After a little over a year of opening its doors in Vinton, Virginia, across the street from the…read moreVinton Library, this hole in the wall, family-owned American restaurant with the name of Absolutely Delicious Bar & Grill, has absolutely delivered some of the best smash burgers, hot dogs, and other delicious freshly made American comfort food in this neighborhood and beyond. 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 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 Absolutely Delicious Bar & Grill, in Vinton, Virginia, is a perfect example. Today I decided to give them a visit for a follow-up review of the first one I wrote when they first opened. The first thing I was happy to see were picnic tables with colorful patio umbrellas placed in the open space yard on the left of the restaurant. It seems like they are gearing up for expansion and many new things to come for the Spring of 2026, after a very successful 2025, for its high-quality food at reasonable prices, in a welcoming and friendly environment, with excellent service. As usual, as soon as I walked in the place, I was received with a heartfelt, open-arm, very warm welcome, and was given the good news that starting on March 16th their hours will be expanded to 10:30AM - 10:00PM Mondays through Thursdays and 10:30AM - 1:00AM Fridays and Saturdays. They told me about all their plans for the Spring of the new year, including the further expansion of their outdoor patio dining area. My server Justin, the son of this family-owned business, took my order and had me seat down at the counter of my choice. I ordered a Coke to drink, forgetting that they also had Cherry Coke, my favorite. To eat I ordered a Jesse Jones Beef All Beef Hotdog with mustard, ketchup, and relish; as well as a Smokehouse Burger, which had a double smash burgers, BBQ sauce, Bacon, Caramelized Onions, Pickles and two cheeses of my choice. I picked American and Swiss cheese as my choice and they customized it to include lettuce, tomatoes, and ketchup. Then I made it a combo with Waffle Fries and a medium Coke. I enjoyed watching the cook make my food in their open kitchen. Wearing special black disposable nitrile gloves, he grabbed a ball of fresh, high-quality ground meat and put it on the grill; then he used a burger smasher to flatten the ball-sized beef patties onto the hot surface of the grill for maximum searing. During the process, he changed his disposal gloves several times to ensure food safety. He also used a basting brush to butter the burger buns before he heated them on the grill. This not only gave the burger a good taste but made it look delicious. I invite you to view my photographs and videos accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and the quality of their food. When I took a bite of my smash burger, it tasted absolutely mouthwatering, or as the restaurant is called "Absolutely Delicious." The same with the hot dog. Best hot dog around! And the waffle fries were amazing. They were well seasoned and shaken after they came out of the frier; soft in the inside and crispy on the outside. The best waffle fries I've ever had. Even better than the ones from Chick-fil-A! They also had me taste their newly introduced Tater Tots; which are a graded potato formed into small cylinders and deep-fried. Their taste and texture were out-of-this-world! Very soft in the inside and just the right amount of crunchinnes on the outside. For dessert I had a couple of Strawberry Cheesecake Rolls. It reminded me of the fried cheesecake commonly served in Mexican restaurants but these also had strawberry filling. I was so pleased with their food and service that I gave them a good tip and paid at the counter with my Harvard Alumni World Mastercard. I highly recommend this little restaurant and urge you to give them your total support. What you'll get back will be an "absolutely amazing" dining experience like never before.

We stopped by today after seeing the @hungryasian review on Facebook. Cannot believe we got all…read moreof this yummy food for less than $20 before tip. Attention to detail is definitely on the mind of the workers here. Chili had such a great fine grind, sear on burger was perfect and fries were hot and crispy. Will be back! Highly recommend!

My 1st visit to Pok-E-Joe's was this week and it will most certainly not be my last visit. We were…read morea large group so they arranged the back semi-private dining space for us, which was perfect. We started with brisket nachos, Bavarian pretzels and wings (nachos are a MUST). My main course was the smoked turkey sandwich and potato salad for my side which complemented each other well and were amazing. Everything was cooked/smoked to perfection and incredibly tasty! The brisket and turkey were my favorites. There are 4 BBQ sauces on the table so I sampled all, the Texas BBQ sauce was my personal favorite but all 4 are uniquely amazing. We ended with the deep fried Oreos (OH MY), which were incredible and I highly recommend, so save room for dessert. Next time I'll opt in for the pie! Great family restaurant and they also have live music at times. Jordan was our server and he was extremely attentive to such a large group. I'll be back, you can count on that! Thank you for the wonderful and warm hospitality!

Extremely disappointed. We left feeling disrespected and like our business simply didn't matter…read more When we arrived, my wife checked us in with the host, gave him her cell phone number, and was told the wait would be no more than 15 minutes. We waited and watched as people who arrived and checked in after us were seated ahead of us. At one point, the manager seated a group, then walked back to the host and said, in front of waiting customers, that they were "VIP" and that he should always seat them first. I'm not naive--I understand that restaurants may give priority to certain guests. But saying that openly in front of the customers you are bumping from a table is incredibly unprofessional and disrespectful. After waiting somewhere between 30-45 minutes and continuing to see others seated ahead of us, my wife finally asked the manager how much longer it would be. The manager said she didn't see us on the list and then asked for our "confirmation code," essentially making us feel as though we were lying about having checked in. The host, who had taken my wife's phone number when we arrived, made no effort to acknowledge that he had apparently made a mistake. No apology. No attempt to make the situation right. I asked the manager if we had basically been bumped while the VIP group was seated. Her response was that it wasn't "her" VIP group--it was the owner's VIP group. That response only made the situation worse. We have spent a significant amount of money at this restaurant over time, but apparently that doesn't mean much compared with being part of the owner's VIP group. Mistakes happen. If the host forgot to put us on the list, a simple acknowledgment and apology could have gone a long way. Instead, the manager handled the situation in a way that made us feel dismissed and disrespected. Basically said the owner condones the treatmentz Customers have plenty of choices about where to spend their money. Owners and managers should remember that every customer deserves to be treated with basic respect--not just the VIPs. If situations like this continue, they may eventually not have to worry about maintaining a waitlist at all.

GREAT food with a great family friendly environment. Offering oven brick style pizza, super subs as…read morewell as calzobes and strombolis. And FREE FREE FREE delivery !

Fantastic experience with Vinton Cafe! I ordered online in advance for a Saturday morning pickup,…read moreand the entire process was seamless. My food was ready right on time, securely packaged to go, and the staff were welcoming and friendly when I walked in. Most importantly, everything we ordered was absolutely delicious. I'll definitely be ordering from here again!

Wow. I'm so glad I found this place while traveling. I got the Blueberry French Toast and it was…read moreamazing. The goat cheese with the blueberry compote is . I'm definitely coming back.

It's inconceivable how on July 20th of this year it will have been a year since the grand opening…read moreof HCK Hot Chicken in Vinton, Virginia and I hadn't heard of it. I can say it's the best kept secret of the Town of Vinton, in Roanoke County, and it's about time that it no longer be a secret. I am determined to go try it out and spread the word. 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 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 young established ones that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And HCK Hot Chicken is the perfect example. Located off East Washington Avenue, in one of the most beautiful areas of Vinton, near William Byrd High School, this restaurant is located inside a long standing convenience store, "Vinton Tobacco & Grocery," and in the same location of a bp gas station, but don't let this fool you, it has its own entrance on the side, its own parking lot, and a drive-thru lane for ordering. Besides this, its owner has done a great renovation job, that this is one of the cleanest gas stations/convenience stores that I have ever been to, and because of this it in no way detracts from the clean, bright, and contemporary ambiance of the restaurant itself. Founded in 2020, in Woodbridge, Virginia, the first HCK (Hot Chicken Kitchen) Hot Chicken restaurant had as its Mission: "Unity through Food." Recognizing the power of food to bring people together. Their belief is that "food unites us and can lift people up." There menu features succulent Nashville-style chicken sandwiches, classic and boneless chicken wings, chicken tenders, chicken and Belgian waffles, loaded fries, loaded mac and cheese, coleslaw, fried pickles, fried donut drops, and more. The owner of the restaurant who warmly greeted me when I arrived told me that all of their dishes are gluten and allergen free. With no MSG and no peanut oil.The chicken is farm-raised, fed only vegetables and grains, with no use of growth-boosting chemicals. When one enters the restaurant, it is nicely designed (with the colors red, black, and white), and with hardwood floors, wood tone tables and chairs, a well organized ordering counter, and a well lit menu high above the counter, as well as with large pictures of menu item just below the menu sign. The very friendly and knowledgeable order taker took my order from behind the counter. I ordered a Nashville Style Chicken Sandwich Combo with the mildest sauce they had. It came with their seasoned krinkle kut fries, a side of good sauce, and a drink. Not bad for $14.49, especially after you taste the food. The chicken was the plumpiest, juiciest, and tastiest chicken that I have ever eaten in a sandwich. The fresh toasted artisan potato bun complimented its flavor. The fries were crunchy on the outside and soft in the inside, seasoned to perfection. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review and see for yourselves because a picture is worth a thousand words. The welcoming and hospitable owner came to see how I had liked the food and I told him how amazing everything had been and that I looked forward to returning to try other menu items such as the Fried Donut Drops. In conclusion, I highly recommend this restaurant for a very unique and wonderful chicken dining experience. Amazing food, clean and comfortable environment, and excellent customer service.

Hot Chicken for the win! The best fries and fried pickles too! My favorite sauce was the scorpion…read morepepper! The wings were large crispy and juicy. Service was fast and courteous. Good spot, highly recommended.

The New Yorker Delicatessen is practically a landmark in the Star City of Roanoke, Virginia,…read more providing Quality Subs, Deli Meats, and other delicious items at very reasonable prices. I never got to visit it before Covid. But after Covid the dining room is no longer in operation and the Deli is Open for Take Out orders only. Their menu has been practically the same for 30 years, but now they accept credit cards for payment as well as cash. They have one of the largest parking lots of a restaurant located on Williamson Road. Yet it is never full anymore because now the restaurant is Open for Take Out orders only. Nevertheless, after all these years, I was looking forward to going in and discovering what was inside that has continue to attract such a large clientele to the restaurant. With a beautiful Art Deco-Ish Restaurant sign on its parking lot, that entice you to drive in; the architectural solid design of the building structure seems to be reflecting how solid this business continues to be in spite all it has gone through during the Civid era. The restaurant's building design contained many brown bricks as well as tiles making it look warm and solid. As one entered through two larged open doors, the first thing one saw was refrigerated display cases with Deli meats and other food items such as potato salad, cheese cakes. One of their employees greeted me with a smile behind the counter and even though I had a small menu of the place, she showed me a large version of the menu located on one of the walls, when I told her this was my first time here. The decor was very simple with chips filling all the all the wooden shelves around, a framed large portrait of the deceased founder of the restaurant, and many award certificates that the restaurant had won through the years. I ordered a Cheese Dog to go, because of the quality look of the hot dogs stored inside the refrigerator display case up front. And also an Onion Wheel, that had Corned Beef, Pastrami, and Imported Swiss, Served with Lettuce and Onions on a Buttered Onion Roll. For dessert I ordered a slice of their famous Cheesecake made in-house and a Chocolate Bomb. A dessert that I had for the first time at a local Italian Restaurant. Made with chocolate mousse in the center and other layers of chocolate all around, it is one of my favorites desserts ever. When I approached the cashier counter to pick up my order and to pay for it, a very welcoming and friendly lady who seemed to be the manager of the restaurant talked to me a little bit about the history about the restaurant and about its founder and his wife. From there I also got to see the dining area, that even though it was not used at the moment, gave you a sense of how the restaurant looked when it had eat in service. The food items were all reasonably priced. They sandwiches bread was soft and fresh and well toasted. And the deli meats, cheese, and other ingredients were served in generous portions, and amazingly delicious. And the slice of Dill Pickle was a nice touch to the eating experience. The desserts were also amazing, from the Cheesecake made in-house to the Chocolate Bomb who I would definitely return just for this alone. Even though I missed the inside the restaurant dining experience, I definitely highly recommend the amazing food and extraordinary customer service received. Great place to Order Out food for a family gathering or a special occasion party or event.

What has happened its like they have become just another food truck on willliamson rd one of the…read morebiggest is no more toast the bread and bread is old, stale and no more inside dining and if you say something just asking about how it used to be its if they are offended and get mad just not the hometown feel anymore and quality of food not same all around dissapointment.

After reading the news that Jersey Mike's had taken the top spot in the 2026 American Customer…read moreSatisfaction Index for quick-service restaurants, ending Chick-fil-A's 11-year reign, and that the shift reflects customer's growing focus on consistency, value, and fresh-food offering, I decided to give a visit to this Jersey Mike's for the very first time, to experience for myself what I thought of this news compared to my dining experience there. But I should have foreseen this coming because just the other day in a Chick-fil-A not far from there, I arrived 5 minutes late after they had closed the dining room to the public and began serving drive-thru only, and I told an employee who was throwing out the trash that I had traveled this far just to dine at this Chick-fil-A (and I left out that I intended to write a Yelp review as well), she told me that she could not let me in, to go through the drive-thru. Needles to say, this attitude was not a reflection of the Chick-fil-A I used to know, although this was the first time I had attempted to eat there. I arrived at this Jersey Mike's for the very first time and parked in front of its building. The restaurant was clean and well-organized. An African-American, young lady greeted me and pointed out where I should go to order my food. There, an older, serious gentleman took my order for an Original Itatian Sub, regular size, in white bread, and began making it. Then he passed it on to the lady who had originally greeted me and she asked me what I wanted on it. I was expecting a different question so I waited and then she asked me: "Would you like that Mike's Way?" And I said yes. (Employees are corporate-mandated to ask customers this). She did a great job finishing building my sub, including pickles and banana peppers which I asked her to add. All the items looked very fresh and appetizing. I made it a combo and made sure my MyMike's was inputed to get my Shore Points. When I sat down to eat I noticed everything was fresh except the bread. With all the bread available that they had I would have expected to have been given a fresh piece. Here is where I detected a lack of consistency in fresh food. Yet in other Jersey Mike's this had never happen. It's amazing how one little detail can ruin a perfect score but I'm very particular on the freshness of the bread where I eat. Also, at Jersey Mike's the management protocol emphasizes a genuine enthusiastic, and welcoming atmosphere. I detected a lack of this from the manager and some of the team members where there is room for improvement. I hope corporate reads this review and takes action to correct the details that I have mentioned; because it is the little details that make the big difference.

Food was amazing! The employees were very professional…read more Very clean the bathrooms are clean as well highly recommend

The food was top-notch, my husband was a huge fan of the Key Lime Pie. I had a burger that was…read morecooked to perfection and his Gyro was very tasty as well. We will definitely be going back!

Do you like paprika? Like, so much of it you could accidentally inhale it and choke to death? Do…read moreyou also hate salt? You'll love their buffalo chips. Also, secret menu hack: if you want a thin crispy hamburger patty, order the steakhouse burger. Somehow my smash burger was an inch thick. It seems counterintuitive, but apparently that's how they do things. Maybe they call it that so you'll smash your expectations. Either way, your burger will be over cooked. Unavoidable, I guess. The drinks were good, as was the ahi tuna appetizer. I'll also give credit to the server for sensing I was not happy and asking me if the food was okay. The front of house staff is the best thing about this place.