Belle's Bites

By: Laura Giovanelli | Winston-Salem Journal
Published: December 17, 2009

Turmeric

3088 Healy Drive.

Phone: 794-8282. $$. S/NS. ABC.

Come here to feast. Dosas and uttapam are regional specialties from India's southern states, thin crepes stuffed with potatoes and spices and their thicker cousin, topped with vegetables, chilies and onions. Scallop biryani, a rice and shellfish dish loaded with cashews, fried onions and raisins. To drink, I love the spicy, milky Indian tea.

Table 16

600 S. Elm St., Greensboro

Phone: (336) 279-8525. $$$-$$$$. NS.

Table 16 was one of the few real Italian restaurants locally. Since I reviewed it, a new menu's come out, very little of it Italian. Blue crab chevre tator tots, though? Horseradish lamb carpaccio? I have to try it.

Cimarron

3260 S. Stratford Road, Clemmons.

Phone: 712-4689. $$-$$$. S/NS. ABC.

You might not give this stucco-building along a dark stretch of Stratford Road a second look, but stop in sometime. A refreshing alternative to the casual chains, Cimarron is family friendly and comfortable, like going over to a friend's house for ribeyes. Great shrimp and grits, pan-fried crab cakes, onion rings, and Southwestern-inspired egg rolls stuffed with black beans and peppers. Huge portions.

Kitchen Roselli

105 E. Main St., East Bend

Phone: 699-4898. $-$$. NS. Wine and beer.

Housed in a historic general store in the blink-and-you'll-miss-it town of East Bend, Kitchen Roselli is classic, red-sauce Italian and family friendly. Homemade meatballs and veal parmesan are worth stopping in for if you're in the area. Get here early -- everything seems to sell out!

Liberty Oak

100-D W. Washington St., Greensboro

Phone: 273-7057. $$-$$$. ABC. S/NS.

I wish there were a Liberty Oak in Winston-Salem. It's a dream of a neighborhood restaurant, with soulful blue plate specials and creative comfort food. I love the duck-liver pate with apricot chutney, the salad Nicoise and scallops seared in curry oil. The soups are usually good, such as a gingery sweet potato.

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.

Miss Annie's

3064 Healy Drive.

Phone: 774-0922. $$$. BW. NS.

Small and romantic, this unlikely strip mall restaurant serves up French and Caribbean fare without the schmaltz.

Sakura Japanese Steak and Seafood

548 S. Stratford Road.

Phone: 777-8744. $$, BW, S/NS.

Home of the volcano roll (a spicy tuna roll flambeed with Everclear), cheesecake tempura and bento boxes. Among the offerings are udon and soba noodles and a long maki, nigiri and sashimi menu. If you like tuna, try the lightly seared tataki.