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    Downtown Grub

    4.6 (10 reviews)
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    Chicken tenders and cornbread

    This place is amazing. Best food around hands down! The staff is so friendly. We will for sure be back.

    Wall that welcomes you.

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    2 years ago

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    4 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Awesome food and awesome, friendly service. Good home cooking and they make you feel like family!!!!!!

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    We tried to place tonight for dinner and all I can say IT WAS AMAZING! Everyone there was so nice and the food was to die for!

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    A friend of mine and I visited last week ordered the fried fish it was great. I can't wait to try something else and dessert.

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    3 years ago

    Excellent home-cooked food. The staff was awesome and the food was wonderful. Will eat here again and again.

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    The River and Rail

    The River and Rail

    4.3
    (326 reviews)
    41.9 mi
    $$$

    Every time I dine at this restaurant I have a memorable dining experience. One of my favorite items…read moreon their summer menu is their R&R Hanger Steak. A Hanger steak is a long, flat, flavorful cut reminiscent of flank steak and skirt steak, only more tender. In the US, hanger steak is most commonly called "hanging tender" or "butcher's steak." It gets the latter nickname because it was historically a "secret" cut that butchers would keep for themselves rather than sell to the public. Other names you might see on menus for this cut are Hanging tenderloin and Bistro steak. All that I know is that it's the best piece of meat that I have ever eaten and it has been at this restaurant. So that was the main reason I came to dine here today and my expectations were completely fulfilled. When I arrived, I was greeted by a friendly, young lady with the warm welcoming of a regular guest. She happily took me to the table I had requested when I made my reservation online. It was a table facing the bar with their open kitchen on the right of me. I like to watch the bartenders and chefs in action as they create their amazing drinks and culinary masterpieces. Immediately after I was seated my server Tim came by with the usual familiar greeting, welcoming me once again for returning to dine there and thanking me for being such a loyal customer. I had the usual cold water and this time started off with one of their Butterfly Kisses Mocktails. It both looked and tasted amazing. For appetizer I had their VA Oyster Wraps, followed by their special salad of the day. And for the main entrée I had their R&R Hanger Steak. Everything was timed appropriately and was served at the right timing. 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 and drinks. For dessert I had my favorite, their Dark Chocolate Panna Cotta. What a way to end a spectacular dinner. I highly recommend this restaurant for an exceptional fine dining experience.

    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.

    Photos
    The kitchen and server picking up some meals.
    The kitchen and server picking up some meals.
    The River and Rail
    The Chocolate Panna Cotta dessert.

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    The Chocolate Panna Cotta dessert.
    Bless Ya Soul

    Bless Ya Soul

    4.5
    (2 reviews)
    43.1 mi

    I discovered this charming little restaurant as I was driving around Roanoke, Virginia, in search…read moreof new places to eat that pop up all the time. 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 Bless Ya Soul Soulfood Restaurant in Roanoke, Virginia, is the perfect example. Located off Williamson Road, this restaurant has a relaxed and warm atmosphere, a menu with soul comfort food, and it's owned and operated by a friendly couple. As soon as I entered the door, I was warmly greeted and welcomed by the couple. Was asked to be seated where I felt comfortable at, and was given a copy of their simple but colorful and well-designed menu. They also had a sign up with their Daily Specials and Sides. While looking at their menu I enjoyed reading their slogan "Food for ya soul," and the fact that they mention there that they're open to menu suggestions. I ended up ordering Onion Rings as appetizer and Fried Porkchop with Mac N Cheese as my side. The main course also came with a grilled Texas Toast. The size of the Porkshop was humongous. It was breaded and fried, and served over an aluminum foil inside a clamshell disposable container. I had some problems cutting it because even though it was big, it had a few bones inside which I could not see because they were covered up with the breading. I mentioned this to them but they told me that their customers like to see bones in their porkchops. The Mac N Cheese tasted good but the macaroni pasta was a bit crunched and mixed with the blog of melted cheese. The Texas Toast tasted delicious by the way they had toasted it on the grill. The Onion Rings were not evenly round nor evenly battered and some of the rings were broken into pieces, but the taste was what mattered. After finishing my food I felt full, after all this is how comfort food should leave you feeling. Let's support this young couple I as they eagerly attempt to bring a taste soul into our lives and by doing so even reach our souls.

    It's a bit loud in here with the music, game machine, ac, open cooking area, and conversations so I…read morecouldn't hear the server too well. It's a small spot I almost missed while parking to go ro another establishment but decided to check it out since I love soul food. . I don't think it's suitable to dine in because it is so compact and the bar seating area is where they keep their personal items. One of the tables is being used to hold the specials of the day. There are two high seat tables. I tried sitting on it but the seats were not comfortable. The place itself is not large enough to accommodate a walker or wheelchair so any one with one might consider takeout instead. It has a small and limited menu. I was expecting standard soul food but the only a few items on it. The sides are standard and the pork chop is about there is for a standard soul food restaurant. I was hoping for some real soul fried chicken or cornbread. Service was good. Food took about 20 minutes so be sure to allot for time or call in advance. I wasn't happy about the long wait but the pork chop was delicious. Perfectly seasoned and cooked. One of the best I've ever had. Surprisingly a very nice gentleman paid for my meal. I had no idea and I wish I could have thanked him. It has been a rough day so his kindness went a long way with me. I will come back if in the area. I think the food quality should bring business once the word is out. I just hope the small space can accommodate for people wanting to dine in.

    Photos
    Two artworks on one of the walls as you enter the restaurant.
    Two artworks on one of the walls as you enter the restaurant.
    A fork holding a piece of the Fried Porkchop.
    A fork holding a piece of the Fried Porkchop.
    Some game machines.

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    Some game machines.
    Caribbica Soul

    Caribbica Soul

    4.4
    (69 reviews)
    42.7 mi

    From the outside, this restaurant tends to attract people to enter and try it out. And that is…read moreprecisely what I did today. I guess I was impressed with all the food picture posters taped to its front windows. I really had high expectations that I would enjoy it and its food. But there are times that no matter how much you try, you are disappointed. And this was one of those times. Inside, I was impressed with the restaurant's colorful and lively decor, especially its very creative bar design. The place was almost empty with only one family dining at one of the booths. The very hospitable and friendly owner welcomed me, took me to one of the booths and handed me a menu. To drink I ordered a Pineapple Soda. For appetizer I ordered a Beef Patty and Cornbread. And for my main entrée, I ordered from their Specialty section of the menu, The Caribbica Plantain Burger. Between the owner and his wife they served me the different items of my order. The Jamaican Pineapple Soft Drink came in a bottle. As was about to drink it from the bottle when the owner's wife brought me a glass with ice. As I was pouring the soda into the glass, I noticed that it didn't look too clean. Then they brought me a plate with the Beef Patty and a square piece of corn bread. The patty didn't look too fresh. Its dough had wrinkles, like if it was not served fresh but reheated in a microwave. The cornbread was somewhat tasteless. I didn't complain because I didn't want to hurt their feelings, since they were so nice people. The wife of the owner comes by and asked what I wanted on my burger, without telling me that there was an extra fee for some of the items she mentioned. I then notice that a young Asian couple that were dining there got up and went to the counter and spent some time there discussing before they walked out. When the Caribbica Plantain Burger arrived, the first thing I noticed was that it was served with chips, and not with seasonal fries like listed on the menu, and that the sweet fried plantains were not acting as buns like in the menu description. But it looked good so I went on to eat it. As I was eating it, I noticed it did have buns under the plantains, but they weren't that fresh and you could tell that the burger patty came from being frozen and had become dry in the process on unfreezing it. The plantains were the only good thing about this burger. But I didn't complain. I ate what I could, waited, and asked what they had for dessert. It was either Chocolate cake ot Coconut cake. They told me they had ran out of their Rum cake. So I ordered the Coconut cake. When the slice arrived, I noticed it looked a bit dry. Even the frosting was not soft. Like if it was sliced and sitting there for a long time. Then I tasted a piece and what a disappointment. It tasted like insecticide. I could not stand it anymore. I called over the lady server and explained why I would not eat this cake and returned it. The husband came by and asked if I wanted the Chocolate cake instead. I told him, No Thanks. When I walked over to the restroom to wash my hands, I passed by the kitchen and it didn't look very clean at all. Afterwards, I paid my bill, and when I got home, I noticed the following statement written on the bottom of the receipt: "ALL SALES ARE FINAL. No refunds. Same day exchanges with receipt may apply at management's discretion. By dining with us, guests agree to house policies." I definitely not recommend this restaurant at all, and consider it one of my worst dining experiences ever and a waste of my money.

    Omg this place is amazing. The best red snapper outside of the Caribbean. Everything on the menu is…read moreso good.

    Photos
    Caribbica Soul
    Caribbica Soul
    Caribbica Soul

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    Bottom of the Stairs

    Bottom of the Stairs

    4.1
    (41 reviews)
    17.2 mi
    $

    I don't know much about pimento cheese. (OK, I don't know anything about pimento cheese.) But the…read morepimento cheese at Bottom of the Stairs is mighty tasty. I was with a group, and one of the people in the group was a pimento cheese aficionado, and she said it was amazing, so there you go. The pimento cheese is served warm with kettle-cooked potato chips. Because I was in a group, we ordered a bunch of things for the table. The pimento cheese, but also the TOTSchos (tater tots covered in beer cheese, pulled pork and cole slaw), and some smoked wings. All of these things were delicious, but my favorite was the TOTSchos because I'm a tot lover, and I love when the tots get kind of soft from the melty cheese and still kind of crunchy from the spots that don't have the melty cheese. BOTS (what people who live here call Bottom of the Stairs) is known for their smoked meats and barbecue. Some of the people at my table got pulled pork and things, but I was feeling like something slightly lighter, so I got the blackened catfish. It comes with slaw and two additional sides, and I picked mac & cheese and collard greens. Well, my meal wasn't light in the slightest, but it was delicious! The fish was tender and had that smoky flavor from the blackened seasoning. I got the Bots Mule to drink, because if I'm not drinking wine, I like to drink gin. Someone at my table got the Pickle-tini, and they did not enjoy it as much as I enjoyed my mule. Gin goes down a treat, I tell you what. Plus! They put your Bots Mule in a plastic BOTS cup that you get to take home. Free souvenir! Bottom of the Stairs exists because there is a Top of the Stairs. At the top of the stairs is an adults-only bar. BOTS is the family-friendly counterpart.

    I decided to get the platter with two meats here, from which I selected 1 fried catfish fillet,…read morebrisket (came in 2 pieces), and this came with slaw, and two sides, where I chose tater tots and mac and cheese The first thing that absolutely shocked me was the size of this plate. It was incredibly large. My first thought when seeing the food was "there's no way I'm going to finish this". The catfish fillet stretched across the entire plate to cover basically the entire thing. I didn't expect the brisket pieces to be so large either. Also, the amount of tater tots on the plate was significant as well. That's not even to consider the mac & cheese and slaw coming in separate, decently sized cups. Starting with the brisket, I thought this was quite good. What jumped out to me at the start was how well this seemed to be cooked, with beautiful char marks throughout and excellently charred edges. The pieces I had that really nice smoky flavor, and the fat in the meat (since brisket is rather lean - there wasn't too much of it) tasted really good as well. I do think it was a bit dry, as cutting it with a knife required a little bit more effort than cutting a perfectly juicy brisket was, and i did notice some of the meat to be somewhat tough, but I do think both pieces were pretty solid Moving to the fried catfish, I loved how well the breading was seasoned. It had some pepper and other spices that gave it that extra flavor. I liked this less than the brisket, however, due to a) how paper-thin the breading was and b) how easily the breading broke apart from the catfish itself. The entire fillet seemed like it was on the verge of collapse. After my first cut with a fork and knife, a lot of the breading came off, and a good amount of the inner fish spilled out onto the plate. I did think the fish meat was certainly not dry and tasted pretty good, though The tater tots were also fantastic, and there was a lot of them. the fried batter on these was thick and they were quite crunchy as a result. I also appreciated the relish-like sauce that came with them. Another thing that was really good was the slaw - I found the dressing especially to be really flavorful and the vegetables were done well. I liked the mac and cheese less, though, so when it came to prioritizing, I only ended up eating a few bites of it As I already mentioned, the portion size here was pretty insane, and for a price of only around 15 dollars for everything, I thought this ratio was astoundingly good. I would recommend ordering just one for two people, as even as someone who can eat a lot, I had to leave a lot of the mac & cheese and tater tots as I prioritized finishing the main dishes. They certainly don't skimp on size - whether it's the main meat or a side

    Photos
    Bottom of the Stairs
    Bottom of the Stairs
    Hot Pimento Cheese Dip
    Hot Pimento Cheese Dip
    TOTSChos

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    TOTSChos
    Kirk & Soul

    Kirk & Soul

    4.6
    (10 reviews)
    42.4 mi

    This weekend I was fortunate enough to be able to attend Kirk & Soul's Second Soft Opening and it…read morewas amazing. After being awarded the NC Triad Yelp 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 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 Kirk & Soul, in Downtown, Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example. I loved the interior renovations of this new restaurant. Its beautiful hardwood floors contrasts perfectly with the lovely and very elegant black dining furniture, comprised of booths, tables and chairs, and bar counter, all with outstanding black marbalized table tops that give the place class. The restaurant's simple decor seems to emphasize its best features. Its high ceiling painted black also gives it a nice touch. And the large windows that go all around the corner bring in the light making the hardwood floors and table top shine to highlight their best features.The restaurant also has an open second floor, as well as a corner three steps high stage for bringing live entertainment that will provide the place with another exclusive detail to attract its clientele. I had an opportunity to meet the restaurant's manager, Blake, and he had great ideas that, when implemented, could most likely make this place one of the most talked about or highly regarded restaurants in the heart of fine dining in downtown Roanoke. Owner Justin Hayden described the menu of this Second Soft Opening as "a soul food Caribbean-style menu with a New Age twist." It included dishes such as Jerk Chicken with rice and beans, Oxtail Rasta Pasta, Classic Cheese Burger, Loaded Fries or Nachos, Wing Basket with your choice of sauce, and Garden Salad. Hopefully in the future they will also include other Caribbean dishes from other Caribbean Islands such as Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico, who have excellent cuisines. Today I ordered the Oxtail Rasta Pasta and a Coke to drink. I was the first one there and had to leave early because I had another commitment. The dish looked and tasted delicious, with just the right amount of seasoning. I highly recommend this new restaurant to all, and am looking forward to returning when it's in full function.

    All I can say is catfish catfish and more catfish!!! The hot honey catfish is amazing. The fish is…read morenice and flaky, fried perfectly and the hot honey sauce is the perfect mix of sweet and spice. Also loved the thick cut curly fries on the side. The jerk chicken egg rolls were really great too! Our waitress was very friendly and knowledgeable and eager to help with anything we needed. I'm from California but would at at Kirk & Soul all the time if I was a local. The place looks like it is a fun night spot too.

    Photos
    The stage where performances will take place.
    The stage where performances will take place.
    A picture is worth a thousand words.
    A picture is worth a thousand words.
    The sidewalk on Kirk Ave.

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    The sidewalk on Kirk Ave.

    Downtown Grub - soulfood - Updated July 2026

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