The Country Squire

HIM:
The Country Squire Inn is a fabulous restaurant, winery, and inn located outside Warsaw, NC. The English/Scottish theme is authentic, charming, and beautiful. Its location in an out-of-the-way place adds to the charm and ambience.

I have been eating dinner here a few times each year for the past twenty years. The food is consistently fresh and well-prepared. All the salad dressings and desserts are house-made. The atmosphere is romantic and quaint. My absolute favorite dish is prime rib. Of course, the steaks, seafood, and chicken are excellent.

Service is almost perfect. The wait staff combines Southern charm and manners with professionalism to provide friendly service that isn't overbearing.

We stayed overnight at the 'inn' (actually a small motel) on the way home from a trip to the coast. The rooms are wonderful. Beautifully decorated, clean, and quiet. Nestled in the woods nest to the vineyards provides a wonderful place to rest. And, the friendly resident cat adds the final touch to a lovely place.

Add an excellent selection of wine and you have all the makings for a great evening. This is truly a place not to miss.

My only suggestion is that the owner should try to seat couples and families in separate rooms. Children are great; however, the County Squire Inn is exceedingly romantic and the presence of children can put a damper on romance.

HER:
What a slice of nice!  First, the grounds and vineyard are lovely and well maintained, the tasting room and restaurant delightfully dark, interesting, and worldly, and the motel rooms are rich, spacious, and worldly.  Ambiance - A+!  

We started our evening in the tasting room.  I found the wines to be light-bodied in general, which suit summer temperatures.  I was very surprised to find that a Muscadine wine could actually be dry (and therefore agreeable with my palate).   Wines - B+  

Dinner was delicious.   I had the Queen's cut of prime rib & garlic mashed potatoes.  Well done! (I don't mean the temperature of the beef!   Perhaps I should say Good job!)  The salad dressings are homemade and after trying 3 of them, I decided the blue cheese dressing was not only the best choice, it was the best I've ever had.  I only regret that I couldn't take a doggie bag since we were traveling.  Food - A+

From owner to waitress, everyone we encountered were quite friendly and informative.  Owner and Staff - A+

HIM booked this place to share with me.  He is awesome at picking great places!  HIM - A++++++++++

The Country Squire Restaurant offers very traditional "steakhouse fare" in an unusual restaurant building. Dining there is quite an interesting experience!

The restaurant building is a quirky mix of Tudor manor house, Italian Renaissance villa, country barn, and Victorian farmhouse, with a touch of medieval dungeon. There are a myriad of dimly lit little rooms and winding corridors, not unlike the haunted house rides at amusement parks; it really is a bit creepy at first! There is a Scottish motif running throughout, perhaps in tribute to the owner's ethnic heritage. The restaurant seems adequately staffed, and service is quite attentive, friendly, and somewhat casual.  At the dinner meal, all entrees included "Squire Cheese" and crackers, a relish tray, "The Squire's Salad," a choice of potato, and bread.

The cheese was OK, but tasted too much like Cheez Whiz, and the crackers were the commercially-baked, "Lance brand" kind. The salad was an iceberg-based affair, though very fresh and crisp; I suspect the Italian dressing was made from the "Good Seasons" mix - it took me right back to my childhood in the early 1980s. Likewise, the bread seemed commercially baked, and the stuffed potato accompanying the entree was ho-hum.

For my main course, I had the 12 oz. New York Strip ($24.95), and it was the stand-out of the meal. The meat was served sizzling on a small cast iron skillet, and cooked to perfection. Additionally, it had a wonderful flavor and was very tender. My dining partner's filet mignon ($24.95) was flavorful but cooked a bit beyond the desired temperature (medium). We did not try the desserts, since the full meal left us quite stuffed!

As the Country Squire has no competition for "upscale dining" in the area (not counting the outstanding Southern Exposure restaurant several miles away in the town of Faison), there is really no incentive to change a winning formula. However, the menu would be hopelessly old-fashioned and out-of-place among upscale steakhouses in large cities. Nonetheless, given the limited dining choices in Warsaw, I recommend The Country Squire.

I'm going to try my darndest not to give an obnoxiously long-winded review, though 'The Country Squire' deserves all the credit it gets and more!

First of all, the 'Country Squire' is more than just a restaurant. It's also a winery AND a Village Inn. It's located in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by trees, which gives it a very obscure, secluded feeling (in a good way). You honestly feel as if you've stepped into another century (or a movie set), by the time you shut the door to your car.

It only gets better once you're inside the lobby! The first thing you'll see is a large room with a complimentary refreshment table, and quaint waiting area furnished with tiny chairs, benches and tables with wine bottle's centerpieces that hold candles covered in multi-colored wax-drippings.

There are SEVERAL dining halls to choose from! One hall features portrait paintings that are old and creepy, with typical grim-faced models (and the eyes follow you) but I think that adds to the atmosphere. There are also trees that extend from the floor and up into the roof, tables that are suspended by chains that hang from the ceiling, etc!

There is even a rumored haunting that has been investigated by several well-known 'Ghost Hunting' groups.

Ask for a historic tour! The buildings the restaurant is comprised of bricks from old buildings and there is a building edition that is dated as old as the 1700's.

The main host of the Country Squire Restaurant has a charming Scottish accent and the staff are very friendly and informative. I love that the waitresses wear old-fashioned dresses, aprons, and bonnets. It makes me feel like I'm in a Hobbit town (Forgive my frequent 'Lord of the Rings' references on Yelp. I'm a massive LOTR geek.).

A large majority of what is served there is MADE FROM SCRATCH. The croutons, the salad sauce, the rolls, a high percentage of the food, the wine and the dessert -- all MADE there.

Just a FEW more perks are: Wine tasting. It's a winery, so you can schedule wine tasting! -- A full bar inside the restaurant. -- A gift-shop full of handmade items from original paintings, unique jewelry, hand-sketched/blown glass -- Etc.

Outside, the landscape is absolutely charming with it's old brick walkways, creeping ivy, metal and driftwood benches, wooden gazebo, fountain, etc.

If you happen to stay at the 'Country Squire Inn', you can see the gorgeous vineyard from your room window.

I think that's all. So much for my attempt at a short-n-simple review.

OH!!!

Be sure to say, "Hi!" to Willy (or William'ina) -- who is a hobbit-sized mascot in metal armor, usually standing in the lobby.

P.S. It is in the pricey range but, for the quality of food, atmosphere and the service -- it's WELL worth it (to me).