The Star City Cafe is now serving breakfast and lunch at Roanoke’s Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building. The cafe, owned by the city government and managed by the Berglund Center, has taken over the basement restaurant space that had been vacant for nearly a year. Robyn Schon Smith, the General Manager of the Berglund Center, oversees operations at the cafe.
The menu at Star City Cafe features a variety of “hot lunch baskets” priced at $7.50 each. These include fries, a salad or soup, and a choice of a burger, chicken bacon Swiss sandwich, “ultimate” cheesesteak, or chicken tenderloins. According to an online menu, these are the priciest items on the 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.