We watched the show over the years, and this was on our list to visit. We've dined at Michelan Star restaurants and enjoyed fine dining with James Beard award winning chefs. We've spent around $300-$400 as a couple for several gourmet multi course meals, wine, and gratuity. On checking the website to make reservations, we discovered their business model changed. No more fine dining. Whatever inspires Vivian at the moment. $300 per person, not including drinks, but it does include a forced gratuity. I'm not spending $600 up front plus more at dinner for drinks with an unspecified non fine dining dinner menu, no refund policy and a forced gratuity. Maybe if you had multiple Michelan Stars and an exotic location. We enjoyed the best dinner in Bora Bora for much less.
O1171SItoms
We visited Chef and Farmer last summer and found it to be an incredible experience. The ambience is elegant but relaxed. The food is magic - masterfully prepared and served. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and ready to make you feel welcomed and happy to be there. Unfortunately, it looks like they will be closed for an extended time while they revamp and redesign, according to their website. They are hoping to re-open in late 2023. I really hope they do!
drjwisp
From the moment you walk in, the staff is totally on point with a smile, greeting, and welcoming you to an exquisite dining experience. The wait staff was courteous and knowledgable about every dish, making every moment an enjoyable evening. We drove south from there straight to Hardy and Hot, Vivian's biscuit shop in Charleston, and again enjoyed wonderful Southern Fare for breakfast the next morning. Hope to dine at Lenoir, the new restaurant on a return to Charleston later this year.
AppyWay
I visited the Chef and the Farmer with a group and it was certainly a pleasant experience. They were most accommodating to us and were very helpful with the pre-order arrangements. The food was delicious.
mcolonel
We drove in from Durham to eat here and were so impressed. We ordered the flash fried collards, pimento cheese flatbread, shrimp and grits, pork chop, and k-town burger. The all-stars were the collards, flatbread, and burger. Let me just say it one more time…the burger. Incredible. I would drive to Kinston again to get it. Juicy, so flavorful, well-balanced with seasonings and toppings. The collards were crispy and light and the preparation really emphasized the main ingredient, which was lovely. The flatbread was awesome with the sausage! I never would have thought to put that with pimento cheese, but it really worked. The shrimp and grits sauce was maybe a bit watery, but the grits were great; I didn’t even need the shrimp with grits that good. The pork chop was not my favorite, a little dry and tough, but I love that it’s local and would give it another chance. We were so pleased with our visit and can’t wait to come again when you open in the fall.
CLITTLERIVER
Eight of us went last night for a girls night, we’ve been planning it for about a month. Everything was amazing, the atmosphere, the food, the cocktails, the desserts, and our server Anthony. We all tried something different, and everything was wonderful. We are already planning our next trip back. If you’ve been considering going I highly recommend. And there is plenty of parking.
TravelingPatrickNYC
I started out with the wood-fired oysters with brown butter and bacon, I was leary, but c’mon - remember who’s running the kitchen …. I stop in every time I’m in the area, and have consistently excellent meals. Not just good, excellent.
Eagleg1039
$$ It's very expensive for the area, $9.00 for a basket of bread is a little crazy, but the meal was good, and we can say we been here, but would I return, probably not. I must say, Susan was fantastic.
diamondgirlMichigan
Chef and the Farmer was as good as ever. We haven’t been here in a few years but we enjoyed the pretty upstairs dining room. Our server was friendly and capable, and our food was delicious. We had the crispy collards, the flat bread, the salad, the amazing pork chop with sweet potato purée, and the chocolate torte. Couldn’t eat another bite!
davidwladue
We had high expectations going in as we have been to this restaurant before however it has been a few years. We were looking forward to the experience with friends and great food. This restaurant used to be known for great food. Not any more. We were very disappointed. Most likely we won't be back. For sure we won't recommend this restaurant any more. Yes, we used to recommend it as our past experiences were very good. Very disappointed this time. Perhaps it is too hard to keep a good thing going in the restaurant business.
Husband had researched the area trying to find a restaurant, before the wife had found a local place. Kinsten does not have any national chain restaurants. So we found ourselves at Chef and the farmer. We each had a burger. Sides are ala cart. However , the three sides that we saw were large enough to be shared. We had flash fried collard greens, refried peas, and the good ole standby FF. . Everything was delicious. Husband had Ole Yellar with bourbon. Wife had lemon gimlet. It was the perfect balance of sweet and lemon. If you go in early for dinner, you may be able to actually get a seat without having reservations. Reservations are encouraged and at certain times of the year they may even be necessary.
MatthewL217
We have come multiple times a year before the pandemic. We were shocked to find the downstairs dining room closed. What a big mistake. The new dining room is loud and hinders good service even though our actual server was busting. Food was still great but likely not worth drive from Greenville if changes don't occur.
Ridley89
Not sure what happened this evening. We were so excited to visit this restaurant after enjoying Vivian’s show on PBS a few years ago. The service was disappointing as our server/hostess clearly treated us differently than other guests. Our order was incomplete, as the wrong appetizers were delivered and our side dish was never delivered.
659chuckh
Overall, we had a wonderful dining experience at the Chef and Farmer and look forward to returning. One notch below an outstanding night -- due to food preparation inconsistencies. On the positive side: a warm, simple and comfortable ambiance thought the restaurant. Even though it was a Thursday night, the upstairs dining area was almost full but was very nice and never felt overcrowded or too tight. Our server, Jessie, was excellent. Very friendly, professional, knowledgeable with just the right amount of attention and private time. The bottle of red wine she recommended was spot on and an excellent value. The team was also very accomodating with flexibility in finding us a table for two by a window. On to the food. The flash-fried Collards were fantastic--fresh, crispy with just the right amount of salt. Here is where things fell one notch short. I had the fried catfish and the two battered fillets portions were large and generous and delicious around the edges. The problem was the center portion was pink and in some spots not fully cooked. Either an uneven defrosting of the fish fillet or short on cooking time for the center. My wife had the pork chop -- again a very large, beautiful bone-in cut. The challenge here was being a bit overcooked. My take is that it was baked to 160 or 165 rather than 145 or so. But we did not specify a doneness preference so we share in that one. We finished our meals with coffee and it was delicious. So, overall a wonderful experience, well worth the 1.5-hour drive from Raleigh. We highly recommend and will return! For a bonus, arrive in Kinston an hour or two ahead of your reservation, have a beer at the nearby Mother Earth Brewery and check out the eclectic shops along S Heritage -- a very easy one to two-block walk from Chef and the Farmer.
NChoagie
We brought family for a Christmas outing. The old dining room and bar is closed. We were seated downstairs in the old sales area. It has not atmosphere at all. The decor consisted of old, beat up enamel ware hung on the wall. Every time someone came in to eat, we got a blast of cold air from the door. It was very disappointing compared to the fun, lively atmosphere this place used to have. There is also no bar now. Service was fine but the food was of mixed quality. Collard chips were the best as was the shrimp. Two had trout and said it was good. The take on lasagna was mainly a piece of puff pastry with a sweet potato filling and a few sprinkles of pork. No real meat to be found and it was not good. The brussell sprout side dish was disappointing as the sprouts were cut to different sizes so some were done and others were still chewy. The bread pudding was good but the lemon desert was nothing special. We've eaten here many times but won't be back. The atmosphere and quality of food is not worth the money charged. It is sad that this restaurant has gone so far downhill but we assume it is because Vivian Howard is spending more time on her new places in Charleston and elsewhere. We really wonder how long it can survive.
We watched the show over the years, and this was on our list to visit. We've dined at Michelan Star restaurants and enjoyed fine dining with James Beard award winning chefs. We've spent around $300-$400 as a couple for several gourmet multi course meals, wine, and gratuity. On checking the website to make reservations, we discovered their business model changed. No more fine dining. Whatever inspires Vivian at the moment. $300 per person, not including drinks, but it does include a forced gratuity. I'm not spending $600 up front plus more at dinner for drinks with an unspecified non fine dining dinner menu, no refund policy and a forced gratuity. Maybe if you had multiple Michelan Stars and an exotic location. We enjoyed the best dinner in Bora Bora for much less.
We visited Chef and Farmer last summer and found it to be an incredible experience. The ambience is elegant but relaxed. The food is magic - masterfully prepared and served. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and ready to make you feel welcomed and happy to be there. Unfortunately, it looks like they will be closed for an extended time while they revamp and redesign, according to their website. They are hoping to re-open in late 2023. I really hope they do!
From the moment you walk in, the staff is totally on point with a smile, greeting, and welcoming you to an exquisite dining experience. The wait staff was courteous and knowledgable about every dish, making every moment an enjoyable evening. We drove south from there straight to Hardy and Hot, Vivian's biscuit shop in Charleston, and again enjoyed wonderful Southern Fare for breakfast the next morning. Hope to dine at Lenoir, the new restaurant on a return to Charleston later this year.
I visited the Chef and the Farmer with a group and it was certainly a pleasant experience. They were most accommodating to us and were very helpful with the pre-order arrangements. The food was delicious.
We drove in from Durham to eat here and were so impressed. We ordered the flash fried collards, pimento cheese flatbread, shrimp and grits, pork chop, and k-town burger. The all-stars were the collards, flatbread, and burger. Let me just say it one more time…the burger. Incredible. I would drive to Kinston again to get it. Juicy, so flavorful, well-balanced with seasonings and toppings. The collards were crispy and light and the preparation really emphasized the main ingredient, which was lovely. The flatbread was awesome with the sausage! I never would have thought to put that with pimento cheese, but it really worked. The shrimp and grits sauce was maybe a bit watery, but the grits were great; I didn’t even need the shrimp with grits that good. The pork chop was not my favorite, a little dry and tough, but I love that it’s local and would give it another chance. We were so pleased with our visit and can’t wait to come again when you open in the fall.
Eight of us went last night for a girls night, we’ve been planning it for about a month. Everything was amazing, the atmosphere, the food, the cocktails, the desserts, and our server Anthony. We all tried something different, and everything was wonderful. We are already planning our next trip back. If you’ve been considering going I highly recommend. And there is plenty of parking.
I started out with the wood-fired oysters with brown butter and bacon, I was leary, but c’mon - remember who’s running the kitchen …. I stop in every time I’m in the area, and have consistently excellent meals. Not just good, excellent.
$$ It's very expensive for the area, $9.00 for a basket of bread is a little crazy, but the meal was good, and we can say we been here, but would I return, probably not. I must say, Susan was fantastic.
Chef and the Farmer was as good as ever. We haven’t been here in a few years but we enjoyed the pretty upstairs dining room. Our server was friendly and capable, and our food was delicious. We had the crispy collards, the flat bread, the salad, the amazing pork chop with sweet potato purée, and the chocolate torte. Couldn’t eat another bite!
We had high expectations going in as we have been to this restaurant before however it has been a few years. We were looking forward to the experience with friends and great food. This restaurant used to be known for great food. Not any more. We were very disappointed. Most likely we won't be back. For sure we won't recommend this restaurant any more. Yes, we used to recommend it as our past experiences were very good. Very disappointed this time. Perhaps it is too hard to keep a good thing going in the restaurant business.
Restaurantji Recommends
Husband had researched the area trying to find a restaurant, before the wife had found a local place. Kinsten does not have any national chain restaurants. So we found ourselves at Chef and the farmer. We each had a burger. Sides are ala cart. However , the three sides that we saw were large enough to be shared. We had flash fried collard greens, refried peas, and the good ole standby FF. . Everything was delicious. Husband had Ole Yellar with bourbon. Wife had lemon gimlet. It was the perfect balance of sweet and lemon. If you go in early for dinner, you may be able to actually get a seat without having reservations. Reservations are encouraged and at certain times of the year they may even be necessary.
We have come multiple times a year before the pandemic. We were shocked to find the downstairs dining room closed. What a big mistake. The new dining room is loud and hinders good service even though our actual server was busting. Food was still great but likely not worth drive from Greenville if changes don't occur.
Not sure what happened this evening. We were so excited to visit this restaurant after enjoying Vivian’s show on PBS a few years ago. The service was disappointing as our server/hostess clearly treated us differently than other guests. Our order was incomplete, as the wrong appetizers were delivered and our side dish was never delivered.
Overall, we had a wonderful dining experience at the Chef and Farmer and look forward to returning. One notch below an outstanding night -- due to food preparation inconsistencies. On the positive side: a warm, simple and comfortable ambiance thought the restaurant. Even though it was a Thursday night, the upstairs dining area was almost full but was very nice and never felt overcrowded or too tight. Our server, Jessie, was excellent. Very friendly, professional, knowledgeable with just the right amount of attention and private time. The bottle of red wine she recommended was spot on and an excellent value. The team was also very accomodating with flexibility in finding us a table for two by a window. On to the food. The flash-fried Collards were fantastic--fresh, crispy with just the right amount of salt. Here is where things fell one notch short. I had the fried catfish and the two battered fillets portions were large and generous and delicious around the edges. The problem was the center portion was pink and in some spots not fully cooked. Either an uneven defrosting of the fish fillet or short on cooking time for the center. My wife had the pork chop -- again a very large, beautiful bone-in cut. The challenge here was being a bit overcooked. My take is that it was baked to 160 or 165 rather than 145 or so. But we did not specify a doneness preference so we share in that one. We finished our meals with coffee and it was delicious. So, overall a wonderful experience, well worth the 1.5-hour drive from Raleigh. We highly recommend and will return! For a bonus, arrive in Kinston an hour or two ahead of your reservation, have a beer at the nearby Mother Earth Brewery and check out the eclectic shops along S Heritage -- a very easy one to two-block walk from Chef and the Farmer.
We brought family for a Christmas outing. The old dining room and bar is closed. We were seated downstairs in the old sales area. It has not atmosphere at all. The decor consisted of old, beat up enamel ware hung on the wall. Every time someone came in to eat, we got a blast of cold air from the door. It was very disappointing compared to the fun, lively atmosphere this place used to have. There is also no bar now. Service was fine but the food was of mixed quality. Collard chips were the best as was the shrimp. Two had trout and said it was good. The take on lasagna was mainly a piece of puff pastry with a sweet potato filling and a few sprinkles of pork. No real meat to be found and it was not good. The brussell sprout side dish was disappointing as the sprouts were cut to different sizes so some were done and others were still chewy. The bread pudding was good but the lemon desert was nothing special. We've eaten here many times but won't be back. The atmosphere and quality of food is not worth the money charged. It is sad that this restaurant has gone so far downhill but we assume it is because Vivian Howard is spending more time on her new places in Charleston and elsewhere. We really wonder how long it can survive.