It is said that valuable things come in small boxes, but never in my wildest imagination did I…read moreconceive of a place like Stellina. 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 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 Stellina, in Downtown Roanoke, is a perfect example. Stellina (which means "Little Star" in Italian) is a secretly hidden little bar within the very popular Italian Restaurant Fortunato, but with its own entrance through a door on the right of the restaurant. Its only indication of its name is a small letter board behind one of its front windows, stating its name and hours of operation. This bar was constructed with reclaimed wood from the Old Crow distillery and opened in December of 2016. Since then its gain a reputation as the ideal spot for hand-crafted cocktails in a cozy and intimate atmosphere. It seats only about 20 people, with 7 at the bar. Not that long ago it gained recognition by being featured in the New York Post as one of the world's best small bars. All that I can tell you about this place doesn't do justice to the experience of visiting the place for the very first time. After stepping inside, I was mesmerized by the simple yet effective, elegance of the establishment, complimented by the beautifully dressed young lady, server/bartender. Her elegant style and mysterious personality contributed to the character and ambiance of this one-of-a-kind relaxing place. The very hospitable young lady welcomed me and handed me the drink menu, while asking me if I also planned to dine there. I answered in the affirmative and asked her if they had any Mocktails. To my surprise, she pointed out that one side of the Drinks Menu were all non-alcoholic drinks, including mocktails, bottled mocktails, wine by the glass, and beers. I ordered one of the mocktails and by the end of my meal, I think I must have tried a few. She then brought me Fortunato's menu, and I ordered the Fritto Misto as appetizer and the Pork Milanese as my main entrée. I enjoyed both course immensely. A lady employee brought me the food from Fortunato's Restaurant through a door that led to the restroom area of Fortunato's Restaurant, pass the kitchen. For dessert, that Which I consider the "Grand Finale" of a wonderful fine dining experience, I ordered their Tiramisu and Hot Chocolate. They were absolutely mouthwatering. I highly recommend this place and can't wait to return in the near future.

Tried to get reservations at Fortuna, but could not. Stellina offers their menu and is right beside…read morethem. Stellina is small and on a Friday they were packed in. Scored at the bar which worked fine for me. Service was lukewarm, but still ok. Service started out slow and improved. However, no check-ins were performed at all. I was given a cocktail and food menu. I knew I wanted an Old Fashioned and dropped an order for their lamb meatballs. Shortly after I decided on the eggplant Parmesan main. My drink with Rittenhouse Rye bourbon was tasty, just not much of it price at $17 steep too! I also ordered a specialty hot rum drink with pumpkin spice at $10 that was amazing! The meatballs hit quickly and were devoured! So yummy! About 15 minutes later the main dropped and was huge! Really quality and flavorful for a vegetarian dish. Overall the food was better than the service and prices were stretched. 3.5 rounding down due to service.

Beer was very good I give it high rating…read more Late (9pm)on Tuesday only one person working so service was a little slow and menu limited. Pretty empty. It was ok but actually the wings and pizza were pretty decent.

Fantastic dive bar for local entertainment. We decided to…read morestay overnight night in Roanoke VA and wanted a cold beer and pub grub and not drive far, this place was perfect! The bartenders we great and the pub-grub perfect. Best of all they had Berry and Beth providing live music. We felt the music was done just right, it has personally not too loud and a good mix.

Great place to eat, after a few rounds at Brookside Par 3 Golf. Staff is very hospitable and…read morefriendly. My favorites are the whiting fish sandwich( generous portion) wings, hamburger sliders I am sure the entire menu is just as tastey...Pool tables, plenty flat screens and cold bottles.

Rarely have I walked into a restaurant and felt so good about it, as I did when I discovered this…read morecasual American restaurant known for its hearty meals, friendly atmosphere, and affordability. After being awarded the Yelp Triad 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, businesses, and entertainment venues, 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 Don Ho's Restaurant & Lounge in Hollins, Virginia, is a perfect example. Located off Lee Highway, in Hollins, Virginia, a road less traveled by me, until I decided to take it in search of this gem of a restaurant, which until then I had no idea it existed, even though it has been opened for 25 years. On its parking lot sign it clearly states "Serving The Area Since 2000." From the simple architectural design design of its building and humble entrance, you would never imagine what the inside would hold for you. As I opened the door and walked in, the first thing I saw was a little Christmas tree that you could tell was decorated with lots of love. The reasantly renovated dining room was clean and cozy with a combination of booths, tables and chairs, and some small high round tables with high chairs. In the center of the restaurant was a square counter with the cashier station, the Pepsi products machine, some desserts and Christmas decorations. As I was looking around a friendly and very hospitable waitress welcomed me and said I could have a seat anywhere I liked, handed me a copy of the menu, and took my drink order. I ordered a Pepsi to drink. After returning with my drink, she took my food order. I ordered a cup of their Chili Beans to start off with, and as my main entrée the Half Pound Black Angus Cheese Burger with their special fries. First of all the Chili Beans were amazing. One of the best that I have ever had, and one of my favorite foods. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and its food. Then came the burger. It was delicious with fresh soft burger buns and all the toppings a good burger should have. And their unique fries were one-of-a-kind. The waitress came by to check on me at the appropriate times and to provide drink refills. For dessert I had a slice of one of the best Key Lime Pies that I had ever had. The merengue on it tasted like the home-made one my mother used to make when I was growing up. When I was finished, my waitress encouraged me to go take a look at the Lounge in the back room. It was nice, with two pool tables, a colorful lit bar, tables and chairs, booths, large screen tv, and even a small stage.There, besides drinking and eating, you can shoot pool or sing karaoke. Smoking is allowed in the lounge, which has a special ventilation system. However, the restaurant side of the establishment is completely non-smoking. Before leaving I got to meet the owner himself and felt the great attachment he has for his restaurant of many years, for his staff that has been with him for years, for his loyal customers, and for his son and general manager Jo Jo, who is learning all he can from his dad and hopes one day to take over the restaurant and continue the family tradition. As I was leaving, after a very satisfying dining experience, I noticed some Award plaques on the wall. This year 2025, Don Ho's had cleaned up in the Roanoke Times readers awards for best bar, waitstaff, restaurant, burger and best customer service at a restaurant. I highly recommend this one-of-a-kind restaurant & lounge, and who knows, maybe when you go and visit, you'll run into me there, because I definitely am planning to return real soon.

Well my 1st time at Don Ho. It was a small patronage and 75% seniors. I'm a senior. So not really a…read morething for me. The menu was average and prices average. Service good. The decor modest and really not very welcoming. A little too modest. Not sure what this restaurant is trying to be. Name and decor not really similar and we were there in the last week. Food was good so that would be a reason to perhaps return and try again.

Great spot for drinks. Everyone was super friendly and the atmosphere was very welcoming.read more

Legends is back to karaoke and dance music and great times lot of great memories here!!read more

This place was great! Food was super hot and very good. Drinks were delicious.! Beer was as cold…read moreas my heart!! Service was amazing and we met one of the owners who was super amazing. I recommend this place for anyone who wants great food great service and check out their specials. They've got really cool specials going on especially for kids. I do recommend this place 100%. I would've never thought it would be so great !!!! Check it out! Andrew was our server cute as a bug!

Terrible smell walking in and in the dining area that wouldn't go away. Kind of ruined the…read moreexperience. He got fiah and I got a pizza. Pizza was ok but the cheese was not. It was soft and runny and had a weird taste. He said the fish was over breaded and nothing special. Service was good and we left in time because a huge group came in as we were leaving. Wouldn't go back. Second time and still nothing special.

Loved this brewery (full disclosure, the band that was playing- Night Shift- was amazing and the…read moremain basis for this review!). The beer was good and the ambiance was fun. Lots of bonus points for being dog friendly! Also enjoyed the fire pits and Cornhole games! Service was friendly and efficient.

We were visiting the area and wanted to check out a local brewery…read more We arrived shortly after 7pm after parking in a small parking garage down the street since their parking lot was full. It was a beautiful fall evening and there were a good number of people enjoying both the outdoor and indoor spaces. We made our way inside and were impressed they also had a live band playing on the stage. We looked around a bit, enjoying the industrial feel of the building and the music. We took a place in line and ultimately I chose a pint of the Bareback Bronco IPA. We love good swag so we made our way to look at the offerings. My wife quickly commented on their cute and clever designs which are printed on soft, comfortable cotton shirts, hoodies, etc. They also had a good selection of assorted discount t shirts available in small, xxl and xxxl sizes. The band engaged the audience with the Chris Stapleton favorite, Tennessee Whiskey which was fun. We ultimately decided to enjoy one of the high top tables outside while I drank my beer, which I enjoyed and ended up purchasing an additional 4-pack for our long weekend in Roanoke. Great stop, if you enjoy local breweries, make sure to stop in. We noticed they are also open Sundays. We did see some people with food that appeared to either have been delivered or they brought with them.

When I first reviewed this Downtown Roanoke Restaurant, I focused on their drinks and food. But…read morethis time around I couldn't help it to discover why this place is the center of Roanoke's night life. 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 it would be appropriate this year to go back to this restaurant and write a follow-up review, since my initial review was one of my reviews that contributed to me obtaining this highly esteemed Award. I arrived on a Thursday evening with a 6:15pm reservation which I'm glad I had made because later I found out that this place gets to be a full house on Thursdays. A young lady host greeted and welcomed me at the Host's station as soon as I arrived. She checked my reservation and had my table all ready for me. Located in the middle of this very popular Restaurant Bar, gave me a nice view of the entire place, and with a light high above I had a perfect lighting to photograph my drink and food as part of my review of the place. My server Jillian arrived soon after I was seated. She had a wonderful personality and welcomed me with a friendly smile and very pleasant attitude. After answering me some questions about their Mocktails, I ended up ordering their Raspberry Burro. For dinner I ordered their BBQ Bacon Chicken Kababs with a side of their special fries and a salad. While I was waiting for my food to arrive I observed the place quickly filling up and I found out that tonight was Music Bingo and Live Music at 9:30pm with no cover charge. It brought me back to my college days in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts, where the night life was a thing to look forward to. Suddenly I discovered the key of Martin's popularity and the important role it plays in contributing to making the City of Roanoke a Star City indeed. I enjoyed my drink and the Chicken Kababs with the side of special fries were amazingly delicious, as well as the salad. They have a good variety of quality items on their menu and their chefs amazingly deliver. I invite you to read my first review where I celebrate their Cuban Sandwich and Slaw, and view my photographs that accompany my review. What a night. Besides the food, I enjoyed playing the Music Bingo, which one of the card titles was The 1970's. One of the best years of my life, when I attended High School in San Juan, Puerto Rico and College in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts. During that time I also won a Saltwater Fishing Tournament at the young age of 17 by catching a 405 pound Blue Marlin off the coast of Isla Verde, Puerto Rico. It was the best of times for me. My server Jillian provided exceptional customer service, checking on me at the appropriate times. For dessert I ordered their Glazed Doughnut Bread Pudding, and it was so good, I can't wait to return to have it again. What an extraordinary dining experience I had that night. I highly recommend this restaurant and bar for when you feel like having a good time, alone or with family and good friends. I promise you will be able to sabor what a Five Star review is all about, and experience for yourselves why Martin's is one of the City of Roanoke's most precious gems.

I was told to check this place out while I was in town. When I arrived they had a trivia contest…read moregoing on, I didn't participate but sounded like fun. The service was good. Sat at the bar and had a burger which was pretty good.