Review: Winston's Grille, Raleigh, North Carolina

Although I love trying out new places to eat, Winston's Grille was not on my radar because typically any place with "grille" in the name does not appeal to my tastes. I can't exactly explain why, just like my husband can't really explain why he won't eat anything with "loaf" in the name. I guess "grille" conjures up the thought of someone's backyard BBQ, but where you have to pay to eat there. I'm not paying to eat in someone's backyard, unless Vin Diesel is serving the food.

So the only reason we ended up at Winston's was because I had received a Winston's gift card at work on Thursday (some people got Starbucks, some Harris Teeter, some McDonald's, etc.). No matter how much I cringe at a place with "grille" in the name, I am not foolish enough to pass up free food.

Of course the biggest drawback to eating in North Carolina is that each restaurant runs on its own schedule. If they only want to be open from 5-7pm on the second Tuesday of the months that start with "J" during odd-numbered years, then that's what they'll do. Winston's is closed on Saturdays until 5pm. People don't eat lunch on Saturdays, so that makes perfect sense. [/sarcasm] This little setback turned out ok, however, because it meant that we ended up eating at Winston's for brunch on Sunday.

I had visited Winston's website and had perused the menu, and I had gotten the clear message (as posted on their website) that Winston's is an informal, family-friendly restaurant. Supposedly it used to be an uppity, fine dining establishment but then they gave it a makeover when they realized the public wanted more informal dining.

For this reason, I felt quite comfortable wearing my normal garb: jeans and my East Carolina purple sweatshirt. It was raining and cold, and that's what I wear when it's raining and cold. It's also what I wear when it's not raining but still cold. Basically it's what I wear all the time, because I'm always cold. Anyway, so we walk in to Winston's and are greeted by the hostess and promptly seated at a booth, per our usual request at any restaurant.

Something felt wrong, though, as soon as I started to slide onto the booth seat. As I finally came to a stop in the middle of the seat I realized what it was: my feet did not reach the floor. Now, I realize I'm only 5' 4" but I don't consider this overly vertically-challenged. Are you really telling me that they can't accommodate someone under 6" tall? During the entire meal, my feet were swinging back and forth like a third grader's.

I didn't notice it at first (I never notice anything until the dust clears and the event is long over -- that's just how quick I am), but I began to realize that we were being glanced at by the other patrons as if we were a zoo exhibit. Had they never seen people eat while wearing t-shirts or a sweatshirts? They may have just come from church and were all dressed up but hey, that's their problem, not ours.

Sideways glances aside, we set about looking over the menu and were surprised to see a date at the top of it. They print a fresh menu every day? Wow. That seemed a little excessive, but ok. They have a wonderful, albeit short, brunch menu and I was starving, so I found what I wanted to order and excitedly waited for our waitress to arrive. And we waited, and we waited, and we waited some more. I know they were picking straws in the kitchen to see who would have to wait on us.

Finally our waitress came over and told us the specials, but it was done through the veil of syrupy smile that became so sickly sweet at one point I had to look away. Add to that the requisite southern dishes served everywhere down here ("collard greens") and I was quite pleased when she was finished so I could order my "Eggs Eggs Eggs" brunch dish. I ordered my eggs scrambled, and hubby ordered his over-easy. These brunch dishes come with "Carolina Grits," bacon, and hashbrown potatoes. I was a little worried about what "Carolina Grits" were, but knowing I like the Quaker packaged kind, I decided as long as there was no cheddar cheese or crabmeat in it, I'd eat it.

They brought us some fresh blueberry muffins while we waited for our food, which were delicious. Hubby thought they were a bit too sweet, but there's no such thing as too sweet.

The food took quite a while to arrive, just as it took quite a while to order it in the first place, but wow! The picture above is how mine looked when I got it: perfectly yummy-looking. Hubby was not as pleased with his since his "over-easy" eggs were brought out "over-hard." My plate was perfect, however. The bacon was crispy, the eggs were not runny, the potatoes were crunchy and perfectly seasoned, and the "Carolina Grits" were downright sinful.

My preferred way of eating Grits (as some of you already know) is with milk and sugar. To southern folks, that is a sin. Southern folks eat grits as a main course, with meat and cheese, which is why I had originally been worried about what this would be. Turns out, "Carolina Grits" are grits with 20% grits and 80% heavy cream. OH MY. Each bite stuck to my fork just like it will stick to my hips. It was the most delicious thing I've ever eaten, but I realize that I took at least five years off my lifespan by eating it.

We were wise enough to pass on dessert (though they had some appetizing options, to be sure), and were shocked to get the bill for $30, not including tip! I'm sure the $30 went mostly to cover the cost of that cream, but that's a hefty bill for only two iced teas and two breakfast plates.Good thing I had the gift card.

I'm still not quite sure how Winston's Grille considers itself an "informal" and "family-friendly" restaurant. Wanting to be something and actually being it are two completely different things. "Not fancy" and "Not fussy"? Oh, please. This place couldn't get much fancier if it tried.

However, would I go again? Most definitely. But next time I'm wearing my pajamas.