Over the years we have watched this place really up their game. Then music has always been a big…read moredraw but it's also a great place to grab lunch or a sweet treat, and next door there is a soda shop type place as well! Barrels of candy, locally made items for purchase, including gorgeous cutting boards. Clean restrooms too, which is always a plus!

The Floyd Country store is a go to for lunch. They have a variety of menu options from sandwiches…read moreto hummus salad plates. You order at a counter and seat yourself with a number for your food to be dropped off swiftly. The sweet tea is excellent and there are a variety of delicious baked goods that change week to week. If you go on a Saturday at 12 you will be pleasantly surprised by live music as a part of their Americana Afternoons program which features local musicians from folk to bluegrass and blues. The atmosphere is super laid back, everyone is very friendly and welcoming. Make sure you tip the band and support their musicians-life is better with music! As they say.

Great lil venue to hang out with friends or family. Went to lunch and ate at the bar. The bartender…read morewas a sweetheart and we received our food rather quickly even though they were packed. Started with the Spinach Artichoke which was quite yummy! Ordered a speciality Margherita Pizza, adding mushrooms. Their pizzas are brick-oven baked to perfection, served piping hot. Sundays are open mic and they host a variety of band genres performing live each week. Highly recoomend this location if you're ever in Floyd, VA. Both indoor and outdoor seating available.

I've been coming to Floyd for the past 15 years, and Dogtown used to be a staple. Unfortunately,…read moreit's gone seriously downhill. The vibe just feels off now and what once felt welcoming and authentic feels more exclusive and self-important. :( The service is especially disappointing. You can stand at the counter forever waiting for someone to even acknowledge you. Basic hospitality goes a long way, and it's frustrating when staff can't even acknowledge you with a simple "we will be with you shortly" or even offer a simple smile. There's an attitude from some of the front-of-house staff that comes across like they've "arrived" and are above basic customer service. Floyd has always been about community and authenticity, and it's disappointing to see a place that once embodied that lose sight of what made it special.

this wasn't our original destination but like moths drawn to candlelight we stopped in for a bit,…read moreknocked back a couple of the advertised cheap rum and coke at the bar but anyway didn't like the vibe, the drinks or the music so no offense but moved on. hey this far out of town i'm a supporter of any nightlife. Marketing plan is basic: hire a few cute numbers working the bar, farm girls and coeds come in so more guys come in and they do the pool tables until the critical party mass happens and all go home with somebody: college town bar. Anyway Blue ridge rural virginia gets pretty dark after, you know... it starts gettin really dark. Something not right here at least for me... maybe too far from home.

This was my spot 2006-08. A perfect dance club scene with great music. Very crowded but very funread more

Not a fan of big families for any number of reasons. I prefer the way plants reproduce, like by…read moregerminating seeds or even better by grafting. Seriously, or nearly so, think how much better, as compared to standard issue childbearing, grafting would work for humans, like first of all no more Lamaze breathing classes for dads (after all of which are done, many moms go for the drugs anyway). then as one generation runs out of things to do in life, rather than uproot the whole parent just insert the next generation into the trunk, thereby hopefully eliminating adolescence when most of the body develops. Fungi and molds are even better as they mature in hours, are much more resilient and easier to distribute plus they're totally anonymous: parents don't have to see how their best intentions didn't bear fruit, and their offspring have no one else to blame. the spores of these life forms are quite durable, even tolerate the conditions found in outer space. Future myco-human lifeforms could be launched by the billions from earth unceremoniously, hoping a few might land somewhere favorable to germinate rather than being sucked into and incinerated by a star. And no alphabet or arithmetic to learn in grammar school. Being a family mammal on the other hand has major downsides. an example being that if you're known to be ever-ready to venture wherever someone will buy your plane ticket, they call upon you to go see how cousin Luke or uncle Amos or whoever is doing. The boring relatives stay put back home but the black sheep migrate over the years to places you would likely not otherwise go. So it is that I was driving through central Virginia on a moonless night, on just such a family mission and frankly need a roadie, a restorative for my lagging spirits, which is why I turned off the state highway and onto a county road to see where it went, and came to this town which is how I happened onto rocky mount's finest establishment, The Alley Cat Bar. It's great to find places like this and is the reason I prefer to drive in unknown territories using old outdated AAA maps instead of gps. Not every side road exit brings you to an historic and quaintly cool town like Rocky Mount, but it's the occasional one that ends in Rocky Mount that keeps you in the wanderlust game. It' was just what I was looking for at this moment, a break from driving the dark rural Virginia roads, local music and a friendly beer crowd. I was ready. Most small towns, not much to do, so can't be too choosey but lucky here to have this place, among others by the way but none so much my kind, live music potentially a little rough around the edges crowd but, after all, it's central va. Incredible selection of beer. I missed the Tuesday nite trivia contest as well as a visit to the moonshine distillery but I had miles to go before I slept.

Awesome atmosphere with a heck of a drink/food menu! Live…read morebands, trivia nights! Worth a visit!

This is a turnoff from the Blue Ridge Parkway. I was impressed that the commitment was made to the…read moremusic of the mountains. There are daily small-scale performances in an open section of the visitor center, which I stopped to listen to for a bit. An outdoor amphitheater offers larger scale performance opportunities, which I wish I'd found the occasion to come down for. Additionally, there are a couple of miles of trails on the site which run through bucolic hilly territory and offer a variety of sights and sounds. There is no charge to visit the site, and an abundance of reasons to be driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Note that the musical performances are seasonal.

This was a great place to stop while I rode through the Blue Ridge Parkway on my motorcycle. I…read moreneeded to take a break, and as somebody who likes to play the guitar (calling myself a musician might be a bit of a stretch) I couldn't pass this one by. They have a wonderful little museum on the history and development of Appalachian music and instruments. Some of it is interactive as well. I was there on a Saturday and they had local musicians playing some of the old Appalachian music outside in a little covered area, sponsored by the BLM I am assuming. In a smaller building they have a whole section pertaining to the old moonshiners of the region, explaining their craft and their inevitable run-ins with the revenuers. I didn't make too many stops along the way but I am very glad this was one of them as it was totally worth it!

This past week my girlfriend and I decided to visit our friend in the next city over, in Radford…read more Since I've always been one for breweries and our friend had colleagues grabbing some drinks here, we made the trek to Christiansburg to meet them. I didn't have any expectations, but when we first arrived, I was blown away. We arrived at a parking lot lit with Christmas lights that lead from the car to the front entrance. Upon opening the doors we were immediately welcomed with the roar of the crowd and the music from the band. The inside of this place was true to character. It was very rustic and made me feel like I was stepping onto a farm for sure. Though the food was set up in the fashion of a middle school football concession stand, it just added to the charm. We got a plate of chili cheese nachos, to go with our beers. Delicious! We finished them immediately. I got the sink or swim IPA and was very impressed with quality and taste. So much so - I got another. The band set the mood as the crowd kept growing. By 7pm it was packed, with almost no seats left available. If you are looking to have a memorable Friday night and enjoy some live music, while spending time with friends, move this place to the top of your list. 10/10 would recommend this brewery to any and all beer lovers and party goers.

Such a beautiful place, a must for all families. We drove down from Winchester and it was so worth…read morethe drive!

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.

I was told to check this place out while I was in town. When I arrived they had a trivia contest…read moregoing on, I didn't participate but sounded like fun. The service was good. Sat at the bar and had a burger which was pretty good.

Never actually been here for a movie but on Sunday morning it is Hope Chapel. Joe Volpi is an…read moreamazing pastor and continuously bringing a great message from God. The movie theater is beautiful old fashion. It has second level seating and the tickets are very cheap.

Seriously, what's not to love?…read more The Lyric isn't your top of the line theater where you see what just came out, but they have a good selection of movies, both indie, new (though it's released later) and classics. The inside of the theater is reminiscent of an old theater, with an old fashioned ticket booth, plenty of seating (there's balcony seating!) and a classic looking stage with a projector. It's really quite beautiful! The location makes it a prime place to go for a movie if you're in college, and the ticket prices are pretty reasonable! Even for a nighttime showing, it's only $5, and the concessions are just as cheap. The staff is extremely friendly, and they accept volunteers if you're looking for any volunteer work. Definitely a place to go, especially if you like seeing quirky movies. The only downfall is that it only shows one movie at a time, for one week each, unless there's a special showing. Harry Potter and the Princess Bride are coming up!

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.

Ok! Lunch on a busy Friday. I had the chicken salad croissant and my wife had the turkey Gilmore…read more WITH sweet potato fries. We were very happy with the meal. The fries had a cinnamon sugar spice to them and were flavorful. We would recommend the Draper easily!

Such an amazing experience! Our server was very welcoming…read moreand interactive and funny. It was a bit busy so we expected a slight delay on drinks/food, but our server kept checking on us every few minutes and kept our drinks full. The atmosphere/design is very unique and offers great talking points for the table. You can look around and always find something new you haven't seen before. For food, I got the French dip, my husband got the fried catfish, and mom got the smash burger. Food was EXCELLENT. The au jus from the French dip was not overly salty as I've had in the past, and it was the perfect amount for the sandwich. Not like other places that will either give you a big tub of au jus or ever a small saucer cup. After lunch, we walked around as they have a shopping area inside with soaps, handmade pottery/kitchenware, and local vendor products such as hatch chile cream cheese and pickled vegetables. Price was very favorable too and didn't seem to be overly priced where the business/vendor up charges significantly to make a huge profit. Definitely worth stopping by even if you only have time for Togo coffee, a snack, of just to shop around!