Red Robin Gourmet Burgers (Roanoke, VA)

Who doesn't love a good burger every now and then? I do mean a good burger, not Hardee's or McDonald's. So the title of gourmet burgers can be a good bet for what you are hankering for. Located on the outside of glorious Valley View Mall, Red Robin has a variety of burgers and fixes for any appetite. Behold the first appetizer of the fried jalapeno coins w/ ranch. I am a man of heat, so having the fried goodness of fresh jalapenos was right on target. The

second appetizer is the Chili Chili con Queso, a delightful mix of queso cheese and chili w/ tortilla chips. The taste is more of chili and not of cheese a bit disappointing since there is more cheese. Now on to the main dish. the Pub Burger (Ale-braised onions and mushrooms, creamy peppercorn-ranch, melted Cheddar and Swiss cheese, on a toasty onion bun). This burger was tasty, but did have a bland taste. Other burgers that I have had here have a better taste for the patty, but this one seemed to be lacking. The best part about this was that bottomless fries. thought I only ate one round of fries it is nice to have the option.
The service was OK and friendly for it to be New Years Eve. So on the devouring scale, the Red Robin gets a 7. Need to work on the taste of the patties though to truly make this gourmet. So for a decent burger at a good price, then this is the place for you.

Outback Steakhouse (Roanoke, VA)

Yes another steakhouse chain has arrived on this food blog and the reviews  may or may not be what you are expecting. The Outback Steakhouse, located on 220 south, has the usual feel of all Outback's. From the overly priced menu, long and monotonous waits, and most of the time horrible service. So on the chance that you do get in to the place in under an hour, be ready to wait for your drink and beg for the free bread. So when I finally got the meal pictured above (8oz sirloin, lobster tails, and sweet potato) I was so hungry that i wasn't. The food was well prepared but can i get a refill on my tea here?! So lets break this down wait, wait, wait, good food, wait on check. On the devouring scale this restaurant rates a 5 due to food alone, service and wait is a 2. If you are just dying to eat here then go ahead just be warned you may have to wait.

Jersey Lily's (Roanoke, VA)

 

Steakhouses, a good one is hard to come by, but this one is a good option if you are in the mood. Located on 460 near the bicycle shop, this place brings a sense of Texas to the Roanoke Valley. The food selection is what you can typically find in a steakhouse, but with their own twist. Start off with a cool drink and free rolls w/ butter, who doesn't love rolls. The meal pictured above is the chicken tenders dinner with fries, cole slaw, and honey mustard. A fried food paradise, the chicken and fries are greasy but worth it. the cole slaw can vary from being sweet to sour depending on how it is made. Service here can be iffy and slow, but it also has a good side. On the devouring scale it would come in at a 7, but can fall to a 6 with food quality and service. It is worth a try for once, and if you like the experience try it again.

El Rodeo ( 460 Location Roanoke, VA)

Here is another example of a good eats Mexican restaurant in Roanoke. Located on 460 near the Burger King, it can easily be found off the motorway. Like the other Mexican restaurants in the area, there are free chips and salsa, however the salsa has a bit of heavy pepper taste. The food is reasonably priced for the portions you receive. The entree pictured above is the Guadalajara Special. It consists of (1) chicken mini chimichanga, (1) shredded beef mini chimichanga, shredded chicken and ground beef on top of tortilla chips. beans, rice, lettuce, guacamole, and sour cream. All that food on one plate and right at $10, not bad at all. The service here is for the most part well, it has its days. The best part about this place is that if you go to Kroger on 460 and make a purchase, you are more then likely to get a buy one get one free coupon on the back of the receipt. The only bad thing it is only valid Sunday-Thursday. So I bet you are wondering where this sits on the devouring scale? Well it is a 7 due to the coupon, without that it would be a 6. This isn't my absolute favorite Mexican restaurant, but it is convenient. It is worth a try, so give it a whirl.

Rancho Veijo (Daleville, VA)

Comfort food at beginning of Roanoke Rd. in Daleville couldn't get much better,that is if you consider Mexican a comfort food.This restaurant has a lot of great things working for it, free chips and salsa is one of the great perks of authentic Mexican cuisine. Needless to say it has white sauce...yes white sauce. Pictured to the far left of the dip trio, (cheese dip in the middle and salsa on the right), this sauce is a Mexican style ranch that is to die for and comes free with the chips. The cheese dip is a hearty portion and salsa always has a mild, smooth taste. The reason I enjoy coming to this restaurant is for the main dish pictured to the right. This my friends are the Tacos a la Diabla. The menu describes them as three soft tacos with grilled beef marinated in chipotle sauce served with rice, beans & pico de gallo. I describe them as yummy, yummy in my tummy. I seriously cannot get enough of these things even with the disclaimer that they are hot. I am saddened when all the tacos are gone. The beans are well prepared and the rice has a great flavor and is nine times out of ten moist. The service here is nice and friendly and the restaurant is very nicely kept. On the devouring scale they rank very high for everything experienced at a 9. If you are ever in the Daleville area and needing that Mexican fix, drop in here and you maybe asking for seconds.

Jumbo Hot Dog ( Scotts Stadium: Charlottesvile, VA)

The hot dog, one of natures oddities. Strange to the eye, great in the stomach...well in moderation. Such a great snack food I just couldn't help not knowing what these things tasted like at the stadium.I begged (pestered) my favorite father in-law into getting me one.  Most event hot dogs have the same old taste...bland. This one on the other hand had a very unique taste, plump and delicious. The dog had the taste of being soaked in a chicken broth with other dogs, giving it such a staple taste. Sadly the bun was soaked by the juice of the dog and steam from the wrapper, causing the bun to be all doughy. As an overall this frank ranks as one of the better event dogs I have partaken in and  would rank a 7 on the devouring scale. I may not be a UVA fan but,  Go UVA Hot Dogs!!!

Blue Collar Joe's (Daleville, VA)

Ah doughnuts, what a wonderful treat for the soul. Who would think that fried dough would be so delicious. If you are in the mood for a more fancy doughnut than Krispy Kreme or Dunkin' Doughnuts then this is the place. Located on 220 in Daleville, this is a well known place for local food fanatics. A wide selection of gourmet doughnut in pretty much any flavor you can think of. Pictured to the left are Reese's Pieces on a chocolate doughnut (2), Nutty Buddy (crumbled waffle cones, peanuts, and caramel) on a chocolate doughnut(2), Zebra Stripe (White and chocolate icing) on a vanilla doughnut (2), M&M's (white icing and M&M's) on a vanilla doughnut(2), Blueberry Pancake Breakfast (maple icing with bacon dust) on a blueberry doughnut(1), Chocolate Covered Creme Filled on a chocolate doughnut (1), Cinnamon covered on a vanilla doughnut (1), and French Toast (maple icing with cinnamon and sugar) on a vanilla doughnut (1). As you can see from this the varieties cam be endless and delicious. Service is always quick and friendly. On the devouring scale this place would rate a strong 9 due to variety and taste. So if you are in the mood for a tantalizing twist for your taste buds head on down 220 and look to the left, stop in and enjoy a tasty treat.

Cheddars' Casual Cafe (Roanoke, VA)

So when you hear the name Cheddar's, what is the first thing to come to your mind? Cheese right? Well they do have cheese on some of their food, but the options are so much more than cheese. The calm and relaxing decor and low lighting make for a enjoyable experience. The service was OK, due to the fact this restaurant only opened a month or two ago. Moving on to the food, I found that if you order something fried then they use all the same batter for everything. From chicken tenders to country style steak, this breading absorbs the grease and makes the food taste less appealing. Pictured above is the Country Style Steak and mashed potatoes with green beans entree. The green beans had a great taste, similar to the Texas Roadhouse (which I Love!). The mashed potatoes came with gravy and tasted homemade. The steak like I mentioned before had a greasy and burnt grease taste, needless to say heartburn came later that evening from it. So as an over all it was an OK experience, I would go back to try something else but not anything fried. On the devouring scale I would give it a 6, but hopefully the next time I go it will be much better. Tune in to find out....Till next time!

Highlander Pizza (Roanoke, VA)

This quest for food started with the celebration of our friend Joe"s 30th birthday. The restaurant is easily found off of 419 next to the Wildwood Steakhouse. Don't bring a large group, the seating is minimum in this place. For the limited seating, the place is very clean and service was great too. Now on to the real question, how about the food? There was a variety of pizza at the celebration, but the one that stood out the most was the pepperoni (as pictured above). The crust was that of slight butter taste, sweet, and salty; everything a good crust needs. The sauce was not to spicy and not too sweet another perfect combination. The cheese tasted fresh and so did the pepperonis. This place has an overall great taste and atmosphere, this will be put on the must return soon and often list. On the devouring scale this will rank a 9 for overall satisfaction. Who knew that you could find such great pizza in such a small place. If you find yourself hungry, in Roanoke, and on 419; then stop in and have a bite. You will not regret it!

Macado's (Roanoke, VA)

Sandwiches anyone? This sandwich shop which is mostly indigenous to Virginia has three locations in town, this review comes from the better of the three (Tanglewood). The restaurant is decorated in nostalgia from around the years along with past items from Roanoke. The service is iffy and can be very annoying, but one good thing is the food is consistent. Recently portion size has increased which is always a plus in my book. The sandwich pictured above is a build your own version of the infamous Hindenburg. The Hindenburg is a sandwich that feeds four people and on Mondays you can get it half price ($8) from 4-close. This sandwich in the picture is constructed on french bread with ham, turkey, salami, provolone, lettuce, and Macado sauce (horseradish sauce). A very tasty combination for a sandwich for all you meat lovers, but for all the real men and women try eating the whole Hindenburg! I have on many occasions and you should too. The price is very reasonable, and with the service factored in, I would give them a floating eight. This means it could go up or down depending on the service. This is a must stop place in the Roanoke Valley, so what are you waiting for? GO!

Tijuana Flats (Fishers, IN)

I started out my quest for food going by the Google directions for Super New China Buffet. When I got there....nothing! There was no building nor buffet. Disgusted, I went on to another great cuisine...Mexican. Upon pulling into the strip mall, I wondered how great can this place be? No need to wonder anymore, I casually walked in and stood there. Then was assisted like an old man, because I looked confused, due to their inadequate ordering arrangements. I then placed my order at the counter and found me a seat in the small, overly decorated, dining room. Moving on to the food, the entree pictured above is the steak nachos with guacamole. The taste was that of American when I was seeking Mexican (What!?!). The only plus to this place was the salsa bar. They had every kind of salsa from low heat to super hot. Needless to say I was disappointed in the experience, and they will receive a 4 on the devouring scale. I was only kind with the number because of the salsa bar, if they didn't have that then a big 1! Sorry Tijuana Flats, next time I'll just go to Tijuana, Mexico!

Stake N' Shake (Fishers, IN)

Welcome to the Steak N' Shake population me. This was my first experience with the chain that has not graced the Roanoke Valley, and I must say it was a pleasant one. The atmosphere, for those who haven't been there, is one of a fifties diner with waitresses dressed in era attire. The service was good and attentive. The food was better than your average fast food joint.  The entree pictured is that of the Western BBQ' N Bacon Steakburger w/ Fries and Cheese Sauce. For a fast food burger it had a wonderful taste paired with the crispy onions and BBQ sauce, it made this burger a memorable experience. The fries and cheese are always a win win situation, and to top it off all that food for Five Bucks! Now what would a trip to the Steak N' Shake be without the shake? This meal was topped off with the beautiful mooness of the butterfinger shake. So creamy and sweet, it really hits the sweet tooth with a punch. Overall this was very nicely done and the devouring scale will be set at a 8 due to price, taste, and atmosphere. Next time I may have two shakes!

Abuelo's Mexican Food Embassy (Roanoke, VA)

Ahh the experience of restaurant Tex-Mex cuisine. This place has it down pat with the wonderful flavors of their meals. From the free chips and fresh salsa, all the way to the delicious entrees. However the service has gone from being one of the best places to one of the worst. Over the few years that this restaurant has been open the quality of the experience has greatly changed, from having non stop attention to begging for drink. Enough on service lets talk about the food. The picture above is the chorizo stuffed chicken medallions with spinach casserole, and rice. The taste, like always, is one of the great wonders that tantalize the taste buds.The crispiness of the chicken paired with the soft spicy of the chorizo is a wonderful taste explosion. The spinach casserole is so creamy and filled with goodness, that they need to bring me a huge bowl so I can eat it like soup. The rice however was a little dry and needed that extra wow factor. On the devouring scale I would rate this as a 7 due to the good taste but steadily declining service.

Bubblecake Cupcake Shop (Roanoke, VA)

There can't be any thing better then a little piece of cake, even Marie Antoinette wouldn't disagree with that statement. Behold the glory above of what is scientifically called bubbelous cakeulous, or the gourmet cupcake from the Bubblecake Cupcake Shop. The cupcakes pictured are the Cheesecake (Left) and the Birthday Cake Chocolate (Right). Let us now do a little deconstructing which shouldn't be hard due to the deliciousness. The overall cupcake presentation is nicely done as shown in the above picture. The icing is a smooth, silky, and sweet combination to tantalize the taste buds. Now onto the cake, both cakes are similar one happens to be a yellow cake (right) and the other a vanilla (left). The cake for both is very moist and has a wonderful taste, definitely not of the box variety. On the devouring scale this would rate a 7 due to the overall yummieness of the experience. Needless to say this will be a place that will be visited more than once, twice, or even fifteen times. Located at 2123 Crystal Spring Ave, so fire up your GPS and head on down for a GREAT experience!

The Cheesecake Factory (Short Pump, VA)

When you think cheesecake you think of a wonderful dessert that makes you ponder the word yum. When you add the word factory it brings a huh to mind....what can this be? All that can be said is complete yummieness. Yes I believe this is a new and potentially great word for everyone to use. The food and atmosphere was spectacular, not to mention the service was great too. I had the privilege of eating the chicken and biscuits dish as seen on the blog picture. It was just like mom made it and in buffet style on a plate. On the devouring scale of 1 being served in a high school cafeteria and 10 being I've died and gone to heaven, it rates a solid 8. I will have to say the price is a little steep, but the portions are equivalent to pricing. Sadly I have to say there was no room for the illustrious cheesecake and I am very saddened by this, but it does give me a great excuse to go back. So look out Cheesecake Factory I will be back!

7-11 Onion Rings (SE Roanoke, VA)

OK so this is the reason I started this food blog in the first place. I was hungry in the middle of the day and stopped in the 7-11 on Bennington St. for a quick snack. This was the quick snack, cheap ($0.79) and what appeared to be somewhat tasty with the hot sauce flavor. Needless to say that is a BIG WRONG! This has to be the worst thing I have ever eaten. I guess I should have know for the size and price what I was getting into. I was expecting a Funyuns with a kick and got sawdust with nasty old tasting pepper spice. Yes it did make me gag, so much I didn't come close to finishing them. If the price were more I would have demanded a refund on the grounds of damaging my taste buds. So all you snack lovers beware the wrath of the 7-11 Onion Rings!