It is said that valuable things come in small boxes, but never in my wildest imagination did I…read moreconceive of a place like Stellina. 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 uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Stellina, in Downtown Roanoke, is a perfect example. Stellina (which means "Little Star" in Italian) is a secretly hidden little bar within the very popular Italian Restaurant Fortunato, but with its own entrance through a door on the right of the restaurant. Its only indication of its name is a small letter board behind one of its front windows, stating its name and hours of operation. This bar was constructed with reclaimed wood from the Old Crow distillery and opened in December of 2016. Since then its gain a reputation as the ideal spot for hand-crafted cocktails in a cozy and intimate atmosphere. It seats only about 20 people, with 7 at the bar. Not that long ago it gained recognition by being featured in the New York Post as one of the world's best small bars. All that I can tell you about this place doesn't do justice to the experience of visiting the place for the very first time. After stepping inside, I was mesmerized by the simple yet effective, elegance of the establishment, complimented by the beautifully dressed young lady, server/bartender. Her elegant style and mysterious personality contributed to the character and ambiance of this one-of-a-kind relaxing place. The very hospitable young lady welcomed me and handed me the drink menu, while asking me if I also planned to dine there. I answered in the affirmative and asked her if they had any Mocktails. To my surprise, she pointed out that one side of the Drinks Menu were all non-alcoholic drinks, including mocktails, bottled mocktails, wine by the glass, and beers. I ordered one of the mocktails and by the end of my meal, I think I must have tried a few. She then brought me Fortunato's menu, and I ordered the Fritto Misto as appetizer and the Pork Milanese as my main entrée. I enjoyed both course immensely. A lady employee brought me the food from Fortunato's Restaurant through a door that led to the restroom area of Fortunato's Restaurant, pass the kitchen. For dessert, that Which I consider the "Grand Finale" of a wonderful fine dining experience, I ordered their Tiramisu and Hot Chocolate. They were absolutely mouthwatering. I highly recommend this place and can't wait to return in the near future.

Tried to get reservations at Fortuna, but could not. Stellina offers their menu and is right beside…read morethem. Stellina is small and on a Friday they were packed in. Scored at the bar which worked fine for me. Service was lukewarm, but still ok. Service started out slow and improved. However, no check-ins were performed at all. I was given a cocktail and food menu. I knew I wanted an Old Fashioned and dropped an order for their lamb meatballs. Shortly after I decided on the eggplant Parmesan main. My drink with Rittenhouse Rye bourbon was tasty, just not much of it price at $17 steep too! I also ordered a specialty hot rum drink with pumpkin spice at $10 that was amazing! The meatballs hit quickly and were devoured! So yummy! About 15 minutes later the main dropped and was huge! Really quality and flavorful for a vegetarian dish. Overall the food was better than the service and prices were stretched. 3.5 rounding down due to service.

Great selection of unique craft beers. I was specifically looking from Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher,…read morewhich they had in stock and ended up also getting a create your own 6 pack for $11! Same price as most grocery stores but a much better selection! The only negative is that the are only open the same hours as Rivermont Pizza.

I travel for work...alot. And when I travel, I like to try different beers. Well, who wouldn't,…read moreright? So I punched up 'beer stores' on Yelp, and I found Ned's. This is a great little place. A lot of selection considering there's not a lot of room, tucked away in the back of a pizza restaurant. However, what they lack in size they make up for in variety. Not many places carry Lagunitas 'Sucks', but Ned's does. They even have a beer suggestion box, where you can write down what you like them to carry. No promises That they can actually get it, but at least they ask. Local beers, beers from afar kama beer some places you heard of, beers from places you've never heard of, beers from places where you wish you lived! Try Ned's. If you're not satisfied, well, there's no pleasing you.

This business used to be respectable, but since the owners stepped aside and new mechanic, they are…read morea scam shop. I took a vehicle there for a state inspection, but to first look at a wheel that had an intermittent squeak. Without even removing the wheel the diagnosis was a dragging caliper, an excessive repair charge (not paid) and a fail sticker for the inspection. After the taking the vehicle to a different repair shop the only issue was an imbalance in the pads and still with specs. Don't trust this shop for any reason.

Been using Forest Brook for years. Never once have they steered me wrong. Super friendly staff…read more Super honest. Great pricing. They keep track of all warranties and have reminded me when previous work was done and that I still had a warranty on the part. They have saved me tons of money. I have used them from simple oil changes to major engine repairs, and have been very happy with every interaction. I have recommended Forest Brook to all my local family members, and they have become our go to mechanics.

I've been coming to this restaurant since it first opened and it's the most consistently amazing…read moreThai food I've ever had. I'm from Roanoke and this used to be a weekly staple for our family but now we live in richmond and there is nothing that compares to city corner 2 (we've tried at least 6 different main stream Thai places and nothing matches it). We love this restaurant so much that I try to stop in and eat it when I'm back in town visiting family which is what brought me and my kids here today. Don't let the appearance of this restaurant fool you, some of the best food I've eaten has been at hole in the wall spots, city corner inclusive. Staff is incredibly friendly and attentive and never leave you hanging too long. Prices are phenomenal (one of the few restaurants left with pre-Covid-ish prices). If you haven't eaten here, it's time. It's really amazing that roanoke is so lucky to have this place here! (Also, if you aren't sure what to order, pad ka paow with ground pork is awesome, I literally can't find this dish the way it's made at city corner anywhere else, if you're sensitive to spicy you may want to ask for a milder spice level)

Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed that my first Thai food experience in the area didn't come…read moreclose to the quality of Thai cuisine I'm accustomed to. The service was good, and since we arrived around 4 PM, the restaurant was very quiet and not crowded. However, the food fell short of expectations, and unfortunately, I wouldn't be able to recommend this restaurant based on my experience. We started with the dumplings, which were gummy and not properly seared. The texture was unpleasant, and after trying one, I couldn't continue eating them. For my main course, the vegetables had an unusual flavor, and the noodles were heavily drenched in oil, making the dish difficult to enjoy. I wasn't able to finish it. My partner ordered the duck (no photo available), and while the presentation was nice, he found the texture overly chewy. He ended up pouring extra sauce over the dish just to finish it. On a positive note, both the Thai tea and Thai green tea were very enjoyable. We even ordered refills, which are offered at half price--a nice touch and probably the highlight of our visit. Overall, while the service, ambiance, and beverages were good, the food quality did not meet our expectations.

Just the other day as I was driving down Brambleton Ave, Southwest Roanoke, on my way to Brambleton…read moreImports to have my Lexus washed, after having experienced a snow and ice storm, I happened to pass by this lively color food truck with the name of The Rad Shack Shaved Ice. Then and there, I decided to stop and visit it on my way back. 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 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 The Rad Shack Shaved Ice in Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example. Established in 2023, by Sean W, who also teaches Church History at a Christian school, this veteran-owned food truck specializes in rad hot dogs and shaved ice. Sean and his wife started the business because they value the simpler times in life. Their vision was that "people would make memories by sitting back and relaxing without the cares of the world." And I had an opportunity to experience this first hand, when I stopped by and visited the place. Sean's welcoming and hospitable personality immediately made me feel at home there. He explained the menu, and I would have liked to order one of their Rad Chili Dogs, if it were not that I just had lunch not so long ago, and a Shaved Ice served as a dessert. I ended up having a medium Mango Shaved Ice with vanilla ice-cream, melted marshmallows, and sprinkles. By having it this way, they call it: "Making It A Rad Stack." I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and the quality food and shaved ice. As I was enjoying my shaved ice, a friend of the owner ordered a Rad Chili Hot Dog and it looked so good. Next time I'll have one. While there, I also had the opportunity of meeting Sean's wife and learning about their favorite hobby of running, and his enjoyment of teaching Church History. I've eaten at many food trucks before, but I consider this one special, because it's one where you not only enjoy some quality shave ice or rag hot dogs, but hang out and enjoy some quality time with the owner, family, or close friends.

Wonderful Business. Best Shaved Ice, and so many flavors. Owner is nice and friendly, outgoing…read more We like the coffee shaved Ice with ice cream in the center. My partner will try the hotdogs soon. I highly recommend you try them. Every flavor shaved ice under the sun. With whipped cream, and or ice cream added if you choose. Made my day when I was trapped at a tire place for almost three hours. Go try them! Business is located in Fishburn park, so plenty of parking. Picnic bench outside.

Little Green Hive is a woman-owned and family-operated coffee shop with multiple locations in…read moreDowntown Roanoke, Grandin Village, and its newest location in Daleville Town Center. A short while ago I had the privilege of reviewing its first location, in Downtown Roanoke, the largest establishment in Crafteria: Handmade Food and Goods, almost in the corner of S Jefferson Street and Church Avenue. Today I decided to visit the Little Green Hive in Grandin Village, located on Grandin Road in the heart of Grandin Village, right next to the 7-11 there. It shares the same entrance to the building where Rockfish Food and Wine Restaurant is located. After you enter a small foyer, the door on the right takes you to this Historic Grandin Village Coffee Shop, that serves Coffee, Smoothies, Smoothie Bowls, Fresh Juices, Breakfast Burritos & Bagels, and fresh pastries such as Fresh-baked Scones, Muffins, Cinnamon Rolls, and Large Chocolate Chip Cookies. When I entered through the white french door that led to this Coffee Shop located in a small yet very cozy space of a Victorian building with beautiful original hardwood floors and a lovely wide window with a long counter table and high chairs facing out the window looking out towards the sidewalk, I was simply amazed at how well by using different color paints for the walls, a white furniture counter, blackboards with color chalk menus, and contemporary yet comfortable furniture, they have created a cozy and inviting space, very appropriate to contribute to the dining experience itself. At the ordering counter, a gentleman employee warmly greeted and welcomed me with a smile. Then he took my breakfast order. I ordered a Bacon, Egg and Cheese on a plain Bagel Sandwich, a large Caffè Mocha, and one of their famous Cinnamon Roll, which by the way I had seen how they make them from scratch when I visited their Downtown Roanoke store. Another of their employee, a young lady, was the one who prepared the items ordered and the would place them on the pick-up table when ready and call the name of the items to be picked up and taken by the customer to their table. As I sat down waiting for my food to be ready. I noticed the positive chemistry emanating from the other customers there. A few young ladies who looked like friends were having breakfast and chatting at the window counter. An midage gentleman was seated in one of the relaxed and comfortable, leather chairs up front and listening to his music while he enjoyed his coffee. An older wise gentleman was serving as a mentor to a younger what looked like college student. And a group of four older but graceful and energetic ladies just arrived and were seated down at a table getting ready to have a pleasant breakfast meeting, while enjoying their coffee and breakfast treats. This restaurant was serving the community well. I could feel it in the air. While on its walls, there were artworks from a local artist hanging with a name and price tag and information on the artist with a QR code to the Artist's website and instructions on how to buy these and other of her works of art. While all this was happening I had already picked up my breakfast and was enjoying it at my table. Needless to say that everything tasted delicious. From my Mocha Coffee that had just the right flavor, to the Bagel Breakfast Sandwich which was fresh and soft with fresh ingredients, to the Cinnamon that was so sweet. I invite the readers of this review to also look at my photographs and video-clip accompanying the review to better appreciate this place and its food. And I highly recommend that you stop by and try it. For I can assure you that when you do, you are up for a one of a kind Coffee Shop dining experience.

The coffee was unexpectedly good. Not very many coffee shops to choose from so wasn't expecting…read moremuch, but the Americano had a nice roasted flavor. It was bold without being sour or bitter. Also ordered a sausage, egg and cheese burrito and a chocolate chip cookie. Again, the burrito surprised me and tasted better than it looked. Based on the appearance, it looked like it would be pretty basic and bland. But the eggs were soft and creamy, not dry or over cooked at all. The cookie was good as well. The cafe is a decent size, wide and open. There are tables on one side of the cafe and sofa seating on another side. We sat at a big elevated table with bar chairs that looked out of the cafe. Service was friendly enough. Would visit again for coffee and light bites again.

Came in on an early Sunday afternoon. Not many people, yet. The waitress was quick with menus and…read moredrinks. Wife had a flatbread, her favorite, and I had chicken parmigiana. It was all quite nice. I was glad we came in when we did. I was getting busier by the time we left. Great atmosphere and great food. Perfect. Definitely another "go to", for our list of nice restaurants in Roanoke.

07/01-Levels of tv so loud we couldn't hear the persons next to us talking at our table…read more Soccer is a visual game and the noise levels were extreme. Several patrons asked management to turn volume down- they said no. Food was ok.

Really good cold brew and fantastic quiche! I was disappointed that they didn't have any breakfast…read moresandwiches but the flavor of the quiche Lorraine definitely made up for it!

Disappointing coffee. We visited Baine's Books and Coffee, and it was about a third full. I ordered…read morethe toffee latte. It took about 25 minutes to come out. The drink was poor and tasted burnt. I realize it's the coffee shop in Scottsville, but Baine's Books and Coffee could use some competition.