Places to Eat in the Greensboro, NC/Triad Area

In this series, I will be reviewing several restaurants in the Greensboro and Triad areas (North Carolina) so that I can help other people to be more informed about great places to eat. I love to go to various restaurants in order to experience various atmospheres and cuisines.

I will give restaurants an overall score on a scale of 1 to 10, based on a combination of factors: service (Was it fast? Was it attentive? Was it friendly? Was it intrusive?), Food (Did it look good? Taste good? Smell good?), Wine and beer choices (Was there a varied selection? Do the beverages match the food?) and Atmosphere (Was it tasteful? Was it a coherent design statement? Did the food and atmosphere work together?).

So without further ado, here are a few places I've been to recently.

Liberty Oak

Liberty Oak stands in the heart of downtown Greensboro, and provides a well appointed bistro-style dining experience. Don't go here looking for quiet, as the setting is pleasantly bustling with activity. You can go looking for an eclectic menu that offers everything from a lovely fried goat cheese salad to steak rubbed with espresso. The menu is so varied that it seems to lack coherence, but the offerings are very tasty. Upon two occasions I had mediocre service here, but this was often made up for by the food and atmosphere.

For one of my meals I had the Fried Goat Cheese Salad to start with and the Ravioli (there is only one type on the menu), and at another time I had Sarah's Supper. Both meals were delicious and rustically served in true bistro style.

For a more quiet experience, visit the upstairs portion of the restaurant. Wherever you are in the restaurant, do check out the colourful paintings hanging on the walls, as they are very interesting and add to the atmosphere.

The wine list is as eclectic as the food, and you should give some of the offerings a try. I enjoyed the wines I had here, and there was a sense that the wine list was thought about in conjunction with the menu, which seems to be rare for restaurants these days.

All in all, I give Liberty Oak an 8. Good food, good atmosphere, and decent service.

J. Basul Noble Located in High Point, NC, this restaurant did not live up to its reputation for service and elegance. I went during a busy time, but was disappointed with everything from the food to the service. The wine list is excellent, but severely overmarked. Our server was not accommodating to the vegetarians in the party, the food was slightly cold, and all of it was overpriced.

For the money it cost us to eat here, we could easily have had two better meals.

For all of these reasons, I give this supposedly great restaurant a 3. Better luck next time, if there is a next time.

Boba House

This restaurant has become an institution to the vegetarian and college communities. The food is Pan-Asian fusion, and all of it is vegetarian, from the "steak" to the "fish." The wait staff is helpful and friendly, and the food may be the best I've had at a casual dining establishment. There is no wine list to speak of, but this is overshadowed by the obvious good qualities of the establishment. The atmosphere is casual, and the rectangular dining room makes the diner feel intimate and welcomed. Try the Ginger Chicken or Pad Thai here and you won't be disappointed. To drink, try the Boba Teas with tapioca pearls for which the restaurant is famous. These Teas are delicious and smooth, reminiscent of a smoothie. They make a perfect accompaniment to the spicy Asian cuisine.

I give this restaurant a 9 for the best combination of all the simple elements of good eating, from service to food.