My wife and I visited Chef & the Farmer in Kinston to celebrate my birthday, and it turned out to…read morebe one of the most memorable dining experiences we've had in years. We were delighted to be personally greeted by none other than Vivian Howard -- James Beard Award-winning chef, restaurateur, television personality, and author. It was our first visit since Chef Vivian reimagined the restaurant into its current format: an intimate, chef-driven dining concept she calls "Chef New," inspired by one of her favorite restaurants, Chez Nous in Charleston, where a compact menu of six rotating daily selections keeps the focus squarely on quality and creativity. Chef Vivian herself seated us, and from that moment, the warmth and intentionality of the experience never let up. We were fortunate to be seated directly in front of the open kitchen, where we had the pleasure of meeting Chef Hope and watching the culinary team work with quiet precision. Every member of the staff -- from our server to the pastry and salad chef -- contributed to an atmosphere that felt both refined and genuinely welcoming. The prix-fixe menu, which rotates weekly, offered a wonderful range of choices. We opened with a starter of soft-shell crabs -- caught just two hours prior -- served with charred scallion mayo and a bright corn relish. The dish was extraordinary: delicate, fresh, and perfectly executed. My wife's Brussels sprouts, tossed with spiced peanuts and goat cheese and finished with a honey vinaigrette, were equally impressive. A generous pour of Sorgente Prosecco made it all the better. For our mains, I chose the flank steak, accompanied by asparagus with green butter and a silky root vegetable purée. My wife opted for the house-made tagliatelle in a shrimp scampi that she couldn't stop talking about. Both dishes were beautifully presented and thoughtfully composed, reflecting the restaurant's deep commitment to farm-to-table sourcing and local ingredients. The meal concluded with fantastic desserts and continued conversation with the staff, who were as knowledgeable as they were passionate. Throughout the evening, there was an evident attention to detail in every element -- from the food preparation to the way each dish was explained and presented. This is the kind of dining experience that reminds you why food matters. We will absolutely be back.

We've eaten a few times at Chef & the Farmer, enjoyed the Kitchen Bar experience, and were excited…read moreto try the latest iteration, The Counter. As always, Vivian does not disappoint. The Counter occupies what was once the private dining room at Chef & the Farmer. Decor is cool - bare brick, tin ceiling, polished cement floor, tables and chairs new but antiqued. An eclectic mix of music plays - a little too loud for my liking, but not so loud that we had to shout. Perhaps a dozen tables, plus a few on the sidewalk for when it warms up. The menu is simple, only a dozen or so choices. Some are old favorites, some new creations. A special of the day is offered. You order at the counter, and food is served at your table. You pick your table. We opted for an early dinner, arriving at 4PM on a Sunday. It was quiet in the restaurant, only us and and one other table. Service was good, but a little disjointed - one entrée arrived a full 5 minutes before the rest of the food. I tried shrimp and grits, the daily special. 6 shrimp, atop a bowl of cheddar grits, adorned with ground sausage, mushroom and roaster red pepper sauce. The shrimp are smoky; a crispy crunch to each one. Grits are creamy and perfect, complete with a few lumps. The sauce pulls it all together and adds the tiniest hint of heat. YUM! Also tried blueberry bbq chicken enchiladas. These are 3 to a serving; tortillas stuffed with shredded chicken prepared with Vivian's famous blueberry sauce. They're served in a shallow pool of poblano cream and topped with sliced radish, cilantro and cotijo. With a side of black beans. The chicken is the star.. it's moist, flavorful with the sweet/sour goodness of the blueberry sauce. Delish! Also tried a trio of sides - fried collards, hushpuppies and beets. The fried collards are a familiar favorite - deep fried collard leaves, crispy and salty. Hushpuppies are golf-ball sized, wonderfully crisp on the outside, moist and sweet on the inside. They're topped with apple & jalapeno preserves. Beets are served with slices of orange, topped with spiced and feta vinaigrette. To be honest, you could just order one of each of the sides (there are others) and that would be a meal! The counter offers wonderful food. Not quite the experience of a full sit-down meal (I really MISS Chef & the Farmer), but still - worth the drive to Kinston.

I used to enjoy the food and service, but that changed a few weeks ago. I noticed that Miranda, who…read moreprovided excellent service, is no longer there, and it shows. Makayla informed me that Miranda isn't the only person "out," which may explain why the turnover rate seems high. Recently, I've observed a decline in the care taken when preparing food and in customer service. Like any paying customer, I expect fresh, hot food. Instead, I've been served refried chicken and bacon, which is unacceptable. Chicken pastry should include chicken, but when I brought this up, I was told that the cook had always made it that way and wouldn't change it. Meals should never leave the kitchen unless they're properly prepared. Returned to work late and hungry..

BBQ chicken. Collards. Yams Hamburger Steak. Rice and Gravy…read moreand Collards The food was hot, fresh and delicious. We at in and the service was A1. It felt like we were right at home. We will be back.

Mike's Farm on Haw's Branch Road is an amazing rustic and true farmhouse dining experience for the…read moreentire family. We recently celebrated there for our grandson's 4th birthday. The food is homey deliciousness and is served family style. We love it. The staff is energetic and kind and friendly. Once the main meal is finished, prepare for incredible desert options. We had the banana pudding. The grounds have activities for walking and shopping and the kids get the see and feed Goats, Sheep, Ducks, cows and other spectacular animals. A well rounded outing for the entire family.

I came to check out the nc product barn.. full of nc made products! I know on Friday I can get a…read moreplatter of the famous Mac n cheese from the fridge up by the counter but I always look to see what all they have. So many great products.. sauces, dips, food stuff and a lot of others! You can see what goes into all the products and where they are from! They even had samples on counter of several products.. I tried a granola and fell in love! Pineapple walnut! Owned and operated by veterans, hand crafted called staats bakery..Dobson nc.. one example of nc made ! They have a corner with local wines and you can sample them.. I love this barn it's always an adventure.. oh and yes I've eaten in restaurant and had deserts from gift shop the ice cream is a delight and foods yummy.. come early and come hungry!

A surprisingly strong 4.5 stars. Delicious food, great service, fair prices…read more My wife had the shrimp tacos. They were delicious and spicy. The Caribbean Shrimp Curry was an amazing blend of cuisines full of bell peppers, pineapple, and very spicy. The kids had burgers for kids meals and were happy. The Loaded Tater Tots appetizer is exactly what it is described as and delicious. Excellent service. When my daughter asked if they have strawberry lemonade, the waitress hooked her up with strawberry syrup with a smile. The location is very nice with a small park with a dock right across the parking lot. The prices are fair. We dropped $100 for a family of four. That's not cheap, but again, fair. It was something different, delicious, and spicy.

Food - fresh and quick. Havana bowl was very flavorful. Loved the potatoes…read more Pancake was only half crispy, but great flavor. Eggs were fluffy.

We love Baker's! Try the butter syrup! So many good dishes, breakfast and lunch. Go early or expect…read morea wait. We think it's worth the wait. They have some baked goods available to go as well.

This place was always amazing even when I use to leave in havelock now I'm in Pittsburgh and I come…read moreback to visit family away from my family and we make it a point to come here and my Pittsburgh family loves this place!!

I'm giving King's a bit of grace today because I've eaten there many times and today wasn't quite…read moreas good as previous. I ordered the barbecue plate with fries and collards. Collards were great, barbecue was good. Fries were nothing special -- a little soggy. They have tons of sides including some rotating ones. I should have chosen something different. Husband really enjoyed the dry limas. I like the king's vinegar sauce. I wish sauce and ketchup were on the table instead of pre packaged. They were almost out of napkins when we visited -- said they had another shipment coming in the next day. Portion sizes are generous.

I am part of the clean plate club. I finish my plate. Not this time. I had one rib. It was…read moreawful. The Fried Chicken was the star of the bad show. Would not try again. Fried Chicken, green beans, cabbage, haw dog and tea. 5.75 out of

Henry and staff are great. I enjoy their service and they have an amazing breakfast. That burrito…read morewith salsa is amazing or a country tradition of eggs, grits and corn beef hash.

My fiance and I love Celia's. I have only ever gotten take out but he goes often for lunch with his…read morefather. Saturdays are our favorite when they have the steak fajita burrito special. I literally dream about it! Soooo good.

Food was excellent, service was great. The gf spaghetti squash with salmon was outstanding.read more

Food was excellent, ribeye with green beans and fried okra & spaghetti squash with salmon/shrimp…read more Service was on point Nice atmosphere We got there early before the crowd at supper time rush

Please note- Address;…read more 4763 Highway 11 north Bethel, NC 27812 This place is a great hole in the wall. Right next to a gas station, very unassuming. We ate breakfast, lunch, and got a to go dinner for later as they open 5:30a - 2pm M-F. Closed Sat/Sun. They had really good chicken tenders they had just made for the gas station hot bar next door. They were good. My hubby got the chicken gizzards- he said they were very good. We will be stopping by again when in the area,

The food is great! Simple fare and tastes home cooked! They fix my breakfast every morning, just…read morewished they were open on Saturdays!