This was not a good experience. We had thought work would provide lunch today, but it had been…read morechanged. So we tried to call a pizza place we had been to several times before. Every time we called the number a machine answered.

The weather around here has been unpredictable lately. Today as I was driving to dine at a…read morerelatively new restaurant the clouds in the sky began to turn gray and a strong wind began to blow. So I decided to turn around and dine at home from a restaurant in DoorDash. I picked Leonore Restaurant, a Venezuelan imigrant-owned restaurant founded in 2012 by Miguel Liendo in Roanoke, and that now is located on Apperson Drive in Salem, Virginia. It was created to bring people together through food, and features a unique fusion of Italian and Venezuelan cuisine. I've had the privilege of dining at the restaurant when it was located on Campbell Ave in the heart of downtown Roanoke, and of ordering delivery via DoorDash several times before. Today, I ordered one of Venezuelan most popular dishes as well as one of my favorites: The Pabellon Criollo. It is a traditional Venezuelan dish made of shredded beef, black beans, white rice, avocado, a fried egg, and ripe, sweet plantains. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the high-quality and variety of the food this special dish contains. This time when I made my order on the DoorDash app it allowed me to have my order delivered via their expedited service for free, while normally it's an extra charge. The DoorDasher Elliott delivered the order on time and brought it inside a special DoorDash bag made to keep your food hot. He opened the bag at my door and handed a simple black plastic bag with my order to me. The food arrived well packaged and organized in a strong, Hefty plastic container with a see-through cover, inside a shining black plastic bag. The flavor of all the items contain in this dish amazingly stood out. The avocado was nice and ripe, thus bringing out its flavor best. Same with the ripe plantains, which when fried brought out their sweetness. The savory shredded beef was a great combination with the simple white rice and the egg to top it off. I enjoyed every bit of everything this dish contained, and highly recommend this restaurant for its masterpiece cuisine, and am looking forward to dine at its Salem location next time to also enjoy its friendly environment and satisfying customer service.

Always a favorite and this trip did not disappoint. We weren't sure what time we would finish up…read moreour work on this particular Thursday evening so I waited to check for a table last minute. Thankfully we were able to get it with just a 30 minute wait or so. I had dreamed of arancini all day long only to find it was not on the menu any longer unfortunately! Heartbroken. All of our dishes were still delicious of course but please bring back the arancini! Service was impeccable, lighting and cocktails on point, still on my short list of all-time faves! Can't wait for our next visit!

Fortunato was an experience. From cozy posture friendly chairs to amazing filling and decadently…read morecooked meal, beautiful ambience, open kitchen, muted lighting, conscientious service.. this place is simply amazing. We were a group of eight, who magically became nine and we were accommodated. We let them know ahead that we had a vegetarian in the group, so they made markings to a separate menu card to help us choose. The drinks were well done, Food was so creative and done just right. For dessert we chose the chocolate salami platter, which was awesome. Our top recommendations, eggplant Parmesan, spinach and cheese pasta, roasted olives, brussels sprouts, and the chocolate platter. Give this place a try. Keep up the good work guys.!

Great pizza good staff was hot and staff helpful and friendly was quick and hot would recommend to…read moreanyone who loves piazza like me

Sometimes it is in the least expected places where we find the most amazing food. So today I set…read morecourse to 7th Street, Salem, Virginia, in search of that little restaurant in an alleyway producing some very unique quality pizzas. 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 Gusto's Pizza in Salem, Virginia, is the perfect example. I arrived at their parking lot first. It was located on the left side of the restaurant's building and had a mural of a caricature of a pizza with a slice coming off of the pizza. On the left side of the colorful mural was painted the Salem baseball field and scoreboard and on the fence of the field the words "EAT LOCAL" were printed with white paint on it. As I parked my car and walked around toward the front of the restaurant's building, I noticed that it had a patio with outdoor seating up front surrounded by a natural color wooden fence with the letters of the name Gusto's in black glued onto the fence. I reach to an open area of the fence that lead to the entrance of the restaurant after passing by the outdoor dining patio with outdoor tables and chairs. Inside I discovered a newly remodeled, clean and cozy restaurant with a small bar. It had the main dining room and then another small open one a couple of stairs up in the back with booths and tables and chairs. The restaurant had a very pleasant and relaxed environment and you could tell that most of the customers eating there were locals enjoying a Friday night out. The hostess/server young lady, Marisa greeted me with a friendly smile and gave me a warm welcome, and walked me to my table and handed me a copy of the menu which contained a nice variety of items. I was undecided whether to have the Meat Lasagna or a Deluxe/Supreme Small Pizza. After consulting with her, she recommended that I have their New York-style pizza because they make their own pizza dough from scratch, fresh ingredients, and cooked in a stone oven. It did not take long to convince me. I also ordered a small house salad.with their very own made Ranch salad dressing. I invite you to view my photographs and video clips accompanying my review to get a better sense of the place and the freshness of the food. As I waited for my pizza, I ate my salad which was fresh and delicious, and observed how the restaurant was filling up, and many customers were stopping by to pick up their To Go orders. When the pizza arrived, it was like no other I've ever had before. Their in-house made dough made the crust taste very special and very gourmet and all the ingredients tasted fresh and top quality, including the cheese. I enjoyed it so much that I ate it all. My server came by at the appropriate times and brought me a refill of my Cherry Coke which she had made at my request with Coke and a cherry syrup. In conclusion, I highly recommend this place for an amazingly unique and delicious pizza and other good food, an excellent customer service, and an extraordinary dining experience. I definitely plan to return.

One of our favorite places! Service is always great and the food is wonderful. It's charming &…read morepleasant with a cute little bar area as well.

One of the best Italian Restaurants in the Roanoke area, Luigi's is one of my favorite restaurants…read morearound. The owner is very warm, kind, and hospitable, and every time I've dined there I've felt right at home. I've received excellent service in a cozy environment and the drinks and food have been to par with my high expectations of a restaurant of this nature. However, I was a bit disappointed when I dined there this time. Unfortunately the owner wasn't feeling well so she appointment one of her best servers as Host in charge. When I arrived, since I showed up without a reservation, she greeted me by asking what I wanted, if to order for takeout. This was a bit insulting, since I was there to dine in, like always. I then requested to seat in the well lit dining room, in my usual table next to the window. She consented and took me there. Shortly after, a young lady server shows up and greets me. Not giving me enough time to study the menu, she asks what I wanted to drink and what I wanted to order for dinner. Without asking for her opinion, she starts telling me what she thinks I should order as appetizer. It was like she was trying to rush me. I don't know if it was her inexperience or lack of training, but I was beginning to feel uncomfortable and asked the Host to change my server and explained the reason why. My server replacement was completely the opposite. He was the epitome of customer service. Philip had good manners, was respectful, and didn't rush me, taking his time to make sure I had a relaxing and enjoyable dining experience. The first thing he did was introduce himself as my new server. He then repeated my order that my previous server had taken to make sure it was right. I already had my Fried Calamari appetizer on the table. My house salad was with balsamic vinaigrette dressing. My Filet Mignon was to be cooked medium-rare and served with sautéed mushrooms, broccoli, and delicate new potatoes. During my meal, he made sure my Iced water glass was always full, and after my Filet was served and I had a chance of cutting it, he came by to make sure it was cooked appropriately, just like ordered. The Filet was cooked medium-rare, the broccoli was fresh, and the potatoes were delicious, but the mushrooms were not seasoned nor sautéed enough and were somewhat tasteless. For dessert, I had my favorite, the Brazilian Custard Pudding. As I was leaving my server opened the door for me and thanked me for dining there, while the Host stood inside without even having the courtesy to say goodbye. I hope the owner of the restaurant reads this review and takes action to see that her restaurant is run appropriately, and each of her customers is treated as they should.

Located in the Mountain View Plaza, off Lee Highway in Troutville, Virginia, this family-owned…read moregenuine Italian restaurant, is well-known for its New York style pizza and its homemade doughs and sauces, as well as its real mozzarella cheese. The restaurant doesn't have a full bar, but they do serve beer and wine. My friend and I who love Italian food decided to go try it out today. As soon as we entered the door we were warmly welcomed and greeted by a friendly young lady who to us to our booth and handed us the menus. The dining room was very clean and decorated with cute yet elegant Italian artworks on the walls. The menu was very extensive and contained popular items such as homemade lasagna, pizza, Philly cheese steak subs, and unique Italian dinners. . Our server, another very welcoming young lady with a big smile came by and took our order. Although most of the customers there were sharing a pizza, and they looked so delicious, we both decided to have the Stromboli with the works. Believe it or not, I think this was the first time that I had ever had Stromboli at an Italian restaurant. To drink we both had Cokes. When the food arrived, the Strombolis looked so fresh and delicious on the outside, and in the inside it contained fresh quality ingredients such as Mozzarella, Green Peppers, Onions, Pepperoni, Sausage & Mushrooms. I was very impressed with its homemade dough and real Mozzarella cheese. The Peperoni, Sausage, and all the other ingredients were also quality products. Our server came to check on us at the appropriate times and provided us with some refills for our drinks. They had some good Italian desserts on the menu as well, but we already had planned to have dessert at another place. Everything was so good, that even though we hadn't finish eating yet, I already was looking forward to try one of their pizzas or unique Italian dinners. I also found the prices to be very reasonable for the quality of their food. I highly recommend this place to all those who love Italian cuisine, and I heard they are currently in the process of expanding.

Everything was fantastic, meatballs appetizer was good, salad was fresh with the dressing made in…read morehouse. Chicken Alfredo with sautéed mushrooms and the chicken vodka penne were both fantastic. Huge portions and the the service was great too! Highly recommend this one!

Amazing establishment & personable staff who know their stuff when it comes to wine tasting &…read moretidbits. Absolutely delightful wine & delish food which makes for a pleasant evening.

A total hidden oasis! I came here not knowing what to expect and discovered the perfect sanctuary…read moreto unwind. They have a short but absolutely wonderful menu where every choice is a winner. It is an amazing spot to enjoy quality time relaxing or sharing a glass with special people. Highly recommend! After having been selected as number 4 of Yelp's Top 50 most prolific Elites of 2025, a year when I was also 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 Stave & Cork in Downtown Salem, Virginia is a perfect example. As soon as I arrived, an elegant yet friendly lady greeted and welcomed me, explaining this unique establishment and what it had to offer. I explained how today I came to learn about the place and have dinner with a non-alcoholic drink since I was driving. She served me a glass of water and explained the different items on the menu. The menu included artisanal cheeses, charcuterie boards, house-made dips, and made-to-order paninis, as well as a Cheesecake Flight sweet. I ordered the Peaks of Otter Panini which contained Pulled Pork, Swiss Cheese, Pickles, and Mustard. And was served with kettle fried potato chips. While I waited for my order to be served on one of their beautiful polished walnut tables, I observed how some guests had a Wine Flight paired with a Charcuterie Board. And how their knowledgeable staff and owner guided the guests through unique varietals. When my food was ready it was brought to my table. The Peaks of Otter Panini was amazing. It had fresh, juicy pieces of pork, that together with the Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard tasted more like a gourmet Cuban Sandwich. And the chips were also fresh and crispy. Before leaving I walked around and noticed they had a back dining room as well as an outside dining area. Their wine selection focused on small, boutique wineries, offering a diverse range of local, domestic, and international wines. They also had some shelves full of local artists woodwork items for sale. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and its high-quality food, wines, and products from local artists. On my way out I met with a local couple of friends and remained talking with them for almost an hour. Again, I highly recommend this place and am looking forward to returning with some friends.

At first glance, it looks like any pizza place in a small shopping center. BUT, do not let that…read morestop you from having a slice or two! The young lady that took my order, was fantastic, courteous and very nice. The place was absolutely clean and cute. Confession time... I'm a full-blown pizza addict, and I'm perfectly okay with that. Wile visiting the VA medical center in Salem, I just had pizza from Tivoli Pizza in Salem, and wow... absolutely fantastic! Great crust, great flavor, and every bite reminds me why pizza is my favorite food. Will I ever apologize for my love of pizza? Not a chance. Life's too short to skip great pizza. If you're anywhere near Salem and haven't tried Tivoli yet, you're missing out. #PizzaAddict #NoApologies #SupportLocal #TivoliPizza

Located off the road less traveled and housed in a cute little place, in Salem, Virginia, Tivoli…read morePizza prides itself in having the best Halal Pizza around. And rightly so. 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 Tivoli Pizza, in Salem, Virginia, is the perfect example. As soon as I entered this Pizza Shop, I was very impressed by its cleanliness and cute interior design of the place, as well as by the flow of satisfied customers eating inside the restaurant, and others making Take Out orders. A friendly young lady greeted and welcomed me at the counter and explained to me a little about the restaurant, its owner, and its menu. It was a family-owned restaurant and the owner was Egyptian. They have a variety of excellent items on the menu but they are best known for their pizzas. I ordered a House Salad and a small Supreme Pizza. And for dessert I ordered a Tiramisu. They were all delicious. The salad had fresh ingredients. The pizza crust was very good and the ingredients, especially the cheese were amazing. You could tell the owner/chef took pride in his cooking. This was actually the second time I've eaten from an Egyptian and both times they have far exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend this place for its relaxing ambiance, amazingly delicious food, friendly staff, and excellent customer service.