Travel Virginia 12 Best Places To Eat In Roanoke, Virginia By Jacqueline Mendelsohn Jacqueline Mendelsohn Jacqueline Mendelsohn is a freelance lifestyle journalist who writes about travel, food, and drink. She also produces sophisticated, audience-driven social media content as a contributor to Travel + Leisure. Prior to living in New York, Jacqueline spent twenty years living and working in the Washington, D.C. area. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on January 19, 2024 Close Photo: Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge Roanoke is best known for its proximity to over 1,000 miles of world-class hiking and biking in the Blue Ridge Mountains, but the culinary scene in this southwest Virginia city is also on the rise. In addition to farm-to-fork dining and craft cocktails, restaurants are churning out locally-made brews, Southern-inspired fare, and organic vegetarian cuisine. The combination of raw talent and proximity to local farms has turned Roanoke into a bona-fide dining destination—one you won’t want to miss. Here are some of the best restaurants to try on your next visit to Roanoke, in no particular order. Bloom Restaurant and Wine Bar Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge If you like vegetables, then you will love the seasonally driven small plates at Bloom, a modern American restaurant and wine bar in the Wasena neighborhood. You might find sautéed spaghetti squash served on a bed of charred hay crème fraiche topped with shaved gouda; sliced beets tossed with hazelnuts and drunken goat cheese; or roasted butternut squash crumbled with pumpkin seed dukkah atop quinoa pilaf. Classic cheese and charcuterie plates pair elegantly with the European-leaning wine menu as do expertly prepared proteins, such as an 18-hour braised beef, which are available in both small and large portions. bloomrke.com, 1109 Main St SW, Roanoke, VA 24015 Bread Craft Bakery Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge Plan to arrive at Bread Craft when it opens—promptly at 8 a.m.—to optimize your selection of breads and pastries, which vary daily based on a baking schedule posted on the bakery’s website. Jewish Rye as well as Miche, a round-shaped sourdough variety, are available on Thursdays whereas sweeter options like cinnamon rolls and sticky buns make the rounds on Saturdays. A breakfast and lunch menu featuring egg dishes, maple French toast, and freshly prepared sandwiches is also available for counter service or carry-out. breadcraftbakery.com, 24 Church Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24011 Crystal Spring Grocery Co. Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge This gourmet market cum café with indoor and patio seating is the ideal spot to stock up before or after a hike in the neighboring Blue Ridge Mountains. Made-to-order lunch items such as a crispy chicken sandwich with local honey on a brioche bun or griddled pepper jack and cheddar cheese on sourdough are available between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Customers can select seasonally inspired salads and house-made soups from the grab-and-go section in addition to an array of snacks from the grocery aisles. Organic wine and craft beer are also available. csgrocery.com, 2205 Crystal Spring Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24014 Fruits and Roots Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge The first brick-and-mortar location for this Historic Roanoke City Market vendor is bright and cheerful with a handful of tables inside. Fruits and Roots, an organic eatery, offers cold-pressed fruit and vegetable juices, plant-based treats, smoothies, and bowls. Sample a classic açaí bowl topped with house-made vegan granola or the Nutty Green smoothie blended with bananas, blueberries, spinach, hemp seeds, peanut butter, and almond milk. Don’t forget to grab a pack of organic energy bites or a gluten-free muffin on your way out. facebook.com/fruitsandrootsroanoke, 122 Campbell Ave SE, Roanoke, VA 24011 Lucky Restaurant Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge Ask anyone in Roanoke where to go for a craft cocktail and chances are high, they’ll send you straight to Lucky. For over a decade, this restaurant has built a reputation around its beverages as well as its high-end comfort food. Try a unique concoction from the bar, such as the “Stede Bonnet,” fashioned with Seedlip Grove 42, sorrel, jasmine green tea, green cardamom, adjusted orange, aquafaba, and champagne. The dinner options are just as enticing; a four-course prix fixe menu featuring the likes of fried green tomatoes, roasted bone marrow, and smoked meatloaf, among other dishes. eatatlucky.com, 18 Kirk Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24011 RND Coffee Lounge Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge Roasters Next Door (RND) is the place to get your caffeine fix in town. An independently owned small batch roastery with locations in Wasena and neighboring Vinton, RND emphasizes a variety of single-origin blends from around the world including Ethiopia, Columbia, Nicaragua, and Brazil. Coffee is available by the cup or to purchase by the pound. Stop in for a quick sip or linger with your laptop at one of the tables; the friendly staff won’t mind. RND is open daily from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. roanokecoffee.com, 1114 Main St SW, Roanoke, VA 24015 Scratch Biscuit Co. Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge No reservations are necessary at this casual breakfast standout in historic Grandin Village. Southern-style biscuits are baked from scratch daily and offered with an array of accompaniments, like eggs and sausage, alongside sweet dishes such as French toast and pancakes. Feeling ambitious? Order The Cowboy Crippler, an eight-inch-wide biscuit loaded high with country-fried sausage, beef brisket, pulled pork, hash browns, and cheese. scratchbiscuit.com, 1820 Memorial Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24015 Sidecar Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge This downtown Roanoke gem transports with a European-themed menu and upscale gastropub vibe. You’ll find classic steak frites, tender duck confit, and Normandy-style mussels. Groups will appreciate shareable appetizers such as Bavarian pretzels and charcuterie platters. Don’t miss the handmade sausages, available individually or in platters of four, served with all the traditional accouterments. Fancy a cocktail first? You’ll find an assortment of old-world-inspired beverages, European wines, and imported beers at the bar. sidecarva.com, 411 1st St SW, Roanoke, VA 24011 Stock Cafe Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge Fire Station One, a boutique hotel housed inside a historic firehouse, offers an intriguing newcomer to Roanoke’s diverse restaurant scene. Stock Café features a Nordic and Scandinavian-themed menu. Think: cocktails produced with lingonberry and Kapsalon, a Dutch fast-food dish assembled with hand-cut fries, chicken shawarma, gouda, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, garlic sauce, and sambal. You’ll also find authentic plates like varieties of Smørrebrød, a traditional Danish open-faced rye bread sandwich; fried pork schnitzel; and whole roasted trout accompanied by potato rösti and crème fraiche. firestationone.com/stock, 13 Church Ave SE, Roanoke, VA 24011 The Green Goat Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge Visiting Roanoke with children in tow? Head to The Green Goat for a casual lunch or dinner. The restaurant’s outdoor seating ranges from picnic benches to Adirondack chairs at this eatery located on the Roanoke River Greenway in the eastern corner of Wasena Park around the corner from the basketball court and skate park. The American menu features crowd-pleasers such as wings, waffle fries, and deviled eggs, rounded out with a variety of salads, sandwiches, burgers, and pizzas. greengoatroanoke.org, 802 Wiley Dr SW, Roanoke, VA 24015 The River and Rail Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge The River and Rail is a local favorite for traditional Southern fare sourced from the Roanoke and New River Valleys. As you might expect, the menu rotates regularly based on what’s fresh and in season. Begin, for example, with a Virginia oyster wrap sculpted with organic Bibb lettuce, house-made kimchi remoulade, shaved radish, and chives or the applewood smoked heritage pork ribs with sorghum and peanuts. Save room for protein-rich mains, such as wild striped bass or dry-aged duck breast, as well as dessert options like handmade ice creams and sorbet. riverandrailrestaurant.com, 2201 Crystal Spring Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24014 Viet Sub Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge Viet Sub proves that delicious food doesn’t require a fancy interior or table service. This pint-sized restaurant has some of the most authentic Vietnamese food around, including an Instagrammable Banh Mi lathered with mayo, chicken liver pâté, ham, carrots, daikon radish, cucumber, cilantro, and jalapeño pepper. Classic dishes such as pho, rice vermicelli bowls, spring rolls, and dumplings also grace the menu. Order yours at the counter for take away or to eat in. www.vietsubroanoke.com, 1403 Williamson Rd NE, Roanoke, VA 24012 Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit