My family and I stopped in for a late breakfast today, and Paul's did NOT disappoint. The pancakes…read morewere fluffy and buttery, eggs cooked perfectly and the bacon and sausage were delicious. The staff was very friendly and even gave my two kids brownies, on the house! We will definitely be back our next time through town :)

Tucked away on a side street not far from the Roanoke Public Library, in Downtown Roanoke, this…read morelong-standing, family-owned dinner is known for its Greek and American comfort food, and praised for its friendly, family-style service, reasonable prices, and "hidden gem" atmosphere, operating on a cash-only basis, with the convenience of an ATM machine inside. It has been in existence since 1948, owned and operated by a lovely Greek immigrant couple, who from the moment you walk in, make you feel at home. Open daily from Monday through Friday, it is one of the few restaurants around that opens the earliest for breakfast, at 6AM, and closes at 1:30PM. Today, I decided to re-visit the place for an early breakfast, since it has plenty of free offstreet parking up to 8AM. I arrived at around 6:45AM and parked next to the sidewalk in front of the restaurant on a street parking spot. There were already some steady customers dining inside. As soon as I arrived the wife and co-owner gave me a warm welcome and I reciprocated by wishing her a Good Morning in Greek. Somehow, I find that making an effort to speak to others in their native language, establishes an immediate, friendly connection with them. I sat at one of their booths, and she asked me if I wanted coffee to start off with. I answered in the affirmative and then gave her my order. I ordered Paul's Breakfast Special. 2 eggs, with choice of bacon, ham or sausage, home fries and toast. All this, including the drink of your choice, for $8.00. I ordered my eggs over easy, bacon for the meat, and white toast. If you look at my photographs accompanying this review you will notice the quality of each of the items in my breakfast and how they were cooked to perfection, just as I requested. The bacon strips were thick and meaty, and cooked to order. The eggs were perfectly over easy. And the home fries were slices of potatoes fried just right. After delivering my breakfast to my table, she came by to refill my coffee. While I was enjoying my breakfast, other groups of customers came in and also received a friendly, warm welcome. A father and daughter came in, and soon after, the lady co-owner brought a slice of freshly baked cake with a lit candle on top and sang to the girl the Happy Birthday song. Relaxed ambiance, quality food, and excellent service, make for an extraordinary dining experience. Sometimes one finds the most amazing restaurants, tucked away on a side street.

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.

The mussels carbonara is out of this world! You can't go wrong here! The staff is amazing and…read moreextremely knowledgeable about the menu!

Love this place. Passing through and hungry so we relied on our Yelp app to get us to a great place…read moreto eat. This place did not disappoint. Appetizer of freckles was delicious which is fresh, fried pickles with a delicious homemade sauce. Portions are huge. Our main course was grilled chicken house salads which included perfectly cut vegetables such as heirloom tomatoes. Delicious dressings which seemed to be housemate. Bonus-bathrooms are decorated beautifully and super clean. Highly recommend.

I went to Roanoke's main tourist website before traveling to Roanoke. I discovered that the Mill…read moreMountain Star is the top attraction. Like Diamond Head and Waikiki are icon landmarks in Hawaii, and Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island in New York City, Roanoke has the Mill Mountain Star. It was a short 15 minute drive from downtown Roanoke to the Star itself. My friend and I decided to spend a little time here before heading back to downtown Roanoke for dinner. It looked like a beautiful drive and it ended up being one of the most beautiful ones I've done all day in Roanoke. Once we got to the parking area, we found parking and walked to the viewing platform. The overlook was fenced off from people who happened to be looking a little too close and might fall off the cliff. There was informational signage for those who want to learn more about the area and the mill mountain star itself. The views were spectacular looking out into the city of Roanoke and Roanoke valley. It was very beautiful and amazing to see. The mill mountain star is the symbol of the city of Roanoke and it is made out of neon tubing and is 88.5 feet tall. It was initially created as a Christmas symbol but gradually became a symbol of the city of Roanoke. I soaked it all in for maybe 10 minutes and took a selfie with the Mill Mountain Star before we went back to downtown Roanoke for dinner. It was definitely worth going, even if it was just 30 minutes, including the drive times. Definitely Recommended if you're in the area. At least there is restroom facilities here, which is a big plus. The overall experience here at the Mill Mountain Star was breathtaking and indescribable. It was a highlight of my trip to Roanoke, Virginia for sure. The drive up the hill was nice and definitely walkable if you want to, just watch out for cars if you do. There is a long bench directly in front of the structure that you can sit on to rest. On this March 2026 day I was here, my friend and I came across a group of adolescent girls who happened to be sitting on the bench at the time. All 5 of them hanging out together. Thought that was pretty neat and typical. Friends hanging together. After reading those information signage at the Mill Mountain Star, I gazed out into the Roanoke valley and reminded myself that it was absolutely great that I am able to travel. How the history of the Roanoke valley came to be and how the city gradually was formed and is currently thriving. The area is kept clean by the local parks department and there were a few trash cans around for visitors to throw away their garbage. There's also restroom facilities here too for visitors. After leaving downtown Roanoke and driving south towards Rocky Mount, we saw the Star being lit up for the evening. It was great to see it being lit up as a landmark of Roanoke. If you're in the area and want to look at the top attraction of Roanoke, swing on by. Best bet would be to come in the morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds if possible. The Mill Mountain Star is the iconic symbol of the city of Roanoke, Virginia. Its physical address is located in Mill Mountain Park, 2000 JB Fishburn Parkway SE. There was no admission fee required here, which s very nice. Just be respectful to others that are around and keep the area litter free. As far as parking goes, there are maybe 8 parking stalls that are readily available for visitors. You may want to avoid crowds for the best time possible. If you're a fan of public transportation, bus route 41 takes you from the 3rd street station in downtown Roanoke close enough to Mill Mountain. You'd stop off at the Dollar General at Riverland Road EB and Garden City (Hwy 116) but you'd have to walk close to 2 miles from there to get to the parking lot and the Mill Mountain Star. There is also the Mill Mountain Trail head if you don't want to follow the road leading up to the Star. Might be more scenic if you have the time to hike versus driving. And of course, there's always Uber and Lyft if you need them for your convenience. It was one thing that I can knock off my list to visit. It's quite nice to see at night. If you're in the area and want to see the Roanoke Star, come on by. And by the way, There's nothing up here besides restrooms and a parking lot, as far as amenities go. Best thing to do is eat or drink before or after you visit. 5.0 stars for the overall experience. Support local! A+

We stopped here on our travels to Roanoke. We read about it being one of the most visited places in…read moreRoanoke. We followed the directions and arrived before the sun was setting. We were told it is great place to see the sunset. We parked in the small parking area and took the short walk to the observation deck which is just below the star. The view from the observation deck is amazing. There is a display that shows the mountains you can see with names and distance. We read there is another observation deck if you follow one of the trails but we did not explore more. Our only recommendation is to get here early because parking is limited.

I had high hopes for this place. Beautiful atmosphere, friendly service but the price for the…read moreportion was a little more than I would have ordinarily paid. I had the grilled salmon. The salmon was slightly over cooked and a tad bit salty. I wouldn't recommend not going but give them a go. It may have been an off night.

I came in with big hopes and feel torn about this review. I think the issue is there are so many…read moreunique and amazing restaurants within walking distance in downtown Roanoke that my expectations are HIGH. The dining area is an interesting mix out copper table tops, wood chairs, and exposed brick walls. Character. I had a pineapple upside down cake cocktail. It was yummy But it was filled with tiny ice slithers that made it difficult to drink without choking on ice until the slithers melted. I always appreciate a good Luxor . The food was fine... I was just hoping to be awed. I had the grilled salmon was looking, for medium but it was definitely well done. It was will seasoned and I was hungry, so none went to waste, lol. I was just hoping for something special. The veggie side was small and basic but well seasoned and the potatoes were also well seasoned but missing the Chicago butter sauce advertised. Instead it had a tiny smear of what I'm assuming was cocktail sauce. I tried the cheesecake bread pudding which was their bread pudding of the day. Overall it was good. I wouldn't have minded more cream cheese and was kind of disappointed the strawberries came out with the leaves still attached. At this price point, I don't want to have to remove things on my own. My server was great, she was training someone new but still managed to be perfectly attentive without being over bearing. With Sidecar and Stock so close by, it takes a peak performance to get me to repeat a restaurant stop when I'm in town for work. This was a solid 4 today but there are 5 star worthy places that have my attention.

Was able to order a cake for my dad's birthday in advance on the website that was super quick and…read moreeasy to use. It might be my favorite cake I've ever had! The perfect density and the ganache is so rich and flavorful.

I picked up a slice of death by chocolate cake and it was extremely mediocre. The slice was very…read moresmall and dry and completely overpriced at $9 (I live in DC and would have thought it was overpriced at home!) The frosting was the best part...and I don't even like frosting! The interior was nice and inviting and the staff was friendly but I definitely won't be going back.

I have been to this place a wide variety of times, and every single time they have impressed me…read more It's beautiful inside, the staff are wonderful and accommodating. For the food, everything I've had has been a 10/10. My go to is a half order of the biscuits and gravy! It is always so flavorful, the biscuits are giant and fluffy. The gravy is seasoned perfectly. My second go to, as well as my girlfriend's is the hot honey fried chicken biscuit. Portion wise that thing is hugeee, most of the items are so they are absolutely worth what you pay! The chicken is so tender and crispy, breading is amazingly seasoned as well. This paired with the jezebel sauce is heaven on earth. I cannot express how much I love this place, their food is wonderful, their biscuits are massive, and their service is great. Only issue I've ever had was my delivery order never showing up (not their fault but the delivery drivers) and they immediately comped and replaced my meal. 100% recommend.

Love the seating area outside, dog friendly! Nice large biscuits- super hefty that'll keep you full…read morefor a long time. Wait wasn't too long. Nice variety on the menu for everyone, from breakfast tacos, plates, French toast to biscuit sandwiches. Loved it for a casual group breakfast.

I've been to the Regency room several times but never for Sunday brunch. To be honest I wasn't…read morevery satisfied. It was a normal hotel morning breakfast. Nothing spectacular and no imagination at all. Very overpriced for such a bland breakfast $40 a person. It was all buffet style. Service was not the best, had to ask for water multiple times, and the dirty dishes were taking up most of the table. We had to start stacking them. We had a table of four people so it was quite annoying. At one point our server said a large table was coming in after us and was about to be seated so he needed to take care of them before he could ask us our drink order. We had already eaten more than half our food before we ordered our drinks. There was plenty of parking cost $6 for up to two hours. Bathrooms and lobby were beautiful and very clean. I think I will stick to night time dining. At least i can check the Regency Sunday Brunch off my brunch list.

This was one of my favorite restaurants when I reviewed it for the very first time. So after being…read moreawarded 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 to return to dine here today and write a follow-up review to a restaurant which I consider one of the gastronomic gems of the Star City of Roanoke. So much so that last year I had the privilege of dining at this restaurant on my Birthday. Once again my dining experience at The Regency Room at the Hotel Roanoke far exceeded my expectations. Lowell, the Maitre d' (French for 'master of the house'), known as the dining room manager, with primary responsibility of ensuring that guests are satisfied, greeted me with a warm welcome and took me to my favorite table which I had requested when I made my reservation. There I was able to enjoy my meal while listening to the live Jazz Trio Entertainment, who among other songs, graciously played the Aladdin theme song which they remembered I had requested they play last time I had dined here. Soon after I was seated at my table, my server Brittany came by and gave me a warm welcome. She helped me choose the Chai Blossom Mocktail to drink, and not long after, one of the assistant servers delivered a basket of nice fresh bread with a little bowl of soft whipped butter. To me, the quality of the bread and butter of a restaurant is one of those little things that make the big difference in the unique dining experience. The drink tasted just wonderful, and as I was enjoying it my server surprised me with a tiny hors d'oeuvre called Amuse Bouche, explaining what it was. I can only remember that the taste was exceptional. I had the Oysters Rockefeller as appetizer and the char-grilled Filet Mignon medium rare as my main entrée. Everything was prepared and cooked to perfection and with a wonderful presentation. For dessert I had their special Pistachio Crème Brûlée. It tasted amazing, and reminded me of the Dubai Chocolate, one of my favorites at the moment. And to finish off the evening, the maitre d' Lowell, surprised us all by singing the song "What a Wonderful Word", as the Jazz Trio played along. Louis Armstrong would have been proud of his rendition. What a grand finale to conclude what was an extraordinary dining experience!