The Vault at The Liberty Trust — Restaurant in Roanoke

Roanoke has riches beyond riches in food and drinks - it has so much more than you'd expect of a town this size. The Vault unfortunately is not one of them. I wanted to love this place and was excited to see another higher end establishment open. However...it LOOKS cool and it wants to be cool, but as the best restaurants know, you need to deliver on something more than high ceilings to be an actually good restaurant or entertainment experience. Please note this is based on ONE experience and earlier on in the place opening, so it could have gotten better since then.

Let's start with the drinks - I tried two different drinks. I couldn't finish either. One was so sweet I gagged - and the drink shouldn't have been sweet. I am not a novice. My husband also tried a drink. He couldn't finish his. The drinks are overwrought, too sweet and seem like they are made at a college bar for Sorority sisters who just want to get hammered. The sophistication of drinks that you find other places in town (Bloom - the best), Sidecar and Lucky, make these drinks even worse in comparison. I love craft cocktails. I cannot see myself ever ordering a drink at the Vault again. It was a terrible experience for someone who loves a properly made cocktail.

Now, the food. We tried 4 dishes. We couldn't finish any of those either. The consistency was lacking, the texture was odd (throughout the dishes - which is something I've never experienced) and the taste was incredibly bland - lacking depth and a reason to care for the food. The Bao buns - tasted ..let's just say they didn't taste authentic or even "inspired by." As someone from LA who likes to eat both high end and street food, the "guacamole" almost made me cry. I don't know what that was, it wasn't guacamole. The food is flat out lacking in dimension and flavor. It's like...raisins in potato salad (IYKYK).

Now the vaunted atmosphere. The night we were there, the music was bumping and all sorts of after work minglers were looking to make some magic happen. That is definitely excellent people watching. However, there is something off with the sound system and the acoustics in the building. The music bounces all over (which it would with the glass and marble/hard surfaces). Whoever installed the speakers didn't account for the bounce or the height of the ceilings. The result is a weird, tinny, uncomfortable sound - and the music doesn't match the atmosphere. It needs some softer surfaces (pipe and drape in corners, perhaps) to help ground the sound. It's much louder than it should be, which can help a restaurant in the beginning to feel like it's packed, but it's not a good long term aesthetic for a higher end establishment (if that is what this place wants to be?) once the shine wears off.

It feels like this place doesn't know what it wants to be and for now, it can slide on the new factor. It can also slide based on the location, inside the old bank - which is really cool. However other than getting an Evie's dessert there (although with what beverage, I have no idea), I frankly wouldn't go back. Also, I'd just go directly to Evie's for their desserts anyhow. There are too many other phenomenal choices in town and it's a real bummer this isn't...

Had my very first experience at The Vault, and it was incredible. I can't say enough about how amazing the staff was and how much care they took to explain every aspect of the menu, the bartender even stopped by our table to explain how he makes the drinks which are some of the best you can find in Roanoke. We tried a few of the drinks and a lot of the menu items, here is what we enjoyed and my ratings on each:

Pescatarian Charcuterie Board: if you like a variety of fish or want to expand your horizons then this is a great dish. 4/5

Khachapuri: the bread by itself was delicious but once you mix the cheese and seasoning and egg yolk together it takes on a whole new life and is just phenomenal. I could eat my body weight of just this dish, after all, who doesn't love bread and cheese together. 4.5/5

Patatas Bravas: probably the most underwhelming dish of the night, very simple, a fair amount of flavor but not really the best part of the menu. The smoke paprika and garlic aioli was good, but didn't save the dish entirely. 2/5

Hamachi Crudo: thinly sliced and absolutely delicious, the curry oil mixed with the sweet soy gave the dish well balanced flavor that was not very curry forward as some dishes can be. 4.2/5

Steamed Bao Buns: this was probably our groups favorite dish of the night, the pork belly was perfectly cooked and had just the right amount of spice from the gochujang. The only negative I can say is the bao wasn't as puffy as we expected, but overall the dish did not disappoint and I would give it a 4.8/5.

Shumai: simple and delicious, the sweet soy makes the perfect sauce to accompany the dumplings. Expect to have some disagreement at your table about who gets the last one, they are very good. 4.5/5

Black Truffle Burrata: I personally did not have this dish, not because I didn't want to, but because I stepped away from the table when it arrived and I came back to an empty plate. So clearly a good choice, my fellow diners raved about what I missed out on.

Coquilles St Jacques: scallops can be hit or miss in this area, and these were a definite hit. The apple brandy cream gratin added great flavor to the dish and the scallops were cooked to perfection. 4.5/5

Tellicherry Peppercorn Rubbed Brisket: our last dish of the night was this brisket, which is cooked sous vide style, so don't expect to see the smoke ring if you order it. The flavor was perfect and the two sauces complimented the meat without overpowering the every so subtle hint of smoke flavor it had. 4/5.

When it comes to drinks, I highly suggest getting the Golden Fizz, Old Pal or the Manhattan. I will be back to this restaurant in the future as it was an overall incredible experience. Many thanks to the staff both front and back of house for a wonderful night of drinks and food. Look forward to...

The Vault offers a dining experience that is both intriguing and flawed. The food quality is good but not exceptional, with an unfinished feel to the overall experience. Dining on TV trays creates an awkward atmosphere, and the presence of drop cords and unfinished lighting detracts from the ambiance. The unsanitary bathrooms are a significant disappointment.

The restaurant's identity as a tapas venue is unclear on both the menu and website, leading to confusion. Serving practices are concerning, with unsanitary methods such as using thumbs inserted into the eating surface of bowls to deliver food. You use a tray to deliver food. Prices do not align with the quality of service or food. While the beet salad was a bright spot and is delicious, ingredient consistency varies, with some salads missing horseradish. Additionally, serving mains alongside appetizers makes it challenging to enjoy them before they cool. Improvements in these areas could greatly enhance the dining experience.

To improve the overall dining experience and align it with the value proposition, several strategies could be implemented:

Enhance Food Quality and Presentation: Use fresh ingredients and maintain consistency in dishes to ensure all customers receive the same quality.

Improve Ambiance: Address unfinished elements like drop cords and lighting to create a more polished environment. Stop performing service on TV trays.

Refine Serving Practices: Train staff to serve food hygienically and avoid practices like using thumbs to deliver bowls.

Clarify Restaurant Concept: Clearly communicate the tapas concept on the menu and website to manage customer expectations.

Optimize Service Timing: Ensure appetizers and mains are served separately to enhance the...