One thing about readers of The Roanoker: They love to eat at Roanoke restaurants.
Well, two things: They also have strong knowledge and opinions on the best places to eat. And here are the results of those opinions – gathered in online voting during the fall – on the best places to dine in Roanoke for everything from soup to nuts, from appetizer to dessert. And everything in between.
Overall Dining
Platinum: Luigi’s Italian Gourmet
Gold: Carlos Brazilian International
Silver: The Regency Room at Hotel Roanoke
Best New Chain Restaurant (opened since July 2011)
Platinum: Cheddar’s
Gold: Chipotle
Best New Kid in Town (opened since July 2011)
Platinum: The Quarter
Gold: Blue Apron Restaurant / Red Rooster Bar
Silver: Frogurt
Best Ambience
Platinum: Carlos Brazilian International
Gold: The Regency Room at Hotel Roanoke
Silver: Blue 5 Restaurant
Best Anniversaries/Special Occasions
Platinum: Carlos Brazilian International
Gold: The Regency Room at Hotel Roanoke
Silver: Luigi’s Italian Gourmet
Best Seafood
Platinum: Awful Arthur’s Seafood Company
Gold: Stephen’s
Silver: Harbor Inn
Chain winner: Red Lobster
Best Sushi
Platinum: Ben Gui Sushi
Gold: Wasabi
Silver: Café Asia
Best Indian Restaurant
Platinum: Nawab
Gold: Taaza
Best Thai Restaurant
Platinum: Red Jasmine
Gold: Tong’s Thai
Silver: Thai Continental Best
Best Chinese Restaurant
Platinum: Red Palace
Gold: Szechuan
Silver: Café Asia
Best Italian Restaurant
Platinum: Luigi’s Italian Gourmet
Gold: Mamma Maria’s
Silver: Norberto’s
Best Italian Restaurant (Chain)
Platinum: Olive Garden
Gold: Carrabba’s Italian Grill
Best Mexican Restaurant
Platinum: Alejandro’s
Gold: El Rodeo
Silver: Rancho Viejo
Best Mediterranean Restaurant
Platinum: The Isaacs
Gold: (tie); Arzu, Carlos Brazilian International
Best Japanese Restaurant
Platinum: Kabuki Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi
Gold: Ichiban
Silver: Kobe
Best Other Ethnic Restaurant
Platinum: Carlos Brazilian International
Gold: Veranda Bistro
Silver: (tie); Taaza, Wonju Korean Restaurant
Best Traditional Virginia
Platinum: The Homeplace
Gold: The Roanoker Restaurant
Silver: Thelma’s Chicken & Waffles
Best Vegetarian Restaurant
Platinum: Wildflour Market & Bakery on 4th St.
Gold: Local Roots
Silver: The Isaacs
Best Comfort Food
Platinum: The Homeplace
Gold: Thelma’s Chicken & Waffles
Silver: The Roanoker Restaurant
Best Downtown Restaurant
Platinum: Blue 5 Restaurant
Gold: Frankie Rowland’s Steakhouse
Silver: Table 50
Best Hollins/North County Restaurant
Platinum: Hollywood’s Restaurant & Bakery
Gold: Veranda Bistro
Silver: Harbor Inn
Best Southwest Restaurant
Platinum: Luigi’s Italian Gourmet
Gold: Carlos Brazilian International
Silver: Fork in the Alley
Best Lake Area Restaurant
Platinum: The Landing
Gold: Mango’s
Silver: (tie); Jonathan’s, Moosie’s
Best Salem Restaurant
Platinum: Mac & Bob’s
Gold: Blue Apron Restaurant/Red Rooster Bar
Silver: Mama Maria’s
Best Vinton Restaurant
Platinum: New York Pizza
Gold: Dogwood Restaurant
Silver: Red Jasmine
Best Late-Night Dinner
Platinum: Texas Tavern
Gold: Blue 5 Restaurant
Silver: (tie); Luigi’s Italian Gourmet, Macado’s
Best Late-Night Dinner (Chain)
Platinum: IHOP
Gold: (tie); Applebee’s, Denny’s
Most Diverse Menu
Platinum: Montano’s International
Gold: Veranda Bistro
Silver: (tie); Luigi’s Italian Gourmet, Macado’s
Best Kid’s Birthday Spot
Platinum: Chuck E Cheese
Gold: (tie); Bubblecake, Thunder Valley
Best Buffet
Platinum: Red Palace
Gold: (tie); Hibachi Grill, The Regency Room at Hotel Roanoke
Chain Winner: Golden Corral
Best Dinners Around $10
Platinum: Famous Anthony’s
Gold: Crock and Roll
Silver: Texas Tavern
Chain winner: Cheddar’s
Best Lunches Around $5
Platinum: (tie); Famous Anthony’s, Texas Tavern
Silver: Paul’s
Best Deli
Platinum: New Yorker Delicatessen
Gold: The Brambelton Deli
Silver: Montano’s International
Best Carryout
Platinum: (tie); Famous Anthony’s, Szechuan
Silver: Crock and Roll
Worth an Hour in the Car
Platinum: The Homeplace
Gold: Liberty Station in Bedford
Silver: (tie); Natural Bridge Restaurant, Swinging Bridge Restaurant
Worth Sharing with Friends and Family
Platinum: (tie); Blue 5 Restaurant, Crock and Roll, Luigi’s Italian Gourmet, The Homeplace
Best in the Neighborhood
Platinum: Fork in the Alley
Gold: (tie); Famous Anthony’s, Veranda Bistro
Best Pre-Performance Dinners
Platinum: Blue 5 Restaurant
Gold: Luigi’s Italian Gourmet
Silver: (tie); Table 50, The Regency Room at Hotel Roanoke
Best Healthy Plates
Platinum: Wildflour Market & Bakery on 4th St.
Gold: Local Roots
Silver: (tie); Crock and Roll, The Isaacs, Taaza
Best Business Breakfasts
Platinum: The Roanoker Restaurant
Gold: Famous Anthony’s
Silver: The Regency Room at Hotel Roanoke
Best Family Breakfasts
Platinum: Famous Anthony’s
Gold: The Roanoker Restaurant
Silver: Thelma’s Chicken & Waffles
Best Family Breakfasts (Chain)
Platinum: IHOP
Gold: Cracker Barrel
Best Business Lunches
Platinum: The Regency Room at Hotel Roanoke
Gold: Blue 5 Restaurant
Silver: Montano’s International
Best Inexpensive Lunches
Platinum: Famous Anthony’s
Gold (tie): Crock and Roll, Macado’s
Chain winner: Cheddar’s
Best Daily Specials
Platinum: Blue 5 Restaurant
Gold: Famous Anthony’s
Silver: (tie); Crock and Roll, Village Grill
Best Sunday Brunches
Platinum: The Regency Room at Hotel Roanoke
Gold: The Homeplace
Silver: Rockfish Food & Wine
Best for Taking the Kids Along
Platinum: Famous Anthony’s
Gold: Macado’s
Silver: The Roanoker Restaurant
Chain winner: Red Robin
Best For Group Gatherings
Platinum: Blue 5 Restaurant
Gold: The Homeplace
Silver: Billy’s Barn
Best Appetizers
Platinum: Blue 5 Restaurant
Gold: Luigi’s Italian Gourmet
Silver: (tie); Metro!, Montano’s International
Best Appetizers (Chain)
Platinum: Applebee’s
Gold: (tie); Cheddar’s, Outback Steakhouse, Shula’s 347 Grill
Best Salads
Platinum: Wildflour Market & Bakery on 4th St.
Gold: Montano’s International
Silver: Blue 5 Restaurant
Best Soups
Platinum: Crock and Roll
Gold: Wildflour Market & Bakery on 4th St.
Silver: (tie); Blue 5 Restaurant, Montano’s International
Best Soups (Chain)
Platinum: Panera Bread
Gold: (tie); McAllister’s Deli, Olive Garden
Best Desserts
Platinum: Wildflour Market & Bakery on 4th St
Gold: (tie); Bubblecake, Montano’s International
Best Local Pizza
Platinum: New York Pizza
Gold: Grace’s Pizza
Silver: Frank’s Pizza
Best Chain Pizza
Platinum: Pizza Hut
Gold: Papa John’s
Silver: Domino’s
Best Sandwiches
Platinum: Macado’s
Gold: New Yorker Delicatessen
Silver: The Brambelton Deli
Best Burritos
Platinum: Alejandro’s
Gold: El Rodeo
Silver: Rancho Viejo
Best Burritos (Chain)
Platinum: Chipotle
Gold: Baja Bistro
Best Barbecue
Platinum: Blues BBQ
Gold: Henry’s Memphis BBQ
Silver: Three Little Pigs
Best Hot Dogs
Platinum: Roanoke Weiner Stand
Gold: Texas Tavern
Silver: Fork in the Alley
Best Chili
Platinum: Texas Tavern
Gold: (tie); Crock and Roll, Fork in the Alley
Best Local Hamburgers
Platinum: Burger in the Square
Gold: (tie); Blue 5 Restaurant, Texas Tavern
Best Chain Hamburgers
Platinum: Red Robin
Gold: Wendy’s
Silver: Burger King
Best Ham
Platinum: Padow’s
Gold: Heavenly Ham
Silver: (tie); Pete’s Delicatessen, The Homeplace
Best Steak
Platinum: Frankie Rowland’s Steakhouse
Gold: Blue 5 Restaurant
Silver: (tie); The Great 611 Steakhouse, The Regency Room at Hotel Roanoke
Best Steak (Chain)
Platinum: Outback Steakhouse
Gold: Texas Steakhouse
Silver: Shula’s 347 Grill
Best Chicken
Platinum: Thelma’s Chicken & Waffles
Gold: The Homeplace
Silver: Luigi’s Italian Gourmet
Best Chicken (Chain)
Platinum: KFC
Gold: Bojangle’s
Best Buffalo Wings
Platinum: All Sports Café
Gold: Macados
Silver: Corned Beef and Co.
Best Buffalo Wings (Chain)
Platinum: Buffalo Wild Wings
Gold: Hooter’s
Best Ribs
Platinum: Blue 5 Restaurant
Gold: Blues BBQ
Silver: Henry’s Memphis BBQ
Best Breads
Platinum: On the Rise
Gold: Wildflour Market & Bakery on 4th St.
Silver: Bread Craft
Best Breads (Chain)
Platinum: Panera Bread
Gold: Fresh Market
Best Smoothies
Platinum: Elderberry’s Smoothies
Gold: Blue Collar Joe’s
Silver: (tie); Little Dipper, Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea
Best Smoothies (Chain)
Platinum: Sonic
Gold: Panera Bread
Best Baked Goods
Platinum: Wildflour Market & Bakery on 4th St.
Gold: Bubblecake
Silver: Bread Craft
Best Baked Goods (Chain)
Platinum: Panera Bread
Gold: Fresh Market
Best Local Doughnuts
Platinum: Blue Collar Joe’s
Gold: Salem Donut Shop
Best Chain Doughnuts
Platinum: Krispy Kreme
Gold: Dunkin’ Donuts
Best Cookies
Platinum: The Regency Room at Hotel Roanoke
Gold: Wildflour Market & Bakery on 4th St.
Silver: Famous Anthony’s
Best Cookies (Chain)
Platinum: Subway
Gold: Fresh Market
Silver: Panera Bread
Best Chocolate/Candy Store
Platinum: Chocolatepaper
Gold: Nancy’s Candy Co
Silver: Baylee’s Best Chocolates
Best Milkshakes
Platinum: Pop’s Ice Cream
Gold: Scott & Ellie’s
Silver: Katie’s Ice Cream
Best Milkshakes (Chain)
Platinum: Chick-Fil-A
Gold: (tie); Bruster’s, Dairy Queen
Best Biscuits
Platinum: The Roanoker Restaurant
Gold: Tudor’s
Silver: The Homeplace
Best Biscuits (Chain)
Platinum: Bojangle’s
Gold: Hardee’s
Silver: McDonald’s
Best Local Ice Cream
Platinum: Homestead Creamery
Gold: Pop’s Ice Cream
Silver: (tie); Katie’s Ice Cream, Salem Ice Cream Parlor
Best Chain Ice Cream
Platinum: Bruster’s
Gold: Dairy Queen
Silver: (tie); Baskin Robbins, Maggie Moo’s
Best Bagels
Platinum: Roanoke Bagel Co.
Gold: Five Boro Bagels
Silver: 2nd Helpings
Chain Winner: Panera
Best Quick Bites
Platinum: Texas Tavern
Gold: Famous Anthony’s
Silver: Crock and Roll
Best Local Coffee
Platinum: Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea
Gold: Cups Coffee and Tea
Silver: (tie); Java the Hut, Star City Coffehouse
Best Coffee Chain
Platinum: Starbucks
Gold: Dunkin’ Donuts
Silver: McDonald’s
Best Grilled Cheese
Platinum: Pop’s Ice Cream
Gold: Crock and Roll
Silver: Famous Anthony’s
Best Picnic Food
Platinum: The Roanoker Restaurant
Best Picnic Food (Chain)
Platinum: KFC
Gold: Fresh Market
Silver: Kroger
Best Bar Experience
Platinum: Blue 5 Restaurant
Gold: Annie Moore’s Irish Pub
Silver: (tie); Luigi’s Italian Gourmet, Martin’s Downtown, Village Grill
Best Local Craft Beer
Platinum: Roanoke Railhouse
Gold: Big Daddy’s Brewing Co. in Awful Arthur’s Seafood Company
Silver: Dam Lager (SML)
Best Beer Selection
Platinum: (tie); Blue 5 Restaurant, Montano’s International
Silver: Awful Arthur’s Seafood Co.
Best Wine List
Platinum: Frankie Rowland’s Steakhouse
Gold: The Regency Room at Hotel Roanoke
Silver: Luigi’s Italian Gourmet
Best Wine Made in Virginia
Platinum: Chateau Morrisette
Gold: AmRhein’s
Silver: Valhalla Vineyards
Best Mixed Drink
Platinum: Blue 5 Restaurant
Gold: (tie); Lucky, Pine Room Pub (Hotel Roanoke)
Best Nonalcoholic Frozen Drinks
Platinum: Luigi’s Italian Gourmet
Gold: (tie); Elderberry’s Smoothies, Pino Gelato Cafe
Best Alcoholic Frozen Drinks
Platinum: El Rodeo
Gold: Luigi’s Italian Gourmet
Silver: Alejandro’s
Chain Winner: Shula’s 347 Grill
Best Martini
Platinum: Frankie Rowland’s Steakhouse
Gold: Metro!
Silver: Blue 5 Restaurant
Best Nightclub
Platinum: 202 Market
Gold: (tie); Corned Beef and Co., Metro!
Best Bachelor Party
Platinum: Corned Beef and Co.
Gold: 202 Market
Best Bachelorette Party
Platinum: Corned Beef & Co.
Gold: 202 Market
Silver: Blue 5 Restaurant
Best Happy-Hour Deals
Platinum: Blue 5 Restaurant
Gold: Macado’s
Silver: (tie); Awful Arthur’s Seafood Company; Luigi’s Italian Gourmet
Best First Dinner Together
Platinum: (tie); Blue 5 Restaurant, Carlos Brazilian International, Luigii’s Italian Gourmet
Best Inexpensive Dates
Platinum: Macado’s
Gold: Alejandro’s
Silver: (tie); Famous Anthony’s, Fork in the Alley, Luigi’s Italian Gourmet
Best Expensive Dates
Platinum: Frankie Rowland’s Steakhouse
Gold: Carlos Brazilian International
Silver: The Library
Best for Watching the Game
Platinum: All Sports Café
Gold: (tie); Mac & Bob’s, Village Grill
Best for the Game (Chain)
Platinum: Buffalo Wild Wings
Gold: Hooter’s
Silver: Applebee’s
Best Outdoor Dining
Platinum: Fork in the Alley
Gold: (tie); Mac & Bob’s, Veranda Bistro
Best Live Entertainment
Platinum: Blue 5 Restaurant
Gold: Martin’s Downtown
Silver: Billy’s Barn
Most Unique Experience
Platinum: Kabuki Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi
Gold: (tie); Blue 5 Restaurant, The Regency Room at Hotel Roanoke
Best Overall Staff
Platinum: Taaza
Gold: (tie); Blue 5 Restaurant, Luigi’s Italian Gourmet
Best Chef
Platinum: The Regency Room at Hotel Roanoke, Billie Raper
Gold: Crock and Roll, Charles Hooper
Silver: Blue 5, Chris Dye
Best Maitre D’
Platinum: Luigi’s Italian Gourmet, Maristane Rocha
Gold: The Library, Gregory Greenwood
Silver: The Regency Room at Hotel Roanoke, Emily Harris and Iris Green
Locavore’s Dream Come True
Platinum: Local Roots
