Welcome to Local Dish Winston-Salem.

This blog is paired with a Facebook Group where people can post pictures and talk about food and beverages they have had at local W-S restaurants and bars. Pictures from the group will be added here so it can be used as a great resource for local places for everyone to enjoy.

You won't find the negative points here; we focus on the good, the great, and the best.

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Foothills

Foothills was the first restaurant I visited when I moved to Winston-Salem a little over a year ago. As lovers of craft beers and good bar food, my husband and I have been to Foothills MANY times since that first visit.

This was my first time getting the Cuban sandwich. I'd seen it on the menu and have had my eye on it for a while and finally broke free from the chicken wings and ordered it.



The Sandwich: Pulled pork, ham, swiss cheese, pickles, and HOMEMADE spicy mustard. Of course I ordered fries as my side because I had literally been craving that HOMEMADE ketchup all week. (Fun fact from Waiter Evan-the homemade ketchup has a special ingredient: Pilot Mountain Pale Ale. No wonder it is so delicious)



My husband ordered his usual, Brewhouse wings, and helped me eat some of my fries.

And of course, we washed it down with some refreshing Foothills Brews. Beer of choice: Oktoberfest! I've been waiting since last fall for this seasonal to come out. If you haven't tried it, you must this fall before it goes away again for another year. Foothills Oktoberfest is truly tasty-a little sweet and really smooth. Out of all of the Foothills beers, it is definitely my favorite.
--Sadie S

Prissy Polly's BBQ

I was spoiled for barbeque when I taught elementary school in Kernersville. I had the pleasure of teaching the daughter of the owners of Prissy Polly's BBQ. When we had field day, all the other classes had hot dogs, hamburgers, or pizza- but we had Prissy Polly's barbeque and Brunswick stew. It was heavenly then. It is heavenly now.

I had an appointment in High Point so I stopped off on Hwy 66  to grab some lunch at Prissy Polly's. I ordered the regular Lexington Barbecue pork sandwich with barbeque slaw. One of my FAVORITE things about Prissy Polly's is that no matter what you order, even if it just a sandwich, they throw in some of their hush puppies. Some look like 8s, some look like Os. They are both crunchy and corny and fabulous.

People in these parts are very particular about their barbeque, and I respect the opinions of others, but Prissy Polly's is my favorite by far.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Kernel Kustard: Lick the Bowl


The most amazing creation ever: Kernel Kustard's 'Lick the Bowl' Jumble. Vanilla kustard, brownie batter, chocolate chip cookie dough, peanut butter cookie dough...need I say more?
--Sadie S.

Pulliam's BBQ: Wow

I am a Winston-Salem Local. I know the city well, and have been to each of its corners and all the places in between. I know about many of the "landmark" restaurants in town and would say that I have been to 90% of them. It's that other 10% that allows me to find a treasure like Pulliam's. There could have been 50 pictures in this post, amazing since the restaurant is only about 400 square feet. I am limited to my phone camera this week so I will eventually go back for more/better quality photos.

Doug G. sent me the e-mail about Pulliams and I added it to the blog, but for some reason I could not get this place out of my head. I LOVE a good hot dog and if there was a place that had amazing hot dogs in W-S, I was going. Doug was kind enough to make another trip and meet me at Pulliam's. Ladies and Gentleman, welcome to Pulliam's, a tradition in Winston-Salem since 1910, yes 1910!!! I could not believe that this place had been here for 100 years and this is my first visit. I fell in love right away.

Part of Pulliam's success is that they keep it simple, local, and old school. There are two hot foods to choose from on the menu. Hot Dog or Barbecue. (No french fries, but an assortment of chips.) Dessert are B&H Pies, made by hand in W-S, and their drink assortment is the best around. They have your traditional drinks, but they also have a cooler of Nehi, Sundrop, Cheerwine, and RC cola. They are cold, in a bottle, and full of southern summer memories.

I ordered a hot dog, maybe two- I don't remember (ok, I DO remember both of them. Don't judge me), all the way (mustard, slaw, chili, onions), a chocolate B&H pie, and a diet Cheerwine (yeah, whatever, I like it) The hot dog is delicious, all the flavors melding together in every bite. There are bottles of Big Ed's Hot Sauce that is made in-house that are available if you like a little, or a lot of, heat. It's pretty darn tasty. If you have never had a B&H pie, they come in a variety of fruit flavors, and chocolate. Doug tried a peach pie for the first time and is now a fan.

While the menu may not have much of a variety, the customers are a diverse crowd. All collars are represented and chat it up at the counter inside. There are no tables at Pulliam's, you just belly up to the small counter and eat. There is one "table" outside that is completely recyclable. Pop a squat on a stump and enjoy the delicious meal. The environment inside could keep your eyes busy for an hour, but with only a camera phone this week, it just couldn't do it justice. One favorite item was a sign that was stitched in needle point, "If you can't enter with a smile, take one when you leave."  I did. :)

Pulliam's is near the Smith Reynolds Airport: 4358 Old Walkertown Rd, W-S 27105

Pancho Villa's Mexican

Mexican Food: delicious, filling, and cheap.
When dining on a budget, you can usually count on a good Mexican restaurant to fill you up without breaking the bank. Pancho Villa's on Stratford road is no exception to that rule. My husband and I went out on a Friday night and had a wonderful meal for under $20. He ordered the Grilled Chicken Quesadilla--which was perfect for him. He is pretty picky when it comes to quesadillas; he likes only the cheese and chicken to be inside, whereas many restaurants include peppers and onions with their chicken. Pancho Villa's only included the chicken and cheese (a good thing to note for picky eaters!).

I ordered combination dinner #27 of 1 Chile Relleno, 1 Chile Poblano, rice and beans...and it was amazing! Honestly, I couldn't tell you which was the relleno and which was the poblano, but both were fantastic. Since my husband only got one quesadilla, he helped me polish off the rice and beans.

Combine this meal with bottomless chips and salsa and $3.50 grande (32 oz) Dos Equis Amber on draft to make your cheap-and-delicious Friday date night complete!


--Sadie S.


Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Hutch and Harris: Morrissey's Club Sandwich

Last night I had dinner at Hutch & Harris.I was looking for a sandwich; a sandwich that was not a burger but that I could still have with Hutch & Harris' amazing French Fries. I chose the Morrissey Club sandwich and it was devine. The sandwich had a nice mixture of sliced turkey and roast beef, as well as cheddar, bacon, and LTM. The baguette that the sandwich came on was just as delicious as the items inside. The fries are more like wedges with a crispy (and not greasy!) outside and soft potato goodness on the inside.


The service was really great. Our server was extremely accomodating and had a lovely personality. The servers/managers also work well as a team here, tending to more that their assigned tables and making sure that the dining experience is a pleasant one. They really hit the customer service mark during our visit. This is the type of service that will keep us coming back.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Mozelle's Fresh Southern Bistro


Has anyone tried Mozelle's Tomato Pie? It is chock full of tomatoes and cheese and the buttery crust is hmm hmm good. It's served with a side of creamy succotash. Order yours the next time you head out to Mozelle's, you won't be sorry.

Wolfies Gourmet Frozen Custard

.....and this is what we had after dinner. Can anyone say scrumptious?

Friday, August 20, 2010

Soup's Place



















We began our dinner with the Dancing Shrimp. We received 6 fried shrimp with some fried broccoli florets, fried green and red peppers and a fried onion ring.

O ordered the Mi Ga Chien Don or egg noodles with deep fried chicken. I ordered the Banh Canh Tom without the ham, which was udon noodles with shrimp. We both received HUGE bowls with noodles and chicken (or in my case, shrimp) swimming in a fragrant broth. We dressed up our dinner to our own personal tastes with the myriad of sauces they provided as well as the bean sprouts, lime, jalapenos and basil.

I hear they are now offering karaoke on Thursdays. I haven't checked it out yet, but I will and you should too.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Pulliam's BBQ - This place is Da Bomb

I visited J.S. Pulliman BBQ today, not for the barbecue, but for what I consider the best hot dog in Winston-Salem and one of the top two best hot dogs in the entire state of North Carolina. Pulliam's is located on 4538 Old Walkertown Road just a few doors down from the, now defunct, Bell Brothers Cafeteria. I didn't realize it until today but there is an old photo hanging inside that says J.S Pulliam began operating in 1910. Now in its centennial year, the hot dogs are simply outstanding. Served on a buttery toasted bun, an "all the way" is mustard, chili, onion, and cole slaw. To enhance the experience I recommend adding a stream of the house BBQ sauce called Big Ed's. It comes in two variations, Mildly Hot and my favorite, Extremely Hot. Extremely hot means what it says. I find a thin steam of the extremely hot added along the top of the dog to be a perfect addition. Sweet, savory with some mouth filling heat. that takes a few seconds to notice but pleasantly lingers for awhile. Yes! Big Ed's sauce is for sale for $2.50 a bottle here. Don't leave without a bottle or two. One of each is my routine. A variety of beverages are sold out of those old fashioned, chest type, machines. You know. Those machines that are probably older than your granddaddy. My beverage choice today was a old style bottle of NuGrape soda. A classic combination with the dog. B&G Fruit Pies are available for dessert.


A word for the uninitiated. The hot dogs are those red ones. "Gourmet" tubes not necessary. There are no seats here. You belly up to the small stainless steel bar and eat them standing or you can take them outside and sit down and eat them on the tree stumps out back. I'm not kidding. Another option is to use you car as a table. I just prefer to squeeze in between other patrons and eat them inside so I can re-add the hot sauce if necessary. Don't be shy, just squeeze in. No fries are offered on the short menu. No website, Facebook, or Twitter. The phone number is 336-767-2211. Hours are 10AM - 5:30PM, Tuesday-Saturday. Be sure to view some of the old vintage racing photos while there. The staff will be tickled to tell you all about them and the history of the place. The clientele will often range from corporate types to working stiffs all on equal footing and with a common purpose of dining on one of the best hot dogs served anywhere.

This is one of those places where you really should eat in the restaurant to get the full experience.I never do takeout at Pulliam's. Service is quick and polite. Don't be intimidated by the spartan appearance. The hot dogs are the main attraction. Places like this stay in business for 100 years for a very good reason. Just some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. I have never tried the BBQ so I can't comment.

Note: Forgive the poor photo quality. My son, Thomas, was with me and he ate three almost before I could get one down so I snapped in a hurry before this one totally disappeared.
-Contributed by Doug G.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Lunch at West End Cafe

Dropped in to have lunch at West End Cafe. O ordered Rob's Choice salad. It was HUGE. He couldn't get through all of it. There was lettuce, of course, but also cheese, veggies, chicken salad, ham, olives, sunflower seeds, croutons, hard boiled egg, sprouts - you get the picture. And just in case you don't, we took a picture.


As O and I were finishing our lunches he remarked, "you know, we've always had great service here." And he's right. We always have. You should drop in and experience their good service too.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Noble's Grille

We had dinner at one of my favorite places - Noble's and it did not disappoint. John Fulp was managing that night and he is one of my favorite restaurant managers. He always has a story to tell and he is one of the reasons I like the restaurant so much.




We started out at the bar. I have been drinking Cosmopolitans for well over a decade now. It is my drink of choice when I grab a seat at a bar. Because I tend to order them wherever I go I can tell you that I have had some freaking fantastic Cosmos and some really horrid Cosmos. Noble's makes them beautifully perfect. They are super cold and served in a chilled glass. It's a lil' glass of pink yumminess. I didn't think to take a picture, so you'll have to use those fantastic imaginations of yours and then head on over to Noble's to try one out.


We started with a cheese plate and fried onions (which had a much fancier name on the menu), because seriously how can anyone go wrong with cheese and friend onions?!?! The onions were super thin and crispy. And the cheese was - well - need I say more? Because it was cheese and we all like cheese, right?


The boys had steaks. One ordered the Filet and the other the Ribeye. They both scraped their plates clean, which I took as a big thumbs up from them both.






The girls kept it a little lighter by ordering pizzas as our entrees and we split the Heirloom tomato and Mozzarella salad. Okay, okay I may have ordered a side of macaroni and cheese too because as we discussed earlier - it has cheese on it and did I mention I'm also a huge fan of pasta?








Our meal was fantastic. Our server was great. The four of us left happy and full. We went on a Saturday night and they had a band playing music. Several people got up to dance.

Tonight they are partnering up with Slow Food Piedmont Triad and having a slow food tomato celebration dinner. You should check them out.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Bun Curry from Soup's Vietnamese Pho & Grille


I have been craving Curry lately and so I stopped by my Soup's Vietnamese Pho & Grille today to try their unique Bun Curry. Instead of rice to accompany the bowl of awesomeness, you are given rice noodles, shredded lettuce, and crunchy bean sprouts. Inside the curry bowl I chose chicken rather than beef or tofu. Along with the chicken is carrots, potatoes, and the typical taste of coconut milk and a light cream. When you go, this is item V16 on the menu and it is well worth the selection.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Skippy's Hot Dogs

I was inspired by a recent post to visit Skippy's in down town Winston-Salem. I've never been to Skippy's primarily because their featured menu item isn't exactly my kind of food. I'm more into vegetables. However, after some perusing of their website, I discovered that they offer a veggie dog. Now I'm not really the type of vegetarian that longs for meat. If I wanted meat, I'd eat it. But after hearing so many rave reviews of Skippy's pretzel buns, I was on board for a faux-weenie treat.


My two companions and I devoured our pretzel clad dogs in minutes.

The veggie dog is good, people. So good in fact, I imagined the cook snickering somewhere in the back. "That'll teach those pesky vegetarians to insist on veggie dogs. I'll serve them real tube steak!" Okay, I'm certain that wasn't the case. My dog clearly looked different from the beef dogs the boys ate. I'm just saying.

And I have to give special recognition to the French fries. Hand cut, hot, crispy, starchy heaven. Just go get them.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Downtown Thai and Sushi

I grabbed some friends and headed to Downtown Thai and Sushi for dinner this past Friday night. I have been there twice and must say they have the friendliest staff. Now that might be because both times I've eaten there I've been with regulars, but they all seem genuinely friendly and helpful. You'll have to try it out and see if you agree. First I will admit to completely losing my mind and forgetting to take pictures of the appetizers. They were all fabulous, so I'll give you a run down on what we had: Tao Hoo Thod (Deep-Fried Tofu), Po Pia Thod (Deep-Fried Spring Rolls), Kung Hor (Blanket Shrimp), and Steamed Dumplings.

After rereading that first paragraph, I can't help but wonder if most of the apps being deep fried had anything to do with their fabulous-ness? The menu didn't mention it, but I swear the shrimp were deep fried too. Ah, this is why I need more exercise.

Three of us ordered the Kaeng Khaio Wan or Green Curry with slight variations - one steamed tofu, one combination tofu and chicken and finally one fried tofu (alas, that was mine - more exercise). The green curry had eggplant, bamboo shoots, Thai basil and bell pepper in coconut milk. The picture above shows the combination option.



Two people in our party ordered sushi. My friend S ordered Spicy Crab and Spicy Tuna (right). O ordered the Rainbow Roll, Spicy Tuna and Eel (left).






Two people in our party ordered Pad Spicy with Tofu, which consisted of large rice noodles, egg, cabbage, chili sauce, bean sprouts, onions, and carrots.







And the final person in our party ordered Pad Woonsen - glass noodles with mushrooms, carrots, baby corn and scallions. I honestly can't remember what meat he chose and can't tell by the picture. I need to take better notes at dinner!




Everyone enjoyed their meal. The owner of Downtown Thai and Sushi also owns Soup's Vietnamese Phở and Grille. He has recently remodeled the space, so we will be checking out the spiffy new digs next.

Dinner at La Botana's Mexican Restaurant

O and I dropped in La Botana's for dinner last week and were not disappointed. They have a lot of creative vegetarian options to chose from and lots of non-vegetarian options as well for the carnivores in my life (or yours). :) I ordered the Enchiladas al Horno. It consisted of two corn tortillas stuffed with a mashed potato mixture then smothered in a creamy Chipotle sauce and cheese. This was then baked in an oven and served with rice and a small side salad. Can anyone say, "heaven?" O ordered soft tacos with steak and chicken. He received four tacos with a small side of beans, salsa verde, and onions and cilantro to dress up the tacos. We drank tea, but they offer lots of drink specials. Everything we had was excellent.




I keep hearing and reading that the fish tacos here are the bomb diggity. I think I'll try those the next time we swing by.