West End Kitchen — Restaurant in Pittsboro

I’ve been coming to West End since they first opened and after they changed management.

The management & staff are absolutely amazing! Kevin is hands down my favorite server and we’ve had him the majority of times we’ve dined at this restaurant (all but one time). He’s wonderful at everything. He’s super welcoming and friendly, very knowledgeable on all items on the menu and always full of suggestions/recommendations if you can’t decide on something. He’ll even welcome you with a hug if you’re open to that. And, he’s very cheery and cares about you and your experience. I highly encourage you ask for him when you make a reservation. Though the other server we had was wonderful too, I just have a soft spot for Kevin bc he’s been our server all but one time and he has an energy about him that is so great to be around. He also check up on you just the right amount and anticipates your needs like refills of coffee, etc.

The chefs are very knowledgeable and creative.

I love that the restaurant still have a falafel menu item that celebrates when Angelina’s used to be at this location, the miso French soup is divine (and I’m a huge French cuisine fan and love all traditional French foods), but I was pleasantly surprised at how wonderful their take on French Onion soup was.

Today, for brunch, I had their new special of Smothered Fried Chicken which comes with fried chicken, a biscuit and gravy as well as two eggs on top and a side of breakfast potatoes. My tastebuds were so happy and the size of the meal was plentiful that I had leftovers to take home. Absolutely divine sums it all up.

The owners are amazing and have really elevated this place compared to the previous West End owners. From wine to cocktails to brunch, lunch & dinner…everything is wonderful and delicious. You really can’t go wrong with anything you order and you’ll never be bored as they’re always updating the menu offering wonderful new speciasl while also keeping the all time favorites. They’re open to input as well.

Being from the DC Metro area, I have to say hands down this is the BEST restaurant in Pittsboro. It’s a hidden gem that has become super popular to the point where reservations are needed for brunch.

The ambience is small, cozy, beautiful, comfortable, personable, & warming, They also display beautiful artwork.

Their prices are also great. While you can opt for some of the more expensive items, there are also items on the menu that are not as expensive. Their portions are generous as well.

The service is outstanding! I honestly have nothing bad today about this place.

I recommend making reservations for any meal because the restaurant has limited seating and they are a a popular hotspot.

I you have yet to try this restaurant I highly encourage you to check it out! And, while I would love to have Kevin as my forever waiter…I’m not a selfish person so I highly recommend that ask for Kevin as your server when you opt to dine at this amazing establishment.

NOTE: The owners also own the store next to the restaurant. The store is surprisingly bigger than it looks from the outside and they have such a diverse plethora of items. There’s something in there for anyone IMO. So, do check it out sometime either before or after your dining experience or...

Not a great experience, due largely to the limited brunch menu.

The offerings were scant and there were fewer still vegetarian options. I opted for a watermelon salad, without the avocado and prosciutto. What I got was a few watermelon cubes and some cucumber slices covered in some dressing. It tasted okay but was very little food for $16 plus tax and tip. (You pay and tip up front before being seated, let alone being served. I gave a 20% tip which I wouldn't have, given the service I eventually received.) To be fair, it would have been a bit heartier with the prosciutto and avocado but not by much, and I don't eat either. Also, the water was unfiltered, tepid Chatham County tap water -- borderline undrinkable. Carafes of water were already on the tables with no ice and I'm guessing they'd been there for a while, since the water was room temperature. I had about two sips and couldn't take any more of it -- strong chemical taste.

Service was also fairly poor. My companion asked for some bread. After being assured that he would receive some, he waited patiently for about 15 minutes to no avail. After finally asking another waitperson, it eventually arrived. The delay was difficult to understand as the place wasn't at all crowded. One factor may be that the waitpeople congregate in the outer room where orders are placed and only go into the dining room to deliver orders. A bit more attention to the people who are eating would be welcomed. But then, the tip-in-advance policy doesn't create an incentive for good service.

I didn't see the regular lunch menu. It may well have more offerings that I might have enjoyed. I might have been in a position to give a more favorable review under those circumstances. But for what I actually experienced, 2 stars is definitely the best I can do.

I think this place has promise, but they need to get it together. The atmosphere is pleasant. The quality of the ingredients is fine. But it just doesn't come together in a satisfying way. There seems to be a gap between the place they think it is or want it to be and the place that it actually is in light of the limited menu and indifferent service. With a bit more effort, it could be good, but it wasn't on...

This is a cute spot (next to a great little vintage/handmade shop which I also recommend) and one of the few places within a few minutes of CCCC that offers vegetarian options.

I had the falafel fritters and the "Little Salad." The fritters are in the appetizer section but was definitely enough for a light entree, and they were delicious.

The salad, however, was a bowl of lettuce. I don't mean there were only a few other veggies, I mean that it was literally a bowl of lettuce. I know it was fresh because I saw them chopping it, and it was probably local, but--by definition--a salad has multiple things in it. You've got to toss in at least a tomato or two to call it a salad--otherwise, it's a bowl of lettuce (even if it's fresh, local lettuce). I'm sure someone will reply to this and say that if I hadn't gotten my dressing on the side then it would've had multiple things in it, but then it would've simply been a bowl of oiled lettuce.

On that note--I do recommend this place. The food I ate averaged out to be very good. The staff were attentive and kind. It's awesome they use local ingredients. And also, I personally find the way they've replied to less-than-stellar reviews on here to be really bad form and a little unprofessional. I didn't read the reviews before eating here, but I have now and honestly those few replies are enough to give me serious pause before going back, though that is my personal subjective opinion that has nothing to do with the food. I hope they consider how their words matter just as much as the reviewers' and maybe extend the same kindness...