Daniel B.
Yelp
I found MACHETE when searching for chefs and restaurants in Georgia and North Carolina that made the 2022 James Beard Awards lists of semifinalists: https://bit.ly/3HzqaCq. MACHETE was a semifinalist for Best New Restaurant (the business opened in February 2020). Having grown up in the Triad, I was a bit surprised to see a restaurant in Greensboro make the list. I had to check it out. MACHETE also made Yelp's Top 100 US Restaurants 2022: https://bit.ly/3Hl99O9. On Yelp's list, MACHETE ranked 18th in the country. Impressive.
Did MACHETE live up to the hype? In short, yes. If you love food, drinks, and dining out, MACHETE should be at or near the top of your list in the Triad. We really enjoyed our experience here. The food and drink were delicious and the service was great. MACHETE had a lot of attention to detail nailed down. From the types of shades used before sunset to the eucalyptus-treated moist towelettes offered to clean our hands after a particular dish, those little things are what set these kinds of places apart.
This is the kind of restaurant you'd expect to find in a bigger, more cosmopolitan city. As we ate, one of my dining companions commented that MACHETE reminded him of places he and his wife recently ate at in Chicago. For me, coming from Atlanta, it reminded me of a lot of the New American, farm-to-table restaurants that have opened there over the past 15 years or so. Same idea -- constantly-changing menus featuring unique, creative dishes and cocktails utilizing seasonal ingredients. I haven't dined out enough in the Triad to know if there's anything comparable to and at MACHETE's level, but I can't imagine there are more than a handful (in the fine dining - contemporary category).
I booked our Saturday 7:15pm reservation 10 days in advance. At that time, only "lounge" tables were available, which ended up being perfect for us. What MACHETE calls their "front lounge" is a fully-covered and enclosed front patio. During our visit, the weather was nice so the storefront's two garage doors were fully retracted up. Our dinner had a relaxing al-fresco feel to it. Towards the end of the night, we - and everyone else on the patio - were treated to an amazing, long fireworks show across the street at the Greensboro Grasshoppers' ballpark, First National Bank Field. The fireworks shows happen regularly and MACHETE's patio happens to be a perfect place to watch them.
Aside from the lounge (patio), MACHETE also offers seats inside in their dining room and at the bar. Your mileage may vary because another time, I looked for Saturday dinner reservations only 3 days out and plenty of times were available for the lounge, dining room, and bar.
When we visited, the menu had 7-8 snacks, 14 plates, and 5+ treats (desserts). The drink menu was extensive. Below is what 4 of us shared. It should also give you an idea on pricing. Sharing is encouraged.
Cocktails:
* F*** About & Find Out ($17) - basil rum, mezcal, Red Boat, orange blossom, coconut, lime
* You Asked For It ($13) - vodka, cold brew, cream, orange, cocoa, ancho
* Smoked Manhattan ($16) - rye, Dopo Teatro, decanter bitters, cherry wood
* Old Fashioned x2
Snacks:
* Lettuce Wrap ($7) - mushroom, pine nut, crouton
* Roasted Olives ($7) - red wine, orange
Plates:
* Pork Ribs ($12) - chili, peanut, lime
* Asparagus ($10) - coconut, Calabrese, breadcrumb
* Duck Wings ($15) - sumac, pepper
* Roasted Cauliflower ($13) - tomatillo, pepita
* Scallop ($34) - Asiago, chorizo, morel
* Grilled Wagyu ($44) - black garlic, maitake
Treats:
* Horchata ($12) - dark chocolate, pineapple, raspberry
* Strudel ($12) - strawberry, malted milk
* Lemon Poppy Seed Cake ($12) - mint, pistachio, marshmallow
I tried all of the cocktails, but the Old Fashioned, and they were all fantastic. Well-balanced, flavorful, and strong. My friend who got the Old Fashioneds said his were nice and strong too. Outstanding presentation also, from the fun tiki glass of the F*** About & Find Out to the large, fluffy cream top of the You Asked For It.
My favorite dishes were the Lettuce Wrap, Scallop, and Grilled Wagyu. I love mushrooms and the lettuce wraps (3) had 3 different kinds of them: beech, cremini, and maitake. The scallops (5-6) came with mushrooms as well (morel). That dish had a delectable cream sauce in addition to plump, succulent scallops. The Wagyu was cooked rare to medium rare and served sliced. Tender, tasty, and excellent quality.
Both the Pork Ribs and Asparagus were quite good, though the ribs were a bit too salty. The Duck Wings had wonderful flavor, but weren't as tender and meaty as I was hoping. I liked all 3 of the Horchata, Strudel, and Lemon Poppy Seed Cake equally. All were yummy.
My least favorite dish was the Roasted Olives, but still, not bad.
Our server Zack, the hostess, and all other staff we interacted with were terrific. The only thing they could've done better service-wise was clear the used plates from our table faster and more frequently.