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The Menu: Roanoke's Best Dining Guide!
Our food-loving readers are back with their picks for the best restaurants, nicest dining rooms, best service and so many more recognitions of just how lucky we all are to get to go out to eat in the Roanoke Valley. Our thanks to all who voted and our congratulations to all the winners.
(Looking for results from previous years?
Click here for our 2012 and 2011 awards.)
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Best of the Best
Best Overall Dining
- Platinum: The River and Rail
- Gold (tie): Carlos Brazilian International Cuisine, Local Roots
Best New Restaurant in Town (since7/2012)
- Platinum: Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint
- Gold: 1906 Ale House
- Silver: 501 Speakeasy
Best New Chain Restaurant (since 7/2012)
- Platinum: Cook-Out
- Gold: Steak ‘n Shake
- Silver: Mirko Pasta (since unchained and renamed Fresco Italian Restaurant)
Most Creative Menu
- Platinum: The River and Rail
- Gold: Local Roots
- Silver: Lucky
Best Expense Account Dinner
- Platinum: Frankie Rowland’s
- Gold: The River and Rail
- Silver: Carlos Brazilian International Cuisine
Best Hotel Restaurant
- Platinum: Regency Room, Hotel Roanoke
- Gold: Shula’s 347 Grill
- Silver: Pine Room - Hotel Roanoke
- Honorable Mention: Elephant Walk (Holiday Inn Tanglewood)
- Honorable Mention: First and Sixth
Best To See And Be Seen
- Platinum: Metro!
- Gold: The River and Rail
- Silver: Blue 5 Restaurant
Best Remodel/Relocation
- Platinum: Billy’s
- Gold: The River and Rail
- Silver: Regency Room, Hotel Roanoke
Place You Never Get Tired Of
- Platinum: The River and Rail
- Gold: Local Roots
- Silver: (tie) Blue 5 Restaurant, Montano’s International Restaurant
Best Simple Meals
- Platinum: Famous Anthony’s
- Gold: The Roanoker Restaurant
- Silver: Benny Marconi’s
Food So Pretty You Hate To Eat It
- Platinum: Local Roots
- Gold: The River and Rail
- Silver: Metro!
Best Late-Night Dinner
- Platinum: Texas Tavern
- Gold: Benny Marconi’s
- Silver: Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint
Most Diverse Menu
- Platinum: Montano’s International Restaurant
- Gold: The River and Rail
- Silver: (tie) Carlos Brazilian International Cuisine, Macado’s
Best Buffet
- Platinum: Red Palace
- Gold: Golden Corral
- Silver: Hibachi Grill and Buffet
Most Affordable Dinners
- Platinum: Famous Anthony’s
- Gold: Macado’s
- Silver: The Roanoker Restaurant
- Chain Winner: Cheddar’s
Most Affordable Lunches
- Platinum: Famous Anthony’s
- Gold: Macado’s
- Silver: Paul’s Restaurant
Best Deli
- Platinum: Brambleton Deli & BBQ
- Gold: New Yorker Delicatessen
- Silver: Montano’s International Restaurant
Best Takeout
Best Healthy Plates
- Platinum: Wildflower on 4th street
- Gold: Wildflour at Towers
- Silver: Firefly Fare
Deal You Gotta Try
- Platinum: Half Price Hamburgers at Martin’s Downtown Bar & Grill
- Gold: Burger Night/$5 Wine Night at The River and Rail
- Silver: Taco Tuesday at The Village Grill
Best Sunday Brunches
- Platinum: Regency Room, Hotel Roanoke
- Gold: The River and Rail
- Silver: Local Roots
No Tabasco Required
- Platinum: Alejandro’s Mexican Grill
- Gold: (tie) Nawab Cuisine of India, Taaza Indian Cuisine, The Quarter Restaurant
Best Quick Bites
- Platinum: Texas Tavern
- Gold: Benny Marconi’s
- Silver: (tie) Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint, Roanoke Weiner Stand
Best Outdoor Patio
- Platinum: Billy’s
- Gold: The Quarter Restaurant
- Silver: Fork in the Alley
Best Sidewalk Dining
- Platinum: Metro!
- Gold: Fork in the Market
- Silver: The River and Rail
Best Exotic Combinations That Work
- Platinum: The River and Rail
- Gold: (tie) Cafe Asia, Carlos Brazilian International Cuisine
Best Gluten-Free Choices
- Platinum: Local Roots
- Gold: Happy Belly Deli
- Silver: Firefly Fare
Locavore’s Dream Come True
- Platinum: Local Roots
- Gold: The River and Rail
- Silver: Firefly Fare
The Personal Touch
Best Overall Staff
- Platinum: The River and Rail
- Gold: Local Roots
- Silver: (tie) Lucky, Carlos Brazilian International Cuisine, Shula’s 347 Grill
Top Chef
- Platinum: Chef Aaron Deal, The River & Rail
- Gold: Chef Nate Sloan, Local Roots
- Silver: Chef Jeff Famer, Lucky
Up and Coming Chef
- Platinum: Chef Aaron Deal, The River & Rail
- Gold: (tie) Chef Justin Wall, Pomegranate; Chef Nate Sloan, Local Roots
Best Maitre D’
- Platinum: Regency Room, Hotel Roanoke
- Gold: Local Roots
- Silver: Alexander’s
Favorite Foods
Best Local Pizza
- Platinum: Grace’s Place
- Gold: Benny Marconi’s
- Silver: New York Pizza
Best Chain Pizza
- Platinum: Papa John’s Pizza
- Gold: Pizza Hut
- Silver: Domino’s Pizza
Best Subs & Sandwiches
- Platinum: New Yorker Delicatessen
- Gold: Macado’s
- Silver: Brambleton Deli & BBQ
Best Barbecue
- Platinum: Blues BBQ and Grill
- Gold: Three L’il Pigs Barbeque
- Silver: Bad Wolf Bar B Q
Best Hot Dogs
- Platinum: Roanoke Weiner Stand
- Gold: Fork in the City/Alley
- Silver: Texas Tavern
Best Chili
- Platinum: Texas Tavern
- Gold: Wildflour Café
- Silver: (tie) Burger in the Square, Fork in the Alley
Best Local Hamburgers
- Platinum: Burger in the Square
- Gold: Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint
- Silver: (tie) Beamer’s 25, The River and Rail
Best Chain Hamburgers
- Platinum: Five Guys
- Gold: Wendy’s
- Silver: Red Robin Gourmet Burgers
Best Steak
- Platinum: Frankie Rowland’s
- Gold: The River and Rail
- Silver: (tie) Blue 5 Restaurant, Coach & Four Restaurant
Best Steak (Chain)
- Platinum: Outback Steakhouse
- Gold: Logan’s Roadhouse
- Silver: Shula’s 347 Grill
Best Fried Chicken
- Platinum: Thelma’s Chicken & Waffles
- Gold: The Homeplace Restaurant
- Silver: The Roanoker Restaurant
Best Chicken
- Platinum: Thelma’s Chicken & Waffles
- Gold: The Homeplace Restaurant
- Silver: The River and Rail
Best Chicken (Chain)
- Platinum: KFC
- Gold: Chick-Fil-A
- Silver: Bojangles’ Famous Chicken ‘n Biscuits
Best Buffalo Wings
- Platinum: Allsports Café
- Gold: (tie) Macado’s, Martin’s Downtown Bar & Grill
- Chain Winner: Buffalo Wild Wings
Best Ribs
- Platinum: Blues BBQ and Grill
- Gold: Blue 5 Restaurant
- Silver: Martin’s Downtown Bar & Grill
Best Fish and Chips
- Platinum: Annie Moore’s Irish Pub
- Gold: Awful Arthur’s Seafood Company
- Silver: Flanary’s Pub
Best Seafood
- Platinum: Stephen’s Restaurant
- Gold: Awful Arthur’s Seafood Company
- Silver: Harbor Inn Seafood
- Chain Winner: Red Lobster
Best Biscuits
- Platinum: The Roanoker Restaurant
- Gold: The Homeplace Restaurant
- Silver: The River and Rail
Best Biscuits (Chain)
- Platinum: Hardee’s
- Gold: Bojangles’ Famous Chicken ‘n Biscuits
- Silver: Red Lobster
Best Bagels
- Platinum: Roanoke Bagel Company
- Gold: Mill Mountain Coffee and Tea
- Silver: Full Moon Café
- Chain Winner: Panera Bread
Best Grilled Cheese
- Platinum: Pop’s Ice Cream and Soda Bar
- Gold: Crock and Roll
- Silver: Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint
- Chain Winner: Panera Bread
Bread Lovers’ Dream
- Platinum: Bread Craft
- Gold: On the Rise Bakery
- Silver: Wildflour
- Chain Winner: Panera Bread
Best Appetizers
- Platinum: The River and Rail
- Gold: Local Roots
- Silver: Blue 5 Restaurant
Best Appetizers (Chain)
- Platinum: Applebee’s
- Gold: Cheddar’s
- Silver: TGI Fridays
Best Small Plates
- Platinum: Blue Apron and Red Rooster Bar
- Gold: Local Roots
- Silver: (tie) Lucky, The River and Rail
Best Salads
- Platinum: Wildflour
- Gold: Local Roots
- Silver: Macado’s
- Chain Winner: Panera Bread
Best Soups
- Platinum: Crock and Roll
- Gold: Pop’s Ice Cream and Soda Bar
- Silver: The River and Rail
Best Soups (Chain)
- Platinum: Panera Bread
- Gold: Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
- Silver: McAlister’s Deli
Best Vegetarian Menu
- Platinum: Wildflour
- Gold: Firefly Fare
- Silver: Local Roots
Best Comfort Food
- Platinum: Thelma’s Chicken & Waffles
- Gold: The Homeplace Restaurant
- Silver: The Roanoker Restaurant
Ace of Cakes (Best Desserts)
- Platinum: Wildflower on 4th Street
- Gold: Bubblecake
- Silver: The River and Rail
Best Yogurt
- Platinum: Sweet Frog Premium Frozen Yogurt
- Gold: Frogurt
- Silver: (tie) Bloop, Menchie’s
Mouthwatering Baked Goods
- Platinum: (tie) Bread Craft, Wildflour
- Silver: Bubblecake
Mouthwatering Baked Goods (Chain)
- Platinum: Panera Bread
- Gold: The Fresh Market
Best Chocolate/Candy Store
- Platinum: chocolatepaper
- Gold: Baylee’s Best Chocolates
- Silver: Nancy’s Candy Co.
Best Local Ice Cream
- Platinum: Pop’s Ice Cream and Soda Bar
- Gold: Homestead Creamery
- Silver: Katie’s Ice Cream & Chocolates
Best Chain Ice Cream
- Platinum: Bruster’s
- Gold: MaggieMoo’s
- Silver: Dairy Queen
Best Local Craft Beer
- Platinum: Parkway Brewing Co.
- Gold: Roanoke Railhouse Brewery
- Silver: Blue 5 Restaurant
Drink Up
Best Wine List
- Platinum: The River and Rail
- Gold: (tie) Local Roots, Montano’s International Restaurant, Rockfish Food & Wine
Best Wine Made in Virginia
- Platinum: Chateau Morrisette
- Gold: Valhalla Vineyards
- Silver: Villa Appalaccia
Best Club
- Platinum: 202 Market
- Gold: Metro!
- Silver: Local Roots
Best Martini List
- Platinum: Frankie Rowland’s
- Gold: Metro!
- Silver: Lucky
Best Happy-Hour Deals
- Platinum: Macado’s
- Gold: Local Roots
- Silver: Blue 5 Restaurant
Best Local Coffee
- Platinum: Mill Mountain Coffee and Tea
- Gold: Cups Coffee and Tea
- Silver: Froth
Best Coffee Chain
- Platinum: Starbucks
- Gold: Dunkin’ Donuts
World Map To Great Eats & Drinks
Best Indian Restaurant
- Platinum: Nawab Cuisine of India
- Gold: Taaza Indian Cuisine
Best Chinese Restaurant
- Platinum: Szechuan
- Gold: Cafe Asia
- Silver: Red Palace
Best Italian Restaurant
- Platinum: Luigi’s Italian Gourmet
- Gold: Sal’s Italian Restaurant
- Silver: Mamma Maria’s Italian Restaurant
Best Italian (Chain)
- Platinum: Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
- Gold: Carrabba’s
- Silver: Mirko Pasta (since unchained and renamed Fresco Italian Restaurant)
Best Mexican Restaurant
- Platinum: Alejandro’s Mexican Grill
- Gold: El Rodeo/El Toreo
- Silver: Rancho Viejo
Best Japanese Restaurant
- Platinum: Kabuki Japanese Steak House
- Gold: Ben Gui Sushi
- Silver: (tie) Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse, Wasabi’s
Best Traditional Virginia Food
- Platinum: The Homeplace Restaurant
- Gold: The Roanoker Restaurant
- Silver: Thelma’s Chicken & Waffles
Best Sushi
- Platinum: Ben Gui Sushi
- Gold: Wasabi’s
- Silver: Cafe Asia
Best International Taste Not Covered Above
- Platinum: Carlos Brazilian International Cuisine
- Gold: Cedars Lebanese Restaurant
- Silver: Red Jasmine Thai Cuisine
Best For Talking Business
- Platinum: Frankie Rowland’s
- Gold: (tie) 419 West, The River and Rail
Best For Taking Everyone Along
- Platinum: The Homeplace Restaurant
- Gold: Macado’s
- Silver: Blue 5 Restaurant
Best Kid’s Birthday Spot
- Platinum: Pop’s Ice Cream and Soda Bar
- Gold: Macado’s
- Silver: Thunder Valley Family Entertainment Center
- Chain Winner: Chuck E. Cheese
Best Kids’ Menu
- Platinum: Famous Anthony’s
- Gold: Macado’s
- Silver: Pop’s Ice Cream and Soda Bar
Makes The Whole Family Happy
- Platinum: The Homeplace Restaurant
- Gold: Macado’s
- Silver: Pop’s Ice Cream and Soda Bar
- Chain Winner Cheddar’s
Best Anniversaries/Special Occasions
- Platinum: (tie) Carlos Brazilian International Cuisine, The River and Rail
- Silver: Frankie Rowland’s
Dinner Dates That Score Big
- Platinum: The River and Rail
- Gold: Carlos Brazilian International Cuisine
- Silver: Frankie Rowland’s
Best Vibe
- Platinum: Blue 5 Restaurant
- Gold: Local Roots
- Silver: Lucky
Best Picnic Food
- Platinum: The Roanoker Restaurant
- Gold: Macado’s
Best Picnic Food (Chain)
- Platinum: KFC
- Gold: Bojangles’ Famous Chicken ‘n Biscuits
- Silver: The Fresh Market
Best Tailgate Food
- Platinum: The Roanoker Restaurant
- Gold: Buffalo Wild Wings
- Silver: Allsports Café
Best Late-Night Fun
Best Diner, Drive In or Dive
- Platinum: Texas Tavern
- Gold: Community Inn Restaurant
- Silver: Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint
Best Late-Night Dinner
- Platinum: Texas Tavern
- Gold: Benny Marconi’s
- Silver: Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint
Best Late-Night Dinner (Chain)
- Platinum: IHOP
- Gold: (tie) Cook-Out, Waffle House
Best Neighborhood Bar
- Platinum: Community Inn Restaurant
- Gold: The River and Rail
- Silver: (tie) Local Roots, The Village Grill
Best Beer Selection
- Platinum: Blue 5 Restaurant
- Gold: Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint
- Silver: Wasena City Taproom and Grill
Most Creative Cocktails
- Platinum: Lucky
- Gold: Metro!
- Silver: (tie) Local Roots The River and Rail
Best Basic Watering Hole
- Platinum: Community Inn Restaurant
- Gold: Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint
- Silver: (tie) Martin’s Downtown Bar & Grill, The Village Grill
Best Uptown Bar
- Platinum: Metro!
- Gold: Blue 5 Restaurant
- Silver: (tie) Billy’s, Lucky, Martin’s Downtown Bar & Grill, Penny Deux Lounge
Best Bachelor Party
- Platinum: Corned Beef & Company
- Gold: (tie) Blue 5 Restaurant, Martin’s Downtown Bar & Grill
Best Bachelorette Party
- Platinum: Metro!
- Gold: 202 Market
- Silver: Corned Beef & Company
Best for Watching the Game
- Platinum: Allsports Cafe
- Gold: Brambleton Deli & BBQ
- Silver: (tie) Beamer’s 25, Mac & Bob’s
- Chain Winner: Buffalo Wild Wings
Best Live Entertainment
- Platinum: Blue 5 Restaurant
- Gold: Martin’s Downtown Bar & Grill
- Silver: Sidewinders Steak House and Saloon
Best in Their Part of Town
Best Downtown Restaurant
- Platinum: Blue 5 Restaurant
- Gold: Lucky
- Silver: (tie) Alexander’s, Frankie Rowland’s
Best Hollins/North County Restaurant
- Platinum: Hollywood’s
- Gold: Lew’s Restaurant
- Silver: Veranda Bistro
Best Salem Restaurant
- Platinum: Blue Apron and Red Rooster Bar
- Gold: Mac & Bob’s
- Silver: Mamma Maria’s Italian Restaurant
Best Vinton Restaurant
- Platinum: New York Pizza
- Gold: Red Jasmine Thai Cuisine
- Silver: Dogwood Restaurant
Best Lake Area Restaurant
- Platinum: The Landing Restaurant
- Gold: Mango’s Bar & Grill
- Silver: Moosie’s
Worth an Hour in the Car
- Platinum: The Homeplace Restaurant
- Gold: (tie) The Swinging Bridge Restaurant, The Palisades Restaurant (Eggleston)
Best in the Neighborhood
- Platinum: The River and Rail
- Gold: Local Roots
- Silver: Fork in the Alley
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Looking for results from previous years?