Every good thing experiences growth, and so has this family-owned business that started as a food…read moretruck in 2023 with a menu of North Carolina- and South Carolina-style barbecue staples. And now has opened a brick-and-mortar shack with a Texas-style barbecue in the heart of Salem, Virginia. After being awarded the Yelp NC Triad Squad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, celebrating their contributions and accomplishments throughout the year, 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 Big Daddy's BBQ & Sweet Shack, in Salem, Virginia, is a perfect example. I love a good barbeque, so as soon as I found out about this place, I set-up the GPS of my Lexus to 602 W 4th Street, Salem, Virginia, and drove down there to go try it out. As I was approaching the restaurant, I was intrigued by the architectural design of the this small restaurant. Words can't do justice to describe its appearance, so I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and its food. It was literally a shack with two large glass garage doors serving as the windows. Inside the place was clean with a rustic look that created the perfect laid down ambiance to better enjoy eating your barbecue. There, I had the opportunity of meeting Brent Bowles, the owner and the artist who designed the cute pig image for their logo. He was able to explain that his restaurant has a full bar with beer, wine and liquors, highlighting a selection of bourbon. He also was able to clarify the "Sweet" in the restaurant's name, in that they plan to carry special desserts such as smoked pecan pies and top-notch ice cream from the Tillamook Creamery. After I sat myself at a table near the window to have enough light to capture its food at its best, a friendly lady server came up to greet me with a copy of the menu and took my drink order. I ordered a Coke and began reviewing the menu. As starter I ordered the Brisket Sliders, and as my main entrée, a Pulled Pork Sandwich with French Fries as a Classic Side, which they charged $3.50 extra for them, and they were even not that many. My server was a bit inexperienced, because she brought me all the food at once, instead as starters first and then the main entrée. The food was amazingly delicious, with generous portions of meat in all the sandwiches. The starter Brisket Sliders were a meal by themselves, and are meant to share. I are one of the three and took the other two home for later so I could fit the Pulled Pork Sandwich. For dessert, the owner who was sitting at the bar, recommended that I have a piece of their Smoked Pecan Pie. It tasted delicious, reminding me of the caramel popcorn I use to eat at the beach when I was growing up. As you were probably able to see in my photographs, the place also had a small patio with picnic tables to be able to dine outdoors in good weather. I definitely recommend this place for when you're feeling like eating barbecue. And I can assure you, you won't be disappointed.

Great BBQ. Not covered up by excessive sauce. Have had it at the Salem ballpark and the Salem…read morelocation. Drinks, BBQ and ice cream and cheesecake, all in one spot. Service was super friendly.

Food and service was very good. Good atmosphere and wait time was short. Good variety on menu and…read moreprices are good. Entertainment offers a good variety. Highly recommend trying this restaurant

Wing Etc. is a decent addition to the Salem, VA restaurant scene. As to be expected, the atmosphere…read morehas a comfortable sports-bar vibe to it. The waitstaff are excellent and attentive. The chicken, boneless and traditional, is nothing out of this world, but still good and the sauces are superb. My favorite sauce is the spicy TNT sauce. The prices could be lower, but what these days isn't overpriced? I'll definitely revisit to try other options in the future.

The ALLSPORTS CAFE in Salem, Virginia, is a nice size restaurant housed in a building full of…read morebooths and tables and chairs in a festive place with a relaxed environment. It is decorated with a huge number of framed sports memorabilia tightly filling all its walls, as well as with many large screen TVs in front of a long bar located on the left side of the restaurant as you go in. The dark color painted walls and black ceiling give the place a cozy feeling and the open well lit space provides a comfi atmosphere in which to enjoy a comfortable meal with friends and family. I arrived there with a friend on a Tuesday, the day after we were hit with a snow fall and icy weather. It was hard to find parking. We finally drove around and found a two hour parking space in front of the sidewalk that led to the place. The sidewalk however was full of ice and snow, and I couldn't imagine how in a City like Salem it had not been cleared up either by the merchants located there or by the City. We had to be very careful walking towards the restaurant on a sidewalk in this condition. When we left, we also had a hard time pulling out of the parking space because of the ice and snow under the car. When we arrived we were warmly greeted and taken to one of the booths in the back area of the restaurant and provided with a copy of its two page menu. Both of us ordered iced water to drink and the Joe Gibbs Burger accompanied by a huge load of thin fries to eat. I also had a side of coleslaw. This burger had the Tennessee Bourbon sauce, bacon, mushrooms, lettuce, tomato & mayo. It was very fresh and juicy and the thin cut fries were amazingly delicious and plentiful. When we were finished and asked for the dessert menu our server told us that they didn't have dessert. I could not believe this and wondered if she was about to get off duty and wanted us to just pay so she could go home. So I inquired how come how could a place like this with a comfortable ambiance and great food didn't have any desserts. She then told us that they usually had one dessert a month, but the January dessert had not yet arrived. This was hard to believe but we paid and took off. I hope that when management reads this review they take action to fix this depending on what the real truth was and to train the servers on how to handle situations like this one. Overall I loved the relaxed atmosphere of the restaurant and the food was amazingly good. If they would just fix the dessert issue I would definitely recommend this place and enjoy coming back again.

I'm sorry, it took y'all a good 15 minutes to even acknowledge we had been seated. Then, another 15…read moreto get our drinks and apps (slight delay when she brought the wrong beer). Wings aren't half as good as the Grandin location. And THEN they had the audacity to charge $2 for a side of ranch. No, thanks. I'll probably never be back, but if I do, I'll be smuggling some hidden valley in my purse. Absolute nonsense.

A new restaurant has risen from the ashes of another. After a period of closure and renewal, the…read morespirit of Aly Baba Restaurant is reborn as Zico's, like a Phoenix rising from the ashes to offer an elevated dining experience. 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 Zico's Restaurant in Salem, Virginia, is the perfect example. Zico's is conveniently located in the corner of 4th Street and Roanoke Blvd in Salem, Virginia. Immediately after hearing of the change, and attracted by its new name and logo, I drove to this location to experience first hand Zico's cuisine. The restaurant has a nice size parking lot right in front of it. Its owner and chef, Zico is a native Egyptian, with a warm and friendly personality, who specializes in authentic Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Italian cuisines, as well as Pizzas. As I entered its door he was the first one to give me a warm greeting and welcome me to his restaurant. It had one red brick wall, imitation hardwood floors, simple ceiling lamps, and a very interesting movable large TV screen with a beautiful outdoor Cafe scene. The background music perfectly complements the relaxing and cozy environment. In the main dining room it has very elegant and comfortable booths all around, and in a separate banquet room it has tables and chairs all lined up. The menu has an excellent variety of items representing the different cuisines. I ordered a Beef Shawarma Platter that came with a salad and Pita Bread with a special in house salad dressing and cream for the Pita Bread. The salad was so fresh and moist that it was a pleasure eating it. The Beef Shawarma was cooked with a special sauce made with cooked onions, green and red peppers, and some seasons that gave it an amazing flavor, one only equivalent to high-end restaurants with sofisticated and award winning chefs. The rice was also a good quality rice with wonderful flavor. I enjoyed the food so much that till the last grain of rice and savored evey minute of it. For dessert I ordered their only in-house made dessert, the Tiramisu. It was amazingly delicious. Like no other that I ever had. What an extraordinary dining experience. I have dined in the best restaurants and yet this restaurant's cuisine is exceptionally outstanding to the point of exceeding even the highest expectations. I highly recommend it and am looking forward to returning to try it's Italian and Greek cuisines.

You HAVE to try Zico (or Aly Baba, as I knew it!). The food…read moreis consistently top-notch. I highly recommend the kofta, which is perfectly seasoned and cooked, the incredibly flavorful shawarma, and the magnificent mussakaa--it's rich, comforting, and authentic. Beyond the delicious food, the standout feature is the service. The owner is the friendliest you will ever meet, always taking the time to make you feel welcome. It's that kind of genuinely warm, inviting atmosphere that keeps me coming back again and again. Whether you're a long-time fan of Aly Baba or discovering Zico for the first time, you won't be disappointed! This is a must-visit spot.

Ordered the smokey wings and they were burnt and fried hard, little no to no meat on them and don't…read moreremember asking for extra smokey, but they were smoked alright. Flavors were nice but i just wish this meal was edible. i wasted $34 for hair in one of my wings... what a joke. 10/10 wouldn't recommend.

Decided to order from The Wing Experience through Doordash and got 32 bone in smoked wings. I…read morechose the bourbon peach and honey hot sauces. The wings looked and tasted fantastic!! Would definitely hit this place up again for wings in the 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.

We stopped here tonight after traveling from Florida -arrived tired and hungry! The young lady who…read morechecked us in was great. Our waitress was Mackenzie- she was very busy with waiting on large tables yet she was calm and very friendly. Excellent service. Very empathic knowing we had been traveling for 12 hours. Watching other servers and they were all very friendly and calm! I had the fish tacos and my husband had a burger- both very good. Prices are reasonable and service is excellent. We have eaten here in the past when traveling back to Connecticut. Would recommend!

Place is cute inside, it's spacey and there's a dining area + a bar area. It is incredibly loud if…read moreyou go past 7pm so be mindful of that (lots of college kids including myself + friend groups watching the games). It also gets busy quick! If there's one thing this place can't mess up it's some chicken tenders. They are a staple here. I think they are ridiculously priced, but they are also ridiculously good. The honey mustard is a must with them. I have not been really impressed by the other menu items I've tried, I've gotten a calzone in the past and the fish and chips and they were both average. Service is always 50/50, either someone who is super attentive or someone who will ignore you and never refill your glass for the majority of the time you're there. Overall this place is kind of average, it's $$ for what it is but it's fun with friends. 100% recommend those tenders though.

My favorite local restaurant in the entire southwest Virginia region. Primarily family-owned…read more Delicious menu items that sre consistent every time and friendly staff. I've been to Italy and this restaurant is the closest to going to Italy anyone will ever get, from flavors to ambiance. At lunchtime this restaurant also offers a buffet which is a great idea if you're a first-time diner. ALWAYS save room for their homemade gelato!! Their gelato is best I've ever had outside of Italy itself! We love, love, love this place. (Also, squeaky clean bathrooms)

The welcoming atmosphere at this Italian restaurant was evident from the moment I walked in. I was…read moregreeted by the Host with open arms, and this brought back happy memories of the time I visited Italy with my parents when I was growing up, and I was immersed in the true spirit of Italian Hospitality. As I was seated at the table of my choice, it made me feel as comfortable as the other guests there that you could clearly see were satisfied repeat customers. My server Suzana, who later I found out was from Bosnia and carrying a child, had such a friendly and warm personality, and attention to detail, that she was the ideal server that one could ever imagine. The menu featured a variety of exquisite options, and I selected the following: a Coke to drink, the Fried Calamari as appetizer, a House Salad with homemade Italian Vinaigrette dressing, and as my main entrée Scallops Fiorentino. My server also brought me soft freshly baked bread with three dips to dip the bread in. The food was amazingly delicious and served in large portions at reasonable prices. My server checked on me at the appropriate times and always kept my glass filled up to the rim with Coke. As the Grand finale I had their famous Pumpkin Tiramisu which is only made during this time of the year, together with a small homemade Mango Gelato. Both desserts tasted marvelous. In conclusion, I highly recommend this Italian Restaurant for an unforgettable dining experience.

So this was for a DoorDash order, but it was so good. I wanted to make sure I gave them credit…read more I was in town for the Virginia's governors housing conference and stuck at the Hampton Inn with not many food options nearby, so I jumped on DoorDash to see what I could find. Feeling like I wanted a bit of Junk food, something greasy, and potentially fried, I decided to see what Roanoke had to offer. And I was pleasantly surprised to find a restaurant not in Roanoke, but in Salem and in delivery distance. I ordered the Philly cheesesteak sandwich and the gyro and was pleasantly surprised that how good both sandwiches were. The gyro was stuffed full of meat with a very soft pita with fresh ingredients. The Philly cheesesteak was equally substantial, and the cheese was perfectly melted. For a DoorDash order, this place definitely begged for a in person visit, so I definitely will be checking them out when I get back to Salem.

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.

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.