The Downtown Grille is one of downtown Winston-Salem’s standout hidden gems, pairing polished service and an elegant dining room with a menu built around regional meats, seafood, and refined comfort dishes.
It has earned a reputation as the go-to spot for anniversaries, celebrations, and upscale nights out, while still feeling warm and approachable rather than overly formal. 🥩🐟
How A Polished Downtown Winston-Salem Dining Room Quietly Became The City’s Most Beloved Special-Occasion Gem
Located in the 500 W Fifth building on West 5th Street, The Downtown Grille presents itself as a sophisticated dining destination focused on high-quality meats, seafood, and a carefully curated beverage program.
The space gives it a polished city feel that fits client dinners, date nights, and celebrations without tipping into the stiff, hushed formality that makes some upscale restaurants feel like a chore.
Part of the draw is the balance between refinement and comfort: the room feels special enough for a milestone dinner, but the staff are warm, attentive, and knowledgeable in a way that keeps the whole experience relaxed and genuinely enjoyable.
The menu also gives diners multiple ways in — steak lovers find richly prepared meat dishes, seafood fans have several polished options, and anyone craving something distinctively comforting still has standout choices on the card.
That range helps explain why locals describe it as a restaurant worth revisiting instead of saving only for once-a-year occasions, with each visit feeling like a proper event rather than just another dinner out.
Food Highlights
- Joyce Farms Chicken Marsala: Chicken marsala made with Joyce Farms chicken, mushrooms, and herbs makes this signature entrée one of the clearest “order this first” recommendations on the menu, praised for its rich flavor and careful preparation by guests who keep coming back to it specifically.
- Lamb Chops: Well-executed and consistently singled out as one of the most memorable proteins on the menu, the Lamb Chops reinforce the kitchen’s strength with upscale meat dishes and the kind of plate people talk about on the drive home. 🍖
- Grilled Salmon: Carefully cooked and thoughtfully plated, the Grilled Salmon shows that seafood is treated with the same seriousness as the steak program here, making it a dependable choice for anyone who wants something lighter but still genuinely polished.
- Schnitzel Pork Chop: A heartier comfort-food option with a crisp, rich, crowd-pleasing profile, the Schnitzel Pork Chop sits alongside the steaks and seafood as proof that upscale dining and deeply satisfying comfort food are not mutually exclusive.
- Crispy Frites: Memorable enough that guests call them out by name long after the meal, the Crispy Frites are one of the most frequently photographed sides on the menu and the kind of detail that signals a kitchen paying attention to everything on the plate, not just the headliners. 🍟
- Snapper: Another seafood favorite that broadens the restaurant’s appeal well beyond steakhouse expectations, the Snapper supports the impression that The Downtown Grille is at its best when you treat it as both a steak and seafood destination rather than one or the other.
- Baked Jalisco: One of the more distinctive and personality-driven items on the menu, the Baked Jalisco stands out from the standard upscale lineup as a richer, more individual house specialty that gives the menu genuine character beyond the expected steak-and-seafood formula.
Atmosphere
Inside, The Downtown Grille offers a cozy but elegant setting that fits romantic dinners, client meals, and special-occasion dining without making anyone feel like they need to whisper.
The space is clean, polished, and comfortable for conversation, which helps the meal feel genuinely special without becoming unnecessarily formal.
Service plays a major role in the experience, with knowledgeable servers, well-paced courses, and staff who elevate the meal through hospitality just as much as the kitchen does through the food.
Bottom Line
The Downtown Grille is the Winston-Salem spot you book when the goal is a polished dinner built around standout dishes like Chicken Marsala, Lamb Chops, Grilled Salmon, Schnitzel Pork Chop, Crispy Frites, Snapper, and Baked Jalisco.
With refined cooking, strong service, and a downtown atmosphere that feels elegant without being intimidating, it stands out as one of the city’s best special-occasion restaurants that’s also worth visiting on an ordinary Tuesday when you just want a great meal.
Address:
500 W 5th St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101
📞 +1 336-930-1485
🕔 Open Tue–Thu, 4:30 PM–9:00 PM; Fri–Sat, 4:30 PM–10:00 PM (Closed Sun–Mon)