It is said that valuable things come in small boxes, but never in my wildest imagination did I…read moreconceive of a place like Stellina. 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 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 Stellina, in Downtown Roanoke, is a perfect example. Stellina (which means "Little Star" in Italian) is a secretly hidden little bar within the very popular Italian Restaurant Fortunato, but with its own entrance through a door on the right of the restaurant. Its only indication of its name is a small letter board behind one of its front windows, stating its name and hours of operation. This bar was constructed with reclaimed wood from the Old Crow distillery and opened in December of 2016. Since then its gain a reputation as the ideal spot for hand-crafted cocktails in a cozy and intimate atmosphere. It seats only about 20 people, with 7 at the bar. Not that long ago it gained recognition by being featured in the New York Post as one of the world's best small bars. All that I can tell you about this place doesn't do justice to the experience of visiting the place for the very first time. After stepping inside, I was mesmerized by the simple yet effective, elegance of the establishment, complimented by the beautifully dressed young lady, server/bartender. Her elegant style and mysterious personality contributed to the character and ambiance of this one-of-a-kind relaxing place. The very hospitable young lady welcomed me and handed me the drink menu, while asking me if I also planned to dine there. I answered in the affirmative and asked her if they had any Mocktails. To my surprise, she pointed out that one side of the Drinks Menu were all non-alcoholic drinks, including mocktails, bottled mocktails, wine by the glass, and beers. I ordered one of the mocktails and by the end of my meal, I think I must have tried a few. She then brought me Fortunato's menu, and I ordered the Fritto Misto as appetizer and the Pork Milanese as my main entrée. I enjoyed both course immensely. A lady employee brought me the food from Fortunato's Restaurant through a door that led to the restroom area of Fortunato's Restaurant, pass the kitchen. For dessert, that Which I consider the "Grand Finale" of a wonderful fine dining experience, I ordered their Tiramisu and Hot Chocolate. They were absolutely mouthwatering. I highly recommend this place and can't wait to return in the near future.

Tried to get reservations at Fortuna, but could not. Stellina offers their menu and is right beside…read morethem. Stellina is small and on a Friday they were packed in. Scored at the bar which worked fine for me. Service was lukewarm, but still ok. Service started out slow and improved. However, no check-ins were performed at all. I was given a cocktail and food menu. I knew I wanted an Old Fashioned and dropped an order for their lamb meatballs. Shortly after I decided on the eggplant Parmesan main. My drink with Rittenhouse Rye bourbon was tasty, just not much of it price at $17 steep too! I also ordered a specialty hot rum drink with pumpkin spice at $10 that was amazing! The meatballs hit quickly and were devoured! So yummy! About 15 minutes later the main dropped and was huge! Really quality and flavorful for a vegetarian dish. Overall the food was better than the service and prices were stretched. 3.5 rounding down due to service.

I cannot believe I have not written a review for this place when I go literally every week. Show…read morePony is such an amazing addition to the Roanoke area. Every Monday they have $2 oysters which always makes it worth going. The drinks here are AMAZING!!! it's so unique and so delicious! I enjoy that the food menu will have rotating items on top of permanent items. I cannot recommend the chicken tenders more. Everyone who works there is always nice and welcoming.

As soon as I found out that there was a new restaurant on the block, replacing a Grandin Village…read morefavorite, Local Roots, which operated next to the Grandin Theatre since 2010, until it suddenly closed, I phoned the number of the new restaurant to see if it was open, and when I found out it was, I immediately headed over to the restaurant to try it out. When I arrived to the place, I found out the name of the new restaurant by reading it from the window, painted in yellow paint: "SHOW PONY / COLD DRINKS HOT PLATES." Not until afterwards did I discover the meaning of this new restaurant's name. As I entered the door, I noticed that the bar had been extended along the wall with more seats, and was the center of attention of the restaurant. The booths that were once there had been replaced with bistro tables. But the focal point was definitely the bar which was completely full of customers talking, drinking, and having a good time. The clientele at the restaurant's tables was a diverse group of people of all ages, and of all economic backgrounds. The items on the drink and food menu were refined yet reasonably priced to accommodate everyone and leave out no one. The atmosphere of the restaurant was relaxed and unpretentious. It was a bar centered neighborhood joint, with refined yet accessible comfort food in a classy setting. It didn't take long for the host to warmly greet me and and offer me a seat at one of their small tables. And as soon as she left, my server arrived. She was a young lady with a welcoming attitude, a big smile, and a wonderful personality. When she asked me what I wanted to drink I asked her if they had any Mocktails in the menu. She immediately answered that she can have the bartender make me one and suggested THE BEST DAY EVER FAN CLUB. I agreed and she went over to the bar. What she brought back was amazing. It looked wonderful and tasted even better. She then took my food order after answering me some questions about the menu. I ordered the YAKAMEIN which contained Braised Beef in Broth with Noodles, Shrimp & Hard-boiled Egg, and was reasonably priced at $15. The entrée was a good size and tasted amazingly delicious. For dessert I had the HOUSE ICE CREAM which was Strawberry & Lime Ice Cream with Whipped Cream & Sponch Marshmallows. Also, very interesting and sweet. In conclusion I highly recommend this place. The owners did an excellent job in making their dream come true by with their creative imagination coming up with place everyone can enjoy to the fullest.

I was told to check this place out while I was in town. When I arrived they had a trivia contest…read moregoing on, I didn't participate but sounded like fun. The service was good. Sat at the bar and had a burger which was pretty good.

When I first reviewed this Downtown Roanoke Restaurant, I focused on their drinks and food. But…read morethis time around I couldn't help it to discover why this place is the center of Roanoke's night life. 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. I arrived on a Thursday evening with a 6:15pm reservation which I'm glad I had made because later I found out that this place gets to be a full house on Thursdays. A young lady host greeted and welcomed me at the Host's station as soon as I arrived. She checked my reservation and had my table all ready for me. Located in the middle of this very popular Restaurant Bar, gave me a nice view of the entire place, and with a light high above I had a perfect lighting to photograph my drink and food as part of my review of the place. My server Jillian arrived soon after I was seated. She had a wonderful personality and welcomed me with a friendly smile and very pleasant attitude. After answering me some questions about their Mocktails, I ended up ordering their Raspberry Burro. For dinner I ordered their BBQ Bacon Chicken Kababs with a side of their special fries and a salad. While I was waiting for my food to arrive I observed the place quickly filling up and I found out that tonight was Music Bingo and Live Music at 9:30pm with no cover charge. It brought me back to my college days in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts, where the night life was a thing to look forward to. Suddenly I discovered the key of Martin's popularity and the important role it plays in contributing to making the City of Roanoke a Star City indeed. I enjoyed my drink and the Chicken Kababs with the side of special fries were amazingly delicious, as well as the salad. They have a good variety of quality items on their menu and their chefs amazingly deliver. I invite you to read my first review where I celebrate their Cuban Sandwich and Slaw, and view my photographs that accompany my review. What a night. Besides the food, I enjoyed playing the Music Bingo, which one of the card titles was The 1970's. One of the best years of my life, when I attended High School in San Juan, Puerto Rico and College in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts. During that time I also won a Saltwater Fishing Tournament at the young age of 17 by catching a 405 pound Blue Marlin off the coast of Isla Verde, Puerto Rico. It was the best of times for me. My server Jillian provided exceptional customer service, checking on me at the appropriate times. For dessert I ordered their Glazed Doughnut Bread Pudding, and it was so good, I can't wait to return to have it again. What an extraordinary dining experience I had that night. I highly recommend this restaurant and bar for when you feel like having a good time, alone or with family and good friends. I promise you will be able to sabor what a Five Star review is all about, and experience for yourselves why Martin's is one of the City of Roanoke's most precious gems.

Loved this brewery (full disclosure, the band that was playing- Night Shift- was amazing and the…read moremain basis for this review!). The beer was good and the ambiance was fun. Lots of bonus points for being dog friendly! Also enjoyed the fire pits and Cornhole games! Service was friendly and efficient.

Sydney is wonderful, the beers are delicious, and Dan does great trivia every other Thursday…read more Dogs are allowed, which is good, because Sandy is Dan's buddy.

First time trying Lucky and I'd give it a 4.5 rounded up to a 5. The menu is local farm based so it…read morechanges seasonally and is a bit limited. I was disappointed because I was hoping to try a soup or scallops I'd seen in Yelp pics but they weren't in the menu this time. Which is the roll of the dice you pay for fresh creative menus. Dining area and bar have a nice vibe with attractive art work. Dim lighting and smaller tables make it cute for a date or a solo business diner like myself. The lucky cube drink was creative and tasty. Brussel sprouts were also unique with a tahini sauce on top and perfectly crispy chickpeas. I'd seen "Smoke in Chimneys Trout" on a few menus in Roanoke this trip but never heard of that before. Looked it up and learned something new. They are trout that are local and prized for living in a lime stone aquifer rather than a river. Giving them a clean light slightly sweet taste, no essence of mud that can come with other river fish. I've never ordered trout in a restaurant, But when in Rome... Lol. The fish itself and the portion was really good. Wish I could remember my waitress' name. She was knowledgeable and just had a really warm, friendly energy.

I came in for the fried chicken because other reviews were very positive .. the coating was v…read morecrunchy , plus , however it was really burnt ! Ir was really over cooked ; plus had little flavor . Needs a little salt and pepper .... Better chicken at Popeyes or Bojangles .. Mashed potatoes were excellent . I wa not impressed with the Kale and still think there may be fatback in it ... even though the server swore there was no pork on the dish .. anyway you can try for yourself .. maybe I just came on an off night . My server was very nice ( Alyssa ) BTW.

We stopped by for a quick beer on a weekday afternoon. It seems like a place active people are…read moredrawn to. It's tucked away and you practically wouldn't know it's there from the parking lot. The bar tender was quick and friendly. It's much more spacious than you would think.

We made our own brewery tour of Roanoke and had to visit Starr Hill. They have about 15 beers on…read moretap and will let you try them before you commit to your full poor. The bartenders were super kind and patient as we tried several beers. I went for the Sun Burn summer ale and it is the PERFECT beer for sitting by the pool or on the boat probably getting more sunburned than you should. It's light and crisp and easy to drink! I really loved it! It's all I drank all evening. There's lots of tables and perfect for meeting friends or hanging out after work. They don't have food available l, but we were told it would be fine if we went next door grabbed Moe's and came back over. Definitely add this to your beer tour of Roanoke!

As the same with the Richmond location, the Cobra Kai double I ordered with crinkle cut and sweet…read morepotato fries paired with Jack Brown's signature sauce all were nothing short of perfect! One taste and you are in love! The service is attentive and friendly as the restaurant itself is decorative and pleasant to enjoy yourself within! My guess is that we should expect nothing less than perfection with every location!

First time at this location for Jack Browns which is store #2 in the chain. I had on my list the…read morelast visit and did not make it. They were packed before 5 PM on a Friday. But honestly the place is tiny. My visit with wife was brief by design. We sat at the bar and got cheeseburgers and water to move onto something else planned. Amazing service from multiple staff and yum burgers. Easy checkout and decent value. Hopefully a return visit next year and I can enjoy more of the menu. I love their sweet potato fries and large beer selection. Absolutely recommend.

Amazing service at the bar beforehand where our group of 6 took a lot of our bartenders time with…read moresome questions, luckily it was pre dinner rush so we didn't halt service for others. We then proceeded to supper on the other side to enjoy the following: lobster thurmidor, oyster sampler, crab louie, canard frites, and affogato. This was a wonderful experience with courteous staff...our only hiccup came at the end of the meal. We were ready to leave and had to wait 15 minutes to be able to get our servers attention to get our check.

Sidecar in Roanoke is a great spot with a unique, creative menu and tons of tasty options. Sitting…read moreat the bar was the highlight for me though. Service was excellent and the staff were fun and knowledgeable to talk with. The bourbon selection is fantastic, with a wide range for any level of interest. I travel to this area for work frequently and have a hard time wanting to go anywhere else for dinner.

Doesn't really get going until 10:30 or so, but the club got rockin' after that. Cute barhops and…read moredancers, a fun drag show, and surprising mixed crowd: women, men, mixed, neither, and old and young. The dance floor was hopping, and the dj's kept it bouncing! First time my partner was at an LGBTQ+ bar, and he had a great time!

Went here for the first time recently for a drag show and was not disappointed. The queens put on a…read moregreat show and even hung out with the crowd for a bit after their performance. The DJ was also fantastic. Obviously, being a lesbian, I'm not quite their target audience, but found the patronage to be very welcoming. The line to get in moved quickly and the cover was very reasonable. That being said, the drinks were slightly pricey for the strength and quality, and it was a bit difficult to get the bartenders attention despite it being not very crowded. Will definitely come back over the summer to dance and hang out with the community.

The Grandin Village community is a very active and involved one as evidenced by the number of…read moreevents they organize and attend yearly. For this reason it is very appropriate that the name of this restaurant is what it is. Located in a key location next to the Grandin Theatre in the Grandin Village, it is centrally situated for people to visit right before or after they go watch a movie or attend any other activity in the neighborhood, or even a place to meet with family or friends for some good times, drinking, eating, talking, or even to enjoy playing some pool. One day I decided to stop by to grab a bite on my way to an activity and see how it was like. I entered and waited to be greeted and seated but no one around greeted me. I thought to myself, "Maybe here they expect you to find an empty table and sit down." So I went and did just this on one of the booths. While I waited I looked around and noticed a variety of different age people. Some were drinking and watching a football gave on one of the large screen TVs above the bar counter on the left side of the restaurant. Others were seated at the bar, drinking and talking with someone they hadn't seen in a long time. Two who seemed like best of friends were seated at one of the booths on the right of the restaurant and talking, drinking, and eating. While others were at the back of the restaurant enjoying a game of pool. The server finally showed up and pointed up to what I thought was a decoration, telling me that was a menu. After asking what I wanted to drink I ordered a sweet tea. The menu had a brief but very nice variety of food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. When the server came back I ordered a Black Dog (Half Pound Burger w/ Swiss). And asked him to add cheese, bacon, and mushrooms. With a side of Brew City Fries. You can tell I was hungry. When my food arrived the burger bun was fresh and soft with a very large meat patty that was well cooked but soft, nice amount of the extras, and some amazing fries. This is the perfect place to come alone or with family or friends to spend some good time, eating, drinking, watching a game on TV, talking , socializing, or enjoying an innocent game of pool in a relaxed and friendly environment.

Best little bar in Roanoke. Food is cheap and delicious. These places don't exist anymore. I hope…read moreit never goes anywhere.