Rockfish Food and Wine

My group and I had the best time celebrating my birthday at Rockfish last night. They have the most delicious fried calamari in the city, hands down. It’s not heavily fried like others that make you feel gross and you can really taste the fresh calamari under the breading. The pumpkin cheesecake was also outstanding, and that’s coming from someone that isn’t a big fan of cheesecake. The drink menu was incredible and the staff were incredibly accommodating and friendly. I will definitely be bringing others here in the near future!

First I would like to say I had a solo dining experience, so that may have changed things a bit. Upon entry the hostess asked me if I had a reservation, I said no, I was told there is no wait time, plus the restaurant was like 75% empty. She proceeded to seat me, the choices for non-reservation did not seem great, but I did ask to be seated by the fish tank and that was granted. Moving onto the service, I am unable to drink tap water. I only drink sparkling water. I was told the sparkling water would come in a can, not a bottle. That is fine, when the server appeared it was already in a glass, I assume they poured it for me. I started my service with the Tuna Tacos, they are a bit salty but extremely flavorful and filling. Then, for my main course I ordered the Ciopinno, a dish I have eaten about 20 times. This version was slightly different, there was significant less seafood, initially they completely forgot to include the halibut fish. I did send it back, and they returned it with maybe 4-5 small squares of fish, there were 2 muscles, 2 shrimps, and 2 clams in my bowl. What was plentiful was the chunks of tomato, this was less of a broth and more of a chunky tomato take on the Ciopinno. Nonetheless, the food had good flavor and the ambience was neutral, seems like plenty of locals visit often so be prepared to overhear conversations of people catching up. Also, I do think this restaurant is passed off as an upscale restaurant, but there are some things that could improve such as the dated interior, the use paper napkins instead of cloth. Also, the furniture could be updated. Overall, I rate my experience a 3.75 and I am thankful that my server was attentive and kind!

Rockfish is my new favorite restaurant! Their salmon is the best I've ever had! I also enjoyed beet/raisin slaw and pumpkin cheesecake.❤️Owner Olivia along with Sonny, Kayla, and other staff are classy and on point with attention and kind service. Great environment vibe.

Excellent, everything cooked on point. They have two dollars off on appetizers and drinks from 5 PM – 6 PM. Featured appetizer was local okra fried and garnished with pickled red onion and a housemaid finishing sauce on the side and fried oysters. I opted out of the sauce that came with and just ordered traditional tartar and cocktail. Both of those were best I’ve ever had. The owner is very warm and welcoming and genuine. I enjoyed a quick stop here for a Sunday treat.

Fresh & well prepared food. We have made several weekend visits and have yet to be disappointed. Would very much love to hear of more live music events or special occasions through social media / marketing. Open indoor seating space, street parking only.

Went with another couple. Food was good, not great. The fried oyster appetizer was too heavily breaded and not much meat. My husband got some kind of fish with a salmon pate rolled in it, but there was very little of this spread. I ordered the duck leg confit. This is usually well done, but I asked how it was cooked and the waitress said rare. I went with it, but it was well done, I should've known better, but the waitress should've known the menu. better.

this place has very high quality of food, service and got to listen to a lot of great music performances while we were there! the atmosphere was amazing and the taste of their food is excellent! I had seared tuna twice! it is just fantastic! would definitely recommend to my family and friends! will be back soon!

Had a wonderful dinner celebrating my husbands birthday. The calamari was light and flavorful. My filet was cooked to perfection and my husband thoroughly enjoyed his scallops. The sides were perfect combinations. The wine was superb as always. Highly recommend!

just had a wonderful dinner with my wife and two friends. This is one of my favorite restaurants. The salmon was perfect. Flavorful and cooked to perfection. The fried oyster appetizer was great as well, but could have had more oysters. Wonderful setting and terrific waitress. The interior is nicer than other high end restaurants. Noise level is good. Service first rate. Yes, it is pricey, but worth the cost. Better than some of the other high end restaurants in town. James P.

This restaurant is located in Grandin Village, one of the nicest neighborhoods in Southwest Ronoke. The building where it is housed has a charming framed white large window and front door. Just by standing outside, admiring this small but beautiful place, one gets a feeling of a comfortable ambiance, and an anticipation of the wonderful culinary experience yet to come. As soon as I entered the door and announced my reservation, that I had made through Toast, I received a warm welcome by the restaurant's host, who took me to table 8, what I consider, the best table of the house, located in the center of the front window, with a beautiful view of the outside as well as of the inside of the restaurant. As I was reviewing the menu, and exploring the place with my eyes, I had a cozy and relaxing feeling, and felt very comfortable in the place. My server Charlene was so hospitable from the time she introduced herself with a smile. She was dressed with an elegant black dress and her nails had an amazing silver tone. But if all this was impressive, her personality was even greater. She immediately made you feel at home. Comfortable and relaxed, I was able to asks her questions about the drinks and menu items and she did an excellent job with her brief yet very effective explanations. To drink, I ordered the Liquid Sunshine Mocktail. To start with, I ordered the Crispy Oysters with sweet corn and pepper puree. As the main entrée, I ordered the Filet Mignon Au Poivre. While I was waiting for the food, my server brought and served me cold water from a bottle. She also brought me slices of a Baguette with freshly whipped butter. I'm of the opinion that the quality of the bread and butter of a restaurant speaks for the quality of its cuisine. And again, this was also the case here. My drink tasted wonderful, my Crispy Oysters with the sweet corn puree were amazing, and my Filet Mignon medium rare, was extraordinary both in presentation and in flavor. This restaurant is the dream of any dining Aficionado. And Olivia Byrd, the owner and manager of the restaurant has made the dream come true. She not only fulfilled her dream, but through this restaurant has shared it with all those who enjoy good food and wine in a comfortable and friendly environment. For dessert, I had the House Made Pumpkin Cheesecake. It was extremely delicious. The best I've ever had. So soft and flavorflavorful. The perfect item to conclude an extraordinary dining experience. I highly recommend this restaurant to everyone who is reading my review. It's like finding a magnificent pearl inside an Oyster. All the elements of a fine dining experience are here. I not only recommend it but also look forward to becoming one of its best customers.

Sad to say that Rockfish has gone downhill. Last two meals have been awful. Salad was limp with greens way past their prime. Shouldn't have been served. Duck confit was quite overcooked. So dried out it was hard to swallow. Was the cook asleep to put that on a plate? What's the story with having to ask for bread? Should be on the table. Every time bread is requested, server says, "warming up your bread." Never arrives warm, don't need it warm, so that's some useless party line.

I've been here several times and to e food is delicious! Great wine selection also. Servers are professionals. I live sitting at the bar and enjoying the local ambiance.

Was in town briefly and this place was so cute! We were welcomed by the waitress and she was so great. We did have a reservation some open tables and we were seated immediately. Great cocktail list and the food was delicious!

Upon walking into the restaurant, the first thing we smelled was the mold. Our waitress was nice and the servers were great. I didn't like the portion we got which was ridiculously small considering the price and I was disappointed by that.

Hate to say non positive things about a local restaurant especially as they are struggling to deal with taxes etc. but we have been here 4 times. We won't be back. The first time we had a good meal, the other three not so much. Went for my birthday and ordered scallops which came with Polenta (actually they were grits) and green beans which were frozen. Last time one of us ordered sirloin steak which was so tough it was inedible. Last night our guest had salmon and the piece couldn't have been 4 oz. My husband ordered crab cakes (they were fishy and old) with yuca (so hard it couldn't be cut) and both of us had broccolini which couldn't be cut either. When entrees are $30 and up, you expect better.

Delicious and flavorful! We had the House Crab Cakes and the Crab Stuffed Baked Trout. A cozy space with occasional live music. Billie was a lovely server!

Not good especially for the prices. Steak with sauce tasted rancid. Food was not fresh, no beets in the beet mixed greens salad, flavor profile off. Peach cobbler had no "cobbler" in it. Only 3 slices of peach. Tried bite of my family's entree and stopped eating. Disappointed to try this place for the first time. Bok choy not cooked well. Travel all over the world and do not recommend.

We walked in right when they opened at 5:30pm. We were the first customers there and were told they only had two, 2-seater tables next to the window. Umm, ok. It was so cold in that section we left our jackets on. Service was fine. Food was fresh and tender, but incredibly bland tasting. We had calamari, redfish, and the bolognese. They had a live band setting up to play at 6:30pm. The restaurant is not that big to begin with, and we were not about to stick around to try to fight being able to hear each other. Oh, and when we left 45 minutes later, there were only 2 other people there, stuffed into another 2-seater table somewhere else. Yet they were "so busy" they had to put us in a freezing corner. What happened to the "only tables available" were where we were?

I was traveling in Roanoke and stopped in for dinner. The staff are nice and it was a cute place that seems to be frequented by locals. I'd say the food is good but nothing that is exceptional. The filet mignon was small but tasty (usually like it with more of a sear/crust), potatoes were good, green beans that didn't really have tomatoes in it were forgettable. The key lime pie was just ok. Glad I stopped in but not sure I would return it back in the area given the price point for what you get. There are some better options in the city.

My wife and I had a delightful dinner here after visiting g two other wonderful nearby spots for lunch and wine tasting. We started with oysters as an appetizer. They were good, but a couple were a bit rubbery. The salsa along with them (more of a pico de gallo) was a really nice pairing I never would've come up with. My wife got one of their specials- a pecan encrusted (or was it almond?) mahi-mahi on mashed potatoes. It was quite tasty if not the most visually appealing dish (brown on tan). I ordered the shrimp and grits. It was good but not with a great deal of seasoning. Good, but not amazing. We both ordered their flourless chocolate torte with blackberry...THAT was amazing!! All in all a very nice dinner. Torn between the 4 & 5 stars. The attentive and polite server pushes it to 5.

Food, service, ambiance excellent. Rice amazing. We love this place. Expense a bit more than our usual so we go for special occasions.

Good Job! I recently sent some friends to your location that are new to the Roanoke area. You did not disappoint! They were very excited about trying some new places in their new home town. Thank you for having an awesome waitstaff and service selections. I will continue to recommend your location for great service, wonderful selections, and gathering of friends. BRAVO!

Food was amazing, sat at the bar, loved the atmosphere. Parking was on the street, strange security guard across the street making sure people didn't park in the lot. Drinks were great! Had the IPA on tap, kid of fruity. Big Lick brand

We had a large group of 50+ people coming to Roanoke for an event and needed to find a place that could take all of us for dinner on a Thursday evening. Found Rockfish on a "Best of Roanoke" list and reached out a week before our arrival date. Spoke with Olivia (the owner) who suggested that for a group our size that we reserve the restaurant for a private event, which we did. Olivia customized a menu for us consisting of a set of appetizers which would be served right when people arrived, a choice of 2 salads (mixed greens and caesar), 3 entrees (red snapper, filet mignon and chicken) and 3 desserts (apple cobbler, mocha truffle torte, cheesecake)...all items from their regular menu. Suffice it to say the evening was a huge success. The restaurant space was elegant, the food was fantastic, and the service/staff could not have been better. Huge thanks to Olivia and Rockfish Food and Wine for everything...exceeded our expectations in every respect.

The best Resturant in Roanoke for food, service and ambience. Wood floors add elegance to the superb dining experience there.

Never knew about this place but we honestly don't make it over to Grandin area often. We were really in the mood for seafood and they did not disappoint. We had the calamari and salmon flatbread for an appetizer and they were excellent. I had the red snapper, my husband had the swordfish and my daughter had the salmon. We all split the lemon raspberry cheesecake for dessert. Everything was so good. The waitress was very nice. A great place to have a nice dinner out but not overly dressy. The Atmosphere was very laidback. We loved it and will be going back.

Food was great. I would highly recommend the pork chop, so good! Staff was friendly. Service was timely. I visit Roanoke just a couple of times a year. This will be one of my stops in the future.

I have been here twice, and both times super pleased by how helpful and responsive they have been to the needs of people in our party. I am a GF (Celiac) vegetarian, while my sister is a vegetarian who can't do nightshades, making us super fun for servers on the rare occasion we dine together. Both times, Rockfish provided truly delightful meals (and tasty wine and cocktails!) without ever making us feel like a burden, and neither of us got sick either time. Their nightly green plate is fantastic, and my partner really enjoyed the crab cakes, while my mother loved the local pork loin. Nice enough for a place to celebrate but not too hoity-toity that you wouldn't want to come here just because, I think this is a great local restaurant, especially for folks with different food needs.

4.5 stars! This is a cute dog-friendly indoor and outdoor seating restaurant. Food was excellent. I had the tuna with coconut rice and bok choy. The seared tuna was excellent and the sauce was good too but I didn't taste much wasabi and only a hint of ginger. A sharp or spicy note would have made it perfect but I like spicy, gingery things so probably a personal preference. Coconut rice was excellent. My husband enjoyed his trout, mashed potatoes and green beans. I wish I had asked to switch out the bok choy for green beans because it's not my favorite veggie unless it's well seasoned. Next time! Our server was very kind and did a nice job. Bring extra money - this place is very pricy for Roanoke. But a great place for a special occasion.

We came into Roanoke from DC to visit family, and found THE restaurant! Food - 5 stars; service - 5 stars, atmosphere- 5 stars! We have ate calamari on the east coast and the west coast, and this is the BEST! If you are in Roanoke, you have to stop by and give them a try. We will be repeat customers!

This is really a cool spot. Loved the look and feel of the restaurant and service was fantastic. We started off with the fried green tomatoes. They were really good and I would recommend them. For meals we got the crabcakes and scallops. Both were really good. The puréed sweet potatoes and apples were delicious. The buffalo cauliflower was amazing. They sides were unique and we enjoyed them. The curry pumpkin was unusual. I don't know that I'd get it again and the Brussel sprouts were pretty good. We finished dessert with key lime pie and a chocolate flourless cake. Both were very good. The key lime pie was light and what I expect out of a good key lime pie. Great date spot or girls night out!

Wonderful food and fantastic service! Highly recommend this restaurant!. The wait staff was excellent!

Omg the food kept disappearing! The app was the first to go. A photo wasn't even an option. Then it was too late. Two plates, two spoons & this dinner ended too soon. There wasn't time for wine, because we had to stop and drop this line. Try any food or wine here and check out the veteran on the side of the building, he'll let you know this is a place worth visiting. The servers were kind and quick to their feet. Our past through on Halloween was made complete. Some dressed up and smiled at me too! So if I'm in Roanoke again, I'll come and smile for sure

We hit this place Mid Feb and forgot to post my review First visit in about 3 years and give it 5 Stars Excellent service and a tasteful menu at reasonable prices Highly suggest it if you get the chance

Delicious! We came here for a romantic, date-night dinner and absolutely loved it. The menu offers a variety of seafood, vegetarian, chicken, and beef options. They also have an extensive wine list, and many bottles are at extremely reasonable prices. I ordered the scallops and my date had the fried oysters. I definitely won the "who ordered the best plate" game. The scallops were perfectly cooked and had delicious accompaniments. The oysters, while also good, felt like they were over-breaded and perhaps left in the oil for too long, but the sides were delectable. We ordered a small bottle of white to go with our meal (two glasses of white were more expensive than a whole bottle) and finished off the night with a chocolate torte dessert. The service was great, very attentive and friendly, and answered all of our questions about the menu. The atmosphere was lovely, romantic, yet also cozy and comfortable. We will definitely be back!

Mediocre food (the weak link), not worthy of the price, nice location and excellent service. I wish the owner would upgrade the culinary experience, then, this restaurant would be a neighborhood gem.

A little overpriced for what you get and the entree selections are lacking a good variety.

Good food and wine list reasonably priced. Very attractive atmosphere. Service excellent.

A hidden gem out in the open. Got here before 7 and took advantage of the happy hour special on cocktails and appetizers. Not bad. Had tender calamari and an order of fried oysters. So moist and succulent. Then had scallops over polenta and an order of the brisket which was great. Both came with sides of Brussels sprouts and squash. For dessert we split a fresh strawberry pie. A good meal for a good price. Will go back.

Service was pleasant and atmosphere was nice but my husband and I were disappointed with our entree, which was the special.and it isn't cheap.

Great food and great staff. Highly recommended this place. I have had many wine recommendations after they were out of the things we wanted and it was a great substitute if not better.

Literally my favorite restaurant to visit while in Roanoke.. I've NEVER been let down! My favorite dish is the Seared Salmon and fresh veggies. Yummy and truly delightful. Their specials are also delectable!

The definition of mid. No complaints but the most below average grub ever. First off the place was literally empty. The food looked like my 13 year old brother could've made it. For our $14 shrimp dish, they put like 2 pieces of lettuce down, dipped like 4 Walmart shrimp in BBQ sauce. I was hungry like it wasn't like the food was bad. But for a two person meal costing $120, there are maybe 10000 other places you can go for better quality dining.

We decided to try this restaurant out, the service was great! Unfortunately, the food wasn't... I wanted to order the branzino but they didn't have any left, I then decided to go with the special, and the poor server came back and told me that was sold out.. so I asked if I could get the shrimp and grits without the Chorizo, and they couldn't do that. I believe the manager or owner ( I'm not sure) came over and asked if they could make me a special shrimp dish ( I'm a pescatarian) When our food came out, they gave me 4 or 5 overcooked shrimp thrown on top of some soggy eggplant... Idk why I figured they would have at least comped a glass of wine or offered a dessert... they didn't and they also charged me the same price as the special. Really disappointing, probably won't go back

Olivia and her team are wonderful. Groups or single dining experience. Wine dinners or quick bites after work. I don't think there's any better place in Grandin to dine, period.

we had a very large group and Rockfish was able to take us on relatively short notice. they were very accommodating, friendly and professional. great service and great food.

Food, drinks, service and atmosphere are all 5 stars. Went with a big party recently and everyone cleaned their plates. Wasabi encrusted tuna is official!!!

The Roanoke Valley is extremely lucky to have such a fine and fun restaurant. We stared with wine and a few beers and ordered the calamari appetizer. It was excellent and a generous portion because I told the waitress that we all wanted to share it. The calamari was fresh and the breading was similar to tempura, so it added only a light crunch - perfect! My wife usually prefers non-seafood but our friends we went with praised the amberjack, so my wife, reluctantly, decided to try it. Wow! She loved it! I had the rainbow trout and what a treat that was too. Our friends, who eat here twice a month, both had the pork chop and raved. The ladies had wine and the gents had beers - all very good. The service was prompt, professional and very courteous but never seemed to interrupt our fun conversations. We agreed to skip dessert even though the ice cream and cobbler was tempting. This fine restaurant is a bit on the expensive side for Roanoke, but the nicely dressed patrons all seemed to be having a great time. All considered, 5 stars is too few!

Used to be one of our favorites prior to COVID. Returned last evening for a birthday celebration with friends. My husband and friend ordered the Special--fresh snapper with side of kale. The price $30. The fish was inedible. A tasteless, tough, small portion that ate like a very tough piece of pork. To RF's credit, we were offered another entree which my friend declined haven been put off by such a disappointing dish. Owner came to table and apologized saying the fish had come to them "fresh" on Wednesday--this was Friday. The chef should have tasted it before service. So disappointing and expensive!

Went for the food. Did not disappoint! I had the duck breast with potatoes and a side salad with house dressing!

Chef Tom has really brought our neighborhood gem into a new dimension. We've always loved this place, partly because it's walking distance from our house and partly because we love the owner and wait staff (Liz!). We've seen a few chefs come and go. Some good, some.... not so much. However, we now have Chef Tom in the house! His menu is innovative, without being pretentious. Fresh ingredients, prepared with love and skill. Tonight's Scallops with Benton Ham, Coconut Rice and Pea Shoots was, not only one of the best dishes I've ever had at Rockfish, it was one of the best I've ever tasted. Perfectly executed, seasoned and presented. Not a grain of rice was left on the plate. DELISH! I should also mention that Olivia has created the perfect vibe here. Casual, yet upscale. The lighting, which is very important to me because I have light sensitivity issues, is perfect. The art, which changes often, is always a treat. While we are regulars and can't imagine our neighborhood without Rockfish, even folks just stopping through town will feel a warm welcome here and be glad they stopped in.

Sometimes you have to try again to make it work and sometimes the establishment needs to hire a spectacular chef to make the necessary changes. Several years ago I gave this establishment a less than favorable rating. My prior experience would not let me go back to try it again, until just a short time ago. My friend Tom, who was the owner and chef at The Brown Hen in Salem, VA, is now in charge of the kitchen here at Rockfish and what an incredible transformation it has been. I had the Beef Filet Oscar and it was spectacular. The presentation was superb and the taste was sublime. With Tom in the kitchen the front of the house seemed relaxed and confident providing a great vibe for the patrons. Rockfish will be my new go to and i highly recommend you to go soon. Make certain you make reservations this place will be hopping!!

I'm visiting from Washington D.C. and stopped by Rockfish to have cocktails and appetizers with old friends. I love the warm atmosphere and friendly staff, big city sophistication with small town values. We had a charcuterie and cheese plate, fried oysters, and calamari. The charcuterie and cheese plate featured a house-made duck pastrami that was out of this world. The calamari was perfectly crispy and the oysters were plump and delicious. The signature cocktail menu was unique and I had a hard time deciding which one to choose, but eventually settled on the whiskey sour, which did not disappoint. I can't wait to come back for dinner.

There were 10 of us dining after a long day of meetings. We randomly chose this restaurant, and we were thrilled! The wine list was very generous and had something for the varied taste of the table. I personally had the Purple Rain which was a mixed drink of gin, lemon and lavender simple syrup....it was magnificent. From the salmon, to the scallops, filet and the trout, every dish was cooked perfectly. I had the trout (not blackened) over cornbread stuffing and collard greens. This was a very generous dish, the trout was moist and flakey and the stuffing very buttery and filing; but we couldn't resist desert which was cardomon bread pudding. It was beyond words!

Enjoyed a relaxed evening with old friends at Rockfish. Their brisket burger with bacon and fried egg was delicious, and they gladly put the sauce on the side for my picky digestion. The elderflower cocktail with mint and lime was wonderful - will make that one at home soon! Terrific service. I'll be back.

Probably my favorite restaurant in all Roanoke and New River Valley. Overall the best food for the money anywhere. The staff is the best service you could ask for and the venue is perfect for a quite dinner with your spouse or with friends. Lower ambient lighting, good tables and beautiful bar. The drinks are all excellent!

Very excellent service and food. I was impressed with the sweet potato fries and burger that I ordered. Never before had I been to a place that served either water or wine. The atmosphere was very nice. Portions were generous. Perfect for family dinners or date nights.