Aaron Deal

nce you step onto the Roanoke, Virginia, street corner that The River and Rail calls home, your eye is drawn toward the folks seated in an idyllic outdoor patio space, happily enjoying delicious food as fresh fall breezes pass through. A similar experience is being had by patrons once you make your way inside to the restaurant’s modern, intimate dining room, and that’s the moment the anticipation hits. You realize you’re about to enjoy an unforgettable meal—the mouthwatering aroma wafting from the plates as they leave Aaron Deal’s kitchen only serving as further validation. You’re so focused on the menu and your meal that the amount of effort and attention to detail that goes into curating such an experience never fully registers with you. Those finer points are not at all lost on