Affordable, with a variety of menu options, Willow's is perfect for college students tired of traditional cafeteria fare. The restaurant's walls feature a rotation of work by local artists, and the intimate dining area feels cozy, but not cramped.
When we sat down at our table, my group and I were verging on the literal meaning of starving, so we ordered three appetizers: the hummus platter, grilled asparagus drizzled with a balsamic vinaigrette and crostini topped with a mixture of cheese, olives, red peppers, artichokes and sun-dried tomatoes.
I'm not the biggest fan of olives, so the crostini wasn't exactly my cup of tea, but the chewy house-made pita chips combined with chili-cilantro hummus were the perfect start to my meal.
For my entree, I ordered the fried green tomato BLT. Willow's menu describes the sandwich as "applewood-smoked bacon, goat cheese, balsamic sun-dried tomato aioli and lettuce on wheat berry bread," but I'd rename it southern-fried ecstasy on a plate. I ditched the goat cheese and this sandwich became a contender for one of the best things I've ever eaten between two slices of bread.Not to mention the damage to my bank account was minimal. The over-sized sandwich with a heaping side of home-made sweet potato fries only set me back $7. Add a drink, and my share of the three appetizers, and the grand total still came in under $15. Not too shabby.
Grace and Laura at brunch!
I had a bit of order envy--Doesn't Grace's crab cake sandwich look awesome?
I loved their glass window with an abstracted Winston-Salem skyline.
Readers--where are your favorite eateries for brunch?
