04/24/09

Best food in Chapel Hill

by midwesterneater

Carolina Crossroads has by far the best food in town! My fiance and I have eaten there 3 times now in the past 6 months. Each time, the entire menu has changed. We have never left upset with a meal, and have always been disappointed that our last favorite is no longer there. However, we quickly discover a new favorite.

We highly recommend this restaurant. Next time we eat there, I will make sure to give everyone a rundown of our meal and what made it so nice. Our experience has been that the flavors are always well balanced and the food cooked perfectly.

The waitstaff is relatively young for such a nice restaurant. As a result, they do not always know what is going on in a dish. In addition, they regularly mispronounce basic fine dining words or leave parts off. For example, amusee bouche became amuzee. I know this is nitpicky and kind of hoity toity, but for the price they charge service should be near perfect and not just good enough.

The sommelier is excellent. He has always made good selections that match our meals.

• Pros: Food, every single course
• Cons: Waitstaff too young

Up-to-date fare at a Chapel Hill culinary landmark, the Carolina Inn.

by Contributor

In Short
Step from the enormous porch into the graciously appointed lobby and find yourself surrounded by "homey" sophistication: buttery yellow walls, floral chintzes, massive fresh flower arrangements. It's a decorating theme that embodies the restaurant, at once comfy and upscale. Although the portions here are "European petite," the food is quite excellent thanks to the Inn's talented chef, Brian Stapleton. The fine-dining experience begins with an amuse-bouche and ends with chocolate truffles.

05/21/06

Great Mother's Day Brunch!

by jes71

I spent my first Mother's Day at the Carolina Crossroad's brunch and had the best experience there! First of all, the restaurant is gorgeous. The perfect place for an elegant meal or a really cute bridal luncheon. The buffet was delicious! Well worth the money we spent on it. The buffet had everything you could want on it except for maybe some boiled shrimp. The desserts were really good. I can't wait to have tea there. The service could have been a little bit more attentive, though. I had to ask for our plates to be cleared after they walked past our table a few times. The servers seemed to be more concerned with taking care of the larger tables. All-in-all, it was a great way to spend my first Mother's Day.

• Pros: beautiful restaurant, great food, elegant atmosphere
• Cons: crowded

02/15/06

Great Lunch Spot

by ncliving17

Four Star Service and Food at very affordable price. For less then what you would pay at an Applebee's or Chili's you can enjoy a freshly prepared, quick lunch in a very relaxing enviroment for less then $10 dollars a person. The menu is great but if you are in a hurry they offer a lunch buffet during the week that is fast and enjoyable.

• Pros: service, great food, cost

09/13/02

Nouvelle South Not New South

by one_spod

Carolina Crossroads is a conservative restaurant in a liberal university town. Housed neatly in the Carolina Inn at the heart of Chapel Hill, Crossroads provides an elegant setting reminiscent of the Old South. While the the scene says "southern supper" the food is less sincere and attempts to put on airs in both preparation and presentation. Unfortunately, Crossroads shortcomings stem primarily from trying too hard to be too formal. More creative offerings can be found at more comfortable settings-- see Magnolia Grill or Nana's. However, on occassion you may want the attention of a "nouvelle" southern supper rather than a true "new" south experience.

• Pros: Ambiance, Location, Parking in CH
• Cons: Waitstaff Education, Too Formal, Overpriced

06/21/02

satisfiable dining in Chapel Hill

by punchur

The portions were a little small, but the quality of the food was good. There was good mixture of traditional foods as wells as more adventurous faire. The waitstaff tried a little too hard to impress, but relaxed as time wore on.

• Pros: valet parking, accessibility to chef
• Cons: uptight