I´ve got the feeling I’ve been here before, this little restaurant on North Battleground Avenue tucked into the retail space adjacent to the Exxon station — because, of course, I have.

Imagine my surprise. I sat and took a quick look at the menu — interesting appetizers like Italian nachos, homemade soups, a bevy of salads and some greatlooking sandwiches. But all of this was an exercise in futility. When my server approached, he could tell just by the look on my face that I would be taking a few laps around that buffet.

That’s what happened to me with Snack Bar, which opened to much fanfare on South Elm Street in March of last year. News of their chicken and waffles, well stocked bar and comely waitstaff spread quickly, yet I didn’t make it through the doors until last week.

First off, there are no actual screaming roosters at the Screaming Rooster, the downtown Winston-Salem boutique eatery occupying the space formerly known as Mary’s of Course — which is fi ne by me, though sometimes I do wish for more of that type of derring-do in the Triad restaurant scene.

Take my advice: If you’re going to Kabuto, the Japanese Kabuto has all of these things, but they’re tucked into a menu hibachi grill and sushi joint on the curve of Stanley Road that has something for everybody: filet mignon, ribeye, tuna, in Greensboro, bring a bunch of people with you.

The culinary year in the Triad has seen some surprising highs, like the opening of Bin 33 in downtown Greensboro and expansion of the Cobblestone Farmers Market in Winston-Salem, and some depressing lows, most of which have to do with the continued massacre of local, independently owned restaurants.

I love family businesses. Being part of a family business myself, I appreciate the hard work, long hours and unique dynamics that occur in family-run operations. That’s one of the reasons I like Ghassan’s, owned and operated by the Fleihan family since its founding.

Say you’re in Kernersville. Doesn’t matter why. Maybe you’re visiting a friend. Maybe you need gas. Maybe you’re passing through on your way to Winston-Salem in the rain and you get this gnawing yen for comfort food, and you know that this little corner...

The signs next to the offerings abound, including a high ceilings, brighter lights, and ryover from Rana Loca, patrons kitchen and on a hallway mouth-watering description of the exaggerated backs to the booth seats. commented on how different the door still read, “Rana crispy haystack calamari and the Think classic American diner booths space looked.

Thanksgiving meal — even on Long Island, where I grew up and where Emeril, on the other hand, takes a purist’s approach, starting with the oysters colonies once bedazzled every bay and inlet.

In Guilford County, 17 percent of the residents live below the poverty line. It’s 16.5 percent in Forsyth County. Among them are an alarming number of families, children and the elderly. For them, a proper Thanksgiving may rely on the generosity of others.

Normally I spend my Saturdays off the clock as a journalist, preferring to spend the time berating my children until they get off the couch, or spending time on said couch watching football. So I didn’t have a notebook — or even a pen — when our family stumbled into the Lindley Park neighborhood Fall Fest on Saturday afternoon.

That’s it. I’m taking an oath: No more crappy tacos. No more brittle, corn-chip-tasting taco shells that crumble with the first bite or fall apart at the seams. No more orange-y seasoned meat in unrec- ognizable crumbles that gives me heartburn just by looking at it.

We start with the 2009 Pouilly-Fuissé, just a great bottle of wine, goes with pretty much anything, and even on a cool night like tonight it does just fine by itself.Many a time in the course o

For late night denizens of Winston-Salem’s bar and club scene, Breakfast of Course! (Mary’s Too) is an oasis of delicious, healthy food at affordable prices. The neon green “BOC” sign affixed to the brick edifice of the restaurant serves as a beacon for patrons of the Trade Street bars.

This is a nice place,said Ashby Cook, my guest. Have you been here before? This is my first time, I replied. Ive heard great things. Recently, I had had the opportunity to meet Executive Chef Jared Keiper at Ziggys and he filled me in on his menu and all the exciting things he had in store for his new kitchen.

As I rolled down South Stratford Road in Winston-Salem, my eye spotted a banner touting a new neighborhood place called the Buena Vista Grille. Located in the former home of Big Shots Tavern, the eatery now serves what they describe as local Southern cuisine, casual dining in a great atmosphere.

I did manage to spend a lot of family time, and I managed to get out of town a couple times. But I did not get as much writing done this summer as I had intended, and one of the things I had meant to write but never got around to was a story on frozen delicacies.

At 4:30 on a Friday afternoon, Camino Bakery is humming with activity, and it sounds like sweet, heavenly music to the ears of owner Cary Clifford.

Jamestown is not known for its resauarants, though there are several fine ones to choose from, most of them on the Main Street drag. Ive tried just about all of them, even the Subway and Dominos franchises, though I generally prefer something locally owned and operated.