Luigi's Italian Gourmet Restaurant

I’ve never been to a more authentic Italian restaurant in all of Roanoke. The menu has a wide variety of truly delicious choices. I recommend the lasagna and eggplant parm. You won’t be disappointed. Their dessert is without question natural. I highly, highly recommend the chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream. Finally, the service here is wonderful. Professionalism aside, the staff is just kind and happy to be there, which makes the atmosphere much more pleasant. I love this place; you and your family will too. Enjoy!

Amazing place. If you're tired of the same chain "Italian" restaurants or even the local but same Italian offerings, this is the place. Even the Fettuccine Alfredo contains just enough sweet Italian sausage and Prosciutto to give it the extra edge. The variety of other dishes is massive and each one is full of flavor. Even the sides are amazing. Order the spinach with cream sauce, if you don't like spinach, you will change your mind. The service is over the top too. The whole place feels like something that you would only find in a big city. Be sure to make reservations on busy weekend nights, etc. The dishes are made fresh and it shows.

You can't visit Roanoke and have an authentic Italian experience without Luigi's. If you want to have a date night where you aren't overwhelmed by loud music and belligerent crowds, this is it. By the time you are greeted you already feel at home. The service is great and the FOOD! The food is amazing! Weather it be seafood with white wine sauce or manicotti with their marinara, every dish is made with love. If you plan a Valentine's meal, be sure to make a reservation, it's worth it. Nowhere else has that classic dining atmosphere. Needless to say, I highly recommend (Side note, I always have to give 'Mama Luigi' a hug because it just feels right). 5 stars.

Disclaimer: I grew up in New Jersey, an hour drive from either Philly or NYC, so I might be a bit harsher Italian restaurant critic than most here. That said, this restaurant was just terrible! In no way did this place even come remotely close to my already low expectations… I ordered fettuccine carbonara and it was *literally* chunks of fried egg with large pieces of bacon—not bacon bits—pieces of bacon from out of a frying pan, broken up and placed on my plate. There was no sauce or anything like that…just bacon & egg chunks on top of fettuccine. My fiancé had vodka rigatoni that was equally bad—over cooked pasta with sauce that tastes worse than out of a jar. Almost forgot the extremely forgettable appetizer—the bruschetta was made with stale, dry herbs and sad tomatoes. Frankly, I wish we had just ordered dominos because it would have at least tasted good and not been as sad and depressing.