Always a favorite and this trip did not disappoint. We weren't sure what time we would finish up…read moreour work on this particular Thursday evening so I waited to check for a table last minute. Thankfully we were able to get it with just a 30 minute wait or so. I had dreamed of arancini all day long only to find it was not on the menu any longer unfortunately! Heartbroken. All of our dishes were still delicious of course but please bring back the arancini! Service was impeccable, lighting and cocktails on point, still on my short list of all-time faves! Can't wait for our next visit!

Good food. Great service. Nice atmosphere. Definitely worth a visit if you are in downtown Roanoke.read more

really solid bar food!…read more I love the vibe here and the atmosphere makes you want to stay awhile. Definitely a great local spot if you're looking for good bar food and a fun, relaxed place to grab a drink.

We visited the Yard Bird Tavern in downtown Roanoke. Finding a spot can be a bit of a gamble;…read moreunless you're lucky enough to snag a space at the curb, you should expect to pay for parking. ​Atmosphere & Menu ​Upon entering, we found the restaurant pleasantly sophisticated, though it was nearly at capacity. While we opted not to explore the drink menu, we were eager to see what the kitchen had to offer. The menu itself is concise, focusing primarily on wings, sandwiches, and pizzas, supplemented by a few small appetizers. ​The culinary style is quite eclectic. They feature several unconventional toppings and flavor combinations that might seem a bit eccentric at first glance. ​The Culinary Experience ​I decided on a flatbread-style pizza topped with: ​Smoked chicken ​Pickles ​Peppadew-style peppers (which resembled small cherry tomatoes) ​A tangy, zesty sauce reminiscent of an enchilada base with an extra "zing." ​My wife opted for a "build-your-own" pizza featuring red onions, pepperoni, and bell peppers. Although she realized too late that she had forgotten to request light sauce, she noticed the oversight immediately upon the dish's arrival. ​Service Observations ​The service was a bit of a mixed bag. Our waitress was professional but remarkably brisk. She lacked the usual pleasantries or "small talk" one might expect, focusing instead on efficiency. While her haste felt a bit impersonal, I couldn't complain about her attentiveness--she was incredibly prompt at refilling my iced tea the moment my glass was empty. Make sure you bring your pocketbook this pizza brings a sting at the register.

One of the best Italian food restaurants in the area!!! If you are ever close by it's worth…read morechecking out.

My wife and I found Sal's when she had a craving for Italian food. It's a little place that you…read morecould easily overlook in a small mall but missing it would be a shame. Anyone who's eaten in an old-style Brooklyn Italian resaturant will feel at home here. They make a red sauce that's old world delicious. The staff is very friendly and menu is varied enough that if you can't find something you like, you're just not hungry. The owner, Josephine, was happy to tell her story about moving from Brooklyn and bringing her passion for good food with her. The staff was down-to-earth and happy to help. The prices were very reasonable and the portions were quite large. Next time we're in Roanoke, we'll definitely eat there again.

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.

Located in the Mountain View Plaza, off Lee Highway in Troutville, Virginia, this family-owned…read moregenuine Italian restaurant, is well-known for its New York style pizza and its homemade doughs and sauces, as well as its real mozzarella cheese. The restaurant doesn't have a full bar, but they do serve beer and wine. My friend and I who love Italian food decided to go try it out today. As soon as we entered the door we were warmly welcomed and greeted by a friendly young lady who to us to our booth and handed us the menus. The dining room was very clean and decorated with cute yet elegant Italian artworks on the walls. The menu was very extensive and contained popular items such as homemade lasagna, pizza, Philly cheese steak subs, and unique Italian dinners. . Our server, another very welcoming young lady with a big smile came by and took our order. Although most of the customers there were sharing a pizza, and they looked so delicious, we both decided to have the Stromboli with the works. Believe it or not, I think this was the first time that I had ever had Stromboli at an Italian restaurant. To drink we both had Cokes. When the food arrived, the Strombolis looked so fresh and delicious on the outside, and in the inside it contained fresh quality ingredients such as Mozzarella, Green Peppers, Onions, Pepperoni, Sausage & Mushrooms. I was very impressed with its homemade dough and real Mozzarella cheese. The Peperoni, Sausage, and all the other ingredients were also quality products. Our server came to check on us at the appropriate times and provided us with some refills for our drinks. They had some good Italian desserts on the menu as well, but we already had planned to have dessert at another place. Everything was so good, that even though we hadn't finish eating yet, I already was looking forward to try one of their pizzas or unique Italian dinners. I also found the prices to be very reasonable for the quality of their food. I highly recommend this place to all those who love Italian cuisine, and I heard they are currently in the process of expanding.

Everything was fantastic, meatballs appetizer was good, salad was fresh with the dressing made in…read morehouse. Chicken Alfredo with sautéed mushrooms and the chicken vodka penne were both fantastic. Huge portions and the the service was great too! Highly recommend this one!

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.

The first time I saw a copy of the colorful brochure with solid black background of Porta Bella…read morePizza, I was curious to find out more about this Italian and American cuisine restaurant with a Mediterranean flair. Located in an old house at 1132 Salem Ave SW, Roanoke, Virginia. It's front is creatively painted with the colors of the Italian flag, in such a way that it can't help but to stand out in the middle of this eclectic neighborhood. This laid back restaurant is the creation of some Egyptian entrepreneurs who decided to put together a menu that included pizzas, calzones, stromboli, pastas, salads, burgers, sandwiches, and added some Mediterranean items such as Gyro and Falafel Platters, and Baklava for dessert, among others. And something that I discovered while at the restaurant was that all the meats used there are 100% Certified Halal Premium Quality. In other words, this means no pork products are used. The inside of restaurant was nothing fancy, but natural polished hardwood floors and original ceiling, gave character to the place, that even being old was very clean and organized. When I arrived I was greeted with a warm and friendly welcome by what I think was one of the owners of the restaurant. I ordered a Dr Pepper to drink and a small Super Supreme Pizza to eat. The pizza tasted delicious, especially with the cheese that was used to prepare it. Another customer eating there at the moment was eating and Cheese Calzone, and he allowed me to photograph it for me to include in this review. I recommend this restaurant, especially for those who don't eat pork or pork products, because the taste was so good you couldn't tell that the ingredients were of this nature. They are also available for catering special meetings or gatherings at very reasonable prices.

The absolute best calzone I have had in a long time. Made fresh to order & a small is only $10,…read morelarge enough for 2 people. Came out in 15-20 mins

The food and service is outstanding!…read more This is where Aly Babas is located. Highly recommend!

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.