This year I chose this restaurant above all others to celebrate my birthday, and I wasn't…read moredisappointed. It highly went beyond the highest of my expectations, and delivered an extraordinary dining experience. After making an appointment for five o'clock and mentioning that I would be celebrating my birthday there on that day, I wondered how it would be, for everytime I have dined there, their attention to detail has been superb, and their cuisine has been exquisite. The day finally arrived and I was standing by the door at five minutes to the hour. Inside I could see through their large front windows the movement of all the staff getting ready for the opening of the restaurant. At exactly five o'clock, the hostess approached and opened the door for me to enter. She warmly greeted me and apologized for not being able to give me the table I requested because they needed it to unite with other tables for a large group they would be having. But they had prepared another one in front of the open kitchen for me, where I would be able to observe the Chef and other cooks preparing my food. It was definitely to my satisfaction, and when she took me there I was very impressed with the small detail on the table of a Happy Birthday card from the restaurant signed by everyone there and suspended by a little stand. Things like that are priceless in my eyes. Shortly afterwards, my friendly and efficient server Ivy, came by, wished me a Happy Birthday and took my order. To drink I had my favorite Mocktail there, the Butterfly Kisses. As appetizer I ordered the Oyster Wraps. And for my main entrée, the Hanger Steak, my favorite item in their menu and that of all the other restaurants around the area. My server did an excellent job of bringing out my ordered items in a well-paced manner. I noticed the small but significant detail that the chef had of serving me a slightly larger amount of Hanger Steak than the usual, and this meant more to me than any of the other complimentary desserts which are given in most other restaurants on your birthday. The Hanger Steak was so delicious. 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. Also to read my former review where I explain what a Hanger Steak is all about. For the Grand Finale of my Birthday meal I had their Panna Cotta dessert deliver with a burning birthday candle on top, another wonderful detail that many restaurants leave out now-a-days yet is so meaningful to many of us. This was truly a memorable dining experience. One that I will always remember and cherish dearly.

While The River and Rail has many things going for it: great location, adorable atmosphere, fancy…read moreand delicious cocktails and delicious food, one thing they don't have going for them is their ability to stay true to their operating hours. My friend and I walked in at 9 o'clock EXACTLY on a Thursday night to have a drink. The sign on the door said they were open until 10:00. There were 4 or 5 tables seated, enjoying dinner and cocktails. 5 or 6 people at the bar. There was no one to start with at the actual hostess stand and servers saw us standing at the door but did not approach us even though there was an hour left on their operating time. So we walked directly to the bar and sat down. We had just eaten at Fork in the Alley so all we wanted was one drink and we figured an hour was plenty of time to get that done. The first thing the bartender said to us was "The kitchen is closed." Not "hello" or "Hey what can I get you?" but the kitchen is closed. I said "oh I'm sorry I thought you closed at 10:00." He said "well, that's up for debate we were actually discussing that right now. We're basically closed but you can have a drink because it's not like the rest of these people are going anywhere." What do you mean that's up for discussion? Your hours say you're open till 10 o'clock, it's 9 o'clock I have an hour to eat and have drinks! The other bartender, or perhaps he was only a bar back, gave us a very disapproving look. I get it, I work in the food service industry. I'm a server at a 4 diamond restaurant, and I hate when people walk in minutes before we close and want to sit down. But if we post that we're open until 10 and you walk in at 9:45 I'm going to serve you and treat you like anyone else that walked in at 6:00 because it's your tips that pay my bills and put food on my table. It's definitely not the hourly wage I get from my employer! And as a server I never walk into a restaurant with less than 30 minutes to close. And it's more like an hour if I'm looking to eat a meal. I know you want to go home. When it's the end of the night and I'm at work, so do I! But there's an hour left and I wanted one drink. That's it! We continued to get disappointed looks from a few other employees even though we weren't the last people in the place. I told my friend (it's 9:45 at this point) that we obviously need to go since servers are standing around looking at us like we've got the plague. We paid our bill and promptly left. Two couples still at the bar. It's 9:59 right now as I'm writing this at home (you're still technically open btw) but I left feeling like I had stayed hours past your closing time. It's a real shame because we really enjoyed our drinks! They were super yummy! And I'm always getting asked by guests where's a good place for a late night cocktail and I used to recommend The River and Rail right along with Lucky's because we had a shuttle that would take guests out, but after tonight I won't be doing that anymore. Because there's nothing worse than feeling unwelcome at a restaurant that is still open.

Friendly, what a cool spot to hang, and basil cheesy bread was outstanding? Ryan at the bar should…read morebe a concierge for Roanoke, he pointed out things to see and do during our visit and they were spot on.

We were seated outside. We sat there for twenty minutes and were never acknowledged by a server.read more

I have been to this place a wide variety of times, and every single time they have impressed me…read more It's beautiful inside, the staff are wonderful and accommodating. For the food, everything I've had has been a 10/10. My go to is a half order of the biscuits and gravy! It is always so flavorful, the biscuits are giant and fluffy. The gravy is seasoned perfectly. My second go to, as well as my girlfriend's is the hot honey fried chicken biscuit. Portion wise that thing is hugeee, most of the items are so they are absolutely worth what you pay! The chicken is so tender and crispy, breading is amazingly seasoned as well. This paired with the jezebel sauce is heaven on earth. I cannot express how much I love this place, their food is wonderful, their biscuits are massive, and their service is great. Only issue I've ever had was my delivery order never showing up (not their fault but the delivery drivers) and they immediately comped and replaced my meal. 100% recommend.

Love the seating area outside, dog friendly! Nice large biscuits- super hefty that'll keep you full…read morefor a long time. Wait wasn't too long. Nice variety on the menu for everyone, from breakfast tacos, plates, French toast to biscuit sandwiches. Loved it for a casual group breakfast.

we came here for lunch. The ambiance is cozy and upscale. Service was friendly and prompt. Food was…read moreamazing! Had sandwiches and the Frickles. Do not pass up a chance to eat here. Great place. Would eat here again when in town!

I have eaten at some of the best restaurants in the world, but in none have I had such a wonderful…read moredining 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!

We were in Roanoke for medical appointments. We wanted to…read moretry a local place rather than a chain. Lew's is a bar. The menu was typical for a bar. However, the execution was well above average. My husband had a blue cheeseburger with fries. The fries were exceptional. They are beer battered before frying. I had an individual pizza. The coffee was actually good and strong. The service was friendly and prompt.

He Said: Here's the thing, there is nothing wrong with the term "dive bar". In fact, if we see it…read morementioned in reviews, especially by someone who thinks it's a negative, we are making sure we visit. Lew's is awesome. Would some consider it a dive? Who cares, it's great! They have a nice selection of beers, though it certainly leans domestic. But with Get Bent on I'm a happy boy. Why, oh why, have we not been here before on our many trips to 5 Points? I don't have a good answer, but I can say we'll be back. Guaranteed. She Said: A locals bar with a dive-y feel is just our thing, and Lew's delivers on that. But here's the thing, the staff are fantastic and the food is quite good. I had a BLT and fries and I was content. Though if anyone is reading this from Lew's, I'll spread the Gospel of the Crinkle Cut Fries. They are the superior French fry and more restaurants should have them! Potty Points: 3/5 potty points. Clean enough and no wait. What more does a girl need?!

I cannot believe I have not written a review for this place when I go literally every week. Show…read morePony is such an amazing addition to the Roanoke area. Every Monday they have $2 oysters which always makes it worth going. The drinks here are AMAZING!!! it's so unique and so delicious! I enjoy that the food menu will have rotating items on top of permanent items. I cannot recommend the chicken tenders more. Everyone who works there is always nice and welcoming.

Very loud. Hard to hold a conversation. Food was good the first time around. They changed their…read moremenu the second time we arrived so I was disappointed when they didn't have the item I ordered the last time and there wasn't much to my liking.

Was able to order a cake for my dad's birthday in advance on the website that was super quick and…read moreeasy to use. It might be my favorite cake I've ever had! The perfect density and the ganache is so rich and flavorful.

Went with my daughter, who I was visting! Walked a bit to get some pastries and immediately was…read moretargeted with slurs and racist remarks. Don't know if it was my hat or shirt that set them off. Regardless, horrible people working at this miserable establishment!

So it was a very nice Sunday morning in Roanoke. Nice fall type weather and four big hungry dudes…read more One of us had seen some good reviews for Hatch. We were going to be ready at about ten o'clock and they opened at ten o'clock. We were worried there might be a line but happened to be the first table. They sat us in a nice both and the room was well lit. Music was kind of all over the place. Our waitress was Aubrey and she rocked. She answered our menu questions. She kept our drinks full and we all ate until we were full. The food was good not great. We got a big breakfast platter. All four of us. It was a lot of food. The waffle was really good. The eggs were bland but Texas Pete helped that. The potatoes were dry, Pete from Texas helped that too. They had a chicken on a gravy biscuit. The chicken was good but not nearly enough gravy. The Busch it was dry and crumbled and was disappointing.

I stopped in for lunch while I was in town for training and had high hopes based on the menu. I…read moreordered the fried green tomatoes and the creamy salmon with mashed sweet potatoes and hush puppies. Unfortunately, the food was disappointing. The fried green tomatoes and hush puppies were overcooked to the point that they were barely edible. While the salmon had a nice flavor, it was also overcooked. The mashed sweet potatoes had powdered sugar added, which made them much sweeter than expected and overpowered the natural flavor. The bright spot of the experience was the service. The servers were incredibly sweet, attentive, and made sure I had everything I needed. I truly appreciated their hospitality. I hope the kitchen can improve its consistency because the staff certainly deserves better food to serve.

First time trying Lucky and I'd give it a 4.5 rounded up to a 5. The menu is local farm based so it…read morechanges seasonally and is a bit limited. I was disappointed because I was hoping to try a soup or scallops I'd seen in Yelp pics but they weren't in the menu this time. Which is the roll of the dice you pay for fresh creative menus. Dining area and bar have a nice vibe with attractive art work. Dim lighting and smaller tables make it cute for a date or a solo business diner like myself. The lucky cube drink was creative and tasty. Brussel sprouts were also unique with a tahini sauce on top and perfectly crispy chickpeas. I'd seen "Smoke in Chimneys Trout" on a few menus in Roanoke this trip but never heard of that before. Looked it up and learned something new. They are trout that are local and prized for living in a lime stone aquifer rather than a river. Giving them a clean light slightly sweet taste, no essence of mud that can come with other river fish. I've never ordered trout in a restaurant, But when in Rome... Lol. The fish itself and the portion was really good. Wish I could remember my waitress' name. She was knowledgeable and just had a really warm, friendly energy.

I came in for the fried chicken because other reviews were very positive .. the coating was v…read morecrunchy , plus , however it was really burnt ! Ir was really over cooked ; plus had little flavor . Needs a little salt and pepper .... Better chicken at Popeyes or Bojangles .. Mashed potatoes were excellent . I wa not impressed with the Kale and still think there may be fatback in it ... even though the server swore there was no pork on the dish .. anyway you can try for yourself .. maybe I just came on an off night . My server was very nice ( Alyssa ) BTW.

The Regency Room at Hotel Roanoke, fine-dining at its best. Experience an opulent setting,…read moresophisticated ambiance, exquisite flavors, and refined service. 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 The Regency Room in Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example. Hidden in one of the most magestic rooms of the historic Hotel Roanoke, The Regency Room is more than just a restaurant, it is a memorable fine-dining experience like none other. And once you experience it for the first time, you'll always want to return. In my case I made that come back this evening after making my reservation through OpenTable requesting my usual table. As a member of The Dogwood Club, they always honor my request whenever possible. If I would have brought my pearl white Lexus Luxury Edition I would have also had complimentary valet parking with the restaurant validation. But I preferred to leave my car at home and have a Lift drive me there. When I arrived, the long-standing Maitre d, Lowell, welcomed me with their signature AAA Four Diamond hospitality. I was so happy to see him, for in his position he sets the hospitable tone of the restaurant with his attention to detail and desire to make the dining experience of all guests a memorable one. He not only had my usual table setup for me, but also had the new chef de cuisine, Wells Selbe, come out to greet me. Growing up in the Roanoke area and trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, I was really looking forward to tasting his menu focus. I had read that he blended classical techniques with Appalachian flavors, local ingredients, and foraged items from his family's Franklin County family. Brittany, one of my favorites servers there and whom I had during my first visit, was my server and did an excellent job in explaining the new menu and dining events. She brought me fresh bread with whipped butter, a sign of a great restaurant. She help me choose The Summer Belle Mocktail. She also brought me a small bowl of She Crab Soup that was delicious. She then surprised me with an Amuse Bouche. To dine I started with the Stuff Squid a la Provencal. And for the main entrée, The Dry Aged Filet Mignon Au Poivre. Everything was amazingly delicious. And the Jazz live music playing in the background added to the the enjoyment of the dining experience. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to see the gastronomic masterpieces. For dessert I had a special dessert that the chef de cuisine made for me and brought out, explaining all the items it was made with. In conclusion, once again I had an extraordinary dining experience here today, and I highly recommend this restaurant for a fine-dining experience above all others.

I've been to the Regency room several times but never for Sunday brunch. To be honest I wasn't…read morevery satisfied. It was a normal hotel morning breakfast. Nothing spectacular and no imagination at all. Very overpriced for such a bland breakfast $40 a person. It was all buffet style. Service was not the best, had to ask for water multiple times, and the dirty dishes were taking up most of the table. We had to start stacking them. We had a table of four people so it was quite annoying. At one point our server said a large table was coming in after us and was about to be seated so he needed to take care of them before he could ask us our drink order. We had already eaten more than half our food before we ordered our drinks. There was plenty of parking cost $6 for up to two hours. Bathrooms and lobby were beautiful and very clean. I think I will stick to night time dining. At least i can check the Regency Sunday Brunch off my brunch list.