The long list of restaurants we love
One chef's secret ingredient
I must say, I didn’t expect such a vigorous conversation to stem from yesterday’s blog entry, although I’m not sure why it surprised me. We all love to talk about our favorite restaurants so much! One blog reader asked if I would compile a list of the places people said they’d miss the most if they moved away from the area, and I was happy to oblige. If you click “Read more” at the bottom of this entry, you’ll see that I have pasted the master list there.
In other news, you might want to check out today’s Front Burner column for a peek inside the minds (and cabinets, and refrigerators) of some local chefs who were kind enough to share with me their secret ingredients. I asked them what ordinary ingredient they use in a surprising way, and the answers are really fun. Do you think you’ll try any of these? I already tried the Lawry’s in scrambled eggs and it was dynamite.
Finally, I wanted to tack on a quick note that downtown Roanoke’s new Lebanese restaurant, Hummus House, opened on Monday in the Crystal Towers building in downtown Roanoke. That building is in the 200 block, and is the same building that used to house Total Action against Poverty offices. If you try Hummus House, let us know what you thought.
As of 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday (Feb. 29), these are the restaurants blog readers said they would miss the most if they ever moved away:
Blue Apron Restaurant & Red Rooster Bar, Main Street, Salem
Roanoke Weiner Stand, downtown Roanoke
Crock and Roll, Towers Shopping Center, Roanoke
Hollywood’s Restaurant, next to Hollins University, Roanoke
Wildflour, 4th Street, Southwest Roanoke
El Toreo, Franklin Road, Roanoke
Billy Jo’s Pancake House and Zorba’s Small World Cafe, Lynchburg Turnpike, Salem
Local Roots Restaurant, Grandin Village, Roanoke
Lucky Dog Pub & Deli, alternate U.S. 220 between Cloverdale and Bonsack
Gillie’s, College Avenue, Blacksburg
The Homeplace, Catawba
Mamma Maria’s, West Salem
Pop’s Soda Shop, Grandin Village, Roanoke
Macado’s (multiple locations)
El Toreo, Peters Creek Road, Roanoke
Bull & Bones, S. Main Street, Blacksburg
New Yorker Delicatessen, Williamson Road, Roanoke
Frankie Rowland’s, downtown Roanoke
Carlos Brazilian International, U.S. 419, Roanoke
Corned Beef & Co., downtown Roanoke
The Roanoker Restaurant, near Towers Mall, Roanoke
New York Pizza, Hardy Road, Vinton
Due South BBQ, Roanoke Street, Christiansburg
Frank’s Pizza (multiple locations)
Cucci’s Pizzeria, Covington
Lil’ Cucci’s, U.S. 220, Daleville
Alejandro’s Mexican Grille (multiple locations)
K & W Cafeteria, Hershberger Road, Roanoke
Pete’s Deli, Towne Square Shopping Center, Roanoke
The Library, Franklin Road, Roanoke
Fork in the Alley, Crystal Spring, Roanoke
Famous Anthony’s (multiple locations)
Mill Mountain Coffe & Tea (multiple locations)
Sake House, S. Main St., Blacksburg
Jersey Lily’s, U.S. 460, Roanoke
Cafe Asia, U.S. 460, Bonsack
Pomegranate, Stoney Battery Road, Troutville
Paul’s Restaurant, downtown Roanoke
Fiji Island, off Franklin Road, Roanoke
The Brambleton Deli, Brambleton Avenue, Roanoke
Red Palace, Tanglewood and Valley View malls
Bella Pizza, Lee Highway, Troutville
Texas Tavern, downtown Roanoke
Firefly Fare, Roanoke City Market Building, downtown Roanoke
Alexander’s, downtown Roanoke
Montano’s, Franklin Road, Roanoke
Grace’s Place Pizzeria, Grandin Village, Roanoke
Ben Gui Sushi, Starkey Road, Roanoke
Rockfish, Grandin Village, Roanoke
Wasabi’s, downtown Roanoke
Eatwell Chili Shop, Jamison Avenue, Roanoke
Formosa, downtown Roanoke
Abbott’s, Garden City, Roanoke
Dogwood Restaurant, E. Lee Ave., Vinton
Taaza Indian Cuisine, off Franklin Road, Roanoke
Table 50, downtown Roanoke
R.T. Smith’s Deli, downtown Roanoke
Metro! in downtown Roanoke
February 29, 2012 - 10:52 AM
RSS feed 
Where is Alexander’s and Rockfish in this list? Not to mention Grace’s Pizza, Wasabi’s and Ben Gui Sushi. Judging by how many visit Montano’s on a regular basis- that is missing as well.
This is a little different. My daughter and son in law live in MD, but if Alexander’s were to close here, it would be missed by them. It’s my son in law’s favorite restaurant here.
I enjoyed your column today. I think the salt and pepper potato chips would be great as a coating for chicken too.
Missing some homegrown restaurants that have been in Roanoke for a while – Alexander’s, RockFish, Grace’s Pizza, Montanos
We had lunch at Hummus House today. The food was excellent, I had a Kafta Wrap and some grape leaves. With the great food and reasonable prices, Hummus House is a no-brainer!
@Teresa, those restaurants were not on the list because nobody had nominated them yet. It is a user-populated list. Now they’re on there.
Thanks for the report, Keith!
I also think the column today was good. The first tip about the instant potatoes and flour gnocchi is something that I’ve used for years when making chicken and dumplings. I was experimenting one day because I didn’t have enough flour. But when I tried it with instant potatoes it came out great. The dumplings turn out slightly chewy, which is how I like them.
Angler’s Cafe has been missed for years.
I’d miss Table 50!! I love the atmosphere in there, plus the scallops and ahi tun are to die for. As I work downtown, it’s also a great place to grab some crab bisque at lunch. I’d also miss R.T. Smith’s, as I’ve been recently going there a lot! Their ingredients are top notch and on our first couple of visits in there, the owner let us try a few things to see what we liked. Really great customer service at both places too.
Thanks Lindsey!
I’ve used instant mashed potatoes as a thickening before, works great. The potato chip coating sounds worth trying with all the fish in my freezer.
Is Metro on that list? We’ve been going there a lot lately and enjoy it every time.
I am eating lunch from Hummus House right now. The kafta and hummus aredelicious. The owner’s mother came out and told me that she she hoped I enjoyed it. She said everything is homemade.
Since it’s not in the Market area, maybe you can do a column about it, so more people will know it’s here.
Blue 5!!
Cabo Fish Taco in Blacksburg…. I would be sad if it was gone.
I too miss the Angler and 309 first street. Would like to add Norbertos to the list!
I have various uses for nutritional yeast bought at the Natural Foods Coop or any health food store I guess that has bulk. For years I’ve put nutritional yeast on popcorn. I don’t butter popcorn and the yeast gives it a buttery taste and healthy boost. I put nutritional yeast on buttered pasta. Really good. I make a fabulous avocado and cream cheese sandwich sprinkled with Nutritional yeast. And last but not least, many cats will gladly shred their people’s legs to get at some nutritional yeast.
We love you too Lindsey!
Hummus House…been twice and will return often. Falafel Wrap…excellent…red pickle makes all the difference and I have them add feta. The Kibbi is also excellent. Yogurt/cucumber is nice and tart.
You left out R&R Market & Snack Bar/Radford, VA…known for their famous fried chicken!!!
P.S. The honey biscuits are to die for!