Frankie Rowland's Steakhouse

First time experience and it set a very high bar! The service was exceptional. You could tell the team there takes working together seriously. Our drinks were never empty, our table was kept clear of clutter and the food was EXCEPTIONAL!!!! My husband got the tomahawk steak and I got the filet. My filet was juicy and didn't have a single bit of fat on it. My bread pudding was more than delicious. I honestly can't think of a word for it. My cappuccino was so perfect! Overall, a date night to be remembered!!!

Frankie Rowland's Steakhouse 104 South Jefferson St. Roanoke, VA

5-Stars

On the final leg of our sojourn around the Eastern Seaboard, we decided to try the highly rated Frankie Rowland's Steakhouse in ancient Roanoke, VA. Keeping a wary eye on my GPS (I didn't want to go missing) we soon arrived at our destination. Stepping out of the Big Boy Mobile with an air of equitation, we stepped inside. Having been here since 2001, one could argue they have become something of an icon in these parts, famously known for their selection of potables boasting over 120 wines and 130 liquors and offering 70 different kinds of martinis. I suspect, had this been around in the 50s, this would have been Deano's favorite haunt.

When I partake of fine dining out of town, I really turn the Big Boy character on high speed since there is a less than 1% chance anyone will recognize me. This allows me to be an extra persnickety diner for sh*ts & giggles. Hunter is our waiter this evening and he truly rolled with the punches. I put him through the wringer with my questions, and he, along with the entire service staff, was amazing. This garnered a 100% tip. Yes, you read that right.

I asked Hunter for one Sidecar Martini, a Caesar salad and a 20 oz Ribeye with a side of Brussels sprouts. Sitting back and reflecting on our short jaunt my companion and I leisurely awaited Hunter's return. My drink came before the meal, as requested, and was superb. Hats off to the barkeep. Snapping the required pics of the place, I saw Hunter returning with our grub. I could smell the steak from here, or someone's steak, regardless I was practically drooling by the time he reached our table.

As I actually do posses a modicum of culture (thanks mom) I began with the Caesar salad. As one can see from the picture, the lettuce was fresh, dark green and crisp. The Parmesan was freshly shaved and the anchovies were bedded on top. This is the standard al Caesar salads should be held against. Masterful!

Before I talk about the steak, I implore you to take a look at that picture. Now, look again. What you are looking at, loyal reader is the perfect steak. It is seared the correct amount and is just a beautiful shade of red on the inside. One bite and the meat practically melted on my tongue it was so tender. This had to be some of the best bovine flesh I've ever had the pleasure of masticating. Seriously, this was so incredibly good, I'm looking at nearby real estate. Not really, but I've a mind to!

The Big Boy says, “If you find yourself in Roanoke for some reason, perhaps looking for the lost colony or within 150 miles, stop and eat here. Frankie Rowland's is in my Top 5 All USA!”

Expected to have a decent dinner and it turned out to be a very good one.
Since we didn't make reservations, we walked in and sat at the bar. Bartenders were very personable and prompt.
All the food came out in just the right timing and were tasty.
My steak was seasoned and cooked right. One complaint would be the meat was tendon running through and could not be cut with a knife. Next visit, we'll share the main dish so we can try their desserts.

My Boyfriend and I celebrated valentines here on 2/10 and had such a wonderful experience. Neither of us had been here prior. All of the staff were very kind and attentive. Our server was training someone and both the server and trainee were welcoming and knowledgeable! I got an espresso martini and my boyfriend got the Anti-freeze and both drinks were tasty. He opted for the Ribeye and I got the salmon. The maple bourbon sauce was amazing! Very flavorful. They were sadly out of au gratin potatoes so we got mashed potatos and the Baked Cavatappi & Cheese. Both were great portions and tasted great. We split the molton chocolate cake for dessert and it did not disappoint. The ambience of the restaurant really set the mood and made the night enjoyable. I'm looking forward to going back.

This place was absolutely amazing and the staff was immaculate! Sarah was our waitress and she by far was the greatest. The food was beyond delicious and well worth the money. The atmosphere very upscale. I will definitely be back !!

We had Christmas dinner here and I had the best steak I have ever eaten. My wife had the lobster tail and loved it as well. The server was outstanding. Every aspect of the meal was great. If it wasn't so expensive we would eat here regularly but will definitely come back for special occasions. Our bill was $328.00 including alcohol and tip which as seniors was a tough nut to swallow but we knew going in so we can't complain. We will be back next Christmas!

Okay, we were told that you cannot leave Roanoke without going to Frankie's for a Pineapple Martini so we didn't eat but the ambiance, the service and the Martinis were great

What a treat! We had an amazing dinner starting with raw oysters that were so fresh and delicious. I enjoyed a refreshing key lime martini 🍸 with the oysters. They have an amazing martini menu!
Our dinner consisted of their seafood trio basked in a cream sauce, and I treated myself to their lobster 🦞- perfectly cooked. The service was spot on and meal overall was simply succulent albeit a bit pricey, but it was my birthday so why not! Thank you, John, for an amazing birthday!

Frakie never fails me. The service was top tier and the food was amazing. Their cocktails were especially tasty. I would recommend anyone to eat there so you can have a reliable baseline for decent steak.

Absolutely divine. Our server John made us feel right at home, and every single bite of food was beyond amazing. The duck leg was cooked perfectly, our mains came out promptly afterward and I ate what I consider the best steak of my life. Deserts were incredible as well. The price is STEEP, but in my opinion worth it for a special occasion paired with some of the best food you can get in the area. 5 stars, will be back.

My team and I enjoyed an outing to Frankie Rowland's Steakhouse this past Thursday 9/29/2022 for an early dinner (5:30pm reservation) after work. The dining room was a bit emptier when we sat down but people started rolling in shortly thereafter. I saw all of this to say that the lack of being busy may have effected our service - WHICH WAS STELLAR.

We were a party of 6. We ordered 4 steaks (1 NY strip, 3 filets, 1 salmon, 1 crab cake). We shared several sides family style - 2 sides of Brussel sprouts, 2 sides of asparagus, 1 au gratin potato, 1 side of the carrots.

Everything was cooked perfectly. Staff was very attentive. Music was slightly too loud for my taste which made it a bit difficult for me to hear conversations happening at the other end of the table, but really enjoyable overall and fit the atmosphere. We just had to talk louder.

All the staff were friendly. Our server was training a new guy. Our wine and beverages were great. This was my first experience at FR's and I was so concerned before going due to recent reviews, but personally, our experience was awesome.

Maybe I will have to go back during a busier dinner slot, on a busier night to experience what others have said recently?

Last weekend I went to Frankie’s to eat and it’s Fantastic!!! I couldn’t be happier with my experience from the excellent cocktails to the friendly staff to the top notch food!! As far as I’m concerned that’s the pace to eat in downtown Roanoke!!! Will go there every time I’m there!!!

The steak was better than Peter Lugars in Manhattan and sparks steak house as well. It was the porter house for 2 and was perfectly cooked and seasoned. We were pleasantly surprised in Roanoke Va. we have also been to Ruth Chris steak house in LA and Lawrys. This beat them all!

Great food, friendly and professional staff. Low light ambience is great. I gave Atmosphere a 3 star because it definitely could use some updating (scuffs on walls behind chairs etc and it's very loud and close to other) But we love Frankie's. ❤

This was probably the best steak we have ever had. It was cooked perfectly and seasoned well. We're from Texas and stopped in that town and folks recommended to try them out and we're glad we did. If we're in that area again it's a must stop for dinner. Thank you!!

Not cheap, but high quality and worth it. Service is usually outstanding.

Top notch five star dining in a romantic setting. Everything from the crab dip to start, to the wine, to the bread basket for the table,to our actual steaks were served professionally by the wait staff. The table was "decrumbed" between courses and napkins refolded when you left the table to use the rest room. The scalloped potatoes and asparagus were ordered ala carte in true steak house style. Everything was cooked to perfection and the portion generous. If I had one complaint, it would be that the creme brulee I ordered for dessert was topped with sliced strawberries. That's just a personal preference is mine that creme brulee be simple and the Custard and crunchy topping be allowed to shine. Dinner for two, shared appetizer to dessert, with a bottle of fairly reasonable wine, ran us $330,so bring your credit card! But for a special occasion, it's we'll worth every penny. It was probably the best meal I've had in several years.

We were visiting from out of town. We only had one night for dinner and chose Frankie's. Our meal was great and we had a very nice server. We also left a cell phone behind and they mailed it to us! We would definitely eat here again!

We took our staff from J.Roberts Salon ✂ to the reasturant for an early holiday dinner! From start to finish Frankie Rowlands was a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ experience! The food was great the 🍸 Martini’s were fabulous and we all enjoyed our experience! Great staff of kind and knowledgeable servers!
Thank You,
Jim
J.Roberts Salon
Roanoke, Va

Me and my partner came here for our 2 year anniversary, the food was amazing and the social distancing of the tables were also well appreciated. Our server (who I forget the name of) was very helpful and knowledgeable about the menu and specials, the food was plated beautifully and the portions were fair.