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Pok-E-Joe's BBQ

4.1 (60 reviews)
Open • 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

POK-E-JOE'S BBQ · YELP ASSISTANT

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POK-E-JOE'S BBQ ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Trendy
Moderate noise
Outdoor seating

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My glass of nice cold Iced Lemonade.
Manuel M.

It's been over a year now and I still remember that bowl of delicious fried Okra I had the first time I ate here. It was very significant to me because as I was growing up I learned to eat Okra from my grandmother's home cooking. And I can't think of no better way to describe this place as this. 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 it would be appropriate this year to go back to this restaurant and write a follow-up review, since my initial review was one of my reviews that contributed to me obtaining this highly esteemed Award. Pok-E-Joe's has become one of the most loved BBQ restaurants in Vinton, Roanoke, and nearby cities and towns. And key to its success is their quality meats and slow smoking cooking process that lasts for hours, turning their meats into award-wining Southern culinary masterpieces. Today, when I arrived a friendly young lady greeted me at the Host's station and after giving me a warm welcome, and inquiring as to where I wanted to be seated, took me to a comfortable booth next to the window. There I enjoyed looking over the menu with all the unique and delicious Southern BBQ foods such as the Pulled Pork, the USDA Prime Brisket, the Smoked Sliced Turkey, and others. Not long afterwards, my very friendly server, Jessica, came by with a big smile to greet me and take my order. I ordered an Iced Lemonade to drink. And to eat I ordered the Build Your Tray. I first asked for the Brisket Tips, which I had heard so much of, but they didn't have any today. So I picked my meats for the tray 1/4 lb of Pulled Pork and 1/4 lb of USDA Prime Brisket. For my sides I ordered Fried Okra, a Side Salad with Blue Cheese dressing, and Straight Cut Fries. The tray also included 3 Hushpuppies. I also wanted to include in this review their Pok-E-Cuban Sandwich, so I also ordered this with the idea of taking home the leftovers to eat tomorrow. My server Jessica did an excellent job taking my order, seeing that it was delivered, and checking on me at the right times. Everything was to good to the point of being exquisite. The flavor of the meats were out of this world, and they were so tender and juicy. The Salad was made with fresh ingredients and tasted refreshing with the Blue Cheese dressing. The Fried Okra and Hushpuppies were magnificent. And the Fries were the perfect cut and fried to perfection. As to the Pok-E-Cuban Sandwich, it surpassed all the others that I have had, with the slow smoked Ham and Pulled Pork, pickles, Swiss Cheese, and their house-made Spicy Mustard. All this, and at a very reasonable price. The ambiance of the restaurant was clean, warm, and relaxed. And contributed to the amazing diving experience. For dessert I had a Chocolate Chip Cookie Bowl Sundae. It was the dessert of the day and tasted amazing. Even the quality of the Vanilla Ice-cream was tops and creamy. This restaurant is very detail oriented, with fine food, cooked the right way, and provided with excellent customer service. And this makes for an extraordinary dining experience.

The Menu Specials
Richard H.

The food was fresh, bountiful, well presented and delicious. The servers are all professional, friendly, knowledgeable and prompt without being pushy. The flatbread was full, the crust chewy and meant for two. The wings were well cooked, hot and delicious. Get an extra side of the Hush Puppies, they re outstanding. You are looking at an "A" grade all around!

Some of the best tasting brisket and pulled pork you'll ever put in your mouth with baked beans and cole slaw.
Tom C.

The best barbecue and brisket in the Roanoke area! The brisket was EXCELLENT! The banana pudding was great and was a nice portion unlike local competitors who give you a tiny container of banana pudding and charge the same. When you go, see Heather - she was a great server and took good care of us, anticipating our needs well in advance. The only complaint I would have is the lack of seating at the entrance. We had several folks come in and had to wait who needed a seat to set in due to disability and several elderly patrons as well. Otherwise it is an excellent experience and we will be back frequently. I would gladly come in and help them with any leftover brisket so nothing would go to waste... Go for the brisket - try everything else too!

John A.

We had a great time eating here. I had a half pound of sliced Brisket and a House Salad with Chicken added. They nailed both.Great Vibe, Live Music, and awesome service from Reagan and The Two Bartenders. I'll be carrying out next time we go to the Brewery next door too!

Smokehouse burger

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

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Cory W.

We're glad you've enjoyed your experiences with us Angela!!

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

I thought the food was cold,dry, hard to swallow and some of it didn't have much of a taste. Not impressed.

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3 years ago

Brisket was very good. Get the banana pudding for dessert. Another great addition to the local restaurant scene.

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3 years ago

Good food, nice atmosphere. Haven't been disappointed any of the times we have visited

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3 years ago

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

Great pulled pork barbecue! Loved the sauces too. Nice indoor space. Great service by Kayli W. Will definitely come back.

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Ask the Community - Pok-E-Joe's BBQ

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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.

My sister ordered the Greg Brady and I had the Dr. Gonzo -- both burgers were delicious! The…read moreburgers are made with Wagyu beef, and while you can get a "regular" burger here, the specialty burgers are creative, varied, and definitely worth exploring. The crinkle-cut fries were good too, but one of the stars of the show was their house sauce -- a mayo-based sauce with herbs and spices that was so tasty we had to get some to go. Service was prompt and friendly, and for those so inclined, there's also a great selection of specialty beers. The atmosphere is fun and memorable -- the rock 'n' roll was loud enough to add energy but not so loud that we couldn't have a conversation. The decor is quirky and kitschy (think a skeleton on a bicycle and a chandelier made entirely of bras). The couple behind us also enjoyed their selections, with "The Elvis" being a standout. Even though it came highly recommended, I just can't bring myself to put peanut butter on my hamburger. That said, next time I'm in Roanoke, Jack Brown's will definitely be on my list for a return visit!

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Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint - Roanoke - The cashier station next to the bar of the restaurant.

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The Laughing Bull

4.5(11 reviews)
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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.

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Absolutely Delicious Bar and Grill

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After a little over a year of opening its doors in Vinton, Virginia, across the street from the…read moreVinton Library, this hole in the wall, family-owned American restaurant with the name of Absolutely Delicious Bar & Grill, has absolutely delivered some of the best smash burgers, hot dogs, and other delicious freshly made American comfort food in this neighborhood and beyond. 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 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 Absolutely Delicious Bar & Grill, in Vinton, Virginia, is a perfect example. Today I decided to give them a visit for a follow-up review of the first one I wrote when they first opened. The first thing I was happy to see were picnic tables with colorful patio umbrellas placed in the open space yard on the left of the restaurant. It seems like they are gearing up for expansion and many new things to come for the Spring of 2026, after a very successful 2025, for its high-quality food at reasonable prices, in a welcoming and friendly environment, with excellent service. As usual, as soon as I walked in the place, I was received with a heartfelt, open-arm, very warm welcome, and was given the good news that starting on March 16th their hours will be expanded to 10:30AM - 10:00PM Mondays through Thursdays and 10:30AM - 1:00AM Fridays and Saturdays. They told me about all their plans for the Spring of the new year, including the further expansion of their outdoor patio dining area. My server Justin, the son of this family-owned business, took my order and had me seat down at the counter of my choice. I ordered a Coke to drink, forgetting that they also had Cherry Coke, my favorite. To eat I ordered a Jesse Jones Beef All Beef Hotdog with mustard, ketchup, and relish; as well as a Smokehouse Burger, which had a double smash burgers, BBQ sauce, Bacon, Caramelized Onions, Pickles and two cheeses of my choice. I picked American and Swiss cheese as my choice and they customized it to include lettuce, tomatoes, and ketchup. Then I made it a combo with Waffle Fries and a medium Coke. I enjoyed watching the cook make my food in their open kitchen. Wearing special black disposable nitrile gloves, he grabbed a ball of fresh, high-quality ground meat and put it on the grill; then he used a burger smasher to flatten the ball-sized beef patties onto the hot surface of the grill for maximum searing. During the process, he changed his disposal gloves several times to ensure food safety. He also used a basting brush to butter the burger buns before he heated them on the grill. This not only gave the burger a good taste but made it look delicious. I invite you to view my photographs and videos accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and the quality of their food. When I took a bite of my smash burger, it tasted absolutely mouthwatering, or as the restaurant is called "Absolutely Delicious." The same with the hot dog. Best hot dog around! And the waffle fries were amazing. They were well seasoned and shaken after they came out of the frier; soft in the inside and crispy on the outside. The best waffle fries I've ever had. Even better than the ones from Chick-fil-A! They also had me taste their newly introduced Tater Tots; which are a graded potato formed into small cylinders and deep-fried. Their taste and texture were out-of-this-world! Very soft in the inside and just the right amount of crunchinnes on the outside. For dessert I had a couple of Strawberry Cheesecake Rolls. It reminded me of the fried cheesecake commonly served in Mexican restaurants but these also had strawberry filling. I was so pleased with their food and service that I gave them a good tip and paid at the counter with my Harvard Alumni World Mastercard. I highly recommend this little restaurant and urge you to give them your total support. What you'll get back will be an "absolutely amazing" dining experience like never before.

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Close-up of a Jesse Jones Hot Dog.

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Beamer's 25

Beamer's 25

3.9(291 reviews)
2.9 mi
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Overall we had a good experience here while on an overnight trip in Roanoke. I loved the…read moreatmosphere, live music, and food. But when we first arrived there was no one at the host stand, nor a sign to seat ourselves. We lingered there a good five minutes, making eye contact with servers/staff, yet no one came to assist us. Finally my husband approached a server who was setting up tables to see if we were supposed to seat ourselves. She came over to us and seated us. Service was a bit slow so I'm wondering if they were simply short staffed that night. We also had two kids with us and had to ask for a kids menu, though we were glad that they had one. Our server was very pleasant and we enjoyed the food. My husband and a split the Southern Belle burger and a Sonoma salad with blackened chicken. The burger was SO delish and the salad was great too. We would definitely return if we find ourselves in the area again!

After being awarded the Triad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last…read moreyear, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, I decided that it would be appropriate this year to go back to this restaurant and write a follow-up review, since my initial review was one of my reviews that contributed to me obtaining this highly esteemed Award. Consistency in the dining experience of a restaurant is something very important. It is something that the restaurant has to earn every time a customer enters through its door. As easily as a restaurant can win a customer over, it can also lose him and his loyalty to the restaurant. Sadly, this is what happened to me during this visit. I had missed having lunch, that day, so I arrived at around 4:30pm to have an early dinner. A gentleman greeted me and had me take a seat at a table of my choice. I went and sat at a booth facing the kitchen. I think it was the same place I sat the first time I ate here with a friend. The same gentleman performed as my server. He came by and asked me what I wanted to drink. I asked him if they had any Mocktails. He answered me that Mocktails are not the drinks that people usually drink there, but that he can have them make one for me at the bar. I described the one I would like to have and right after give him my food order. I ordered a Hunter's Burger, with a fried egg, smoked bacon, and American cheese, among other ingredients. And tater tots to accompany it. After putting in my food order he goes to the bar and comes back with my Mocktail, which was extremely acidic, but he had already walked away before I could tell him. So I stirred it hoping that this would fix it. But as the acidic liquid reached my throat it made me caught and gave me an unpleasant sensation. The server brings me the Hunter's Burger, my main course, with the tater tots. The tater tots are not cooked well. When I try to hook one up with my fork, it just splits in half. The Hunter's Burger bun was not big at all, and the patty was extremely small that you could hardly see it without opening the buns up, and that is what I did and discovered that the egg was not fried evenly but the yolk had been broken while being fried and was not soft. I tried to make the best of the situation and ate the burger with a fork. If all this wasn't enough, the server approached me with something in his hand that I think was my bill and asked me if I wanted something else. I told him that I wanted the Fried Oreo Cookies with the Vanilla Ice-cream. He brings me them with so little ice-cream that it had melted in the middle of the Fried Oreo Cookies. What an awful dining experience this has been compared to last time, which I still remember today. And today's experience, I just want to forget. I hope the owner of this restaurant reads this review and takes a look at my photographs that accompany it, and takes action to remedy it so that this doesn't happen again and tarnish the Image of what I once thought was a great restaurant.

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Visit Date: April 15, 2026…read more Bernard's in Roanoke delivered a fantastic experience from start to finish. We ordered the Frickles (fried pickles with horseradish ranch) and the Irishman sandwich, which comes loaded with housemade corned beef brisket, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing, along with a side of house-cut fries. Everything arrived looking great and tasted even better. The corned beef brisket really stood out--tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. The fries were hot and perfectly done, rounding out the meal nicely. Matt, our server, was excellent--attentive without being overbearing, offered great recommendations, and kept my glass filled the entire time. The atmosphere is dark and cozy, making it a great spot to relax and enjoy a meal. The restrooms were also very clean, which is always a plus. It's conveniently located just a short walk from the Hotel Roanoke. Overall, I'd highly recommend Bernard's. I'd gladly come back again--honestly, I'd go back tomorrow.

My party was floored by how good the food was at Bernard's. Located in downtown Roanoke, it was an…read moreeasy walk from our hotel. After entering, I appreciated the elegant dark wooden tones inside, as well as the dim lighting. Our server was attentive, and while it took a bit to get our food, it was worth the wait. My friend ordered fried pickles, which were plentiful and crispy. I ordered a steakhouse burger, which had a delightful layer of caramelized bacon. The most captivating dish was my buddy's shrimp and grits. It had a creamy sauce that everyone tried and scooped up. I was shocked at how balanced and rich it was, along with the smooth grits. If I ever return to Roanoke, I will come right back to Bernard's.

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Pok-E-Joe's BBQ - burgers - Updated November 2026

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