Top 10 Places to Dine in Winston-Salem
Curated by Kory White · Fractional CRO, CRO SyndicateTop 10 Places to Dine in Winston-Salem (2027)
Direct Answer
The best dining in Winston-Salem in 2027 spans the downtown Arts District, the West End, and historic Old Salem. The Best Overall pick is The Katharine Brasserie & Bar, the elegant French-American room inside the Kimpton Cardinal Hotel where a dinner runs roughly $45–$80 per person.
The Best Value pick is Sweet Potatoes, the beloved downtown Southern kitchen where a hearty, soul-food-driven meal lands around $20–$35 per person. This list covers real, currently operating Winston-Salem restaurants across fine dining, Southern comfort, barbecue, and casual favorites, ranked on food quality, value, atmosphere, and consistency for 2027.
How We Ranked These
We weighed each restaurant on what diners actually care about — food quality, consistency, value, atmosphere, and service — cross-referenced against Tripadvisor, Yelp, OpenTable, and local press from Winston-Salem Journal and Visit Winston-Salem. Picks span price points so the list works for a casual lunch, a family dinner, or a special-occasion night out.
The weighting:
- Food quality and execution — 30%
- Consistency and service — 20%
- Value for the price — 20%
- Atmosphere and setting — 15%
- Menu range and dietary options — 15%
A famous name that has slipped on consistency drops; a smaller spot with great cooking and fair prices climbs.
1. The Katharine Brasserie & Bar 🏆 BEST OVERALL
Inside the Kimpton Cardinal Hotel in the restored R.J. Reynolds building downtown, The Katharine serves polished French-American brasserie fare — steak frites, roasted chicken, fresh oysters, and an excellent cocktail and wine program. The dining room is one of the most handsome in the city, and the bar is a destination in its own right.
Dinner runs about $45–$80 per person. It earns the top spot for the best combination of food, room, and service in Winston-Salem.
Best for: special occasions, business dinners, date night.
2. Sweet Potatoes 💎 BEST VALUE
A downtown institution since 2003 in the Arts District, Sweet Potatoes (Well Shut My Mouth!!) serves elevated Southern soul food — fried chicken, shrimp and grits, salmon cakes, and namesake sweet potatoes done several ways. The room is warm and lively and the portions are generous.
A full meal lands around $20–$35 per person, making it the best value on the list.
Best for: Southern comfort food, casual lunch, group dinners.
3. Spring House Restaurant, Kitchen & Bar
Set in a restored 1920s mansion in the West End, Spring House focuses on seasonal, farm-to-table Southern cooking with an emphasis on local sourcing. Multiple intimate dining rooms make it a favorite for celebrations. Mains run $28–$45.
Best for: farm-to-table dining, anniversaries, quieter rooms.
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4. Mozelle's Fresh Southern Bistro
A cozy West End bungalow turned bistro, Mozelle's is known for fresh, scratch-made Southern plates — fried green tomatoes, low-country shrimp and grits, and a strong weekend brunch. Expect $20–$38 per person.
Best for: brunch, lunch, relaxed Southern fare.
5. Mission Pizza Napoletana
A nationally recognized Neapolitan pizzeria, Mission Pizza turns out blistered, wood-fired pies from a 900-degree oven, plus excellent antipasti and a thoughtful natural-wine list. It has earned national press for some of the best pizza in the Southeast. Pies run $16–$24.
Best for: wood-fired pizza, casual dinner, wine lovers.
6. Quanto Basta Italian Eatery
In the heart of the downtown Arts District, Quanto Basta ("QB") pairs handmade pasta and Italian classics with one of the city's best craft-cocktail bars. Lively and date-friendly. Plan on $25–$45 per person.
Best for: handmade pasta, cocktails, date night.
7. Little Richard's BBQ
For Lexington-style pork barbecue — chopped, hickory-smoked, and served with red slaw and hush puppies — Little Richard's is a Winston-Salem-area staple. Classic, no-frills, and affordable at $12–$22 per person.
Best for: North Carolina barbecue, casual family meals.
8. Camino Bakery
A downtown coffeehouse and bakery beloved for fresh breads, pastries, breakfast plates, and excellent coffee. A perfect casual breakfast or lunch stop at $8–$16 per person.
Best for: breakfast, coffee, pastries, working lunch.
9. Willow's Bistro
Tucked just south of downtown, Willow's offers an approachable seasonal menu of small plates and entrees with a strong wine and craft-beer list in a relaxed neighborhood setting. Expect $22–$40 per person.
Best for: small plates, neighborhood dinner, wine pairing.
10. Cugino Forno Pizzeria
A casual, family-run Neapolitan spot in the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter, Cugino Forno serves authentic wood-fired pizzas in a fun communal-table setting. Affordable and consistent at $14–$22 per person.
Best for: casual pizza, families, quick dinner.
FAQ
What is the best restaurant in Winston-Salem for a special occasion? The Katharine Brasserie & Bar inside the Kimpton Cardinal Hotel is the top pick for fine dining, with polished French-American fare and an excellent bar.
Where do locals eat in Winston-Salem on a budget? Sweet Potatoes for Southern soul food, Little Richard's for barbecue, and Camino Bakery for breakfast and lunch all deliver excellent value.
What food is Winston-Salem known for? Lexington-style (Piedmont) pork barbecue with red slaw, Southern comfort food, and a growing wood-fired pizza scene led by Mission Pizza Napoletana.
Do I need reservations to dine in downtown Winston-Salem? For The Katharine, Spring House, and Quanto Basta on weekends, yes — book ahead via OpenTable. Casual spots like Camino Bakery and Little Richard's are walk-in friendly.
Which neighborhoods have the best dining in Winston-Salem? The downtown Arts District (Sweet Potatoes, Quanto Basta), the West End (Spring House, Mozelle's), and the Innovation Quarter (Cugino Forno) hold the densest clusters of good restaurants.
Sources
- Visit Winston-Salem — dining guide
- The Katharine Brasserie & Bar — official site
- Sweet Potatoes — official site
- Mission Pizza Napoletana — official site
- Tripadvisor — Winston-Salem restaurants
- Winston-Salem Journal — dining coverage
*best restaurants in Winston-Salem review — where to eat in Winston-Salem, top dining, ratings, and a review of the best places to eat in Winston-Salem 2027.*