The Counter @ Chef and The Farmer — Restaurant in Kinston

Yay! Vivian Howard has re-opened with this new concept and familiar quality food. Two of us had Sunday lunch here. They open at noon. Order at the counter when you enter. The menu is small and you can see it on line. (their website is excellent). But they also had posted a few specials. Pay. Get a number to take to a table. Pick your own table. It's not a large place and there were only two of us so we picked a two-top. Hopefully everyone will be considerate and pick an appropriate size table so they can entertain as many of guests as possible, as shortly after we got there they got extra busy.

There's a small bar (no seats for it) behind the entry counter with a small selection of beer, wine and mixed drinks, plus mocktails. Wine choices, for instance are rose, cabernet and chenin blanc for $8. There is also a long table where you can pour your own water, and you can see a beautiful layered cake.

While we were waiting for our food, Vivian came out to talk to another table (her Mom), so we were excited to know that she was probably cooking our food herself! Soon our food arrived on trays. One of the specials for Sis...chicken pastry with a side of broccoli and cheese, and the blueberry bbq chicken enchiladas with a side of broccoli and cheese for me. All fabulous!!! The same Vivian Howard quality we've experienced in the past. The chicken pastry was unlike any we've ever tasted. It was less pastry and more chicken. Very herbaceous, topped with fried sage. My enchiladas were sheer perfection. And the broccoli and cheese was a smaller version of what she used to do. Al dente florets topped with an American Cheese fondue topped with fried onions. If we were to nit pick we both felt like the broccoli being served in small bowls was hard to cut up. My dish came with a knife, but hers did not. Even with the knife the bowl made it hard to cut.

Everything was so delicious and portions were generous enough that I took enough home for a nice...

We visited NC for the first time for our 30th anniversary and on our way from Raleigh to the coast stopped in for lunch. We are from Washington State near Seattle and have watched the TV show and thought it would be pretty cool to stop and enjoy some of Vivian’s creations for the everyday people, ha ha.

So this was the first time in my life I had shrimp and grits and it was amazing! I also had the butter bean hummus and wow that was awesome too! I actually wanted to try way more items than we could eat. My husband hot the pick three and he enjoyed them all but said he liked the Greek salad the best. If we didn’t live over 2800 miles away we would for sure come back regularly!

The staff were super friendly, attentive which seems hard to find in young people now days. Maybe some southern upbringing helps, they were exceptional too!

If you are from way far away like we are or just wanting to give it a try don’t hesitate. The prices very good, portions filling atmosphere nice and entire restaurant clean including the unique upscale bathroom.

Best wishes to Vivian in...

We drove here to enjoy food we had heard so much about. I now know why the original restaurant closed. As you enter the restaurant your senses are engulfed with the smell of sewer fumes. But hey, we drove a long way to try this, right? Next they tell us to order at the counter before seating, apropos for sure! We scan the menu and then I asked, I saw that Vivian posted on FB that Thursday is steak night. They said, "Oh yeah, it is steak night." So my wife and I ordered 2 steak dinners. The. We asked about drinks. They walked us around the "Counter" and we ordered two "craft?" cocktails. Both sweeter than a cavity! Then the "juiciest" steak ever, said Viv, arrived. Completely dry. They absorbed all moisture from our mouths! They were 100% frozen before we ordered them. They literally threw frozen steaks on the grill. I told the waitress and she laughed. She is obviously use to this...

$110 and left miserable.

Don't waist your date night or...