Sometimes in the smallest of places one finds the most exquisite food and the most precious of dining experiences. After having been selected as number 4 of Yelp's Top 50 most prolific Elites of 2025, a year when I was also 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 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 Brood Restaurant and Bar in the heart of Salem, Virginia is a perfect example. Hidden in a small but cozy spot with a small but beautiful bar of only a few chairs, off East Main Street in Salem, Virginia, is one of my favorites fine dining restaurants: Brood Restaurant & Bar. The name means: "the children of a family," or "the chicks of a hen." It is meant to describe a warm place where people gather and feel just like in the best of homes: safe, cared for with unconditional love, and well fed with food that is made from the heart. A simple wood framed glass door with the restaurant's name written on it in capital letters with a classical font, is all one sees from the outside. But once you open the door and enter you encounter a space with lots of character coming from an exposed red brick wall and lovely dark wood hardwood floors. The furniture is elegant but comfortable. And the people treat you like if you were right at home; practically one of the family. On this occasion I arrived 15 minutes early to my five o'clock reservation time, yet I was greeted and received with open arms by a hospitable gentleman who seemed to be the bartender but with the distinction of the manager of the place. I was taken to my table in a perfect location in the wall facing the middle of the restaurant. The bartender prepared me a Guason Mocktail that all I can say is that it tasted devine. To dine I ordered their Sea Scallops appetizer with a roasted garlic emulsion and a bacon and fried onion crumb. Followed by an Arugula Salad. And the main entrée being the Steak and Frites. Everything was amazingly delicious and served in the appropriate timing. The scallops tasted out of this world in its unique sauce. The salad was wonderful. And the steak, an 8oz CAB Manhattan cut New York Strip cooked medium-rare and served with vaudouvan compound butter was one of the tastiest steaks of this nature that I have ever had, along with some fries with a cut that brought out the best of them. My server and bartender visited my table at the right times to see that everything was to my satisfaction and see if I needed anything and when he was busy made sure to send one of the other servers who all worked very efficiently as a team. Even at the end of my meal when the restaurant was almost completely full. For dessert which I consider the "Grand Finale" of a great meal, I had their Belgian Waffle Bread Pudding. It was amazing. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and the high-quality food. Needless to say I highly recommend this restaurant which has become one of my favorites for its delightful ambiance, exquisite food, and excellent customer service, together leading towards an extraordinary dining experience. read more

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Love their food first off. The staff there can guide you if you don't know what to order off that delicious menu they have to offer. It is beautiful in there and presentation is presenting. Service is better than the A-1 sauce in my fridge & so is their sauces Their food is better than a lot of other restaurants in the area as well. Remember this is locally owned so that says a lot. You'd be a little bit silly if you choose another restaurant ... can't lie lol especially if you're a food explorer! Their delicious desserts BTW goodness I ate like three different plates read more

Brood Restaurant and Bar - Not apart of the dessert menu but I was enjoying the ambience - Desserts Near Me - Salem, Virginia

Gluten Free options, a short stop from 81! Great wine list, cool vibe. We had the pimento & pickle appetizer with chips. Main course: salmon dish and shrimp & grits. Shrimp & grits dish was amazing! All GF. The staff were so friendly and knowledgeable. We will be back. read more

Brood Restaurant and Bar - Shrimp & grits + Salmon dish - Desserts Near Me - Salem, Virginia

We are visiting from Florida and we're online looking for nearby restaurants and so happy this place popped up! We started with our cocktails The Bees ankles and the pink bowtie made by Jen both were great! Dinner was Braised beef short rib and Steak and frites. Steak was perfect medium rare and short ribs fell apart in mashed potatoes and a yummy gravy sauce, broccoli was cooked really well not mushy or too crunchy. Almost forgot to mention the creamed kale that came with the steak was so goood. If I lived here definitely eat here a lot. read more

Amazing space with great menu and legitimate gluten free food. First time I've ever found gluten free schnitzel.

Excellent service, food and ambience!! I would definitely recommend to anyone who hasn't tried! We were traveling through and found a gem!

We have been wanting to try Brood since we saw it. We finally got the chance and it was terrible. None of the food was good and we will never go back. We started with the Warm Brussels Salad. It was almost uneatable. There was way too much Blue Cheese, so much so you couldn't taste anything else. We took a few bites and just couldn't do any more. I then had the Steak Frits with scallops and I never thought someone could ruin frits but somehow they did. They were tasteless and over cooked. The steak was overcooked (I asked for medium rare) and the seasoning was non-existent. The creamed kale isn't even worth discussing. The scallops smelled fishy and were chewy. My wife had the Shrimp and Grits. The sausage in the dish was barely warm, hard to chew, and had almost no taste. The shrimp was fine, but nothing special. The sauce was no good either. The service was fine but slow. I think they were understaffed. Of course, for what we got the price was high, but not out of line with what we would expect. The space is beautiful but don't bother with the food. If we were to go back it would only be for a drink.. read more

Review 1000 a milestone in my Yelp journey, and Broods is an appropriate choice for that. Has dinner while in town on business with colleagues recently. Our party had reservations and our table was waiting for us when we walked in. The interior is open with clean lines, comfortable appointments and bright. The high ceiling does make it a little loud though when busy and it was the night of our dinner. Started off with the Pork Belly appetizer, a huge app thats easily split, the belly was succulent and flavorful prepared beautifully. A solid start. Lobster Pasta, it was good but at the price point not a lot of actual lobster? A nice pasta dish but seriously was maybe a couple tablespoons of lobster meat maybe in the dish. Thats being generous. Ended the evening with their Popcorn Ice cream and it tasted just like carmel popcorn too. I neat take on an ice cream dessert. A solid meal, service is on point and the menu well defined. 4 Stars recommended and will be returning 01000 read more

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Service was fine. The food was cooked well. Textures were right where they needed to be for most things. As a table of four we had a variety of plates. Some complaints included the Caesar was pre-dressed so the lettuce was soggy. The chicken schnitzel was well fried and pleasing. The grits were well prepared as well. The shrimp and grits, the shrimp was prepared very well, large shrimp with just the right bite. Taste, is the issue. While the food texture was good the flavor was just not there, and was a topic for discussion for the whole table. Bland is the best description for all of the mains. Probably won't be back to try again. read more

Went to dinner last night and the food and service were perfect!! Thank you Claire and Jackson for a wonderful evening! I highly recommend the shrimp and grits!! read more

10 out of 10! - Jackson guided us through very nice cocktails (Prosecco and Roku Japanese martini) then an excellent meal from Blue Point oysters to a perfect lamb and steak frites. If you're a couple, as we were, or solo, do yourself a favor and sit in the bar area. Outstanding experience! read more

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Everything about this place was magic. Go. Enjoy. And relax. Great food. Great atmosphere.

We're from Rochester NY and stopped over night in Salem VA. We "found" the "Brood" and decided to try it out. It's an unassuming storefront but once inside we were warmly greeted and seated (having a reservation). The service, even at the 6PM rush, was wonderful (all of the staff). Our waiter, Michael, terrific, friendly and knowledgable. I had oysters paired with a smoked Old Fashioned (which was done to perfection) The entree was a spiced salmon over crisped potatoes mingled with Cole slaw (again the taste was uncompromising and the portion was just right). The salmon was paired with a Pinot Gris which unfortunately had lost a bit of brightness - but none the less went well with dinner. The meal was finished off with a unique Belgian Waffle bread pudding with salted walnuts and caramel with an at-the -table French pressed coffee. I would say that this meal was one of the better dinners that I've had in my many restaurant ventures around the world. Cudos to the 'Brood', her chef ,and staff - many thanks! read more

This is my new favorite restaurant in the area! Just had my first experience there and cannot wait to return! Great ambiance, wonderful service & the food was fabulous! Everything we ordered was good, from the drinks & apps to the desserts. We were there for my birthday & I received a handwritten note signed by all the staff thanking me for celebrating with them. 10/10, I highly recommend this jewel of a restaurant! read more

Food is excellent. Nice cozy atmosphere Unique menu friendly service the shnitzel chicken is amazing read more

Wonderful food and Great cocktails. We enjoyed the chicken schnitzel and the bread pudding. Our server was attentive and did a great job. We will be back soon. read more

Had an amazing time - we visited for alumni weekend. I had been here before, but it was my boyfriend first time. The food was phenomenal - highly recommend the mussels and fries - the aioli served with is to die for. Our server was wonderful, very attentive and made the experience even better. The restaurant itself has a nice feel to it, really comfortable seating arrangements. Great wine selection also! Highly highly recommend! read more

I recently moved to Roanoke Virginia and was introduced to this local elegant gem of restaurant by my realtor Bailey Jenkins. I am a food stylist /photographer and I am very picky about what I eat and it takes a lot to impress me as I have lived and worked in New York, LA ,Chicago , Seattle to name a few . . From the moment you walk into Brood, from the beautiful white storefront on Main Street to the sophisticated decor inside you are intrigued. They have a tiny perfect bar with beautiful craft cocktails and an elegant dining room. Upon being greeted by our server and receiving the menu I saw so many gluten-free options (I have celiac and so many restaurants miss the Mark) I was impressed with all the local sourcing and the fresh ingredients and the uniquely combined flavors that were being offered .it took a minute to order because I was so overwhelmed by the great options, but order I did and nothing disappointed Jackson the bartender mixed us beautiful craft cocktails and Courtney and her team give us the most professional service never being unavailable but never been to heavy-handed it was the perfect balance. I came back for the second time tonight with a group of friends to say thank you for them helping me with my move to Roanoke and we all had the most wonderful time . it's such a balanced menu there was something for everyone , from me with celiac to vegetarians to pescatarians etc. Everyone loved their food and their drinks. I cannot recommend this restaurant enough.... go try it for yourself... And you're welcome read more

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The schnitzel was so good I forgot to take a photo. The salad was wonderful. Food was great service was polite but slow. This is our second time going. First time service and food were both excellent. Will be back. Glad to have this option in Salem read more

Brood Restaurant and Bar - Salad - Desserts Near Me - Salem, Virginia

This was our first time visiting Brood. The food was delicious but the atmosphere and service were terrible. It was so loud that I couldn't hear our friends and definitely couldn't hear the server. We would attempt to tell her something and she would just turn & walk away. I felt like I was in a bar on a Friday night. We had April H. as our server and the service was terrible. She would disappear for 30 minutes or more. It took 20 minutes to get drink refills. We ordered a steak and after the food came we couldn't even get her attention to get a steak knife. We finally had to ask a different server for our bill so we could finally leave. Other patrons came, ate, paid and left before we could even consider it. As good as the food was, doubt I will be returning. read more

Great brunch spot! With a very cool interior and plenty of options on the menu! Service was excellent.

Amazing experience with great food and a wonderful atmosphere. We especially enjoyed our bar tender Steve and his signature old fashion as well as our server Michael who delighted us with his guidance during our food selection! Definitely will be back! read more

Really pretty restaurant, but food had to be sent back, unfortunately. Catfish was raw under the cornmeal crust, baked brie was strangely gelatinous. read more

Great experience Service, atmosphere and food all amazing! Thanks Brood, I'll be back read more

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Service was impeccable. Drinks were delicious and the food was very solid. Such a cute restaurant visiting from out of town and it was the perfect upscale yet relaxed spot. read more

Great service. Delicious shrimp and grits! My wife ordered the braised beef short ribs and loved it.

My husband and I enjoyed Saturday brunch at Brood with some friends. The food was absolutely delicious. The service was excellent and the restaurant is beautiful. Would highly recommend treating yourself to brunch at Brood! read more

Very inviting atmosphere. Sincere and welcoming greeting. The mussels were delicious as were our entrees. Can't wait to try the other ones... The old subfloor needs to be shored up. When the waitstaff walks anywhere near you it shakes the floor a lot, which makes relaxing a challenge. We will be back soon read more

Dinner for 4 last night. OK wine selection, could use a few Burgundies on the list. Food was excellent for all 4. Salads slightly over dressed but very good and fresh. Potato App was very good as we're the Halibut and Short rib mains. Service excellent also. They kept the Blue Apron quality so I'll make it a regular stop. the space is a nice size and well appointed. All enjoyed the evening. read more

Started off with great drinks. Gineon was cold and delicious, Bees Knees tasty! Ordered Corb Velout, was not sure what it was. a really good corn chowder. Warm Brussel sprout salad delish. Entrees, duck and short riv, came out out cold. Sent them back and still cold on 2 nd try. Explanation was the kitchen was cold! Warm up the plates especially on cold nights. Staff friendly, but could hear them arguing in kitchen. Might be a while before we go back. read more

Nice Salem dining experience. Nice menu. Courteous service. Nicely executed and presented dishes

Awesome atmosphere. Great menu and gluten free options. Staff very friendly. Prices reasonable for authentic tasty food. read more

Brood Restaurant and Bar - Desserts Near Me - Salem, Virginia

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Finding a gluten-free friendly restaurant is hard, but finding one that serves amazing food to make any diner happy is even harder. And Brood nailed it. Our server was a gem, the menu had enough tasty-sounding things that all four of us struggled to decide what to order. Everything was full of flavor but well-balanced - I didn't feel like any of the dishes were over-seasoned. And the dishes were unique - each had one little detail that made our eyebrows go up in surprise or curiosity. I had the Brood old fashioned - that's my test cocktail for any new bar. And this one was great! Pleasantly sweet with lemon instead of orange, but not syrupy or watered down. The space is adorable, if a little loud. I'm super-conscious about sound because my Gran has hearing loss. She wouldn't have been comfortable here, but for us and our parents it was ok. We didn't take pictures of the food because we were so absorbed in eating it! We'll definitely be back to try other menu items. read more

Nationally known chef in Salem, VA! My wife and I were blessed to come on opening night to Brood. The first thing that strikes you is the beauty of the space. Old brick walls, gorgeous trim - - super clean and inviting. The second thing you learn is that Ted Pofelt, a well-known chef with international medals, is the lead chef and owner along with a veteran restauranteur, Crenshaw Reed. So their experience and reputations are well known. Brood uses quality silverware and glassware. The wait staff and owners were exceptionally friendly and helpful but not intrusive. Clearly, they love what they do and are well-trained. The wine, beer, and cocktail list is high quality (several Vivino 4.0 offerings) and fairly priced. They start as low as a $3 beer and go up to quality wines topping out at $54 a bottle. If you arrive early or just want to pop in for a drink, they have an intimate bar area. Now for the meal: Our Caesar salads were surprisingly fresh and tasty. No old romain, stale croutons and Sam's Club dressing! They had shavings of real parmesan cheese and homemade croutons! My entree was unbelievably delicious, I got the braised beef short ribs. WOW! Unless you are a vegetarian, try this one . . . and the good news is there was enough left over for me to take some home. I cannot recommend the short ribs highly enough. My wife ordered the lobster pasta, and it also was very tasty. Generously portioned. Delicate flavors and did not sit heavy on the stomach. Many GF options. We did not order dessert because we were full, but we look forward to ordering appetizers and dessert next time. We recommend ordering a bottle of wine next time as the bottle is a better value. This is a great addition to Salem and the Roanoke Valley. Great vibe, clean, inviting, amazing food, fair prices. read more

I was pleasantly surprised to see so many gluten-free options on the menu. The building is beautifully renovated with very stylish interior design. The wait staff are very well trained and knowledgeable. Our server, Rebecca, knew the ingredients of all the dishes we inquired about. My husband had chicken schnitzel and found it crispy and well spiced. My salmon was very tender and cooked perfectly. We knew we had to get the last piece of cake as we saw many patrons around us enjoying it. I recommend VT parents make a point of visiting on their way back home. read more

Brood Restaurant and Bar - Beautiful decor in this vintage building - Desserts Near Me - Salem, Virginia

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Food was average. I liked the caramelized onion dip but did not care for the Brie. It was basic. For my entree, I ordered Salmon, which was over baked and visually dry. Husband ordered the short ribs and said he has had much better. Service was not good. For the price you pay, I expect a much more attentive server. We had to flag her down several times for water refills or to order drinks from the bar. She didn't anticipate the customer experience at all. Attempts to flag given other servers was also ignored, despite being told that they "operated as a team". Disappointed. read more

we were excited about trying a new restaurant but the excitement quickly dimmed when we had to wait over 40 minutes before being seated for our reservation. Once seated we had to finally signal a staff member for a menu. Our dinner was served at 8:28; our reservation had been for 7:15. The chicken schnitzel was good though more heavily breaded than any schnitzel I'd ever eaten before. The grits were also very tasty. Sadly, neither of the two was served hot. I adore collard greens but could only eat one bite because they were so heavily salted. The short ribs were also ordered at our table and said to have been delicious. They were served with broccoli and potatoes which were not hot. Bread is a comfort food but none was served. The bread pudding was enjoyable for dessert and the waitstaff quite friendly. I will never return for a meal at 7:15 nor risk even having 7:00 reservations. It was a hot wait in that little bar where the temp seemed 10 degrees higher than the dining area. I will sadly never order the chicken again because of the overly salted collard greens. Brood has potential if the food can be served at a better temperature, the salt is better controlled, and they improve their reservation system. We will try it one more time before making a final judgment. read more

This is the 3rd time I've dined at Brood, and I see a very positive pattern. The food is excellent, the atmosphere is charming, and the servers are attentive, professional, and friendly. We were seated promptly for 5:30 and 6:30 reservations, and our meals were prompt and hot. We've thoroughly enjoyed the Pink Bowtie, El Guason, Brie, Salmon, Schnitzel, Steak & Frites, Bread Pudding, and Crème Brûlée, but my personal favorite is the Short Ribs. They are the best I've ever had! So thankful for this great addition to downtown Salem! read more

Brood Restaurant and Bar - Menu - Desserts Near Me - Salem, Virginia

Awesome service and food ! Very friendly staff. Great atmosphere. Look toward to going again . The Chicken Snitzel is outstanding read more

Beautiful space, friendly staff, delicious and well priced food and drink. Glad we stumbled upon the restaurant while walking around Salem on our way back from VT graduation. The welcoming staff make room for us in the bar area on a busy Friday night. read more