In the midst of all the recent drama and controversy surrounding The Market Building downtown, I thought I would share a pleasant dining experience I had at New York Pizza on Hardy Road in Vinton.

A good friend of mine was in town for the weekend and we were both looking for something fairly cheap, quick, and a place we hadn’t eaten at before. I have been told by more than one person over the years that when it comes to a pizza or calzone, I need to make New York Pizza a dining consideration.

On this particular evening we were driving around and decided to give it a shot.

I ordered a calzone with cheese (and only cheese) and I suppose there’s not a whole lot that goes into making one. But, what makes it good for me is when ALOT of cheese is used, so much that it melts and oozes out from the sides even.

Eating at New York Pizza on Hardy Road in Vinton.

As you can see I wasn’t let down.

Have any of ya’ll ever eaten at New York Pizza? How was your experience?

Not all too long ago I wrote about a visit to Swagat, an Indian cuisine restaurant located downtown at 303 1st Street. And a few weeks later they had apparently closed the location for unknown reasons.

Entrance to Swagat which has been closed for a few weeks (5/24/08)

The past few weeks I’ve checked the front doors periodically for information on the closure, and all I found were the typical signs and business hours that had always been there.

Until this weekend.

I was downtown for Festival in the Park activities and noticed a sign for a new Thai cuisine restaurant that is moving in the place of Swagat.

The restaurant is called Thai Orchid, and there were workers inside setting things up and making preparations for the new opening.

The date for the new opening was not posted.

Twice monthly (on the 7th and 27th) Noke News writes about an experience in local area dining.

This particular dining experience is a tribute, so the format will be a bit different from typical posts on local dining. If you haven’t seen or heard the news yet, Steve’s Famous Hot Dogs will be closing at the end of the month.

Steve's Famous Hot Dogs Located on Brandon Avenue, Closing at the End of the Month

This is far from my first experience at the restaurant, which has been there in operation for as long as I can remember.

And due to the recent news of closing, I was encouraged to visit one final time over the weekend.

I ordered a combination meal which consists of a couple hot dogs all the way (mustard, onion, chili), side order of crinkle cut fries, and a soda. That’s always been just enough to fill me up.

Steve's Famous Hot Dogs Combination Meal

I’m a firm believer that the chili makes the hot dog, and Steve’s chili recipe is one of the better in the Roanoke area.

It’s a bit disheartening to see the restaurant close, but I tell myself as the saying goes…all good things must come to an end.

But I think Roanoke’s losing an irreplaceable one here…

(EDIT 5/24/08: Swagat has closed and a new restaurant is taking the place)

Introduction

Swagat, Located at 303 1st Street in Downtown Roanoke (Ph 342-4887)

Located at 303 1st Street in downtown Roanoke (at the corner of 1st Street and Kirk Avenue), Swagat serves up authentic Indian dishes in a classy dining environment.

The restaurant features a number of entrees with chicken, steak, and seafood, and a full bar with a rather extensive wine selection.

Many menu items make up a buffet, which is offered every day of the week during lunchtime hours. Also, the entire menu is available for takeout.

What I Ordered

Chicken Tikka Masala with Naan at Swagat

On the recommendation of a friend, I tried the Chicken Tikka Masala. This meal consists of roasted chicken breasts chopped up into bite-size pieces, then placed in a pot and simmered while immersed in a tomato and cream sauce. White rice is also included and acts as a bed for the chicken and sauce.

I typically avoid tomatoes themselves, but the sauce in this instance is quite good. It actually reminded me of a tomato paste, or some kind of all-natural and organic ketchup.

I also ordered some Naan (a traditional Indian bread) and a Mango Lassi (not shown), which is very good and resembles a smoothie.

Other Specialties

Swagat offers several entrees with chicken, steak, seafood, and even vegan and vegetarian options. For a complete menu list, descriptions, and some pictures of the meals, you may visit the Swagat website or go to their directory of menu items.

In A Nutshell

I had never experienced authentic Indian cuisine, and overall have good things to say afterwards. The dining environment was classy, and the service friendly and prompt. If you’re looking for something a little bit new and different in terms of international cuisine, I highly recommend visiting Swagat.

Twice monthly (on the 7th and 27th) Noke News writes about an experience in local area dining.

Introduction

You may remember Thelma’s Chicken-n-Waffles as previously having a location open on Melrose Avenue. But, currently the restaurant is located at 526 Orange Avenue in Roanoke, which is at the corner of Williamson Road. The restaurant offers a wide variety of southern-style dishes and sides for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, in a quaint dining environment.

Thelma's Chicken-n-Waffles Located on Orange Avenue, at the Corner of Williamson Road

When I set out to eat at Thelma’s Chicken-n-Waffles I really wasn’t sure what to expect. I mean, I like chicken, and I love waffles, but it never occurred to me to eat both simultaneously. Boy, was I in for a treat!

What I Ordered

Of course I had to try the staple entree of chicken and waffles. I even remember while waiting for the food a sense of puzzlement came over me. I saw the picture of the meal on the menu and knew what to expect from having eaten the items before, but just not together.

Chicken and Waffles with Fried Potatoes at Thelma's

Then, the meal arrived, and after the first bite I realized this would be a special treat. The entree is also served with a side order of fried potatoes, and overall includes just the right size portions of every item. After several minutes the plate was clean and my belly full (but not over-full). I could go on with a number of adjectives to describe the meal, but when a meal is good I think it’s best to just simply say that and leave it.

I had ordered it with the boneless chicken for around $9-10, but there are other options such as chicken fingers, wingettes, or bone-n-breast.

Other Specialties

Thelma’s also has a very extensive menu with a wide variety of other specialties including ribs, wings, and catfish entrees, and deli-style sandwiches. If I counted correctly, the menu had a total of 6 pages of selections and I’m looking forward to trying something else next time. The Mac & Cheese looks especially good. Check out the commercial for Thelma’s (Note: Adobe Flash Player required to view).

In a Nutshell

The signature meal of Chicken and Waffles was very good, no doubt about it. And, overall the pricing was rather reasonable for food that tasted like it was genuinely homemade. The prep time does take a short while, but after the food arrives it’s definitely worth the wait.

IntroductionTokyo Express is a Japanese Cuisine restaurant located on West Main Street in Salem (in-between Dave Sarmadi Mitsubishi and Hardee’s).

Tokyo Express, 1940 W. Main Street, Salem (Ph 389-6303)

You may remember the building as it used to house a Fazoli’s restaurant. There is plenty of room to eat-in, but for those in a hurry there is also a drive-thru option. Either way, the meal is prepared fresh and tasty in just a couple minutes. You may also call-in an order to be picked up in person.

What I Ordered

Teriyaki Chicken and Broccoli

I have eaten at Tokyo Express before and typically order the Teriyaki Chicken with Broccoli combination meal. This entree also includes sweet carrots and your choice of fried or steamed (white) rice and all for a very reasonable price of $4.75. I must mention also that they provide a delicious sauce with each meal.

Other Specialties

Tokyo Express also has other similar combination meals available in either Teriyaki or Hibachi style and with steak, shrimp, or scallops in place of chicken. These meals range in price from $5.75-7.50. For an even heartier meal, you may order 2 or more of the meats with rice and vegetables in a combination plate. There are also all vegetable and rice meals available as well. Tokyo Express features a full Sushi Bar and they serve beer and wine for dine-in customers.

In a Nutshell

The Teriyaki Chicken with Broccoli is an exceptionally good meal, and at only $4.75 tough to beat in both taste and value. But, there are several other options to choose from for steak and seafood lovers, or those simply wanting a plate of vegetables and rice. Combine this with friendly and fast service and I have no complaints. Tokyo Express receives a high recommendation from Noke News!