Restaurant Dining in Roanoke

While historians and preservationists work hard to keep the vistas of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains intact, the restaurateurs are working hard at constantly changing the culinary horizon.

 

Thirty-plus years ago, Roanoke Valley’s tastes leaned toward modest, housing mostly home cooking style places. If you wanted a “fancy meal” you had to go to the hotel; yet even the fanciest meals in town still had inclinations toward upscale ham, veal, and chicken dishes.

 

Now, many years later, there has been an explosion of ethnic and specialty restaurants in the area. The Roanoke Valley also boasts a handful of successful “homegrown” restaurant chains, mostly family-style, with multiple locations.

 

Whether in self-standing restaurants or hotel dining rooms, talented chefs galore are carving their niches’ in the local restaurant scene, working out of kitchens large and small.

 

Downtown, on the historic Farmer’s Market (still operated by farmers after 100 years) you’ll find an abundance of restaurants. The old farmer’s market building has been transformed into a food court that features multi-ethnic cuisines, as well as the less exotic pizza, salad, bar-b-que, and burger places. There’s something for every palate and restaurant/bars, a seafood restaurant, and even a French restaurant surround it.

 

The nearby market area itself and downtown Roanoke boasts dozens of restaurants within a few blocks walking distance. Often the buildings that house them are as interesting as the menus themselves. Sometimes kitchen workers and local chefs are seen actually buying fresh herbs, spices, and veggies right out of the farmer’s bins. Downtown Roanoke also has several upscale steakhouses as well as other fine-dining opportunities.