Delicious subs, generous portions, friendly owner. One if a kind, our go-to sub shop since we moved…read moreto Roanoke recently

I wish I could give this place a great review but unfortunately, I cannot. Although the guy making…read morea sandwich was really nice the sandwiches were mediocre best and extremely expensive for what you got! We got two small Panini's and one bottled Coke and the total bill came to $28! And if these were amazing, incredible sandwiches, maybe I could swallow that but it's extremely overpriced for what you get.

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.

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.

Great pizza!!! Loved the thin crust and choice of tasty toppings. Incredibly good tavern style…read morepizza (look that up--it's the other Chicago style). We had brussel sprouts as an appetizer and two pizzas for three people. The sprouts were not only delicious but a big serving--plenty of food for the three of us. Who knew that Roanoke would have such good pizza? Plus a delicious old fashioned made with Woodford bourbon. Check it out!

We visited the Yard Bird Tavern in downtown Roanoke. Finding a spot can be a bit of a gamble;…read moreunless you're lucky enough to snag a space at the curb, you should expect to pay for parking. ​Atmosphere & Menu ​Upon entering, we found the restaurant pleasantly sophisticated, though it was nearly at capacity. While we opted not to explore the drink menu, we were eager to see what the kitchen had to offer. The menu itself is concise, focusing primarily on wings, sandwiches, and pizzas, supplemented by a few small appetizers. ​The culinary style is quite eclectic. They feature several unconventional toppings and flavor combinations that might seem a bit eccentric at first glance. ​The Culinary Experience ​I decided on a flatbread-style pizza topped with: ​Smoked chicken ​Pickles ​Peppadew-style peppers (which resembled small cherry tomatoes) ​A tangy, zesty sauce reminiscent of an enchilada base with an extra "zing." ​My wife opted for a "build-your-own" pizza featuring red onions, pepperoni, and bell peppers. Although she realized too late that she had forgotten to request light sauce, she noticed the oversight immediately upon the dish's arrival. ​Service Observations ​The service was a bit of a mixed bag. Our waitress was professional but remarkably brisk. She lacked the usual pleasantries or "small talk" one might expect, focusing instead on efficiency. While her haste felt a bit impersonal, I couldn't complain about her attentiveness--she was incredibly prompt at refilling my iced tea the moment my glass was empty. Make sure you bring your pocketbook this pizza brings a sting at the register.

After looking at their menu on line , we ordered the 14"…read moreRonnie's Pizza . It was delivered very quickly.The pizza arrived warm! Loaded with mozzarella cheese and pepperoni. It's the typical thinner crust that restaurants serve in the area with the difference that it is perfectly cooked . Not dry at all! Will definitely order again and try to their other dishes .

I was staying in downtown and read reviews about Leonore and they were really good, so I decided to…read morestop in on a weeknight. When I got there, they were dead, but by the time I left, they were packed. So, clearly it's a popular joint. The staff was helpful and very friendly. Prices are decent there too. They offer a nice mix of Venezuelan and Italian food... seems like an odd combo, but they did a decent job with the items I tried. I love arepas, so I ordered a Pabellon Arepa and a small veggie pizza. The food came up pretty quickly; the pizza was perfectly hot. The crust was the right thickness and had plenty of cheese and fresh toppings on it. The only issue was there was hardly any tomato sauce on it. I asked for a side of tomato sauce to dip into. The sauce was very thin and lacked much tomato flavor. The arepa was packed full of meat. The beef was seasoned perfectly and tasted great. The bun though was kind of tough, sort of like it was stale. The venue is small, but clean and welcoming. Their menu is loaded with many options too. Overall, it was a nice dinner.

A nice specialty grocery with deli counter…read more I was too late to catch the deli counter but browsed and got a loaf of sourdough from a vendor. From my limited experience I would return.

Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined such an extraordinary Grocery and Cafe that opened…read moreits doors in 2019 after quality extensive renovations to Tinnell's Finer Foods, when it closed its doors after 82 years of serving the South Roanoke community. When I came to visit this place for the first time I had no idea that it had a close relationship to the River and Rail Restaurant which I reviewed last year, giving it the highest rank of my Five Star reviews ever. When doing my research for this review I found out that the long-time Roanoke residents, Whit and Lauren Ellerman, the owners of Crystal Spring Grocery, are also the owners of the River and Rail Restaurant, located on the same block as Crystal Spring Grocery. The Ellermans clearly have an eye for recognizing the possibilities of vacant buildings and the talents of others and a vision of how they can come up with something as wonderful as this establishment. Gourmet grocery store and Cafe is a short definition of what Crystal Spring Grocery Company is all about. But I must go more in depth of what makes it so special and unique beside being gourmet. First of all I was very impressed with the interior design of the building space. Simple yet beautiful in its simplicity. I particularly loved its shiny whitish gray floors, and the green furniture and design, throughout the Grocery as well as Cafe. Also, I was very impressed with the windows and lighting treatment of the place. Second, I was very impressed with the quality and organization of the food items and wines, in the Grocery area. Third, with the menu items and quality of the food coming out of the kitchen of the Cafe. I had an Iced Sweet Tea to drink, and a Chicken Sandwich with Fries to eat. Everything was amazingly delicious. And last, but not least, I was highly impressed with the quality of your employees; with the ones behind the counter up front and the ones taking the orders and handing them out in the Cafe area. They all were so friendly and welcoming and at the same time so knowledgeable and organized, providing exceptional customer service individual and working as Team players. I highly recommend this Grocery and Cafe to everyone reading my review and viewing my photographs accompanying this review. This place is another gem in the this neighborhood.

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.

This is a really cool little store and I've cream shop. They also had some potato soup on special…read more This place has slot of fun gifts we has a blast busting while in town

Such a lovely place! Dilly Dally makes the best milkshakes I've ever had. The hotdogs are on point,…read morechicken salad is tasty and refreshing. Plus a ton of great local goods, gifts, and fun items in the store section. You really can't go wrong here!

This place is a treasure! We brought our standard poodles and sat on the shaded patio…read more Our server Dylan was the absolute best! He welcomed us and offered water for the pups. He also told us about their rewards program, which we promptly signed up for. My hubby had shrimp and grits which was everything he hoped for! I had corned beef hash with eggs and it was delicious! The patio was clean and had large umbrella coverings to keep us comfortable. 100% recommend! And if you are lucky enough to get Dylan for a server, all the better!

First time and was extremely impressed with the menu and bites. The service was the weaker link,…read morebut still a strong 4 stars in my book and will look forward to returning with now having a Roanoke connection. The business is just outside of Roanoke in a nicer strip. Parking may be challenging on brunch weekends, however my weekday visit no problem. Our party of three was greeted and seated immediately with menus. The vibe feels First Watch chain, but all good. They do have a bar which sets them apart from other brunch joints. I assume Famous Toastery is also chain, how big no idea. Everything presented nicely and was clean. Even the men's room was spotless. The menu was strong with lots of variety. You can find anything you're looking for on any type of diet. They do offer a healthier, protein forward section. Our waitress was good upfront, but then fizzled out with sharing bar duties and was absent. I dialed in on a loaded omelette. Included a side of roasted veggies and sourdough bread with black coffee. My wife a breakfast sandwich and my son chocolate chip pancakes with scrambled eggs. Food pushed out quick, like within 15 minutes. Everything was served hot and yummy. My omelette was packed with flavor, the roasted veggies were fresh and cooked up perfectly. Even the coffee was tasty. The manager dropped by to say hello which made us feel special and secured a strong 4 stars. I look forward to returning later this Summer.

We ordered and over 9 people got their food before us. I talked the manager , some lady named…read moreRosa,, was nasty when I asked why other people have been served. Her excuse was that they take online orders as well. That is not my problem. Then the next excuse was that the bagel melt had to be put under the broiler. She and another man were talking about me and I told them if they had something to say it to my face. To think that the owner came down to GA to learn from our friend and owner of a bagel shop. I am appalled that the Roanoke staff had more people and about over double the space and they take three times as long. Two people were standing around not doing (a guy and a girl) anything but talking and laughing. There was even a little kid in the kitchen. He could have only been around 8. That should not be allowed and I am going to the labor and restaurant laws to see it is legal. Where I work, everyone picks up the slack. Piss poor service and Rosa needs to not make excuse and should in my opinion be fired. I did lose my temper but don't tell me one excuse and then another. The last thing she screamed at me that it had only been 12 minutes. I got a couple other receipts from people and their wait time was ten minutes after us. Rosa should be fired and the man with the beard should be reprimanded and even fired. Lastly, most restaurants require something on their hair and beard and NO was wearing them. No hair nets. Rosa had on an Aunt Jemima style wrap but she wasn't work hard either. So sad because we loved the fact that one of our favorite bagel shop from GA was coming here. Update: there is a law that said restaurant staff has to cover hair and beards. The link to the law in VA. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title12/agency5/chapter421/section240/

I still go often, but since they've reopened it's fallen off. The drive thru is always closed in…read morethe morning, so I often don't stop. I assume it's staffing issues but the inside was slow my most recent visit at 8:30. Also, I really want to support local so I am hoping this comes across as constructive criticism. The dining area in the morning is not kept up or organized, chairs are everywhere and workers seem consumed with to go orders instead of the restaurant. The bagels have great flavor and the cream cheese is always perfect, but please toast the bagel. A warm bagel is not a toasted bagel it's almost seemed microwaved. Maybe I'm ordering wrong, but I want a toasted bagel that's browned. Lastly, is 8 dollars for bagel and coffee the right price? National average is 6 and it's 8 in NYC or Seattle.