The Roanoke Times: The Storefront

Comments

# 1

[September 12, 2008 9:40 AM]

Wes

Jenny, make certain when you research this statistic that it is reconciled with restaurants that subsequently close. I have lived in a few different cities/states and one unique thing about Roanoke eateries is the rate in which they lock their doors, T-Bone Jacks being the most recent.

# 2

[September 12, 2008 10:35 AM]

Heather Froeschl

I know it sure beats the ratio in Rocky Mount!

My only question about the proposed changes to the City Market Building (I know this isn't what you asked us about...) is that no one asked those of us who work downtown and eat there all the time what we think about possible changes. I like it the way it is thank you very much.

Other options downtown? Yep, we have a good number and I'm glad for it. Roanoke overall has a nice restaurant base to choose from. Just my little opinion.

# 3

[September 12, 2008 11:53 AM]

Rigby

Roanoke does indeed have a large quantity of restaurants.
Somebody actually questioned me about the number of them last year and(this is going to sound weird) I opened the phone book and counted all the restaurant listings. There were over 400 in that one phone book.
That's pretty high for a city this size.

I think we now have a good selection to choose from, but there are a LOT of restaurants around that offer the same type selection.
Most of those being the boring chain restaurants where you get the same bland thing with a diferent name on it.

I'd like to see a few more international/ethnic restuarants to choose from, though they have grown in recent years around here.

# 4

[September 12, 2008 12:52 PM]

Aimee : →http://thatscrazee.blogspot.com/

That's great. I grew up in Salem but have lived in the DC metro area since 2000. What strikes me is that in The Roanoker a few years back, the number one rated seafood restaurant was...wait for it...RED LOBSTER. Sigh. It kind of embarrassed me, actually, to read that my homies view this chain their top dog. Maybe there aren't many other seafood places to choose from in the area? Not sure. But I'd be interested to know the stats on quality v. quantity.

# 5

[September 13, 2008 12:36 PM]

Min

It actually seems like there are a lot of the same kinds of places, not as much of a variety.

# 6

[September 13, 2008 1:04 PM]

mapuser

Back in the 70's there was a report that Roanoke had more restuarant seats per capita than anywhere other than Chicago (I think that was the location).

# 7

[September 14, 2008 7:24 AM]

Toby

I wonder about the source was well, however what about the fact that you still have to wait for up to an hour sometimes to sit down and eat. Roanoke could use some more eateries. How about a Bob Evans, Boston Market, Chili's, Church's Fried Chicken, or Popeye's? How many more Applebee's do we need?

# 8

[September 14, 2008 9:20 AM]

Musicman

This reminds me when my wife moved to Roanoke from up north. After seeing all of the restaurants, and the long lines during dinner of people waiting to get a table, if people actually had kitchens in their houses "down here is the South".

# 9

[September 14, 2008 9:55 AM]

Jay

There might be a great quantity of restaurants with local ownership as opposed to other more metropolitan areas. And that's fine... But, you look at the national advertising (esp. on TV) from restaurants that are nowhere around here and I have to dispute the legitimacy of the statistic you're quoting.

# 10

[September 14, 2008 10:07 AM]

DaveH

I like the fact that Roanoke has a diversity of Restaurants. Ethnic eateries from India, Thailand, Greece, Brazil, etc make Roanoke stand out in the area. Having moved back to Roanoke after many years of living elsewhere, i have been truly enjoying discovering the culinary offerings in the area.

# 11

[September 15, 2008 8:53 AM]

nll

I agree with Aimee and Rigby. While there are plenty of restaurants to go around, they are all homogenous. Ethic selection is a minute percentage of the whole.

# 12

[September 15, 2008 9:37 AM]

Rigby

But international/ethnic eateries are growing around here.
Slowly but surely people in the area are warming to the different tastes of international cuisines.
About time and it's nice to have selection.
I think it will continue to grow.

To Aimee, in regsards to seafood selection:
Yes, for the longest time when someone from out of town would ask about local seafood restaurants most people would kind of avert their eyes and sheepishly mumble something like - "well....uh, we have a Red Lobster."
Kinda sad to suggest the Applebee's of seafood as the best place to eat seafood around here.
However there is a place on Grahdin Road calld Surf & Turf that has been good the 3 times I have been there.
We have Parker's Seafood. But to be honest i haven't been there in years and don't know how good they are.
I'm not much of an expert on other seafood restaurants around here, if there are many more.

Alas, we don't have much in the way of great seafood restaurants.
But what's that saying about "If you can't see the ocean, don't eat the seafood."
Something like that.....

# 13

[September 15, 2008 11:02 AM]

Mark

Yeah, I don't really expect great seafood up here in the mountains. Actually we do have several places that serve good seafood (especially fish) dishes, but aren't necessarily "seafood restaurants".

Oh, and if we're putting in requests for chain restaurants, may I humbly suggest a Chipotle location? I know Alejandro's fills the "taqueria" niche somewhat, but to me nothing compares to a Chipotle barbacoa burrito w/ spicy sauce... yum!

# 14

[September 15, 2008 12:48 PM]

Dennis

Seems this has turned into two discussions, the Roanoke restaurant selection, and where in Roanoke has good seafood. My comments on the first, I truly think that for a city (valley) of this size we have a great selection of restaurants, both in quantity and in ethnic and other variety. Yes, there are plenty of chain restaurants and fast food places, but that's just the time we live in. Can't beat them, but thankfully we don't have to eat at them, either! And I don't! I wouldn't eat at Appleby's or Red Lobster if it were free. Besides, in my humble opinion, Red Lobster is no longer a seafood restaurant.. they don't even have hushpuppies! I absolutely LOVE Indian food, Asian food, (including sushi,) Italian, Cuban, Mexican, ALL of it! And, of course, good old Southern country style home cooking. And we have a good selection of all of the above, in my opinion anyway. Now onto part two! As stated above, no Red Lobster for me! I like Awful Arthur's a lot, several of the seafood entrees there are really good! Esp. blackened fish, as an entree or sandwich, and fish and chips. And for fried seafood, either Parker's on Peters Creek Rd. or Harbour Inn on Williamson are my picks. I just like the fried seafood at those two places, though, not so much otherwise.

# 15

[September 15, 2008 12:48 PM]

Steve

It's been said about the valley, many times... We have lots of restaurants, just that they are all the same.

How many McDonalds, Burger Kings, ElRanchos, Long John Silvers, Kentucky Fried Chickens, generic Chinese restaurants, can one town support?

Recent years have definitely brought additional 'fare' to the valley. Thank goodness.

Seafood is decidedly lacking, and Bone Fish's withdrawal didn't help. The leader has always been Parker's and they are fine folks. Then there's Harbors Inn, and that is my favorite for taste & consistency. Red Lobster, thumbs down!!!

# 16

[September 15, 2008 3:07 PM]

Rigby

Mark - I keep hearing about Chipotle and that it is very good so my curiosity is definitely piqued.
I am betting we will probably have one here in a couple years.

I really love Alejandro's downtown.
Years ago, before I ever tried a fish taco I thought that sounded like the grossest combination ever.
Boy was I wrong!
And Alejandro's has the best around!

# 17

[September 15, 2008 4:41 PM]

Mike D

Yea we have plenty of resturants and most are the same. Just how many more Mexican resturants do we need? They are almost as plentiful as say McDonalds. I eat at mom and pop places as most of the time. The seam to have the best food at the best price and good service. Pancake House on Apperson dr. and Little Chef come to mind. The Little Chef must have gotten rid of that bad cook since I haven't had a problem with their food in a long time. (Knock on wood). Chains just are overpriced and have poor service and food that not that great. There are exceptions.

As for seafood we are lacking there. I don't know what the problem is with Red Lobster. Maybe I like them because I only eat there once a year during their all you can eat shrimp. Have done it the past two years and gong to do it again soon. It's been great and service was fine. There is the craze about Parker's but going by word of mouth they aren't all that great. More than one person has told me this.