Having a meal in Kinston isn’t just about filling your stomach. This little NC town is a culinary capital. These are meals you savor with memories that last a lifetime. Have a farm to table meal at the place that invented farm to table meals. Bite into barbecue that was voted best in the nation. Order up some cheese biscuits that will have you fighting each other for seconds. Here are our picks of a few spots that offer a signature taste of Kinston.
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LOCATION: Queen Street Deli & Bakery
WHY GO: Voted one of the state’s best delis
PRICE: $$
OUR TAKE:
Ready for a masterpiece made of premium cold cuts? Queen Street Deli is the first stop on your culinary adventure. This local deli has been voted one of the top delis in the state. It specializes in artisanal crafted sandwiches. Try the Iron Clad Panini –Roast Beef, Pastrami, Provolone, Swiss Cheese, Mayo, Bistro Sauce, Onions, Banana Peppers on Rye Bread. Order up the Fire Station –Turkey, Ham, Swiss Cheese, Dijon, Avocado & Sprouts on Multigrain Bread. Or build your own edible art and pair it with the latest craft brew. We’ll save you a seat and a slice of red velvet cake -also a local favorite
CLOSE BY: CSS Neuse Interpretive Center
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LOCATION: King’s Restaurant
WHY GO: Voted best BBQ in the nation
PRICE: $$
OUR TAKE:
Picture this: Tender, pork barbecue painstakingly hand-chopped daily and slathered in our secret family sauce. Oh, and hush puppies, collard green, and coleslaw. For three generations this is what King’s Restaurant has been serving up in Lenoir County. The same old fashion flavor perfected in 1936 is what you get today. If the packed parking lot is any indication, visitors can’t get enough. Just make sure you stock up on extra napkins. If your face and hands don’t get messy eating this barbecue, you’re doing it all wrong.
CLOSE BY: Neuse Sports Shop
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LOCATION: The Kitchen Bar at Chef & the Farmer
WHY GO: The place that helped invent the farm to table movement on the PBS series A Chef’s Life
PRICE: $$$
OUR TAKE:
Chef & the Farmer, Howard’s local restaurant made famous by the series, opened in 2006 and has gone through many changes. Its newest incarnation is known as The Kitchen Bar. Always the culinary innovator, Chef Howard has crafted another unique dining experience for lovers of upscale Southern food and her fans. It includes a seven course meal, made by the chef herself, and shared with only 16 guests, one weekend a month. At $300 per ticket, it’s not cheap. But it’s also not an experience you are going to get anywhere else. It’s only in Kinston.
CLOSE BY: Mother Earth Motor Lodge
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LOCATION: Mother Earth Brewing Company
WHY GO: Sustainable practices and artisanal craft beer – drink and save the world
PRICE: $$
OUR TAKE:
Peace, love, and beer. It’s a phrase the folks at Mother Earth Brewery in Kinston live by. On your visit you can expect to taste their next great artisanal creation – an Alpenglow Hazy IPA, a Belgian-style Weeping Willow Wit, or a Long Weekend India Pale Ale. But what you might not expect, is that behind that flavor is a beer made using only sustainable practices. Because Kinston isn’t just where the folks at Mother Earth brew. It’s where they live.
CLOSE BY: Ironclad Axe Throwing
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LOCATION: Social House Vodka & The Pumphouse 1906
WHY GO: A local spirit made with ingredients sourced from NC farmers
PRICE: $$
OUR TAKE:
Social House Vodka is the place for vodka distilled right here in Kinston. They provide distillery tours by appointment, but you can always grab a drink at their cocktail bar, The Pumphouse 1906. With ingredients from North Carolina farmers, all the craft spirits are premiere in their flavor and presentation. Choose from their extensive menu options or ask one of their mixology specialists to create something special for you. Make sure to pass by on a night with live music or check out their extensive outdoor space as you sip!
CLOSE BY: Arts & Culture District
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LOCATION: Ma’s Hot Dog House
WHY GO: A community staple that has spent it’s time perfecting the all-American favorites.
PRICE: $
OUR TAKE:
Ma’s Hot Dog House has been a family owned business in Kinston for a while now. To that end, the restaurant is a bit of a museum. Its walls are adorned with photos of antique signs and license plates and a little bit of local history. But make no mistake, the only true stars in this restaurant are its famous hot dogs. Each is cooked up and slapped in a fresh bun for your dining pleasure. Add some slaw, mustard and maybe some chili. Then prepare to have your taste buds applaud. Yes, they’re that good.
CLOSE BY: Ironclad Collectibles and Antiques