My 1st visit to Pok-E-Joe's was this week and it will most certainly not be my last visit. We were…read morea large group so they arranged the back semi-private dining space for us, which was perfect. We started with brisket nachos, Bavarian pretzels and wings (nachos are a MUST). My main course was the smoked turkey sandwich and potato salad for my side which complemented each other well and were amazing. Everything was cooked/smoked to perfection and incredibly tasty! The brisket and turkey were my favorites. There are 4 BBQ sauces on the table so I sampled all, the Texas BBQ sauce was my personal favorite but all 4 are uniquely amazing. We ended with the deep fried Oreos (OH MY), which were incredible and I highly recommend, so save room for dessert. Next time I'll opt in for the pie! Great family restaurant and they also have live music at times. Jordan was our server and he was extremely attentive to such a large group. I'll be back, you can count on that! Thank you for the wonderful and warm hospitality!

Extremely disappointed. We left feeling disrespected and like our business simply didn't matter…read more When we arrived, my wife checked us in with the host, gave him her cell phone number, and was told the wait would be no more than 15 minutes. We waited and watched as people who arrived and checked in after us were seated ahead of us. At one point, the manager seated a group, then walked back to the host and said, in front of waiting customers, that they were "VIP" and that he should always seat them first. I'm not naive--I understand that restaurants may give priority to certain guests. But saying that openly in front of the customers you are bumping from a table is incredibly unprofessional and disrespectful. After waiting somewhere between 30-45 minutes and continuing to see others seated ahead of us, my wife finally asked the manager how much longer it would be. The manager said she didn't see us on the list and then asked for our "confirmation code," essentially making us feel as though we were lying about having checked in. The host, who had taken my wife's phone number when we arrived, made no effort to acknowledge that he had apparently made a mistake. No apology. No attempt to make the situation right. I asked the manager if we had basically been bumped while the VIP group was seated. Her response was that it wasn't "her" VIP group--it was the owner's VIP group. That response only made the situation worse. We have spent a significant amount of money at this restaurant over time, but apparently that doesn't mean much compared with being part of the owner's VIP group. Mistakes happen. If the host forgot to put us on the list, a simple acknowledgment and apology could have gone a long way. Instead, the manager handled the situation in a way that made us feel dismissed and disrespected. Basically said the owner condones the treatmentz Customers have plenty of choices about where to spend their money. Owners and managers should remember that every customer deserves to be treated with basic respect--not just the VIPs. If situations like this continue, they may eventually not have to worry about maintaining a waitlist at all.

We drifted off the beaten path to check out this place out traveling between Atlanta and Lexington,…read moreVA. It's a fair bit away from the Interstate, but I can tell you that it's worth the trek. When we got here for lunch, there was a line out the door and the smokers out back hard at work told us this was the place to be. We got served pretty quickly and found a table. The place is neat and clean with a decent amount of seating both inside and out. The missus had a brisket sandwich and I got the pulled pork with slaw, pinto beans and mac&cheese for the sides. The servings are HUGE and that smoke ring isn't just for looks. The meat was done perfectly with the smoky flavor and not dried out. I also tried one of their homemade sausages. Absolutely fantastic! Snappy casing with a filling that included creamy cheese hunks and a level of spicy that was just right. We pride ourselves in having high standards when it comes to BBQ, and this joint didn't disappoint! We've been to numerous BBQ joints including the famous award-winning Big Bob Gibsons in Northern Alabama and this place comes in well over that. We visited with the owner (Kelly) and had a great experience. The staff we interfaced with were both friendly and engaging. I would give this place 6 stars if I could. Highly recommended!

Not sure about the food. I know Mama Jean's is considered one of the best, but I was left with a…read morefull but unsatisfied feeling. Let's break it down. The daily special was a beef brisket cheesesteak. The sandwich was large, the meat copious, and the cheese was well integrated. I think there was mayo on it, because the sandwich was soggy and runny. I ate one half as a sandwich, one half with a fork. No banana peppers to add to the sandwich. The bread was slightly hard, contained the filling, but not the juices and cheese run-off. Very messy. Coleslaw was just a pile of sliced cabbage. Not much taste. Very disappointed for all the hype. Other than salt, there did not appear to be any seasonings. The meat was definitely brisket, but lost its identity in the cheese and bread. Staff was very nice and helpful when ordering, wait was not long even though there was a huge wave right behind us. Drinks are cans/bottles and you pay per. Would I go back? Not sure, I really didn't get a bbq experience from a bbq joint. I think I will try another joint or two before I go back.

I'm a huge Mission BBQ fan. They ate one of the most consistent restraunt chains out there…read more This was my first trip, but will not be my last. Super and friendly service at the counter to kick off my visit. The dining room was spic and span. My order was a two meat platter of, pulled pork and lean brisket w/ side of green beans. It comes with cornbread. My son moist brisket, pulled pork w/ side of macaroni and cheese. Also cornbread. The manager expedited the food and was awesome! Then he came out to bring slices of smoked sausage samples. After learning we had a new customer/ to the store the desert flowed out by the manager. A cherry cheesecake. Our meals were amazing, especially our fave the pulled pork. Upon departing staff came by to take our trays. Otherwise it's self bussing. No reason to not elevate to full 5 stars.

The staff is always friendly and accommodating here. I'm a single mom and have young children and a…read moremanager once went out of his way to help me get a high chair and wrangle my kids to a table, even bringing refills once for them. The food is pricey but to be expected for BBQ I always get the brisket and add on a third side and it's about $30 a pop. This time it was late about closing and the brisket was very dry. I would go earlier in the day to avoid getting the dry leftovers. The sauces are okay, the Mac and cheese is very good. Overall a great place to dine.

Amazing burgers and get the loaded fries. The fried Oreos are also a super nice treat.read more

My sister and I stopped at Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint in Roanoke after two ladies at the L&L…read moreshop downtown recommended it, and it turned out to be an amazing experience. The place is small but quaint, with dim lighting, a full bar, and a fun mix of music genres that keeps the vibe relaxed but lively. I ordered the Gregg Brady, and my sister had the Doctor Gozo, both made with 100% Wagyu beef. You can taste the quality immediately. I added mushrooms and grilled onions for a small extra fee, and had my BBQ chips that come on it, on the side. We shared the crinkle‑cut fries, which came with their incredible house sauce. The sauce was so good I asked if they sold it, they do not, but the waitress sent me home with some samples for free. Service was fast and friendly. The waitresses were dressed in black tank tops, black shorts, and black shoes, and every one of them worked with a smile, like they were glad you came. The restaurant entrance itself is handicap accessible, but the bathrooms are not, they're very clean but also very small and too tight for a wheelchair to fit inside. One of the coolest things about Jack Brown's is their Beer Club. If you drink 100 different beers, you become a "Notcher." If you drink 1,000, different beers you become a "Saint." On Saint's Day, Saints get all food and drinks free, unlimited, with no tab. It's a huge part of their culture and adds to the fun, and a loyal community. Overall, the food was phenomenal, the staff went above and beyond, and the atmosphere made the whole visit top notch. I will definitely be coming back the next time I roll through this part of town. How to Become a Notcher (repeat for the Saints) To achieve Notcher status, individuals must follow these steps: 1. Visit a Jack Brown's location: Start by walking into any Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint. 2. Request a Notcher list: Ask for the Notcher list to begin your journey. 3. Try 100 different beers: Sample 100 different beers to reach Notcher status. 4. Join the community: Once you hit 100, you become part of the Notch Club, which includes various events and celebrations. This program encourages beer lovers to explore different flavors and styles while fostering a sense of community.

Tucked away inside the historic city market building the Laughing Bull has a variety of menu…read moreoptions and the staff was friendly and the food came out hot and quick. There are tables inside a spacious hall decorated with greenery and interesting architecture. I'm not sure I ordered the best thing on the menu, the Teriyaki chicken panini was lightly sauced teriyaki chicken and Swiss cheese on thick Texas toast type bread. It could have been better honestly, it had a weak flavor and was pretty messy and hard to eat. The French fries were good, maybe a little overly salted but good. I would give it another try.

In a word, OK. In the Market Building food court in downtown Roanoke, Va. comfortable common-area…read moreseating, staff brought the food to us after ordering at the window. Very nice staff, answered our questions, and were quite friendly. Ordered two gourmet burgers and a 'cheese steak' panini. All three came with fries and were visually appealing. The burgers were stacked, had nice veggies but the meat was rather tasteless, a real disappointment. The panini was inedible. The "steak" was strips of very tough and chewy meat that pulled right out of the bread, and the peppers overrode all other tastes. A real disappointment. The staff came and checked on us twice, very attentive. I would try it again, just to try another of their very creative dishes, but I am not running back. Good for a stop if you are downtown.

Stopped in here for a quick work travel dinner and they did not disappoint. Convenient location…read moreclose to ROA with plenty of parking. The smoked Turkey was really good! The beans and corn sides were great too. They had a decent beer selection for a chain like restaurant. I had a voo doo ranger ipa

The food here was so good but there is a LOT of food, the only issue we really noticed was the…read morefloors were greasy. They need to start using something to cut through the grease to clean the floors. There is an incline to get to a part of the dining area and we practically slid down it as we were leaving. Other than that - very attentive and friendly staff. Good service to match the food! Private parking area.

Located on Grandin Road, next to the Post Office, and inside the left side of a beautiful white…read moreVictorian house, Canale's Ham & BBQ is a local family business run by a husband and wife who love to cook everything BBQ. They've been opened for over five years now and very popular among the Grandin Village community. Although it has many number of steps to reach the entrance of the restaurant, it also has a wooden handicap ramp on the left side of the large house for the convenience of all. Beyond the wooden front porch is also a wooden patio with a seating area with tables and chairs to be able to dine outside in good weather. The large, white, Victorian house, has other small businesses inside but this restaurant seems to be the largest of them all. After one enters the main door of the house, immediately on the left is another door and the entrance of the small yet cozy restaurant. They have their Hours of Operation posted on the front window and on their website online, but unfortunately their closing time is determined by when they run out of their Pulled Pork which is cooked fresh daily. So before going to dine there they advise to give them a call to see around what time they will be closing that day. And that is precisely what I did, with full knowledge that the positive side of this little inconvenience meant that their food would always be fresh. They also are very well known for making all of their BBQ sauces in-house. When one arrives and walks in, the living room of the beautifully renovated Victorian house with lovely hardwood floors is used as the dining room with a few tables and chairs, and an area with two comfortable seats and a coffee table used mainly for customers who order to go to have a seat and wait for their orders to be prepared. In the next room there is a U shaped counter with high chairs in the shape of a bar where customers can also dine there and drink a beer with their meal. This counter also serves as the cashier station, where one goes to pay when they're finished eating. The decoration of the place has two large wide screen TVs, some artworks with chicken, pork, and beef motifs, and many Spirts memorabilia hanged from the walls of the place. It also has an Iced Water station inside the bar area for one to help themselves as well as the menu is also located on one of the walls there. The owner is very welcoming and friendly and greeted me with a warm greeting when he found out that this was my first time visiting and eating there. He took my order and had me take a seat at one of the tables in the dining room. To drink I ordered an Iced Sweet Tea. And to eat I ordered "The House Favorite" : Fresh Pulled Pork BBQ, on a plate with Slaw and Fries. All the prices were very reasonable and the portions were large; especially the Pulled Pork BBQ and Fries, and the dessert at the end which was a freshly made Boston Cream Cake. Everything tasted amazingly delicious, especially the top quality Pulled Pork with the Red BBQ sauce. Everyone eating at the counter were very friendly as well and the ambiance felt very comfortable and relaxed. I highly recommend this local, BBQ Family Business. Everything was such that lead to a Southern Hospitality, warm hometown amazing dining experience.

My husband read a review, and we decided to take some friends from out of town. We struck out. They…read moredo close whenever they sell out. The following Saturday we went early--Home Run! The bbq is great. There are several sauces to choose from. We've been back since; once I find something I like I stick with it, so it's been bbq all the way. However, I am going to try the smoked baloney, and a piece of the delicious looking cake. The service is terrific and very friendly. You can dine inside or out on the porch. It's a great place to kick back and relax.

I have eaten at some of the best restaurants in the world, but in none have I had such a wonderful…read moredining experience like I always do at Bernard's Gastropub & Eatery. 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 return to those special ones, that have made a difference in my life and highlight them, for the benefit of the public, so they too can have an opportunity to appreciate the qualities of a one-of-a-kind fine dining experience. And Bernard's Gastropub & Eatery in Downtown Roanoke, is a perfect example. Bernard's was born out of the love of two culinary aficionados turned professionals that in someway have managed to create a restaurant with an environment that transmits this intimate love to the hearts of their customers through the attention to detail in its extraordinary customer service and amazing culinary masterpieces. Today, I felt like dining at this restaurant, which I admire for its consistency in always far exceeding my high expectations of what a fine-dining restaurant should be all about. Not knowing if they would have a table for me at this late time on a Saturday early evening, I drove in my pearl white Lexus to the nearest private parking lot and gave them a call to inquire as if they could give me a reservation for the next ten minutes. A gentleman, who later I found out was named Matthew, and would be my server, answered the phone with a very polite and welcoming voice; answering my question of what was the special dish of the day and to come on down, that my reservation was assured. As soon as I arrived to the small, very elegant foyer in front of the Host's station, he came out to greet me and instantly recognized who I was. My only request was that he give me a low table because at my age seating at a high table was a bit uncomfortable. He went back to see what he could find and ended setting me up with what I consider one of the best tables of the house, and I was so appreciative of his last minute accommodation. The menu was already setup on my table. He poured water from a special bottle into my water glass and asked if I wanted something else to drink. I asked for a Mocktail and since he also was a bartender, he prepared me one of the best mocktails I've ever had. To dine, I started out with their Mussels Carbonara appetizer, which came in a bacon parmesan cream sauce that was simply amazing, and served with toast points. As my main entrée I had the Dinner Special of the Night, the Seafood Trio. It had a delicious, giant size crab cake in the middle, scallops, and shrimps, with parmesan risotto sautéed heirloom tomato, spinach, and nice size asparagus, with a burre blanc sauce. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the high-quality of their food and magnificent ambiance of the place. Everything was so delicious that only one word could ever describe them: priceless! For dessert I had their very famous Butterscotch Banana Pudding, which the chef makes at the moment ordered. It looked spectacular and tasted amazingly delicious: a culinary work of art. What a great way for the Gran Finale of an extraordinary dining experience!

Salty Salty They have potential to be good…read more But they use the same seasoning on fries - and French Onion Soup. Sub par food expensive. Not worth it.

Food was delicious. Enough for 6+ people. I ordered the HAVE IT ALL. I ordered take out. When I…read moreopened the bag, everything was placed , just as the server described. Will recommend and eat here again.

Reasantly Due South Pit-Cooked BBQ was added to the "Most Loved" status on DoorDash, so today I…read moredecided to stay in and have someone bring me something tasty from a restaurant that since my first visit I have considered the best BBQ spot in Southwest Virginia. I invite you to read my first review of this restaurant and view my photographs accompanying it, which was one of my reviews that influenced in my selection as number 4 of Yelp's Top 50 most prolific Elites of 2025. As a DoorDash VIP customer, I pulled up Due South BBQ in their app and as I did so I still could remember the amazing taste of their BBQ food from when I visited them for the very first time on January 28, 2025 with a good friend of mine and gave them a 5 Star review. I decided to order the Big Slop which included a Jumbo Pulled Pork Sandwich with three sides and three hushpuppies. As my three sides I chose Mac & Cheese, Coleslaw, and Fried Okra. And for the two sauces I picked the Sweet Red and the Alabama White. I submitted my order with my DoorDasher tip included and waited for the delivery. Not long after the order arrived at the estimated time with a friendly DoorDasher who delivered it intact and still hot. It came inside one of those ordinary plastic bags with the words Thank you on it, with the receipt attached. I opened the bag in my kitchen and the food came in two see-through plastic containers. One with all the food and a small separate one with the bun on the side as I had asked for. Everything looked so fresh and delicious. Including the three cylindrical shaped hushpuppies. I got one of my plastic forks and placed some of the pulled pork on the bun with the sweet red sauce and still had some pork left to eat with the other items which were served in generous portions. Everything was amazingly delicious. Rare are the restaurants that can deliver their food and it arrive in a similar state as in the restaurant. Although I still prefer eating at the restaurant for its warm and cozy ambiance. Once again I highly recommend this BBQ restaurant and I'm sure that if you try it out the food will win you over and their amazing service will make you want to return back for more.

I've oftentimes have driven by this establishment and wondered what's inside. So today I decided to…read morego and explore it. After all, I've often liked to sit in the front row when attending live events. What I found was a bit disappointing. More than a restaurant this is a place to drink beer and cocktails while watching a game on a large screen TV. It has a very limited food menu and when I went the place seemed deserted. While I was there only one other customer came in, drank two beers while watching the big screen TV, talked.over the phone, and left. My server was very nice and friendly, but the food left much to be desired. I ordered a BBQ Burger that was listed on the menu as a 1/3 lb Angus burger with onion rings, bacon, cheddar cheese, and BBQ sauce. Sounded great but I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review. The beef patty was small and dry and the one onion ring looked beaten. Even though it has a pool table in the back and signs up that seemed to have activities going on throughout the week, this is not a place that I would like to be in the front row, especially for the poor quality of their food and questionable ambiance.

I don't get the positive reviews. We went for lunch on a weekday and the place was dead. The…read morewaitress was inside watching TV and the cook was outside smoking. The ambience of the place left much to be desired. I won't eat at a restaurant that is empty at a time it should be full. I figure others know what I don't. Not recommended.