Good Eats near Winston-Salem

[wreckers00]

Hi all,

I'm moving down to Winston-Salem from NYC and am looking for some great foodie finds (I'm looking for more than just bbq in North Carolina).

Anything near Winston-Salem?

What about an hour away (maybe Durham, Raleigh, Chapel Hill for great restaurants)

[foodsearcher]

First, welcome to Winston. Second, although the food finds may not be as abundant there are some good places to go. I've found a few I like and in no particular order they are as follows.

Winston -
Meridian - great appetizers and solid wine list.
Ollie's bakery is good for coffee, breads, pastries and even lunch.
Taco Riendo 3 - solid mexican food, gorditas and torta al pastor are standard, more of a lunch spot
Monte de Rey - if you like it hot, try their mocajete, birria is also good when they have it.
Cloverdale Kitchen - best breakfast value in town, consistent diner style breakfast.

Greensboro -
Bisro Sofia - great dinner, good value prix fixe menu, great wine list and knowledge, homemade ice cream that is stellar.
Jerusalem Market - great sandwiches, dalmathes and all things mediteranean. a hidden gem that we visit regularly.
Taste of Vietnam (Wendover) - prefer to other better know vietnamese restaurants, small, family run, all the food has been good and reminded me of trip to Vietnam

Durham -
Vin Rouge - solid French food and a pleasant patio when the weather is cool
Los Vaquitos - great mexcian food, wonderful mole.
Yamazushi - very good japanese homestyle cooking, sushi is good but japanese menu is wonderful, good tea and cold sake selection
Hong Kong House - best dim sum we have found in NC. congee is real good and dumplings and good enough for people used to Vancouver's china town

Chapel Hill -
Bonne Soirree is, imho, the best restaurant experience in NC just now. great food and near perfect wine pairings.
Sandwhich - a mediteranean influenced restaurant cooking with local produce.
Neal's Deli - great biscuits and homemade pastrami that ranks. maybe not as good as NYC but very tasty.
Gourmet Kingdom - don't let the exterior or buffet scare you off, this is authentic chinese food, but you have to get the sichuan menu - love the lotus root, pig ears and several tofu dishes.

-----
Vin Rouge
2010 Hillsborough Rd., Durham, NC 27705

Gourmet Kingdom
301 E Main St, Carrboro, NC 27510

The Taste of Vietnam
4212 W Wendover Ave, Greensboro, NC 27407

Neal's Deli
100 E Main St Ste C, Carrboro, NC 27510

Cloverdale Kitchen
2251 Cloverdale Ave, Winston Salem, NC 27103

[wreckers00]

thanks everyone for the suggestions.

Anyone been to Table 16 in Greensboro?

Also I'm looking for just great food in North Carolina (I will travel!).

I've heard good things about Chef and the Farmer near Greenville...any more would be appreciated!

-----
Table 16
600 South Elm Street, Greensboro, NC 27406

[NCHound]

You might want to spend some time reading through this board and searching for various cities/cuisines. Here's a previous thread on the Chef and Farmer...its in Kinston, about 3 hours from Winston-Salem:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/6258...

[foodsearcher]

If you will travel, searching the boards as suggested is very helpful, but I'll highlight some that I really like.

Asheville -
The Admiral - getting lots of press but worth it, they have a late night menu so can double up one night if you wish. (http://www.theadmiralnc.com/)

Cucina 24 - great little italian place, solid appys and a nice dark sambuca
http://cucina24restaurant.com/index.html

Wilmington -
Martino's Italian Deli - italian deli in the New York style (owner is from there or NJ) - prepared food and supplies and home cured meats.

Eagle Creek Seafood - I go for the oyster and sometime seafood.

Merrits Burger House (2338 Carolina Beach Road) - not gourmet burgers but an old school diner open since 1958. burger, fries and a shake

Motts Channel for fresh seafood.

Chilhowie, Va (just across the border) - Townhouse is worth the trip for molecular cuisine but not at big city prices. The chef worked at Alinea in Chicago, there is a website and many many posts. (http://www.townhouseva.com/

)

-----
Cucina 24
24 Wall Street, Asheville, NC 28801

[d.v]

Anyone have a link for Eagle Creek Seafood? A search doesn't even turn up a Yelp or similar page.

[wreckers00]

had a nice dinner at Milner's in Winston-Salem.

Overall was impressed by the food although the service was pretty bad (I won't complain though).

I had the fried green tomatoes and basically pulled pork. all was well done tho

[foodsearcher]

ok, ok, I'm sorry. I mixed things up a little. It is not Eagle Creek but Eagle Island Fruit Stand (oysters and seafood are in the same building.)

article here:
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article...

address here:
2500 US Highway 421 N
Wilmington, NC 28401-2432
[phone]

(I will check my post more clearly in the future and not rely so much on my failing memory.)

[Sensuous]

I do that too. I make mistakes here and have to go back and correct myself. I wish we could edit our comments anytime.

[fredb2548]

Table 16 is one of our favorite fine dining restaurants. They feature the freshest items available seasonally, ande their tasting menu, especially if paired, is awesome. You can choose from thee to seven items on the tsating menu. These folks are creative. It has far and away passed Marisol,I'm sad to say.

-----
Table 16
600 South Elm Street, Greensboro, NC 27406

[JKidd]

Anything new and interesting going on in Winston? I've been looking around a bit and feel a little underwhelmed. I found a place called Mozelle's, anyone here been there?

[kdbarlow]

Mozelle's emphasizes a diner/bistro menu with some southern influences. I've had both lunch and dinner there and my experiences have ranged from middlin' to good, although I've only had lunch there since Bernardin's moved into the Zevely House. The food quality has been fairly consistent, although not always to my tastes. We had a work lunch there recently (mostly sandwiches) and everyone was happy with their lunch, except for the shared appetizer of fried pickles, which lost their breading during frying (and are done better elsewhere in town) For lunch, I've usually gone with their half sandwich and soup special. I've enjoyed the grilled pimento cheese and bacon with their tomato bisque and my daughter is a fan of their pimento cheeseburger. My favorite item that I've tried on the menu is the tomato pie, although I think that they should pair it with something lighter for the summer besides succotash. My biggest disappointment was the meatloaf, which I found to be a bit bland and dry the day that I tried it, although I may have been victim of my own expectations, since I would expect this to be a signature dish given their niche..

They are proud of their cakes and pies, and have bragged in the past that some of their pies are made w/ recipes from the previous occupant, which apparently brings back fond memories for folks who have lived in W-S longer than me. I've not really explored the dessert menu, although they do have nice options for a restaurant of their size.

The biggest negative has been the quality of service. The kitchen is small, so there can be a wait when they are slammed. I've had my order botched twice there, but that waiter hasn't been around my last two trips, so that problem may have been solved.

All in all, Mozelle's is a place that I pull for, but I think it needs a few tweaks to reach its potential. I prefer their menu to Fourth St Filling Station, although the slower kitchen can be a problem if the kids are with you. I certainly think that it's worth a try. I like it as a place to meet someone for lunch, but only if I'm not in a hurry. I need to try it again for dinner to see if the addition of Bernardin's to the block has influenced what Mozelle's is doing for dinner.

Which places have left you underwhelmed?

[JKidd]

I'm just being overly picky, I think. I'm an out-of-towner coming through W-S this weekend, and just browsing through menus it all just seemed the same: steak, chicken, salmon, the usual suspects. I'm sure everything listed here is good and prepared well, it just mostly seemed safe to me. I guess I'm looking for something a little more creative.

That, or I just felt like being difficult. Bernardin's menu looks fantastic, but I don't think it's as casual as I need for this visit.

[kdbarlow]

For more casual yet distinctive restaurants not mentioned in this thread, I'd consider La Botana for its regional and vegetarian (better considered meat minimalist) Mexican menus and Old Europe, for its German fare and beer selection. I'd also consider Bistro B in Kernersville (sm town located 10 miles down Business 40) for tapas.

Rana Loca (downtown) has an interesting Latin-influenced menu and patio dining can be casual, but the dishes that I've tried have lost a little too much of their Latin roots for my tastes; however, your mileage may vary. The Screaming Rooster and Willows Bistro (mentioned above) have generated some decent buzz, but I haven't had the chance to try either.

Have a nice visit.

[internazionale]

If you come from New York you DEFINITELY need to visit Caffe Prada at the corner of 4th Street and Broad. (www.caffeprada.com) The owners are from NYC and you will feel at home the minute you walk in. It is the only place in town where you can find small things to eat including great coffees and homemade gelato.

Ask for Alex or Ken and tell them I sent you.

Hope to meet you sometime,
Jackie
http://www.caffeprada.com

[cooking4watts]

I have heard great things about 21 & Main in Elkin, NC - about 30 minutes north of W-S. The menu looks great and they are making a real effort towards fresh, local ingredients.

[Bryony]

I'm going to have to disagree. Sysco is neither "local", nor "fresh". And the service is just laughable.

[arbyunc]

Good recommendations above. Just a few to add:
Sweet Potatoes
Fabian's
Diamondback Grill
Bib's Ribs
Turmeric (Indian cuisine)
Las Estrellas (authentic Mexican)
Mary's Of Course for breakfast
And a few outside of Winston-Salem:
The German Restaurant in Yadkinville
Ketchie Creek Bakery in Mocksville
Harvest Grill at Shelton Vineyards
Sanders Ridge Restaurant in Boonville

-----
Sweet Potatoes
529 N Trade St, Winston Salem, NC 27101

Ketchie Creek Bakery
844 Valley Rd, Mocksville, NC 27028

Las Estrellas
845 Silas Creek Pkwy, Winston Salem, NC 27127

Diamondback Grill
751 N Avalon Rd, Winston Salem, NC 27104

[ftmagellan]

Add El Maguey out in Old Town for genuine Mexican fare ,excellent ceviche tostadas, with great service. Also for the real deal go to El SOmrero on University Parkway. Noble's was formerly a great fine dining experience however has slipped.

[Melanie Wong]

Any favorites on the lunch menu at Sweet Potatoes?
http://www.sweetpotatoes-arestaurant....

-----
Sweet Potatoes
529 N Trade St, Winston Salem, NC 27101

Fabian's Restaurants
1100 Reynolda Rd Ste A, Winston Salem, NC 27104

Mary's of Course Cafe
301 Brookstown Ave Ste 100, Winston Salem, NC 27101

Christopher's New Global Cuisine
712 Brookstown Ave, Winston Salem, NC 27101

Harvest Grill At Shelton Vineyards
286 Cabernet Ln, Dobson, NC 27017

Milner's American Southern
630 S Stratford Rd, Winston Salem, NC 27103

El Maguey
3688 Turret Dr, Winston Salem, NC 27101

Meridian Restaurant
411 S Marshall St, Winston Salem, NC 27101

Turmeric Restaurant & Bar
3088 Healy Dr, Winston Salem, NC 27103

[wreckers00]

I recently tried Willow's in Winston and have to say it is my favorite restaurant that I've been to in the area. Service was pleasant and probably as good as or better than most in the area. Food was delicious with and open kitchen that you can watch from the bar area.

Used fresh ingredients, some interesting preparations, a good price point and the atmosphere I really liked.

[Melanie Wong]

Answering my own question, here's my report on lunch at Sweet Potatoes last friday.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/781773

-----
Sweet Potatoes
529 N Trade St, Winston Salem, NC 27101

Willow's bistro
300 South Liberty st ste 125, Winston-Salem, NC 27101

[mdv31616]

I live in Raleigh but my inlaws are 1/2 hr North of Winston. We struggle to find good, solid restaurants. My favorite is in Greensboro, Green Valley Grill in the O'Henry Hotel. Don't let the "hotel" scare you off. They have small plates as well as entrees, promote local ingredients, have an outside patio, an eating area in the bar, all with the same menu as the dining room AND they are open on Sundays. I only wish they were closer to Raleigh.

-----
Green Valley Grill
624 Green Valley Road, Greensboro, NC 27408

[Nocturnalbill]

The Green Valley Grill group also owns Print Works Bistro, and Lucky 32. All three spots are definitely worth a look IMHO.

-----
Lucky 32
7307 Tryon Rd, Cary, NC 27518

Green Valley Grill
624 Green Valley Road, Greensboro, NC 27408

Print Works Bistro
702 Green Valley Road, Greensboro, NC 27408

[AmyInNC]

I have to second Green Valley Grill. I surprised my husband for his birthday with a dinner there and it was amazing. He had a filet that was perfectly cooked & I had duck 'three ways' which was a delight. The service both in the restaurant and in the bar was top notch. It had been several years since we'd eaten there & I believe it was better than ever. In addition, we stayed at the O'Henry & had a lovely experience there as well. Can't recommend highly enough.

-----
Green Valley Grill
624 Green Valley Road, Greensboro, NC 27408

[quazi]

there is a wide range of places to try I would include greensboro as well.

restaurant wise - there is meridian(personally eating at the bar always seems to be the better option since you can choose either menu) Milner's are two of my favorites in Winston on the mid to upper end. Others to consider that I either have not been to or have not been to in a while:

Christophers, Bleu, Hutch and Harris

You can easily get your hands on authentic mexican or great cue.

Also lots of local wineries and Piedmont distillers(makes of catdaddy moonshine) give tours(though no samples). Try the sexual chocolate stout at foothills brewing

Lots of local nc fish to try.

Great vietnamese in greensboro and many more mid and upper level options than in winston imho.

You may also want to do a board search in triad, triangle and charlotte that may answer a good number of questions you may have. Also are you looking high/low, restaurants/nc food products?

-----
Bleu Restaurant & Bar
3425 Frontis Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27103

Hutch and Harris
424 W 4th St, Winston Salem, NC 27101

[wreckers00]

yeah i was too lazy to search a lot haha

But I'm mostly looking for restaurants (I love fine dining as much as I love cheap ethnic eats)

[Sensuous]

I hope you will plan a weekend trip to Asheville once you get settled. There you will find good food and so much beauty. We loved the Grove Park Inn and The Biltmore Estate.
Krispy Kreme is big in Winston. In Old Salem you'll find some unusual breads and cookies.

-----
Biltmore Estate
1 Approach Rd, Asheville, NC 28803

Old Salem
736 S Main St, Winston Salem, NC 27101