GoldBelly delivery of Kings BBQ. Poorly packaged caused the food to become thawed. So the Pig Out…read moreParty that serves 12 had to eaten in a weekend! The ribs were dry and slightly chewy the cider bbq sauce was just ok. The pulled pork had too much vinegar The hush puppies were dense and doughy Considering the cost, I would never order again

Takes an hour for our food to arrive after the order is placed. Food is ok but not worth the wait…read more The PA system is loud and jaring. Been customers for years but won't be back til service improves if then. Different wait staff each visit now. That should tell you something .

Went back home for the weekend and couldn't wait to checkout one of the downtown restaurants. When…read morewe arrived it wasn't too busy (lunchtime) so we were seated quickly. Loved that we didn't need a reservation and there wasn't a long wait (the things we are accustomed to in the DMV). Our server greeted us and took our drink and appetizer orders. It was an unseasonably hot day so we ordered a strawberry margarita and white sangria. For appetizers, we got tempura brussels sprouts and bulgogi fries. The drinks and food were fresh and delicious. We were pleasantly surprised by the serving sizes. My daughter (who is extremely picky) said the margarita was one of the best she'd had. It was her first time trying bulgogi so I was a little nervous, but she absolutely loved it. I enjoyed the brussels sprouts. Appreciated the great service and attention. We will definitely be back the next time we're in town.

The wait!!! I understand they get busy!!!…read moreBut 47 mins for 2 orders of sushi is unacceptable!!! Communication They manager hands me the bag with here you Miss Horrible

I came here for a good meal and met Angelica! Outstanding customer service! She made sure my…read morefries were hot, the BBQ lived up as advertised and my tea overflowing. Had some great menu suggestions. Came out and talked to me. Great experience even with her crew that evening. I came back today to see if she was working. Not quite the experience,--she was not here. Nobody said nothing to me. I had to go get my own refills. I'd come back. Anyway, Angelica - wherever you are, thanks for taking care of me.

All right, it's a chain, but they really do a great job with service and food. Really clean also.read more

It was a nice, clean, efficient Cafe. We had breakfast. The staff was attentive but not hovering…read more If we are passing through we will stop again.

Everything you could possibly hope for in a diner in a small Southern city (or whatever size you…read moremight think is most appropriate for Kinston -- it's sort of in the grey area of magnitude). The food is excellent, the service is kind and attentive (but not annoyingly so). The kitchen is visible from some angles, and you can really get a feel for the work and care that's being put into your breakfast. The biscuits are good, too (even though the other old breakfast spot in Kinston is more biscuit-centric). Eggs were perfect. The atmosphere is so soothing in its friendliness, and the other customers so endearing, that you won't want to leave. But, eventually, you'll probably have to leave. The only problems are the early closing hours (particularly on Saturdays) -- otherwise I'd be here a lot more often.

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.

There is a brewery and a distillery. Great beers. I had a porter that was rich and foamy. Very…read moregood. The distillery makes two types of gin; dry and botanical. It also makes two whiskeys. I did a taste test of all four and I have to say they all were good.

Great service from the time we walked in to the check out! The bartender is very knowledgeable and…read morewe loved all the beers she recommended!

I ordered wings with the maximum heat and bang bang sauce. However, when my wings came out there…read morewas no sauce on them. I was told that would be $1 extra. First of all, the wings were terrible and small. It didn't matter if there was sauce or not. Never again.

Wings are amazing the blue cheese is everything. Service is amazing the staff are great.read more

Although, my hotel offered free continental breakfast, my uncle and I opted to dine at Waffle…read moreHouse. A server came to our table shortly after we were seated down to take our order. Service was great and the food was good too. The restaurant wasn't too crowded or loud, it was quite peaceful. I always enjoy stopping by a Waffle House restaurant whenever I'm in not in NY if I'm in the mood for it.

This mornings' experience was so much better - Juni was our waitperson and she was AWESOME! Food…read morewas fine and the restaurant was packed! We were there based on family-choice! I would not have come back based on such a prior negative experience. The best of experience after the worst experience at the same restaurant several days earlier!

I tried the Friday special with the crab cakes, fries and cucumber salad...AMAZING!!! The service…read moreis always top tier when I dine here!

Had dinner at the bar on a Wednesday. Fantastic service, wonderful creative cocktails and some…read moregreat wine selections. The ambiance /decor was a bit weird/plain and undefinable. Interesting Anerican steakhouse and Chinese standard menu. They were out of egg rolls so I had spring rolls. So so. But amazing almond cashew chicken and brownie ice cream dessert.