2024 Dining Awards

This list of winners is the delightful outcome of an epic culinary showdown that unfolded on TheRoanoker.com during the summer of 2023. Thousands of voracious voters rallied together to champion their beloved local gems in the region. We tip our chef’s hats to these passionate supporters and hope they continue to savor their local favorites!

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Best Appetizers

• Platinum: The River and Rail Restaurant
• Gold: Montano’s International Restaurant
• Silver: Sidecar

Best Small Plates

• Platinum: Bloom Restaurant & Wine Bar
• Gold: Sidecar
• Silver: Montano’s International Restaurant      

Best Salads

• Platinum: Montano’s International Restaurant
• Gold: Bloom Restaurant & Wine Bar
• Silver: The River and Rail Restaurant    

Best Biscuits

• Platinum: Scratch Biscuit Co.
• Gold: Crystal Spring Grocery Co.
• Silver: Scrambled  (TIE)
• Silver: Gina’s Food with Flavor (TIE)

Best Brunch

• Platinum: The Regency Room at The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center
• Gold: Billy’s
• Silver: Local Roots: A Farm-to-Table Restaurant             

Best Barbecue

• Platinum: Mama Jean’s BBQ
• Gold: Pok-E-Joe’s BBQ
• Silver: Treehouse Tavern               

Best Wings

• Platinum: AllSports Café
• Gold: Pok-E-Joe’s BBQ
• Silver: Treehouse Tavern 

Best Fried Chicken

• Platinum: Gina’s Food with Flavor
• Gold: Lucky Restaurant
• Silver: The River and Rail Restaurant     

Best Burgers

• Platinum: FarmBurguesa
• Gold: Burger in the Square
• Silver: Texas Tavern  

Best Pizza

• Platinum: New York Pizza
• Gold: Grace’s Place Pizzeria
• Silver: Bobby’s Hot & Cheesy

Best Steakhouse

• Platinum: Frankie Rowland’s Steakhouse
• Gold: Montano’s International Restaurant
• Silver: Billy’s         

Best Tacos

• Platinum: Tacos Rojas
• Gold: Tuco’s Taqueria Garaje
• Silver: Alejandro’s Mexican Grill

Best Chili

• Platinum: Texas Tavern
• Gold: Martin’s Downtown Bar & Grill
• Silver: Treehouse Tavern (TIE)
• Silver: Shakers (TIE)
• Silver: Montano’s International Restaurant (TIE)
• Silver: Mango’s Bar & Grill (TIE)

Best Bar Food

• Platinum: Martin’s Downtown Bar & Grill
• Gold: The Pine Room & 1882 Lobby Bar at The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center
• Silver: Montano’s International Restaurant

Best Sandwiches

• Platinum: Montano’s International Restaurant
• Gold: Macado’s
• Silver: Crystal Spring Grocery Co.

Best Seafood

• Platinum: Montano’s International Restaurant
• Gold: The River and Rail Restaurant
• Silver: Harbor Inn Seafood

Best Pasta

• Platinum: Fortunato
• Gold: Remini’s
• Silver: Sal’s Italian Restaurant

Best Sushi

• Platinum: Ben Gui Sushi
• Gold: Café Asia 2
• Silver: Wasabi’s

Best Chinese Restaurant

• Platinum: Szechuan Restaurant
• Gold: Café Asia 2
• Silver: Red Palace

Best Japanese Restaurant

• Platinum: Kabuki Japanese Steakhouse
• Gold: Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse
• Silver: Ben Gui Sushi

Best Thai Restaurant

• Platinum: City Corner 2
• Gold: Thai Continental Cuisine
• Silver: Taste of Asia

Best Vietnamese Restaurant

• Platinum: Viet Sub
• Gold: It’s Pho Time
• Silver: Pho Viet Nam (TIE)
• Silver: Pho Saigon (TIE)

Best Indian Restaurant

• Platinum: Taaza Indian Cuisine
• Gold: Nawab

Best Italian Restaurant

• Platinum: Remini’s
• Gold: Fortunato
• Silver: Luigi’s Italian Gourmet Restaurant

Best Mexican Restaurant

• Platinum: Tacos Rojas
• Gold: El Rodeo
• Silver: Alejandro’s Mexican Grill

Best Greek / Mediterranean Restaurant

• Platinum: Athens Corner Grill
• Gold: Petra Mediterranean Grill
• Silver: Cedars Lebanese Restaurant

Best International Restaurant

• Platinum: Montano’s International Restaurant
• Gold: Inka Grill Peruvian Cuisine
• Silver: The Vault at Liberty Trust

Best Diner

• Platinum: Texas Tavern
• Gold: Angelle’s Diner
• Silver: Chip & Jo’s

Best Bakery

• Platinum: Bread Craft
• Gold: Our Daily Bread
• Silver: On the Rise Bread Company (TIE)
• Silver: Evie’s Bistro and Bakery (TIE)

Best Special Occasion Cakes

• Platinum: Evie’s Bistro and Bakery
• Gold: Wildflour Café at Towers
• Silver: Kind Baking Co.

Best Desserts

• Platinum: Montano’s International Restaurant
• Gold: Evie’s Bistro and Bakery
• Silver: Hollywood’s Restaurant & Bakery

Best Fine Chocolates & Truffles

• Platinum: chocolatepaper
• Gold: Montano’s International Restaurant
• Silver: Sugar Magnolia

Best Candy Shop

• Platinum: chocolatepaper
• Gold: The Candy Store
• Silver: Mast General Store

Best Ice Cream Shop

• Platinum: Blue Cow Ice Cream Co
• Gold: Pop’s Ice Cream and Soda Bar (TIE)
• Gold: Katie’s Ice Cream & Chocolates (TIE)

Best Shaved Ice

• Platinum: Hang 10 Hawaiian Ice & Cream
• Gold: Chillin’ Shaved Ice

Best Local Coffee Shop

• Platinum: Sweet Donkey Coffee House
• Gold: Mill Mountain Coffee and Tea
• Silver: RND Coffee

Best Local Craft Beer Selection (Restaurant)

• Platinum: Montano’s International Restaurant
• Gold: Wasena City Tap Room & Grill
• Silver: Beamer’s 25

Best Brewery

• Platinum: Parkway Brewing Company
• Gold: Big Lick Brewing Company
• Silver: Twin Creeks Brewing Company

Best Winery

• Platinum: Valhalla Vineyards and Wine
• Gold: Stoney Brook Vineyards
• Silver: Well Hung Vineyard

Most Creative Cocktails

• Platinum: The River and Rail Restaurant
• Gold: Lucky Restaurant
• Silver: Sidecar

Best Mocktails

• Platinum: The River and Rail Restaurant
• Gold: Sidecar
• Silver: Lucky Restaurant

Best Wine List

• Platinum: Montano’s International Restaurant
• Gold: The River and Rail Restaurant
• Silver: Fortunato

Best Martinis

• Platinum: Frankie Rowland’s Steakhouse
• Gold: Montano’s International Restaurant
• Silver: The River and Rail Restaurant

Best Happy Hour Deals

• Platinum: Montano’s International Restaurant
• Gold: 419 West
• Silver: Taaza Indian Cuisine (TIE)
• Silver: Sidecar (TIE)

Best Brunch Drinks

• Platinum: Bloom Restaurant & Wine Bar
• Gold: Billy’s
• Silver: Local Roots: A Farm-to-Table Restaurant

Bar Where Everyone Knows Your Name

• Platinum: Montano’s International Restaurant
• Gold: Community Inn
• Silver: Treehouse Tavern

Top Bartender

• Platinum: Henry Hill Jr., The Pine Room & 1882 Lobby Bar at The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center
• Gold: Rachel Kidd, Fortunato (TIE)
• Gold: Jackie Gentry, The River and Rail Restaurant (TIE)

Restaurant with the Best Live Entertainment

• Platinum: Martin’s Downtown Bar & Grill
• Gold: Montano’s International Restaurant
• Silver: Gina’s Food with Flavor

Most Diverse Menu

• Platinum: Montano’s International Restaurant
• Gold: Sidecar
• Silver: The Vault at Liberty Trust (TIE)
• Silver: The River and Rail Restaurant (TIE)
• Silver: Gina’s Food with Flavor (TIE)

Best Pet-friendly Patio

• Platinum: The Green Goat
• Gold: Village Grill
• Silver: Treehouse Tavern

Best Fine Dining

• Platinum: The River and Rail Restaurant
• Gold: Alexander’s
• Silver: Frankie Rowland’s Steakhouse (TIE)
• Silver: Bloom Restaurant & Wine Bar (TIE)

Hidden Gem

• Platinum: Treehouse Tavern
• Gold: Gina’s Food with Flavor
• Silver: The River and Rail Restaurant (TIE)
• Silver: Montano’s International Restaurant (TIE)

Food Trend You Love

• Platinum: Small Selections/Plates
• Gold: Farm-to-Table/Locally-Sourced Ingredients
• Silver: Food Trucks (TIE)
• Silver: Pop-Ups (TIE)

Best Family-friendly Restaurant

• Platinum: Treehouse Tavern (TIE)
• Platinum: Montano’s International Restaurant (TIE)
• Gold: Gina’s Food with Flavor

Best Breakfast Menu

• Platinum: Scrambled
• Gold: Scratch Biscuit Company
• Silver: Our Daily Bread

Best Place for Lunch

• Platinum: Montano’s International Restaurant
• Gold: Crystal Spring Grocery Co.
• Silver: Treehouse Tavern

Best Place for Healthy Eating

• Platinum: Montano’s International Restaurant (TIE)
• Platinum: Local Roots: A Farm-to-Table Restaurant (TIE)
• Gold: Bloom Restaurant & Wine Bar

Place You Could Visit 24/7/365

• Platinum: Texas Tavern
• Gold: Montano’s International Restaurant
• Silver: The River and Rail Restaurant (TIE)
• Silver: Gina’s Food with Flavor (TIE)

Best Restaurant Decor

• Platinum: Sidecar
• Gold: Bloom Restaurant & Wine Bar
• Silver: Macado’s (TIE)
• Silver: Lentini’s (TIE)

Best Date-Night Spot

• Platinum: The River and Rail Restaurant
• Gold: Sidecar
• Silver: Montano’s International Restaurant (TIE)
• Silver: Bloom Restaurant & Wine Bar (TIE)

Best Outdoor Dining

• Platinum: Treehouse Tavern
• Gold: Village Grill (TIE)
• Gold: The Green Goat (TIE)

Best for Watching the Game

• Platinum: AllSports Café
• Gold: 202 Social House
• Silver: Village Grill

Best for a Private Party / Celebration

• Platinum: Montano’s International Restaurant
• Gold: Gina’s Food with Flavor
• Silver: Bloom Restaurant & Wine Bar

Best Food Truck

• Platinum: Mama Jean’s BBQ
• Gold: Salty Lobster & Co. (TIE)
• Gold: Rock & Roll Diner (TIE)

Best Takeout/Curbside Service

• Platinum: Montano’s International Restaurant
• Gold: Lentini’s (TIE)
• Gold: Gina’s Food with Flavor (TIE)

Best Late-Night Eats

• Platinum: Texas Tavern
• Gold: Community Inn
• Silver: Martin’s Downtown Bar & Grill

Best Farm-To-Table Menu

• Platinum: Local Roots: A Farm-to-Table Restaurant
• Gold: The River and Rail Restaurant
• Silver: Bloom Restaurant & Wine Bar

Restaurant With Can’t-Miss Daily Specials

• Platinum: Montano’s International Restaurant
• Gold: Treehouse Tavern
• Silver: Gina’s Food with Flavor

Best Vegetarian Menu

• Platinum: Montano’s International Restaurant
• Gold: Bloom Restaurant & Wine Bar
• Silver: Local Roots: A Farm-to-Table Restaurant

Best Vegan Menu

• Platinum: Montano’s International Restaurant
• Gold: Queen’s Vegan Café
• Silver: Screaming Vegan

Best Allergen-Friendly Options

• Platinum: Montano’s International Restaurant
• Gold: Corbin’s Confections
• Silver: Bloom Restaurant & Wine Bar

Best Festival for Food

• Platinum: Local Colors
• Gold: Roanoke Greek Festival
• Silver: Roanoke Wing Fest

Best Downtown Roanoke City Restaurant

• Platinum: Sidecar
• Gold: Billy’s
• Silver: Alexander’s

Best Roanoke City Restaurant (Outside Downtown)

• Platinum: The River and Rail Restaurant
• Gold: Montano’s International Restaurant
• Silver: Bloom Restaurant & Wine Bar

Best Southwest Roanoke City/County Restaurant

• Platinum: Montano’s International Restaurant
• Gold: The River and Rail Restaurant
• Silver: Remini’s (TIE)
• Silver: Fork in the Alley (TIE)
• Silver: Bloom Restaurant & Wine Bar (TIE)

Best Roanoke County Restaurant

• Platinum: Treehouse Tavern
• Gold: Remini’s
• Silver: Montano’s International Restaurant (TIE)
• Silver: Hollywood’s Restaurant & Bakery (TIE)

Best Salem Restaurant

• Platinum: Mac and Bob’s Restaurant
• Gold: Gina’s Food with Flavor
• Silver: Frankie Rowland’s Steakhouse

Best Vinton Restaurant

• Platinum: Pok-E-Joe’s BBQ
• Gold: Dogwood Restaurant
• Silver: New York Pizza

Best Smith Mountain Lake Restaurant

• Platinum: Mango’s Bar & Grill
• Gold: Napoli Cowboy
• Silver: Moosie’s

Best 460 / Bonsack Area Restaurant 

• Platinum: Sal’s Italian Restaurant
• Gold: Café Asia
• Silver: Chicago Bob’s

Best Botetourt County Restaurant 

• Platinum: Tizzones Wood-Fired Kitchen & Wine Bar
• Gold: Town Center Tap House
• Silver: Lentini’s

Best Hollins/North County Restaurant 

• Platinum: Hollywood’s Restaurant & Bakery
• Gold: Lews Restaurant
• Silver: Agave Azul Mexican Grill & Bar

Best New Restaurant (opened in the last 18 months)

• Platinum: Treehouse Tavern (TIE)
• Platinum: Pok-E-Joe’s BBQ (TIE)
• Gold: Stock Café

Best Overall Restaurant

• Platinum: Montano’s International Restaurant
• Gold: The River and Rail Restaurant
• Silver: Bloom Restaurant & Wine Bar

Best Overall Staff

• Platinum: The River and Rail Restaurant (TIE)
• Platinum: Montano’s International Restaurant (TIE)
• Gold: Gina’s Food with Flavor (TIE)
• Gold: Bloom Restaurant & Wine Bar (TIE)

Top Chef

• Platinum: Michael Whittaker, The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center
• Gold: Tyler Thomas, The River and Rail Restaurant
• Silver: Nathaniel Sloan, Bloom Restaurant & Wine Bar 

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