Dining in Style at Primary Restaurant + Bar: Where Comfort Meets Culinary Excellence
When you think of dining out in Highlands, NC, there’s cozy, there’s classy, and then there’s Primary Restaurant + Bar—the place where leather banquettes meet velvet upholstery, and where your taste buds will stand up and give a standing ovation (if taste buds had legs). Seriously, if you’re after top-tier food in a setting that feels like a stylish lounge straight out of a designer magazine, this is your new go-to.
Let’s set the scene, shall we? Tobacco leather banquettes and booths that practically hug you as you sit down. A plush lounge where deep blue velvet wraps you in luxury while you sip your perfectly crafted cocktail. The bar? It’s an architectural masterpiece of wood, metal, and slate, fronted by leather barstools with backs so comfortable, they make leaving a personal challenge. All around, unique artwork and striking lighting make this spot feel like the lovechild of a fine dining experience and a modern art gallery.
But enough about the decor (okay, just kidding—it’s impossible to get enough of it!). Let’s talk about the food.
Tempura Fried Brussels (aka "Brussels Sprouts Gone Wild")
Let’s face it, Brussels sprouts are the vegetables we love to hate. But not here! Primary Restaurant + Bar has taken Brussels sprouts and turned them into golden, crispy, balsamic-drizzled wonders that even your kids might ask for seconds of. Light and crispy, with a parmesan finish that has you thinking, “Who knew I could love Brussels this much?” At just $14, it's basically a vegetable makeover show on a plate. Spoiler: the Brussels win.
The Iceberg Wedge Salad: A Salad That Thinks It's a Party
Who knew a wedge could be so, well, fun? This isn't your run-of-the-mill "I'll-have-a-salad-just-because" situation. No, the Iceberg Wedge at Primary Restaurant + Bar is a celebration of textures and flavors: crisp baby iceberg lettuce (the lettuce that comes dressed for success), blue cheese dressing that's richer than your favorite aunt, and crispy fried tobacco onions that are the ultimate cherry on top. Don’t even get me started on the honey pepper bacon—this bacon is a show-stealer. At $15, you’ll want to propose marriage to it, but maybe just stick to ordering it again next time.
Cornmeal Crusted Carolina Trout & Shrimp: The “Why Are You Still Talking, Just Eat It” Dish
Imagine this: perfectly pan-seared shrimp, crusted in cornmeal for that Southern charm, lounging next to a polenta cake that’s so smooth it might as well have its own Instagram account. Add roasted corn from Sunburst Farms in Waynesville, NC, and you've got a meal so fresh, you’ll feel like the ocean breeze just rolled into your dining room. It’s $44 of sheer seafood bliss. Diets beware, this is worth every. Single. Bite.
No Dessert, I’m on a Diet
I respect your willpower, truly. But if you’re at Primary Restaurant + Bar and resisting dessert, you’ve already demonstrated superhuman levels of restraint. Bravo. Let’s pretend we didn’t all just take a moment to dream of what dessert would be like.
Whether you're here to treat yourself to a seafood masterpiece or you're just eyeing those luxurious booths, Primary Restaurant + Bar delivers an experience that’s as tasty as it is stylish. Highlands may be a small town, but this place? It's serving big-time dining vibes, one dish at a time.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a reservation to make. Those tobacco leather seats don’t warm themselves.
Links: Website | Reserve Online | About
Nick Saint Clair.