The Classic Cafe at Roanoke

Great upscale dining in an old home. Art on the walls, nice ambiance, creative dishes. This is a great date venue, at least at night I personally wouldn’t take kids (nothing against kids, we are a big family). We have been a number of times and my husband even ordered takeout on our anniversary when one of our kids was sick and we couldn’t leave — the staff was SO NICE and even gave him some of their dishes and serving items for him to return later, and went over the presentation on the plate so he could make it an awesome experience. We’ve ordered steaks — this past visit mine was a ribeye with a balsamic reduction glaze on the side, sautéed red cabbage, the ever present polenta restaurants insist on giving me (disclaimer I can’t stand polenta but this was soooo good!) — I believe mine was about $ 50, and hubby had the steak and lobster ($ 75). We started with stuffed mushrooms which were tasty. The bread beforehand — do not even take one single bite if you don’t want to eat bread that night — once you start there is no going back. It is awesome. We didn’t get dessert that night because I had ordered a Mexican Martini which was so delicious I decided to have another instead of wine with my dinner and it was rather sweet so no need for dessert (yes, I’m aware that makes me look decidedly unsophisticated but YOU HAVEN’T HAD THIS MARTINI! Oh my goodness it was so yummy, you must try this. Great bartender who for once made a perfect dirty martini for my husband — how hard is it to shake up a little vodka, vermouth and olive juice, people? Well it’s actually not hard for this bartender, it was perfect. Art on the walls, fine dining ambiance, live unintrusive music which was the perfect backdrop. I will say I alllllmost gave this place a 4 star because they’ve slightly overcooked our steaks every single visit so just know that going in and ask them for a lower temp than you actually want — they can always go up if it’s too rare. We don’t send food back since my hubby once worked in a steakhouse and I waited tables in my younger years and it didn’t warrant a complaint, just know that going in when you order. Oh and on a previous visit we ordered a fig mini-​pizza appetizer that was da bomb. And also they pick ingredients from their restaurant garden — that’s cool, too. Go there and enjoy!

I have no idea how on earth someone would rate this place a 4 or 5 star. Been there once and will never go back. All food we had was overcooked and dry. We tried several things to get a feel of how things would be and none of them were enjoyable. The staff was super friendly and the place is real nice and cozy. I had the Mixed Platter with steak, sausage and duck. My wife had the Jaegerschnitzel. We started with the Slow Braised Pork Belly. All, I repeat, all of the food was dry, even the Pork Belly. I don’t even know that is humanly possible. Since the prices stack up with nicer places around the area there is no reason to go to this place unless you want to check it off your list.

Wow, there have been huge improvements with the food since the last time I dined here. Great service, perfectly cooked steak, flavorful potatoes, incredibly tasty mushrooms and the crème brûlée is ranked in the tops. Break out your wallet though; my meal (alone), with t/​t was over $ 80… that’s with no app and we split a free dessert when I checked in on Unilocal.Speaking of app, they have a cute amuse bouche with mozz/​basil/​tom on a stick.
Classic is great for a special date night.

Update to review:
I gotta hand it to these guys. They read my review and made every effort to make me happy. I had already given them four stars but, as you will read below, I made a somewhat negative remark about the slow service. Most places would have let that go and been happy with the four stars. Not these guys. They reached out to me to make me 100% satisfied — you won’t find that everywhere but finding it here will go sure bring me back! Kudos to Classic Café — a true gem of a restaurant that Roanoke is lucky to have! Since I know you read these so carefully, would you mind increasing your bar area by replacing the tables with high tops? You have a great bar and some amazing entertainers — might as well showcase them and increase that bar business. Either way, you got your five stars for the above and beyond effort.
Original review:
Great food. The service wasn’t as up to par as the food though. We watched larger tables come and go as we waited for everything from drinks to bread. Even the GM noticed and made a comment to us about how long it was taking for our food. We will come back but we will try and sit in a different section.

We just moved to the area and were craving a good steak but didn’t want to travel to far to get one so we looked online and the Classic Café came up. We were impressed with all of the good reviews and decided to give it a shot. I made reservations for 8:30 and when we showed up we were told we had to wait just a few minutes. A few minutes turned into almost 15 minutes. When we were finally seated it took a few minutes for our waitress to get to us and it seemed to be like that for the rest of the evening. .waiting for her to come back to our table. The service overall was medicore and I give it 3 stars.
Now on to the food. Our waitress brought us 2 puff pastries filled with a salmon mousse, compliments of the chef. I didn’t try it because I’m not that adventurous but my fiancé did and he said they were ok but not something he would normally eat. He ordered a ceasar salad and I ordered calamari. He said the salad was fantastic and my calamari was just ok. Our waitress also brought us bread but it was not fresh and it was just bad overall. My fiancé ordered the ribeye and I ordered the beef tenderloin for our main entrees and we both opted to get mashed potatoes and asparagus. The thought of cabbage and polenta with steak seemed odd to us but apparently those are the standard sides that came with everything there so we made the substitions. My fiancé was very disappointed in his ribeye he ordered it medium but it was overcooked enough to to ruin the steak. He didn’t even eat half of it. My tenderloin was also disappointing although it was cooked well it completely lacked any kind of seasoning. All 4 of the pieces of the asparagus we both got on our plates was burnt and the tiniest asparagus I have ever seen. The mashed potatoes were the only thing that I felt were exceptional. Overall a huge disappointment. We both agreed for the price we paid we could get an über, go to our favorite steakhouse in Dallas, über back home, and not only would it have been better but cheaper.

My boyfriend took me here on Valentines Day. The atmosphere was very quiet and intimate even though the tables are close to each other. They offered a specific menu for the occasion and the beef tenderloin was the best I’d ever eaten. I would recommend this to anyone. I enjoyed It!

Dropped in for a lunch meeting with friends, expecting café setting and menu. We were delighted with ambiance, service and food way above our expectations. We had soup and salad, pork belly small plate, and cheeseburger plate. All were wonderful. And the Texas sheet cake was perfect. Highly recommended

The good: Cute little place with very, very friendly staff who are attentive. The not so good: The food is so-​so and way overpriced. $ 60 for lunch for 2. The jagerschnitzel was tough, bib wedge had a thick dollop of olive tapenade which totally ruined it and the vegetable soup was all meat, no vegetables.

We love Classic Café in Roanoke. Beautiful place with extraordinary food. Terrific for any special occasion. It is so nice to have a fine dining restaurant in our town. Chef Charles is absolutely an amazing chef. Highly recommend this place!

Never been impressed with this place. I have tried it several times over 10 years. Owners make no effort to remember guests. Food is uninspired.

This is a great place to go for a nice meal and drinks. We love the food, and the staff is always wonderful! We’ve celebrated special events and holidays with them and never been disappointed by the food or drinks. Every dish I’ve tried has been outstanding, so my guess is you can’t go wrong!

Why do I keep going back? I think it is the nostalgia and the fact that the owners are really good guys BUT NO MORE… ANOTHER $ 400 THAT I MIGHT AS WELL HAVE FLUSHED DOWN THE TOLIET.
Did I mention that everything was cold? Cold soup, cold baked potatoes, cold steaks, cold mushroom gravy
Everything tasted bad. I would have guessed they NEVER had tasted a Caesar salad in their life– what an abomination!
steaks and baked potatoes that tasted like they were LEFTOVERS from the day before and reheated for our dining pleasure
Asked about the Chef… He went home at 5:00 P.M. It showed.
The service was great, albeit VERY SLOW.
Three strikes and your out in baseball. This was the third strike and no more… Sorry guys.

First time here and it won’t be my last. Tried the Asian seared salmon which was incredible. Great for casual or upscale dinning. Great staff. Highly recommended. Quality ingredients. Full bar.

Has it really been almost five years since I wrote my first review of Classic Café? As part of my year end sprint of reviews, I am giving you an update that Classic Café is still as good as it ever was.
CC sits at the end of a crazy street of shops and restaurants that are as varied as there are colors of Jelly Belly’s (available at the candy show at the other end of the street). CC doesn’t look like much, but it is easily the nicest restaurant in the area. You’ll see families celebrating special occasions, couples having a romantic dinner, business people doing deals, or me and my family having a nice meal.
Service is always spot on. You’ll be hard pressed to get halfway through your water (or other drink) without being offered a refill. The servers are very accommodating and readily available should a request arise.
The food is a combination of high end steaks and seafood, along with some interesting specials. I usually go for the beef tenderloin. There are a variety of sauces that you can add to your meal. Each entrée comes with cabbage and another side. There is usually an amuse bouche and always fresh bread with dipping oil.
The wine menu offers some gems — don’t hesitate to ask.

very good, food is very good. Interesting little setting. I enjoyed seeing the little farm in the back, where I guess they would get some of the spices…
You will be very happy to eat here, the only problem I have is that at this level of prices I expected more.
chef’s selections were delicious.

Such a great experience and meal. We will be regulars.

A colleague and I visit this spot while traveling on business. It was a recommendation from our client and boy were we glad we at here. The waiter coached us through the menu and drink list to a wonderful meal of crab cakes, steak and polenta. We also had a blackberry pie for dessert that was killer. Go here, ask questions, let them help you and your belly will thank me for the advice. I will return next time I’m in the area.

My family and I decided to give another place in Roanoke a try and WOW am I so happy we did. We went on a Tuesday at 2pm and had the absolute BEST waitress. It’s always amazing to have great service and excellent food. The best part was the DELICIOUS crab cakes and they come with these mashed potatoes that are so fluffy and yummy! Highly recommend it. My mother got the cheeseburger which was HUGE. Fries had a delicious seasoning so if you’re into cheeseburgers or not into trying new things, you won’t be disappointed. Portions were huge as well which is nice since it’s a little pricey. But overall a hidden gem which will be our new go to restaurant!!! Very happy customer!!!

great place out in roanoke, only a 10 min drive from southlake. small dining room but great food. they had a guitar player in the bar and made some strong drinks!
i had the mixed grill, didn’t care much for the sausage but the beef was great. duck was also well cooked if a little over cooked. overall great visit. glad to find a place that cooks using local ingredients

After our plans to go to Mediveal Times were ruined due to a burst water main, we decided to try the Classic Café at Roanoke as my boss had a retirement dinner a month or so ago and was left suitably impressed.
Our experience was much the same, especially as we had the good fortune of attending during DFW Restaurant Week. The price was amazing for the food that we selected, and the options were varied enough that there was something for everyone.
We were told that we could come in whatever dress we felt comfortable in, which was nice, but after we arrived we felt slightly under-​dressed. Business casual would be a better description rather than the shorts and shirts we wore.
We had an amuse bouche which was delicious, and the three of our party of four really enjoyed the tomato and basil soup. My sister and my wife had the salmon mignon while my sister’s boyfriend had a chicken dish and I had the ribeye steak with bleu cheese crust. All four dishes were magnificent; prepared exceptionally and served with a quiet effective charm.
For desert my sister and wife had the Texas Sheet Cake while I had the Panna Cotta, which was a little different than I was expecting but still wonderful.
The wine list, admittedly, was on the shorter side compared to the Classic’s peers, but usefully had a «Phase 1, 2, 3, or 4» section for wines by the glass for those who are price conscious. They list prices by ounces, so it is hard to estimate how much you’re actually getting.
The locale is a quaint old-​style home in Roanoke, while parking can be a challenge during busy periods. All in all, this was a great place to enjoy a last meal before my sister and her boyfriend continued their US vacation adventure. I’m sure my wife and I will be back!

Fabulous. We were introduced to the Classic Café through a «Groupon» offer that we received. I must say that we were pleasantly surprises. Located in the Old Settlement of Roanoke. The Classic Café resides in a building with a significant history itself. The building was part of a military barracks in its former life and was relocated to its current location by the previous owners.
The restaurant offers two small dinning rooms and a small intimate bar. The restaurant offers live entertainment on weekends. A beautiful place that offers age appropriate dinner music, elegant design, and, intimate lighting making Classic Café a perfect place to celebrate with that special person.
The menu offers a very complex entrée options for those who enjoy the finer textures and artistic creativity of the chef. As a starter the chef prepared a watermelon with a light cream cheese moose that was delicious. For an appetizer we selected a smoked salmon that was served with toasted bread, capers, red onion, and a light cream cheese moose. We selected the Classic Salad that was fabulous. Made with fresh greens, green apples, toasted walnuts, crumbled cheese, and a homemade vinaigrette dressing. For the entrée I selected the handmade crab cakes pared with the pork belky mac and cheese. The mac and cheese is hands down the best all around.
The service tends to be a little slower than your typical chain restaurant. If you’re looking to get in and out quickly, then continue on with your search. The owner and chef pride themselves with the dinning experience and using quality ingredients. Many of the items include products grown in their own garden. Everything is made fresh to order. Again, paying close attention to quality, freshness and the presentation.
Highly recommended.

Come here. Get a steak. Center cut. Best steak ever. I got it medium done.
We ordered the calamari and crab cakes. The crab cakes were excellent. They offer them as a main entrée and it was tempting. He got the mixed grill with homemade sausage, duck breasts, and flat iron steak. For sides he had the mac and cheese and the polenta cake. I had a purple potato patty and the red cabbage. I liked the mac and cheese. We had the crème Brulee for dessert– it was good. I would definitely come back for the crab cakes and steak and I would like to try their mashed potatoes.

This is a fantastic restaurant with great food. Every time I go I try something different and I have not been disappointed. The steaks are delicious and always prepared just right. And the rack of lamb… Mmmm mmmm good.

Very good food… very pricey though. Everything is really fresh and high quality never been disappointed with a visit

WoW! Our last visit here was how it should be, immediately were seated. Although our table was squeezed in too close to other tables our neighbors were not too loud so not a big issue. Our server was great and this time the complimentary bread was actually warm, the olive oil was awesome with the bread. Next came a «sample from the chef», cheese that was also very good. My date had a fish/​pasta something don’t really remember, taste was good, but not for me. She said she liked it, I chose the special of the day, Monk fish and it was delicious! Not a big fish man but took a risk on the recommendation of the waiter and glad I did, if they have it on the night you visit I highly recommend,

I am never disappointed in the food here. The taste, temperature and look of the food at The Classic at Roanoke is always spot on. Tonight was no different. Our service from Francis is always spectacular and tonight was no different, however he was not our waited but he did end up helping now and then. Our waiter this evening was a little «green» but did his best. Our service did not negate the outstanding food and experience we had this evening.
Our dinner started with some whipped avocado on a toasted cracker with a candy walnut as a tasting extra from the chef. They did not have their famous Oysters this evening so the wife and I ordered the Mushroom caps and crab cakes to start. We shared the Flat Iron Steak special which tasted amazing.
Another thing about The Classic Café is that they have a very substantial garden in the back that they get a lot of produce from. This evening they had a squash casserole that was out of this world! We ended the evening with their must have Jalapeño Apple Cobbler. YummO!
We had a great visit as always. I think our waiter was a little green and had two too many table to deal with that lead to some of the problems we had this evening. We will be back soon for some outstanding sit down food in Roanoke.

Our group had a pre-​Holiday gathering in a private room at The Classic at Roanoke on a recent trip to Dallas during our annual Board of Directors’ meeting. The Classic is a short drive north and west from the Gaylord Texan, and it’s located in the charming town of Roanoke, TX.
The Classic looks like a cozy blue cottage with a wrap-​around porch from the outside, and inside you’ll find several quaint dining areas decorated in a comfortable, casual style. Our group ate in on of the outer buildings located across from the open plaza where cooking demonstrations are given regularly. Our host spent a few moments telling us about the restaurant, and let us know that most of the vegetables came right from the restaurant’s own garden.
Our meal started with some excellent wines that had been pre-​selected by our hosts, followed by a wide variety of delicious appetizer platters for sharing. We enjoyed four-​cheese stuffed mushroom caps on brown butter, roasted garlic with herbed goat cheese served with homemade bread, brown sugar pork belly confit with a balsamic fig marmalade, and baked Danish brie with dried cranberries, caramelized onion & pistachios. Then came a classic greens salad with apples, spiced walnuts and bleu cheese crumbles tossed in a sherry balsamic vinaigrette.
For the main course I had their 14-​ounce free-​range rib-​eye which was a beautiful slab of tender meat, perfectly seasoned and cooked just the way I like. The steak was served with a creamy horseradish sauce along with sautéed organic wild mushrooms, and grilled asparagus spears. Absolutely fantastic!
I’m not normally a dessert eater, but the choices at The Classic were over the top, and I had to try their warm Jalapeño apple cobbler with vanilla bean ice cream. The pairing of the warm apple cobbler with the bite of Jalapeño pepper was fantastic.
This was a spectacular dinner in a terrific setting.