For some time now I would walk by a place called CRAFTERIA on Church Ave in Downtown Roanoke,…read morewondering what was inside. Until one day, looking for a new Puertorican Restaurant named "Delicias Boricuas," I had a reason to go inside. And I'm so glad I did. When one walks in, one is greeted by a very friendly young man who is seated at a desk and who is in charge of taking care of you if you need to buy any of the arts and crafts items displayed in any of the booths inside. Then, the first store there is the Little Green Hive which is a Coffee, bakery, and sandwich shop. There is also the Puertorican Restaurant which is literally a hole in the wall where one orders their food and then goes to sit on marble tables and chairs that are all around to enjoy their food.Besides these two restaurants, there are a couple of beauty salons, and a vinyl record shop. As one walks around looking at all the beautiful arts and crafts displayed, there is music playing in the background. I would definitely recommend to those visting Downtown Roanoke to come by this place. Who knows you might discover a new place to hangout with family or friends and enjoy some coffee, shop for that special one of a kind gift, or discover the delicious flavor of the Puertorican Cuisine.

As tourists in Roanoke, we stumbled upon Crafteria while doing a self-initiated walking tour of the…read moredowntown area. We're so pleased that we did, as it was an interesting place to wander with its eclectic set of stalls with interesting and high-quality crafts, candles, vintage records, various foods, and more for sale. We were tempted by the Puerto Rican food stall, and just HAD TO take some empanadas and other savory snacks back to our hotel. I was also tempted to buy one of the absolutely gorgeous wooden charcuterie boards -- and, would have, had we not been walking. I did, however, take the craftsman's business card! A steady stream of customers were visiting while we were there.

Just the other day as I was walking down 2nd E Main Street in Salem, Virginia, I encountered an…read moreinteresting Gift Shop with the same name as its address: "2nd on Main." But as I discovered when I went inside, this was not the usual gift shop. After being awarded the Yelp NC Triad 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 2nd on Main, in Salem, Virginia, is a perfect example. Located in the historic Brooks Byrd Pharmacy building across the street from the Salem Farmer's Market, this extraordinary gift shop offers a variety of one-of-a-kind nostalgia and modern treasures. Inside, a friendly young lady greeted me and welcomed me to the store. She explained that this was a special place for unique finds.That it was founded with the idea of bringing joy to the community by supporting creative local craftspeople and artists, through showcasing and selling their products. And quite a variety of products I found there as I looked around. From jewelry, to clothing, to artworks, to artistic home decor, just to name a few. I invite you to view the photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and the quality and innovative merchandise. After you visit the store, I'm sure you'll find something nice for yourself or to give as a gift to the special people in your life. If you're an artist or craft person, and have a special talent to create unique art or crafts, by all means contact the owners by filling out a form on their website at www.2ndonmain.com. And who knows, soon you might find your cool stuff being showcased on the shelves at 2nd on Main.

Oasis is an excellent source for many items that are not otherwise available in this area. When I…read morestarted trying to learn how to cook Indian food, I found all of the spices I needed at Oasis. Since then, we have bought a wide variety of unfamiliar things just to try them. Every visit is an adventure. A couple of reviewers complained about high prices, but since no one else offers these items at all, Oasis has the best price in town. One reviewer complained about service, which makes no sense to me at all. Everyone has always been very helpful and friendly when I have been there.

This market is about a 50/50 split between East Asian and South Asian. The sign says World Market,…read morebut it's just Asian (to be fair, these regions probably cover half the world's population). It is a decent-sized store compared to the few tiny competitors that dot the region. It's nothing like what you'd find in the DC area or the Patel Brothers you could get in North Carolina, but assuming you don't want to drive that far for food, this place certainly had sufficient selection to warrant a visit. There was a small selection of fresh produce and abundant frozen dumplings and vegetables. Tofu and other protein options for the vegetarian were also well represented. I found some interesting beverages and snacks, and despite it being busy I experienced a reasonably swift checkout experience. For what it is, this place seems a success to me.

It's not easy to be able to find a Philipino restaurant near by, but we're very fortunate to be…read moreable to have one here in East Vinton, just next door to Roanoke, Virginia. And what an amazing cuisine it has. A woman owned small business, it reasantly opened it's doors in a location that was closed for nearly 5 years. Franchesca, the owner and chef of the restaurant and store is a proud Philipina entrepreneur living in the US with a passion for food and cooking of her native land cuisine, and a fervent desire to share it with all living in her neighborhood and communities near by. She majored in Hotel and Restaurant in College and as soon as she was presented with an opportunity to make her life dream come true she went for it. I first found out about her restaurant and store by discovering its website online, which by the way was wonderfully designed with useful information about her native cuisine, with an extraordinary menu with professionally taken color photographs of the different mejor items on the menu. Besides her great cooking and business skills, she also has wonderful technology and communication skills. When I phoned her restaurant's telephone number to double check the hours of operation of the restaurant and make sure it was already opened, a recording answered wirh a request to leave a message with any question for her about the restaurant. I decided to call again later rather than leave a message and as soon as I hanged up I received a text message explaining that she had to travel to the Philippines for a short period of time and the date when she'll be back to open the restaurant again. When I called again after she was back, a friendly voice answered the phone, so happy that I was interested in visiting her restaurant and trying out her food. She explained about the trip like if she had known me for a long time with a warm and friendly welcome and positive attitude. She confirmed that the restaurant would be open this Tuesday from 11:00am to 7:00pm, and every Tuesday through Saturday at these same hours. So I invited a friend of mine and we went on Tuesday and arrived around 4:00pm. The restaurant store was located on Stewartsville Rd in East Vinton. Housed in a humble yet very clean, relatively small building. It had a large color poster behind one of the windows with a composite of professionally taken color photographs of many food items of the menu. There were plenty of parking spots in front and around the restaurant, including Handicap parking. The small parking lot Restaurant's front sign was placed over the previous old sign. Inside, the place was clean and comfortable with the dining area on the right with burgundy color booths and the store on the left, and the kitchen in the middle. The owner greeted us behind the counter at the entrance with a warm greeting. She gave us a copy of the menu, asked us to have a seat, and took our drinking order. We both ordered Thai Tea and went to seat at a booth with our menus. In a short while she came to take our order. I ordered a Pinoy Lumpia as appetizer, a Crispy Pork Kare-Kare as my entrée, and my friend ordered a Lechon Kawali. The appetizer was amazingly delicious: crispy on the outside and with shredded pork with tasty sauce in the inside. My entrée was the Filipino famous peanut butter stew with crispy fried pork belly. It tasted just amazing. My friend's entrée was the Lechon Kawali: deep fried skin-on pork belly served with jasmine rice. It also looked wonderful and according to my friend, tasted delicious. For dessert I had their Tiramisu y my friend had the Signature Ube Mocha Cake. Everything was amazingly delicious. While we were eating several other customers came in to dine as well, and the owner of the restaurant came by at the appropriate time to talk to us and bring us water. I highly recommend this restaurant and their amazing cuisine. They have the best deep fried skin-on pork belly, and other amazing entrées, and the owner chef had such a great personality. It truly was an extraordinary dining experience.

Wonderful place to enjoy home-cooked Filipino dishes. Food…read moreand service were great. Price was reasonable. Go-to place If you are craving for something different! Ordered Lechon Kawali, Sisig, Mongo, Pancit Bihon, and Lumpia. Wife was all smiles as she delightfully ate their version of Mocha Cake with Barako coffee. They also have a small store for Pinoy products and other stuff.

After learning that a Tortilleria had opened it's door in our neighborhood, I immediately headed…read moredown there to see what it was all about, since this type of business is very well known in Mexico and Central America, but not that visible in American cities. When I arrived the place was closed with a handmade sign on the door that read: "Lo Sentimos, Por Hoy Se Nos Termino La Tortilla." (We're sorry, We have ran out of Tortilla for today). 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 Tortilleria La Loma in Northwest Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example. A tortilleria or tortilla bakery is a shop that makes and sells freshly made tortillas. These establishments are native to Mexico and Central America and are now also found in some places in the United States, and provide a fresh alternative to the tortillas found in supermarkets. Their quality and taste are often considered superior to store-bought versions due to their freshness and fewer additives. Tortillas is a type of unleavened bread because it is made without a rising agent like yeast, and use corn or wheat flour, water, and salt as their primary ingredients. Located in Town Square, a strip mall in Northwest Roanoke, Virginia, featuring a variety of shops, restaurants and other establishments, including the well known Hibachi Grill & Supreme Buffet, this hidden gem in the Star City makes fresh, hot tortillas daily for sale to the public, special events, and wholesale distribution to businesses. They have a website on facebook with the slogan "Tortillas Suaves y Ricas." This is the way they communicate with the public and their customers. Their delicious authentic tortillas made from scratch daily have attracted the attention of the community in a short period of time from opening. They also sell various bakery goods from Nachitos Bakery and famous popsicles from La Michoacana, as well as cheese and meat ingredients, and special items like pork rinds and lard. I returned the following day in the afternoon and was lucky to arrive before they ran out of tortillas, but the owner of this family-owned business wasn't there for me to meet and interview. However I was able to meet their very friendly and pleasant employee, purchase some freshly made tortillas, and make arrangements to return on Wednesday morning to meet the owner and hopefully get permission to photograph the back of the house Tortilleria operation and write a follow-up review. For the time being, the tortillas I brought home and were still warm when I got there and I tried a few with cheese and they tasted amazingly delicious.

Just like finding a needle in a haystack, I discovered this gem of high end homegoods and decor…read morestore in Roanoke, Virginia. Entering the store was like discovering a whole new world filled with a curated selection of unique furniture, home decor, gifts, and local art, emphasizing quality, sustainable design, and truly unique pieces with lasting style. After having been selected as number 4 of Yelp's Top 50 most prolific Elites of 2025, a year when I also was 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 Present Thyme, in Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example. Located in the Towers Shopping Center, in Southwest Roanoke, Present Thyme has been a community staple for over 45 years, yet it was only today that I became aware of its existence. Inside, I found an extensive variety of unique, one-of-a-kind items, from antique furniture in excellent condition, to quality gifts and luxury bedding, to amazing treasures from local artisans. The store philosophy is to focus on high-quality, high-end, timeless pieces that become part of a home's story, with a commitment to local artisans and sustainable design. There, one can find high-end, unique furniture, including antique pieces, elegant home decor items, including vintage European crystal chandeliers, Venetian glass mirrors, handblown glass bowls, and collectibles serving trays, among other things such as clothing that blend clasic style with modern flair, bedding, gifts and children's items. And what fascinated me the most was the local art and artworks, including pieces from local artists such as Greg Osterhaus, which I found the most extensive paintings from him anywhere around, including his famous cow portraits and local landscapes. The owner of this store, Dorian Clowers, does an extraordinary job in bringing together products from artisans in Roanoke and the surrounding region. If you think the products of this store are amazing, its staff are the most friendly and helpful store employees that I have ever encountered. They helped me find more information and price of one of Greg Osterhaus paintings that I showed interest in. The time in there went by so fast that before I knew it, it was already closing time. I highly recommend this high-end home decor store for those times when you're looking for a very unique gift for someone special in your life, or just to bring into your home as a stand out piece.

This business is located at a strip mall beside a phone repair store and just down the driveway…read morefrom Mission BBQ. It looks like Martha Stewart opened a museum. The place is incredible. The far end of the store has clothing, lingerie, toys, handbags and bedding. The register side of the store has candles, soaps, chandeliers and hand crafted furniture. Throughout the store are amazing paintings and artwork. Local artists are also featured. You can select fabric to cover your chairs and have them made. There is a wide variety of home furnishings and unique pieces. Bonus points for the coasters with fun sayings.

Just only two months ago, this family-owned and operated coffee and tea house with a gift shop…read moresupporting local artisans, crafters, and small businesses, opened its doors at the Shops at West Village in Roanoke, Virginia, and now their owners Kirsten and Matt are positioned to make a difference in the lives of many in this community. 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 Kind Brew Coffee and Tea House in Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example. As soon as I found out about about this very unique business with very noble goals, that grew out of the owners' mobile coffee shop and into the retail shop of their dreams, I drove up to the place but unfortunately found it closed. Understandably, I have discovered that oftentimes in the initial stage of new businesses, they tend to close early at times when the business is slow, and this was confirmed today when I returned and talked with the co-owner Kirsten, a very friendly, warm, and kind young lady, who together with her husband Matt, are making their dream come true, at a time in their lives that they are expecting a child in the beginning of December. Two very significant births in a very short period of time. The store front of their business looks like right out of a fairytale book. Their logo has a coffee cup with the smoke coming out of it turning into a heart. Kindness seems to be in the air once you enter the door of this house. And Kindness can be contagious, especially during the upcoming time of the year with Thanksgiving and Christmas just right around the corner. The beautiful hardwood floors of this coffee, tea, and gift shop lays the foundation for this warm and cozy place, where you feel at home from the time you walk in. Several customers came in while I was there and I was able to see how loyal customers were beginning to develop. When the time came to order, I ordered a 16oz Coffee Bubble Tea. It was amazingly delicious. I enjoyed drinking it and having the bobas pop in my mouth. They currently have some muffins and cookies in the display case, but they plan to have many more sweets in the future. For every $10 one spends, they have a tree planted. They also have a Loyalty Card program, and many other creative ideas. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and business. I highly recommend this place and encourage everyone to give them your wholehearted support.

Man does momma know what she's doing! The woman that owns the food truck was wonderful. She told me…read morea little about what she offers and helped me decide what to get. I drank a berry lemonade while I waited for my food. It was so tasty! Plus she topped me off when she handed me my food. That was nice. I took the mushroom cheese melt to go. For some reason I was just expecting a mushroom patty, I was pleasantly surprised that it had one layer with a mushroom patty and another with a black bean patty. Best black bean patty I've ever had! Hands down! She also gave me a little side of potato salad, which was delicious! So flavorful. I also ordered a sweet potato pie expecting a slice. But I got a cute individual sized sweet potato pie. Now I am not a sweet potato pie person, and I really enjoyed hers. I wish I was a local, because I'd eat there all the time. I wish I had pictures to share, but I annihilated my food lol.

They are never open. Tons of signs saying they're open but it's always closed. Can't support the…read moreVegan scene if you don't come to work.