Post 5 visits…read more Service- lacking. Both the young white woman and the Latino give you the impression they are annoyed you have stopped in the establishment. And don't you dare take some time to think about your order Açaí bowl- they win. Better than fruits and roots and better than tropical smoothie. Smoothies- have that "real" taste. Some of them hit the Jamba Juice spot Food - adequate Parking- lots of easy parking but It is on a main road so you'll have trouble getting out. Walkable, near Salem library. They have little things like Cards and candles to buy inside Not my fave place but I would come back

Discovering this Elderberry's has been like finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow…read more 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 Elderberry's in Salem, Virginia, is a perfect example. This casual café located on West Main Street in the historic Downtown Salem, near Roanoke College and the Salem Farmers Market is not your ordinary café. Housed in an attractive contemporary building painted purple with lots of windows and their logo, which is their name written with a special font (also named Elderberry, characterized by its rounded, playful, and slightly stretched appearance) in bluish-green color, this casual, cozy, women-owned, local restaurant business, specializes in smoothies, wraps, salads, fruit bowls, grain and mac & cheese bowls, freshly baked goods, special coffees, signature lattes, as well as in catering box lunches. Besides this, they also sell various unique merchandise, such as, bee butter, a variety of scented candles, tumblers, stickers, the CHEMEX Six Cup Classic coffeemaker, and Elderberry's Hoddies, just to name a few. I arrived for the first time in my pearl white Lexus on a late Wednesday morning to have a late breakfast-early lunch, and was able to park in one of their parking spaces directly in front of the restaurant. As I walked in the restaurant, I was fascinated by the many homemade, colorful menu signs all around the place. A young, friendly, gentleman, wearing a Mohammed Ali black t-shirt and a Little Green Hive black knit cap, greeted and welcomed me behind the ordering counter and took my order. I ordered a medium Mocha Coffee (made hot with whole milk and dark chocolate), and a Turkey Bacon Wrap. My order was rang up in their modern credit card terminal and I paid with my Harvard Alumni World Mastercard. As I waited for my order to be made, I looked around the place and suddenly watched as the employee was making my Mocha Coffee. It was like an artist creating a work of art. And I was lucky to be able to record it with my cellphone camera. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and the quality of their food and drinks. The Mocha coffee was served in a simple yet elegant white cup and had the nicest design on top. But even though it looked fabulous, when I took a sip of it, it tasted extraordinary! Like none I've ever had before. And I have had many Mochas in many places. One time in a high-end fine dining restaurant, the manager sent one of their employees to purchase a bar of high-quality chocolate to be able to make me a Café Mocha because they didn't have one listed in the menu. The Turkey Bacon Wrap was also very good. Made with fresh ingredients from the tortilla of the wrap to the fresh items it contained. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would find such a quaint and one-of-a-kind place here, and experience such a unique and extraordinary dining experience. I'm looking forward to returning and I heard they will be opening one in downtown Roanoke soon.

Sometimes in the least expected of places one can find the tastiest of foods and the friendliest of…read morepeople. This is the case with Cafe Express, in Salem, Virginia. Located in a standalone building next to a 7-Eleven/Gas Station at 206 Apperson Drive, Cafe Express is a small, family-owned and operated New York Style Deli, run by a husband-and-wife team who immigrated from Nepal years ago and for 18 years have worked hard to make this small, unasuming deli, one of Salem's most precious culinary hidden gems. At first I didn't think nothing of it. Its storefront and location are not that impressive, but after driving by it many times, one day I just had to stop and try it out. From the very beginning, after parking in a space right in front of the deli, I was very impressed by its cleanliness. Its front windows and glass door were so clean and shiny that they were like mirrors reflecting their surroundings which in part was the gas station. But don't be fooled by this. In the past I've discovered exceptional eateries located at gas stations small strip malls. Once inside, I was fascinated by what I saw. There were three beautiful wooden relief carvings on the walls, framed magazine articles of the deli and its owners, framed Award Certificates including one from Yelp, a Buddha artwork on a plate, and a beautiful oil painting, painted by none other than by the owner himself. Both Prakash Malakar and his wife Sarojani gave me a warm welcome and made me feel at home. Eager to learn about their place of origin and culture I ask them about this.The owner explained how they came from Nepal, which is located in between China and India. Afterwards, his wife showed me the menu and the Specials written in colorful chalks over a chalkboard. I was attracted to their "Pastrami Royale and after she explained what items it had, I went ahead and ordered it along with some fries and a fountain softdrink. Not exaggerating, it was one of the most delicious sandwiches that I've ever had. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and its amazing high-quality food. For dessert I had a small bowl of their homemade rice pudding. After I finished eating I paid with one of my credit cards via my Google Pay which they accepted and left them a nice tip. In conclusion, I highly recommend this place for its warm and comfortable ambiance, great menu, exquisite food, and remarkable customer service by a kind and friendly couple.

Enjoy local raw unfiltered honey from Salem Va honeybees. Bring a jar home and enjoy some of the…read morehoney mustard sauce on a delicious sandwich or with yummy chicken tenders.

The place looked packed (it was a Friday night) but we gave it a shot anyway. Hardly had to wait to…read morebe seated. Food arrived quick and was great. Service was great. All around great experience. It was busy and noisy but if that is the worst I can say about the experience then it was a good experience. .

Relied on Yelp for restaurants and decided on Mac & Bobs. Popular local place and Sam took good…read morecare of us. We beat the college crowd getting there before 6PM. My Caesar salad was very good as was my chicken parm. My wife opted for Tai chicken bowl( nice little kick). Both portions were good sized. Plenty of alcohol options so we choice beers and wine with our entrees. Going forward, we shall make this a regular stop on our way North.

Awesome nail salon! Super friendly owner Ms. Rosy and her daughter. The price here is very…read morereasonable for the amazing service. This is where my mom, grandma and 2 aunts spend most of their time together. The best thing is they SPEAK perfect English! :)

Elderberry's is a family-owned restaurant business at The Shoppes At Weat Village, a modern…read moreoutdoor-mall located on 3555 Electric Rd. It has plenty of complementary parking and both an indoor and outdoor seating area. Specializing in fresh smoothies and wraps, as well as fruit and grain bowls, all with fresh and natural ingredients. The small restaurant also has a mini gift shop to buy cute items such as jewelry, chocolate, homemade sweets, sweatshirts, mugs, and other items. They offer to go service as well as delivery and catering. As I entered the restaurant I loved its colorful, informal, and relaxed interior design with beautiful hardwood floors. It creates an inviting and friendly atmosphere, which is reinforced by the warm welcoming of its employees and their wonderful customer service. A young lady behind the counter greeted and welcomed me to the place and took my order. The menu was above behind the counter in a size big enough to be able to read it from far away. To drink I ordered a Mad's Mango Berry Smoothie. To eat I ordered the Turkey Avocado Wrap. And for dessert I ordered an Authentic Dutch Stroopwafles that came with two marshmallows on top. After paying for my order, I sat at one of the tables next to the wall and waited for it to be ready to pick up. It did not take long for my order to be ready. As soon as it was, they called me and I went up to get it. The Smoothie was nice and cold with a mixture of Banana, Orange, Raspberries, and Mango. Very refreshing indeed, especially now that the hot weather is approaching. The Turkey and Avocado Wrap came nicely wrapped in a fresh tortilla, with all the ingredients very nice and fresh. And the dessert was very unique and sweet. I invite all reading my review to look at my photographs accompanying it to better get a feel for the food and the place. While I was eating my food, several customers came in for Take out orders, mostly of Smoothies because it was almost time to close. I figure they must have more business for breakfast and lunch, and even during snack time. I highly recommend this restaurant for when you want to eat something healthy and not too big and a Smoothie to cool you down. Their Fruit and Grain Bowls also sounded very appealing as well.

Stopped in for lunch one afternoon while in the area. Was looking for something good, and fresh…read morethis little eatery was both. Walk up counter service, with the menu boards overhead and daily specials. After a few minutes to scan it all I opted for a wrap with some soup of the day, a lobster bisque and for my wrap I went for the turkey bacon with a lemonade. I paid, grabbed my number and a seat on the bench along the wall. The inside was light and bright with a few table tops and a few chairs, along with all kinds of to go merch for the store. My food came to me within a few minutes, no more than ten. The bisque was good, didnt have any lobster bits in it that I could discern but the flavor was good. The wrap though small was tasty and full flavored, it was well made and fresh just wish it had been a bit more. All in all a good place to grab a meal, bowls, wraps and smoothies are the menu with fresh daily offerings. 3.5 Stars rounded up the staff and freshness of my meal 01080

Gorditas Al pastor and steak Mulitas were both very good. I really enjoyed the corn flavor of the…read moreMulitas. The green sauce was also tasty and the hot sauce was very hot. Rice and beans were fine but nothing special. Service was very friendly. I enjoyed the small seating area and simple design.

In a little house on a short street in Salem, Virginia, one that if it were not painted a bright…read moreorange color, would simply go unnoticed, is housed one of the smallest restaurants that I have ever seen. Yet we must not let its size deceive us, just as we should not judge a gift by its size nor a book by its cover. 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 Tacos Coronados in Salem, Virginia, is the perfect example. After driving by this Mexican little restaurant the other day on my way to Gusto Pizza for dinner, I thought to myself, "It is in small hole in the wall places like this one that one finds amazing food. I definitely need to return soon to try it out." And today is that day. I set my Lexus GPS to their address and started driving their way, encountering a torrential rain along the way, only being able to see a bright orange spot when I arrived. I decided to wait in my car for a while listening to music. As the rain resided and I was able too see the Mexican restaurant, the first thing I did was take a photograph of it from inside my car, since small drops of rain were still falling from the sky. Once inside, I noticed the place was also painted the same bright orange color, had a counter were To Go orders were taken and picked up, and a modern computer cashier where orders were paid. But what impressed me the most was the cleanliness of the place, and how very organized it was, with well use of space for five booths that each could seat four persons comfortably. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and its food. A friendly gentleman came out from the back to greet me and gave me a warm welcome. He appreciated very much that I spoke Spanish and talked to me about the restaurant and its menu. Most of their business is for Take Out orders, but on some days and times it can get full with dine-in customers. One thing that caught my attention was that Chips and Salsa were listed in the menu under Appetizers for $4.50. Afterwards I did my research and found out that Chips and Salsa is not a traditional complimentary offering in Mexico. It is considered an American Tradition. And that some restaurants make it a point to serve high-quality chips and salsa, justifying a charge for them. I ordered a bottle of Orange Fanta to drink and a Gorditas al Pastor (with Pork) Special to eat. Their appetizers in the menu were limited to Chips and Salsa, and Chips and Guacamole. And they had no dessert items. However, they did have Taco Tuesdays, when Pork or Chicken Tacos are $2 each. This was the first time ever that I have had gorditas but my server explained that they were a traditional Mexican street food consisting of a thick masa (corn dough) cake that is fried, then slit open to create a pocket and stuffed with various fillings like cheese, shredded meats like carnitas (pork), beans, and vegetables. Their picture sure looked good on the menu. The name "gordita" means "little fat one" in Spanish, referring to its plump, thick shape. They were crunchy and tasty, full of flavor. I definitely enjoyed my meal of genuine Mexican street food, highly recommend the restaurant for a very unique dining experience with genuine Mexican cuisine and an extraordinary customer service.

This relatively new and unassuming family-owned and operated restaurant and market is known for its…read moreauthentic Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. Located in the Cave Spring area of Roanoke, Virginia, I decided one day to going with a friend to try it out and see for ourselves if it offered an authentic Mediterranean dining experience. While we were driving in search of the restaurant we couldn't miss it. It small size with a cute and unique architectural design structure immediately caught our attention. It's prominent triangular roof and black square sign stood out from the normal restaurant designs. The front of the restaurant was one large window with a red framed glass door. It had a covered front porch with a dining table for 4 on each side for the convenience of customers who enjoyed dining outdoor during nice weather. We parked in their small parking lot and walked in. To our surprise, it had a simple minimalist interior design decor with white tile floors surrounded by black grout, white painted walls with poster size photographs of places from the Mediterranean hanging from the walls, and simple tables with different colored chairs. One ordered from the cashiers counter located in the middle of the restaurant / market with a display case next to it with the desserts in individual plastic containers. The menu with photographs of the main dishes was high above as well as one posted on the large window outside, and small size regular menus as well. Both my friend and I ordered a Kufta Kabob Sandwich and bottled drinks. My friend ordered a Freez Pineapple Coconut and I ordered a Mango Peach one. We were asked if we wanted fries with the sandwich and we both said yes. I also asked them to include a Falafel appetizer, that oddly enough the price charged for it was $7.22 before taxes. At the end they told us what the total price was and I paid, since I was inviting today. And then was given the receipt. Later on at home I saw that we were charged a Make It Combo fee of $8.22 just for including the fries, because the drinks were charged separate a $5.18 charge. After the order we went and sat down at one of the tables in the restaurant side of the business while they prepared our order. The fact that the Market was on the other side of the small interior of the business detracted from dining ambiance of fine dining, especially with having unopened and some partially opened boxes all around. After we finished dining, we walked around the Market to take a look at the different products they carried for sale. Now as to the food, the 6 Falafels were good but a bit towards the dark side meaning overcooked. The sauce that came with it was very good however. The Kufta Kabob Sandwich was amazingly fresh and delicious and the accompanied fries were well seasoned and nicely fried. And the sauce that came with them was also one of a kind. Judging from the friendly and welcoming attitude from the owner and another employee we met, from the variety of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern items on the menu, and the amazing flavor of the food we had, this is definitely the place to go if you're in the area for Mediterranean cuisine.

Ambiance lends itself to taking your food out; part grocery store, part seating area. Service was…read moregood. I would not eat here again: food was not delicious. Lamb shawarma was dry and plain. Greek salad had no dressing. Tabouleh was bleh. Food was fine, just I regretted going here and paying money for it is all.

An excellent coffee shop requires a combination of high-quality coffee, a welcoming atmosphere, and…read moreexceptional customer service. Its success depends on skilled baristas who are knowledgeable and friendly, a comfortable space with amenities like Wi-Fi, and a menu that offers variety beyond just coffee.  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 Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea in Salem, Virginia, is a perfect example. I arrived at the City of Salem Farmer's Market parking lot, which is adjacent to the back entrance of Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea. And parked my Lexus there after reading the sign that one could park there for 2 hours free, Mondays through Saturdays 6AM - 6PM. After entering through the back door, I noticed that there was a small private dining room there and a hallway with its wall full of paintings from local artists for sale. The hallway lead to a wooden furniture with display shelves with the Coffee Shop t-shirts, mugs, and bags of coffee grains for sale. The environment was comfortable and welcoming, created through elements like clean spaces, good lighting, and appealing decor of artworks for sale from local artists. Their granite counter and very nice pastries display cases gave the place an elegant look together with its original hardwood floors. I waited in line in front of the ordering counter until it was my turn to order. I was welcomed by friendly and professional staff, who were very knowledgeableabout their products. I young lady who took my order and a young gentleman who served my coffee. I ordered a Breakfast Plate with two fried eggs, over easy, four bacon strips, and a white toast with butter. And to drink a Mocha Coffee. The young gentleman who made my coffee recognized me from when I did a review of their Downtown Roanoke location, and made me feel at home. The cook in the kitchen did an awesome job cooking my eggs over easy, (just the way I like them), and the four strips of bacon, even though they were very skinny and for that reason shrank somewhat. The medium Mocha Coffee was amazing. Someone who I believe was the Caffee Shop manager was very kind and helpful, and brought the plate to my table. After enjoying my food I went back for something sweet and ordered one of their Cinnamon Rolls which were made in-house. It was one of the best cinnamon rolls that I've ever had. I finished drinking my Mocha Coffee while enjoying the cinnamon roll. In conclusion, I had an extraordinary dining experience there, and highly recommend this Coffee Shop for breakfast, lunch, or even for an afternoon snack. Everything about the place was wonderful. But above all, their customer service was exceptional.

I stopped in here to get a vanilla latte to go. The girl behind the counter was cheerful but her…read morecountenance changed when I didn't give her the tip she was expecting. I asked for an extra shot of espresso but I don't think she gave it to me as I didn't taste it. The place is very hip and had tons of seating. They are in the historic district so it was nice place to go to. I would go to this place again if I was in the area.

I've been to almost all of the Arellano family El Rodeo restaurants, from the original one, El…read moreRodeo, located on Williamson Road, Roanoke, Virginia, to the most recent and majestic one, El Rodeo Chico, located in the Daleville Towncenter in Virginia; all have been wonderful, each in its very unique way, but considering a combination of the ambiance, the decor, the variety of items in the menu, the quality of the food and the way it is cooked and presented, together with the excellent customer service, this one located on West Main Street, Salem, Virginia, which is family-owned and operated by a local Arellano family, I consider to be one of the best of them all. 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 El Rodeo Mexican Restaurant in Salem, Virginia, is the perfect example. As soon as I arrived, I liked and admired the exterior architectural design of their building, with a covered outdoor dining area patio. Once inside, the Host greeted me from behind the Host's station and took me to one of the booths, providing me with a beautifully designed colorful menu with color photographs of some of their main items. Not long after, I was brought chips and salsa to my table and my server Daniela came by to greet me and give me a warm welcome. She then proceeded to take my drink order. After I inquired about their non-alcoholic drinks, she recommended one which was so good that I ended up having two. To drink I had a non-alcoholic Mangonada, a Frozen Mango Margarita Mocktail that tasted as good as it looked. For my main course I ordered the Burrito California, a gigantic pork burrito covered with cheese, pico de gallo, and slices of avocado on top. It was so amazingly delicious that I can't believe I ate the whole thing. The small pieces of roast pork were well marinated and slow cooked to bring out its flavor. My compliments to the Chef of this restaurant, for I have had this dish before in other restaurant and none had tasted as good as this one. Their Chip and Salsa were so also so good that I continued to enjoy them while eating the burrito. My sever Daniela came by to check on me at the appropriate times, yet she forgot to offer me a glass of water, and with the excitement of the meal and Mango drink, I didn't request one. It was amazing how fast the restaurant got full of customers. Even though the wooden chairs were comfortable, when the customers moved them around they made a loud and annoying sound as the wood scraped over the floor. I would recommend they place on the bottom of the chair legs some chair pads to prevent this uncomfortable noise from happening. For dessert I had the Churro Cup Sunday. The churros which made up the cup were crunchy on the outside and soft in the inside providing an amazing combination to the ice-cream and toppings. I could see the manager from where I was seated and although I was disappointed of his lack of detail by not visiting my table to say hello on this my first visit to his restaurant, as I was leaving I approached him to thank him for such an extraordinary dining experience. I highly recommend this Mexican Restaurant and am looking forward to returning soon to have some other items I saw in the menu.

FOOD POISONING!!! Our family stopped here on our drive from NYC to Atlanta. We've long stopped…read moreeating at typical fast food places, and this place seemed like a safe choice. It was not. My 19 month old son & I got sick immediately (diarrhea). By the time we got to Atlanta my 9 year old daughter was sick (diarrhea & vomiting). We all had a variety of tacos. Common denominator was the chicken tacos. Literally today 03272026. I hope this passes quickly bc we have a family party in New Orleans to attend.

Being an out of towner, I'm an avid review checker before selecting somewhere to get my hair done…read more I want somewhere decent that won't break the bank and Salon Capelli seemed to fit the bill. It also didn't hurt that their store front want cute. Everything seemed great until the stylist asked if I was planning on returning for my next set of highlights. When I said I didn't know, I felt like I no longer became important. I was given the quickest haircut of my life which left it all one length (I have wavy hair, think triangle shaped) and uneven, then was placed under a dryer for 20 min and sent out the door with it still damp. When I called to have it fixed, the stylist seemed incredulous that there was anything wrong and bullied me with me leaving still unhappy. It was the most expensive ($40 + tip) worst haircut I've ever received. I ended up just going to Great Clips and having it fixed. Perhaps Salon Capelli is a great place if you intend to be a regular, but as one timer it was not a good experience.

ooh no. did not introduce herself to me, as a first time client. Overcharged from rate she'd given…read moreme on phone. dirty and dusty work station with hair from previous client in scissors on same table she was working from for me. rude and abrupt. bums rush. should have scheduled more appropriately. never again. too bad. lost my business.