Dining Guide: Explore These Culinary Delights

From the creative to the classics, Roanoke knows food!

Hello, dining rookies, fellow restaurateurs, and everyone in between! My name is Quincy Randolph – Chef, Co-Owner of RND Coffee, and host of the “Rookie Restaurateur” podcast. I’ve put together a feature guide with my favorite five unique dining options here in the City of Roanoke. I love to mentor and consult with entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs, so hit me up if you’re looking for support.

We chat about so many topics related to entrepreneurs that would be worth a listen whether you’re in the food industry or not. So follow along!

Mama Jean’s Barbeque

3404 Brandon Ave. | mamajeansbbq.com | @mamajeansbbq

Mama Jean’s is by far my favorite place to get barbeque in the Roanoke area. They currently serve out of a 1956 Airstream food trailer but are in the process of moving into a new brick-and-mortar location. From brisket to burnt ends, and even banana pudding, I’ve been thoroughly impressed with how consistently delicious every Mama Jean’s offering is.

Eatza Pizza

@eatza_pizza

Nearly everyone loves pizza. And I personally am a bit of a sucker for new and different things. No one in Roanoke is doing pizza quite like Eatza Pizza, and this has made me a superfan. Eatza Pizza is a pop-up specialty pizza company, often appearing at breweries and local farmers markets. They specialize in sourdough Neapolitan pizzas, with creative pizzas like their Sushi Pizza, and their Pickle Pizza. But if that’s a bit out there for you, don’t fret–they make really great cheese pizzas too!

Scratch Biscuit Company

1820 Memorial Ave. | scratchbiscuit.com | @scratchbiscuitcompany

I said at the beginning of this feature that this list was going to be diverse! Well, you can’t have a diverse dining list without including what many consider to be the premiere breakfast restaurant in Roanoke. Scratch Biscuit has risen to fame for their, you guessed it, scratch-made biscuits which are made daily in-house. Scratch Biscuit has a large menu and can switch from savory biscuits like their country ham biscuit, to sweet biscuits, such as their fried apple biscuit without missing a beat. The overall menu is fantastic, and I’m personally a huge fan of the “Hanz and Franz Pulled Pork Biscuit”

Crystal Spring Grocery Co.

2205 Crystal Spring Ave. SW | csgrocery.com | @crystalspringgroceryco

What if I told you that my favorite lunch spot in town was a grocery store? Well, that’s not fully accurate. Crystal Spring Grocery is my favorite lunch spot in town, but it’s more of a specialty foods store. On their shelves, you can find unique pantry items, beer and wine, and other exceptional house-made foods. BUT, I fell in love with Crystal Spring Grocery because of their hot-foods counter. They often have specials, and they change their menu frequently. However, I often find myself going back for a “Double Matty Patty” which is, for brevity’s sake, an extremely delicious double cheeseburger.

FoodHutRke

foodhutrke.com | @foodhutrke

Food Hut is a self-described “Happy Little Restaurant,” and I think that description fits the vibe to a tee. Food Hut is attached to Golden Cactus Brewing, and operates on a walk-up-window style of service. The restaurant sports a small, relaxed changing menu of crowd-pleasers. You’ll find various different menu items depending on the day, from Lobster Rolls to Wonton Nachos, to one of the best Hot Chicken Sandwiches in Roanoke.

Listening along with Chef Quincy isn’t the only way to get entrepreneurial support in the Roanoke Region of Virginia. Our region has a robust ecosystem of tools, resources, classes, funding, and co-working spaces to help kick-start your entrepreneurial dreams. View the Entrepreneurial Hub listings for an extensive list of options, or reach out to Roanoke Region Small Business Development Council (tell ’em Get2KnowNoke sent ya!).

This, of course, is only a glimpse into the evolving Roanoke restaurant scene! You can learn more about some of the restaurants on this list, as well as other movers and shakers in the restaurant industry by listening and subscribing to the “Rookie Restaurateur” Podcast.