Roanoke’s Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building has reopened its grill, where Star City Cafe now serves breakfast and lunch on weekdays. The basement restaurant space had been vacant for nearly a year before the cafe, owned by the city government and managed by the Berglund Center, took over. Robyn Schon Smith, the General Manager of the Berglund Center, oversees operations at the cafe.
Patrons at Star City Cafe can enjoy a variety of “hot lunch baskets” that include fries, a salad or soup, and a choice of a burger, chicken bacon Swiss sandwich, “ultimate” cheesesteak, or chicken tenderloins, priced at $7.50. These are the priciest items on the menu, according to an online menu. The restaurant can accommodate up to 40 people for dine-in service.
Before opening, the Virginia Department of Health conducted an inspection and found the restaurant to be out of compliance regarding a staffing requirement related to food safety. Restaurants in Virginia are required to have a certified food protection manager on staff. Although the Berglund Center has a food and beverage manager with the necessary credentials, that person is currently on long-term leave. VDH spokeswoman Christie Wills recommended that the restaurant appoint another individual to fulfill this role before resuming operations.
