Willow Creek Inn

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1. AS

   AlexS

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined 7 days ago

   overall1food1service1ambience1

   Location was closed, not in operation. Catering with 3-5 day prior notice only...

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2. BD

   BetsyD

   Charlotte

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on April 2, 2022

   overall5food5service5ambience3

   This was a very unique and unexpected dining experience. The exterior of the little house in the country along with the antique, grandmother's dining room feeling leaves one quite misled before the food is served. The food is extremely well thought out, well prepared and cooked to perfection. The set menu allows your party to enjoy the food almost as an unexpected surprise without having the stress of having to decide what to order followed by immediate buyers remorse. Even members of our party with most unworldly palette enjoyed everything that was served. We enjoyed the staff, our company, the wine, the food. It was a pleasurable experience and we will be making many return trips!

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3. RW

   RhondaW

   Charlotte

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on March 18, 2022

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Such a neat spot. A definite experience. Wonderful food and service.

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4. DT

   DannyT

   Jacksonville

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on February 26, 2022

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Quaint location. Food was incredible and staff was extremely pleasant. Courses were brought out timely. Chef came out near the end, pulled up a chair to our table and we had a great 10 minute discussion with him. Just an outstanding evening all the way around!

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5. M

   Mccharlotte

   Charlotte

   8 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   8 reviews

   Dined on February 12, 2022

   overall5food5service5ambience4

   Food was very good but the experience with the staff and the connections they try to make are what sets this place apart from others in the greater Charlotte area.

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6. H

   Hayden

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on January 9, 2022

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Best dining experience I’ve had in my entire life! The food was amazing from start to finish and my water and wine glasses always remained full. The night we were there, Chef Mansour was also our server and he was incredible all around. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone that doesn’t want to plan out their entire menu and who loves food…can’t get any better than that!

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7. TJ

   TrishJ

   Charlotte

   9 reviews

   5.0

   9 reviews

   Dined on October 17, 2020

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   the service and food here has never disappointed me and I am a hard person to please

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8. KD

   KenD

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on September 18, 2020

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Most of the food was grown there. Very fresh and delicious. Couldn't find that anywhere else. We are grateful for the evening.

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9. M

   Mike

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on September 16, 2020

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Best food in North Carolina, maybe in the USA. Personal service. Would recommend the Willow Creek Inn to everyone.

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10. SC

    StanleyC

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 29, 2020

    overall3food3service3ambience3

    I really don’t want to write a bad review, but there was no live jazz as advertised and the food was served buffet style and was cold by the time we got to it. Still, I would be willing to give it another visit at a time when dinner was served tableside.

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11. TC

    ToniC

    Charlotte

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 22, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    We had an amazing dinner! The Chef was very friendly and menu was delicious! Will definitely be back. It is a must do experience!

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12. SK

    SteveK

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 21, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    One of the best culinary experiences I’ve ever had! A very modest restaurant from the outside but don’t be fooled! The food was so unique and original and the Chef was quite a character. I’ll remember this meal for a long time. Can’t wait to go back!

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13. JB

    JimB

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 12, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    In as few words as possible. An impeccable dining experience. We felt as if Mansour invited us to his home to share a meal and what a delicious meal it was. Mr Zand gives a new meaning to farm to table. We will return soon with many in tow. Thanks Jim & Rose

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14. RF

    RobbF

    Charlotte

    13 reviews

    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on February 15, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The service was very good. Everyone from the Chef to the staff was friendly. The atmosphere was very nice. The quality of the meal was amazing and 6 courses for $100.00 is unbeatable. The fact that it included the wine and pre dinner cocktail was even more value. That being said, as a wine enthusiast, when I go back, I will bring my own wine for the main course. Yellowtail just didn’t do the Beef Wellington justice. But who can complain when you are already getting so much bang for your buck.

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15. JB

    JennyB

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 28, 2019

    overall3food3service4ambience3

    The staff was incredibly friendly. Some food was amazing, some, nothing extraordinary. The place is clean inside, but very outdated and run down. From the parking lot to the condition of the building (outside moreso), there is much left to be desired. I am not high maintenance and find some older, one of a kind places, sometimes better than others. If the food was all outstanding, the rest of the stuff I could easily overlook. Potatoes were on the menu, and not an option that night as was stated. My kids were disappointed. The pumpkin cheesecake was wonderful. I asked for white wine, got red wine. Was okay overall. Wouldn't go back though.

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16. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New England

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 28, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Thanksgiving

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17. JT

    JasonT

    Charlotte

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 17, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Way off the beaten trial but well worth the hike great ambiance and conversation.

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18. TP

    TrudyP

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 5, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience3

    Purchased this deal which cost $51 for a 4-course dinner for two. It was a 68 minute drive but traffic was not a problem on a Saturday evening. We were pleasantly greeted by the owner and chef, Manseur. He had called me earlier in the day to ask if would like steak or fish. I had fish (Sea Bass) and husband had wonderful selection of Filet Mignon. The first course was a type of lamb patty, and was quite filling, but I did not finish. The second course was a beautiful salad, straight from his garden, and it was absolutely delicious! I've not ever had a salad that good, ever! He brought us a small scoop of sorbet which was a palate cleanser. Then a few minutes later we were served the 3rd course, our entrees. They were both very delicious, prepared perfectly to our liking. It came with a tasty orzo that was also flavored with saffron. He served us a delicious Red Merlot that was top notch, loved it! He also brought out some bread and butter with our meal. The 4th course was a wonderful dessert, his homemade pecan pie. So yummy. When he bought the property years ago, there were 98 pecan trees on it! This is located among farmland. So please don't expect 4 or 5 star surroundings, but do expect food that is top notch! You can't lose on this deal, and sadly I doubt you will see that $51 price point for a 4-course dinner for two again for awhile! His website shows different fun occasions that you can book and reserve for future dates.

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19. c

    clemsongrad71

    Charleston

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on July 29, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    We loved talking with Chef Mansour a d our meal was scrumptious.

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20. TJ

    TrishJ

    Charlotte

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on May 12, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    wonderful presentation and finished product. Always get our moneys worth here

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21. E

    Estrella

    Baltimore

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 2, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    This is my favorite restaurant in the area. It is a charming setting with beautifully laid tables, flowers, linens and proper silverware. The food is consistently good and I know I will have a nice leisure meal. I introduced my friends to it the other night and they said it was the freshest salad they had ever eaten and the food was delicious. Three of us had beef and you could cut it with a butter knife it is so tender. The fish was good and flavorful . Willow Creek is always a highlight of the dining experience. Highly recommend as it is small, intimate, delicious food, good service, great price and you get to know the chef who welcomes and seats you. You feel you are a guest in his home.

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22. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Richmond

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on January 20, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    This is a dining experience. It is not normal going out to eat dining. If you expect a menu, there isn't one. If you expect a wine list, there isn't one. You have a choice of wine Red or White, that is all. I believe some of the negative reviews for this restaurant are reviews done from the perspective of eating at a traditional restaurant and having multiple choices for everything. The chef does farm to table, they are his dishes. You can ask for gluten free and he will abide. But everything else is done very well by the chef. The food, the wine, the service, the atmosphere were all great. I hear he has special events throughout the year, we will try one in the future. But just dining there was an experience.

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23. RP

    RandyP

    New York Area

    9 reviews

    2.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on December 28, 2018

    overall2food2service1ambience1

    Don’t waste your $.

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24. L

    Luckily

    New England

    6 reviews

    3.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on November 22, 2018

    overall3food3service4ambience3

    We went here for Thanksgiving. It was a lovely drive from Charlotte and the setting and building are very charming. From all we heard, the really great meals are not at Thanksgiving, but throughout the year at special dinners. Thanksgiving was really just OK in terms of the food. Several of the dishes on the buffet were cold, and we were first in line. We had to wait probably half an hour at our table before we were served soup and ok rolls, nothing special. Wine comes with dinner which was great, though don't expect fine wines or fine dining. The restaurant is in a house, and we were seated on the porch, where there were about ten other groups. The area where the buffet was located was a hodgepodge of papers, bags of rolls, books and paintings. The kind of sight you would expect at a slightly eccentric aunt's home. I say that as a rather eccentric aunt myself. Though my home when company comes is much neater than this was. I would love to go back for the Persian dinner or a meal that is specially planned for us. All in all, we were happy we went out to the country for Thanksgiving and enjoyed ourselves. The servers were friendly as was our host. I would chalk it up as a fun experience.

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25. WW

    WWZ1

    Charlotte

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 19, 2018

    overall4food5service5ambience4

    Fantastic food with a wonderful chef/host. I really cannot say enough good things about both of those. If it were closer, my wife and I would be regulars (and we probably will be wife's birthday regulars - it was that good!)

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26. TJ

    TrishJ

    Charlotte

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on August 10, 2018

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The food, the service, everything, was perfect. Monsignor called in advanced and asked if we would like chicken fish or beef, and then took care of the rest. We had a succulent meal followed by the most divine lemon pound cake.

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27. TR

    ThomasR

    Raleigh

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 28, 2018

    overall1food1service1ambience2

    Chef ought to be ashamed of himself. What a disappointment. Nobody introduced themselves. Nobody told us what we were eating. Lentil soup was good. Salad was very good. It ended there. My wife's salmon was indistinguishable from what you can get at K&W Cafeteria or Golden Corral. Dry and overcooked. Awful. Our "beef" appeared to be prime rib that was subjected to meat tenderizer. All the plates had some kind of potato/beef/cheese slop and hopelessly overcooked carrots. One of our five "courses" was a tiny ball of sherbet to "refresh" our palates. Silly us, we thought we'd get an appetizer. Dessert was an unremarkable dry pound cake with pudding filling. Red wine was inoffensive. That's it. So, for 3 adults and a child we were charged $305. I can't remember when I was ripped off this badly. Please do yourself a favor and do not go there.

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28. JB

    JaniceB

    Charlotte

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on April 7, 2018

    overall5food4service5ambience5

    Way out of the way in Vale, NC is this little, quirky gem of a restaurant that has neither a menu nor a freezer. All dishes are prepared based on what fresh ingredients the chef can get that day. And the chef will call you ahead of time to find out whether you want beef, chicken or fish. We had a 5-course meal as well as fresh in-house baked bread and a palate cleanser of sorbet. The chef, Mansour Zand, pulled up a chair and chatted with us throughout the meal and kept our wine glasses full. The food was delicious, plentiful and interesting. I usually don't eat dessert but the lemon cake was just too good to pass up. There are very few restaurants that operate this way, with such personalized service and creative cookery, so it's a bonus that it's less than an hour's drive from Charlotte. Willow Creek Inn also hosts theme nights, so we'll be trying some of those for sure!

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29. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 18, 2018

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Valentines

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30. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Charlotte

    3 reviews

    1.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on December 30, 2017

    overall1food5service1ambience1

    Very rude Chef. Food was good but not worth his attitude. Wait staff had no idea what they were serving, you had to ask the rude chef. Who may or may not tell you. No menus, your choice is chicken,beef or fish, that is the description. So you get one protein and whatever else he wants to give you. He may take offense if you ask what something is. Our story is from the Twighlight Zone. I tried to paste it but couldn’t . I don’t recommend the restaurant nor the chef. Although the food was good. Other reviews mention his attitude. My wife told him he was a mean man when we left.

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31. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Atlanta

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 23, 2017

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    So glad I came across the Willow Creek Inn for Thanksgiving...just wish I had come across it a year ago! Can't wait to see the place in the daylight and to experience some of the seasonal events, especially Persian New Years. Mansour is a wonderful, welcoming host. It appears that he speaks to every table in the restaurant. Looking forward to my next visit.

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32. LD

    LaDonnaB

    Charleston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 21, 2017

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Wonderful event all the way around--setting, food, ambiance, and entertainment. Was definitely one of the best evenings I have spent in years.

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33. AT

    AnthonyT

    Charlotte

    5 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on September 30, 2017

    overall2food4service4ambience1

    Excellent food, and owner was very interesting to converse with between courses. However, tables are all close together in small room with no music, so there is no privacy. Obnoxious table next to us made everyone in the place miserable.

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34. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 30, 2017

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Easily one of the best experiences and meals my wife and I have ever had. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys great food and a simple atmosphere. The cook has an amazing sense of humor and is a joy to talk to . We were completely blown away by the experience.

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35. TJ

    TrishJ

    Charlotte

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on August 12, 2017

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    A favorite and we will be back again and again. Monsignor is brilliant

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36. B

    Bins

    Greensboro

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 18, 2017

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Very cute place with great food. The environment is so friendly that you feel like you are in a big dinner party in a friends' home

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