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.

Tried to get reservations at Fortuna, but could not. Stellina offers their menu and is right beside…read morethem. Stellina is small and on a Friday they were packed in. Scored at the bar which worked fine for me. Service was lukewarm, but still ok. Service started out slow and improved. However, no check-ins were performed at all. I was given a cocktail and food menu. I knew I wanted an Old Fashioned and dropped an order for their lamb meatballs. Shortly after I decided on the eggplant Parmesan main. My drink with Rittenhouse Rye bourbon was tasty, just not much of it price at $17 steep too! I also ordered a specialty hot rum drink with pumpkin spice at $10 that was amazing! The meatballs hit quickly and were devoured! So yummy! About 15 minutes later the main dropped and was huge! Really quality and flavorful for a vegetarian dish. Overall the food was better than the service and prices were stretched. 3.5 rounding down due to service.

This spot was fantastic! Brought friends for a celebration meal and it was great. Pregnant friend…read morehad attentive accommodations made for temp of food and mocktails without having to ask, there was tons of variety on the menu and everything was absolutely delicious. Prices were great for the quality, definitely do lots of plates to share. The tomahawk was so tender and flavorful, dipping sauces for frites were plentiful. Only complaint was on the mussels themselves being quite tiny. Nice cozy vibe and not too loud.

Sidecar in Roanoke is a great spot with a unique, creative menu and tons of tasty options. Sitting…read moreat the bar was the highlight for me though. Service was excellent and the staff were fun and knowledgeable to talk with. The bourbon selection is fantastic, with a wide range for any level of interest. I travel to this area for work frequently and have a hard time wanting to go anywhere else for dinner.

We had a wonderful experience at Blooms restaurants, and wine bar…read more Everyone's dishes was absolutely delicious and perfectly prepared. Our hostess was so kind and attentive and Michael provided. Excellent service. I'm beautiful evening all around - will definitely come back.

I've dined at Bloom numerous times now and I must say the food is amazing. It's delicious and…read morecreatively presented. The blueberry waffle ( with fried chicken ) was delish, fluffy on the inside and slightly crispy on the outside. The potatoes with aioli were crispy with just the right amount of spice. My daughter got the burrata toast.. divine! Our waiter, Michael, was attentive, informative and very pleasant. We sat in a nice booth in the main dining room which has cool vibes and a countertop kitchen so we could see the production. Love that Bloom offers Sunday brunch on special occasions. Delightful experience from booking to finish. Looking forward to our next visit!

Stayed at the hotel so came in for dinner one night. The lobby bar is excellent, spent some time…read morethere as well, make a mean old fashioned For dinner I had the onion soup and the shrimp and grits. Dessert was a berry pie French onion soup was very tasty. Little too much bread for the small bowl for me. Soaked up all the broth! Could have used a little while longer in the broiler as well, cheese wasn't nearly brown enough for me. Was very good though Shrimp and grits was very good. Was far more than it looks. I was stuffed after I ate it. Shrimp cooked perfectly over creamy grits Pie was very good, was full but really wanted to try it, comes with ice cream and I ate as much as I could Service was good, drinks come from the lobby bar and were excellent Nice inside, felt like back in time vibes Overall a nice meal

Great casual restaurant in the Hotel Roanoke. The lobby bar is also great and I had a terrific…read morecocktail there (Virginia Vardier, maybe?) with super service and a very chill vibe. This review will focus on the actual restaurant, where I had lunch with my husband and our friend. It was quiet the day we were there so we got a lot of personal attention. We started with unsweetened iced teas and then since we weren't starved, we ordered some appetizers to share. We had: -deviled eggs (good but the filling was too solid and cold...I like the yellow to be a little creamier and light); -fried cauliflower-the star of the show; it tasted almost like a sweet Korean fried chicken; -Butternut squash salad- also delicious, with nicely roasted butternut squash chunks and a really good dressing; -Pimento cheese dip- excellent dip served with toast. Pimento cheese isn't much of a thing in NYC where I live so I've been trying it every time I see it in Roanoke. We really liked everything we had and the service was so nice. The room itself is gorgeous and feels historic. I'm a fan.

First time trying Lucky and I'd give it a 4.5 rounded up to a 5. The menu is local farm based so it…read morechanges seasonally and is a bit limited. I was disappointed because I was hoping to try a soup or scallops I'd seen in Yelp pics but they weren't in the menu this time. Which is the roll of the dice you pay for fresh creative menus. Dining area and bar have a nice vibe with attractive art work. Dim lighting and smaller tables make it cute for a date or a solo business diner like myself. The lucky cube drink was creative and tasty. Brussel sprouts were also unique with a tahini sauce on top and perfectly crispy chickpeas. I'd seen "Smoke in Chimneys Trout" on a few menus in Roanoke this trip but never heard of that before. Looked it up and learned something new. They are trout that are local and prized for living in a lime stone aquifer rather than a river. Giving them a clean light slightly sweet taste, no essence of mud that can come with other river fish. I've never ordered trout in a restaurant, But when in Rome... Lol. The fish itself and the portion was really good. Wish I could remember my waitress' name. She was knowledgeable and just had a really warm, friendly energy.

I came in for the fried chicken because other reviews were very positive .. the coating was v…read morecrunchy , plus , however it was really burnt ! Ir was really over cooked ; plus had little flavor . Needs a little salt and pepper .... Better chicken at Popeyes or Bojangles .. Mashed potatoes were excellent . I wa not impressed with the Kale and still think there may be fatback in it ... even though the server swore there was no pork on the dish .. anyway you can try for yourself .. maybe I just came on an off night . My server was very nice ( Alyssa ) BTW.

Cool place, great service, amazing cocktails and delicious food. I'm a fan. We stopped here for…read moredinner one night while visiting Roanoke and were not too hungry, so we ordered a few appetizers. The shrimp cocktail was a generous portion and very good. Cocktail sauce was particularly tasty. We also had Devils on Horseback and they were soooo good. I love dates any way but wrap them in bacon and stuff with goat cheese???? Yes, please. We finished up with crab dipped stuffed mushrooms. Again, just outstanding. Oh...and my Smore's Old Fashioned was really good too. The toasted marshmallow and the caramel coconut rim were perfect. Service was top notch from start to finish. We are fans.

The food is absolutely delicious. What a unique concept taking a bank and turning it into a hotel…read moreand restaurant. Everyone is top notch. You cannot miss this place when in Roanoke

A very strong experience at Fortunato for a celebration dinner. The restaurant accommodated a group…read moreof 7 with a few days notice. The business is located downtown Roanoke. Parking is free off street, or paid at nearby garage. The entry way was clear of debris. Our party was immediately seated and we quickly decided to move table from a smaller private, but loud room to the main room. I found the atmosphere and decor of the room to be nice. The waitress was on top of things with drink orders. They have one of the strongest bourbon selections in town. So I had to get an Old Fashioned. Drinks pushed out within 10 minutes as we finished browsing menus.my Old Fashioned was quality and completely authentic. Super tasty! There were a few orders of pizza and I ordered a house salad with Egg Plant Parmesan. Our waitress kept glasses full of waters. She was upbeat and energetic. Food pushed out for the entire table around the same time in less than 30 minutes. Everyone was pleased with their entrees. The Egg Plant is a vegetarian dish. I'm not a vegetarian, but appreciate the dish. It was huge and so good! When time for desert multiple items were ordered. The waitress prepared a special dish of ice-cream with candle for my son. That was totally not expected and very thoughtful of the staff. I had the Salame chocolate and others had tiramisu. Both excellent, I tried. The bill was dropped in a timely manner. The amount was family affordable in my opinion. I would absolutely return and recommend.

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!

In town for work and staying at the Fire Station One boutique hotel. Stock is located on the first…read morefloor so of course I had to try them. WOW! This place is a win for flavor and atmosphere. Kaitlin was the bartender and she also waited on me. She was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. The bird-watcher drink she made me was SO delicious. I had the Kapsalon appetizer as my meal. It's kind of like a chicken shawarma salad over hand cut fries with a creamy herb dressing. Seating was flexible, I had the choice of outside back patio, inside at a table, or inside on a couch in the studio. I picked the couch and felt comfortable like at home. The whole place is very cool. I plan on staying here again for future work trips and will definitely try a lunch here sometime this week.

Expensive asf to be that mid…read more That's all you need to know If target had a bar inside

This establishment is located in the city of Roanoke, in Southwest Virginia. It is located directly…read morein the downtown area. Martin's is a bar/restaurant which features food, mainly American food, and live music. In my opinion, it is the best bar/restaurant in the downtown area. It is easily accessible by the I-581 highway, which runs in a north-south direction through the Roanoke area. There is some street parking directly outside the club, as well as some parking garages that are located in the downtown area. Inside the club, there is a large dining area as well as a small stage.

When I first reviewed this Downtown Roanoke Restaurant, I focused on their drinks and food. But…read morethis time around I couldn't help it to discover why this place is the center of Roanoke's night life. 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. I arrived on a Thursday evening with a 6:15pm reservation which I'm glad I had made because later I found out that this place gets to be a full house on Thursdays. A young lady host greeted and welcomed me at the Host's station as soon as I arrived. She checked my reservation and had my table all ready for me. Located in the middle of this very popular Restaurant Bar, gave me a nice view of the entire place, and with a light high above I had a perfect lighting to photograph my drink and food as part of my review of the place. My server Jillian arrived soon after I was seated. She had a wonderful personality and welcomed me with a friendly smile and very pleasant attitude. After answering me some questions about their Mocktails, I ended up ordering their Raspberry Burro. For dinner I ordered their BBQ Bacon Chicken Kababs with a side of their special fries and a salad. While I was waiting for my food to arrive I observed the place quickly filling up and I found out that tonight was Music Bingo and Live Music at 9:30pm with no cover charge. It brought me back to my college days in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts, where the night life was a thing to look forward to. Suddenly I discovered the key of Martin's popularity and the important role it plays in contributing to making the City of Roanoke a Star City indeed. I enjoyed my drink and the Chicken Kababs with the side of special fries were amazingly delicious, as well as the salad. They have a good variety of quality items on their menu and their chefs amazingly deliver. I invite you to read my first review where I celebrate their Cuban Sandwich and Slaw, and view my photographs that accompany my review. What a night. Besides the food, I enjoyed playing the Music Bingo, which one of the card titles was The 1970's. One of the best years of my life, when I attended High School in San Juan, Puerto Rico and College in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts. During that time I also won a Saltwater Fishing Tournament at the young age of 17 by catching a 405 pound Blue Marlin off the coast of Isla Verde, Puerto Rico. It was the best of times for me. My server Jillian provided exceptional customer service, checking on me at the appropriate times. For dessert I ordered their Glazed Doughnut Bread Pudding, and it was so good, I can't wait to return to have it again. What an extraordinary dining experience I had that night. I highly recommend this restaurant and bar for when you feel like having a good time, alone or with family and good friends. I promise you will be able to sabor what a Five Star review is all about, and experience for yourselves why Martin's is one of the City of Roanoke's most precious gems.

Loved this brewery (full disclosure, the band that was playing- Night Shift- was amazing and the…read moremain basis for this review!). The beer was good and the ambiance was fun. Lots of bonus points for being dog friendly! Also enjoyed the fire pits and Cornhole games! Service was friendly and efficient.

We were visiting the area and wanted to check out a local brewery…read more We arrived shortly after 7pm after parking in a small parking garage down the street since their parking lot was full. It was a beautiful fall evening and there were a good number of people enjoying both the outdoor and indoor spaces. We made our way inside and were impressed they also had a live band playing on the stage. We looked around a bit, enjoying the industrial feel of the building and the music. We took a place in line and ultimately I chose a pint of the Bareback Bronco IPA. We love good swag so we made our way to look at the offerings. My wife quickly commented on their cute and clever designs which are printed on soft, comfortable cotton shirts, hoodies, etc. They also had a good selection of assorted discount t shirts available in small, xxl and xxxl sizes. The band engaged the audience with the Chris Stapleton favorite, Tennessee Whiskey which was fun. We ultimately decided to enjoy one of the high top tables outside while I drank my beer, which I enjoyed and ended up purchasing an additional 4-pack for our long weekend in Roanoke. Great stop, if you enjoy local breweries, make sure to stop in. We noticed they are also open Sundays. We did see some people with food that appeared to either have been delivered or they brought with them.