Roanoke's Historic Grandin Village has many restaurants of all sizes and types but one that stands out is Rockfish Food & Wine. Founded in 2005 by Olivia and Rocky Byrd, this family-owned and operated fine-dining restaurant was established to bring a high-end yet relaxed seafood and wine dining experience to this area. It offers a seasonal menu and an extensive wine list of over 270 selections. 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 Rockfish Food & Wine located in the heart of Grandin Village, one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Roanoke, Virginia, is the perfect example of one of them. After making a 5 o'clock reservation on the Toast platform from the restaurant's website, I did some errands and then proceeded to drive to the restaurant located at 1402 Grandin Road. (This is considered the Main Street of this neighborhood) The restaurant's building is located next to a small 7-Eleven, and doesn't have parking, but I found plenty of on-street parking spaces good for an hour or in some cases two, and free after 5 o'clock. I picked one of them and parked my pearl white Lexus there. When I entered the restaurant, a young, elegant lady greeted and welcomed me behind the Host's station. Soon after she took me to the requested booth, I found out her name was Kayla and she would be my server. While I was reviewing the menu, she brought me a carafe of cold water with a glass, and a small dish with slices of a baguette and butter. She then took my order. To drink, besides the water, I ordered a Strawberry Fields Mocktail. It had just the right taste and was brought to my table by the bartender herself. To dine I started off with a Crispy Oysters appetizer which was delicious. Followed by a Dinner Mixed Green Salad, which was one of the most delicious salads I've ever had at a restaurant. It had many ingredients and tasted amazingly delicious. For my main entrée I had their Ribeye Filet Au Poivre median rare. It came served with roasted mushrooms, green beans, and cheesy mashed potatoes, and was cooked medium-rare just as I ordered it. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and the high-quality food. My server provided exceptional customer service, filling my glass with water, and pointing me out the restaurant's owner who was an elegantly dressed, distinguish looking lady with lots of charm and a great personality, who had moved here with her husband and co-owner from California's central coast with a vision of creating a fine-dining restaurant which they felt the local area needed. I also found out through my server that every Thursday the restaurant had live Jazz music to a full house audience, and I would need to make reservations early. Seated at the table next to mine were a distinguished looking couple which I established conversation with and found out that the lady was Dr. Laura Treanor, the fifth president of Virginia Western Community College, who began her term on July 1, 2025. She had succeeded Dr. Robert "Bobby" Sandel, who retired after over two decades of service, and is leading the college with a focus on institutional effectiveness, instructional quality, and student success. For dessert I had their Vanilla Cheesecake with mixed berry sauce, which had missing the fresh berries described on the menu. I had just had such an extraordinary dining experience that I didn't even mention it. Before leaving and after paying the bill with my Harvard Alumni World Mastercard, I had the opportunity of meeting the founder and co-owner of the restaurant, Olivia, and thanking her and her husband for such a wonderful dining experience I had today and always whenever I dine there. read more

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Based on noticeably high prices we went expecting a high end dining experience and got just the opposite! The server was friendly and helpful but that is the only positive comment. 1. The Caesar Salad was really small, over-dressed and croutons, dry, hard and not bite-sized. 2. Fried Oysters were greasy, tasteless, overpriced, mostly breading, overly watery. Not an appropriate way to prepare Oysters. 3. The deep-fried Grits were breaded with Panco, not the right product as they are grease sponges and the Grits were mushy, too few and came with no dipping sauce. 4. The Tuna Tacos were the best item but only average at best. Very little tuna tartar and not chopped, not much flavor, served over tiny, raw, corn tortillas that should have been buttered and crisped in a pan. 5. The live Jazz with Lenny Marcus was great but the PA system was poor and one could not understand the vocals. 6. Seated right under a ceiling fan on high and AC set low and was quite uncomfortable. read more

While enjoying a night out and eating at rockfish for the first time, I learned that the owner has had this place for 20 years, and still works behind the bar. She said she opened it because "Roanoke needed a place like rockfish," and she's not wrong. The food and drinks were delicious. We had pistachio and crusted salmon., and rack of lamb. The salmon was absolutely fantastic. I would've liked a little more lamb in my lamb dish for the price, but it was cooked very well and tasted delicious. Atmosphere is both high-end and casual at the same time, and the drink drinks she makes aren't lite on the pours. I absolutely plan to go back! They host live music quite often and it's a nice place to go. Listen to some music knock back a couple cocktails and have a great meal. Oh! And the charcuterie board was amazing! read more

The food is so fresh and inventive and beautifully plated. Service is impeccable and they didn't rush us. A really classy trendy spot.

This is one of our favorite restaurants in Roanoke ... great food and good service. They also have a nice wine list, and Olivia the owner has always been spot on in her recommendations. Would highly recommend! read more

just had a wonderful dinner with my wife and two friends. This is one of my favorite restaurants. The salmon was perfect. Flavorful and cooked to perfection. The fried oyster appetizer was great as well, but could have had more oysters. Wonderful setting and terrific waitress. The interior is nicer than other high end restaurants. Noise level is good. Service first rate. Yes, it is pricey, but worth the cost. Better than some of the other high end restaurants in town. James P. read more

I've been here several times and to e food is delicious! Great wine selection also. Servers are professionals. I live sitting at the bar and enjoying the local ambiance. read more

Rockfish Food and Wine - Chicken breast with Dijon mustard gravy, green beans and cheesy mashed potatoes. Perfect for a night out. - Seafood Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

Upon walking into the restaurant, the first thing we smelled was the mold. Our waitress was nice and the servers were great. I didn't like the portion we got which was ridiculously small considering the price and I was disappointed by that. read more

Rockfish Food and Wine - scallops and rice - Seafood Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

Sad to say that Rockfish has gone downhill. Last two meals have been awful. Salad was limp with greens way past their prime. Shouldn't have been served. Duck confit was quite overcooked. So dried out it was hard to swallow. Was the cook asleep to put that on a plate? What's the story with having to ask for bread? Should be on the table. Every time bread is requested, server says, "warming up your bread." Never arrives warm, don't need it warm, so that's some useless party line. read more

Was in town briefly and this place was so cute! We were welcomed by the waitress and she was so great. We did have a reservation some open tables and we were seated immediately. Great cocktail list and the food was delicious! read more

Rockfish Food and Wine - Crab Stuffed Trout - Seafood Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

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Hate to say non positive things about a local restaurant especially as they are struggling to deal with taxes etc. but we have been here 4 times. We won't be back. The first time we had a good meal, the other three not so much. Went for my birthday and ordered scallops which came with Polenta (actually they were grits) and green beans which were frozen. Last time one of us ordered sirloin steak which was so tough it was inedible. Last night our guest had salmon and the piece couldn't have been 4 oz. My husband ordered crab cakes (they were fishy and old) with yuca (so hard it couldn't be cut) and both of us had broccolini which couldn't be cut either. When entrees are $30 and up, you expect better. read more

Delicious and flavorful! We had the House Crab Cakes and the Crab Stuffed Baked Trout. A cozy space with occasional live music. Billie was a lovely server! read more

Rockfish Food and Wine - Dessert - Seafood Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

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We walked in right when they opened at 5:30pm. We were the first customers there and were told they only had two, 2-seater tables next to the window. Umm, ok. It was so cold in that section we left our jackets on. Service was fine. Food was fresh and tender, but incredibly bland tasting. We had calamari, redfish, and the bolognese. They had a live band setting up to play at 6:30pm. The restaurant is not that big to begin with, and we were not about to stick around to try to fight being able to hear each other. Oh, and when we left 45 minutes later, there were only 2 other people there, stuffed into another 2-seater table somewhere else. Yet they were "so busy" they had to put us in a freezing corner. What happened to the "only tables available" were where we were? read more

I was traveling in Roanoke and stopped in for dinner. The staff are nice and it was a cute place that seems to be frequented by locals. I'd say the food is good but nothing that is exceptional. The filet mignon was small but tasty (usually like it with more of a sear/crust), potatoes were good, green beans that didn't really have tomatoes in it were forgettable. The key lime pie was just ok. Glad I stopped in but not sure I would return it back in the area given the price point for what you get. There are some better options in the city. read more

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My wife and I had a delightful dinner here after visiting g two other wonderful nearby spots for lunch and wine tasting. We started with oysters as an appetizer. They were good, but a couple were a bit rubbery. The salsa along with them (more of a pico de gallo) was a really nice pairing I never would've come up with. My wife got one of their specials- a pecan encrusted (or was it almond?) mahi-mahi on mashed potatoes. It was quite tasty if not the most visually appealing dish (brown on tan). I ordered the shrimp and grits. It was good but not with a great deal of seasoning. Good, but not amazing. We both ordered their flourless chocolate torte with blackberry...THAT was amazing!! All in all a very nice dinner. Torn between the 4 & 5 stars. The attentive and polite server pushes it to 5. read more

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Not good especially for the prices. Steak with sauce tasted rancid. Food was not fresh, no beets in the beet mixed greens salad, flavor profile off. Peach cobbler had no "cobbler" in it. Only 3 slices of peach. Tried bite of my family's entree and stopped eating. Disappointed to try this place for the first time. Bok choy not cooked well. Travel all over the world and do not recommend. read more

Good Job! I recently sent some friends to your location that are new to the Roanoke area. You did not disappoint! They were very excited about trying some new places in their new home town. Thank you for having an awesome waitstaff and service selections. I will continue to recommend your location for great service, wonderful selections, and gathering of friends. BRAVO! read more

Food was amazing, sat at the bar, loved the atmosphere. Parking was on the street, strange security guard across the street making sure people didn't park in the lot. Drinks were great! Had the IPA on tap, kid of fruity. Big Lick brand read more

We had a large group of 50+ people coming to Roanoke for an event and needed to find a place that could take all of us for dinner on a Thursday evening. Found Rockfish on a "Best of Roanoke" list and reached out a week before our arrival date. Spoke with Olivia (the owner) who suggested that for a group our size that we reserve the restaurant for a private event, which we did. Olivia customized a menu for us consisting of a set of appetizers which would be served right when people arrived, a choice of 2 salads (mixed greens and caesar), 3 entrees (red snapper, filet mignon and chicken) and 3 desserts (apple cobbler, mocha truffle torte, cheesecake)...all items from their regular menu. Suffice it to say the evening was a huge success. The restaurant space was elegant, the food was fantastic, and the service/staff could not have been better. Huge thanks to Olivia and Rockfish Food and Wine for everything...exceeded our expectations in every respect. read more

Food, service, ambiance excellent. Rice amazing. We love this place. Expense a bit more than our usual so we go for special occasions.

The best Resturant in Roanoke for food, service and ambience. Wood floors add elegance to the superb dining experience there.

Food was great. I would highly recommend the pork chop, so good! Staff was friendly. Service was timely. I visit Roanoke just a couple of times a year. This will be one of my stops in the future. read more

Rockfish Food and Wine - Get the Tomohawk Pork Chop! You will not regret it. So delish! - Seafood Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

Never knew about this place but we honestly don't make it over to Grandin area often. We were really in the mood for seafood and they did not disappoint. We had the calamari and salmon flatbread for an appetizer and they were excellent. I had the red snapper, my husband had the swordfish and my daughter had the salmon. We all split the lemon raspberry cheesecake for dessert. Everything was so good. The waitress was very nice. A great place to have a nice dinner out but not overly dressy. The Atmosphere was very laidback. We loved it and will be going back. read more

I have been here twice, and both times super pleased by how helpful and responsive they have been to the needs of people in our party. I am a GF (Celiac) vegetarian, while my sister is a vegetarian who can't do nightshades, making us super fun for servers on the rare occasion we dine together. Both times, Rockfish provided truly delightful meals (and tasty wine and cocktails!) without ever making us feel like a burden, and neither of us got sick either time. Their nightly green plate is fantastic, and my partner really enjoyed the crab cakes, while my mother loved the local pork loin. Nice enough for a place to celebrate but not too hoity-toity that you wouldn't want to come here just because, I think this is a great local restaurant, especially for folks with different food needs. read more

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We came into Roanoke from DC to visit family, and found THE restaurant! Food - 5 stars; service - 5 stars, atmosphere- 5 stars! We have ate calamari on the east coast and the west coast, and this is the BEST! If you are in Roanoke, you have to stop by and give them a try. We will be repeat customers! read more

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This is really a cool spot. Loved the look and feel of the restaurant and service was fantastic. We started off with the fried green tomatoes. They were really good and I would recommend them. For meals we got the crabcakes and scallops. Both were really good. The puréed sweet potatoes and apples were delicious. The buffalo cauliflower was amazing. They sides were unique and we enjoyed them. The curry pumpkin was unusual. I don't know that I'd get it again and the Brussel sprouts were pretty good. We finished dessert with key lime pie and a chocolate flourless cake. Both were very good. The key lime pie was light and what I expect out of a good key lime pie. Great date spot or girls night out! read more

Rockfish Food and Wine - Crab cakes and scallops - Seafood Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

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Omg the food kept disappearing! The app was the first to go. A photo wasn't even an option. Then it was too late. Two plates, two spoons & this dinner ended too soon. There wasn't time for wine, because we had to stop and drop this line. Try any food or wine here and check out the veteran on the side of the building, he'll let you know this is a place worth visiting. The servers were kind and quick to their feet. Our past through on Halloween was made complete. Some dressed up and smiled at me too! So if I'm in Roanoke again, I'll come and smile for sure read more

Rockfish Food and Wine - Seafood Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

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We hit this place Mid Feb and forgot to post my review First visit in about 3 years and give it 5 Stars Excellent service and a tasteful menu at reasonable prices Highly suggest it if you get the chance read more

4.5 stars! This is a cute dog-friendly indoor and outdoor seating restaurant. Food was excellent. I had the tuna with coconut rice and bok choy. The seared tuna was excellent and the sauce was good too but I didn't taste much wasabi and only a hint of ginger. A sharp or spicy note would have made it perfect but I like spicy, gingery things so probably a personal preference. Coconut rice was excellent. My husband enjoyed his trout, mashed potatoes and green beans. I wish I had asked to switch out the bok choy for green beans because it's not my favorite veggie unless it's well seasoned. Next time! Our server was very kind and did a nice job. Bring extra money - this place is very pricy for Roanoke. But a great place for a special occasion. read more

Delicious! We came here for a romantic, date-night dinner and absolutely loved it. The menu offers a variety of seafood, vegetarian, chicken, and beef options. They also have an extensive wine list, and many bottles are at extremely reasonable prices. I ordered the scallops and my date had the fried oysters. I definitely won the "who ordered the best plate" game. The scallops were perfectly cooked and had delicious accompaniments. The oysters, while also good, felt like they were over-breaded and perhaps left in the oil for too long, but the sides were delectable. We ordered a small bottle of white to go with our meal (two glasses of white were more expensive than a whole bottle) and finished off the night with a chocolate torte dessert. The service was great, very attentive and friendly, and answered all of our questions about the menu. The atmosphere was lovely, romantic, yet also cozy and comfortable. We will definitely be back! read more

Wonderful food and fantastic service! Highly recommend this restaurant!. The wait staff was excellent! read more

A hidden gem out in the open. Got here before 7 and took advantage of the happy hour special on cocktails and appetizers. Not bad. Had tender calamari and an order of fried oysters. So moist and succulent. Then had scallops over polenta and an order of the brisket which was great. Both came with sides of Brussels sprouts and squash. For dessert we split a fresh strawberry pie. A good meal for a good price. Will go back. read more

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Mediocre food (the weak link), not worthy of the price, nice location and excellent service. I wish the owner would upgrade the culinary experience, then, this restaurant would be a neighborhood gem. read more

A little overpriced for what you get and the entree selections are lacking a good variety.

Good food and wine list reasonably priced. Very attractive atmosphere. Service excellent.

Service was pleasant and atmosphere was nice but my husband and I were disappointed with our entree, which was the special.and it isn't cheap. read more

Literally my favorite restaurant to visit while in Roanoke.. I've NEVER been let down! My favorite dish is the Seared Salmon and fresh veggies. Yummy and truly delightful. Their specials are also delectable! read more

Rockfish Food and Wine - Seared Salmon, asparagus, pickled cauliflower,and cherry tomatoes. Amazing! - Seafood Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

Great food and great staff. Highly recommended this place. I have had many wine recommendations after they were out of the things we wanted and it was a great substitute if not better. read more

Olivia and her team are wonderful. Groups or single dining experience. Wine dinners or quick bites after work. I don't think there's any better place in Grandin to dine, period. read more

We decided to try this restaurant out, the service was great! Unfortunately, the food wasn't... I wanted to order the branzino but they didn't have any left, I then decided to go with the special, and the poor server came back and told me that was sold out.. so I asked if I could get the shrimp and grits without the Chorizo, and they couldn't do that. I believe the manager or owner ( I'm not sure) came over and asked if they could make me a special shrimp dish ( I'm a pescatarian) When our food came out, they gave me 4 or 5 overcooked shrimp thrown on top of some soggy eggplant... Idk why I figured they would have at least comped a glass of wine or offered a dessert... they didn't and they also charged me the same price as the special. Really disappointing, probably won't go back read more