David’s Restaurant

Love the food and my boyfriend play music there so come on out you will enjoy your evening out

This probably the best restaurant in Roanoke Rapids. I ordered the steak and it turned out to be a white board special that night so for under $ 20 I got a soup, steak and baked potato that was much better than expected for a small town. I guess it did not get five stars as they only poured Johnnie Walker Red when I would have preferred Black.
When in town go see their canal museum, very pleasant.

They has live music, which was nice, but the service was slow. Also, there were no frozen drinks available, although a moderate selection of others. I had the filet mignon which was decent, but was kind of cool by the time we got it. Overall, not the kind of experience we anticipated after reading other reviews.

Ate here a few nights ago on my way through town and had the Mahi. Was very disappointed with the Mahi because it was cold by the time it came to the table, the entrée itself was over cooked and tasted like food from the high school cafeteria/​nursing home. Sorry guys, need to hire some better help at the establishment. I will say that the owners were very friendly and welcoming, yet the fish and «vegetable medley» was not very good.

Wow. Was really looking forward to this place after reading the great reviews. Sat down, placed my order, then ten minutes later a different waitress came out and said I needed to pick something different. Never saw my original waitress after that and the new one didn’t even tell me her name. The she crab soup was very bland, but nice consistency and good meat, just needed a bit more to the soup. (I added some pepper and that helped)
Unfortunately the veal came out next and the sauce on top had zero flavor. None. The veal was cooked nice, but it just ruined it for me. Asked for a box, waited, ten minutes later the waitress passed by and said she forgot. Came back with plastic plates because there weren’t anymore boxes.
Sorry guys, just not a winner for me. Maybe it was an off night?

Dim lighting and very bland food. Wasn’t anything special like the reviews said. It was definitely a vintage dark 60’s atmosphere. The owner was present and working at a dinner table in the front. Waitress was nice but very quiet. There was also no music playing so conversation felt out of place. You could hear everything. All in all, its an «ok» place. But it doesn’t deserve the 4 – 5 star reviews it got.

David’s is definitely old school. You can tell the place has been there for a while as soon as you step inside. All throughout dinner my family remarked about the nostalgia that David’s invoked, from food to décor to friendly staff.
The food was good. Our party of 4 all got something different and we all liked what was on the plate. Think home-​cooked meal, made with lots of love and butter. It reminds me strongly of what my grandma used to make. We shared a soft shell crab appetizer that was really fresh and tasty, too.
The live music was also a plus; they’ve got a talented sax player who my mother especially loved. If you’re in the area, it’s worth the experience.

Elegant yet home style. Food choices excellent. Taste very good. It was much worth a deviation from our I-​95 travel. We were there for Sunday dinner.

David and his staff make you feel like family. Bill had the Ribeye and I had the small Filet. Both were excellent. Service also excellent. Be sure to stop on your way North or South.

Gem of a restaurant. Inviting and warm atmosphere, great hospitality and amazing service. Food was really good and we were treated to live music from a NYU student visiting for the holiday. Conveniently located minutes off of 95. The She Crab soup was delicious, homemade salad dressings made the salad a real treat and the veal was tender and very flavorful. Highly recommend.

David’s appears to be a popular local favorite. A small restaurant in a small southern town. Actually a. Little more upscale than you would think.
Very local flavor. Out of the blue, a distinguished gentleman sat down and started playing the piano. A young man belted out «the Impossible Dream» as well as any theatre professional. A local kid visiting home from NY having dinner with his old Voice teacher. What a treat to have restaurant patrons entertain.
The seafood soup was absolutely fresh, hot temperature and very very good. Packed with fresh fish, oysters and shrimp.
The eggplant parmigiana was good. Not fantastic but tasty. I would recommend trying one of the many specials listed on the board.
I will definitely stop the next time I drive the I-​95 corridor.

This is simply the best in the area. David, the owner-​operator, frequently comes out of his kitchen to make sure everyone is completely satisfied. He is an extremely talented chef and puts his touch in every dish.

We were in Roanoke Rapids for a show, and wanted to have a nice meal. It SEEMED as if fast food was our only option– until I ‘Yelped” — and I am glad I did!
Now, if you want Asian-​Fusion or Avant Garde, this is not it. However, this is a wonderful homey restaurant, with really good food and a GREAT staff. Much more elegant than you might expect, but not stuffy at all.
Filled with regulars on a Friday evening, which I always look for. I was with someone who was performing in the area, and we did not realize his picture was in the window, so, at first, I was wondering why people were looking at us, but when they told us, we had a giggle.
I felt like I was having dinner in my Aunt’s giant living room– they treated us like family, and they had a great wine selection– with three of our favorites, including Cakebread Cabernet, which you don’t find everywhere.
The food ranges from steak to seafood, with some really creative «chef-​created dishes» I wanted to try a bunch of them– had a difficult time deciding WHAT to get.
The one beef entrée we had was aged beef, and was well-​aged. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but it was very tasty. I had the filet with crab and fried oysters– not something I would have thought up, but unless you have tried it, don’t knock it– amazing, unusual and something I would get again. It was just so good. Lobster was excellent, too. We only had the tails, but flavorful and well cooked.
I also had the seafood bisque– the SMALL portion was a meal in itself, and LOADED with fish, shrimp, scallops, and fresh as could be.
The hostess, Mabel, was a gem, and our waitress was just a sweetheart. They had a sax player there who has an amazing tone on Tenor.(and alto and soprano) His name is Michael Redman, and he really added to the dining experience– difficult to play in a room that size and still have that great of a tone. Really enjoyed his playing.
Skip the shrimp cocktail– the shrimp were fresh, and very good– but there are other, more interesting choices on the menu.
The chocolate chess pie was excellent, and rich as it should be.
All in all, a really fine night out, in an unexpected place.

We ate at Davd’s Restaurant on a slow Saturday night in late January. The restaurant was not crowded, the ambiance was friendly and the hospitality lived up to the high «Southern» standard.
Yes, the décor is a little old fashioned but appropriate to a long standing establishment in a small southern town. The service was friendly and responsive.
Most important the food was outstanding. We both started with the She-​crab soup, which was «to die for», best crab soup we’ve had anywhere. The veal «Oskar» was piled high with succulent crab meat combined with an excellent sauce and the tender veal was cooked to perfection. The shrimp and grits were equally good. We finished the meal with a shared Banana Foster, as good as any we’ve had anywhere. The total meal was a bargain too! Including a bottle of California red wine, two appetizers, two entrees, and two coffees, it came to $ 75 before taxes and tip.
Finally, we enjoyed the live music of a talented local jazz pianist/​singer who performed as we ate. (Another reviewer found this too loud but we were sitting close and found it a very pleasant addition to the overall experience.)

If you are driving up or down on I 95 you MUST stop at David’s for real hometown cooking and genuine southern hospitality. I had She Crab soup with large morsels of white crab meat. I also had fried oysters that were so succulent they did indeed melt in my mouth. Our son had the Rib Eye special and said it was the best steak he has ever eaten. That spoken from the same child who kept telling me not to trust Unilocal as we were trying to find the restaurant. He’s a believer in Unilocal now too!
We also had soft shell crab on a bed of fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce. My husband enjoyed his Chicken Caesar Salad and said that the lettuce was crisp and, unlike some places the dressing didn’t drown the salad. The owner, David came over and chatted with us and we were truly treated royally by each person on his staff. I wish this restaurant were closer — but if we do find ourselves on I-​95 in or near Roanoke NC again we will be sure to head to Davids. If you are in the area you’re in for a real treat — great, great food!

GREAT PLACE! 18 of us (ages 3 to 73 and 1 vegetarian) went there on a Tuesday, (we called an hour ahead) and everyone had a fabulous meal. Food was excellent, hot, and all served together. We highly recommend David’s. Also, the staff was very, very welcoming.

My husband and I were traveling back to New York on 95… stopped in Roanoke Rapids for the night. We checked the reviews on Unilocal to find a good restaurant. First went to Mayflower Seafood… and walked out (fishy smell)…then tried Ralph’s BBQ… walked out also… terrible smell! Then we went to David’s Restaurant… and we had the most delicious meal! The waiter suggested a wine that was so good and reasonably priced. My husband had the beef tenderloin special, which he said was so tender it melted in your mouth! I had the flounder mueniere… sooo good… And the dessert was a huge cream puff filled with ice cream and covered with a warm chocolate sauce that we shared… yum yum!
I highly recommend this place (5 stars) over any restaurant in the area!
Note to Beth (previous review)…You found a gem for your parents!

My parents are snowbirds. They head down from NH to FL for a few rough winter months. When they are on the road, they call me to get suggestions for places to stay and eat. Last night, they planned to stop in Roanoke Falls, NC. Not a ton of stuff around there, but I like a challenge.
I found David’s from a review on Tripadvisor and told them to give it a try. They had a hysterical time. The service was a little off — the waitress brought my mom a glass of warm white wine. She didn’t realize it was supposed to be cold. Hmm. However, they shared the crab cakes and said they were really good. The funny part was that the owner, David, came and sat at their table with them. He told them his life’s story over dinner and my parents LOVE to chat. It made their evening.
My impression that it was a little trapped in time and was mostly full of locals. I think it sounded like a great place to grab some good food with total characters.