really solid bar food!…read more I love the vibe here and the atmosphere makes you want to stay awhile. Definitely a great local spot if you're looking for good bar food and a fun, relaxed place to grab a drink.

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.

If you're in the mood for some fried chicken, this Zaxby's is one of the best fast food restaurants…read morein Roanoke. My wife and I DoorDash regularly, and this location is consistently one of our favorite places to pick up from. The staff is always friendly, professional, and respectful. More importantly, delivery drivers are acknowledged and treated like valued partners instead of an inconvenience. From management down to the frontline employees, customer service here is outstanding. Orders are usually ready on time, communication is great, and even when they're busy, the staff does a great job keeping things moving. The food is also consistently fresh, hot, and made correctly. Whether you're ordering chicken fingers, wings, sandwiches, fries, or Texas toast, the quality is always solid. In a time when good customer service seems harder and harder to find, this location continues to stand out. The restaurant is clean, the employees work hard, and the overall experience is always positive. This is exactly how a fast food restaurant should be run. Great food, great people, and excellent customer service. Highly recommended!

When I arrived at Zaxbys for an early dinner I had no idea how it would be. All I had seen had been…read moretheir commercials on TV, but this would be the first time that I actually would be visiting and eating there. From the outside, the restaurant's building looked clean and inviting. Cars already were driving up to the drive through window and putting in their orders. And a few people were dining inside as well. I noticed that the windows and the glass door were very clean, and this fact gave a nice first impression of the restaurant. Once inside, I noticed the cleanliness of the place and contemporary, comfortable furniture: booths as well as tables and chairs. The color combination of gold and black made the place look elegant yet relaxed. The decor was minimalist with a wide screen color TV and a few signs decorating the walls, and a nice lighting treatment that came down from the black ceiling above. When I arrived to the ordering counter, I noticed all the employees were working very motivated and with a purpose, all doing their assigned duties enthusiastically. A young lady up front greeted and welcomed me with a smile and seemed very happy to hear that this was my first time here. She gave me some time to review the menu that was placed where all fast food restaurants have them. I ordered the Zaxseas Surf & Turf combo, and a Chocolate Chip Cookie for dessert. The order was efficiently taken and I paid with my credit card. It contained 3 Chicken Fingerz, 8 Shrimp with Zaxtail sauce, Texas Toast, Crinkkle fries, and a small drink of Dr. Pepper. Everything in the order came out so fresh and hot. The Chicken Fingerz were crunchy in the outside and juicy and tender in the inside. Same with the Shrimp. The Fries were also very well fried and freshly served. And the sauces were amazingly delicious. As I was leaving, I saw who seemed to be the manager seated at a table interviewing a young lady. I didn't want to interrupt, otherwise I would have told him how well he was running this restaurant. I just had an amazing dining experience here and this was only my first time. I highly recommend this place and am looking forward to coming back soon in the near future.

I can't think of a better location for Henrietta's Cafe than Melrose Plaza in Roanoke, Virginia…read more When I first heard about this Cafe, I immediately wanted to go try it out, and today I had an opportunity to do so. Just as Melrose Plaza itself, Henrietta's Cafe far exceeded my highest of expectations. After many times of driving by Melrose Plaza, today I made a U turn in my Lexus and ended up in their ample parking lot. As I walked over to the Plaza, I was first very impressed by its beautiful contemporary architectural design. Inside, I was greeted by a friendly young lady in the Plaza's Information Center, and she pointed out where the café in the Market on Melrose was situated. It was located right next to the Market entrance. I was impressed by its clean and colorful look with beautiful ceiling lighting treatment. The ambiance of the place was so cool and relaxing, that I immediately felt right at home, looking forward to having some home cooking. At the beginning of the line, there was a Grab & Go section with large display refrigerators containing prepared food and drinks so you can take with you on your way to work or you can also eat these items in their dining area if you're not looking for hot food. On the way to the ordering counter you can find tall square baskets with some snack items many of which were on sale. The menu was on the wall posted on those boards that you set up letter by letter. And then came the glass display cases. First the refrigerated one with deli meats and cold items such as their famous potato salad. Then the hot one with their Fried Chicken, Fried Fish, Hot Dogs, and hot sides. A very friendly and hospitable young gentleman greeted you and explained the different combinations you could order. All at very reasonable prices. He then served them for you in a sturdy black clamshell container. I ordered two Fried Chicken Breasts with two sides, potato salad and sweet potatoes. And a Dr Pepper from the softdrink machine. Then paid at the counter with my Harvard Alumni World Mastercard. It was all so simple and convenient. Since I was dining in, they put my order on a tray, and gave me some quality plastic utensils. 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. For dessert I picked up a Coconut Cream Pie that came in a box and were available next to the register. The food was simply exquisite. The fried chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy in the inside. The potato salad was very flavorful. And the sweet potato was amazing. They were smashed and cooked with a sweet sauce that contained some type of nuts. I sat down at one of the dining table to enjoy my dinner while observing all the other customers ordering to-go and some to eat-in. Later on when I visited the Market, there was a beautiful quote on the wall about the importance of food and how "food not only reaffirms our Humanity but the Joy of Being Alive." I highly recommend this cozy Café with wonderful food and very friendly and hospitable servers. And am myself looking forward to returning for breakfast one of these mornings.

The food is always delicious. They have catered a few events and the food was excellent. One of my…read morenew favorite restaurants.

Hot Chicken for the win! The best fries and fried pickles too! My favorite sauce was the scorpion…read morepepper! The wings were large crispy and juicy. Service was fast and courteous. Good spot, highly recommended.

It's inconceivable how on July 20th of this year it will have been a year since the grand opening…read moreof HCK Hot Chicken in Vinton, Virginia and I hadn't heard of it. I can say it's the best kept secret of the Town of Vinton, in Roanoke County, and it's about time that it no longer be a secret. I am determined to go try it out and spread the word. 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 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 young established ones that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And HCK Hot Chicken is the perfect example. Located off East Washington Avenue, in one of the most beautiful areas of Vinton, near William Byrd High School, this restaurant is located inside a long standing convenience store, "Vinton Tobacco & Grocery," and in the same location of a bp gas station, but don't let this fool you, it has its own entrance on the side, its own parking lot, and a drive-thru lane for ordering. Besides this, its owner has done a great renovation job, that this is one of the cleanest gas stations/convenience stores that I have ever been to, and because of this it in no way detracts from the clean, bright, and contemporary ambiance of the restaurant itself. Founded in 2020, in Woodbridge, Virginia, the first HCK (Hot Chicken Kitchen) Hot Chicken restaurant had as its Mission: "Unity through Food." Recognizing the power of food to bring people together. Their belief is that "food unites us and can lift people up." There menu features succulent Nashville-style chicken sandwiches, classic and boneless chicken wings, chicken tenders, chicken and Belgian waffles, loaded fries, loaded mac and cheese, coleslaw, fried pickles, fried donut drops, and more. The owner of the restaurant who warmly greeted me when I arrived told me that all of their dishes are gluten and allergen free. With no MSG and no peanut oil.The chicken is farm-raised, fed only vegetables and grains, with no use of growth-boosting chemicals. When one enters the restaurant, it is nicely designed (with the colors red, black, and white), and with hardwood floors, wood tone tables and chairs, a well organized ordering counter, and a well lit menu high above the counter, as well as with large pictures of menu item just below the menu sign. The very friendly and knowledgeable order taker took my order from behind the counter. I ordered a Nashville Style Chicken Sandwich Combo with the mildest sauce they had. It came with their seasoned krinkle kut fries, a side of good sauce, and a drink. Not bad for $14.49, especially after you taste the food. The chicken was the plumpiest, juiciest, and tastiest chicken that I have ever eaten in a sandwich. The fresh toasted artisan potato bun complimented its flavor. The fries were crunchy on the outside and soft in the inside, seasoned to perfection. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review and see for yourselves because a picture is worth a thousand words. The welcoming and hospitable owner came to see how I had liked the food and I told him how amazing everything had been and that I looked forward to returning to try other menu items such as the Fried Donut Drops. In conclusion, I highly recommend this restaurant for a very unique and wonderful chicken dining experience. Amazing food, clean and comfortable environment, and excellent customer service.

My friend and I decided to come to The Hatch restaurant on a Friday afternoon for an early dinner…read morebefore driving out to Rocky Mount. So much you could say about The Hatch and that it's popular for seafood. The menu was simple and limited. We arrived around 5:30pm on a brisk March 2026 Friday early evening. We found parking nearby and walked to the restaurant after over feeding the meter. We probably spent about an hour here before we paid for the bill and left the downtown Roanoke area. On this day, I decided to pay for myself and my friend, since he was celebrating his birthday. My friend and I spent about an hour here and it was a nice venue to have dinner with friends. My friend got the fried chicken thing with sides, whereas I got the ultimate po'boy sandwich with a side of fries. It seems like The Hatch tries to elevate Cajun / Southern food with familiar flavors and dishes in a more modern and lavish setting. For the price and perceived value I gotten from my meal, it was generally okay. I have had po'boys that was a tad cheaper but had more proteins stuffed into the sandwich. It was delicious and definitely nice to have after a day of touristing in Roanoke. The prices seem reasonable here in hindsight and the staff here was friendly and helpful. If you enjoy Soul food and Cajun cuisine with flair, consider coming to The Hatch in downtown Roanoke, if you're in the area. We happened to get here without minimal waiting for a table, which was a good thing. Definitely worth coming to check out if you're in the mood for something different than your usual burgers and fries or tacos. The overall experience here at The Hatch restaurant in downtown Roanoke, Virginia was decidedly good yet decent too. The ambiance was typical and quiet. My friend and i were sitting in the quieter side of the restaurant, which was nice and we had a nice conversation while waiting for our meals to arrive. It was comfortable and definitely air-conditioned. Not sure if they had Wi-Fi but I did not need it anyway. The restaurant itself was very decorative and clean. The meal I had was delicious and definitely. It was served with a smile from the server. I enjoyed every bit of the restaurant itself because it was a nice and quiet dinner and it was here in Roanoke. A quiet town in Virginia that is away from the hustle and bustle of Richmond and Washington DC, but has his own flare. Maybe it could've told something better than a po'boy or had other entrée at the time, but I decided to have that po'boy sandwich with weird version of French fries. It was an OK place to be although the mail was delicious regardless. I could recommend coming here, if you're really hungry, but I probably wouldn't come here again. If my future travels permit me too, though. Don't get me wrong, it is a good place, but it's not for me. Check it out, though, you may like it. The Hatch restaurant is located in downtown Roanoke, Virginia. They are situated physically at 32 Market Square SE in a busy downtown section. They accept major credit cards as well as cash. As far as parking goes, my friend used a paid parking lot that was a short walk away from the restaurant. He inadvertently overpaid for the time allotted but we got the time in that we wanted. There may be other spots in the downtown area but it may not be free. Decide what's best for you and head on over to The Hatch Roanoke. If you're like me and love public transportation, you can consider the Star Line Trolley that travels from the third street bus terminal. Other than that, you'll need to travel to the third street bus terminal from your point of origin. And of course, there is always uber and lyft to get you here comfortably and conveniently, if you decide to take that route. However you get here, you can come and enjoy. The Hatch seems like they're a casual eatery in downtown Roanoke. They try to be upscale with southern creole cuisine. It is a nice place to dine, of course. Check it out for yourselves. This place might be the hidden gem that you're dying to try in the heart of Roanoke. I liked it but it could have been a bit more better. 4.0 stars for the overall experience. Support local! B

The service was good, but slow. The deviled eggs were…read moreexceptionally delicious, but expensive. I'm not complaining though. I had the seafood tower and although the portions were small it too was very tasty. The macaroni and cheese was excellent! The coleslaw was good too.

Stopped by here on the way from Richmond to Nashville for a quick lunch on 12/1. Customer service…read morewas friendly, food was hot & fresh, our orders were correct & came out within 3 minutes, bathrooms were clean. I have no complaints with this location.

The employees at this location were very nice. The restaurant is located near Walmart. It is safer…read moreto drive from Walmart than walk since there aren't pedestrian crosswalks. The restaurant has the usual cute cow pictures. The waffle fries are my favorite.

I became a regular since my family have own favorite there. Here is what we order everytime:…read morechicken on rice, double cheese burger and fries with melts. Green chili is the superstar, came by request.

It's been a long while, but the day I had the chicken and fries, it wasn't the best. The batter to…read moreme didn't have much flavor, neither the chicken. I will attempt to make another trip. That was my first time, so we shall see.

I discovered this charming little restaurant as I was driving around Roanoke, Virginia, in search…read moreof new places to eat that pop up all the time. 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 Bless Ya Soul Soulfood Restaurant in Roanoke, Virginia, is the perfect example. Located off Williamson Road, this restaurant has a relaxed and warm atmosphere, a menu with soul comfort food, and it's owned and operated by a friendly couple. As soon as I entered the door, I was warmly greeted and welcomed by the couple. Was asked to be seated where I felt comfortable at, and was given a copy of their simple but colorful and well-designed menu. They also had a sign up with their Daily Specials and Sides. While looking at their menu I enjoyed reading their slogan "Food for ya soul," and the fact that they mention there that they're open to menu suggestions. I ended up ordering Onion Rings as appetizer and Fried Porkchop with Mac N Cheese as my side. The main course also came with a grilled Texas Toast. The size of the Porkshop was humongous. It was breaded and fried, and served over an aluminum foil inside a clamshell disposable container. I had some problems cutting it because even though it was big, it had a few bones inside which I could not see because they were covered up with the breading. I mentioned this to them but they told me that their customers like to see bones in their porkchops. The Mac N Cheese tasted good but the macaroni pasta was a bit crunched and mixed with the blog of melted cheese. The Texas Toast tasted delicious by the way they had toasted it on the grill. The Onion Rings were not evenly round nor evenly battered and some of the rings were broken into pieces, but the taste was what mattered. After finishing my food I felt full, after all this is how comfort food should leave you feeling. Let's support this young couple I as they eagerly attempt to bring a taste soul into our lives and by doing so even reach our souls.

It's a bit loud in here with the music, game machine, ac, open cooking area, and conversations so I…read morecouldn't hear the server too well. It's a small spot I almost missed while parking to go ro another establishment but decided to check it out since I love soul food. . I don't think it's suitable to dine in because it is so compact and the bar seating area is where they keep their personal items. One of the tables is being used to hold the specials of the day. There are two high seat tables. I tried sitting on it but the seats were not comfortable. The place itself is not large enough to accommodate a walker or wheelchair so any one with one might consider takeout instead. It has a small and limited menu. I was expecting standard soul food but the only a few items on it. The sides are standard and the pork chop is about there is for a standard soul food restaurant. I was hoping for some real soul fried chicken or cornbread. Service was good. Food took about 20 minutes so be sure to allot for time or call in advance. I wasn't happy about the long wait but the pork chop was delicious. Perfectly seasoned and cooked. One of the best I've ever had. Surprisingly a very nice gentleman paid for my meal. I had no idea and I wish I could have thanked him. It has been a rough day so his kindness went a long way with me. I will come back if in the area. I think the food quality should bring business once the word is out. I just hope the small space can accommodate for people wanting to dine in.