Next month it will be a year since this women-owned business transitioned from a beloved food truck…read moreto a charming brick-and-mortar location in the heart of Salem, Virginia. After being awarded the Yelp Triad 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, businesses, and entertainment venues, 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 Bean Bliss Coffee Bar in Salem, Virginia, is a perfect example. As I drove by the window display of this quaint and one-of-a-kind coffee shop, I couldn't help but to think what kind of secrets that shop held. It wasn't just coffee; it was an experience, a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Once inside, its rustic design and cozy decor, created a warm and inviting atmosphere, in which to relax and enjoy an expertly crafted coffee, with a food item imported from local providers. Its walls showcased local artists' work, and its small living room with a sofa and coffee table, in the front of the shop, made one feel relaxed and at home. The owner herself, a friendly and very hospitable lady, welcomed me behind the counter, and explained how she wanted her coffee shop to be a place where members of the community could come to relax, work, and catch up with friends. When it came time to order, I ordered a couple of Bacon & Cheese Frittatas, a Cherry Danish, and a Mocha Coffee. Everything was amazingly delicious. While I ate there was another customer working on his laptop computer at another table, and a young lady customer arrived, ordered her coffee and breakfast and went to enjoy it at the comfortable sofa and coffee table area in front of the shop. Before I left, I went to the back to use their restroom, and before I reached it, there was a blackboard wall full of well wishes for the owner of the store, handwritten in color chalk, from customers of all ages. As I was ready to leave, I thanked the owner for her hospitality, and also wished her well. I highly recommend this Coffee Shop and encourage all those reading this review to give her your total support.

Was looking for a cozy nook on a rainy day. Food was fine, not necessarily anything spectacular,…read moreand the ambiance was not as warm as I hoped. I cannot say that I felt very welcome by staff so did not stay for coffee.

Didn't realize how extensive this menu is! We only ordered apps for today, but the crab Rangoons…read moreand spring rolls really hit the spot! Excited to try the boba and sushi next! The atmosphere is quite quiet, so we chose to take it to go, but the design and interior is so fun and funky! Highly recommend!

Love love love this place. The boba is great, I 100% recommend the Thai tea! Also love the gelato,…read moreI've had the taro, bubblegum, and strawberry cheesecake and they are all amazing. The macarons and mochi donuts are super yummy as well!!! My partner and I love coming here and getting boba together, it's so good every time. The owners are also pretty friendly. It's very cute inside as well, but limited seating.

I'm sure this place is great mid day, but in the afternoons it's rowdy and full of aggressive…read moreteens. it took over 30 minutes just to receive a coffee. great selection of ice cream and crepes and bubble tea flavors. Unfortunately I won't return for coffee, as there are too many local options with more selection and much faster production.

Lucky cat Tea is the best bubble tea shop in all of Salem. The service is excellent. The cute shop…read moreis just such a vibe. Everyone there is so nice and kind and full of so much diverse people and unique individuals. I totally recommend this place to everyone. My favorite bubble tea to get is the lavender with tapioca pearls. I'm a regular, and this place is honestly to die for you really gotta stop by one day. They also have mochi donuts now and I had a milk tea one and it was literally the best thing I ever tasted.

One of our new local favorite hangouts!!! The interior is set up in such a fun and loving way. The…read morebubble teas are great and freshly prepared utilizing only the finest ingredients. We come here at least once per week. Customer service is excellent and you feel valued from the moment you walk in. You must check them out!

My husband found this place while working. He always told me about it and finally we visited…read moretogether and I can't express enough how amazing the drinks and food is here! Took me by surprise that they have Pho here too!! We will have to come back for that. The barista was super helpful and sweet, didn't loose patience despite the many questions and changes we made. We ordered Thai tea w/regular boba pearls (my favorite), Mango Tea w/mango poppers (popping boba), and a Watermelon Freeze. We also ordered one Egg roll and one Korean Corndog. Everything exceeded my expectations. The drinks were amazing and the snacks we got were delicious! You have to come heck this place out! Everything from the decorations of the establishment to the cups used for the drinks screams to me how the owner is giving their all to make this place a great place to grab a drink & a bite! It's a very welcoming place, relaxing atmosphere will most definitely be back soon!

This is a to-go hut for morning beverages. It has a few food options but not much that appealed to…read moreme. I went for the seasonal choice: a pumpkin spice chai. The flavor was missing a note or two. I did appreciate the option to get oat milk at no extra charge. Wouldn't go out of my way again, but glad it's there as the region doesn't have a ton of this.

Brand new drive thru coffee shop in Roanoke!…read more Running latte was recently founded by a Roanoke local, and the drive-thru-only coffee stand is situated on Electric Ave. Wide variety of flavors (using natural syrups without dyes!) and options for the coffee lovers and those looking for a sparkling energy drink for the day. Reasonably priced and great customer service! They'll need to continue to improve their speeds if looking for a pick me up before work, but very hopeful for this shop to drive up business soon!

best people ever I love it They are always so happy…read more And Melanie and Patrick are the best ever!!!

Not that long ago, on Monday, September 1st, 7 Brew Coffee opened it's doors to the public,…read morecelebrating its Opening Day. What's unique about this Coffee Shop is that it's exclusively a Drive Thru Coffee. After being awarded the Yelp Triad 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 7 Brew Coffee in Salem, Virginia, is a perfect example. Today, I finally got to try it out, and boy was I impressed with what I saw, and with what I tasted. As soon as I arrived following the directions from my Lexus' GPS, I witnessed long lines of cars in front of the building of the place waiting for an employee with a tablet to come and take their order. To be able to better experience and capture the moment with my cellphone camera, I parked in a parking lot next door, and walked around the sign that read "Drive Thru Coffee," and had an arrow pointing at where cars stopped for the employees to come around and take their orders. After this, these employees go to a window and pick up the orders and deliver them to the cars. All in all they have a very efficient operation set up, and their employees are all very friendly and very efficient. As I walked to one of the cars where an employee was taking its order, I excused myself and asked the employee if I could make an order without being in my car. He quickly answered that I could just by going around the side and their I would find an employee standing by a glass sliding doors taking orders as well. I did just that and a very friendly and welcoming young lady greeted me and handed me a copy of the menu so that she could take my order when I was ready to choose what I wanted. While I the wide variety of coffees, starting from the 7 originals, to Cold Brew Coffee, the Classics, cold or hot, 7 Energy Drinks, 7 Fizz, Teas & Lemonades, to Soothes. If it had not been cold outside I would have ordered a Mango Smoothie. But since it was 34 degrees out, I ordered one of their 7 Original Coffees: their German Chocolate Iced Coffee which was a Coconut & Caramel Mocha. The friendly young lady took my order on her tablet and I paid with my credit card right there. She then went inside and after a short while came out with my Iced Coffee and paper receipt. In the meantime I took photographs of the inside of the Coffeee Shop where the drinks were being made by other friendly and very efficient employees. They had loud music playing in the background and when I heard a song by Bad Bunny being played I recorded a short video as well. I invite you to view my photographs and videos accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and the quality of their drinks. Then, as my server was coming out with my Iced Coffee order, I captured her images as she was delivering my order to me. Since there was a kind of a box that served as a table there, I drank my coffee in the shade, thanked her, and then walked away to my Lexus. What an exciting moment to visit and experience an extraordinary operation of a Drive Thru Coffee Shop and an amazing exclusive cup of coffee. If you live, work, or are just visiting the area. I would highly recommend you visit this Drive Thru and try one of their drinks. I can assure you that you will never forget the experience, and always remember the taste of your drink, and the friendly and hospitable service you received.

Starkey Mill Mountain: Thank you so much for a great morning; every morning. I have been coming for…read moreyears and despite my mood you guys ( Jay, Kelsey and Brooke) are always ALWAYS a friendly face. Also you know my and my husband's (his is more bougie) orders.

For some time now I have been driving by this coffee & tea shop, and today I decided to take the…read moreroad less traveled, Starkey Road, and pay this place a visit. And what I found completely amazed me, and exceeded my highest of expectations. 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 Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea, near Tanglewood Mall, in Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example. The Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea on Starkey Road in Roanoke, VA, is a former bank that was converted into a coffee shop by Blake Construction, a company that also handles many of their projects. This location opened in 2012, after the original downtown Roanoke store was established in 1990 by founder Dave Johnson. The Starkey Road location featured a unique renovation, including turning the old vault into a walk-in cooler and adding a drive-up window.  When I entered the Coffee Shop today, I was attracted by its magical cozy ambiance and by the fine lines and curves of its renovation architectural design. Known for its artisanal coffee blends and curated tea selections, I was also impressed with their menu, that besides freshly baked pastries, also included a nice egg variety plates for breakfast and creative sandwiches for lunch. The place offered a cozy retreat for coffee enthusiasts. College students could take advantage of their Free WiFi to research and write their reports using their laptops. Friends could meet there to spend quality time talking to each other. Entrepreneurs could use the place to brainstorm business ideas over a cup of savory coffee. Art enthusiasts could view the artists display works, and even purchase one to add to their collection. When it was my turn to make my order, I approached the counter and a bright and friendly young lady took my order. I ordered a breakfast plate with two fried eggs over easy, bacon, and white toast, with a large Mocha Coffee to drink. The cook did an excellent job cooking my food, just how I had asked it done. At the entrance there was a Community Bulletin Board with different announcements and advertisements. I happened to find one for this year's performance of the Nutcracker at the Burgland Center, which I had been wondering about when ticket sales were selling. In conclusion, I highly recommend this coffee shop, not only for its great coffee and tea, for its food menu, for its exceptional customer service, and cozy atmosphere, that together make for an extraordinary dining experience.

Little Green Hive is a woman-owned and family-operated coffee shop with multiple locations in…read moreDowntown Roanoke, Grandin Village, and its newest location in Daleville Town Center. A short while ago I had the privilege of reviewing its first location, in Downtown Roanoke, the largest establishment in Crafteria: Handmade Food and Goods, almost in the corner of S Jefferson Street and Church Avenue. Today I decided to visit the Little Green Hive in Grandin Village, located on Grandin Road in the heart of Grandin Village, right next to the 7-11 there. It shares the same entrance to the building where Rockfish Food and Wine Restaurant is located. After you enter a small foyer, the door on the right takes you to this Historic Grandin Village Coffee Shop, that serves Coffee, Smoothies, Smoothie Bowls, Fresh Juices, Breakfast Burritos & Bagels, and fresh pastries such as Fresh-baked Scones, Muffins, Cinnamon Rolls, and Large Chocolate Chip Cookies. When I entered through the white french door that led to this Coffee Shop located in a small yet very cozy space of a Victorian building with beautiful original hardwood floors and a lovely wide window with a long counter table and high chairs facing out the window looking out towards the sidewalk, I was simply amazed at how well by using different color paints for the walls, a white furniture counter, blackboards with color chalk menus, and contemporary yet comfortable furniture, they have created a cozy and inviting space, very appropriate to contribute to the dining experience itself. At the ordering counter, a gentleman employee warmly greeted and welcomed me with a smile. Then he took my breakfast order. I ordered a Bacon, Egg and Cheese on a plain Bagel Sandwich, a large Caffè Mocha, and one of their famous Cinnamon Roll, which by the way I had seen how they make them from scratch when I visited their Downtown Roanoke store. Another of their employee, a young lady, was the one who prepared the items ordered and the would place them on the pick-up table when ready and call the name of the items to be picked up and taken by the customer to their table. As I sat down waiting for my food to be ready. I noticed the positive chemistry emanating from the other customers there. A few young ladies who looked like friends were having breakfast and chatting at the window counter. An midage gentleman was seated in one of the relaxed and comfortable, leather chairs up front and listening to his music while he enjoyed his coffee. An older wise gentleman was serving as a mentor to a younger what looked like college student. And a group of four older but graceful and energetic ladies just arrived and were seated down at a table getting ready to have a pleasant breakfast meeting, while enjoying their coffee and breakfast treats. This restaurant was serving the community well. I could feel it in the air. While on its walls, there were artworks from a local artist hanging with a name and price tag and information on the artist with a QR code to the Artist's website and instructions on how to buy these and other of her works of art. While all this was happening I had already picked up my breakfast and was enjoying it at my table. Needless to say that everything tasted delicious. From my Mocha Coffee that had just the right flavor, to the Bagel Breakfast Sandwich which was fresh and soft with fresh ingredients, to the Cinnamon that was so sweet. I invite the readers of this review to also look at my photographs and video-clip accompanying the review to better appreciate this place and its food. And I highly recommend that you stop by and try it. For I can assure you that when you do, you are up for a one of a kind Coffee Shop dining experience.

The coffee was unexpectedly good. Not very many coffee shops to choose from so wasn't expecting…read moremuch, but the Americano had a nice roasted flavor. It was bold without being sour or bitter. Also ordered a sausage, egg and cheese burrito and a chocolate chip cookie. Again, the burrito surprised me and tasted better than it looked. Based on the appearance, it looked like it would be pretty basic and bland. But the eggs were soft and creamy, not dry or over cooked at all. The cookie was good as well. The cafe is a decent size, wide and open. There are tables on one side of the cafe and sofa seating on another side. We sat at a big elevated table with bar chairs that looked out of the cafe. Service was friendly enough. Would visit again for coffee and light bites again.