Delis are a dime a dozen, but sometimes in those rare moments in life, like finding a needle in a…read morehaystack, one encounters a priceless one, and that is precisely what happened to me when I discovered Mike's Deli. This very popular American deli in the Hollins area of Roanoke, Virginia came to my attention through word of mouth, and I couldn't resist to put aside some time to go have lunch there, and experience first hand what a one-of-a-kind deli is all about. When I arrived, I parked my Lexus in a parking space right in front of the deli. Even though it was established in 2012, its physical building looked like new with clean red bricks and a beautiful French window on the right of its freshly painted blue door, and an equally beautiful Bay window on the left, leading to the dining room. Inside, the owner Mike personally greeted and welcomed me with open arms. His friendly and cheerful personality made me feel at home right away. The place had a basic, clean, and unpretentious environment. It's dining room had blue tables with comfortable chairs, and positive, noble words on its wall like: "Thankful," "Blessed," and "Love conquers all things." The menu featured a wonderful, unique variety of hot and cold submarines, sandwiches, and homemade sides. Such as "The Farmhouse," a house specialty with chicken salad, crispy bacon, and creamy Russian dressing. Their homemade desserts such as Baklava and Banana Pudding looked delicious as they were displayed next to a variety of others. After looking at their menu, I ordered a Lemonade to drink, a Ruben Sandwich to eat, and a homemade Banana Pudding for dessert. The sandwich was exquisite, the drink was refreshing, and the dessert was truly amazing. And the service by the owner himself was extraordinary. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and its food, and highly recommend you give them a visit. I can assure you, you'll be forever grateful you did. I can't wait to return and try one of their other unique sandwiches on the menu.

Delicious sub at a reasonable price! The Bacon Cheeser Pleaser hit the spot and the Baklava was…read morefresh & delicious. The owner was friendly and down to earth. A welcoming environment and clean dining space. This place is a Roanoke original under the current ownership for 20 years. Was a short walk or shuttle ride from Southern Team where I was waiting on an oil change.

At one time this restaurant may have been "the place for submarine sandwiches", but sadly not…read moreanymore. Ordered a pastrami and Swiss sub and a ham and cheese sub. Wrapped in paper to go, we were anxious to try them. Foot long seeded roll was this side of stale, lean on the meat and cheese on both and fixings for a subs this size. Sadly $40 for 2 sandwiches and 3/4a went in the trash. Good concept...poor execution.

It pains me to give a deli this review but the pastrami was crazy salty and tough as hell, and…read morecorned beef had no flavor or salt like it was boiled to death, and looked like ham.?Loved the marble rye and kaiser roll, but when they asked me if I wanted lettuce on my hot pastrami I knew I was in trouble. I ordered a slice of cheesecake that they are known for but it was terribly dry and not sweet at all. Whole visit was a miss. There's nothing NY here. The best part of the visit were the two sassy cashiers that talked shit about all the customers and were clearly thrilled to be working there.

After a miss at the New Yorker and trashing my lunch I headed to RT Smith's for a better outcome. I…read moreordered a corned beef reuben. Great marble rye, loaded with quality Swiss cheese and the sauerkraut was outstanding. The corned beef was a mid, just missing any flavor. Tasted like a horseradish sauce was also added which gave the sandwich a bit more life. Very so-so overall....nice owners, very friendly. Look for street parking. Lot at the corner next to the restaurant is $8/hr to park.

A friend of mine recommended this Deli to me and since this is one of the most effective ways of…read morediscovering interesting places to eat, I decided this morning to go check it out for breakfast. The only New York City Deli in Roanoke, Virginia; located almost in the corner of Jefferson Street and Campbell Avenue SE, it is centrally located with on street parking as well as a parking garage nearby. When I arrived to the building where the restaurant was located, it had a small restaurant front with windows on the two sides of the restaurant's door. It had its name painted in the window, as well as a black stand out sign with golden letter fonts: "R.T. Smith's Delicatessen EST. 2011." From outside it seemed like all small restaurant, but once inside, I found that its was actually a long space with an infinite amount of food products and many menus for breakfast and lunch. The restaurant was decorated with many interesting items, menu signs, and a collection items of Star Trek figurines. The owner greeted me with a friendly hello and asked me to pick a table, serve myself coffee, and take a seat. After reviewing the menu while sseated, I ordered the Hot Mess Omelette. It was one of the largest omelettes in the Breakfast menu. Later I found out that they also had Breakfast Add Ons to the Omelette at an extra price. But the Omelette I ordered already had 4 eggs, ham, bacon, sausage, and American & Gouda cheese. When the Omelette was cooked and served on the counter, I went to pick it up and pay the bill on the cashier counter. When I took it to my.table and opened up the container where it was served; I was amazed at the size of it. It was cooked perfectly. I put salt and pepper on it from the antique Coca Cola bottle shackers and began eating it. It was one of the best Omelettes that I have ever eaten! And I have eaten the best of the best. Another of my best was one I ate at the Boston Marriott Hotel that had Lobster meat, mushrooms, and brie cheese. Afterwards, I stayed for a while drinking my coffee and talking to the owner and his wife. They both have wonderful personalities and we talked about the business, their move from New York to here. How they import their fresh bagels from New York and soon they will be importing other items as well. Their hobby of collecting Star Trek figurines and other items. Before I left I made sure to tell them that they had just gained not only a new customer, but also a friend. I highly recommend this restaurant for breakfast or lunch. They serve quality food in generous portions and cooked extraordinary well. And provide with their wonderful customer service an amazing dining experience!

Nothing presumptuous about this hole in the wall deli located in a clean, small space, with hardly…read moreany decorations at all. Just a brochure menu with this saying on the cover: "Generous portions, made fresh, specifically for you." 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 Joe's Deli, in Salem, Virginia, is a perfect example. Located right next to the City of Salem Farmer's Market and its parking lot, where you can conveniently park for up to two hours, enough time to park and walk across the street to Joe's Deli to have something to eat.While I was walking, I noticed a mural with a rendition of people eating at Joe's Deli painted on the side of the building, which I found very interesting. Once inside, during around lunch time, the restaurant was modern and clean with a minimalist decor. The dining area had both regular size and high tables and chairs, and also a small bar counter with a large screen TV and a framed American Flag under it. On the wall leading to the ordering counter there was a poster with a QR code to be able to skip the line by ordering online on their website. Next to this there was another poster with the Roanoke College Wrestling schedule for the season. The atmosphere here was incredibly warm and inviting, making for a really comfortable experience. On top of that, this was by far one of the cleanest delis I've ever visited; it's clear they take take great take great pride in their space. I waited in line as a lady in front of me was making her order at the ordering counter and a gentleman was waiting standing up for his take-out order. While I waited I took a menu brochure from the counter and planned what to order. When it was my turn to order, a friendly lady greated me at the ordering counter and answered some questions that I had about what I was planning to order. I ordered a Reuben Pastrami that came on a white rye bread, and included a bag of chips. To drink I ordered a Pepsi since they carried Pepsi products. When my order was ready they called my name and I went to pick it up. The sandwich came wrapped in a nice, heavyweight waxed sandwich paper. When I opened it at my table, the sandwich was humongous, filled with a generous amount of quality Pastrami, Swiss cheese, Sauerkraut, and Thousand Island on a white rye bread, and was toasted. It was amazingly delicious! So much so that I went back and complimented the owner and chef of the restaurant, in person through the window that led to the kitchen. I highly recommend this deli for breakfast or lunch. For they have the qualities of a great Delicatessen, focusing on quality ingredients, generous portions, and excellent service.

He thinks everyone loves meat... I mean, you can almost take his sandwiches home and make another…read moresandwich out of the meat that is on the sandwich. It is fabulous.

Delicious chicken wings! Hosted a small last minute…read moregathering and needed 50 chicken wings. Called this location and they had the order ready within 30 minutes. Efficient, friendly service, perfectly cooked wings that were yummy...winner!!

During the COVID-19 pandemic, our local dine-in Pizza Hut closed. Whether directly related to the…read morepandemic itself or Pizza Hut's business model moving towards solely supporting their care-out restaurants, it is disappointing to see chain or local businesses close up shop leaving unused space behind. I say all of this because it is great to see a new and local business move in when this happens. And so, with its recent arrival at the old Pizza Hut location, Nu Deli Mart serves as more than just a convenience store. They offer up delicious Middle Eastern and Mediterranean fare on top of other staples. Sure, their hotdogs and hamburgers are good, but the lamb gyro, chicken shawarma, falafel, and grape leaves are a must try. During my recent visit I ordered the gyro, which featured perfectly grilled lamb with fresh vegetables and zesty tzatziki sauce. If you would like to support a local business while trying something delicious, visit Nu Deli on Hershberger Road in Roanoke, VA.

The Lazy Bulldog Bistro is what I'd like to refer to as (what Bob Ross would say) a "happy…read moreaccident." I was traveling with a friend up to Blacksburg so we could watch our alma mater, Virginia Tech, play North Carolina in a big early college football matchup. While driving up from Hampton Roads, we kind of settled on grabbing lunch at Sticks & Spoons Ramen Bar in Roanoke before checking into our hotel and then finally heading out for the game. We made good time and, wouldn't you know it, Sticks & Spoons was closed for renovations. S&S was located at small strip mall - so after seeing they were closed, we noticed Lazy Bulldog across the way. We figured, "Why not?" and headed over. Upon entering, we were warmly greeted by Lazy Bulldog's co-owners, Brandon & Erika. They were quick to answer any questions about their menu, and Erika was kind enough to provide their establishment's history. The menu looked incredible as LB offered all kinds of burgers and sandwiches. We ordered the What the Ale Shrooms for an appetizer, which were fried button mushrooms in beer batter. It came with a homemade lemon aioli - both the shrooms & the aioli were delicious. I had the Surf 'N Turf Burger (1/3 lb beef patty, Old Bay fried shrimp, thick cut hickory bacon, lettuce, tomato, Sriracha aioli), while Neal ordered the Garlic Bomb (1/3 lb beef patty, cheddar, lettuce, sauteed garlic, red onion, homemade garlic aioli). Both of us enjoyed our choices and appreciated the excellent service from Erika and Brandon. Our entire experience was fantastic, which came with extra effort when Erika gave us free water while we chatted outside with one of Neal's former professors. LB closes for a couple of hours between lunch & dinner service, so Erika, as she was closing up and leaving, gladly provided the water and some extra produce she had grown herself. Thank you, Lazy Bulldog, for everything! I cannot wait to visit again when I return to Blacksburg! JV

Food truck had a limited menu. Selected the steak sandwich…read more Ready in about 7 minutes; came with Ruffled potato chips. Sandwich was delicious. Will absolutely eat here again. Initially I thought it was a little pricy, but it was loaded with meat, and very tender.

Sometimes in the least expected of places one can find the tastiest of foods and the friendliest of…read morepeople. This is the case with Cafe Express, in Salem, Virginia. Located in a standalone building next to a 7-Eleven/Gas Station at 206 Apperson Drive, Cafe Express is a small, family-owned and operated New York Style Deli, run by a husband-and-wife team who immigrated from Nepal years ago and for 18 years have worked hard to make this small, unasuming deli, one of Salem's most precious culinary hidden gems. At first I didn't think nothing of it. Its storefront and location are not that impressive, but after driving by it many times, one day I just had to stop and try it out. From the very beginning, after parking in a space right in front of the deli, I was very impressed by its cleanliness. Its front windows and glass door were so clean and shiny that they were like mirrors reflecting their surroundings which in part was the gas station. But don't be fooled by this. In the past I've discovered exceptional eateries located at gas stations small strip malls. Once inside, I was fascinated by what I saw. There were three beautiful wooden relief carvings on the walls, framed magazine articles of the deli and its owners, framed Award Certificates including one from Yelp, a Buddha artwork on a plate, and a beautiful oil painting, painted by none other than by the owner himself. Both Prakash Malakar and his wife Sarojani gave me a warm welcome and made me feel at home. Eager to learn about their place of origin and culture I ask them about this.The owner explained how they came from Nepal, which is located in between China and India. Afterwards, his wife showed me the menu and the Specials written in colorful chalks over a chalkboard. I was attracted to their "Pastrami Royale and after she explained what items it had, I went ahead and ordered it along with some fries and a fountain softdrink. Not exaggerating, it was one of the most delicious sandwiches that I've ever had. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and its amazing high-quality food. For dessert I had a small bowl of their homemade rice pudding. After I finished eating I paid with one of my credit cards via my Google Pay which they accepted and left them a nice tip. In conclusion, I highly recommend this place for its warm and comfortable ambiance, great menu, exquisite food, and remarkable customer service by a kind and friendly couple.

Enjoy local raw unfiltered honey from Salem Va honeybees. Bring a jar home and enjoy some of the…read morehoney mustard sauce on a delicious sandwich or with yummy chicken tenders.

One of my favorite treats, especially for breakfast, is a freshly made New York Style Bagel with…read morecream cheese. It not only tastes good but it seems to energize me. Years ago, on Saturday mornings, before I went to teach my College Psychology class, I would stop at a bakery and had a bagel with cream cheese. They were so good. Today, after hearing so much about this place, I decided to go and try their Bagels out. 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 Donnie D's Bagels & Deli in Daleville, Virginia, is the perfect example. When I arrived I was aware that their Roanoke, Virginia location had been through a fire and was in the process of renovation. When they first opened I was one of the first ones there trying out their bagels and watching them make them. I invite you to go read my review and see my photographs accompanying it. Their bagels were so good that I missed them and that is why I came to this location to see if they also made them here. I was under the impression that they also made their own bagels here. But it seems that their bagel operation was done in their Roanoke location and they were sent here. Because one of the things they had here was a sign that said that while they were renovating their other location in Roanoke, they were having their bagels shipped from a bakery in New Jersey. What they were making here were their biscuits. When I arrived, I was very impressed with this small but cozy, little deli and bagel shop. The fist thing you see is a display case with lots of bagels of all kinds. The bagels looked big and plumpy. I walked over to the ordering counter and a friendly young lady greeted me and when I asked her about the bagels, told me the story I just wrote about above. Since I was here already I ordered a Plain Bagel with Cream Cheese and a bottle of Starbucks Cold Caffè Mocha. The bagel was good but not as good as Donnie D's, which I still remember when I had one at their Roanoke location. It was warm, crispy on the outside and nice and soft in the inside. I also had an opportunity of seeing the trays of their biscuits made on the premises and they also looked good. I definitely recommend this place to stop for breakfast or lunch. They have quality products, a warm and cozy ambiance, an excellent customer service.

Solid bagel sandwiches, but our 3 basic egg and cheeses were not worth a 30 minute wait.read more

My 20-year old son (who attends Virginia Tech) and I were pleasantly surprised to find authentic…read moreCuban cuisine near the Roanoke airport. We found this place through Yelp for an early Saturday dinner. The restaurant was full of customers at 5:30pm - so we ordered takeout to bring back to our hotel. The service is warm with a family-friendly vibe. I would strongly recommend the vaca frita - which was outstanding and ideal for carryout. The red beans and rice were also delicious. I tried the ropa vieja (which is a bit more messy for takeout - but a great option if you're dining in). We also enjoyed the vanilla flan dessert which was very sweet (ideal with coffee). Overall, this was a great surprise in Roanoke - we hope to return to Cuban Island Restaurant on our next trip to Blacksburg, VA.

I was super excited to try this authentic Cuban restaurant, especially after seeing all the amazing…read morereviews and seeing that it was marked as one of the top best Cuban restaurants in the USA. I added it to my trip itinerary months ago. After driving for 5hrs on my route, I stopped in. I arrived around 12PM and there were 2 people sitting inside the restaurant. My greeting was lukewarm and I was seated in a cold corner and provided with a menu. After about 7 minutes, no water, no check in. Seeing the staff talking to each other and joking during that time period, I decided to take my service elsewhere. They did not seem like they cared, and I definitely did not want to be eating anyones food who is not genuinely present. It was a nice try. Yall, please implement the Southern hospitality.