Artisanal Restaurant — Restaurant in North Carolina

Here is my honest review from just a normal dude that loves food.

The environment is incredible. The drive up to this restaurant was gorgeous and the building and set up is the best I've ever been to. 10/10 there.

The waiting staff is a well-oiled MACHINE. They're constantly in-sync and are extremely attentive. My water didn't go 10 seconds without being filled. 10/10 here, hands down. Shout out to Katherine!

I'll explain our entire meal experience: Yeast rolls, Amuse, first and second course, dessert, and a sendoff (we don't drink so I can't give a review there). Presentation of all of the food was incredible. They really made these dishes pop and should be proud. Also, literally everything was cooked perfectly so my 3 stars is not because they did anything wrong, but instead they're missing the mark for a $250 meal.

I rate my food on the following scale when it comes to taste (most important for me): Hate—Don't Like—Meh—Like—Love—Crave. Hate— You couldn't pay me to eat this. Don't LIke— Even though I'm really hungry, I won't eat this. Meh— I'm tolerating this but it's honestly not good. Like— It's good but I wouldn't order again Love— I'd definitely order this again. Delicious. Crave— Freaking mind-blowing delicious.

Going into this experience, I was expecting an average of Love with a few craves and MAYBE a like. I'm obviously hopeful for craves at every course given the price point but I went in with moderate expectations.

Here's my honest assessment: Yeast Rolls: Crave. Suckers are incredible. (My wife's favorite part of the meal) Amuse: Pimento cheese scone. Texture was awesome. Taste was meh. Like. First course: Tuna Tartare & Truffle Cauliflower Soup. Tuna Tartare was a Love. Citrus foam was the coolest part. Avocado sauce could use a little more zing. Truffle Cauliflower Soup was a Crave. This was the best soup I've ever had, I don't even like soup, and was my favorite part of the meal. Spectacular. Second course: Ribeye Cap with fries & Braised Pork. The Ribeye Cap was a "Like". Steak was cooked more on the rare side of medium rare which I'm perfectly fine with. It was incredibly tender but the sauce just wasn't good to me. They baste their steaks which is awesome but I think it would honestly have been better if it was just the steak, no sauce, and some veggies. Personal preference. Those fries though. Those fries were a crave for sure. I was disappointed to hear that they are delivered to the restaurant frozen and pre-cut but they're still delicious. Crave. The Braised Pork was also a Like. Meat was cooked perfectly but it was just boring to be honest. Both of our second courses were a disappointment overall. Dessert: Chocolate Entremet & Sweet Summer. Both, again, gorgeous presentation. Both have tiny portions so enjoy those bites haha. The Chocolate Entremet was a like and the Sweet Summer was a meh. This was very surprising since I love dessert and I usually favor those higher but neither of these we would order again. The Sweet Summer was very complex in texture and presentation but honestly, very boring when it comes to taste. Some of it tasted like it was coming out of a can. The Chocolate Entremet was ok but again, forgettable. Neither ice cream stood out to us. Big disappointment on how the meal was finished. Sendoff: They leave the check with a few butter cookies that were forgettable. These cookies are meant to be dry but if you're going to give us a sendoff, it should be just as interesting as a muse but an the sweet side. A truffle or eclair or homemade mini s'more would be more interesting than a single butter cookie. Meh.

In Summary: Rolls: Crave. Amuse: Like First: Love/Crave Second: Like/Like Dessert: Like/Meh Sendoff: Meh. 2 Craves, 1 Love, 4 Likes, and 2 Meh's. Super disappointed now that I take a step back and think on the experience.

Several parts of the meal could be improved, especially for the price point of $250/2 people. A once-in-a-lifetime meal experience that just is worth a little less than...

𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐥 - 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐥𝐤, 𝐍𝐂 Over the past 16 years, I've been fortunate to visit 68 countries and 36 states, exploring a diverse range of cuisines and regional flavors crafted by world-renowned chefs. My passion for culinary exploration is complemented by a rigorous approach to restaurant reviews, focusing on three key criteria: Ambiance, Service, and Food. Exceptional establishments that excel in all these areas are rare, but I recently discovered one in the Southeastern US that surpassed all expectations. I aim to offer an impartial perspective, showcasing both strengths and areas for improvement. Ambiance: The restaurant is set in a converted barn on this large acreage of land with meticulously kept grounds and beautiful statutes. It is designed with both indoor and outdoor seating (with a beautiful creek), depending on your preferences. As you walk inside, you are greeted by this amazing horse statute made from wood and a dining space with large chandeliers hanging from the rooftop, open dining areas that allow for plenty of space between the tables, and great acoustics to enjoy a conversation while you are immersed in this culinary journey. Service: Impeccable. The table service was truly amazing; there was never a moment that you didn't have to worry about meeting all your needs while you chat with your spouse, friends, family, and business associates. With an open kitchen concept, we were able to see how they meticulously and strategically organize dishes as they come up on the final prep area to be delivered to tables. This was truly a well-oiled machine, with everything done in synchronization, from the kitchen to the delivery of the food at your table. Food: Every dish we ate was truly outstanding. I really thought hard during the dinner to see if I could find anything wrong with the taste, presentation, and quality of the food – I truly could not. Even their house rolls were amazing, soft, hot, and sprinkled with a little salt on top. We ordered the following. Appetizer: Burrata & Local Heirloom Tomatoes (with Roasted Corn, Sherry Vinaigrette, Arugula Roasted Pepper Purée) and 15 Layer Lasagna with Black Summer Truffles (with Oyster Mushrooms, Marcona Almonds, San Marzano Marinara) Table Side: Pimento Cheese Scones with Sorghum Butter and Pepper Jelly Main Entrée: 48 hour Short Rib (with Potato Purée, Broccoli Rabe, Sage, Sauce Bearnaise Grilled Shishito Relish) and Berkshire Pork Chop (with Brussels Sprouts, Baby Carrots, Charred Radicchio Chimichurri, Grilled SC Peaches & Golden Raisins) Dessert: Unfortunately, the desserts were known on the menu, and I don't recall the names or descriptions. However, you can clearly see the pictures attached. Normally, I would write a breakdown of each dish, but this would make the review far too lengthy. What I can tell you is that each dish was combined with the perfect combination of quality ingredients, creating an experience like no other. This was truly a 5-star Michelin star experience that was executed with precision and...

Don’t believe what they tell you on the phone! Terrible management style, seriously!! I spoke to the restaurant twice several days before coming to confirm that they could prepare the Beef Wellington without pork. I understand how this dish is prepared and as it is a fixed menu, I was limited in my choices. I literally told the woman I spoke with that with their fixed menu, if they couldn’t do the Wellington without pork no problem, I’d cancel. They had me wait on the phone and came back and said no problem, they could do it :) We got here and after ordering we’re told that no, they couldn’t. The manager came over and told me that “I” must have not communicated well enough. It’s one thing to make a mistake but another to BLAME the customer. What a disappointing experience :(

The food was plated beautifully, each and every dish meticulously prepared.

The compressed watermelon amuse bouche was perfect. First course, a 15 layer lasagne with marcona almonds fell flat.

We ordered the pimento scones and they were remarkable. Fluffy and crispy, savory with sweet pepper jelly - it was perfectly balanced.

The lamb was chewy but good. The snap peas were fresh and delicious.

Beef was perfectly prepared.

Cheese plate for dessert was absolutely amazing. The gentleman who explained the cheeses to us was remarkably knowledgeable. Such a pleasure to interact with him.

They charge a 16% fee which is not gratuity according to our server.

Beautiful atmosphere!

April from Tennessee is a wonderful server and very knowledgeable, our server not so much.

I’ve been here many times in the past 12 years or so and each time it’s been amazing. This time was no less amazing however, due to the fact that we don’t eat pork or shellfish our choices were somewhat limited and as such I was sad not to have the Wellington. Just a little whine with the delicious cheese we were served. You should try this place if you have...