This was my very first time dining here, but after successfully purchasing a beautiful 2022 Lexus…read moreES 350 at Brambleton Imports, I sort of have developed an interest in many of the businesses located on Brambleton Ave. 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 Brambleton Deli in Roanoke, Virginia, is the perfect example. So today, I decided to have dinner here and try it out. Arriving a little before six, their front parking lot was already full. Luckily the parking lot continues around the side.of their building and into the back where it turns into an even larger parking lot. After parking my car in a safe spot, I walked to the front of the restaurant and entered through the front door after passing by their outdoor dining patio. There was already a long line of customers waiting to be seated. But with patience the friendly hostess got to me and brought me to one of the booths of the place. My friendly server Kelty soon arrived to greet me and take my order. To drink I ordered a Sweet Ice Tea. As an appetizer I wanted to have their Mini Corn Dogs but they were so many for one person that the server suggested I have the Kids Mini Corn Dog as appetizer and I did. For my main course I had their Pork Barbecue Platter, with Pit Cooked Pork, Cole Slaw and Onion Rings as side items. The 6 mini corn dogs were delicious, crunchy on the outside and soft in the inside, and having them made the wait shorter. The BBQ sauce came on the side. While the food was cooking my server came by to check on.me and give me a refill of Sweet Ice Tea. I asked her about where the bar was and she told me on the other side.of the restaurant and that some nights they have live music there. I figured if it was so crowded today on those nights it must really be crowded. By this time the food was ready and brought to my booth. The Pork was fresh and juicy, and after I spread the BBQ sauce over it, it was even better, the Onion Rings and Cole Slaw were also very good. And the Reese's Peanut Butter Pie was outstanding. After I paid the bill, I went for a walk to see the bar and the area where they play live music some nights. On the other side of the restaurant and next to the bar, this other dining area is more elegant and stylist in part for the quality of the furniture and lighting treatment. Can't wait to come again some night with a group of friends to listen to the live music. I definitely recommend this place as somewhere to go and spend some quality time in a relaxed environment, with good food at reasonable prices and to top it off live entertainment.

Always great food, great service and a lot of fun. Whether…read moreyou are with family or meeting friends you can count on a nice time.

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.

My best friend Becca and I were looking for the perfect place to celebrate her 23rd birthday in…read moreRoanoke. We had originally settled on Fortunato's, but upon arrival at 6pm, the pleasant hostess had informed us that there was not a table available until 8:30. While she was seeing if there was space at the bar, another young woman said, "There's a table at Stellina!" We already knew that Stellina shared the same menu, so we were pleased to walk over there. A young man greeted us and said, "Sit wherever you like!" But there was only one table available. It was a great table, positioned by a window that let us see a glimpse of the city. Cocktail menus were already on our tables, and the young man asked if we wanted food menus as well. We said yes, and ordered The Obituary, a gin drink, a vodka drink that I cannot remember the name of, the house bread, Lumache a Forno, and Bucatini all'Arrabiatta. While waiting for our food, I got to admire the space. It was a small space decorated with a beautiful purple-lit wallpaper, christmas lights, and a colorful overhead light. The room was dark, but our table was tastefully lit with a small lamp. The wallpaper looked as if it had some floral print on it, but upon closer inspection, it was actually a collection of people's faces, which was charming. But perhaps the most striking element of this bar's atmosphere was the music. I immediately heard a trippy beat that was familiar to me, and upon shazaming it, found out it was Interia Creeps, by Massive Attack, one of my favorite 90s trip-hop bands. The music continued to impress me, and has inspired to start a spotify playlist called Stellina's Songs. Some of the standouts include: Army of Me - Bjork Never Let Me Down - Depeche Mode Lovesong - The Cure It's No Good - Depeche Mode The ambience of this dark, 90s music paired perfectly with the dark yet pleasant atmosphere of the restaurant. Our drinks were cold, our food was hot, and it was all quite delicious. I got to try both dishes and both drinks, and was perfectly satisfied. The gentleman that greeted us checked on us frequently, as well as another woman. Overall, the experience was classy and pleasant. The restaurant seemed popular among an older crowd. Nevertheless, this is a great place for anyone of any age to grab a drink or a bite to eat while feeling like an elegant member of society. This is truly a gem that Roanoke has to offer, and my experience could not have been greater.

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 really looking forward to dining at this Sports Café for some time now. And today, right…read morebefore this year's end, I decided that it was time for me to go visit and have dinner there. Located in Grandin Village, one of the most popular neighborhoods of Roanoke, Virginia, it stands alone in a modern looking, white and gray, wide, architectural design, building, on 2326 Grandin Road. I arrived as the sun was beginning to set and parked in one of the spaces of their ample parking lot in front of their building. As I entered their main door, there was a small foyer with a framed collection of beer bottle caps, and a Christmas tree since we were in the Holiday Season. Then I entered a second glass door which on the right was the regular bar and restaurant and on the left, behind another glass door was another bar with a smaller dining area for smoking customers. Although with an ugly color carpet, the type that is installed with square pieces, the restaurant looked clean and presentable, with a bar that consisted mostly of draft beer and no hard liquor. Next to the bar they had a refrigerator with bottles of beer, and their Coke products machine must have been inside the kitchen. There were large screen tvs all around and the walls were decorated with sports memorabilia. The lighting treatment made the ambiance cozy and friendly. There were no employees around to greet me when I arrived. Only two gentlemen drinking at the bar. I waited for a while looking around until I saw the Welcome Seat Yourself floor sign. I went and sat at a table looking over the menus that were there. Finally a friendly, young server came out and took my order. To drink I ordered an Iced Coke. Then, I asked her to first bring me a half House Salad, and afterwards for my main entrée The Joe Gibbs Burger that came with their fries. She left without asking me what dressing did I want for my salad, nor how did I wanted the burger cooked. Their prices were reasonable. Their burgers were 1/3 lb Certified Angus ground chuck, made daily, according to the menu. Another long time of waiting and my server was nowhere to be seen. She never brought me the salad first nor never gave me a refill of my softdrink. After a long wait a gentleman comes out with both my salad and burger at the same time. By the time I ate my salad, which only had two tiny pieces of tomato, the burger had gotten luckwarm and the fries had cooled of that made them no that much appetizing. And they were the skinny fries, my favorite. Then after a long wait my server brings me the bill and I ask her is there time for me to have a slide of their Peppermint Cheesecake from the Christmas menu. After another long wait, she brings it. I then go to the restroom that was dirty and smelly, to wash my hands and go up to the kitchen entrance to ask for the bill. All the employees there were really very nice and welcoming to me, what I think they need is a whole lot of more training on restaurant operation, timing sensitivity, and customer service. I hope if the owner of the restaurant reads this review, and works with management to see that this happens.

False advertising. I received a flyer promoting $0.99 wings with no mention of any restrictions,…read morebut when I called to place a takeout order, I was told the deal was dine-in only. This was a bigger disappointment than Brent Pry coming back to Virginia Tech.

I'm not sure why this place has such a low score. I've been coming here for several years. I…read morealways get decent service and a great tasty sandwich. I had the Little Italy today and there was nothing little about it. They piled on 3 meats, cheese and fresh toppings.

Our waitress Susan was very helpful. She came to check on us. We will be back. I like how encourage…read moreshe was

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.

Good food and a wonderful bartender! It's always friendly and comforting! Clean and service…read moreoriented to patrons without a lot of frivolity.

Not handicapped accessible and they acted like serving us was an imposition. The food was adequate…read morebut nothing to go back for.

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.

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.

They allow smoking. So don't go here if you don't want to smell like an ashtray after being there…read morefor 30 seconds. :(

Smoking bar. Friendly barmaid. Cheap drinks. Did I mention it was a smoking bar?read more