Now a days it's very hard to find a restaurant that's open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and…read morethat's only closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. A family-owned restaurant that has been serving locals, travelers, and late-night crowds from its classic 10-stool lunch counter since 1930, and continues to be strictly cash-only. A restaurant that not only has survived, but strived for 96 years, owned by the same local family, and is currently owned by fourth-generation owner Matt Bullington. Who has said that the key to its longevity has been sticking to what has made them successful since they opened. A restaurant that has never been remodeled and whose menu has never been expanded, but that in this lies its real charm. A restaurant that despite economic hardship, tries never to raise prices and remain affordable. A restaurant that many people go to it because of their food, others because of their prices, and others like me this morning, because of the experience to sit at its counter and appreciate its character and charm while enjoying a classic breakfast of three fried eggs over easy with bacon and white toast basted with butter. That restaurant was and continues to be the iconic Texas Tavern, located in the heart of Downtown Roanoke. This morning I drove my pearl white Lexus up to it and parked in front of the sidewalk at the parallel parking with a one-hour limit. There is so much history behind this place that the excitement of the moment made the breakfast experience more momentous. Once inside, a young gentleman who has been working there for over two years now greeted me and immediately made me feel at home. He took my order and almost at the same time started making my toast and frying my eggs. In no time at all I had my order in front of me. I noticed and made him aware that one egg was missing. He made it right by frying me another egg over easy and I didn't mind because of his positive attitude and very unique personality. He also asked me how I'd like my coffee and prepared it just as requested with two creams and three sugars. Every one of the three eggs were perfectly fried over easy and I sprinkled a salt and pepper mixture over them. The bread of the toast was so fresh and tasty braised in butter. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and the high-quality of their food. I'm looking forward to returning one day at lunch time to taste some of their menu items of which they are known for. Starting with their Cheesy Western, the tavern legendary trademark burger served with a fried egg, cheese, pickles, and a sweet-and-tangy homemade cabbage relish. Or maybe a bowl of their secret-recipe chili served with onions. Or their trademark hot dog served Coney Island-style with chili, relish, mustard, and unions. All comfort food that make you feel good and bring a sense of nostalgia, warmth, and satisfaction. I highly recommend this small, historic, eatery for a one-of-a-kind, memorable, dining experience. One that you'll cherish and hold dear forever.

A 24 hour cheap eats spot serving up burgers and dogs under $5. When you ask for a recommendation,…read morethey'll likely say the cheesy western which is a cheeseburger with pickles, onions and cabbage relish. They offer it with bean chili and you can get onions added in. The place is a 10 seat dinner and at roughly 2 am on a Saturday, will have at leave 15-20 people crowded it looking for a post bar meal. They employees were nice and will talk to you about what to get and make recommendations. I will say, this is somewhere I liked trying but may not return.

I've always enjoyed a good Burrito from Chipotle Mexican Grill. All their ingredients and products…read moreare so fresh, made and cooked daily. Their employees are well trained in food handling and in the times they need to wash their hands and change their gloves. As a matter of fact I like them so much that I own Chipotle Stock in my Investment Portfolio. 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 the Chipotle Mexican Grill at Towers Shopping Center, located in Southwest Roanoke, Virginia, is the perfect example. I currently have 12,838 Reward Points from Chipotle reflected in my Chipotle app. Most of the time I order delivery from this store location. But today I happened to be in the area and decided to go eat there in person. Their restaurant is located on the right of T-Mobile at Towers Shopping Center. This place has been totally renovated since the time it was built and all the stores there are very clean and presentable. They are in the right corner of the strip mall in a modern building painted yellow and white, with bright red window frames color. The interior design of the restaurant has nice contemporary furniture and lighting. As one enters through the main door on the left side, one walks all the way back until one reaches the counter and tell the employee there the entrée they want, the protein, the ingredients included, and the extra ingredients that are Guacamole and Queso Blanco. There was one customer in front of me and I took a look of the menus high above and some enlarged photos advertisements of some of the items. When the server came back and asked me what I wanted. I told him a Braised Beef Barbacoa Burrito. He heated the large tortilla to make the burrito and started asking me what I wanted on it. Starting from the white rice and black beans, then the protein that I ordered was the Beef Barbacoa, the mild sauce and the one with corn, graded cheese, and sour cream. He was wearing gloves as he handled the Burrito and was very generous with the portions. When he started folding the Burrito, it was so loaded that it cracked, so he asked me if it was alright if he put another tortilla over the first one. I agreed and he did a great job folding the Burrito. Then he wrapped it in an aluminum wrap and put it inside an orange plastic baske. By this time we had reached the cashier who asked me what I has so she could price the order, I included a fountain soft drink. I had her scan my app so I would get my Rewards points for this meal and paid with my credit card. The cashier lady employee was very friendly and nice, even though she was wearing a mask. I found this a little strange because Chipotle Corporate now has paid sick leave to encourage employees to stay home when I'll. It also has come up with their Food Safety 7, a system of seven key protocols for preventing foodborne illness, encompassing Work Healthy, Work Clean, Keep Produce Safe, Cook it, Keep it Hot/Keep it Cold, Maintain Sanitary Conditions, and Call for Help. These guidelines are a core part of the company's overall enhanced food safety program, which also include rigorous supplier standards, and enhanced internal training. I took my Burrito and paper cup and sat down at a table in front of the softdrink machine after getting some ice and Root Beer. The Burrito was real Fat, sort of contradicting those customers that are saying that they are making them smaller. And it contained lots of protein and other ingredients. It was truly amazingly delicious. The only thing that prevented me from having an excellent dining experience was that I noticed that the Organic Lemonade and Agua Fresca dispensers were dirty, empty, and not cleaned nor replenished. Also that the floor of the seating area next to me was dirty, and they didn't have anyone cleaning the restaurant after the customer. The dirty floor detracted from the beautiful contemporary decor of the place and ruined the perfect dining experience. I hope Corporate and management reads my review and immediately corrects this, for it is one of the only reason I didn't give it a 5 Stars review.

This place is filthy. Dust in the walls, dust on vents above food and overall disgusting. It is a…read morewonder the health department has not shut them down. Last time I'm eating there.

After having observed the long lines at their drive through, reading they are opened until 4:00AM,…read moreand asking around: What do you think about Cook Out, and getting a smile and positive reaction, I had to go visit one evening for dinner and experience for myself a dining experience there. Housed in a large brick building near Crossroads in Roanoke, Virginia, the front of the building faces Hershberger Rd and has large windows and an outdoor seating area to use in good weather. On the back side of the building the drive through is located and a large parking lot. The entrance to the restaurant is on its side under a bright red and white sign high above. As I entered the place was very clean and two low walls guided you to the ordering counter. Above the counter is the menu and customers stood there reading the menu and picking their order. When it was my turn to order, the friendly order taker answered some questions I had and I ordered a Burger tray with Onion Rings and Slaw, a Peach Cobler Shake, and an extra Cook Out Hot Dog. The order was efficiently taken and charged and then I moved in front of a window on the side to wait to be called to receive my order. After having my order, I picked a table and went to sit down. Even though the size of the burger was not too big, the bun was fresh and soft, and the beef patty was also very fresh. Later I found out that they make their own meat patties from fresh ground beef daily and distribute them to the restaurant. They are never frozen. The quality of the food and reasonably low price seem to be the key to attracting loyal customers. Watching the happy customers coming in as I was eating, made me think back of my childhood, and how much I would enjoy eating an inexpensive hot dog or hamburger at a cook out. It doesn't take an expensive restaurant or food to have an amazing dining experience. The four onion rings served were also were enough, considering the price. The Peach Cobler was very good but too thick to drink with a straw. I got a spoon and ate it like an ice cream with the spoon. At the end, I enjoyed my dinner, was relatively full, and spent very little money having quality food. And I discovered the secret to all the happy return customers that keep frequenting this restaurant. So for all of the above reasons, I recommend this place. After all, everyone loves a good cook out.

Stopped at Cookout in Roanoke va and ordered a sandwich and onion rings and 2 waters. After I got…read morethe food I found out we were charged for sodas. They said they had no way to add just water. But they charged me and did not tell me. That is not very good customer service. We will not go back to another Cookout.

Miserable McCrispy, didn't give me any straws, and they were out of what I ordered. Disappointing.read more

probably most frustrating experience of my life took 30 minutes just to get my food. To which they…read moretried to tell me the order was canceled and then did something after I showed the totals they were talking about were different and everyone had an attitude quite ridiculous spent my whole lunch trying to get the food that I'm not even gonna have time to eat now

If you're in the mood for some fried chicken, this Zaxby's is one of the best fast food restaurants…read morein Roanoke. My wife and I DoorDash regularly, and this location is consistently one of our favorite places to pick up from. The staff is always friendly, professional, and respectful. More importantly, delivery drivers are acknowledged and treated like valued partners instead of an inconvenience. From management down to the frontline employees, customer service here is outstanding. Orders are usually ready on time, communication is great, and even when they're busy, the staff does a great job keeping things moving. The food is also consistently fresh, hot, and made correctly. Whether you're ordering chicken fingers, wings, sandwiches, fries, or Texas toast, the quality is always solid. In a time when good customer service seems harder and harder to find, this location continues to stand out. The restaurant is clean, the employees work hard, and the overall experience is always positive. This is exactly how a fast food restaurant should be run. Great food, great people, and excellent customer service. Highly recommended!

When I arrived at Zaxbys for an early dinner I had no idea how it would be. All I had seen had been…read moretheir commercials on TV, but this would be the first time that I actually would be visiting and eating there. From the outside, the restaurant's building looked clean and inviting. Cars already were driving up to the drive through window and putting in their orders. And a few people were dining inside as well. I noticed that the windows and the glass door were very clean, and this fact gave a nice first impression of the restaurant. Once inside, I noticed the cleanliness of the place and contemporary, comfortable furniture: booths as well as tables and chairs. The color combination of gold and black made the place look elegant yet relaxed. The decor was minimalist with a wide screen color TV and a few signs decorating the walls, and a nice lighting treatment that came down from the black ceiling above. When I arrived to the ordering counter, I noticed all the employees were working very motivated and with a purpose, all doing their assigned duties enthusiastically. A young lady up front greeted and welcomed me with a smile and seemed very happy to hear that this was my first time here. She gave me some time to review the menu that was placed where all fast food restaurants have them. I ordered the Zaxseas Surf & Turf combo, and a Chocolate Chip Cookie for dessert. The order was efficiently taken and I paid with my credit card. It contained 3 Chicken Fingerz, 8 Shrimp with Zaxtail sauce, Texas Toast, Crinkkle fries, and a small drink of Dr. Pepper. Everything in the order came out so fresh and hot. The Chicken Fingerz were crunchy in the outside and juicy and tender in the inside. Same with the Shrimp. The Fries were also very well fried and freshly served. And the sauces were amazingly delicious. As I was leaving, I saw who seemed to be the manager seated at a table interviewing a young lady. I didn't want to interrupt, otherwise I would have told him how well he was running this restaurant. I just had an amazing dining experience here and this was only my first time. I highly recommend this place and am looking forward to coming back soon in the near future.

The first thing that attracted me to this Shack was the graphic design of its logo. It was simple,…read moreyet very effective, to communicate what this place was all about. Yet never in my wildest dream would I have imagined that it was designed by a kid, the nephew of the owner. 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 Subshack in Salem, Virginia, is the perfect example. After arriving to this Sub Shop located in a small strip mall in the middle of nowhere, in Salem, Virginia, the friendly owner of the place, who has a wonderful personality, gave me a warm welcome and immediately, in a nutshell, told me the story of how this place came to be. Born and raised in New York and having lived for many years in North Carolina, the opportunity of opening up this business here in Salem, Virginia came up and he literally went for it. And aren't we lucky he did because it is an ingenious little Sub Shop, a product of two persons who let their imagination run wild and then worked hard to see their dream of owning a little restaurant come true. And don't be confused by its name, it simply means a small place where large Subs are made for people to savor and enjoy. Thus we have: the "SUBSHACK." This restaurant is mostly for orders To-Go, yet outdoor, in front, it has a picnic table, for customers who would enjoy eating there during the warm Seasons of the year. They bake their own Sub bread in-house daily, and also have daily Specials. Today's Special was: "BUY ANY LARGE SUB GET A FREE DRINK & CHIPS." So I ordered their large Italian Sub. The Sub bread was gigantic and their Deli meats were also quality and huge. On top of this there was a large list of ingredients you could add to the Sub. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review and see for yourselves. Besides Hot and Cold Subs, they also serve Paninis, Desserts, and Milkshakes and Smoothies. I can't wait to return and try their Cuban Panini. In conclusion I definitely recommend this Sub place as a very unique place if you're looking for good food, prepared in a welcoming and friendly environment, by a warm and kindhearted individual.

Excellent service and freshly prepared food tucked back into a small area off of Apperson. I was…read morereally impressed with their attention to detail and food quality. I will be back again. Highly recommended!

fries no seasoning. made my friend cry. everything else is good and yummy & good service !!!read more

I did the drive thru, ordered Bacon,Egg, & Cheese Biscuit. I was told $5.25 at the first window. At…read morethat window I asked if it was the special advertisement from TV. She had to check, okay she comes back, yes it is. My total now is $5.60. Why? Tax. So I paid the amount. Sixty cents on a $5.00 purchase seems high to me.

There are so many Sub restaurants out there, weather they be independent businesses or chains…read more Today I decided to try out the Firehouse Subs located at the Towers Shopping Center in Roanoke, Virginia. Before entering this restaurant I reflected on "What is the main mission of a restaurant?" I concluded that It is "To serve great food, in a casual, relaxed environment by friendly and knowledgeable people at a fair price." As I entered the restaurant, I noticed how clean and organized it was and how besides the food, the decor focus was on local firefighters with framed photographs all around the restaurant and a large artwork reflecting on the Hotel Roanoke Fire on July 1st 1898. The menu was displayed in a large sign on the wall behind and on the counter, explaining the steps to go about in ordering your food here, and very well illustrated: Choose your bread. Choose your size. Hot Specialty Subs. Build your own Sub. Salads. Sides. Make it a Combo. Kids' Combos. Extras. Just as I was feeling comfortable with the easy ordering process and with the appetizing selection of Subs, I am warmly greeted by whom seems to be the manager of the restaurant and who takes my order. I ended up ordering the Firehouse Steak & Cheese, with white bread, in the large size; and finshed making it a Combo. I was ringed up and paid with a credit card. Then giving a cup and went to get my soft drink as one of the employees prepared my Sub with my instructions on what I wanted on it. The soft drink machine was modern and very impressive. One could chose a particular brand drink or make it a combination of brands.. The only other restaurant that I had ever seen a soft drink machine as this one was at Moe's Southwest Grill. I ended up making an Iced Cherry Dr. Pepper. When my Sub was ready, I was called to the counter to get my Sub which was placed on a paper over a red tray, and asked to pick up my Chips side from the shelves in front of the counter. The first thing I noticed was how fresh and soft the bread was, the reasonable amount of meat inside, and the quality melted cheese. As I was eating, a friend of my entered the restaurant, made his order. And joined me at my table. He also was very impressed with the quality of his Medium Italian Sub. What an amazing Sub dining experience. Right then and there I looked forward to returning to try out another of the Subs from their menu. I highly recommend this place and can assure you won't be disappointed by doing so. On the contrary, you will probably make this restaurant one of your favorites, just as I did.

Awhile back I ordered a tuna sub, and it was pretty good, so I had no complaints. This time it was…read morea different story. I ordered an Italian sub. The lady at the register wanted to know if that was with "everything". I said okay. The problem is that unlike other sub shops, you can't see them putting the sub together; the preparation area is blocked by a high countertop. When I got the sub home I found it had a ton of mayonnaise. Ack!! A true Italian sub is NOT made with mayo, but with oil and hot peppers, red pepper flakes, etc. Next time I'll return to Jersey Mike's, where they know how to make an Italian sub. The service was okay only because the lady at the register was very sweet. The other two were hard-working but not friendly at all. I will not return because there are better sub shops in the area.