First time trying Lucky and I'd give it a 4.5 rounded up to a 5. The menu is local farm based so it changes seasonally and is a bit limited. I was disappointed because I was hoping to try a soup or scallops I'd seen in Yelp pics but they weren't in the menu this time. Which is the roll of the dice you pay for fresh creative menus. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Dining area and bar have a nice vibe with attractive art work. Dim lighting and smaller tables make it cute for a date or a solo business diner like myself.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The lucky cube drink was creative and tasty. Brussel sprouts were also unique with a tahini sauce on top and perfectly crispy chickpeas. I'd seen "Smoke in Chimneys Trout" on a few menus in Roanoke this trip but never heard of that before. Looked it up and learned something new. They are trout that are local and prized for living in a lime stone aquifer rather than a river. Giving them a clean light slightly sweet taste, no essence of mud that can come with other river fish. I've never ordered trout in a restaurant, But when in Rome... Lol. The fish itself and the portion was really good. Wish I could remember my waitress' name. She was knowledgeable and just had a really warm, friendly energy. read more

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I came in for the fried chicken because other reviews were very positive .. the coating was v crunchy , plus , however it was really burnt ! Ir was really over cooked ; plus had little flavor . Needs a little salt and pepper .... Better chicken at Popeyes or Bojangles .. Mashed potatoes were excellent . I wa not impressed with the Kale and still think there may be fatback in it ... even though the server swore there was no pork on the dish .. anyway you can try for yourself .. maybe I just came on an off night . My server was very nice ( Alyssa ) BTW. read more

After being ranked 4th among Yelp's Top 50 most prolific Elites of 2025, a distinction recognizing my consistent community engagement and high-quality contributions, 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 go back and write follow-up reviews on those restaurants that impressed me the most during 2025, and Lucky Restaurant located in a small and hidden path in downtown Roanoke, is the perfect example of one of them. After searching for a place to dine on the first day of the New Year 2026, at the last moment, on the Open Table restaurant reservation platform, it seemed as if all restaurants were occupied around two and a half hours of the hour I was looking for. Then, all of a sudden, you can say I got lucky, when searching for Lucky Restaurant, they had one spot left on exactly the time slot I was looking for, 5 o'clock in the early evening. [[HIGHLIGHT]]As I looked back at the first time I visited this restaurant, what at that time seemed like a mysterious place from the outside, surprised me with an amazing, friendly and cozy ambiance in the inside, with marvelous drinks, exquisite food, and superb service, for an extraordinary dining experience.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I invite you to go back and read that first review, after you finish reading this one, and view my photographs accompanying it. It is one of my reviews I feel most proud of and will eternally remember and hold dear. Today, when I arrived and announced my reservation, the host gave me a warm welcome, and took me to the table where I had sat on the first time I dined there, just as I had requested. My friendly server Alyssa arrived shortly after, and took my order. To drink I had the non-alcoholic "Designated Sledder" from their Sippin' Santa at Lucky holiday drink menu. For my appetizer I had two dishes: The Rappahannock Oysters and the Lobster Fries. And for my main entrée: The Beeler's Pork Shank. Everything was amazingly delicious! My server was provided me with excellent customer service, coming by at the appropriate times to check on me and see if I needed anything. For dessert, I had the Pot de Crème, from their Dessert Menu. It tasted amazing, made with dark chocolate, hubs peanuts, and whipped cream. In conclusion, I had an extraordinary "first day of the year" fine dining experience, and highly recommend this restaurant for those special occasions when you want the very best. read more

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Great experience overall! We came on a Saturday and ordered a few appetizers and mains to share. Fried okra: crispy, light and delicious Octopus: the salad was spicy and octopus was tender and not chewy Cornbread: must try. The butter is amazing Pork chop: seasoning on the pork was so good and the sides paired really well. The meat was a tiny bit overcooked but flavor was great Fried chicken: the mashed potatoes and collard greens are done very well. Chicken was a bit dry and could've used more seasoning. I would pass on this one out of the ones we had Drinks: 10/10! We had two mocktails, both delicious. There was a bourbon cube drink that wasn't on the menu recommended by the server and it had a smoked ice cube with spices. If you like whisky, definitely ask for it [[HIGHLIGHT]]Atmosphere was intimate and not too loud. It felt casual but nice at the same time.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service was great! read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]This is a wonderful old Timey bar.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] They have a great selection of TopShelf liquor very helpful knowledgeable bartenders, and absolutely delicious foods. read more

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I don't give this 5/5 lightly. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This place is an absolute vibe. The pictures can't capture the ambiance at all. Moody, sophisticated, funky, divine, decadent, sexy? So good.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Lots of vegetarian options that are unique, comforting, and filling. I honestly haven't seen such a diverse and simple menu in a long time. The cocktail menu leaves absolutely nothing to be desired. Interesting, fun, deep, playful, and unique. Xoxo I'm falling HARD. read more

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It's always a pleasure when you return to a restaurant and find it better than you remember. This is the case for me with Lucky Our server couldn't have been nicer. Happy Hour specials were great. We loved the oysters and wine specials We look forward to a return visit read more

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Very good food! We had the delicious chicken and the wonderful pot pie, but before that oysters and the surprisingly delicious trout mousse. The service was very attentive and engaging. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The pic reflects the warm and inviting atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Can't go wrong. read more

Lucky Restaurant - Owner mixing up delightful drinks. - Wine Bars Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

Luckys is a local gem! One night in Roanoke and everyone recommended this spot for dinner. Brussels , pork belly and shrimp and grits were epic! Drinks were awesome too. Very friendly , welcoming staff and bartenders too. Founded by 2 musicians too! Hows about that ?!! Go !! read more

Lucky is slowly becoming one of my favorite restaurants in Roanoke! I always get excited when I see West African food on a menu and they did the Akara really well. I'm Nigerian, so that definitely says a lot that I liked it!! The drinks are always great, [[HIGHLIGHT]]the vibe is cute and quiet,[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] and the waiters are always so nice too. Plus it's in a perfect downtown spot so after dinner you can just take a little stroll. Definitely gonna keep coming back here! read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Very quaint and hip at the same time.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service was very attentive and food was tasty. Not your average American fair this place had some interesting dishes and a great bar with a significant bourbon selection. Food was pretty good - oh yeah that's perfect. Had the fried chicken, shrimp and grits (a bit too salty) and the strip steak. Pretty good but couldn't finish it. read more

Excellent drinks and amazing staff! Loved my experience here. The bartender was super friendly and gave me a list of great recommendations around town for things to do. They have a special bar menu and I enjoyed the cheeseburger. read more

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Wonderful! Stopped here last night in Roanoke on our way thru tow. Absolutely terrific. Our server Maci was so kind and friendly, answered ll of questions and seemed like someone who enjoyed her job, which was a pleasure. Great cocktails! Really interesting and different combinations that are amusing and well balanced, which is fun. Food was great. Hubby had the fried chicken which was wonderful! Perfectly cooked. I had the burger which was very good. Excellent fries. Don't be put off by the relatively small menu, everything is good and there is more than enough to choose from. We would highly recommend and will plan to return! Thank you Maci! read more

This is a hidden gem. My husband and I were driving through the area and stopped in. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambience, service and food was outstanding.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our server Brittany was helpful in choosing our drinks and entrees. I got the whole trout -so delicious, flavorful and light. My husband got the pork shank- meat fell off the bone. Portions are satisfying. Brussels sprouts were the best we ever had. If in the area again will definitely stop in. read more

Still fabulous a year later. Excellence is all aspects; menu- wow, food quality- incredible, service- personal and attentive and friendly. Craft cocktails are incredible and fair in quantity. Ambiance is cozy and comfortable yet casual. Just love this place! read more

Lucky Restaurant - Inside - Wine Bars Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Great food great vide great service![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Smoked trout was excellent and sautéed veggies an excellent pairing!

Our meal was wonderful, and the service was great. But, Lucky doesn't know what kind of restaurant it wants to be. Let's blame on it COVID fog, but when they "reimagined" the place, they messed-up big-time. Since then, they have been quietly reintroducing the old menu items, such as the fried chicken (which is great!). However, the place is still decorated like a cheap Asian restaurant. And when we were there, the music was straight out of a 1950's-themed diner. I made a reservation for Friday night the day-of. That used to be unthinkable for Lucky. It's time for them un-reimagine the place and restore it to its former glory. Replace the weird Asian-inspired art, bring back charcuterie boards, retain the great service, bar tenders and cocktails and, for God's sake, never lose the Cube. As for our meal, we did the pre fixe with wine pairing. The salad was perfect, the black-eyed pea fritters were delicious, the brussels sprouts were tangy and charred just right, the fried chicken was great, as always, the pork chop was delicious, and the wine pairings good. The food is great and, don't get me wrong, I like being able to get a reservation at the last minute, but I want Lucky to thrive. Figure out who you want to be and then be it. Just don't be that weird Asian fusion tapas thing you thought you wanted to be. That didn't work. read more

Lucky Restaurant - Shouldn't be this empty on a Friday night. - Wine Bars Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

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This small restaurant exceeded our expectations. Our party of four ordered a variety of dinner options. All were very good, and we were blown away by the fried okra appetizer. Our server was attentive, quick, courteous, and fun. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The other guests looked like they were having just as good a time as we were.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Our experience at Lucky Restaurant was great. I had an amazing New York Strip and my wife had the fried chicken. Both excellent. Service was prompt and friendly. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere is relaxing,comfortable, sophisticated but not conceited[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. I highly recommend. read more

Ordered take out. The SALTIEST tasting steak I've ever had. Personal opinion never to return. Zero stars if possible

Service was very friendly, [[HIGHLIGHT]]ambiance was comfortable too.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I loved the bar set up and they had a great menu.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Best meatloaf I have ever had! Had a side of cornbread with honey butter that was to die for. Can't wait to come back and try something else... read more

Lucky Restaurant - Meatloaf & side of cornbread - Wine Bars Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Lucky is fun and fresh![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We enjoyed appetizers and cocktails for our anniversary, and everything was awesome.

A colleague took a group of us including some out of town folks to Lucky's. Everything was delicious. I was with a bunch of sprout eaters who declared the Brussels were the best they ever had. I pronounced my intention to marry the sweet potatoes. I also enjoyed the fried chicken. Every time our friends come to town they talk about the Brussels. I highly recommend that you Marry. The. Sweet. Potatoes. read more

Ok it's restaurant week We booked lucky Never disappointed here The cube!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The shrimp and grits The chicken with the absolute best fried chicken and the greens are like mammas Love this place. Oh and the cube!!!!! Oh and the chocolate bourbon ice cream isn't Luxembourg bourbon ice cream but a great second place read more

One of the easiest ways to annoy me as a restaurant customer is to tell me, in the midst of a half-empty restaurant, that they are "fully booked" for the next several hours. Gotta serve those invisible customers, apparently. I was hungry and this place had bar seating so I sat there, ate my meal and left. (Restaurant still half empty when I left by the way). So two stars off for being completely and utterly ridiculous. I ordered a decent Chardonnay, and the flounder, which would have been very good had it not been very unevenly cooked - part of it was scorching hot while the other was normal-warm. It's a disappointment because I walked half a mile from my hotel simply to visit this place due to the reviews and menu, but I guess you can't win 'em all. Maybe the invisible customers will have better luck. read more

Lucky Restaurant - Flounder - Wine Bars Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

We were gifted a $50 gift card to Lucky with the warning that it wouldn't get us (2 people) all that far at the notoriously pricey Lucky. We had a great time and made sure to research their offerings in advance as to not be taken aback by the pricing, portion sizes, etc. Our cocktails were delicious and featured local goodness and were definitely a summer treat. The servers did a great job of explaining the menu and cocktail concept, describing our dishes, and making recommendations. We enjoyed cocktails, the oysters (and especially loved the shakalaka topping), caprese (admittedly more of a greens-heavy salad than a true caprese, but still delicious!), short ribs, and the quail. Everything was balanced, well-seasoned and fun. My biggest tip for visiting Lucky: be prepared to treat yourself and approach it as an adventure, not your next stuff-yourself meal. I think there's something to be said for small plates. Are you really enjoying your 20th bite of ribeye and fried potatoes? By the point, I think taste leaves the building. We savored every bite of each plate at Lucky and, as farmers, are grateful for the farm sources listed at the bottom of the menu. Looking forward to returning the next time they have a menu change-up! read more

Lucky Restaurant - Drinks, cocktails, summer 2022 offerings - Wine Bars Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

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One of the best meals I've had in recent years. We picked Lucky Restaurant after reviewing several menus for one night in Roanoke. We picked well. A great vibe, wonderful cocktails, and very good food. We entered to warm, interesting décor; a lovely bar, two-tops, and booth seating. Casual attire is fine; I wore khakis and a short sleeved button down, while my partner rocked a Jean jacket and black jeans. The wine list looked great -- some "local" favorites like Early Mountain -- but we went for some interesting and creative cocktails. The Yada Yada was a fantastic riff on a French 75. My two cocktails -- the Pear Skinned Rug and a tequila / habanero cocktail were stellar. As for food, the oysters were huge. Great champagne mignonette, horseradish, and cocktail sauce. My partner enjoyed 1/2 a dozen. The bread plate was lovely, with great tapenade and goat cheese. I got the blueberry and bacon salad; I was afraid the blue cheese would blow up my palate, but it was a wonderfully balanced start to the meal. As for mains, my partner elected to get the mussels -- another "small plate" that ate huge. There were easily two-dozen in her serving. My steak was fantastic; perfectly cooked with a great sear. Finally, our server Alyssa was attentive, lovely, and had great recommendations. She made the meal. A true joy. Put on your list for Roanoke. read more

Lucky Restaurant - Olde Salt Oysters Yada Yada - Wine Bars Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

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Staff, ambience, cocktails, interior design all on point. Local food (bread served as an appetizer is from the bakery a block or two over - and it was friggin great! Especially with the honey butter Lucky served with it. Local, fresh ingredients. All food was excellent, except what I ordered for my entree. I ordered the Smoked Quail off the "bar" menu and I learned a lesson - smoking a bird that small is probably extremely hard to do bc the meat on this thing was dry and tough. And if I'm being honest, I've not had quail before, and I'm not sure if I like it. I didn't hate the flavor but it was very hard to know since it was similar to a smoked jerky on the bone, which wasn't easy to separate. The sauce served on the bird was lovely and saved it for me, otherwise it would've been entirely inedible. I'm sorry this wasn't a perfect 5-star review bc everything else was banging in a good way. I will definitely come back when I have a larger appetite bc I'm willing to give one of their standard entrees to redeem this place for me. Also, while you're here, get a cocktail! They have a creative menu, they make their syrups and bitters all in house, and they're just tasty! Cheers!!! read more

Lucky Restaurant - Smoky Blues - a seasonal drink with mezcal - Wine Bars Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

We are new to town and Lucky was recommended by several people I've met so we went for date night. I was told about "the cube" so I had to order it. It is a large ice cube that has been made with what tasted like fruit juices and spices. Bourbon is poured over top and the flavors change as the cube melts. Fun! We ordered the ribeye and the pork chop. Both were good, but not great. The pork chop would have been better if it were less done. The ribeye had good flavor but it wasn't as tender as I expected for the price. I really enjoyed gathering vadauvan ketchup with the fries! The atmosphere and service were also good. read more

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Innovative, creative and delicious. What a find. We are in Roanoke one night and stumbled upon this place. My husband is vegan and I need good liquid and option. It's the perfect restaurant for us. I had raw oysters and shared the cashew nacho dip with root vegetable chips which was phenomenal and I could a meat every day. My main was the octopus and his the Lions mane which is a meaty mushroom dish which was also delicious coming from a meat eater. The other surprise is the vodka drink called Your Team inspired by the bar tender Steve's recent visit to Southeast Asia. Wow! One of the best vodka drinks I've ever had! read more

Lucky Restaurant - Specialty Drink menu - Wine Bars Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

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Chose Lucky thanks to Yelp reviews for a Saturday evening meal after a day touring Roanoke on foot. It was an easy walk from Hotel Roanoke and it was good that we had reservations as other people were waiting in line. We were pleasantly greeted and immediately taken to our table. Lucky has a big city feel, it's a bit noisy though tolerable and has a nice crowd. Our server was pleasant and brought our drinks, which were excellent, right away. My wife had the Caesar Salad and the pork shoulder. I had the Goat Cheese and Beet Salad with the scallops as an entree. We shared a large bread plate. The food was excellent; expertly prepared, and beautifully presented. Our waitress was attentive and brought us new silverware for each course. It was a flawless dining experience. I highly recommend the Lucky Restaurant. read more

Lucky Restaurant - Pork shoulder and diver scallops. Excellent! - Wine Bars Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

My hubby and I were looking for a nice dinner after a day of mountain biking. Lucky's was the most amazing restaurant i've been to in a long time. They were very covid attentive and very kind and I loved listening to our waiters stories (ok was evesdropping a bit). We didn't have to wait at all for the outside patio dining (inside closed on Thursday) and got us a very comfortable table. The guy who sat us down explained that if we didn't want the price fixe, we can always order a la carte. He gave us our own bottle of hand sanitizer, proper cutely stamped paper bags for our masks, paper menus and they changed our cutlery after each course. While I wasn't up for drinking, their patio drinks looked AMAZING and hubby greatly enjoyed his big lick beer. Now onto the food..... It was AMAZING and well worth the price. The quail really reminded of the traditional cooked pidgeon and was perfectly crispy on top of a bed of flavorful corn that hubby kept stealing. He got the beets which were also good in case there are some vegetarians out there. Second course I got crab cake and he got mussels. Holy moly was blown away again. The cake crab is like 90% crab on top of a refreshing bed of salad and good dip. The mussels....omg.... The broth made the dish. They offered me a second spoon and we drank up the broth. Third course was epiiiiccccc. I got the trout and hubby got the steak. Both were just so flavorful. Sadly enough, we had no room for dessert but I will be bugging hubby to bring me back to try out the peach cobbler and the really really unique ice cream flavors (strawberry and amaretto?? Buttermilk?? Peanut butter and rum??) Anyways EVERYONE please give this place a try and support them! They are very friendly and everyone can use an unforgettable, socially distant date night in these times. read more

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We went to a Christmas here and it was wonderful!! The service was absolutely perfect. Everyone was friendly and cared that we had a great time. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Everything from the atmosphere, food and drinks made for a memorable night!![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

The service and atmosphere is AMAZING!! The tapas style was definitely sharing friendly. I enjoyed everything BUT the dessert. Would definitely return! read more

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I'll start by giving credit to the Hostess, Mikaela. She took us to our table, and I asked for her recommendations. Mikaela provided details on all her favorites, and she is very knowledge of the menu and preparation. We took her advice on her suggestions, and they were fantastic! Mikaela is very personable, knowledgeable, and professional. The Managers are wasting her talents; she should be a Server. Now the food review: Appetizers: Virginia oysters: Rappahannock, Rochambeau, Olde Salt ($2.50/ea). The oysters are unique and range from "sweet" to "salty" depending upon the type. A definite MUST TRY! Salad: Goat Cheese and Beet Salad ($7). Walnuts and pickled beets give the salad a crunchy and zesty taste. Very good! Entree: Bass with Crab reduction ($21). It was a Special, but a well conceived Special. Good spices and perfect preparation. Great! Buttermilk Fried Chicken ($18). Crispy crust allows the chicken to remain juicy. Just the right amount of seasonings for this old Southern Favorite. Great! Server: Jeremiah was prompt, professional, courteous, and always carried a smile. Thank you Jeremiah! Atmosphere: The place is intimate with low lighting and quiet. Definitely a place to take a Date or when you want to impress someone. Overall: Lucky is located on a narrow, one-way street. There is a parking lot across from it, with minimum fees of $6 for 6 hours. Again, Mikaela made our experience extra special, and the food was fantastic. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! read more

Steak was very undercooked however they made a new steak, the steak came when others were just finished eating. The staff were kind and accommodating, the waiter was very professional. Lucky is comfortable, somewhat upper scale without being stuffy. read more

I was excited to try this place since my family raved about it. It was up to the expectations and great place to celebrate our March birthdays while we were in town. All the drinks are phenomenal and specialty made. The waitress was knowledgeable about the menu and provided good recommendations. Our group of 10 had multiple entrees and no one left disappointed. I would definitely visit again! read more

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This was a fantastic restaurant in the heart of downtown Roanoke. I'd have to say the service was just as great as the delicious dishes! The small plates were a variety of unique ethnic cuisines. More than anything the dishes had so much thought and care put into them. With each dish that was served our servers explained in detail the elements that we could expect and the background of the dish. Do NOT miss out on the cornbread/blueberry/chicken dish - this was delicious! read more

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Somehow my negative review was overwritten, hmm. The fall of a great restaurant. Once the best in Roanoke and my favorite, now diner quality inedible very poor quality and over priced with equally poor service. Look at the reviews. Went from five to three stars and over rated at three stars. Nobody's watching the quality and it shows. A real shame. I don't mind paying for top quality. I do mind paying gourmet prices for vending machine quality. read more

This place is a must go to. Go in and sit at the bar. Huge selection of bourbon and the tasting menus is amazing read more

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