other. There was a guy working on the kegs who never bothered to acknowledge me (although he was probably a contractor and not an employee). The chef/kitchen worker was about 3 feet to my left with her head buried in a book. Never even bothered to look up, or go get someone to help me. After I stood there for quite a while, I left. Went down the street to another restaurant who is actually interested in serving food. I'm sure during peak hours, this place would get a great review, but if they don't value my time, I see no reason in spending my money there. read more

We came in a bit later in the evening, and it was quiet which was exactly what we were looking for after a long day on the road. This place was fantastic! We stopped in town for the night on our way to NC, and it ended up being the perfect spot to wind down. The staff was warm and welcoming, and the food was even better. It's pretty dark inside, so we were briefly worried they might be closed but we're so glad they weren't! We ordered a chocolate Manhattan, pear martini, chicken piccata, and cottage pie everything was delicious and the portions were huge. We were traveling and couldn't take leftovers with us, but I honestly would've been happy with half the portion size. Still, it was an amazing experience all around. Thanks for giving us a relaxing and memorable night before hitting the road again! read more

Bernard's - Pear Martini - New American Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

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We walked in on a Friday night with no reservation, but were seated immediately. The ambiance is very cozy and inviting. Both the host and server were top-notch. My partner had the French onion soup and the pear salad. I had the mussels appetizer which was more than enough for dinner. The food was well presented, priced appropriately and very good. Not a bad choice for a night out! read more

Stopped at this place on a road trip and it was amazing. The fried pickles were the best i've had, the shrimp and grits were the best I had, and the banana butterscotch pudding was the best banana pudding i've ever had. My boyfriend got the steak burger and said the A1 aioli was so flavorful and unique. The atmosphere is cozy and staff is very friendly. 10/10 experience. read more

A homey, intimate establishment with several tables and bar seating. The husband and wife owners are also the chefs and can be seen cooking away in the kitchen located next to the bar. The menu offers choices like crab cakes, chicken piccata and short ribs. My favorite thing to order is a generous sized house salad with house made croutons and the mussels carbonara with toast points to share with my hubby. The mussels are ridiculous and indulgent! Pair them with a glass of wine and you'll be in heaven. read more

As we drove us towards Roanoke, VA, my wife was searching for an early dinner option for us. She found Bernard's in the "highly rated" list of restaurants and after seeing a glowing review from Erik S, our Yelp Community Manager, we agreed we needed to try and check it out. My wife noticed they open at 5pm and because we haven't previously visited Roanoke we were unsure if reservations would be required considering it was Saturday evening. We called shortly after they opened and my wife spoke with Matt. She inquired if a reservation was required for a party of 2 at approximately 5:30 ish. Matt was very friendly and helpful, he told us we should be okay since we were arriving shortly after they opened. As we approached the restaurant we looked first for street parking but ended up choosing a small public parking lot with the ability to pay via phone. We noted a couple of small outdoor tables on the sidewalk and made our way inside. The sign asked us to check in with the bartender for a table. We began walking towards the bar when we made eye contact with a young man who ended up being Matt. He was as friendly as he was on the phone. He asked us to pick one of the 2 seat high top tables and he followed us with menus and told us our server would be by shortly. The interior is comfortable and gives off a cozy, downtown vibe while not being a fine dining experience which is just not us. Gwen, our server stopped in and introduced herself, welcomed us and asked us about our drink orders. I inquired if the Get Bent IPA was a local brewery and she confirmed it was. I ordered a pint while my wife ordered water. Our drinks were brought by and we asked Gwen for recommendations after telling her it was our first time in. She was happy to share some of her favorites and answer any questions we had. My wife decided on a cup of the chicken and dumpling soup to share and the poached pear salad with blackened chicken. I chose the Cottage pie. We enjoyed talking about our impromptu roadtrip thus far and our soup arrived in a timely manner. Naturally, my phone ate first and then we began taking turns sliding this cup of deliciousness across the table, it was so incredibly creamy and delicious. Gwen periodically checked in on us and we felt very much taken care of. My wife visited the ladies room and reported it was clean, well maintained and properly stocked. Our meals arrived in a timely manner by another server and looked incredible. My wife added the honey poppyseed dressing and I snapped a quick picture before she started to enjoy. She immediately commented on how delicious it was. I also began eating and it was so good. The Cottage Pie is the definition for comfort food in my mind. Gwen continued to stop in to ensure we had everything we needed and we told her just how much we were enjoying our experience. Since I knew there was no way I was finishing my meal in one sitting, Gwen offered to pack it up so it was conducive to a small hotel fridge which was greatly appreciated. This was a five star experience from beginning to end! We absolutely recommend if you live, work or passing through Roanoke! Plan accordingly since they are closed Sunday and Monday, you will not regret it! read more

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OMG! I had not heard of this little hidden gem! I went to bless a friend for a new job opportunity! The food was so delicious, great portions! The service was EXCELLENT, the gentleman that served us was so friendly and pleasant! The ambiance was amazing! I will definitely go back... actually, I attempted to go back again (assuming that they were open)... I should've checked the website for hours of operation, because they weren't opened (which made me sad). I WILL DEFINITELY BE GOING BACK! read more

Had a late lunch here recently, and sat at the bar since it was quiet. The bartender was also my server. Started with some Frickles, their fried pickle appetizer. Its a large basket of pickle chips batter fried. A cool app, and if you like dill pickles or fried snacks, this ones worth a try. Then had a Club sandwich with fries, this is a good sandwich. Made well and fresh ingredients. Turkey, bacon, lettuce, tomato and stacked on to triple toasted bread, cut into quarters. Delicious and hit the spot for my needs. The seasoned fries also good, and plenty of them. With a cold draft, it was a good lunch and a comfortable spot. 4 Stars - recommended and will return. 01009 read more

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Absolutely excellent. Just go here! Soooo good, fresh, tasty. Super atmosphere. Wait staff Kira and Jimmy were so nice and helpful. Easy to find in the downtown area, easy walk from the nearby Hilton. Burger, crab cakes, pear salad, and: you must have the butterscotch pudding. Best ever! read more

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On a recent trip to Roanoke we decided to try Bernard's due to their reviews. Even with existing great reviews they exceeded our expectations. No reservations, short staffed and a busy waiting area and somehow they managed to accommodate 2 more. As expected it took a little longer than usual and they were very apologetic. As parents of a server we understood yet they still managed to serve us in a reasonable time and their food was fantastic. Highly recommend if you're ever in Roanoke. read more

June 06, 2025 Whoa! Another extremely aggressive, and inappropriate, email from the restaurant. Turns out the person replying to me is one of the owners (the husband). These interactions have really told me everything that I need to know. Beware, Roanoake! June 03, 2025: Sad update. I emailed the restaurant directly to communicate my concerns in the foodservice practices that I witnessed, and was met with a lot of defensiveness and excuses (that did not add up, and did not meet state foodservice standards). As someone who worked in foodservice for 20 years this is disappointing. June 02, 2025: A friend and I recently passed through on a road trip. We were looking forward to it, but ultimately decided not to eat there. The male cook/chef in the kitchen: * Did not wear gloves the entire time we were there. * Did not wash hands (the hand-wash sink was filled with dishwater and dirty dishes) * Used bare hands to transfer pasta from pan to plate * Wiped hands on pants * Then used the same dirty, bare hands to put raw burgers on the grill * Wiped hands on pants again * Shoved food in his mouth * Wipes hands on pants * Back to cooking * Throws pans in hand-wash sink * I tried my best to NOT toblook after that * Someone came to collect the dirty dishes from the hand-wash sink when we were just about finished and then the chef/cook finally washed his hands * Handwash sink was refilled and dishes went back into the in hand-wash sink. * Saw batter bowl sitting on the trash can just before we left, but that may have been after it was used - not sure. (Sit at the bar. That's how you can see what's happening in the kitchen.) read more

Unpretentious and affordable fine dining and family owned and operated to boot! This place somehow manages to tick all the boxes and is probably the front-runner for my best eats of 2024. Seeing how the year is almost over, that's a solid accomplishment! Upon arriving, the hostess greeted us and told us, "the kitchen is backed up right now, but we don't want you to leave. Take a seat on our couch and I'll go talk to them." That felt weird, but made SO much sense when we found out that literally all the cooking is done by a husband and wife duo, who own and operate the restaurant. The place will literally shut down if they aren't available to work, which is pretty rare and an exciting level of commitment as a diner. Our server was enthusiastic to tell us about the story of the restaurant and was extremely personable. Among the many interesting bits of info he gave was the fact that they literally don't have a freezer in the restaurant. Their commitment to fresh food is that strong. To drink, I chose the poached pear martini to start and it was strong and smooth, without being overly sweet. For my meal I went with the bourbon glazed salmon. The $28 price tag almost scared me off, but that meal was easily worth double. The glaze was so tasty I almost asked for a spoon for it. The salmon was perfectly cooked and the potatoes were cheesey, crispy, AND covered in glaze. I'm confident they brought that plate out quick since they were extremely crispy in spite of being soaked. There were also some tender little asparagus stalks on my plate. Overall, I absolutely and wholeheartedly recommend this place. If you want delicious food done right and with care, Bernard's is the place to go. read more

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Wow! Wow! Wow! These Yelp reviews delivered. We took an impromptu trip to Roanoke for the weekend and decided to check out Bernard's based on the reviews. I found parking pretty easily on the street and we were greeted by a very nice hostess. Within minutes we were seated at a high top table. After glancing at the menu I decided on the Benard's Palmer for a cocktail. It's Smirnoff citron vodka and your choice of sweet or unsweet tea and garnished with a lemon wedge. This was such a a light, crisp, and lemony drink. The waiter (can't remember his name) was extremely friendly and knowledgeable about not only the food but the business as a whole. Now came time to order. I really wanted the cottage pie, however yesterday was Thanksgiving and I felt I'd eaten enough mashed potatoes for a while. I ended up getting the Texan burger. Freshly ground beef patty, lovely caramelized onions, smokey BBQ sauce, bacon, cheddar cheese, and mayo. I had to omit the jalapenos served alongside hand cut fries. Wow what a burger. It was so juicy, seasoned to perfection and the cheese was melted so well it just pulled away in a velvety bite. This place is so thoughtful even down to the bun. They brand their logo onto the bun! It was so chill inside and had a wide range of customers. Some Sat at the bar watching college sports while others dined and conversed with their table. This place just had an overall great feel about it. I would 10/10 recommend eating here. I will definitely try the cottage pie next time. Keep up the good work. read more

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When in Roanoke, you must visit Bernard's. Make a reservation or you will be waiting for a bit, especially on the weekend. We have been here twice. Both times have been excellent. Our most recent visit this past weekend, we tried the Bourbon Glazed Salmon, Cottage Pie, and Steak Burger. All three were excellent. Jimmy and Matthew were excellent. Excellent service. Patient and friendly. Nicely done. We will be back again. read more

The wedge salad is the bomb! The steak house hamburger was great! I want to tell all my pals about this family owned gem. The bartender was really personable. I will be back. BTW, I love the downtown market in Roanoke. There are a lot of restaurants that I want to try. Bernard's is highly recommended if you want excellent food and service. read more

Pretty solid , with friendly and accommodating staff Here's what I got Raspberry sour was good Frickles or fried pickles were also very good Pulled pork sandwich with fries was good The fries were excellent They don't have a ton of a variety in their menu. Service went above and beyond to help me charge my phone while it was on the road trip Ambience was nice. I really like their decor. Price is a little high but the portions size are extremely heavy. I'm going to make this probably two or three meals Parking is on the street Overall if I was in the area would check it out again read more

It was a beautiful spring evening and we wanted to dine outdoors. Bernard's was the perfect spot. The service was attentive. We had a lovely meal. We ordered cocktails, they were absolutely wonderful. The best Manhattan I've ever had, hands down! I had the chicken piccata and he had the cottage pie. Both were so phenomenally good, we couldn't help sharing. The portions were large, which means I have delicious leftovers to look forward to We can't wait to go back! read more

So glad we found this place as we were passing through the area. My only regret is I'll probably not be able to come back because it's 4 hrs from home! The service was amazing, a small intimate setting, very nice music and a fun bar too. We sat at one of the dozen or so tables, and everything we had was perfect. read more

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Bernards is in downtown Roanoke so be prepared to hunt for a parking spot. We were there for lunch and got lucky and found a spot a block away. Being December, the restaurant had a pretty Christmas tree all decorated as you walked in. They also had decorations throughout the restaurant so it was festive. It is a small space in the front area and was kinda noisy between people chattering and clattering from the open kitchen. We were greeted after a minute and advised to pick whatever table we wanted. After a couple of minutes (and beginning to wonder if anyone saw us), our waiter arrived. We asked for a wine list which he promptly retrieved. Wine is available by the glass and bottle but the list is limited and pricey. One of us ordered a glass of cabernet sauvignon without realizing there were two choices. The waiter didn't ask, and, of course, brought the more expensive one. We ordered the fish and chips, corned beef sandwich and cheeseburger. I really wanted the cottage pie but they didn't have the mashed potatoes prepared yet. We all ordered french fries which were a bit disappointing as they were not crunchy and not very hot. The corned beef was the hands down winner. It is the best corned beef we've ever eaten. Get this! The cod was two nice sized pieces with a small side of coleslaw. The cod was not greasy or fishy so it was enjoyable. The cheeseburger was good but could have tasted "meatier". Maybe it was camouflaged by the cheese, lettuce, and tomato toppings. Apparently, you can order an extra patty for an up-charge. The waiter did a decent job except that he left the dirty dishes on the table far too long - one of my nitpicks. We took home leftovers and asked for additional mustard and thousand island which we were charged for - just so you know. The surprising issue we had is that the amount charged to our credit card was different than the amount on our receipt. It wasn't much, like $3, but it's the principal. I emailed the restaurant with a copy of my receipt and credit card statement. I didn't hear anything for a week so I emailed again and got an immediate response from the owner(?). I was told that they had accidentally switched tips on two checks. I opted for them to refund my credit card but it's been a month, and I have not received it. read more

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The food and service were good - on par with the prices. The ambience is sort of an upscale bar which isn't my favorite.

The food is always amazing at Bernard's. We love it and definitely recommend others to do the same. Thank you for a great meal!

food was WONDERFUL, the restaurant is on the smaller side so i wouldn't recommend for parties of more than 6. the waiter lacked attentiveness to our table. we had to ask for refills consistently and it took a long time to place our orders. read more

Bernard's - Chicken Picatta - New American Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

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The food, the drinks, and the vibe were all good in this place! I started with a poached pear salad...it has all of my faves. The frickles (fried pickles) were delicious. The glaze on the salmon was yummy...kind of spicy, but not too much heat. I changed my veggie to Brussel sprouts, and it came with cheesy potatoes. I was skeptical about the butterscotch banana pudding, but it was scrumptious. There was a perfect balance of bananas, caramelization, and wafers. The meringue on the top took it to another level. Our service was great. They even have a server (Matthew) who will give you an elderflower smoke bubble on your drinks. The poached pear martini was everything!! This is a great spot to check out when in the Star City!! read more

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The ambiance and service were top notch but I did not enjoy the bourbon glazed salmon. It was swimming in the glaze and the combination of crispy potatoes with cheese, asparagus and the over abundance of sweet glaze did nothing for the great piece of salmon. Another person in the part ordered a burger and it was very good along with the wings which were also very good. read more

We went during brunch time on Saturday. The service was slow but friendly. It took about 20 mins to be seated then 30 mins after we ordered to get the food, but our patience was rewarded. Both our sandwiches were large and delicious. Enjoyed that they served the sauces on the side so it didn't sog up your bread and you could decide how much you wanted. Tip: the frickles also make a nice addition to the sandwiches. Would definitely go back again. read more

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Highly Recommended !!! My wife and I had a great experience last nite at Bernard's Gastro Pub in Roanoke ,Va...Celebrating our 50th Anniversary we enjoyed all the dishes which included the Salmon w/ bourbon glaze ,a crab cake ( had to try just one ) , and the Sheppard's Pie. All were delicious and freshly prepared. The staff & bartender were very knowledgeable, polite, and attentive which made for a wonderful evening. The owners capped off a nice evening celebrating "50" with a candled dessert ! "Thanks Again" and we will see you next week ....this time with friends !!! Mike and Deb read more

They had amazing food, a great atmosphere with very nice waiters. The banana pudding was amazing.

I sat at the bar and loved the view of the action in the kitchen. Great service. The food was a little slower, but they politely explained that as soon as I sat down. And dang, it was worth the wait! The warm spinach salad was awesome! I added grilled chicken to top it and it filled me up nicely. read more

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Excellent spot for drinks and dinner on NYE! Caesar salad with a crab cake & a classic gin martini got my night off to a great start. Service was top notch. read more

Bernard's - Caesar salad with crab cake - New American Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

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Food is not great and servers were rude. I don't forsee going back. I was hoping for a better experiece.