The Heritage Grille & Wine Barrel

Heritage Grille and Wine Barrel is a true gem that effortlessly blends sophistication with laid-back charm. We stumbled upon this spot and were blown away by the dual experience it offers—a fine dining restaurant on one side and an upscale bar on the other, both executed with flair. The fine dining side is an absolute treat, with a menu that’s creative, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Every dish we tried, from the perfectly seared scallops to the tender filet mignon, was a testament to the chef’s skill and passion. The service was impeccable—attentive without being overbearing, making the whole evening feel special. Then there’s the Wine Barrel side, an upscale bar with a speakeasy vibe that’s perfect for a more relaxed night out. The cocktail menu is a standout—try the pecan pie old fashioned if you want your mind blown—and the wine selection is extensive and expertly curated. What really sealed the deal for us, though, was the outdoor seating. It’s spacious, stylish, and surrounded by a great atmosphere that makes you want to linger for hours. Whether you’re sipping a drink under the stars or enjoying a gourmet meal, the outdoor space elevates the whole experience. Heritage Grille and Wine Barrel is a rare find that nails both elegance and comfort—can’t wait to come back!

This is my husband and I favorite new place. The food was amazing serve was over the top and the owner is a super nice guy. It’s a must go place to try you will love it.

My husband and I both ordered steak- him the ribeye, and I ordered the filet. Both steaks were cooked and seasoned perfectly! The sides were equally delectable- I recommend the potato au gratin. The owner came by to check on our meal, which was a thoughtful touch that you don’t see much anymore. After dinner we went next door to enjoy live music and dessert cocktails. It is so nice to finally have such a nice restaurant and bar in wakeforest!! Can’t wait to go back!!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I’m giving Heritage grille 2 stars for a few reasons.
1. When I ordered a medium fillet mignon, it was presented to me rare it was not the warm pink that I was told it would be. They took it back and, the same steak came back to me (cut in half) that was squished on a flat top and cooked to the medium temperature that I asked for. This also happened to another person at our table who ordered medium rare, and her steak was rare (barely cooked) and had to also go back to be cooked to her preferred temp.

2. The vegetables that were presented to us when our meals arrived were not including all three of the vegetables that were noted when the waitress explained the ‘vegetable of the day’, green beans, carrots, and onions. The manager or somebody in charge brought us a family style of those vegetables, noting that they were not all included well after our meals arrived.

3. When the steak Oskar was recommended, we were not told the cost of the up charge and it was not listed on the menu at all.the lump crab meat was scarce.

4. We were told the table behind us had a birthday there (person who worked at the restaurant) and a professional photographer. The owner/manager spent a lot of time at that table but didn’t see concerned that our $43 steaks were not cooked order.

We were concerned when the waitress told us that we should order the steak more well done that we normally would.

Overall, the restaurant was OK, but I believe that it was overpriced. I do think that I have had better steak in other local establishments in Wake Forest (Amelia’s is a thousand times better for your money). Nothing was comped. There was no option of free dessert. There was also no bread that was offered. I probably will not go back to the establishment seeing that I spent a lot of money for something that was not that great. Not to mention it was also our first time visiting and it was for my husband’s birthday.

**Response to owners comment**
At the time that my phone rang, 7:30 pm, I was sitting down eating dinner with my family and friend. We don't allow phones at our dinner table, therefore I definitely missed your call. I never received an email - maybe that went to spam. The issue I have with the response is that, the review originally posted 5 days ago and you aren't patient in allowing me to 'respond' in the same amount of time. It was 30 min after you call that you posted your comment - which tells me that you are a little impatient so you probably understand our frustrations when it comes to less than mediocre food and service when spending $200+ per couple. I have tried to return your call, this morning at 9:15 am and the phone just keeps ringing. I would definitely like to hear what you have to say.

Dietary restrictions: Shellfish allergy

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 2

Service: 3

For those who rated this a 5-star experience, it seems they may either be unfamiliar with the standards of true fine dining or are showing courtesy to the staff due to personal connections. Having dined at many fine-dining establishments across the country, I can confidently say this is not one of them.

While I initially drafted a more detailed review, I’ll keep it brief. First, the chef clearly lacks the ability to properly cook or season a steak. My wife’s medium steak arrived raw and cold, I honestly thought it mooed when she cut into it. This is a most unfortunate error for any kitchen, especially one claiming to offer fine dining. Second, if you’re looking for a well-seasoned steak, you’d be better off at places like Texas Roadhouse or Sawgrass—where you’ll pay less and get a tastier meal with sides to match. (Note the menu shows two steak sauces at no extra charge, however if you get one of the ones the waitress offers you too could pay $14 extra for something that may have cost the kitchen $0.75)

Finally, a note for management: If you're trying to offer a French-inspired dining experience, it would help to ensure your servers can pronounce the French terms on the menu correctly. It was a bit awkward for both the server and guests. Additionally, consider training your kitchen staff to cook steaks to order and, more importantly, to season food properly. The dishes were underwhelming and lacked flavor. If a customer has an issue with their meal, offering a simple apology or a small gesture like a drink or dessert would go a long way. I didn’t notice any manager interacting with guests or checking in on their satisfaction, except for one instance where a manager seemed more concerned with a photo session happening at another table.

This is the first time I’ve ever written a review that includes the phrase "never again," but I can say with certainty that I will not be returning to this establishment.

**Response to owner's note**
You did reach out to my wife, however, we were in the middle of dinner with our family at that time (roughly 7:30pm). Approximately 30 minutes later, you posted that you had not heard from her. Before making such a post, it might be more reasonable to allow 3-4 days for a response, which is roughly the same amount of time it took you to respond to the initial reviews. It raises some concern that you would wait that long to reply, yet only allow a brief window for the individual to respond before suggesting they were in the wrong for not replying immediately. Just be fair in your timing.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 2

Exceptional Service and a Delicious Surprise!

I recently dined at Heritage Grille with some friends, and while they didn't have any vegan options listed on their menu other than a salad. I was absolutely blown away by their willingness to accommodate my dietary needs. I have a dairy allergy and follow a plant-based diet, which can sometimes make dining out tricky.
Our waiter was incredibly understanding and went above and beyond to find a solution. Chef Fernando, offered to create something delicious just for me! I simply mentioned my love for mushrooms and onions, and they whipped up an incredible off-menu masterpiece (Vegan Israeli Couscous) that was both flavorful and beautifully presented.

Honestly, it was one of the best dining experiences I've had in a long time. The service was top-notch, and the chef's culinary creativity was truly impressive. I highly recommend Heritage Grille to anyone looking for delicious food and outstanding service. They turned what could have been a disappointing situation into a truly memorable meal.

A special thank you to our waiter and Chef Fernando for going the extra mile!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great to see a high end restaurant in Wake Forest.

Positives -

Staff is very friendly.

Food was very good.

Room for improvement -

Had dinner at bar - plates were not efficiently cleared - took forever. Not bartender's issue - bus staff just not sufficiently attentive. This is an 'old school' complaint - paying premium prices, don't want to sit with dirty plates.

Bar has 10 stools - very cramped. Pull 3 away and make the space comfortable. Can always add if place gets super busy.

Had filet with baked potato - very good. Should consider offering butter, sour cream or other 'fixings' with baked potato. Ate 'dry' - was tasty but could have been even better.

Truly hope place succeeds. A bit pricey for area. Guess folks are burdened with mortgages on $1M+ homes. Worth the treat if you can fit in your budget... apps are also fantastic - if you can't do dinner go for drinks and a few apps - yummy!

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 3

Recommendation: Avoid

Beware the paid-for 5-star reviews. We actually had a group of young women clearly there for promotional purposes in the middle of the prime dining hours on a Saturday night directly behind us with distracting bright lights and cameras taking their duck-face photos while we tried to enjoy a meal we knew would be expensive. The food was not horrible but two members of our party received steaks clearly not cooked to order. The steaks were raw and 'blue' on the inside when the diners requested 'medium'. Instead of correcting the error and offering to 'make it right', the server and manager used a fork to shuffle the slabs onto a side plate and bring them back so the diners could enjoy a single carrot from the seasonal vegetables collection while they waited. The taste was honestly 'meh'. The server could not even pronounce the French specials despite this being advertised as a French themed restaurant. I'm not expecting to sit down in France, but we can at least put a little more effort in. And when did the idea of an automatic tip _percentage_ for larger parties go from 18 to 20%? I'm aware inflation has been bad but percentage is still percentage and doesn't change with prices. I don't appreciate being forced to pay a higher percentage when the service is also 'meh'.

If I am going to drop over $200 for a meal with my spouse, I expect a certain level of class and refinement. The idea of this restaurant feels 'half-baked' much like the steaks and far too over-priced. I truly cannot get over the shock of the tik-tokers behind us pretending to be professional photographers taking pictures of their meal in a higher priced dining room. If they were invited, then they should be invited to a promotional dining time before opening or after closing. It completely cheapened the meal for me and felt insulting. This establishment feels like a poor man's idea of a fancy night out. Enjoy at your own risk.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 3

Service: 3

Had a party with 20 friends at Heritage Grille earlier this week.
Huge success for all.
Great spot for a special evening!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Had Emilio as our waiter - took great care of us. Food was SOOOO GOOD - we WILL be back & request Emilio to wait on us❤️

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We love having a more upscale restaurant right in our backyard. Chef Eric’s menu is wonderful. The staff is friendly and accommodating. Brunch is fantastic as well! We also love the option to go next door for a fabulous drink courtesy of great bartenders like Parker and Eve. Excited for this place to continue to thrive!

Just enjoyed a Saturday date night at this place and the food was AMAZING!! The crab cakes were great and the ribeye was seasoned and cooked to perfection! The potatoes au gratin “chef’s kiss”! Emilio was a great server whose service was top notch. He also recommended my entire meal and he didn’t miss a beat! Great atmosphere, great food, great night out!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Gratin Potatoes

Parker, Mark and Eve are awesome. They are very informative and knowledgeable about the menu. Food is always good.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Great food, amazing atmosphere, and the bartenders make amazing cocktails!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Scallops with Risotto, Shrimp Cocktail, Rissotto

Wonderful place for a date night. Told our server it was our anniversary and the kitchen carved strawberries into roses and wrote happy anniversary on our dessert plate! It felt like they really cared to make it special for us!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Steamed Maine Lobster Tail, Charcuterie, Blueberry Lemon Cheesecake, Beef Carpaccio, Cuban Bread