Out of all family-owned Mexican restaurants mini-local-chains with more than two restaurants in the…read morearea, Alejandro's Mexican Grill is one of them. The others being El Rodeo, Tacos Rojas, and Pancho Mexican Restaurant. Besides this Alejandro's Mexican Grill in Salem, Virginia, there are two more locations in Roanoke, Virginia. One is on Campbell Ave in the Historic Roanoke City Market area, and the other is in the Hollins area at the corner of Peters Creek and Williamson Rd. Established in Downtown Roanoke, in November of 2007, by co-owners Moises and Lisa Nucamendi. Their second location in the Hollins area was then opened in December of 2008. And finally this, their third location, located in the Mill Lane Commons Shopping Center, in Salem, Virginia, was opened in June of 2019. I have already dined and reviewed the other two restaurants and invite you to read those reviews and view my photographs accompanying them. The restaurants are known for their authentic California-style Mexican Food, their popular salsa bar, and award-winning margaritas. Their menu includes traditional and authentic Mexican items such as Mexican Sopes, Tacos, Enchiladas, Tortas, Chiles Rellenos, and Flautas, among others. Their dessert Flan is made in-house by their head cook, and have the reputation of being delicious. When I arrived, their restaurant's front did not look at all very fancy. And from what my server told me, the restaurant used to be twice the size, but they gave up the extra space due to the poor economy caused in part by the Covid years. Their interior decor and furniture is outdated yet in good condition, clean and very comfortable. Mexican artworks decorate the walls of the place and is what gives it an air of distinction. The ceiling lamps and lighting treatment also help give the restaurant some class. As soon as I entered the restaurant, a gentleman Host greeted me and took me to one of the booths of the restaurant. It was early for dinner but since I hadn't had lunch so I didn't seen to mind, and there was a large party dining there at the moment as well. My server, a friendly young gentleman from Honduras, gave me a warm greeting and took my order. To drink I had a Virgen Mango Margarita and a glass of iced water. For appetizer I just enjoyed their wonderful chips and the salsa from the Salsa Bar. As my main entrée I had 4 Flautas (2 pork carnitas and 2 shredded beef). They came accompanied with Mexican rice and refried beans. And topped with lettuce, tomatoes, and shredded cheese. The salsa bar was very clean and the salsa looked very fresh. The tortilla chips were also freshly made and one of the best tortilla chips I've ever had. However the flautas had much to be desired. The tortillas that they were wrapped in were not fried crunchy as they should have been, and the shredded beef was overly seasoned and too spicy. Yet the pork from the carnitas was seasoned and cook to perfection, and the rice and refried beans were good as well. My servered came to check on me at the appropriate times and in time for me to order dessert for the Grand Finale of my dining experience. Of course I ordered their in-house made Flan dessert. And I can assure you it was delicious and wonderfully presented. In conclusion I found the ambiance of the place to be pleasant and friendly, even though the decor was not too modern. Most of the food was good, and the customer service was excellent, so I wouldn't hesitate to return next time I'm around the area. I particularly enjoyed the Virgen Mango Margarita, their Chips and Salsa, and their in-house made Flan.

We enjoyed a fabulous meal in June 2026 at Alejandro's restaurant in Salem, VA. The prices were a…read moregreat value with large portions of terrific tasting food! Our order was not quite right (they brought 3 floats instead of 4), although eating just two of them with beans and rice was more than enough after snacking on delicious chips and the MANY choices of salsa. They then over compensated by giving us even more floats that we had to take home afterwards. The server was very competent, attentive, professional, courteous, and quite helpful. We are eagerly planning our next visit to this restaurant we very highly recommend you enjoy!!

I have visited this establishment 3 times in the last couple weeks…read more And this place is amazing! The service and the servers are remarkable! The food is amazing! The decor is perfect! I encourage you to stop in and try Wings ETC. Grill & PUb.

Virtually the staff was awesome. The food was OK. Nothing that I would really die to come back…read morefor. I did have a band playing the night that we were there that were pretty good. Odd space for Music, but I guess there's not much else to do with it around there.

Today was my first time eating at this restaurant and although I love their Downtown Roanoke…read morelocation one, and have giving it 5 Star reviews, this one I feel deserves only 2 Stars at best and that's giving it too many because I feel it's one of the worst Seafood restaurants I've ever eaten at. From the time I arrived at their parking lot that where I parked was not even paved but full of rocks and dirt, I started questioning in my mind, how would it be inside. When I entered through their back door, it was their bar area and some high tables and chairs for people to eat in that area, but I didn't see anyone to greet you nor a sign to say "Seat Yourself." So I kept walking forward. There were a couple of pool tables along the way with customers playing pool. When I reached up front, the Host wasn't at the Host station but as I waited there standing up, one of the servers came by, greeted me, and took me to one of the booths. She handed me a copy of the menu which you could tell were run down around the edges. Only the Summer Food Specials one was in good condition. To drink I ordered a Sweet Iced Tea. It tasted watered down and had no lemon slice in it. Yet the server was so nice that I felt sorry for her because she had nothing to do with the quality of the drinks nor the food prepared there. The ambiance of the place was Ok, but not as nice as the one in Downtown Roanoke. I didn't like that other than the booths all their tables and chairs were the high kind. Another thing, my favorite item in their Downtown Roanoke restaurant menu was not even in their menu here. I invite you to read and view my photographs and video of their Downtown Roanoke restaurant to see the difference. For food I ended up ordering the Piggyback Scallops (bacon wrapped Scallops) and as the main course, their Seafood Platter with fried Jumbo Golf Shrimps and Cod Fillet, with rice pilaf and onion rings as side, and it also came with two Hushpuppies. My server goes back to put the order and next time I see her she is bringing me my main course and forgetting about my appetizer. When I mentioned it to her she tells me she'll go put the order in now. To be brief the Cod Fish was the only item that looked and tasted fresh. The shrimps where somewhat soggy, the onion rings looked awful, the rice pilaf was lukewarm and the Hushpuppies were burnt outside and raw inside. The scallops didn't taste fresh wrapped in mostly raw bacon. I asked for tater tots as a replacement for the onion rings, and even them were not cooked well. And if this wasn't enough, my Keylime Pie I ordered was not fresh. It was mushy like if it had been left out for a while. I invite you to view my photographs because a picture is work a thousand words. After I paid and was leaving and walked by the kitchen I glanced in and it didn't look that clean to put it nicely. Then when I went to the restroom to wash my hands it was also not very clean. I felt I wasted my money there and wouldn't recommend this restaurant nor plan to return.

Christina took great care of us until her shift was done. She didn't even rush us to tab out with…read moreher, we had to ask so we could tip her out. Originally went to Macado's in Salem and it was unbearably warm. Only had national brands on tap. Schooners weren't cold. Came here because it smelled like someone shit in the front of All Sports. Glad we came here next! Everything is clean. AC and fans running. Patrons and staff are fun and bubbly. We were immediately offered a food menu and I regret we never got hungry enough to use them. The music is upbeat and fun. The beer, liquor, Red Bull and food selection is massive and all encompassing. If you can't find exactly what you want here, there's a problem.

Decided to have lunch here on my birthday. We waited approximately 10 minutes before we were…read moreseated. They offered us the bar area and we accepted since the staff had some confusion about sections not being available. (It was just two of us and we sat at the bar). Elijah the bartender is very friendly. The menu has two sides and it takes a while to read the whole thing. Ended up with a cheddar cheese burger and fries. It was very good . Elijah gave us excellent service . The place wasn't crowded but they get busy around 1pm. There is not a lot of noise , you can carry on a conversation without problems. Will definitely go back ! I believe staffing maybe an issue .

Since its founding in Roanoke in 1978, by Richard Macher, Macado's has strived to provide a…read morecomfortable, familiar setting where locals, college students, and families feel at home. Macado's slogan "Just to be there" is meant to highlight Macado's welcoming, highly social atmosphere; suggesting that this restaurant is more than just a place to have a meal. It's a local hangout place where people come to relax, socialize, and be part of the community. Macado's Salem was established in 1990 by the Macher family to bring Macado's signature blend of hearty sandwiches and eclectic decor to the heart of the City of Salem. 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 this Macado's in Salem, Virginia is a perfect example. Today I visited this restaurant for the first time to experience first hand this beloved hangout place and see for myself if it's living up to its reputation and if it's really worth the trip. I invite you to besides reading my review, view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place, its one-of-a-kind ambiance, and high-quality food and drinks, not to mention its extraordinary customer service. From the time I arrived in my pearl white Lexus and took my first photograph of the front of the building which originally was the site of the Malibu restaurant (receiving a total face-lift from the Macher family after purchasing it) and checked-in with my Yelp app with that photo, I started receiving likes from all my Yelp friends, and felt mesmerized about the place and eager to finally walk in. Inside a friendly young lady greeted me and took me to my table. After a warm welcome she took my drink order for an Iced Dr Pepper and went to get it while I studied the extensive menu of which I enjoyed looking at the caricature of this gigantic tall hamburger. When my server nicknamed Bean arrived with my drink, I ordered the Wild Bill Burger. It was described in the menu as having cheddar cheese, smokehouse bacon, BBQ sauce, lettuce, tomato, and topped with beer battered onion rings. All sounded so delicious that set my high expectations for the burger which I chose to be accompanied by their fries which I had yet to taste. My server mentioned that this was a great choice and went to put in the order. When it came out, the burger looked gigantic and marvelous, and tasted amazingly delicious. And the fries light and crunchy. One of the best fries that I've ever had. I asked my server to give my compliments to the cook for such amazing food cooked and displayed to perfection. While I was earing my very kind and efficient server came by to check on me and see if I needed a refill on my drink. For dessert I had an Original New York Cheesecake and a Single Scoop of Vanila Ice Cream. It too was amazing. I made sure to ask for and pay for the bill before it was time to change shifts to make sure my server got her tip. In conclusion, I highly recommend this cozy and friendly establishment not only to have a lovely meal but also to spend some quality time with family and friends. It far exceeded my highest of expectations. And I'm looking forward to returning ... Just To Be There.

This place was great! Food was super hot and very good. Drinks were delicious.! Beer was as cold…read moreas my heart!! Service was amazing and we met one of the owners who was super amazing. I recommend this place for anyone who wants great food great service and check out their specials. They've got really cool specials going on especially for kids. I do recommend this place 100%. I would've never thought it would be so great !!!! Check it out! Andrew was our server cute as a bug!

Terrible smell walking in and in the dining area that wouldn't go away. Kind of ruined the…read moreexperience. He got fiah and I got a pizza. Pizza was ok but the cheese was not. It was soft and runny and had a weird taste. He said the fish was over breaded and nothing special. Service was good and we left in time because a huge group came in as we were leaving. Wouldn't go back. Second time and still nothing special.

I was really looking forward to dining at this Sports Café for some time now. And today, right…read morebefore this year's end, I decided that it was time for me to go visit and have dinner there. Located in Grandin Village, one of the most popular neighborhoods of Roanoke, Virginia, it stands alone in a modern looking, white and gray, wide, architectural design, building, on 2326 Grandin Road. I arrived as the sun was beginning to set and parked in one of the spaces of their ample parking lot in front of their building. As I entered their main door, there was a small foyer with a framed collection of beer bottle caps, and a Christmas tree since we were in the Holiday Season. Then I entered a second glass door which on the right was the regular bar and restaurant and on the left, behind another glass door was another bar with a smaller dining area for smoking customers. Although with an ugly color carpet, the type that is installed with square pieces, the restaurant looked clean and presentable, with a bar that consisted mostly of draft beer and no hard liquor. Next to the bar they had a refrigerator with bottles of beer, and their Coke products machine must have been inside the kitchen. There were large screen tvs all around and the walls were decorated with sports memorabilia. The lighting treatment made the ambiance cozy and friendly. There were no employees around to greet me when I arrived. Only two gentlemen drinking at the bar. I waited for a while looking around until I saw the Welcome Seat Yourself floor sign. I went and sat at a table looking over the menus that were there. Finally a friendly, young server came out and took my order. To drink I ordered an Iced Coke. Then, I asked her to first bring me a half House Salad, and afterwards for my main entrée The Joe Gibbs Burger that came with their fries. She left without asking me what dressing did I want for my salad, nor how did I wanted the burger cooked. Their prices were reasonable. Their burgers were 1/3 lb Certified Angus ground chuck, made daily, according to the menu. Another long time of waiting and my server was nowhere to be seen. She never brought me the salad first nor never gave me a refill of my softdrink. After a long wait a gentleman comes out with both my salad and burger at the same time. By the time I ate my salad, which only had two tiny pieces of tomato, the burger had gotten luckwarm and the fries had cooled of that made them no that much appetizing. And they were the skinny fries, my favorite. Then after a long wait my server brings me the bill and I ask her is there time for me to have a slide of their Peppermint Cheesecake from the Christmas menu. After another long wait, she brings it. I then go to the restroom that was dirty and smelly, to wash my hands and go up to the kitchen entrance to ask for the bill. All the employees there were really very nice and welcoming to me, what I think they need is a whole lot of more training on restaurant operation, timing sensitivity, and customer service. I hope if the owner of the restaurant reads this review, and works with management to see that this happens.

Arrived a few minutes after 2pm. Restaurant basically empty. One bar customer, a couple two tops at…read morethe bar and that is about all that was in the building. Waited at the host station with my two hungry kids and wife. Staff looked at us. Bar looked at us. No one came to help. We waited and waited . Eventually after several minutes we gave up and hunted down a server to get seated. Floors were super dirty. Staff just standing around. Really poor service . It felt like no one cared. Our actual server was nice and attentive . A little pushy at first asking what we wanted to eat while taking the drink order before we could even look at the menu. Still she checked on us continuously and was very nice. Food came out super fast and was really tasty. The bartenders could act like they cared as they stared at us several times with nothing to do but never offered to help. Same with service . Good food, bad service . Three stars for the great food and good server. .

Service is awesome. Apparently the kitchen had been told to "weigh" the items. Ok so next visit I'm…read morebringing food scale

There are many Applebee's but after visiting this one today I discovered the special qualities that…read moremake it one of my favorites. First of all it has ample complimentary parking all around the building of the restaurant.The building itself has a very modern and beautiful exterior red brick architectural design, as well as an elegant yet comfortable interior design. The interior was very clean with comfortable booths and dining tables and chairs. It has a wonderful menu, very well designed and organized with photos of some of its most popular item. But what really makes a restaurant shine are its people, and its food. And here I was very impressed with both. When I arrived, a young and friendly gentleman opened the door for me at the entrance. This gesture would be normal in a high end restaurant, but here it definitely stood out. He then asked me if I preferred a booth or a table, and then he took me to the one of my preference, and asked me if that one was to my liking. It is in these attention to details that provide by actions a welcoming environment and the stage for an extraordinary dining experience. Then came into the scene, my server, Tiarra, a very friendly lady who immediately gave me a warm welcome and friendly greeting. She was very knowledgeable about the.menu and was able to help me in choosing the menu items for my meal. I started off with a Mango Smoothie to drink, that was listed under the Non-alcoholic Drinks menu page. For my main entrée I ordered the Whole Lotta Bacon Burger. The large size and generous amounts of ingredients clearly justified the high price of the item, that came with nicely cut fries. Everything was amazingly delicious, and the burger had a juicy all-beef patty with three extra slices of Applewood-smoked bacon. While I was eating another gentleman came around to see if everything was to my satisfaction as well as the Host. To culminate this amazing meal I ordered the new sizzlin' Cookie Dough Pie on a skillet. It came with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream. My server brought me a glass of iced water when I finished my Mango Smoothie. What a relaxing and great dining experience. I definitely highly recommend this place and look forward to returning in the near future.