The Re-Emergence Part 10

We are working on Saturday to get everyone caught up. There has been a lot going on, so if it says “today” chances are it refers to yesterday, May 22. But, all should be current, which means not all restaurants are opening just yet beyond takeout/curbside/delivery. Plus this update has two more of the Michael Family Restaurant Group’s restaurants listed. That’s exciting. I love them. Here’s part 10.


From Mama Zoe Michael’s and Yamas’ Facebooks:

Our dining room is open and we are so excited to serve our community! We will reopen our dining room operation on Friday, May 22nd at 5:00 PM with 50% capacity. We will resume our business hours from Sunday 8:00AM-2:30PM Monday-Saturday 8:00AM-8:00PM
Please be patient with us during this transition period and as we adjust to new operating and safety procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the safety of our customers and staff we have made some changes, here is what’s new and what to expect during phase 2.
-Curbside and delivery services will resume
-Employees will continue to wear mask and gloves at all times
-Employees will continue proper hand washing and sanitizing
-Meticulously cleaning
-We will be doing daily employee health screenings before each shift
-Tables and chairs will be set 6 feet apart.
-We’ve rearranged our dining room to accommodate social distancing requirements
-Tables, chairs, menus and other common items will be disinfected after every use
-Customers will be asked to maintain 6 feet apart from each other
-Hand sanitizer will be placed throughout the restaurant for guests
-All condiments have been removed from tables
Thank you so much for your continued support! We can’t wait to serve you once again!


From Mi Pueblo Mexican Grill’s Facebook:

We are happy to announce that we will reopen indoor and outdoor dining starting May 22nd at 5 p.m.! We are taking all the necessary precautions for our employee’s and customer’s safety. We will reopen at 50% of our capacity. You can also take advantage of our spacious outdoor patio seating at most locations. We can’t wait to see you all again! Thank you for your support during this time.


From Midtown Cafe & Dessertery’s Email:
We are still trying to process the reality of the world today. As a small, family-owned business, we knew this would not be easy. We have spent the last couple of months testing new recipes, re-assessing, and looking at how to grow and improve. We are working hard to evolve to what is going on in the world today so we can continue to serve you, our community and our employees, even if it may look a little different than it has in the past.
On behalf of the entire team at Midtown Cafe, we want to say thank you for your continued patronage during this difficult time. The amount of support you have shown over the past few months has meant so much to our Midtown Family.
With that being said, we are happy to announce we will be reopening our dining room starting Saturday, May 23rd. We will be open daily from 8 AM until 8 PM. We will also continue to serve you through takeout or curbside if you wish. Additionally, we are offering our full menu.
Due to the required seating capacity we encourage customers to visit during the non-peak hours of 8 AM-10 AM and 2 PM-5 PM.
We are creating an environment where it is safe and comfortable for everyone. We have put safety procedures in place which include:
  • Providing face masks for all employees
  • Practicing social distancing and limiting the number of customers and employees in the building
  • Offering curbside service
  • Increasing cleaning and sanitation
  • Adding “safety” staff members to assist in sanitation processes
  • Sanitizing every menu, tables and chairs after each use
  • Abiding by the state’s capacity restrictions
  • Putting hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the restaurant

From Milner’s American Southern’s Facebook:

A quick hello to all of our friends and Milner’s family:

We remain open for curbside pick up Tuesday – Sunday from 4p – 8p. We want to thank all of you for supporting our family business over the last months and for helping us spread the word.

Like all of you we are excited to expand our offering and we miss seeing you here at Milner’s and we miss providing the special experience we’ve worked hard to create here. We are chomping at the bit to get after it!

Many have asked over the last several days our plans to reopen and we thank you for your excitement.

Bottom Line: We aren’t ready quite yet.

We have our eyes on Friday, June 5th as a tentative target day.

We would love to be open today but there are many steps we need to take and business decisions to consider before we move forward.

First and foremost is the safety of our families, employees and our customers. We will be spending the coming weeks continuing to make sure we have every tool in place: training sessions completed, PPE equipment for staff, and sanitizing products to create the right conditions for a safe environment.

Simultaneously we have to make sure that Milner’s remains financially viable and make adjustments for 50% capacity.

There are so many things to consider and this decision is not made lightly. We are excited about our restaurant friends who are opening today and wish for them all success. We remain vigilant and will continue to update our progress.

In the meantime: Check out our website gotomilners.com for the current menu.

Two ways to order:

Call the restaurant 336-768-2221 after 12p to place an order and pay over the phone. Call early and avoid peak call times.

Or, download the Swipeby App to order and pay online beginning at 3:30 each day. It’s super easy and doesn’t cost anything to use.

Thanks for taking the time and for your support. Feel free to ask questions in the comments.

All of our best,

Stay safe, lean in!


From Mozelle’s Fresh Southern Bistro’s Facebook: (retyped for style)

Happy Phase 2 Friday! Since Governor Cooper’s announcement on Wednesday at 5:00 PM, every restaurant in NC has been scrambling to figure out a business plan for Phase 2. We would like to share with your how Mozelle’s will navigate this landscape over the weeks to come. We will continue to offer curbside pick-up, takeout and delivery. Additionally, Phase 2 allows anyone who would like to dine at our sidewalk tables, which are appropriately set apart in compliance with social distancing guidelines, to do so. This means you can eat your takeout 15 minutes fresher with that Stag’s Leap Chardonnay, watching the sunset over West End. We look forward to resuming table-side service outdoors on June 1 and we are actively devising a plan for indoor dining that both complies with state guidelines and ensures the Mozelle’s experience.

With all these changes, the one thing that restaurants can’t do is provide intimate dining experiences, so we will continue to offer Mozelle’s At Your Table Wine Dinners and we even have a “date night dinner up next week. It features the Latin flavors that you have come to know and love from our “pre-COVID” brunch menus!

Edit: You can find more by visiting the Mozelle’s Fresh Southern Bistro website found HERE.


More to come, stay safe WSNC!!!

The Man Who Ate the Town Podcast Episode 153

Dafni Michael talks with the TMWATT Crew

In Episode #153 proudly recorded in The Less Desirables Studios at The Lab at Industry Hill. Zoom sponsored by Bull’s Tavern:

Tim, Ray and Lea talk about:

  • Dafni Michael of the Michael Family Restaurant Group is on the show to talk about the restaurants being back open, what the community means to them and we talk about what they mean to us. Amazing interview.
  • Baked Just SO will open on Mondays starting next Monday 5/18.
  • Cafe Arthur’s has a new website.
  • Zesto Burgers helped by Young Cardinal Cafe.
  • Fratelli’s Italian Steakhouse is open again.
  • Ichiban has a new menu.
  • Tim and Lea talk about “List” updates.
  • Tim and Stephanie had Don Zapata’s Mexican for Mother’s Day.
  • Winston-Salem Strong. This website includes the food and beverage list that we have been forging and resources for businesses and individuals that are needed at this time, including unemployment, SBA loans, tips for servers, and many other services. All this in one place. Winston-Salem Strong!
  • Food holidays and history.

Don’t forget our sponsors:

Carrabba’s Italian Grill Healthy, grilled meats, wood-fired pizzas, fresh ingredients, and phenomenal wine dinners. That’s just some of the offerings of Carrabba’s. And, Daniel Butner, the local proprietario, is salt of the earth and a pillar of good in the community. Go taste the goodness that is Carrabba’s and see why Tim and Ray are always talking it up!

Washington Perk & Provision Company. Better than a convenience store but not quite a grocery store, in the heart of Washington Park and Downtown WSNC.

The Humble Bee Shoppe is challenging your perception of scratch made and leaving you with an experience you couldn’t possibly forget! With inventive flavor combos and a sense of artistry, The Humble Bee Shoppe isn’t your average bakery.

The Man Who Ate the Town is part of The Less Desirables Network. Give it a listen on iTunes, Stitcher, Podcast Addict, and TuneIn, basically anywhere you can listen to podcasts. Or you can listen here (at the bottom of the post).

Bon Appetit!

The Man Who Ate the Town Podcast Episode 152

In Episode #152 proudly recorded in The Less Desirables Studios at The Lab at Industry Hill. Zoom sponsored by Bull’s Tavern:

Tim, Ray and Lea talk about:

  • All Michael Family Restaurant Group restaurants are open. Mama Zoe Michael’s, Waldo’s Wings, Cin Cin Burger Bar and Yamas Mediterranean Street Food are back in business doing takeout, curbside and delivery!
  • Diamondback Grill is back open doing takeout and curbside. Tim talks about the food he and Stephanie had this weekend from Diamondback Grill.
  • Restaurants re-emerging to try different ideas, menus, and directions to stay relevant and keep their doors open, while offering service to the community that loves them.
  • Winston-Salem Strong. This website includes the food and beverage list that we have been forging and resources for businesses and individuals that are needed at this time, including unemployment, SBA loans, tips for servers, and many other services. All this in one place. Winston-Salem Strong!
  • J&J Food Mart is hiring.
  • Food holidays and history.

Don’t forget our sponsors:

Carrabba’s Italian Grill Healthy, grilled meats, wood-fired pizzas, fresh ingredients, and phenomenal wine dinners. That’s just some of the offerings of Carrabba’s. And, Daniel Butner, the local proprietario, is salt of the earth and a pillar of good in the community. Go taste the goodness that is Carrabba’s and see why Tim and Ray are always talking it up!

Washington Perk & Provision Company. Better than a convenience store but not quite a grocery store, in the heart of Washington Park and Downtown WSNC.

The Humble Bee Shoppe is challenging your perception of scratch made and leaving you with an experience you couldn’t possibly forget! With inventive flavor combos and a sense of artistry, The Humble Bee Shoppe isn’t your average bakery.

The Man Who Ate the Town is part of The Less Desirables Network. Give it a listen on iTunes, Stitcher, Podcast Addict, and TuneIn, basically anywhere you can listen to podcasts. Or you can listen here (at the bottom of the post).

Bon Appetit!

The Michael Family Restaurant Group Re-Emerges

One of the first sets of restaurants to bow out in March, while the dust was just starting to be stirred up, was the Michael Family Restaurant Group. Mama Zoe Michael’s, Waldo’s Wings, Cin Cin Burger Bar and Yamas Mediterranean Street Food all shuttered up and waited to see where the pandemic was going to take the world.

They were looking out for the safety and health of their customers, their employees, themselves. No one knew what was going to happen. Truthfully, no one knows now. The Michael Family then turned to renovations and construction working on Mama Zoe Michael’s on the renovation that they had been talking about for at least a year prior. It gave them the perfect opening to make that happen. I passed some time.

But, the dust is starting to settle, at least in terms of potential outlooks. On April 23, Waldo’s Wings announced they were going to reopen. That was a start. Yesterday, Cin Cin Burger Bar and Yamas Mediterranean Street Food both opened.

It was a glorious few days, indeed. Lea and Mel went to Yamas to grab some grub and so did we. I wasn’t passing on the opportunity to have some delicious Yamas that I had been craving for the last month. I was giddy and laughed all the way home.

While we were waiting for the curbside order, we saw this beautiful rainbow. Many people posted about it on social media. It was amazing and I think the perfect symbol for this town and all the restaurants, small businesses, service workers and the citizens of this fantastic town.

No word, just yet, on when Mama Zoe Michael’s will reopen, but I imagine it should be soon. Chris is a “spur-of-the-moment” kind of guy and I think when he’s ready, that trigger will be pulled quickly and without hesitation. When I know something I will post it here and/or on the Facebook page.

Waldo’s Wings is located at 2855 Reynolda Road.
Cin Cin Burger Bar is located at 1425 W 1st Street.
Yamas Mediterranean Street Food is located at 624 W 4th Street.

Go grab some food from one or all of these wonderful restaurants and post about it. Tag me if you’d like.

Michael Family Temporarily Close Their Restaurants

From the Michael family regarding Cin Cin Burger Bar, Waldo’s Wings, Mama Zoe Michael’s and Yamas Mediterranean Street Food.


Over the last few days, we have watched the spread of COVID-19 threaten the health of our nation. As a company that highly values health, safety, and family, The Michael Family Restaurant Group has put a temporary pause on all restaurant operations, which includes Mama Zoe Michaels, Waldo’s Wings, CinCin Burger Bar, and Yamas Mediterranean Street Food due to the COVID-19 virus. The health and safety of our patrons, employees, and community is our top priority. While this was not an easy decision, we can not ignore the advice and guidance of local, state, federal, and global health officials. We appreciate your understanding, cooperation, and the loving ways you have supported our business in these unprecedented times. We look forward to serving you again as the nation both combats and recovers from this virus. Please check back as we continue to post updates. We are all in this together!

The Man Who Ate the Town Podcast Episode 63

In Episode #63, proudly recorded at Test Pattern Studios:

  • Wise Man Brewing and Willows Bistro Beer Dinner coming Feb 25.
  • Tim and Kelly talk about Downtown Restaurant Week coming Feb 19-25 and some of the special menus of participating restaurants.
  • Intown Donutz is now open.
  • Waldo’s Wings to take over Skippy’s Hot Dogs.
  • Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday fall on the same day for first time since 1945. What do you or do you not give up for Valentine’s Day?
  • Food Holidays

Don’t forget our sponsors:

Washington Perk & Provision Company. Better than a convenience store but not quite a grocery store, in the heart of Washington Park and Downtown WSNC.

The Humble Bee Shoppe is challenging your perception of scratch made and leaving you with an experience you couldn’t possibly forget! With inventive flavor combos and a sense of artistry, The Humble Bee Shoppe isn’t your average bakery.

The Man Who Ate the Town is part of The Less Desirables Network. Give it a listen on iTunes, Stitcher, Podcast Addict and TuneIn, basically anywhere you can listen to podcasts. Or you can listen here (at the bottom of the post).

This episode is archived. Contact Tim if you need to hear it. 

Bon Appetit!