Los Arcos Mexican Restaurant is located in a nicely designed but older restaurant building with…read morecolorful furniture off Peters Creek Road in Roanoke, Virginia. Many times my friend and I had driven by this restaurant wondering how it would look inside and how the food would be. From past experience Mexican restaurants were either amazingly good or unfortunately poor. So today we decided to go and try it out. No longer would it be a mystery to us. We had no idea of how the ambiance would be inside, nor the customer service, nor the quality of the food. We arrived around 4:45pm for an early dinner on a Tuesday late afternoon. The outside architectural design of the building was full of arches, hence the restaurant's name of "Los Arcos." It had a nice outdoor patio dining area surrounded by a low wall full of upside-down arches. Since it was a record high temperature day, there was no one dining outside, but the area looked nice with each round iron table having a large red umbrella to protect customers from the sun. When we entered the restaurant, we were greeted and immediately taken to our table and given copies of the menu. The menu was very well organized with subject tabs and color photographs of their most popular items. When our server came by to take our order, we both ordered iced water to drink and as our main meal my friend ordered the Enchiladas Mixtas and I ordered the Burrito Jalisco with grilled steak rirfrom the Specialties of the House page of the menu. As we waited for our server to arrive with our meals, we munched on the complimentary Chips and Salsa. The chips tasted good although they didn't look that fresh and the salsa looked nice but tended to be on the hot side, with no mild available. When our food arrived, my friend enjoyed his. Mine had missing the pico de gallo side. The chorizo was very tasty as it should be, but I question the steak quality. Not that it was hard or brittle, on the contrary, I felt that it was too soft and spongy. It was seasoned right with lots of lemon juice, but it's texture left a lot to be desired, especially to me who am a steak connoisseur and afictionado. The side of rice was a bit dry and lacked freshness. The dessert menu selection was a very good one, and their photographs made them look so good, yet they were the greatest disappointment of our meal and dining experience. We both ordered Churro Cups. By now the restaurant was almost half full, but this was no reason for the time to prepare and serve our dessert to have taken longer than to serve our food. Then the crust of the Churro Cup was overcooked and hard. By hard I mean I was not able to cut it nor eat it. Yet it looked so good that you would have never imagined that it was inedible. I even asked for a knife to cut it and was unsuccessful. I asked one of the servers for the manager and he told me there was no manager, that he was out until 6:00pm. So I was not able to complain about the dessert or have it comped. The menu of this Mexican restaurant is amazing but I find that the quality of the food and execution of cooking them is lacking from the part of the cooks there. And the absence of a manager on the premises is questionable. For this reason and for the problems I encountered with my meal there, I don't think I will return, especially with so many good Mexican restaurants around. It's a pity because otherwise this restaurant has the potential of being a great one.

Food: The best Tex-Mex in the Valley with great margaritas…read more Service: Good Ambiance: crowded, but worth the hassle Parking: Its bad. Small parking lot which fills up quickly.

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.

When I first reviewed this little Mexican Restaurant located in a Marathon Gas Station in Vinton,…read moreVirginia, they had just started out and its restaurant's sign was just a custom vinyl banner covering up the U-Haul sign of the business that was there before. Yet the word out there was that this hole in the wall little restaurant had good food at reasonable prices. 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. Today, this Hispanic family-owned restaurant remains a "hole in the wall" dining establishment, housed in a space out of a Marathon Gas Station. Their delicious Mexican Food from their origins in San Diego, California, and their reasonable prices, remain the same. Yet now they have a professional outdoor storefront sign, and they've changed their logo somewhat. The word Burrito in Spanish not only means the Mexican food item. It also means a little donkey; and originally their logo was a cute caricature of a little donkey. This was The house of the Little Donkey Taco Shop and Mexican Food. Inside the restaurant they still have a framed glass with this logo painted on it. Now they've substituted the little donkey with a food burrito. I'm not sure why they did the change. Maybe it was to promote their burritos. But whatever the reason, their delicious and inexpensive, authentic Mexican food remains the same, as well as the simple decor of the restaurant itself. And they still charge for their chips and salsa, justifying the way it's done in Mexico. The complimentary Chips and Salsa is an American Tradition that started in Mexican Restaurants here in the States. As I approached the counter to order my food, the enlarged menu was posted on the side wall. A friendly young lady in uniform greeted me and gave me a warm welcome. She answered some questions that I had about the menu and took my order to eat in. I ordered two Corizo Tacos as appetizer and a Adobada Chimichaga Combo (Marinated Spicy Pork), served with rice and refried beans. To drink I ordered a Pineapple Jarritos soda. I asked the employee if they had any physical menus. And she told me they didn't because customer would take them home. I would recommend to the owner of the restaurant room have some small menus designed and printed, and give them out to their customers because they would be a perfect marketing tool to bring in customers and also increase their Take Out orders sales. They currently don't have desserts. Some restaurants do this in order for customers to spend less time in the restaurant and allow others to sit and dine, thus increasing their sales. The young lady who took my order asked me to sit down at a table in the dining room and she would bring me the food when it was ready. It was amazingly delicious as always, and for the price you got more than your money's worth. I highly recommend this restaurant for when you feel like eating good Mexican food in an informal, relaxed environment.

We have been eating here for about 7 years. The food is not the problem. Things have changed in the…read morelast couple of years with customer service. The last time we were in the restaurant, my husband waited in the lobby for quite some time. No big deal, these things happen. But what bothered was his experience. After placing the order, when the employee went to hand him his change, he extended his hand and rather than place it in his hand, she placed it on the counter. We got over that. That may not bother some people, but we are old fashioned to have that expectation? We returned last week for another takeout. We watched as customer after customer walked in after us, placed their order, but left before us. He finally asked "did I upset someone"? Found out the food had been left at another station and sat there. For a good amount of time. All she says was "the burrito is still warm, do you want to feel it?" Of course the burrito is warm. It has potatoes in it. (by the way, we should have taken a photo because compared to what we used to get, the burrito was not the same). What upset us is she had an opportunity to apologize, but not a word. It felt as if she didnt want to have much to do with him. (just how it came across) The owners are not like this so we dont hold it against them, but do wish we would feel more like a valued customer having eaten there with my family for so many years. The food is still good, the customer service sucked.

First time making a review in Roanoke. But we needed a quick place to eat that would allow our…read morefurry pal eat with us. In comes this gem of a place. Food here was pretty great. The ambiance was impressive. It kind of (like a lot of Roanoke for that matter) was upscale redneck and just good times. One of my favorite vibes. The band was excellent. The service was good. And the outdoor seating area was surprisingly perfect. Would come again.

Right in the heart of Grandin Village one finds the Village Grill. The place to go to "Fire Up the…read moreFun." From the very first time I went there, I felt right at home. It's a place you are welcomed from the time you step in. The food and drinks are wonderful, and the service is extraordinary. 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. When I arrived the place was full. People enjoying quality time with significant others, in a comfortable environment, drinking and eating to their hearts desire. I stood there, waiting to be seated, and somehow I didn't mind the wait. Who would be my server, Chelsea came and greeted me with a smile, letting me know that soon she would have a table for me. And this was not a fake promise like they tell you at other places to keep your hopes up. As soon as some customers left a table near by she went to clean it and set.it up for me. Last time I came here, I came with.a friend, this time I came along. And you know what, it didn't mind to her the size of the party, she treated everyone the same. With the same respect and caring attitude. And you know what. This is really what makes tje big difference in coming to eat here. In no time at all she had me seated at a 4 person booth looking over the menu and enjoying a Strawberry Saffron Tonic Mocktail which was the first thing I ordered. You know what, it doesn't matter what drink you have to enjoy yourself and have a good time, it's just a matter of attitude. Right then and there, you can sayI hadva great attitude of life. This is the kind of feeling this place brings out in their customers. More than customers, they see us as their guests. Even though I was looking at the menu, I already knew what I was going to have. A sandwich that ever since I moved to Roanoke, has become my favorite of them all in this Star City: The Ricky Ricardo of the Village Grill. Having been born in Cuba and grown up in Miami and Puerto Rico, I have learned to appreciate a good Cuban Sandwich. And this is not only one that comes close to it, but has perfected it with their golden touch and creativity, and yet maintaining it true identity. There is nothing greater one can say from an item from the menu. The fries that accompanied it were also amazing. My server Chelsea provided great service, coming by at the appropriate times to check on me. For dessert, I had the Cheesecake Du Jour that happened to be Peanut Butter, my favorite. What a Wonderful dining experience I had here. Needless to say, I highly recommend this place for its great ambiance, magnificent food, and excellent service. I can't say enough good things about it. I invite you to view my photographs that accompany this review and see for yourself, and then go visit this place and experience the magic.

On a rainy Sunday evening at around 6:45pm I arrived at this small Mexican restaurant and the first…read morelesson I learned was to "Never judge a book by its cover," for when I entered I found an almost full restaurant with just a couple of empty tables. As I waited in front of the Host's station to be seated, a friendly lady came out from the kitchen, greeted me with a warm welcome, took me to one of the few empty tables and handed me the menu. It was four pages, but designed very colorful and creative with lots of tiny photos of some of the food items. To drink I ordered an Iced Horchata (Sweeten Rice Water). This cold non-alcoholic drink tasted sweet, creamy, and refreshing, with a prominent cinnamon flavor. First time I had it but I immediately fell in love with this very unique and comforting taste. As an appetizer I ordered a dish with shrimps, which I had seen being served to another table. As the main dish I ordered a Chori-Pollo, which was basically a grilled chicken breast filet topped with Mexican sausage and cheese dip. And a side steak taco. And for dessert I had the Churros. Everything tasted delicious with an authentic Mexican cuisine. Even the loud background music gave the place an authentic Mexican flavor and atmosphere. In conclusion, this is a local Mexican family restaurant where you feel at home in a relaxed environment, enjoying genuine Mexican food prepared by natives of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.

We went in on a Tuesday when the restaurant was mostly empty. They had $2 Birria taco specials…read morewhich you can't beat. They were pretty big and delicious! The apps were just ok- queso seemed watery , salsa very mild. The corn bowl was good but not out of this world. Service was very friendly , waiter checked in on us multiple times. There was some music and some soccer games on. Would def return for the taco deals.

I placed an online order for an event of 20 people. To order online was effortless. Arrived on the…read moreday of pickup, everything was ready, packaged accordingly, the server that assisted me double checked the bags, explained what was in each bag. He confirmed that we had enough plasticware, sauces, seasonings and helped me carry my order to my car. My food was prepared correctly, presentation was great (considering it was a carry out order), and precise. Flavor of the food was perfect. It was hot, tender and a wonderful smoked flavor. Sauces were extremely savory. I would most definitely recommend Due South BBQ for your next event.

Picture a no-nonsense Southern BBQ joint--the kind where you smell the smoke before you even open…read morethe door. Inside, it's all worn wood tables, checkered paper, and the low hum of conversation over country music. The walls might have a few local photos or license plates, but nothing fancy--this place lets the food do the talking. The pulled pork sandwich is the star. It comes piled high, the meat slow-smoked for hours until it practically falls apart. Each bite hits with that perfect balance--smoky, tender, just a little crispy on the edges. Then there's the sauce situation. You've got options lined up on the table--sweet and sticky and tangy vinegar-based. Half the fun is mixing and matching until you land on your perfect combo. On the side, golden hush puppies arrive hot and crisp--crunchy on the outside, soft and slightly sweet inside. The fries are perfectly salted, and just begging to be dipped in leftover sauce. And dessert? Banana pudding, served cold in a simple cup with layers of creamy vanilla pudding, sliced bananas, and soft vanilla wafers that have soaked just enough to melt into everything. It's rich without being heavy--the kind of dessert that feels like it came straight from someone's grandmother's kitchen. It's not fancy, it's not trendy--but it's exactly what you want when you're craving real, honest BBQ.

Service was great and portion sizes for the price are huge. Perhaps an overabundance of vegetables…read morewith the fajitas. Was left unimpressed by the chips and salsa this visit. Chips were not fresh and salsa had no pizzazz. The cheese dip is way too runny. It is in fact more like cheese sauce which they advertise on many of their dishes. Love the decor of the restaurant and the friendly service.

This is one of Roanoke's must beautiful architectural designed Mexican restaurants…read more A third generation family-owned and operated restaurant from the first family to bring Mexican cuisine to Roanoke in 1986. It is well known for its authentic Mexican cuisine, including fajitas, tacos, and margaritas. Agave Azul originally opened as El Rodeo in 2001. Then in 2019 the Lopez family rebranded the restaurant, changing its name and design but retaining their style and original recipes. The change in redesign was made to better reflect the way one should experience Mexican Food in contemporary society, and to honor the vibrant, evolving culture of contemporary Mexican cuisine. As I arrived today in my pearl white Lexus and parked it in their very convenient parking lot, I couldn't help but to admire the beautiful structure of the restaurant's architectural design of its building. Once inside, a welcoming gentleman greeted me and took me to one of the booths next to the windows of the dining room and handed me a copy of the menu. Shortly after a friendly young lady came by and introduced herself as my server and took my drink order. I ordered a virgin mango margarita. While she went to request it at the bar, one of their employees brought me their complimentary basket of chips along with the tiny bowl of salsa. What can I say, they were irresistible and amazingly delicious. I found myself looking at the menu and at the same time dipping my chips in the salsa and eating them. When the margarita arrived it looked amazing. So fresh that one could see the lime slices juice dripping onto the table. To dine I ordered the Parrillada Fajitas and asked her to also include chorizo for an extra charge. She acknowledged that could be arranged and went to the kitchen to place my order. She then disappeared. I suspect they had given her a large table in the other dining room because the restaurant was not so full and yet she took so long to bring me my fajitas that when they arrived they were not sizzling hot with smoke coming out of the cast iron skillet. Before I had time to mention this to her, she had quickly disappeared again. I tasted the fajitas and they were so good that I ate them and didn't bother complaining. Besides I was so hungry that I couldn't wait for them to remake them just to see the smoke coming out of the skillet when served. But this was a bit disappointing because it was the first time it had happened at any Mexican restaurant before, and I felt it took away from the excitement of watching your fajitas being served sizzling hot. A side plate came with delicious Mexican rice, refried beans, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, and guacamole. Also I received some hot flower tortillas wrapped inside a piece of aluminum paper. The time went by and I had finished with my meal and my server hadn't showed up. I was looking forward to having a dessert. When she shows up she does so with my bill. I told her I was planning on having a dessert if it was possible, and that if she could please clear my table. I ordered a Xango Cheese Cake that was supposed to come drizzled with caramel and chocolate. But instead it came drizzled with sugar and honey. After having a bite of it I didn't seem to mind because it tasted so good like this as well. Then another long wait to get the bill. Luckily in this restaurant you paid the bill at the cashier's counter. It's a pity that I let my dining experience escalate up to this point. I hope the owner and manager of the restaurant reads my review and takes action so this doesn't happen again. Next time I will definitely not allow this to happen again. In conclusion the food tasted very good but did not arrive sizzling hot; the ambiance was pleasant but lacked the Mexican background music, and the service was definitely lacking, but I'm willing to give this restaurant another try honoring its generational history.

Enjoyed the tacos from the ~famous~ Tacos El Tico! We got chicken tacos with cheese! The cheese was…read moremixed into the chicken, which was so worth the extra 25¢! Definitely recommend & support a small business!!

10/10 love this place great food great prices. This is the place to go if ur local. So affordableread more