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

Ribs were fine, sauce smoky but plain, salad fresh. Overall acceptable but forgettable, a fair…read morethree-star dinner.

Stopped in after a funeral and was really pleased to have delicious food. I had the ribeye sandwich…read moreit hit the spot and the green beans were great. I cleaned my plate and will definitely be returning. I don't live in the area but I told my sister about it and would love to pick up some cuts of meat sometimes. Good butcher shops are hard to find.

My wife and I had the rare opportunity to dine out alone together - after much debate she…read moreacquiesced to my request - King's in Kinston was our solution - I chose the buffet while Neets had their Hamburg Steak plate. I was impressed with their meal offering, selection and quality throughout - Skyline's service was attentive and warm - despite my wife bringing an issue to her that lacked clear communication. Later Neets spoke with the Head Server who assisted the situation and they "went good" on things. "It's nice to know that Kings stands-behind their food and their staff! EVERYONE CAN MAKE A MISTAKE - We will be back and Neets may order something different from her "go-to" faire. FYI : King's dining room looks just like it did when my wife worked there some 30 years ago! A Kinston Landmark! Bon appetite

Kings is a very comfortable establishment. Everyone seemed like they had been doing the same things…read morethe same ways for a long time. The restaurant itself felt comfortable as well: the table tops were worn, the small booths felt worn, the decorative metal siding was oxidized, and even the plates and silverware seemed worn. This comfortable atmosphere also persisted with our meals. I tried the beef tips and they were OK after I added a pinch of salt. The portion was adequate but not especially generous. Likewise, my yams were not very sweet and served in an unusually dark sauce. The brunswick stew, which I paid an extra $1 for, had a strong smoky BBQ flavor but oddly had peas in it. While my sides were not very good, it just felt like they were the prepared the same way they had been prepared for many years. My dining companion enjoyed her grilled pork chop, noting that it was clearly cooked to order, but thought her string bean side was really mushy, seasoned poorly, and just not good. The basket of hush puppies was a complete and utter failure: cold, undercooked, greasy and flavorless. blah. Our server clearly enjoyed being comfortable too. Unfortunately, we needed refills on our beverages and the extra effort impacted her comfortableness. So sorry, not sorry. Kings seems like the sort of restaurant that meanders along until one day they realize they lost the qualities that made them successful in the first place years ago and they drift away into oblivion. There's a cost to being comfortable. Not recommended.

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.

Everything was delicious! However, she decided to close and the restaurant is no longer open…read more I'll miss eating there for lunch!

Had my sister pick up food and she came all the way home to realize they forgot the one thing my…read moremom asked for go all the way back to the store cashier rifled through our bag of food touching everything doesn't offer to remake food and had a horrible attitude looked like she would rather be anywhere else not to mention they weren't even busy only like two tables in the whole place

The servers were friendly and fast. I had a shrimp burger with catsup and slaw and an unsweetened…read moreiced tea. My burger arrived quickly, but without slaw. It was easy to take care of. I enjoyed a generous portion of shrimp on a fresh steamed bun. As always, great iced tea. Restroom was clean, as was the restaurant. This is a chain known for their burgerS and cheesesteaks, but the shrimp and chicken options are tasty. Convenient location by Aldi. Large parking lot right out front.

If you grew up in ENC and remember dirt parking lot country stores then welcome back... great old…read morespot for a red hotdog on a steamed bun, Carolina style and a glass bottle ice cold Pepsi... keep it simple and perfect.

Ma's is where you go when you want a burger or hot dog done RIGHT. their all-the-way burger with…read morebacon? chef's kiss. it's a small spot, but the food and the people make it worth the trip. it's quick, it's tasty, and it feels like home. you can't go wrong here.

Food has been great 12 of 12 visits Service is good place…read moreseems clean Staff is friendly A go to I'm Kinston

I had a great experience. I ordered grilled chicken carbonara and it was delicious. I could taste…read moreevery ingredient in the dish and they were not stingy with them, plenty of everything. I have never tasted mushrooms like they had, so very good. I would like to compliment our server Jazmin, she was the best. She made sure the drinks were kept full, she was very friendly, attentive and very genuine, really appreciated her. Also, the salad looked great, realty wanted to try it, will get that next time! Please give it a try and I hope you will enjoy too!

My wife and I stopped by here today on the way to the beach. We usually never leave Highway 70 on…read morethe way down to Atlantic Beach from Apex, but I'm so glad we did this time. One of the best burgers I've ever had, and my wife agrees. We tried both of their burgers, the regular Smashburger and the grilled onion one. Both were absolutely delicious. The texture and freshness were both top-tier. We also shared a hotdog and fries. Both were delicious as well. Their chili & slaw, and their red hot dogs were top notch as well. The Staff was also friendly and service was prompt. I got to meet the owner. What a nice guy. If you live anywhere close to this place and you like burgers, do yourself a favor and check them out. We can't wait to go back. If I had one suggestion, it would just be to turn on some music or a TV outside in the picnic area. Other than that this place is awesome. I hope this place does well, because we want to visit again. We actually plan on stopping by again when we head back home in a few days. And I forgot to mention the prices. Beyond a deal. Especially in this day and age. Almost like getting a bill from cookout, meaning what a bargain. Give this place a try.

If ever in Kinston, NC, please do yourself a huge favor! Have a grilled onion burger at Home Team…read more old fashioned grill! Smashed burgers at their finest. A limited menu keeps their focus on what's important, good quality food! OUTSTANDING

Quick service and good to grab food Togo. Definitely get a box combo, the fried okra and hush…read morepuppies were great so would recommend. Plenty of seating inside or you have the drive through option.

I was visiting Kinston, NC for work and thought I'd try the local, regional flavor. So I visited a…read morelocal fast food chain, Cook Out, my first time ever at this chain. But I should have kept with the reliable Chick-fil-A's of the world. I had the grilled chkn sandwich--cheddar style. It was edible. The cheese, however, was liquid yellow cheese, not sliced cheddar. In fact, I didn't taste any cheddar at all. The chicken was a little tough. The bacon and grilled onions were the best part of the sandwich. My onion rings needed ketchup because they tasted like how restaurant kitchen dishwater smells, you know, that sort of musty, metallic/soapy smell. I had one by itself (yuk), then two with ketchup, then threw the last five rings away (btw: this was my double-order - 8 onion rings w/ heavy breading). As it turned out, 8 was 8 too many since they weren't very good. My vanilla milkshake was nothing more than soft serve "icy milk." There was no creamy consistency to it. It had that ice milk crystalline texture, even after it partially melted...like 60 minutes later. I know it's fast food, (and it was very fast), so my expectations were low to begin with. But I figured it would be better than this. On the upside, it was inexpensive, only $10.30. The service staff were nice enough and it was a very clean restaurant, hence the 2 star rating, but the food was definitely lacking. Just skip it, unless you need cheap food in a hurry and don't care what it tastes like. Or maybe, the other items are decent--I don't know? But I don't think I'll be giving this chain another chance.

Simply great food! I call ahead and grab and go! The double…read morecheeseburger is one of my favorites

Small town country cooking. The food was delicious and the people were so nice with great service!read more