Lenoir is a small boutique restaurant, conveniently tucked into the Lindy Renaissance Hotel. Because of its size, the noise level can be loud, but we found the location very convenient for a quick dinner. The wait staff was professional and attentive, but the menu was limited. We shared several small plates, such as tuna tartare and bbq shrimp, both with a twist on the traditional presentation. A side of fried collards was definitely unique. A few full entrees were also available, although they were rather pricey. The dessert skillet of baked apples with puffed pastry and side cream was a great conclusion to the meal. All in all, another Vivian Howard experiment in a city know for its culinary excellence. Give it a try.
Nancy
Loved our experience and our server was fantastic. We were so grateful that we saw that this restaurant was farmed to table and that is how we decided to visit it on Sunday. Exceptional!
Jennifer Eisen
Fabulous food and service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
William
All was good until the tomato pie came out. Cooked in a cast iron pan it was so hot I burned my mouth on first bite. It remained so hot I could not eat my entre until my wife was finished with her quite good pork snitzel entre. The management gave me a half hearted apology and said that was the way Chef Howard wanted it. Lenoir has fallen off my top restaurant list.
kenneth hirsch
Tjis is a go-to place for us. We (two couples) came in last evening for a drink and light supper after a cultural event. We had the blueberry bbq wings, roasted tomato pie, pear and endive salad and shrimp and grits. All great, as usual. The service was efficient and friendly, also as usual. It was 8:30 so it was not crowded and was pleasingly quiet. The perfect end to a lovely evening. If you go earlier, a reservation is essential.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Michael Marty
We were downtown on Second Sunday and stopped here for brunch. It was a great find, with contemporary interior. We enjoyed crabcake egg benedict and chicken & waffle. The service was also very warm and engaging. We will return for dinner in the near future.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Colby
We were spoiled with a visit to Vivian Howard's Kitchen Bar in Kinston earlier this year, and perhaps I'm holding this establishment to that potentially unfair standard. That said, the pricing for select items on the menu implies fine dining, and while the food was very good, it wasn't mind-blowing--with the exception of the always-desirable Fried Collards. A way should be found to produce these in mass quantities, bagged, for consumption at home as an alternative to other snack foods. We first had them at Chef & The Farmer several years ago, before its transformation to the current Counter/Kitchen Bar setup, and I've been craving them ever since. Atmosphere wise, it's a fine place, but not as cozy and intimate as I had hoped, and with all the hard, tiled surfaces in play, it can get quite loud. I am happy we had the opportunity to dine here and support Chef Vivian, and we certainly will be traveling to Kinston again to appreciate her OG endeavors.
Rose
We had one of the worst service experiences I’ve ever encountered. Our server repeatedly tried to clear our food before we were finished and never once offered or refilled our water. It was clear they wanted us gone by 8pm, even though the restaurant doesn’t close until 9:40pm.
We eventually moved to the bar, hoping for better service — but the bartender never acknowledged us after dropping off our drinks. No water refills, no plate changes, nothing. When we asked to validate parking, she handed us someone else’s ticket from 1pm (we arrived at 7pm), which cost us $35 in parking fees. When we brought it up, she backpedaled and claimed she didn’t remember us — probably because she barely served us.
The place was nearly empty, yet the staff still acted rushed and inattentive. Food was mediocre (no truffle in my fries, same brunch/dinner options and duvet scallops not duvet scallops ), and the atmosphere was uncomfortable from start to finish.
Chase (AM) was rude, Collin (PM) was overly aggressive, and bartender was completely disengaged. There are so many better options out there — we won’t be back.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Lindsay Steele
This was a dream come true for my Dad. He has followed Vivian for years. We went on a Saturday night, had an incredible hostess and waitress, then had a warm visit from Vivian herself. It is easy to love this place. The food is complex and thoughtful. I am excited to dive into her cookbook for this Thanksgiving season. What a treat. I highly recommend for a special night out.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Donna
Our last dinner in Charleston was at Vivian Howard's restaurant, Lenoir. It was a drizzly Sunday night and at 5:30 the restaurant wasn't too busy. We were greeted by Collin, who doubled as a server that evening. For our last night, we started with two cocktails, my husband tried Short Rows made with Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Highwire amaro and Aperol. I tried Spittin' Image made with Woodford Reserve bourbon, blueberry bbq shrub and lemon. Wow, what fabulous drinks. I could have drank Spittin' Image all night, but I wouldn't be a pretty image the following day. It was a smooth drink, a little tart from the blueberries and lemon and nicely balanced with the bourbon...yum! My husband enjoyed his cocktail too. For dinner, we started with a shared appetizer of burrata with grilled eggplant, roasted muscadines, country ham, sage honey drizzle and extra virgin olive oil. The burrata had a rich, creamy center and was nicely complemented by the complex flavors of the grilled eggplant, the muscadine grapes which were both sweet and a hint of tartness. The sage honey added an earthiness and the country ham a bit of texture....delicious. For entrees, my husband chose the Peculiar Pig Pork Chop Schnitzel that came with crispy pan-fried roasted onion spätzle, mustard greens and a pickled peanut salad. The generously cut pork chop was lightly pounded and sat atop the spätzle with the mustard green and pickled peanuts atop. My husband loved this dish, but unfortunately, fell short to eat the entire chop. I chose the Joyce Farms Pan Roasted Chicken Breast with grape roasted Brussels sprouts, leeks, sweet pepper drops with port chicken jus. This was a very tasty preparation. The chicken had a lovely spicy crust and sat atop the vegetables. I've have never seen sweet pepper drops before and they were delicious in combination with the other vegetables in the dish. Overall, we totally enjoyed dining at Lenoir.
Lenoir did not disappoint - excellent service, nice wine selection and the food was wonderful. The deviled eggs were perfectly seasoned and creamy with a little bit of heat. The tilefish main was great with a crispy paella soccarat and peanuts adding texture with a lovely sauce. My companions had scallops and schnitzel and both loved their dishes. Collard greens to share can't be missed! Chef Howard checked on her guests and she was lovely and down to earth. This is the best that Charleston gets! Don't miss it.
Douglas
We live in Charleston and have probably been to every restaurant on the Peninsula. Lenoir is in the top three...probably one of the best restaurants in the US. Fresh farm to table ingredients, an innovative chef and superb service make for an unforgettable experience. Also a great wine list. We are former winery/tasting room owners and had no complaints:). Can't wait for our next visit!
Todd
Outstanding. We had such a great experience all the way around. The food was incredible and our server was amazing!
Jo Herron
Excellent meal, excellent service! Savannah the bartender was the star! We popped in early (3pm) to inquire about reservations and the bar was already open. We sat and had a drink while she prepped for the coming evening service. She was friendly, efficient, and engaging - getting her work done, taking care of her customers, and visiting with us all at the same time! We were able to get a table at 5p, when dinner service began. Our server, Jay, was equally impressive! He was funny, friendly, knowledgeable about the menu. We ordered scallops and bone-in strip - both cooked to perfection. And the accompaniments were perfectly paired. Jay gave us a great recommendation to find carrot cake for dessert.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Marion
I gave everything a three because we weren't able to dine. Booked on Open Table. Arrived from a two hour drive to find the restaurant was booked for a private party. Restaurant staff forgot to block out the reservations on OT. Hotel staff was very nice but still didn't get to eat. Disappointed. Will never make reservations anymore without a phone call to confirm.
Lenoir is a small boutique restaurant, conveniently tucked into the Lindy Renaissance Hotel. Because of its size, the noise level can be loud, but we found the location very convenient for a quick dinner. The wait staff was professional and attentive, but the menu was limited. We shared several small plates, such as tuna tartare and bbq shrimp, both with a twist on the traditional presentation. A side of fried collards was definitely unique. A few full entrees were also available, although they were rather pricey. The dessert skillet of baked apples with puffed pastry and side cream was a great conclusion to the meal. All in all, another Vivian Howard experiment in a city know for its culinary excellence. Give it a try.
Loved our experience and our server was fantastic. We were so grateful that we saw that this restaurant was farmed to table and that is how we decided to visit it on Sunday. Exceptional!
Fabulous food and service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
All was good until the tomato pie came out. Cooked in a cast iron pan it was so hot I burned my mouth on first bite. It remained so hot I could not eat my entre until my wife was finished with her quite good pork snitzel entre. The management gave me a half hearted apology and said that was the way Chef Howard wanted it. Lenoir has fallen off my top restaurant list.
Tjis is a go-to place for us. We (two couples) came in last evening for a drink and light supper after a cultural event. We had the blueberry bbq wings, roasted tomato pie, pear and endive salad and shrimp and grits. All great, as usual. The service was efficient and friendly, also as usual. It was 8:30 so it was not crowded and was pleasingly quiet. The perfect end to a lovely evening. If you go earlier, a reservation is essential.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We were downtown on Second Sunday and stopped here for brunch. It was a great find, with contemporary interior. We enjoyed crabcake egg benedict and chicken & waffle. The service was also very warm and engaging. We will return for dinner in the near future.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We were spoiled with a visit to Vivian Howard's Kitchen Bar in Kinston earlier this year, and perhaps I'm holding this establishment to that potentially unfair standard. That said, the pricing for select items on the menu implies fine dining, and while the food was very good, it wasn't mind-blowing--with the exception of the always-desirable Fried Collards. A way should be found to produce these in mass quantities, bagged, for consumption at home as an alternative to other snack foods. We first had them at Chef & The Farmer several years ago, before its transformation to the current Counter/Kitchen Bar setup, and I've been craving them ever since. Atmosphere wise, it's a fine place, but not as cozy and intimate as I had hoped, and with all the hard, tiled surfaces in play, it can get quite loud. I am happy we had the opportunity to dine here and support Chef Vivian, and we certainly will be traveling to Kinston again to appreciate her OG endeavors.
We had one of the worst service experiences I’ve ever encountered. Our server repeatedly tried to clear our food before we were finished and never once offered or refilled our water. It was clear they wanted us gone by 8pm, even though the restaurant doesn’t close until 9:40pm.
We eventually moved to the bar, hoping for better service — but the bartender never acknowledged us after dropping off our drinks. No water refills, no plate changes, nothing. When we asked to validate parking, she handed us someone else’s ticket from 1pm (we arrived at 7pm), which cost us $35 in parking fees. When we brought it up, she backpedaled and claimed she didn’t remember us — probably because she barely served us.
The place was nearly empty, yet the staff still acted rushed and inattentive. Food was mediocre (no truffle in my fries, same brunch/dinner options and duvet scallops not duvet scallops ), and the atmosphere was uncomfortable from start to finish.
Chase (AM) was rude, Collin (PM) was overly aggressive, and bartender was completely disengaged. There are so many better options out there — we won’t be back.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
This was a dream come true for my Dad. He has followed Vivian for years. We went on a Saturday night, had an incredible hostess and waitress, then had a warm visit from Vivian herself. It is easy to love this place. The food is complex and thoughtful. I am excited to dive into her cookbook for this Thanksgiving season. What a treat. I highly recommend for a special night out.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Our last dinner in Charleston was at Vivian Howard's restaurant, Lenoir. It was a drizzly Sunday night and at 5:30 the restaurant wasn't too busy. We were greeted by Collin, who doubled as a server that evening. For our last night, we started with two cocktails, my husband tried Short Rows made with Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Highwire amaro and Aperol. I tried Spittin' Image made with Woodford Reserve bourbon, blueberry bbq shrub and lemon. Wow, what fabulous drinks. I could have drank Spittin' Image all night, but I wouldn't be a pretty image the following day. It was a smooth drink, a little tart from the blueberries and lemon and nicely balanced with the bourbon...yum! My husband enjoyed his cocktail too. For dinner, we started with a shared appetizer of burrata with grilled eggplant, roasted muscadines, country ham, sage honey drizzle and extra virgin olive oil. The burrata had a rich, creamy center and was nicely complemented by the complex flavors of the grilled eggplant, the muscadine grapes which were both sweet and a hint of tartness. The sage honey added an earthiness and the country ham a bit of texture....delicious. For entrees, my husband chose the Peculiar Pig Pork Chop Schnitzel that came with crispy pan-fried roasted onion spätzle, mustard greens and a pickled peanut salad. The generously cut pork chop was lightly pounded and sat atop the spätzle with the mustard green and pickled peanuts atop. My husband loved this dish, but unfortunately, fell short to eat the entire chop. I chose the Joyce Farms Pan Roasted Chicken Breast with grape roasted Brussels sprouts, leeks, sweet pepper drops with port chicken jus. This was a very tasty preparation. The chicken had a lovely spicy crust and sat atop the vegetables. I've have never seen sweet pepper drops before and they were delicious in combination with the other vegetables in the dish. Overall, we totally enjoyed dining at Lenoir.
Restaurantji Recommends
Lenoir did not disappoint - excellent service, nice wine selection and the food was wonderful. The deviled eggs were perfectly seasoned and creamy with a little bit of heat. The tilefish main was great with a crispy paella soccarat and peanuts adding texture with a lovely sauce. My companions had scallops and schnitzel and both loved their dishes. Collard greens to share can't be missed! Chef Howard checked on her guests and she was lovely and down to earth. This is the best that Charleston gets! Don't miss it.
We live in Charleston and have probably been to every restaurant on the Peninsula. Lenoir is in the top three...probably one of the best restaurants in the US. Fresh farm to table ingredients, an innovative chef and superb service make for an unforgettable experience. Also a great wine list. We are former winery/tasting room owners and had no complaints:). Can't wait for our next visit!
Outstanding. We had such a great experience all the way around. The food was incredible and our server was amazing!
Excellent meal, excellent service! Savannah the bartender was the star! We popped in early (3pm) to inquire about reservations and the bar was already open. We sat and had a drink while she prepped for the coming evening service. She was friendly, efficient, and engaging - getting her work done, taking care of her customers, and visiting with us all at the same time! We were able to get a table at 5p, when dinner service began. Our server, Jay, was equally impressive! He was funny, friendly, knowledgeable about the menu. We ordered scallops and bone-in strip - both cooked to perfection. And the accompaniments were perfectly paired. Jay gave us a great recommendation to find carrot cake for dessert.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I gave everything a three because we weren't able to dine. Booked on Open Table. Arrived from a two hour drive to find the restaurant was booked for a private party. Restaurant staff forgot to block out the reservations on OT. Hotel staff was very nice but still didn't get to eat. Disappointed. Will never make reservations anymore without a phone call to confirm.
Loading...