photos by SAIL OFF PHOTOGRAPHY
Jeffrey Adams on Fourth is my dining destination of choice when I’m craving a night out on the town. In fact, on nearly a monthly basis, I can be found sitting at a candle-lit, high top table by a window overlooking 4th Street, sipping on a bubbly cocktail, and waiting to see where the night takes me. In my opinion, Jeffrey Adams is the ideal spot to get the night started on a Friday or Saturday, but also doubles as a posh, post-work dinner spot on a weekday.
Aside from its prime location in the heart of the downtown action, Jeffrey Adams’ dimly lit, cozy-chic interior with a beautiful bar initially led me to adopting Jeffrey Adams as my go-to weekend haunt for nearly three years in a row. The menu’s cocktail, wine, and beer selections reach a wide customer base, but the menu’s modern appetizer, entree, and dessert choices are the establishment’s true selling points. This should not come as a surprise to Winston-Salem locals, however, as Jeffrey Adams happens to be just one of restaurateur Adam Andrews’ genius creations. Owned and operated by both Adam Andrews and Jeff Bassett, Jeffrey Adams places an emphasis on providing outstanding service combined with serving high-quality meals made with fresh and local ingredients, some of which even come from Adam’s own Andrews Farm. The dynamic Andrews and Bassett duo also recruited the help of Executive Chef Will Hoffman, along with Sous Chef John Danziger and General Manager Matthew Saseen, to make the magic of Jeffrey Adams happen.
Although I usually visit solo, I was excited to change things up and dine with the Forsyth Woman ladies for an unforgettable experience – not to mention on a Tuesday evening, which happened to be sporting a half-price wine special that the three of us happily took advantage of. I selected a glass of sauvignon blanc to start, which paired nicely with our first appetizer consisting of three perfectly portioned crab cakes atop fire-roasted corn and a Cajun remoulade. As a major fan of crab cakes, I was nothing short of pleased with our first dish, and was equally excited when we were presented with seared ahi tuna dressed with wasabi, soy reduction, seaweed, pickled ginger, and Asian slaw. The sesame seed-crusted slices of tuna were pleasantly mild in taste, with the seed rim adding a balanced crunch to each bite. For meat lovers, I highly suggest the pork belly smothered in a delectable Korean BBQ sauce and paired with house-made pickles to kickstart your meal.
After the ladies and I devoured our appetizers, we ordered additional glasses of wine (I stuck with my trusty sauvignon blanc) and anxiously awaited our entrees. The special that night happened to be a filet mignon cooked perfectly and paired with grilled shrimp, buttery scalloped potatoes, and asparagus, with an herb cream sauce and chipotle aioli lining the dish. I was ecstatic about this special, as the restaurant’s filet mignon topped with a cabernet demi-glace is my typical main menu meal of choice.
For seafood lovers, the pan-seared grouper is a light fish dish perfectly dressed with fire-roasted tomatoes, artichokes, capers, baby spinach, asparagus, and a touch of lemon. In my opinion, a restaurant’s mashed potatoes can make or break a meal, and the grouper’s side of heartwarming mashed potatoes did not disappoint. For a heartier seafood meal, I highly suggest the seafood risotto, which combines scallops, shrimp, and lobster with creamy gouda cheese, baby spinach, and sun-dried tomato pesto for a fork full of flavor. Because we were filling up quickly, I was secretly hoping to have leftover risotto to take home for my lunch the next day, and fortunately, my wishes were granted.
The final show-stopper of the night was none other than the iconic chocolate creme brûlée from the dessert menu. Jeffrey Adams is one of the only local restaurants where I have been able to find chocolate creme brûlée, and given its perfect caramelization covering an airy chocolate custard, it’s a tough act to follow for competitors.
Be sure to book your table in advance on OpenTable, or call the restaurant directly to make a reservation at (336)-448-1714. Visit www.jeffreyadamsws.com to view the menu and read more about the team. Find Jeffrey Adams on Fourth at 321 West 4th Street in Winston-Salem, and follow @jeffreyadamson4th on Instagram for updates.
