The Rosemary at Elon — Restaurant in Elon

My partner and I visited this morning with my grandparents and they were excited to take us to a new restaurant they had heard of. The only good thing about our $120 brunch was the coffee.

For starters, the menu was incorrect. Of the seven items listed for brunch we were told that two were unavailable at the time we were ready to order and not before. We ordered our breakfast and 40 minutes later the meal came out. I ordered the loks bagel and instead of smoked loks they gave me half a piece of overcooked salmon with the bagel fixing on top that looked as if it had been sitting there for quite some time (hot pink, has a very distinct look). I’m guessing it was premade or leftover from dinner. I was only informed as the meal was placed in front of me that I could order something different since they were out of loks but I elected not to as it had already taken 40 minutes for the original meal to come out. One other meal was missing an item that then came out half prepared, and the other two meals were overcooked and cold, as if they had been sitting for a while.

While our waiter was nice, he was aloof and at one point we had to go to the bar to receive drink refills even though there were only 4 tables present in the facility with two waiters. Whomever was at the bar apologized and referenced some incident that happened last night, but I have no idea how that would correlate with such poor service today. The waiter had said that items would be compensated from our ticket, but when the final ticket came out, nothing had been changed. We paid it and left....

I can't say enough wonderful things about Rosemary at Elon. I have watched it come to fruition from it's inception. I have seen it staffed and restaffed. I have seen ownership changes. The one constant has been owner and visionary, Derek Bates.

Derek's vision and execution lends to the beauty, colors and decor you see when you walk into the restaurant and lots you don't see. Now, with any changes in staff and ownership there is an expectation of something that suffers. I have not seen that at Rosemary of Elon. It has come together aging like a fine wine regardless of any changes.

I saw my first major service in play yesterday- Elon University Graduation Day 2025. The restaurant was packed all day. There was seasoned staff, new staff, family, friends all working together with precision..not missing a beat.

The food as always was delicious, cooked to perfection. Chef Brian Jones has heart and pays attention to detail in his menus. His special menus will have you salivating for more. The amazing bartender Stacey serves up drinks with a smile and remembers guest as if you are family. It is a very warm and inviting place to go.

New co-owner Chase has a no nonsensical attitude about all things Rosemary at Elon. He wants everyone's experience at to be nothing less than pleasurable and your first of many.

Go, eat, drink and be merry any season...

This is one of my absolute favorite places to be! The Rosemary is a gem! As soon as you walk in the door, you’re transported to another world. From the decor, to the staff, to the music (sometimes live and local!); it truly feels like a warm hug.

I particularly enjoy the phenomenal monthly wine dinners, where the menus are specifically designed to capture the essence of each wine served. I’m also a huge fan of the half off pizza specials on Thursdays, bottles and cans for $2.50 on Fridays and brunch specials on the weekends. The food is amazing and there are often dishes that are only created and available that day by the chef. So be certain to ask about the specials on the day you visit! If you’re a wine lover, you’ll be VERY pleased, as the wine options are vast. Whether you just want to grab a glass of wine at the beautiful bar, or you reserve a table for their signature three course meals, you won’t be disappointed.

An added bonus is being able to see the owners, Derek and Chase, or Chef Brian being so personable. What a cool thing to see in a restaurant. They’ve essentially created their own community within the greater...