My 1st visit to Pok-E-Joe's was this week and it will most certainly not be my last visit. We were…read morea large group so they arranged the back semi-private dining space for us, which was perfect. We started with brisket nachos, Bavarian pretzels and wings (nachos are a MUST). My main course was the smoked turkey sandwich and potato salad for my side which complemented each other well and were amazing. Everything was cooked/smoked to perfection and incredibly tasty! The brisket and turkey were my favorites. There are 4 BBQ sauces on the table so I sampled all, the Texas BBQ sauce was my personal favorite but all 4 are uniquely amazing. We ended with the deep fried Oreos (OH MY), which were incredible and I highly recommend, so save room for dessert. Next time I'll opt in for the pie! Great family restaurant and they also have live music at times. Jordan was our server and he was extremely attentive to such a large group. I'll be back, you can count on that! Thank you for the wonderful and warm hospitality!

I came here for dinner and got a cheeseburger with a gluten free bun. It was delicious!! The burger…read morewas good and juicy, and the bun was soft and didn't fall apart. (They use Udi's buns.) It's so nice to find a local place that offers gluten free items. They also have an allergen menu for other allergies. The rest of the menu items looked good. The service was good. The noise level was moderate at the time, but it wasn't very busy. (They could improve the noise by adding some acoustic panels along the upper part of the walls.) I'll definitely be back for another burger and/or to try another item!

Who doesn't love a good barbecue dinner; especially on a cold, Winter day like today. So after…read morehaving skipped lunch, I decided that it was about time that I gave Bad Wolf BBQ a visit, to enjoy an early barbecue dinner. This family-owned and operated, local restaurant is owned by Fred Ellis, with over three decades of experience in the local restaurant industry. He is well-known for his commitment to the "low and slow" tradition of barbecue and for his hands-on approach to business ownership. Ellis originally opened this restaurant in December of 2006 after previously owning another much smaller restaurant with the same name on Plantation Road for nine years. The restaurant is conveniently located on the very popular Williamson Road, in Roanoke, Virginia, very close to the well known Coach & Four Restaurant. Its eclectic architectural design celebrates the restaurant's individuality and creativity. Inside, I found a clean and welcoming setting with a cozy atmosphere and a unique decor with a round fireplace in the middle of the dining area, and high ceilings in a section of the restaurant which also had a small stage. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and its food. As soon as I arrived, the host/server, Haley, a young and very friendly young lady, gave me a warm welcome and invited me to seat at the table of my choice. After handing me the menu, she took my drink order. I ordered an IBC Rootbeer, made with cane sugar. Since they didn't have the Sampler nor the Chicken BBQ at the moment, I ordered the Pork BBQ Platter, with the pork cooked with the North Carolina Vinegar BBQ sauce. It came with 3oz slaw and two side. For the sides, I ordered the baked beans and homemade fries. Their menu had a very limited selection of beer and wine. And I was also disappointed that a barbecue restaurant did not have Brisket on their menu. But what they did have, was amazingly delicious. Starting with their slaw that was so crispy and juicy with wonderful taste. It was one of the best slaws that I've had in a long time. Their fires were cut in-house from unpeeled potatoes, and freshly fried. The baked beans were also very tasty in a thick sauce. And the BBQ Pulled Pork was made with quality meats and cooked to perfection. For dessert I had their very popular Peach Cobbler, that happened to be their Cobbler of the day. I had it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, and deeply enjoyed it. I definitely had a wonderful dining experience here, even with the limitations of lack of items from a typical barbecue restaurant mentioned above. This was definitely a flavorful, home-style barbecue, in a clean and welcoming atmosphere, with top-notch service.

Friendly staff. We went at lunch and it wasn't busy. We were greeted immediately and told to sit…read moreanywhere. They had a nice fire going in the middle of the restaurant. Paper menus. We quickly noticed there's no beef. You have a choice of chicken or pork only. We ordered the rib platter with baked beans, collards, slaw and hush puppies. We also got a pulled pork vinegar sandwich. Food came out quickly. I suspect the ribs were microwaved because only certain parts of them were scorching and other parts cold. The sauce wasn't too sweet. The ribs were just Ok. I would expect better for a half rack at $17. We must have had a skinny cow because it was pretty much all bone. The sandwich was pretty meaty. It wasn't vinegary or sweet. I preferred the sandwich over the ribs. Drinks come in a can. Ample parking. We didn't get dessert. Would I come back.... Not sure. It wasn't terrible and there wasn't anything memorable. My favorite part was the fire... I would have liked to be given some wet wipes but luckily I bring gloves wherever I go.

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

After a little over a year of opening its doors in Vinton, Virginia, across the street from the…read moreVinton Library, this hole in the wall, family-owned American restaurant with the name of Absolutely Delicious Bar & Grill, has absolutely delivered some of the best smash burgers, hot dogs, and other delicious freshly made American comfort food in this neighborhood and beyond. 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 Absolutely Delicious Bar & Grill, in Vinton, Virginia, is a perfect example. Today I decided to give them a visit for a follow-up review of the first one I wrote when they first opened. The first thing I was happy to see were picnic tables with colorful patio umbrellas placed in the open space yard on the left of the restaurant. It seems like they are gearing up for expansion and many new things to come for the Spring of 2026, after a very successful 2025, for its high-quality food at reasonable prices, in a welcoming and friendly environment, with excellent service. As usual, as soon as I walked in the place, I was received with a heartfelt, open-arm, very warm welcome, and was given the good news that starting on March 16th their hours will be expanded to 10:30AM - 10:00PM Mondays through Thursdays and 10:30AM - 1:00AM Fridays and Saturdays. They told me about all their plans for the Spring of the new year, including the further expansion of their outdoor patio dining area. My server Justin, the son of this family-owned business, took my order and had me seat down at the counter of my choice. I ordered a Coke to drink, forgetting that they also had Cherry Coke, my favorite. To eat I ordered a Jesse Jones Beef All Beef Hotdog with mustard, ketchup, and relish; as well as a Smokehouse Burger, which had a double smash burgers, BBQ sauce, Bacon, Caramelized Onions, Pickles and two cheeses of my choice. I picked American and Swiss cheese as my choice and they customized it to include lettuce, tomatoes, and ketchup. Then I made it a combo with Waffle Fries and a medium Coke. I enjoyed watching the cook make my food in their open kitchen. Wearing special black disposable nitrile gloves, he grabbed a ball of fresh, high-quality ground meat and put it on the grill; then he used a burger smasher to flatten the ball-sized beef patties onto the hot surface of the grill for maximum searing. During the process, he changed his disposal gloves several times to ensure food safety. He also used a basting brush to butter the burger buns before he heated them on the grill. This not only gave the burger a good taste but made it look delicious. I invite you to view my photographs and videos accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and the quality of their food. When I took a bite of my smash burger, it tasted absolutely mouthwatering, or as the restaurant is called "Absolutely Delicious." The same with the hot dog. Best hot dog around! And the waffle fries were amazing. They were well seasoned and shaken after they came out of the frier; soft in the inside and crispy on the outside. The best waffle fries I've ever had. Even better than the ones from Chick-fil-A! They also had me taste their newly introduced Tater Tots; which are a graded potato formed into small cylinders and deep-fried. Their taste and texture were out-of-this-world! Very soft in the inside and just the right amount of crunchinnes on the outside. For dessert I had a couple of Strawberry Cheesecake Rolls. It reminded me of the fried cheesecake commonly served in Mexican restaurants but these also had strawberry filling. I was so pleased with their food and service that I gave them a good tip and paid at the counter with my Harvard Alumni World Mastercard. I highly recommend this little restaurant and urge you to give them your total support. What you'll get back will be an "absolutely amazing" dining experience like never before.

We stopped by today after seeing the @hungryasian review on Facebook. Cannot believe we got all…read moreof this yummy food for less than $20 before tip. Attention to detail is definitely on the mind of the workers here. Chili had such a great fine grind, sear on burger was perfect and fries were hot and crispy. Will be back! Highly recommend!

I've had several excellent meals here…read more Strongly recommend: - meatloaf - catfish - corn pudding - baked beans - cornbread - coconut pineapple cake I'm still exploring the menu and the variations by day of the week.

The food was sooo good! We got the fried catfish filet lunch, which included two catfish fillets…read moreand two sides, and split it. Tipped a little extra to make up for split plate. The fish was PERFECT. The woman who was running the place was kind and friendly. Can't wait to go back!

"There is no place like home," and that feeling returned to Catawba, Virginia, as The Homeplace…read moreheld its grand reopening at 4 p.m. today. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, this beloved gathering spot has been restored, making a new chapter for dining and tradition. 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 Homeplace Restaurant in Catawba, Virginia is a perfect example. And it didn't take long for me to get into my Lexus and drive up to this ionic restaurant famous for its family-style southern comfort food and historic 1907 farmhouse setting. The new owners, the Henegar family, who are bringing this beloved restaurant back to life, plan to keep the Wingate family legacy by maintaining its original recipes, introducing some seasonal items, and expanding to offer weekend breakfasts and lunch. Rarely have I ever gone to a grand opening and felt so much at home. As soon as I arrived and got in line, I mingled with people who had been dining there for years; some from the current community, and others who had driven many miles to gather once again in the place that had been so meaningful in their lives. An 88 year old gentleman and his wife told me many memorable stories of the place famous for its "all-you-can-eat" family-style service that opened its doors in 1982 by the Wingate family and closed in 2021 due to Covid-related struggles, and after 5 years is once again alive and well, and ready to serve this community as a family-centered restaurant in which customers are considered part of the Homeplace family. When I arrived to the Host's station, a friendly, young lady welcomed me and took my name, having me join the others in the waiting room. It had a couple of benches but was mostly standing room only. Then the parties were called in order of arrival and taken to their tables in several dining rooms around the restaurant. Immediately aftet I was seated, my server, Landon greeted me and explained the ordering system there. Pricing was determined by the number of meats you ordered. The three choices were Chicken, Roast Beef, and Ham. You could order one, two, or the three. And that included all the sides: Corn, Green Beans, Pinto Beans, Slaw, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, or Fries. As well as a basket of Biscuits with regular and Apple Butter. I order the three and a Coke to drink. Not long after my server arrived with a large tray with everything ordered on it. Everything was served hot and you could see were high-quality products cooked to perfection. The Fried Chicken was plumpy and juicy. The Roast Beef was was tender and in its juices. The Ham was a few thin slices, but tasted like the best ham I've ever had on my trip to Madrid, Spain. And the sides, what can I say, every single one tasted amazingly 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. For dessert I had a Peach Cobbler with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It was amazing! The General Manager, Brittany Green, the Owners, the Chefs, Servers, and Staff, all did an excellent job in recreating that original family, place-like-home environment that contributed to an extraordinary, relaxed, unique, family-friendly, dining experience, I have yet to have experienced at any other dining establishment. I highly recommend this restaurant for the dining experience of your life, and I know that when you do give them a visit, you will be considered as part of the family.

First trip to The Homeplace since 2010. Loved the drive and…read morescenery. We went Saturday June 6th about 2pm. Hoping to miss the crowd. We were seated quickly and the waitress introduced herself. She brought biscuits to the table. They were lukewarm. We decided on fried chicken. We were served all the veggies and gravy along with 1 chicken breast, 1 thigh, 1 wing, and 1 leg. We were hungry and ate everything. We were not asked if we wanted any more and again the food was not hot. We actually thought the dessert came with the meal but it was extra. For two people and an expensive restaurant they should have brought at least 2 chicken breasts pieces with the wing, leg and thigh. Again, the waitress did not ask if we wanted any refills. The veggies and gravy were like going to any other place around. We were disappointed. Our check was $66. Plus a $12 tip. You can make your own judgement for your visit. We just won't return!

I became a regular since my family have own favorite there. Here is what we order everytime:…read morechicken on rice, double cheese burger and fries with melts. Green chili is the superstar, came by request.

It's been a long while, but the day I had the chicken and fries, it wasn't the best. The batter to…read moreme didn't have much flavor, neither the chicken. I will attempt to make another trip. That was my first time, so we shall see.

It Never disappoints --- I promise you. Food is always fresh and well worth the money.read more

I remember years ago, in my youth, when I was in Little League. Every time we won a game our coach…read moretreated us to a hot dog. Those they sold at the park. It tasted so good. Since then I have enjoyed eating this simple yet very American food. So today when I was looking for a place to eat and saw "Dillons Hot Dogs & More," I decided to stop by and give it a try. Located in the Brookside Shopping Center on 6431 Williamson Road in Roanoke, Virginia, This small, laid back restaurant, is open Mondays through Saturdays from 10:00am to 6:00pm and Fridays until 7:00pm. It serves lunch and dinner. I went on a Friday early evening and the first thing I noticed was how busy it was with people eating there and even more people ordering takeouts. Who seemed to be the owner was up front taking the orders from a counter at that time. He immediately greeted me with a warm welcome and after I told him this was my first time there, and he explained the value meals that included fries and a soda for a set price. I ended up ordering a Bacon Cheeseburger with Fries, and a Coke. And also a Hot Dog with melted cheese, chili, and chopped onions. He told me to take a seat at one of the booths and that he would bring me the food when ready. From the booth I was seated at, I could see the flames cooking the food back in the kitchen. A young lady was cooking at the time with another gentleman helping her back there. They handed me the soda as I waited and I reviewed a small paper menu that I took with me to the table. When the food arrived it looked and tasted very fresh and appetizing. The Burger bun was nice and soft. It contained a good size patty, with fresh lettuce and a nice big slice of tomato. The fries was crunchy on the outside and soft in the inside. The bacon on top was plenty and very meaty. And the Hot Dog looked and tasted just fine. It was a regular size good quality meat Hot dog with the right ingredients that give it flavor and served on a fresh and soft Hot Dog roll. I was going to have dessert afterwards because it said they were well known for there homemade desserts, but I only saw two types on the counter and decided not to. This is a good place, nothing fancy, but with good food, for when you're in the mood for good home cooking food. They also have Subs, Sandwiches, and Seafood Baskets. Everything at very reasonable prices. Come alone or bring along family and friends. And be ready for a good meal that will leave you full and satisfied.