Sage & Salt

"This place takes the win for me! What an incredible experience, really, the whole thing. Sage and Salt Bistro is tucked away in a cute little row of places in Winston, right on the other side of 421, the opposite of downtown. My friends had suggested that we go to this place and it had definitely caught my eye on several social media platforms and ads. Turns out, one of our friends parent's owned the place and we were lucky to snag a table for 8 on a Friday night. Our server was so friendly and the management who were on staff checked in on us to make sure things were going smoothly and the cuisine was up to par. One of my favorite things about this place was the open kitchen concept. To be able to see the chefs at work and perfecting their craft with the finest lines of service, I was delighted with each and every item served. The cocktails were beyond satisfying. The seasonal selection of cocktails served was perfectly aligned with the time of year and we enjoyed the Blondie, Legal Drinking Sage, as well as some select bourbons and tequila. As we sat down, the table was already set with fresh drinking water, which was very helpful. The variety on the drink menu was especially exciting because of the curation of ingredients in each drink, each one complimenting the next perfectly. The next time we go we are going to explore the extensive wine list that they provide as well. Aaaand the main attraction, the FOOD. I have to say, every single one of us left completely satisfied and blown away. From the minute that I finished my food, I have been thinking about when I can come back and try some other things and get another taste of that Beef Tartare. Beef Tartare is one of my favorite things when prepared correctly, and this without a doubt was. High grade meat was mixed with capers, herbs, cornichons, dijon and a beautiful amber yolk laid abed the top. The addition of shallot to the meat mixture gave a perfect balance and snap to the taste when placed on a crispy baguette piece. I could have eaten the whole thing myself. The other appetizers that we started with were the Pork Spare Ribs, which were served in a plentiful quantity, perfectly glazed and paired with a cauliflower chow chow. This was especially pleasing to the palate to balance out the salt and sweetness of the dish. I don't think any of us left an ounce of meat on those bones! The serving of spare ribs was adequate for us all. Bread service of course was delicious with fresh warm bread, along with a variety of spreads like sweet butter, chili oil and an olive tapenade. Next up was the Yellowfin Tuna Tower and my goodness, taking a bite of that and experiencing the layers of flavor within each ounce with impeccable. The tower consisted on avocado, compressed cucumber (which was an impressive way to balance this), daikon radish, puffed rice and sesame. The tuna was extremely fresh! One other thing to point out was that the meatballs served with the Pasta al Pomodoro were some of the best I've had down here being a NY native, due to the fact that the meatballs were made of a mixture of meat types, and not just beef (big kudos to the chef there). Having the other dishes like the Ricotta Nudi, Yellowfin Tuna, Caesar salad and the Crab and Prawn Chowder, truly, nothing disappointed. One big shoutout to their chef Patrick Rafferty, that man is ridiculously talented. I went to a tequila pairing at STEM beverage and he served things like caviar and other exquisite items with blends of tequila. He has worked with famous chef Thomas Keller, so being able to try his cuisine is truly an honor! I 10000000% recommend this place to anyone looking to try some quality food and have an intimate dining experience. Looking forward to dining in again soon :)"

"It’s clear that the new owner was a previous Willow employee. He knew the challenges the location had and addressed them. Namely, the inside tables made conversation impossible, and he’s invested in some fantastic sound dampening. I have trouble hearing with just a little background noise, and I had no problem hearing every word from our group. I don’t have to sit outside exclusively anymore! That being said, the menu is new, interesting, and varied. I had the pomodoro pasta and meatballs and it was terrific. The pasta was clearly made in-house, and the meatballs were juicy and delicious! The service was okay, but I’m sure that will improve with time. I’m excited to have the new restaurant in the neighborhood!"

"BY FAR the best restaurant in Downtown Winston-Salem, nothing else even slightly compares. The food is delicious, the wait staff is attentive and very professional, kitchen staff is remarkable, and the owners are incredibly personable and caring, and will go out of their way to make sure you have the best dining experience possible! Indoor and outdoor seating, fine selection of wines as well as a full bar and overall just a gorgeous restaurant. The atmosphere and environment feels spiritually cleansing and you’ll leave feeling very satisfied!"

"The food & experience and Sage & Salt Bistro was so good! The decor and atmosphere was perfect, even the music was great! I had the filet and my husband had the red snapper. Both were cooked to perfection and so tender. The beet salad was delicious and I highly recommend the crab dip as well. They have a good wine selection and the chocolate cake was amazing! The service from the from the front to the back was great. Our waitress was one step ahead of us the whole night. The owner/manager checked on us to make sure our experience was what we expected. It definitely was! Our new favorite place and we will be back again soon and often! Highly recommend!"

"What a wonderful place to dine. We had the crab & artichoke dip for starters it was delicious. The beet salad was amazing as well as the fillet which was cooked to perfection, it was accompanied with mashed potatoes and asparagus also delicious. Our server was friendly and very professional. My husband thoroughly enjoyed his ribeye and he is very picky about how his steaks are cooked. I think we have discovered a new favorite dining spot! Oh and I almost forgot the dessert !! The chocolate cake was to die for!"