Brian Nagele
With a population of just over 200,000, Greensboro has a friendly small-town feel with a well-rounded cultural scene on par with any major metropolis.
Greensboro’s forested and hilly surroundings supply the city with an amazing Bog Garden and The Greensboro Science Museum.
Greensboro’s historic role in the American Revolution and Civil Rights movements provides fodder for various museums and civil rights centers for visitors to explore.
Another crucial cultural factor that contributes to Greensboro’s cosmopolitan allure is its diverse restaurant scene.
Whether you’re looking for Southern comfort food or Mexican street food, Greensboro has a wide variety of excellent eateries. Read on to discover my list of the best restaurants in Greensboro.
Dame’s Chicken & Waffles
301 Martin Luther King Jr Dr, Greensboro, NC 27406
Phone: 336-275-7333
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Founder Damien “Dame” Moore opened Dame’s Chicken and Waffles in Greensboro’s Southside neighborhood to provide customers with a delicious taste of Black history.
You can read all about the origins of the now nationally-beloved dish in an incredibly well-written and engaging blog from Moore himself.
Dame’s Chicken and Waffles serves a long list of southern comfort food, but their chicken and waffles are unparalleled in taste.
You can choose between various waffle batters, from sweet potato to classic Belgian along with your choice of fried chicken pieces.
They also have an incredible specialty menu. I went for breakfast and recommend The Barnyard Honcho, which is a fried chicken cutlet over a classic waffle with eggs-over-easy and creamy grits.
Hops Burger Bar
Multiple locations
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With locations in Spring Garden and Lawndale, Hops Burger Bar is Greensboro’s favorite spot for craft beers and extravagant burgers.
Both locations have a cozy and lively atmosphere with a large patio for outdoor dining. They serve the highest quality Angus beef burgers garnished with fresh ingredients from local farms.
Their menu features over-the-top appetizers, sandwiches, salads, and the most amazing burgers I’ve ever had. They also offer plenty of vegetarian-friendly meals.
Go for the local favorite, which at Hops Burger Bar is the North Carolinian, a burger topped with a fried egg, bacon, pimento cheese, fried green tomato, and lettuce.
1618 West Seafood Grille
1618 W Friendly Ave, Greensboro, NC 27403
Phone: 336-235-0898
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Teetering between Friendly Homes and Westerwood, 1618 West Seafood Grille is a fine dining seafood restaurant that fuses flavors and cooking methods from Latin America, Asia, and the Deep South.
Owners George Neal and Nick Wilson have created a lively, polished atmosphere to enjoy imaginative dishes and fine wines.
They serve dinner and weekend brunch, both menus a stunning display of creativity and innovation. I loved the dueling deviled eggs with beef tips.
For my main course, I went with the Asian-inspired, sesame-encrusted Ahi Tuna with wasabi mashed potatoes, sesame cabbage, balsamic glaze, and chipotle oil, making it an incredible Asian-fusion dish.
At Elm St Grill
3606 N Elm St A, Greensboro, NC 27455
Phone: 336-286-4880
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At Elm St Grill is a welcoming yet refined New American bar and restaurant in Bellwood Village, offering a varied menu of dishes inspired by the South, Europe, and Asia.
The atmosphere is laid back and casual, with wood booths, neutral-colored walls, and a pop of color from blown-glass light fixtures illuminating the dining space.
The understated atmosphere serves fine-dining quality meals from around the globe at affordable prices.
There are daily specials on fish, pork, and steak entrees. Whether you want Chicken Tika Masala or Chicken Alfredo, At Elm St. Grill runs the culinary gamut.
I went for the French-inspired Scallops Mornay, a dish I think you should try.
Crafted The Art of the Taco
220 S Elm St, Greensboro, NC 27401
Phone: 336-273-0030
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A block from The Carolina Theater in Southside Greensboro’s Downtown Community is Crafted, a family-friendly taco joint and American pub.
The small dining room has a quirky and fun vibe, opening onto a pleasant patio. The food is as gourmet as classic street and pub fare gets.
Everyone raves about their tacos, and I’m no different. I recommend the Bowtie, which features battered fish, roasted corn and poblano, honey mustard, chipotle aioli, cilantro, and cotija cheese.
It pairs nicely with the Jalapeno Business drink, which has house tequila, grilled pineapple, fresh jalapeno, cilantro, lime, orange juice, and firewater.
Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen
1421 Westover Terrace, Greensboro, NC 27408
Phone: 336-370-0707
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Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen is a high-end and elegant restaurant offering refined Southern cuisine. Located between Friendly Homes and Guilford hills, Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen is comfort food at its finest, using high-quality ingredients and polished plating without sacrificing the comforting nature of Southern cuisine.
Lucky 32 has a wonderful wine, beer, and cocktail list to accompany lunch and dinner. I started with the Voodoo Short Rib bread topped with provolone, goat cheese, pickled red onion, and chives.
The highlight of my meal was their sumptuous Shrimp and Grits with andouille sausage, onions, Tasso ham, and gravy with collard greens.
Mythos Grill
Multiple locations
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Mythos Grill is an authentic Greek restaurant with locations in Highland Park and Guilford Hills. It has been a Greensboro favorite since 2005.
Their bright and airy dining rooms feature tasteful Greek Mediterranean Island scenes. They import all their olive oils, cheese, herbs, and wine from Greece, giving their dishes an authentic flavor.
The traditional menu at Mythos Grill features a wide variety of mezze, pitas, souvlaki, soup, and Greek entrees. I highly recommend their perfectly crispy and buttery Spanakopita, a spinach and feta filo pastry.
For the ultimate Greek comfort meal, try their scratch-made Moussaka, meat, eggplant, and potato lasagna with a thick bechamel sauce.
Pho Hien Vuong
4109 Spring Garden St, Greensboro, NC 27407
Phone: 336-294-5551
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Pho Hien Vuong is a humble and friendly Vietnamese and Thai eatery, specializing in Southeastern Vietnamese cuisine. Pho Hien Vuong is family-owned and operated with friendly service and unbeatable lunch specials.
Located in Terra Cotta, Pho Hien Vuong uses local produce to create healthy, vibrant dishes from the owners’ homeland.
The menu has a variety of Pho, hot pots, fried rice, stir-fries, and noodles. Each section represented Vietnamese and Thai cuisine equally. I recommend going with a group so you can split various dishes.
I went alone and got an enormous bowl of Pho Dac Biet, featuring rare steak, beef meatballs, onions, and rice noodles with all the fresh, colorful garnishes.
Print Works Bistro
702 Green Valley Rd, Greensboro, NC 27408
Phone: 336-379-0699
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Print Works Bistro is a farm-to-table modern French Bistro in Guilford Hills with a bright and romantic dining space and a glorious outdoor patio surrounded by forest.
Print Works Bistro uses locally sourced food to create a fine dining menu of classic French cuisine with modern twists.
They are an employee-owned restaurant, embracing a cooperative approach to ownership that makes for a passionate staff. Print Works Bistro is the ultimate date night restaurant.
They offer lunch, dinner, and brunch, with seasonal menus. I could’ve eaten their crispy oven-baked brie with plum and blackberry jam all night, and that was just an appetizer!
Scrambled Southern Diner
2417 Spring Garden St, Greensboro, NC 27403
Phone: 336-285-6590
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Located in the heart of the historic Lindley Park, Scrambled Southern Diner is a hip diner offering decadent American diner fare with a Southern twist.
They source many ingredients from local North Carolina farms and offer classic Southern sides and dishes to an otherwise classic American breakfast menu.
In addition to bottomless coffee, Scrambled Southern Diner has a full brunch cocktail menu, complete with mimosas and scratch-made bloody marys.
They’ve got continental breakfasts, omelets, griddle cakes, benedicts, and skillets, but their house specialties are Southern favorites, like fried green tomatoes and shrimp and grits.
I loved their Southen take on eggs benedict called the Chicken Little, open-faced buttermilk biscuits covered in fried chicken, cheddar cheese, and sausage gravy.
Sticks and Stones
2200 Walker Ave, Greensboro, NC 27403
Phone: 336-508-7750
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Sticks and Stones is a family-friendly Lindley Park neighborhood gastropub dedicated to the local community of customers, farmers, and purveyors.
They source their rotating tap list and ingredients from local breweries, purveyors, and farmers. The atmosphere is laid back, with a nice outdoor patio to enjoy gourmet takes on pub fare.
Sticks and Stones has a rotating tap list of 17 beers to accompany an award-winning menu of Italian-inspired pub fare, from antipasti to sandwiches, to wood-fired New York-style pizza.
They’re famous for their artisanal pizza with amazing gourmet topping combos. I had the Mockingbirdsing with walnut pesto, wood-roasted chicken, fennel, tomatoes, spinach, mozzarella, and gorgonzola.
Carolina’s Diner
Multiple locations
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Carolina’s Diner is an authentic, no-frills diner, open 24 hours with a classic counter-café setup replete with retro décor and a neon-lit sign.
Carolina’s Diner has various locations around North Carolina including two in the Greensboro neighborhoods of Friendship and Quaker Village.
A favorite spot for morning birds and night owls alike, Carolina’s Diner delivers heaping plates on the cheap.
In true diner fashion, breakfast is served 24 hours a day, but their lunch and dinner menus offer a myriad of comforting classics.
I had a bottomless cup of fresh ground coffee with a Country fried steak and egg sandwich on Texas Toast to start my day right.
Cheesecakes by Alex
315 S Elm St, Greensboro, NC 27401
Phone: 336-273-0970
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With praise from TripAdvisor, Our State, Southern Weekend, and UNC-TV, Cheesecakes by Alex is a Greensboro famous bakery and café in the Downtown Community.
The industrial-chic café and dining space has a glass counter, displaying over 20 flavors of cheesecakes.
They also have a pastry menu and an espresso bar. The friendly and fashionable atmosphere is great for a coffee date or a study session.
The smell alone would convince anyone to buy a slice of cheesecake. One bite of cheesecake will make a returning patron out of anyone.
I had the Kahlua Espresso cheesecake with an Oreo crust and a dusting of espresso cinnamon grind, a delectable sweet treat after a long day.
Darryl’s Wood Fired Grill
3300 W Gate City Blvd, Greensboro, NC 27407
Phone: 336-294-1781
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Darryl’s Wood Fired Grill is the sole survivor of a casual family restaurant chain that once had 36 restaurants around the nation.
Current owner Marty Kotis bought the last operating restaurant to honor his favorite childhood restaurant.
Darryl’s Wood Fired Grill continues to be an Oakwood neighborhood favorite for classic American food in a fun and lively atmosphere.
The restaurant is a large, brick-walled space with wooden banisters, tables, and booths, as well as a great outdoor patio with fire pits.
The menu offers a wide variety of steaks, ribs, entrees, appetizers, salads, sandwiches, and more. I loved house-made lasagna with meat sauce, marinara, ricotta, provolone, and mozzarella.
Green Valley Grill
622 Green Valley Rd, Greensboro, NC 27408
Phone: 336-854-2015
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From the same employee-owned restaurant group as Print Works Bistro, Green Valley Grill is a European bistro and wine bar in an elegant, vine-covered space near Friendly Center.
Green Valley Grill’s Old-World menu revolves around a wood-fired grill and specializes in Mediterranean European dishes.
They offer fine-dining quality seasonal menus for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner using locally sourced ingredients.
I went for a romantic, multicourse dinner starting with Moroccan spiced crispy cauliflower with pomegranate and honey tahini.
For the main dish, I recommend the Za’atar Spiced Lamb Loin with mint chimichurri and Greek roasted potatoes.
Final Thoughts
The variety of cuisines and dining experiences you can find in Greensboro reflects its diverse culture and community.
After a long day of exploring the Science Center or the National Military Park, you’ll be hungry for some delicious, fresh food.
Whether you’re looking for Vietnamese or high-end Southern soul food, you’ll find it on my list of the best restaurants in Greensboro.
Did we leave a restaurant out of this list? Make sure you leave us a comment and we’ll check it out!
Best Restaurants in Greensboro
- Dame’s Chicken & Waffles
- Hops Burger Bar
- 1618 West Seafood Grille
- At Elm St Grill
- Crafted The Art of the Taco
- Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen
- Mythos Grill
- Pho Hien Vuong
- Print Works Bistro
- Scrambled Southern Diner
- Sticks and Stones
- Carolina’s Diner
- Cheesecakes by Alex
- Darryl’s Wood Fired Grill
- Green Valley Grill
You left off Marisol’s, Undercurrent and White and Wood!!!