Daniel B.
Yelp
Dinner at The Fearrington House Restaurant was one of the best dining experiences we've had anywhere. It was certainly among the very best we've had in North Carolina. The food and service were simply phenomenal. Fine dining at its finest.
This place was recommended to us by some friends. I probably would have no idea of its existence otherwise. It's kind of located out in the middle of nowhere. I say "kind of" because it was only about a 20-minute drive from our home in Chapel Hill. This place is certainly worth the drive from anywhere in the Triangle, and points beyond. It's that good.
The Fearrington House Restaurant is part of Fearrington Village, a sort of farm-like resort that, along with the restaurant, offers boutique shopping, a spa, and an inn. There are also houses, squares, and a park with ponds and trails tucked away from the retail area. The residential neighborhood is sizable.
My wife loved this place because the village was a mini getaway from the Triangle. As we drove past the Belted Galloway cows and the silo on the way in, we knew we were entering someplace special. Overall, the property was really charming, peaceful, and idyllic. It was magical as well -- after dinner, we took a stroll around the house and gardens. Along with the beautiful foliage and landscaping, there were rabbits and fireflies.
When I booked our reservations, my wife and I were pleasantly surprised to learn that The Fearrington House is a Relais & Chateaux property. Just a couple months prior to our visit here, we had stayed at our first Relais & Chateaux property, Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts, in Bora Bora. That was a stellar experience as well. These experiences make us want to go to more Relais & Chateaux properties in the future.
The Fearrington House Restaurant is prix fixe dinner only. The menu is seasonal. For us, the price was $150 per four-course dinner with optional $100 wine pairing. Also, one of the main course options, the steak, had an $80 "supplement" if you wanted to upgrade to Japanese wagyu over the regular ribeye. In addition to the four courses, there were three hors d'oeuvres (two canapes and one amuse-bouche), a "pre-dessert," and even post-dessert treats; the latter was not listed on the menu.
There were three options per course. Here's what we had:
First Canape
* Lemon Poppy Macarons with Foie Gras Ganache (x2)
Amuse-Bouche
* Local Beet Gummy with Brulee Lemon Creme Fraiche and Herb Oil (x2)
First Course
* Panna Cotta with Roasted Turnips and Black Garlic; pickled daikon, kale, cracker, grapefruit
* Kanpachi Crudo with Mango and Fresno Chili Sorbet; jalapeno, cucumber, lime
Second Course
* Stuffed Quail with Jerusalem Artichoke; basil, blackberry, crumble
* Seared Bass with Artichoke and Bok Choy; chive, maitake, tapioca
Second Canape
* Melon Gazpacho (x2)
Main Course
* Beef Ribeye with Bordelaise; cippolini, broccoli, king trumpet
* Seared Scallops with Fava Beans and Farro; sweet pepper, herb oil, lace tuile, fennel
Pre-Dessert
* Mango Mousse with Blackberry (x2)
Dessert
* Valrhona Coeur de Guanaja Souffle; dark chocolate, vanilla, whipped cream
* Strawberry Rhubarb Pavlova with Basil; lemon curd, sorbet, angel food
Cocktails
* Virtuous Imbiber ($15) - bourbon, Pasubio, Montenegro, Regan's Orange Bitters; boozy, botanical, spirit-forward
* Five Mile Hike ($16) - rum, lemon, cappelletti, chartreuse, orgeat; bright, refreshing, botanical
Wine
* Glass of Violin, Pinot Noir ($18) - Willamette Valley, Oregon, MV
Post-Dessert Treats
* Strawberry Marshmallow, Strawberry Jelly, Strawberry Fudge, some sort of Caramel, and another treat we can't remember + Shortbread Cookies to take home
In general, everything was magnificent and super creative. How do they even think up some of this stuff? For example, we were hit with Macarons with Foie Gras Ganache and Local Beet Gummies right out the gate. And everything worked well together and was delicious (e.g., the macarons were both sweet and savory, and tasted fantastic). My wife, who loves to cook, commented that she would never think to make beets into gummies.
Every dish was complex. We could tell a lot of thought and work was put into each course and the bites in between. The chefs weren't afraid to play with texture as well as flavor. Also, there was an amazing attention to detail. For example, the way they stacked and piped various ingredients on dishes such as the Panna Cotta and Stuffed Quail, and the way they placed curled-up cucumber inside a slice of jalapeno on the Crudo. The presentation was unique, meticulous, and visually appealing.
Generally, the drinks were very balanced and refreshing. I really enjoyed the Virtuous Imbiber. It was strong and robust.
Service was exceptional. My wife commented that the staff made her feel really special and I agree. We were their focus and priority. The staff was extremely attentive. Our server was Brianna, who has worked at Fearrington Village for many years. She was terrific.