This is a lovely gentrified neighborhood that takes one back to the first half of the 20th century…read more It is a small neighborhood geographically, comprising just 7 acres. Houses were generally built between 1906 and 1952. The small commercial area was particularly enjoyable for me. There are a few restaurants and a handful of specialty stores, services and offices. The commercial sector reminds me of the old neighborhood shopping districts that developed in the late 19th and 20th centuries in cities around the US. Those districts were still viable through a good part of my life. Many are still vibrant even now because their utility still exists, but also because their charm attracts people from outside their respective communities, which adds to their commercial sustainability. That's the case for Grandin Village. It's certainly a pleasant place to spend an afternoon. It was an enjoyable, nostalgic experience for me.

Food and service was very good! The restaurant is small but very clean! We will definitely return!read more

6/18/26 - Restaurant that I found while looking for something for lunch today…read more I ordered a large cheese calzone with marinara and ham Italian sub with side salad and Italian dressing to take home with me. Food was excellent!! Came back on 6/20. Service was slow. Apparently it takes nearly an hour to make an order.

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.

This place is in a pretty dead shopping center far away from anything. There are a couple of tables…read moreif you want to eat indoors, but I got takeout. I came seeking an arepa, the South American grilled corn sandwich of note that is hard to find in this area. By getting takeout and taking it home with me, I probably waited a bit too long on it, but the arepa was still quite satisfying. The best thing in it was the beans, warmly spiced with a note of bay leaf, but cheese and plantains made for a rounded flavor experience, of course accentuated by grilled corn. Their more conventional pizza and garlic bread delivered basic satisfaction. I also enjoyed a cake slice with finely chopped nuts the next day. The arepas are far more notable that the pizza, but if offering pizza and locating themselves in a mall next to a karate studio and an orthodox church is what it takes to get some diversity in the local culinary scene, I'm for it.

The food was amazing and the service great and very friendly. There was about 4-5 tables and a…read morepickup for to go orders. There were also great lunch specials that were very reasonable

Add that detail like this:…read more Review of Montana's We visited Montana's for lunch and ordered the nuts and berries salad with raspberry vinaigrette and the roast chicken sandwich. The nuts and berries salad was the better of the two dishes. The salad itself was fresh and enjoyable, but the raspberry vinaigrette was very oily. Since the oil had separated and was sitting on the side, we had to discard the excess oil before adding the dressing to the salad. After removing the extra oil, the salad tasted much better. The roast chicken sandwich was underwhelming. The chicken pieces were thick, and there was very little sauce, which made the sandwich dry overall. With a better sauce-to-chicken balance, it could have been much more enjoyable. Beyond the food, the atmosphere was disappointing for the price. When we walked in, we noticed a musty smell, which immediately affected the experience. The water also did not seem filtered, and the poor water quality was noticeable in the taste. Considering that lunch at Montana's can cost more than $40, I expected better attention to basic details like the restaurant's smell, water quality, and food preparation. Overall, the experience was okay at best, but disappointing for the price.

Recently visited Montano's for the second time and I've enjoyed both of my meals here. Came here…read morewith my family for a meal and everyone enjoyed what they had (with the exception of the oyster salad). I loved the pimento cheese bread I started with and my shrimp and salmon with pasta was very tasty. Standout here was the fried artichoke appetizer...that was delicious. Service was friendly and prices were reasonable. Overall, a very nice evening at Montano's. They handle big parties well (there were six of us) and everyone left happy and with leftovers!

A good friend of mine invited me to dinner for pizza at Highlander Pizza. Located in a strip mall…read morein Cave Spring, Roanoke, Virginia, the restaurant is small and cozy, very clean, with hardwood floors and wth very cute artworks of animals decorating it's wall. The menu is a colorful one sheet of laminated paper They specialize in Halal specialty pizzas, salads, subs, strombols, and calzones. When we arrived the owner greeted us with a warm welcome, took us to our table, and handed us the menu. We ordered a 14 in Steak BBQ pizza to eat and Iced water to drink. When the pizza arrived the pie was fresh and soft, the cheese very cheesy, the BBQ sause just right, and the steak cut in little pieces. After we finished eating it we felt full but not too stuffy. We then each ordered a slice of Strawberry Cheesecake. It was soft and creamy and the strategy sauce on top was very sweet and tasty. The owner was very friendly and came by to check on us at the right times and to fill our glasses with water. This is a wonderful place for when you want to have a very special, one of a kind pizza, or other items, in a relaxed environment, with excellent customer service.

In an attempt to "support local" I settled on Highlander Pizza for the evening. Immediately upon…read moreentering, I realized I should have left as there was no air conditioning and the heat was unbearable given the 90 degree day outside. Strike one, but again, local, so I decided to overlook the extreme heat and hope for the best with the food and service. The server/counter person was not very personable, but not outright rude...indifferent might be a good term...but I contributed it to the heat. Strike two, because a welcoming environment is important. Upon ordering, the server brought out plates, utensils and drinks. Two of the three plates were dirty and there was something floating in my drink. Strike three without question, but the final never again came when there was no care or concern from the staff at all that their dishes were not clean and there were foreign objects in the drinks. Lastly, after a very long wait, the food arrived. It was just ok, not worth the heat, the filthy environment, the dirty dishes, the excessive wait, or the foreign objects floating in the drinks. I generally love to shop and eat local, but it will not here.

We've had several rainy days here lately. And on these days I prefer to eat in, but rather than…read morecooking, I like to order out from some of my favorite restaurants via DoorDash, or to explore and discover ones that I've never tried before. Last night, searching on the DoorDash app for a restaurant to order from when I found out that the restaurant I intended to order from (Cuban Island) was closed, I ran into Carrabba's Italian Grill and its New item on the menu: "Filet & Shrimp Toscana." The entrée was described as: "Fettuccine with spinach and mushrooms, tossed in a roasted garlic cream sauce. Topped with sliced filet and wood-grilled shrimp." Above this description it had a beautiful, appetizing photo of the entrée. Now, I've dined at this restaurant located in the outskirts of the Valley View Mall before and have written a Yelp review about it, it's food, and my dining experience documented by plenty of my photographs which I invite you to read and view. I went ahead and ordered it through DoorDash with a price of $31.49 which didn't seem high if it contained quality filet and shrimp. I really appreciated that their DoorDash ordering site asked the question: "How would you like your steak cooked?" I choose the answer: "Medium Rare: Warm Red Center." The entrée came with a Caesar Salad and they gave you the option to substitute it for another side. I kept the Caesar Salad, and went ahead and made the order. The DoorDasher arrived with my order at the estimated delivery time quoted on my order confirmation email. She was very friendly and handed me a large shopping bag with my order and the order receipt stapled to the bag. As a VIP DoorDash customer I could appreciate how well she had handled the bag. Inside there were three containers: one with the Caesar Salad, one with my main entrée, and a bag containing a piece of the special loaf of bread they give you at their restaurant sliced up and wrapped in a paper to keep it warm. Also inside of this bag came a little Italian dipping oil bag consisting of extra virgin olive oil, and a tiny plastic bowl filled with a blend of herbs like garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes. All this and a set of quality black plastic utensils. I first made the Italian dipping oil mixing the oil with the herbs and enjoy eating it after dipping the bread in it. Then I enjoyed eating my Caesar Salad which was delicious. And then the main entrée. The Fettuccine tasted amazing and it had tender and savory pieces of filet cooked to perfection together with shrimps, mushrooms, and spinach, in an outstanding roasted garlic cream sauce. One has to give the Carrabba's line cooks credit for passionately preparing, portioning, and cooking their quality food to exact corporate recipe specifications, guided and supervised by their kitchen manager who is also considered their head of kitchen operations. What an amazing dining experience I was able to have at home with Carrabba's exceptional food and attention to detail of it employees who had anything to do in cooking and preparing my order for delivery. I highly recommend this Italian restaurant and am looking forward to returning to their brick-and-mortar location to enjoy some more of their customer choice award-winning food and the presence of their kind and friendly employees, remaining loyal to the well known Italian hospitality.

I had one of the most frustrating dining experiences I've ever encountered at Carrabba's Italian…read moreGrill, and unfortunately, it's not something I can just overlook. From the moment we were seated, the service was noticeably poor and only continued to get worse as the night went on. To start, our server seemed completely disengaged. After taking our initial drink order, they disappeared for an extended period of time. When the drinks finally arrived, it was already a long wait--but what made it worse was that once they were empty, they stayed that way for well over 10 minutes. We sat there with empty glasses, trying to flag someone down, but our server was nowhere to be found. It felt like we were being completely ignored. We had also ordered soup and salad to come before our meal, which is pretty standard. However, those never showed up at all. Not late--just never. No explanation, no apology, nothing. Our entrées arrived, and we were left wondering what happened to the first part of our order. It's basic service to ensure courses come out correctly, and this was completely missed. Throughout the meal, the server would vanish for long stretches of time. Every time we needed something--refills, utensils, even just a quick check-in--it turned into a waiting game. Getting drink refills took forever, and by the time we finally got someone's attention, it felt like more of a hassle than it should ever be. A simple dining experience turned into constant frustration. Overall, the lack of attentiveness, poor timing, and complete absence of communication made this visit extremely disappointing. It honestly felt like we were an afterthought the entire time. Between the empty drinks, missing soup and salad, and the server disappearing repeatedly, this was far from an enjoyable experience. We are regulars at this restaurant and this by far is the worst experience we have ever had at any restaurant we have been to ever! I only tipped something to be gracious but in reality I should have not tipped anything. To make matters worse at the end of the meal is when the waitress showed up eyeing our table like a hawk waiting for me to sign the check. I would expect better from Carrabba's! We would have been better off going to Chic-Fil-a. I would not recommend this location if you're expecting even average service.

First when you walk in you are greeted by wonderful staff. They also make you feel like it doesn't…read morehave to be fully fancy and fine dining you can relax but still be dressed up. They have different parts of the restaurant for however you are feeling like the bar is more relaxed and nice. We got the private room aka the Brooke room (our waiter). Brooke was the best server super relaxed and understanding even when she's busy with 3 other tables. The food was very delicious, and the only feed I gave it 4 stars was because of price. Overall was a great experience and if I am ever back in town I hope to come back again.

One of the best Italian Restaurants in the Roanoke area, Luigi's is one of my favorite restaurants…read morearound. The owner is very warm, kind, and hospitable, and every time I've dined there I've felt right at home. I've received excellent service in a cozy environment and the drinks and food have been to par with my high expectations of a restaurant of this nature. However, I was a bit disappointed when I dined there this time. Unfortunately the owner wasn't feeling well so she appointment one of her best servers as Host in charge. When I arrived, since I showed up without a reservation, she greeted me by asking what I wanted, if to order for takeout. This was a bit insulting, since I was there to dine in, like always. I then requested to seat in the well lit dining room, in my usual table next to the window. She consented and took me there. Shortly after, a young lady server shows up and greets me. Not giving me enough time to study the menu, she asks what I wanted to drink and what I wanted to order for dinner. Without asking for her opinion, she starts telling me what she thinks I should order as appetizer. It was like she was trying to rush me. I don't know if it was her inexperience or lack of training, but I was beginning to feel uncomfortable and asked the Host to change my server and explained the reason why. My server replacement was completely the opposite. He was the epitome of customer service. Philip had good manners, was respectful, and didn't rush me, taking his time to make sure I had a relaxing and enjoyable dining experience. The first thing he did was introduce himself as my new server. He then repeated my order that my previous server had taken to make sure it was right. I already had my Fried Calamari appetizer on the table. My house salad was with balsamic vinaigrette dressing. My Filet Mignon was to be cooked medium-rare and served with sautéed mushrooms, broccoli, and delicate new potatoes. During my meal, he made sure my Iced water glass was always full, and after my Filet was served and I had a chance of cutting it, he came by to make sure it was cooked appropriately, just like ordered. The Filet was cooked medium-rare, the broccoli was fresh, and the potatoes were delicious, but the mushrooms were not seasoned nor sautéed enough and were somewhat tasteless. For dessert, I had my favorite, the Brazilian Custard Pudding. As I was leaving my server opened the door for me and thanked me for dining there, while the Host stood inside without even having the courtesy to say goodbye. I hope the owner of the restaurant reads this review and takes action to see that her restaurant is run appropriately, and each of her customers is treated as they should.

Went for a company event. Because of prior experiences I almost did not go. There were two good…read moreexperiences- the rice balls and my co-workers. Otherwise, there was nothing good to report. The wait staff appeared bored or not interested in waiting on us, the food was blah, and my impression of Remini's as an overrated and highly un- Italian restaurant was upheld. From the hostess telling us to "Go to the back" as directions to join our party to the worker carrying a ten/gallon bucket of sauce through our party, this was Remini's typical experience. Loud, cold, workers who don't care about the clients. Yep, not my cup of tea.

Resently renovated after being in operation since November of 2011, Remini's Cafe, the restaurant…read morethat prides itself of serving Fresh Italian Food is the main business in a small modern strip mall, Brambleton Plaza, located on Brambleton Ave in Roanoke Virginia. Today, I visited it for the first time after it's renovation, and what I discovered was a hidden treasure, something extraordinary. 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 Remini's Cafe in Roanoke, Virginia, is the perfect example. This family-owned Italian Restaurant owned and operated by chef/owner James Ferrone, of Sicilian decent and raised and educated in Queens, New York, received its name after Italy's seaside resort, Rimini's. My best friend in college was also of Sicilian decent and I've had the opportunity of visiting his family in a suburb of New Jersey and tasting the Sicilian cuisine first hand, and can tell you, it's something else! I've also visited Italy when I was young and was very impressed by the warmth and friendliness of its people and the comfortable and relaxing environment there. As a matter of fact I consider Italy as my favorite country out of all that I have ever visited. And today, here in this restaurant, I experienced that same special feeling. As I entered through the restaurant's door I first encountered two framed magazine articles about the restaurant, together with one with a map of Rimini, Italy, hanging from the walls of its entryway. Once inside, behind the Host's Station a friendly and welcoming young gentleman greeted me and took me to table 7 which was directly in front of their open kitchen, where I was able to observe the chefs cooking and preparing my food. Soon after, my server, Madison, arrived, greeted me, and took my order. I had a Pepsi to drink, their Calamari as appetizer, and their 6oz Angus Filet Mignon as my main entrée. Although I ordered the Filet cooked medium rare, later I noticed it was just cooked medium, and according to my bill that was how my server had requested it. But the sauce and the meat was so tasty and tender, that I ate it that way without bringing it to their attention. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review and see for yourselves the Italian Cuisine Masterpieces created just before my eyes that their cooking staff managed to produce. And something that I forgot to mention but is the first indicator of the quality of a restaurant: their bread and butter served. In this case was their fresh sliced baguette and small bowl with herbs, spices, and olive oil. It was simply amazing. For dessert I ordered my favorite Italian dessert since the time I lived in Boston, where the Chef of my favorite Italian restaurant there made sure he made it fresh whenever he saw in the reservations that I would be dining at their restaurant the following day. This much loved dessert of mine is the Chocolate Bomb. It was amazingly delicious! To conclude I highly recommend this restaurant to all. It has all the ingredients of a 5 Star Restaurant: a wonderful ambiance, an distinctive menu, exquisite food cooked by very creative chefs, and exceptional customer service. All these made for an extraordinary dining experience.

I dared to go off the beaten paths in search of an Italian family-owned restaurant where they made…read moreNew York style pizzas; and literally across the street from the well known and famous Montano's International Gourmet Restaurant, I discovered this small, nothing fancy, Italian Eatery owned and run by an older couple husband and wife Italian immigrants. 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 Tony Avellino's Italian Eatery is the perfect example. Located in an old but clean, small restaurant space off Franklin Road, in Roanoke, Virginia, with an ample parking lot, Tony Avellino's stands alone there, that for unknown passers-byers could seem not to be open if it were not be for its well lit red "OPEN" sign behind one of its windows. As I arrived and walked in, the place looked empty, so I walked around and looked into a what seemed to be like a storage room that doubled as the dishwashing room and office. I heard some voices and said: "Is anybody home?" Suddenly, this delightful older couple who were Italian immigrants, and the owners of the restaurant came out to warmly greet me, and as they did, the place suddenly acquired another dimension. It reminded me of the trip to Italy that I took with my family when I was a boy, and the beauty of that country, and its people, who made you feel at home in their home. I enjoyed talking with both the husband and wife, and seeing them work together running their family-owned business. They had a colorful menu published but the wife ask me what I felt like eating today: a pizza, their Special Cheese Steak Sub, Pasta, or one of their Half-Pound Burgers. I definitely wanted to try their New York style pizza so I ordered their 12" size Pepperoni and Mushroom Pizza with a Root Beer. The husband quickly started making my pizza and allowed me to record the process with photos and videos that I could include in my review. The Pizza tasted amazing. There are times that in simple, quality ingredients, one can uncover an extraordinary flavor. While I was eating, other customers started arriving. Some to eat in, some to take out. What a beautiful site of a couple earning a living through the labor of something they enjoy doing and are good at, and their customers enjoying the fruit of their labor. I highly recommend this restaurant. Go there, support this delightful couple, and enjoy their warmth and wonderful food.

3.5 Stars Great…read morepizza for a local spot. Beware - a little pricy but the pizza had better flavor than a National chain. $31 for a 12" stuffed pizza & order of cheesy bread. WOW! The stuffed pizza w/ pepperoni & sausage had fresh mozzarella which was tasty and the crust was cooked well. Cheesy bread seemed like a hoagie roll sliced up w/ melted cheese - not sure it was worth $8. Store itself looked run down and in need of some renovations. Maybe that's the ambiance they are looking for - the vintage or "we been here forever" look. The staff was friendly, smiling & looked to like their job! I would probably give them another try but would definitely look for specials or coupons to make it all worth while.