Manuel M.
Yelp
On May 23, 2012 Billy's, as we know it today, re-opened after extensive renovations. For this reason this year Billy's is celebrating its 13th Anniversary.
Ever since I moved to Roanoke and ate at Billy's for the very first time, it has been my favorite restaurant. Not only to dine on special occasions, but my philosophy has been that you can make any day special by dining at Billy's. Then why did I only give it 4 Stars on my last visit and review. I invite you to go back and read this review and view my photographs that accompany this review. I consider it one of my best reviews of a restaurant I have always loved in good times as well as in hard times.
After being awarded the Triad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, I decided that it would be appropriate this year to go back to this restaurant and write a follow-up review, since my initial review was one of my reviews that contributed to me obtaining this highly esteemed Award.
I made my reservation through Open Table requesting a table for four located in a bright area of the restaurant. Since it was for 6:15pm, I knew that at this early time, taking up a table for four would not be an inconvenience for the restaurant since it would not be full. The management was kind enough to assign me table 24, located in the center area next to the front window facing the historic Roanoke City Market Building; and when I arrived, the Host warmly greeted me and graciously escorted me to this table.
However, when my server Steve found out that I would only be the one seated at that table, he almost drew a fit and asked me why I was seated at a table for four (being selfish and only thinking of his tip). I quickly answered back with: "I requested this table." He then went directly to the Host's station to speak with one of the managers at hand. And when he found out that I was writing a review of my dining experience at this restaurant, he immediately changed his attitude towards me and me being his customer at his table for four.
My server Steve was very knowledgeable and did an excellent presentation of the specials of the day, the items on the menu, how I could add a lobster tail to a steak and make it a Surf and Turf. In fact, you can say he was a Master salesman, but what he didn't realize was that I not only had taught the Salesmanship course in a college years ago, but I had been the Business & Economics Division Head of the college years ago.
He took my order. To start off with, I ordered a Raspberry Basil Mocktail and a 3 Bacon wrapped Scallops appetizer. My server pointed out that each scallop was $13. I gave him a look like for me an excellent dining experience was priceless, and he didn't need to be pointing out the prices of my order. Afterwards I would have a Caesar Salad, and for my main course I ordered an 8oz Filet Mignon medium rare with an enhancement of a Lobster Tail. I also ordered a Mushroom Demi sauce for my Filet and my Cheddar Smashed Potatoes to be Loaded. By now, he knew who he was dealing with, and didn't mind that I was seated at one of his 4 person tables. Besides, he had two 6 person tables next to mine that he had to deal with. I'll admit this, he did have style. Every item of my order was cooked to perfection and delivered at the right timing. And even the rolls with butter were fresh and arrived hot to my table. And you know that I judge a good restaurant by the quality and freshness of the bread and butter they serve. As the Grand Finale of my meal I ordered a Limoncello Cake at my server's suggestion and it was amazing. I had an extraordinary dining experience and I think I taught my server a lesson of how to treat his guests because you never know who they will be.