A simple observation about comfort food launched the idea behind one of Greensboro’s most beloved downtown restaurants. “People love chicken and waffles,” Dame Moore told Randy Wadsworth. The friends had been kicking around the idea of starting a business since they were fraternity brothers at UNC Greensboro. As far as Wadsworth was concerned, Moore was the expert when it came to good food. “He already ran the successful Blue Mountain Catering Company out of Durham,” Wadsworth remembers. “So I asked him, ‘What is your biggest seller?’ His answer — that one sentence — set us in motion.”
Breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner, the classic combo from Dame’s Chicken & Waffles always hits the spot. Photography courtesy of Dames Chicken and Waffles
When Dames Chicken & Waffles opened in the South Greensborough Historic District in 2012, it was an immediate favorite. Crispy fried chicken paired with fluffy waffles that come from a family recipe Wadsworth’s wife, Elisabeth, perfected. “As you’re eating it and when you’re done, it’ll just make you happy,” Wadsworth says.
Across Greensboro, restaurateurs share a mission to make their patrons feel good, and food is just their vessel. Many of these local entrepreneurs fell in love with the city while they were learning how to run a business at UNC Greensboro, so they put roots down after graduation to serve the community that embraced them as students.
Read on for unforgettable experiences, from eateries in historic downtown buildings to cheerful food trucks, ready to fill your belly and your heart.
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Pastries, espresso, and fruit smoothies at Tate Street Coffee House are the ideal fuel to spark new ideas. Photography courtesy of UNC GREENSBORO
Melodies of live jazz and spirited conversations meet and swirl around the aroma of fresh-roasted coffee before they waft onto Tate Street. On Sunday afternoons from 1 to 3 p.m., this irresistible mix attracts passersby — some UNCG students, some professors, some College Park neighbors out for a walk — who line up to order a black-and-tan latte and settle in for the quintessential Tate Street Coffee House experience.
This was owner Matt Russ’s vision 30 years ago when he, still a student at UNCG, opened this community gathering space. He wanted to create “a place where the university could meet the city on its own terms and create a dynamic atmosphere for people to interact.”
The narrow coffee shop packed with two-tops and original art covering every inch of wall space holds a distinct European vibe. “The first year we opened, we hosted a community coffee art show,” Russ says. “We were getting 20 to 30 pieces from artists celebrating their favorite beverage from all walks of life — and we’re at our best when we celebrate all walks of life.
“Painters sitting next to doctors sitting next to college students sitting next to a high school student with his mom,” Russ recounts, who prefers the title of host over barista. “My goal has always been to get people to interact who otherwise wouldn’t. To me, that’s just the coolest thing. I think it worked, and that’s been the most rewarding part of all.”
With long high-top tables and ample bar seating, Natty Greene’s space on Elm Street makes it easy to gather with friends (and maybe meet a few new ones while you’re there). Photography courtesy of Natty Greene’s Brewing Co.
Built in 1893, the stately brick building on Greensboro’s Hamburger Square had all the makings of a brewery, Chris Lester thought when he first stepped inside 20 years ago. Anchoring the heart of downtown at the intersection of Elm and McGee streets, this was ground zero for an area on the cusp of rebirth. For Lester, this was the ideal space to turn the dream he’s had since his college days at UNCG into a reality, while simultaneously contributing the revitalization of the surrounding blocks.
“I’d traveled a lot, visiting breweries, and they seemed more successful in downtown locations where all the community came together. I saw this as an opportunity for that, and I knew we could restore the building,” Lester says. “It was a little gut, a little luck.”
Try one of the house-brewed beers on tap and pair it with elevated brew-pub bites, like deviled eggs and the Backyard Burger, topped with bacon, cheddar, and barbecue sauce. Photography courtesy of Natty Greene’s Brewing Co.
Whether instinct or good fortune, there’s no disputing Natty Greene’s now-iconic status as a downtown hub. For lunch and dinner, patrons pack around the reclaimed wood tables to tuck into dishes like deviled eggs, hand-pattied burgers, and hand-cut fries. Not to mention the beer selection, which includes Natty’s famous Guilford Golden lager, Buckshot Amber ale, and Juicy Love IPA. The latter is Lester’s personal favorite. “I love the big, hoppy IPAs. But I also love a good, light lager in the summer. We have something for everyone.”
With a timeless and inviting feel, Old Town Draught House is a quintessential gathering place on UNCG’s campus. Photography courtesy of UNC GREENSBORO
Located in the heart of UNC Greensboro’s walkable campus, this tiny brick tavern embodies a Cheers-like feel that makes everyone feel welcome. “Anytime we travel to new cities, we always look for something like Old Town — that comfortable little spot with great food,” owner Kayne Fisher says, who, alongside his college roommate from UNCG, opened Old Town in 1996 to serve elevated pub grub and to bring micro beers — “back then, it wasn’t even called ‘craft beer’” — to the forefront.
Today’s menu, scribbled on a chalkboard above the kitchen, offers options to satisfy every diet and craving. The chicken Philly is their best-selling sandwich, and salad-lovers swear by the chef salad (pair it with the lemon vinaigrette). “Of course, you can’t go wrong with the wings or burgers,” Fisher adds.
Old Town’s commitment to quality and warmth continues to make regulars out of first-time visitors. “The great thing about Old Town is that everybody knows your name,” Fisher says. “And if they don’t, you can come in here by yourself and feel as welcome as a 20-year regular.”
Open since 1989, Lucky 32 was the first in Quaintance-Weaver’s line of celebrated Greensboro properties, which include the O.Henry Hotel, Green Valley Grill, The Proximity Hotel, and Print Works Bistro. Photography courtesy of Lucky 32
Every moment, every detail sets the scene at Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen. Hand-blown glass flower lanterns lend a warm glow to each booth, creating intimate pockets for conversation. Menu items change with the season to highlight fresh, local vegetables from Piedmont farms. Flowering vines envelope the patio with fragrant spring blossoms — the perfect sensory pairing for Lucky 32’s inventive cocktail menu.
This is where people come when they want to guarantee a memorable occasion. It’s a Greensboro institution and the community loves its welcoming atmosphere. “We’ve always wanted Lucky’s to be folded into family’s lives,” Dennis Quaintance says, co-founder of Greensboro’s Quaintance-Weaver hotels and restaurants. “I want people to feel like, ‘I can exhale here. I am loved and respected and that is evident by the way I’m treated and the care the kitchen puts into my food.’”
Whether you visit Lucky 32 for a special occasion or casual bite, the thoughtful dishes and welcoming service are signature to the experience. Photography courtesy of Lucky 32
Comfort foods like skillet-fried chicken, jambalaya, and bacon-wrapped meatloaf pair with sides that range from collards to whipped sweet potatoes and creamy grits. The pan-fried catfish exemplifies the level of care that goes into every meal. “The pan-fried catfish is out of this world,” Quaintance says. “The people who raise it are so meticulous — they ask you to whisper when you get near the ponds so you don’t disturb the fish! Those are my kind of people.”
Keep it cool during the warmer months with an icy treat from Whims’ food truck. Photography courtesy of Whims Shaved Ice
Rikki Cruz and Kelli Freitas’ Whims food truck first hit the streets of Greensboro in 2020. “Everybody was feeling isolated, and we wanted to offer something fun and whimsical to bring people out of their houses in a safe way,” Cruz says.
That was five years ago, and their devotees grow by the summer. When Whims kicks off the season each May, fans of their New Orleans snowball-style shaved ice obsessively check their Whims.gso Instagram page to find where the truck will be next. “For a lot of people, it’s a special treat of the week to go find us, and on Wednesday afternoons and evenings — we call them Whimsdays — we set up shop at Emma Keys in Lindley Park,” Cruz says.
A far cry from your typical crushed ice, Whims features shaved ice so fluffy, you’d swear it was sourced from a snowball. The trick? “We use a Japanese block shaver, and the ice is so fine, it almost feels creamy once it’s prepared,” Cruz describes.
Among their inspired flavors, the best-seller is lemon-berry basil, made from hand-blended fresh strawberries, lemon juice, and basil-infused simple syrup made from cane sugar. “And I love the Cold Brew Latte, which we make from cold-brew coffee locally roasted at Vignette Coffee Roasters,” Cruz says. Another favorite is the sweet cream, which is “what everybody thinks of as snow cream — a lot like vanilla ice cream.”
People come to Whims’ food truck for the product and the experience. “Whimsdays have created a tradition for a lot of people because they’ll get their shaved ice and go to a nearby park as part of their mid-week pick-me-up,” Cruz says. “The world is heavy enough; we love that we can offer a little whimsy that makes people happy.”
Hungry yet? In Greensboro, you’re never far from locally owned restaurants and other small businesses that add color and flair to the surrounding community. Click here to learn more about life in Greensboro and to start planning your visit.
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