Friendly staff..amazing food...very warm and classy atmosphere! Definitely will visit again when I'm in town.

I have eaten at some of the best restaurants in the world, but in none have I had such a wonderful dining experience like I always do at Bernard's Gastropub & Eatery. 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 return to those special ones, that have made a difference in my life and highlight them, for the benefit of the public, so they too can have an opportunity to appreciate the qualities of a one-of-a-kind fine dining experience. And Bernard's Gastropub & Eatery in Downtown Roanoke, is a perfect example. Bernard's was born out of the love of two culinary aficionados turned professionals that in someway have managed to create a restaurant with an environment that transmits this intimate love to the hearts of their customers through the attention to detail in its extraordinary customer service and amazing culinary masterpieces. Today, I felt like dining at this restaurant, which I admire for its consistency in always far exceeding my high expectations of what a fine-dining restaurant should be all about. Not knowing if they would have a table for me at this late time on a Saturday early evening, I drove in my pearl white Lexus to the nearest private parking lot and gave them a call to inquire as if they could give me a reservation for the next ten minutes. A gentleman, who later I found out was named Matthew, and would be my server, answered the phone with a very polite and welcoming voice; answering my question of what was the special dish of the day and to come on down, that my reservation was assured. As soon as I arrived to the small, very elegant foyer in front of the Host's station, he came out to greet me and instantly recognized who I was. My only request was that he give me a low table because at my age seating at a high table was a bit uncomfortable. He went back to see what he could find and ended setting me up with what I consider one of the best tables of the house, and I was so appreciative of his last minute accommodation. The menu was already setup on my table. He poured water from a special bottle into my water glass and asked if I wanted something else to drink. I asked for a Mocktail and since he also was a bartender, he prepared me one of the best mocktails I've ever had. To dine, I started out with their Mussels Carbonara appetizer, which came in a bacon parmesan cream sauce that was simply amazing, and served with toast points. As my main entrée I had the Dinner Special of the Night, the Seafood Trio. It had a delicious, giant size crab cake in the middle, scallops, and shrimps, with parmesan risotto sautéed heirloom tomato, spinach, and nice size asparagus, with a burre blanc sauce. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the high-quality of their food and magnificent ambiance of the place. Everything was so delicious that only one word could ever describe them: priceless! For dessert I had their very famous Butterscotch Banana Pudding, which the chef makes at the moment ordered. It looked spectacular and tasted amazingly delicious: a culinary work of art. What a great way for the Gran Finale of an extraordinary dining experience! read more

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Salty Salty They have potential to be good. But they use the same seasoning on fries - and French Onion Soup. Sub par food expensive. Not worth it. read more

My party was floored by how good the food was at Bernard's. Located in downtown Roanoke, it was an easy walk from our hotel. After entering, I appreciated the elegant dark wooden tones inside, as well as the dim lighting. Our server was attentive, and while it took a bit to get our food, it was worth the wait. My friend ordered fried pickles, which were plentiful and crispy. I ordered a steakhouse burger, which had a delightful layer of caramelized bacon. The most captivating dish was my buddy's shrimp and grits. It had a creamy sauce that everyone tried and scooped up. I was shocked at how balanced and rich it was, along with the smooth grits. If I ever return to Roanoke, I will come right back to Bernard's. read more

Bernard's - Steakhouse Burger tasted just right. - New American Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

Great food, great vibe. Great service. their French onion soup is to die for drinks or on point.

I brought my mom there thinking it was going to be a bit much because of the bar-like atmosphere but the food was amazing. my mom loved it. it was lively a little bit loud but I really enjoyed it read more

Hidden gem in Downtown Roanoke! Small restaurant with a bar and tv in the back section. Friendly staff that greet you with a smile . Must try's are the fried pickles and mussels for starters. The portions are big so consider sharing. I ordered the Cottage pie and loved it . The Hamburger with cheese with a side of fries and the shrimp with grits are also great and definitely worth trying.This restaurant has one of the tastiest menus all around ! Worth a visit! read more

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I came here with a work group. We did not have reservations and ended up at the bar. It's a quaint cozy place with local vibes. You can see the open kitchen while sitting at the bar so beware your clothing may smell like a kitchen when you leave. Our food was ok. The French onion soup was a little bland and made w croutons not sliced bread. Three of us had Irishmen (Reuben) and the corned beef was thick sliced. Typically I prefer mine shaved. The thousand island dressing comes in the side, not on top which I think takes away from the melted flavors of the sandwich. Very nice staff. Not on my top list for places, but definitely not bad. read more

Bernard's - The Irishman Sandwich - New American Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

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Another amazing meal at Bernard's, the service and food were top notch! It was a very busy evening, but everything was delicious and the service was excellent, as it always is. read more

Bernard's - Banana butterscotch pudding - New American Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

visiting Roanoke for the first time on Wed Sep 16th. Called this establishment about 4:30 to see if we could get a reservation. The hostess advised she was the only person working the desk that night and she did not know if she could give us a reservation??? Asked what that meant and was really not given an explanation. She advised that if we walked in she would see if she could work us in. arrived about 6 and she again stated she was alone and then stepped away to speak to a woman with a baby who I later found out was the owner. She came back and advised that she was told she could not take anymore walk ins. She was very rude in my opinion. I can understand someone having a bad day but the restaurant was sparsely occupied and I was never really given an explanation on the reservation. Not a good look for the city. read more

Friendly corner restaurant and bar with great ambiance, great food, and a fantastic staff. We highly recommend Bernards, it's one of our favorite places to eat. Parking is available, however it may cost you a bit, as most free spots are snapped up early. read more

Site was closed. So sad I wasn't able to try butterscotch banana pudding. Will try next time I'm in area.

This had amazing fresh food! We had the corned beef Reuben. It had thick cut, corned beef on it-delicious! The food came out fast. We sat on a two-top outside and watched the passersby. I was surprised the place was relatively empty at lunchtime. Great service. I would definitely go back here next time we're in Roanoke. read more

The chicken and dumpling soup is out of this world. It was real chicken swimming in a soup of creamy delicious broth clearly homemade topped with little pillows of goodness. The burger and risotto was also great, but it was really the soup that made the experience for me. That, and the team. They were so kind and we had the best time telling ghost stories and they told me all about Roanoke as it was my first time here. Great experience and I wish I got the bartenders names but they were both wonderful as was the owner Lindsay. Definitely recommend if you want a cozy at home vibe over a delicious food. read more

Bernard's - New American Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

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I can't believe it took me 8 years to find this gem. The food was delicious and so unlike anything in Roanoke. We had cottage pie, which was the best I've ever had, and chicken piccata, also divine! Service was solid & the atmosphere was perfect. Highly recommend & will most definitely be back soon! read more

Truth be told, I am very stingy with my 5 star reviews (no really, check my record!). The ambiance is upscale pub. We went with the popular dishes - cottage pie and bourbon salmon. My salmon was a tad sweet for me and I'd have preferred it a cooked a tiny bit less, but still very flavorful and not dry. My husband enjoyed the cottage pie and it was a generous portion as promised. Jimmy our waiter was super friendly and accommodating. I appreciated the fact that the patio was open in November and could accommodate our dog, which pushed me from 4 to 5 stars! read more

Bernard's - Bourbon salmon and cottage pie - New American Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

What a great gastropub. I stoped in for lunch. The decor is great. It was cold outside, but the interior Christmas decor and music warmed me right up. The service was excellent. Great recommendations and appropriately attentive. I ordered the warm spinach salad: delicious and large. The dressing was amazing. I had the Steakhouse Burger. A great burger!!! Thank you. read more

Bernard's - Steakhouse Burger with side of Asparagus. - New American Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

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Bernard's holds a very close place to my heart! From the first time I visited I knew this would be one of my favorite restaurants, owned and operated by the chef it has an elegant feel with a personal touch. I have never been disappointed by the dishes and find any and every excuse to invite my friends and family when they are in town. You can't go wrong with their mussels carbonara, the salmon, wings, or crab cakes. On a day where a martini and a Caesar salad are calling my name this is the the place I answer that calling. I love the servers and the optional patio seating. This place is a gem so they're busy on the weekends but usually bar seating is available, Oh and how could I forget their Banana pudding is one of the most magnificent takes on the classic dish. All and all this is one of the best restaurants in Virginia and I say this as a promise you will love it!!! read more

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We love Bernard's and it is a go to for my husband and I. He typically gets the Texan burger and I get the picata or caesar salad. We had family in town for dinner and wanted to share our favorite place with them this past friday. we will give the benefit of the doubt that we had 8 in our party (reservation was made several weeks ago) - it just fell short service wise this time. the food was delicious when it came out after we waited about two hours ago for dinner. we will still speak highly, but won't take a large group there again read more

we came here for lunch. The ambiance is cozy and upscale. Service was friendly and prompt. Food was amazing! Had sandwiches and the Frickles. Do not pass up a chance to eat here. Great place. Would eat here again when in town! read more

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Wonderful! Had the chicken dumpling soup, and a terrific Ceaser salad. Fast, friendly service. My husband loved his club sandwich. We are rarely in Roanoke but will definitely stop in next time we are here!!! read more

We came in a bit later in the evening, and it was quiet which was exactly what we were looking for after a long day on the road. This place was fantastic! We stopped in town for the night on our way to NC, and it ended up being the perfect spot to wind down. The staff was warm and welcoming, and the food was even better. It's pretty dark inside, so we were briefly worried they might be closed but we're so glad they weren't! We ordered a chocolate Manhattan, pear martini, chicken piccata, and cottage pie everything was delicious and the portions were huge. We were traveling and couldn't take leftovers with us, but I honestly would've been happy with half the portion size. Still, it was an amazing experience all around. Thanks for giving us a relaxing and memorable night before hitting the road again! read more

Bernard's - Pear Martini - New American Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

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We're from out of town and ordered takeout and was very happy with our order. The cottage pie was homemade and comfort food at its finest and gave you a huge portion. The corned beef was so tender in the sandwich. Highly recommend! read more

I ordered the poached pear salad. The salad was one of the best I have ever eaten. My husband had the burger. He loved it. I tried his fries and they were also very tasty. I can't wait to have the pear salad again! Great service and an eccentric decor. read more

If you are in Roanoke and are hungry, go to Bernard's. The food was great and the cook & wait staff were even better. I was told when I arrived that some staff did not show for work....they apologized in advance & informed me that drinks & food may be served slower than what is typical. I could tell everyone was rushed; but, things were controlled and not frantic. Also, the staff frequently checked on me. They handled the situation so well...right down to the cook and bartender jumping in to wash dishes. Then, the food arrived. SO GOOD. Plates were perfectly prepared with no signs of being rushed. Oysters nicely shucked with every tendon cut completely...slid right off the shell. The Hirshman sandwich was fresh and tasty. A wonderful experience. read more

This place looks fantastic, unfortunately I won't be able to rate the food. Just stopped in there for a late lunch, about 3pm. Sign on the door said see bartender for seating, so I went to the bar...and waited...and waited...and waited. Nobody seemed to want to help. The staff were in the back, talking to each other. There was a guy working on the kegs who never bothered to acknowledge me (although he was probably a contractor and not an employee). The chef/kitchen worker was about 3 feet to my left with her head buried in a book. Never even bothered to look up, or go get someone to help me. After I stood there for quite a while, I left. Went down the street to another restaurant who is actually interested in serving food. I'm sure during peak hours, this place would get a great review, but if they don't value my time, I see no reason in spending my money there. read more

June 06, 2025 Whoa! Another extremely aggressive, and inappropriate, email from the restaurant. Turns out the person replying to me is one of the owners (the husband). These interactions have really told me everything that I need to know. Beware, Roanoake! June 03, 2025: Sad update. I emailed the restaurant directly to communicate my concerns in the foodservice practices that I witnessed, and was met with a lot of defensiveness and excuses (that did not add up, and did not meet state foodservice standards). As someone who worked in foodservice for 20 years this is disappointing. June 02, 2025: A friend and I recently passed through on a road trip. We were looking forward to it, but ultimately decided not to eat there. The male cook/chef in the kitchen: * Did not wear gloves the entire time we were there. * Did not wash hands (the hand-wash sink was filled with dishwater and dirty dishes) * Used bare hands to transfer pasta from pan to plate * Wiped hands on pants * Then used the same dirty, bare hands to put raw burgers on the grill * Wiped hands on pants again * Shoved food in his mouth * Wipes hands on pants * Back to cooking * Throws pans in hand-wash sink * I tried my best to NOT toblook after that * Someone came to collect the dirty dishes from the hand-wash sink when we were just about finished and then the chef/cook finally washed his hands * Handwash sink was refilled and dishes went back into the in hand-wash sink. * Saw batter bowl sitting on the trash can just before we left, but that may have been after it was used - not sure. (Sit at the bar. That's how you can see what's happening in the kitchen.) read more

A homey, intimate establishment with several tables and bar seating. The husband and wife owners are also the chefs and can be seen cooking away in the kitchen located next to the bar. The menu offers choices like crab cakes, chicken piccata and short ribs. My favorite thing to order is a generous sized house salad with house made croutons and the mussels carbonara with toast points to share with my hubby. The mussels are ridiculous and indulgent! Pair them with a glass of wine and you'll be in heaven. read more

As we drove us towards Roanoke, VA, my wife was searching for an early dinner option for us. She found Bernard's in the "highly rated" list of restaurants and after seeing a glowing review from Erik S, our Yelp Community Manager, we agreed we needed to try and check it out. My wife noticed they open at 5pm and because we haven't previously visited Roanoke we were unsure if reservations would be required considering it was Saturday evening. We called shortly after they opened and my wife spoke with Matt. She inquired if a reservation was required for a party of 2 at approximately 5:30 ish. Matt was very friendly and helpful, he told us we should be okay since we were arriving shortly after they opened. As we approached the restaurant we looked first for street parking but ended up choosing a small public parking lot with the ability to pay via phone. We noted a couple of small outdoor tables on the sidewalk and made our way inside. The sign asked us to check in with the bartender for a table. We began walking towards the bar when we made eye contact with a young man who ended up being Matt. He was as friendly as he was on the phone. He asked us to pick one of the 2 seat high top tables and he followed us with menus and told us our server would be by shortly. The interior is comfortable and gives off a cozy, downtown vibe while not being a fine dining experience which is just not us. Gwen, our server stopped in and introduced herself, welcomed us and asked us about our drink orders. I inquired if the Get Bent IPA was a local brewery and she confirmed it was. I ordered a pint while my wife ordered water. Our drinks were brought by and we asked Gwen for recommendations after telling her it was our first time in. She was happy to share some of her favorites and answer any questions we had. My wife decided on a cup of the chicken and dumpling soup to share and the poached pear salad with blackened chicken. I chose the Cottage pie. We enjoyed talking about our impromptu roadtrip thus far and our soup arrived in a timely manner. Naturally, my phone ate first and then we began taking turns sliding this cup of deliciousness across the table, it was so incredibly creamy and delicious. Gwen periodically checked in on us and we felt very much taken care of. My wife visited the ladies room and reported it was clean, well maintained and properly stocked. Our meals arrived in a timely manner by another server and looked incredible. My wife added the honey poppyseed dressing and I snapped a quick picture before she started to enjoy. She immediately commented on how delicious it was. I also began eating and it was so good. The Cottage Pie is the definition for comfort food in my mind. Gwen continued to stop in to ensure we had everything we needed and we told her just how much we were enjoying our experience. Since I knew there was no way I was finishing my meal in one sitting, Gwen offered to pack it up so it was conducive to a small hotel fridge which was greatly appreciated. This was a five star experience from beginning to end! We absolutely recommend if you live, work or passing through Roanoke! Plan accordingly since they are closed Sunday and Monday, you will not regret it! read more

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A nice place with a great atmosphere, unfortunately the service and food quality was lacking. Also, paying over 50 dollars for a ribeye sandwich that had absolutely no flavor is beyond ludicrous. read more

Had a late lunch here recently, and sat at the bar since it was quiet. The bartender was also my server. Started with some Frickles, their fried pickle appetizer. Its a large basket of pickle chips batter fried. A cool app, and if you like dill pickles or fried snacks, this ones worth a try. Then had a Club sandwich with fries, this is a good sandwich. Made well and fresh ingredients. Turkey, bacon, lettuce, tomato and stacked on to triple toasted bread, cut into quarters. Delicious and hit the spot for my needs. The seasoned fries also good, and plenty of them. With a cold draft, it was a good lunch and a comfortable spot. 4 Stars - recommended and will return. 01009 read more

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Food is amazing!! Service is great! Ambiance is wonderfully beautiful!! We came back 2 days in a row! Come here! The staff is so nice! read more

Bernard's - Chicken Picatta - New American Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

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The mussels carbonara is out of this world! You can't go wrong here! The staff is amazing and extremely knowledgeable about the menu! read more

Bernard's - New American Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

Had the best service with Jimmy! We brought our two very hungry/cranky kids and he was very sweet and quick to get our order in. The food was absolutely delicious; we loved the frickles! Can't wait to eat here again. read more

Love this place. Passing through and hungry so we relied on our Yelp app to get us to a great place to eat. This place did not disappoint. Appetizer of freckles was delicious which is fresh, fried pickles with a delicious homemade sauce. Portions are huge. Our main course was grilled chicken house salads which included perfectly cut vegetables such as heirloom tomatoes. Delicious dressings which seemed to be housemate. Bonus-bathrooms are decorated beautifully and super clean. Highly recommend. read more

OMG! I had not heard of this little hidden gem! I went to bless a friend for a new job opportunity! The food was so delicious, great portions! The service was EXCELLENT, the gentleman that served us was so friendly and pleasant! The ambiance was amazing! I will definitely go back... actually, I attempted to go back again (assuming that they were open)... I should've checked the website for hours of operation, because they weren't opened (which made me sad). I WILL DEFINITELY BE GOING BACK! read more

We walked in on a Friday night with no reservation, but were seated immediately. The ambiance is very cozy and inviting. Both the host and server were top-notch. My partner had the French onion soup and the pear salad. I had the mussels appetizer which was more than enough for dinner. The food was well presented, priced appropriately and very good. Not a bad choice for a night out! read more

I ordered the poached pear salad and added chicken and my husband ate the wedge salad with a side of chicken & dumplings soup. Our meal was superb. Service was excellent. Beautiful restaurant. We loved the vibe. If you're in Roanoke this place is worth the drive to their beautiful downtown! read more

When in Roanoke, you must visit Bernard's. Make a reservation or you will be waiting for a bit, especially on the weekend. We have been here twice. Both times have been excellent. Our most recent visit this past weekend, we tried the Bourbon Glazed Salmon, Cottage Pie, and Steak Burger. All three were excellent. Jimmy and Matthew were excellent. Excellent service. Patient and friendly. Nicely done. We will be back again. read more

Unpretentious and affordable fine dining and family owned and operated to boot! This place somehow manages to tick all the boxes and is probably the front-runner for my best eats of 2024. Seeing how the year is almost over, that's a solid accomplishment! Upon arriving, the hostess greeted us and told us, "the kitchen is backed up right now, but we don't want you to leave. Take a seat on our couch and I'll go talk to them." That felt weird, but made SO much sense when we found out that literally all the cooking is done by a husband and wife duo, who own and operate the restaurant. The place will literally shut down if they aren't available to work, which is pretty rare and an exciting level of commitment as a diner. Our server was enthusiastic to tell us about the story of the restaurant and was extremely personable. Among the many interesting bits of info he gave was the fact that they literally don't have a freezer in the restaurant. Their commitment to fresh food is that strong. To drink, I chose the poached pear martini to start and it was strong and smooth, without being overly sweet. For my meal I went with the bourbon glazed salmon. The $28 price tag almost scared me off, but that meal was easily worth double. The glaze was so tasty I almost asked for a spoon for it. The salmon was perfectly cooked and the potatoes were cheesey, crispy, AND covered in glaze. I'm confident they brought that plate out quick since they were extremely crispy in spite of being soaked. There were also some tender little asparagus stalks on my plate. Overall, I absolutely and wholeheartedly recommend this place. If you want delicious food done right and with care, Bernard's is the place to go. read more

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