Reader's Choice Dining Awards 2011

Dining Awards 2011

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 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 (since closed)
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

Best Vegetarian Restaurant

Platinum: Wildflour Market & Bakery on 4th St.
Gold: Local Roots
Silver: The Isaacs (since closed)

Best Comfort Food

Best Downtown Restaurant

Best Hollins/North County Restaurant

Platinum: Hollywood’s Restaurant & Bakery
Gold: Veranda Bistro
Silver: Harbor Inn

Best Southwest Restaurant

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: Mamma 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 Brambleton 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 (since closed), Taaza

Best Business Breakfasts

Platinum: The Roanoker Restaurant
Gold: Famous Anthony’s
Silver: The Regency Room at Hotel Roanoke

Best Family Breakfasts

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 Brambleton 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 (since closed)
Silver: Three Li'l Pigs Barbeque

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 Steak Company, The Regency Room at Hotel Roanoke

Best Steak (Chain)

Platinum: Outback Steakhouse
Gold: Texas Steakhouse
Silver: Shula’s 347 Grill

Best Chicken

Best Chicken (Chain)

Platinum: KFC
Gold: Bojangle’s

Best Buffalo Wings

Platinum: All Sports Café
Gold: Macado's
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 (since closed)

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 (since closed)
Silver: (tie); Little Dipper (since closed), 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 (since closed)
Gold: Salem Donut Shop (now Veggies to Go, still serves doughnuts)

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 Bread

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 9since closed), Star City Coffee House

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. (served inside 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 Company

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, The Pine Room Pub at The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center

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