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.

My best friend Becca and I were looking for the perfect place to celebrate her 23rd birthday in…read moreRoanoke. We had originally settled on Fortunato's, but upon arrival at 6pm, the pleasant hostess had informed us that there was not a table available until 8:30. While she was seeing if there was space at the bar, another young woman said, "There's a table at Stellina!" We already knew that Stellina shared the same menu, so we were pleased to walk over there. A young man greeted us and said, "Sit wherever you like!" But there was only one table available. It was a great table, positioned by a window that let us see a glimpse of the city. Cocktail menus were already on our tables, and the young man asked if we wanted food menus as well. We said yes, and ordered The Obituary, a gin drink, a vodka drink that I cannot remember the name of, the house bread, Lumache a Forno, and Bucatini all'Arrabiatta. While waiting for our food, I got to admire the space. It was a small space decorated with a beautiful purple-lit wallpaper, christmas lights, and a colorful overhead light. The room was dark, but our table was tastefully lit with a small lamp. The wallpaper looked as if it had some floral print on it, but upon closer inspection, it was actually a collection of people's faces, which was charming. But perhaps the most striking element of this bar's atmosphere was the music. I immediately heard a trippy beat that was familiar to me, and upon shazaming it, found out it was Interia Creeps, by Massive Attack, one of my favorite 90s trip-hop bands. The music continued to impress me, and has inspired to start a spotify playlist called Stellina's Songs. Some of the standouts include: Army of Me - Bjork Never Let Me Down - Depeche Mode Lovesong - The Cure It's No Good - Depeche Mode The ambience of this dark, 90s music paired perfectly with the dark yet pleasant atmosphere of the restaurant. Our drinks were cold, our food was hot, and it was all quite delicious. I got to try both dishes and both drinks, and was perfectly satisfied. The gentleman that greeted us checked on us frequently, as well as another woman. Overall, the experience was classy and pleasant. The restaurant seemed popular among an older crowd. Nevertheless, this is a great place for anyone of any age to grab a drink or a bite to eat while feeling like an elegant member of society. This is truly a gem that Roanoke has to offer, and my experience could not have been greater.

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.

We walked here but seemed like there was some street parking. Didn't realize that this was a hotel…read morebut the restaurant was small and didn't have as large of a menu as we thought. There are a handful of two top tables, a couple lounging areas, and then there are some high tops but not too much seating. They adieu have the bar seats as well. We had a server in training and both our servers were very attentive and friendly. I can't recall what cocktail we ordered but it was delicious. For dinner, we ordered the Khachapuri and the Japanese Tsukene Meatballs. They only had 2 main entrees but everything else was more small plates. The Meatballs were delicious. They were full of flavor and moist. The Khachapuri was also good but the bread was stuck to the parchment paper it was baked on pretty hard. In my opinion, it needed a touch of garlic but still good. It was nice to drop by for a little to have some cocktails but wish there was more on the menu.

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.

Our server was Angela and she was a delight! We had the…read moreHearth Pumpkin salad & loved it. I had the Reuben (lotsa meat) with a side of mashed sweet potatoes that was awesome.. we fought over that. Virginia Ground Burger was tasty, it is grass fed so a bit gamey compared to grain fed in case you're not used to that. The fries were fine & the fry sauce was yummy!

My server Lidia was so attentive and sweet!! She was enthusiastic and it really made it a very…read morespecial birthday for me! We got the Shrimp and Grits and the Chicken and Waffles. Highly recommend. I liked how sugary the waffles are. We'll be back again soon.

Well, didn't know what to expect, but we were please…read more Beef short ribs and shrimp and grits. Nicely done and very savory. Great drink menu and the staff were quick with orders and refills. Definitely going back. We went on a busy weekend downtown so we made reservations and they got us in and ate and we were in our way for more drinks and desserts.

Stopped in for a nightcap. Busy place most of the time so be prepared to wait a bit. Just had a…read morewhiskey neat so can't say much about my drink but Deb tried to get an expresso martini. They were out of the things to make it and the one they tried was not too good. A cool hotel bar to chill.

Our group spent plenty of time here. The bartenders were great. A special shout out to to Bethany…read more(I believe they was her name). They after party to the wedding we attended was held here and she did a great job in taking care of us. Foodwise, I recommend the crispy cauliflower. Perfect with the Get Bent IPA on draft.

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.

Amazing service at the bar beforehand where our group of 6 took a lot of our bartenders time with…read moresome questions, luckily it was pre dinner rush so we didn't halt service for others. We then proceeded to supper on the other side to enjoy the following: lobster thurmidor, oyster sampler, crab louie, canard frites, and affogato. This was a wonderful experience with courteous staff...our only hiccup came at the end of the meal. We were ready to leave and had to wait 15 minutes to be able to get our servers attention to get our check.

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.

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!

Fortunato was an experience. From cozy posture friendly chairs to amazing filling and decadently…read morecooked meal, beautiful ambience, open kitchen, muted lighting, conscientious service.. this place is simply amazing. We were a group of eight, who magically became nine and we were accommodated. We let them know ahead that we had a vegetarian in the group, so they made markings to a separate menu card to help us choose. The drinks were well done, Food was so creative and done just right. For dessert we chose the chocolate salami platter, which was awesome. Our top recommendations, eggplant Parmesan, spinach and cheese pasta, roasted olives, brussels sprouts, and the chocolate platter. Give this place a try. Keep up the good work guys.!

I came in with big hopes and feel torn about this review. I think the issue is there are so many…read moreunique and amazing restaurants within walking distance in downtown Roanoke that my expectations are HIGH. The dining area is an interesting mix out copper table tops, wood chairs, and exposed brick walls. Character. I had a pineapple upside down cake cocktail. It was yummy But it was filled with tiny ice slithers that made it difficult to drink without choking on ice until the slithers melted. I always appreciate a good Luxor . The food was fine... I was just hoping to be awed. I had the grilled salmon was looking, for medium but it was definitely well done. It was will seasoned and I was hungry, so none went to waste, lol. I was just hoping for something special. The veggie side was small and basic but well seasoned and the potatoes were also well seasoned but missing the Chicago butter sauce advertised. Instead it had a tiny smear of what I'm assuming was cocktail sauce. I tried the cheesecake bread pudding which was their bread pudding of the day. Overall it was good. I wouldn't have minded more cream cheese and was kind of disappointed the strawberries came out with the leaves still attached. At this price point, I don't want to have to remove things on my own. My server was great, she was training someone new but still managed to be perfectly attentive without being over bearing. With Sidecar and Stock so close by, it takes a peak performance to get me to repeat a restaurant stop when I'm in town for work. This was a solid 4 today but there are 5 star worthy places that have my attention.

In Roanoke for a project my office is doing. Walked by this place several times and this time…read moredecided to stop in. Great place with a amazing wine selection. The service was spoI ordered shared scallops and sweet potato gnocchi. The gnocchi was fantastic, it should be an entree. The scallops were delicious but as an appetizer i thought it was small. Table 50 is located in an old building wood floors, brick wall, tin ceiling, exposed pipes and ductwork as an architect I love the interiors. On a Monday night, Table 50 is packed with patrons, it is quite loud in here is my only complaint. I will be back to try their southern fried buttermilk chicken breast.

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.

So much more than a cafe! If you're feeling fancy, Stock is a fantastic choice for food and drinks…read moreof incredible quality at a great price point. Set inside an old firehouse, at the back of a high end furniture store, this place made me feel like I was having a night out in a big city. My husband and I at sat at the bar and ordered pork schnitzel with warm potato salad and hanger steak with frites smothered in gouda cheese sauce. The pork and steak were cooked perfectly! The hanger steak tasted like a much more expensive cut of meat so clearly this is not the chef's first rodeo. And that cheese sauce was ridiculous. My husband enjoyed their $9 happy hour old fashioned and I loved my glass of cab sauv from Fableist. Our server gave us the perfect amount of attention as well. I neglected to take more pictures of the space but, it's gorgeous. This is a Roanoke gem for sure!