Dining: Semi-Celebs Pick Their Faves!
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David Hungate
Beth Macy, with husband Tom Landon behind.
Beth Macy, with husband Tom Landon behind, likes Metro! and Fork in the City, to name two.
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David Hungate
Chris Morrill
Chris Morrill likes the renewed Market Building.
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David Hungate
Beth Macy, with husband Tom Landon behind.
Beth Macy, with husband Tom Landon behind, likes Metro! and Fork in the City, to name two.
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David Hungate
Brian Powell
Brian Powell praises the beer selection at Annie Moore’s.
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David Hungate
Jason Davis
Jason Davis appreciates that the Texas Tavern “doesn’t cash checks or play with bumblebees.”
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David Hungate
William Penn
William Penn is a fan of Cafe on Franklin and Norberto’s, among others.
Roanoke is really not much on stars when it comes to people, but when it comes to dining rooms, we do have many. Our five restaurant selectors are, well, if not stars, at least brightly shining lights. One runs the city, one is its journalistic conscience, one helps define its music, one is a renaissance kind of guy and one is a newcomer/wine conoisseur. What better group for dining recommendations?
Okay, so you’re fresh off the boat. Welcome to Roanoke. You’ve gotten the cardboard boxes out of your living room, you’re figuring out which radio stations rock and which don’t, and that big star on the hill is no longer looking like a Christmas decoration that somebody forgot to take down (which is actually what it is, but somebody will explain all that later). And if you’re anything like me in the aftermath of my last moving adventure, you’re so sick of delivery pizza that the sound of your brand-new doorbell makes your stomach turn.
Well, take heart, newbie. A crack collection of welcome-wagoneers is committed to providing you with a guide of some of the most recommended local places to get a bite to eat, and to demonstrate that commitment, I did what I do best: I got somebody else to do it for me.
I recently sat down with five notable residents and picked their brains about some of the best places to send new residents looking for a bite to eat. They’re not all the fanciest (the people or the restaurants), but each one is a vital stop on the road to getting to know your new town. And I don’t mind saying, it’s a town that knows how to do restaurants.
William Penn
William Penn likes to keep a low profile. As a church organist, actor, volunteer with the June Bug Center arts organization, leader of the William Penn Orchestra, and co-writer of the opera “Miss Lucy” (which opened in November at Roanoke’s Community School), he barely gets out of the house. Okay, that’s not true, he’s always going somewhere and doing something, and as a result has scant time to spend in the kitchen. Here’s a selection of his favorite places to fuel up during a busy week of keeping us all entertained.
Café On Franklin
28 Franklin Rd., Downtown Roanoke
866-443-2461
“The food is wonderful, the service is fast. It’s very convenient for me for lunch, especially when I’m downtown.” This lunch-and-breakfast café is on one of Roanoke’s most central streets, boasts affordable prices, and offers catering.
Norberto’s Italian Ristorante
1908 Memorial Ave., in Roanoke’s Grandin Village
540-342-1611
I asked Penn if the cozy atmosphere was what drew him to this award-winning eatery. “It could be on a dirt floor. The food is so good I would not care. I think they have the best steak in town,” he says. He also singled out some of their seafood dishes for especial praise.
The Quarter
19 Salem Ave., Downtown Roanoke
540-342-2990
Open just since the summer, this Cajun Creole restaurant is already racking up awards and Facebook love. I asked Penn what made this place stand out for him. He stabbed me with his gimlet gaze. “I love New Orleans food.” And that is all he would say.
Macado’s
120 Church Ave. SW
Downtown Roanoke (and numerous other area locations)
540-342-7231
Penn raved about the late-night menu at this local fixture, calling out several of their whimsically-titled deli sandwiches by name. “I love the chicken wings, the potato skins, and all the other stuff I’m not supposed to eat,” he says, adding, “It’s one of the late-night places I can go and not worry about a fight breaking out.” Man, William, where have you been hanging out at night?
The Blues BBQ Co.
107 Market St. SE, Downtown Roanoke
540-344-5683
“Just good Southern comfort food,” Penn says. What more could I add?
Beth Macy
As you get to know the local paper here in town, you’re going to get to know Beth Macy. She’s a highly decorated local enterprise reporter with both a nation-wide list of credits and a strong local focus on what makes our community unique. From earthquake-rocked Haiti to the most intimate stories about our fellow Roanokers, some of the most powerful journalism you’ll read here or elsewhere will have this lady’s name on top of it.
Local Roots
1314 Grandin Road, in Roanoke’s Grandin Village
540-206-2610
Beth and her husband Tom love to sit at the bar for a quick beer (she’s become quite attached to IPAs and won’t hear of any less hoppy brew) or for a more substantial meal, and expresses a bit of pride in having talked the management into devising a bar menu to augment the grander fare in the dining room. From her “very favorite thing” mussels to the “phenomenal” cornbread ciabatta, it’s plain to see that however often Macy gets to go to Local Roots, she wouldn’t say no to a bit more.
Happy Belly Deli
In the back of the Roanoke Natural Foods Co-Op
1319 Grandin Road, in Roanoke’s Grandin Village
540-343-5652
“They have really amazing specials. I used to get this saag paneer there that was out of this world. I don’t really love tofu, but they make this amazing tofu salad. It’s amazing! And they’ve got this super-garlicky feta dressing that I could just eat with a spoon.”
Rockfish Food & Wine
1402 Grandin Road, in Roanoke’s Grandin Village
540-904-5454
Macy concedes that Rockfish is “a little out of my pay grade,” but I can assure you this is more about what journalists get paid in this town than it is about the restaurant’s prices. She’s quick to point out that “everything they do is phenomenal at Rockfish. So if my Uncle Frosty’s buying, and he wants to know where to go, we’ll say Rockfish.”
Metro!
14 East Campbell Ave., Downtown Roanoke
540-345-6645
“Their brunch is phenomenal. We normally hang out at home on Sundays, but I’d definitely like to check that out again.” Macy points out that Metro! also has a great sushi happy hour, drawing attention to the diversity of the menu at this pan-global downtown restaurant. She describes a couple of other favorites from Metro!’s menu with an expression I can only describe as rapturous.
Fork in the City
551 Marshall Ave., Roanoke
540-345-FORK
“Oh! Oh! They’ve got this pizza there!” With a lede like that, I know I want to keep reading. “It’s the one with the poblano peppers on it… Sunset beach!” Macy continues to tout Fork’s avocado salad dressing, noting that she never lets the server take away the dish it’s served in. “You may not take it away. Because you know what? I’m going to dip my pizza crust in it! I’m a big sopper.” Other accolades for Fork in the City? “I love a place where you can get breakfast all day.”
Jason Davis appreciates that the Texas Tavern “doesn’t cash checks or play with bumblebees.”
Jason Davis
Whether Jason Davis is playing bass with local band The Pullouts or working his daytime job with Roanoke’s 101.5 FM, The Music Place, he is neglecting his true callings as being either an ornithologist or a baseball historian. He’s one of the most well-rounded guys I know, and sports a beard that will make you want to buy a round of Dos Equis. As a former coworker at a local restaurant that is in this article (can you guess which one?), I know that Davis also has a fine palate for local eats.
Blue 5
312 2nd Street, Downtown Roanoke
540-904-5338
“I’ve yet to have a bad meal there. The burgers are phenomenal.” Davis also fondly recalled a date with a sultry blackened catfish entrée served over beans and rice. “I could eat there three days a week,” he tells me. But when I watched his eyes glaze over a la Homer Simpson as he described the bacon and braised shallot vinaigrette he’d had on a recent steak and bleu cheese salad, I couldn’t help suspecting that three days was lowballing it.
Alejandro’s Mexican Grill
127 Campbell Ave., Downtown Roanoke
540-400-7053
“There is not a better Mexican restaurant in town, in my opinion.” Davis notes that for many years in Roanoke, a single Mexican restaurant chain dominated the market here, and while he concedes that the veteran chain is quite good, he says he’s happy that Alejandro’s is among a fresh crop of newcomers to the scene. “Their carnitas are the best I’ve ever had. Now granted, I’ve never been to south Texas, I’ve never been to Mexico, but then again, there’s not a lot of people in this town that have.”
Carlos Brazilian International Cuisine
4167 Electric Road, Roanoke
540-776-1117
“Just completely awesome. I don’t know that there’s a better place in town that has better service than Carlos.” Davis notes that he enjoyed his “pre-senior prom dinner” at their former location on the Roanoke City Market, and across all the years, he remembers the paella he had that night better than the girl he took there.
Montano’s International Restaurant
3733 Franklin Road, Roanoke
540-344-8960
Davis owns up to the fact that he used to work at Montano’s, and that owner Marty Montano would likely be paying him a visit if the restaurant didn’t show up on this list. Nevertheless, his admiration is incontrovertible. He stresses the versatility. “What’s cool about it to me, is that the eclectic menu has, really, something for everybody. If you’re a vegetarian, they’ve got a ton of stuff for you to eat. If you want to get a big fat steak, they’ve got that. If you want a burger or a filet, they’ve got that. They’ve got a big rack of ribs… If you want a big plate of spaghetti and meatballs, they’ve got that.” Davis goes on like this for about three hours, but then finally gets on to the “unparalleled beer and wine selection.”
Texas Tavern
114 Church Ave. SW, Downtown Roanoke
540-342-4825
Ah, somebody had to bring Roanoke’s Millionaire’s Club into the mix. “Texas Tavern, baby! I mean, come on! It speaks for itself! If you’ve lived in Roanoke for any amount of time, and ever had the pleasure of being somewhat intoxicated at two in the morning on a Friday or Saturday night… or even a Tuesday night…then Texas Tavern is the place to be. It’s…” Here, Davis indulges in a superlatively pregnant pause. “Is it the best food in the world? Of course not. They’re not there to serve the best food in the world. They’re there to serve what they’ve been serving for 80 years. They’re obviously doing something right.” They seat 1,000 people 10 at a time, and they don’t cash checks or play with bumblebees. And you need to have this experience. Welcome to Roanoke.”
Chris Morrill likes the renewed Market Building.
Chris Morrill
Roanoke City Manager Chris Morrill is a seriously gracious guy. I don’t know whether he gets this from his last gig working in Savannah, Ga. (a righteously gracious town), or if he got it from moving to Roanoke (another righteously gracious town), but when we met for lunch at Firefly Fare in the Roanoke City Market Building and my cornstarch fork snapped while I was trying to spear a cucumber – resulting in my hand jetting down and tipping my sustainable-cardboard salad bowl into his lap – he barely broke stride, and still had trouble keeping his restaurant recommendations down to the five he’d committed to. And that’s even with his stated commitment to eat only in the city “until we finish the Eat for Education campaign.” This guy’s really taking it on the chin for the children, no lie.
Thelma’s Chicken and Waffles
315 Market St.
Downtown Roanoke (On the Market)
540-343-8888
After noting that his kids get to go to Texas Tavern when they have a good academic or athletic day, Morrill is not shy about moving on to Thelma’s. “The best fried chicken you can get.” He stresses the importance of supporting local businesses, but I can tell from the glint in his eye that if this chicken were produced on Mars, he would be just as hooked.
Firefly Fare
32 Market Sq., In the Roanoke Market Building
504-206-2630
“I love when we can buy local food, and so Firefly would be on [my list.] You get to experience the Market Building…” He looks around at the rapidly filling restaurant spaces in the building (he informs me that there are no more vacancies), but his attention keeps returning to his veggie-of-the-day lunch entrée, and by the time our brief lunch is over, his recyclable bowl is as empty as can be.
Pop’s Ice Cream & Soda Bar
1916 Memorial Ave., in Roanoke’s Grandin Village
540-345-2129
“Pop’s. Grandin Village. Best soup in town.” He doesn’t expand too much on this place, but given his adamant tone and all I’ve heard about the chill vibe, the powerful variety of grilled-cheese sandwiches, and the owner’s penchant for wandering out and playing the bagpipes, I’m already sold. Meet you there.
Paco’s Tacos
1613 Williamson Rd., Roanoke
540-265-0007
“That is so good! And I love that it has the local connection [Laura Gomez is the daughter of former Texas Tavern owner Jim Bullington], and the international flair.” After raving about Laura’s enthusiasm about the restaurant, Morrill adds, “I don’t know if I’ve ever been to an authentic taquería, but she says it is and I believe her.”
Healthy Stuff Cakery/Café
1731 Grandin Rd., in Roanoke’s Grandin Village
540-345-2407
“The story of it’s so good! He came up here from Atlanta and perfected this Healthy Stuff bread that he was selling on the market, and it’s made with, like, navy beans and squash and stuff, and it tastes fantastic!” The owner is “a really engaging guy,” Morrill adds, and he has “the best turkey bacon.” Can you think of a better recommendation or combination?
Brian Powell praises the beer selection at Annie Moore’s.
Brian Powell
What better way to round out a list of recommendations for newcomers than with a list of recommendations from a newcomer? Brian Powell is the new owner of the Wine Gourmet on Electric Road, and though he’s a relatively recent transplant to the area, he’s been to more restaurants in this town than a lot of lifelong residents I could name.
Taaza Indian Cuisine
117 Duke of Gloucester St., Roanoke
540-342-4773
“Probably one of the best Indian buffets I’ve been to. The service is great. The food is fresh and seasoned very well. I try and get there as often as possible.” Powell mentions one past misadventure cooking Indian food in which his roommates nearly deported him, and I have to concur that he’s better off getting his Indian fix at Taaza.
Sweet Frog
2015 Colonial Ave., Roanoke, at Towers Mall
540-343-FROG
It’s interesting to note that Powell is the first person to mention a full-on dessert place. “I’m a real big fan of Sweet Frog, as far as their low-cal and non-fat options there.” He points out the national trend of healthful yogurt-based dessert chains, and expresses pride that we’ve caught that particular wave.
Crock and Roll
1036 23rd St., Roanoke, at Towers Mall
540-904-2725
“I had the Johnny Cashew the other day. It was one of the most interesting combinations on a sandwich, but I shared it with everyone here at Wine Gourmet that day. It was spectacular.” Powell takes a moment to stress the importance he feels in supporting small businesses when eating out in Roanoke. But it’s not like that’s all that hard to do…
Annie Moore’s Pub
3555 Electric Rd., Roanoke
540-904-5466
“Great Irish pub, great beer menu.” As a guy who owns an establishment with a pretty rock-em sock-em beer menu in its own right, Powell likely ought to be trusted on this one.
Burger in the Square
3904 Brambleton Ave., Roanoke
540-400-8645
“You cannot beat it. I tried it the other day for the first time and it was spectacular. I actually went and joined their loyalty program.” Interestingly, Powell laments that the restaurant is “not in the downtown area,” highlighting their unfortunate forced exodus from their longtime digs in the Roanoke Market Building before its recent renovation. “They’ve got call-ahead. You call it in and they tell you exactly how long it’s going to be. And by the time we can get there, it’s ready.”
For more area dining options please view our restaurant guide, The Menu.