One of our favorite places! Service is always great and the food is wonderful. It's charming &…read morepleasant with a cute little bar area as well.

One of the best Italian Restaurants in the Roanoke area, Luigi's is one of my favorite restaurants…read morearound. The owner is very warm, kind, and hospitable, and every time I've dined there I've felt right at home. I've received excellent service in a cozy environment and the drinks and food have been to par with my high expectations of a restaurant of this nature. However, I was a bit disappointed when I dined there this time. Unfortunately the owner wasn't feeling well so she appointment one of her best servers as Host in charge. When I arrived, since I showed up without a reservation, she greeted me by asking what I wanted, if to order for takeout. This was a bit insulting, since I was there to dine in, like always. I then requested to seat in the well lit dining room, in my usual table next to the window. She consented and took me there. Shortly after, a young lady server shows up and greets me. Not giving me enough time to study the menu, she asks what I wanted to drink and what I wanted to order for dinner. Without asking for her opinion, she starts telling me what she thinks I should order as appetizer. It was like she was trying to rush me. I don't know if it was her inexperience or lack of training, but I was beginning to feel uncomfortable and asked the Host to change my server and explained the reason why. My server replacement was completely the opposite. He was the epitome of customer service. Philip had good manners, was respectful, and didn't rush me, taking his time to make sure I had a relaxing and enjoyable dining experience. The first thing he did was introduce himself as my new server. He then repeated my order that my previous server had taken to make sure it was right. I already had my Fried Calamari appetizer on the table. My house salad was with balsamic vinaigrette dressing. My Filet Mignon was to be cooked medium-rare and served with sautéed mushrooms, broccoli, and delicate new potatoes. During my meal, he made sure my Iced water glass was always full, and after my Filet was served and I had a chance of cutting it, he came by to make sure it was cooked appropriately, just like ordered. The Filet was cooked medium-rare, the broccoli was fresh, and the potatoes were delicious, but the mushrooms were not seasoned nor sautéed enough and were somewhat tasteless. For dessert, I had my favorite, the Brazilian Custard Pudding. As I was leaving my server opened the door for me and thanked me for dining there, while the Host stood inside without even having the courtesy to say goodbye. I hope the owner of the restaurant reads this review and takes action to see that her restaurant is run appropriately, and each of her customers is treated as they should.

We had a wonderful night with a party of 6 after a dance recital. We were seated and greeted…read morequickly! Our server Terry was on the money! Never had to ask for refills, food tasted fresh and hot, she kept our table clean, and was such a sweet person! Restaurant was clean, good taste in music and ambience. We hope to visit again highly recommend. Food wise: scallops delicious, pizza awesome and salads super fresh and I believe all in house dressings.

Food was great, we had the delicious salmon. Service at bar seating saved us a long wait while…read moregetting us an exceptional bar tender/waitress. A reasonably priced meal, nice portion, which if we weren't in a hotel for the night would have made for an excellent additional meal.

There are times that you discover restaurants that you wish you had known since they first opened…read more You really feel at home in its clean and laid back environment. They treat you like if you're part of their family. And their food is like the one Gradma used make when you were growing up. What better compliment can you give a restaurant! 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 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 Uncle D's Take Out, in Roanoke, Virginia, is the perfect example. And it's not just for Take Out anymore. Word of mouth is still the most effective way of making your business known. And in this day and age of modern technology a review in the form of words and photographs is as effective or even better. As I was searching on my cellphone for a place to eat, Uncle D's caught my attention. Mostly positive reviews and very captivating photographs of their food. Yet the words Take Out and very few photos of the interior of this restaurant somewhat detracted from the desire to go visit it. Yet in the past I've found that oftentimes restaurants with high take-out orders are also the ones who have a high level of in-house customer followers. So I decided to go dine in and what I uncovered by experience was amazing news: Uncle D's is not just for Take Out anymore. Dining in is a wonderful experience in and of itself, alone or with family and friends. Located in a contemporary looking strip mall across from the Oak Grove Plaza Shopping Center, where popular restaurants like Wildwood Smokehouse and Highlander Pizza are located, you can find Uncle D's next to The UPS Store. Parking was very conveniently located and as I walked to the restaurant their sign high above spoke quality in its design and in the food of which it represented. Inside I found a nice size, clean and colorful little restaurant with Golf items decorating its walls, reflecting the importance that golf played in the owner's life and the love that he has for this sport he has now placed in this restaurant. I was greated by a friendly gentleman with a warm welcome that immediately made me feel at home. He talked to me about the restaurant and it's most popular items in the menu of which I had on the table where I was seated. A really nice and friendly lady, who was the cook, looked at me from out of the kitchen with one of those looks that only grandmas know to give in anticipation of watching you eat her food that she had prepared with much love. I ordered their Grandma's Pot Roast with a side house salad with Ranch dressing, mashed potatoes with gravy, and added a side of Fiesta Corn. To drink a picked a can of Coke which I drank with one of those straws that bend for the convenience. The food was served in a reasonable time. The salad was made with fresh ingredients, was a nice size, and tasted wonderful with the Ranch salad dressing. The Pot Roast was amazingly delicious, soft, moist, and very full of flavor. The amount was more than enough to fill me up. I could go on and on but a picture is worth a thousand words. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of it all. For dessert I has a slice of their Coconut Cream Pie which was also very good. If you're ever in the mood for good hometown Southern Comfort food, I highly recommend that you visit this restaurant with family and friends. For the full dining experience is definitely worth while. And experience that I will never forget.

Accurate menu pictures, turkey and pot roast were amazing, not a bad price either. They DO have…read moreseats inside btw

This business was started by a mother-daughter duo, Maggie and Nancy Pace, who first operated as a…read morefood truck called Sycamore Snacks in 2022. They built the brick-and-mortar location on family land, paying homage to a general store their family ran in the same area in the 1920's. After being awarded the NC Triad Yelp 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 and businesses, 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 Sycamore Station, in Salem, Virginia, is a perfect example. When I learned about this place, I was thrilled and felt compelled to plan an immediate visit to discover it closer. Sycamore Station in Salem, VA, opened in July 2024, with the mission to build community through a multi-purpose space that offers a café, local retail goods, and variety of classes and events, while also honoring its local history and connection to the environment. Its aim is to be a place where people can gather, connect with each other, and enjoy the natural setting of the Hanging Rock area. Situated near trailheads for Carvins Cove, the Hanging Rock Battlefield Trail, and MacAfee Knob, this establishment features locally sourced food, baked goods, sandwiches, and grain bowls. The retail section sells artisanal goods from local artists. This casual, cozy café, with a welcoming and relaxing atmosphere, and comfortable ambiance, is a place with a cute architectural design, and an interior with a minimalist decor and a wide variety of gift items, such as artworks like oil and watercolor paintings, ceramics, woodworks, greeting cards, miniature brass animals, bottles of local honey, birdhouses, jewelry, books, stuffed animals, keychains, and other interesting items that can make wonderful gifts. I was so lucky to have been able to meet the mother and daughter co-owners of the place. They both have warm and wonderful personalities and gave me a warm welcome, and lots of information about the history about their business. The daughter is very talented, that designed and made the beautiful natural wood tables of the place. The mother is so organized and has a great sense of space, that she has everything in a perfect set-up. Her attention to detail is also exemplary. This can be seen in the small glass vases filled with natural tiny flowers of the area, and set-up on all the dining tables of the café. I also had the privilege of meeting the artist Anne Schellenberger, who painted the watercolor of the original building of the place, and is the Instructor of the upcoming Workshop: Adventures in Watercolor. To eat I ordered from the wall menu a Turkey Reuben Sandwich with an Iced Mocha Coffee to drink. Then for dessert I had a Home-Made Brown Butter Oatmeal Cream Pie together with a Bowl with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Chocolate syrup toppings. Everything was so fresh and delicious. I specially liked the type of bread of my sandwich and the way it was toasted. I also ended up purchasing a miniature water color original painting by the Professional Watercolor Artist, Rebecca Bradbury. I highly recommend this place and can assure you that you will feel so good inside, that you will want to return soon, and many times more.

Best little coffee shop in the area with wonderfully curated local goods. Love stopping in to…read moresupport them as often as I can.

A very strong experience at Fortunato for a celebration dinner. The restaurant accommodated a group…read moreof 7 with a few days notice. The business is located downtown Roanoke. Parking is free off street, or paid at nearby garage. The entry way was clear of debris. Our party was immediately seated and we quickly decided to move table from a smaller private, but loud room to the main room. I found the atmosphere and decor of the room to be nice. The waitress was on top of things with drink orders. They have one of the strongest bourbon selections in town. So I had to get an Old Fashioned. Drinks pushed out within 10 minutes as we finished browsing menus.my Old Fashioned was quality and completely authentic. Super tasty! There were a few orders of pizza and I ordered a house salad with Egg Plant Parmesan. Our waitress kept glasses full of waters. She was upbeat and energetic. Food pushed out for the entire table around the same time in less than 30 minutes. Everyone was pleased with their entrees. The Egg Plant is a vegetarian dish. I'm not a vegetarian, but appreciate the dish. It was huge and so good! When time for desert multiple items were ordered. The waitress prepared a special dish of ice-cream with candle for my son. That was totally not expected and very thoughtful of the staff. I had the Salame chocolate and others had tiramisu. Both excellent, I tried. The bill was dropped in a timely manner. The amount was family affordable in my opinion. I would absolutely return and recommend.

Always a favorite and this trip did not disappoint. We weren't sure what time we would finish up…read moreour work on this particular Thursday evening so I waited to check for a table last minute. Thankfully we were able to get it with just a 30 minute wait or so. I had dreamed of arancini all day long only to find it was not on the menu any longer unfortunately! Heartbroken. All of our dishes were still delicious of course but please bring back the arancini! Service was impeccable, lighting and cocktails on point, still on my short list of all-time faves! Can't wait for our next visit!

I was looking for a great hotdog place and stumbled into absolute heaven…read more After having been selected as number 4 of Yelp's Top 50 most prolific Elites of 2025, a year when I was also 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 businesses, 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 The Scalded Dog Houtdog Co. in the Bonsack area of Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example and a dream come true. Owned and operated by a local father-and-son duo, Nick and Landon, The Scalded Dog Hotdog Co. is a popular mobile food business based in the Bonsack area of Roanoke, Virginia. Nick and Landon launched the business with the simple goal of creating "a really good hotdog." The food trailer officially debuted at the Ace Hardware on Brambleton Road in Southwest, Roanoke. Following its early success, the business partnered with Lowe's in Bonsack operating as a regular weekend fixture. But due to strong community demand, they have expanded their operational hours to a Friday-Monday schedule and have built a second, much larger trailer to scale up operations. Their name plays on the classic Southern and Appalachian idiom "run like a scalded dog," which means to move incredibly fast or bolt suddenly. Their menu focuses on unique, elevated hotdog creations. Some of their most popular items include: The Scalded Dog (A signature creation crafted by Nick and Landon), Mango Diablo (A specialty sweet-and-spicy dog), The Carolina (A classic Southern style dog), and the Chicago Dog (A traditional city-style build), among others. As well as the newly introduced: The Smokehouse, an all beef Jumbo sized hotdog collaboration with Big Daddy's BBQ, featuring their sliced all beef brisket, white cheddar Mac, topped with their signature gold sauce, and sweet n spicy pickles.They have also currently introduced sides such as their Street Fries and Triple Churros. Today I drove in my pearl white Lexus to their location in the parking lot of the Bonsack Lowe's. There I was fortunately enough to meet Landon, one of the co-owners of the business, and also the co-designer of the business logo together with his father who are both gifted artists as well. The father also owns the Image Ink Studios tattoo parlor, located on 4118 Franklin Road, in Roanoke, Virginia, where they specialize in custom black & white and color ink tattoos, as well as Laser removal and skin rejuvenation. Landon was inside the large, new trailer when I arrived and gave me a warm welcome, also explaining the menu to me and the items they had ran out. It seems they have become so popular that you have to get their early if you want to make sure they have a particular item from the menu. For example, when I got there today, they had ran out of their now famous Smokehouse Hotdog. Besides all the different named hotdogs that they have, one can also customize one of them by adding from the list of free toppings or from another 50 cent toppings list. I ordered The Chicago, The Coney, their Triple Churros, and their Sweet Cream Orange Dreamsicle to drink. And conveniently paid using Tap On with Google Pay. I sat at one of their picnic tables and enjoyed my meal there. Everything was amazingly delicious. The hotdogs were delicious, and the churros, one of the best I've ever had. 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. In conclusion I had an exceptional dining experience and highly recommend this place for when you feel like having "a real good hotdog," and other amazing comfort food, cooked and prepared by very friendly and hospitable individuals.

Excellent food and friendly service. Comfortable and welcoming atmosphere. Consistently above par…read more 5 stars

Punched above their weight. Good Italian food selection. The lobster risotto and seafood misto were…read moreboth excellent. Our friends enjoyed their meals as well. Bread was just ok. Wine was great as well.

You HAVE to try Zico (or Aly Baba, as I knew it!). The food…read moreis consistently top-notch. I highly recommend the kofta, which is perfectly seasoned and cooked, the incredibly flavorful shawarma, and the magnificent mussakaa--it's rich, comforting, and authentic. Beyond the delicious food, the standout feature is the service. The owner is the friendliest you will ever meet, always taking the time to make you feel welcome. It's that kind of genuinely warm, inviting atmosphere that keeps me coming back again and again. Whether you're a long-time fan of Aly Baba or discovering Zico for the first time, you won't be disappointed! This is a must-visit spot.

A new restaurant has risen from the ashes of another. After a period of closure and renewal, the…read morespirit of Aly Baba Restaurant is reborn as Zico's, like a Phoenix rising from the ashes to offer an elevated dining experience. 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 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 Zico's Restaurant in Salem, Virginia, is the perfect example. Zico's is conveniently located in the corner of 4th Street and Roanoke Blvd in Salem, Virginia. Immediately after hearing of the change, and attracted by its new name and logo, I drove to this location to experience first hand Zico's cuisine. The restaurant has a nice size parking lot right in front of it. Its owner and chef, Zico is a native Egyptian, with a warm and friendly personality, who specializes in authentic Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Italian cuisines, as well as Pizzas. As I entered its door he was the first one to give me a warm greeting and welcome me to his restaurant. It had one red brick wall, imitation hardwood floors, simple ceiling lamps, and a very interesting movable large TV screen with a beautiful outdoor Cafe scene. The background music perfectly complements the relaxing and cozy environment. In the main dining room it has very elegant and comfortable booths all around, and in a separate banquet room it has tables and chairs all lined up. The menu has an excellent variety of items representing the different cuisines. I ordered a Beef Shawarma Platter that came with a salad and Pita Bread with a special in house salad dressing and cream for the Pita Bread. The salad was so fresh and moist that it was a pleasure eating it. The Beef Shawarma was cooked with a special sauce made with cooked onions, green and red peppers, and some seasons that gave it an amazing flavor, one only equivalent to high-end restaurants with sofisticated and award winning chefs. The rice was also a good quality rice with wonderful flavor. I enjoyed the food so much that till the last grain of rice and savored evey minute of it. For dessert I ordered their only in-house made dessert, the Tiramisu. It was amazingly delicious. Like no other that I ever had. What an extraordinary dining experience. I have dined in the best restaurants and yet this restaurant's cuisine is exceptionally outstanding to the point of exceeding even the highest expectations. I highly recommend it and am looking forward to returning to try it's Italian and Greek cuisines.