A somewhat ordinary-looking entrance leads to a beautiful, airy, open dining room. We were greeted…read moreby one of the owners (Suzanne) who was warm & welcoming. They have a nice selection of cocktails, many of which seem crafted to honor the local vibe. I had a cocktail containing a house distilled gin. Delicious. They also let my husband sample two of the house distilled gins before he ordered a gin and tonic. He was very happy. Kennedy, our friendly, knowledgeable server, brought out complimentary cornbread with brown butter/molasses butter and tomato soup shooters. Yum. They offer two- and three-course price fix menus, and for a few dollars more, you can make it a wine pairing. My husband did that, and I ordered off of the regular menu. His collard green salad was sensational! He couldn't stop raving about it even as he was finishing it up. His second course was filet mignon, and it was the most savory, tasty filet I've ever had! I had lemon risotto with asparagus and tomatoes - it was delicious as well. We were at the Hackney to celebrate closing on our house in Washington, and we made the perfect choice for a celebratory dinner. We will be back!

Seriously disappointed after a long awaited visit. I started…read morewith tomato bisque. Expecting something fresh or savory. Just tomato soup. My Husbands pear salad was excellent. I ordered the bone in pork chop, it was just a Chop. No depth. No wow In the seasoning. It had chopped pickles on it and Was cooked medium well. I do better with a chop from Harris Teeter, some rosemary and a grill. My husband enjoyed the Rockfish although portion was small. Even the house bread pudding was lack luster. This was a birthday celebration. Was hoping the chef would walk the floor. But no. Luckily we stumbled into Blue the next day. Lovely. Hackney needs to taste their menu. We will come back to Washington. Lovely little town. Won't come back to Hackney for a while.

My friend and I had lunch at Blu Farm to Table on a Monday, and it turned out to be one of the…read morehighlights of our day in Little Washington. First, a shoutout to our server, Sarah. She was incredibly sweet and attentive. She seemed a little nervous at first, but she did a great job and made us feel very welcome throughout our meal. I ordered the Crispy Rice Tuna Salad, and it was excellent. The tuna was fresh, the combination of textures was fantastic, and the portion was much larger than I expected--I couldn't finish it. I also appreciated that the menu offered a good variety of choices, from lighter dishes to more indulgent options. The restaurant itself has a cozy, eclectic atmosphere with interesting décor that makes it feel like a hidden gem tucked away in downtown Washington. Add in the fact that they're open on Mondays when many nearby restaurants are closed, and Blu becomes an easy recommendation. I'll definitely return the next time I'm in town.

Where to start? Without overstating it, this is one of the best restaurants on the east coast. I've…read morelost count of the number of high end chefs whose meals we have enjoyed around the world and I'm not joking when I say that I can count on one hand the places that I would say are better than Blu. After numerous trips I still can't put my finger on what exactly is done differently at Blu to outperform so many fantastic restaurants. It's as if they have somehow managed the flavors of a Michelin restaurant with plating that isn't so... boring and sterile. Portion sizes are more than adequate, none of that one taste nonsense here. The service is always fantastic, professional and friendly. The owner is occasionally willing to share recipes with you and has never disappointed me with a recommendation. The cocktails? Just "wow". Perhaps what makes this place so fabulous is that they manage to do so well in so many categories. I'll consider that more in depth next time I make a reservation which may just have to be today. Speaking of, if you don't make a reservation, don't be disappointed when you don't have a seat. This isn't a place you can always walk in and sit down. They don't have many tables and it's obvious that they aren't the type of place to sit more people than they can take care of. Take some time, enjoy a drink and one of the best meals you'll have in the area. You won't regret it!

After years of wanting to try the bank, I finally did! I was well pleased with the atmosphere and…read moreour waitress. She was very nice and helpful. I ordered the mussels Rockefeller as an appetizer. The mussels were some of the best I've ever had! I ordered an old-fashioned as it was recommended. I found it to be of average quality. For my main, I ordered the special which was soy ginger tuna. It was fantastic! One of the only things I didn't like was the reservation process. They didn't have any online reservations you had to call over the phone, which can be difficult during busy times.

The pictures I took are kind of lame because I was too busy eating the awesome food! This place…read moreisn't cheap, but it is so worth it. You do need to make a reservation (make it in advance, as it did take a little bit to get ahold of someone over the phone). My husband got the mussels Rockefeller, which he really liked. I don't like mussels, so I didn't have any of that dish. My main dish was the Chicken Diane and it was great!! Loved the sauce and the mashed potatoes were so flavorful. We were celebrating my mom's birthday, and she got a choice of dessert. She picked the cheesecake and it was delicious! It came with caramel and strawberry syrup. We also had the most fantastic server, Carly. She was attentive, upbeat, and very kind. When you go there, ask for her!

Stopped in because they were one of the only places open on Easter haha. Huge mimosa selection with…read moreall sorts of flavors. Mimosas come in a single glass, or as a flight. Bloody Mary's, draft/canned/bottled beer, wine, and full bar also available. Service was quick and friendly, and their Sunday brunch is so good! The potatoes were nice and crispy, and everything had sufficient toppings without being too heavy. Highly recommend!

The food is great and the service is excellent the girls know what u want before they seat you …read more The blistz burger is good with the sweet potato fries

Ate here today for the second time and again everything was great!! Valerie was our server she was…read morefriendly, smiling always and attentative! My son and I started with an app of mozz sticks and they came out rather quickly which was nice. My son ordered the Jacks "buffet" burger with island fries and he loved it! I went with jacks Cuban and their house made coleslaw and I as well loved my food! We were so full we had no room to try the funnel cake fries but thinking next time we will start with those! This place is great has a lot of outdoor seating which is where we sat upstairs and everything was just great! If you haven't been here I say go for it!!

Such a great find and fun atmosphere! Service was exceptional and the menu extensive. Great vibe…read more Great music.

Great atmosphere, friendly staff, and delicious cocktails, Wonderful venue for a night out with…read morefriends or date night.

Great atmosphere with beautiful views and quick bar service. The food looked amazing even though we…read moreonly stopped in for drinks this time. Definitely planning to come back to try the menu!

Baxter's is, without question, one of New Bern's hidden gems. From the outside, it's easy to miss,…read morebut once you step inside, you're greeted by an atmosphere that's unlike anything else in town. The live piano music creates the perfect backdrop, giving the space the feel of a sophisticated cocktail lounge while still being warm and inviting. The custom cocktails are outstanding. Rather than relying on a standard drink menu, the bartenders clearly know their craft and create drinks that are both creative and exceptionally well-balanced. If you appreciate a properly made cocktail, this place is a must-visit. The tapas-style menu is the perfect complement to the experience. Everything is designed for sharing or grazing while you enjoy your drinks and conversation, making it less about rushing through a meal and more about enjoying the evening. Yes, Baxter's is on the expensive side, but this is one of those places where you truly get what you pay for. Between the expertly crafted cocktails, intimate atmosphere, live piano music, and quality food, it's worth every penny. It's the kind of place where you intend to stop in for one drink and end up staying for hours because you simply don't want to leave. If you're looking for one of the best date-night spots or a relaxing evening with friends in New Bern, Baxter's should be at the top of your list. I'll absolutely be back.

I had been so looking forward to dining at Baxter's 1892 with the speak easy feel and the live…read moremusic. I tried to make reservation but the restaurant would not take a reservation for one so I went early. My options were the bar or in the dark tunnel. I chose the tunnel as I thought I was going to get a table not a high top there. Then where the menu was placed that would have me facing the back wall as the other seat was near the kitchen entrance. So I moved there but I still didn't have a view of the performers. So things didn't start well but I ordered the boba boat mocktail and the mac n cheese with short ribs. My waitress then informed me that they were out of the short rib and would brisket be ok. I hate brisket so I said no and she went and got me the menu to order something else. While I was looking at the menu with my phone flashlight (other tables had actual flashlights, they came prepared) as the tunnel was too dark to see without it, I was given mac n cheese with short rib according to the food runner. I questioned him as I had been told they were out but he went and checked and told me it was the last of the short rib. It was not short rib and someone lied. When the waitress returned, she thought it was burnt ends and checked with the kitchen and they told her brisket. Whatever the mystery meat was, it was not what I ordered. Did they think I wouldn't notice or know the meats are prepared differently. It is dark there so it is hard to know what you are eating. The mystery meat dish was taken back to the kitchen and I asked if they could prepare it with vegetables instead as mac n cheese seemed like the safest option on the menu with the mystery meats. I wish they just had what I originally ordered. The specialty made veggie dish was good but I expected more flavors with the cheese. It was kind of bland. I did try the dessert too. I got the strawberry lemonade cake. The strawberries were the best part as the cake was on the dry side. While eating this, the check was brought to the table. This is my biggest pet peeve to not wait until the guest is finished eating. The most frustrating part was that while they refused to increase the lighting when I arrived and asked as I couldn't read the menu. They immediately turned the lights up when another guest asked as I was finishing my dessert. The chef came to the table from the front dining area. It was my understanding that things were going to be made right. I didn't expect to be charged the full price for the dish without the premium meat. Then there was the service failure of bringing out a dish I hadn't ordered to begin with. The decor here is outstanding, with the copper ceilings and the speakeasy feel. The clock out front caught my attention too. They went all out with the details and elegance. So it is disappointing that the food and service is not up to the same standards.

Every time we're in Oriental visiting family, we make a point to come to Gretchen's Bistro. It's…read moreone of the few places that feels just as easy with kids as it does for a great meal out. The atmosphere is relaxed but still really well done, and the food has been consistently excellent. Service has always been welcoming and accommodating, which makes a big difference when dining with little ones. It's become part of our routine when we're in town, and somewhere we always look forward to coming back to.

We (14 of us!) dined at Gretchen's Bistro in Oriental last night. The trip out to Oriental was well…read moreworth it! We were seated at a large table in an enclosed patio of the restaurant. The seating and lighting were great. Our server, Kayla was very professional and efficient. As one might imagine, a seating of 14 can be difficult. She handled us with aplomb! Many different items were ordered. I started with the wedge salad where the iceberg lettuce, blue cheese crumbles and bacon were the stars of the show. I ordered the duck breast for my entree. The fat was perfectly rendered and the puréed carrots pair extremely well with the richness of the deck. A must have with the duck is their in-house made pear martini which blended perfectly with the fig sauce served over the duck. My husband ordered the Shrimp Cocktail as my appetizer. The shrimp were plump and perfectly steamed! The cocktail sauce was fresh made and delicious! His entree was Pistachio Butter Scallops. They were served on a bed of polenta with a side of haricot verts! The scallops were sautéed to a point where the edges were just ever so crispy while the interior of the scallop was tender and sweet! He said this was one of the best meals he'd have ever had and we've dined at many 4 & 5 star restaurants! I almost forgot to mention the bread service! We were offered either a Baguette or Focaccia bread. The focaccia was so outstanding, we bought an extra half loaf to bring home!!! Even though we were both happily satiated, we shared their pan fried pound cake with salted caramel gelato and chantilly cream for dessert! It was simply amazing! The management staff and chef came to our table to check on our service and meals. They were very appreciative of our glowing feedback! We'll definitely be coming back! I highly recommend going to Gretchen's Bistro in Oriental! You won't be disappointed! Sorry...only the one pic, because we were a large group enjoying a multitude of conversations.