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.

Great food! Service is always good. Would definitely recommend. Now I'm just putting words to get…read moreto the 85 characters.

Dropping our son to college. Somehow saw Yelps Top 100 sandwich places in the USA. Just a short…read moredrive from Virginia Tech in Salem. Located in beside a gas station. Going in we asked the locals what to get- everything. That didn't help with great selection of sandwiches and wraps. The place has some hand carvings on the wall- Nepalese. The owner is very pleasant and helpful. We chatted a bit after we got our sandwiches to go. We got three sandwiches- the Brooklyn, the Manhattan, and Chicken tandoori. All sandwiches were amazing. But the chicken tandoori stood out the most- amazing flavors!!! Highly recommend it. We also got some fries. They also sell cookies and some Punjabi snacks. Definitely will hit this place again when we come visit.

Delis are a dime a dozen, but sometimes in those rare moments in life, like finding a needle in a…read morehaystack, one encounters a priceless one, and that is precisely what happened to me when I discovered Mike's Deli. This very popular American deli in the Hollins area of Roanoke, Virginia came to my attention through word of mouth, and I couldn't resist to put aside some time to go have lunch there, and experience first hand what a one-of-a-kind deli is all about. When I arrived, I parked my Lexus in a parking space right in front of the deli. Even though it was established in 2012, its physical building looked like new with clean red bricks and a beautiful French window on the right of its freshly painted blue door, and an equally beautiful Bay window on the left, leading to the dining room. Inside, the owner Mike personally greeted and welcomed me with open arms. His friendly and cheerful personality made me feel at home right away. The place had a basic, clean, and unpretentious environment. It's dining room had blue tables with comfortable chairs, and positive, noble words on its wall like: "Thankful," "Blessed," and "Love conquers all things." The menu featured a wonderful, unique variety of hot and cold submarines, sandwiches, and homemade sides. Such as "The Farmhouse," a house specialty with chicken salad, crispy bacon, and creamy Russian dressing. Their homemade desserts such as Baklava and Banana Pudding looked delicious as they were displayed next to a variety of others. After looking at their menu, I ordered a Lemonade to drink, a Ruben Sandwich to eat, and a homemade Banana Pudding for dessert. The sandwich was exquisite, the drink was refreshing, and the dessert was truly amazing. And the service by the owner himself was extraordinary. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and its food, and highly recommend you give them a visit. I can assure you, you'll be forever grateful you did. I can't wait to return and try one of their other unique sandwiches on the menu.

Delicious sub at a reasonable price! The Bacon Cheeser Pleaser hit the spot and the Baklava was…read morefresh & delicious. The owner was friendly and down to earth. A welcoming environment and clean dining space. This place is a Roanoke original under the current ownership for 20 years. Was a short walk or shuttle ride from Southern Team where I was waiting on an oil change.

Viet Sub is an unassuming little banh mi spot with parking tucked behind the storefront. Ordering…read morewas quick and the worker was friendly. I got the grilled pork banh mi and it was perfect. The meat was not dry like some places. No comments! It was so good I forgot to take a picture before eating.

After reading the glowing reviews on Yelp, we made the decision to lunch at Viet Sub. The…read moreconverted home was clean, and the employees were friendly. Both my wife and I, being fans of Vietnamese food, ordered the touted "The Beast" sandwich and a fried egg roll. The egg roll was greasy and tasteless, and the typical packaged duck sauce didn't help. "The Beast" sandwich was loaded with fresh vegetables, and obviously had meat (we saw it), but the combination of ingredients on the sandwich tasted like a bland, meatless, vegetable sub with no discernable sauce. Overall, the visit was a total disappointment. While dining, we could smell the bowls of pho being served, and that might be worth a return trip.

Nothing presumptuous about this hole in the wall deli located in a clean, small space, with hardly…read moreany decorations at all. Just a brochure menu with this saying on the cover: "Generous portions, made fresh, specifically for you." After being awarded the NC Triad Yelp 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 Joe's Deli, in Salem, Virginia, is a perfect example. Located right next to the City of Salem Farmer's Market and its parking lot, where you can conveniently park for up to two hours, enough time to park and walk across the street to Joe's Deli to have something to eat.While I was walking, I noticed a mural with a rendition of people eating at Joe's Deli painted on the side of the building, which I found very interesting. Once inside, during around lunch time, the restaurant was modern and clean with a minimalist decor. The dining area had both regular size and high tables and chairs, and also a small bar counter with a large screen TV and a framed American Flag under it. On the wall leading to the ordering counter there was a poster with a QR code to be able to skip the line by ordering online on their website. Next to this there was another poster with the Roanoke College Wrestling schedule for the season. The atmosphere here was incredibly warm and inviting, making for a really comfortable experience. On top of that, this was by far one of the cleanest delis I've ever visited; it's clear they take take great take great pride in their space. I waited in line as a lady in front of me was making her order at the ordering counter and a gentleman was waiting standing up for his take-out order. While I waited I took a menu brochure from the counter and planned what to order. When it was my turn to order, a friendly lady greated me at the ordering counter and answered some questions that I had about what I was planning to order. I ordered a Reuben Pastrami that came on a white rye bread, and included a bag of chips. To drink I ordered a Pepsi since they carried Pepsi products. When my order was ready they called my name and I went to pick it up. The sandwich came wrapped in a nice, heavyweight waxed sandwich paper. When I opened it at my table, the sandwich was humongous, filled with a generous amount of quality Pastrami, Swiss cheese, Sauerkraut, and Thousand Island on a white rye bread, and was toasted. It was amazingly delicious! So much so that I went back and complimented the owner and chef of the restaurant, in person through the window that led to the kitchen. I highly recommend this deli for breakfast or lunch. For they have the qualities of a great Delicatessen, focusing on quality ingredients, generous portions, and excellent service.

The pastrami was amazing. Everything you want in a deli. The staff was friendly and very helpful…read more Food was amazing.

I have been to many bakeries in my lifetime, many wonderful ones located in cities like San Juan,…read moreMadrid, Rome, Paris, Brussels, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Miami, and Washington, DC, among others. I have truly enjoyed dining in each and every one of them. But Bread Craft, located in the Star City of Roanoke, is in a class of its own. After being ranked 4th among Yelp's Top 50 Most Prolific Elites of 2025, a distinction recognizing my consistent community engagement and high-quality contributions, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants, businesses, and establishments, and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to go back and write follow-up reviews on those places that impressed me the most during 2025, and Bread Craft Bakery, located in Downtown Roanoke, is the perfect example of one of them. Bread Craft is a premier, artisan European-style bakery established in 2006 by owner Alex Eliades, who besides having a passion for baking, has over 25 years of baking experience, and leads the bakery focusing on traditional slow-fermentation techniques. The bakery is known for its high-quality, scratch-made sourdough, pastries, and Croissants. It evolved from a wholesale operation into a popular 6,000 square foot café on Church Avenue, also supplying local restaurants. The bakery specializes in Franch and German-style baking, utilizing sourdough as a natural leavener. It servers breakfast and lunch items, including sandwiches, salads, and some creative breakfast egg entrées. They are open Wednesdays through Sundays from 8:00AM - 2:00PM and are well known for running out of items before the end of the day. For this review I visited the Bakery / Café for breakfast on two consecutive Wednesdays. The first Wednesday I arrived too late to be able to have their Chorizo & Eggs Cocotte from their Breakfast menu. Breakfast is only served until noon, and I found out about this on that day. So instead I had a Cheese Danish and a house-made Mocha Coffee. Both items were delicious. On the second Wednesday I arrived much earlier for breakfast. Luckily, right before a whole rush of customers arriving to place Take-out orders. As soon as I walked inside I immediately felt comfortable with its clean and contemporary architectural design and decor, and an exposed red brick wall that gave it a warm ambiance. One can see that the owner spent a substantial amount in renovating the place when they moved here, and that they took good care of it, because it looked as if it had just opened for the very first time yesterday. While I was looking over all the baked items they had, I received a friendly greeting and warm welcome from a lady behind the counter who seemed to be the manager and took my order. To start I ordered a Chorizo Quiche which happened to be the Quiche of the day, and a house-made Mocha Coffee. Then since I was planning to turn this into a Brunch, for my main entrée I ordered their Chorizo Cocotte from the Breakfast menu. And for dessert I had a Chocolate Hazelnut Croissant that was simply irresistible. Everything tasted amazingly delicious, especially since I love Chorizo. The Quiche had an amazing crust with the eggs inside cooked with the perfect amount of chorizo. The Chorizo Cocotte was served in an elongated bowl with two poached eggs over Spanish sausage, accompanied by three slices of freshly made Baguette. And if all this wasn't enough, the Chocolate Hazelnut Croissant was the perfect ending dessert to this fabulous put together Brunch. Oh and the coffee was the best of the best. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and the quality of their food. What an outstanding dining experience I just had at Bread Craft. Wonderful ambiance, amazing food, and extraordinary customer service. I highly recommend this Bakery/Café whenever you're in the area. I'm absolutely certain it will become one of your favorites bakery.

10 out of 10 recommend! This place has the best pastries and bread in all of Roanoke! If you're…read morethinking about trying it, do it! You will not be disappointed! Best almond croissant I've ever had. I am obsessed with the sour dough. They usually have daily specials but you need to get there early (before 10am) to try one before they sell out, especially on the weekend. The have a refurbished old cigarette vending machine in the front, ask the front desk for a token to get a piece of art from it! Tokens are $5 and well worth it and a fun activity! They stock the machine with little pieces of art work from local / regional artists.

Stop here every time I'm in town. Variety of sandwiches, salads, and desserts. Love the white bean…read morechili. Haven't had a bad meal here yet.

Hollywood's is one of those hidden gems you might miss if a local doesn't point it out. I was…read moreinvited here by someone who lives in the area for a work meeting, and it turned out to be a great spot. Even though the place was packed, the service was still excellent...friendly, attentive, and never rushed.The food is classic comfort done right. It's not fancy, but that's exactly the appeal. Great food, great service, and a welcoming atmosphere. Highly recommend the ghost pepper grilled chicken sandwich!

The first thing that attracted me to this Shack was the graphic design of its logo. It was simple,…read moreyet very effective, to communicate what this place was all about. Yet never in my wildest dream would I have imagined that it was designed by a kid, the nephew of the owner. 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 Subshack in Salem, Virginia, is the perfect example. After arriving to this Sub Shop located in a small strip mall in the middle of nowhere, in Salem, Virginia, the friendly owner of the place, who has a wonderful personality, gave me a warm welcome and immediately, in a nutshell, told me the story of how this place came to be. Born and raised in New York and having lived for many years in North Carolina, the opportunity of opening up this business here in Salem, Virginia came up and he literally went for it. And aren't we lucky he did because it is an ingenious little Sub Shop, a product of two persons who let their imagination run wild and then worked hard to see their dream of owning a little restaurant come true. And don't be confused by its name, it simply means a small place where large Subs are made for people to savor and enjoy. Thus we have: the "SUBSHACK." This restaurant is mostly for orders To-Go, yet outdoor, in front, it has a picnic table, for customers who would enjoy eating there during the warm Seasons of the year. They bake their own Sub bread in-house daily, and also have daily Specials. Today's Special was: "BUY ANY LARGE SUB GET A FREE DRINK & CHIPS." So I ordered their large Italian Sub. The Sub bread was gigantic and their Deli meats were also quality and huge. On top of this there was a large list of ingredients you could add to the Sub. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review and see for yourselves. Besides Hot and Cold Subs, they also serve Paninis, Desserts, and Milkshakes and Smoothies. I can't wait to return and try their Cuban Panini. In conclusion I definitely recommend this Sub place as a very unique place if you're looking for good food, prepared in a welcoming and friendly environment, by a warm and kindhearted individual.

Excellent service and freshly prepared food tucked back into a small area off of Apperson. I was…read morereally impressed with their attention to detail and food quality. I will be back again. Highly recommended!

Today, just only two weeks after opening, I discovered a very unique family-owned business by two…read morevery friendly and unique husband and wife partners. 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 shops and 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 7 Stars Lounge in West Downtown Roanoke, Virginia, is the perfect example. 7 Stars Lounge is a very unique business indeed. It's a combination of a Cigar Lounge, Bar, and Cafe. After retiring, Larry the co-owner with his wife Mini decided to open a business that embodied the things that they enjoy most in life. The husband enjoys smoking a good cigar, relaxing in a leather recliner, while watching a large screen TV or talking with friends. So originated the concept of a Cigar Lounge. In their business, this lounge is located in a separate adjacent room with leather recliners, side tables, large screen TVs, and two pool tables. Just outside of this room is a humidifier room where they have a great variety of quality cigars for sale. While other Cigar Lounges make you pay for a membership in order to enjoy the place. Here, as long as you purchase any item from the Cigar store, Bar, or Cafe. You have the right to enjoy the Cigar Lounge for free. The wife's, who is a Chinese native, and co-owner of the business, favorite food is the Chicago Hot Dog. So they decided that the Cafe specialty would center around the genuine Chicago-style Hot Dog, with autentic Vienna Beef Hot Dogs. This hot dog is inserted into a soft poppyseed bun and topped with mustard, Chicago-style relish, chopped onions, half-sliced tomatoes, a pickle spear, and a sport pepper, to give it that extra crunch and flavor. Besides this, they also have other Hot Dogs like the Chili Hot Dog, the Kraut Hot Dog, and the Original Hot Dog. As for me I like a good hot dog, so I welcome this new addition to the culinary lineup in the Star City. The menu also includes some Sandwiches, Breakfast Sandwiches, Bakery items, Salads, and authentic Fried Rice cooked by the wife. She is also planning on cooking freshly made donuts from scratch. The Bar they plan to have will only have beers (draft brews like Stella Artois and Heineken plus bottles and cans) and a selection of wines. The restaurant's space itself is a nice size and furnished with quality wood tables and chairs. They already plan to hold a group party their which will consume a selection of items from their menu. Today, I ordered two Chicago style Hot Dogs and a can of Dr Pepper to drink. And they tasted amazingly delicious. Specially the quality of the Vienna Beef franks, which is known for their signature snap, that you don't find in many other hot dog places. And the fresh and soft poppyseed buns that topped off the favor and texture of the dogs, not including the other wonderful ingredients. I'm not a smoker so one of my concerns going to eat there was if the smoke of the Cigar Lounge would reach the Cafe, and I can assure you it didn't. The door that devides the two is very tight. My other concern was the parking situation. But in front of the business they have several parking spaces for the exclusive use of their customers. I highly recommend this place for those who enjoy the different items I've written about in this review. The owners are so friendly and nice that we should give them our support. I'm looking forward to returning one morning to have breakfast there, and to trying out their homemade donuts and fried rice.

It feels so great to support a new business.. really great Chicago Hot Dogs, nice selection of…read morebeers, great set up with a couple of pool tables and even a cigar room. Parent place to chill with friends or just swing by for a quick bite to eat. I'd say it's also a nice spot to have a casual business meeting. I'll be back... need to try their chicken salad sandwich!

A friend of mine recommended this Deli to me and since this is one of the most effective ways of…read morediscovering interesting places to eat, I decided this morning to go check it out for breakfast. The only New York City Deli in Roanoke, Virginia; located almost in the corner of Jefferson Street and Campbell Avenue SE, it is centrally located with on street parking as well as a parking garage nearby. When I arrived to the building where the restaurant was located, it had a small restaurant front with windows on the two sides of the restaurant's door. It had its name painted in the window, as well as a black stand out sign with golden letter fonts: "R.T. Smith's Delicatessen EST. 2011." From outside it seemed like all small restaurant, but once inside, I found that its was actually a long space with an infinite amount of food products and many menus for breakfast and lunch. The restaurant was decorated with many interesting items, menu signs, and a collection items of Star Trek figurines. The owner greeted me with a friendly hello and asked me to pick a table, serve myself coffee, and take a seat. After reviewing the menu while sseated, I ordered the Hot Mess Omelette. It was one of the largest omelettes in the Breakfast menu. Later I found out that they also had Breakfast Add Ons to the Omelette at an extra price. But the Omelette I ordered already had 4 eggs, ham, bacon, sausage, and American & Gouda cheese. When the Omelette was cooked and served on the counter, I went to pick it up and pay the bill on the cashier counter. When I took it to my.table and opened up the container where it was served; I was amazed at the size of it. It was cooked perfectly. I put salt and pepper on it from the antique Coca Cola bottle shackers and began eating it. It was one of the best Omelettes that I have ever eaten! And I have eaten the best of the best. Another of my best was one I ate at the Boston Marriott Hotel that had Lobster meat, mushrooms, and brie cheese. Afterwards, I stayed for a while drinking my coffee and talking to the owner and his wife. They both have wonderful personalities and we talked about the business, their move from New York to here. How they import their fresh bagels from New York and soon they will be importing other items as well. Their hobby of collecting Star Trek figurines and other items. Before I left I made sure to tell them that they had just gained not only a new customer, but also a friend. I highly recommend this restaurant for breakfast or lunch. They serve quality food in generous portions and cooked extraordinary well. And provide with their wonderful customer service an amazing dining experience!

If a traditional style deli shop is what you are looking for, THIS IS THE SPOT! The people here are…read morefriendly, respectful & honest. They keep the place clean & maintained. Affordable prices & fresh cut deli meats.