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.

I've been following their social media for awhile now and finally had the chance to try their…read morelobster roll! I'm a fan of a Connecticut style roll (hot buttered lobster roll) so this was on my must-try list. The roll was expensive ($25) for a very small roll (we finished it in three bites) BUT it did contain both claw and tail meat. The roll was fresh and buttery and the lobster was cooked well. I only wished the lobster contained a little more butter. They had other items on the menu such as crab fries, coconut shrimp and on Facebook they show snow crab rolls coming soon (yuuum). The staff were really kind and even threw in a few fries for us to try. Overall, a nice experience but just expect to spend some money!

Note that this review is for the food truck when it was in RVA…read more Ok, so I should have tempered my expectations because this is a food truck, and I'm not in Maine, though with the lines and the social media hype, I was hoping to be blown away. Sadly, I wasn't. Service: I stood in line for 40 minutes before I ordered and then another 12 minutes for my food. Yes, there was a line ahead of me, yet there really was zero sense of urgency to move that line at above a snails pace. I also had to ask for forks and napkins Sandwich was pretty small, and lobster was chopped up and heavily seasoned. IMHO, it didn't taste fresh either, like maybe the seasoning was an attempt to cover the quality or freshness. Roll was not sturdy enough to support the lobster (pretty sure it was a cheap hotdog bun) Two sandwiches =$52. Alot for what it was and for lunch at a food truck My rating rationale Service +.5 Food~Taste/flavor/quality +1. Presentation +1 Atmosphere/vibe Value

People ask me all the time: "What is your favorite restaurant in Roanoke, Virginia?" And my reply,…read moreafter considering all of the wonderful restaurants in this Star City is ... "Billy's", in the heart of Downtown Roanoke. 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 Billy's in Downtown Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example. From the very first time I visited and dined at Billy's, I fell in love with it. I don't know if it was its history. Its historic building was constructed in 1912 and originally housed the Ritz Hotel. Then in 1979 John and Betsy Williams opened "Billy Ritz," named in homage to the building's history and a former local saloon. For 29 years (1979 - 2007) the Williamses operated the restaurant, making it a popular downtown fixture. In 2007 the restaurant closed and in 2008 the building was purchased by new owners: Neel and Neal Keesee. Following extensive renovations that preserved its historic character, the restaurant reopened in May 2012 as "Billy's". And since then Billy's operates as a popular downtown dining spot with a focus on fine dining, and is celebrated for maintaining a piece of old downtown Roanoke history while providing modern, upscale dining. Or maybe it is, its refined American cuisine with a focus on steaks and fresh seafood, such as scallops, shrimps, lobsters, mahi-mahi, southern salmon, or catch of the day. Or its drinks, a well-curated bourbon bar with an extensive wine list and signature cocktails. It might also be its elegant and historic atmosphere, with a clasic dining room, a trendy outdoor patio, and private dining rooms to host private events and celebrations. Or even its corner location in one of the most valuable and desired areas in the heart of Downtown Roanoke. But even if all of the above are an important factor in my selection, I would say that last but most important of all is its staff; from its managers, its cooks, its bartenders, and its servers. They are not only knowledgeable, professional, and hospitable, but together form a team with the goal of making you feel at home there and having an extraordinary dining experience. That's why I say: "Any day can be made special by dining at Billy's." This Saturday, I went to dine there after making my reservation in the Open Table app. Even though they could not honor my initial table request for a window view table in the main dining room, the manager was kind enough to accommodate me at a window view table of another very quaint dining room facing the outdoor patio. I believe it was table 54, served by the very friendly, kind, and efficient server, Savannah. She first brought me an amazing drink prepared by my favorite bartender. Then she gracefully took my order. I had Four Bacon Wrapped Scallops as appetizer. An 8oz Filet cooked medium-rare with a Lobster Tail enhancement, Cheddar Smashed Potatoes, and Grilled Asparagus, as my main entrée. And for dessert, my favorite, their famous Crème Brûlée. She did an excellent job in making sure I was well taken care of by coming by at the appropriate times and even when she was serving a large table in the main dining room, she made sure to send the principal host to see if I needed anything. As I was dining, the restaurant's manager came by my table to say hello, and that is something I truly appreciate from any quality restaurant I dine at. What an outstanding dining experience. And even if I was only one customer dining there that busy evening, the following day I received a text message from one of my fellow Yelpers who was in town for a week of conferences and was looking for a place for a "friends' get-together. And without any hesitation I recommended Billy's. If a picture is worth a thousand words, a good word is worth many customers. And thus, I give this restaurant a 5 Star and now you know why.

Always heard about Billy's, so decided to give it a try. As…read morewe walked in, we were greeted by Melia, the hostess. She was very cheerful and friendly.I liked how there is actually space between the tables . The restaurant is spacious and nicely decorated. Our waitress Melissa was excellent. She had some great suggestions on what to try as we were first time guests. The calamari was fresh and crunchy. The glazed bacon was delicious. The lamb chop lollipops were ok, too raw. Caesar salad was tasty and one order is enough for 4 people. My NY strip steak was tender and cooked to perfection. I tried a side of risotto and was definitely not disappointed. I find they have a good selection of wines as well. Billy's is definitely a great choice for a nice dinner!

For our last night of our stay in Roanoke we wanted to have a special dinner at a local restaurant…read more I am really glad we found Hollywood's. Debbie, our waitress was fantastic. Great stories and excellent service. I had the Catfish Matrimony, my wife had the Club, and the rest had the half rack of ribs, filet and meatloaf sandwich. The portions were huge. The Catfish was fresh and cooked perfectly. The half rack of ribs was a large portion of very meaty, tasty and tender ribs. The meatloaf sandwich had enough meatloaf for another meal. The filet was great and my wife loved her club sandwich. We were all so full, we had to take dessert to go. The carrot cake cake was great. Thank you again Debbie, we had a great farewell dinner.

Excellent service and food. A local favorite in Roanoke. Desserts are divine! Highly recommend.read more

There are not many rooftop restaurants, but out of the few, this one seems to stand out, not only…read morefor the beautiful view, but for its exquisite cuisine, amazing cocktails, and extraordinary customer service. After being ranked 4th among Yelp's Top 50 Most Prolific Elites of 2025, a distinction recognizing my consistent community engagement and high-quality contributions, 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 establishments, and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to go back and write follow-up reviews on those places that impressed me the most during 2025, and Sixth and Sky Rooftop Grille, located in the heart of Downtown Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example of one of them. Today, before going to watch the That's so 70's Concert at the Mill Mountain Theatre, located in the Center in the Square, where this restaurant is also located, I decided to have dinner there, recalling that I had dined there the first day it opened, and many other times as well, for its one of my favorites restaurants in Roanoke. I made my reservation through Open Table for four o'clock, requesting table 62, which is the one I've always dined at since they opened the restaurant. When I arrived I parked my pearl white Lexus in The Center in the Square Garage, conveniently located next door and operated by PARKRoanoke, where you pay a reasonable fee by scanning a QR code when you arrive, fill out the information about your car and credit card payment and it tracks the time from when you arrived and submitted this information to the time when you leave the parking garage, automatically charges your credit card. There is a door from the garage to the Center in the Square building, where I took the elevator to the restaurant on the 6th floor. Once I arrived at the restaurant at the exact time of my reservation, the elegant and friendly host lady greeted me and took me to my usual table after recognizing who I was. Not long after, Kassidy my server arrived, gave me a warm greeting and took my order. To drink I ordered a Virgin Cranberry Mule. As appetizer I had the Scallop Thermidor, followed by a Side Mixed Green Salad with tomatoes, onions, parmesan cheese, and croutons, with Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing. As my main entrée I had their 8oz center cut Filet Mignon cooked medium-rare, served with mashed potatoes and asparagus, and with herb butter on top. 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. My server brought me a glass carafe of water with which she filled my water glass. Even the water here is high-quality and served elegantly. My Mocktail tasted simply marvelous. I enjoyed it to the last drop. The Scallops Thermidor had an amazing flavor, and I enjoyed enmensely. Everything was served at the right timing. Then came the salad which was made with fresh, quality ingredients. And the Filet Mignon was so tender and cooked just right, that while I was eating it I was already thinking on returning to have it again. The asparagus were fresh and just the right thickness to be able to enjoy them to the fullest. And the herb butter gave the mashed potatoes and everything else the perfect flavor. The manager gracefully took time to come and visit me at my table. He genuinely welcomed me and showed appreciation for my visit and for the good customer I've been of the restaurant ever since it opened its doors. Little did he know all the people that I've recommended this restaurant to. For dessert I had the Bananas Foster Beignets. The croissant dough of the Beignets were a bit overcooked, but overall the dessert tasted amazingly delicious. Next time I will remember to remind the cooks not to overcook the Beignets. In conclusion this is and continues to be one of my favorites restaurants in Roanoke, and once again I had an extraordinary dining experience there.

I really love this place and the views. At last dinner there, Grace was our server and she was…read morewonderful! I would definitely recommend going here. The food is delicious and well presented. They are also very attentive to the food and any special requests you may have. My 2 picky issues - had oysters on the half shell, they were sandier than they should be, and the "bread service", which is a paid item, I really don't get this trend, especially at such a high-end restaurant. Don't charge for your bread, it feels tacky and unnecessary, IMHO.

We drifted off the beaten path to check out this place out traveling between Atlanta and Lexington,…read moreVA. It's a fair bit away from the Interstate, but I can tell you that it's worth the trek. When we got here for lunch, there was a line out the door and the smokers out back hard at work told us this was the place to be. We got served pretty quickly and found a table. The place is neat and clean with a decent amount of seating both inside and out. The missus had a brisket sandwich and I got the pulled pork with slaw, pinto beans and mac&cheese for the sides. The servings are HUGE and that smoke ring isn't just for looks. The meat was done perfectly with the smoky flavor and not dried out. I also tried one of their homemade sausages. Absolutely fantastic! Snappy casing with a filling that included creamy cheese hunks and a level of spicy that was just right. We pride ourselves in having high standards when it comes to BBQ, and this joint didn't disappoint! We've been to numerous BBQ joints including the famous award-winning Big Bob Gibsons in Northern Alabama and this place comes in well over that. We visited with the owner (Kelly) and had a great experience. The staff we interfaced with were both friendly and engaging. I would give this place 6 stars if I could. Highly recommended!

Not sure about the food. I know Mama Jean's is considered one of the best, but I was left with a…read morefull but unsatisfied feeling. Let's break it down. The daily special was a beef brisket cheesesteak. The sandwich was large, the meat copious, and the cheese was well integrated. I think there was mayo on it, because the sandwich was soggy and runny. I ate one half as a sandwich, one half with a fork. No banana peppers to add to the sandwich. The bread was slightly hard, contained the filling, but not the juices and cheese run-off. Very messy. Coleslaw was just a pile of sliced cabbage. Not much taste. Very disappointed for all the hype. Other than salt, there did not appear to be any seasonings. The meat was definitely brisket, but lost its identity in the cheese and bread. Staff was very nice and helpful when ordering, wait was not long even though there was a huge wave right behind us. Drinks are cans/bottles and you pay per. Would I go back? Not sure, I really didn't get a bbq experience from a bbq joint. I think I will try another joint or two before I go back.