A new southern bistro is opening today in Roanoke. The River and Rail Restaurant is opening in the former Lipes Pharmacy in south Roanoke. Executive chef Aaron Deal and sous chef Sarah Mankie will serve up dishes made with locally found produce and products. The River and Rail is managed by Catherine Price. Visit riverandrailrestaurant.com for more information.

Here is a press release from Polished Pig Media.

(June 13, 2012—Roanoke, VA) On June 14, Roanoke welcomes a new restaurant with the highly anticipated opening of The River and Rail, a southern bistro. The most recent resident of the landmark Lipes Pharmacy space, The River and Rail brings Chef Aaron Deal’s ever changing menu of locally found produce and products, including: grass-fed beef and bison, goat and duck, forest-fed pork, farm-fresh eggs, and more.

“I’m so happy to return to the South where I’m from and where my roots are,” says Deal. “Roanoke has something great to offer—an interesting art scene, food, and culture—that we’re excited to be a part of bringing something new to the city. We want everyone to be proud of what we do and who we are; we’re cooking the food that we want to eat and that gets us excited to our cores.”

The menu’s focus will update with the seasons and be at the forefront of food appreciation by providing the guests with insight into where each item came from and who produced them. Good seasoning and great ingredients prepared with proper technique that lets the individual flavors shine will be highlighted in a well-prepared sausage and expertly prepared vegetables.

“Ultimately, we’re here completely for our guests,” Deal continues. “We want everyone to feel like The River and Rail is there for them; without our patrons, we can’t exist. Each person will be well taken care of and enjoy a thoughtful meal, from preparation to service.”

THE TEAM:   Executive Chef Aaron Deal
Aaron Deal feels at home in Roanoke, where he returns to the South and the roots of his cooking. Growing up in North Carolina, Deal has been at helm of some of the most renowned restaurants in the country accumulating more than a decade of experience in various facets of culinary execution and management. Deal has garnered wide acclaim for his inventive approach to cooking, including being named a “Best New Chef Under 30″ by Chicago Social magazine, and nominated a semi-finalist in the Rising Star category of the James Beard Awards in 2009. Deal was also named one of Restaurant-Hospitality magazine’s “12 to watch in 2012.”

General Manager Catherine Price

Catherine Price joins The River and Rail as general manager, bringing almost two decades of restaurant experience to the table. She has a deep passion and strong knowledge of wines, stemming from her five-year tenure with the Roanoke Valley Wine Company. She cultivated a passion for wine and food pairings during her time at the Wine Company and collaborated with nationally renowned chefs, including: Joshua Smith (Local Roots in Roanoke, VA), Andrea Griffith (Primland in Meadows of Dan, VA) Bryan Voltaggio (VOLT in Frederick, MD), Sean Brock (McCrady’s in Charleston, SC), and Michael Solomonov (Zahav – Philadelphia, PA).

Sous Chef Sarah Mankie
Sarah Mankie joins The River and Rail team with more than 12 years of culinary experience from some of the best kitchens across Virginia. Most recently a sous chef at the lauded Vintage Tavern in Suffolk, she has a talent for crafting seasonal, southern dishes that showcase regional Virginia products and artisans.

OPENING:    June 14, 2012

The River and Rail will be open Tuesday to Saturday for dinner from 5 to 11 pm, reservations are strongly encouraged. For more information, please visit www.riverandrailrestaurant.com, call 540.400.6830, and follow @RiverRail and @ChefDeal on Twitter.