Roanoke's Best Restaurants: Readers' Choice Dining Awards 2013

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The Menu: Roanoke's Best Dining Guide!

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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

• Platinum: Szechuan
• Gold: Cafe Asia
• Silver: Great Wall Chinese

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?

Click here for our 2012 and 2011 awards.