It is said that valuable things come in small boxes, but never in my wildest imagination did I…read moreconceive of a place like Stellina. 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 uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Stellina, in Downtown Roanoke, is a perfect example. Stellina (which means "Little Star" in Italian) is a secretly hidden little bar within the very popular Italian Restaurant Fortunato, but with its own entrance through a door on the right of the restaurant. Its only indication of its name is a small letter board behind one of its front windows, stating its name and hours of operation. This bar was constructed with reclaimed wood from the Old Crow distillery and opened in December of 2016. Since then its gain a reputation as the ideal spot for hand-crafted cocktails in a cozy and intimate atmosphere. It seats only about 20 people, with 7 at the bar. Not that long ago it gained recognition by being featured in the New York Post as one of the world's best small bars. All that I can tell you about this place doesn't do justice to the experience of visiting the place for the very first time. After stepping inside, I was mesmerized by the simple yet effective, elegance of the establishment, complimented by the beautifully dressed young lady, server/bartender. Her elegant style and mysterious personality contributed to the character and ambiance of this one-of-a-kind relaxing place. The very hospitable young lady welcomed me and handed me the drink menu, while asking me if I also planned to dine there. I answered in the affirmative and asked her if they had any Mocktails. To my surprise, she pointed out that one side of the Drinks Menu were all non-alcoholic drinks, including mocktails, bottled mocktails, wine by the glass, and beers. I ordered one of the mocktails and by the end of my meal, I think I must have tried a few. She then brought me Fortunato's menu, and I ordered the Fritto Misto as appetizer and the Pork Milanese as my main entrée. I enjoyed both course immensely. A lady employee brought me the food from Fortunato's Restaurant through a door that led to the restroom area of Fortunato's Restaurant, pass the kitchen. For dessert, that Which I consider the "Grand Finale" of a wonderful fine dining experience, I ordered their Tiramisu and Hot Chocolate. They were absolutely mouthwatering. I highly recommend this place and can't wait to return in the near future.

My best friend Becca and I were looking for the perfect place to celebrate her 23rd birthday in…read moreRoanoke. We had originally settled on Fortunato's, but upon arrival at 6pm, the pleasant hostess had informed us that there was not a table available until 8:30. While she was seeing if there was space at the bar, another young woman said, "There's a table at Stellina!" We already knew that Stellina shared the same menu, so we were pleased to walk over there. A young man greeted us and said, "Sit wherever you like!" But there was only one table available. It was a great table, positioned by a window that let us see a glimpse of the city. Cocktail menus were already on our tables, and the young man asked if we wanted food menus as well. We said yes, and ordered The Obituary, a gin drink, a vodka drink that I cannot remember the name of, the house bread, Lumache a Forno, and Bucatini all'Arrabiatta. While waiting for our food, I got to admire the space. It was a small space decorated with a beautiful purple-lit wallpaper, christmas lights, and a colorful overhead light. The room was dark, but our table was tastefully lit with a small lamp. The wallpaper looked as if it had some floral print on it, but upon closer inspection, it was actually a collection of people's faces, which was charming. But perhaps the most striking element of this bar's atmosphere was the music. I immediately heard a trippy beat that was familiar to me, and upon shazaming it, found out it was Interia Creeps, by Massive Attack, one of my favorite 90s trip-hop bands. The music continued to impress me, and has inspired to start a spotify playlist called Stellina's Songs. Some of the standouts include: Army of Me - Bjork Never Let Me Down - Depeche Mode Lovesong - The Cure It's No Good - Depeche Mode The ambience of this dark, 90s music paired perfectly with the dark yet pleasant atmosphere of the restaurant. Our drinks were cold, our food was hot, and it was all quite delicious. I got to try both dishes and both drinks, and was perfectly satisfied. The gentleman that greeted us checked on us frequently, as well as another woman. Overall, the experience was classy and pleasant. The restaurant seemed popular among an older crowd. Nevertheless, this is a great place for anyone of any age to grab a drink or a bite to eat while feeling like an elegant member of society. This is truly a gem that Roanoke has to offer, and my experience could not have been greater.

Ambiance of place is good vibes and well designed. Paid to see a live band and this was my first…read moretime visiting. (Tre'King Band) Ticket price was estimated $18 pre person. Must say the instruments over powered the head singer. Could not hear her singing. Brought food from outside business which were sliders, salad, and a bag of Doritos. Must say for the price next time I will make sure to eat before going if I visit again. Management constantly checked on our table which was great. Left early and did not stay for the full show. Was over powering with instruments for such a small venue.

Business shows open here, in Google maps and their website…read more When I went to the business on Saturday night, there is an ambiguous sign on the doors stating it is an event only facility

This was a rare gem! A gem that we really enjoyed. Our hostess was the best. She quickly seated us…read moreand told us about the "Tuesday Half Price the Entire Menu" day. Our group had been studying the menu prior to our arrival. We enjoyed nearly every cocktail on the menu along with one of their "special shots in an animal head shot glass". There was a little "show" with almost every drink. Even though we had already eaten, we couldn't resist sampling a few snacks. Each snack was unique. The baked potato skins had a spinach artichoke topping and the dumplings had a cayenne dust. The mini pizza was just ok. The service was the highlight of our experience. Our server was always there to make sure we had everything we needed. We hope to visit again when we are in town.

I wanted to share feedback regarding our recent dining experience to celebrate my son's graduation…read morewith family and friends as it was unfortunately very disappointing -- especially considering the price point and expectations presented for your restaurant and event reservations. First, the menu was extremely limited for both food and drinks. While the cocktails were enjoyable, the food quality and portions did not come close to justifying the $300+ we spent. We ordered the shrimp and wagyu skewers expecting thoughtfully prepared dishes. Instead, the shrimp appeared comparable to pre-made shrimp cocktail shrimp placed on a stick rather than freshly grilled seafood. The wagyu skewer lacked the quality and presentation expected from a fine dining establishment and honestly tasted more like beef stroganoff without noodles. I also ordered the lobster bisque, which was served lukewarm and tasted as though it came from a can. The Caesar salad with smoked trout was acceptable, but the trout resembled salmon more than smoked trout, and the dressing tasted bottled rather than house-made. What made the experience more frustrating was the lack of transparency regarding the menu prior to the event reservation. For a restaurant that strictly enforces reservations and cancellation fees, customers reasonably expect a much higher level of quality, preparation, and overall dining experience. Our server was kind, attentive, and did their best throughout the evening, so I truly appreciate their effort. However, much of the remaining staff appeared stressed, overwhelmed, and unwelcoming, which added to the uncomfortable atmosphere. Overall, the experience felt far from the fine dining experience being advertised. The drinks were honestly the only standout part of the evening. I also have to mention that the food we received looked nothing like the photos posted online and in Google reviews. It genuinely made us wonder if there was an issue in the kitchen this evening, because the quality and execution were nowhere near what was being represented publicly. I sincerely hope this feedback is taken constructively because there is a significant disconnect between the pricing, expectations, and actual dining experience being delivered.

Excellent, food, service and the view even at night was awesome…read more Make reservations and if is so worth your time. Sorry no pictures we were visiting a friend and we never stopped talking. We revisited for our breakfast meal and it was so worth getting up at 6:00 am. The view is spectacular. My omelet was made to order so I called it a corrupted veggie and my spouse two eggs, sausage and a muffin. The coffee was very fresh as was the sunshine even while outside was 20 degrees we were warm and toasty. Tyler was a delight, pleasant and full of smiles. She made our morning as much as the sunshine outside.

We had a good time at Skyline Restaurant. The food was very good quality, and the staff were sweet…read moreand attentive. The lights kept flickering outside but they got it fixed, and it was a bit loud but it was a Saturday night. Had the chocolate parfait special for dessert!

Best dang meal I've had in a while. The owner recommended the Mac & cheese and churros w/ ice…read morecream. Fantastic!

O.M.G. This place is simply divine. Owned/run by a local husband/wife who are both super cool…read morepeople. No reservations (like most places in town) so there might be a bit of a wait on busy nights -- but soooo worth the wait! The house specialty cocktails are all great (LOVE "Leaving Lex Vegas") -- especially if you are lucky enough to get the husband as your bartender! The tuna tostada app with matcha salsa was insanely good - the blend of flavors and textures was mind-blowingly good. Wedge salad with fried chicken and homemade ranch rocked! Lamb with pistachios was superb. This place is a true local gem!!

A very unexpected swanky bar in Floyd,Va. It'll throw you for a loop if you're not ready when you…read morewalk in, we were. Think prohibition. The joint takes you into the prohibition era. The staff play into it very well. The bartender was super cool. The lady at the front door stayed in character (so cool). Helpful hint ... buffalo nickel. Once in, it is a super dark and cozy classy place. Great selection of wine and cocktails. Small selection of beer. Had the very tasty Chef burger. The Mango Habanero cheese curds were tasty. Checkout the upstairs... I'd revisit this place again.

A place to go back in time! They are a prohibition…read moreestablishment theme/vibe. Fun wall decoration and art. Makes you feel like you are on a different timeline. Food was great! We ordered the seared ahi tuna, filets, and ravioli. Everything was delicious and fresh. Id recommend if you are quiet hungry and want to order the ravioli to perhaps order something else to pair with it as it only comes with 4 raviolis. Let's talk drinks. They are seasonal so they had an apple smoked old fashioned which was delicious and a whole experience as they bring it in a container with the smoke in it 10/10 recommend! They have a yummy spicy orange margarita and really good non alcoholic drinks that taste like alcoholic drinks! Service was great! Our server had really good suggestions and was attentive and up front with items that where not available.

Thanks to Jackson at the bar had chili and either the buffalo chicken or crab dip. Took his…read morerecommendation and had the Buffalo chicken dip. Wow. Jackson was dead on. Jackson runs a great bar. On a Monday I would expect it to be slow and it was but he makes sure to be personable and on point with the servers that need his assistance. He gets it. Really recommend I&A.

Good service, loud, food a solid 3.5 Easy access from…read morehighway and parking. Food priced fairly.

7 Rooftop Bar in Lynchburg offers a unique experience that's hard to beat. The atmosphere is…read morevibrant at night and relaxed during the day, and it offers a breathtaking view of the James River. The drinks are expertly crafted and they offer both classic cocktails and signature creations. I tried a few different options (mules, espresso martinis, and more) and each was great. For a place mostly known as a bar, I was pleasantly surprised when I ordered the smoked club sandwich. It was layered with ham, turkey, and bacon and served on Texas toast. It was better than I expected being "bar food." What truly stood out, though, was the service. A special shout-out to Tish, who was working her second day and already making amazing drinks and recommendations. She definitely made the experience better.

This was a cool place to grab a couple drinks. The atmosphere is pretty awesome! You are on the top…read morefloor of this apartment complex overlooking railroad tracks and James River. It's all outside with covered places to sit. Waitress was good and attentive. Drinks were mediocre. They have appetizer menu if you coke for food. The prices are very reasonable. This is a good place to unwind and relax! I'd definitely come back. Ohhhhh, parking is definitely a pain!!!!! Good luck! You are downtown and not a lot of parking.

This restaurant is a gem! Everything from the cocktails to the apps to the entrees were…read morespectacular! The atmosphere wasn't too loud and the restroom was clean! I hope to be back the next time I'm in town!

Just when I thought I had seen them all, I discover a masterpiece of Restaurant not far from my own…read moreback yard. First of all, this restaurant has one of the most beautiful and elegant interior designs that I have ever seen in a restaurant. Using a combination of quality wood and stone materials, an excellent floor plan, simple but elegant furniture, impressive paintings on the walls, and an outstanding lighting treatment; as soon as I opened the door and went in, I totally fell in love with the beautiful decor and lovely ambiance of the place. I still hadn't experienced the restaurant fully, yet I already wanted to return. As I regained my consciousness of where I was, the hostess arrived and gave my friend and I a warm welcome and brought us to a two person table wonderfully located next to a window facing the front of the restaurant. Then she handed us the menu and confirmed that our server would be shortly with us. The menu was another indicator of an extraordinary restaurant. It contained a vast number of wonderful entrées of which I was interested in trying most of them. Our server Nora arrived with a big smile and a welcoming attitude, and after giving us a warm greeting, took our order very efficiently, knowing that this was our first time eating at this restaurant. We both ordered the Filet Stroganoff and a side house salad that came with it. I ordered a balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing. One of my favorites, although blue cheese dressing is not far behind. The food arrived and starting with the salad it all was amazingly delicious. I loved the cheese and black olives included in the salad, and those that can only be found in very exclusive restaurants. The main entrées were also culinary masterpieces and a nice amount. For dessert we both ordered the Gluten Free Peanut Butter Pie. It was exquisitely amazing. Our server Nora provided us with outstanding customer service. She came by our table at the appropriate times to check on us and provided us with excellent service and an amazing dining experience. I highly recommend this restaurant to all of you reading my review and viewing the photographs accompanying it. The ambiance, the food, the service, and even the selection and quality of music played in the background and sounding like live, all working together to provide an outstanding dining experience that was one of a kind.

Small town bar. A place where you know everyone who walks in. Great owner and good businessread more

I used to really enjoy this deli, but my last visit was a letdown. I ordered the Reuben sandwich,…read moreand it came out mushy and soggy -- the bread was soaked through, and the sandwich completely fell apart. It used to be perfectly toasted and full of flavor, but now it just feels rushed and sloppy. Really hoping they get back to their old standards, because this place used to be great.