The crown jewel of Winston-Salem’s menagerie of fine dining is a restaurant that epitomizes the elegance and refinement of southern cuisine. It is befitting to place such a title upon Milner's American Southern.

Hidden along the neon glamour of Stratford Road and enormity of Hanes Mall lies what is undoubtedly the best restaurant in Winston-Salem. My most sincere apologies to the runners up: Noble’s Grille and Downtown Thai. Atmosphere, architecture and cuisine all intersect at Milner’s to make this restaurant the Queen of Camel City.

The internal and external design of Milner’s leaves little to be desired. The building is done in a classic Charlestonian style, with a bow to the influences of Caribbean colonialism. The Bermuda shutters further evoke a classic yet casual atmosphere only confirmed by the interior space.

From lighting to layout, Milner’s is en pointe; upon entering the restaurant you are led around a magnificent U-shaped bar to partitioned dinning rooms. The comfortable coziness of Milner’s allows for privacy while avoiding congestion, a likely occurrence given the restaurant’s popularity amongst local socialites.

Past aesthetics, the menu Milner’s offers serves as a delicious homage to southern cuisine. Several hallmark southern delicacies are offered: a short stack of fried green tomatoes with crispy basil green cheese, country ham and tomato chutney ($8), fried pickles ($7), and last but not least, the requisite low country shrimp and grits served with chorizo ham, country sausage and gravy ($17).

Should one harbor tastes beyond the traditionally southern, Milner’s offers a wide array of gourmet entrées to please even the most apprehensive eater. My particular favorite is the medley of scallops, shrimp and lobster ($25) served on a bed of succotash (finely minced and sautéed southern vegetables) and spinach. There are of course the usual gourmet specialties: tilapia, ahi tuna, Moravian cookie encrusted salmon, fried chicken, and steak.

To accompany these dishes, I suggest the St. Vita Riesling ($5), whose flavorful depth is complemented by a hue of sweetness. While the wine list is appropriate, this selection is superb, especially given the menu’s disposition toward seafood.

If, and this “if” is of monumental proportions, one has room for dessert, Milner’s is more than prepared to satisfy your sweet tooth. With an abundance of cream-based deserts laden with chocolate and caramel, the desert menu is the evening’s pièce de résistance.

Small plates are priced between $7–14, and entrées range from $10–30. This may sound like a bit much for the college budget, but dining at Milner’s is accurately priced according to its impressive level of service and gourmet cooking. The restaurant’s attentive staff only complements an already excellent dining experience.

Over its young two-year existence, Milner’s American Southern has quickly established itself as the benchmark for duly southern cuisine and fine dining in Winston-Salem. The restaurant, due to the credit of the Charleston-educated head chefs and devoted, amicable staff, is deserving of such reputation and praise. Given Milner’s proximity to campus and stellar review, it is also deserving of your visit.