Local Roots Restaurant
1314 Grandin Rd SW, Roanoke, VA, 24015
Local Roots Restaurant Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Roanoke for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Roanoke for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Roanoke for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1314 Grandin Rd SW
Roanoke, VA, 24015 - Phone (540) 206-2610
- Website https://www.localrootsrestaurant.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Adrian W.
My wife and I eat here several times a year. The menu is always a joy to experience. Our favorite is the chef's tasting menu, which includes whatever is growing locally that season (it is pricey but worth it). You would think that in the winter, the selection would be limited, but the Local Roots chef has a penchant for making even parsnips, beets, and radishes delicious. Last night, I had a bison steak that blew me away. I'm not a fan of pate or organ meat, but the goose liver was of the hook! I go to Local Roots and trust that whatever they decide to serve me, it will be an edible adventure. My favorite restaurant in Roanoke.
(5)Summer M.
We would have never found this jem if not for yelp. What an amazing meal, the best of out trip! Located in a small "downtown" area of one the neighborhoods. It's a bit quarky getting there for those who are just passing through, but we'll worth the neighborhood bramble. We came on a Saturday night on our way through Roanoke with three kids in tow. I called a head to make sure seating was avaliable and when we showed up out table was ready and waiting for us. Now yelp said it was kid friendly, for dinner, I do not agree. They do not have a kids menu, and very limited options. With that bring said, truely the best dinner of our trip thus far. Perfect portions and cooking techniques with beautiful presentation. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable about the unique menu, and acomidating to our young kids. We will defiantly keep this one in our back pocket for if we ever return to Roanoke.
(5)Aaron M.
Most overly priced drivel I've had in a long time. I had the tomato soup. Fennel with tomatoes is fine, but then you add trout? What a disgusting combination. My wife had the vegetable salad. Again, disgusting. The vinaigrette was an odd concoction that was too tart to be useful, and too invisible to add anything amounting to taste. The service was also slow. How long does it take to add trout to lukewarm tomato purée and serve? How long to add gross vinaigrette and serve? This place stinks of a snobby chef who tries too hard to impress wealthy hipsters with odd concoctions that no one short of Frankenstein's creator would've thought to combine.
(1)Candra R.
This place is phenomenal! The service was 5 stars. The food was great! We went for lunch and ordered a burger and a sandwich. They were delicious!! The chips that come with it were light and fresh and amazing. Our waiter was so friendly and helpful!
(5)Huy H.
Maybe 3.5, but I'm happy to round up in this case. After a long day in the Blue Ridge hiking up Sharp Top and another trail, we wanted fried chicken and waffles! Said restaurant was already closed when we made it to Roanoke (we mixed up the days and thought it'd be open but most places in this small town closes at 5pm on a Sunday). Following a trail of Yelp reviews led us to this small and quaint establishment. We showed up kind of dirty and sweaty from our hike but we were welcomed warmly and seated promptly without a reservation. It was Mother's Day so they had a special family-style fixed-price menu: a house salad and a choice of entree and two sides from the menu. The salad was very good with a nice array of greens and seeds for texture and flavor. We both got the fried catfish for our entree which was crisp and fresh, if not a bit heavy on the batter, served on a bed of mashed sweet potato. The dish was garnished with sorrel leaves which was an excellent and creative substitute for the citrusy component of a fish dish. The sides, served family style, were kind of boring, just boiled/steam carrots and roasted potatoes (perhaps a bit small of a portion for two people). The restaurant had a nice airy feel and kind of metro-chic for being in what seemed like a pretty old town, downtown area of Roanoke. The staff were super friendly. Oh, and the bloody Mary I got was excellent as well. I think the restaurant espouse the farm-to-table concept which I definitely appreciated and noted in the quality of their food that day.
(4)Kalvin K.
Wow! Yelp does it again!! This restaurant is amazing. It's focused on using local ingredients and made to order style food. I had their fresh rye rolls which were bite sized awesomeness. The humus was very unique and I definitely enjoyed every bite of it. My entree was a black bass from North Carolina and it was cooked to perfection. Left very happy even though it's a bit pricier than many restaurants.
(5)Sami A.
We went on a Sunday night. We were visiting Roanoke and it was the only restaurant open that night. Most restaurants there close on Sunday. They have family style supper on Sunday nights composed of a salad and a main course. We had turkey with grits and NC style flounder they were really good. The owner of the restaurant, Diane, was very nice and kept checking with us. I would love to come again on another day so I can explore their regular menu options. Maybe next time we come to Roanoke!
(4)Brooke H.
Want some ice cream Ernie ? Sure Bert! Sherbet , get it? Watermelon with lime zest and pecan sherbet! Best mussels I ever had, whiskey in the broth, ...not wine. Amazing service, overwhelmingly nice, made a very memorable and delicious meal.
(5)Theresa R.
This was a good place to enjoy Sunday brunch. I had the burger and my husband has the catfish BLT. It looks like a revitalized area of Roanoke with lots of locals. Home to farm market produce which appears to be good for the economy. There are many of these local farmers in this area including producers like Catawba Farmers. Kudos to Ken for the gin bloody Mary's and the Kir mimosa.
(4)gina s.
While visiting my sister in Roanoke, we ate at this wonderful little restaurant on her recommendation, located in Virginia Heights where I grew up, which they now refer to as "Grandin Village". Living in California, I am familiar with the "farm-to-table" movement, and like the idea of knowing where my food comes from and that it is locally sourced and of excellent quality. This restaurant did not disappoint! My sister and I shared some dishes, starting with the pei mussels, which were served in a most delicious broth with bacon, preserved tomato, and rye whiskey. Yummy! And we sopped up all that wonderful aromatic broth with the little fresh rye (I think) rolls on the table and brushetta that came with the mussels. Next we tried the parisienne gnocchi with house-made sausage, roasted mushrooms, and a peanut pesto. They are made with pastry instead of potato, and are light and fluffy and melted in our mouths! And finally, we tried the NC rainbow trout w/ smoked beets, asparagus, confit mushroom, and fuji apple. Our waiter, Kent, recommended the trout, and it was one of the best pieces of fish I ever had, cooked to perfection. The smoked beets were definitely different and my sis really enjoyed them. Kent was a great server and very knowledgeable about everything we inquired about, and he was charming and spot on! The wine list was was carefully chosen and we really enjoyed ours, I think I had a viognier which was from Virginia. All in all, an amazing dinner experience. The owner even came over and chatted with us, and a painting on the wall which I admired was painted by her husband. I will definitely return on my next visit to Roanoke!
(5)Tiffany L.
So gooood. Just spending a night in Roanoke on a drive through, we stopped at Local Roots for dinner. They didn't fail us. They bring you fresh mini dinner rolls with butter with sesame seeds. Little food is always cuter. K and I both had the rainbow trout as our main entrees. The ingredients went together really well. The food is fresh, well made, and the presentation is also impressive. But we both didn't like the smoked beets. It just reminded me of bbq. Other than the beets, we both cleaned our plates! For dessert, we had the bread pudding. Oh man, so delicious. It was really sweet actually, but it was so good, it didn't matter. There was a combination of hot and cold, sweet/salty, crunchy/soft. It was all there. Everything is a little bit on the pricier side, but you get what you pay for!
(5)NELSON G.
Delicious and different but highly recommend. I have been to two or three closed dinners as well and those blow my mind. Give it a try!
(5)Kelly T.
Such a great experience here! The owner greeted us at the door with a lovely introduction & took several minutes to speak with us. We had the Sunday Supper which was delicious! The food was very fresh & healthy with perfect portion sizes. *overheard that children 5 and under eat free! We arrived for an early dinner around 5:00pm and by 6:00pm the place was packed with groups & couples! As we left the restaurant, the owner left the table she was speaking with so that she could walk us out & say a personal goodbye (remembering that we were driving back to the DC area!) Excellent service; wish more restaurants were like this!
(5)Cristie F.
Whenever I'm traveling, I love to check out the local hot spots. It's always fun to try something new, check out a new place, and find a hidden gem that you can look forward to visiting the next time you're in town. Local Roots gave me that experience, plus some. I fell in love from the moment I walked in and was greeted by the owner with smiling face. ((I also attribute this to good ol' Southern charm, but either way)). For lunch, I decided to try the LR lunch burger with pimento cheese, benton's bacon, pickled vegetables, and a side salad. Let me tell ya, the South knows how to cook up a good burger! The ingredients were fresh and the pimento cheese added a rich and creamy touch. I love that Local Roots has a focus on local ingredients. Letting local farmers shine always gains major points in my book. Not only was the food good, but the service and atmosphere at well. I felt like I was right at home and we treated like family. It was hard to tear me away when I was finished eating. I can only hope to travel back to Roanoke in the near future. And if I do, Local Roots will be my first stop upon arrival. Thanks Local Roots, for showing this Chicago girl exactly what local is like in Roanoke.
(5)Laura W.
Went for brunch here on a whim and it was great! Lovely brunch menu for vegetarians and meat eaters. I had the veggie frittata and a grapefruit mimosa. He had the eggs Benedict and fresh orange juice. The home fries were crispy and delicious!! I adored my frittata... Every bite. He said that the eggs bene "was the best he's ever had" and I sampled the hollandaise sauce and it was great! The ham looked good too, thinly sliced and plenty of it. Plating is lovely and good atmosphere. Would definitely go here again!
(5)Bobby H.
Never had the same place multiple days in a row while on vacation but this place makes you want yo. Good atmosphere. Not the most friendly hostess.
(5)Tina P.
I live around the corner so Local Roots is my go to place. This specific time, my husband and I went for dinner on a weeknight and sat outside with our two dogs. The host brought both dogs bowls for water and kept them filled. My husband and I shared the hummus off the bar menu (my favorite dish), a seasonal salad, and the burger. The hummus is kind of sweet and the lavash served with it are tasty and go very nicely with the hummus. I could easily just eat the hummus for dinner and be happy. Of course, everything there is great. I have never had a bad meal. The burger was filling, the pimento cheese on top is a nice addition. The bacon is a bit unnecessary though. Service is always fantastic. Food is always good quality and substantial. Going again tonight for dinner.
(5)Daniel K.
Local Roots never fails to impress. Whether you are looking for a great burger and some craft brews or a high fallutin fine dining experience, you can't find a better place than this in Roanoke. The craft cocktails are always worth the visit as well.
(5)Katie Y.
I really enjoyed our visit here. We came on a lark - we were heading into the Blue Ridge Parkway to go camping for a few nights at Peaks of Otter, and since it was dinner time, I checked Yelp to see if there were any good restaurants for a last meal before heading into the woods. It happened to be Sunday, which meant there was a limited menu that was "family style". The hostess greeted us every so warmly, and the menu, while limited, still had enough good choices. The sides were plentiful, though the fish dish was smaller than I had hoped for. The flavor of all the food was wonderful! We finished dinner with a cocktail and shared the intensely decadent bread pudding (so delish! so much sugar!). Our server, while helpful, lacked a little of the Southern charm we found in the hostess and the other servers. Maybe she was just having an off night.
(4)Angie C.
Went for Sunday brunch they had some delicious food! Even homemade ketchup for the home fries! If I went again I think I would definitely want to try one of their mimosas. The only downside is that it is a bit expensive, but when you source all your ingredients from local farms/growers/etc. that is kind of to be expected.
(5)Gina C.
We are there a lot. We own locally and walk to Local Rts. Service is excellent, cheese plates are amazing. The burger is my favorite. It is juicy and the wedge fries with it are filling and delicious. They could offer meals with more hearty sides since many folks are so busy this one special meal of their day may be the only one or two. I would love to see a starter salad included in the meals. We also are part of the beer club and that has been great!
(5)José Luis V.
Awesome food and nice location...definitely a must if you're in Roanoke!! Very small menu but plates are REALLY GOOD!..I had the bluefish and would totally reccomend it.
(5)David T.
excellent bison, pork, and fish. Good service / local stout. Great deserts. yummy salads. For the brown rice & crunchy granola set in SW Virginia. Save room for dessert. Father's Day dinner w/ Zac and Jessica.
(5)Kai R.
Love this place. Great example for other restaurants to follow. Farm to table with local, fresh food, great drinks (house margarita/affordable wine)...excellent service always.
(5)Scott W.
One of my favorite restaurants in south West Virginia. Excellent food and service, creative menu and local foods. Good selection of local beers.
(5)Mark K.
Hi Diane. Thank you for the invite. I came again for a late dinner on 5.12.15. Such great staff. Lindsey waited on me and she was great. I was however a bit disappointed in the NC trout dish I ordered. The veggies were excellent although some of the beets were cold while others were warm. And the trout itself was cooked to perfection but unfortunately very much tasteless and completely lacking in seasoning. Not sure if this was done on purpose but not a dish I would have ordered again. I am chalking it up to an off-day at local roots since I had such a great experience last time. I don't think I would be justified giving a rating less than previous.
(5)Renee R.
Met a friend for dinner after work tonight (Tuesday). What a pleasant surprise and new find. We began with cocktails at the outside tables on the sidewalk. Great start with a gin blossom, perfect on a warm summer night. We moved inside for dinner. We decided to share several dishes versus entrees. The oysters were delicious and the mignonette was sweet and citrusy. Time for a second cocktail. Cool as a cucumber was my favorite and the bartender even shared the recipe with me. Kudos!! Our favorite dish was the sea island pea hummus with house made lavash. So rich and flavorful. The mussels were very small but tasty. We also had a small cheese plate. Presentation was beautiful but two of the cheeses, blue and feta were too salty. The restaurant was very lively for a Tuesday and a great mix of folks. The service was friendly and attentive. We will definitely return.
(4)Matthew R.
We popped in a few minutes before they were closing lunchtime before reopening for dinner. They welcomed us in to take a seat. Service was quick and friendly. The Sweet Potato Soup from a mug was delicious as was the House Salad with sunflower seeds. We also split the Shaved Steak Sandwich which was very, very good! The table shared the Bread Pudding to wrap up the meal, and it did not disappoint! Be sure to eat at Local Roots and enjoy the locally sourced fresh ingredients! It was our best meal of the trip!
(5)Michael R.
Just driving through on a cross country trip. We were lucky to find this place. It's absolutely delicious. It's also a great place to relax and get a good / strong cup of coffee.
(5)scottie c.
Local Roots is by far my favorite restaurant in Roanoke. The flavors are always on target, the ingredients fresh, the dishes are creative and delicious. Beautiful presentation, as well. The owner, Diane, is an excellent hostess who clearly enjoys greeting her guests. Brunch here is fantastic, too!
(5)Rachel P.
Great experience at local roots. Best mojito that I've had since living in Miami! This is a small restaurant and very popular, so definitely make a reservation. The prince edward island mussels were a hit at our table. For dinner 3/4 of us got the flat iron steak and all loved it. I had the NC Snapper and it was really fresh and tasty. I think what really stands out here is the freshness in all of the entrees. Even the garnish on the plates taste good. :) It is a little pricey for the small portions that you receive, but I assume it's the whole farm to table pricing.
(5)Kendall P.
We visited Local Roots while in town visiting our friends. The selection was good, and I liked the way the menu was broken down into small, medium, and large plates. We tried the cheese plate, charcuterie plate, vegetable salad, and gnocchi. All were good, but we especially loved the charcuterie. Unfortunately, the server forgot our trout, which was the main dish, and we didn't realize it until after we had finished everything else. Typically, when there is a slip-up on a big dish, I have been offered at least part of my meal free, but our server simply offered free desert "next time." Overall, good food, but perhaps could use some work in the customer service department.
(3)Barry S.
What a find ... and what a great value for a Sunday supper ... 18/person with sides? The trout was one of the best fish entrees I have ever had ... and the smoked chicken confit over pasta was also great Dessert ... bread pudding ... was solid but didn't match the trout Enjoyable evening in a quaint part of town ... I'd kill to have a restaurant like this within 30 miles of home Worth planning a trip around ...
(4)Stella K.
Excellent! I was passing through Roanoke for Atlanta and found this on Yelp and from reading other reviews. So glad my boyfriend and I stopped by!! If you are a foodie and appreciate farm to table and high quality cooking, you must come here.
(5)Paul R.
Excellent farm to table food with a cozy, rustic atmosphere. The food is always delicious and the service is wonderful. A great place to come for any occasion. I was here for my birthday and has the ribeye with kale purée, watermelon radishes, and collared greens - fabulous. I had a fresh roasted vegetable salad, which was outstanding. They served me a wonderful bread pudding as well. A great birthday meal.
(4)Ashley L.
My FAVORITE restaurant to go to brunch or lunch. Honestly I've been to several farm to table restaurants in houston and DC, but Local Roots is truly one of a kind in their superb cooking and wonderful servers. Sometimes I just get a burger and that blows my mind away. If anything go to brunch! It's affordable and delicious! Plus their mimosas are A+! If you ever meet Diana (owner), she's great too.. so go! Support local businesses :)
(5)Luke V.
The Best Grits I Have Ever Eaten! That says a lot coming from me, I've eaten a lot of grits. Seriously, I went there for brunch and I was blown away by the food and atmosphere. I read about Local Roots in a book by Sandor Katz and was surprised it was right in my back yard. Brunch was fantastic here and I can not recommend the grits enough. They were served in their own cast iron cauldron on a wooden plank. Words can not describe how rich and creamy they were. Seriously I could have had the grits and a slim jim and this place still would get five stars.
(5)C. S.
Being newer to Roanoke, we were really excited to try this quaint little place in Grandin that everyone seemed to celebrate. Sadly, despite our best efforts to make the most of it, it was a let-down. Out of three meals, the meat was tasty in two but the sides only impressed in one dish. The third dish was overpriced for such little content. We ended up paying $100, tip included, for one person out of three to finish their meal (and we're truly not picky eaters!). Kudos to the restaurant for trying to make it right by offering a desert and cutting a dish's cost in half, but the dinner was not worth the money. For it to suit my taste a little more, I would reduce the prices a bit and tone down the "upscale" feel to better match the laid back, rustic atmosphere the decorating suggests. And season the side dishes a bit more! Everything was presented beautifully but much of it disappointed when it left the plate. It's a bummer to review this place so poorly because we really, really wanted to like it. Unfortunately, we won't be going back.
(2)Dan H.
Thanks Yelp! On our visit to Roanoke my wife settled on Local Roots for brunch due to the favorable reviews. I also saw it mentioned several times in a local magazine's run down of best restaurants in different categories. We were not disappointed! We got the Pimento Biscuit and the Brunch Grits. Both delicious options...simple but at the same time thoughtfully put together into something great! Also had the bread pudding which was really tasty - not overly gelled together and it had some additional flavorings sprinkled or spread around. Our waitress was Katie and she was super nice! We had a great experience!
(4)Megan R.
My favorite restaurant in the area! Took my mom here when she was visiting and we split an appetizer, entree, and desert. All of which were amazing! They also rotate their menu here so I'm looking forward to going back to see what is new. The wine we had was also great and our server was so helpful with answering our questions and telling us more about the food we were eating. Definitely would love to go back here for any special occasion.
(5)Brad S.
What an excellent place for dinner. Roanoke is lucky to have such great food prepared and served in a relaxed and enjoyable environment. They specialize in bringing locally produced food and flavors to life. The summer salads are not to be missed, in which every veggie and leaf sings. Great chicken bolognese on gnocchi in which distinct flavors remain detectable while the blending of ingredients was superb. Pork dishes also excellent here. The grit cake was awesome company for the pork. Don't miss this place! We are definitely coming back!
(5)Walker H.
I was a little skeptical of trying out Local Roots when I was told to go there and am so glad I went. The food quality is great and you can tell a lot of effort goes into keeping the menu fresh. It is not a very big place which makes it a more cozy experience. The beer list was very good and also appears to change with the rest of the menu. The menu has 3 sizes of plates which allows for a little mixing and matching if you don't want the biggest plate which makes it a great place to take guests and really sample a few different items. While it is not the cheapest menu out there, you get a quality meal which makes it worth going back again.
(5)Chad E.
There is not enough room on the internet for me to say all the things that are great at this place. Sunday brunch is my favorite, especially the life-changing grits, Benton's bacon, oysters, and amazing benedicts. But today, today I had fresh eggnog. I will not soon (if ever) forget said eggnog.
(5)John S.
Had a very good meal here tonight with two friends. I had the rutabaga soup and the bass. I though the rutabaga soup was rich and flavorful. The bass was good, but I wasn't impressed with the side of rice and the root vegetables the accompanied the fish. Service here is very good and the server was one of the most knowledgable I've had in a very long time. Very attentive and helpful with the menu. Good choice in a very cute neighborhood!
(4)Amy Z.
Love love loved brunch here. Service, atmosphere, location, food, & drinks were all great. Went with my sister & her fiance - all of us were thrilled with our experience. We had a vegetable fritatta, pulled pork and egg biscuit, & brioche french toast. Had several various champagne and coffee cocktails and a brownie for dessert. All were a home run!
(5)Maureen C.
Very satisfying Sunday dinner tonight! My table had the pork shoulder and farro dishes with the sides of parsnip/ sweet potato and carrots which were all phenomenal! The hostess was very friendly and our waiter, Trent, was extremely nice, helpful, and good about making sure we were taken care of! Definitely will venture back here when I visit Roanoke again!
(5)Sarah A.
I've had brunch here several times when I go home. It's in my top 3 favorite restaurants in Roanoke and most definately best for brunch! It's a farm to table concept so the menu changes fairly reguarly depending on what's available. They also had a good number of local beers and wines which would be fun to try. 1. Price: this place is very reasonable. I think it came to around $20/person for brunch which given the quality of the food I consider excellent. I live in DC so I realize this is probably on the pricey side for Roanoke. But people come on yes it's more expensive but a million times better than Famous A;s which I really hate. 2. The menu is smallish. There were maybe 10-12 mains for brunch. I have a hard enough time making up my mind so for me this was great! Plus I think they offer more than enough variety in the choices. 3. Portion size: I actually love that the portions are not ginormous. You won't leave hungry it's just that the portions are not enormous. Bigger does NOT equal better people!!! IHOP sized portions are why we have an obesity problem. You do not need to eat that much!!! 4. The food: I've had has all been excellent. I've only had breakfast food, but all great. Loved the eggs, frittata, eggs bennedict, waffles.......and the coffee is great too! Bottom Line: Local Roots is one of the few restaurants in Roanoke that I would say is really good. Next time I definately want to go for a beer/wine tasting.
(5)Lisa H.
Great staff. Well educated about the ingredients and preparation. Local foods at their best.
(5)Heather W.
I LOVE this place! It's definitely higher end, but a great spot. (I wish they still had the funk and soul DJ on Saturday night, fwiw.)
(5)kirsten f.
Best. Cocktails. Ever. I'm from DC and drink a lot of handcrafted cocktails at a lot of high end hot spots in the city. Came to Roanoke for a girls weekend and was blown away. Every one of the cocktails we ordered would hit the Top 5 list of cocktails I've had in the past year. Phenomenal. Artistry.
(4)J M.
My wife and I stopped in on Friday November 8th for lunch. Fortunately for us, it wasn't too busy for a weekday early afternoon. I ordered the burger ($13) and my wife got the pizza ($12) and it was good as was our server, Liz. Afterwards, Diane (the owner) stopped by to inquire how everything was, which we really appreciated. If it wasn't so pricey (I get the local grown / organic ingredients are much more expensive, etc.), we'd stop in more often.
(3)John Paul D.
The ancient white park burger of was outstanding. Layers of flavor. Very rich and hearty. This will fill Up a big man. The potatoes are like nothing you've had. Eat them first as they don't taste as good when they cool. The cheese plate was a unique paring of several different cheeses, seeds and accompanying sauces. Better with red wine. Definitely a food experience thing. The bison was very flavorful. The single bite made me wish I had ordered that too. The mussels were the best I had ever tasted. The sauce was drinkable. Yes, they put the remainder of the broth in a cup and I drank the rest of it as to not slurp. It was that good. I went back and tried the eggs benedict. The hollandaise sauce was a solid plus. Very flavorful, rich and creamy, yet not over powering. The ham had just enough salt flavor to make it perfect. Coffee was soso. If you like a robusto it may be a cup for you. The neighborhood is the Grandin theater district. A very nice quaint downtown main street type area. Lots to do in this small area. The restaurant is low key. You will see some suits but more jeans and khakis. The menu is decidedly upscale with a burger running$ 14.00 and it's worth it. The service is good but you won't mistake it for a fine dining white table cloth kind of place. Service points that you mike expect from this price range were missing and noted by few. I liked it enough to go back with family is the same week. If your looking for an organic local experience on the high end with savory flavor this is the place for you.
(5)Sierria C.
Had to go back for another experience, and wow the taste! The taste is simply sublime! It is incredible how innovative they are with the art of culinary. They take dinning to a whole new level. I appreciate the fact that they put the main focus on food from where it comes from, down to making everything from scratch, even the simplest ingredients are not missed like butter. When the food is placed on your table, the smell, the taste and the presentation of the food itself will simply blow your mind. Thank you for the unforgettable experience. Tip: Try the seven course Chef's choice! You get to try almost every plate on the menu, and some that are not offered yet amazingly delicious. We absolutely love this place, and can't wait to enjoy it again in the near future!
(5)Steven L.
My wife and I moved in about a year ago (summer of 2013) from Hampton Roads. We'd heard that one of the charms of the Roanoke region was the plethora of great dining, particularly with establishments interested in presenting local produce. So far, Local Roots has not only met, but exceeded, my expectations. My wife and I dined there in mid-July to celebrate our 8th anniversary. We had an excellent mussel appetizer, before moving on into our main dishes. I had the trout. Outstanding. She had the chicken, which I think was even better than my dish. That's not to say that any one dish was inferior. I loved it all. The wait staff was top shelf as well. We will be back. Not only that, we hope to send our friends there as well.
(5)David S.
Sunday Aug 31, 2014 Brunch. We rode our new Triumph 800XC motorcycle and parked curb-side right in front of the restaurant. They had outdoor seating available so we decided to stay outside. We arrived a few minutes before 11AM (opening time) and several customers started showing up. The door opened promptly at 11AM, and the owner graciously greeted everyone with a warm "Good Morning, thank you for coming." Since we were already sitting at one of the outdoor tables the hostess asked if we would like to dine outdoors or come inside, we chose outdoors. Within a minute or so our waiter arrived to take our drinks order and bring our menus. My wife and I both ordered coffee and water. In 4-5 minutes our beverages were served and our order taken - my wife ordered the Eggs Benedict and I ordered the Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon. Both brunches have the English muffin sliced and toasted and each half is adorned with an egg and Hollandaise sauce. Home fries are served on the same plate. We waited about 10-12 minutes sipping our wonderful coffee, chatting and looking around at the people on the street when our order was served - piping hot I might add. The tasty eggs were perfectly cooked and they and the English muffin were artfully covered in what may be the best Hollandaise sauce in Roanoke. The muffin had a wonderful crispiness and chewiness that is a rare combination. Fantastic Eggs Benny! Oh, and the potatoes were nicely browned and had a great flavor too. The server was a handsome young man (so says my wife) and he was very attentive, prompt and friendly. Overall, we had an excellent brunch. Our total was about $34 including tax. A very cool place for sure. We'll be back!!
(5)Dave H.
Why this place hasn't been considered and given a few Michelin stars I have no idea. It is absolutely wonderful and may be my one and only 5 star review. Tonight was my second time and it was even better than I remember. First, the service was excellent and quick. Only took about 25 minutes after we placed our orders. The server was polite, enthusiastic and well trained. Second, the dinner was spectacular. I had the handmade curried tomato fettuccine with seared NC sea scallops and vegetables (see photo). My wife had scallops as well. Hers was served with grit cakes, apples and a balsamic aioli (see photo). This is a wonderful farm to table restaurant. It deserves extremely high praise and should be the first restaurant in Roanoke to receive distinguished distinctions. Great anniversary evening for us.
(5)Juan V.
Had the butternut squash based soup and the taste was so unique and hearty at the same time. The fish sandwich had a hearty bread roll that was toasted to perfection and not dried out. The fish was well cooked and not dried out. The pear against a citrus marinade was exceptional. Simple ingredients, daring combinations equal a great lunch.
(5)Timothy B.
Last part was the original review made in haste...so I will share my first experience with Local Roots. I began with the textures of beets as an appetizer and was simply blown away....seemingly simple the beet, made deliscious! I enjoyed the Ancient White Park buger as my main course and was pleasantly surprised how the pimento and bacon compliment one another, the potato fries were amazingly good. Great craft beer selection. I joined the beer club for 5 dollars which will pay for itself eventually with the larger pours. Personally, I prefer sitting at the bar and watching the action in the open kitchen. Overall, the food is amazing, the beer selection is nice. If the posted hours say 2:30 pm, then don't turn away a repeat customer at 2:20 pm....
(3)Nancy L.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Roanoke. For the area it is a little bit more expensive than the average restaurant but personally I think it's worth it. The menu has interesting variations on classics. Also has a good selection of beers.
(4)James G.
Very good. The wife and I enjoy stopping in for lunch from time to time. The only real negative about this place is the terrible commercials on the local radio station. Advertising is fine but stick to fine foods and let professionals do the commercials.
(5)Deirdre M.
This is a great and different restaurant. We found it as we were moving across country, and thanks to Yelp! I loved it and though my husband was skeptical at first because of fewer menu options, he loved it too.
(5)Anson P.
You know that person that you've been dating and at first, things were good, but then they gave one of your friends food poisoning and then it seems like they just stopped trying all together? You have no idea what I'm talking about? Maybe it's just me. It seems like I had a good experience at one time awhile ago, but since then, my friend developed food poisoning after dinner here which required IV fluids. I don't remember being the food being all that good on my end (granted I felt fine). I decided to give the place one more try. Another friend and I decided to go big with a tasting menu. At 60 bucks a person, I thought to myself, "this is going to be good and I'm going to be wowed". Nope. I was severely let down. The things I remember were the bison dish with mushrooms and sweet potato. That dish was good...the bison was cooked perfectly and the whole dish was flavorful. We had a tuna dish where the tuna was overcooked and lacked any kind of flavor. And the dessert was just plain awful. It was almond cookie with almond powder and almond creme. I'm not sure if the chef was going for a cyanide theme but it was nearly inedible. I honestly don't remember any of the other dishes. The service was excellent. The value just wasn't there. I looked at it as an opportunity for the chef to sell me on the restaurant, and it didn't happen. Sorry Local Roots, I think we should part ways. It's you, not me.
(2)Sarah W.
This is an update to our below review: we are in Roanoke often to visit my Dad. We appreciate Diane's response and will return to Local Roots next time we are in town to give it another try. We will agree to disagree on the cider issue. Yes, the price was reduced for us, but we cannot get over the tiny pour. We look forward to enjoying a beer there. Original review: We were really looking forward to this place. My Dad had heard great reviews. Maybe the problem was that we were there for lunch. The place was seriously understaffed. There was one waiter and a woman, perhaps the owner, who did not seem to be able to take orders. We waited for quite a while for the waiter to take our order. We started off by ordering beverages and my husband ordered the $7.00 cider. We watched the waiter open the bottle, and then pour a wine glass pour smaller than my own small pour of Merlot. It was ridiculous. Literally 3 sips of cider for $7.00. They need to offer the full bottle for its inflated price. You don't open a carbonated beverage and then serve only a small portion. We assumed the cooks would drink the rest later in the day. My husband and I ordered soup and salad each and then a flatbread pizza to share. The woman had made a big deal about the delicious roasted squash soup. This was at 12:30 pm. The place had not been open that long. But minutes later our waiter told us they were out of that soup and the only other was a watery potato soup. We then waited for our food. We had assumed the soup and salad would come right away. But the woman rather defensively told us that because we had ordered the flatbread, the food was taking longer. When we finally did receive our order, it was ok. My Dad's pimento cheese sandwich was good but small and he wasn't at all happy with the soup. The celebrated homemade potato chips seemed burned. We enjoyed the salads and the flatbread pizza but were not wowed. There are too many other good places to eat. We will not be returning.
(2)Meghan J.
I've had quite a few visits to this restaurant, usually for appetizers or a dessert and a couple of beers. The service is always prompt and courteous, and the food is good. The main problem is the price. It is significantly overpriced for the area. The food is always local, and always fresh. I've never had difficulty with finding something I liked on the menu. That said, I can't eat there often. If for no other reason than I'd like to be able to pay my rent. Edit: I don't know if I was clear before, so I wanted to add, I do love the food. The only reason I've taken a star off of the 5 star is because of the price. The food itself is absolutely delicious! I'd like to thank Diane for responding to me (below). She's absolutely right about spending money in the community, for the community. That's one of the reasons I love this restaurant. Diane has always been wonderful whenever I've spoken to her in the restaurant. So thanks, Diane, for taking the time to respond. I do appreciate it.
(4)Daniel N.
My girlfriend and I picked Local Roots for our Friday Night date spot. We've been a couple of times before and have always been pretty impressed with the food and drink choices, so after looking at a couple of options, this is what we picked. We arrived a little late for our reservation, but were shown quickly to our little table in the corner, by the window. It was quiet, and had a wonderful view when the blinds were opened after the sun had set, so we were happy. I joined the "Beer Club" on a previous visit but had never used it, so I took the opportunity to do the 8 tastings for $5. I wasn't very impressed :( All but one of the beers was very hoppy, and I'm not a fan of beers that taste this way. Only one of the 8 beers would I consider buying a full pint of. After much discussion, she and I decided to do the 7-course tasting menu, with the wine pairings. Our waiter checked with the kitchen to see if they could do it, and advised us that yes, it was possible that night. It's not cheap, however. For $80 per person for the food and $33 for the wine, the total bill including taxes and tip came to $300. So, was it worth it? A resounding, YES! The food was fantastic, and surprise after surprise came with every course. I am very impressed with the chef and the kitchen staff, who exhibited a huge amount of creativity to supply us with a wonderful meal. The wine pairings were also exceptionally good, and complemented the food excellently. My only criticism of the entire night was that the service at times was a little... impersonal. It started off well but as the evening went on our waiter appeared to become more and more disinterested. I am not expecting riveting conversation with the staff, but a little interaction would have been good, especially for customers who are indulging in the most expensive option on the menu. We will be back, and soon. Will we do the tasting again? Possibly, though the other options on the menu are fantastic (based upon previous experience).
(4)Claudia M.
Wow. Our dinner last weekend has to be the BEST there is to offer in the Roanoke/NRV area. From the moment we walked in the service was kind, attentive and timely. We ordered the 5 course tasting menu with wine pairings and were so happy with the quality of food and the intricate presentation. Tasting menus are "our thing" and living in San Francisco for the past 6 years, I certainly have had my share of them! This meal ranks in my top 3 of all time! And for $60, it was a steal. The wine pairing was another $30. Both I felt very reasonable........Their choice of pairing was spot on and the portion sizes were just right. I am so happy to have a restaurant of this caliber in our area!
(5)Cassie B.
Our favorite place in town for brunch and dinner. Service is always excellent and the food has taste buds dancing. The drinks are unique and equally delicious. For brunch, French toast and eggs Benedict are to die for. Dinner is always good from lamb to bison to the bar menu's burger and fries. So yummy...
(5)Mirra S.
A San Franciscan and a New Yorker mosey on through Roanoke, VA, hoping for the best, but surprised by even better. Local Roots was a true treat for the senses. Overall, the flavors were consistently layered, but never muddled. Visually, the components on each plate were composed with an eye for unfussy harmony. We were so smitten with our meal at True Roots that my travel partner and I were inspired to write the first Yelp review of our lives. We had a pear vodka cocktail, topped with nasturtium flowers and an impressive gin/St. Germain/hibiscus elixir -- neither too sweet. First off was some delicious cornmeal-based bread, smothered with smoother-than-smooth butter and topped with unadultered sesame seeds from the motherland. Our first course was an heirloom barley salad, which was made up of creamy goat cheese, nutty barley, sweet, fresh-roasted tomatoes, a punch of crispy fennel, all coated in a tangy pesto dressing. We then moved on to the chicken leg, which was perched atop a rich schmear of buttermilk magic, speckled with umami-rich fried mushrooms (with somewhat forgettable potatoes, but potatoes aren't really our thing). As our main, we shared medallions of lamb, perfectly cooked -- crispy on the outside, pink on the inside -- surrounded by refreshing bites of pickled melon balls and young figs, which lightened up the hearty grains and kale to make every bite interesting and rewarding. Though we were both full, we had to see what kind of dessert this place had up its sleeve. We enjoyed the riff on cereal with milk, made up of graham cracker crumbs, topped with lemon verbana cream. While at times a little sweet for our tastes, the bursts of lemon with the crunch of the grain cut through successfully. We're even considering returning for brunch before we continue on our journey in the morning.
(5)David A.
The service was great, the food was creative and delicious, and the entire evening was an enjoyable experience. And part of what makes the concept of Local Roots so great is that it feels more like an experience than a meal. You are getting to experience some of the great local food of the region, presented in unique ways.
(4)Chris S.
average enough service. a bit overpriced food, but they support the local market. small food portions. good drinks.
(3)Jesse C.
This restaurant is one that I've been walking by for at least a year, as I frequent the Natural Food Coop for hard to find/local/organic ingredients, and also enjoy eating at The Isaac's, which is right around the corner. It's been on my list of restaurants in Roanoke that I needed to try for about as long, as it's always looked inviting and full of customers (a good sign) every time I walk by. It's important (in my opinion) to note that one of the main tenets of the establishment is the support of local farmers and natural, organic ingredients. This results in some of the freshest, flavorful food you can find anywhere. However, a special occasion may be necessary for a visit, depending on your typical eating out budget. Buying local and using such top notch ingredients makes their dishes a bit more pricey. My special occasion happened to be my wife's 27th birthday - and Local Roots helped to make it VERY special, as their food, atmosphere and service were decidedly top-notch. When we walked in, we were immediately greeted and ushered to a table by the large window at the front of the restaurant. The ambiance was warm, not too loud, and as always, full of people (aside from our reserved table, there wasn't an empty seat in the place). Our server had been pre-notified that we were vegetarian (a great touch, as I only mentioned it in passing when I made the reservation) and was ready with some excellent suggestions for my wife and I from the modest but very complete menu. Our cocktails were really very creative and tasty - my wife tried the Wine Cocktail and I tried a Dark and Stormy. I must admit, my taste for ginger beer has returned with a vengeance due to this drink. We started off our meal with the squash soup and the Ancient Grains salad - and there have never been two prettier starters on my table. Ever. The squash soup was a complete revelation - and I hate using words like that, but there's no better description. It was literally the best bowl of soup I've ever had - and my wife (who dislikes squash in almost anything) completely agreed. Her ancient grains salad was one of the more simultaneously creative and tasty salads I've tried in a while as well - the textures in particular were really the high point of the dish. My only complaint about the entire evening was that there was a decent wait between our soup and salad and our entree dishes. This was completely acknowledged by our server, and she did everything possible to make us comfortable while we waited - so to be honest, the wait wasn't that much of an inconvenience. I simply used the extra time to enjoy my wife's company - which is always a treat. For our entree, we both tried the Anson Mills Farro. For those of you who are unfamiliar with farro, it's a particular kind of wheat that is cooked and served as a whole grain, and with the right accompanying ingredients, can be a quite tasty, wonderfully textured dish. Thankfully, the chef at Local Roots is well versed in how to prepare farro, and did so with a flair for dramatic flavor AND presentation. There were toasted mushrooms, seared yellow squash, and all kinds of little touches that added both beauty and FLAVOR to the dish. It is very obvious that these folks are well deserved of their recent "Best Vegetarian dish" award from the Roanoker Magazine. We also had a side of the sauteed kale and fire roasted potatoes - both of which were delicious, if not a bit simple compared to our other fare. We were a bit too full to sample dessert on this visit, but you can rest assured that we will be returning to see what other creative vegetarian options the chefs at Local Roots can turn out. Kudos to one of the best restaurants in the area. Check them out.
(4)Frank K.
We enjoyed a fantastic meal at Local Roots last night, 8/19/2010. There were four in our party and all were very impressed with their meals. The ingredients in my dish (rye pappardelle with foraged chanterelles, green beans and other veggies) were all made (the pappardelle) or picked/foraged within the past day. The marriage of flavors in my dish was exceptional, and the preparation and presentation very well done. A generous serving overall and a very healthy amount of chanterelles....what a treat! The others in my party had different dishes ranging from farro with squash, tomatoes, onions and pecorino cheese, to rainbow trout with mashed potatoes and green beans w/bacon. (This review doesn't do justice because I can't render an adequate description of sauces and other flavorings which create the final dish) **Update 7/11 and lowered rating: We have been to Local Roots three times after the above meal and while the quality remains high, the prices have soared for many of the dishes. Service continues to be good, nice atmosphere, but whew! Also, earlier this year a number of us went for the Sunday supper early in the evening. The portions were small, and the quality /taste so-so. I had a pasta dish that was quite plain. I overheard the cooks in the kitchen saying they had run out of some of the items on the menu, including pasta (!?) I would still go, but check the menu at the door beforehand..
(3)Dave P.
We absolutely loved our meal! It was quite breezy in there, almost had to put on our coats, but we survived. Their duck confit appetizer was outstanding and they reached each and every level of the duck's flavor components on that one. Our entrees were delicate and simple, not over-the-top or too heavy. Simply amazing meal, all the way around. We will be back!
(5)Marco R.
I chose a one-star rating because a lower no-star option was not available. I have never been fleeced quite as badly by another restaurant. Ever. Our menu offered a price fixe menu for $59 "per table." The price seemed right considering the doll house-size portions, and the fact that there were only two of us. However, the bill soon revealed we were charged $59 "per person," pushing our total higher than $140 (with tax) for two very paltry meals. We complained to the owner, who acknowledged other customers encountered similar confusion throughout the day but refused to adjust our bill. Local Roots is apparently locally sourced directly to our wallets. The quality of the food is highly mediocre and in no way justifies the restaurant's grossly inflated prices. Try Horizon's downtown instead, or save yourself a great deal of money and opt for a grilled cheese next door at Pop's! We'll never go back!
(1)Rachel W.
I brought several friends to dinner here with two goals in mind: 1) broaden their view of local food in VA (it's not just Hardees anymore) and 2) give some business ($$) to a rare sustainable gem in the region. We all came away thoroughly impressed with the impeccable service. Our waiter, Adam, was wonderful, funny, and knowledgeable. He handled my brother's wacky cocktail requests (what's a pink gimlet anyway?) with aplomb and told some great stories. We all had mixed feelings about the food. The appetizers were good, but folks who didn't want some form of salad were pretty limited in their choices. (The beet trio was scrumptious and so were the scallops.) Our entrees (beef bolognese, lamb, chicken, and steak) were a mixed bag. The spaghetti was good, but not special. The lamb was quite gamy and stringy. The steak was a top round cut so we should've known better (their online menu offers sirloin--hmm). The heritage chicken with potatoes and veggies and a lovely light bbq sauce was the best by far. The desserts were just strange. I hope they seriously rethink their 'deconstructed candy bar' dessert--it was like eating dry cake mix with some caramel pooled underneath. In the evening, the store front style of their location felt perfect (there's abundant parking across the street, too). The unique decorative touches and beautiful woods for the table tops sparked quite a conversation among my friends. With some improvements to the food (think less out of the box maybe), I think this can be an amazing addition to the SWVA food scene.
(3)Dave A.
I can't say enough about how yummy the food is. Locally grown food. Southern with a twist. Delicious. The folks that work there not only love their jobs but know their food and their community. Great place. Will definitely be back.
(5)Kristin M.
This place was absolutely excellent! We went on a Sunday night to celebrate my birthday and I thoroughly enjoyed the food! The decor was earthy and natural feeling. The local beer and wine was reasonable priced. I got a seasonal pumpkin ale-pint sized- that was 7$. My fiancée had the Italian Cola that he enjoyed as well that was 12$. If you go on a Sunday, you need to know that they have Sunday supper that is different from their regular menu. They have a starter, which for us was a salad with fresh greens and a vinaigrette. The three options for entrees were BBQ with grits, steamed mussels, or vegetarian fettuccine. I ordered the mussels and my fiancée got the BBQ. The mussels were cooked PERFECTLY. My fiancée said he enjoyed his BBQ. Our sides were autumn roots and diced potatoes. I believe the Sunday supper was 17 per person. Dessert would have been 4$ Everything was so SO fresh. Our waiter was Caleb and he was quick but did not hover. The dessert was bread pudding, and they put a candle on the plate for my birthday. We met the owner and she really made us feel at home and like we were important. I can understand the increased prices because they are buying fresh, local products and not cheap packaged food. I would highly recommend this restaurant and am interested to see the regular menu. We both commented that they serve a proper portion of food without us leaving feeling stuffed nor hungry. Don't expect left-overs, but do expect an excellent evening.
(5)Bill M.
Great. Not good. Chef accommodated our every request. Top ten meals ever and it was fried chicken!
(5)Holly N.
I went to the new Local Roots location twice recently. The first time we ate at the new location I noted that the restaurant space had become more swanky and stylish but the food was still as amazing as I had remembered at the original location. This time however I disappointed that their plating and the approach of their waitstaff have a decidedly more "upper crust" feel. For example the beet salad went from a well presented plate (and delicious salad) to being much more "objet d'art" than food. I can appreciate a beautiful plate, but it appears that half the salad quantity disappeared with the "style" (yet the prices remain the same). The portions seem to have gotten notably smaller and they no longer have a choice of side dishes available. It was such a treat to order large side dishes and eat them family style at the table but now the option is gone. Overall the food is still fantastic but I feel they've given up a little bit of authenticity and warmth lately in favor of being more frou-frou. I would reduce the stars because I don't care for some of the changes they've made, but I love the food, I love the owner and I believe in the philosophy this restaurant.
(4)Evelyn G.
while visiting Roanoke, my hottie took me there per the suggestion of his coworkers. this is an extremely great brunch spot, great food and service very warm and friendly. I had the frittata and honey had eggs Benedict.
(4)Leah G.
I'm pretty upset that I didn't discover this place earlier . . . even more upset that my father knew about it before I did. They have created a beautiful restaurant. I try to fancy myself as a localvore and the addition of a local foods restaurant to the Roanoke scene is greatly appreciated. The food is also amazing. 1. its all local. 2. its delicious. We started with the gnocci, which was fabulous. I had the lamb, my father had the trout. We both loved. Everything was cooked perfectly. Also, everyone was SO nice. We were there on a Wednesday night . . . . and it was packed, so packed that our night could have suffered, but didn't. What a great dining experience.
(5)Michael G.
Food is wonderful, absolute gem in the roanoke vally. Absolute gem for the roanoke valley. Food is amazing, and service is generally really good. Atmosphere is a nice casual experience, but nothing intimate. They need to do something with the open front, early evening had alot if sun coming in which causes problems for anybody facing the front.
(4)Julie T.
Love this place, all local suppliers - even for the furniture! Very " granola" which I like! Excellent service.
(5)Holly H.
SOOOOO GOOD! My husband and I both had the chefs choice. It was awesome. This is probably one of the best restaurants in Roanoke. It's a little pricey BUT well worth it. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Sara B.
Came here for Sunday supper...food was delicious, portions were perfectly filling without overdoing it and the service was fantastic. The menu is smaller on Sundays but at a great price point (only $17 per person, where each person chooses their own entree, plus two sides for the table and a starter salad to share). The pasta and grits were tender, the meats were perfectly prepared, the veggies were crisp and fresh, and when we decided to stick around and order the brownie dessert, it was to die for (we were debating heading around the corner to Pop's for shakes but I'm glad we stayed!). This was our first time at Local Roots and we will definitely be back-- perhaps for brunch next time!
(5)Stuart B.
Our first time to dine in Roanoke and we chose Local Roots off Yelp. The meal was great, the service perfect, attentive but not overbearing, and when my wife asked about things to do tomorrow we saw the hostess go across the street and come back with brochures for her. Would not hesitate to recommend to my Roanoke friends.
(5)Alfonso N.
I have been to Local Roots twice, lunch and dinner. We don't get into town much which is a good thing. This restaurant could become very addictive. The creativity in the kitchen is unparalleled in the Roanoke Valley in my humble opinion. The drinks are well tended and the wine list is nice. Their wine by the glass is a quality selection. There was some criticism of the small portions in other evaluations. Yup, they are small, but wonderful and unique. If you want a plateful, there are many other restaurants that will fulfill that desire. We spent the better part of a Friday evening there with a close friend and had a great time. Great environment, nice music at the right volume and an interesting clientele. Oh, and their ingredients are local, local and local. Great Place.
(5)Marisa I.
One is the BEST restaurants I have ever been to!!! If you are going to or through Roanoke it is a must!!! The food is incredible and the service is always superb. I have eaten here quite a few times and remember just about every meal I had because it was THAT good!
(5)Gwenda K.
Went over there Saturday Night with Friends from DC. We had great expectations but, we were a little disappointed. Not a terrrible experience, but not one that would prompt a return visit. A few things about the atmosphere - Large windows cause glaring issues, we had to shield out faces to talk to each other. The high ceilings and light colored furniture cause a noisy environment without initmacy, Food was adequate a little on the bland side, and small in portion size, Well presented on the whole, but over priced for this quality in this area. It is a new restaurent that we hope will grow, We resolved to try again a year or so. We really like it's mission of local foods and did expect to pay more for it, but it fell a long way short of the Wow factor.
(2)Brian C.
Good place, the new space is larger and more upscale than the old location but it appears a number of good things may have been lost in the transition. I can't comment on the wine list since they apparently had to switch liquor licenses and don't have the new one yet after moving down the street - the old location's wine list was excellent though. In terms of the food, I did miss the charcuterie but everything was still well executed if a bit flawed in the creation. One of my largest problem is the entree portion sizes - who wants or needs two massive pork chops that cover the entire plate? Even my trout dish had two extremely large fillets covering some whipped potatoes and other accompaniments which were good but honestly got lost with all the protein. I know Americans often think more is better when it comes to food but as for me I'd prefer more normal portion sizes and a few dollars off the price. I do have to say the banana dessert was a great way to end the meal although I was then surprised when my Amex was returned to me because it is not currently accepted - again, I guess the move down the street may have caused issues but given that they were closed for a month between that isn't much of an excuse for not having wine and not taking Amex. Overall, I'll probably give it another shot but there are many good restaurants in Roanoke (who knew?) so I hope Local Roots Restaurant brings it up a notch from what I saw in the first week of reopening - some was unquestionably due to logistics but some appears to be in misguided portioning and other mistakes you don't expect from a good restaurant like this.
(3)Elisabeth T.
We ended up at Local Roots completely by chance when we were driving through Roanoke on a road trip. We had amazing service - our waitress took the time to explain the details of every dish we were being served - and we loved getting the opportunity to talk to the owner as well. She was very welcoming and very open to answering all of our questions about her business and she said that she brings in produce from her own garden for some of the dishes! Apart from the great service, we also thought the food was delicious. We particularly loved the Textures of Beets salad, and we had a really interesting risotto special as well. My only complaint is that we don't live closer!!!
(5)sara w.
If you want food with integrity and personality, here's your spot. Truly a joy to see what they think of. Beet salad was roasted beets, beet sorbet, jellied beet, pickled beet, atop beet tops with walnuts and frozen goat cheese as condiments. What a balance of flavors! Entrees, well, you go see for your self. Desserts were a home run too.
(5)A P.
Had a great meal here last night. Service was awesome. The wine list is very fairly priced and interesting based on its size. They had just added some Tapas items and they excellent. We love supporting the local movement. Go check them out.
(4)Sonya C.
I have repeatedly gotten burned food and myself and my friends and were given excuses that the chef likes a good char on his pizza. While this may be true most people don't like burned food. The next time my chicken was not only burned, but my friend and I who ate the same thing got sick the next day. This last time, this Sunday, I didn't get sick but what was listed on the menu was NOT what I got on my plate. Pickled onions are not caramelized onions, personally I don't think of pickled cabbage when I read braised cabbage, hush puppies don't become croquets just because you add a sprinkling of fish, the fillet of corn breaded trout was really half a fillet with the skin left on. The rice was cooked but dry and at a cost of $17 I expect better. I am glad I didn't order the BBQ chicken that my friend dining with me did because I've NEVER seen BBQ like that; it was grey, not what I expect from an alleged cherry BBQ. I have given this place the benefit of the doubt again and again because I really like the owner and agree with the whole philosophy of the place but I've had enough.
(1)Erin H.
So, I had just finished my first week of work here in Roanoke which is exactly how long I've lived here too. I wanted to celebrate surviving my first week by checking out the dive bar, Community Inn. But I drove by this place and decided to wheel back around and upgrade my celebration. Dining for one can be tricky with stares and sympathetic smiles, but this place was quite delightful. I had the Pork T-Tone and new potatoes. Oh my god at the potatoes that they grow in their garden. You can actually taste the almost dirty heartiness to them. Combined with the sauce that was in the perfect amount at the juicy bottom of the dish....YUMMY! It definitely made my solo night special and was a nice quiet end to the noisy busy week.
(4)Marty M.
Wow! This fabulous local restaurant serves the best food and a cozy, comfortable atmosphere to boot. This is definitely one of my favorites in Roanoke, and for all of your folks who like to eat and buy local, you won't be disappointed. The chef uses local ingredients in most all of his dishes and I gained a new appreciations for the unique cuisine they can offer. Highly recommended!
(5)Ed N.
Service usually sucks. Quality local ingredients, but final results are inconsistent.
(1)Kitty A.
Just another one of those places I just had to run home and rate as 5 stars.
(5)Marwello T.
Another place that we have been going by for ages and we finally stopped in. We never got the chance to go when it was down by Grandin Rd Post Office, but we really liked the new location. For starters we went with the cheese slate (since it was served on a piece of slate) and loved all the variety of cheeses served. The entree of sirloin was cooked perfectly and the potato and squash served along with it was excellent. Nice idea of using the sides with seasoning to help bring out the flavor in the beef (and that is a "take note" that there is no salt or pepper on the tables). The dessert of pumpkin sorbet and homemade pumpkin ice cream was delicious with only a minor glitch. The glitch was that the sorbet was so light it was hard to taste and there was a plate decoration that i mixed with the sorbet to get some flavor addition and that was nasty. No idea what the thing was, but it looked like chocolate drizzled on something resembling a mini-jelly bird nest. It was not pleasant. That being said we liked the wine features and the beer selection and look forward to the future addition of an espresso machine (please). As for price, we were kind of curious that a place we thought was very earthy and simple could serve up haut cuisine at haut cuisine prices. It was worth the cost to support local food and a local business, but maybe they need to let folks know that this is an upscale kind of place now. :)
(5)Karen T.
Tried this for the first time since they re-opened in new location for lunch and although my scallops were deliciously nested in the coulis of tomatoes, red onions, peppers and peaches, there were only 3 scallops about the size of a silver dollar, not much of a meal for $12, so I had to ask for some bread. The scallops had not been cleaned well and I had alot of grit in my teeth. My dining partner had the rainbow trout ($14) and didn't care for the fact that it was breaded and fried. She said the trout itself had very little taste. Her entree came with fried potatoes and they were almost burned, as was the outer crust of the bread I ordered. As we ate I watched several margherita pizzas arrive at another table and they, too, looked almost burned. The biggest disappointment, however, is that within an hour of leaving a rather pricey lunch we were both still hungry.
(2)David G.
Great restaurant. Tried it out for the first time today and food was superb. Located in a quaint old house. Food was fresh and tasted great. Highly recommended.
(5)