Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1029086
SEPTEMBER 19-25, 2018 UCW 29 Best of Fayetteville Best Place for a Romantic Dinner Luigi's Italian Restaurant 528 N. McPherson Church Rd. 910-864-1810 or www.luigisnc.com It's no surprise to see Luigi's win Best Place for a Romantic Dinner. It's a firmly established popular stopping point for both longtime residents of Fayetteville and newcomers to the city. The ambience is just right, the food is delicious and the wine list is extensive. A client who went there for a celebration on New Year's Eve came away highly impressed. "We were seated right away,'' she wrote. "Crab dip was amazing as was the shrimp wrapped in bacon. The food came out fast as well. I had the shrimp Alfredo and added broccoli. The broccoli was cooked to perfection. The food all came out hot and with lots of sauce. "All the staff were great and seemed to enjoy their night. I definitely will be back again.'' Another client praised her server, saying, "She was on point with everything from drinks, appetizers and the main meal. We wanted for nothing and she was absolutely the best server that I have had in a long time. The food was spectacular, and all was perfect.'' In addition to outstanding cuisine and service, Luigi's regularly features an assortment of live music to set just the right mood. Best Local Caterer Peaden's Seafood & Catering 1600 McArthur Rd. 910-488-1972 or www.peadens.com A newcomer to the Best of Fayetteville, Peaden's Seafood and Catering won the hearts of our readers this year. The motto at Peaden's is "bringing Calabash to Fayetteville," and with the catering end of the business, that's exactly what you get. Peaden's specialty is Calabash-style seafood along with Southern fried chicken, Eastern North Carolina barbecue and excellent hushpuppies. Peaden's has been in business since 1972 with a focus on family-style service. Owners Mary, Jimmy, John and Ricky Peaden are always working to guarantee customer satisfaction with every meal served. When it comes to catering, no job is too large or too small for them to tackle. All their food is made with care and presented in an appetizing manner at competitive prices. They have custom mobile kitchens that make catering throughout the region convenient. They offer full-service jobs and can also handle smaller pickups and deliveries. Best Brew House The Mash House Brewing Company & Restaurant 4150 Sycamore Dairy Rd. 910-867-9223 or www.themashhouse.com They are proudly the oldest brewery in Cumberland County, and the first thing folks at The Mash House will tell you is that their key to success these past 17 years is consistency when it comes to serving great food and brewing great craft beers. General Manager Steve Groveunder regularly changes and updates the menu to stay on top of the latest dining trends. This keeps his loyal customers coming back week after week to experience great food, unmatched hospitality and superb service. Groveunder also knows the importance of giving back, serving and supporting the local community, so he purchases locally every chance he gets. He also buys much of The Mash House's produce from local growers and other North Carolina farmers for unprecedented freshness. At the Mash House, it's also all about their award-winning craft beers. No preservatives. The Mash House uses only the finest ingredients at their Sycamore Dairy Road on-site microbrewery: malted barley, hops, yeast and pure water. With multiple wins at nationwide festivals and competitions, Mash House chefs and brewmasters know how to pair and complement every dish on the menu no matter what the season. At the 2018 Carolinas Championships of Beer, their blonde, Hefeweizen and Jack'd Up Stout brews all won medals. Experience The Mash House soon. They provide great service and can accommodate large groups and provide the community with a variety of fun and exciting things to do, including live weekly trivia, quarterly beer dinners and parking lot parties. See ya there! Best Wine Shop The Wine Café 108 Hay St. 910-779-2766 or www. thewinecafeus.com The Wine Cafe, located on picturesque Hay Street in downtown Fayetteville, is a unique concept that combines a wine shop and a tasting room into one experience. It's locally owned by Angie Malave, a business woman and veteran's spouse. Malave offers hand-picked wines of boutique quality, but at affordable prices. She believes good wines are meant to be enjoyed daily, and she thoughtfully provides most anything you can think of that pairs well with wine. The store's wide selection includes small production wines from around the world, craft beers, artisan cheeses, baskets, unusual gifts and gadgets, wine classes, wine-tastings and other events. One customer called the cafe a fantastic place. "They know their wines and have no problem taking the time to discuss vino with you,'' she wrote. "Great place to go and relax. Very welcoming. I love the live jazz nights. They have a patio that you can sit out on and watch foot traffic downtown. I love that you can taste a wine before you buy a bottle.''