Vinton's Café Kitchen & Bakery is more than just a place to eat. It's a small-town charm where…read morelocals, family, and friends gather to share quality time together while enjoying some delicious Southern comfort food. 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 Vinton's Café, located in the City of Roanoke's neighboring Town of Vinton, Virginia, is a perfect example and a dream come true. Located in the heart of downtown Vinton, this cozy, family-owned and operated hometown eatery has quickly become the talk of the town. It is widely recognized for it's scratch-made Southern comfort classics, exceptional all-day breakfasts, artisan baked goods, and local artisan gift shop. The owner Keriann Campbell sets the warm and welcoming tone for a memorable dining experience and for a desire to want to come back and make it the place to gather with family and friends, to make any day special. Her most close supporters are husband Todd and son Jake. Tom's skills in the kitchen are amazing. His passion for food is the inspiration for some culinary masterpieces. Among some of the more unique and loved items in the menu are the Cafe Cuban Sandwich served on Portuguese sweet bread, and paired with homemade potato soup; The Strawberry Banana Nutela Crepes; The Smoked Salmon Benedict; and a first for any restaurant in the area: The Surf N Turf Omelet. Some of the items on their Fall Special Menu include the Dubai French Toast, The Banana Bread Pancakes, and The Benedict Burger, among others. Their coffee selection is also like no other. Today I visited the restaurant for an early breakfast. A friendly young lady greeted and welcomed me. I ordered an Iced Café Mocha to drink and an Imperial Omelet to eat. It was amazingly delicious. I loved it. Its quality chorizo flavor really stood out together with its fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, spinach, and special chef's spices. The owner came out to say hello while I was there. She has a beautiful personality and a very creative mind and imagination. As their one-year anniversary is approaching in November of this year, plans are underway to expand into dinner hours and add a back patio for parade viewing and outdoor dining. She also believes in giving our local talented and creative people an opportunity to showcase their items in the gift shop. Currently the gift shop there is showcasing 10 local artisans. 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 and items in their gift shop. In conclusion I highly recommend this one-of-a-kind Café, a cherished gem of the precious Town of Vinton.

I just had the most amazing lunch with my sister! We were celebrating my birthday so we started off…read morethe Mimosa flight then we followed up with chicken Caesar wrap! Oh my good goodness it was delicious! We had Lexie as our server and she too was incredible! I will definitely be back!!! It was an impeccable little restaurant located in the town of Vinton! If you haven't been by yet you are missing out on this little gem.

Delicious, authentic Mexican food at Cilantro last night. We're from Northern Virginia where there…read moreare tons of great restaurants, but limited options for Mexican food and really wish they had a location near us. I had the Birria tacos which can be hit or miss at restaurants, but these were so flavorful. My kids had carne asada tacos and taquitos - the carne asada tacos were tender and Smokey and delicious. The taquitos were pretty good, but nothing out of the ordinary. The service was fast and friendly and the prices were super reasonable. The decor was a little tired and there were several fruit flies buzzing around our table, but neither were enough to distract us from the food. Highly recommend this place!

This restaurant is located in a tiny strip mall that is very close to the Moneta library…read more The restaurant/bar is cute. The meals are reasonably priced (you can "build" your own meal starting at $10.99 for two items). My plate was barely warm but the manager reheated it. Temperature really improves flavor. The read sauce was delicious. I wouldn't order a quesadilla again but I will try other items on another visited. The burrito was yummy. One of my guests had the chicken fajita. There was only one tiny piece of broccoli in her veggies. She only orders this item and it was the first time it was just passable and not extraordinary. (Her four time winning streak ended) The place is comfy. If you get chilly, pick a table not directly beside the doors. The staff is nice. Even in chilly weather, the place was filling up during "rush hour." I can only imagine how crowded this place gets in the summer. I rate this place a B. There is something for everyone. You can order decent Mexican food that isn't as great as Cancun Restaurant. (But we don't have to travel as far)

Very good breakfast spot. The service was friendly. The decor was lovely - airy but cozy. Plenty of…read moreseating. The menu offered so many yummy options it was hard to choose. I ordered the lemon ricotta pancakes (OMG sooo good!) and the other person in my party had the pumpkin pancakes, eggs, sausage and a side of biscuits and gravy. All very good. Definitely recommend!

Sometimes it pays to do your research. You end up finding the Oyster with the cultured pearl…read moreinside. And this is exactly how I ended up finding this gem of a restaurant after only two weeks and a half of opening its doors to the public. 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 First Watch in Salem, Virginia, is a perfect example. Located in the Mill Lane Commons, off West Main Street, Salem's busiest retail corridor, First Watch, a daytime cafe known for its gourmet breakfasts and brunches, has just become the new kid on the block of the City of Salem's restaurants. This morning I drove in my pearl white Lexus in search of the restaurant which I found next to the Sheetz in Salem. It was located inside a reasantly built contemporary design building. Inside, it had beautiful hardwood floors, lots of windows bringing in the light, and high ceilings with an amazing lighting treatment. The dining furniture was elegant and comfortable at the same time. As soon as I walked in the door, Jaclyn Gorman, a very cordial and hospitable young lady with a wonderful personality, and the restaurant's manager, welcomed me and made me feel right at home, in this cozy, warm, and hospitable environment. She asked me where I wanted to be seated and after I told her that in a well lit table, she took me to the perfect one, and handed me a copy of their regular menu. In a couple of weeks, she told me they would also be serving from their Seasonal menu. At first I was going to have a regular coffee, but when I saw an advertisement on the table next to mine for a Mint Mocha Iced Coffee, I immediately called her back and ask to have this one instead. To eat I ordered their Chile Chorizo Omelet. It not only tasted amazingly delicious, but also looked the part as well. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and the quality of their food. I was assigned a server to follow-up on me, but the manager kept in touch to see that everything was of my satisfaction. The ambiance, the quality and uniqueness of the cuisine, and the excellent customer service all contribured to making this an outstanding dining experience. I highly recommend this place and look forward to returning in the very near future.

The food service is amazing and the food is great. It has a…read morelot of options in regards to foods. Great place to eat. El servicio de comida es increíble y la comida es excelente. Tiene muchas opciones en cuanto a alimentos. Es un gran lugar para comer.

Omg this was so good and just what I needed. Both pupusas were nice and cheesy! The sauce and slaw…read morewas good and authentic too. Service was fast and friendly! Oh! And this juice!? AMAZING!!

I found myself in Roanoke, VA for Cinco de Mayo, and found this joint somewhat close to my hotel…read more(Springhill Suites which was awesome). I pulled up and I'm 99 percent sure this used to be a Pizza Hut. The 1% skeptic in me didn't see a table top Pac Man machine, so I could have been wrong. Back to the Mexican cuisine, I kept it simple with tacos, and loved that I could order 3 different tacos. I went with the Al Pastor (good), Chicken (great), and Steak (dry and meh) tacos and was in and out pretty quickly. It was already later in the evening so it wasn't too crowded. I'd probably hit something else in Roanoke if I was here, but it wasn't bad for what I was looking for on May 5th!

I can't believe this place isn't more popular…read more Went here for my birthday and everything was SO fresh and delicious. It was a Friday night at 5:30 and no one was eating in the restaurant! This is a SHAME as this place should be hopping! We will definitely be back! Yum yum!!!

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.

I LOVED BROOD. The chique bar area was our first nights dinner. The bartenders was FANTASTIC. His…read moreknowledge of cocktails and the menu made it a true experience. The food was well made and tasted like home. Rich, delicious, and unique. Highly Recommend

Sometimes in the smallest of places one finds the most exquisite food and the most precious of…read moredining experiences. 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 Brood Restaurant and Bar in the heart of Salem, Virginia is a perfect example. Hidden in a small but cozy spot with a small but beautiful bar of only a few chairs, off East Main Street in Salem, Virginia, is one of my favorites fine dining restaurants: Brood Restaurant & Bar. The name means: "the children of a family," or "the chicks of a hen." It is meant to describe a warm place where people gather and feel just like in the best of homes: safe, cared for with unconditional love, and well fed with food that is made from the heart. A simple wood framed glass door with the restaurant's name written on it in capital letters with a classical font, is all one sees from the outside. But once you open the door and enter you encounter a space with lots of character coming from an exposed red brick wall and lovely dark wood hardwood floors. The furniture is elegant but comfortable. And the people treat you like if you were right at home; practically one of the family. On this occasion I arrived 15 minutes early to my five o'clock reservation time, yet I was greeted and received with open arms by a hospitable gentleman who seemed to be the bartender but with the distinction of the manager of the place. I was taken to my table in a perfect location in the wall facing the middle of the restaurant. The bartender prepared me a Guason Mocktail that all I can say is that it tasted devine. To dine I ordered their Sea Scallops appetizer with a roasted garlic emulsion and a bacon and fried onion crumb. Followed by an Arugula Salad. And the main entrée being the Steak and Frites. Everything was amazingly delicious and served in the appropriate timing. The scallops tasted out of this world in its unique sauce. The salad was wonderful. And the steak, an 8oz CAB Manhattan cut New York Strip cooked medium-rare and served with vaudouvan compound butter was one of the tastiest steaks of this nature that I have ever had, along with some fries with a cut that brought out the best of them. My server and bartender visited my table at the right times to see that everything was to my satisfaction and see if I needed anything and when he was busy made sure to send one of the other servers who all worked very efficiently as a team. Even at the end of my meal when the restaurant was almost completely full. For dessert which I consider the "Grand Finale" of a great meal, I had their Belgian Waffle Bread Pudding. It was amazing. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and the high-quality food. Needless to say I highly recommend this restaurant which has become one of my favorites for its delightful ambiance, exquisite food, and excellent customer service, together leading towards an extraordinary dining experience.

You rarely find a little restaurant in the middle of nowhere that makes you feel at home from the…read moremoment you walk in. Delicious food, a welcoming atmosphere, and attentive service, are the best words I can use to describe this gem of a restaurant. 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 entirety. And Lews Restaurant in the Hollins neighborhood of Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example. From the moment I parked my car in their small parking lot and walked over to this cozy little restaurant with a slanted shaped roof, I was first welcomed by one of their customers who held the door open for me when he was entering the restaurant and saw me headed that way. That particular gesture was so meaningful to me that I abstained from taking a photograph of the outside of the restaurant and hurried along to catch the door. As I stepped inside, the unique architectural design captivated me. The slanted wooden ceiling, peaking in a true cathedral style, lent the space a feeling of immense height while still maintaining a warm, inviting atmosphere."  It didn't take long for me to notice the sign that read: "Please SEAT YOURSELF." But almost at the same time that I had finished reading it, a friendly young lady, who ended up being my server, greeted me with a smile and a warm welcome, and invited me to sit anywhere I wished. I chose a booth next to a collage of photographs depicting major scenes from the Star City of Roanoke. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and its food. My friendly server came by to take my order. Given that they sold Pepsi products, I chose an ice-cold Pepsi. Then I ordered the Tavern Burger and requested they add bacon. This burger was topped with fried egg, mustard, pickle, and American cheese, and served on a sesame seed bun with a side of their Beer Battered Fries. From the fresh and soft sesame seed bun,to the freshly fried egg, to the juicy and quality beef patty, and the thick, satisfying bacon and pickle, every component of this burger contributed to an amazingly delicious final result. Needless to say, my server checked back to see how I was doing at the appropriate times and provided me with refills of my ice-cold Pepsi. To my surprise the only dessert they had was Fried Oreos and no ice-cream to accompany it. I realize that many restaurants hold on having dessert to expedite customer flow, but at least for me, a meal isn't a meal without a good, sweet dessert. And I make the recommendation of adding a few unique desserts special menu such as Peanut Butter Pie, Vanilla Ice Cream to the Fried Oreos, and a Mango Crème Brûlée. You'll be surprised, you may have customers attracted to eat here just for any of these simple but unique and delicious desserts. In conclusion I highly recommend this little and cozy restaurant for its warm and friendly environment, its wonderful satisfying food, and last but not least, its excellent customer service. All contributing to an amazing dining experience.

If you are traveling in the area or even live near by, this is the place to stop. We do not live in…read morethe area but have had several meals here when traveling and even booked our hotel close by so we can be sure to grab a meal. From the white veggie pizza to the sandwiches all have been delicious. The staff may be young but all have been extremely helpful, polite and always a wonderful experience. The cook always does a phenomenal job and we will continue to stop by when passing every time!