Climb Every Mountain...And Then Jump.

Miss Vinegar returns with tales of low adventure with PoBoy and her cousin, Miss Malaprop:

Montano's
Franklin Rd., Roanoke

The Food--Montano's has one of the most varied menus in Roanoke (and if you don't believe it, little country-of-origin flags are on the menu to assist). Miss Vinegar has never had bad food there, and some dishes, like the feta-potato soup and the now-defunct raspberry tiramisu, are nothing short of magnificent. Miss Vinegar recommends the Montano's Rare Roast Beef Sandwich with parmesan-peppercorn dressing.

Which brings us to...

The Service--Where to begin?

Montano's has a habit of seating people in ways that defy the laws of physics, or, if one actually manages to squeeze in at the table next to a gentleman who would have been the first Virginian sumo wrestler had not accountancy promised a steadier paycheck, at least the laws that say a little breathing room aids the digestion. The result in this latest case was that Miss Vinegar's table was moved back and forth in a sort of parody of a seance, but without the charm this implies. Glad that after all this folderol they were simply ordering soup and sandwiches, Miss Vinegar and company could finally sit down.

Malaprop and Miss Vinegar ordered the roast beef sandwich, with a total of three small special requests, which were wrong in every particular when the food came to the table. At least three staff members were needed to sort it out at last. This was by far the most troubled service Miss Vinegar has ever received at Montano's, and she hates to think it may be a sign of Where Things Are Going with the establishment.

The Ambience--Quite a nice little place if you get a booth.

Special Touches--In-house deli.

Overall: ** (two stars out of five, but with definite potential for redemption)