Rhubarb
Asheville, North Carolina
The restaurant upholds old-school traditions such as Sunday Supper with specials like Fried Green Tomato and Pickled Shrimp, Fried Hominy, and Lobster Corn Dogs.
Opened ∕ October 2013
Annual Sales ∕ $1–$3 million
Average Check ∕ $45
Chef/Owner∕ John Fleer
Heirloom
Charlotte, North Carolina
With a sustainable, farm-to-fork focus, Chef Barlowe uses the entire animal and also sources everything—from all the beer, wine, and spirits to the Outer Banks sea salt—from within North Carolina.
Opened ∕ February 2014
Annual Sales ∕ $750,000–$1.2 million
Average Check ∕ $66
Chef/Owner ∕ Clark Barlowe
Mimosa Grill
Charlotte, North Carolina
This Queen City eating destination has served artisan- and farmer-sourced food for 20 years, and Chef Thomas Marlow gives the global cuisine a Southern twist.
Opened ∕ 1995
Annual Sales ∕ $3–$5 million
Average Check ∕ $38
Owner∕ Tripp Cagle
Soby’s New South Cuisine
Greenville, South Carolina
Housed in a century-old building, Soby’s helped lead the rekindling of historic Greenville into a dining destination.
Opened ∕ November 1997
Annual Sales∕ $5 million
Average Check ∕ $45
Owner∕ Carl Sobocinski
The Lazy Goat
Greenville, South Carolina
The Mediterranean menu reflects influences from Spain, Morocco, Italy, France, Greece, Africa, and the Middle East, while the social dining experience is enhanced by Chef Michael Kramer’s open kitchen, convivial communal seating, and comfortable platform bars.
Opened ∕ June 2007
Annual Sales ∕ $2.7 million
Average Check ∕ $28
Owner ∕ Carl Sobocinski
Restaurant Orsay
Jacksonville, Florida
Classic French-American cuisine from Chef Brian Whittington, who was a semifinalist for James Beard Best Chef: South this year.
Opened ∕ 2008
Annual Sales ∕ $3.2 million
Average Check ∕ $43
Owner ∕ Jonathan Insetta
Chef & the Farmer
Kinston, North Carolina
Located in a historic 100-year-old building that was formerly a mule stable, Chef Vivian Howard has gained celebrity status as a recurring contender for James Beard Best Chef: Southeast, 2011–2014, and starring in the PBS documentary “A Chef’s Life.”
Opened ∕ June 2006
Annual Sales ∕ $2.4 million in 2014; $3 million projected for 2015
Average Check ∕ $65
Owners ∕ Chef Vivian Howard and general manager Benjamin Knight
The Cypress Room
Miami, Florida
This French-American fine-dining restaurant—the third concept in the Miami Design District from Chef/owner Michael Schwartz—features an elegant, 1920s-inspired atmosphere with crystal chandeliers and daily five-course tasting menus.
Opened ∕ March 2013
Annual Sales ∕ $2.2 million
Average Check ∕ $105 dinner, $49 lunch
Chef/Owner ∕ Michael Schwartz
Ava
Tampa, Florida
Guests clamor for a seat at the pizza bar surrounding the handcrafted Acunto pizza oven, where chefs Joshua Hernandez and J. Ward work the magic that earned Ava the first 4-star award given by Tampa Bay Times.
Opened ∕ November 2014
Average Check ∕ $25–$35 estimate
Owners ∕ Joe Maddon and Michael Stewart
Bern’s Steak House
Tampa, Florida
This landmark steakhouse features a dedicated dessert room with some 50 desserts, including the secret recipe Macadamia Nut Ice Cream, plus 1,000 dessert wines and spirits—part of the reason Bern’s was a finalist for 2015 James Beard: Outstanding Wine Program.
Opened ∕ 1956
Average Check ∕ $50–$75
Owner ∕ David Laxer
Highlands Bar and Grill
Birmingham, Alabama
Southern ingredients with strong French and modern influences characterize the menu, while hospitality, service, and relationships are prioritized. Four employees have been with the restaurant since it opened.
Opened ∕ November 1982
Annual Sales ∕ $3–$5 million
Average Check ∕ $65–$75
Owners ∕ Chef Frank Stitt and wife Pardis Stitt
The Grey
Savannah, Georgia
Casual elegance is unexpected for a space that was originally used as a Greyhound Bus Terminal, but The Grey was a 2015 finalist for James Beard: Best Restaurant Design, and Chef Mashama Bailey continues to elevate traditional Southern cuisine.
Opened ∕ December 2014
Average Check ∕ $75
Owner ∕ John O. Morisano
