Hey everyone! I had an awesome sushi experience at Jay's 108! They have a nice dining staff who was…read moreattentive. The ambiance was modern and rustic with reclaimed wood. The food was excellent and well prepared. I tremendously enjoy Jay's and think you would too. Give it a try for some sushi and burgers!

This place is pretty cool. Laid back and casual. Able to do 6 to 8 people parties easily. We got…read moreburgers and alacart nigiri sushi. Her burger was really good and the fries were great. I thought tallow for sure. Having experienced sushi in Japan I can honestly say this sushi is correct. The rice was perfect taste and size with wasabi applied under the fish. Our server was super nice. We'll be back to try some calamari and uni. We shared an apple pie roll for desert, very good.

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.

Great chicken and bbq pork. The staff provided courteous, Great service. Clean restaurant and clean…read morerestrooms

Another stellar Saturday at LOVICK's in Kinston. Neets and I wanna call this our "breakfast home…read moreaway from home". Everything was PERFECT! Had a great talk with the owner himself as well as several neighboring customers. GREAT PLACE - had the grits - bottomless coffee & new item to me (the Dough Sandwich Egg Cajun-style with and sausage and mustard in a Sandwich - Let me tell you - "It was top shelf!" We LUV this place!!!

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've been here three times and I loved it. But, after tonight's experience I will not return. A…read morecustomer walked out and did not pay their bill. The manager let the waitress know that she had to pay the bill (WHICH IS ILLEGAL IN NORTH CAROLINA). The manager and multiple employees were fighting in the middle of the restaurant. They had my credit card, so I couldn't leave. Very hostile environment. I've never seen this level of unprofessionalism while dining out. The entire vibe of the restaurant was very uncomfortable from start to finish.

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.

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!