When I first reviewed this Downtown Roanoke Restaurant, I focused on their drinks and food. But…read morethis time around I couldn't help it to discover why this place is the center of Roanoke's night life. 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 it would be appropriate this year to go back to this restaurant and write a follow-up review, since my initial review was one of my reviews that contributed to me obtaining this highly esteemed Award. I arrived on a Thursday evening with a 6:15pm reservation which I'm glad I had made because later I found out that this place gets to be a full house on Thursdays. A young lady host greeted and welcomed me at the Host's station as soon as I arrived. She checked my reservation and had my table all ready for me. Located in the middle of this very popular Restaurant Bar, gave me a nice view of the entire place, and with a light high above I had a perfect lighting to photograph my drink and food as part of my review of the place. My server Jillian arrived soon after I was seated. She had a wonderful personality and welcomed me with a friendly smile and very pleasant attitude. After answering me some questions about their Mocktails, I ended up ordering their Raspberry Burro. For dinner I ordered their BBQ Bacon Chicken Kababs with a side of their special fries and a salad. While I was waiting for my food to arrive I observed the place quickly filling up and I found out that tonight was Music Bingo and Live Music at 9:30pm with no cover charge. It brought me back to my college days in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts, where the night life was a thing to look forward to. Suddenly I discovered the key of Martin's popularity and the important role it plays in contributing to making the City of Roanoke a Star City indeed. I enjoyed my drink and the Chicken Kababs with the side of special fries were amazingly delicious, as well as the salad. They have a good variety of quality items on their menu and their chefs amazingly deliver. I invite you to read my first review where I celebrate their Cuban Sandwich and Slaw, and view my photographs that accompany my review. What a night. Besides the food, I enjoyed playing the Music Bingo, which one of the card titles was The 1970's. One of the best years of my life, when I attended High School in San Juan, Puerto Rico and College in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts. During that time I also won a Saltwater Fishing Tournament at the young age of 17 by catching a 405 pound Blue Marlin off the coast of Isla Verde, Puerto Rico. It was the best of times for me. My server Jillian provided exceptional customer service, checking on me at the appropriate times. For dessert I ordered their Glazed Doughnut Bread Pudding, and it was so good, I can't wait to return to have it again. What an extraordinary dining experience I had that night. I highly recommend this restaurant and bar for when you feel like having a good time, alone or with family and good friends. I promise you will be able to sabor what a Five Star review is all about, and experience for yourselves why Martin's is one of the City of Roanoke's most precious gems.

I was told to check this place out while I was in town. When I arrived they had a trivia contest…read moregoing on, I didn't participate but sounded like fun. The service was good. Sat at the bar and had a burger which was pretty good.

When you're in the mood for a nicely crafted cocktail, Twisted Liquid has that panache that you're…read morelooking for in a cocktail bar. They have the smoke and the foam and the cool-looking, Instagram-worthy drinks. Don't get it twisted, though: Twisted Liquid ain't cheap! But you're paying for professional bartenders creating creative beverages. You want to come here to impress a date, not get buzzed on Michelob Ultras. I visited strictly for a drink, so I didn't check out their food menu. But apparently, they do serve food here, mostly starters, snacks and small plates, but also a few mains. My love for gin is never-ending, much like my love for Lewis Carroll and Alice in Wonderland, so when I saw a drink called Painting the Roses Red, you know that's the one that I got. It is a white tea-infused gin with elderflower liqueur, Pinot Gris, lemon juice and rose water. A little ice rose came floating in the drink. It was so pretty, and pretty potent! I like when my adult drinks actually have alcohol in them, and mine certainly did. Our bartender was lovely and knew how to make a lot of drinks with a little flair for each one. I came with a group, and we all sat at the bar and had a wonderful time.

I wanted to share feedback regarding our recent dining experience to celebrate my son's graduation…read morewith family and friends as it was unfortunately very disappointing -- especially considering the price point and expectations presented for your restaurant and event reservations. First, the menu was extremely limited for both food and drinks. While the cocktails were enjoyable, the food quality and portions did not come close to justifying the $300+ we spent. We ordered the shrimp and wagyu skewers expecting thoughtfully prepared dishes. Instead, the shrimp appeared comparable to pre-made shrimp cocktail shrimp placed on a stick rather than freshly grilled seafood. The wagyu skewer lacked the quality and presentation expected from a fine dining establishment and honestly tasted more like beef stroganoff without noodles. I also ordered the lobster bisque, which was served lukewarm and tasted as though it came from a can. The Caesar salad with smoked trout was acceptable, but the trout resembled salmon more than smoked trout, and the dressing tasted bottled rather than house-made. What made the experience more frustrating was the lack of transparency regarding the menu prior to the event reservation. For a restaurant that strictly enforces reservations and cancellation fees, customers reasonably expect a much higher level of quality, preparation, and overall dining experience. Our server was kind, attentive, and did their best throughout the evening, so I truly appreciate their effort. However, much of the remaining staff appeared stressed, overwhelmed, and unwelcoming, which added to the uncomfortable atmosphere. Overall, the experience felt far from the fine dining experience being advertised. The drinks were honestly the only standout part of the evening. I also have to mention that the food we received looked nothing like the photos posted online and in Google reviews. It genuinely made us wonder if there was an issue in the kitchen this evening, because the quality and execution were nowhere near what was being represented publicly. I sincerely hope this feedback is taken constructively because there is a significant disconnect between the pricing, expectations, and actual dining experience being delivered.

Good food and a wonderful bartender! It's always friendly and comforting! Clean and service…read moreoriented to patrons without a lot of frivolity.

Stayed at Holiday Inn and with the weather, I didn't want to venture out. I'm glad I didn't. The…read morebartender was fantastic and has been there for 15+ yrs. The crab cakes were fantastic. I repeat, the crab cakes were fantastic. I'm picky when it comes to crab cakes and I was blown away by the entree!

Stopped by Table 50 with a coworker and had a really enjoyable experience. We started with a couple…read moreof appetizers, and they were excellen and a great way to kick off the meal. The entrées were right on par with some unique dishes. One of the biggest highlights was the bar. They have a fantastic bourbon and cocktail selection, and the atmosphere around the bar was even better than the dining room. It had a lively, comfortable vibe that made the whole experience even better. Overall, we really enjoyed our visit and would definitely come back.

Since a few years ago I've been celebrating my Birthday's Eve by dining at one of my favorite…read morerestaurants. This year I happened to go to Table 50, located on Market Street in the heart of Downtown Roanoke. Table 50 is one of those fine-dining restaurants in all the sense of the word. It is known for its upscale, progressive American cuisine that uses locally sourced ingredients from the nearby farmers' market. It offers an elegant atmosphere with features like copper tables and brick walls. Exquisite food like filet mignon. And exceptional customer service. After making my reservation through the OpenTable app, I showed up the following day right on time. A young lady hostess greeted me at the Host's station and after confirming my reservation took me to my table at a corner of the restaurant. My eloquent server Trent came by soon after to give me a warm welcome and take my drink order. I asked him to see if the bartender could make me a Pina Colada Mocktail. When he brought me the Mocktail, he took my food order. As a starter, I ordered the Seared Jumbo Sea Scallops served with a Parmigiano-Reggiano & Brandy Cream Sauce. Followed by a Mixed Green House Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing. And as my main course the Bienville Filet, a Certified Angus Beef 8oz Filet Mignon served with Fried Shrimps, Asparagus, Mashed Potatoes, and a New Orleans style parmesan cream sauce. My server then went to place the order and came back with a rectangular shape plate filled with a sliced baguette and little bowl of whipped butter. I always say that the quality of a restaurant's bread and water is an indication of the quality of its cuisine. My server did an exceptional job at bringing out all my items at the proper pace. And all was amazingly delicious. For the Grand Finale dessert, I asked for the Chocolate Mousse Torte. This is one of my favorites desserts out of all the restaurants around. My server brought it out on.a white plate with the words Happy Birthday written with a chocolate dip. It was delicious, even though this year they didn't include a candle on top. As if this wasn't enough, after paying and going to the restroom to wash my hands, as I was headed towards the door, my server runs by me and opens the door, thanking me for my visit on this special occasion and wishing that I come back soon. What a way to end an outstanding dining experience!

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.

I love this place their wings are phenomenal I've had just about everything except for the wrap…read more My son got one though he really liked it. chicken buffalo it was stuffed. It looked really good. I'm gonna get one next time. I always get the wings. It's convenient right up the road. You can go in and eat or take it home.

This is the local restaurant everyone wants in their neighborhood. It is comfortable, welcoming,…read moreand the food is delicious. The menu is a diverse selection of American pub fare, all at reasonable prices. This was our first time visiting and the staff made us feel like we were old friends, stopping by. We had plans to go out to an expensive restaurant in Roanoke and we're canceling them so we can return to the Mill Iron Grill.

Rarely have I walked into a restaurant and felt so good about it, as I did when I discovered this…read morecasual American restaurant known for its hearty meals, friendly atmosphere, and affordability. After being awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, celebrating their contributions and accomplishments throughout the year, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants, businesses, and entertainment venues, 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 Don Ho's Restaurant & Lounge in Hollins, Virginia, is a perfect example. Located off Lee Highway, in Hollins, Virginia, a road less traveled by me, until I decided to take it in search of this gem of a restaurant, which until then I had no idea it existed, even though it has been opened for 25 years. On its parking lot sign it clearly states "Serving The Area Since 2000." From the simple architectural design design of its building and humble entrance, you would never imagine what the inside would hold for you. As I opened the door and walked in, the first thing I saw was a little Christmas tree that you could tell was decorated with lots of love. The reasantly renovated dining room was clean and cozy with a combination of booths, tables and chairs, and some small high round tables with high chairs. In the center of the restaurant was a square counter with the cashier station, the Pepsi products machine, some desserts and Christmas decorations. As I was looking around a friendly and very hospitable waitress welcomed me and said I could have a seat anywhere I liked, handed me a copy of the menu, and took my drink order. I ordered a Pepsi to drink. After returning with my drink, she took my food order. I ordered a cup of their Chili Beans to start off with, and as my main entrée the Half Pound Black Angus Cheese Burger with their special fries. First of all the Chili Beans were amazing. One of the best that I have ever had, and one of my favorite foods. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and its food. Then came the burger. It was delicious with fresh soft burger buns and all the toppings a good burger should have. And their unique fries were one-of-a-kind. The waitress came by to check on me at the appropriate times and to provide drink refills. For dessert I had a slice of one of the best Key Lime Pies that I had ever had. The merengue on it tasted like the home-made one my mother used to make when I was growing up. When I was finished, my waitress encouraged me to go take a look at the Lounge in the back room. It was nice, with two pool tables, a colorful lit bar, tables and chairs, booths, large screen tv, and even a small stage.There, besides drinking and eating, you can shoot pool or sing karaoke. Smoking is allowed in the lounge, which has a special ventilation system. However, the restaurant side of the establishment is completely non-smoking. Before leaving I got to meet the owner himself and felt the great attachment he has for his restaurant of many years, for his staff that has been with him for years, for his loyal customers, and for his son and general manager Jo Jo, who is learning all he can from his dad and hopes one day to take over the restaurant and continue the family tradition. As I was leaving, after a very satisfying dining experience, I noticed some Award plaques on the wall. This year 2025, Don Ho's had cleaned up in the Roanoke Times readers awards for best bar, waitstaff, restaurant, burger and best customer service at a restaurant. I highly recommend this one-of-a-kind restaurant & lounge, and who knows, maybe when you go and visit, you'll run into me there, because I definitely am planning to return real soon.

Well my 1st time at Don Ho. It was a small patronage and 75% seniors. I'm a senior. So not really a…read morething for me. The menu was average and prices average. Service good. The decor modest and really not very welcoming. A little too modest. Not sure what this restaurant is trying to be. Name and decor not really similar and we were there in the last week. Food was good so that would be a reason to perhaps return and try again.

Of your then owner off this pace not your best employee letting no one in This place could be so…read moremuch better Ok well found out getting in only 2 bartenders barely able to keep up This has to be the worst run bar in blacksburg

Found them on Yelp while looking for a place open past 10pm. We wanted a full meal and this place…read moredelivered. Staff: awesome service! Kudos to the main guy taking our order and bringing it to our table. He was the all around order taker, drink maker and very patient guy. Food: Bar food at its finest, and I say this with all appreciation. The fries are the best we have had in a long time. Perfectly seasoned and fried fresh and a huge basket. Most of our group ordered the generous portions of French dip. We also got the pirogies with house made onion dip. His cocktails were yummy and a nice heavy pour. Ambiance: straight up bar atmosphere complete with a front room dart area. Bathrooms are clean, tables are high tops with lots of seating. Would be nice to have more lighting but hey it's a pub. Crowd looks local and a bit older than the average college demographic. We will definitely be back.