Word on the street
What locals are saying
Lenoir earns respect as a reliable upscale Southern spot, with the bone-in pork chop, air-dried sausage, and succotash drawing consistent praise, and bar seating cited as a particular sweet spot. The Post and Courier noted it is 'surprisingly underattended' given Vivian Howard's celebrity profile, and some visitors familiar with her Kinston, NC roots find the execution a step below her earlier work. The hotel-lobby setting mutes the 'local gem' feel for some, and noise levels in the dining room are a recurring gripe.
Vivian Howard pedigree draws fansanchor dishes consistently praisedbar dining underrated valuehotel-restaurant vibe detractsnoisy dining roomhigh expectations vs. execution gap
In the feed
