Our first time at this awesome restaurant ... i give it a five star !! The food was delicious -and the service was the beat ever !!! We will definitely be back read more

Wish i could have got in, door was locked at 5:45 PM, at least 12 people in the establishment and no one came to the door. Sign posted on door which said it was closed for lunch service for a private party. Stood outside for a couple minutes....then walked off. read more

Best farm to table in Roanoke! I recommend and have taken many people here. It's a gem!

What an incredible experience. Great food, expertly crafted, and served with charm. What more could you want? If you think a good value is getting fresh ingredients in unique flavor combinations, then this is the place for you. If you think value is getting the most amount of meat for a dollar - go someplace else. read more

Yummy yum yummy. Love this farm to table restaurant. Step out of your comfort zone. Their corn bread and Brussels were amaze. I do not like how they have separate menus for the bar and you're not allowed to order off of that. I have heard the burgers are to die for. But those are on the bar only menu unfortunately. read more

It looks as if I give out only 5 stars, well unless it's a crappy experience I like to give a benefit of doubt and revisit! Well no need for that here at "RandR" as I call it, what a "bad ass" place for cocktails and dinner, it's quaint and not as if a dark small place, it's like eating at your comfortable favorite aunt's house, where the food is phenomenal, company is warm and the lead cook/chef makes you feel like he/she's cooking for you, yeah, just you, catching what I'm laying down? If you can get six or more friends, family, hell even enemies ask for what I call the "chefs table" right by the kitchen! Now there are several reasons, first you get to the rattle of the kitchen staff and chef, food is right there and it just damn cool! Chef Aaron Deal is the "real Deal" cordial, friendly and does what he knows what to do, great food, great cocktails, great service and great experience. Go down to "RandR" sit back and enjoy your time, it's the damn real "Deal" read more

Everything about River and Rail is superb - the locally sourced menu, the staff, the atmosphere... I would describe the food as farm-to-table Southern fusion. I'm a regular for Sunday brunch, but occasionally enjoy walking down on beautiful nights to enjoy one of their divine desserts with wine (bartender's choice). read more

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Once again a great find in a small town thanks to Yelp. This hip, modern twist on an industrial look is quite cool and was aesthetically pleasing the second you walk in the door. The light cool music coming out of the speakers in the slightly darker surroundings immediately calms the nerves. We came for lunch and the only reason this isn't a five star review was because of the abbreviated menu. The food is all fresh and the service was spot on. I had the onion soup and although it wasn't your traditional onion soup I am used to, it was very fresh a little strong for my liking, but I can see how onion lovers would enjoy it. The R&R burger was the highlight of lunch. The combination of fresh ground beef, with a burger sauce that combines BBQ with a hint of spice was perfect and the onion straws and crunchy pickles made this a fantastic burger. I wish I was in town this evening because the dinner menu, the bar and ambiance would make this a must. Unfortunately I can only comment on the lunch which was very good. Good find in little Roanoke. read more

"Run" from the River and Rail. Service generally very good. All the waitresses quite nice. First course took more than 45 minutes to come out after I complained 2x --- and only 2 of the 3 appetizers made it...the third - the pork ribs - sat under the warmer for 20 minutes while the kitchen waited for the other dishes to be ready...they served them nonetheless, cold / chewy / inedible. We sent them back horrified. The table of locals sitting next to us came in 30 minutes after we did and their food came out quickly and perfectly to order BEFORE our food. Hmmmm - out of towners not welcome??? They did seem to know everybody. The owner came over and not so gracefully told us there was a "miscommunication" with the kitchen and server. Didn't really apologize. We just asked for what was ready to come out asap (my 13 year old son had not eaten since lunch and it was now past 915pm) and a check. We left starving, annoyed and frustrated. To Dairy Queen for a burger that came right out...followed by a blizzard. The owner (Aaron) was at least somewhat gracious and finally (sort of) apologized and told us there was no check and that he felt badly that the restaurant completely screwed up the meal. Fingers pointed in all directions. The waitress blamed the kitchen and the kitchen said it was put in wrong. Aaron asked that we come back so he could ensure us a great meal. We were told that this restaurant and Alexander's were the two best in Roanoke. We are here for another 10 days and will try Alexander's tmrw. While River and Rail atmosphere and the servers were generally quite nice - would recommend a PASS on River and Rail ... and go to a restaurant that can actually process a basic order and "feed" their customers in a reasonable time frame. VERY DISAPPOINTING! This place ain't cheap for such a poor experience! And if you are from out of town, you will not feel welcome here..... read more

R&R Is a fantastic restaurant. One of Roanoke's gems. I've heard it compared to New York's finest! We are fortunate to have this quaint restaurant in Crystal Spring. read more

Food was OK, though very expensive with small portions. Biggest negative was a 15% service charge that is included in the bill. Our bill didn't seem to have it, so I asked if a 15% gratuity was already calculated into the bill. A gentleman in a tie said "Yes", but when he looked at our bill he said they neglected to add it. He then went to prepare a corrected bill. Our waitress brought the corrected bill to us and then informed us that the 15% service charge was not a gratuity for servers, but to pay the bartenders, since there was no bar seating. We had ordered nothing from the bar. I did not like their reasoning at all. I added another 15% to the bill for the waitress, but we will not be returning to River and Rail. 30% added to a bill that already includes a 10% "temporary" city food tax that's been around for years does not set well with me at all. There are better options in town. read more

Amazing!! Nexus was an amazing bartender! Knows the menu and drinks!!! I'm a pescatarian and he was able to help me choose something that was in my diet. Great portion control as well, just enough for to make u feel satisfied and not overly stuffed! I would recommend the octopus salad! read more

My friend and I ventured over to Roanoke to pick up a car the other day, and I did a little research to find a good spot for lunch. The River and Rail's eclectic style and menu seemed to fit the bill, so we decided to give it a try. I ordered their burger, optioned with a fried egg topper, and he opted for the fried chicken entree. The burger was fairly good, but the chicken had a strange nutmeg spice sort of flavor that left us guessing. I couldn't put my finger on exactly what it was, but it definitely wasn't worth the hype. The vodka-soda was strong, and the patio had a nice view of the nearby hills, so it gets more points for atmosphere/bar-skills than the food itself. Its probably worth a shot, seeing as there isn't a whole lot to choose from in the area. If nothing else, sit outside and get drinks. read more

Best place for fresh and DELICOUS food (farm-to-table).I have a gluten allergy, so sometimes it's hard to find a restaurant with those options. They always make me a gluten free dish (off menu). I love coming here! Great speciality drinks too! read more

The lunch was awesome, service was excellent, and food was fresh and well prepared. The deviled egg was heavenly sinful, and the char grilled chicken with Apple relish was one of the best pieces of chicken I ever put in my mouth. Wished they had a couple of desserts for lunch. Will return soon. read more

The River and Rail - Char grilled chicken sandwhich - Southern Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

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We have visited this restaurant twice from out of town. Both experiences were exemplary! The ambiance is upscale, although al the hard surfaces do make it a bit loud. Service was excellent and the food was marvelous! We loved the cocktail menu and have tried different ones each time. read more

Food was great. Interesting and yummy combinations of food. The Duck and Osso Bucco were amazing. Collards as a side and oyster wraps as a starter were great. Apple cake was awesome. Kelsey, our waitress, did a great job. Definitely worth a visit. read more

Cozy neighborhood spot that focuses on quality ingredients and friendly service. Even though the whole restaurant was filled with customers, it wasn't loud. Servers were all super knowledgeable. Portions were generous and delicious! Wish we lived in town- we'd be back! read more

The monkfish with grits is my favorite. Try not to think about what a monkfish looks like because you have to enjoy the meat. Really great for such a weird fish. Good match with the grits! Service is good too. read more

Probably my favorite restaurant in Roanoke, if nothing else for their amazing creations. The ingredients are so fresh and so unique that no one else in the valley compares. The drinks are incredible, in house syrups and unique concoctions. A one of a kind gem for the Roanoke valley. Get the oyster wraps, the catfish, the chicken with au jus, or the hanger steak. Everything is delicious. I've never been disappointed and will continue to recommend to anyone and everyone. read more

We had a group of seven and called ahead to ask about coming in close to their 2pm closing time. The restaurant advised that as long as the orders were placed before 2pm, would be okay. After driving from the airport (15min) and ordering on the way, when we arrived at 1:50pm, we were advised that the order would have to be taken "to go". We would never had driven out of our way to the restaurant had we known that we could not sit down and have lunch. Terrible service! read more

Passing through and found this on Yelp... all I can say is YUM! Great service and exceptional food.

Great restaurant. Great environment. Highly recommend! The food here is exquisite and the environment is even better. I could never get sick of the food, as it's top tier quality. read more

I basically like the restaurant and it's one of the few chains in the area. That said, the food is great, but the kitchen is way too slow for me and I stopped going for that reason. read more

Wonderful place! Restaurant and aesthetics are great, food is superb, drinks are expertly prepared, and service is always timely and efficient. Truly a great place read more

I don't live in Roanoke and I've been wanting to go to R&R since it opened. We finally made it a reality last night. I needed to push my reservation out 30 minutes and was pleased that I got a call back and that it had already been done. Walking in, I loved the industrial atmosphere, and was greeted by a very friendly server. It's group service here, and I appreciate that. I can't tell you how refreshing it is to see a menu with only a few items on it. What does it mean to me? That you've mastered those few dishes and I'm about to have my socks blown off. We ordered two delicious drinks from the bar, and enjoyed some legit french bread (from Bread Craft downtown, see my review of BC!). We started off with the ribs and summer greens salad. WOW! Ribs were fork and knife super tender. I was impressed that our lovely server knew that they were prepared sous vide, and then coated in spices and deep fried. Yum! And the greens were spectacular and fresh. I'd probably eat more greens if I could replicate that at home! For our main course we opted for the scallops and hanger steak. Both were amazingly well composed and delicious. Sadly we left no room for dessert. I certainly hope to be back soon. One small regret - not getting the fried pork rinds. Ah well, next time! read more

We got the buttermilk fried chicken, which is so juicy and well seasoned. The grits and collard greens were also wonderful. The green tomato sammy was also very delicious. I had never had fried green tomatoes before and it was a good introduction. I would fully recommend! read more

Really wanted to like this place. I had heard so many good things. But we ordered dinner and it took nearly 2 hours to get my meal. And then it was cold. At that point I was so hungry I went ahead and ate it anyway. The steak was good, but cold. One of my dining companions was drinking dirty martinis and one of the drinks tasted really bad. She asked for a replacement. The bartender was very concerned and made her another drink. But they charged her for the bad drink. We got there at 7:30 pm and didn't leave until 10:45 pm. At that point we were so tired we just left. If I am paying $56 for a steak and two glasses of wine I expect the meal to be exceptional and at a proper temperature. I won't be heading back. read more

There's not enough good things to say about this place. The food is amazing. The beer selection is on point. The quality of the ingredients and many being locally sourced is a great reason to spend your money there! read more

One of Roanoke's hidden treasures! I've never had a bad meal here! Love the food and service! Drinks are amazing. Their menu is very different and has trendy food. I feel like I'm in New York when I eat here. read more

Entire staff was extremely well trained and worked as a team. It was evident as everyone pitched in to same level of standard. Food was superbly prepared. Rabbit and dumpling appetizer was incredible. The Maine scallop entree was superb. Back to the service- they were very busy but 100% under control. When kitchen was backed up they would set your expectations in advance so no issues waiting as we drank and enjoyed one and other's company. Call out: Jessica was a great server. read more

I ate here for their brunch and it was delicious. The Bloody Mary's were excellent - they make their own mixer and dress it with their own pickled vegetables. The lamb sausage with soft scrambled eggs were amazing. I had some of my wife's brioche French toast - what a decadent treat - some of the best French toast I have ever eaten. I will definitely return for another delicious meal. A must have if in Roanoke. read more

Great food every single time I've been. The service is excellent and the staff is knowledgeable and makes great suggestions. I've been for brunch, dinner and lunch and never had a bad meal. MUST TRY: Pimento Cheese, Kobe Beef Burger, Deviled Eggs, and the banana pudding! read more

Outstanding restaurant, not just in Roanoke but in the entire South East. Party of 9 celebrating a college graduation. Everything was perfect. Deviled egg, pimento cheese and smoked trout spread appetizers were all unique and delicious. Hanger steak entree was tender and perfectly cooked. Scallops melted in your mouth like butter. Sides of braised greens and grits would make any southern proud. Dessert, especially the famed banana pudding, was excellent in portion, presentation and taste. The chef is an artist with locally sourced and in-season ingredients. I will definitely be back when I am anywhere in Southwest Virginia. Do not miss this place! read more

My husband and I visited the restaurant this week using a gift certificate we found buried in a drawer. The food was good but we felt uncomfortable when it was pointed out that our gift certificate had expired (even though there was no expiration date on the actual certificate and on the restaurant's website, it clearly states that gift certificates never expire). The certificate was accepted but we had to hear the instructions on how to avoid the situation in the future. If there has been a change in policy as we were informed then perhaps the information provided to their customers should be changed. (we had checked both the certificate and the website before using the certificate.) Making your customers uncomfortable should be avoidable at all costs. This definitely put a damper on our evening. read more

The hangar steak was one of the best beef entrees I've ever eaten. So hearty and pleasing and comforting. My wife had the shrimp and grits which was a true Southern delicacy -- the pork belly was the magic. Amazing service, amazing cocktails, all phenomenal ingredients. The attention to detail is top notch. Highly recommend. For what it's worth, we travel and eat out a ton, very foodie personalities. Just go. read more

My girlfriend and I absolutely love this place! I was never a porky guy! But after trying River and Rail's short ribs, I would have to reconsider having piggy once again in my diet. The Banana Pudding desert is to die for! We've had 6 dishes and counting at River and Rail. This place does not disappoint! My girlfriend and I just moved from Los Angeles to Roanoke. Los Angeles is definitely the hub in having the best food in the world, all in one place! I'm really happy to say that River and Rail is just as good, "if not better", than most restaurants in Los Angeles. 5 STARS!!! read more

This restaurant goes toe to toe with any restaurant I have tried in Richmond, DC, or anyway. Nothing is an after-thought here, and nothing is routine. From edible flowers (that actually belonged in the salad rather than just a gimmick) to deviled eggs (with a twist), this place is unique and terrific. It's also in a very charming neighborhood in Roanoke. I will be back. read more

For an area that is culinary challenged they have hit the nail on he head. The idea is comfort foods of the south on steroids. We had s large sampling of everything and were happy. read more

We dined here with an out of town couple as they were looking for southern's food. The daily menu, ingredients, and preparation style were a mixture of Mediterranean and Asian taste in my opinion. I found this ironic as this place seemed bias. Why? First a female with an Asian accent in our party called for a reservation, and she received an I'm sorry we could not accommodated the request. Sdecided to test a theory, so a male with a deeper voice called two minutes later with the exact reservation and got a table. The food was decent after a few drinks. The atmosphere was a little loud. Workers were friendly or at least they put up a good business front. The wait time was typical. read more