Cool downtown spot, but I didn't love my food. I came in for dinner and liked the New Orleans feel of this downtown Winston spot. We were seated promptly and got our drinks quickly. The dish I chose was the BBQ Shrimp and Grits. The grits were creamy and the dish tasted nice, however the "jumbo shrimp" description on the menu (reinforced by the server) were a misnomer. The shrimp were the size of cocktail shrimp, if not smaller. I was also expecting a larger serving for the $20 price tag. The plate/bowl they were served in was shallow, so the serving was disappointingly small in spite of covering the plate. The menu has a lot of depth and next time I'll try out something else. This spot just didn't do it for me with that particular dish though. read more

Sweet Potatoes - Bbq Shrimp And Grits - Southern Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

I recently dined at sweet potatoes. I had extremely high expectations. It was not busy but it took a while to get waited on. I wanted to order one of their fried chicken combos but was told they were out of chicken for the night. I decided to go with their mombo chicken sandwich with fries. The sandwich and fries were a la carte so that kinda sucked. This was a hand breaded chicken sandwich. I believe it was double battered. The chicken was over cooked in order to get the coating crispy. Overall a basic chicken sandwich. The decor was very nice and I liked the dim lighting as it made the space feel more intimate. I would give them another try in the future in hopes of getting fried chicken. read more

Sweet Potatoes - Mambo chicken - Southern Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Updating my review from 2014. Sweet Potatoes is a Winston-Salem icon. It's on most people's top 5 list of restaurants for Winston-Salem. My take is some of the dishes are overrated. The Catfish NOLA is $22 and is just okay. The fried green tomato and okra bucket (starter) is again, just okay. The bucket is $13 and is 95% okra. It's a lot of food for a starter but throw in some more fried green tomatoes. I think it depends on what you order. My wife got the Salmon Florentine and loved it. The restaurant itself is nice. Full bar with a good cocktail and draft beer selection. My last advice is to make a reservation if you plan on dining here. read more

Sweet Potatoes has great food, a relaxed atmosphere and good service. They have both indoor and covered outdoor seating. This was our first visit to Sweet Potatoes. The day we went was nice, so we sat outdoors, and they were playing jazzy music over the speakers. Our server was friendly and attentive. We ordered the sweet potato biscuits with molasses and honey butter (8/10), basket of fried okra (10/10) and fried green tomatoes (7/10), and the fried chicken sandwich (9/10). All of the food was good - really good. We will definitely be back. This restaurant is a 9/10 for me. read more

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This place was starting to get crowded by the time we came around 5pm, so we lucked out in getting there early. We ordered the fried green tomatoes and okra basket, the fried pork rinds basket, and the fried chicken snack box, which was more than plenty for two people. Our server was friendly and attentive. And our food came out piping hot! The fried green tomatoes and okra basket was probably our favorite. The pimento cheese paired well, but I recommend dipping the okra and tomatoes in Mambo sauce! The amount of pork rinds we got was overwhelming so we took a good amount home. Fried chicken was pretty good but not mind blowing, and the biscuit was kind of dry. We enjoyed our dining experience here, and I can finally check Sweet Potatoes off my bucket list. 4.5 out of 5 stars read more

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Kudos to the good service and food here. Sweet Potatoes is a lovely restaurant I stumbled upon with friendly service, good food and an interesting backstory and all in one nice, well kept and friendly environment. Came for lunch and ordered the fried wings, sweet potato cornbread & green tomatoes with fried okra and the sweet potato cornbread (hey, at least I ordered a veggie). The wings were fried to perfection. I feel they lacked a lil seasoning but still were good. The tomatoes and okra were devoured and the cornbread, though heavy, was really good. My server Drew was friendly, gave me tips and was attentive. This was a great EXPERIENCE and when that happens, you're sure to return. read more

It's a real family owned, original restaurant, not a corporate chain, and I do feed the genuine welcome, like I'm at mom's. I enjoyed my cajun chicken sandwich with greens on it, it just melted in my mouth, very delicious. We really enjoyed a very polite server. She was on time, friendly and had good things to say. She made us out of towners feel welcome. We felt like we got a real taste of a local classic! read more

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Absolutely amazing! Our server Erika (unsure on spelling) was extremely friendly and super attentive. Best service we've had anywhere in a long time, no competition. For an app we got the mac and cheese, delicious if you like blue cheese (wasn't overpowering). I got the mambo chicken (fried chicken sandwich with a hot sauce) that was cooked perfectly. Moist on the inside and crunchy out. My friend got a blackened chicken salad which was delicious and HUGE! Next time we're in the neighborhood we know where to eat. read more

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This is a cute place with very thick southern taste. I felt like I was in an old southern movie when dining there. I ordered a DC burger, it was a sweet size and I love their pickled okra on the side. The bbq shrimp and grits is only available for dinner and weekdays, which is a pity. The waitresses and the manager (maybe, I'm not sure) both were nice and try to answer our questions on the food. For parking, the parking lot is free for sweet potatoes customers next to the restaurant. The only thing is that the floor and table top were kinda sticky. read more

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Five minute walk from the Embassy. And the music alone was worth three times the walk. Jazz was spot on and loved the high brass. The food, was OUTSTANDING and without any disparaging element. Wife had the Red Rice and I had the Catfish. We will take the 35mile detour out of our way to come back. Ms V the bartender is awesome. read more

Sweet Potatoes - Southern Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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sweet Potatoes has the coolest vibe, best food and stellar service! Their menu is extensive and exotic. From the shrimp and grits to the mambo chicken to the grilled pork chops and the grilled salmon salad... I can't mention everything they have on their delicious menu. Of course, just like the name they have baked sweet potatoes, sweet potato fries, and the best sweet potato cornbread you'll ever taste! They also have delicious desserts. The sweet potato pie is to die for! It's always served warm with a dollop of whipped cream. They always have cool, jazzy music playing, and beautiful artwork on the walls. Sweet Potatoes also has a full bar with any cocktail or alcoholic beverage you desire. The staff is courteous, kind and knowledgeable. read more

The food was delicious!!! The service at the bar was perfect... she even recommended her specialty and it was delightful. The ambiance was also very cool. Try everything we had and you will not be disappointed!!! read more

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My husband and I visited here and we liked it but didn't love it. The food was good but nothing overwhelming memorable. We ordered the fried chicken which was good. The cornbread skillet was very dry for our tastes. My husband said the fried okra was good! The vibe was cool and the service was good! Probably not a repeat restaurant for us but glad we tried it out! read more

I am ashamed that I have not reviewed Sweet Potatoes after innumerable visits over the last 18 years, from my job interview in 2004 through two weeks ago. My most recent visit, my guest ordered the pork rinds. The mound that was delivered looked comical and they didn't sacrifice quality for quantity. I wanted to eat far more than I did because I also had to have the classic fried green tomatoes and okra which never disappoint. I haven't had any bad meals but I do tend to gravitate to 3 menu items: Savannah Red Rice (sausage and shrimp!), Spaghetti with a Drawl (sausage, ham, chicken!), and Smothered Yard Bird (ham, gravy, brie!). Don't forget to save room for dessert. The specialty cocktails are generally too sweet for my taste but fortunately they have a full bar so just order what you like. read more

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I recently had dinner with a friend here for the first time. The service was good and our server was very friendly. We started dinner with a pan of the sweet potato corn bread. It was a nice change compared to basic cornbread and the sweet potato added a nice sweetness. I ordered the BBQ Shrimp and Grits and it was so good! The shrimp were cooked perfectly and I really liked the bbq flavor. It complimented the grits perfectly. My friend enjoyed her chicken sandwich as well! Overall it was a great dinner and I can't wait to go back and get the Shrimp and Grits again! read more

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Best BRUNCH place in Winston! Be sure to arrive early enough to sit outside! Stay long enough to enjoy a drink!!!! read more

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Our favorite restaurant in Winston Salem! All of the food is fresh, hot, and delicious. I love the Spaghetti with a Drawl. The flavor is delicious and the portions are HUGE! My husband gets the fried chicken and it's the best he's ever had. Their soup rotates regularly. It is always piping hot and delicious. The only thing better than the food is the service! read more

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We had dinner at Sweet Potatoes based on the hype of a chef who was a semi-finalist in the James Beard awards. I could not finish my drink, a dirty martini. The meal was totally unremarkable. My shrimp and grits was mediocre. My wife can not remember what she had. read more

If you want some of the best southern cooking in North Carolina, come here! One of the better southern food experiences I've had. I met someone who said they come for just the fried Okra and tomatoes and now I know why. Those were fantastic. The service was great and very helpful. The fried chicken mixed in the "spaghetti with a drawl" dish was incredible. One person had the fried catfish and that was really great. Nothing to complain about at this incredible restaurant other than they don't take reservations. We showed up at 4:45pm on Saturday and we're the first people in line when they opened up. I think if you get here early you won't have to wait unless you have a big party. read more

Sweet Potatoes - Freshly Fried Pork Rind Basket - Southern Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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We hadn't been able to come here on vacation and we were happy that when we made WS our home we could come back. The place fills up quick so be patient it is worth any wait. My wife and I sat at the bar but even then had great service and delicious food. She got the fried green tomato and bacon sandwich and I got the Mambo Chicken sandwich. It was a fried chicken breast on a brioche bun with a spicy tomato sauce. We also split an order of the best fried okra I've ever had in my life. A definite five star and we will come back to try something else from their excellent list of items on the menu. read more

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This is hands down one of my favorite brunch spots in all of Winston-Salem! I know I am not alone in thinking this because it is a lucky day when you can get a table without a wait at Sweet Potatoes on a weekend morning. I have never ordered something from the menu that I didn't love. My favorite food is the chicken and waffles and the benedict. AMAZING! I am looking at the online menu and I don't see these options, but within the last year, I've enjoyed these menu items. The alcoholic brunch beverages are wonderful as well. The service has always been great and attentive. Your water or coffee will never run dry. My mouth is watering just thinking about going to Sweet Potatoes. I will have to make another trip again soon. read more

The food was great! Not too large proportions, everything was pretty good. The cornbread was the best, a little sweet with cinnamon. The fried chicken was also delicious. We went on a busy Friday night and the experience wasn't the best. It seemed like they were short staffed and everything from getting seen by our server to the first time to getting our drinks took a little longer than desirable. We were told the usual bartender was out which might be why my sangria tasted off. Definitely worth a try, you'll enjoy it! But probably not a place I would care to go again. read more

Sweet Potatoes - Fried Chicken and Waffles - Southern Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Visited this place by recommendation. While I only had a club sandwich, my group also had the chicken n' waffles (fries), the ribs and the pork rinds. Everyone loved the food. I also had sweet potato waffle fries and there were delicious. I took one star away due to the person (who was the bartender) knocking over our drink when she attempted to placed too many items on the table. She didnt apologize at all. She did sttempt to clean up the mess. I also believe read more

We visited Sweet Potatoes in Winston-Salem and found a quaint, comfortable restaurant that had history and tradition built into our experience. The food was delicious, a nicely combined blend of traditional Southern fare with some Cajun twists. Our servers were friendly, knowledgeable and efficient. We had a great time as the atmosphere in the restaurant is very upbeat and fun! read more

Haven't visited this establishment in a long time & I was really looking forward to it. The service was friendly & attentive however, the price didn't match the portions & the food didn't match the description. For an appetizer we ordered the collard green dip. There was more cheese than anything else and instead of crostini, we were given about 10 Ritz crackers. Definitely not as described. I had the shrimp and grits which was served on a plate instead of a bowl. This was definitely more of an appetizer and this is coming from a person who rarely finishes her meal because she's full. This time, I left hungry. Gotta say I wasn't impressed. read more

I have been hearing about this restaurant in the news thanks to the James Beard award, and just hadn't had a chance to try it. I got to go the other night with a friend of mine and it was pretty packed so we were able to go across the street to Finnegan's Wake and have a beer at the bar while we waited. In a reasonable amount of time our table is ready and we got to experience some amazing food. I had the fried chicken with pinto beans and we shared a sweet potato cornbread. I'm not normally a fan of sweet potatoes but the cornbread was really, really good. The service was incredible and everybody was really nice there. I definitely would recommend this place to anybody who asked it. read more

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Great food service always with a smile and ambiance will be greatly missed I have been 5 time will be greatly missed love you all and best wishes to the owners and staff read more

I finally made it here after wanting to try it out for a while. The food was delicious and it came out promptly. The service was great and the atmosphere was nice. I will definitely visit whenever I'm in the area. read more

This little spot was delicious. We stopped by for dinner on a Wednesday night. The place wasn't sup we busy and we were easily able to get a table. Everyone enjoyed their food. The service was friendly and prompt. I had the pork rinds to start. They were super crispy and perfectly cooked. The mambo sauce was sweet and slightly spicy. They do have hot sauce if you ask. For the entree I went with the Yard Bird. It was savory and good! The grill flavor on the chicken was perfect. A few others at the table did get the corn bread and biscuits and they were a bit dry but the flavor was really good. read more

Sweet Potatoes - Freshly Fried Pork Rind Basket - Southern Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Sweet potatoes had sat at the top of my must try list for over 2.5 years and somehow we just never managed to get there. Finally, last weekend for my husbands birthday we spent the whole day wandering the downtown and finally got to try it. 2.5 years of hype is a lot to live up to but it lived it and still remains high on my list of places to go AGAIN! Everything we had was flat out perfectly done. Well seasoned, well cooked, deep in flavor and nuance- the condiments, oh man, the condiments- flawless. You MUST try the sweet potato aioli- it was unique and just so special. I love the use of the humble sweet potato in so many different ways that both let it shine and uses the properties of the sweet potato to elevate common dishes. This place should be on top of everyone's Winston list. It was a perfect start to a perfect day for us! The fried green tomatoes with that aioli and their ranch (best in the area 100%) were perfect. The ham and cheese macaroni soufflé was deep and rich with dill used, an unusual choice that really shone. The cornbread was amazing and finally miss oras fried chicken was perfection of a simple classic dish. read more

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I cannot say enough about how wonderful the food is here. Such a cool laid back jazz feel, the old Motown songs playing were great. The service was with a smile. read more

Sweet Potatoes - Freshly Fried Pork Rind Basket came out sizzling. - Southern Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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If you're looking for some quality southern comfort food with a slightly fancy twist check this place out! This was my second time coming and each time I've had delicious food, friendly servers, and an overall great time! This time I ordered the pork rinds to start and they came with a BBQ sauce that was on the spicier side. They were fried perfectly with a delicious crunch. For my main course I had the space with a drawl that was a delicious combo of creole spaghetti with perfectly fried chicken tender that elevated the dish to another level! It was a hefty portion for what I paid and I know for sure I will be ordering this again when I return. This was paired with the sweet potato cornbread that blew my mind. It was slightly more dry on the outside than I would have liked but the center was oh so delicious and moist with the generous butter serving! Finally the restaurant itself is wonderfully situated on trade street for a nice time out before the town. It's not overall fancy by any means but perfect for a casual date or a nice dinner before hitting the town read more

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Everything we ordered here was amazing!!!!! I enjoyed our whole dining experience, from the time we walked in till the time we left. My mom and I were visiting my uncle in Durham and we traveled to Winston-Salem to do some sightseeing. My uncle highly recommended that we go to dinner at this restaurant. He had been twice before and was very excited for my mom to try the food. She's a personal chef in CA and has a passion for making soul food type dishes. We ordered drinks and multiple dishes so we could all try different things. When I say Everything was GOOD, I mean EVERYTHING was DELICIOUS. I literally had no complaints....and surprisingly neither did my mom. We also had dessert...because of what's dinner without dessert?! She's supercritical when we go out to try new restaurants. But she loved everything too. My uncle started telling us about the chef/owner of the restaurant and her story of how she came about opening a restaurant (a dream of my mom's). To our pleasant surprise, the owner/chef was there that night and was kind enough to come out and meet my mom and thank us for coming. She spoke to my mother about her own personal story of opening and running such a successful (and tasty) restaurant in Winston-Salem. It was awesome, definitely a blessing to have her share her wisdom. She was even kind enough to autograph a cookbook for my mother and take a photo with her. My mother with more than a full belly that night. She was in her heart and inspired by the genuine and kind words of the chef. A dining experience none of us will forget. Thank you!!! read more

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Food... the first time we ate at the restaurant our waitress gave us a sample of the grits and said "they're life changing.". She was right!! Nothing compares! The ambiance is relaxed however, can up fine dining at the same time! You can't go wrong!' Remember the GRITS!!! read more

This place is in my top 5 places to eat downtown Winston Salem NC. The atmosphere is always a vibe. The staff is always great and knowledgeable of their menu. The location is wonderful and last but not least I've tried several dishes off the menu throughout the years and I've never been disappointed!! read more

Sweet Potatoes - Penne noodles collard green pesto sauce with shrimp, sausage and crawfish with a side of sweet potatoe cornbread. special for the night. - Southern Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

It was a very busy day for them. When they told the couple in front of me it was a 2 hour wait, I knew I was going to wait. I ended up sitting at the bar. My entree was the Savannah Red Rice. I was so good. The shrimp was well seasoned and not too salty. The rice was the perfect temperature and texture. I enjoyed a glass of Pinot Noir which very inexpensive. They bragged on the fried okra, collard greens, so I'll try them with the chicken next time read more

Fantastic food with fantastic service. I had the fried chicken lunch box, and it did not disappoint. The baked sweet potato was the perfect side. Lastly, the sweet potato pie is out of this world. Drinks were always replaced as soon as they neared the bottom, and the staff was friendly and attentive. I look forward to trying more dishes in the future. read more

Hands down one of my favorite places to visit for brunch! The service was absolutely amazing, the food even better! And I was there for a local event "Brown Skin Brunching" , we interviewed with the local newspaper here and we were provided space that felt comfortable. I really enjoyed my entire time . Check them out for your next brunch ! read more

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Absolutely delicious. Best corn bread ever at a restaurant. Great servers. I have only been once, but I will be back. It did take a while to get a table, and getting served was also slow, but still very worth it. read more

Goodness gracious! This place...if you could only go to one place in Winston Salem, I would say this is the place to plan on trying! Even thinking back on the experience now warms my heart...and makes me feel very hungry to have those flavors and aromas all over again! First of all, it is a small place, smaller still when they were having to limit capacity, so try to plan a strategic time to come, especially since they have limited operating hours. To avoid any kind of wait, my wife and I sat at the bar to eat, and the gentleman taking care of us did exactly that: he clearly cared for us! This is a place that serves up flavor, comfort, and most of all, love. It's unfortunately a rare experience these days that you go to a restaurant to eat and the staff actually takes the time to truly check on you, discuss flavor profiles with you, and make sure you're genuinely enjoying yourself. This is a family atmosphere that makes you feel invited. Notice I haven't even mentioned the food yet! The nicest people in the world wouldn't get five stars for their restaurant if the food sucked, but naturally the food here is a cultural culinary experience! To say there isn't a bad bite to be had doesn't sum it up. This is the kind of place where you take a bite and you are transformed. You are encouraged to take your time, sniff, sip, savor, and experience. This goes beyond the concept of a southern soul food restaurant. The food here takes you into that family atmosphere and makes you feel it. It's suffice to say that everything was cooked perfectly. Everything came out hot and with an attention to detail that goes above and beyond. Not a single ingredient is wasted. Everything has a purpose in these dishes. The dill in the mac and cheese, for example. A small touch but yet something that turns an already excellent dish into the standard bearer, in my book, for how mac and cheese should be made! The batter on the fried chicken, beyond perfection. Perfect balance of flavorful and soft but not mushy, crispy but not burnt texture. With the sauce on the side that's the perfect ratio of sweet to spicy. You can feel the familial love and cultural history in every bite. Literally every bite. I haven't even mentioned the transformative nature of how they institute sweet potatoes into their dishes! Simply fascinating! I hope that you are able to come here and experience the local culture, flavor, and family of Sweet Potatoes in the same way. We've only been once so far, but given their accolades, I can't imagine my next experience would be anything other than wonderful! read more

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