I Love me some farm to table. Especially when they focus on using local fair. Decor is very nice. Kind of a shabby chic farm feel. I never made it to the previous restaurant so i can't compare it, but it was a very comfortable upscale country hometown feel.
Menu changes based on the season and whats available, so what was on tonight's menu may not be there a couple days from, which is fun and keeps it interesting.
The hubbie and I ordered 2 appetizers, the Pura Vida farm braised pork belly on a lentil pilaf and the chapel hill creamery farmer's caprese with herb oil and garden basil.
I'm not a huge fan of pork belly, but this was very good. I prefered the caprese salad though, which was not what i was expecting. it was cheese, topped with a fresh tomato, topped with a fried green tomato. Although it was not what was in my head, it was still fantastic, and defiantly something i would order again.
For the entree we ordered the HRB farm braised short rib in a beef reduction, roasted potatoes, sauteed triple beans and scallions, at least that was what was on the menu, but what we got seemed different than what i expected. The braised short rib was served on top of what i thought were pureed carrots, and there seemed to be braised greens on top of the short ribs. not sure if this was suppose to be the sauteed triple beans and scallions or if it was substituted for something different. Either way, I'm not mad. This is part of the adventure of farm to table style restaurants, sometimes things change a little in the process based on what is available. So you have to be willing to be a little flexible when you're ordering b/c it might arrive just a little different than what is on the menu or in your head.
Our friends ordered the salami, cheese bread appetizer, which was good, although i'm not sure i would order it, just b/c it's not my thing. They ordered the shrimp and grits, which was very good, something in it had a bit of a mexican flavor. After much debate we think there was a pepper of some sort that was giving it the distinct familiar, but i can't put my finger on it flavor. They also ordered the nightly special which was clams and pasta. Although i did not try it, someone did lick the bowl....soooooo, i'm going to say that's a good sign!
There were 2 desserts available, which are not actually made on site, but are from Sugar on top, a wake forest bakery connected to daylight donuts. They offered peach cobbler and pecan pie. Our friends got the peach cobbler and we got the pecan pie and then we just shared it all. Both were good, although I'm not sure they were worth the $8 price point. Although good, i probably would not get them again. But hopefully they'll rotate out the dessert options, so i might be tempted.
Wait staff were very friendly and patient. And although you could tell they were new, they weren't afraid to say, I don't know and then go ask someone for an answer. When it comes to wait staff, i don't need perfection, just someone who is willing to be honest!
Overall it was a great experience and the food was good! I look forward to seeing what they do after they are open a little longer. But it is obvious they have good staff, and great chefs. Maybe they'll eventually move to house made desserts and maybe offering some house made breads? Who knows! But I think this is a great addition to the wake forest area! read more