I have been anxiously awaiting the open of Haymaker and it did not disappoint. Hints of Asheville's The Market Place restaurant are evident in the incredibly fresh & flavorful farm to table food and 2 story layout but Haymaker is definitely the chic & contemporary sister restaurant.
I dined here in the first week of opening and was pleasantly surprised by how well trained the staff were in the first few days. Timing of the meal was perfect and our waitress had tried every dish on the menu and provided recommendations. We started with the cheese plate and enjoyed trying many NC local cheeses as well as an in-house made pimento cheese. Definitely try a cocktail! These aren't your typical overly sweet concoctions but instead flavored to showcase/enhance the liquor in the drinks.
Ordered the shrimp and grits as my entree (also one of my favorites at The Market Place) and it was flavorful without being too rich. Tried the fresh fish and would recommend as well.
Dined here again with a larger group a few weeks later and still found the staff and hospitality to be top notch. The perfect place to grab a drink & bite with a date or group. I will definitely be back!