Checking out the new Piedmont

Long-time readers will recall that Durham's Piedmont restaurant has long been a go-to place for a reliable, good meal. A while back, however, Piedmont's owners and founders sold it to the Eno Hospitality Group, which owns Zely and Ritz (which I'll be visiting again Saturday night). So, tonight, before the Neil Young concert (more on that tomorrow), we dropped by Piedmont to check out its new incarnation.

The food is definitely different, but it maintains the emphasis on local sourcing--as you would expect from a group one of whose owners runs a farm--and it was, I am happy to report, delicious. Our group sampled half a dozen starters and one entree, and every single dish was tasty. High points included the baked farm fresh egg with asparagus, which was as bright as a spring morning, and the bruschetta with pork loin and shiitake mushrooms, which was rich and flavorful.

Though I need to return when I have more time to investigate more of the dishes, this one visit convinced me that Piedmont remains one of the area's safe choices for a truly good meal. Though not in the very top tier of Triangle restaurants, it's in the group just below that peak. I definitely recommend it.