Crafted! The Art of the Taco, is Not a Mexican Restaurant. But Oh, What it Is!

Crafted! is located at 219-A South Elm Street (near the intersection with February One, across from Inferno nightclub). Open 11am - 2pm Monday, 11am - 10pm Tuesday through Saturday; and 11am – 3pm Sunday.


I had the great pleasure of visiting downtown Greensboro's very own Crafted! and meeting and speaking with co-owners Rhonda Fuller and her daughter, Kristina Fuller. Rhonda, vivacious and bubbly, socializes easily with customers and handles the business side of things, and Kristina, full of knowledge and expertise about food, is the culinary wizard behind the amazing menu. They emphasize that Crafted! is not a Mexican restaurant, but a restaurant that features “globally-inspired creations, housed conveniently in a tortilla shell.” Kristina is a big advocate for the tortilla, deeming it to be a more or less perfect container for all kinds of great food.

Of course, even though Crafted! is well-known for its fantastic tacos, whimsically named after hipster gear (the Fedora, Bow Tie and Messenger are as de rigeur to eat as they are to wear, now!), there is so much more available on the menu: The restaurant features mouth-watering burgers, such as the immensely popular One and Only, a beef burger topped with aged white cheddar pimento cheese, bacon and caramelized onions, and such cool appetizers as the Stuffed Avocado and the Mason of Bacon, a mason jar full of sliced applewood bacon with salted caramel, cracked pepper and spicy chocolate that often ends up as dessert selection, as well! The food is complimented by selections from the bar—best-sellers include the bacon bloody mary, the jalapeno margarita, and the orange-ginger margarita, which sounds amazing.

Although tacos like the Fixie and the Big Truck are perennial faves at Crafted!, Kristina also recommends the Oxford, which contains fried chicken, spaghetti squash slaw and spicy Asian mustard. I personally enjoyed the Bow Tie, a fried fish taco with roasted corn and poblano salsa, sweet chipotle aioli and honey mustard, garnished with fresh cilantro. The fragrance of the fresh cilantro, the crisp snap of the sweet corn and the crunchy, flavorful fish were an incredibly delicious combination of sweet and savory tastes, and although I am fairly sensitive to spicy food, Scots-Irish gal that I am, the heat from this was only a whisper, just enough to add personality. I washed my meal down with a Diet Pepsi, which was served charmingly in a mason jar.

The whole restaurant is charming, really—the colorful walls and funky artwork, including recycled-materials sculpture, the upbeat music and friendly atmosphere all combine to make it an awesome place for hanging out, maybe after a show at Triad Stage or a mani-pedi at Chakras. And don't forget Sunday brunch! Downtown Greensboro is really waking up on weekends, these days and a great way to kick off a day of shopping and gallery-hopping downtown is to stop in at Crafted! for Sunday brunch. The menu differs from their regular offerings and can be viewed here http://craftedtheartofthetaco.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Crafted-Brunch.pdf. What better excuse to try a bacon bloody mary? Crafted! is a great place for everyone, regardless of dietary restrictions, as the menu was created to be hypo-allergenic (no nuts in anything), vegetarian- and vegan-friendly, and even offers gluten-free options. Kristina says that 85% of the menu can be made vegan, and it still offers plenty of savory meat substitutes and proteins, like seitan, tofu and falafel.

I was excited to hear that, in February, Rhonda and Kristina plan to expand Crafted! to another location, across from Deep Roots Market in the old Steele and Vaughn building. In addition to the restaurant, there will be a brewery, and there will be more open space and much more seating (about one and a half times as much, including outdoor seating) at the new location. They will also have an area that can be reserved for private parties as well as regular restaurant patrons. Speaking of private parties I'll bet you didn't know that Crafted! offers catering, as well, so if you want their fantastic food at your wedding, graduation party or business meeting, they can bring it to you, and even set it up and serve it. They offer a range of selections, from a simple-yet-tasty taco bar to a more “designer” menu, fully-customized to your needs.

Above all, the gospel at Crafted! is quality, freshness, and great taste. The kitchen staff arrives early in the morning to begin prep work for the 11am opening. All the food is freshly prepared from fresh ingredients, the choicest-quality meats are braised overnight for tenderness and infusion of flavor, and all of this passion for quality shines through in the food, from the appetizing presentation and delicious fragrance to the burst of flavor in every delicious bite. All of this comes at a very reasonable price, so stop in to Greensboro's finest taco joint and have some of the yummiest food around. Tell them Ali sent ya!

You can also find What's Good in Greensbroro? on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Whats-Good-in-Greensboro-848569635208317/ . See you there!

Cheesecakes by Alex Serves Up Happiness

Cheesecakes by Alex is located at 315 S, Elm Street (just south of Washington Street, across from Blu Martini and Scuppernong Books). Hours are Tuesday & Wednesday 7:30am – 9pm, Thursday & Friday 7:30am – 11pm, Saturday 9am – 11pm, and Sunday 10am – 9pm.


Alex R. Amoroso, Jr. loves what he does. You can tell by the way he delightedly greets guests, schmoozing and joking with the regulars, and by the sparkle in his eye when he talks about his business, the eponymous Cheesecakes by Alex. From a hobby pursued at home to a booth at the Greensboro Farmer's Curb Market on Yanceyville Street to an honest-to-goodness bakery cafe that has become a Greensboro institution with its cheerful awning, gorgeous brick patio with al fresco seating and its fabulously long hours (I have been known to crave cheesecake at 10pm, and I'll bet you have, too). With the bustle of activity at the counter, the smells of pastries and fresh-brewed coffee wafting through the air and Frank Sinatra on the sound system, this place feels like your favorite hangout in New York City, except—lucky you!—it's right here in Greensboro.

As one could guess, Cheesecakes by Alex offers specialty cheesecakes in a wide variety of flavors (they currently offer 20 different flavors, and Mother Murphy's Extracts makes custom flavors just for them), but the store is also a genuine patisserie, with pastries such as muffins, eclairs, and traditional scones (moist, biscuit-looking treats, not those horribly dry triangles you find at other places). Also popular are the layer cakes, sold whole or by the slice, and there is a large menu of specialty coffees, as well as a selection of other beverages. Even the cheesecakes themselves come with various options: Alex offers sugar-free cheesecake, sweetened with xylitol (although xylitol is perfectly safe for humans, please don't share with your canine companion, as it can be harmful to dogs). In addition, Cheesecakes by Alex also makes gluten-free cheesecake. See? There's no reason to miss out on the goodness!

Cheesecakes by Alex was established at the former location of Simple Kneads in December of 2002 as a natural outgrowth of Alex's very popular booth at the Farmer's Curb Market, which he supplied by baking his treats at home. But now that he has a commercial baker's kitchen, he can serve the needs of more cheesecake-craving, scone-munching customers. However, business is so good that another expansion is in the works, planned for Spring of next year, which will physically expand the current location into the building next door. Not only will this provide more seating, including a banquet room for private parties, it will also allow Alex to increase his product line. Currently, Cheesecakes by Alex offers homemade bread only at the Farmer's Curb Market (try the sourdough, a fan favorite), but the expansion of the kitchen facility will enable the bakery to produce fresh bread on location. In addition, Alex anticipates being open seven days a week at the new location, for those of us who slink wistfully by the place on Mondays.

Cheesecakes by Alex is in full swing for the holidays, with special new seasonal treats: Currently available is an egg nog cheesecake and a bourbon butter pecan cheesecake, and Alex is developing a pineapple sage layer cake, coming soon. You might be pleasantly surprised to learn that in addition to being a wonderful bakery cafe, Cheesecakes by Alex can also provide made-to-order baked goods for private parties and events (they will work with your caterer and will even deliver your order to the location). They also ship nationwide, so if Great Aunt Sheila in Idaho needs her cheesecake fix, some yumminess from Cheesecakes by Alex could be a great Christmas present—order soon!

I loved the ambiance of this shop. The sales area is open to the kitchen, so one can watch the staff busy at work while waiting on line, and the indoor dining room is filled with wonderful original artwork. It was a little cold during my visit for outdoor seating, but the lovely and spacious brick patio with its charming Mediterranean feel looks like a great place to sit and visit with friends over a post-shopping scone or late-night dessert. It's no wonder that Alex loves his work, because he is in the business of making people happy, and he is doing a smashing job.

You can also find What's Good in Greensbroro? on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Whats-Good-in-Greensboro-848569635208317/ . See you there!

Most Romantic Restaurants for a Dinner Date in Greensboro, NC

These Locations Offer Great Ambiance and Food Alike

Summer is in full swing, and love is in the air, is it not? Are you looking for a nice, romantic restaurant for your dinner date in Greensboro, NC? Don't worry; Greensboro has plenty of romantic restaurants for a lovely dinner date. Here is a sampling:

Mimi's Café, Friendly Center - Mimi's is a chain restaurant, but don't assume that means it is not intimate or romantic! Mimi's Café is based on New Orleans-style ambience, with parti-colored glass light fixtures, quirky artwork and decorations with a jazz theme, and even a dining room outfitted like a typical street in the French Quarter, complete with those distinctive New Orleans balconies. You can cozy up to your date in an intimate booth as you sample delicious food from the wide selection of fresh seasonal specials or the large range of permanent menu items. We love this restaurant, which must have a "No Screaming Babies" section, as we have never been plagued by kids running wild (always an important consideration for a romantic dinner date!), and the best part? The prices are great, which means this will not be out of range for even the pre-prom dinner daters among us.

Green Valley Grill, Green Valley Road at the O'Henry Hotel - One of our favorite restaurants in Greensboro. Green Valley Grill features Continental Cuisine, and like Mimi's, has seasonal items and daily specials. This restaurant is not a cozy, dimly-lit place like Mimi's, but despite the soaring, airy feel and dramatically open kitchen, the Green Valley Grill still appeals to the romantic with its large, lovely wall mural and classical music, cut crystal and elegant china, attentive service and delicious food. The staff will be happy to provide flowers for a special occasion. Expect to pay about $30 and up per person at this restaurant, but it is good value for the price paid.

Café Pasta, State Street - Café Pasta is, as you might guess from the name, an Italian restaurant, with menu items ranging from linguine with clam sauce to manicotti and all of your favorite romantic desserts, like tiramisu and fresh ricotta cheesecake. Café Pasta features live music some nights, so cozy up at a white-linen-clad table and enjoy the music as you canoodle over your cannoli. If you have time before or after dinner, you may wish to stroll the adorable boutiques along State Street, Café Pasta's quaint, somewhat European-feeling setting.

If you are a looking for a romantic place to take your date for dinner in Greensboro, the restaurants mentioned here offer a reliably romantic experience. Use the links (click on the restaurant names/addresses in bold) to find out more about hours of operation, specials and more. Bon Apétit!

You can also find What's Good in Greensbroro? on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Whats-Good-in-Greensboro-848569635208317/ . See you there!

Image from Pixabay http://pixabay.com/en/glasses-sparkling-wine-cheers-213156/ 

(Yeah, I know Greensboro doesn't have a beach. It's a nice picture!)

Downtown Greensboro, North Carolina, is Really Happening!

Get to Know the New Hot Spots Downtown

Wow, Greensboro's downtown sure has changed since I moved here! It used to be a few restaurants struggling amidst stuffy old used bookstores and secondhand shops. Most of the downtown "life" occurred during the day, when people were at work in all the office buildings and the few restaurants that existed mainly to serve them were open for lunch, but once 5 o'clock rolled around, the sidewalks basically got rolled up as folks drove back out to their suburban homes. Oh sure, there were a few interesting things, like Triad Stage and Carolina Theater, and a couple of neat little places like Thousands o' Prints and the yarn store, but there weren't a lot of reasons to hang around.

Cue the development blitz! Buildings were renovated into condos, and with people actually living downtown, there was a built-in customer base. More places started opening. More galleries! More stores! A good half-dozen actual nightclubs opened, as well as plenty of bars and restaurants. They finally finished restoring the old Woolworth store--the historical one, where the Greensboro Four, black college students from local A&T University, led a "sit-in" at the Woolworth lunch counter, which was segregated at the time--and turned it into the International Civil Rights Museum, thus adding to our downtown museum count, which also includes, among others, the Children's Museum, Blandwood Mansion, and the Weatherspoon Art Museum at UNCG (see my review of that here). We even have a spa downtown! And a bakery! 

All this has happened over the last decade or so, but in just the past couple of years, the momentum for new places seems to be growing--so many cool little boho stores, galleries and restaurants have opened on South Elm Street, I can barely keep track, and even more are coming. If you haven't visited downtown Greensboro in a while, you should come back and check it out. We'll keep the sidewalks unrolled for you! 

You can also find What's Good in Greensbroro? on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Whats-Good-in-Greensboro-848569635208317/ . See you there!

Nighttime cityscape by Turboknowledge, from Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Greensboro_City_Scape.jpg