I placed an online order for an event of 20 people. To order online was effortless. Arrived on the…read moreday of pickup, everything was ready, packaged accordingly, the server that assisted me double checked the bags, explained what was in each bag. He confirmed that we had enough plasticware, sauces, seasonings and helped me carry my order to my car. My food was prepared correctly, presentation was great (considering it was a carry out order), and precise. Flavor of the food was perfect. It was hot, tender and a wonderful smoked flavor. Sauces were extremely savory. I would most definitely recommend Due South BBQ for your next event.

Picture a no-nonsense Southern BBQ joint--the kind where you smell the smoke before you even open…read morethe door. Inside, it's all worn wood tables, checkered paper, and the low hum of conversation over country music. The walls might have a few local photos or license plates, but nothing fancy--this place lets the food do the talking. The pulled pork sandwich is the star. It comes piled high, the meat slow-smoked for hours until it practically falls apart. Each bite hits with that perfect balance--smoky, tender, just a little crispy on the edges. Then there's the sauce situation. You've got options lined up on the table--sweet and sticky and tangy vinegar-based. Half the fun is mixing and matching until you land on your perfect combo. On the side, golden hush puppies arrive hot and crisp--crunchy on the outside, soft and slightly sweet inside. The fries are perfectly salted, and just begging to be dipped in leftover sauce. And dessert? Banana pudding, served cold in a simple cup with layers of creamy vanilla pudding, sliced bananas, and soft vanilla wafers that have soaked just enough to melt into everything. It's rich without being heavy--the kind of dessert that feels like it came straight from someone's grandmother's kitchen. It's not fancy, it's not trendy--but it's exactly what you want when you're craving real, honest BBQ.

For some time now people lined up in long lines with the hope of getting a taste of Mama Jean's BBQ…read moreout of their very popular Food truck. But today, they didn't have to, because the owner's dream of having one day a brick-and-mortar Mama Jean's BBQ Restaurant came true! After being awarded the Yelp NC Triad Squad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, celebrating their contributions and accomplishments throughout the year, 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 Mama Jean's BBQ Restaurant, in Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example. At precisely 11:00AM this morning, the long awaited Mama Jean's BBQ Restaurant finally opened its doors to the public, and I was fortunate enough to be one of the first ones to be there for this momentous occasion. Located at 3404 Brandon Ave in Southwest Roanoke, it occupies the building where Jimmy V's Restaurant used to be, but with a complete renovation that went above my highest expectations. I arrived early at about 10:30AM when people were just starting to arrive and line up on a covered porch surrounding one side of the building. I quickly parked my Lexus in their conveniant parking lot and got in line. A gentleman standing in line next to me from Brent Mountain was planning on getting his Smoked Turkey and gravy, to take to their Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow, on Thanksgiving Day. As we waited in line to enter the restaurant, two restaurant's lady employees came around to take alcohol drink orders and credit card payments, and then brought back their drinks so they could drink while waiting. Along the porch, they had these warmers to warm the customers up in the evenings since they now planned to stay open until 7:00PM, The new hours of operation would be Wednesdays through Sunday 11:AM to 7:00PM. Inside, I was very impressed with the simple yet eclectic decor with artworks hanging from the walls which were a combination red bricks and white painted walls. The shiny flores and light treatment made the restaurant stand out. The bar was also decorated in very good taste. The small size of the place just gave it a warm and cozy ambiance in which one could enjoy their food and drinks. Most people were ordering their food by the pound to take out, but a few, like me, ordered ours to dine in and experience Mama Jean's BBQ in the comfort of a brick-and-mortar restaurant. The lady and gentleman, at the ordering counter were very friendly and helpful. When I explained I wanted to dine in and try a couple of BBQ items and sides, the lady suggested that I design my own try with one meat and two sides. Iincreased it to two meats: 1/4 lb of Pulled Pork and 1/4 lb of Brisket, with sides of Coleslaw and Mashed Potatoes. To drink I had a Cherry Coke. When the food was ready a server would call out our name and bring it to our table. On the condiment table they had the plastic silverware, together with the different BBQ sauces. The food was amazingly delicious. Now I knew fist hand what all the hipe was.all about. I would have had one of their banana puddings as dessert but it was getting late for my 12 Noon appointment for my haircut. I highly recommend this brick-and-mortar BBQ restaurant that used to be a Food Truck, and invite you to view my photographs and video clips that accompany this review to get a better sense of the place and the quality of its food.

Out on the road, I visit a lot of restaurants, because let's be honest, on the road, there's not…read moremuch better than a good piece of meat. Consequently, I end up at a lot of BBQ joints. On New Years Day, 2026, I found myself at a new BBQ hotspot in Roanoke, VA. Welcome to Mama Jean's. They started as a food truck, 2018. In 2025, they moved into a building. It reminds me of every BBQ joint in Alabama or Mississippi. If they have any problems right now, it's not enough seating. The menu glowed with all the BBQ mainstays, brisket, pulled pork... And then I hit something I don't recognize, baudin balls. This Louisiana specialty is a ball of pork and brisket and fried like a hushpuppy. For a BBQ lover, like myself, it is perfection. But I am distracted, let's keep going. The ambiance of this place is pure southern hospitality. Everyone knows your name and works together to make sure no one leaves this place unsatisfied. My own experience was brought to me by a lovely lady who will from this moment forward be known as, her Majesty, Queen Daphne. She took the time to make sure I understood what I needed and was pleased with the experience. This team understands customer service! And finally, the highlight of Mama Jean's BBQ, the meal! I ordered, well, everything. Brisket, pork, some ribs. Heck, I even bought the hat... From the moment I took my first bite of the brisket, I knew every cent I spent was well given. I mean do the kids need a college education? Maybe. Do I need this brisket? Definitely. It melted in my mouth. I took the whole sausage, not all at once mind you. You have to build up to that. You ladies understand. Make sure you don't forget the balls, baudin balls. Served five at a time, they are the perfect side dish for that moment when the flavor of the sausage veritably explodes in your mouth. Ah, Mama Jean, I will be coming back to Roanoke if for nothing more than your meat... Follow on note, this is a family friendly restaurant... ;-)

The food here is delicious. I ordered the chicken, brisket, Mac n Cheese and collard greens and…read moreeverything was amazing. The flavor was really good. The Mac n cheese was flavorful not like most restaurants where it is bland. The chicken and brisket were seasoned well, juicy and tender. I will be eating at this food truck again.

Food was good. Server was very good and polite, helpful. Nice place for family and friends. Will be…read moreback when in the area again.

Visiting Salem, told by the hotel to give Angelles a try. Was feeling like pasta so I ordered the…read morechicken Parmesan, came with a side salad. Salad had very fresh vegetables. The chicken parm came out fast and hot. I would guess there was nothing homemade about the dish and the spaghetti sauce was a little in the watery side, the bread with the dinner helped clean up the sauce. The server was very pleasant and attentive, she was kind enough to invite me back for brunch while I was in town for the weekend. The venue itself was quiet with a subtle sound of country music as background noise. I felt things were clean but I did not stray far from my booth. I think the salad and courteous server would bring me back for another try.

We decided to try wildwood SH one night because the sushi place across the street was closed for…read morereservations. Upon entering it was like we time warped back to 1985. The ambiance was very vintage. The patrons we all older folks and we got stared at upon walking in. The menu was fairly simple, we ended having the sampler platter. The meats were ok. Nothing to write home about and my wife found the brisket too dry for her liking. Personally I thought their house BBQ sauce was barely more than ketchup. Service wasn't bad. It seemed like a lot of people in there were regulars judging by conversations we over heard. This is why I gave a "maybe" recommendation. Seems like some people really liked it, it just wasn't for us.

A friend of mine mentioned that he had found this restaurant that served Memphis Style BBQ and…read moreinvited me to go try it out. So one day, on a Tuesday early evening, we both drove following the GPS of his cellphone to the strip mall in Roanoke, Virginia, where this restaurant is located in the Oak Grove Shopping Center since 1998. When we arrived, I was impressed with the colonial style face of the building; especially by the large molding surrounding the entrance of the building, columns, large single windows, and large red and white restaurant sign floating above the roof. As we entered, there were a couple of tables with checkered tablecloths and some Walnut furniture colonial style dining room display cases containing many pig small statues. All these contributed to a homey and relaxed atmosphere and set the mood for a very unique BBQ dining experience. On the left was the bar and dining room with tables and chairs, and on the right was the main dining room with booths. At the center entrance was the Host standing behind the host's station and behind this a window that led to the kitchen for carry-out orders. And next to this window, a gigantic traffic light. One of the hosts took us to a booth and handed us copies of the menu. It was nicely done and laminated containing a nice variety of main dishes and sides. Our friendly waitress arrived to take our order and greeted us with a warm smile, making us feel at home with a Southern Hospitality. We ordered two cups of Brunswick Stew to start with, and she also brought us a complimentary basket of Hushpuppies and butter. The stew was hot and delicious with lots of pieces of different meats. The Hushpuppies were amazingly good. For the main course we ordered from the Combo part of the Menu, "The Porker," which included all their best: Pulled Pork, Beef Brisket, Pulled Chicken, Ribs and Ham, as well as 4 sides. For sides, we ordered Deviled Eggs, Macaroni and Cheese, Cole Slaw, and Onion Rings. All this also came with flat bread and butter for each of us. They also brought us 3 sauces: Memphis Style BBQ Tomato, North Carolina Style Vinegar, and Honey Mustard. All the food was cooked so well that the flavor stood out and the ribs were so tender and tasty that smoothly came off the bones. But even above and beyond the food, what impressed me the most was how the servers and hosts worked together to make our dining experience just extraordinary. One of the hosts, a young gentleman, also walked around to see if we needed anything and removing the plates we were finished with to make space for more food. For dessert, they had a choice of different types of homemade cookies as well as homemade carrot cake. We ordered the carrot cake and it was also very good with a homemade quality flavor. I would definitely recommend this restaurant and look forward to returning real soon. Wonderful food and extraordinary service, in a relaxed environment. What else can you ask for to enjoy an amazing dining experience.

If you haven't stopped in yet, you're missing out, just like I was! Great location for locals or…read moretravelers right off I-81. Stopped in on a Monday morning for the first time. Immediately greeted by smiling staff and a very large menu, including breakfast specials! I had lighter fare while my guest enjoyed the stuffed strawberry French toast. Food arrived quickly, coffee and waters never went empty. Looking forward to coming back for lunch and dinner.

Garcia's Bistro continues to please us every time with their interesting presentations and friendly…read moreservice. They remain busy, quick and reasonably priced as more restaurants open in west Salem.

Food was excellent, my scrambled eggs were perfect, bacon was nice and crisp without being over…read moredone, and their biscuits and pancakes were light and fluffy!! Our service was quick and attentive! Not a fancy place but a great find for a quality country style breakfast!

Food was great, server was very friendly. Restaurant was clean and well managed. I had the veggie…read moreomelet my husband had the double cheeseburger both were 10!

Brewing companies, there are many in this neck of the woods, but very unique, one-of-a-kind ones,…read morelike this one, rarely do we find one. I happened to find this one while searching for the Empanada Nirvana Food Truck. It just so happened that I found out that the Empanada Nirvana Food Truck was going to be stationed outside the Parkway Brewing Company this past Wednesday during National Empanada Day and so I researched this place to learn more about it. I found out that Parkway Brewing Company is a craft brewery in Salem, Virginia. Established in 2012, it is well known for its distinctive ales and a vibrant tasting room with a large beer garden, live music, and food trucks. It operates a 30-barrel brewhouse, producing a large range of beers from IPA to lagers. Located near the Roanoke Valley Greenway, it attracts runners and cyclists, and has become a community hub for outdoor enthusiasts and beer lovers. When I arrived in my pearl white Lexus, the Empanada Nirvana Food Truck was already parked outside, but had not yet opened, so I went inside the brewery to explore its building. There I found a casual, low-key environment with an industrial-chick interior featuring a fireplace and garage doors that opened to the outdoors, to an area with picnic tables and sun umbrellas. Inside there were also several colorful modern murals and a wide counter where customers went to order and pay for their beers. They had several menus as well as display coolers with some of the beers being sold there. The friendly and knowledgeable young lady behind the counter did an excellent job explaining what they had, including the non-alcoholic options. While going to the restrooms, one passed by a window where you could see the brewhouse. Along the way there were also shelves filled with souvenirs of the place. In the room where the fireplace was, there was also a stage for live performances, which usually took place at night. I loved the ambiance and vive of the place and am looking forward to returning to one of their music live performance and some of their beers, and knowing that they also carry non-alcoholic ones will allow me to enjoy the evening and drive back home safely.

Great beers and close to great hiking! We were there on a weekend when there was live music so it…read morewas pretty crowded but we still found a place to sit outside. I would definitely recommend checking it out!

Stopped in for lunch recently with friends. We were greeted walking and and seated in the same…read moremoment. Like an old Pizza Hut? building thats been converted, but not remodeled in at least 20 years. A large menu, with something for pretty much any taste. After giving the menu a once over I opted for the fish and chips with waffle fries and a pink lemonade. The platter is a large serving of fries, with three smaller pieces of batter fried fish a small side of coleslaw and a dinner roll. The fish was good, just would of been nice if it was more. You pay a lot for a plate of fries, when the main (the fish) isnt that much? It served its purpose, and was pretty good but should of been called Chips with some fish. 3 Stars - it was okay, average at best. not bad, not great. 01014

Been going there ever since they've been open, good food, waitresses are friendly and make you feel…read morewelcome, friendly atmosphere and we've met and made some good friends there.

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.