Want to know why the pizza is so good at Mama Maria's? Because the owner/chef is from South Jersey!…read moreAnd Jersey knows it's pizza! Mama Maria's is the pinnacle of Italian food in Roanoke County. The pizza is great. The bakery is great. The service is great. Anytime I find myself driving down I-81. I always stop at Mama Maria's. And you should too.

Dinner one night while we were in town. We were greeted walking in and seated within the same…read moreinteraction. An old school eatery, pretty basic on the inside, nothing fancy just good food and kind service. We started with the Burschetta Napoletana appetizer. It was a traditional style serving. With a slice of toasted bread, fresh diced tomato, onion and chopped basil, with a little evoo drizzle. Very simple and good. Refreshing and tasty a good start. They had Oysters Rockerfeller on the special menu the night of our visit, so we had to give them a try. They were again very traditional, well made and flavorful. For my entree I went for the Salmon Portofino. A beautiful portion, vibrant and full of flavor. A large bowl, with a nice piece of salmon cooked in a wonderful broth. Line caught fish, pan seared and cooked with cherry tomatoes, capers and artichoke hearts. It was a very good meal. 3.5 Stars rounded up for the kind staff. 01266

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.

Located in a beautifully designed building, with a majestic stone accent entrance and both cement…read moretall stairs and side ramp leading to two impressive large black doors with glass and ornamental iron rod details, on Riverview Drive, in Salem, Virginia, Lydia's Italian Kitchen's was named after the owner's young daughter. The interior design of this exquisite Italian restaurant is very simple and contemporary with stone accents in the host station and bar. The furniture is also light wood contemporary with light wood and black chairs. And the decor is some paintings on the walls and some framed photographs. As soon as my friend and I entered the restaurant, the host, a young lady with a big smile welcomed us and took us to one of the tables in the main dining room and gave us copies of the menu. The room had large windows all around which let the light in, as well as plain builtin ceiling lights. It also had some contemporary ceiling fans. While we were reviewing the menus, our server, Hannah, arrived and gave us a warm welcome and took our order. We both had glasses of Iced water to drink, and Chicken Parmigiana as our main entrée. This included a house salad with poppyseed dressing and a basket of garlic bread. The salad ingredients were very fresh and the homemade salad dressing was amazing. The garlic bread was soft and very tasty. And the Chicken Parmigiana was cooked to perfection with a marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese that were delicious, as well as the accompanied spaghetti and sauce. Our server came by at the appropriate times to check on us and fill our glasses with Iced water. For dessert my friend had the Salted Caramel Cheesecake and I had the Tiramisu. Both were made in house and amazingly delicious. I highly recommend this Italian restaurant. The ambiance was very elegant and comfortable at the same time, the food was amazing, and the service was excellent.

The restaurant was easy to find and there was plenty of parking and it looked really nice. I had…read moregreat expectations. The young lady who served me was very friendly. But the spaghetti was overcooked almost to the point of being inedible. And the meat sauce just didn't have much flavor. In fact, it tasted a little bit sour. I gave up after a few bites. The salad, though, was very good.

A very strong experience at Fortunato for a celebration dinner. The restaurant accommodated a group…read moreof 7 with a few days notice. The business is located downtown Roanoke. Parking is free off street, or paid at nearby garage. The entry way was clear of debris. Our party was immediately seated and we quickly decided to move table from a smaller private, but loud room to the main room. I found the atmosphere and decor of the room to be nice. The waitress was on top of things with drink orders. They have one of the strongest bourbon selections in town. So I had to get an Old Fashioned. Drinks pushed out within 10 minutes as we finished browsing menus.my Old Fashioned was quality and completely authentic. Super tasty! There were a few orders of pizza and I ordered a house salad with Egg Plant Parmesan. Our waitress kept glasses full of waters. She was upbeat and energetic. Food pushed out for the entire table around the same time in less than 30 minutes. Everyone was pleased with their entrees. The Egg Plant is a vegetarian dish. I'm not a vegetarian, but appreciate the dish. It was huge and so good! When time for desert multiple items were ordered. The waitress prepared a special dish of ice-cream with candle for my son. That was totally not expected and very thoughtful of the staff. I had the Salame chocolate and others had tiramisu. Both excellent, I tried. The bill was dropped in a timely manner. The amount was family affordable in my opinion. I would absolutely return and recommend.

Always a favorite and this trip did not disappoint. We weren't sure what time we would finish up…read moreour work on this particular Thursday evening so I waited to check for a table last minute. Thankfully we were able to get it with just a 30 minute wait or so. I had dreamed of arancini all day long only to find it was not on the menu any longer unfortunately! Heartbroken. All of our dishes were still delicious of course but please bring back the arancini! Service was impeccable, lighting and cocktails on point, still on my short list of all-time faves! Can't wait for our next visit!

One of our favorite places! Service is always great and the food is wonderful. It's charming &…read morepleasant with a cute little bar area as well.

One of the best Italian Restaurants in the Roanoke area, Luigi's is one of my favorite restaurants…read morearound. The owner is very warm, kind, and hospitable, and every time I've dined there I've felt right at home. I've received excellent service in a cozy environment and the drinks and food have been to par with my high expectations of a restaurant of this nature. However, I was a bit disappointed when I dined there this time. Unfortunately the owner wasn't feeling well so she appointment one of her best servers as Host in charge. When I arrived, since I showed up without a reservation, she greeted me by asking what I wanted, if to order for takeout. This was a bit insulting, since I was there to dine in, like always. I then requested to seat in the well lit dining room, in my usual table next to the window. She consented and took me there. Shortly after, a young lady server shows up and greets me. Not giving me enough time to study the menu, she asks what I wanted to drink and what I wanted to order for dinner. Without asking for her opinion, she starts telling me what she thinks I should order as appetizer. It was like she was trying to rush me. I don't know if it was her inexperience or lack of training, but I was beginning to feel uncomfortable and asked the Host to change my server and explained the reason why. My server replacement was completely the opposite. He was the epitome of customer service. Philip had good manners, was respectful, and didn't rush me, taking his time to make sure I had a relaxing and enjoyable dining experience. The first thing he did was introduce himself as my new server. He then repeated my order that my previous server had taken to make sure it was right. I already had my Fried Calamari appetizer on the table. My house salad was with balsamic vinaigrette dressing. My Filet Mignon was to be cooked medium-rare and served with sautéed mushrooms, broccoli, and delicate new potatoes. During my meal, he made sure my Iced water glass was always full, and after my Filet was served and I had a chance of cutting it, he came by to make sure it was cooked appropriately, just like ordered. The Filet was cooked medium-rare, the broccoli was fresh, and the potatoes were delicious, but the mushrooms were not seasoned nor sautéed enough and were somewhat tasteless. For dessert, I had my favorite, the Brazilian Custard Pudding. As I was leaving my server opened the door for me and thanked me for dining there, while the Host stood inside without even having the courtesy to say goodbye. I hope the owner of the restaurant reads this review and takes action to see that her restaurant is run appropriately, and each of her customers is treated as they should.

Located in the Mountain View Plaza, off Lee Highway in Troutville, Virginia, this family-owned…read moregenuine Italian restaurant, is well-known for its New York style pizza and its homemade doughs and sauces, as well as its real mozzarella cheese. The restaurant doesn't have a full bar, but they do serve beer and wine. My friend and I who love Italian food decided to go try it out today. As soon as we entered the door we were warmly welcomed and greeted by a friendly young lady who to us to our booth and handed us the menus. The dining room was very clean and decorated with cute yet elegant Italian artworks on the walls. The menu was very extensive and contained popular items such as homemade lasagna, pizza, Philly cheese steak subs, and unique Italian dinners. . Our server, another very welcoming young lady with a big smile came by and took our order. Although most of the customers there were sharing a pizza, and they looked so delicious, we both decided to have the Stromboli with the works. Believe it or not, I think this was the first time that I had ever had Stromboli at an Italian restaurant. To drink we both had Cokes. When the food arrived, the Strombolis looked so fresh and delicious on the outside, and in the inside it contained fresh quality ingredients such as Mozzarella, Green Peppers, Onions, Pepperoni, Sausage & Mushrooms. I was very impressed with its homemade dough and real Mozzarella cheese. The Peperoni, Sausage, and all the other ingredients were also quality products. Our server came to check on us at the appropriate times and provided us with some refills for our drinks. They had some good Italian desserts on the menu as well, but we already had planned to have dessert at another place. Everything was so good, that even though we hadn't finish eating yet, I already was looking forward to try one of their pizzas or unique Italian dinners. I also found the prices to be very reasonable for the quality of their food. I highly recommend this place to all those who love Italian cuisine, and I heard they are currently in the process of expanding.

Restaurant was a little warm not sure what was happening . Food was great along with the service…read more Has a calzone and stromboli. Both were good size and very filling. The sauce that came with it was very good.

A total hidden oasis! I came here not knowing what to expect and discovered the perfect sanctuary…read moreto unwind. They have a short but absolutely wonderful menu where every choice is a winner. It is an amazing spot to enjoy quality time relaxing or sharing a glass with special people. Highly recommend! 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 Stave & Cork in Downtown Salem, Virginia is a perfect example. As soon as I arrived, an elegant yet friendly lady greeted and welcomed me, explaining this unique establishment and what it had to offer. I explained how today I came to learn about the place and have dinner with a non-alcoholic drink since I was driving. She served me a glass of water and explained the different items on the menu. The menu included artisanal cheeses, charcuterie boards, house-made dips, and made-to-order paninis, as well as a Cheesecake Flight sweet. I ordered the Peaks of Otter Panini which contained Pulled Pork, Swiss Cheese, Pickles, and Mustard. And was served with kettle fried potato chips. While I waited for my order to be served on one of their beautiful polished walnut tables, I observed how some guests had a Wine Flight paired with a Charcuterie Board. And how their knowledgeable staff and owner guided the guests through unique varietals. When my food was ready it was brought to my table. The Peaks of Otter Panini was amazing. It had fresh, juicy pieces of pork, that together with the Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard tasted more like a gourmet Cuban Sandwich. And the chips were also fresh and crispy. Before leaving I walked around and noticed they had a back dining room as well as an outside dining area. Their wine selection focused on small, boutique wineries, offering a diverse range of local, domestic, and international wines. They also had some shelves full of local artists woodwork items for sale. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and its high-quality food, wines, and products from local artists. On my way out I met with a local couple of friends and remained talking with them for almost an hour. Again, I highly recommend this place and am looking forward to returning with some friends.

What a fun and classy spot! My husband and I stopped in for the first time and received a warm…read morewelcome. We couldn't decide at first between a flight or a glass of wine so we were offered a splash of the chardonnay to help us decide. We both went with a glass and got a generous pour for $12. The wines rotate regularly and they offered vintages from different parts of the world. I loved the exposed brick walls and comfortable seating. We will have to try the food next time!

At first glance, it looks like any pizza place in a small shopping center. BUT, do not let that…read morestop you from having a slice or two! The young lady that took my order, was fantastic, courteous and very nice. The place was absolutely clean and cute. Confession time... I'm a full-blown pizza addict, and I'm perfectly okay with that. Wile visiting the VA medical center in Salem, I just had pizza from Tivoli Pizza in Salem, and wow... absolutely fantastic! Great crust, great flavor, and every bite reminds me why pizza is my favorite food. Will I ever apologize for my love of pizza? Not a chance. Life's too short to skip great pizza. If you're anywhere near Salem and haven't tried Tivoli yet, you're missing out. #PizzaAddict #NoApologies #SupportLocal #TivoliPizza

Located off the road less traveled and housed in a cute little place, in Salem, Virginia, Tivoli…read morePizza prides itself in having the best Halal Pizza around. And rightly so. 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 Tivoli Pizza, in Salem, Virginia, is the perfect example. As soon as I entered this Pizza Shop, I was very impressed by its cleanliness and cute interior design of the place, as well as by the flow of satisfied customers eating inside the restaurant, and others making Take Out orders. A friendly young lady greeted and welcomed me at the counter and explained to me a little about the restaurant, its owner, and its menu. It was a family-owned restaurant and the owner was Egyptian. They have a variety of excellent items on the menu but they are best known for their pizzas. I ordered a House Salad and a small Supreme Pizza. And for dessert I ordered a Tiramisu. They were all delicious. The salad had fresh ingredients. The pizza crust was very good and the ingredients, especially the cheese were amazing. You could tell the owner/chef took pride in his cooking. This was actually the second time I've eaten from an Egyptian and both times they have far exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend this place for its relaxing ambiance, amazingly delicious food, friendly staff, and excellent customer service.

We've been having lots of rainy days here lately, days when I prefer to order out and eat at home…read more That was the case today. Thinking of where I might order from, I recalled the awesome food I had from Carrabba's the day I ordered from them once before and decided to once again make an order via DoorDash. Since I loved the last main course I had from them, I ordered it again. It was their New Filet & Shrimp Toscana, medium-rare. It consisted of Fettuccine pasta with spinach and mushrooms, tossed in a roasted garlic cream sauce, and topped with sliced filet and wood-grilled shrimp. This time I ordered their Lentil & Sausage soup as the side rather than the Caesar Salad I had last time. Since I was somewhat hungry, I also ordered their Tiramisu for dessert, which was lady fingers dipped in liqueur-laced espresso, layered with sweetened mascarpone, Myers's Rum and chocolate shavings. I think it was one of the most expensive orders that I have ever made from DoorDash so I was really looking forward to enjoying it. The order was placed at 5:20PM and DoorDash gave me an estimated delivery time of between 5:45PM and 6:09PM. Needless to say I was hungry and as a VIP DoorDash customer I expected the order around that time as usual. But the time went by and nothing. I started to worry that the food might arrive cold and was getting somewhat upset. I received a message from DoorDash that my DoorDasher was delivering another order before she got to me along with a later estimated time. To make the story short, the order finally arrived at 6:40PM in a paper shopping bag. And of course it arrived cold. So I was very upset with DoorDash, not with Carrabba's. Carrabba's did an excellent job packing my order and including their wonderful crusty, artisanal sourdough bread along with their signature herb and extra virgin olive oil dipping blend. So I was required to heat my food in the microwave in order to enjoy it best. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the high-quality of the food prepared and cooked to perfection by Carrabba's amazing chefs, cooks, and kitchen crew. Even with the unfortunate circumstances, I was able to enjoy an amazingly delicious meal. After I finished eating, I called DoorDash VIP Customer Service phone number to explain the situation I had gone through and ask them to make it right. They apologized and added to my account a $30 credit for the long wait that caused my food to get cold and for the inconvenience this had caused me. Despite the poor delivery experience, I am giving this restaurant 5 stars because the food itself was excellent and well-packaged. And I highly recommend the restaurant for their exquisite Italian cuisine.

Even though it was a Friday night, I hardly had to wait for a seat…read more Meal was excellent, I had the special three item feast. My waitress was good? Did a real good job but seemed to be upset at me for asking if she was seventeen. I feel like she sort of snarled back; "no, I'm twenty three!" Nevertheless, I added a $10 tip. :)