Belle's Bites

By: Laura Giovanelli | Winston-Salem Journal
Published: April 23, 2009

Sweet Potatoes

529 N. Trade St.

Phone: 727-4844. $$. ABC. NS (except at bar).

Sultry Southern cooking in downtown's Arts District. Jazz, lazy ceiling fans, fried okra and green tomatoes, and sweet-potato everything.

Mellow Mushroom

314 W. Fourth St.

Phone: 245-2820. $. ABC.

The calzones are so-so, but the parmesan-dusted pies are a treat. Tons of toppings, from tempeh to feta, plus 30-plus beers on tap to wash it down.

Solaris

125 Summit Ave., Greensboro.

Phone: 336-378-0198. $, ABC, NS (except at bar).

Starters, appetizers, small plates, tapas, amuse bouche -- I'm a sucker for little savory dishes. At Solaris, there are hearty tapas -- apple pork loin and sesame ribeye -- plus such lighter plates as a Spanish cheese plate and bacon-wrapped dates.

Sampan Chinese Restaurant

985 Peters Creek Parkway.

Phone: 777-8266. S/NS. $$ ABC.

The expected beef with broccoli, egg-drop soup and pu pu platter. Ask to see the authentic extended menu, and choose from the unexpected salt-and-pepper squid, ginger beef with scallions and a whirl of tofu dishes.

Old Salem Tavern

736 S. Main St. (in Old Salem).

Phone: 748-8585. $$$. ABC. S/NS.

Moravians of the 1800s ate more than sugar cake and the world's thinnest cookies. Take pumpkin- and sunflower-seed-crusted salmon, for example, served by wait staff in period costume. Don't miss the lemon ice cream with gingerbread.

Little Richard's Barbecue

4885 Country Club Road.

Phone: 760-3457. $. S.

Lexington-style barbecue, appropriately chopped, coarse-chopped and sliced. Two locations in Winston-Salem.

Las Estrellas

845 Silas Creek Parkway.

Phone: 724-1893. $$. ABC. S/NS.

Huge menu, heavy on the seafood (the owners are from Guadalajara), and yes, there are choices beyond refried beans and fajitas. You can't go wrong with the fish tacos.

Camel City Cafe & Wine Bar

401 W. Fourth St.

Phone: 734-1797. $$$. ABC. S/NS.

New Southern doesn't mean green-bean casserole. Shrimp etouffe, lamb and the Whole Kit and Caboodle -- really. It's shrimp, scallops, mussels, clams and snapper braised in broth, served with crusty bread.

Meta's Restaurant

102 W. Third St.

Phone: 750-0811. $. NS.

Southern comfort self-serve cafeteria (but not a chain). Grab your tray, get in line and choose from beef ribs, fried chicken, baked salmon, meatloaf, mac and cheese, cobbler, and collard, turnip and mustard greens....