In the heart of downtown Kernersville, ’round the corner from the “enchanted” Korner’s Folly, lies another enchantment. It’s a kitchen, led by someone who’s become a bit of an urban legend. Is he the Gordon Ramsey of the Triad? I don’t know about any of that–I’ve never had a complaint about the food! I think Chef Tim Bocholis is awesome and man, can he cook! His Greek heritage is all over his Mediterranean and Latin Fusion menu.

Bistro B is without a doubt near and dear to my foodie heart. It is one of the inspirations for triadfoodies.com. I got excited about eating at Bistro B. I would tell everybody. I’d social network about it. And people would encourage me to start a blog and so, here we are.

The B has had an interesting time of it, the past few years….Sometimes a little too quiet in the dining room, but they have endured and endeared themselves to the local folks and some who come from afar. It’s situated at the Shops on Main in downtown Kernersville. It’s a lovely, intimate setting with a nice ambiance. Quiet? Depends on who’s there. The Saturday night the foodies re-visited was jam-packed. As in standing room only. We had reservations and got comfy at the bar, enjoyed the live music and after a drink and the last few minutes of the SEC championship, we were at our table, trying to narrow down our choices on the menu.

Bistro B’s specials menu changes often and some items on the menu are limited. But the food, oh my goodness, amazing. They have a large selection of tapas plus a few special entrees which can be offered as a “mezze” or small plate. There’s also a lovely assortment of salads, cheese and meat plates on their daily menu which remains unchanged. The Dayboat Scallops Romesco are amazing but sadly, they were “86ed” by the time we sat down. Before I even ordered my water, I ordered a White Salad. My favorite salad. Ever. It’s small but so packed with flavor. It has Napa cabbage, white asparagus, hearts of palm, jicama, feta cheese tossed in a toasted almond dressing and beside it is an oh-so-wonderful bacon-wrapped almond-stuffed date, a very lonely date…I need 2 3 more :). Take a little bit of the sweet date and mix it with a bite of that tangy chopped salad. Happiness!

Then we followed that with a Mole Poblano con Pollo. It was rich, spicy, meaty, the chicken juicy, the black beans had a hint of citrus and spice. It was served alongside a beautiful saffron rice and the freshest, softest corn tortillas. Mmm!

Next, the lamb sliders. Chef Tim takes sliders to a whole new level with these delightful babies. Fresh ground lamb with Baba Ganoush, English cheddar and caramelized onions. They were served with shoestring fries. Don’t get me started on those fries. Perfect.

Our server, Nolan, suggested we try the Tombo Canapé. It’s wasn’t on the menu, but when he described it, we had to try it. I can tell you that Tombo is albacore tuna. I’m not sure what else was in it. They were served on something like plantains and they were kicking with heat. Get these if you like heat. If you LOVE heat, keep the seeds and ribs on those pretty little fresh jalapeño garnishes. I like heat, but I needed to stay pure for the next two tapas so I removed some of those little wacky seeds.

We decided for our next two courses to stick with what was working for us…TAPAS and chose two staple items from their regular menu. First, the Garides Saganaki. The description: a Greek small plate, with shrimp, scallions, tomatoes, Ouzo & topped with Kefalograviera cheese. This was something I got at my first visit ages ago and it NEVER disappoints. It’s served with little toasted baguettes. I dug in so fast I almost forgot to take a picture. So here’s a close up so you don’t see the desecration of the presentation caused by the foodies.
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And last but not least, one of the most delectable items on the menu and priced so awesomely at under $10 (!!!)…PEI Mussels. You get your choice from 3 varieties and we chose the spicy Thai red curry with apples. Let me tell you, they are amazingly good. So fresh. I’ve tried all of the varieties (one is a cream, wine and garlic sauce and the last is a tomato, garlic and wine). The Thai is my favorite. I could lap up that broth like soup.

Ladle please???

Chef Tim has had a nice rise to local fame, what with his well-deserved win through the first round of Fire in the Triad, then being filmed for The Destination Guide-Best of the Triad, as well as an Open Table Diner’s Choice Winner. And you know what the foodies also love, that it’s not just locally owned, but this guy is COOKING. And you don’t just see him in the back “chef-ing”, because he also comes out, chats up the customers and yes, like some owners must do, he’s helping set up tables, bringing out food and generally keeping an eye on things. Sometimes the boss does it all. Nice to see someone take that much care and passion. Kernersville is blessed to have such a glorious place to eat. Upscale enough for a nice date, great with friends or clients and they’ll even accommodate your younger foodie if they tag along. The B also has monthly wine dinners and wonderful opportunities to learn about pairings, etc. It is no secret that Bistro B is one of my most recommended places. The service is excellent, servers are knowledgeable and well, you pretty much can bet the food will be incredible.

Bistro B
126-G South Main St, Kernersville, NC 27284
336.310.4822
Open Monday-Saturday, Lunch/Dinner
Closed Sunday
Reservations are highly recommended.