Crook's Corner

Having been to Crook's Corner once or twice (not in the past 5 years) I was expecting a similar experience to those I had in the past. It still has a good reputation, right? We were all in agreement that it is not the place it used to be. The service was so-so and t...he food was okay or at least some of it was, The thing that struck me most was the overall presentation of the plates. They lacked any visual appeal which I find an important quality of a ""fine"" restaurant. My cheese platter was the worst platter I have seen anywhere (5 crackers, all the same, 3 different cheeses one of which resembled melting whipped cream and an unimpressive mint sprig). My companions dishes were lacking any color or texture variations. The one that struck us the most was actually at the table next to us. On the plate was a large piece of watermelon turned upright. It resembled a cave. It almost appeared to be hiding the other food on the plate. Was that the point? Read More

As a spur of the moment decision, my sister, mother and I decided to grab dinner somewhere in Chapel Hill and ended up at Crook's Corner. I went in thinking I'd be trying something new and hopefully find a new spot for future outings. Well I was half right. I tried some...thing new, but did not find a place for me to venture to in the future. As we walked in we were greeted by the hostess and then asked where we'd like to sit ""indoors or on the patio?"". We didn't care so I replied ""either one is fine"". She quickly snapped back ""um, well I can't decide for you..."", when the professional thing to say would be ""okay, no problem we've got a great table here for you"". We were seated on the patio, which had a pretty good atmosphere to it for an early evening dinner. We then met our waiter, who was a gentlemen with the personality of sandpaper. We ordered and received our food with no problems, however I then found out that what they meant by ""Southern"" is not truly Southern cooking. Being raised in a traditional Southern home where Southern cooking goes without saying, I found the food somewhat mediocre. Their version of collards are alright, though the garnish of cheese just shows how ritzy they're trying to make their ""Southern"" cuisine. The cornbread is baked...if I'm not mistaken I believe that most Southerner fry their cornbread, no? To top it all of, just as my mother was finishing the food on her plate the waiter holds out his hand beside her plate and asks ""may I?"". Apparently he was either ready to leave work or ready to get rid of us. I think it's safe to say that I won't be giving this place any future business as well as warn my friends ahead of time. Read More

A bastion of New Southern cuisine. I've lived in NYC for years and pride myself on being a foodie. This place is one of my top three favorite restaurants I've ever been to. Now that I've returned home to Chapel Hill I find myself trying to go here at least twice a month... (if money were no object it would be once a week!). The food is always spot on but more importantly Bill Smith honors the memory of Bill Neal with his strong belief in Southern terroir. The vast majority of the food you eat was grown in Chatham County, the milks and creams in Orange. No potatoes coming in during the winter? He makes rutabaga and makes it incredibly tasty. The atmosphere is friendly with Smith often leaving the kitchen to greet tables. I remember the last time he came out and offered a woman having banana pudding another serving if she would like it. As far as dishes go I highly recommend the Southern pate, the cheese pork, and for the adventurous the sweetbreads sauteed in wild turkey (in Winter anyway). If you are in Chapel Hill and haven't tried this place, I beg you to go and give it a go. Read More

My wife and I went on a date here and didn't know what to expect with the unique hubcap facade. She had the shrimp and grits, myself the carolina sampler. Both were great, service was good, it is a cozy little place. Will go back. Only negative maybe a tad on the expensive side.

What is the big deal about getting a veggie plate? Is it really necessary for me to speak to the waiter, then the manager, explain the entire surgical procedure I had and the details of my post-surgery food plan to order what I need and what they obviously offer on the... menu.? This was a nightmare in the midst of a celebratory meal for my niece's graduation. Get over yourselves, Crooks, it's all about making the customer happy, not massaging the ego of the chef. I don't recommend this place if you have ANY dietary requirements or expect cooperative and friendly customer service. Even on graduation weekend there ARE other options. Read More

The food was superb, especially the shrimp and grits, and the service was very good. There was about a 25-minute wait on the Sunday afternoon we were there, but we were able to sit at the counter and have a drink while we waited. The restaurant is small, but cute, an...d the atmosphere is fun and friendly. Street parking can be an issue, so be prepared to walk a block or two. Read More