Dine + Wine
Nibbles + Bites
by Aaron Garcia |
photography by Lisa Crates
Where the Hearth Is HOW BARREL & FORK IS BREAKING NEW GROUND IN AN OLD SPACE Barrel & Fork
STATS Cuisine
American fare comfort food featuring fresh seafood, steaks, chicken dishes, appetizers and salads
Price MARCH 2020
Sunday brunch dinner
66 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS
Attire
Casual to dressy
Seared scallops over sweet potato orzo with a side dish of sauteed Brussels sprouts with basalmic glaze and bacon.
T
here are certain challenges that come with opening a restaurant in a 114-year-old house. Floorboards break, shingles leak. On this particularly rainy day, Barrel & Fork owner Jason Tuton is troubleshooting why only some of the bar’s new lights are dimming. “There are probably 100-yearold wires up there,” says Tuton. Considering the setting, the punch list may never end, and that’s perfectly fine. After all, Tuton and his team are looking to create something new and unique inside the century-old Queen Anne Cottage.
A turn-of-the-century feel, bar none Despite the building’s warts, the plan inside the walls has largely gone off without a hitch, says Tuton, the first step of which was to expand the bar area from an afterthought to the centerpiece. Next he wanted to develop a menu that paired elevated concepts with hearty comfort food. The hope, he says, is to get away from the location’s reputation as an occasion-driven destination. “I really wanted that neighborhood spot,” says Tuton, who has owned car dealerships
and restaurant franchises in the past. That transition has largely been sparked by Barrel & Fork’s new bar. During renovations, Tuton removed a wall and unearthed a stunning brick chimney, which now serves as the eye-catching centerpiece looming behind Head Bartender Jade Finn. Metal and wood shelving displays dozens of bottles that, when spotlighted by the (not-so-dim) lights above the brick resemble suspects standing in a police lineup. Such seemingly unfinished details complement the bar’s golden wood bar top, soft
Atmosphere
Intimate and cozy with décor that pays homage to the history of the building.
Date Night Going solo
PRICE KEY 15 and under
$
25 and under
$
50 and under
$
75 and under
$
This includes an entree and a non-alcoholic beverage.