Sage & Salt Bistro

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

Modern American with a Twist

Sage & Salt Bistro occupies 300 S. Liberty St. in the heart of Winston-Salem, and from its earliest days it has made a clear statement: this is not generic fare. Early guests noted a menu that felt "more adventurous than other places," with flavor combinations that take something familiar and push it somewhere unexpected. The kitchen describes its own cooking simply and confidently — "Modern American cuisine with a twist. Unapologetically delicious." — and the plates back that up.

What's on the Plate

The dinner menu ranges from a raw bar stocked with East Coast oysters, jumbo shrimp cocktail, and caviar with toasted brioche, through starters like beef tartare with shallot, cornichon, and crispy capers, and fried lobster tails with lemon sriracha aioli. Wood-fired grill options include a rack of lamb, ribeye, and yellowfin tuna, while composed plates stretch from pan-seared sea scallops over English pea risotto with grilled artichokes, to grilled lobster linguini in saffron cream, to a half roasted chicken with fingerlings, forest mushrooms, and golden beets. It's a menu that moves comfortably between bistro comfort and fine-dining ambition — exactly what modern American cooking does at its best.

Bread service arrives with sourdough, whole grain, and cornbread alongside whipped butter, pesto, and olive tapenade — a detail that signals the kitchen's attention to the full experience, not just the entrée.

A Wine Program Worth the Recognition

Wine Spectator awarded Sage & Salt Bistro its Best of Award of Excellence in 2024, a distinction that reflects the depth and curation of the list. By the glass, the selection spans Burgundy, Napa Chardonnay, Italian Nebbiolo, and Argentine Malbec. The bottle list goes considerably further — from a Dr. Loosen Riesling and JJ Prum Spätlese to Penfold's Bin 389, aged Bordeaux, and Dom Pérignon. For a modern American bistro in Winston-Salem, this is a serious cellar.

The Bar and the Room

The cocktail program is equally considered. Each signature drink is credited to the bartender who created it — the "Old Salem Fashioned" uses Moravian cookie baking spice and walnut bitters, a nod to the city's heritage; the "006 Martini" offers Plymouth Gin, St. Germain, and an optional caviar-stuffed olive. The bar opens at 4:00 PM daily, ahead of dinner service, making it a natural stop before or after a meal.

Guests describe the atmosphere as "fresh and trendy" with outstanding service, and the space accommodates private parties and special events alongside regular table service — each occasion handled with the same attention the kitchen brings to the plate.