Luigi's Gourmet Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Virginia

I've eaten food on five continents, yet never have I felt as ill as I did after consuming the chicken stuffed with crabmeat at this establishment.

I’ve dined here before, and on a normal day, Luigi’s would earn a middling three-star review. It’s a run-of-the-mill Italian restaurant with Brazilian influences. What this translates to is not a genuine Italian experience—more like what you’d expect at an all-inclusive resort in Brazil.

But what unfolded two nights ago was not a normal day. Cindy, our lovely server—who has lived in Roanoke for 10 years, visited for 30, and recently started her third stint as a waitress at Luigi’s—enthusiastically declared that this was the best Italian restaurant in Roanoke.

Cindy had the air of a grifter down on her luck or perhaps an addict freshly straightened out for “the last time.” Regardless, she knew how to serve, weaving an ongoing narrative to boost our confidence in the restaurant’s alleged greatness.

Her charm persuaded my party to order a lovely Sauvignon Blanc, which, in turn, convinced me to take the seafood plunge. Enter the villain of this tale: the chicken stuffed with crabmeat.

The evening began at a leisurely pace, with long waits for the salad and mains. We were prepared for a relaxed dinner, but the delays stretched far beyond normal. Cindy eventually explained, after vanishing for a concerning length of time (and forgetting my friend’s drink refills), that one chef had walked out earlier, leaving the head chef—recovering from a recent stroke—to manage the kitchen solo.

Poor man. I thought of him again just now, in between bouts of throwing up. This isn’t your garden-variety nausea; this is “open the sluices at both ends and pray you have sufficient containers on hand” kind of food poisoning. Truly, an emetic experience for the ages. (Thanks, Eric Idle.)

When the entrees finally emerged—two by two over a staggering 20 minutes—some of us insisted the others begin eating so their food wouldn’t go cold. Mine arrived among the final pair, and it was immediately clear something was wrong.

The dish was topped with onions instead of mushrooms and capers and was utterly drowned in a murky brown gravy. I should have sent it back. Oh, how I wish I had sent it back.

Ten minutes later, Cindy noticed the issue and, after another five-minute disappearance, returned with a bowl of capers and mushrooms swimming in their own watery liquid.

Perhaps it was the pressure of everyone else being nearly finished, or my own misplaced optimism that I could salvage the experience. But alas, like Buddha under the fig tree, I made the fatal mistake: I ate it.

It didn’t taste terrible, but the overwhelming wetness rendered the texture revolting. The spaghetti was far from al dente—more like al bagnato fradicio (soaked to a soggy pulp). I managed half. Cindy boxed up the rest, encasing it in what seemed like layers of cellophane, remarking on how wet it was.

Dessert was passable: a decent tiramisu paired with a Brazilian cappuccino, as Italian cappuccinos were evidently beyond their repertoire.

The next morning, the diarrhea began. It worsened as the day progressed, culminating in violent vomiting when I attempted to eat. Now, even drinking water sets off both symptoms, as I endure the joys of a liquid-only existence.

Here’s hoping this last bout of projectile vomiting marks the end of my 48-hour ordeal. Luigi’s may have had an off night, but I’ve had a far worse one. I...

I first want to say that we've been a huge fan of Luigi's for years. My late mother-in-law loved it and every time we've been before tonight was excellent. We never minded spending the higher prices as it was so worth it for the quality you received. That said, tonight was our last time. We understand that the Covid pandemic has had a huge impact on the service industry and if it were minor things we would have overlooked quite a bit. However, it wasn't just minor things but the culmination of the entire evening. It started from the beginning when we didn't get menus until 2 tables, which came in after us, had received theirs and already placed orders. We actually had to ask for menus twice before we received them. We would have been ok with that but, then, our food arrived. The chicken parm wasn't seasoned, the seafood fettuccine was watery while the mussels tasted off, the beef bracciolini had huge pieces of uncooked fat and the beef matriciana had unseasoned pasta and raw onions. I sent back the beef matriciana and got it back with more gravy, which was luke warm, but when I tried the spaghetti again it was unseasoned and was so hot it burnt my entire mouth. When items come out that hot its clear its been placed in a microwave. Especially, when the sauce is luke warm but underneath is scolding hot. These are just a few of the examples of how bad our experience was but just those were enough to make us reconsider going back. This night was a special occasion as our twins were turning 17 and we wanted to give them an extremely nice dinner to celebrate. This experience has turned them off to ever going back and, honestly, driving an hour for a disappointing meal isn't worth it. To say we are disappointed doesn't truly convey how bad our experience was. When one spends over $200 for a meal one expects an extraordinary experience. As stated previously, we understand that the pandemic has hurt the service industry the most and we do truly appreciate that. However, when a restaurant charges higher prices they have to back it up with quality. The chef appears to have lost the passion for cooking because when a microwave enters a professional kitchen it's all...

Luigi's Gourmet Italian Restaurant in Roanoke, VA, is an absolute gem that left me thoroughly impressed. From the moment my party and I stepped through the door, we were greeted with warmth and hospitality. Our server, Marshall, provided exceptional service that elevated our dining experience to new heights.

Marshall's attentiveness and knowledge of the menu were commendable. He guided us through the extensive selection of mouthwatering dishes and offered insightful recommendations. His friendly demeanor and genuine enthusiasm for the cuisine made us feel welcome and well taken care of throughout the evening. Now, let's talk about the food. Luigi's Gourmet Italian Restaurant truly excels in crafting exquisite Italian delights. The Lasagna and Chicken Saltimbocca were absolute showstoppers. The Lasagna was layered with rich, flavorful sauces and a perfect balance of cheese, meat, and pasta. The Chicken Saltimbocca was tender, succulent, and beautifully complemented by its accompanying sauce and sides.

Our appetizers were equally impressive. The Garlic Bread was freshly baked, with a perfect blend of garlic, butter, and herbs that left us craving more. The stuffed mushrooms were savory, with a delectable filling that delighted our taste buds. The fried calamari was crispy, perfectly cooked, and accompanied by a tangy dipping sauce that added a burst of flavor.

The house salads were a delightful prelude to our main course. The strawberry vinaigrette on one salad was a revelation, with a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity that harmonized with the fresh greens. The avocado dressing on the other salad was creamy and packed with flavor, elevating the dish to a whole new level.

The addition of live music added an extra touch of magic to the evening. If you're looking for an authentic Italian dining experience, don't miss the opportunity to visit Luigi's. You won't be...