Winston's Grille in Raleigh, North Carolina

I recently dined at Winston's Grille in Raleigh, NC and was extremely impressed with everything from the efficient and friendly service, to the delicious food, to the warm and homey atmosphere.

Winston's is located at 6401 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh, NC 27615 \\ 919-790-0700. http://www.winstonsgrille.com/About.htm

Hours of operation are:

Mon-Thurs- 11am til 10pm

Friday- 11am til 11pm

Saturday- 5pm-11pm

Sunday- 11am til 9:30pm

A full menu for Winston's including prices can be found at http://www.winstonsgrille.com/OurMenu-Entrees.asp

Be prepared to spend between $12-25 for entrees.

Winston's decor is friendly and inviting. The kitchen is open, a set up I always like because I hate not knowing what goes on in restaurant kitchens. When I can see the action, I not only feel more comfortable eating the food, but it also just adds something extra to the atmosphere of the place.

My group had a party of nine, and we did call ahead, but the hostesses who helped us as we arrived were very nice and accommodating, and I can't imagine we would have been neglected had we come in without a reservation. The restaurant was busy, and we may have had to wait a bit, but based on the service we were given, I'm sure it would not have been an unpleasant wait. There's nothing worse than walking in to a restaurant, having to wait for a table, and then being treated like a number, or worse just ignored all together.

The part of the dining room we were seated in had a fun feel to it. There were large watercolor paintings on the walls that, although not something I'd keep in my house, lent an air of whimsy to the room.

Our servers came immediately to the table to take our drink and appetizer orders and were prompt and helpful throughout our time in the restaurant. We each ordered something different and everything was just as we asked when it arrived. The food all arrived hot and gave a lovely presentation. We had appetizers, drinks, entrees, and dessert and each part of the meal was better than the last, and a large part of that was the service. I don't care how good the food or the atmosphere in a restaurant is, if the service is poor, it ruins the experience.

Of course, as crucial as good service is, good food is why we go out to eat, and Winston's offered a meal that made me very happy I accepted the dinner invitation that night. For appetizers, we ordered crab and cheese dip as well as calamari. I don't like calamari, so I can't give an opinion on how good it was, but I can say my dinner companions were raving. I can give an opinion on the crab dip, though. It was wonderful! Rich and creamy with just a hint of zip from the horseradish.

For dinner I ordered Penne with chicken and fresh mozzarella. Again, excellent. I only wish I had not filled up on appetizers and bread so that I could enjoy the whole meal. I did bring a good amount of it home, though and had it as a midnight snack. I suppose I should look at it as having two excellent meals for the price of one, right?

Some people may not get excited about dessert, but I almost feel like my dining experience is incomplete if I can't have a yummy and decadent dessert in a nice restaurant. I can say with certainty my dining experience was made complete with my Kentucky pie! Kentucky pie for those not in the know, is pecan pie with chocolate and coconut. Just the thought of it makes my mouth water and the real deal is so much better than the fantasy. The pie was heavenly and the crust was seriously mouthwatering. My whole meal was wonderful, but if there was anything that I would recommend above all else, it would be that pie.

In addition to the fantastic food, service, and atmosphere of Winston's, I was impressed with the cleanliness of the bathroom as well as the overall cleanliness of the restaurant. I enjoyed everything about my experience with Winston's Grille and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable dining experience in Raleigh, NC.